"They talked of such a thing on the river," replied Horse Shoe.
"Well, and what was said?"
"Nothing in particular that I can bear in mind."
"Like all the rest we have tried to get out of him! You don't even know which party got the better?"
"Oh, I have hearn that, sir."
"What did you hear? speak out!"
"Shall I give you the circumlocutory account of the matter?" asked Horse Shoe, "or did you wish me to go into the particulars?"
"Any account, so that it be short."
"Then I have hearn that Marion gave the t'other side a bit of a beating."
"Aye, aye, so I suppose! Another tale of this Jack the Giant Killer! And what has become of Marion?"