"You seem," said the stranger, "to live in a rich and peaceful country."
"It's no to complain o', sir, an' we get the crap weel in," quoth Cuddie; "but if ye had seen the blude rinnin' as fast on the tap o' that brigg' yonder as ever the water ran below it, ye wadna hae thought it sae bonnie a spectacle."
"You mean the battle some years since?—I was waiting upon Monmouth that morning, my good friend, and did see some part of the action," said the stranger.
"Then ye saw a bonny stour," said Cuddie, "that sall serve me for fighting a' the days o' my life.—I judged ye wad be a trooper by your red scarlet lace-coat and your looped hat."
"And which side were you upon, my friend?" continued the inquisitive stranger.
"Aha, lad!" retorted Cuddie, with a knowing look, or what he designed for such—"there's nae use in telling that, unless I kenn'd wha was asking me."
