"It was we who put our king over the English; so if there's any rage, it should have been over yonder," said he.
This was clearly news to the stranger, and it silenced him for the moment.
"Well, but your laws are made down there, and surely that is not good," he said at last.
"No, it would be well to have a Parliament back in Edinburgh," said my father; "but I am kept so busy with the sheep that I have little enough time to think of such things."
"It is for fine young men like you two to think of it," said de Lapp. "When a country is injured, it is to its young men that it looks to avenge it."
"Aye! the English take too much upon themselves sometimes," said Jim.
"Well, if there are many of that way of thinking about, why should we not form them into battalions and march them upon London?" cried de Lapp.
"That would be a rare little picnic," said I, laughing. "And who would lead us?"
He jumped up, bowing, with his hand on his heart, in his queer fashion.
"If you will allow me to have the honour!" he cried; and then seeing that we were all laughing, he began to laugh also, but I am sure that there was really no thought of a joke in his mind.