Page:Witty and entertaining exploits of George Buchanan (11).pdf/15



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mind of you pretty well. And where was you last night. Last night! says George, I was in one of the inns, and the civilest landlord I ever had in my life; they brought all things to me that I stood in need of, without calling for them; and when I came off this morning, they charged me nothing, and I paid nothing but sixpence to the boy for dressing my horse. Blood and wounds! said the old fellow, then I'll go there this night --Ay, do, says George, and mind this, when they ask you what you will have for yourself and your horse, answer, What you will, sir. George smiled within himself to think how he had got the one extortioner to take amends of the other. So this innkeeper set off on his journey, and rode so late that night, that he might reach the cheap inn, that most of the people were gone to bed before he arrived. As soon as he dismounted from his horse, the boy enquired at him what shall I give to your horse, master? To which he answered, What you will, boy, The boy hearing this ran away up stairs (leaving him and his horse standing at the door) to his master's room, crying, master, master, What you will is come again!!--- O the rogue! cries he, where is he?--I'll cane him-—I'll what you will him by and by!--And to him he runs with his cane, licks and kicks him untill he was hardly able to mount his horse again, and would give him ne entertainment there; which caused him to ride a whole winter night, after he had got his bones all beat and bruised. So the one pursued the other as a murderer; and his defence was, That he was a cheat, and a scorner of his house:until the truth was found out.