He had felt hurt when his father had refused to allow him to take part in the foray.
"Time enough, lad, time enough," he had said, when the lad had made his petition to do so.

"You are not strong enough, yet, to hold your own against one of the Bairds' moss troopers, should it come to fighting.
In another couple of years it will be time enough to think of your going on such an excursion as this.

You are clever with your arms, I will freely admit; as you ought to be, seeing that you practise for two hours a day with the men.

But strength counts as well as skill, and you want both when you ride against the Bairds; besides, at present you have still much to learn about the paths through the fells, and across the morasses.

If you are ever to become a leader, you must know them well enough to traverse them on the darkest night, or through the thickest mist." "I think that I do know most of them, Father." "Yes, I think you do, on this side of the border; but you must learn those on the other side, as well.