ackled,"
said the Highlander, haughtily. "Her own self cannot fight even now, and
there is little gallantry in taunting her thus."

"By nails and hammer, you are right there," said the smith, altering his
tone. "But speak out at once, friend, what is it thou wouldst have of
me? I am in no humour for dallying."

"A hauberk for her chief, Eachin MacIan," said the Highlander.

"You are a hammer man, you say? Are you a judge of this?" said our
smith, producing from a chest the mail shirt on which he had been lately
employed.

The Gael handled it with a degree of admiration which had something of
envy in it. He looked curiously at every part of its texture, and at
length declared it the very best piece of armour that he had ever seen.

"A hundred cows and bullocks and a good drift of sheep would be e'en
ower cheap an offer," said the Highlandman, by way of tentative; "but
her nainsell will never bid thee less, come by them how she can."

"It is a fair proffer," replied Henry; "but gold nor gear will never buy
that harness. I want to try my own sword on my own armour, and I will
not give that mail coat to any one but who will face me for the best of
three blows and a thrust in the fair field; and it is your chief's upon
these terms."

"Hut, prut, man--take a drink and go to bed," said the Highlander, in
great scorn. "Are ye mad? Think ye the captain of the Clan Quhele will
be brawling and battling with a bit Perth burgess body like you? Whisht,
man, and hearken. Her nainsell will do ye mair credit than ever belonged
to your kin. She will fight you for the fair harness hersell."

"She must first show that she is my match," said Henry, with a grim
smile.

"How! I, one of Eachin MacIan's leichtach, and not your match!"

"You may try me, if you will. You say you are a fir nan ord. Do you know
how to cast a sledge hammer?"

"Ay, truly--ask the eagle if he can fly over Farragon."

"But before you strive with me, you must first try a cast with one of my
leichtach. Here, Dunter, stand forth for the honour of Perth! And now,
Highlandman, there stands a row of hammers; choose which you will, and
let us to the garden."

The Highlander whose name was Norman nan Ord, or Norman of the Hammer,
showed his title to the epithet by selecting the largest hammer of the
set, at which Henry smiled. Dunter, the stout journeyman of the smith,
made what was called a prodigious cast; but the Highlander, making a
desperate effort, threw