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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/31715-8.txt b/31715-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..42d3c27 --- /dev/null +++ b/31715-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,8050 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of A Prince of Good Fellows, by Robert Barr + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: A Prince of Good Fellows + +Author: Robert Barr + +Illustrator: Edmund J. Sullivan + +Release Date: March 21, 2010 [EBook #31715] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A PRINCE OF GOOD FELLOWS *** + + + + +Produced by D Alexander and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This file was +produced from images generously made available by The +Internet Archive) + + + + + + + + + + A PRINCE OF + GOOD FELLOWS + + BY + + ROBERT BARR + + AUTHOR OF + + IN THE MIDST OF ALARMS, + TEKLA, ETC. + + ILLUSTRATED BY + + EDMUND J. SULLIVAN + + NEW YORK + + MCCLURE, PHILLIPS & CO. + + 1902 + + + + + _Copyright, 1902, by_ + MCCLURE, PHILLIPS & CO. + + _Copyright, 1901, by_ S. S. MCCLURE CO. + _Copyright, 1902, by_ S. S. MCCLURE CO. + _Copyright, 1901, by_ ROBERT BARR + _Copyright, 1902, by_ ROBERT BARR + + Published, May, 1902, R + + + + + [Illustration: JACOBUS, V, REX, SCOTORUM. + THE PRINCE OF GOOD FELLOWS] + + + + +To + +Thomas Spencer Jerome + +in his Villa of the Castle on the Island of Capri, this book is +respectfully dedicated, with the hope that some of the facts herein +set forth may aid him during his historical researches. + + + + + _A_ TABLE _of the_ CONTENTS + + + _Page_ + + THE KING INTERVENES 1 + + THE KING DINES 29 + + THE KING'S TRYST 47 + + THE KING INVESTIGATES 77 + + THE KING'S GOLD 113 + + THE KING A-BEGGING 147 + + THE KING'S VISIT 185 + + THE KING EXPLORES 213 + + THE KING DRINKS 243 + + THE KING SAILS 269 + + THE KING WEDS 297 + + + + + LIST _of_ ILLUSTRATIONS + + + The Prince of Good Fellows _Frontispiece_ + + _Facing page_ + + "Out of the way, fellow!" 4 + + "Headsman, do your duty" 26 + + "'As you get north of Sterling, Buchanan,' replied + James, with a smile, 'it is customary + to bring the knife with you when you go + out to dine'" 42 + + "My fair antagonist, I bid you good-night" 74 + + "The forty-one trees bore their burden" 110 + + "The figure of a tall man" 126 + + "With a wild scream Farini endeavoured to support + himself with his gauze-like wings" 144 + + "The King had composed a poem in thirteen + stanzas, entitled 'The Beggar Man'" 148 + + "Five stalwart ruffians fell upon him" 162 + + "'I am James, King of Scotland,' he proclaimed + in stentorian tones" 178 + + "At last MacNab sprang to his feet, holding + aloft his brimming flagon" 201 + + "The strangers were most hospitably entertained, + and entered thoroughly into the + spirit of the festivities" 234 + + "The King, however, appeared to have no forebodings, + but trotted along with great complacency" 246 + + "The two went outside and took the road by + which they had come" 270 + + + + +THE KING INTERVENES + + +Late evening had fallen on the grey walls of Stirling Castle, and dark +night on the town itself, where narrow streets and high gables gave +early welcome to the mirk, while the westward-facing turrets of the +castle still reflected the departing glory of the sky. + +With some suggestion of stealth in his movements, a young man picked +his way through the thickening gloom of the streets. There was still +light enough to show that, judging by his costume, he was of the +well-to-do farmer class. This was proclaimed by his broad, coarse, +bonnet and the grey check plaid which he wore, not looped to the +shoulder and pinned there by a brooch, Highland fashion, but wrapped +round his middle, with the two ends brought over the shoulders and +tucked under the wide belt which the plaid itself made, the fringes +hanging down at each knee, as a Lowland shepherd might have worn the +garment. As he threaded his way through the tortuous streets, ever +descending, he heard the clatter of a troop of horse coming up, and +paused, looking to the right and left, as if desirous of escaping an +encounter which seemed inevitable. But if such were his object, the +stoppage, although momentary, was already too long, for ere he could +deflect his course, the foremost of the horsemen was upon him, a well +known noble of the Scottish Court. + +"Out of the way, fellow!" cried the rider, and, barely giving him time +to obey, the horseman struck at the pedestrian fiercely with his whip. +The young man's agility saved him. Nimbly he placed his back against +the wall, thus avoiding the horse's hoof and the rider's lash. The +victim's right hand made a swift motion to his left hip, but finding +no weapon of defence there, the arm fell back to his side again, and +he laughed quietly to himself. The next motion of his hand was more in +accordance with his station, for it removed his bonnet, and he stood +uncovered until the proud cavalcade passed him. + +[Illustration: "OUT OF THE WAY, FELLOW!"] + +When the street was once more clear and the echoing sounds had died +away in the direction of the castle, the youth descended and descended +until he came to the lower part of the town where, turning aside up a +narrow lane, he knocked at the door of a closed and shuttered +building, evidently an abiding place of the poorer inhabitants of +Stirling. With some degree of caution the door was slightly opened, +but when the occupant saw, by the flash of light that came from +within, who his visitor was, he threw the portal wide and warmly +welcomed the newcomer. + +"Hey, guidman!" he cried, "ye're late the night in Stirling." + +"Yes," said the young man stepping inside, "but the farm will see +nothing of me till the morning. I've a friend in town who gives me a +bed for myself and a stall for my horse, and gets the same in return +when he pays a visit to the country." + +"A fair exchange," replied the host as he closed and barred the door. + +The low room in which the stranger found himself was palpably a +cobbler's shop. Boots and shoes of various sizes and different degrees +of ill repair strewed the floor, and the bench in the corner under a +lighted cruzie held implements of the trade, while the apron which +enveloped the man of the door proclaimed his occupation. The incomer +seated himself on a stool, and the cobbler returned to his last, +resuming his interrupted work. He looked up however, from time to +time, in kindly fashion at his visitor, who seemed to be a welcome +guest. + +"Well," said the shoemaker with a laugh, "what's wrong with you?" + +"Wrong with me? Nothing. Why do you think there is anything amiss?" + +"You are flushed in the face; your breath comes quick as if you had +been running, and there's a set about your lips that spells anger." + +"You are a very observing man, Flemming," replied he of the plaid. "I +have been walking fast so that I should have little chance of meeting +any one. But it is as well to tell the whole truth as only part of it. +I had a fright up the street. One of those young court sprigs riding +to the castle tried to trample me under the feet of his horse, and +struck at me with his whip for getting into his road, so I had just to +plaster my back against somebody's front door and keep out of the +way." + +"It's easy to see that you live in the country, Ballengeich," replied +the cobbler, "or you would never get red in the face over a little +thing like that." + +"I had some thought of pulling him off his horse, nevertheless," said +the Laird of Ballengeich, whose brow wrinkled into a frown at the +thought of the indignity he had suffered. + +"It was just as well you left him alone," commented the cobbler, "for +an unarmed man must even take whatever those court gallants think fit +to offer, and if wise, he keeps the gap in his face shut, for fear he +gets a bigger gap opened in his head. Such doings on the part of the +nobles do not make them exactly popular. Still, I am speaking rather +freely, and doubtless you are a firm friend of the new king?" and the +shoemaker cast a cautious sidelong glance at his visitor. + +"A friend of the king? I wonder to hear you! I doubt if he has a +greater enemy than myself in all Scotland." + +"Do you mean that, Ballengeich?" inquired the shoemaker, with more of +interest than the subject appeared to demand, laying down his hammer +as he spoke, and looking intently at his guest. + +"I'd never say it, if it wasn't true," replied the laird. + +It was some moments before the workman spoke, and then he surprised +the laird by a remark which had apparently nothing to do with what had +been said before. + +"You are not a married man, I think you told me?" + +"No, I am not. There's time enough for that yet," returned the other +with a smile. "You see, I am new to my situation of responsibility, +and it's as well not to take in the wife till you are sure you can +support her." + +"What like a house have you got, and how far is it from Stirling?" + +"The house is well enough in its way; there's more room in it than I +care to occupy. It's strongly built of stone, and could stand a siege +if necessary, as very likely it has done in days long past, for it's a +stout old mansion. It's near enough to Stirling for me to come in and +see my friend the cobbler in the evening, and sleep in my own bed that +night, if I care to do so." + +"Is it in a lonely place?" + +"I can hardly say that. It is at the top of a bit hill, yet there's +room enough to give you rest and retirement if you should think of +keeping retreat from the busy world of the town. What's on your mind, +Flemming? Are you swithering whether you'll turn farmer or no? Let me +inform you that it's a poor occupation." + +"I'll tell you what's on my mind, Ballengeich, if you'll swear piously +to keep it a secret." + +"Indeed, I'll do nothing of the sort," replied the young man +decisively. "An honest man's bare word is as good as his bond, and the +strongest oath ever sworn never yet kept a rascal from divulging a +secret intrusted to him." + +"You're right in that; you're right in that," the cobbler hastened to +add, "but this involves others as well as myself, and all are bound to +each other by oaths." + +"Then I venture to say you are engaged in some nefarious business. +What is it? I'll tell nobody, and mayhap, young as I am, I can +give you some plain, useful advice from the green fields that will +counteract the pernicious notions that rise in the stifling wynds +of the crowded town." + +"Well, I'm not at all sure that we don't need it, for to tell the +truth I have met with a wild set of lads, and I find myself wondering +how long my head will be in partnership with my body." + +"Is the case so serious as that?" + +"Aye, it is." + +"Then why not withdraw?" + +"Ah, that's easier said than done. When you once shut a spring door +on yourself, it isn't by saying 'I will' that you get out. You'll not +have forgotten the first night we met, when you jumped down on my back +from the wall of the Grey Friars' Church?" + +"I remember it very distinctly, but which was the more surprised, you +or I, I have never yet been able to settle. I know I was very much +taken aback." + +"Not so much as I," interrupted the cobbler dryly, "when you came +plump on my shoulders." + +"I was going to say," went on Ballengeich, "that I'm afraid my +explanation about taking a short cut was rather incoherent." + +"Oh, no more than mine, that I was there to catch a thief. It was none +of my business to learn why you were in the kirkyard." + +"By the way, did you ever hear any more of the thief you were after?" + +"That's just the point I am coming to. The man we were after was his +youthful majesty, James the Fifth, of Scotland." + +"What, the king!" exclaimed the amazed laird. + +"Just him, and no other," replied the cobbler, "and very glad I am +that the ploy miscarried, although I fear it's to come on again." + +"I never heard the like of this!" + +"You may well say that. You see it is known that the king in disguise +visits a certain house, for what purpose his majesty will be able to +tell you better than I. He goes unattended and secretly, and this +gives us our chance." + +"But what in the name of the god of fools whoever he happens to be, +would you do with Jamie once you got him?" + +"'Deed there's many things that might be mended in this country, as +you very well know, and the king can mend them if he likes, with a +word. Now rather than have his throat cut, our leader thinks he will +agree to reasonable reform." + +"And supposing he doesn't agree, are you going to cut his throat?" + +"I don't know what would happen if he proved stubborn. The moderate +section is just for locking him by somewhere until he listens to +wisdom." + +"And it is in your mind that my house should become a prison for the +king?" + +"It seems to me worth considering." + +"There seems to me very little worth considering in the matter. It is +a mad scheme. Supposing the king promised under compulsion, what would +be his first action the moment he returned to Stirling Castle? He +would scour the country for you, and your heads would come off one by +one like buttons from an old coat." + +"That's what I said. 'Trust the word of a Stuart,' says I, 'it's pure +nonsense!'" + +"Oh I'm not sure but the word of a Stuart is as good as the word of +any other man," replied Ballengeich with a ring of anger in his voice, +at which the cobbler looked up surprised. + +"You're not such an enemy of the king as you let on at first," +commented the mender of shoes. "I doubt if I should have told you all +this." + +"Have no fear. I can pledge you that my word is as good as a Stuart's +at least." + +"I hope it's a good deal better." + +"Your plan is not only useless, but dangerous, my friend. I told you +I would give you my advice, and now you have it. Do you think James is +a lad that you can tie to your bench stool here, lock your door, and +expect to find him when you came back? You must remember that James +has been in captivity before, when the Earl of Angus thought he had +him secure in the stronghold of Falkland, and yet, Jamie, who was then +but a lad of sixteen, managed to escape. Man Flemming, I must tell you +about that some day." + +"Tell me about what?" inquired the shoemaker. + +"Oh well, it may not be true after all," said young Ballengeich in +confusion, "but a friend of mine was gardener at Falkland and knew the +whole story about James's escape. Never mind that; my advice to you is +to shake hands with all such schemes, and turn your back on them." + +"Oh, that's soon said," cried the cobbler with some impatience. "'Keep +out of the fire and ye'll not be burnt,' says the branch on the tree +to the faggot on the woodman's back. You see, Ballengeich, in this +matter I'm between the cart-wheel and the hard road. My head's off if +this ploy miscarries, as you've just told me, and my throat's cut if I +withdraw from the secret conclave. It's but a choice between two +hashings. There's a dead cobbler in any event." + +"I see your difficulty," said the laird; "do you want to be helped out +of it?" + +"Does the toad want to get from under the harrow?" + +"When is your next meeting, and where?" + +"The meetings are held in this room, and the next will be on Wednesday +night at eleven o'clock." + +"Bless my soul!" cried Ballengeich. "Would nothing content you but to +drink the whole bucketful? The rendezvous in your shop! Then whoever +escapes, your head's on a pike." + +"Aye," murmured the shoemaker dismally. + +"It isn't taking very many of you to overturn the House of Stuart," +said the laird, looking about the room, which was small. + +"There's just one less than a dozen," replied the cobbler. + +"Then we'll make up the number to the even twelve, hoping good luck +will attend us, for we will be as many as the Apostles. Between now +and Wednesday you might confer with your leaders, Flemming. Tell them +you know a young man you can trust, who owns exactly the kind of house +that James can be kept fast in, if he is captured. Say that your new +conspirator will take the oath, or anything else they like to give, +and add, what is more to the purpose, that he has a plot of his own +which differs from theirs, in giving at least as much chance of +success, and possesses the additional advantage of being safe. Whether +his plan miscarries or not, there will be no need to fear a reprisal, +and that is much to say in its favour." + +"It is everything in its favour," said the shoemaker with a sigh of +relief. + +"Very well, then, I will meet you here on Wednesday night at this +time, and learn whether or no they agree to have me as one of their +number. If they refuse, there's no harm done; I shall say nothing, and +the king will know no more about the matter than he does now." + +"I could not ask better assurance than that," said the host cordially +as his guest rose. + +They shook hands, and the guidman of Ballengeich, after peering out +into the darkness to see that the way was clear, took his leave. + +The laird was prompt in keeping his appointment on the following +Wednesday, and learned that the conspirators were glad of his +assistance. The cobbler's tool-box had been pushed out of the way, +and a makeshift table, composed of three boards and two trestles, +occupied the centre of the room. A bench made up in similar fashion +ran along the back wall, and there were besides, half a dozen stools. +A hospitable pitcher of strong drink stood on the rude table, with a +few small measures, cups and horns. + +As if the weight of conspiracy had lain heavy on his shoulders, the +young Laird of Ballengeich seemed older than he had ever looked +before. Lines of care marked his brow, and his distraught manner +proclaimed the plot-monger new to a dangerous business. The lights, +however, were dim, and Ballengeich doubted if any there present would +recognise him should they meet him in broad day, and this, in a +measure, was comforting. The cobbler sat very quiet on his accustomed +bench, the others occupying the stools and the board along the wall. + +"We have been told," began the leader, who filled the chair at the +head of the table, where he had administered the oath with much +solemnity to their new member, "we have been told that you own a house +which you will place at our disposal should the purpose for which we +are gathered here together, succeed." + +"I have such a house," said the laird, "and it is of course, placed +freely at your service. But the plan you propose is so full of danger +that I wondered if you have given the project the deep consideration +it deserves. It will be a hazardous undertaking to get the king safely +into my house, but let us suppose that done. How are you going to keep +him there?" + +"We will set a guard over him." + +"Very good. Which of you are to be the guardsmen, and how many?" + +The conspirators looked one at another, but none replied. At last the +leader said,-- + +"It will be time to settle that when we have him safely under bolt." + +"Pardon me, not so. The time to arrange all things is now. Everything +must be cut and dried, or failure is certain. The moment the king is +missing the country will be scoured for him. There will be no possible +place of refuge for miles round that will not be searched for the +missing monarch. We will suppose that four of you are guarding the +king, two and two, turn about. What are the four, and myself, to say +to the king's soldiers when they demand entrance to my house?" + +"The king is but a boy, and when he sees death or compliance before +him he will accede to our demands." + +"He is a boy, it is true," agreed the laird, "but he is a boy, as I +pointed out to my friend Flemming, who escaped from the clutches of +the Earl of Angus, out of the stronghold of Falkland Palace, and who +afterwards drove the earl and many of the Douglas leaders into English +exile. That is the kind of boy you have to deal with. Suppose then, he +gives consent to all you place before him? Do you think he will keep +his word?" + +"I doubt it," said the cobbler, speaking for the first time. "The +word of a Stuart is not worth the snap of my finger." + +"On the other hand, if he does not accede," continued Ballengeich, +"what are we to do with him?" + +"Cut his throat," replied the leader decisively. + +"No, no," cried several others, and for a moment there was a clamour +of discussion, all speaking at once, while the laird stood silently +regarding the vociferous disputants. Finally their leader said,-- + +"What better plan have you to propose?" + +"The king is a boy," spoke up Ballengeich, "as you have said." At the +sound of his voice instant silence reigned. "But he is a boy, as I +have told you, extremely difficult to handle with violence. I propose +then to approach him peaceably. The fact that he is a boy, or a very +young man at least, implies that his mind will be more impressionable +than that of an older person whose ideas are set. I propose then that +a deputation wait upon his majesty and place before him the evils that +require remedying, being prepared to answer any question he may ask +regarding the method of their amendment. If peaceable means fail, +then try violence, say I, but it is hardly fair to the young man to +approach him at the beginning of his reign with a dirk in the hand. +His answer would likely be a reference to his headsman; that is a +favourite Stuart mode of argument. I have some friends about the +castle," continued the laird. "I supply them with various necessaries +from the farm; and if I do say it myself, I am well thought of by some +in authority. I can guarantee you, I am sure, a safe conduct for your +mission." + +"But if safe conduct be refused?" said the leader. + +"In that case, no harm's done. I shall divulge the names of none here +present, for indeed I know the name of none, except of my friend the +cobbler." + +"Will you head the delegation, and be its spokesman?" + +"No. My power to serve you lies in the fact that I am well thought of +in the palace. This power would be instantly destroyed were I known +as disaffected. I would put it on this basis. My friend, Flemming, is +the spokesman of ten others who have grievances to place before his +majesty. Therefore, as a matter of friendship between Flemming and +myself, I ask safe conduct for the eleven." + +"Indeed," cried the cobbler, "I wish you would leave my name out of +the affair, since no one else seems eager to put his own forward." + +"I put mine forward in making the request," said Ballengeich. + +"Aye, but not as one of the deputation." + +"Very well," agreed the laird in an offhand manner, "if you make a +point of it, I have no objection to saying that I shall make one of +the concert. I only proposed to keep out of it, because it is always +wise to have an unbiased person to put in his word at a critical +moment, and it seems to me important to have such a person on the +outside. But it shall be exactly as you please; I care little one +way or the other. I have made my proposal, and with you rests the +acceptance or the rejection of it. If you think it safer to kidnap a +king than to have a friendly chat with him, amicably arranged +beforehand, then all I can say is, that I don't in the least agree +with you. Please yourselves; please yourselves. We have but one neck +apiece, and surely we can risk it in the manner that brings us most +content." + +"There is wisdom in what the laird says," cried one of the more +moderate party. "I never liked the kidnapping idea." + +"Nor I," said the cobbler. "It was but a wild Hielan' notion." + +"My project has this advantage," continued Ballengeich with nonchalant +impartiality, "that if it does not succeed, you can then fall back +upon abduction. Nothing in this proposal interferes with the ultimate +carrying out of your first plan." + +"It is putting our heads in the lion's mouth," objected the leader, +but in the discussion that followed he was outvoted. Then came the +choosing of the delegates, on which rock the enterprise was nearly +wrecked, for there seemed to be no anxiety on the part of any four +present to form the committee of expostulation which was to meet the +monarch. At last it was decided that all should go, if Ballengeich +could produce a written safe-conduct signed by the king, which would +include eleven persons. + +Within three days this document was placed in the hands of the cobbler +by Ballengeich, who told him that it had been signed that morning. And +he added that the king had expressed himself as well pleased to +receive a deputation of his loyal subjects. + +The cobbler handled the passport gingerly, as if he were not +altogether assured of its potency to protect him. + +"The conference is for Wednesday at midday," said Ballengeich. +"Assemble some minutes before that hour in the courtyard of the +castle, and you will be conducted to the Presence." + +"Wednesday!" echoed the cobbler, his face turning pale. "Why +Wednesday, the day of our weekly meetings? Did you suggest it?" + +"It was the king's suggestion, of course," replied Ballengeich. "It is +merely a coincidence, and is, I think, a good omen." + +"I wish I were sure of it," moaned the cobbler. + +Before the bell rang twelve the conspirators were gathered together in +the courtyard of Castle Stirling; huddled would perhaps be the more +accurate word, for they were eleven very frightened men. More than one +cast longing looks towards the gate by which they had come in, but +some places are easier to enter than to leave, and the portal was well +guarded by stalwart soldiers. + +As the bell slowly tolled twelve, an official came from the palace +into the courtyard, searched the delegation for concealed weapons, and +curtly commanded them to follow him. Climbing the stone stairway they +were ushered into a large room containing a long oaken table with five +chairs on one side and six on the other. At the head of the table was +a high-backed seat resembling a throne. The official left them +standing there alone, and after he had closed the door they heard the +ominous sound of bolts being thrust into their places. The silence +which followed seemed oppressive; almost suffocating. No man spoke, +but each stood like a statue holding his cap in his hand. At last the +tension was broken, but it would scarcely be correct to say that it +was relieved. The heavy curtains parted and the king entered the room, +clad in the imposing robes of his high state. A frown was on his brow, +and he advanced straight from the doorway to the throne at the head of +the table, without speaking or casting a glance at any one of the +eleven. When he had seated himself he said gruffly,-- + +"There is a chair for each of you; sit down." + +It is doubtful if any of the company, except the cobbler, at first +recognised their ruler as the alleged Laird of Ballengeich; but at the +sound of the monarch's voice several started and looked anxiously one +at another. Again the king addressed them,-- + +"A week ago to-night I met you in Flemming's room. I appointed this +day for the conference that the routine of your meetings might not be +disturbed, as I thought it well that the last of your rebellious +gatherings should be held in the Castle of Stirling, for I am +resolved that this conclave shall be your final effort in treason. One +of your number has stated that the word of a Stuart is not to be +trusted. This reputation appears to have descended to me, and it is a +pity I should not take advantage of it." + +When the king ceased speaking he lifted a small mallet and smote a +resounding bell, which was on the table before him. A curtain parted +and two men entered bearing between them a block covered with black +cloth; this they placed silently in the centre of the floor and +withdrew. Again the king smote the bell and there entered a masked +executioner with a gleaming axe over his shoulder. He took his place +beside the block, resting the head of his axe on the floor. + +"This," continued the king, "is the entertainment I have provided for +you. Each of you shall taste of that," and he pointed to the heading +block. + +The cobbler rose unsteadily to his feet, drawing from his bosom with +trembling fingers the parchment bearing the king's signature. He +moistened his dry lips with his tongue, then spoke in a low voice. + +"Sir," he said, "we are here under safe conduct from the king." + +"Safe conduct to where?" cried James angrily, "that is the point. I +stand by the document; read it; read it!" + +"Sir, it says safe conduct for eleven men here present, under +protection of your royal word." + +"You do not keep to the point, cobbler," shouted the king bringing his +fist down on the table. "Safe conduct to where? I asked. The parchment +does not say safe conduct back into Stirling again. Safe conduct to +Heaven, or elsewhere, was what I guaranteed." + +"That is but an advocate's quibble, your majesty. Safe conduct is a +phrase well understood by high and low alike. But we have placed our +heads in the lion's mouth, as our leader said last Wednesday night, +and we cannot complain if now his jaws are shut. Nevertheless I would +respectfully submit to your majesty that I alone of those present +doubted a Stuart's word, and am like to have my doubts practically +confirmed. I would also point out to your majesty that my comrades +would not have been here had I not trusted the Master of Ballengeich, +and through him the king, therefore, I ask you to let me alone pay the +penalty of my error, and allow my friends to go scatheless from the +grim walls of Stirling." + +"There is reason in what you say," replied the king. "Are you all +agreed to that?" he asked of the others. + +"No, by God," cried the leader springing to his feet and smiting the +table with his fist as lustily as the king had done. "We stand +together, or fall together. The mistake was ours as much as his, and +we entered these gates with our eyes open." + +"Headsman," said the king, "do your duty." + +The headsman whipped off the black cloth and displayed underneath it a +box containing a large jug surrounded by eleven drinking-horns. Those +present, all now on their feet, glanced with amazement from the masked +man to the king. The sternness had vanished from his majesty's face, +as if a dark cloud had passed from the sun and allowed it to shine +again. There sparkled in the king's eye all the jubilant mischief of +the incorrigible boy, and his laughter rang to the ceiling. Somewhat +recovering his gravity he stretched out his hand and pointed a finger +at the cobbler. + +"I frightened you, Flemming," he cried. "I frightened you; don't deny +it. I'll wager my gold crown against a weaver's woollen bonnet, I +frightened the whole eleven of you." + +"Indeed," said the cobbler with an uneasy laugh, "I shall be the first +to admit it." + +[Illustration: "HEADSMAN: DO YOUR DUTY."] + +"Your face was as white as a harvest moon in mid-sky, and I heard +somebody's teeth chatter. Now the drink we have had at our meetings +heretofore was vile, and no more fitted for a Christian throat than is +the headsman's axe; but if you ever tasted anything better than this, +tell me where to get a hogshead of it." + +The headsman having filled their horns, the leader raised the flagon +above his head and said,-- + +"I give you the toast of The King!" + +"No, no," proclaimed the boyish monarch, "I want to drink this myself. +I'll give you a toast. May there never come a time when a Scotchman is +afraid to risk his head for what he thinks is right." + +And this toast they drank together. + + + + +THE KING DINES + + +"When kings frown, courtiers tremble," said Sir Donald Sinclair to the +Archbishop of St. Andrews, "but in Stirling the case seems reversed. +The courtiers frown, and the king looks anxiously towards them." + +"Indeed," replied the prelate, "that may well be. When a man invites a +company to dine with him, and then makes the discovery that his larder +is empty, there is cause for anxiety, be he king or churl. In truth my +wame's beginning to think my throat's cut." And the learned churchman +sympathetically smoothed down that portion of his person first named, +whose rounded contour gave evidence that its owner was accustomed to +ample rations regularly served. + +"Ah well," continued Sir Donald, "his youthful majesty's foot is +hardly in the stirrup yet, and I'm much mistaken in the glint of his +eye and the tint of his beard, if once he is firmly in the saddle the +horse will not feel the prick of the spur, should it try any tricks +with him." + +"Scotland would be none the worse of a firm king," admitted the +archbishop, glancing furtively at the person they were discussing, +"but James has been so long under the control of others that it will +need some force of character to establish a will of his own. I doubt +he is but a nought posing as a nine," concluded his reverence in a +lower tone of voice. + +"I know little of mathematics," said Sir Donald, "but yet enough to +tell me that a nought needs merely a flourish to become a nine, and +those nines among us who think him a nought, may become noughts should +he prove a nine. There's a problem in figures for you, archbishop, +with a warning at the end of it, like the flourish at the tail of the +nine." + +The young man to whom they referred, James, the fifth of that name, +had been pacing the floor a little distance from the large group of +hungry men who were awaiting their dinner with some impatience. Now +and then the king paused in his perambulation, and gazed out of a +window overlooking the courtyard, again resuming his disturbed march +when his brief scrutiny was completed. The members of the group talked +in whispers, one with another, none too well pleased at being kept +waiting for so important a function as a meal. + +Suddenly there was a clatter of horse's hoofs in the courtyard. The +king turned once more to the window, glanced a moment at the commotion +below, then gave utterance to an exclamation of annoyance, his right +hand clenching angrily. Wheeling quickly to the guards at the door he +cried,-- + +"Bring the chief huntsman here at once, and a prod in the back with a +pike may make up for his loitering in the courtyard." + +The men, who stood like statues with long axes at the doorway, made no +move; but two soldiers, sitting on a bench outside, sprang to their +feet and ran clattering down the stair. They returned presently with +the chief huntsman, whom they projected suddenly into the room with a +violence little to the woodman's taste, for he neglected to remove his +bonnet in the royal presence, and so far forgot himself as to turn his +head when he recovered his equilibrium, roundly cursing those who had +made a projectile of him. + +"Well, woodlander!" cried the king, his stern voice ringing down again +from the lofty rafters of the great hall. "Are there no deer in my +forests of the north?" + +"Deer in plenty, your majesty," answered the fellow with a mixture of +deference and disrespect, which in truth seemed to tinge the manners +of all present. "There are deer in the king's forest, and yet a lack +of venison in the king's larder!" + +"What mean you by that, you scoundrel?" exclaimed the king, a flush +overspreading his face, ruddy as his beard. "Have your marksmen lost +their skill with bow and arrow, that you return destitute to the +castle?" + +"The marksmen are expert as ever, your majesty, and their arrows fly +as unerringly to their billet, but in these rude times, your majesty, +the sting of an arrow may not be followed by the whetting of a +butcher's knife." + +The king took an impatient step forward, then checked himself. One or +two among the group of noblemen near the door laughed, and there was a +ripple of suppressed merriment over the whole company. At first the +frown on the king's brow deepened, and then as suddenly it cleared +away, as a puff of wind scatters the mist from the heights of +Stirling. When the king spoke again it was in a calm, even voice. "As +I understand you, there was no difficulty in capturing the deer, but +you encountered some obstacle between the forest and Stirling which +caused you to return empty-handed. I hope you have not added the +occupation of itinerant flesher to the noble calling of forest +huntsman?" + +"Indeed, your majesty," replied the unabashed hunter, "the profession +of flesher was forced upon me. The deer we had slaughtered found it +impossible to win by the gates of Arnprior." + +"Ah! John Buchanan then happened to need venison as you passed?" + +"Your majesty has hit the gold there. Buchanan not only needed it but +took it from us." + +"Did you inform him that your cargo was intended for the larder of the +king?" + +"I told him that in so many words, your majesty; and he replied that +if James was king in Stirling, John was king in Kippen, and having the +shorter name, he took the shorter method of supplying his kitchen." + +"Made you any effort to defend your gear?" + +"Truth to say, your majesty, that were a useless trial. The huntsman +who will face the deer thinks no shame to turn his back on the wild +boar, and Buchanan, when he demanded your majesty's venison, was well +supported by a number of mad caterans with drawn swords in their +hands, who had made up for a lack of good meat with a plentitude of +strong drink. Resistance was futile, and we were fain to take the +bannock that was handed to us, even though the ashes were upon it. +Ronald of the Hills, a daft Heilan'man who knew no better, drew an +arrow to his ear and would have pinned Buchanan to his own gate, +resulting in the destruction of us all, had I not, with my stave, +smote the weapon from his hand. Then the mad youth made such to-do +that we had just to tie him up and bring him to Stirling on the +horse's back like a sack of fodder." + +"Your caution does credit to your Lowland breeding, Master huntsman, +and the conduct of Ronald cannot be too severely condemned. Bring him +here, I beg of you, that he may receive the king's censure." + +Ronald was brought in, a wild, unkempt figure, his scanty dress +disordered, bearing witness to the struggle in which he had but lately +been engaged. His elbows were pinioned behind him, and his shock of +red hair stood out like a heather broom. He scowled fiercely at the +huntsman, and that cautious individual edged away from him, bound as +he was. + +"By my beard! as the men of the heathen East swear," said the king, +"his hair somewhat matches my own in hue. Ronald, what is the first +duty of a huntsman?" + +"He speaks only the Gaelic, your majesty," explained the royal ranger. + +"You have the Gaelic, MacNeish," continued the king, addressing one of +his train. "Expound to him, I beg of you, my question. What is the +first duty of a huntsman?" + +MacNeish, stepping forward, put the question in Gaelic and received +Ronald's reply. + +"He says, your majesty, that a huntsman's first duty is to kill the +game he is sent for." + +"Quite right," and the king nodded approval. "Ask him if he knows as +well the second duty of a huntsman." + +Ronald's eye flashed as he gave his answer with a vehemence that +caused the chief huntsman to move still farther away from him. + +"He says, your majesty," translated MacNeish, "that the second duty of +a huntsman is to cut the throat of any cateran who presumes to +interfere with the progress of the provender from the forest to his +master's kitchen." + +"Right again," cried the king, smiting his thigh, "and an answer +worthy of all commendation. Tell him this, MacNeish, that hereafter he +is the chief huntsman to the Castle of Stirling. We will place this +cowardly hellion in the kitchen where he will be safe from the hungry +frenzy of a Buchanan, drunk or sober." + +"But, your majesty--" protested the deposed ranger. + +"To the kitchen with him!" sternly commanded the king. "Strip off the +woodlander's jacket he has disgraced and tie round him the strings of +a scullion's apron, which will suit his middle better than the belt of +a sword." Then the king, flashing forth his own weapon and stepping +aside, swung it over the head of the Highlander, who stood like a +statue in spite of the menace, and the sword came down with a deft +accuracy which severed the binding cords without touching the person +of the prisoner, freeing him at a stroke. A murmur of admiration at +the dexterity of the king went up from the assemblage, every member of +which was himself an expert with the weapon. The freed Highlander +raised his brawny arms above his head and gave startling vent to the +war-cry of his clan, "Loch Sloy! Loch Sloy!" unmindful of the presence +in which he stood. Then he knelt swiftly and brought his lips to the +buckle of the king's shoe. + +"Gratitude in a MacFarlane!" sneered MacNeish. + +"Aye," said the king, "and bravery too, for he never winked an eyelash +when the sword swung above him; an admirable combination of qualities +whether in a MacFarlane or a MacNeish. And now, gentlemen," continued +his majesty, "although the affair of the huntsman is settled, it +brings us no nearer our venison. If the cook will not to the king, +then must the king to the cook. Gentlemen, to your arms and your +horses! They say a Scotsman fights well when he is hungry; let us put +the proverb to the test. We ride and dine with his majesty of Kippen." + +A spontaneous cheer burst from every man in the great hall to the +accompaniment of a rattle of swords. Most of those present were more +anxious to follow the king to a contest than into a council chamber. +When silence ensued, the mild voice of the archbishop, perhaps because +it was due to his profession, put in a seasonable word; and the nobles +scowled for they knew he had great influence with the king. + +"Your majesty, if the Buchanans are drunk----" + +"If they are drunk, my lord archbishop," interrupted James, "we will +sober them. 