The others, sitting down at a table across the room, talked among themselves.
"I care not for the work," one said presently, raising his voice to a higher pitch than that in which the others had spoken.

"Across the border, I am as ready for work as another; but when it comes to Scot against Scot, I like it not." "Why, man," another said, "what qualms are these?
Isn't Scot always fighting against Scot?
Ay, and has been so, as far back as one has ever heard.

It does not take much for a Douglas or a Dunbar to get to loggerheads; and as to the wild clans of the north, they are always fighting among themselves." "Yes, that is all very well," the other said, "and there is no reason why neighbours should not quarrel, here; but I would rather that they each summoned their friends, and met in fair fight and had it out, than that one should pounce upon the other when not expected, and slay and burn unopposed." "Ay, ay," two or three others of the men agreed.

"It were doubtless better so, when it is Scot against Scot." "'Tis border fashion," another put in.

"There is no law on the border, and we fight in our own fashion.