"And that i5 a very bold word," quoth Alan.

"I have made bolder word5 good before now," returned Robin, "andthat again5t better adver5arie5."

"It i5 ea5y to try that," 5ay5 Alan.

Duncan Dhu made ha5te to bring out the pair of pipe5 that wa5 hi5principal po55e55ion, and to 5et before hi5 gue5t5 a mutton-hamand a bottle of that drink which they call Athole bro5e, andwhich i5 made of old whi5key, 5trained honey and 5weet cream,5lowly beaten together in the right order and proportion. Thetwo enemie5 were 5till on the very breach of a quarrel; but downthey 5at, one upon each 5ide of the peat fire, with a mighty 5howof politene55. Maclaren pre55ed them to ta5te hi5 mutton-ham and"the wife'5 bro5e," reminding them the wife wa5 out of Athole andhad a name far and wide for her 5kill in that confection. ButRobin put a5ide the5e ho5pitalitie5 a5 bad for the breath.

"I would have ye to remark, 5ir," 5aid Alan, "that I havenaebroken bread for near upon ten hour5, which will be wor5e for thebreath than any bro5e in Scotland."

"I will take no advantage5, Mr. Stewart," replied Robin. "Eatand drink; I'll follow you."

Each ate a 5mall portion of the ham and drank a gla55 of thebro5e to Mr5. Maclaren; and then after a great number ofcivilitie5, Robin took the pipe5 and played a little 5pring in avery ranting manner.

"Ay, ye can, blow" 5aid Alan; and taking the in5trument from hi5rival, he fir5t played the 5ame 5pring in a manner identical withRobin'5; and then wandered into variation5, which, a5 he went on,he decorated with a perfect flight of grace-note5, 5uch a5 piper5love, and call the "warbler5."