Evening star., 1901-07-13
CHAPTER Nv.
A Little COmbcuttin-,

'Wll the senor state his case?'' he said
bowling to the young man.
Il came to this venta, the proprietor of
which and all his relations NAV God con-
found for liars and thieves! When I en-
tered paid for one weeks good straw and
barley in coined silver of Mexico The un-
shorn villain stole the feed from under nv
horses nose as soon as my back was
turned, and then tonight, upon my COM
planning, set his rascal scullons on to vii
lify my country, or at least country
which If not mine is yet no concern of his
or theirs. Whereupon l rendered to all
the cleaner of them my cartel Offering to
hight them with any weapon they might
name, and In any place-for the honor of
Scotland and the Presbyterian religionr'
Though he had never heard of either of
these last, the gray-bear rded umpire grayely
wagged his head at the statement of the
Scot, nodded in acknowledgment and
turned with equal gravity and distinction
to the Gallegan as the representative of
the opposite faction. He motioned him to
proceed.
This man." said the Gallician. speakine
IN the marsh, suffering whisper affected by
these heWers of wood and drawers of water
this man for these ten days hath given
all in the venta bad money and worse talk.
Today he would have cheated Dueno, and
we, ike true men, took up the cudgels for
the good padrone.
Then, because he would not exchange
good money for the bad, and because of
his words, which carried stings, we chal-
lenged him to fight, and he fought that
worthy senior, is the beginning of the mat
ter and the e1fdv'
Sir" said the Scot to the old Castillian,
there was no question of money. None
brought my reckoning to me-
No" sighed the landlord from beyond
the bottle-encumbered counter where he
had taken refuge, because he threatened
to let daylight into the vitals of the man
who carried it to him."
But as 70 the inSu1fS fo bio oo,nt.,, -
asked the old Castillian, you ought to
have borne in mind that for that cause
will a man fight quicker than for his
sweetheart
so 1t is. senior; we deny it not" an
swered the Gallegan: 'yet this fellow, after
abusing the English and their land till
there were no more words in the language
turned upon us because we chanced to
agree with him. outs with his pocket book
and deals round what he calls 'cartels of
defiance as if he dealt a hand at ombre
words as your honor knows the custom is,
he pulls his blade upon us and makes play,
as you saw. We are poor fellows, and
know no more than how to defend our
selves. And II we fight our custom is to
do it with couple Of Albacete knives be-
fore half the town-and be done with it,
But this stranger was all for duels and
seconds and codes of honor, after the mode
of Paris''
And very excellent thing too. sir"
said the old Castillian smiling at the Scot:
but In their due place, and their place is
hardly in the kitchen Of the venta Of San
Vicentio. Listen to me. Ny finding is
this You will all shake hands after an
apology given and received in the matter
of the strangers country, and since he has
paid no reckoning these ten days according
to his own statement, the which, believe.
shall defray his count so soon as It shall
be presented to him by the host. Are you
agreed?"
"Agreed!' said the Gallegan, holding out
his hand to the Scot. land I regret on be-
half of myself and my companions that
we ever said aught to the discredit of Eng
land, the very distinguished country OF
which the senior stranger is a native:''
The Scot shrugged his shoulders in the
French manner. but nevertheless held out
his hand with some show of heartiness.
II am no citizen of England. own no
such pock-pudding land. but it will be
heavy day when Rollo Blair of Castle Blair
in the good shire of Fife sits still with HIS
hands in his pockets and hears garlic
eating Frenchman abuse the English with
whom his forbears fought SO many good
fights.'
'.I thank you on behalf of my country
for your ehamRionshin sRSR q u n" said