Page:Scott - Tales of my Landlord - 3rd series - 1819.djvu/193

Rh before, respecting the worth and precedence of our several nations, it pleased him the next day to deliver his orders to me with the point of his battoon advanced and held aloof, instead of declining and trailing the same, as is the fashion from a courteous commanding officer towards his equal in rank, though, it may be, his inferior in military grade. Upon this quarrel, sir, we fought in private rencontre; and as, in the perquisitions which followed, it pleased Walter Butler, our Oberst or colonel, to give the lighter punishment to his countryman and the heavier to me, whereupon ill-stomaching such partiality, I exchanged my commission for one under the Spaniard."

"I hope you found yourself better off by the change?" said Lord Menteith.

"In good sooth," answered the Ritt-master, "I had but little to complain of. The pay was somewhat regular, being furnished by the rich Flemings and Walloons of the Low Country. The quarters were