of the band.

"Well, what's your news?" Dickson asked. He noticed that the
Chieftain seemed to have been comprehensively in the wars, for apart
from the bandage on his jaw, he had numerous small cuts on his brow,
and a great rent in one of his shirt sleeves. Also he appeared to be
going lame, and when he spoke a new gap was revealed in his large teeth.

"Things," said Dougal solemnly, "has come to a bonny cripus. This very
night we've been in a battle."

He spat fiercely, and the light of war burned in his eyes.

"It was the tinklers from the Garple Dean. They yokit on us about
seven o'clock, just at the darkenin'. First they tried to bounce us.
We weren't wanted here, they said, so we'd better clear. I telled them
that it was them that wasn't wanted. 'Awa' to Finnick,' says I. 'D'ye
think we take our orders from dirty ne'er-do-weels like you?' 'By God,'
says they, 'we'll cut your lights out,' and then the battle started."

"What happened?' Dickson asked excitedly.

"They were four muckle men against six laddies, and they thought they
had an easy job! Little they kenned the Gorbals Die-Hards! I had been
expectin' something of the kind, and had made my plans. They first
tried to pu' down our tents and burn them. I let them get within five
yards, reservin' my fire. The first volley--stones from our hands and
our catties--halted them, and before they could recover three of us had
got hold o' burnin' sticks frae the fire and were lammin' into them.
We kinnled their claes, and they fell back swearin' and stampin' to get
the fire out. Then I gave the word and we were on them wi' our pales,
usin' the points accordin' to instructions. My orders was to keep a
good distance, for if they had grippit one o' us he'd ha' been done
for. They were roarin' mad by now, and twae had out their knives, but
they couldn't do muckle, for it was gettin' dark, and they didn't ken
the ground like us, and were aye trippin' and tumblin'. But they
pressed us hard, and one o' them landed me an awful clype on the jaw.
They were still aiming at our tents, and I saw that if they got near
the fire again it would be the end o' us. So I blew my whistle for
Thomas Yownie, who was in command o' the other half of us, with
instructions to fall upon their rear. That brought Thomas up, and the
tinklers had to face round about and fight a battle on two fronts. We
charged them and they broke, and the last seen o' them they were
coolin' their bu