"  Hear  reason,  sir  ?  "  said  the  Udaller ;  "  we  will
hear  reason,  and  speak  reason  too ;  and  if  reason
fall  short,  you  shall  have  rhyme  to  boot.  —  Ha,  my
little  friend  Halcro  !  'V

Though  cut  off  in  the  middle  of  his  best  story,
(if  that  could  be  said  to  have  a  middle,  which  had
neither  beginning  nor  end,)  the  bard  bristled  up  at
the  summons,  like  a  corps  of  light  infantry  when
ordered  up  to  the  support  of  the  grenadiers,  looked
smart,  slapped  the  table  with  his  hand,  and  denoted
his  becoming  readiness  to  back  his  hospitable  land-


THE  PIRATE.  217

lord,  as  becomes  a  well-entertained  guest.  Trip-
tolemus  was  a  little  daunted  at  this  reinforcement
of  his  adversary ;  he  paused,  like  a  cautious  general,
in  the  sweeping  attack  which  he  had  commenced
on  the  peculiar  usages  of  Zetland,  and  spoke  not
again  until  the  Udaller  poked  him  with  the  insult-
ing query,  "  Where  is  your  reason  now,  Master  Yel-
lowley,  that  you  were  deafening  me  with  a  moment
since  ? "

"  Be  but  patient,  worthy  sir,"  replied  the  agri-
culturist ;  "  what  on  earth  can  you  or  any  other
man  say  in  defence  of  that  thing  you  call  a  plough,
in  this  blinded  country  ?  Why,  even  the  savage
Highlandmen,  in  Caithness  and  Sutherland,  can
make  more  work,  and  better,  with  their  gascromh,
or  whatever  they  call  it."

"  But  what  ails  you  at  it,  sir  ? "  said  the  Udaller  ;
"  let  me  hear  your  objections  to  it.  It  tills  our  land,
and  what  would  ye  more  ? "

"  It  hath  but  one  handle  or  stilt,"  replied  Tripto-
lemus.
