In ordinary, the labourers would have had sufficient respect for Sutherland’s superior position, to prevent them from giving such decided and articulate utterance to their feelings.  But they were incited by the presence and example of a man of doubtful character from the neighbouring village, a travelled and clever ne’er-do-weel, whose reputation for wit was equalled by his reputation for courage and skill, as well as profligacy.  Roused by the effervescence of his genius, they went on from one thing to another, till Hugh saw it must be put a stop to somehow, else he must abandon the field.  They dared not have gone so far if David had been present; but he had been called away to superintend some operations in another part of the estate; and they paid no heed to the expostulations of some of the other older men.  At the close of the day’s work, therefore, Hugh walked up to this fellow, and said: 

“I hope you will be satisfied with insulting me all to-day, and leave it alone to-morrow.”

The man replied, with an oath and a gesture of rude contempt,

“I dinna care the black afore my nails for ony skelp-doup o’ the lot o’ ye.”

Hugh’s highland blood flew to his brain, and before the rascal finished his speech, he had measured his length on the stubble.  He sprang to his feet in a fury, threw off the coat which he had just put on, and darted at Hugh, who had by this time recovered his coolness, and was besides, notwithstanding his unusual exertions, the more agile of the two.  The other was heavier and more powerful.  Hugh sprang aside, as he would have done from the rush of a bull, and again with a quick blow felled his antagonist.  Beginning rather to enjoy punishing him, he now went in for it; and, before the other would yield, he had rendered his next day’s labour somewhat doubtful.  He withdrew, with no more injury to himself than a little water would remove.  Janet and Margaret had left the field before he addressed the man.

He went borne and to bed—­more weary than he had ever been in his life.  Before he went to sleep, however, he made up his mind to say nothing of his encounter to David, but to leave him to hear of it from other sources.  He could not help feeling a little anxious as to his judgment upon it.  That the laird would approve, he hardly doubted; but for his opinion he cared very little.

“Dawvid, I wonner at ye,” said Janet to her husband, the moment he came home, “to lat the young lad warstle himsel’ deid that get wi’ a scythe.  His banes is but saft yet, There wasna a dry steek on him or he wan half the lenth o’ the first bout.  He’s sair disjaskit, I’se warran’.”

“Nae fear o’ him, Janet; it’ll do him guid.  Mr. Sutherland’s no feckless winlestrae o’ a creater.  Did he haud his ain at a’ wi’ the lave?”

“Haud his ain!  Gin he be fit for onything the day, he maun be pitten neist yersel’, or he’ll cut the legs aff o’ ony ither man i’ the corn.”