Page:Witty & entertaining exploits of George Buchanan.pdf/19

19 he was made the greatest fool, and charged them to go home for he wanted no more of England's strength, wisdom, or folly. 7. One night a Highland drover chanced to have a drinking bout with an English captain of a ship, and at last they came to be very hearty over their cups, so that they called in their servant to have a share of their liquor. The drover's servant looked like a wild man, going without breeches, stockings, or shoes, not so much as a bonnet on his head, with a long peeled rung in his hand. The captain asked the drover how long it was since he catched him ! He answered it is about two years since I hauled him out of the sea with a net, and afterwards ran into the mountains, where I catched him with a pack of hounds. The captain believed it was so but, says he, I have a servant the best swimmer in the work. O, bat, says the drover, my servant will swim him to death. No, he will not, says the captain, I'll lay one hundred crown on it Then, says the drover, I'll lay it one to one, and staked directly; the day being appointed when the trial was to be made. Now, the drover, when he came to himself, thinking on what a bargain he had made, did not know what do do, knowing very well that his servant could swim none. He hearing of George being in town, who was always a good friend to Scotchmen, he went unto him and told him the whole story, and that he would be entirely broke, and durst never return home to his own country, for he was sure to lose it. Then George called the drover and his man aside, and instructed them how to behave, so that they should be save and gain too. So accord- ingly they met at the place appointed. The captain's man stript directly and threw himself into the sea,