Francie’s eyes lit up greedily, and he looked at his two silver shillings, and took two steps in the direction of the sword-swallower’s, and faltered and could not make up his agitated mind.  Tommy set off toward the square at a brisk walk.

“Whaur are you off to?” asked Francie, following him.

“To tell the man what his swords is worth.  It would be ill done no to tell him.”  To clinch the matter, off went Tommy at a run, and off went Francie after him.  As a rule Tommy was the swifter, but on this occasion he lagged of fell purpose, and reached the sword-swallower’s tent just in time to see Francie emerge elated therefrom, carrying two Andrea Ferraras.  Francie grinned when they met.

“What a bar!” he crowed.

“What a bar!” agreed Tommy, and sufficient has now been told to show that he had found a way.  Even Gav acknowledged a master, and, when the accoutrements of war were bought at second hand as cheaply as Tommy had predicted, applauded him with eyes and mouth for a full week, after which he saw things in a new light.  Gav of course was to enter the bursary lists anon, and he had supposed that Cathro would have the last year’s schooling of him; but no, his father decided to send him for the grand final grind to Mr. Ogilvy of Glen Quharity, a famous dominie between whom and Mr. Dishart existed a friendship that none had ever got at the root of.  Mr. Cathro was more annoyed than he cared to show, Gav being of all the boys of that time the one likeliest to do his teacher honor at the university competitions, but Tommy, though the decision cost him an adherent, was not ill-pleased, for he had discovered that Gav was one of those irritating boys who like to be leader.  Gav, as has been said, suddenly saw Tommy’s victory over Messrs. Birkie, Francie, etc., in a new light; this was because when he wanted back the shilling which he had contributed to the funds for buying their purchases, Tommy replied firmly: 

“I canna give you the shilling, but I’ll give you the lantern and the tartan cloth we bought wi’ it.”

“What use could they be to me at Glen Quharity?” Gav protested.

“Oh, if they are no use to you,” Tommy said sweetly, “me and Corp is willing to buy them off you for threepence.”

Then Gav became a scorner of duplicity, but he had to consent to the bargain, and again Corp said to Tommy, “Oh, you crittur!” But he was sorry to lose a fellow-conspirator.  “There’s just the twa o’ us now,” he sighed.

“Just twa!” cried Tommy.  “What are you havering about, man?  There’s as many as I like to whistle for.”

“You mean Grizel and Elspeth, I ken, but—­”

“I wasna thinking of the womenfolk,” Tommy told him, with a contemptuous wave of the hand.  He went closer to Corp, and said, in a low voice, “The McKenzies are waiting!”

“Are they, though?” said Corp, perplexed, as he had no notion who the McKenzies might be.