At this, there were loud cries of "Weel dune, Coo’s Blether," which was a name they had for him; and the fellow grew red and withdrew to the back. Next came a little nervous man, who looked entreatingly at the bystanders as if to bespeak their consideration. "Jock Look-up, my dear," said a man solemnly, "compose your anxious mind, for thae auld wizened airms o’ yours ’ll no send it half-road." The little man sighed and played his bowl: it was even as the other had said, for his shot was adjudged a _hogg_ and put off the green. Then many others played till the green was crowded at one end with the balls. They played in rinks, and interest fell off for some little time till it came to the turn of the two acknowledged champions, Master Crustcrackit and the miller, to play against one another. Then the onlookers crowded round once more. The miller sent a long swinging shot which touched the jack and carried it some inches onward. Then a bowl from the tailor curled round and lay between them and the former mark. Now arose a great dispute (for the players of Peebles had a way of their own, and to understand their rules required no ordinary share of brains) as to the propriety of Master Crustcrackit’s shot, some alleging that he had played off the cloth, others defending. The miller grew furiously warm. "Ye wee, sneck-drawin’ tailor-body, wad ye set up your bit feckless face against a man o’ place and siller?" "Haud your tongue, miller," cried one. "Ye’ve nae cause to speak ill o’ the way God made a man." Master Crustcrackit, however, needed no defender. He was ready in a second. "And what dae ye ca’ yoursel’ but a great, God-forsaken dad o’ a man, wi’ a wame like Braid Law and a mouth like the bottomless pit for yill and beef and a’ manner o’ carnal bakemeats. You to speak abune your breath to me," and he hopped round his antagonist like an enraged fighting-cock. What the miller would have said no one may guess, had not a middle-aged man, who had been sitting on a settle placidly smoking a long white pipe, come up to see what was the dispute. He was dressed in a long black coat, with small-clothes of black, and broad silver-buckled shoon. The plain white cravat around his neck marked him for a minister. "William Laverlaw and you, Peter Crustcrackit, as the minister of this parish, I command ye to be silent. I will have no disturbance on this public green. Nay, for I will adjudge your difference myself." All were silent in a second, and a hush of interest fell on the place. "But that canna be," grumbled the miller, "for ye’re nae great hand at the bowls."