'Tis a duty even the Church owes to the inebriate." And +with that he led the way out of the hall, his reply clearing the brows +of his followers. + +A few minutes later a clattering cavalcade rode forth from the Castle +of Stirling, through the town and down the path of Ballengeich, a +score of soldiers bringing up the tail of the procession; and in due +time the company came to the entrance of Arnprior Castle. There seemed +like to be opposition at the gate, but Sir Donald, spurring his horse +forward among the guard, scattered the members of it right and left, +and, raising both voice and sword, shouted,-- + +"The king! The king! Make way for the King of Scotland!" + +The defenders seeing themselves outnumbered, as the huntsmen had been +in that locality a short time before, gave up their axes to the +invaders as meekly as the royal rangers had given up their venison. + +The king placed his own guard at the gate. Springing from his horse he +entered the castle door, and mounted the stone steps, sword in hand, +his retinue close at his heels. The great hall to which they ascended +was no monk's chapel of silence. There was wafted to them, or rather +blown down upon them like a fierce hurricane, the martial strains of +"Buchanan for ever," played by pipers anything but scant of wind; yet +even this tornado was not sufficient to drown the roar of human +voices, some singing, others apparently in the heat of altercation, +and during the height of this deafening clamour the king and his +followers entered the dining-hall practically unobserved. + +On the long oaken table, servitors were busily placing smoking viands +soon to be consumed; others were filling the drinking-horns, while +some of the guests were engaged in emptying them, although the meal +had not yet begun. Buchanan, his back towards the incomers, his brawny +hands on the table, leaning forward, was shouting to the company, +commanding his guests to seat themselves and fall to while the venison +was hot. There seemed to be several loud voiced disputes going on +regarding precedence. The first intimation that the bellowing laird +had of the intruder's presence was the cold touch of steel on his bare +neck. He sprang round as if a wasp had stung him, his right hand +swinging instinctively to the hilt of his sword, but the point of +another was within an inch of his throat, and his hand fell away from +his weapon. + +"The fame of your hospitality has spread abroad, Buchanan," spoke the +clear voice of the king, "so we have come to test its quality." + +The pipers had stopped in their march, and with the ceasing of the +music, the wind from the bags escaped to the outer air with a long +wailing groan. The tumult of discussion subsided, and all eyes turned +towards the speaker, some of the guests hastily drawing swords but +returning them again to the scabbards when they saw themselves +confronted by the king. Buchanan steadied himself with his back +against the table, and in the sudden silence it seemed long ere he +found his tongue. At last he said,-- + +"Does the king come as a guest with a drawn sword in his hand?" + +"As you get north of Stirling, Buchanan," replied James with a smile, +"it is customary to bring the knife with you when you go out to dine. +But I am quite in agreement with the Laird of Arnprior in thinking the +sword an ill ornament in a banqueting-hall, therefore bestow your +weapons on Sir Donald here, and command your clan now present to +disarm." + +[Illustration: "'AS YOU GET NORTH OF STIRLING, BUCHANAN,' REPLIED +JAMES, WITH A SMILE, 'IT IS CUSTOMARY TO BRING THE KNIFE WITH YOU +WHEN YOU GO OUT TO DINE.'"] + +With visible reluctance Buchanan divested himself of sword and dirk, +and his comrades, now stricken dumb, followed his example. The +weapons were thrown together in a corner of the hall where some of +the king's soldiers stood guard over them. His majesty's prediction +regarding the sobering effect of his advent was amply fulfilled. The +disarmed men looked with dismay on one another, for they knew that +such a prelude might well have its grand finale at the block or the +gibbet. The king, although seemingly in high spirits, was an unknown +quantity, and before now there had been those in power who, with a +smile on their lips, had sent doomed men to a scaffold. + +"In intercepting my venison, Buchanan," continued the king with the +utmost politeness, "you were actuated by one of two motives. Your +intervention was either an insult to the king, or it was an intimation +that you desired to become his cook. In which light am I to view your +action, Buchanan?" + +There was in the king's voice a sinister ring as he uttered this +sentence that belied the smile upon his lips, and apprehension +deepened as all present awaited Buchanan's reply. At the word "cook," +he had straightened himself, and a deeper flush than the wine had left +there, overspread his countenance; now he bowed with deference and +said,-- + +"It has ever been my ambition to see your majesty grace with his +presence my humble board." + +"I was sure of it," cried James with a hearty laugh which brought +relief to the anxious hearts of many standing before him. The king +thrust his sword into a scabbard, and, with a clangour of hilt on +iron, those behind him followed his example. + +"And now," cried James, "let the king's men eat while the laird's men +wait upon them. And as for you, John Buchanan, it is to-day my +pleasure that you have the honour of being my cup-bearer." + +Whether the honour thus thrust upon the Laird of Arnprior was as much +to his liking as an invitation to sit down with his guest would have +been, is questionable, but he served his majesty with good grace, +and the king was loud in his praise of the venison, although his +compliments fell sadly on the ears of the hungry men who watched it +disappear so rapidly. At the end of the feast James rose with his +flagon in his hand. + +"I give you the king," he cried, "the King of Kippen. When I left +Stirling I had made up my mind that there could be but one king in a +country, but glorious Scotland shall have no such restriction, and I +bestow upon Buchanan, whose ample cheer we have done justice to, the +title of King of Kippen, so long as he does not fall into the error of +supposing that Kippen includes all of Scotland, instead of Scotland +including Kippen. And so, Laird of Arnprior, King of Kippen, we drink +your good health, and when next my venison passes your door, take only +that portion of it which bears the same relation to the whole, as the +district of Kippen does to broad Scotland." + +The toast was drunk with cheers, and when silence came, the King of +Kippen, casting a rueful glance along the empty board, said,-- + +"I thank your majesty for your good wishes, but in truth the advice +you give will be hard to follow, for I see I should have stolen twice +the quantity of venison I did, because as I have not done so, I and my +men are like to go hungry." + +And thus Buchanan came into his title of King of Kippen, although he +had to wait some time for his dinner on the day he acquired the +distinction. + + + + +THE KING'S TRYST + + +The king ruled. There was none to question the supremacy of James the +Fifth. At the age of twenty-two he now sat firmly on his throne. He +was at peace with England, friendly with France, and was pledged to +take a wife from that country. His great grandfather, James the +Second, had crushed the Black Douglas, and he himself had scattered +the Red Douglas to exile. No Scottish noble was now powerful enough to +threaten the stability of the throne. The country was contented and +prosperous, so James might well take his pleasure as best pleased him. +If any danger lurked near him it was unseen and unthought of. + +The king, ever first in the chase, whether the quarry ran on four legs +or on two, found himself alone on the road leading north-west from +Stirling, having outstripped his comrades in their hunt of the deer. +Evening was falling and James being some miles from Stirling Castle, +raised his bugle to his lips to call together his scattered followers, +but before a blast broke the stillness, his majesty was accosted by a +woman who emerged suddenly and unnoticed from the forest on his left +hand. + +"My lord, the king;" she said, and her voice, like the sound of silver +bells, thrilled with a note of inquiry. + +"Yes, my lassie," answered the young man, peering down at his +questioner, lowering his bugle, and reining in his frightened horse, +which was startled by the sudden apparition before him. The dusk had +not yet so far thickened but the king could see that his interlocutor +was young and strikingly beautiful. Although dressed in the garb of +the lower orders, there was a quiet and imposing dignity in her +demeanour as she stood there by the side of the road. Her head was +uncovered, the shawl she wore over it having slipped down to her +shoulders, and her abundant hair, unknotted and unribboned, was ruddy +as spun gold. Her complexion was dazzlingly fair, her eyes of the +deepest blue, and her features perfection, except that her small mouth +showed a trifle too much firmness, a quality which her strong but +finely moulded chin corroborated and emphasised. The king, ever a +connoisseur of womanly loveliness, almost held his breath as he gazed +down upon the comely face upturned to him. + +"They told me at Stirling," she said, "that you were hunting through +this district, and I have been searching for you in the forest." + +"Good heavens, girl!" cried the king; "have you walked all the way +from Stirling?" + +"Aye, and much further. It is nothing, for I am accustomed to it. And +now I crave a word with your majesty." + +"Surely, surely!" replied the king with enthusiasm, no thought of +danger in this unconventional encounter even occurring to him. The +natural prudence of James invariably deserted him where a pretty woman +was concerned. Now, instead of summoning his train, he looked +anxiously up and down the road listening for any sound of his men, but +the stillness seemed to increase with the darkness, and the silence +was profound, not even the rustle of a leaf disturbing it. + +"And who, my girl, are you?" continued the king, noticing that her +eyes followed his glance up and down the road with some trace of +apprehension in them, and that she hesitated to speak. + +"May it please your gracious majesty, I am humble tirewoman to that +noble lady, Margaret Stuart, your honoured mother." + +The king gave a whistle of astonishment. + +"My mother!" he exclaimed. "Then what in the name of Heaven are you +doing here and alone, so far from Methven?" + +"We came from Methven yesterday to her ladyship's castle of Doune." + +"Then her ladyship must have come to a very sudden resolution to +travel, for the constable of Doune is in my hunting-party, and I'll +swear he expected no visitors." + +"My gracious lady did not wish Stuart the constable to expect her, nor +does she now desire his knowledge of her presence in the castle. She +commanded me to ask your majesty to request the constable to remain in +Stirling, where, she understands, he spends most of his time. She begs +your majesty to come to her with all speed and secrecy." + +"I wonder what is wrong now?" mused the king. "I have not heard from +her for nearly a year. She has quarrelled with her third husband, I +suppose, for the Tudors are all daft where matrimony is concerned." + +"What does your majesty say?" asked the girl. + +"I was speaking to myself rather than to you, but I may add that I am +ready to go anywhere if you are to be my guide. Lend me your hand and +spring up here behind me. We will gallop to Doune at once." + +The young woman drew back a step or two. + +"No, no," she said. "The Lady Margaret is most anxious that your visit +should be unknown to any but herself, so she begs you to dismiss your +followers and lay your commands upon Constable Stuart of Doune." + +"But my followers are all of them old enough to look after +themselves," objected the king, "and the constable is not likely to +leave Stirling where he has remained these many months." + +"The Lady Margaret thought," persisted the girl, "that if your retinue +returned to Stirling and learned of your continued absence, anxiety +would ensue, and a search might be undertaken that would extend to +Doune." + +"How did my lady mother know I was hunting when you could not have +learned of my excursion until you reached Stirling?" asked the king, +with a glimmer of that caution which appeared to have deserted him. + +The girl seemed somewhat nonplussed by the question, but she answered +presently with quiet deliberation,-- + +"Her ladyship was much perturbed and feared I should not find you at +the castle. She gave me various instructions, which she trusted I +could accommodate to varying contingencies." + +"My girl," said the king leaning towards her, "you do not speak like a +serving-maid. What is your name?" + +"I have been a gentlewoman, sire," she answered simply, "but women, +alas, cannot control their fortunes. My name is Catherine. I will now +forward to Doune, and wait for you at the further side of the new +bridge the tailor has built over the Teith. If you will secure your +horse somewhere before coming to the river, and meet me there on foot, +I will conduct you to the castle. Will you come?" + +"Of a surety," cried the king, in a tone that left no doubt of his +intentions. "I shall overtake you long before you are at the bridge!" +As he said this the girl fled away in the darkness, and then he raised +his bugle to his lips and blew a blast that speedily brought answering +calls. + +James's unexplained absences were so frequent that his announcement of +an intention not to return home that night caused no surprise among +his company; so, bidding him good-night, they cantered off towards +Stirling, while he, unaccompanied, set his face to the north-west, +and his spurs to the horse's flanks, but his steed was already +tired out and could not now keep pace with his impatience. To his +disappointment, he did not overtake the girl, but found her waiting +for him at the new bridge, and together they walked the short half +mile to the castle. The young man was inclined to be conversational, +but the girl made brief replies and finally besought his silence. + +The night had proved exceedingly dark, and they were almost at the +castle before its huge bulk loomed blackly before them. There was +something so sinister in its dim, grim contour that for the first time +since he set out on this night adventure, a suspicion that he was +acting unwisely crossed the king's mind. + +Still, he meditated, it was his mother's own castle, the constable of +which was a warm friend of his--almost, as one might say, a relative, +for Stuart was the younger brother of his mother's husband, so what +could be amiss with this visit? + +"You are not taking me to the main entrance," he whispered. + +"No, to the postern door." + +"But the postern door is situated in the wall high above my reach; it +is intended for the exit of a possible messenger during a siege and +not for the entrance of a guest." + +"I am acting in accordance with my instructions," replied the girl. "A +rope ladder descends from the postern door." + +"A rope ladder! that sounds promising; will you ascend it?" + +"Yes, sire, but meanwhile, I implore your majesty to be silent." + +The king said no more until the rope ladder was in his hand. + +"I hope it is strong," he murmured. + +Then he mounted lightly up in the darkness, until he stood on the sill +of the narrow doorway, when he reached forward his hand to assist his +slower comrade in mounting, but she sprang past him without availing +herself of his aid. In a low voice she begged pardon for preceding +him. Then walked up and up a winding stone staircase, on whose steps +there was barely room for two to pass each other. She pushed open a +door and allowed some light to stream through on the turret stair, +which disappeared in the darkness still further aloft. + +The king found himself in a large square apartment either on the +first or second story. It appeared in some sort to be a lady's +boudoir, for the benches were cushioned and comfortable, and there +were evidences, about on small tables, of tapestry work and other +needle employment recently abandoned. + +"Will your majesty kindly be seated," said the girl. "I must draw up +the ladder, close the postern door, and then inform my lady that you +are here." + +She went out by the way they had entered and shut the door with a +force that seemed to the king unnecessary, but he caught his breath an +instant later as his quick ear seemed to tell him that a bolt had +fallen. He rose at once, tried to open the door, and discovered it was +indeed barred on the outside. One other exit remained to be tested; a +larger door evidently communicating with another room or passage; that +also he found locked. He returned to the middle of the room and stood +there for a few moments with knitted brow. + +"Trapped, Jamie, my lad! Trapped!" he muttered to himself. "Now what +object can my mother have in this? Does she expect by such childish +means to resume her authority over me? Does she hope that her third +husband shall rule Scotland in my name as did her second, with me a +prisoner? By Saint Andrew, no!" + +The king seized a bench, raised it over his head and crashed it in +bits against the larger door with a noise that reverberated through +the castle. + +"Open!" he cried; "open instantly!" + +Then he paused, awaiting the result of his fury. Presently he thought +he heard light footsteps coming along the passage and an instant later +the huge key turned slowly in the lock. The door opened, and to his +amazement he saw standing before him with wide frightened eyes, his +guide, but dressed now as a lady. + +"Madam," said the king sternly, "I ask you the meaning of this +pleasantry?" + +"Pleasantry," echoed the girl, staring at him with her hand upon a +huge iron key, alert to run if this handsome maniac, strewn round by +the wreckage of the bench he had broken, attempted to lay hands on +her. + +"Pleasantry?" she repeated; "that is a question I may well ask you. +Who are you, sir, and what are you doing here?" + +"Who I am, and what I am doing here, you know very well, because you +brought me here. A change of garb does not change a well-remembered +face," and the king bowed to his visitor with a return of his +customary courtliness, now that his suspicions were allayed, for he +knew how to deal with pretty women. "Madam, there is no queen in +Scotland, but you are queen by right of nature, and though you doff +your gown, you cannot change your golden crown." + +The girl's hand unconsciously went up to her ruddy hair, while she +murmured more to herself than to him,-- + +"This is some of Catherine's work." + +"Catherine was your name in the forest, my lady, what is your name in +the castle?" + +"Isabel is my name in castle and forest alike. You have met my twin +sister, Catherine. Why has she brought you here?" + +"Like an obedient son, I am here at the command of my honourable +mother; and your sister--if indeed goddesses so strangely fair, and so +strangely similar can be two persons--has gone to acquaint my mother +of my arrival." + +The girl's alarm seemed to increase as the king's diminished. Trouble, +dismay, and fear marred her perfect face, and as the king scrutinised +her more minutely, he saw that the firm mouth and the resolute chin of +her sister had no place in the more softened and womanly features of +the lady before him. + +"Your mother? Who is she?" + +"First, Margaret Tudor, daughter of the King of England, second, +Margaret Stuart, wife of the King of Scotland, third, Margaret +Douglas, ill mate of the Earl of Angus; fourth, and let us hope +finally, Margaret Stuart again, spouse of Lord Methven, and owner of +this castle." + +The girl swayed as if she would fall, all colour struck suddenly from +her face. She leaned, nearly fainting, against the stone wall, passing +her hand once or twice across her terror-filled eyes. + +"Great God," she moaned, "do not tell me that you are James, King of +Scotland, here, and alone, in this den of Douglases!" + +"Douglas!" cried the king roused at the hated name. "How can there be +Douglases in the Castle of Doune; my mother's house, constabled by my +friend, young Stuart." + +"Your mother's house?" said the girl with an uncanny laugh. "When has +the Lady Margaret set foot in Doune? Not since she was divorced from +my uncle, Archibald Douglas, Earl of Angus! And the constable? Aye, +the constable is in Stirling. Doune Castle stands gloomy and alone, +but in Stirling with the young king, there are masques, and hunting +and gaiety. Young Stuart draws the revenues of his charge, but pays +slight attention to the fulfilment of his duty." + +"You are then Isabel Douglas? And now, to echo your own question, how +came you here? If this is a den of Douglases, as you say, how comes my +mother's castle to be officered by the enemies of her son?" + +"That you ask such a question shows little foresight or knowledge of +men. When your first step-father, and my uncle, Archibald Douglas, had +control of this castle through your mother's name, he filled it with +his own adherents." + +"Naturally; nepotism was a well-known trait of my domineering +step-father, which did not add to his popularity in Scotland. Who can +get office, or justice against a Douglas? was their cry. But did not +young Stuart, when he was made constable, put in his own men?" + +"The constable cares nothing for this stronghold so long as it +furnishes money which he may spend gaily in Stirling." + +"I see. So you and your sister found refuge among your underlings? and +where so safe from search as within the king's mother's own fortress, +almost under the shadow of Stirling? An admirable device. Why then do +you jeopardise your safety by letting me into the secret?" + +The girl sighed deeply with downcast eyes, then she flashed a glance +at him which had something in it of the old Douglas hauteur. + +"I fear," she said, "that it is not our safety which is jeopardised." + +"You mean that I am in danger?" + +"The same stronghold which gives immunity to a family of the Red +Douglases can hardly be expected to confer security upon James the +Fifth, their persecutor." + +"No. Certainly that would be too much to expect. Are you then in this +plot against me, my lady?" + +"I have not heard of any plot. If there is one I know nothing of it. I +merely acquaint you with some hint of my fears." + +"Then I charge you as a loyal subject of the lawful king, to guide me +from this stronghold, into which I have been cozened by treachery and +falsehood." + +Catherine, who had entered silently and unnoticed through the smaller +door, now stepped forward, drew her sister into the room, took out the +huge key, closed the door and locked it, then turned fiercely to the +king. Her beautiful white right arm was bare to the elbow, the loose +sleeve rolled up, and in her hand she held a dagger. With her back +against the newly locked door, she said,-- + +"I'll be your majesty's guide from this castle, and your perjured soul +shall find exit through a postern gate made by my dagger!" + +"Oh, Catherine, Catherine," sobbed Isabel, weeping in fear and horror +of the situation, "you cannot contemplate so awful a deed, a murder so +foul, for however unworthy he may be, he is still the king." + +"What is there foul in ridding the world of a reptile such as he? How +many innocent lives has he taken to encompass his revenge? How many +now of our name are exiled and starving because of his action? I shall +strike the blow with greater surety, for in killing him I extinguish +his treacherous race." + +"No good can come from assassination, Catherine." + +"What greater evil can spring from his death than from his life?" + +"His killing will not bring back those whom he has slain; it will not +cause our banished kinsmen to return. It will be a murder for +revenge." + +"And not the first in Scotland," said Catherine grimly. + +The king had once more seated himself, and now, resting his chin on +his open palm, listened to the discussion with the interested bearing +of one who had little concern with its result. A half amused smile +wreathed his lips, and once or twice he made a motion as if he would +intervene, but on second thoughts kept silent. + +"Do not attempt this fell deed, dear sister," pleaded Isabel +earnestly. "Let us away as we intended. The horses are ready and +waiting for us. Our mother is looking for our coming in her room. The +night wears on and we must pass Stirling while it is yet dark, so +there is no time to be lost. Dear sister, let us quit Scotland, as we +purposed, an accursed land to all of our name, but let us quit it with +unstained hands." + +"Isabel, darling," said Catherine in a low voice that quavered with +the emotion caused by her sister's distress and appeal, "what unlucky +chance brought you to this fatal door at such a moment? Can you not +understand that I have gone too far to retreat? Who, having caged the +tiger, dare open again the gate and set him free? If for no other +reason, the king must die because he is here and because I brought him +here. Open the door behind you, Isabel, go down the circular stair, +and at the postern step you will find the rope ladder by which I +ascended. Get you to the courtyard and there wait for me, saying +nothing." + +"Catherine, Catherine, the king will pardon you. He will surely +forgive what you have done in exchange for his life." + +"Forgiveness!" cried Catherine, her eyes blazing again. "I want no +forgiveness from the king of Scotland. Pardon! The tiger would pardon, +till once he is free again. The king must die." + +"I shall go as you have bid me, Catherine, but not to do your bidding. +I shall arouse this castle and prevent an abominable crime." + +Catherine laughed harshly. + +"Whom would you call to your assistance? Douglases, Douglases, +Douglases! How many of your way of thinking will you find in the +castle? You know well, one only, and that is our mother, old and +helpless. Rouse the castle, Isabel, if you will, and find a dead man, +and perhaps a dead sister, when you break in this locked door." + +The helpless Isabel sank her head against the wall and burst into a +fury of weeping. + +"Ladies," said the king soothingly, rising to his feet, "will you +graciously condone my intervention in this dispute? You are discussing +an important act, from the commission of which all sentiment should +be eliminated; an act which requires the hard strong mind of a man +brought to bear upon the pros and cons of its consummation. You are +dealing with it entirely from the standpoint of the heart and not of +the head, an error common with women, and one that has ever precluded +their effective dealing with matters of State. You will pardon me, +Lady Isabel, when I say that your sister takes a much more practical +view of the situation than you do. She is perfectly right in holding +that, having me prisoner here, it is impossible to allow me to go +scatheless. There is no greater folly than the folly of half doing a +thing." + +"Does your majesty argue in favour of your own murder?" asked Isabel +amazed, gazing at the young man through her tears. + +"Not so, but still that is a consideration which I must endeavour to +eliminate from my mind, if my advice is to be impartial, and of +service to you. May I beg of you to be seated? We have the night +before us, and may consider the various interesting points at our +leisure, and thus no irremediable mistake need be made." + +Isabel, wellnigh exhausted with the intensity of her feelings, sank +upon the bench, but Catherine still stood motionless, dagger in hand, +her back against the door. The king, seeing she did not intend to +obey, went on suavely. There was a light of intense admiration in his +eye as he regarded the standing woman. + +"Ladies," he said, "can you tell me when last a King of Scotland--a +James also--and a Catherine Douglas bore relation to each other in +somewhat similar circumstances?" + +The king paused, but the girl, lowering at him, made no reply, and +after a few moments the young man went on. + +"It was a year more than a century ago, when the life of James the +First was not only threatened, but extinguished, not by one brave +woman, but by a mob of cowardly assassins. Then Catherine Douglas +nearly saved the life of her king. She thrust her fair young arm into +the iron loops of a door, and had it shattered by those craven +miscreants." + +Isabel wept quietly, her face in her two open hands. But Catherine +answered in anger,-- + +"Why did the Catherine Douglas of that day risk her life to save the +king? Because James the First was a just monarch. Why does the +Catherine Douglas of to-day wish to thrust her dagger into the false +heart of James the Fifth? Because he has turned on the hand that +nurtured him----" + +"The hand that imprisoned him, Lady Catherine. Pardon my correction." + +"He turned on the man who governed Scotland wisely and well." + +"Again pardon me; he had no right to govern. I was the king, +not Archibald Douglas. But all that is beside the question, and +recrimination is as bad as sentiment for clouding cold reason. What I +wished to point out is, that assassination of kings or the capture +of them very rarely accomplishes its object. James the First was +assassinated and as result two Stuarts, two Grahams and two Chamberses +were tortured and executed; so his murderers profited little. My +grandfather James the Third was carried off by the Boyds, but Sir +Alexander Boyd was beheaded and his brother and nephew suffered +forfeiture. I think I have shown then that violence is usually +futile." + +"Not so," answered Catherine; "your grandfather was assassinated, +and the man who killed him is not known to this day. Your +great-grandfather basely murdered the Black Douglas in Stirling, +thus breaking his word of honour for he had given Douglas safe +conduct, yet he profited by his act and crushed my kinsmen." + +"I see, Lady Catherine, that you are too well versed in history for me +to contend with you successfully on that subject," said the king with +a silent laugh. "We will therefore restrict the inquiry to the present +case, as wise people should. Tell me then, so that I may be the better +able to advise you, what is your true object--revenge and my death, or +the wringing from me of concessions for your family?" + +"I could not wring concessions from you, because you could not make +good those concessions unless I released you. I dare not release you, +because I dare not trust you." + +"I foresaw your difficulty, and so I told your sister that, having +gone so far, you could not retreat. The issue is therefore narrowed +down to death, and how it may best be accomplished. You have made the +tactical mistake of forewarning me. I cannot understand why you did +not mount my horse beside me and stab me in the back as we rode +through the forest. Did this not occur to you, Lady Catherine?" + +"It did, but there were objections. Your horse would doubtless have +escaped me, and would have galloped riderless to Stirling; your body +would have been found by break of day, and we but a few hours' march +from Stirling. Here I expect you to lie undiscovered in this locked +room till we are safe in England." + +"That is clear reasoning," commented the king with impartiality, "but +have you looked beyond? Who will be the successor of the throne? I +have neither brother nor sister; my two uncles died before I was born, +and I perish childless. I think you mentioned that you wished to +extinguish our line. Very well; what follows? Who is heir to the +throne?" + +"It matters nothing to me," said Catherine firmly. "Whoever rules +Scotland could not be a greater enemy to my race than you are." + +"I am not so sure of that. I think your dagger-blow will bring +consequences you do not look for, and that your kin, now exiled in +England will find the stroke a savage one for them. You forget that +the stern King of England is my uncle, and on this relationship may +lay claim to the Scottish throne. Be that as it may, it will be no +secret that a Douglas committed the murder; and think you Henry VIII +will offer safe refuge to his nephew's assassins? You much misjudge +him if you do. It would have been far better to have slain me in the +forest. This castle business is but an ill-judged, ill thought-out +plan. I am sorry to appear adversely critical, but such is my opinion, +and it confirms me in the belief that women should leave steel and +State alone." + +"I dare not let you go," reiterated Catherine. + +"Of a surety you dare not; that is what I have said from the +beginning. On the other hand, I can make no concession, under +coercion, that would save my life. You see we are both cowardly, each +in a different way. And now having come to the absolutely logical +conclusion that the king must die, you should turn your mind to the +difficulties that confront you. I, you see, am also armed." + +The king as he spoke took from his doublet a dagger almost similar to +the one held by the girl. A gentle smile graced his lips as he ran his +thumb along the edge, and then glanced up at the two in time to notice +their consternation at this new element in the situation. + +"If you enter a tiger's cage you should expect a touch of his claws, +so, Lady Catherine, your task is more serious than you anticipated. +There is furthermore another source of danger against you, and it is +my sincere wish that in the struggle to come you may not be too +severely handicapped. While the issue of our contest is still in +doubt, your sister will assuredly unlock the door and give the alarm, +hoping to prevent your contemplated crime, or my killing of you. I +think it right that you should not be called upon to suffer this +intervention, for, if you will permit me to say so, I admire your +determination as much as I admire, in another way, the Lady Isabel's +leaning towards mercy. I shall then, take this key from the larger +door and place it, with your sister, outside on the narrow stairway. +You have withdrawn the rope ladder so she cannot alarm the garrison." + +"But I have not withdrawn it," said Catherine quickly. "My sister must +not leave this room or she will bring interference." + +"Then," said the king calmly, as he rose and took the key from the +large door, "we shall at least make it impossible for her to open the +way into the hall." And so saying, he stepped to the smaller door, +which he opened, and before either of the women could prevent his +action, or even grasp an inkling of his design, he stepped outside, +key in hand, and thrust to their places the bolts of the stairway +door. + +The two girls looked at each other for a moment in silence, Isabel +plainly panic-stricken, while in Catherine's face anger struggled with +chagrin. Each was quick to see the sudden consequences of this turning +of the tables; the two were helpless prisoners in a remote portion of +the castle, no one within its walls being acquainted with their +whereabouts. The king, insulted, hoodwinked, and all but murdered, +was now at liberty, free to ride the few short leagues that lay +between Doune and Stirling, and before daybreak the fortress would be +in the hands of an overwhelming force with the present garrison +prisoners. In the awed stillness an unexpected sound came to them from +the outside; the sound of a man endeavouring to suppress the hearty +laughter that overmastered him. To be doomed is bad enough, but to be +made the subject of levity was too much for the dauntless Catherine. +She flung her dagger ringing to the stone floor with a gesture of +rage, then sank upon a bench and gave way to tears; tears of bitter +humiliation and rage. + +"Ladies," said the king from the outside, "I beg that you will allow +me to open the door." But, receiving no answer, the bolts were drawn +once more; James again entered the apartment and gazed down upon two +fair proud heads, crowned with ruddy hair. + +"Dear ladies," said the king, "forgive me my untimely mirth. Both of +you take matters much too seriously; a little laughter is necessary in +this world. My Lady Catherine, I told you that I could grant no +concessions under coercion, but now coercion has vanished and I enter +this room a free man of my own will. Tell me, my girl, what is it you +want? The rescinding of your father's exile? It is granted. The right +to live unmolested in your own castle? It is granted. Safe conduct to +England? It is granted. The privilege of remaining in Doune? It is +granted. But do not ask me to rescind banishment against Archibald +Douglas, Earl of Angus, for that I shall not concede. The Douglas +ambition, and not the Scottish king, has wrecked the Douglas family, +both Black and Red. But as far as concerns your own immediate kin, +with one exception, I shall give anything you like to ask." + +Catherine rose to her feet, threw back her auburn tresses, and said +curtly,-- + +"We ask nothing but the privilege of leaving the country you rule." + +The king bowed. + +"And you, Lady Isabel?" + +"I go with my sister and my mother." + +[Illustration: "MY FAIR ANTAGONIST, I BID YOU GOOD-NIGHT."] + +"I grieve at your decision, ladies, and for the first time in my life +envy England in getting an advantage over poor old Scotland, which I +hope will not be irreparable, for I trust you will return. But if such +be your determination, then go in peace, and in the daylight. Your +journey shall not be molested by me. But, before you add finality to +your intentions, I think it would be but fair to inform your lady +mother that the king is anxious to be of service to her, and perhaps +she may be content to accept what her daughters are apparently too +proud to receive." + +James placed the key once more in the lock, and turning to Catherine +said,-- + +"My fair antagonist, I bid you good-night." + +He stretched out his right hand, and she, with some hesitation and +visible reluctance placed her palm in his. Then the king raised to his +lips the hand which at one time seemed like to have stricken him. + +"And you, sweet Isabel, whose gentle words I shall not soon forget, +you will not refuse me your hand?" + +"No, your majesty, if you will promise to think kindly of me." + +The king, however, did not raise her hand to his lips, but placing an +arm about her waist he drew her towards him and kissed her. Next +moment he was hurrying down the stone steps, and the two were left +alone together. + + + + +THE KING INVESTIGATES + + +The king, wishing to decide wisely, was troubled by a conflict of +evidence, the bane of impartial judges all the world over. A courier +from England had brought formal complaint that, while the two +countries were ostensibly at peace, the condition along the border +was practically a state of war. Raids were continually being made +from the southern portion of Scotland across the boundary into England, +and the robbers retreated unscathed to hide themselves among their +hills, carrying their booty with them. These ruffians had long gone +unpunished, and now England made friendly protest in the matter. + +The king gathered his nobles about him and laid the case before them. +Not a man among them but was older than himself, and therefore more +experienced. James requested advice regarding the action it might +be thought wise to take. Many of the nobles whose estates lay in +the Lowlands of Scotland had themselves suffered from Highland +cattle-lifters, and thus they were imbued with a fellow feeling for +the raided English across the border. The English protest, they +said, was courteously made. The evil was undoubted, and had existed +unchecked for years, growing worse rather than better. Henry VIII, who +now occupied the English throne, was a strong and determined man, and +this continued source of irritation in the northern part of his realm +might easily lead to a deplorable war between the two countries. In +addition, James of Scotland was nephew to Henry of England, and the +expostulation from uncle to nephew was of the mildest, without any +threat even intimated. + +The nobles thought that James might well put a stop to a state of +things which no just man could approve, and thus do an act of justice +which would at the same time please an august relative. James admitted +that these were powerful arguments, but still if the Border robbers, +who had many followers, resisted the Scottish force sent against them, +there would be civil war, an outcome not to be looked forward to with +light heart. + +"In truth," said the king, "I would rather lead an army against +England, with England in the right, than against my own countrymen, +even if they were in the wrong." + +This remark seemed to encourage certain gentlemen there present, who +up to that moment had not spoken. The Earl of Bothwell, as the highest +in rank among the silent phalanx, stepped forward and said,-- + +"Your majesty, there are always two sides to a question, and, with +your permission, I should be glad to put in a word for those Border +riders who have been so ruthlessly condemned by men who know nothing +of them." + +"It is for the purpose of hearing all there is to say that I called +you together," rejoined the king. "Speak, my Lord of Bothwell." + +"In the first place, your majesty, these Border men have had to stand +the first brunt of all invasions into our country for centuries past. +It is, therefore, little to be wondered at that they have small liking +for the English. We are at peace with those to the south of us now, it +is true; but how long that peace will remain unbroken, no man can say. +There is, however, one thing certain, that if the King of Scotland +exercises the power he undoubtedly possesses, and crushes the Border +forces, he will have destroyed a staunch bulwark of his realm, and I +quite agree with those gentlemen who have spoken so eloquently against +the Borderers, that the King of England, and the people of England, +will be well pleased." + +This statement had a marked effect on King James, and it would have +been well if those who agreed with the Earl of Bothwell had been as +moderate in their denunciation. But some of them, apparently, could +not forget the youth of the king, and, not having the sense to see +that his majesty's desire was to render a just decision, thought he +might be frightened by strong language. + +"It is easy for those to speak well of the pike, who have not felt the +prod of its point," cried Lord Maxwell angrily. "Few English invasions +have reached Stirling, but every one of them have crossed the Border. +What matters the lifting of some English cattle? The Southerners never +scrupled to eat good Scottish beef whenever they set foot on Scottish +soil. I would hang the English envoy for daring to come to a Scottish +king with complaints of cattle lifting." + +The king frowned slightly but said nothing, and then Adam Scott of +Tushielaw had to thrust his bull neck into the noose. + +"I give you fair warning," he cried, "that if the king's forces are +turned against the Borderers, my sword helps my neighbours." + +"And I say the same," shouted Cockburn of Henderland. + +Some of the opposition were about to speak, but the king held up his +hand for silence. + +"That is treason," he said quietly. "Adam Scott, I have heard that you +are called King of the Border. Scotland is blessed with a number of +men who are king of this, or king of that, and I am sure I make no +objection, as long as they do not forget the difference that exists +between a king in name and a king in reality. I asked for advice, but +not for threats." + +Then to the whole assemblage he went on-- + +"Gentlemen, I thank you for your counsel. I shall give a soothing +reply to my uncle's ambassador, keeping in mind the peace that exists +between the two countries, and then I shall take what has been said on +each side into consideration and let you know the result." + +Accepting this as dismissal, those there congregated withdrew, save +only Sir David Lyndsay, the king having made a sign for him to +remain. "Well, Davie," he said, when they were alone, "what do you +think of it all?" + +"To tell truth, your majesty," answered the poet, "it's a knotty +problem, not to be solved by rhyming brain. When the first spokesman +finished I was entirely of his opinion, but, after that, the Earl of +Bothwell's plea seemed equally weighty, and between the two I don't +know what to think." + +"That is the disadvantage of an unbiased mind, Davie. Now, with good, +strong prejudices, one side or the other, the way would be clear, and +yet I despise a man who doesn't know his own mind." + +"Scott and Cockburn seemed to know their minds very well," ventured +the poet, with a smile. + +"Yes, and if one or two more of them had spoken as decidedly, I would +have been off to the Border to-night at the head of my troops. It is a +weakness of mine, but I can't put up with a threat very well." + +"Kings are rarely called upon to thole a threat," said Sir David, with +a laugh. + +"I'm not so sure of that, Davie. Kings have to thole many things if +they are to rule justly. Now, Davie, if you'll but tell me just what +to do, it will be a great help, for then I can take the opposite +direction with confidence." + +But the poet shook his head. + +"I cannot tell you," he said. "There seems much to be said for both +sides." + +"Then, Davie, send down to the town for the cobbler; send for +Flemming, he is a common-sense, canny body; he shall be the Solomon of +the occasion. That broad-faced hammer of his seems to rap out wisdom +as well as drive pegs. Bring him up with you, and we'll place the case +before him." + +As the rhymster left the room, Sir Donald Sinclair came clanking in, +seemingly in something of a hurry. + +"Was it your majesty's pleasure," began Sir Donald, "to have detained +Adam Scott and Cockburn?" + +"No. Why do you ask?" + +"Because they have mounted their horses and are off to the Border as +fast as two good steeds can carry them." + +"And where are Bothwell, Home, and Maxwell, and the Lairds of +Fairniherst, Johnston and Buccleuch?" + +"They are all closeted in the Earl of Bothwell's room, your majesty. +Shall I take any action regarding them?" + +"Oh no; do not meddle with them. You heard the opinions given a while +since, Donald? What conclusion did you arrive at?" + +"I am scarcely an impartial judge, your majesty. A soldier is ever for +fighting, and I fear he pays little attention to the right or wrong of +it." + +"You would try a fall with the Border kings perhaps?" + +"Yes, your majesty, I would." + +"Then I need have no fear but the troops will respond if I call on +them?" + +"None in the least, your majesty." + +"Well, I am glad to hear that, Sir Donald, and, meanwhile, I can think +of the project without any doubt regarding my army." + +When the cobbler came to the castle with Sir David, the king led the +way to one of his small private rooms, and there sketched out the +argument on both sides of the question with great impartiality. + +"Now, Flemming," he said, at the conclusion, "what is there to do?" + +For a long time the shoemaker made no reply; then he scratched his +head in perplexed fashion. At last he said: + +"It gets beyond me, your majesty. Thieving is not right unless it's +done under cover of law, which these reiving lads to the South seem to +take small account of. On the other hand, to destroy them root and +branch may be leaving Scotland naked to her enemy. I admit I'm fairly +in a corner." + +Sir David Lyndsay laughed. + +"You're as bad as I am, cobbler," he said. + +"There is one point," commented the king, "that no one seems to have +taken any notice of, and that is this: Those who speak against the +Border marauders are those who know little of them except by hearsay; +while the lords in their neighbourhood, who should know them well, +stand up for them, and even threaten to draw sword on their behalf." + +"That certainly speaks well for the villains," admitted the cobbler. + +"Then what is your verdict," demanded the king. + +"Well, I kind of think I should leave them alone," said Flemming +cautiously. + +"Do you agree with him, David?" + +"I'm not sure but I do. It seems a choice of two evils." + +The king laughed riotously and smote his thigh. + +"Well, of all half-hearted counsellors, King James has the champion +pair; and yet I had made up my mind before I asked the advice of +either of you." + +"And what was that?" inquired Sir David, "to attack them?" + +"No." + +"To leave them alone?" suggested the cobbler. + +"No." + +"What then?" cried both together. + +"What then? Why, just to get a little surer information. Here are +three men of open minds. I propose that for the next week, or +thereabouts, we three shall be honest cattle merchants, who will mount +our honest horses and take a quiet bit journey along the Border. The +scenery, they tell me, is grand, and David here will make poems on + it. It's a healthy country, and the cobbler has been bending too +assiduously over broken shoes of late, so the fresh air and the +exercise will do him good." + +"Losh, your majesty!" cried the cobbler, in dismay, "I'm no horseman. +I never rode any four-legged thing but a cobbler's bench, and that +side-saddle fashion." + +"Oh, you'll have learnt when we reach the Border," said the king, with +a laugh. "Before two days are past you'll be riding as well as Sir +David, who is at present the worst horseman in all Scotland." + +"Pegasus is the steed I yearn to ride," returned the poet, with a wry +face. + +"Yes, and even it sometimes throws you, David. You'll never be the +Psalmist your namesake was. Well, we'll look on it as agreed. Flemming +shall be purse-bearer, and so our tour will be an economical one. Here +is a purse well filled. You will look after the drover's costumes, +make all disbursements, and take care that you do not betray us by +undue lavishness." + +Thus it came about that three supposed drovers took their way to the +Border by a route which drovers were never known to travel before, +and, besides this, they were travelling empty-handed towards England, +whereas, real drovers faced the south with their herds before them, +and the north with those herds sold or stolen. Not one of the three +had in his vocabulary a single word pertaining to the cattle trade, +and every man with whom they spoke knew at once that, whatever else +they might be, they were not drovers, and so the ill-fated three went +blundering through the free-booters' country, climbing hills and +descending dales, and frightening honest folk with the questions they +asked; questions about men whose names should be spoken in a whisper, +and even then with a look of fear over the shoulder. Innkeepers who +saw them approach with delight, watched them leave with relief, +thanking God that no raider had happened inside to hear their innocent +inquiries; yet the three themselves were enjoying an interesting and +instructive journey, and the king had come to the conclusion that the +devil was not so black as he was painted. + +At last, they stumbled into a hostelry kept by a man whose name was +Armstrong. Their horses were taken care of and the trio sat down to a +hearty meal, as had been their luck all along the Border. + +"Landlord, does this meat come from England?" asked the king. + +The landlord caught his breath. He stood stock still for a moment and +then replied,-- + +"I hope it is to your lordship's liking." + +"Oh! I'm no lordship," said James, "but an honest drover body, trying +to find new markets for my stock." + +"I can see that," replied the landlord; "then you will know that this +meat's raised by Scotchmen." + +"Raised!" laughed the king. "Raised where? In Northumberland? Are you +sure 'lift' is not the word you mean?" + +"Sir," said the landlord, gravely, "there's no lifting of cattle +hereabout. This is not the Highlands. All in the neighbourhood are +honest farmers or foresters." + +"Earning their bread by the sweat of their brow," put in Sir David +Lyndsay. + +"Doubtless, when the English are after them," suggested the cobbler. + +The landlord did not join in their mirth, but merely said,-- + +"If your dinner is to your liking, my duty is done." + +"Quite so," answered the king. "We were merely curious regarding the +origin of your viands; but the question seems to be a ticklish one in +this district." + +"Oh, not at all," replied the innkeeper grimly. "If you question +enough, you are sure to meet some one who will make you a suitable +answer." + +The landlord, seemingly not liking the turn of the conversation, +disappeared, and during the rest of the meal they were waited upon by +a lowering, silent woman, who scowled savagely at them, and made no +reply to the raillery of the king, who was in the highest spirits. +They had ridden far that morning since breakfasting, and it was well +after midday when they drew away from a table that had been devoted to +their satisfying. Sir David and Flemming showed little inclination to +proceed with their journey. + +"The poor beasts must have a rest," said the poet, although none of +the three were horsemen enough to go out and see how the animals fared +at the hands of the stableman. The king was accustomed to be waited +upon, and the other two knew little and cared less about horses. As +they sat there in great content they heard suddenly a commotion +outside and the clatter of many hoofs on the stone causeway. The door +burst in, and there came, trampling, half a dozen men, who entered +with scant ceremony, led by a stalwart individual who cast a quick +glance from one to the other of the three who were seated. His eye +rested on the king, whom, with quick intuition, he took to be the +leader of the expedition and, doffing his feathered bonnet in a +salutation that had more of mockery than respect in it, he said: "I +hear that, like myself, you're in the cattle trade, and that you're +anxious to learn the prospect of doing business in this mountainous +locality." + +"You are quite right," replied the king. + +"I have in my byres near by," continued the man, "some of the finest +stirks that ever stood on four hoofs. Would you be willing to come and +give me your opinion of them, and say how much you care to pay for as +many as you need?" + +Again the man swept his bonnet nearly to the floor, and his six men, +who stood back against the wall, as if to give the speaker the stage +in the centre of the floor, glanced one at another. The king, however, +was unruffled, and he replied with a twinkle in his eye,-- + +"My good sir, you are mistaken, we are on the other side of the +market. We are sellers and not buyers." + +"So was Judas," said the incomer, his politeness giving way to an +expression of fierceness and cruelty which went far to terrify two of +the seated men. "Are you sure, sir, that the cattle you sell have not +two legs instead of four?" + +"I don't understand you," replied the king. + +"Is it men or stirks, you would give to the butcher?" + +"Still I do not understand you," repeated the king. + +"Oh, very well. How much are you asking for your cattle?" + +"We are here rather to see how much may be offered." + +"I can well believe you. Still, you must know something of the price +of beasts on hoofs. How much would you want for a good, fat stirk? +Answer me that!" + +The king glanced at his two companions, and his glance said as plainly +as words, "Give me a hint, in heaven's name, regarding the cost of a +beast;" but in all Scotland he could not have found two men who knew +less about the subject. + +"Oh, well," said the king, nonchalantly, not at all liking the turn +affairs had taken, "I suppose we would be satisfied with twenty +pounds," and this being received with a roar of laughter, he added +hastily, "twenty pounds Scots." + +"Oh," said the big man, "I was afraid you were going to demand that +amount in English currency. It is evident you will do well at the +trade, if you can find such buyers." + +"Then make us an offer," suggested the king, with the air of a man +willing to listen to reason. + +"Where are your cattle?" + +"They're in the north." + +"What part of the north?" + +"My good fellow," cried the king, his temper rising, "you have asked +many questions and answered none. Who are you, and what right have +you to make your demands in such a tone?" + +"Ah, then there's some spirit among the three of you. I am glad to see +that. Who am I? I am Johnny Armstrong. Did you ever hear tell of him? +And I suspect that your cattle are grown in the high town of Stirling. +Am I right in that? It is in Stirling that you can sell what you may +lift on the Border, and your cattle will be paid for in king's gold. +You are spies, my fine gentlemen, and know as little of cattle as I +know of the king and the court." + +The king rejoined calmly,-- + +"The country is at peace. There can be no spies except in a time of +war." + +"Is it even so? Then what are you three doing rampaging up and down my +land on the Border?" + +"That the lands may be yours we do not dispute, nor have we interfered +with them. The highways are the king's, and we three are peaceful +subjects of his, claiming, therefore, the right to travel on them as +we will, so long as we infringe not his peace or the liberty of any +man." + +"Stoutly spoken and bravely, considering in what king's dominion you +now find yourself. You have to learn that Johnny, and not Jamie, is +king of the Border. And when you're in the hands of a man named +Armstrong, you'll find how little a boy named Stuart can do for you. +Tie them up!" + +Before one of the three could move from the stool he occupied, they +were set upon by the ruffians, and each Stirling man found his ankles +fastened together and his elbows tied behind his back with a speed +that amazed him. + +"Bless my soul," moaned the poet, "all this in broad daylight, and in +the king's dominion." + +They were carried outside and flung thus helpless, face downward +on horses, like so many sacks of corn, each before a mounted man. +Armstrong sprung upon his horse and led his men from the high road +into the forest, his followers numbering something like a score. +The captives, from their agonising position on the horses, could +see nothing of the way they were being taken, except that they +journeyed on and on through dense woodland. They lost all knowledge +of direction, and, by and by, came to the margin of a brawling +stream, arriving at last, much to their relief, at a stronghold of +vast extent, situated on a beetling rock that overhung the river. Here +the three were placed on their feet again, and chattering women and +children crowded round them, but, in no case, was there a word of +pity or an expression of sympathy for their plight. + +The striking feature of the castle was a tall square tower, which +might be anything from seventy to a hundred feet in height; and +connected with it were several stone buildings, some two stories and +some three stories high. Round the castle, in a wide, irregular +circle, had been built a stout stone wall, perhaps twenty feet high, +wide enough on the top for half a dozen men to walk abreast. The space +enclosed was tolerably flat, and large enough for a small army to +exercise in. Leaning against the inside of this wall was an array of +sheds, which provided stabling for the horses, and numerous stalls in +which many cattle were lowing. The contour of the wall was broken by a +gateway, through which the troop and their captives had entered. The +inlet could be closed by a massive gate, which now stood open, and by +a stout portcullis that hung ready to drop when a lever was pulled. +But the most gruesome feature of this robber's lair was a stout beam +of timber, which projected horizontally from the highest open window +of the square tower. Attached to the further end of the beam was a +thick rope, the looped end of which encircled the drawn neck of a man, +whose lifeless body swayed like a leaden pendulum, helpless in the +strong breeze. Seeing the eyes of the three directed to this pitiful +object, Armstrong said to one of his men,-- + +"Just slip that fellow's head from the noose, Peter; we may need the +rope again to-night." Then turning to his prisoners, Armstrong spoke +like a courteous host anxious to exhibit to a welcome guest the +striking features of his domain. + +"That's but a grisly sight, gentlemen, to contemplate on a lowering +evening." + +The day was darkening to its close, and a storm, coming up out of the +west, was bringing the night quicker than the hour sanctioned. + +"But here is an ingenious contrivance," continued the freebooter, +cheerfully, "which has commanded the admiration of many a man we were +compelled to hang. You see there are so many meddlesome bodies in this +world that a person like myself, who wishes to live in peace with all +his fellows, must sometimes give the interferers a sharp bit lesson." + +"I can well believe it," answered the king. + +"An Englishman of great ingenuity had a plan for capturing us, but, as +it stands, we captured him; and being a merciful man, always loth to +hang, when anything else can be done, I set him at work here, and +this is one of his constructions. As it's growing dark, come nearer +that you may see how it works." + +At the bottom of the tower, and close to it, there lay a wooden +platform which afforded standing room for six or seven men. Peter got +up on this platform and pulled a cord, which opened a concealed +sluice-gate and resulted in a roar of pouring water. Gradually the +platform lifted, and the king saw that it was placed on top of a tall +pine-tree that had been cut in the form of a screw, the gigantic +threads of which were well oiled. A whirling horizontal water-wheel, +through the centre of which the big screw came slowly upwards, with +Peter on the gradually elevating platform, formed the motive power of +the contrivance. + +"You understand the mechanism?" said Armstrong. "By pulling one cord, +the water comes in on this side of the wheel and the platform ascends. +Another cord closes the sluice and everything is stationary. A third +cord opens the gate which lets the water drive the wheel in the +opposite direction and then the platform descends. You see, I have +taken away the old lower stairway that was originally built for the +tower, and this is the only means of getting up and down from the top +story. It does not, if you will notice, go entirely to the top, but +stops at that door, fifty feet from the rock, into which Peter is now +entering." + +"It is a most ingenious invention," admitted the king. "I never saw +anything like it before." + +"It would be very useful in a place like Stirling," said Johnny, +looking hard at his prisoner. + +"I suppose it would," replied the king, in a tone indicating that it +was no affair of his, "but you see I'm not a Stirling man myself. I +belong rather to all Scotland; a man of the world, as you might say." + +By this time Peter had climbed to the highest room of the tower, +worked his way on hands and knees out to the end of the beam, and had +drawn up to him the swaying body. With the deftness of expert +practice, he loosened the noose and the body dropped like a plummet +through the air, disappearing into the chasm below. Peter, taking the +noose with him, crawled backward, like a crab, out of sight, and into +the tower again. Armstrong, from below, had opened the other sluice, +and the empty platform descended as leisurely and as tremblingly as it +had risen. Armstrong himself cut the cords that bound the ankles of +his captives. + +"Now, gentlemen," he said, "if you will step on the platform I shall +have the pleasure of showing you to your rooms." + +Three armed men and the three prisoners moved upwards together. + +"A fine sylvan view you have," said the king. + +"Is it not!" exclaimed Armstrong, seemingly delighted that it pleased +his visitor. + +After the mechanical device had landed them some fifty feet above the +rocks, they ascended several flights of stairs, a man with a torch +leading the way. The prisoners were conducted to a small room, which +had the roof of the tower for its ceiling. In a corner of the cell +cowered a very abject specimen of the human race, who, when the others +came, seemed anxious to attract as little attention as possible. + +Armstrong, again, with his own hands removed the remaining cords from +the prisoners, and the three stretched up their arms, glad to find +them at liberty once more. + +"Place the torch in its holder," said Johnny. "Now, gentlemen, that +will last long enough to light you to your supper, which you will find +on the floor behind you. I'm sure you will rest here comfortably for +the night. The air is pure at this height, and I think you'll like +this eagle's nest better than a dungeon under the ground. For my own +part, I abhor a subterranean cell, and goodness knows I've been in +many a one, but we're civilised folk here on the Border and try to +treat our prisoners kindly." + +"You must, indeed, earn their fervent gratitude," said the king. + +"We should, we should," returned Johnny, "but I'm not certain that we +do. Man is a thrawn beast as a rule. And now, you'll just think over +your situation through the night, and be ready to answer me in the +morning all the questions I'll ask of you. I'll be wanting to know who +sent you here, and what news you have returned to him since you have +been on the Border." + +"We will give your request our deep consideration," replied the king. + +"I'm glad to hear that. You see, we are such merciful people that we +have but one rope to hang our enemies with, while we should have a +dozen by rights. Still, I think we could manage three at a pinch, if +your answers should happen to displease me. You will excuse the +barring of the door, but the window is open to you if your lodgings +are not to your liking. And so, good-night, the three of you." + +"Good-night to you, Mr. Armstrong," said the king. + +Peter had drawn in the rope, and its sinister loop lay on the floor, +its further length resting on the window sill, and extending out to +the end of the beam. The cobbler examined it with interest. "Come," +cried the king, "there is little use letting a supper wait for the +eating merely because we seem to have gone wrong in our inquiries +about the cattle." + +Neither the poet nor the cobbler had any appetite for supper, but the +king was young and hungry, and did justice to the hospitality of the +Armstrongs. + +"Have you been here long?" he asked of the prisoner in the corner. + +"A good while," answered the latter despondently. "I don't know for +how long. They hanged my mate." + +"I saw that. Do they hang many here about?" + +"I think they do," replied the prisoner. "Some fling themselves down +on the rocks, and others are starved to death. You see, the Armstrongs +go off on a raid, and there's no one here to bring us food, for the +women folk don't like to tamper with that machine that comes to the +lower stair. I doubt if Johnny starves them intentionally, but he's +kept away sometimes longer than he expects." + +"Bless me," cried the king, "think of this happening in Scotland. And +now, cobbler, what are we to do?" + +"I'm wondering if this man would venture out to the end of the beam +and untie the rope," suggested Flemming. + +"Oh, I'll do that, willingly," cried the prisoner. "But what is the +use of it; it's about ten times too short, as the Armstrongs well +know." + +"Are we likely to be disturbed here through the night?" asked +Flemming. + +"Oh no, nor till late in the day to-morrow; they'll be down there +eating and drinking till all hours, then they sleep long." + +"Very well. Untie the other end of the rope, and see you crawl back +here without falling." + +As the prisoner obeyed instructions, Flemming rose to his feet and +began feeling in his pockets, drawing forth, at last, a large brown +ball. + +"What is your plan, cobbler?" asked the king, with interest. + +"Well, you see," replied Flemming, "the rope's short, but it's very +thick." + +"I don't see how that is to help us." + +"There are nine or ten strands that have gone to the making of it, and +I'm thinking that each of those strands will bear a man. Luckily, I +have got a ball of my cobbler's wax here, and that will strengthen +the strands, keep the knots from slipping, and make it easier to climb +down." + +"Cobbler!" cried the king, "if that lets us escape, I'll knight you." + +"I care little for knighthood," returned the cobbler, "but I don't +want to be benighted here." + +"After such a remark as that, your majesty," exclaimed the poet, "I +think you should have him beheaded, if he doesn't get us out of this +safely." + +"Indeed, Sir David," said the cobbler, as he unwound the rope, "if I +don't get you out of here, the Armstrongs will save his majesty all +trouble on the score of decapitation." + +There was silence now as the three watched the deft hands of the +cobbler, hurrying to make the most of the last rays of the flickering +torch in the wall. He tested the strands and proved them strong, +then ran each along the ball of wax, thus cementing their loose +thread together. He knotted the ends with extreme care, tried their +resistance thoroughly, and waxed them unsparingly. It was a business +of breathless interest, but at last the snake-like length of thin rope +lay on the floor at his disposal. He tied an end securely to the beam +just outside the window-sill so that there would be no sharp edge to +cut the cord, then he paid out the line into the darkness, slowly and +carefully that it might not became entangled. + +"There," he said at last, with a sigh of satisfaction, "who's first +for the rope. We three await your majesty's commands." + +"Do you know the country hereabout?" asked the king of the man who had +been prisoner longest. + +"Every inch of it." + +"Can you guide us safely to the north in the darkness?" + +"Oh, yes, once I am down by the stream." + +"Then," said the king, "go down by the stream. When you are on firm +footing say no word, but shake the rope. If you prove a true guide to +us this night we will pay you well." + +"I shall be well paid with my liberty," replied the prisoner, crawling +cautiously over the stone sill and disappearing in the darkness. The +cobbler held the taut line in his hand. No man spoke, they hardly +seemed to breathe until the cobbler said: + +"He's safe. Your majesty should go next." + +"The captain is the last to leave the ship," said the king; "over you +go, Flemming." After the cobbler, Sir David descended, followed by +the king; and they found at the bottom of the ravine some yards of +line to spare. + +Their adventures through that wild night and the next day, until they +came to a village where they could purchase horses, form a story in +themselves. + +When the king reached Stirling, and was dressed once more in a costume +more suited to his station than that which had been torn by the +brambles of the Border, he called to him the chief minister of his +realm. + +"You will arrest immediately," he said, "Cockburn of Henderland, and +Adam Scott of Tushielaw, and have them beheaded." + +"Without trial, your majesty?" asked the minister in amazement. + +"Certainly not without trial, but see that the trial is as short as +possible. Their crime is treason; the witnesses as many as you like to +choose from our last council meeting. I love and adhere to the +processes of law, but see that there is no mistake about the block +being at the end of your trial." The minister made a note of this and +awaited further instructions. "Place the Earl of Bothwell in the +strongest room that Edinburgh Castle has vacant. Imprison Lord Maxwell +and Lord Home and the Lairds of Fairniherst, Johnston and Buccleuch, +in whatever stronghold is most convenient. Let these orders be carried +out as speedily as possible." + +The next man called into the royal presence was Sir Donald Sinclair. + +"Have you five hundred mounted men ready for the road, Sir Donald?" + +"Yes, your majesty, a thousand if you want them." + +"Very well, a thousand I shall have, and I shall ride with you to the +Border." + +Nevertheless, when the king came to the inn where he had been +captured, there were but twenty troopers with him. Sir Donald was the +spokesman on that occasion. He said to the landlord, whose roving eye +was taking count of the number of horses,-- + +"Go to Johnny Armstrong and tell him that the king, with twenty +mounted men at his back, commands his presence here, and see that he +comes quickly." + +Johnny was not slow in replying to the invitation, and forty troopers +rode behind him. The king sat on his horse, a little in advance of his +squadron. As a mounted man, James looked well, and there was but +little resemblance between him and the unfortunate drover, who had +been taken prisoner at that spot two short weeks before. + +"I have come promptly in answer to your majesty's call," said +Armstrong, politely removing his bonnet, but making no motion to pay +further deference to the King of Scotland. + +"It gives me great pleasure to see you," replied the king, suavely. +"You travel with a large escort, Mr. Armstrong?" + +"Yes, your majesty, I am a sociable man and I like good company. The +more stout fellows that are at my back, the better I am pleased." + +"In this respect we are very much alike, Mr. Armstrong, as you will +admit if you but cast your eyes to the rear of your little company." + +At this, Johnny Armstrong violated a strict rule of royal etiquette +and turned the back of his head to his king. He saw the forest alive +with mounted men, their circle closing in upon him. He muttered the +word: "Trapped!" and struck the spurs into his horse's flank. The +stung steed pranced in a semi-circle answering his master's rein, but +the fence of mounted steel was complete, every drawn sword a picket. +Again Armstrong, laughing uneasily, faced the king, who still stood +motionless. + +"Your majesty has certainly the advantage of me as far as escort is +concerned." + +"It would seem so," replied James. "You travel with twoscore of men; I +with a thousand." + +"I have ever been a loyal subject of your majesty," said Armstrong, +moistening his dry lips. "I hope I am to take no scathe for coming +promptly and cordially to welcome your majesty to my poor district." + +"You will be better able to answer your own question when you have +replied to a few of mine. Have you ever met me before, Mr. Armstrong?" + +The robber looked intently at the king. + +"I think not," he said. + +"Have you ever seen this man before?" and James motioned Sir David +Lyndsay from the troop at his side. + +Armstrong drew the back of his hand across his brow. + +"I seem to remember him," he said, "but cannot tell where I have met +him." + +"Perhaps this third man will quicken your memory," and the cobbler +came forward, dressed as he had been the night he was captured. + +Armstrong gasped, and a greenish pallor overspread his face. + +[Illustration: "THE FORTY-ONE TREES BORE THEIR BURDEN."] + +"What is your answer, Armstrong?" asked the king. + +"I and my forty men will serve your majesty faithfully in your army if +you grant us our lives." + +"No thieves ride with any of Scotland's brigade, Armstrong." + +"I will load your stoutest horse with gold until he cannot walk, if +you spare our lives." + +"The revenues of Scotland are sufficient as they are, Armstrong," +replied the king. + +"Harry of England will be glad to hear that the King of Scotland has +destroyed twoscore of his stoutest warriors." + +"The King of England is my relative, and I shall be happy to please +him. The defence of Scotland is my care, and I have honest men enough +in my army to see that it is secure. Have you anything further to say, +Armstrong?" + +"It is folly to seek grace at a graceless face. If we are for the +tree, then to the tree with us. But if you make this fair forest bear +such woeful fruit, you shall see the day when you shall die for lack +of stout hearts like ours to follow you, as sure as this day is the +fatal thirteenth." + +The forty-one trees bore their burden, and thirteen years from that +time the outlaw's prophecy was fulfilled. + + + + +THE KING'S GOLD + + +It is strange to record that the first serious difficulty which +James encountered with the nobles who supported him, arose not +over a question of State, but through the machinations of a foreign +mountebank. The issue came to a point where, if the king had proceeded +to punish the intriguer, his majesty might have stood alone while the +lords of his court would have ranged themselves in support of the +charlatan--a most serious state of things, the like of which has +before now overturned a throne. In dealing with this unexpected +crisis, the young king acted with a wisdom scarcely to be expected +from his years. He directed the nobility as a skilful rider manages a +mettlesome horse, sparing curb and spur when the use of the one might +have unseated him, or the use of the other resulted in a frenzied +bolt. Thus the judicious horseman keeps his saddle, yet arrives at the +destination he has marked out from the beginning. + +In the dusk of the evening, James went down the high street of +Stirling, keeping close to the wall as was his custom when about to +pay a visit to his friend the cobbler, for although several members of +the court knew that he had a liking for low company, the king was well +aware of the haughty disdain with which the nobles regarded those of +the mechanical or trading classes. So he thought it best not to run +counter to a prejudice so deeply rooted, and for this reason he +restricted the knowledge of his visits to a few of his more intimate +friends. + +As the king was about to turn out of the main street he ran suddenly +into the arms of a man coming from the shop of a clothier who made +costumes for the court. As each started back from the unexpected +encounter, the light from the mercer's shop window lit up the face of +his majesty's opponent, and the latter saw that he had before him his +old friend, Sir David Lyndsay. + +"Ha, Davie!" cried the king, "it's surely late in the day to choose +the colours for a new jacket." + +"Indeed your majesty is in the right," replied Sir David, "but I was +not selecting cloth; I was merely enacting the part of an honest man, +and liquidating a reckoning of long standing." + +"What, a poet with money!" exclaimed the king. "Who ever heard of +such a thing? Man Davie, you might share the knowledge of your +treasure-house with a friend. Kings are always in want of money. +Is your gold mine rich enough for two?" + +The king spoke jocularly, placing no particular meaning upon his +words, and if Sir David had answered in kind, James would doubtless +have thought no more about the matter, but the poet stammered and +showed such evident confusion that his majesty's quick suspicions were +at once aroused. He remembered that of late a change had come over the +court. Scottish nobles were too poor to be lavish in dress, and +frequently the somewhat meagre state of their wardrobe had furnished a +subject for jest on the part of ambassadors from France or Spain. But +when other foreigners less privileged than an ambassador had ventured +to make the same theme one for mirth, they speedily found there was no +joke in Scottish steel, which was ever at an opponent's service, even +if gold were not. So those who were wise and fond of life, became +careful not to make invidious comparisons between the gallants of +Edinburgh and Stirling, and those of Paris and Madrid. But of late the +court at Stirling had blossomed out in fine array, and although this +grandeur had attracted the notice of the king and pleased him, he had +given no thought to the origin of the new splendour. + +The king instantly changed his mind regarding his visit to the +cobbler, linked arm with the poet, and together they went up the +street. This sudden reversion of direction gave the royal wanderer a +new theme for thought and surmise. It seemed as if all the town was on +the move, acting as surreptitiously as he himself had done a few +moments previously. At first he imagined he had been followed, and the +suspicion angered him. In the gloom he was unable to recognise any of +the wayfarers, and each seemed anxious to avoid detection, passing +hurriedly or slipping quietly down some less frequented alley or lane. +Certain of the figures appeared familiar, but none stopped to question +the king. + +"Davie," cried James, pausing in the middle of the street, "you make a +very poor conspirator." + +"Indeed, your majesty," replied the poet earnestly, "no one is less of +a conspirator than I." + +"Davie, you are hiding something from me." + +"That I am not, your majesty. I am quite ready to answer truly any +question your majesty cares to ask." + +"The trouble is, Davie, that my majesty has not yet got a clue which +will lead to shrewd questioning, but as a beginning, I ask you, what +is the meaning of all this court stir in the old town of Stirling?" + +"How should I know, your majesty?" asked the poet in evident distress. + +"There now, Davie, there now! The very first question I propound gets +an evasive answer. The man who did not know would have replied that he +did not. I dislike being juggled with, and for the first time in my +life, Sir David Lyndsay, I am angered with you." + +The knight was visibly perturbed, but at last he answered,-- + +"In this matter I am sworn to secrecy." + +"All secrets reveal themselves at the king's command," replied James +sternly. "Speak out; speak fully, and speak quickly." + +"There is no guilt in the secret, your majesty. I doubt if any of your +court would hesitate to tell you all, were it not that they fear +ridicule, which is a thing a Scottish noble is loth to put up with +whether from the king or commoner." + +"Get on, and waste not so much time in the introduction," said his +majesty shortly. + +"Well, there came some time since to Stirling, an Italian chemist, who +took up his abode and set up his shop in the abandoned refectory of +the old Monastery. He is the author of many wonderful inventions, but +none interests the court so much as the compounding of pure gold in a +crucible from the ordinary earth of the fields." + +"I can well believe that," cried the king. "I have some stout fighters +in my court who fear neither man nor devil in battle, yet who would +stand with mouth agape before a juggler's tent. But surely, Davie, +you, who have been to the colleges, and have read much from learned +books, are not such a fool as to be deluded by that ancient fallacy, +the transmutation of any other metals into gold?" + +Sir David laughed uneasily. + +"I did not say I believed it, your majesty, still, a man must place +some credence in what his eye sees done, as well as in what he reads +from books; and after all, the proof of the cudgel is the rap on the +head. I have beheld the contest, beginning with an empty pot and +ending with a bar of gold." + +"Doubtless. I have seen a juggler swallow hot iron, but I have never +believed it went down his throttle, although it appeared to have done +so. Did you get any share of the transmuted gold? That's the practical +test, my Davie." + +"That is exactly the test your barons applied. I doubt if their +nobilities would take much interest in a scientific experiment were +there no profit at the end of it. Each man entering the laboratory +pays what he pleases to the money taker at the table, but it must not +be less than one gold bonnet-piece. When all have entered, the doors +are closed and locked. The amount of money collected is weighed +against small bars of gold which the alchemist places in the opposite +scale until the two are equally balanced. This bar of gold he then +throws into the crucible." + +"Oh, he puts gold into the crucible, does he? Where then is the +profit? I thought these necromancers made gold from iron." + +"Signor Farini's method is different, your majesty. He asserts that +like attracts like, and that the gold in the crucible will take to +itself the minute unseen particles which he believes exists in all +soils; the intense heat burning away the dross and leaving the refined +gold." + +"I see; and how ends this experiment?" + +"The residue is cooled and weighed. Sometimes it is double the amount +of gold put in, sometimes treble; and I have known him upon occasion +take from the crucible quadruple the gold of the bar, but never have I +known a melting fall below double the amount collected by the man at +the table. At the final act each noble has returned to him double or +treble the gold he relinquished on entering." + +"Where then arises the profit to your Italian? I never knew these +foreigners to work for nothing." + +"He says he does it for love of Scotland and hatred of England; an +ancient enemy. Were but the Scottish nation rich, he thinks they could +the better withstand incursions from the south." + +"Well, Davie, that seems to me a most unsubstantial reason. Scotland's +protection has been her poverty in all except hard knocks. Were she as +wealthy as France it would be the greater temptation for Englishers to +overrun the country. My grandfather, James the Third, had a black +chest full of gold and jewels, yet he was murdered flying from defeat +in battle. When does this golden wizard fire his cauldron, Davie?" + +"To-night, your majesty. That is the reason the nobles of your court +were making sly haste to his domicile." + +"Ah, and Sir David Lyndsay was hurrying to the same spot so blindly +that he nearly overran his monarch." + +"It is even so, your majesty." + +"Then am I hindering you from much profit, and you must even blame +yourself for being so long in the telling. However, it is never too +late to turn one bonnet-piece into two. So, Davie, lead the way, for I +would see this alchemist turn out gold from a pot as a housewife boils +potatoes." + +"I fear, your majesty, that the doors will be shut." + +"If they are, Davie, the king's name will open them. Lead the way; +lead the way." + +The doors were not shut but were just on the point of closing when Sir +David put his shoulder to them and forced his way in, followed closely +by his companion. The king and his henchman found themselves in a +small ante-room, furnished only with a bench and a table; on the +latter was a yellow heap of bonnet-pieces of the king's own coinage. +Beside this heap lay a scroll with the requisites for writing. The +money-taker, a gaunt foreigner clad in long robes like a monk, closed +the door and barred it securely, then returned to the table. He +nodded to Sir David, and glanced with some distrust upon his +plaid-covered companion. + +"Whom have you brought to us, Sir Lyndsay?" asked the man +suspiciously. + +"A friend of mine, the Master of Ballengeich; one who can keep his own +counsel and who wishes to turn an honest penny." + +"We admit none except those connected with the court," demurred the +money-taker. + +"Well, in a manner, Ballengeich is connected with the court. He +supplies the castle with the products of his farm." + +The man shook his head. + +"That will not do," he said, "my orders are strict. I dare not admit +him." + +"Is not my money as good as another's?" asked Ballengeich, speaking +for the first time. + +"No offence is meant to you, sir, as your friend Sir Lyndsay knows, +but I have my orders and dare not exceed them." + +"Do you refuse me admittance then?" + +"I am compelled to do so, sir, greatly to my regret." + +"Is not my surety sufficient?" asked Sir David. + +"I am deeply grieved to refuse you, sir, but I cannot disobey my +strict instructions." + +"Oh, very well then," said the king impatiently, "we will stay no +further question. Sir David here is a close friend of the king, and a +friend of my own, therefore we will return to the castle and get the +king's warrant, which, I trust, will open any door in Stirling." + +The warder seemed nonplussed at this and looked quickly from one to +the other; finally he said,-- + +"Will you allow me a moment to consult with my master?" + +"Very well, so that you do not hold us long," replied the Master of +Ballengeich. + +"I shall do my errand quickly, for at this moment I am keeping the +whole nobility of Scotland waiting." + +The man disappeared, taking, however, the gold with him in a bag. In a +short space of time he returned and bowing to the two waiting men he +said,-- + +"My master is anxious to please you, Sir Lyndsay, and will accept the +money of your friend." Whereupon the two placed upon the table five +gold pieces each, and the amount was credited opposite their names +upon the parchment. + +[Illustration: "THE FIGURE OF A TALL MAN."] + +Sir David, leading the way, drew aside one heavy curtain and then a +second one, which allowed them to enter a long low-roofed room almost +in total darkness, as far as the end to which they were introduced was +concerned; but the upper portion of the hall was lit in lurid fashion. +At the further end of the Refectory was a raised platform on which +the heads of the Order had dined, during the prosperous days of the +edifice, while the humbler brethren occupied, as was customary, the +main body of the lower floor. Upon this platform stood a metal tripod, +which held a basket of dazzling fire, and in this basket was set a +crucible, now changing from red to white, under the constant exertions +of two creatures who looked like imps from the lower regions rather +than inhabitants of the upper world. These two strove industriously +with a huge bellows which caused the fire to roar fiercely, and this +unholy light cast its effulgence upon the faces of many notable men +packed closely together in the body of the hall; it also shone on the +figure of a tall man, the ghastly pallor of whose countenance was +enhanced by a fringe of hair black as midnight. He had a nose like a +vulture's beak, and eyes piercing in their intensity, as black as his +midnight hair. His costume also resembled that of a monk in cut, but +it was scarlet in hue; and the radiance of the furnace caused it to +glow as if illumined by some fire from within. + +At the moment the last two entered, Farini was explaining to his +audience, in an accent palpably foreign, that he was a man of science, +and that the devil gave him no aid in his researches, an assertion +doubtless perfectly accurate. His audience listened to him with +visible impatience, evidently anxious for talk to cease and practical +work to begin. + +The wizard held in his right hand the bag of gold that the king had +seen taken from the outer room. Presently there entered through +another curtained doorway, on what might be called the stage, the +money-taker in the monk's dress, who handed to the necromancer the +coins given him by Lyndsay and Ballengeich, which the wizard tossed +carelessly into the bag. The attendant placed the scroll upon a table +and then came forward with a weighing-machine held in his hand. The +alchemist placed the gold from the bag upon one side of the scale, and +threw into the other, bar after bar of yellow metal until the two were +equal. Then the bag of gold was placed on the table beside the scroll, +and the wizard carefully deposited the yellow bars within the +crucible, the two imps now working the bellows more strenuously than +ever. + +The experiment was carried on precisely as Sir David had foretold, but +there was one weird effect which the poet had not mentioned. When the +necromancer added to the melting-pot huge lumps of what appeared to be +common soil from the field, the mixture glared each time with a new +colour. Once a vivid violet colour flamed up, which cast such a livid +death-like hue on the faces of the knights there present, that each +looked upon the other in obvious fear. Again the flame was pure white; +again scarlet; again blue; again yellow. When at last the incantation +was complete, the bellows-work was stopped. The coruscating caldron +was lifted from the fire by an iron hook and chain, and set upon the +stone floor to cool, bubbling and sparkling like a thing of evil; but +the radiance became duller and duller as time went on, and finally its +contents were poured out into a mould of sand, and there congealing, +the result was lifted by tongs and laid upon the scale. The bag of +gold was placed again in the opposite disc, but the heated metal far +outweighed it. The wizard then unlocked a desk and threw coin after +coin in the pan that held the bag, until at last the beam of the scale +hung level. The secretary now pushed forward a table to the edge of +the platform, and on the table placed a rush-light which served but to +illuminate the parchment before him. With great rapidity he counted +the gold pieces which were not in the bag, then whispered to his +master. + +The room was deathly still as the man in scarlet stepped forward to +make his announcement. + +"I regret," he said, "that our experiment has not been as successful +as I had hoped. This doubtless has been caused by the poverty of the +earth from which I took my material. I shall dig elsewhere against our +next meeting, and then we may look for better results. To-night I can +return to you but double the money you gave to my treasurer." + +At this there went up what seemed to be a sigh of relief from the +audience, which had been holding its breath with all the eagerness of +a gambler, who had made a stake and awaited the outcome of the throw. + +The necromancer, taking the parchment, called out name after name, and +as each title was enunciated the bearer of it came to the edge of the +platform and received from the secretary double the amount of gold +pieces set down on the parchment. As each man secreted his treasure he +passed along out of the hall; and so it came about that Sir David and +Ballengeich, being the last on the list, received the remaining coins +on the table, and silently took their departure. + +The king spoke no word until they had entered the castle and were +within his private room. Once there, the first thing he did was to +pull from his pouch the coins he had received and examine them +carefully one by one. There was no doubt about them, each was a good +Scottish gold piece, with the king's profile and bonnet stamped +thereon. + +"You will find them genuine," said Sir David. "I had my own fears +regarding them at first, thinking that this foreigner was trying the +trick which Robert Cockran, the mason, accomplished so successfully +during the reign of your grandfather, mixing the silver coins with +copper and lead; but I had them tested by a goldsmith in Edinburgh and +was assured the pieces are just what they claim to be." + +"Prudent man!" exclaimed the king, throwing himself down on a seat and +jingling the gold pieces. "Well, Davie, what do you think of it all? +Give me an opinion as honest as the coin." + +"Truth to tell, your majesty, I do not know what to think of it. It +may be as he says, that the earth here contains particles of gold, +that are drawn to the bars he throws in the melting-pot. If the man +is a cheat, where can he hope for his profit?" + +"Where indeed? I mind you told me he had other marvellous inventions; +what are they?" + +"He has a plan by which a man in full armour can enter the water and +walk beneath it for any length of time without suffocating." + +"Have you seen this tried?" + +"No, your majesty; there has been no opportunity." + +"What an admirable contrivance for invading Ireland! What are his +plans as far as England is concerned? He seems, if I remember your +tale aright, to have some animosity in that direction." + +"He has constructed a pair of wings, and each soldier being provided +with them can sail through the air across the Border." + +"Admirable, admirable!" exclaimed the king nodding his head. "Now +indeed is England ours, and France too for that matter, if his wings +will carry so far. Have you seen these wings?" + +"Yes, your majesty, but I have not seen them tried. They seem to be +made of fine silk stretched on an extremely light framework, and are +worked by the arms thrust up or down; thus, he says, a man may rise or +fall at will." + +"As to the falling, I believe him, and the rising I shall believe when +I see it. Has our visit to-night then taught you nothing, David?" + +"Nothing but what I knew before. What has it taught your majesty?" + +"In the first place our charlatan does not want the king to know what +he is doing, because when his subordinate refused me admittance and I +said to him I would appeal to the king, he saw at once that this was +serious, and wished to consult his master. His master was then willing +to admit anyone so long as there was no appeal to the king. I +therefore surmise he is most anxious to conceal his operations from +me. What is your opinion, Davie?" + +"It would seem that your majesty is in the right." + +"Then again if he is a real scientist and has discovered an easy +method of producing gold and is desirous to enrich Scotland, why +should he object to a plain farmer like the Guidman of Ballengeich +profiting by his production?" + +"That is quite true, your majesty; but I suppose the line must be +drawn somewhere, and I imagine he purposes to enrich only those of the +highest rank, as being more powerful than the yeomen." + +"Then we come back, Davie, to what I said before; why exclude the king +who