Dickwasmuchdisposedtotakethesword，buthisboldspiritwasquailedbythesupernaturalterrorsofthehall，andhethoughttounsheaththeswordfirst，mightbeconstruedintodefiance，andgiveoffencetothepowersoftheMountain。Hetookthebuglewithatremblinghand，andafeeblenote，butloudenoughtoproduceaterribleanswer。Thunderrolledinstunningpealsthroughtheimmensehall；horsesandmenstartedtolife；the，steedssnorted，stamped，grindedtheirbits，andtossedonhightheirheads-thewarriorssprungtotheirfeet，clashedtheirarmour，andbrandishedtheirswords。Dick’sterrorwasextremeatseeingthewholearmy，whichhadbeensolatelysilentasthegrave，inuproar，andabouttorushonhim。Hedroppedthehorn，andmadeafeebleattempttoseizetheenchantedsword；butatthesamemomentavoicepronouncedaloudthemysteriouswords：-
Woetothecoward，thateverhewasborn，Whodidnotdrawtheswordbeforeheblewthehorn！’’
Atthesametimeawhirlwindofirresistiblefuryhowledthroughthelonghall，boretheunfortunatehorse-jockeyclearoutofthemouthofthecavern，andprecipitatedhimoverasteep，bankofloosestones，wheretheshepherdsfoundhimthenextmorning，withjustbreathsufficienttotellhisfearfultale，afterconcludingwhichheexpired。
Thislegend，withseveralvariations，isfoundinmanypartsofScotlandandEngland-thesceneissometimeslaidinsomefavouriteglenoftheHighlands，sometimesinthedeepcoal-minesofNorthumberlandandCumberland，whichrunsofarbeneaththeocean。ItisalsotobefoundinReginaldScott’sbookonWitchcraft，whichwaswritteninthesixteenthcentury。Itwouldbeinvaintoaskwhatwastheoriginalofthetradition。
Thechoicebetweenthehornandswordmay，perhaps，includeasamoral，thatitisfool-hardytoawakendangerbeforewehavearmsinourhandstoresistit。