The Standard BearerCrockett, S. R. (Samuel Rutherford)
History
The Standard Bearer
Crockett, S. R. (Samuel Rutherford)
Covenanters -- Fiction; Scotland -- History -- 17th century -- Fiction
_Connect and Addition to Chapter XI. made in after years by Me, Hob
MacClellan._
It is well seen from the foregoing that Quintin, my brother, had no easy
time of it while he was at the college, where they called him
“Separator,” “Hill Whig,” “Young Drumclog,” and other nicknames, some
of which grieved the lad sore.
Now they were mostly leather-jawed, slack-twisted Geordies from the
Hieland border that so troubled our Quintin--who, though he was not
averse to the sword or the pistol in a good cause, yet would not even be
persuaded to lift his fist to one of these rascals, lest it should cause
religion to be spoken against. But I was held by none of these scruples.
So it chanced that one night as we came out of the College Wynd in the
early falling winter gloaming, one of these bothy-men from the North
called out an ill name after us--“porridge-fed Galloway pigs,” or
something of the kind. Whereat very gladly I dealt him so sound a buffet
on the angle of his jaw that his head was not set on straight again all
the winter.
After this we adjourned to settle our differences at the corner of the
plainstones; but Quintin and the other theologians who had characters to
lose took their way home, grieved in spirit. Or so at least I think he
pretended to himself.
For when I came in to our lodging an hour after his first words were:
“Did ye give him his licks, Hob?” And that question, to which I
answered simply that I had and soundly, did not argue that the ancient
Adam had been fully exorcised from our Quintin.
All the same the Highlandman was none so easy to handle, being a
red-headed Grant from Speyside, and more inclined to come at you with
his thick skull, like a charging boar of Rothiemurchus, than decently to
stand up with the brave bare knuckles, as we are wont to do in the
South.
A turn or two at Kelton Hill fair would have done him no harm and taught
him that he must not fight with such an ungodly battering-ram as his
head. I know lads there who would have met him on the crown with the toe
of their brogans.
But this I scorned, judging it feater to deal him a round-arm blow
behind the ear and leap aside. The first of these discouraged the Grant;
the second dropped him on the causeway dumb and limp.
“Well done, Galloway!” cried a voice above; “but ye shall answer for
this the morn, every man o’ ye!”
“Run, lads, run! ’Tis the Regent!” came the answering cry from the
collegers.
And with that every remaining student lad ran his best in the direction
of his own lodging.
“Well, sir, have ye killed the Speyside Hielandman?” said the Doctor
from his window, when I remained alone by the fallen chieftain. The
Regent came from the West himself, and, they say, bore the Grants no
love, for all that he was so holy a man.
“I think not,” I answered doubtfully, “but I’ll take him round to the
infirmary and see!”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account