"But I did—I did—oh, you chaps, I tell 'ee I did!"
"You 'm gettin' old, Gaffer," repeated Amos, dwelling upon the theme with great unction, "very, very old—"
"But so strong as a bull, I be!" added the Ancient, trying manfully to steady the quaver in his voice.
"Haw! haw!" laughed Job and the others, while Old Amos chuckled shrilly again.
"But I tell 'ee I did see un, I—I see'd un plain as plain," quavered the Ancient, in sudden distress. "Old Nick it were, wi' 'orns, an' a tail."
"Why, Peter told us 'twere only a Scottish man wi' a bagpipe," returned
Job.
"Ay, for sure," nodded Old Amos, "so 'e did."
"A lie, it be—a lie, a lie!" cried the Ancient, "'twere Old Nick, I see un—plain as I see you."
"Why, ye see, you 'm gettin' dre'fful old an' 'elpless, Gaffer," chuckled Old Amos again, "an' your eyes plays tricks wi' you."
"Ah, to be sure they do!" added Job; whereupon Old Amos chuckled so much that he was taken by a violent fit of coughing.