and took his knocks with the utmost good humor.

"That was a good one, Mack," said Dannie Ross, his special chum, as a
sounding whack came in on Big Mack's face. "As true as death I will be
telling it to Bella Peter. Bella, the daughter of Peter McGregor, was
supposed to be dear to Big Mack's heart.

"What a peety she could not see him the now," said Finlay Campbell. "Man
alive, she would say the word queeck!"

"'Tis more than she will do to you whatever, if you cannot keep off that
crapeau yonder a little better," said Big Mack, reaching for a Frenchman
who kept dodging in upon him with annoying persistence. Then Mack began
to swear Gaelic oaths.

"'Tain't fair, Mack!" called out Yankee from his end of the line, "bad
language in English is bad enough, but in Gaelic it must be uncommon
rough." So they gibed each other. But the tactics of the enemy were
exceedingly irritating, and were beginning to tell upon the tempers of
the Highlanders.

"Come to me, ye cowardly little devil," roared Mack to his persisting
assailant. "No one will hurt you! Come away, man! A-a-ah-ouch!" His cry
of satisfaction at having grabbed his man ended in a howl of pain, for
the Frenchman had got Mack's thumb between his teeth, and was chewing it
vigorously.

"Ye would, would you, ye dog?" roared Big Mack. He closed his fingers
into the Frenchman's gullet, and drew him up to strike, but on every
side hands reached for him and stayed his blow. Then he lost himself.