Page:Witty and entertaining exploits of George Buchanan (1).pdf/10

10 and therefore do not like to part with it : novertheless since being determined as you are, to exchange blows for it, pray do me the favour to fire your pistol through the flap of my cloak, that the owners may see I have been in danger of my life before I parted with it which he accordingly did. No sooner had he fired the pistol, than George whipt out his hanger from below his cloak, and with one stroke cut off his right hand, wherein he held his sword, so that both his sword and the hand fell to the ground; but George lifted his hand and carried it to the king. No sooner did he come before them, but they asked him, saying, well, George, did you see any body to trouble you by the way? None, said he, but one fellow, who was going to take the money from me, but I made him give me his hand he would not do the like again. You did ?, says the fellow's master. Yes, I did, says George ;-let work bear witness, throwing down the fellow's hand on the table before them all. 7. Now, this last exploit of George's caused many of the English to hate him; and, among the rest, a young nobleman fell a joking of George, saying, he would be as famous a champion for Scotland as Sir William Wallace was. Ay, ay, says George, Wallace was & brave man in his time.- True indeed, says the young nobleman, but when he came to London, we did him all manner of justice, and for honour of the Scots, we have his effigy in the go to this very day. And do you know. the reason of that, says George ? No, I dont, says he. Well, I'll tell you, says George : he was such a terror to Englishmen, when he was alive, that the sight of his picture yet makes them -- them. selves. The English took this answer as a great affront: and forthwith caused Wallace's picture to be taken out of all their s--