Page:Witty and entertaining exploits of George Buchannan.pdf/13

( 13 ) a bonnet on his head, with a long peel'd rung in his head. The captain aſked how long it was ſince he catched him; about two years ſince I hauled him out of the ſea with a net, and afterwards he 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 Europe; O but ſays the drover, my ſervant will him to death; No ſays the captain, I will lay two hundred guineas Then ſays the drover. I hold it one for one, are ſtakes it directly; the day being appointed when trial was to be made. Now the drover when he came to himſelf thinking what a bargain he had made, did not know what to do, knowing very well his ſervant could ſwim none. He hearing of George being in town, who always was a good friend to a Scotſman, and went unto him and told him the whale ſtory, and that he would be entirely broken, and never durſt return home to his own country, for he was ſure to loſe.- Now George called the drover and his ſervant aſide; and inſtructed then how to bring him off with ſafety and gain too; ſo accordingly they met at the place appointed; The captain's ſervant ſtripped directly and threw himſelf into the ſea, taking a turn until the Highlandman was ready, for the drover took ſome time to put his ſervant in order; after he was ſtripped, his maſter took a plaid, and rolled his kebbeck of cheese, a big loaf, and a bottle of gin in it, and this he hound on his ſhoulders giving him a direction to tell his wife and children he was well; and to be ſure he returned with an anſwer againſt that day ſo'night. So he went into the ſea, he looked back to his matter, and cries out to his for his claymore. And what it be for now, ſays he who was to ſwim along with him? He wants his ſword ſays his maſter. His ſword, ſays the fellow, what is he to do with a ſword? Why, ſays the maſter, if he met a whale or monſtrous is to defend his life I know be will have to fight his way thro' the north ſeas, ere he go to Lochaber, Then cries the other, I will ſwim none with him if he takes his ſword. Ah but ſays his maſter, you ſhall, or loſe the wager, take you another word with you. No ſays the fellow, never did ſwim with a ſword, nor any man elſe that ever I ſaw or heard of, I know not but that wild-like man will kill me in the deep water, I would not for the whole world venture myſelf with him and a ſword. The apt in ſeeing is ſervant afraid to venture, or he did, he was ſure never to ſee him again alive; therefore be deſired an agreement with the drover, who at firſt ſeemed unwilling, but the captain put it in his will; ſo one drover quit him for one hundred guineas. This he came to through George's advice.