“Gie him back to me,” ordered the drover surlily. He took the puppy and set it on the floor; whereupon it immediately resumed its former fortified position. “Ye're no buyer; I knoo that all along by that face on ye,” he said in insulting tones.
“Ye wad ha' bought him yerseif', nae doot?” M'Adam inquired blandly.
“In course; if you says so.”
“Or airblins ye bred him?”
“'Appen I did.”
“Ye'll no be from these parts?”
“Will I no?” answered the other.
A smile of genuine pleasure stole over M'Adam's face. He laid his hand on the other's arm.
“Man,” he said gently, “ye mind me o' hame.” Then almost in the same breath: “Ye said ye found him?”
It was the stranger's turn to laugh.