``It were very just to lay you beside him,'' he
said, ``but the blood of a base pick-thank shall
never mix on my father's dirk, with that of a brave
man.''
As he spoke, he cast the man from him with so
much force that he fell on the floor, while Robin,
with his other hand, threw the fatal weapon into
the blazing turf-fire.
``There,'' he said, ``take me who likes---and let
fire cleanse blood if it can.''
The pause of astonishment still continuing, Robin
Oig asked for a peace-officer, and a constable
having stepped out, he surrendered himself to his
custody.
``A bloody night's work you have made of it,''
said the constable.
``Your own fault,'' said the Highlander. ``Had
you kept his hands off me twa hours since, he would
have been now as well and merry as he was twa
minutes since.''
``It must be sorely answered,'' said the peace-officer.
``Never you mind that---death pays all debts;
it will pay that too.''
The horror of the bystanders began now to give
way to indignation; and the sight of a favourite
companion murdered in the midst of them, the
provocation being, in their opinion, so utterly inadequate
to the excess of vengeance, might have
induced them to kill the perpetrator of the deed
even upon the very spot.
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