human
Losh, panted the giant, returning to the man on the road,
gpt
I wish I'd been here at the beginning.
human
Thank goodness you came at the end,
gpt
Are you hurt?
human
I'm not just sure yet,
gpt
Just a bit cloor on the croon, said the other in broad Lowland Scotch.
human
It stunners a man, but it's nothin' ava when ye can stan' on your ain feet.
gpt
Oh, it's not the first time I've had to fight for my crown, said James with a laugh,
human
Are ye able to walk on, for I'm in a bit o' a hurry, as ye'd have seen if your attention hadna been turned to the north.
gpt
Oh, quite able,
human
What's wrong wi' those scamps to lay on a poor beggar man?
gpt
Nothing, except that the beggar man is not so poor as he looks, and has a belt of gold about him, which he was foolish enough to show last night at the inn where these lads were drinking.
human
Then the lesson hasn't taught you much, or you wouldn't say that to a complete stranger in the middle of a black forest, and you alone with him, that is, unless they've succeeded in reiving the belt away from you?
gpt
No, they have not robbed me, and to show you that I am not such a fool as you take me for, I may add that the moment you came up I resolved to give to my rescuer every gold piece that is in my belt. So you see, if you thought of robbing me, there's little use in taking by force what a man is more than willing to give you of his own free will.
human
What I have said seems to amuse you,
gpt
It does that, replied the stranger, still struggling with his mirth; then striking the king on the shoulder, he continued,
human
I suppose there is not another man in all broad Scotland to-day but me, that wouldn't give the snap of his fingers for all the gold you ever carried.
gpt
Then you must be wealthy, commented the king.
human
Yet it can't be that, for the richest men I know are the greediest.
gpt
No, it isn't that, rejoined the stranger,
human
Baldy Hutchinson!
gpt
What, not the man who is to be hanged to-day at St. Ninians?
human
The very same, so you see that all the gold ever minted is of little use to a man with a tightening rope round his neck.