Page:Scott - Tales of my Landlord - 3rd series - 1819.djvu/279

Rh derogatory to his dignity to stir without a retinue of six or seven persons. To every new annunciation, Angus M'Auley answered by naming some place of accommodation,—the stable, the loft, the cow-house, the sheds, every domestic office was destined for the night to some hospitable purpose or accommodation. At length the arrival of M'Dougal of Lorn, after all his means of accommodation were exhausted, reduced him to some perplexity. "What the devil is to be done, Donald?" said he; "the great barn would hold fifty more, if they would lie heads and thraws; but there would be drawn dirks amang them which should lie uppermost, and so we should have bloody puddings before morning!"

"What needs all this?" said Allan, starting up, and coming forward with the stern abruptness of his usual manner; "are the Gael to-day of softer flesh or whiter blood than their fathers were? Knock the head out of a cask of usquebae, let that be their night gear—their plaids their