is of higher rank than any noble?" + +"I have already confessed, your majesty, that I cannot fathom his +motives." + +"Well, you see at what we have arrived. This foreigner wishes to +influence those who can influence the king. He wishes to have among +his audience none but those belonging to the court. He has some +project that he dare not place before the king. We will now return to +the consideration of that project. In the first place, the man is not +an Italian. Did a scholar like you, Davie, fail to notice that when he +was in want of a word, it was a French word he used? He is therefore +no Italian, but a Frenchman masquerading as an Italian. Therefore, the +project, whatever it is, pertains to France, and it is his desire that +this shall not be known. Now what does France most desire Scotland to +do at this moment?" + +"It thinks we should avenge Flodden; and many belonging to the court +are in agreement with France on this point." + +"Has your necromancer ever mentioned Flodden?" + +"Once or twice he spoke of it with regret." + +"I thought so," continued the king; "and now I hope you are beginning +to see his design." + +"What your majesty says is very ingenious; but if I may be permitted +to raise an objection to the theory, I would ask your majesty why this +was not done through the French ambassador? French gold has been used +before now in the Scottish Court; and it seems to me that a great +nation like France would not stoop to enlist the devices of a +charlatan, if this man be a charlatan." + +"Ah, now we enter the domain of State secrets, Davie, and there is +where a king has an advantage over the commoner. Of course I know many +things hidden from you which give colour to my surmise. Some while ago +the French ambassador offered me a subsidy. Now I am not so avaricious +as my grandfather, nor so lavish as my father, and I told the +ambassador that I would depend on Scottish gold. I acquainted him with +the success of my German miners in extracting gold from Leadhills in +the Clydesdale, and I showed him my newly coined pieces. He was so +condescendingly pleased and interested that he begged the privilege of +having his own bars of metal coined in my mint, in order to disburse +his expenses in the coin of the realm, and also to send some of our +bonnet-pieces as specimens to France itself. This right of coinage I +willingly bestowed upon him; firstly, because he asked it; secondly, I +was glad to have some account of his expenditure. When I came in just +now I examined these coins closely, and you imagined that I was +suspicious of the purity of the metal. This was not so. I told my +mint-master to coin all the bars the ambassador gave him, to keep a +strict account of the issue, and to mark each piece with the letter +'F' on the margin. I find three of the coins which we received +to-night bearing this private mark; therefore, they have passed +through the hands of the French ambassador to the alchemist." + +Sir David gave forth an exclamation of surprise. He left his seat, +took the bonnet-pieces from his pocket and placed them under the lamp. + +"Now," said the king, "you need sharp eyes to detect this mark, but +there it is, and there, and there. Let us look a little closer into +the object of France. The battle of Flodden was fought when I was +little more than a year old; it destroyed the king, the flower of +Scottish nobility, and ten thousand of her common soldiers. Who was +responsible for this frightful calamity? My mother was strongly +against the campaign, which was to bring the forces of her husband in +contention with the forces of her brother, at that moment absent in +France. The man who urged on the conflict was De la Motte, the French +ambassador, standing ever at my father's side, whispering his +treacherous, poisonous advice into an ear too willing to listen. +England was not a bitter enemy, for England did not follow up her +victory and march into Scotland, where none were left to command a +Scottish army, and no Scottish army was left to obey. Scotland, on +this occasion, was merely the catspaw of France. Now I am the son of +an Englishwoman. The English king is my uncle, and France fears that I +will keep the peace with my neighbour; so through his ambassador, he +sounds me, and learns that such indeed is my intention. France +resolves to leave me alone and accomplish its object by corrupting, +with gold coined in my own mint, the nobles of my court, and, by God!" +cried James in sudden anger, bringing his fist down on the table and +making the coins jingle, "France is succeeding, through the blind +stupidity of men who might have been expected to know their right hand +from their left. The greatest heads of my realm are being cozened by a +trickster; befooled in a way that any humble ploughman should be +ashamed of. You see now why they wish to keep the silly proceedings +from the king. I tell you, Davie, that Italian's head comes off, and +thus in some small measure will I avenge Flodden." + +Sir David Lyndsay sat meditatively silent for some moments while the +king in angry impatience strode up and down the small limits of the +room. When the heat of his majesty's temper had partially cooled, Sir +David spoke with something of diplomatic shrewdness. + +"I never before realised the depth and penetration of your majesty's +mind. You have gone straight to the heart of this mystery, and have +thrown light into its obscurest corner, as a dozen flaming torches +would have illumined that dark laboratory in the Monastery. I have +shared the stupidity of your nobles, which the clarity of your +judgment now exposes so plainly; therefore, I feel that it would be +presumption on my part to offer advice to your majesty in the further +prosecution of this affair." + +"No, Davie, no," said the king, stopping in his march and speaking +with pleased cordiality, "no, I value your advice; you are an honest +man, and it is not to be expected that the subtilty and craftiness of +these foreigners should be as clear to you as the sunshine on a +Highland hill. Speak out, Davie, and if you give me your counsel, I +know it will be as wholesome as oatmeal porridge." + +"Well, your majesty, you must meet subtilty with subtilty." + +"I am not sure that the adage holds good, Davie," demurred the king. +"You cannot outrace a Highlandman in his own glen, although you may +fight him fairly in the open. Once this Frenchman's head is off, you +stop his boiling-pot." + +"That is quite true, your majesty, but if the French ambassador should +put in a claim for his worthless carcass, you will find yourself on +the eve of a break with France, if you proceed to his execution." + +"But I shall have made France throw off its mask." + +"It is not France I am thinking about, your majesty. Your own nobles +have gone clean daft over this Italian. He is their goose that lays +the golden eggs, and you saw yourself to-night with what breathless +expectation they watched his experimenting. I am sure, your majesty, +that they will stand by him, and that you will find not only France +but Scotland arrayed against you. A moment's reflection will show you +the danger. These meetings have been going on for months past, yet no +whisper of their progress has reached your majesty's ears." + +"That is true; even you yourself, Davie, kept silent." + +"I swore an oath of silence, and honestly, I did not think that this +gold-making was an affair of State." + +"Very well. I will act with caution. The breath of the money-getter +tarnishes the polish of the sword; and in my dealings I shall try to +recollect that I have to do with men growing rapidly rich, as well as +with nobles who should be too proud to accept unearned gold from any +man. Now, Davie, I'll need your help in this, and in aiding me you +will assist yourself, thus will virtue be its own reward, as is +preached to us. I will give you as many gold pieces as you need, and +instead of paying three pieces at the entrance, give the man three +hundred. Urge all the nobles to increase their wagers; for thus we +shall soon learn the depths of this yellow treasury. If I attempt to +wring the neck of the goose before the eggs are laid, my followers +would be justified in saying that the English part of my nature had +got the better of the Scotch. Meanwhile, I will know nothing of this +man's doings, and I hope for your sake, Davie, that the gold mine will +prove as prolific as my own in the Clydesdale." + +The nobles followed the example set to them by the lavish Sir David. +They needed no urging from him to increase their stakes. The fever of +the gambler was on each of them, and soon the alleged Italian began to +be embarrassed in keeping up the pace he had set for himself. It +required now an enormous sum to pay even double the amount taken at +the door. The necromancer announced that the meetings would be held +less often, but the nobles would not have it so. Then his experiments +became less and less successful. One night the bonus amounted only to +half the coins given to the treasurer, and then there were ominous +grumblings. At the next meeting the bare amount paid in was given +back, and the deep roar of resentment which greeted this proclamation +made the foreigner tremble in his red robe. The ambassador was sending +messenger after messenger to France, and looked anxiously for their +return, while the necromancer did everything to gain time. At last +there came an experiment which failed entirely; no gold was produced +in the crucible. The alchemist begged for a postponement, but +swords flashed forth and he was compelled on the spot to renew his +incantation. If gold could be made on one occasion why not on another? +cried the barons with some show of reason. The conjurer had conjured +up a demon he could not control; the demon of greed. + +The only man about the court who seemed to know nothing of what was +going forward was the king himself. The French ambassador narrowly +watched his actions, but James was the same free-hearted, jovial, +pleasure-seeking monarch he had always been. He hunted and caroused, +and was the life of any party of pleasure which sallied forth from the +castle. He disappeared now and then, as was his custom, and could not +be found, although his nobles winked at one another, while the +perturbed French ambassador looked anxiously for the treasure ship +that never came. + +At last the nobles, who, in spite of their threatenings, had too much +shrewdness to kill the gold-maker, hoping his lapse of power was only +temporary, forced the question to a head and made appeal to the +astonished king himself. Here was a man, they said, who could make +gold and wouldn't. They desired a mandate to go forth, compelling him +to resume the lucrative occupation he had abandoned. + +The king pressed his amazement at what he heard, and summoned the +mountebank before him. The gold-maker abandoned his robe of scarlet +and appeared before James dressed soberly. He confessed that he knew +the secret of extracting gold from ordinary soil, but submitted that +he was not a Scottish citizen and therefore could not properly be +coerced by the Scottish laws so long as he infringed none of the +statutes. The king held that this appeal was well founded, and +disclaimed any desire to coerce a citizen of a friendly state. At this +the charlatan brightened perceptibly, and proportionately the gloom on +the brows of the nobles deepened. + +"But if you can produce gold, as you say, why do you refuse to do so?" +demanded the king. + +"I respectfully submit to your majesty," replied the mountebank, "that +I have now perfected an invention of infinitely greater value than the +gold-making process; an invention that will give Scotland a power +possessed by no other nation, and which will enable it to conquer any +kingdom, no matter how remote it may be from this land I so much +honour. I wish, then, to devote the remaining energies of my life to +the enlarging of this invention, rather than waste my time in what is, +after all, the lowest pursuit to which a man may demean himself, +namely, the mere gathering of money," and the speaker cast a glance of +triumph at the disgruntled barons. + +"I quite agree with you regarding your estimation of acquisitiveness," +said the king cordially, giving no heed to the murmurs of his +followers. "In what does this new invention consist?" + +"It is simply a pair of wings, your majesty, made from the finest silk +which I import from France. They may be fitted to any human being, and +they give that human being the power which birds have long possessed." + +"Well," said the king with a laugh, "I should be the last to teach a +Scottish warrior to fly; still the ability to do so would have been, +on several occasions, advantageous to us. Have you your wings at +hand?" + +"Yes, your majesty." + +"Then you yourself shall test them in our presence." + +"But I should like to spend, your majesty, some further time on +preparation," demurred the man uneasily. + +"I thought you said a moment ago that the invention was perfect." + +"Nothing human is perfect, your majesty, and if I said so I spoke with +the over-confidence of the inventor. I have, however, succeeded in +sailing through the air, but cannot yet make way against a wind." + +"Oh, you have succeeded so far as to interest us in a most attractive +experiment. Bid your assistant bring them at once, and let us +understand their principle. I rejoice to know that Scotland is to have +the benefit of your great genius." + +Farini showed little enthusiasm anent the king's confidence in him. He +had, during the colloquy, cast many an anxious glance towards the +French ambassador, apparently much to the annoyance of that high +dignitary, for now the Frenchman, seeing his continued hesitation, +said sharply,-- + +"You have heard his majesty's commands; get on your paraphernalia." + +When the Italian was at last equipped, looking like a demon in a +painting that hung in the chapel, the king led the way to the edge of +Stirling cliff. + +"There," he said, indicating a spot on the brow of the precipice, "you +could not find in all Scotland a better vantage-point for a flight." + +[Illustration: "WITH A WILD SCREAM FARINI ENDEAVOURED TO SUPPORT +HIMSELF WITH HIS GAUZE-LIKE WINGS."] + +The terrified man stood for a moment on the verge of the appalling +precipice; then he gave utterance to a remarkable pronouncement, the +import of which was perhaps misunderstood because of the chattering +of his teeth. + +"Oh, not here, your majesty! Forgive me, and I will confess +everything. The gold which I pretended to----" + +"Fly, you fool!" cried the French ambassador, pushing the Italian +suddenly between the shoulders and launching him into space. With a +wild scream Farini endeavoured to support himself with his gauze-like +wings, and for a moment seemed to hover in mid-air; but the framework +cracked and the victim, whirling head over heels, fell like a plummet +to the bottom of the cliff. + +"I fear you have been too impetuous with him," said the king severely, +although as his majesty glanced at Sir David Lyndsay the faint +suspicion of a wink momentarily obscured his eye,--a temporary veiling +of the royal refulgence, which passed unnoticed as every one else was +gazing over the cliff at the motionless form of the fallen man. + +"I am to blame, sire," replied the ambassador contritely, "but I think +the villain is an impostor, and I could not bear to see your royal +indulgence trifled with. However, I am willing to make amends for my +imprudence, and if the scoundrel lives, I shall, at my own expense, +transport him instantly to France, where he shall have the attendance +of the best surgeons the country affords." + +"That is very generous of you," replied the king. + +And the ambassador, craving permission to retire, hastened to +translate his benevolence into action. + +Farini was still unconscious when the ambassador and his attendants +reached him; but the French nobleman proved as good as his word, for +he had the injured man, whose thigh-bone was broken, conveyed in a +litter to Leith, and from there shipped to France. But it was many a +day before the Scottish nobles ceased to deplore the untimely +departure of their gold-maker. + +[Illustration: "THE KING HAD COMPOSED A POEM IN THIRTEEN STANZAS, +ENTITLED 'THE BEGGAR MAN.'"] + + + + +THE KING A-BEGGING + + +Literary ambition has before now led men into difficulties. The king +had completed a poem in thirteen stanzas entitled "The Beggar Man," +and the prime requisite of a completed poem is an audience to listen +to it. In spite of the fact that he wrote poetry, the king was a +sensible person, and he knew that if he read his verses to the court, +the members thereof were not the persons to criticise adequately the +merits of such a composition; for you cannot expect a high noble, who, +if he ever notices a beggar, merely does so to throw a curse at him, +or lay the flat of his sword over his shoulders, to appreciate an epic +which celebrates the free life led by a mendicant. + +The king was well aware that he would receive ample praise for his +production; king's goods are ever the best in the market, and though, +like every other literary man, it was praise and not criticism that +James wanted, still he preferred to have such praise from the lips of +one who knew something of the life he tried to sing; therefore, as +evening came on, the monarch dressed himself in his farmer costume, +and, taking his thirteen stanzas with him, ventured upon a cautious +visit to his friend the cobbler in the lower town of Stirling. + +The cobbler listened with an attention which was in itself flattering, +and paid his royal visitor the additional compliment of asking him to +repeat certain of the verses, which the king in his own heart thought +were the best. Then when the thirteenth stanza was arrived at, with +the "No-that-bad" commendation, which is dear to the heart of the +chary Scotchman, be he of high or low degree, Flemming continued,-- + +"They might be worse, and we've had many a poet of great reputation in +Scotland who would not be ashamed to father them. But I'm thinking you +paint the existence of a beggar in brighter colours than the life +itself warrants." + +"No, no, Flemming," protested the king earnestly. "I'm convinced that +only the beggar knows what true contentment is. You see he begins at +the very bottom of the ladder and every step he takes must be a step +upward. Now imagine a man at the top, like myself; any move I make in +the way of changing my condition must be downward. A beggar is the +real king, and a king is but a beggar, for he holds his position by +the favour of others. You see, Flemming, anything a beggar gets is so +much to the good; and, as he has nothing to lose, not even his +head--for who would send a beggar to the block--he must needs be +therefore the most contented man on the face of the footstool." + +"Oh, that's maybe true enough," replied Flemming, set in his own +notion notwithstanding it was the king who opposed him; "but look you, +what a scope a beggar has for envy, for there's nobody he meets that's +not better off than himself." + +"You go to extremes, Flemming. An envious man is unhappy wherever you +place him; but I'm speaking of ordinary persons like ourselves, with +charity and good-will toward all their fellow-kind. That man, I say, +is happier as a beggar than as a king." + +"Well, in so far as concerns myself, your majesty, I'd like to be +sure of a roof over my head when the rain's coming down, and of that a +beggar never can be. A king or a cobbler has a place to lay his head, +at any rate." + +"Aye," admitted the king, "but sometimes that place is the block. To +tell you the truth, Flemming, I'm thinking of taking a week at the +begging myself. A poet should have practical knowledge of the subject +about which he writes. Give me a week on the road, Flemming, and I'll +pen you a poem on beggary that will get warmer praise from you than +this has had." + +"I give your rhyming the very highest praise, and say that Gavin +Douglas himself might have been proud had he put those lines +together." + +To this the king made no reply, and the cobbler, looking up at him, +saw that a frown marred his brow. Then he remembered, as usual a +trifle late, James's hatred of the Douglas name; a hatred that had +been honestly earned by the Earl of Angus, head of that clan. Flemming +was learning that it was as dangerous to praise, as to criticise a +king. With native caution however, the cobbler took no notice of his +majesty's displeasure, but added an amendment to his first statement. + +"It would perhaps be more truthful to say that the verses are worthy +of Sir David Lyndsay. In fact, although Sir David is a greater poet +than Gavin Douglas, I doubt very much if in his happiest moments he +could have equalled 'The Beggar Man.'" + +In mentioning Sir David Lyndsay, Flemming had named the king's +greatest friend, and the cobbler's desire to please could not have +escaped the notice of a man much less shrewd than was James the Fifth. +The king rose to his feet, checking a laugh. + +"Man Flemming," he said, "I wonder at you! Have you forgotten that Sir +David Lyndsay married Janet Douglas?" + +The palpable dismay on the cobbler's countenance caused the young man +to laugh outright. + +"The cobbler should stick to his honesty, and not endeavour to tread +the slippery path of courtiership. Flemming, if I wanted flattery I +could get that up at the castle. I come down here for something +better. If anything I could write were half so good as Sir David's +worst, I should be a pleased man. But I'm learning, Flemming, I'm +learning. This very day some of my most powerful nobles have presented +me with a respectful petition. A year ago I should have said 'No' +before I had got to the signature of it. But now I have thanked them +for their attention to affairs of State, although between me and you +and that bench, Flemming, it's a pure matter of their own greed and +selfishness. So I've told them I will give the subject my deepest +consideration, and that they shall have their answer this day +fortnight. Is not that the wisdom of the serpent combined with the +harmlessness of the dove?" + +"It is indeed," agreed the cobbler. + +"Very well; to-morrow it shall be given out that this petition will +occupy my mind for at least a week, and during that time the king is +invisible to all comers, high or low. To-morrow, Flemming, you'll get +me as clean a suit of beggar's rags as you can lay your hands on. I'll +come down here as the Master of Ballengeich, and leave these farmer's +clothes in your care. I shall pass from this door as a beggar, and +come back to it in the same condition a week or ten days hence, so see +that you're at hand to receive me." + +"Does your majesty intend to go alone?" + +"Entirely alone, Flemming. Bless me, do you imagine I would tramp the +country as a beggar with a troop of horse at my back?" + +"Your majesty would be wise to think twice of such a project," warned +the cobbler. + +"Oh, well, I've doubled the number; I've thought four times about it; +once when I was writing the poem, and three times while you were +raising objections to my assertion that the beggar is the happiest man +on earth." + +"If your majesty's mind is fixed, then there's no more to be said. But +take my advice and put a belt round your body with a number of gold +pieces in it, for the time may come when you'll want a horse in a +hurry, and perhaps you may be refused lodgings even when you greatly +need them; in either case a few gold rascals will stand your friend." + +"That's canny counsel, Flemming, and I'll act on it." + +"And perhaps it might be as well to leave with some one in whom you +have confidence, instructions so that you could be communicated with +if your presence was needed hurriedly at Stirling." + +"No, no, Flemming. Nothing can go wrong in a week. A beggar with a +string tied to his legs that some one in Stirling can pull at his +pleasure, is not a real beggar, but a slave. If they should want me +sorely in Stirling before I return, they'll think the more of me once +I am back." + +And thus it came about that the King of Scotland, with a belt of gold +around his waist in case of need, and garments concealing the belt +which gave little indication that anything worth a robber's care was +underneath, tramped the high roads and byways of a part of Scotland, +finding in general a welcome wherever he went, for he could tell a +story that would bring a laugh, and sing a song that would bring a +tear, and all such rarely starve or lack shelter in this sympathetic +world. + +Only once did he feel himself in danger, and that was on what he +thought to be the last day of his tramp, for in the evening he +expected to reach the lower town of Stirling, even though he came to +it late in the night. But the weather of Scotland has always something +to say to the pedestrian, and it delights in upsetting his plans. + +He was still more than two leagues from his castle, and the dark +Forest of Torwood lay between him and royal Stirling, when towards the +end of a lowering day, there came up over the hills to the west one of +the fiercest storms he had ever beheld, which drove him for shelter to +a wayside inn on the outskirts of the forest. The place of shelter was +low and forbidding enough, but needs must when a Scottish storm +drives, and the king burst in on a drinking company, bringing a swirl +of rain and a blast of wind with him; so fierce in truth was the wind +that one of the drinkers had to spring to his feet and put his +shoulder to the door before the king could get it closed again. He +found but scant welcome in the company. Those seated on the benches by +the fire scowled at him; and the landlord seeing he was but a beggar, +did not limit his displeasure to so silent a censure. + +"What in the fiend's name," he cried angrily, "does the like of you +want in here?" + +The king nonchalantly shook the water from his rags and took a step +nearer the fire. + +"That is a very unnecessary question, landlord," said the young man +with a smile, "nevertheless, I will answer it. I want shelter in the +first place, and food and drink as soon as you can bring them." + +"Shelter you can get behind a stone dyke or in the forest," retorted +his host; "food and drink are for those who can pay for it. Get you +gone! You mar good company." + +"In truth, landlord, your company is none to my liking, but I happen +to prefer it to the storm. Food and drink, you say, are for those who +can pay; you see one of them before you, therefore, sir, hasten to +your duty, or it may be mine to hurry you unpleasantly." + +This truculence on the part of a supposed beggar had not the effect +one might have expected of increasing the boisterousness of the +landlord. That individual well knew that many beggars were better able +to pay their way than was he himself when he took to journeying, so he +replied more civilly,-- + +"I'll take your order for a meal when I have seen the colour of your +money." + +"Quite right," said the king, "and only fair Scottish caution." Then +with a lack of that quality he had just commended, he drew his belt +out from under his coat, and taking a gold piece from it, threw the +coin on the table. + +The entrance of the king and the manner of his reception exposed him +to the danger almost sure to attend the display of so much wealth in +such forbidding company. A moment later he realised the jeopardy in +which his rashness had placed him, by the significant glances which +the half-dozen rough men there seated gave to each other. He was alone +and unarmed in a disreputable bothy on the edge of a forest, well +known as the refuge of desperate characters. He wished that he had +even one of the sharp knives belonging to his friend the cobbler, so +that he might defend himself. However, the evil was done, if evil it +was, and there was no help for it. James was never a man to cross a +bridge before he came to it; so he set himself down to the steaming +venison brought for his refreshment, and made no inquiry whether it +were poached or not, being well aware that any question in that +direction was as unnecessary as had been the landlord's first query +to himself. He was young. His appetite, at all times of the best, was +sharpened by his journey, and the ale, poor as it was, seemed to +him the finest brew he had ever tasted. The landlord was now all +obsequiousness, and told the beggar he could command the best in the +house. + +When the time came to retire, his host brought the king by a ladder to +a loft which occupied the whole length of the building, and muttered +something about the others sleeping here as well, but thanked Heaven +there was room enough for an army. + +"This will not do for me," said the beggar, coming down again. "I'll +take to the storm first. What is this chamber leading out from the +tap-room?" + +"That is my own," replied the landlord, with some return of his old +incivility, "and I'll give it up to no beggar." + +The king without answering opened the door of the chamber and found +himself in a room that could be barricaded. Taking a light with him he +examined it more minutely. + +"Is this matchlock loaded?" he asked, pointing to a clumsy gun, which +had doubtless caused the death of more than one deer in the forest. + +The landlord answered in surly fashion that it was, but the king +tested the point for himself. + +"Now," he said, "I rest here, and you will see that I am not +disturbed. Any man who attempts to enter this room gets the contents +of this gun in him, and I'll trust to my two daggers to take care of +the rest." + +He had no dagger with him, but he spoke for the benefit of the company +in the tap-room. Something in his resolute manner seemed to impress +the landlord, who grumbled, muttering half to himself and half to his +companions, but he nevertheless retired, leaving the king alone, +whereupon James fortified the door, and afterward slept unmolested the +sleep of a tired man, until broad day woke him. + +Wonderful is the change wrought in a man's feelings by a fair morning. +A new day; a new lease of life. The recurrent morning must have been +contrived to give discouraged humanity a fresh chance. The king, +amazed to find that he had slept so soundly in spite of the weight +of apprehension on his mind the night before, discovered this +apprehension to be groundless in the clear light of the new day. The +sulky villains of the tap-room were now honest fellows who would harm +no one, and James laughed aloud at his needless fears; the loaded +matchlock in the corner giving no hint of its influence towards a +peaceful night. The landlord seemed, indeed, a most civil person, +who would be the last to turn a penniless man from his door. James, +over his breakfast, asked what had become of the company, and his +host replied that they were woodlanders; good lads in their way, but +abashed before strangers. Some of them had gone to their affairs in +the forest and others had proceeded to St. Ninians, to enjoy the +hanging set for that day. + +"And which way may your honour be journeying?" asked the innkeeper, +"for I see that you are no beggar." + +"I am no beggar at such an inhospitable house as this," replied the +wayfarer, "but elsewhere I am a beggar, that is to say, the gold I +come by is asked for, and not earned." + +"Ah, that's it, is it?" said the other with a nod, "but for such a +trade you need your weapons by your side." + +"The deadliest weapons," rejoined the king mysteriously, "are not +always those most plainly on view. The sting of the wasp is generally +felt before it is seen." + +The landlord was plainly disturbed by the intelligence he had +received, and now made some ado to get the change for the gold piece, +but his guest replied airily that it did not matter. + +"With whatever's coming to me," he said, "feed the next beggar that +applies to you on a rainy night with less at his belt to commend him +than I have." + +"Well, good-day to you, and thank you," said the innkeeper. "If you're +going Stirling way, your road's straight through the forest, and when +you come to St. Ninians you'll be in time to see a fine hanging, for +they're throttling Baldy Hutchinson to-day, the biggest man between +here and the Border, yes, and beyond it, I warrant." + +"That will be interesting," replied the king. "Good-day to you." + +[Illustration: "FIVE STALWART RUFFIANS FELL UPON HIM."] + +At the side of the wall, which ran from the end of the hostel and +enclosed a bit of ground appertaining to it, James stooped ostensibly +to tie his shoe, but in reality to learn if his late host made any +move, for he suspected that the sinister company of the night +before might not be so far away as the landlord had intimated. His +stratagem was not without its reward. The back door opened, and he +heard the landlord say in a husky whisper to some one unseen,-- + +"Run, Jock, as fast's you can to the second turning in the road, and +tell Steenie and his men they'd best leave this chap alone; he's a +robber himself." + +The king smiled as he walked slowly north towards the forest and saw a +bare-legged boy race at great speed across the fields and disappear at +their margin. He resolved to give time for this message to arrive, so +that he might not be molested, and therefore sauntered at a more +leisurely rate than that at which a man usually begins a journey on an +inspiring morning. + +Entering the forest at last, he relaxed no precaution, but kept to the +middle of the road with his stout stick ready in his hand. Whether +Jock found his men or not he never learned, but at the second turning +five stalwart ruffians fell upon him; two armed with knives, and three +with cudgels. The king's early athletic training was to be put to a +practical test. His first action was to break the wrist of one of the +scoundrels who held a knife, but before he could pay attention to any +of the others he had received two or three resounding blows from the +cudgels, and now was fully occupied warding off their strokes, backing +down the road to keep his assailants in front of him. His great +agility gave him an advantage over the comparative clumsiness of the +four yokels who pressed him, but he was well aware that an unguarded +blow might lay him at their mercy. He was more afraid of the single +knife than of the three clubs, and springing through a fortunate +opening was delighted to crack the crown of the man who held the +blade, stretching him helpless in a cart rut. The three who remained +seemed in no way disheartened by the discomfiture of their comrades, +but came on with greater fury. The king retreated and retreated +baffling their evident desire to get in his rear, and thus the +fighting four came to the corner of the road that James had passed a +short time previously. One of the trio got in a nasty crack on the top +of the beggar's bonnet, which brought him to his knees, and before he +could recover his footing, a blow on the shoulder felled him. At this +critical juncture there rose a wild shout down the road, for the +fighting party, in coming round the turn, had brought themselves +within view of a sturdy pedestrian forging along at a great pace, +which he nevertheless marvellously accelerated on seeing the mêlée. +For a moment the dazed man on the ground thought that the landlord +had come to his rescue, but it was not so. It seemed as if a remnant +of the storm had swept like a whirlwind among the aggressors, for the +newcomer in the fray, with savage exclamations, which showed his +delight in a tumult, scattered the enemy as a tornado drives before it +the leaves of a forest. The king raised himself on his elbow and +watched the gigantic stranger lay about him with his stick, while the +five, with cries of terror, disappeared into the forest, for the two +that were prostrate had now recovered wind enough to run. + +"Losh," panted the giant, returning to the man on the road, "I wish +I'd been here at the beginning." + +"Thank goodness you came at the end," said the king, staggering +unsteadily to his feet. + +"Are you hurt?" asked the stranger. + +"I'm not just sure yet," replied the king, removing his bonnet and +rubbing the top of his head with a circular movement of his hand. + +"Just a bit cloor on the croon," said the other in broad Lowland +Scotch. "It stunners a man, but it's nothin' ava when ye can stan' on +your ain feet." + +"Oh, it's not the first time I've had to fight for my crown," said +James with a laugh, "but five to one are odds a little more heavy than +I care to encounter." + +"Are ye able to walk on, for I'm in a bit o' a hurry, as ye'd have +seen if your attention hadna been turned to the north." + +"Oh, quite able," replied the king as they strode along together. + +"What's wrong wi' those scamps to lay on a poor beggar man?" asked the +stranger. + +"Nothing, except that the beggar man is not so poor as he looks, and +has a belt of gold about him, which he was foolish enough to show last +night at the inn where these lads were drinking." + +"Then the lesson hasn't taught you much, or you wouldn't say that to a +complete stranger in the middle of a black forest, and you alone with +him, that is, unless they've succeeded in reiving the belt away from +you?" + +"No, they have not robbed me, and to show you that I am not such a +fool as you take me for, I may add that the moment you came up I +resolved to give to my rescuer every gold piece that is in my belt. So +you see, if you thought of robbing me, there's little use in taking by +force what a man is more than willing to give you of his own free +will." + +The giant threw back his head and the wood resounded with his +laughter. + +"What I have said seems to amuse you," said the king not too well +pleased at the boisterous merriment of his companion. + +"It does that," replied the stranger, still struggling with his mirth; +then striking the king on the shoulder, he continued, "I suppose there +is not another man in all broad Scotland to-day but me, that wouldn't +give the snap of his fingers for all the gold you ever carried." + +"Then you must be wealthy," commented the king. "Yet it can't be that, +for the richest men I know are the greediest." + +"No, it isn't that," rejoined the stranger, "but if you wander +anywhere about this region you will understand what I mean when I tell +you that I'm Baldy Hutchinson." + +"Baldy Hutchinson!" echoed the king, wrinkling his brows, trying to +remember where he had heard that name before, then with sudden +enlightenment,-- + +"What, not the man who is to be hanged to-day at St. Ninians?" + +"The very same, so you see that all the gold ever minted is of +little use to a man with a tightening rope round his neck." And +the comicality of the situation again overcoming Mr. Hutchinson, +his robust sides shook once more with laughter. + +The king stopped in the middle of the road and stared at his companion +with amazement. + +"Surely you are aware," he said at last, "that you are on the direct +road to St. Ninians?" + +"Surely, surely," replied Baldy, "and you remind me, that we must not +stand yammering here, for there will be a great gathering there to see +the hanging. All my friends are there now, and if I say it, who +shouldn't, I've more friends than possibly any other man in this part +of Scotland." + +"But, do you mean that you are going voluntarily to your own hanging? +Bless my soul, man, turn in your tracks and make for across the +Border." + +Hutchinson shook his head. + +"If I had intended to do that," he said, "I could have saved myself +many a long step yesterday and this morning, for I was a good deal +nearer the Border than I am at this moment. No, no, you see I have +passed my word. The sheriff gave me a week among my own friends to +settle my worldly affairs, and bid the wife and the bairns good-bye. +So I said to the sheriff, 'I'm your man whenever you are ready for +the hanging.' Now, the word of Baldy Hutchinson has never been broken +yet, and the sheriff knew it, although I must admit he swithered long +ere he trusted it on an occasion like this. But at last he said to me, +'Baldy,' says he, 'I'll take your plighted word. You've got a week +before you, and you must just go and come as quietly as you can, and +be here before the clock strikes twelve on Friday, for folk'll want to +see you hanged before they have their dinners.' And that's what way +I'm in such a hurry now, for I'm feared the farmers will be gathered, +and that it will be difficult for me to place myself in the hands of +the sheriff without somebody getting to jalouse what has happened." + +"I've heard many a strange tale," said the king, "but this beats +anything in my experience." + +"Oh there's a great deal to be picked up by tramping the roads," +replied Hutchinson sagely. + +"What is your crime?" inquired his majesty. + +"Oh, the crime's neither here nor there. If they want to hang a man, +they'll hang him crime or no crime." + +"But why should they want to hang a man with so many friends?" + +"Well, you see a man may have many friends and yet two or three +powerful enemies. My crime, as you call it, is that I'm related to the +Douglases; that's the real crime; but that's not what I'm to be hanged +for. Oh no, it's all done according to the legal satisfaction of the +lawyers. I'm hanged for treason to the king; a right royal crime, that +dubs a man a gentleman as much as if the king's sword slaps his bended +back; a crime that better men than me have often suffered for, and +that many will suffer for yet ere kings are abolished, I'm thinking. +You see, as I said, I married into the Douglas family, and when the +Earl of Angus let this young sprig of a king slip through his fingers, +it was as much as one's very life was worth to whisper the name of +Douglas. Now I think the Earl of Angus a good man, and when he was +driven to England, and the Douglases scattered far and wide by this +rapscallion callant with a crown on his head, I being an outspoken +man, gave my opinion of the king, damn him, and there were plenty to +report it. I did not deny it, indeed I do not deny it to-day, +therefore my neck's like to be longer before the sun goes down." + +"But surely," exclaimed the beggar, "they will not hang a man in +Scotland for merely saying a hasty word against the king?" + +"There's more happens in this realm than the king kens of, and all +done in his name too. But to speak truth, there was a bit extra +against me as well. A wheen of the daft bodies in Stirling made up a +slip of a plot to trap the king and put him in hiding for a while +until he listened to what they called reason. There were two weavers +among them and weavers are always plotting; a cobbler, and such like +people, and they sent word, would I come and help them. I was fool +enough to write them a note, and entrusted it to their messenger. I +told them to leave the king alone until I came to Stirling, and then I +would just nab him myself, put him under my oxter and walk down +towards the Border with him, for I knew that if they went on they'd +but lose their silly heads. And so, wishing no harm to the king, I +made my way to Stirling, but did not get within a mile of it, for they +tripped me up at St. Ninians, having captured my letter. So I was +sentenced, and it seems the king found out all about their plot as I +knew he would, and pardoned the men who were going to kidnap him, +while the man who wanted to stop such foolishness is to be hanged in +his name." + +"That seems villainously unfair," said the beggar. "Didn't the eleven +try to do anything for you?" + +"How do you know there were eleven?" cried Hutchinson, turning round +upon him. + +"I thought you said eleven." + +"Well, maybe I did, maybe I did; yes, there were eleven of them. They +never got my letter. Their messenger was a traitor, as is usually the +case, and merely told them I would have nothing to do with their +foolish venture; and that brings me to the point I have been coming +to. You see although I would keep my word in any case, yet I'm not so +feared to approach St. Ninians as another man might be. Young Jamie, +the king, seems to have more sense in his noodle than he gets credit +for. Some of his forbears would have snapped off the heads of that +eleven without thinking more of the matter, but he seems to have +recognised they were but poor silly bodies, and so let them go. Now +the moment they set me at liberty, a week since, I got a messenger I +could trust, and sent him to the cobbler, Flemming by name. I told +Flemming I was to be hanged, but he had still a week to get me a +reprieve. I asked him to go to the king and tell him the whole truth +of the matter, so I'm thinking that a pardon will be on the scaffold +there before me; still, the disappointment of the hundreds waiting to +see the hanging will be great." + +"Good God!" cried the beggar aghast, stopping dead in the middle of +the road and regarding his comrade with horror. + +"What's wrong with you?" asked the big man stopping also. + +"Has it never occurred to you that the king may be away from the +palace, and no one in the place able to find him?" + +"No one able to find the King of Scotland? That's an unheard-of +thing." + +"Listen to me, Hutchinson. Let us avoid St. Ninians, and go direct to +Stirling; it's only a mile or two further on. Let us see the cobbler +before running your neck into a noose." + +"But, man, the cobbler will be at St. Ninians, either with a pardon or +to see me hanged, like the good friend he is." + +"There will be no pardon at St. Ninians. Let us to Stirling; let us to +Stirling. I know that the king has not been at home for a week past." + +"How can you know that?" + +"Never mind how I know it. Will you do what I tell you?" + +"Not I! I'm a lad o' my word." + +"Then you are a doomed man. I tell you the king has not been in +Stirling since you left St. Ninians." Then with a burst of impatience +James cried, "You stubborn fool, I am the king!" + +At first the big man seemed inclined to laugh, and he looked over the +beggar from top to toe, but presently an expression of pity overspread +his countenance, and he spoke soothingly to his comrade. + +"Yes, yes, my man," he said, "I knew you were the king from the very +first. Just sit down on this stone for a minute and let me examine +that clip you got on the top of the head. I fear me it's worse than I +thought it