ny
field of honour, from the carpet of a prime minister to one of your
infernal dusty _campos_, with any weapon, from pistol and sword to a
tooth-pick--with any Spaniard, or Frenchman, or mongrel tyke that ever
lifted wine pot."

"Is this a way to speak to gentlemen--I put it to you, caballeros?"
cried one of the deputation, a huge rawboned Galician, angrily.

The Scot instantly detected the accent of the speaker and, dismissing
him with the gesture one uses to a menial, called out, "Caballeros,
indeed! What needs this son of the burden-bearing animal to speak of
Caballeros? Is there any old Castilian here, of the right ancient stock?
If so, let him arbitrate between us. I, for one, will abide by his
decision. The sons of gentlemen and soldiers will not do wrong to a
soldier and a stranger!"

Then from the darkest and most distant corner, where he had sat wrapped
in his great striped mantle with the cape drawn close about his head,
rose a man of a little past the middle years of life, his black beard
showing only a few threads of grey, where the tell-tale wisdom tuft
springs from the under lip.

"Young sir," he said courteously, "I am an Old Castilian from
Valladolid. I will hear your cause of quarrel, and, if you so desire,
advise my compatriots, if they in their turn will consent to put their
case into my hands."

There was some demur at this among the rougher gipsies and muleteers,
but every one was anxious for the evening meal, and the fragrant earthen
pipkins and great iron central pot gave forth a good smell. Also a
red-waistcoated man-servant ran hither and thither among them,
whispering in the ear of each belligerent; and his communication, having
presumably to do with the stranger's quality and condition, had a
remarkable effect in casting oil upon the waters. Indeed, the Migueletes
had withdrawn as soon as the Castilian came forward, and presently he of
Galicia, having consulted with his fellows, answered that for his part
he was quite prepared to submit the causes of strife to the noble
cavalier from Valladolid, provided the stranger also would abide by the
decision.

"I have said so," put in the Scot fiercely, "and _my_ custom is not to
make a promise at night for the purpose of breaking it in the morning!"

CHAPTER IV

A LITTLE COMB-CUTTING

By his accent of defiance, the Scot evidently considered that he had
made a personal point here, but the Old Castilian gravely passed the
insult ov