Meehaul now directed his steps homewards, literally stunned by the unexpected cowardice of his enemy.

On approaching his father's door, he found Nell M'Collum seated on a stone bench, waiting his arrival.
The moment she espied him she sprang to her feet, and with her usual eagerness of manner, caught the breast of his coat, and turning him round towards the moonlight, looked eagerly into his face.
"Well," she inquired, "did he show his fire-arms?
Well?
What was done ?" "Somebody has been making a fool of you, Nell," replied Meehaul; "he had neither fire-arms, nor staff, nor any thing else; an' for my part, I might as well have left mine at home." "Well, but, _douol_, man, what was done?
Did you smash him?
Did you break his bones ?" "None of that, Nell, but worse; he's disgraced for ever.

I struck him, an' he refused to fight me; he hadn't a hand to raise.
"No! _Dher Chiernah_, he had not; an' he may thank Nell M'Collum for that.

I put the weakness over him.

But I've not done wid him yet.