was." + +"Nonsense," cried the king, "my head is perfectly right; it is yours +that is gone aglee." + +"True enough, true enough," continued Hutchinson mildly, in the tone +that he would have used towards a fractious child, "and you are not +the first that's said it. But let us get on to St. Ninians." + +"No, let us make direct for Stirling." + +"I'll tell you what we'll do," continued Hutchinson in the same tone +of exasperating tolerance. "I'll to St. Ninians and let them know the +king's pardon's coming. You'll trot along to Stirling, put on your +king's clothes and then come and set me free. That's the way we'll +arrange it, my mannie." + +The king made a gesture of despair, but remained silent, and they +walked rapidly down the road together. They had quitted the forest, +and the village of St. Ninians was now in view. As they approached the +place more nearly, Hutchinson was pleased to see that a great crowd +had gathered to view the hanging. He seemed to take this as a personal +compliment to himself; as an evidence of his popularity. + +The two made their way to the back of the great assemblage where a few +soldiers guarded an enclosure within which was the anxious sheriff and +his minor officials. + +"Bless me, Baldy!" cried the sheriff in a tone of great relief, "I +thought you had given me the slip." + +"Ye thought naething o' the kind, sheriff," rejoined Baldy +complacently. "I said I would be here, and here I am." + +"You are just late enough," grumbled the sheriff. "The people have +been waiting this two hours." + +"They'll think it all the better when they see it," commented Baldy. +"I was held back a bit on the road. Has there no message come from the +king?" + +"Could you expect it, when the crime's treason?" asked the sheriff +impatiently, "but there's been a cobbler here that's given me more +bother than twenty kings, and cannot be pacified. He says the king's +away from Stirling, and this execution must be put by for another ten +days, which is impossible." + +"Allow me a word in your ear privately," said the beggar to the +sheriff. + +"I'll see you after the job's done," replied the badgered man. "I have +no more places to give away, you must just stand your chances with the +mob." + +Baldy put his open hand to the side of his mouth and whispered to the +sheriff: + +"This beggar man," he said, "has been misused by a gang of thieves in +Torwood Forest." + +"I cannot attend to that now," rejoined the sheriff with increasing +irritation. + +"No, no," continued Baldy suavely, "it's no that, but he's got a +frightful dunner on the top o' the head, and he thinks he's the king." + +"I _am_ the king," cried the beggar, overhearing the last word of +caution, "and I warn you, sir, that you proceed with this execution +at your peril. I am James of Scotland, and I forbid the hanging." + +At this moment there broke through the insufficient military guard a +wild unkempt figure, whose appearance caused trepidation to the +already much-tried sheriff. + +"There's the crazy cobbler again," he moaned dejectedly. "Now the +fat's all in the fire. I think I'll hang the three of them, trial or +no trial." + +"Oh, your majesty!" cried the cobbler,--and it was hard to say which +of the two was the more disreputable in appearance,--"this man +Hutchinson is innocent. You will surely not allow the hanging to take +place, now you are here." + +"I'll not allow it, if I can prevent it, and can get this fool of a +sheriff to listen." + +"Fool of a sheriff! say you," stuttered that official in rising anger. +"Here, guard, take these two ragamuffins into custody, and see that +they are kept quiet till this hanging's done with. Hutchinson, get up +on the scaffold; this is all your fault. Hangman, do your duty." + +Baldy Hutchinson, begging the cobbler to make no further trouble, +mounted the steps leading to the platform, the hangman close behind +him. Before the guard could lay hands on the king, he sprang also up +the steps, and took a place on the outward edge of the scaffold. +Raising his hand, he demanded silence. + +"I am James, King of Scotland," he proclaimed in stentorian tones. "I +command you as loyal subjects to depart to your homes. There will be +no execution to-day. The king reprieves Baldy Hutchinson." + +The cobbler stood at the king's back, and when he had ended, lifted +his voice and shouted,-- + +"God save the King!" + +The mob heard the announcement in silence, and then a roar of laughter +followed, as they gazed at the two tattered figures on the edge of the +platform. But the laughter was followed by an ominous howl of rage, as +they understood that they were like to be cheated of a spectacle. + +[Illustration: "'I AM JAMES, KING OF SCOTLAND,' HE PROCLAIMED, IN +STENTORIAN TONES."] + +"Losh, I'll king him," shouted the indignant sheriff, as he mounted +the steps, and before the beggar or his comrade could defend +themselves, that official with his own hands precipitated them down +among the assemblage at the foot of the scaffold. And now the spirit +of a wild beast was let loose among the rabble. The king and his +henchman staggered to their feet and beat off, as well as they +could, the multitude that pressed vociferously upon them. A soldier, +struggling through, tried to arrest the beggarman, but the king nimbly +wrested his sword from him, and circled the blade in the air with a +venomous hiss of steel that caused the nearer portion of the mob to +press back eagerly, as, a moment before, they had pressed forward. The +man who swung a blade like that was certainly worthy of respect, be he +beggar or monarch. The cobbler's face was grimed and bleeding, but +the king's newly won sword cleared a space around him. And now the +bellowing voice of Baldy Hutchinson made itself heard above the din. + +"Stand back from him," he shouted. "They're decent honest bodies, even +if they've gone clean mad." + +But now these at the back of the crowd were forcing the others +forward, and Baldy saw that in spite of the sword, his old and his new +friend would be presently engulfed. He turned to one of the upright +posts of the scaffold and gave it a tremendous shuddering kick; then +reaching up to the cross-bar and exerting his Samson-like strength, he +wrenched it with a crash of tearing wood down from its position, and +armed with this formidable weapon he sprung into the mob, scattering +it right and left with his hangman's beam. + +"A riot and a rescue!" roared the sheriff. "Mount, Trooper MacKenzie, +and ride as if the devil were after you to Stirling; to Stirling, man, +and bring back with you a troop of the king's horse." + +"We must stop that man getting to Stirling," said Baldy, "or he'll +have the king's men on you. I'll clear a way for you through the +people, and then you two must take leg bail for it to the forest." + +"Stand where you are," said the beggar. "The king's horse is what I +want to see." + +"Dods, you'll see them soon enough. Look at that gallop!" + +MacKenzie indeed had lost no time in getting astride his steed, and +was now disappearing towards Stirling like the wind. The more timorous +of the assemblage, fearing the oncoming of the cavalry, which usually +made short work of all opposition, caring little who was trampled +beneath horses' hoofs, began to disperse, and seek stations of greater +safety than the space before the scaffold afforded. + +"Believe me," said Baldy earnestly to his two friends, "you'd better +make your legs save your throttle. This is a hanging affair for you +as well as for me, for you've interfered with the due course of the +law." + +"It's not the first time I've done so," said the beggar with great +composure, and shortly after they heard the thunder of horses' hoofs +coming from the north. + +"Thank God!" said the sheriff when he heard the welcome sound. The mob +dissolved and left a free passage for the galloping cavalcade. The +stout Baldy Hutchinson and his two comrades stood alone to receive the +onset. + +The king took a few steps forward, raised his sword aloft and +shouted,-- + +"Halt, Sir Donald!" + +Sir Donald Sinclair obeyed the command so suddenly that his horse's +front feet tore up the turf as he reined back, while his sharp order +to the troop behind him brought the company to an almost instantaneous +stand. + +"Sir Donald," said the king, "I am for Stirling with my two friends +here. See that we are not followed, and ask this hilarious company to +disperse quietly to their homes. Do it kindly, Sir Donald. There is no +particular hurry, and they have all the afternoon before them. Bring +your troop back to Stirling in an hour or two." + +"Will your majesty not take my horse?" asked Sir Donald Sinclair. + +"No, Donald," replied the king with a smile, glancing down at his +rags. "Scottish horsemen have always looked well in the saddle; +yourself are an example of that, and I have no wish to make this +costume fashionable as a riding suit." + +The sheriff who stood by with dropped jaw, now flung himself on his +knees and craved pardon for laying hands on the Lord's anointed. + +"The least said of that the better," remarked the king drily. "But if +you are sorry, sheriff, that the people should be disappointed at not +seeing a man hanged, I think you would make a very good substitute for +my big friend Baldy here." + +The sheriff tremulously asserted that the populace were but too +pleased at this exhibition of the royal clemency. + +"If that is the case then," replied his majesty, "we shall not need to +trouble you. And so, farewell to you!" + +The king, Baldy, and the cobbler took the road towards Stirling, and +Sir Donald spread out his troop to intercept traffic in that +direction. Advancing toward the bewildered crowd, Sir Donald spoke to +them. + +"You will go quietly to your homes," he said. "You have not seen the +hanging, but you have witnessed to-day what none in Scotland ever saw +before, the king intervene personally to save a doomed man; therefore, +be satisfied, and go home." + +Some one in the mob cried,-- + +"Hurrah for the poor man's king! Cheer, lads, cheer!" A great uproar +was lifted to the skies; afar off the three pedestrians heard it, +and Baldy, the man of many friends, taking the clamour as a public +compliment to himself, waved his bonnet at the distant vociferous +multitude. + + + + +THE KING'S VISIT + + +"No, no," said the king decisively, "Bring them in, bring them in. +I'll have none cast into prison without at least a hearing. Have any +of your men been killed?" + +"No, your majesty," replied Sir Donald, "but some of them have wounds +they will not forget in a hurry; the Highlandmen fought like +tiger-cats." + +"How many are there of them?" asked the king. + +"Something more than a score, with a piper that's noisier than the +other twenty, led by a breechless ruffian, although I must say he +knows what to do with a sword." + +"All armed, you say?" + +"Every one of them but the piper. About half an hour ago they came +marching up the main street of Stirling, each man with his sword +drawn, and the pipes skirling death and defiance. They had the whole +town at their heels laughing and jeering at them and imitating the +wild Highland music. At first, they paid little attention to the mob +that followed them, but in the square their leader gave a word in +Gaelic, and at once the whole company swerved about and charged the +crowd. There was instant panic among the townspeople, who fled in all +directions out-screaming the pibroch in their fright. No one was hurt, +for the Highlandmen struck them with the flat of their swords, but +several were trampled under foot and are none the better for it." + +"It serves them right," commented the king. "I hope it will teach them +manners, towards strangers, at least. What followed?" + +"A whistle from their leader collected his helots again, and so they +marched straight from the square to the gates of the castle. The two +soldiers on guard crossed pikes before them, but the leader, without a +word, struck down their weapons and attempted to march in, brave as +you please; who but they! There was a bit of a scuffle at the gate, +then the bugle sounded and we surrounded them, trying to disarm them +peaceably at first, but they fought like demons, and so there's some +sore heads among them." + +"You disarmed them, of course?" + +"Certainly, your majesty." + +"Very well; bring them in and let us hear what they have to say for +themselves." + +The doors were flung open, a sharp command was given, and presently +there entered the group of Highlanders, disarmed and with their elbows +tied behind their backs. A strong guard of the soldiery accompanied +them on either side. The Highlanders were men of magnificent physique, +a quality that was enhanced by the picturesque costume they wore, in +spite of the fact that in some instances, this costume was in tatters, +and the wearers cut and bleeding. But, stalwart as his followers +were, their leader far outmeasured them in height and girth; a truly +magnificent specimen of the human race, who strode up the long room +with an imperial swagger such as had never before been seen in +Stirling, in spite of the fact that his arms were pinioned. He marched +on until he came before the king, and there took his stand, without +any indication of bowing his bonneted head, or bending his sturdy bare +knees. The moment the leader set his foot across the threshold, the +unabashed piper immediately protruded his chest, and struck up the +wild strain of "Failte mhic an Abba," or the Salute to the Chief. + +"Stop it, ye deevil!" cried the captain of the guard. "How dare you +set up such a squawking in the presence of the king?" and as the piper +paid not the slightest attention to him, he struck the mouth-piece +from the lips of the performer. This, however, did not cause a +cessation of the music, for the bag under the piper's elbow was filled +with wind and the fingers of the musician bravely kept up the strain +on the reed chanter with its nine holes, and thus he played until his +chief came to a stand before the king. The king gazed with undisguised +admiration upon the foremost Highlander, and said quietly to the +captain of the guard,-- + +"Unbind him!" + +On finding his arms released, the mountaineer stretched them out once +or twice, then folded them across his breast, making no motion however +to remove his plumed bonnet, although every one else in the room +except himself and his men were uncovered. + +"You have come in from the country," began the king, a suspicion of a +smile hovering about his lips, "to enjoy the metropolitan delights of +Stirling. How are you satisfied with your reception?" + +The big Highlandman made no reply, but frowned heavily, and bestowed a +savage glance on several of the courtiers, among whom a light ripple +of laughter had run after the king put his question. + +"These savages," suggested Sir Donald, "do not understand anything but +the Gaelic. Is it your majesty's pleasure that the interpreter be +called?" + +"Yes, bring him in." + +When the interpreter arrived, the king said,-- + +"Ask this man if his action is the forefront of a Highland invasion of +the Lowlands, or merely a little private attempt on his own part to +take the castle by assault?" + +The interpreter put the question in Gaelic, and was answered with +gruff brevity by the marauder. The interpreter, bowing low to the +king, said smoothly,-- + +"This man humbly begs to inform your majesty--" + +"Speak truth, MacPherson!" cautioned the king. "Translate faithfully +exactly what he says. Our friend here, by the look of him, does not +do anything humbly, or fawn or beg. Translate accurately. What does he +say?" + +The polite MacPherson was taken aback by this reproof, but answered,-- + +"He says, your majesty, he will hold no communication with me, because +I am of an inferior clan, which is untrue. The MacPhersons were a +civilised clan centuries ago, which the MacNabs are not to this day, +so please your majesty." + +The MacNab's hand darted to his left side, but finding no sword to his +grasp, it fell away again. + +"You are a liar!" cried the chief in very passable English which was +not to be misunderstood. "The MacPhersons are no clan, but an +insignificant branch of the Chattan. 'Touch not the Cat' is your +motto, and a good one, for a MacPherson can scratch but he cannot +handle the broadsword." + +MacPherson drew himself up, his face reddening with anger. His hand +also sought instinctively the hilt of his sword, but the presence in +which he stood restricted him. + +"It is quite safe," he said with something like the spit of a cat, +"for a heathen to insult a Christian in the presence of his king, and +the MacNabs have ever shown a taste for the cautious cause." + +"Tut, tut," cried the king with impatience, "am I to find myself +involved in a Highland feud in my own hall? MacPherson, it seems this +man does not require your interpreting, so perhaps it will further the +peace of our realm if you withdraw quietly." + +MacPherson with a low obeisance, did so; then to MacNab the king +spoke,-- + +"Sir, as it appears you are acquainted with our language, why did you +not reply to the question I put to you?" + +"Because I would have you know it was not the proper kind of question +to ask the like of me. I am a descendant of kings." + +"Well, as far as that goes, I am a descendant of kings myself, though +sorry I should be to defend all their actions." + +"Your family only began with Robert the Bruce; mine was old ere he +came to the throne." + +"That may well be, still you must admit that what Robert lacked in +ancestry, he furnished forth in ability." + +"But the Clan MacNab defeated him at the battle of Del Rhi." + +"True, with some assistance, which you ignore, from Alexander of +Argyll. However, if this discussion is to become a competition in +history, for the benefit of our ignorant courtiers, I may be allowed +to add that my good ancestor, Robert, did not forget the actions of +the MacNabs at Del Rhi, and later overran their country, dismantled +their fortresses, leaving the clan in a more sane and chastened +condition than that in which he found it. But what has all this to do +with your coming storming into a peaceable town like Stirling?" + +"In truth, your majesty," whispered Sir David Lyndsay, "I think they +must have come to replenish their wardrobe, and in that they are not a +moment too soon." + +"I came," said the chief, who had not heard this last remark, "because +of the foray you have mentioned. I came because Robert the Bruce +desolated our country." + +"By my good sword!" cried James, "speaking as one king to another, +your revenge is somewhat belated, a lapse of two centuries should have +outlawed the debt. Did you expect then to take Stirling with twenty +men?" + +"I expected King James the Fifth to rectify the wrong done by King +Robert the First." + +"Your expectation does honour to my reputation as a just man, but I +have already disclaimed responsibility for the deeds of ancestors less +remote than good King Robert." + +"You have made proclamation in the Highlands that the chieftains must +bring you proof of their right to occupy their lands." + +"I have, and some have preferred to me their deeds of tenure, others +prepared to fight; the cases have been settled in both instances. To +which of these two classes do you belong, Chief of the Clan MacNab?" + +"To neither. I cannot submit to you our parchments because Robert, +your ancestor, destroyed them. I cannot fight the army of the Lowlands +because my clan is small, therefore I, Finlay MacNab, fifth of my +name, as you are fifth of yours, come to you in peace, asking you to +repair the wrong done by your ancestor." + +"Indeed!" cried the king. "If the present advent typifies your idea of +a peaceful visit, then God forfend that I should ever meet you in +anger." + +"I came in peace and have been shamefully used." + +"You must not hold that against us," said James. "Look you now, if I +had come storming at your castle door, sword in hand, how would you +have treated me, Finlay the Fifth?" + +"If you had come with only twenty men behind you, I should treat you +with all the hospitality of Glendochart, which far exceeds that of +Stirling or any other part of your money-making Lowlands, where gold +coin is valued more than a steel blade." + +"It has all been a mistake," said the king with great cordiality. +"The parchment you seek shall be given you, and I trust that your +generosity, Lord of Glendochart, will allow me to amend your opinion +of Stirling hospitality. I shall take it kindly if you will be my +guests in the castle until my officers of law repair the harshness of +my ancestor, Robert." Then, turning to the guard the king continued,-- + +"Unbind these gentlemen, and return to them their arms." + +While the loosening of the men was rapidly being accomplished, the +captain of the guard brought the chief his sword, and would have +presented it to him, but the king himself rose and took the weapon in +his own hand, tendering it to its owner. The chieftain accepted the +sword and rested its point on the floor, then in dignified native +courtesy, he doffed his broad, feathered bonnet. + +"Sire," he said, with slow deliberation, "Scotland has a king that +this good blade shall ever be proud to serve." + +For three days, the MacNabs were the guests of the king in the +castle, while the legal documents were being prepared. King and +chieftain walked the town together, and all that Stirling had to show, +MacNab beheld. The king was desirous of costuming, at his own expense, +the portion of the clan that was now in his castle, whose disarray was +largely due to his own soldiers, but he feared the proposal might +offend the pride of Finlay the Fifth. + +James's tact, however, overcame the difficulty. + +"When I visit you, MacNab, over by Loch Tay, there is one favour I +must ask; I want your tailors to make for me and the men of my +following, suits of kilts in the MacNab tartan." + +"Surely, surely," replied the chief, "and a better weaving you will +get nowhere in the Highlands." + +"I like the colour of it," continued the king. "There is a royal red +in it that pleases me. Now there is a good deal of red in the Stuart +tartan, and I should be greatly gratified if you would permit your men +to wear my colours, as my men shall wear yours. My tailors here will +be proud to boast that they have made costumes for the Clan MacNab. +You know what tradesmen bodies are, they're pleased when we take a +little notice of them." + +"Surely," again replied MacNab, more dubiously, "and I shall send them +the money for it when I get home." + +"Indeed," said the king, "if you think I am going to have a full purse +when I'm in the MacNab country, you're mistaken." + +"I never suggested such a thing," replied the chief indignantly. +"You'll count nane o' yer ain bawbees when you are with me." + +"Ah, well," rejoined the king, "that's right, and so you will just +leave me to settle with my own tailors here." + +Thus the re-costuming came about, and all in all it was just as well +that MacNab did not insist on his own tartan, for there was none of it +in Stirling, while of the Stuart plaid there was a sufficiency to +clothe a regiment. + +On the last night, there was a banquet given which was the best that +Stirling could bestow, in honour of the Clan MacNab. The great hall +was decorated with the colours of the clan, and at the further end had +been painted the arms of the MacNab--the open boat, with its oars, on +the sea proper, the head of the savage, the two supporting figures and +the Latin motto underneath, "Timor omnis abseto". Five pipers of the +king's court had learned the Salute to the Chief, and now, headed +by MacNab's own, they paced up and down the long room, making it +ring with their war-like music. The king and the chieftain came in +together, and as the latter took his place at his host's right hand, +his impassive face betrayed no surprise at the splendid preparations +which had been made for his reception. Indeed, the Highlanders all +acted as if they had been accustomed to sit down to such a banquet +every night. Many dainties were placed on the ample board cunningly +prepared by foreign cooks, the like of which the Highlanders had never +before tasted; but the mountaineers ate stolidly whatever was set in +front of them, and if unusual flavours saluted their palates, the +strangers made no sign of approval or the reverse. The red wine of +Burgundy, grown old in the king's cellars, was new to most of them, +and they drank it like water, emptying their tankards as fast as the +attendant could refill them. Soon the ruddy fluid, whose potency had +been under-estimated, began to have its effect, and the dinner table +became noisy as the meal progressed, songs bursting forth now and +then, with strange shouts and cries more familiar to the hills of +Loch Tay than to the rafters of Stirling. The chief himself, lost the +solemn dignity which had at first characterised him, and as he emptied +flagon after flagon he boasted loudly of the prowess of his clan; +foretold what he would do in future fields now that he was allied with +the King of Scotland. Often forgetting himself, he fell into the +Gaelic, roaring forth a torrent of words that had no meaning for many +there present, then remembering the king did not understand the +language, he expressed his pity for a man in such condition, saying +the Gaelic was the oldest tongue in existence, and the first spoken +by human lips upon this earth. It was much more expressive, he said, +than the dialect of the Lowlands, and the only language that could +fittingly describe war and battle, just as the pibroch was the only +music suitable to strife, to all of which the smiling king nodded +approval. At last MacNab sprang to his feet, holding aloft his +brimming flagon, which literally rained Burgundy down upon him, and +called for cheers for the King of Scotland, a worthy prince who knew +well how to entertain a brother prince. Repeating this in Gaelic, his +men, who had also risen with their chief, now sprang upon the benches, +where standing unsteadily, they raised a series of yells so wild that +a shudder of fear passed through many of the courtiers there present. +The chief, calling to his piper, commanded him instantly to compose a +pibroch for the king, and that ready musician, swelling with pride, +marched up and down and round and round the great hall pouring forth +a triumphal quickstep, with many wonderful flourishes and variations. +Then at a word from the chief, each man placed his flagon on the +table, whipped out his sword, swung it overhead, to the amazement of +the courtiers, for it is not in accord with etiquette to show cold +steel to the eyes of the king. Down came the blades instantly and +together, each man splitting in two the goblet he had drunk from. + +[Illustration: "AT LAST MACNAB SPRANG TO HIS FEET, HOLDING ALOFT HIS +BRIMMING FLAGON."] + +"You must all come to Loch Tay," cried the chief, "and I will show you +a banqueting hall in honour of James the Fifth, such as you have never +before seen." Then to the horror of the courtiers, he suddenly smote +the king on the back with his open palm and cried, "Jamie, my lad, +you'll come and visit me at Loch Tay?" + +The smitten king laughed heartily and replied,-- + +"Yes, Finlay, I will." + +The next day the MacNabs marched from the castle and down through the +town of Stirling with much pomp and circumstance. They were escorted +by the king's own guard, and this time the populace made no sneering +remarks but thronged the windows and the roofs, cheering heartily, +while the Highlanders kept proud step to the shrill music of the +pipes. And thus the clansmen set faces towards the north on their long +tramp home. + +"What proud 'deevils' they are," said Sir David Lyndsay to the king +after the northern company had departed. "I have been through the +MacNab country from one end of it to the other, and there is not a +decent hut on the hillside, let alone a castle fit to entertain a +king, yet the chief gives an invitation in the heat of wine, and when +he is sobered, he is too proud to admit that he cannot make good the +words he has uttered." + +"That very thing is troubling me," replied the king, "but it's a long +time till July, and between now and then we will make him some excuse +for not returning his visit, and thus avoid putting the old man to +shame." + +"But that too will offend him beyond repair," objected the poet. + +"Well, we must just lay our heads together, Davie," answered the +king, "and think of some way that will neither be an insult nor a +humiliation. It might not be a bad plan for me to put on disguise and +visit Finlay alone." + +"Would you trust yourself, unaccompanied, among those wild caterans? +One doesn't know what they might do." + +"I wish I were as safe in Stirling as I should be among the MacNabs," +replied the king. + +However, affairs of state did not permit the carrying out of the +king's intention. Embassies came from various countries, and the king +must entertain the foreigners in a manner becoming their importance. +This, however, gave James the valid excuse he required, and so he sent +a commission to the chief of the MacNabs. "His majesty," said the head +commissioner, "is entertaining the ambassadors from Spain and from +France, and likewise a legate from the Pope. If he came north, he must +at least bring with him these great noblemen with their retinues; and +while he would have been glad to visit you with some of his own men, +he could not impose upon the hospitality thus generously tendered, by +bringing also a large number of strangers and foreigners." + +"Tell his majesty," replied MacNab with dignity, "that whether he +bring with him the King of Spain, the Emperor of France, or even the +Pope himself, none of these princes is, in the estimation of MacNab, +superior to James the Fifth, of Scotland. The entertainment therefore, +which the king graciously condescends to accept, is certainly good +enough for any foreigners that may accompany him, be their nobility +ever so high." + +When this reply was reported to the king he first smiled and then +sighed. + +"I can do nothing further," he said. "Return to MacNab and tell him +that the Pope's legate desires to visit the Priory on Loch Tay. +Tell the chief that we will take the boat along the lake on the day +arranged. Say that the foreigners are anxious to taste the venison of +the hills, and that nothing could be better than to give us a dinner +under the trees. Tell him that he need not be at any trouble to +provide us lodging, for we shall return to the Island Priory and there +sleep." + +In the early morning the king and his followers, the ambassadors and +their train embarked on boats that had been brought overland for their +accommodation, and sailed from the Island Priory the length of the +beautiful lake; the numerous craft being driven through the water by +strong northern oarsmen, their wild chaunting choruses echoing back +from the picturesque mountains as they bent to their work. The evening +before, horses for the party had been led through forests, over the +hills, and along the strand, to the meeting-place at the other end of +the lake. Here they were greeted by the MacNabs, pipers and all, and +mounting the horses the gay cavalcade was led up the valley. The king +had warned their foreign Highnesses that they were not to expect in +this wilderness the niceties of Rome, Paris or Madrid, and each of the +ambassadors expressed his delight at the prospect of an outing certain +to contain so much that was novel and unusual to them. + +A summer haze hung in the valley, and when the king came in sight of +the stronghold of the MacNabs he rubbed his eyes in wonder, thinking +the misty uncertainty of the atmosphere was playing wizard tricks with +his vision. There, before them, stood the most bulky edifice, the most +extraordinary pile he had ever beheld. Tremendous in extent, it seemed +to have embodied every marked feature of a mediæval castle. At one end +a great square keep arose, its amazing height looming gigantically in +the gauze-like magic of the mist. A high wall, machicolated at the +top, connected this keep with a small octagonal tower, whose twin was +placed some distance to the left, leaving an opening between for a +wide entrance. The two octagonal towers formed a sort of frame for a +roaring waterfall in the background. From the second octagonal tower +another extended lofty wall connected it with a round peel as high as +the keep. This castle of a size so enormous that it made all others +its beholders had ever seen shrink into comparative insignificance, +was surrounded by a bailey wall; outside of that was a moat which +proved to be a foaming river, fed by the volume of water which came +down the precipice behind the castle. The lashing current and the +snow-white cascade formed a striking contrast to the deep moss-green +hue of the castle itself. + +"We have many great strongholds in Italy," said the Pope's legate, +"but never have I seen anything to compare with this." + +"Oh," said MacNab slightingly, "we are but a small clan; you should +see the Highland castles further north; they are of stone; indeed our +own fortresses, which are further inland, are also of stone. This is +merely our pleasure-house built of pine-trees." + +"A castle of logs!" exclaimed the Pope's legate. "I never before heard +of such a thing." + +They crossed the bridge, passed between the two octagonal towers and +entered the extensive courtyard, surrounded by the castle itself; a +courtyard broad enough to afford manoevring ground for an army. The +interior walls were as attractive as the outside was grim and +forbidding. Balconies ran around three sides of the enclosure, tall +thin, straight pine poles, rising three stories high, supporting them, +each pole fluttering a flag at the top. The balconies were all +festooned with branches of living green. + +The air was tremulous with the thunder of the cataract and the +courtyard was cut in two by a rushing torrent, spanned by rustic +bridges. The walls were peopled by cheering clansmen, and nearly a +score of pipers did much to increase the din. Inside, the king and his +men found ample accommodation; their rooms were carpeted with moss and +with flowers, forming a variety of colour and yielding a softness to +the foot which the artificial piles of Eastern looms would have +attempted to rival in vain. Here for three days the royal party was +entertained. Hunting in the forest gave them prodigious appetites, and +there was no criticism of the cooking. The supply of food and drink +was lavish in the extreme; fish from the river and the loch, game from +the moors and venison from the hills. + +It was evening of the third day when the cavalcade set out again for +the Priory; the chief, Finlay MacNab, accompanied his guests down the +valley, and when some distance from the castle of logs, James smote +him on the shoulder, copying thus his own astonishing action. "Sir +Finlay," he cried, "a king's hand should be no less potent than a +king's sword, and thus I create thee a knight of my realm, for never +before has monarch been so royally entertained, and now I pause here +to look once more on your castle of pine." + +So they all stayed progress and turned their eyes toward the wooden +palace they had left. + +"If it were built of stone," said the Pope's legate, "it would be the +strongest house in the world as it is the largest." + +"A bulwark of bones is better than a castle of stones," said Sir +Finlay. "That is an old Highland saying with us, which means that a +brave following is the best ward. I will show you my bulwark of +bones." + +And with that, bowing to the king as if to ask permission, he raised +his bugle to his lips and blew a blast. Instantly from the corner of +the further bastion a torch flamed forth, and that torch lighted the +one next it, and this its neighbour, so that speedily a line of fire +ran along the outlines of the castle, marking out the square towers +and the round, lining the curtain, the smaller towers, turrets and +parapets. Then at the top of the bailey wall a circle of Highlanders +lit torch after torch, and thus was the whole castle illumined by a +circle of fire. The huge edifice was etched in flame against the +sombre background of the high mountain. + +"Confess, legate," cried the king, "that you never saw anything more +beautiful even in fair Italy." + +"I am willing to admit as much," replied the Roman. + +Another blast from the bugle and all the torches on the castle itself +disappeared, although the fire on the bailey wall remained intact, and +the reason for this soon became apparent. From machicolated tower, +keep, peel and curtain, the nimble Highlanders, torchless, scrambled +down, cheering as they came. It seemed incredible that they could +have attained such speed, picking their precarious way by grasping +protruding branch or stump or limb, or by thrusting hand between the +interstices of the timber, without slipping, falling and breaking +their necks. + +For a moment the castle walls were alive with fluttering tartans, +strongly illuminated by the torches from the outer bailey. Each man +held his breath while this perilous acrobatic performance was being +accomplished, and silence reigned over the royal party until suddenly +broken by the Italian. + +"Highlander!" he cried, "your castle is on fire." + +"Aye," said the Highlander calmly, raising his bugle again to his +lips. + +At the next blast those on the bailey wall thrust their torches, still +burning among the chinks of the logs, and swarmed to the ground as +speedily and as safely as those on the main building had done. Now +the lighted torches that had been thrown on the roof of the castle, +disappearing a moment from sight, gave evidence of their existence. +Here and there a long tongue of flame sprung up and died down again. + +"Can nothing be done to save the palace?" shouted the excitable +Frenchman. "The waterfall; the waterfall! Let us go back, or the +castle will be destroyed." + +"Stand where you are," said the chief, "and you will see a sight worth +coming north for." + +Now almost with the suddenness of an explosion, great sheets of flame +rose towering into a mountain of fire, as if this roaring furnace +would emulate in height the wooded hills behind it. The logs +themselves seemed to redden as the light glowed through every crevice +between them. The bastions, the bailey walls, were great wheels of +flame, encircling a palace that had all the vivid radiance of molten +gold. The valley for miles up and down was lighter than the sun ever +made it. + +"Chieftain," said the legate in an awed whisper, "is this +conflagration accident or design?" + +"It is our custom," replied MacNab. "A monarch's pathway must be +lighted, and it is not fitting that a residence once honoured by our +king should ever again be occupied by anyone less noble. The pine tree +is the badge of my clan. At my behest the pine tree sheltered the +king, and now, at the blast of my bugle, it sends forth to the glen +its farewell of flame." + + + + +THE KING EXPLORES + + +James was pleased with himself. He had finished a poem, admitted by +all the court to excel anything that Sir David Lyndsay ever wrote, and +he had out-distanced James MacDonald, son of the Laird of Sleat, in a +contest for the preference of the fairest lady in Stirling, and young +MacDonald was certainly the handsomest sprig about the palace. So the +double victory in the art of rhythm and of love naturally induced the +king to hold a great conceit of himself. Poor Davie, who was as modest +a man regarding his own merits as could be found in the realm, quite +readily and honestly hailed the king his superior in the construction +of jingling rhyme, but the strapping young Highlander was proud as +any scion of the royal house, and he took his defeat less diffidently. + +"If the king," he said boldly, "was plain Jamie Stuart, as I am Jamie +MacDonald, we would soon see who was winner of the bonniest lass, and +if he objected to fair play I'd not scruple to meet him sword in hand +on the heather of the hills, but not on the stones of Stirling. It is +the crown that has won, and not the face underneath it." + +Now this was rank treason, for you must never talk of swords in +relation to a king, except that they be drawn in his defence. The +inexperienced young man made a very poor courtier, for he spoke as his +mind prompted him, a reckless habit that has brought many a head to +the block. Although MacDonald had a number of friends who admired the +frank, if somewhat hot-headed nature of the youth, his Highland +swagger often earned for him not a few enemies who would have been +glad of his downfall. Besides this, there are always about a court +plenty of sycophants eager to curry favour with the ruling power; and +so it was not long after these injudicious utterances had been given +forth that they were brought, with many exaggerations, to the ears of +the king. + +"You think, then," said his majesty to one of the tale-bearers, "that +if Jamie had the chance he would run his iron through my royal +person?" + +"There is little doubt of it, your majesty," replied the parasite. + +"Ah, well," commented James, "kings must take their luck like other +folk, and some day Jamie and I may meet on the heather with no other +witnesses than the mountains around us and the blue sky above us, and +in that case I shall have to do the best I can. I make no doubt that +MacDonald's position in Stirling is less pleasant than my own. He is +practically a prisoner, held hostage here for the good conduct of his +father, the firebrand of Sleat, so we must not take too seriously the +vapouring of a youth whose leg is tied. I was once a captive myself to +the Douglas, and I used words that would scarcely have been pleasant +for my gaoler to hear had some kind friend carried them, so I have +ever a soft side for the man in thrall." + +To the amazement of the courtiers, who had shown some inclination to +avoid the company of MacDonald after he had unburdened his soul, the +king continued to treat the Highlander as affably as ever, but many +thought his majesty was merely biding his time, which was indeed the +case. The wiser heads about the court strongly approved of this +diplomacy, as before they had looked askance at the king's rivalry +with the irascible youth. They knew that affairs were not going well +in the north, and so loose were the bonds restraining MacDonald, that +at any moment he might very readily have escaped, ridden to the hills, +and there augmented the almost constant warfare in those mountainous +regions. Every clan that could be kept quiet was so much to the good, +for although they fought mostly among themselves, there was ever a +danger of a combination which might threaten the throne of Scotland. +Very often the king recklessly offended those whom he should +conciliate, but even the wiseacres were compelled to admit that his +jaunty kindness frequently smoothed out what looked like a dangerous +quarrel. The sage counsellors, however, thought the king should keep +a closer watch on those Highland chieftains who were practically +hostages in his court. But to this advice James would never listen. +Having been a captive himself not so very long before, as he +frequently remarked, he thus felt an intense sympathy for those in +like condition, even though he himself kept them so through the +necessity of internal politics, yet he always endeavoured to make +the restraint sit as lightly as possible on his victims. + +Some weeks after the ill-considered anti-royal threats had been made, +their promulgator was one of a group in the courtyard of the castle, +when the captain of the guard came forward and said the king wished to +see him in his private chamber. MacDonald may have been taken aback by +the unexpected summons, but he carried the matter off nonchalantly +enough, with the air of one who fears neither potentate nor peasant, +and so accompanied the captain; but the gossips nodded their heads +sagely at one another, whispering that it would be well to take a good +view of MacDonald's back, as they were little likely to see him soon +again, and this whisper proved true, for next day MacDonald had +completely disappeared, no one knew whither. + +When James the laird's son, entered the presence of James the king, +the latter said as soon as the captain had left them alone together,-- + +"Jamie, my man, you understand the Gaelic, so it is possible you +understand those who speak it." + +"If your majesty means the Highlanders, they are easily enough +understood. They are plain, simple, honest bodies who speak what's on +their minds, and who are always willing, in an argument, to exchange +the wag of the tongue for a swoop of the black knife." + +"I admit," said the king with a smile, "that they are a guileless +pastoral people, easy to get on with if you comprehend them, but that +is where I'm at a loss, and I thought your head might supplement my +own." + +"I am delighted to hear you want my head for no other purpose but that +of giving advice," returned the Highlander candidly. + +"Truth to tell, Jamie, your head would be of little use to me were it +not on your shoulders. If the head were that of a winsome lassie I +might be tempted to take it on my own shoulder, but otherwise I am +well content to let heads remain where Providence places them." + +Whether intentional or not, the king had touched a sore spot when he +referred to the laying of a winsome lassie's head on his shoulder, and +MacDonald drew himself up rather stiffly. + +"In any ploy with the ladies," he said, "your majesty has the weight +of an ermine cloak in your favour, and we all know how the lassies +like millinery." + +"Then, Jamie, in a fair field, you think you would have the advantage +of me, as for example if our carpet were the heather instead of the +weaving of an Eastern loom?" + +"I just think that," said MacDonald stoutly. + +The king threw back his head and laughed the generous laugh of the +all-conquering man. + +"E-god, Jamie, my man, we may put that to the test before long, but it +is in the high realms of statesmanship I want your advice, and not in +the frivolous courts of love. You may give that advice the more freely +when I tell you that I have made up my mind what to do in any case, +and am not likely to be swayed one