"You are before a magistrate."
"All I have to answer then is, that I should not have shot the animal had I not believed myself within my rights."
"On that point, and on this very ground, I instructed you myself!" said the chief.
"I misunderstood you."
"Say rather you had not the courtesy to heed what I told you-had not faith enough to take the word of a gentleman! And for this my poor stag has suffered!"
He stood for some moments in conflict with himself, then quietly resumed.
"Of course, Mr. Sercombe, I have no intention of pushing the matter!" he said.
"I should hope not!" returned Sercombe scornfully. "I will pay whatever you choose to set on the brute."
It would be hard to say which was less agreeable to the chief-to have his stag called a brute, or be offered blood-money for him.
"Stag Ruadh priced like a bullock!" he said, with a slow smile, full of sadness; "—the pride of every child in the strath! Not a gentleman in the county would have shot Clanruadh's deer!"