Did you not put bread and cheese into a man's mouth, when he had never a stomach whereunto to transmit the same ?" "You have heard, then," said Ranald, "the tale of our revenge on the haughty forester ?" "I bethink me that I have," said Dalgetty, "and that not of an old date.
It was a merry jest that, of cramming the bread into the dead man's mouth, but somewhat too wild and salvage for civilized acceptation, besides wasting the good victuals.

I have seen when at a siege or a leaguer, Ranald, a living soldier would have been the better, Ranald, for that crust of bread, whilk you threw away on a dead pow." "We were attacked by Sir Duncan," continued MacEagh, "and my brother was slain--his head was withering on the battlements which we scaled--I vowed revenge, and it is a vow I have never broken." "It may be so," said Dalgetty; "and every thorough-bred soldier will confess that revenge is a sweet morsel; but in what manner this story will interest Sir Duncan in your justification, unless it should move him to intercede with the Marquis to change the manner thereof from hanging, or simple suspension, to breaking your limbs on the roue or wheel, with the coulter of a plough, or otherwise putting you to death by torture, surpasses my comprehension.

Were I you, Ranald, I would be for miskenning Sir Duncan, keeping my own secret, and departing quietly by suffocation, like your ancestors before you." "Yet hearken, stranger," said the Highlander.

"Sir Duncan of Ardenvohr had four children.

Three died under our dirks, but the fourth survives; and more would he give to dandle on his knee the fourth child which remains, than to rack these old bones, which care little for the utmost indulgence of his wrath.