way or other by the counsel I shall +receive." + +"Then why does your majesty wish to have my opinion?" asked the +Highlander. + +"Lord, I'll want more than your opinion before this is done with, but +I may tell you at once that there's troublesome news from Skye." + +"Are the MacLeods up again?" + +"Aye, they're up and down. They're up in their anger and down on their +neighbours. I cannot fathom the intricacies of their disputes, but it +may interest you to know that some of your clan are engaged in it. I +suspect that Alexander MacLeod of Dunvegan is behind all this, +although he may not be an active participant." + +"Ah, that is Allaster Crottach," said the young man, knitting his +brows. + +"Allaster, yes, but what does Crottach mean?" asked the king. + +"It means the humpback." + +"Yes, that's the man, and a crafty plausible old gentleman he is. He +got a charter under the Great Seal, of all his lands, from my father, +dated the fifteenth of June, 1468. This did not satisfy him, and when +I came to the throne he asked for a similar charter from me, which I +signed on the thirteenth of February last. Its conditions seemed to be +most advantageous to him, for all that was required of him was that he +should keep for my use a galley of twenty-six oars, and likewise keep +the peace. I am not aware whether the galley has been built or not, +but there is certainly very little peace where a MacLeod has a +claymore in his hand. Now, Jamie, the MacLeods are your neighbours in +Sleat, so tell me what you would do were the king's crown on your +head?" + +"I should withdraw their charter," said MacDonald. + +"That seems but just," concurred the king, "still, I doubt if our +friend the humpback places very much value on the writing of his +august sovereign. He knows he holds his lands as he holds his sword, +his grip on the one relaxing when he loses his grip on the other. We +will suppose, however, the charter withdrawn and the MacLeod laughing +defiance at us. What next, MacDonald?" + +"Next! I would raise an army and march against him and make him laugh +on the other side of his crooked mouth." + +"Hum," said the king, "that means traversing the country of the +Grahams, who would probably let us by; then we next meet the Stewarts, +and for my name's sake perhaps they might not molest us. We march out +of their country into the land of the MacNabs, and the chief is an old +friend of mine, so we need fear no disturbance there. After that we +must trust ourselves to the tender mercies of the Campbells, and the +outcome would depend on what they could make by attacking us or by +leaving us alone. Next the Clan Cameron confronts us, and are more +likely than not to dispute our passage. After them the MacDonalds, and +there, of course, you stand my friend. When at last we reached the +Sound of Sleat, how many of us would be left, and how are we to get +across to Skye with the MacLeods on the mainland to the north of us? I +am thinking, Jamie, there are lions in that path." + +"The lions are imaginary, your majesty. The Grahams, the Stewarts, the +MacNabs would rise not against you, but for you, delighted to be led +by their king. The Campbells themselves must join you, if your force +were large enough to do without them. Among the MacDonalds alone I +could guarantee you an army. You forget that the Highlandman is always +anxious for warfare. Leave Stirling with a thousand men and you will +have ten thousand before you are at the shores of Sleat." + +The king meditated for a few moments, then he looked up at his comrade +with that engaging smile of his. + +"It may all be as you say, Jamie. Perhaps the Highlands would rise +with me instead of against me, but a prudent commander must not ignore +the possibility of the reverse. However, apart from all this I am +desirous of quelling the military ardour of the Highlands, not of +augmenting it. It's easy enough setting the heather on fire in dry +weather, but he is a wise prophet who tells where the conflagration +ends. I would rather carry a bucket of water than a sword, even +though it may be heavier." + +"If your majesty will tell me what you have resolved upon, then I +shall very blithely give you my opinion on it. It is always easier to +criticise the plans of another than to put forward sensible plans of +one's own." + +"You are right in that, Jamie, and the remark shows I have chosen a +wise counsellor. Very well, then. I have never seen the renowned +island of Skye. They tell me it is even more picturesque than Stirling +itself. I propose then to don a disguise, visit Skye, and find out if +I can what the turbulent islanders want. If I am not able to grant +their desire, I can at least deal the better with them for being +acquainted." + +"Your majesty does not purpose going alone?" cried MacDonald in +amazement. + +"Certainly not. I shall be well guarded." + +"Ah, that is a different matter, and exactly what I advised." + +"You advised an army, which I shall not take with me. I shall be well +guarded by my good right arm, and by the still more potent right arm, +if I may believe his own statement, of my friend, Jamie MacDonald of +Sleat." + +With bent brows MacDonald pondered for a few moments, then looking up, +said,-- + +"Will your majesty trust yourself in the wilderness with a prisoner?" + +"There is no question of any prisoner. If you refer to yourself, you +have always been at liberty to come and go as pleased you. As for +trusting, I trust myself to a good comrade, and a Highland gentleman." + +The king rose as he spoke and extended his hand, which the other +grasped with great cordiality. + +"You will get yourself out of Stirling to-night," continued the king, +"as quietly as possible, and hie you to my Castle of Doune, and there +wait until I come, which may be in a day, or may be in a week. I will +tell the court that you have gone to your own home, which will be true +enough. That will keep the gossips from saying we have each made away +with the other if we both leave together. You see, Jamie, I must have +some one with me who speaks the Gaelic." + +"My advice has been slighted so far," said MacDonald, "yet I must give +you another piece of it. We are going into a kittleish country. I +advise you to order your fleet into some safe cove on the west coast. +It will do the west Highlanders good to see what ships you have, for +they think that no one but themselves and Noah could build a boat. +When we come up into my own country we'll get a gillie or two that can +be depended on to wait on us, then if we are nipped, one or other of +these gillies can easily steal a boat and make for the fleet with your +orders to the admiral." + +"That is not a bad plan, Jamie," said the king, "and we will arrange +it as you suggest." + +The court wondered greatly at the sudden disappearance of James +MacDonald, but none dared to make inquiry, some thinking he had +escaped to the north, others, that a dungeon in Stirling Castle might +reveal his whereabouts. The king was as genial as ever, and the +wiseacres surmised from his manner that he meditated going off on +tramp again. The fleet was ordered to Loch Torridon, where it could +keep a watchful eye on turbulent Skye. The king spent three days +in settling those affairs of the realm which demanded immediate +attention, left Sir Donald Sinclair in temporary command, and rode +off to Doune Castle. + +From this stronghold there issued next morning before daylight, two +well-mounted young men, who struck in a northwesterly direction for +the wild Highland country. Their adventures were many and various, but +MacDonald's Gaelic and knowledge of the locality carried them +scatheless to the coast, although much of the journey was done on +foot, for before half the way was accomplished the insurmountable +difficulty of the passes compelled them to relinquish their horses. As +it was unadvisable for them to enter Skye in anything like state, the +two travellers contented themselves with an ordinary fishing-boat, +which spread sail when the winds were fair, and depended on the oars +of the crew when the sea was calm. They were accompanied by two +gillies, who were intended to be useful on any ordinary occasion, and +necessary in case of emergency, for the boat and its crew were to wait +in any harbour of Skye that was determined upon and carry news to Loch +Torridon if the presence of the fleet was deemed necessary. + +It was a beautiful evening, with the sea as smooth as glass, when the +fishing-boat, with sails folded, propelled by the stalwart arms of the +rowers, entered a land-locked harbour, guarded by bold headlands. The +name given to the place by MacDonald was so unpronounceable in Gaelic +that it completely baffled the Saxon tongue of the king, but although +his majesty was not aware of the fact, his own presence was to remedy +that difficulty, because the place was ever afterwards known as the +Haven of the King--Portree. + +The scattered village climbed up the steep acclivity, and as the royal +party rounded the headland and came in sight of the place, it seemed +as if the inhabitants knew a distinguished visitor was about to honour +them with his presence, for the whole population, cheering and +gesticulating, was gathered along the shore. The gillie, however, +informed his master that the demonstration was probably on the +occasion of the launch of the handsome ship which they now saw, +covered with flags, riding placidly on the surface of the bay. She +was evidently new for her sides were fresh from the axe, without +stain of either weather or wave. + +"It seems the boat is yours," said MacDonald to the king in English. +"It is the twenty-six oared galley that Allaster Crottach was bound by +his agreement to build for you. My man tells me that it is to be taken +to-morrow to Dunvegan Castle, so it is likely to be used by Allaster +Crottach himself before your majesty sets foot in it, for if it had +been intended only for the king it would have been left here so that +it might be convenient to the mainland. It has been built by Malcolm +MacLeod, the leader of all the people in these parts. He thinks +himself the most famous boat-builder in the world, so Allaster has at +least fulfilled one part of his agreement, and doubtless believes this +to be the finest craft afloat." + +"It is indeed a beautiful barge," assented the king, admiring the +graceful lines of the ship. "But what is that long-haired, bare-legged +cateran screaming about with his arms going like a windmill? The crowd +evidently appreciates his efforts, for they are rapturous in their +applause." + +MacDonald held up his hand and the oarsmen paused, while the boat +gently glided towards the shore. In the still air, across the water, +the impassioned Gaelic words came clearly to the voyagers. + +"He is saying," translated MacDonald, after a few moments listening, +"that the MacLeods are like the eternal rocks of Skye, and their +enemies like the waves of the sea. Their enemies dash against them and +they remain unmoved, while the wave is shattered into infinitesimal +spray. So do the MacLeods defy and scorn all who come against them." + +The king shrugged his shoulders. + +"The man forgets that the sea also is eternal, and that it ultimately +wears away the cliff. This appears to be an incitement towards war, +then?" + +"Oh, not so," replied MacDonald. "The man is one of their poets, and +he is reciting an epic he has written, doubtless in praise of +Malcolm's boat-building." + +"God save us!" cried the king. "Have we then poets in Skye?" + +"The whole of the Highlands is a land of poetry, your majesty," +affirmed MacDonald drawing himself up proudly, "although the very poor +judges of the art in Stirling may not be aware of the fact." + +The king laughed heartily at this. + +"I must tell that to Davie Lyndsay," he said. "But here we have +another follower of the muse who has taken the place of the first. +Surely nowhere else is the goddess served by votaries so unkempt. What +is this one saying?" + +"He says that beautiful is the western sky when the sun sinks beneath +the wave, but more beautiful still is the cheek of the Rose of Skye, +the daughter of their chieftain." + +"Ah, that is better and more reassuring. I think either of us, Jamie, +would rather be within sight of the smiles of the Rose of Skye than +within reach of the claymores of her kinsmen." + +By this time the assemblage on shore became aware that visitors were +approaching, and the declamation ceased. Malcolm MacLeod himself came +forward on the landing to greet the newcomers. He was a huge man of +about fifty, tall and well proportioned, with an honest but masterful +face, all in all a magnificent specimen of the race, destined by +nature to be a leader of men. He received his visitors with dignified +courtesy. + +"I am James MacDonald," explained that young man by way of +introduction, "son of the Laird of Sleat. We heard you had built a +boat for the king, and so have come to see it. This is James Stuart, a +friend of mine from the Lowlands, and I have brought him with me that +he may learn what boat-building really is." + +"You are very welcome," said MacLeod, "and just in time, for they are +taking her round the headland to Dunvegan to-morrow morning. Aye, +she's a bonnie boat, if I do say it myself, for no one knows her and +what she'll do better than I." + +"The king should be proud of her," said MacDonald. + +MacLeod tossed his shaggy head and replied with a sneer,-- + +"It's little the king knows about boats. He should be playing with a +shallop in a tub of water, instead of meddling with men's affairs. +Allaster Crottach is our king, and if he graciously pleases to tickle +the lad in Stirling by saying he owns the boat, Allaster himself will +have the using of her. I would not spike a plank for the king, but I'd +build a fleet for Allaster if he wanted it. Has your friend the +Gaelic? If he has, he may tell the king what I say, when he goes back +to the Lowlands." + +"No, he has no Gaelic, Malcolm, but I'll put into the English whatever +you like to say." + +And so he gave to the king a free rendition of MacLeod's remarks, +toning them down a little, but James was shrewd enough to suspect from +the manner of the man of Skye, that he held his nominal monarch in +slight esteem. + +Malcolm MacLeod took the strangers to his own house, which was the +best in the village. Almost the entire population of the port had been +working on the king's boat, and now that it was finished and launched, +the place had earned a holiday. Malcolm was delighted to have visitors +who could bear witness to the skill of his designing, appreciate the +genius of the poets and listen to the skreigh of the piping. The +strangers were most hospitably entertained and entered thoroughly into +the spirit of the festivities. The morning after their arrival they +cheered as lustily as the others when the twenty-six oars of the +king's barge struck the water and the craft moved majestically out of +the harbour. They seemed to have come into a land of good-will toward +all mankind; high and low vying with each other to make their stay as +pleasant as possible. + +"Losh, Jamie," said the king to his friend two or three days after +their arrival, "I might well have ignored your advice about the ships, +as I did your base counsel about the army. I need no fleet here to +protect me in Skye where every man is my friend." + +"That is very true," replied MacDonald, "but you must not forget that +no one has any suspicion who you are. Everyone is a friend of James +Stuart of the Lowlands, but I hear nobody say a good word for the +king." + +"What have they against him?" asked the Guidman of Ballengeich with a +frown, for it was not complimentary to hear that in a part of his own +dominion he was thought little of. + +[Illustration: "THE STRANGERS WERE MOST HOSPITABLY ENTERTAINED, AND +ENTERED THOROUGHLY INTO THE SPIRIT OF THE FESTIVITIES."] + +"It isn't exactly that they have anything against the king," said +MacDonald, perhaps not slow to prick the self-esteem of his comrade, +"but they consider him merely a boy, of small weight in their affairs +one way or another. They neither fear him nor respect him. The real +monarch of these regions is the humpback in Dunvegan Castle; and even +if they knew you were the king, your sternest command would have no +effect against his slightest wish, unless you had irresistible force +at the back of you." + +"Ah, Jamie, you are simply trying to justify the bringing of the fleet +round Scotland." + +"Indeed and I am not. The only use to which you can put your fleet +will be to get you away from here in case of trouble. As far as its +force is concerned, these islanders would simply take to the hills and +defy it." + +"Ah, well," said the king, "I'll make them think better of me before I +am done with them." + +The week's festivities were to end with a grand poetical contest. All +the bards of the island were scribbling; at any rate, those who could +write. The poets who had not that gift were committing their verses to +memory that they might be prepared to recite them before the judges, +three famous minstrels, who were chosen from three districts on the +island, thus giving variety and a chance of fairness to their +decisions. + +The king resolved to enter this competition, and he employed MacDonald +every evening translating into the language of Skye, the poem which +had been considered so good in Stirling, and MacDonald was to recite +it for him at the contest. But this Homeric competition was endangered +by disquieting news brought to the island by the fishermen. They +reported that a powerful fleet had been seen rounding the northern +coast of Scotland, and was now making towards the south. This +unexpected intelligence seemed to change instantaneously the attitude +of the islanders towards their two guests. Suspicion electrified the +air. The news of the sighting of the fleet, coming so quickly on the +advent of two strangers, who apparently had no particular business on +the island, caused them to be looked upon as spies, and for a day or +two they were in danger of being treated as such. The king's alertness +of mind saved the situation. He had brought with him from Stirling, in +case of emergencies, several sheets of blank parchment, each bearing +the Great Seal of Scotland. Once more the useful MacDonald was his +amanuensis. A proclamation in Gaelic was written and the signature of +James the Fifth inscribed thereon. This document was enclosed with a +communication, containing directions to the admiral of the fleet, and +MacDonald entrusted the packet to one of his gillies, with orders +that sail should be set for Loch Torridon, and the message given to +the officer in command. + +Three days later the ferment on the island was immeasurably increased +when the guard on the headland reported that a ship of war was making +direct for the harbour. A horseman was despatched full gallop to +Dunvegan Castle to inform the head of the clan of the mysterious visit +of the two men, followed so soon by the approach of a belligerent +vessel. But before the messenger was ten miles on his way, the +ceremony was over and done with. The big ship sailed majestically +through the narrows, cast anchor and fired a salute. A well-manned +boat was lowered and rowed to the shore. There stepped from the boat +an officer in a splendid uniform, followed by a lieutenant and half a +dozen men, one of whom carried the flag of Scotland. This company +marched to the cross, which stood in the centre of the village, and +the crowd sullenly followed, with Malcolm MacLeod at their head, not +knowing what the action of the naval officer might portend, and in +absence of definite orders from their chief, hesitating to oppose this +inland march. Many of those on the fleet were Highlanders, and the +second in command was one of them. This man mounted the three steps at +the foot of the cross and stood with his back against the upright +stone. His chief handed him a roll of parchment, and the subordinate +officer in a loud voice, and in excellent Gaelic, cried,-- + +"A Proclamation from His Most Excellent Majesty, James the Fifth of +Scotland! God save the King!" + +At this the chief officer raised his sword in salute, and his men sent +up a cheer, but the aggregation was not seconded by any of the large +concourse there gathered together. Undaunted by this frigid reception +the officer unrolled the manuscript and read its contents in a voice +that reached to the furthest outskirts of the crowd: + + "I, James of Scotland, lawful King of this realm, do + proclaim to all loyal subjects, that the safety and liberty + of my land depends on an unconquerable fleet, and that the + merit of the fleet consists in stout well-built ships, + therefore the man whom I, the King, delight to honour is he + whose skill produces the best sea-going craft, so I hereon + inscribe the name of Malcolm MacLeod, master shipbuilder, a + man who has designed and constructed a boat of which all + Scotland has reason to be proud. The King's barge of + twenty-six oars, planned by Malcolm MacLeod and built for + him by the people of Skye, will be used as a model for all + ship-builders in the Scottish navy." + +The reader now looked up from his parchment and gazed over the +assemblage. + +"Is Malcolm MacLeod here?" he asked. "Let him step forward." + +The giant, somewhat dazed, walking like a man in a dream, approached +the foot of the cross. The officer rolled the proclamation and +presented it to the shipbuilder, saying:-- + +"From the hand of the king, to the hand of Malcolm MacLeod." + +Malcolm accepted it, muttering half with a smile, half with a frown,-- + +"E-god, the king knows a good boat when he gets it." + +Then the officer uplifted his sword and cried,-- + +"God save the king;" and now the hills around re-echoed with the +cheering. + +The little company without another word retraced their steps to the +small boat, and made for the ship which was now facing outward, anchor +hoisted and sails spread once more, so the watching Highlanders had a +view of a large vessel superbly managed, as the west wind which +brought her into the harbour took her safely out again. + +The royal young man had a striking lesson on the fickleness of the +populace. Heretofore as MacDonald had truly said, no one had a good +word to say for the king; now it was evident that James V. of Scotland +was the greatest and wisest monarch that ever sat on a throne. + +Malcolm MacLeod had been always so proud of his skill that this +proclamation could hardly augment his self-esteem, but it suddenly +changed his views regarding his august overlord. In conversation ever +after it became, "I and the king," and he was almost willing to admit +that James was very nearly as great a man as Alexander MacLeod of +Dunvegan. + +The enthusiasm was so great that several bards composed special poems +in honour of the king of Scotland, and next day the effusions were to +be heard at the cross, and the prizes awarded. The first thing done, +however, after the departure of the ship, was to send another mounted +messenger to Dunvegan Castle, so that the lord of the island might +learn that no invasion was to be feared from the fleet. The parchment +proclamation was sent on to the chief, ostensibly in explanation of +the ship's visit, but probably because Malcolm was not loth to let +the head of the clan know what the head of the country thought of his +workmanship. + +It was early next morning that the reading and reciting of the poems +began, and so lengthy were these effusions that it was well past noon +before the last had been heard. To the chagrin of James he found +himself fifteenth on the list when the honours were awarded. +MacDonald, endeavouring to keep a straight face, told the king of the +judges' decision, adding,-- + +"It will be as well not to let Davie Lyndsay know of this." + +"Oh, you may tell whom you please," cried the king. "I was sure you +would bungle it in the Gaelic." + +The king was pacing up and down the room in no very good humour, so +the young Highlander thought it best not to reply. He was saved +however, from the embarrassment of silence by the entrance of Malcolm +MacLeod. + +"You are in great good fortune," said Malcolm. "The messengers have +returned with a score of horsemen at their backs, and Dunvegan himself +invites you to the castle." + +MacDonald seemed in no way jubilant over what his host considered the +utmost honour that could be bestowed upon two strangers. + +"What does he say?" demanded the king. + +"He says that MacLeod of Dunvegan has invited us to his castle." + +"Well, we will go then. I suppose we can get horses here, or shall we +journey round by boat?" + +"I understand," replied MacDonald, "that the chief has sent horses for +us, and furthermore an escort of a score of men, so I'm thinking we +have very little choice about the matter." + +"Very well," returned the king with a shrug of indifference, "let us +be off and see our new host. I wonder if he will be as easily +flattered as the one we are leaving." + +"I doubt it," said MacDonald seriously. + + + + +THE KING DRINKS + + +The two young men mounted the small shaggy horses that had been +provided for them by the forethought of their future host, MacLeod of +Dunvegan. Apparently the king had forgotten all about his crushing +defeat in the poetical contest of the day before, for he was blithe +and gay, the most cheerful of those assembled, adventuring now and +then scraps of Gaelic that he had picked up, and his pronunciation +contributed much to the hilarity of the occasion. + +MacDonald, on the other hand, was gloomy and taciturn, as if already +some premonition of the fate that awaited him at Dunvegan cast its +shadow before. The news of the great condescension of the laird in +inviting two strangers to his castle had spread through all the land, +and, early as was the hour, the whole population of the district had +gathered to wish the travellers a cordial farewell. The escort, as the +king called the score of men, who were to act as convoy from one port +to the other; or the guard, as MacDonald termed them, sat on their +horses in silence, awaiting the word of command to set forth. + +At last this word was given, and the procession began its march amidst +the cheers of the people and a skirling of the pipes. The distance was +little more than seven leagues over a wild uninviting country. +MacDonald sat his horse dejected and silent, for the prospect +confronting him was far from alluring. The king was incognito, he was +not; and he had begun to doubt the wisdom of having given his actual +designation to the people of Skye, for the relations between this +island and the mainland were at that time far from being of the most +cordial description. + +[Illustration: "THE KING, HOWEVER, APPEARED TO HAVE NO FOREBODINGS, +BUT TROTTED ALONG WITH GREAT COMPLACENCY."] + +Dunvegan Castle was a grim stronghold in which the MacLeods sat so +secure that all the efforts of all the MacDonalds, even if they were +for once united, could not dislodge them. It was one of the most +remote inhabited places in all Scotland, its next neighbour to the +west being that new land of America discovered not yet fifty years. +For the son of one Highland chieftain to come so completely into the +power of another, his own people knowing practically nothing of his +whereabouts, was a situation that did not commend itself to the +young man. Allaster Crottach was celebrated more for craft than for +violence. He had extended and consolidated his possessions with the +skill of a diplomatist rather than by the arms of his soldiers, and +MacDonald thought it quite likely that a slice of Sleat might be +the ransom for his release. If through any incautious remark of his +comrade the Crottach became aware that he held not only MacDonald +of Sleat but also the King of Scotland, the fates only knew what +might happen. The king, however, appeared to have no forebodings, +but trotted along with great complacency, commenting now and then +on the barrenness of the landscape. + +The party had accomplished little more than half the distance, when, +as they fronted a slight elevation, there came to them over the hills +wild pipe music, louder than anything of that kind the king had ever +heard. + +"The MacLeod is evidently about to welcome us in state," said his +majesty to MacDonald, "he must have the very monarch of pipers in his +train." + +"The MacRimmon," admitted MacDonald, "are acknowledged to be the best +pipers in all the Highlands, and they are hereditary musicians to the +MacLeod. The sounds we hear indicate that a number of pipers are +playing in unison." + +On reaching the brow of the hill they found this was indeed the case. +There were from thirty to fifty pipers, but they evidently bore no +greeting to the travellers, for the musical party was marching in the +same direction as themselves, playing vigorously as they swung along. +At the instance of the king, MacDonald made inquiries regarding this +extraordinary spectacle. The taciturn commander of the guard answered +briefly that it was the College of Pipers. The students were marching +back to Bocraig on the other side of Loch Follart, where instruction +in piping was bestowed by the MacRimmon; this excursion over the hills +giving them training in piping and in tramping at the same time. The +musical regiment took its way straight across the moors and so very +soon was lost sight of by the two travellers, who kept to a track +which was more or less of a road. + +In due time the cavalcade reached Dunvegan Castle, and even a man +accustomed to so stout a fortress as that of Stirling could not but be +struck by the size, the strength, and the situation of this frowning +stronghold; yet, extensive as it was, its proprietor evidently found +it inadequate for his ambitions, as he was now building a massive +tower which added a further dignity to the structure. + +The king and his companion were received at the front entrance by an +old man, whom each at once knew could not be their host, for his back +had originally been straight enough, though now slightly stooped +through age. He led them within, and up a stair direct to the +apartments reserved for them. Their aged conductor spoke no English, +so the burden of conversation fell on MacDonald. As soon as the latter +perceived that he and his friend were to be separated, the king lodged +at one end of the castle, and himself at the other, he protested +against this arrangement, demanding two adjoining rooms. The old man +replied that he was following instructions given, and if the rooms +assigned were not satisfactory, his master would doubtless change them +on the morrow. + +"But, my good man," expostulated MacDonald, "we expect to be leaving +the castle to-morrow." + +"In that case," replied their cicerone with a scarcely perceptible +shrug of the shoulders, "it makes but little difference for one +night." The king inquiring into the purport of the discussion, quite +agreed with the elderly guide, that the matter was of small moment. + +"If our genial innkeeper intends to murder us," he said, "we shall be +quite as helpless together as separate, for he has irresistible force +at his command. If we are in a trap there is little use in snarling at +the bars. By all accounts Dunvegan is a shrewd man, and I can see no +object which he can attain by doing harm to either of us. If he had a +son who was next heir to the position I hold, I confess I might sleep +uneasily to-night; but as he must know that the king's fleet is +hovering about his coast, and that his castle would make a most +excellent target for it, as he cannot transport his house to the hills +should the ships sail up the loch, I don't see what he can gain by +maltreating two men, whom he must suspect of having some connection +with the advent of the fleet." + +"Oh, I have no thought," replied MacDonald, "that the Eagle of +Dunvegan would fly so high as you suggest, but there are lowlier +perches on which he may like to fix his talons. He has long cast +covetous eyes across the Sound of Sleat to the mainland, and, whatever +he knows or suspects, he is sure of one thing, which is that he has +the son of the Laird of Sleat safely landed in his own house." + +"How distrustful you Highlanders are of each other!" cried the young +monarch laughing. "Bless me, Jamie, no bargain made in durance will +hold; then you must remember you have me behind you, and I have all +the power in Scotland behind me." + +"That is very true, but the power of nothing is behind either of us +if we cannot get word to the outside world. Last night on learning we +were invited to this place, I searched for my gillies, but without +success. My boat and its crew have been taken elsewhere. So you see +there is at least a design to cut our communications. I'm thinking +we'll see more of Loch Follart from this window for a while than of +the field of Bannockburn from Stirling Towers." + +"I quite agree with you, Jamie, that we're fairly nabbed, but the old +gentleman who has us in thrall can make nothing by ill-using us. +Sooner or later he must divulge his plan, whatever it is, before he +can benefit from it, and when he does that it will be time enough to +consider what course we are to pursue." Then turning suddenly towards +their guide, who had been standing motionless during this +conversation, the king said sharply in English,-- + +"Is your master at home?" + +The old man made no reply, but looked at MacDonald as if for +translation. The latter repeated the question in Gaelic and received +an affirmative answer. + +"He says the laird is at home. He has no English." + +"I wasn't just sure of that, so I tested it by an abrupt question, +thus locking the door after the horse was stolen, for we have spoken +rather plainly before him, and so have proved ourselves in the +beginning very poor conspirators. However, I care little what the next +move is so long as it brings us something to eat. Clear your gloomy +brow, Jamie, and tell them in the most culinary Gaelic that this is +not a fast-day with us, and the ride across the moors has increased +our appetites." + +MacDonald followed his custodian down the long corridor, and the king +entered the apartment assigned to him. + +After sufficient time had elapsed to allow the travellers to remove +the traces of travel from their persons, they were summoned to a small +room where they found a most welcome and substantial meal set out for +them. A generous flagon of wine stood by each trencher; it was the +first the king had had an opportunity of tasting since he left his +capital, and he seized upon the measure with some eagerness. + +"Here's to the MacLeod!" he cried. + +"I drink to the king, and good luck to him!" said MacDonald. + +"I drink to anything, so long as the wine is sound," rejoined his +majesty, enjoying a deep draught. "E-god, Jamie," he cried setting the +flagon down again, "that's better claret than we have in Stirling." + +"There is no reason why it shouldn't be excellent," replied MacDonald, +"for the laird's own ships bring it direct from the coast of France to +the coast of Skye, and there's little chance of adulteration between +the two." + +When the repast was finished the aged man who had received them at the +door entered and announced that MacLeod of MacLeod was ready to greet +them in his study. They followed him and were ushered into an oblong +room somewhat larger than the one they had left. The king was +astonished to find the walls lined with numerous volumes, some of the +tomes massive in heavy binding. As books were not over-plentiful even +in the realms of civilisation, he had not expected to find them in a +corner of the world so remote. + +Allaster the Hunchback sat by the side of a huge oaken table, and he +did not rise from his chair when his visitors were presented to him, +either because he wished the better to conceal the deformity which +gave him his nickname, or because he did not consider his guests of +such importance as to deserve a more courteous reception. He addressed +them in excellent English, and the king constituted himself spokesman +for the occasion, MacDonald standing by taciturn, in spite of the +excellence of the wine, which indeed he had consumed somewhat +sparingly. + +"I understand," began MacLeod, "that you have honoured my poor rugged +island of Skye with your presence for some days." + +"The honour, sir, has been ours," replied the king with an inclination +of his head. "I was visiting my friend MacDonald in Sleat and heard of +the king's barge, so we came over to see it." + +"This is your friend MacDonald of Sleat then?" + +"Yes. May I have the pleasure of presenting Mr. James MacDonald to the +MacLeod?" + +The two Highlanders, one sitting, one standing, bowed somewhat +distantly to each other as the king, with a flourish of his hand, +made the introduction. + +"Perhaps," continued MacLeod suavely, "your friend from Sleat will do +a like obligement for yourself." + +"I shall not put him to that trouble," said the king airily. "I am of +such small account that it would be a pity to put upon a Highland +chieftain the task of pronouncing my name. I am called the Guidman of +Ballengeich, very much at your service, sir." + +"Guidman, meaning farmer of course?" asked Dunvegan. + +"Meaning small farmer," said the king with a graceful inclination of +the head. + +The tones of the MacLeod had not been too cordial from the first, but +they became less so at this confession of low quality on the part of +his visitor. + +"You will forgive my ignorance, but where is Ballengeich?" + +"It is a little steading near Stirling, but of more value than its +size would indicate, for I am fortunate in possessing the custom of +the court." + +"You cater for the castle then?" asked MacLeod frigidly. + +"Yes, in various ways." + +MacLeod turned from his loquacious guest as if he desired to hold no +further converse with him, and thus, however crafty he might be, he +convinced the king that the castle had no suspicion whom it held. +MacLeod said abruptly to his other visitor, fastening his piercing +eyes upon him,-- + +"I heard you were prisoner at Stirling?" + +"Prisoner, sir!" cried MacDonald angrily, the red colour mounting to +the roots of his hair. But before he could speak further his garrulous +companion struck in. + +"What an absurd rumour. MacDonald a prisoner! I assure you he was no +more a prisoner at Stirling Castle than he is at this moment in +Dunvegan Castle." + +"Ah," said McLeod turning again to the farmer, his eyes partially +closing, examining the other with more severe scrutiny than had +previously been the case. "He was at liberty to come and go as he +pleased, then?" + +"As free as air, sir; otherwise how could he have visited my slight +holding and thus become acquainted with me?" + +"I thought perhaps he had met you in the courtyard of Stirling with a +sack of corn on your shoulder." + +The king laughed heartily at this. + +"I said a _small_ farmer certainly, but I am not quite so unimportant +as you seem to imply. I have a better horse to carry my corn than the +one that to-day carried me to Dunvegan." + +The laird ignored this disparagement of his cattle. + +"You came to Skye then to see the king's boat, of which you had heard +favourable report? The news of her seems to have travelled very +quickly." + +"Indeed and that's true," said the king complacently. "Information +spreads rapidly in the Highlands." + +"It seems to spread to the Lowlands as well. You heard the king's +proclamation perhaps?" + +"Yes, we heard the pronouncement." + +"It's possible you came from the fleet?" + +"No. We came overland." + +"Had you heard of the fame of Malcolm's boat before you left +Stirling?" + +"I did not say we left Stirling. As a matter of fact we left the small +village of Doune some miles to the north of it, and at that time had +heard nothing either of Malcolm or his boat." + +"Hum," ejaculated the laird, rummaging among his papers on the table. +The king glancing in the direction of MacLeod's hands saw spread out +the charter which he himself had signed, giving MacLeod tenure of his +land, and beside it, as if this island magnate had been comparing the +signatures was the recent draft of the proclamation commending Malcolm +MacLeod's boat. This document Dunvegan passed to the Guidman of +Ballengeich. + +"You know the king's writing perhaps? Will you tell me whether this +is, as I suspect, a forgery?" + +James wrinkled his brows and examined the signature with minute care. +"I have seen the writing of his majesty," he said at last, "but +MacDonald here knows it better than I. What do you think of it, +Jamie?" he continued, passing on the parchment to his friend. "Is this +the real Mackay, or is it not?" + +"It is," said MacDonald shortly and definitely. + +"You say that is the actual signature of the king?" inquired MacLeod. + +"I could swear it is as genuine as the one on your charter," replied +MacDonald. + +"Well, now," said MacLeod leaning back in his chair, "will you resolve +a mystery for me? How is it likely that James Fifth ever heard of +Malcolm MacLeod's boat? and if he did, do you consider it probable +that an august monarch would compliment a Highland cateran's skill +with the axe?" + +"James is a douce body," said the king, "and knows more of what is +going on in his realm than folk who think themselves wiser might +imagine." + +"You hint, then," said MacLeod, drawing down his black brows, "that +his majesty may have spies in Skye?" + +"Truth to tell, Laird of Dunvegan, it is more than likely," admitted +the king, with an air of great candour. + +The frown on MacLeod's countenance deepened, and he said harshly,-- + +"You two gentlemen probably know the fate of spies when they are +captured. Their fate is a short shrift, and a long rope." + +"And quite properly so," rejoined the king promptly. + +"I am glad that you are so well informed, and need no instruction from +me," commented the Crottach with menace in his tone. + +Suddenly the king's manner changed, and the air of authority which was +natural to him asserted itself. + +"MacLeod of Skye," he cried, "this discussion and beating about the +bush is interesting, but nothing at all to the purpose. You are +hinting that we two are spies, and I tell you there are no spies, and +can be no spies on this island." + +"I have only your word to set against my own doubts," said the +MacLeod. + +"My word and your doubts are both aside from the purpose. Your mind +has become confused. Unless you are at war with James of Scotland, +there can be spies neither in the domain you hold under his hand, nor +in the kingdom over which he rules. Are you a rebel against your king, +MacLeod of Skye?" + +"That I am not," answered Allaster hastily, and with evident +discomposure. + +"Very well then. You see the absurdity of an argument on espionage. +MacDonald and I have as much right on the island of Skye as you have, +because it is part of the Kingdom of Scotland, and we are loyal, if +humble subjects of his majesty." + +"You are not come here then to report on the condition of Skye?" + +"We came here of our own free will; the messengers of no man, and we +are to report to no man. If the king should ask me any question +regarding my visit to Skye, I would answer him, that I had met with +the utmost courtesy, except from its chief. I would say that MacLeod +of MacLeod was so ignorant regarding the usages of good society that +he received us sitting down, and never asked us to be seated, an error +in politeness which I was myself forced to amend. MacDonald, plant +yourself on that chair beside you. I will take this one." + +MacDonald promptly obeyed the command, and the king seated himself, +throwing one leg over the other and leaning back in comfort. + +"Now, my Lord of Skye," he said, "have you any further questions to +ask, or any additional hints to bestow upon your guests, at present in +your sullen presence upon your own invitation?" + +The chieftain regarded the king in silence for a few moments, then +said without change of countenance,-- + +"By God! you may be a small farmer, but you are a brave man. You are +the first who has questioned the authority of the MacLeod on his own +ground. So the case being without precedent, one has to be made, and +that will require some thought. We will postpone the question until +later. I trust you will both honour me with your presence at dinner +this evening, but if you prefer it, you may sup alone in your own +apartments." + +"We are sociable travellers," said the king rising, for the laird's +words had in them an inflection of dismissal, "and we will have great +pleasure in accepting seats at your table." + +Then with a bow to the man who still remained in his chair, the king +and his comrade withdrew. They consulted together for a time in the +room of the former, but reached no definite decision. MacDonald urged +that they should come to an understanding with their host at once, and +learn whether they were prisoners or free men, but the king held that +Allaster should have the time for thinking over the situation which +had been practically agreed on. + +"There is no hurry," he said. "Each of us is younger than Allaster and +so there is time to bide." + +On being summoned to the great dining-hall that night, they found a +company awaiting dinner numbering perhaps a score, all men. A piper +was marching up and down the room making the timbers ring with his +martial music. The MacLeod stood at the head of his table, a stalwart +man whose massive head seemed sunk rather deep between his broad +shoulders, but otherwise, perhaps because his costume was cunningly +arranged, there was slight indication of the deformity with which he +was afflicted. He greeted his guests with no great show of affability, +and indicated the bench at his right hand as the seat of MacDonald. +The young Highlander hesitated to take the place of preference, and +glanced uneasily at his comrade. + +"I am slightly deaf in my right ear," said the king good naturedly, +"and as I should be grieved to miss any observations you may make, I +will, with your permission, occupy the place you would bestow upon my +friend." + +MacLeod looked sternly at the speaker for a moment, but seeing that +MacDonald, without protest moved speedily round to the left, he said +at last,-- + +"Settle it as pleases you, but I should have thought a Highland +chieftain