human
No, no, said the king decisively,
gpt
Bring them in, bring them in. I'll have none cast into prison without at least a hearing. Have any of your men been killed?
human
No, your majesty, replied Sir Donald,
gpt
How many are there of them?
human
Something more than a score, with a piper that's noisier than the other twenty, led by a breechless ruffian, although I must say he knows what to do with a sword.
gpt
All armed, you say?
human
Every one of them but the piper. About half an hour ago they came marching up the main street of Stirling, each man with his sword drawn, and the pipes skirling death and defiance. They had the whole town at their heels laughing and jeering at them and imitating the wild Highland music. At first, they paid little attention to the mob that followed them, but in the square their leader gave a word in Gaelic, and at once the whole company swerved about and charged the crowd. There was instant panic among the townspeople, who fled in all directions out-screaming the pibroch in their fright. No one was hurt, for the Highlandmen struck them with the flat of their swords, but several were trampled under foot and are none the better for it.
gpt
It serves them right, commented the king.
human
I hope it will teach them manners, towards strangers, at least. What followed?
gpt
A whistle from their leader collected his helots again, and so they marched straight from the square to the gates of the castle. The two soldiers on guard crossed pikes before them, but the leader, without a word, struck down their weapons and attempted to march in, brave as you please; who but they! There was a bit of a scuffle at the gate, then the bugle sounded and we surrounded them, trying to disarm them peaceably at first, but they fought like demons, and so there's some sore heads among them.
human
You disarmed them, of course?
gpt
Certainly, your majesty.
human
Very well; bring them in and let us hear what they have to say for themselves.
gpt
Failte mhic an Abba,
human
Stop it, ye deevil! cried the captain of the guard.
gpt
How dare you set up such a squawking in the presence of the king?