Page:Scott - Tales of my Landlord - 3rd series - 1819.djvu/180

170 sword, if wielded by a strong man; and none of them had any weapons, save swords and pistols, without which gentlemen, or their attendants, during those disturbed times, seldom stirred abroad.

When they had stood at gaze for about a minute, the younger gentleman gave the challenge which was then common in the mouth of all strangers who met in such circumstances—"For whom are you?"

"Tell me first," answered the soldier, "for whom are you;—the strongest party should speak first."

"We are for God and King Charles," answered the first speaker—"Now tell your faction, you know our's?"

"I am for God and my standard," answered the single horseman.

"And for which standard?" replied the chief of the other party—" Cavalier or Roundhead, King or Convention?"

"By my troth, sir," answered the soldier, "I would be loth to reply to you with an untruth, as a thing unbecoming a cavalier