took precedence of a Lowland huckster." + +"Not a huckster exactly," explained the king with a smile. "My +patrimony of Ballengeich may be small, but such as it is, I am the +undisputed laird of it, while at best MacDonald is but the son of a +laird, so because of my deaf ear, and according to your own rules of +precedence, I think I may claim the place of honour at your right." +And as the MacLeod, with an angry growl sat down, the king and +MacDonald followed his example. The others took their places in some +haste, and with more or less of disorder. It was plain that MacLeod +preferred the silent Highlander to the more loquacious farmer of +Ballengeich, for during the meal he addressed most of his remarks to +the man on his left, although his advances were not as cordially +received as perhaps they might have been. The king showed no +resentment at this neglect, but concentrated his attention on the +business at hand. + +When the eating was done with, the servants placed three large flagons +before their master and the two who sat on either side of him. These +they filled to the brim with wine. + +"Gentlemen," said MacLeod, "it is a custom in this castle that our +guests, to show they are good men and true, each empty one of these +flagons at a draught, and without drawing breath. Will you then +accompany me to any toast you may care to name?" + +"The wine I have already consumed at your hospitable board," said the +king, "is the best that ever ran down a thirsty man's throat; but if I +supplement it with so generous and instant an addition, I fear my legs +will refuse their service, even if my head retain sense enough to give +the command." + +"That need not trouble you," said MacLeod, "for in the last hundred +years no man has insulted this vintage by leaving the hall on his own +feet. There stand your legs against the wall, Guidman of Ballengeich." + +The king, glancing over his shoulder, saw standing against the wall a +row of brawny gillies, each two of whom supported a stretcher, whose +use was at once apparent. + +"Very well," cried the king to his host; "give you a suitable toast, +MacLeod, and I will enter with you the rosy realms of the red wine." + +MacLeod then stood up. + +"I give you," he said, "the King of Scotland. May he be blest with +more wisdom than were some of his ancestors!" This he repeated in +Gaelic, and the sentiment was received uproariously, for the wine was +already making itself felt in the great hall. + +If MacLeod had any design in offering this toast it did not appear on +the surface, and if he expected a hesitancy on the part of his guests +to do honour to it, he was disappointed, for each young man rose with +the rest. + +"Here's to the king!" cried the one on his right, "and may he imbibe +wisdom as I imbibe wine." Then raising the flagon to his lips he +drained it dry and set it with a crash on the table again. + +MacLeod and MacDonald drank more slowly, but they ultimately achieved +the same end. Then all seated themselves once more, and the drinking +continued without the useless intervention of further talk. One by one +the revellers sank under the table unnoticed by their noisy comrades, +to be quickly pounced upon by the watchful stretcher-bearers, who, +with a deftness evidently the result of much practice, placed the +helpless individual on the carrier and marched off with him. This +continuous disappearance of the fallen rapidly thinned the ranks of +the combatants struggling with the giant Bacchus. + +The king had been reluctant to enter this contest, fearing the red +wine would loosen his tongue, but as the evening wore on he found all +his resolution concentrated in a determination to walk to his bed. +MacDonald proved no protection. Early in the bout his unaccustomed +head descended gently upon the table and he was promptly carried off +to rest. + +At last MacLeod and the king sat alone in the hall, that looked larger +now it was so nearly empty; and James, as a test of what sense +remained to him, set himself to count the torches burning more and +more dimly in the haze of their own smoke. But he gave up the attempt +when he saw that they had increased by hundreds and thousands, and +were engaged in a wild pyrotechnic dance to the rhythm of the last +march that had been played on the pipes. He swayed over towards his +host and smote him uncertainly on the shoulder. + +"MacLeod," he cried, "I challenge you to stand, and I'll wager you I +can walk further down the corridor with fewer collisions against +either wall than any man in Skye." + +With difficulty the king rose to his feet, and as he did so the stool +on which he sat, because of a lurch against it, fell clattering to the +floor. + +"The very benches are drunk, MacLeod, and the table sways like a ship +at sea. That stool is as insecure as a throne. Rise up if you can and +see if yours is any better." + +But the MacLeod sat helpless, glaring at him from under his shaggy +eyebrows. Seeing him stationary the king laughed so heartily that he +nearly unbalanced himself, and was forced to cling for support to the +edge of the table. Then straightening himself to excessive rigidity he +muttered,-- + +"Good-night, MacLeod. Sit there and see the rule of your house broken +by your----" If the next word were "monarch," or "king," it was never +uttered, for as James made his uncertain way towards the door, the +expert gillies, who knew their business, came up behind him, swooped +the stretcher against his unreliant legs, and they failing instantly, +he fell backward on the stoutly woven web between the two poles. There +was a guttural laugh from MacLeod, and the prone man helplessly waving +his hands, shouted,-- + +"Unfair, by Saint Andrew, unfair! Curse the foe who attacks a man from +the rear." + +[Illustration: "THE TWO WENT OUTSIDE AND TOOK THE ROAD BY WHICH THEY +HAD COME."] + + + + +THE KING SAILS + + +The young men awoke somewhat late next day with heads reasonably +clear, a very practical testimonial to the soundness of their previous +night's vintage. + +"What's to be done?" asked the king. + +MacDonald proposed that they should repair instantly to MacLeod and +demand of him conveyance and safe conduct to the mainland. + +"We can scarcely do that," demurred the king, "until we are sure that +detention is intended. Let us put the matter at once to a practical +test, and see if we are prevented from leaving the castle. If we are, +then is the time for protest." + +Acting on this suggestion, the two went outside and took the road by +which they had come. They found an agile young gillie at their heels +before they were out of sight of Dunvegan. + +"Why are you following us?" asked MacDonald, in Gaelic. + +"I was told to wait on your lordships," returned the man. + +"We need no waiting on; turn back." + +But the gillie shook his shaggy uncovered head and patiently trod in +their footsteps. + +"Let us see how far he will follow," said the king as he strode on. +The gillie accompanied them for half an hour or more without making +any protest, but at last he said to MacDonald that he thought it was +time to return. + +"We are going through to the coast we came from," replied MacDonald, +"and do not intend to return." + +At this the gillie drew from his belt a short black tube that looked +like a practising chanter, which indeed it was, and on this he blew a +few shrill notes. Up to that moment the way had been clear, but now +there appeared over the hill in front of them a dozen armed men, who +approached carelessly as if they had merely happened to be in the +neighbourhood, or were journeying together toward the castle. + +"I think it is time to go back," suggested the gillie in a dull, +uninterested voice. + +"I think it is myself," replied MacDonald. + +And so the futile excursion came to an end. + +Once more in the castle they were confronted again by the question, +What next? + +"I am certain," said the king, "that if MacLeod is attempting to hold +us, there is little use in making appeal to him, and we have small +chance of getting word to the fleet. I propose then to coerce him. He +was alone in his study yesterday, and he may be alone there now. A +sword's point at a man's throat is an irresistible argument." + +"But will he keep his word if he gives it under distress?" objected +MacDonald. + +"I think he will, but it is better not to put too strong a temptation +on him. If we come on him alone we will make him sign a pass for us. +Then we will gag and tie him securely, convey him, when the way is +clear, to this room, where he will be less likely to be looked for. We +will then give him the consolation that if his pass proves useless we +will return and finish the business by sending him into a less +troublesome world." + +This advice was no sooner promulgated than it was acted upon. The +pair traversed the corridors unseen until they came to the door of +the study, then, slipping out their swords, they entered quickly +unannounced. The sight which confronted them was so unexpected that +each stood there with drawn sword in hand as if stricken into stone. + +MacLeod was not in the room, but in his stead, beside the wall of +books, her hand upraised, taking down a small vellum-covered volume, +was the most beautiful young girl, of perhaps nineteen or twenty, that +either of them had ever looked upon. She seemed surprised at their +abrupt entrance and remained statuesquely in her position, as +motionless as they. The young woman was the first of the three to +recover her composure. Relinquishing the book to the shelf, the hand +came down to her side, and she said in most charming, liquid tones, +but in broken English,-- + +"You are looking for my father perhaps?" + +The king, ever gallant, swept his hat from his head and bowed low, his +alertness of mind saving the situation, for he answered quickly,-- + +"Indeed no, my lady. We thought the room was empty, so I implore you +to pardon our intrusion. We were here yesterday, and my friend and I +have just had a dispute regarding the size of these gigantic tomes on +the lower shelf; my friend insisting that they exceeded our sword +blades in length. Pardon me madam?" and the king stepped briskly to +the largest book, laying his sword down its back as if in measurement. + +"There, Jamie," he cried, "I have won the wager. I knew it was not +more than three quarters the length of my blade." + +The glance of fear to which the young woman had treated them departed +from her face, and she smiled slightly at the young man's eagerness. + +"I gather from your remark," he said, "that you are Miss MacLeod of +Dunvegan. May I introduce my friend, James MacDonald of Sleat. My own +name is James Stuart, and for a time we are your father's guests at +Dunvegan." + +The young lady with inimitable grace bowed her queenly head to each of +them in turn. The men slipped their swords quietly back into their +scabbards. + +"I give you good welcome to Dunvegan," said the girl. "I regret that +I do not speak fair the English." + +"Indeed, my lady," rejoined the susceptible king, "it is the most +charming English I ever heard." + +The fair stranger laughed in low and most melodious cadence, like a +distant cathedral's chime falling on the evening air. + +"I am thinking you will be flattering me," she said, "but I know my +English is not good, for there are few in these parts that I can speak +to in it." + +"I shall be delighted to be your teacher," replied the king with his +most courteous intonation. He knew from experience that any offer of +tutorship from him had always proved exceedingly acceptable to the +more dainty sex, and this knowledge gave him unbounded confidence +while it augmented his natural self-esteem. + +"It is perhaps that you already speak the Gaelic?" suggested the young +woman. + +"Alas! no madam. But I should be overjoyed to learn and there, it +may be, you will accept me in the part of pupil. You will find me a +devoted and most obedient scholar. I am in a way what you might call a +poet, and I am told on every hand that Gaelic is the proper medium for +that art." + +A puzzled expression troubled the face of the girl as she endeavoured +to follow the communication addressed to her, but MacDonald sprang +somewhat eagerly to the rescue, and delivered a long harangue in her +native language. Her delight was instant, the cloud on her brow +disappearing as if by magic under the genial influence of the +accustomed converse. The king's physiognomy also underwent a change +but the transformation was not so pleasing as that which had illumined +the countenance of the girl. His majesty distinctly scowled at the +intrepid subject who had so impetuously intervened, but the pair paid +slight attention to him, conversing amiably together, much to their +mutual pleasure. + +Now, it is nowhere considered polite to use a language not understood +by some one person in the party. This fact MacDonald knew perfectly +well, and he doubtless would have acted differently if he had taken +the time to think, but he had become so engrossed by the beauty of the +lady, that, for the moment, every other consideration seemed to have +fled from his mind. Miss MacLeod is to be excused because she probably +supposed a Stuart to be more or less acquainted with the language, in +spite of his former disclaimer, which it is not likely she fully +comprehended. So she talked fluently and laughed lightly, while one of +her auditors was consumed by an anger he dared not show. + +The tension of the situation was changed rather than relieved, by the +silent opening of the door, and the pause of MacLeod himself on the +threshold, gazing dubiously at the group before him. The animation of +the girl fell from her the moment she beheld her father, and the young +men, turning, were confronted by the gloomy features of the chieftain. +The MacLeod closed the door softly, and, without a word, walked to his +chair beside the table. The girl, bowing slightly, with visible +restraint, quitted the room, and, as she did so, MacDonald's alertness +again proved his friend, for he tip-toed quickly to the door, +before the king, accustomed to be waited upon rather than waiting, +recollected himself; and held it open for the lady, making a gallant +sweep with his bonnet as she passed out. + +When the supple young man returned to his place beside the king he +said in a whisper,-- + +"No sword's point play with the father of such a beauty, eh?" + +To this remark his majesty made no reply, but said rather gruffly and +abruptly to his host,-- + +"Do you hold us prisoners in this castle, sir?" + +"That will depend on the answers I get from you," replied the MacLeod +slowly. "Are you two or either of you, emissaries of the king?" + +"We are not." + +"Does the king know you are here?" + +"Regarding the king, his knowledge or his doings, you had better +address your inquiries to him personally. We have no authority to +speak for his majesty." + +"You are merely two private gentlemen, then, come all this distance to +satisfy a love of travel and a taste for scenery?" + +"You have stated the case with great accuracy, sir." + +"Yesterday you spoke of my lack of manners in failing to ask you to be +seated; I shall now refer to a breach of politeness on your own part. +It is customary when strangers visit a province under an acknowledged +ruler, that they should make a formal call upon the ruler before +betaking themselves to other portions of his territory. You remained +for several days in Skye without taking the trouble to inform me of +your arrival." + +"Sir," replied James haughtily, "I dispute your contention entirely. +You are not the ruler of Skye." + +"Who is then?" + +"The King of Scotland, of course." + +The MacLeod laughed in a fashion that somewhat resembled the snarl of +an angry dog. + +"Of course, as you say. No one disputes that James is king of all +Scotland, and I would be the last to question his right, because I +hold my lands under charter bearing his signature, carrying the Great +Seal of the kingdom; nevertheless, the MacLeods held Skye long before +the present royal family of Scotland were heard of, and I would have +been MacLeod of MacLeod although James had never put his hand to this +parchment. Meanwhile, I take the risk of detaining you until I learn +more about you, and if the king makes objection, I shall apologise." + +"You _will_ apologise," said James sternly. + +"Oh, it is easily done, and fair words smooth many a difficulty. I +shall write to him if he complain, that I asked especially if you were +his men, that you denied it, and so, both for his safety and my own, I +considered it well to discover whether or not you were enemies of the +realm. If the father of MacDonald is offended I shall be pleased to +meet him either on sea or land, in anger or in friendship, and as for +you, who talk so glibly of the king, I would warn you that many things +happen in Skye that the king knows nothing of, besides the making of +strong drink." + +The king made him a courtier-like bow for this long speech, and +answered lightly,-- + +"The cock crows blithely on his own midden. Your midden is here, +while mine is far away, therefore the contest in crowing is somewhat +uneven. Nevertheless I indulge in a final flapping of my wings and an +effort of the throat when I say that you will apologise, not by +writing at your ease in Dunvegan Castle, but on your bended knees at +Stirling." + +"That's as may be," said the MacLeod indifferently, and it was quite +obvious that he remained unmoved by the threat. "Gentlemen, I have the +honour to wish you good morning." + +"One moment. Are we then to consider ourselves prisoners?" + +"You may consider yourselves whatever best pleases you. If you make +another attempt like the one you indulged in this morning, I shall +clap you both in the deepest dungeons I possess. Some would even go so +far as to call that imprisonment, but if each gives me his word of +honour that he will make no attempt at escape, and also that he will +not communicate with Stirling, then you are as free of my house and my +grounds as if you were the most welcome of guests. But I warn you that +if, when you pass your words, you attempt to tamper with any of my +men, I shall know of it very soon after, and then comes the dungeon." + +The king hesitated and looked at his friend, but MacDonald, who had +taken no part in this conversation, seemed in an absent dream, his +eyes gazing on vacancy, or perhaps beholding a vision that entranced +him. + +"What do you say, MacDonald?" enquired the king sharply. + +MacDonald recovered himself with a start. + +"To what?" he asked. + +"To the terms proposed by our gaoler." + +"I did not hear them; what are they?" + +"Will you give your word not to escape?" + +"Oh, willingly." + +"And not to communicate with Stirling?" + +"I don't care if I never see Stirling again." + +The king turned to the chief. + +"There is little difficulty, you see," he said, "with your fellow +Highlander. I however, am supposed to be a Lowlander, and therefore +cautious. I give you my word not to communicate with Stirling. As for +the other proviso, I amend it as follows. I shall not leave this +island without your knowledge and your company. If that is +satisfactory, I pledge my faith." + +"Perfectly satisfactory," answered the MacLeod, and with that the two +young men took their departure. + +Once more in the king's room, from which, earlier in the day they had +set out so confidently, MacDonald flung himself upon a bench, but the +king paced up and down the apartment. The former thought the latter +was ruminating on the conditions that had been wrung from him, but the +first words of the king proved his mistake. + +"Jamie, you hardly gave me fair play, you and your Gaelic, with that +dainty offspring of so grim a sire." + +"Master of Ballengeich," replied the Highlander, "a man plays for his +own hand. You should have learned the Gaelic long ago." + +The king stopped abruptly in his walk. + +"Why do you call me by that name?" + +"Merely to show that in this ploy the royal prerogative is not brought +into play; it is already settled that when I meet the king, I am +defeated. It remains to be seen what luck plain James MacDonald has in +a contest with plain James Stuart." + +"Oh, it's to be a contest then?" + +"Not unless you wish it so. I am content to exchange all the fair +damsels of Stirling for this one Highland lassie." + +"You'll exchange!" cried the king. "I make bold to say she is not +yours to exchange." + +"I intend to make her mine." + +"Ah, we'll see about that, Jamie." + +"We will, Ballengeich," said MacDonald with confident precision. And +so the contest began. + +The girl, who saw few in her father's castle to be compared with those +whom she supposed to be mere visitors at Dunvegan, was at first +equally charming to each. A younger sister was her almost constant +companion, which was very well at first but latterly became irksome to +both the suitors. Occasionally, however, one James or the other saw +her alone and made the most of the opportunity presented, but the king +soon found himself tremendously handicapped in the matter of language. +The young lady possessed a keen sense of humour, and this, with the +ever present knowledge that her English was not that of the schools, +made her loth to adventure in that tongue before one accustomed to +its polished use. This same sense of humour was equally embarrassing +when the king madly plunged into the intricacies and ambushes of +the Gaelic. His majesty was brave enough for anything and did not +hesitate, as a forlorn hope, to call his scant knowledge of the Gaelic +to his aid, but even he could see that the result was invariably +unhappy, for although the girl made every endeavour to retain her +composure, there were times when some unfortunate phrase made her +slight frame quiver with suppressed merriment, and no one knew better +than the baffled king, that laughter banishes sentiment. The serious +Highlander, not less manly and handsome than his competitor, was +gifted with an immeasurable advantage in his familiarity with every +phase and inflection of his native vernacular. In his despair the +king struck up a close friendship with Donald, the second son of +the MacLeod, the elder son being absent on some foray or expedition, +and his majesty made a frantic effort to learn the only speech with +which his new comrade was equipped. But this race against time gave +MacDonald long and uninterrupted conferences with his inamorata, and +the king saw, too late, the futility of his endeavour. It might have +been wiser if he had taken his lessons from the girl herself instead +of from her brother, but his majesty was more proficient in teaching +than in learning from the fair sex. He had come to the conclusion that +his uninteresting rambles with Donald were not likely to further his +quest, and was sitting in his room cogitating upon some new method of +attack when MacDonald burst into the apartment with radiant face. The +king looked up at his visitor with no great good nature, and said +sharply,-- + +"Well, what is it?" + +"Your majesty," cried MacDonald jubilantly, "I think I have found a +method of escape, and that without in any way impugning our pledges." + +"Oh, is that all," said the king, with the air of snubbing too +enthusiastic a courtier. "I thought the house was on fire." + +"And I thought, your majesty," returned MacDonald, "that this subject +was ever uppermost in your mind." + +The king rested his closed fist on his hip, leaned his head a little +to one side and examined his rival critically. + +"Why have you returned so unexpectedly to the phrase, your majesty?" + +"Because, your majesty," answered MacDonald laughing, "the phrase, +Guidman of Ballengeich, no longer matters." + +"I do not understand you." + +"It is to make myself understood that I have come so hurriedly. I beg +then to inform your majesty, that Miss MacLeod has consented to become +my wife. I have spoken to her father, who has somewhat grudgingly and +conditionally given his consent. It occurred to me that if I wedded +the daughter of your gaoler, I may have enough influence with the +family to secure your majesty's release." + +"I have no doubt," said the king, "that this was your object from the +beginning. And so you have exchanged a temporary gaoler for one that +will last you all your life." + +The Highlander knit his brow and compressed his lips, as if to hold +back some retort which later he might regret. There was a moment's +constrained silence, then the king flung off his ill-humour as if it +were a cloak. + +"Forgive me, Jamie," he cried, springing to his feet. "Forgive the +wounded vanity of the vanquished." + +He extended his hand impetuously, which the other grasped with eager +cordiality. + +"Jamie, my lad, you were right. The crown weighs heavy when it is +thrown into the scale, but with this lassie I well believe it would +have made not an ounce of difference. Let the best man win, say I, +and you're the victor, so you have my warmest congratulation. Still, +Jamie, you must admit that the Gaelic is the cursedest lingo ever a +poor Lowland-bred man tried to get his tongue round. So now you see, +Jamie, we are even again. You think the crown defeated you at +Stirling, and I hold the language defeated me in Skye; thus we are +both able to retain a good opinion of ourselves, which is the splendid +privilege of every Scotchman to hold. Your bravery deserves success, +for it requires some courage to face your future father-in-law. What +did the old curmudgeon say?" + +"He gave little indication of pleasure or the reverse. He offered me +my liberty, now that I had pledged it in another direction, but he +refused to release you, so I declined to accept his clemency." + +"Then my proposed rescue must await the marriage ceremony?" + +"Not so. I have a more immediate and practical remedy. You have not +forgotten the twenty-six oared barge which the MacLeod was to keep for +the king, and which Malcolm MacLeod built for him." + +"It is not very likely, when I issued a proclamation commending +Malcolm as the greatest shipbuilder in the world." + +"Well, Malcolm has arrived at Dunvegan to receive into his own hands +once more that same proclamation. I asked him, in MacLeod's presence, +if the fleet still lingered in Torridon Bay, and he answered that it +did. MacLeod pricked up his ears at this, and thinking he was to get +some information, now that I proposed myself as a member of his +family, inquired if I knew why it remained so long. I said I had a +suspicion of the cause. If Malcolm had not replied to the king's +proclamation it was natural that the fleet would wait until he did. +Old Alexander and Malcolm seemed surprised that a response was +expected, Malcolm being but a simple yeoman. However, we wrote out a +courteous reply to the king, in Gaelic, and Malcolm is to send it to +the fleet as soon as he returns to the northern coast." + +"I don't see how that is to help us," demurred his majesty. + +"Here is my proposal. If you will now write out an order to the +admiral commanding the fleet to appear before Dunvegan Castle, I will +ride part of the way home with Malcolm, and suggest to him at parting, +that perhaps none of the officers of the fleet understand Gaelic, or +at least that none can read it, so I will fasten your letter to the +other document, and tell Malcolm it is a translation of his Gaelic +effusion. Neither Malcolm nor any of his friends at the port can read +English, and as he is a simple minded man it is not likely that he +will return and allow the laird a perusal. So in that way we may get +word to the fleet. Even if the letter is discovered, you will have +kept your word, for you promised only not to communicate with +Stirling." + +The king pronounced the device a feasible one, and set himself at once +to the writing of the letter. + +MacDonald succeeded in getting the unsuspicious Malcolm to take charge +of the supposed English version of his note, and the king was left to +await the result with whatever patience was vouchsafed him. The island +had suddenly lost all interest for him and he fervently wished himself +safely in Stirling once more. He complimented the girl on the +excellent choice she had made, and she returned his compliment +laughingly in Gaelic, glancing timidly at MacDonald as she asked him +to be her interpreter. + +Two or three days later there was a commotion in the castle. The +guards on the western headlands reported the approach of numerous +ships, and by-and-by from the castle wall itself the fleet could be +seen sailing slowly up Loch Follart. For the first time since they had +known him, lines of deep anxiety marked the frowning brow of MacLeod +as he stood gazing at the approaching vessels. Here were visitors who, +if they proved not to his liking, he could scarcely threaten with the +dungeons of Dunvegan. + +"What do you make of this, MacDonald?" said the chieftain, turning to +his future son-in-law, as if already he looked to him for support and +counsel. + +But MacDonald shook his head, in spite of the fact that his wife +who-was-to-be, stood very close to him. + +"All negotiations have been carried on by my friend here, and so to +him I must refer you. He is the leader of our expedition of two." + +During his brief acquaintance MacLeod had but thinly veiled his +dislike of the Lowlander, who had always ventured to speak with him in +a free and easy manner to which he was unaccustomed. Instead then of +addressing his question to the other, he returned to his occupation of +watching the ships manoeuvring in the loch before him. But his air +of expectancy seemed to indicate that he thought the usual glibness +exhibited by the man at his right would bring forth some sort of +explanation, but the king stood as silent as himself, his eyes fixed +on the fleet. One by one the ships came to anchor and even an amateur +in the art of naval warfare could see by the protruding guns that they +were prepared for action. + +MacLeod could restrain his impatience no longer, so without glancing +at his visitor, he said,-- + +"Perhaps you, sir, can tell me the purport of all this display." + +"Assuredly," answered the king with a trace of sternness in his tone +that had hitherto been absent in his converse with his gaoler. "The +fleet comes at the command of the king to take away your prisoners, if +they are unharmed, or to batter down your castle if they have been +molested." + +"I suppose then I should be thankful they are unharmed?" + +"You have reason," said the king shortly. + +"His majesty must set great value on your heads if he sends his whole +fleet to succour you." + +"He does." + +"How did he know you were here if you did not break your parole and +communicate with Stirling?" + +"The king knows there is more going on in Skye than the making of +strong drink. I did not break my parole, neither did MacDonald." + +"In spite of what you said to me, you must have told the king before +you left Stirling where you were going." + +"I did not." + +"Then word must have been brought to him from Skye?" + +"It was not." + +"In that case the only conclusion I can come to is that the king is +unaware of your presence here." + +"He is well aware of it." + +"You speak in riddles, my friend. However, I had no real wish to +detain you, and you might have gone where you pleased any time this +fortnight or more." + +"So you say now." + +"It's true enough, and if you wish to visit the fleet one of my boats +will be ready to carry you the moment you give the order. I told you +the first day that if you were a friend of the king's, or an emissary +of his, you could go on your way unchecked. Did I not, MacDonald?" + +"You said something of that sort, sir." + +"You denied being a friend of the king's," persisted MacLeod, "and +said you were but a small farmer near Stirling." + +"I deny yet that I am a friend of the king. On the contrary, I don't +mind confessing to you that I am the greatest enemy he has in the +world, and it's well he knows it." + +"You amaze me. Then you do not wish to meet the fleet." + +"On the contrary, I do, and I ask you to order a suitable boat for +me." + +"You shall have the best boat in my possession," said MacLeod leaving +them for a moment to give his command. + +In a short time a large boat with ten oarsmen was waiting at the +landing. + +"They are ready for you," said MacLeod with an effort at geniality, +which gave a most sinister effect to his face. "I am sorry to bid you +good-bye, but I hope you bear away with you no ill will against +Dunvegan." + +"Sir," said the king ignoring his compliments, "that boat will not do +for me." + +"It is the best I have," said MacLeod looking at his truculent guest +with new anxiety. + +"The boat you must bring to the landing is the twenty-six oared barge, +which Malcolm MacLeod builded so well." + +The MacLeod stepped back two paces. + +"That boat is for the king," he said in a voice scarcely above a +whisper. + +"Yes, it is for the king, therefore the king demands it. Give the +order instantly that it be brought to the landing, well manned with +twenty-six rowers." + +All colour left MacLeod's face. His next words were to MacDonald. + +"Is this true?" he said. + +"Yes," answered MacDonald, "it is true." + +The girl, her wide eyes distended with fear, clutched the arm of her +lover. Even she knew this was a case for the headsman, but MacLeod, +with not a quiver in his voice, called down to his followers,-- + +"Bring round the king's barge, and see it is well manned. I myself +will take the rudder." + +The stern face of the king relaxed as he saw this chieftain stand +straighter than ever before since he had known him, ready to take on +his head whatever might befall. + +The girl impetuously flung herself at the king's feet, and in her +excitement forgetting the limitations of his learning, she poured +forth a plea for her father in Gaelic. The king smiled as he stooped +and raised the suppliant. + +"My dear," he said, "I shall never hear that language without thinking +of you, and of my own discomfiture. If it were not that MacDonald +stands there with that dour Highland look on his face, it is I would +kneel at your feet. Your father is to come with me to Stirling, for +I have said he should, and I must keep my word with myself as well +as I have kept it with him. Do not draw away your hand, in spite of +MacDonald's scowls, for I have this to promise you. If you and he will +accompany us to Stirling, I pledge to you the king's word that I +shall grant you whatever you ask. So you see you need have no fear for +your father's safety." Saying this, the king, with that courtly manner +which so well became him, gave the hand of the girl into that of +MacDonald. + +Thus it came about that the MacLeod took a voyage he had not intended, +and came so unscathed from it that he long outlived the man who was +the cause of his journey. + + + + +THE KING WEDS + + +Even a stranger in Stirling must have been impressed by the fact +that something unusual was afoot, not to be explained by the mere +preparation for ushering in the New Year. Inquiry soon solved the +problem of the decorations and the rejoicings. James the Fifth, the +most popular king Scotland had possessed since the days of Bruce, was +about to be married, and most of his subjects thought it high time, +for he had reached the mature age of twenty-six, and monarchs are +expected to take a mate somewhat earlier than other folk. As the king, +with a splendid retinue, was to depart shortly after the new year on a +journey to France to claim his bride, the capital city flung its +bunting to the breeze, and the inhabitants thereof pledged each other +and the king in bumpers of exhilarating beverages; indeed all Scotland +was following the example set to it by Stirling, for the marriage was +extremely well liked throughout the land. + +The king's father had linked himself to an English princess, and the +Scottish people thought little of her. The precipitate marriage of +this queen, only a few months after her husband's death, still further +lowered her in public estimation. Scotland professed slight regard for +Margaret of England, and was glad when her son refused the offer of +his uncle, Henry the Eighth, to provide him with a wife. Indeed, James +was at that moment the most sought-after young man in the world, so +far as matrimony was concerned. The Pope, who now addressed him as +Defender of the Faith, had a favourite candidate for his hand. Henry +the Eighth was anxious that he should have all England to pick and +choose from. The Emperor Charles the Fifth wished him to marry +Princess Mary of Portugal; Francis the First of France was eager to +supply him with a well-dowered bride. Never before had any youth such +an embarrassment of choice, but James himself decided that he would +go a-wooing to France, and his subjects universally applauded his +preference. James's elderly relative, John, Duke of Albany, had +married the heiress of De la Tour d'Auvergne, and the young king +resolved to follow his example. Apart from this, James, in a manner, +was pledged from the time he was three years of age, for Albany, when +Regent of Scotland, had promised France that the young ruler should +seek his consort in that country; so there had now been chosen for him +Mary, daughter of the Duc de Vendôme, who was reported beautiful, and, +what was more to the purpose in a thrifty nation, was known to be +wealthy. + +This courting by all Europe might have turned the head of a less +sensible young man than James, but he well knew the reason that so +many distinguished persons desired his alliance. Henry the Eighth was +at loggerheads with France; the Emperor Charles and Francis the First +were engaged in one of their customary aimless wars, the advantage as +usual inclining rather to the emperor's side. Scotland was at peace +with itself and with all the world. The Scots were excellent fighters +in whatever part of the world they encountered an enemy, and the +strong fleet which James the Fourth had builded was augmented by his +son and might prove a powerful factor in European politics. France and +Scotland had long been traditional friends, and so this new mating +aroused enthusiasm in both countries. + +Thus Stirling put on gay attire and her citizens went about with +smiles on their faces, all except one, and that one was James himself, +who became more and more gloomy as the time for his departure +approached. He had no desire to take upon himself the trammels of the +matrimonial estate, and although his uncle, the strenuous Henry, was +ultimately to set an example before the world of the ease with which +the restrictions of marriage were to be shuffled off, yet at this time +Henry himself was merely an amateur at the business, engaged in +getting rid of Catherine of Arragon, a task which he had not yet +succeeded in accomplishing. James had postponed and re-postponed the +fateful journey; but at last he saw it must be taken, or a friendly +country, one of the proudest on earth, would be deliberately insulted +in the face of the world. Not only this, but his own subjects were +getting restive, and he knew as well as they that a disputed +succession in the event of his early death might lead to civil war. +So, making the best of the hard bargain which is imposed on princes, +where what should be the most endearing ties of human affection are +concerned, James set his face resolutely towards the south, and +attended by a brilliant escort, sailed for France. After a stormy +voyage, for the month was January, the royal party landed in France, +and was met by a company of nobles, only less splendid than itself in +that a king was one of the visitors; for Francis had remained at +Loches, to welcome his brother sovereign at that great and sinister +stronghold, where the Court of France for the moment held its seat. +Both time and weather seemed unpropitious for joyous occasion. News +arrived at Loches that the French army had suffered defeat in its +invasion of the Duke of Savoy's territory, and these tidings exercised +a depressing influence on the welcoming delegation. + +As the united escorts of France and Scotland set out on their journey +to Loches a flurry of damp snow filled the air, raw from off the +Channel, and the road proved wellnigh impassable through depth of mud. +The discontented countenance of the king, who was wont to be the life +of any party of which he was a member, lowered the spirits of his +Scottish followers to the level of those saddened by military defeat +and the horsemen made their way through the quagmires of Northern +France more like a slow funeral procession than wedding guests. + +At the castle where they halted at the end of the first day's +journey, the King speedily retired to the apartment assigned to him +without a word of cheer even to the most intimate of his comrades. + +The travellers had accomplished only about twelve leagues from the +sea-coast on their first day's journey, and darkness had set in before +the horsemen clattered through the narrow streets of a little town and +came to the frowning gates of a great castle, whose huge tower in the +glare of numerous torches loomed out white against the wintry sky. The +chief room of the suite reserved for the king was the only cheerful +object his majesty had seen that day. A roaring bonfire of bulky logs +shed a flickering radiance on the tapestry that hung along the wall, +almost giving animation to the knights pictured thereon, sternly +battling against foes in anger, or merrily joisting with friends for +pleasure at some forgotten tournament. + +The king, probably actuated by the military instincts of his race +urging him to get his bearings, even though he was in the care of a +friendly country, strode to one of the windows and looked out. Dark +as was the night and cloudy the sky, the landscape was nevertheless +etched into tolerable distinctness by the snow that had fallen, and +he saw far beneath him the depths of a profound valley, and what +appeared to be a town much lower than the one through which he had +just ridden. The stronghold appeared to stand on a platform of rock +which was at least impregnable from this side. James turned from +the wintry scene outside to the more alluring prospect within the +apartment. A stout oaken table in the centre of the room was weighted +with a sumptuous repast; and the king, with the stalwart appetite +of youth and health augmented by a tiresome journey in keen air, +forthwith fell to, and did ample justice to the providing of his +unknown host. The choicest vintages of France did something to dispel +that depression which had settled down upon him, and the outside glow +of the great fire supplemented the inward ardour of good wine. + +The king drew up his cushioned chair to the blaze, and while his +attendants speedily cleared the board, a delicious drowsiness stole +over him. He was partially aroused from this by the entrance of his +poetical friend and confidant, Sir David Lyndsay. + +"Your majesty," said the rhymster, "the constable of these towers +craves permission to pay his respects to you, extending a welcome on +behalf of his master, the King of France." + +"Bring him in, Davie," cried James; "for in truth he has already +extended the most cordial of welcomes, and I desire to thank him for +my reception." + +Shortly after Sir David Lyndsay ushered into the room a young man of +about the same age as the king, dressed in that superb and picturesque +costume which denoted a high noble of France, and which added the +lustre of fine raiment to the distinguished court of Francis the +First. The king greeted his visitor with that affability, which +invariably drew even the most surly toward him, without relaxing the +dignity which is supposed to be the heritage of a monarch. + +"I am delighted to think," said the newcomer, "that the King of +Scotland has honoured my house by making it his first halting-place in +that realm which has ever been the friend of his country." + +"Sir," replied James, "the obligation rests entirely upon me. After a +stormy voyage and an inclement land journey, the hospitality of your +board is one of the most grateful encounters I have ever met with. I +plead an ignorance of geography which is deplorable; and cannot in the +least guess where I am, beyond the fact that the boundaries of France +encompass me." + +"I shall not pretend," said the young man, "that my house is unworthy +even of the distinguished guest which it now holds. Your majesty +stands within historic walls, for in an adjoining apartment was born +William, the founder of a great race of English kings. Scotchmen have +defended this castle, and Scotchmen have assaulted it, so its very +stones are linked with the fortunes of your country. Brave Henry the +Fifth of England captured it, and France took it from his successor. +My own family, like the Scotch, have both stood its guard and have +been the foremost through a breach to sack it. I am but now employed +in repairing the ravages of recent turmoil." + +Here the King interrupted him, as if to mend the reputation of +ignorance he had bestowed upon himself. + +"I take it, then, that I speak to one of the renowned name of Talbot, +and that this fortress is no other than the Castle of Falaise?" and +the king impetuously extended his hand to him. "We both come of a +stormy line, Talbot. Indeed we are even more intimately associated +than you have hinted, for one of your name had the temerity to invade +Scotland itself in the interests of Edward Baliol--yes, by the Rood, +and successfully too." + +"Ah, your majesty, it does not become the pride of our house to refer +to Richard Talbot, for three years later the Scots took him prisoner, +and he retired defeated from your country." + +"Indeed," replied the king gaily, "if my memory serves me truly, we +valued your valiant ancestor so highly that we made the King of +England pay two thousand marks for him. We Scots are a frugal people; +we weigh many of the blessings of life against good hard coin, and by +Saint Andrew of Scotland, Talbot, I hold myself to-day no better than +the rest, for, speaking as young man to young man, I think it unworthy +of either king or peasant to take a woman to his bosom for aught save +love of her." + +"In that I cordially agree with your majesty," said Talbot, with a +fervour that made the king glance at him with even more of sympathy +than he had already exhibited. A