And even as it was , I had paid for it pretty dear , not only in past sufferings , but in my present case ; being clothed like a beggar-man , scarce able to walk , and in great pain of my sore throat . I have seen wicked men and fools , a great many of both ; and I believe they both get paid in the end ; but the fools first . CHAPTER XV THE LAD WITH THE SILVER BUTTON : THROUGH THE ISLE OF MULL The Ross of Mull , which I had now got upon , was rugged and trackless , like the isle I had just left ; being all bog , and brier , and big stone . There may be roads for them that know that country well ; but for my part I had no better guide than my own nose , and no other landmark than Ben More . I aimed as well as I could for the smoke I had seen so often from the island ; and with all my great weariness and the difficulty of the way came upon the house in the bottom of a little hollow about five or six at night . It was low and longish , roofed with turf and built of unmortared stones ; and on a mound in front of it , an old gentleman sat smoking his pipe in the sun . With what little English he had , he gave me to understand that my shipmates had got safe ashore , and had broken bread in that very house on the day after . `` Was there one , '' I asked , `` dressed like a gentleman ? '' He said they all wore rough great-coats ; but to be sure , the first of them , the one that came alone , wore breeches and stockings , while the rest had sailors ' trousers . `` Ah , '' said I , `` and he would have a feathered hat ? '' He told me , no , that he was bareheaded like myself . At first I thought Alan might have lost his hat ; and then the rain came in my mind , and I judged it more likely he had it out of harm 's way under his great-coat . This set me smiling , partly because my friend was safe , partly to think of his vanity in dress . And then the old gentleman clapped his hand to his brow , and cried out that I must be the lad with the silver button . `` Why , yes ! '' said I , in some wonder . `` Well , then , '' said the old gentleman , `` I have a word for you , that you are to follow your friend to his country , by Torosay . '' He then asked me how I had fared , and I told him my tale . A south-country man would certainly have laughed ; but this old gentleman -LRB- I call him so because of his manners , for his clothes were dropping off his back -RRB- heard me all through with nothing but gravity and pity . When I had done , he took me by the hand , led me into his hut -LRB- it was no better -RRB- and presented me before his wife , as if she had been the Queen and I a duke .
The good woman set oat-bread before me and a cold grouse , patting my shoulder and smiling to me all the time , for she had no XXXXX ; and the old gentleman -LRB- not to be behind -RRB- brewed me a strong punch out of their country spirit .
English More Mull Queen XV beggar-man great-coat left night smoking