`` Why , '' said I , `` he is a man you should be proud to give your hand to . '' `` I know nothing I would help a Campbell to , '' says he , `` unless it was a leaden bullet . I would hunt all of that name like blackcocks . If I lay dying , I would crawl upon my knees to my chamber window for a shot at one . '' `` Why , Alan , '' I cried , `` what ails ye at the Campbells ? '' `` Well , '' says he , `` ye ken very well that I am an Appin Stewart , and the Campbells have long harried and wasted those of my name ; ay , and got lands of us by treachery -- but never with the sword , '' he cried loudly , and with the word brought down his fist upon the table . But I paid the less attention to this , for I knew it was usually said by those who have the underhand . `` There 's more than that , '' he continued , `` and all in the same story : lying words , lying papers , tricks fit for a peddler , and the show of what 's legal over all , to make a man the more angry . '' `` You that are so wasteful of your buttons , '' said I , `` I can hardly think you would be a good judge of business . '' `` Ah ! '' says he , falling again to smiling , `` I got my wastefulness from the same man I got the buttons from ; and that was my poor father , Duncan Stewart , grace be to him ! He was the prettiest man of his kindred ; and the best swordsman in the Hielands , David , and that is the same as to say , in all the world , I should ken , for it was him that taught me . He was in the Black Watch , when first it was mustered ; and , like other gentlemen privates , had a gillie at his back to carry his firelock for him on the march . Well , the King , it appears , was wishful to see Hieland swordsmanship ; and my father and three more were chosen out and sent to London town , to let him see it at the best . So they were had into the palace and showed the whole art of the sword for two hours at a stretch , before King George and Queen Carline , and the Butcher Cumberland , and many more of whom I havenae mind . And when they were through , the King -LRB- for all he was a rank usurper -RRB- spoke them fair and gave each man three guineas in his hand . Now , as they were going out of the palace , they had a porter 's lodge to go by ; and it came in on my father , as he was perhaps the first private Hieland gentleman that had ever gone by that door , it was right he should give the poor porter a proper notion of their quality . So he gives the King 's three guineas into the man 's hand , as if it was his common custom ; the three others that came behind him did the same ; and there they were on the street , never a penny the better for their pains . Some say it was one , that was the first to fee the King 's porter ; and some say it was another ; but the truth of it is , that it was Duncan Stewart , as I am willing to prove with either sword or pistol . And that was the father that I had , God rest him ! ''
`` I think he was not the man to leave you rich , '' said I. `` And that 's true , '' said XXXXX .
Alan George Hieland ails firelock guineas hours privates right swordsman