"I have been playing ninepins," he replied, "and lost a couple of dollars."

The Highlanders were happy, noisy, and full of confidence-notunjustly, for so far they had played ninepins with the Royal troops.

Then more men dropped down, one after the other, who fetching nine skeleton legs and two skulls, put them up and played ninepins with them.

"I played ninepins," he answered, "and lost a few pence." "Didn't you shudder then?" "No such luck," said he; "I made myself merry.