“Thou knowest not what a cormorant I am,” said Tullochcarron.
“I have heard much of thy powers,” said Ballindalloch.
“And I am as sharp set at this moment as ever I was in my life,” said Tullochcarron.
“All that may be; yet I fear thee not,” said Ballindalloch laughing.
“Art thou bold enough to lay a wager on the issue?” demanded Tullochcarron.
“I am so bold,” said Ballindalloch.
“Well, then,” said Tullochcarron, “I will wager thee the succession and heirship of my lands against thy grey gelding, that I shall not leave thee a morsel to spare.”
“Thou dost give me brave odds, indeed,” said Ballindalloch; “thou hadst best bethink thee again ere we strike thumbs on it.”
“Nay, I require no more thought,” said Tullochcarron; “and, moreover, I grow hungrier every moment. Besides,” said the old man with a sigh, that showed that all this jocularity was only assumed to cover a broken heart; “I am putting in peril that in which I can have no interest, whilst, if I win thy gallant grey, I shall be sure of being well mounted for the rest of my life. Art thou afraid of losing thy steed? or wilt thou say done to the wager?”
“I do say done, then, since thou wilt have it so,” said Ballindalloch, and he accordingly gave the necessary orders for having the matter put to the proof.