J. F. Campbell Collection > Popular tales of the West Highlands > Volume 2

THE SON OF THE SCOTTISH YEOMAN. 243
"Well done, my man," said his master, "you're a
clever fellow. I liad a high opinion of you before ;
I think much more of you now."
They prepared this day, too, to go and visit the
bishop. It was Friday.
" JSTow," said the servant, " I left home without a
horse, yesterday, but I won't leave in the same way
to-day."
"Well, my man," said his master, "as you have
got the horse, I'll give you a saddle."
So they set ofl' this day again to meet the bishop,
his master and himself riding their horses. They saw
the bishop coming to meet them, apparently mad.
Wlien they came close together they observed that the
bishop rode another horse, by no means so good as his
own. The bisho]) and chief magistrate met -with
salutations. The bishop turned to the chief magis-
trate's servant, —
" Scoundrel," said he, "and thorough thief!"
" You can't call me worse," said the other. " I
don't know that you can call me that justly ; for, you
know, I told you what I was to do. Without more
words, pay me my five hundred merks."
This had to be done, though not very wilhngly.
" What would you now say," says the lad, " if I
were to steal your daughter to-night V
" My daughter, you worthless fellow," said the
bishop ; " you shan't steal my daughter."
" I'll wager five hundred merks and the brown
horse," said the lad, " that I'll steal her."
" I'll Avager five hundred merks that you don't,"
said the bishop.
The wager was laid. The lad and his master went
home. " Young man," said the master, " I thought
well of you at one time, but you have done a foolish