wave of emotion seemed to overwhelm +the sensitive James, and submerge for the moment all discretion; he +appeared to forget that he spoke to a stranger and one foreign to him, +yet James rarely mistook his man, and in this case his intuition was +not at fault. To lay bare the secrets of his heart to one unknown to +him shortly before, was an experiment of risk; but, as he had said, he +spoke as young man to young man, and healthy youth is rarely cynical, +no matter to what country it belongs. The heart knows nothing of +nationality, and a true man is a true man wherever he hails from. + +James sprang to his feet and paced the long room in an excess of +excitement, a cloud on his brow; hands clenching and unclenching as he +walked. Equally with the lowest in his realm he felt the need of a +compassionate confidant. At last the words poured forth from him in an +ecstasy of confession. + +"Talbot," he cried, "I am on a journey that shames my very manhood. I +have lived my life as others of my age, and whatever of contrition I +may feel, that rests between my Maker and myself. I am as He formed +me, and if I was made imperfect I may be to blame that I strove so +little to overcome my deficiency, but, by God, I say it here, I never +bought another nor sold myself. Now, on the contrary, I go to the loud +marketplace; now I approach a woman I have never seen, and who has +never seen me, to pledge our lives together, the consideration for +this union set down on parchment, and a stipulated sum paid over in +lands and gold." + +The king stopped suddenly in his perambulation, raised his hands and +said impressively,-- + +"I tell you, friend and host, I am no better than my fellows and +worse than many of them, but when the priest mutters the words that +bind, I say the man should have no thought in his mind, but of the +woman who stands beside him; and she no thought in hers but of the man +in whose hand she places her own." + +"Then why go on with this quest?" cried young Talbot with an +impetuosity equal to that of his guest. + +"Why go on; how can I stop? The fate of kingdoms depends on my action. +My honour is at stake. My pledged word is given. How can I withdraw?" + +"Your majesty need not withdraw. My master, Francis, is the very +prince of lovers, and every word you have uttered will awake an echo +in his own heart, although he is our senior by twenty years. If I may +venture to offer humbly such advice as occurs to me, you should tell +him that you have come to France not to be chosen for, but to choose. +France is the flower garden of the human race; here bloom the fairest +lilies of womanhood, fit to grace the proudest throne in Christendom. +Choice is the prerogative of kings." + +"Indeed, Talbot, it is not," said the king dolefully. + +"It should be so, and can be so, where a monarch boldly demands the +right exercised unquestioned by the meanest hind. Whom shall you +offend by stoutly claiming your right? Not France, for you will wed +one of her daughters; not the king, for he is anxious to bestow upon +you the lady you may prefer. Whom then? Merely the Duke of Vendôme, +whose vaulting ambition it is to place a crown upon the head of his +daughter, though its weight may crush her." + +The king looked fixedly at the perturbed young man, and a faint smile +chased away the sternness of his countenance. + +"I have never known an instance," he said slowly, "where the burden of +a crown was urged as an objection even by the most romantic of women." + +"It would be so urged by Mary of Vendôme, were she allowed to give +utterance to her wishes." + +"You know her then?" + +"I am proud to claim her as a friend, and to assert she is the very +pearl of France." + +"Ha, you interest me. You hint, then, that I come a bootless wooer? +That is turning the tables indeed, and now you rouse an emulation +which heretofore was absent in me. You think I cannot win and wear +this jewel of the realm?" + +"That you may wear it there is no doubt; that you may win it is +another matter. Mary will place her listless hand in yours, knowing +thus she pleases the king and her father, but it is rumoured her +affections are fixed upon another." + +"Sir, you stir me up to competition. Now we enter the lists. You bring +the keen incentive of rivalry into play." + +"Such, your majesty, was far from my intention. I spoke as a friend of +the lady. She has no more choice in this bargain than you deplored the +lack of a moment since." + +The former gloom again overspread the king's face. + +"There is the devil of it," he cried impatiently. "If I could meet her +on even terms, plain man and woman, then if I loved her I would win +her, were all the nobles of France in the scales against me. But I +come to her chained; a jingling captive, and she approaches me alike +in thrall. It is a cursed fate, and I chafe at the clanking links, +though they hold me nevertheless. And all my life I can never be sure +of her; the chiming metal ever between us. I come in pomp and display, +as public as the street I walk on, and the union is as brazen as a +slave market, despite cathedral bells and archbishop's blessing. Ah, +well, there is nothing gained by ranting. Do you ride to Loches with +me?" + +"I follow your majesty a day behind, but hope to overtake you before +you are well past Tours." + +"I am glad of it. Good-night. I see you stand my friend, and before +this comes to a climax we may have need to consult together. +Good-night; good-night!" + +Next morning early the itinerants were on horseback again, facing +southward. The day was wild and stormy, and so was the next that +followed it; but after leaving Tours they seemed to have entered an +enchanted land, for the clouds were dispersed and the warm sun came +forth, endowing the travellers with a genial climate like late +springtime in Scotland. As they approached Loches even the king was +amazed by the striking sight of the castle, a place formidable in +its strength, and in extent resembling a small city. + +The gay and gallant Francis received his fellow monarch with a +cordiality that left no doubt of its genuine character. The French +king had the geniality to meet James in the courtyard itself; he +embraced him at the very gates as soon as James had dismounted from +his horse. Notwithstanding his twenty years of seniority Francis +seemed as young as the Scottish king. + +"By Saint Denis, James," he cried, "you are a visitor of good omen, +for you have brought fine weather with you and the breath of spring. +All this winter we have endured the climate of Hades itself, without +its warmth." + +The two rulers stood together in the courtyard, entirely alone, for no +man dare frequent their immediate neighbourhood; but in a circle some +distance removed from their centre, the Scotch and the French +fraternised together, a preeminent assemblage numbering a thousand or +more; and from the balconies beautiful ladies looked down on the +inspiring scene. + +The gates were still open and the drawbridge down, when a horseman +came clattering over the causeway, and, heedless of the distinguished +audience, which he scattered to right and left, amid curses on his +clumsiness, drew up his foaming horse in the very presence of royalty +itself. + +Francis cried out angrily at this interruption. + +"Unmannerly varlet, how dare you come dashing through this throng like +a drunken ploughman!" + +The rider flung himself off the panting horse and knelt before his +enraged master. + +"Sire," he said, "my news may perhaps plead for me. The army of the +Emperor Charles, in Provence, is broken and in flight. Spain has met +a crushing defeat, and no foe insults the soil of France except by +lying dead upon it." + +"Now, my good fellow," cried the king with dancing eyes, "you are +forgiven if you had ridden down half of my nobility." + +The joyous news spread like wildfire, and cheer upon cheer rose to +heaven like vocal flame to mark its advance. + +"Brother," cried the great king to his newly arrived guest, placing +an arm lovingly over his shoulder, his voice with suspicion of +tremulousness about it, "you stalwart Scots have always brought luck +to our fair land of France. This glad news is the more welcome to me +that you are here when I receive it." + +And so the two, like affectionate kinsmen, walked together into the +castle which, although James did not then know it, was to be his home +for many months. + +There was a dinner of state that evening, so gay and on a scale so +grand that James had little time or opportunity for reflection on his +mission. Here indeed, as Talbot had truly said, was the flower garden +of the human race; and the Scottish king saw many a proud lady to whom +probably he would have been delighted to bend the knee. But his bride +was not among the number. The Duchesse de Vendôme explained to the +king that her daughter was suffering from a slight illness, and apart +from this was anxious to greet her future husband in a conference more +private than the present occasion afforded. This was certainly +reasonable enough, and the important meeting took place the following +afternoon. + +Mary of Vendôme might truly be called the Pearl of France, if +whiteness of visage gave claim to that title. The king found himself +confronted by a drooping young woman whose stern mother gave her a +support which was certainly needed. Her face was of the pallor of wax; +and never once during that fateful interview did she raise the heavy +lids from her eyes. That she had once been beautiful was undoubted, +but now her face was almost gaunt in its excessive thinness. The +death-like hue of her delicate skin, the fact that she seemed scarce +to breathe, and that she never ventured to speak, gave her suitor the +impression that she more resembled one preparing for the tomb than a +young girl anticipating her bridal. She courtesied like one in a +trance; but the keen eyes of the king saw the tightening of her +mother's firm hand on her wrist while she made the obeisance which +etiquette demanded. Short as was their formal greeting, it was too +long for this anæmic creature, who would have sunk to the floor were +it not for the clutch in which the determined mother held her. Even +the king, self-contained as he usually was, found little to say beyond +empty expressions of concern regarding her recent illness, ending with +a brief remark to the effect that he hoped she would soon recover from +her indisposition. But once the ordeal was over, James was filled with +a frenzy to be alone, tortured as he was by an agony of mind which +made any encounter with his fellows intolerable. He strode through the +seemingly interminable corridors of the great castle, paying slight +heed to his direction. All doors opened before him, and sentinels +saluted as he passed. At last, not knowing where he was, or how to get +outside, he said to one of the human statues who held a pike,-- + +"Tell me, good fellow, the quickest way to the outer air; some spot +where I can be entirely alone?" + +The guard, saluting, called a page, whispered a word to him, and the +boy led the king to a door which gave access to a secluded garden, +enclosed on every side by high battlements, yet nevertheless filled +with great trees, under which ran paths both straight and winding. +Beside one wall lay the longest walk of this little park, and up and +down this gravelled way, his hands clasped behind him, the young king +strode in more disturbance of mind than had ever before afflicted him. + +"Oh, God save me; God save me!" he cried; "am I to be wedded to a +ghost? That woman is not even alive, to say whether she is willing or +no. Have I come to France to act the ghoul and rob the grave of its +due? Saints in heaven, help me! What am I to do? I cannot insult +France, yet I cannot chain my living body to that dead woman. Why is +not Talbot here? He said he would overtake me at Tours, and yet is he +not come. The Pearl of France, said he, the jewel of a toad's head, +say I. My honour staked, and to that unbreathing image of tallow! Is +this my punishment? Do the sins of our youth thus overtake us, and in +such ghastly form? Bones of my ancestors, I will not wed the grave, +though war and slaughter come of it. And yet--and yet, my faith is +plighted; blindly, unknowingly plighted. Why does not Talbot come? He +knew what my emotions would be on seeing that denizen of another +world, and so warned me." + +These muttered meditations were suddenly interrupted by a clear sweet +voice from above. + +"Écossais! Scottish knight! Please rescue for me my handkerchief, +which I have, alas, let fall. Wrap a stone in it and throw it hither, +I beg of you." + +The startled king looked up and beheld, peering over at him from the +battlements above, one of the most piquant and pretty, laughing faces +he had ever seen. Innocent mischief sparkled in the luscious dark +eyes, which regarded him from a seemingly inaccessible perch. A wealth +of dark tousled hair made a midnight frame for a lovely countenance in +the first flush of maidenly youth. Nothing could be more marked than +the difference between the reality which thus came unexpectedly into +view, and his sombre vision of another. There also sifted down to him +from aloft, whisperings that were evidently protests, from persons +unseen; but the minx who was the cause of them merrily bade her +counsellors be quiet. She must get her handkerchief, she said, and the +Scot was the only one to recover it. Fluttering white from one of the +lower branches was a dainty bit of filmy lace, much too fragile a +covering for the stone she had suggested. The despair which enveloped +the king was dispelled as the mist vanishes before the beaming sun. +He whipped out his thin rapier and deftly disentangled the light +burden from the detaining branch. It fluttered to his hand and was +raised gallantly to his lips, at which the girl laughed most joyfully, +as if this action were intensely humorous. Other faces peeped +momentarily over the balustrade to be as quickly withdrawn when they +saw the stranger looking up at them; but the hussy herself, whoever +she was, seemed troubled by no such timorousness, resting her arms +upon the stone balustrade, with her chin above them, her inviting eyes +gazing mockingly on the man below. The king placed the handkerchief in +the bosom of his doublet, thrust home the rapier in its scabbard, +grasped the lower branch of the tree and swung himself up on it with +the agility of an acrobat. Now the insolence of those eyes was chased +away by a look of alarm. + +"No, no," she cried, "stay where you are. You are too bold, Scottish +knight." + +But she had to reckon with one who was a nimble wall climber, either +up or down, whose expertness in descent had often saved him from the +consequences of too ambitious climbing. The young man answered not a +word, but made his way speedily up along the branches until he stood +at a level with the parapet. Across the chasm which divided him +from the wall he saw a broad platform, railed round with a stone +balustrade, this elevated floor forming an ample promenade that was +nevertheless secluded because of the higher castle walls on every +side, walls that were unpierced by any window. A door at the farther +end of the platform gave access to the interior of the palace. A short +distance back from the balustrade stood a group of some half-dozen +very frightened women. But the first cause of all this commotion +remained in the forefront of the assemblage, angry and defiant. + +"How dare you, sir?" she cried. "Go back, I command you." Then seeing +he made no motion to obey her, but was measuring with his keen eye the +distance between the bending limb on which he held his precarious +position, and the parapet, something more of supplication came into +her voice, and she continued,-- + +"My good fellow, place the handkerchief on the point of your sword and +one of my women will reach for it. Be careful, I beg of you; that +bough will break under your weight if you venture further. The +outreached arm and the sword will span the space." + +"Madam," said the king, "the sword's point is for my enemy. On bended +knee must I present a lady that which belongs to her." + +And with this, before further expostulation was possible, the young +man made his perilous leap, clutched the parapet with his left arm, +hung suspended for one breathless moment, then flung his right leg, a +most shapely member, over the balustrade, and next instant was +kneeling at her feet, offering the gosamer token. In the instant of +crisis the young lady had given utterance to a little shriek which she +instantly suppressed, glancing nervously over her shoulder. One of her +women ran towards the door, but the girl peremptorily ordered her to +return. + +"The Scot will not eat you," she cried impatiently, "even if he _is_ +a savage." + +"Madam, your handkerchief," explained the savage, still offering it. + +"I shall not accept it," she exclaimed, her eyes blazing with +resentment at his presumption. + +The king sprang to his feet and swept off his plumed hat with the air +of an Italian. + +"Ten thousand thanks, madam, for your cherished gift." Saying which he +thrust the slight web back into his doublet again. + +"'Tis not a gift; render it to me at once, sir," she demanded with +feminine inconsistency. She extended her hand, but the king, instead +of returning the article in dispute, grasped her fingers unawares and +raised them to his lips. She drew away her hand with an expression of +the utmost contempt, but nevertheless stood her ground, in spite of +the evident anxiety to be elsewhere of the bevy behind her. + +"Sir, you are unmannerly. No one has ever ventured to treat me thus." + +"Then I am delighted to be the first to introduce to you so amiable a +custom. Unmannerly? Not so. We savages learn our manners from the +charming land of France; and I have been told that in one or two +instances, this country has known not only the fingers, but the lips +to be kissed." + +"I implore you, sir, to desist and take your departure the way you +came; further, I warn you that danger threatens." + +"I need no such warning, my lady. The danger has already encompassed +me, and my heart shall never free itself from its presence, while +remembrance of the lightning of those eyes abides with me." + +The girl laughed with a trace of nervousness, and the rich colour +mounted to her cheek. + +"Sir, you are learning your lesson well in France." + +"My lady, the lowest hind in my country could not do otherwise under +such tutelage." + +"You should turn your gifts to the service of your master. Go, woo for +him poor Mary of Vendôme, and see if you can cure her who is dying of +love for young Talbot of Falaise." + +For a moment the king stood as if struck by the lightning he had just +referred to, then staggering back a step, rested his hand on the +parapet and steadied himself. + +"Good God!" he muttered in low tones, "is that true?" + +All coquetry disappeared from the girl as she saw the dramatic effect +her words had produced. She moved lightly forward, then held back +again, anxiety on her brow. + +"Sir, what is wrong with you? Are you ill? Are you a friend of +Talbot's?" + +"Yes, I am a friend of his." + +"And did you not know this? I thought every one knew it. Does not the +King of Scotland know? What will he do when he learns, think you, or +will it make a difference?" + +"The King of Scotland is a blind fool; a conceited coxcomb, who +thinks every woman that sees him must fall in love with him." + +"Sir, you amaze me. Are you not a subject of his? You would not speak +so in his hearing." + +"Indeed and that I would, without hesitation, and he knows it." + +"Is he so handsome as they say? Alas, I am thought too young to engage +in court festivities, and in spite of my pleadings I was not allowed +even to see his arrival." + +The king had now recovered his composure, and there was a return of +his gallant bearing. + +"Madam, tell me your name, and I shall intercede that so rigid a rule +for one so fair may be relaxed." + +"Ah, now your impudence reasserts itself. My name is not for you. How +can a humble Scottish knight hope to soften a rule promulgated by the +King of France himself?" + +"Madam, you forget that we are guests of France, and in this courteous +country nothing is denied us. We meet with no refusals except from +proud ladies like yourself. I shall ask my captain, he shall pass my +request to the general, who will speak to the King of Scotland, and +the king, when he knows how beautiful you are, will beg the favour +from Francis himself." + +The girl clasped her hands with exuberant delight. + +"I wonder if it is possible," she said, leaning towards the gay +cavalier, as if he were now her dearest friend--for indeed it was +quite evident that she thought much of him in spite of his irregular +approach. She was too young to feel the rules of etiquette otherwise +than annoying bonds, and like an imprisoned wild bird, was willing to +take any course that promised liberty. + +"Your name, then, madam?" + +"My name is Madeleine." + +"I need not ask if you are noble." + +"I am at least as noble as Mary of Vendôme, whom your king is to +marry, if he is cruel enough." + +At this point one of the women, who had stationed herself near the +door, came running towards the group and warned them that somebody +was approaching. The attendants, who had hitherto remained passive, +probably with some womanly curiosity regarding the strange interview, +now became wild with excitement, and joined their mistress in begging +the stranger to depart. + +"Not until I have whispered in your ear," he said stoutly. + +"I cannot permit it; I cannot permit it. Go, go at once, I implore +you." + +"Then I escort you within the hall to meet whoever comes." + +"Sir, you are importunate. Well, it doesn't matter; whisper." + +He bent toward her and said:-- + +"Madeleine, you must meet me here alone at this time to-morrow." + +"Never, never," she cried resolutely. + +"Very well then; here I stay until you consent." + +"You are cruel," she said, tears springing in her eyes. Then +appealingly, as a knock sounded against the door, she added, "I +promise. Go at once." + +The young man precipitated himself over the parapet into the tree. The +fortune which attends lovers and drunkards favoured him, and the last +bending branch lowered him as gently to the gravel of the walk as if +he were a son of the forest. He glanced upward, and saw that the +luminous face, in its diaphanous environment of dark hair was again +bent over the parapet, the lips apart and still, saying nothing, but +the eloquent eyes questioning; indeed he fancied he saw in them some +slight solicitude for his safety. He doffed his hat, kissed the tips +of his fingers and wafted the salutation toward her, while a glow of +satisfaction filled his breast as he actually saw a similar movement +on the part of her own fair fingers, which was quickly translated +into a gesture pointing to the garden door, and then she placed a +finger-tip to her lips, a silent injunction for silence. He knew when +to obey, as well as when to disobey, and vanished quickly through the +door. He retreated in no such despairing phase of mind as he had +advanced, but now paid some attention to the geography of the place +that he might return unquestioning to his tryst. Arriving at the more +public corridors of the palace, his first encounter was with the +Constable of Falaise. Talbot's dress was travel-stained, and his +youthful face wore almost the haggardness of age. He looked like a man +who had ridden hard and slept little, finding now small comfort at the +end of a toilsome journey. The king, with a cry of pleasure at the +meeting, smote his two hands down on the shoulders of the other, who +seemed unconsciously to shrink from the boisterous touch. + +"Talbot," he cried, "you promised to overtake me at Tours, but you did +not." + +"It is not given to every man to overtake your majesty," said Talbot +hoarsely. + +"Constable of Falaise, you were not honest with me that night in your +castle. I spoke to you freely from the bottom of my heart; you +answered me from your lips outward." + +"I do not understand your majesty," replied the young man grimly. + +"Yes, you do. You love Mary of Vendôme. Why did you not tell me so?" + +"To what purpose should I have made such a confession, even if it were +the fact?" + +"To the purpose of truth, if for nothing else. God's sake, man, is it +thus you love in France! Cold Scotland can be in that your tutor. In +your place, there had been a quick divorce between my sword and +scabbard. Were my rival twenty times a king, I'd face him out and +say, by Cupid's bow, return or fight." + +"What! This in your castle to your guest?" exclaimed Talbot. + +"No, perhaps not. You are in the right, constable, you are in the +right. I had forgotten your situation for the moment. I should have +been polite to him within my own walls, but I should have followed +him across my marches and slit his gullet on the king's highway." + +Notwithstanding his distraction of mind the newcomer smiled somewhat +wanly at the impetuosity of the other. + +"You must remember that while your foot presses French soil, you are +still the guest of all true Frenchmen, nevertheless your majesty's +words have put new life into my veins. Did you see Mary of Vendôme?" + +"Yes, and there is not three months' life left to her unless she draws +vitality from your presence. Man, man, why stand you here idling? +Climb walls, force bolts, kidnap the girl and marry her in spite of +all the world." + +"Alas, there is not a priest in all France would dare to marry us, +knowing her pledged to your majesty." + +"Priests of France! I have priests in my own train who will, at a word +from me, link you tighter than these stones are cemented together. +God's will, Talbot, these obstacles but lend interest to the chase." + +"Is it possible that you, having opportunity, care not to marry Mary +of Vendôme?" cried the amazed young man, who could not comprehend +that where his preference fell another might be indifferent; for she +was, as he had said, the Pearl of France to him, and it seemed absurd +to imagine that she might not be so to all the world. + +"United Europe, with Francis and the Emperor Charles for once combined +could not force me to marry where I did not love. I failed to +understand this when I left Scotland, but I have grown in wisdom since +then." + +"Who is she?" asked the constable, with eager interest. + +"Hark ye, Talbot," said the king, lowering his voice and placing an +arm affectionately over the shoulder of the other. "You shall be my +guide. Who is the Lady Madeleine of this court?" + +"The Lady Madeleine? There are several." + +"No, there is but one, the youngest, the most beautiful, the most +witty, the most charming. Who is she?" + +The constable wrinkled his brows in thought. + +"That must be Madeleine de Montmorency. She is the youngest of her +name, and is by many accounted beautiful. I never heard that she was +esteemed witty until your majesty said so. Rather reserved and proud. +Is that the lady?" + +"Proud, yes. Reserved--um, yes, that is, perhaps not when she meets a +man who knows enough to appreciate her. However, I shall speedily +solve the riddle, and must remember that you do not see the lady +through a lover's eyes. But I will not further keep you. A change of +costume may prove to your advantage, and I doubt not an untroubled +night's sleep will further it." + +"Your majesty overwhelms me with kindness," murmured the young lover, +warmly grasping the hand extended to him. "Have I your permission to +tell Mary of Vendôme?" + +"You have my permission to tell her anything, but you will bring her +no news, for I am now on my way to see her." + +The king gaily marched on, his head held high, a man not to be denied, +and as he passed along all bowed at his coming, for everyone in the +court admired him. There was something unexpectedly French in the dash +of this young Scotchman. He strode across the court and up the steps +which led into the Palais Vendôme. The duchess herself met him with a +hard smile on her thin lips. + +"Madam," he said bruskly, "I would see your daughter alone." + +The grim duchesse hesitated. + +"Mary is so shy," she said at last. + +But the king interrupted her. + +"I have a cure for that. Shyness flees in my presence. I would see +your daughter alone, madam; send her to me." + +There being no remedy when a king commands, the lady made the best of +a dubious proceeding. + +James was pacing up and down the splendid drawing-room when, from the +further door the drooping girl appeared, still with downcast eyes, +nun-like in her meek obedience. She came forward perhaps a third the +length of the room, faltered, and stood. + +"Mary," said the king, "they told me you were beautiful, but I come +to announce to you that such is not my opinion. You are ambitious, +it would seem, so I tell you frankly, you will never be Queen of +Scotland." + +For the first time in his presence the girl uncovered her eyes and +looked up at him. + +"Yes," said the king, "your eyes are fine. I am constrained to concede +that much, and if I do not wed you myself it is but right I should +nominate a candidate for your hand. There is a friend of mine for whom +I shall use my influence with Francis and your father that they may +persuade you to marry him. He is young Talbot, Constable of Falaise, a +demented stripling who calls you the Pearl of France. Ah, now the +colour comes to your cheeks. I would not have believed it. All this +demureness then----" But the girl had sunk at his feet, grasped his +hand and pressed it to her lips. + +"Tut, tut," he cried hastily, "that is a reversal of the order of +nature. Rise, and when I send young Talbot to you, see that you +welcome him; and now, good-day to you." + +As he passed through the outer room the duchesse lay in wait for him +and began murmuring apologies for her daughter's diffidence. + +"We have arranged all about the wedding, madam," said the king +reassuringly as he left the palace. + +The next day at the hour when the king had met Madeleine for the first +time, he threaded his way eagerly through the mazes of the old castle +until he came to the door that led him out into the Elysian garden. +The weather still befriended him, being of an almost summer mildness. + +For several minutes he paced impatiently up and down the gravel walk, +but no laughing face greeted him from the battlements above. At last, +swearing a good round Scottish oath he said, "I'll solve the mystery +of the balcony," and seizing the lower branch of the tree, he was +about to climb as he had done before, when a tantalizing silvery laugh +brought his arms down to his sides again. It seemed to come from an +arbour at the further end of the grounds, but when he reached there +the place proved empty. He pretended to search among the bushes, but +nevertheless kept an eye on the arbour, when his sharp ear caught a +rustling of silk from behind the summer-house. He made a dash towards +it, then reversed his direction, speeding like the wind, and next +instant this illusive specimen of Gallic womanhood ran plump into his +arms, not seeing where she was going, her head averted to watch the +danger that threatened from another quarter. + +Before she could give utterance to more than one exclamatory "Oh," he +had kissed her thrice full on the lips. She struggled in his arms like +a frightened bird, nobly indignant with shame-crimsoned cheeks, +smiting him with her powerless little snowflake of a hand. Her royal +lover laughed. + +"Ha, my Madeleine, this is the second stage of the game. The hand was +paradise on earth; the lips are the seventh heaven itself." + +"Release me, you Scottish clown!" cried Madeleine, her black eyes +snapping fire. "I will have you whipped from the court for your +insolence." + +"My dear, you could not be so cruel. Remember that poor Cupid's back +is naked, and he would quiver under every stroke." + +"I'd never have condescended to meet you, did I dream of your acting +so. 'Tis intolerable, the forwardness of you beggarly Scots!" + +"Nay, never beggarly, my dear, except where a woman is concerned, and +then we beg for favours." + +"You little suspect who I am or you would not venture to misuse me +thus, and be so free with your 'my dears.'" + +"Indeed, lass, in that you are mistaken. I not only found you in the +garden, but I found your name as well. You are Madeleine de +Montmorency." + +She ceased to struggle, and actually laughed a little. + +"How clever you are to have discovered so much in such a short time. +Now let me go, and I will thank you; nay more, I promise that if you +ask the Duke of Montmorency for his permission, and he grants it, I +will see you as often as you please." + +"Now Madeleine, I hold you to that, and I will seek an introduction to +the duke at once." + +She stepped back from him panting, and sank into a deep courtesy that +seemed to be characterised more by ridicule than politeness. + +"Oh, thank you, sir," she said. "I should dearly love to be an +eavesdropper at your conference." + +Before he could reply, the door opened by which he had entered the +park. + +"In the fiend's name, the king!" muttered James, in no manner pleased +by the unwelcome interruption. + +All colour left the girl's face, and she hastily endeavoured to +arrange in brief measure the disordered masses of her hair, somewhat +tangled in the struggle. As Francis advanced up the walk, the genial +smile froze on his lips, and an expression of deep displeasure +overshadowed his countenance, a look of stern resentment coming into +his eyes that would have made any man in his realm quail before him. +The girl was the first to break the embarrassing silence, saying +breathlessly,-- + +"Your majesty must not blame this Scottish knight. It is all my fault, +for I lured him hither." + +"Peace, child," exclaimed Francis in a voice of cold anger. "You know +not what you say. What do you here alone with the King of Scotland?" + +"The King of Scotland!" echoed Madeleine, in surprise, her eyes +opening wide with renewed interest as she gazed upon him. Then she +laughed. "They told me the King of Scotland was a handsome man!" + +James smiled at this imputation on his appearance, and even the rigour +of the lord of France relaxed a trifle, and a gleam of affection for +the wayward girl that was not to be concealed, rose in his eyes. + +"Sire," said James slowly, "we are neither of us to blame. 'Tis the +accident that brought us together must bear the brunt of consequence. +I cannot marry Mary of Vendôme, and indeed I was about to beg your +majesty to issue your command that she may wed your Constable of +Falaise. If there is to be a union between France and Scotland other +than now exists, this lady, and this lady alone, must say yes or no to +it. Premising her free consent, I ask her hand in marriage." + +"She is but a child," objected Francis, breathing a sigh, which had, +however, something of relief in it. + +"I am fully seventeen," expostulated Madeleine, with a promptness that +made both men laugh. + +"Sire, Youth is a fault, which alas, travels continually with Time, +its antidote," said James. "If I have your good wishes in this +project, on which, I confess, my heart is set, I shall at once +approach the Duke of Montmorency and solicit his consent." + +The face of Francis had cleared as if a ray of sunshine had fallen +upon it. + +"The Duke of Montmorency!" he cried in astonishment; "what has he to +do with the marriage of my daughter?" + +James murmured something that may have been a prayer, but sounded +otherwise, as he turned to the girl, whose delight at thus mystifying +the great of earth was only too evident. + +"I told him he little suspected who I was," said Madeleine, with what +might have been termed a giggle in one less highly placed; "but these +confident Scots think they know everything. Indeed, it is all your own +fault, father, in keeping me practically a prisoner, when the whole +castle is throbbing with joy and festivity." Then the irrepressible +princess buried her flushed face in her hands, and laughed and +laughed, as if this were the most irresistible comedy in the world, +instead of a grave affair of state, until at last the two monarchs +were forced to laugh in sympathy. + +"I could not wish her a braver husband," said Francis at last. "I see +she has bewitched you as is her habit with all of us." + +And thus it came about that James the Fifth of Scotland married the +fair Madeleine of France. + +THE END + + + + +By A. Conan Doyle + +THE HOUND OF THE BASKERVILLES + +A Sherlock Holmes Novel + +Illustrated by Sidney Paget + +_The London Chronicle_, in a review headed + +"THE ZENITH OF SHERLOCK HOLMES," + +says: + +"We should like to pay Dr. Doyle the highest compliment at our +command. It is not simply that this book is superior in originality +and construction to the earlier adventures of the great detective. Dr. +Doyle has provided a criminal who, as Mr. Holmes admits, is indeed a +foeman worthy of his steel.[A] Hitherto he has found it comparatively +easy to unmask his antagonists. But in the present case he finds +himself checkmated again and again. There is pitted against him a +skill nearly equal to his own, and he wins the game almost by a hair." + +[Footnote A: "I tell you, Watson, this time we have a foeman who is +worthy of our steel."--_Sherlock Holmes._] + +$1.25 + +McClure, Phillips & Co. + + + + +By George Douglas + +THE HOUSE WITH THE GREEN SHUTTERS + +The first novel of a new master. The work has gained wide-spread +recognition on both sides of the water. Three of the most conservative +and authoritative publications in England include it among the first +twelve of the year. In this country _Harper's Weekly_ gives it as one +of the two most interesting novels of the year. + +_The critics differ as to with what other master George Douglas should +be compared:_ + +_The London Times_ says: "Worthy of the hand that drew 'Weir of +Hermiston,'" and that "Balzac and Flaubert, had they been Scotch, +would have written such a book." + +_The Spectator:_ "His masters are Zola and Balzac, but there are few +traces of the novice and none of the imitator." + +_Vanity Fair:_ "It moves to its end with all the terrible unity of an +Æschylean tragedy." + +_Harper's Weekly:_ "If Thomas Hardy had written of Scotland, instead +of Wessex, it would have been something like 'The House with the Green +Shutters'.... If any man is his (Douglas') master it is Thomas Hardy." + +Hardy, Stevenson, Zola, Flaubert, Balzac, and Æschylus. + +Eighth Edition. $1.50. + +McClure, Phillips & Co. + + + + +TRANSCRIBER'S NOTE: + +Minor changes have been made to correct typesetters' errors; +otherwise, every effort has been made to remain true to the author's +words and intent. + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of A Prince of Good Fellows, by Robert Barr + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A PRINCE OF GOOD FELLOWS *** + +***** This file should be named 31715-8.txt or 31715-8.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/3/1/7/1/31715/ + +Produced by D Alexander and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This file was +produced from images generously made available by The +Internet Archive) + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: A Prince of Good Fellows + +Author: Robert Barr + +Illustrator: Edmund J. Sullivan + +Release Date: March 21, 2010 [EBook #31715] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A PRINCE OF GOOD FELLOWS *** + + + + +Produced by D Alexander and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This file was +produced from images generously made available by The +Internet Archive) + + + + + + +</pre> + + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 319px;"> +<img src="images/icover.jpg" width="319" height="500" alt="" title="" /> +</div> + +<hr class="large" /> + +<div class="centerbox bbox"> + +<p> </p> + +<p class="double"> </p> + +<h1><span class="smcap">A Prince of</span><br /> +<span class="smcap">Good Fellows</span></h1> + +<h3>BY</h3> + +<h2><span class="smcap">Robert Barr</span></h2> + +<p class="center">AUTHOR OF<br /> +IN THE MIDST OF ALARMS,<br /> +TEKLA, ETC.</p> + +<hr class="full" /> + +<p class="smallgap"> </p> +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 102px;"> +<img src="images/i001.jpg" width="102" height="125" alt="" title="" /> +</div> + +<h5>ILLUSTRATED BY</h5> + +<h4><span class="smcap">Edmund J. Sullivan</span></h4> + +<p class="double"> </p> + +<h3><span class="smcap">New York</span><br /> +M<sup>c</sup>Clure, Phillips & C<sup>o</sup><br /> +1902</h3></div> + +<hr class="large" /> + +<p class="center"><i>Copyright, 1902, by</i><br /> +<span class="smcap">McClure, Phillips & Co.</span></p> + +<p class="center"><i>Copyright, 1901, by</i> <span class="smcap">S. S. McClure Co.</span><br /> +<i>Copyright, 1902, by</i> <span class="smcap">S. S. McClure Co.</span><br /> +<i>Copyright, 1901, by</i> <span class="smcap">Robert Barr</span><br /> +<i>Copyright, 1902, by</i> <span class="smcap">Robert Barr</span></p> + +<p class="center">Published, May, 1902, R</p> + +<hr class="large" /> +<p><a name="Frontispiece" id="Frontispiece"></a></p><div class="figcenter" style="width: 376px;"> +<img src="images/i003.jpg" width="376" height="500" alt="JACOBUS, V, REX, SCOTORUM." +title="" /> +<span class="caption">JACOBUS, V, REX, SCOTORUM.<br /> +<span class="smcap">The Prince of Good Fellows</span></span> +</div> + +<hr class="large" /> + +<h3>To</h3> + +<h2>Thomas Spencer Jerome</h2> + +<p class="center">in his Villa of the Castle on the Island of Capri,<br /> +this book is respectfully dedicated, with<br /> +the hope that some of the facts<br /> +herein set forth may aid him<br /> +during his historical<br /> +researches.</p> + +<hr class="large" /> +<h2><i>A</i> TABLE <i>of the</i> CONTENTS</h2> + +<p class="center double2"> </p> + +<div class="centered"> +<table border="0" width="60%" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="1" summary="CONTENTS"> + +<tr> +<td align="left"> </td> +<td align="right"><small><i>Page</i></small></td></tr> + +<tr> +<td align="left"><span class="smcap">The King Intervenes</span></td> +<td align="right"><a href="#Page_1">1</a></td></tr> + +<tr> +<td align="left"><span class="smcap">The King Dines</span></td> +<td align="right"><a href="#Page_29">29</a></td></tr> + +<tr> +<td align="left"><span class="smcap">The King’s Tryst</span></td> +<td align="right"><a href="#Page_47">47</a></td></tr> + +<tr> +<td align="left"><span class="smcap">The King Investigates</span></td> +<td align="right"><a href="#Page_77">77</a></td></tr> + +<tr> +<td align="left"><span class="smcap">The King’s Gold</span></td> +<td align="right"><a href="#Page_113">113</a></td></tr> + +<tr> +<td align="left"><span class="smcap">The King A-Begging</span></td> +<td align="right"><a href="#Page_147">147</a></td></tr> + +<tr> +<td align="left"><span class="smcap">The King’s Visit</span></td> +<td align="right"><a href="#Page_185">185</a></td></tr> + +<tr> +<td align="left"><span class="smcap">The King Explores</span></td> +<td align="right"><a href="#Page_213">213</a></td></tr> + +<tr> +<td align="left"><span class="smcap">The King Drinks</span></td> +<td align="right"><a href="#Page_243">243</a></td></tr> + +<tr> +<td align="left"><span class="smcap">The King Sails</span></td> +<td align="right"><a href="#Page_269">269</a></td></tr> + +<tr> +<td align="left"><span class="smcap">The King Weds</span></td> +<td align="right"><a href="#Page_297">297</a></td></tr> + +</table></div> + +<hr class="large" /> +<h2>LIST <i>of</i> ILLUSTRATIONS</h2> + +<p class="center double2"> </p> + +<div class="centered"> +<table border="0" width="60%" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" summary="Illustrations"> + +<tr> +<td align="left">The Prince of Good Fellows</td> +<td align="right"><a href="#Frontispiece"><i>Frontispiece</i></a></td></tr> + +<tr> +<td align="left"> </td> +<td align="right"><small><i>Facing</i></small><br /> +<small><i>page  </i></small></td></tr> + +<tr> +<td align="left">“Out of the way, fellow!”</td> +<td align="right"><a href="#illo1">4</a></td></tr> + +<tr> +<td align="left">“Headsman, do your duty”</td> +<td align="right"><a href="#illo2">26</a></td></tr> + +<tr> +<td align="left"><p class="hangingindent">“‘As you get north of Sterling, Buchanan,’ replied +James, with a smile, ‘it is customary +to bring the knife with you when you go +out to dine’”</p></td> +<td align="right"><a href="#illo3">42</a></td></tr> + +<tr> +<td align="left">“My fair antagonist, I bid you good-night”</td> +<td align="right"><a href="#illo4">74</a></td></tr> + +<tr> +<td align="left">“The forty-one trees bore their burden”</td> +<td align="right"><a href="#illo5">110</a></td></tr> + +<tr> +<td align="left">“The figure of a tall man”</td> +<td align="right"><a href="#illo6">126</a></td></tr> + +<tr> +<td align="left"><p class="hangingindent">“With a wild scream Farini endeavoured to support +himself with his gauze-like wings”</p></td> +<td align="right"><a href="#illo7">144</a></td></tr> + +<tr> +<td align="left"><p class="hangingindent">“The King had composed a poem in thirteen +stanzas, entitled ‘The Beggar Man’”</p></td> +<td align="right"><a href="#illo8">148</a></td></tr> + +<tr> +<td align="left">“Five stalwart ruffians fell upon him”</td> +<td align="right"><a href="#illo9">162</a></td></tr> + +<tr> +<td align="left"><p class="hangingindent">“‘I am James, King of Scotland,’ he proclaimed +in stentorian tones”</p></td> +<td align="right"><a href="#illo10">178</a></td></tr> + +<tr> +<td align="left"><p class="hangingindent">“At last MacNab sprang to his feet, holding +aloft his brimming flagon”</p></td> +<td align="right"><a href="#illo11">201</a></td></tr> + +<tr> +<td align="left"><p class="hangingindent">“The strangers were most hospitably entertained, +and entered thoroughly into the +spirit of the festivities”</p></td> +<td align="right"><a href="#illo12">234</a></td></tr> + +<tr> +<td align="left"><p class="hangingindent">“The King, however, appeared to have no forebodings, +but trotted along with great complacency”</p></td> +<td align="right"><a href="#illo13">246</a></td></tr> + +<tr> +<td align="left"><p class="hangingindent">“The two went outside and took the road by +which they had come”</p></td> +<td align="right"><a href="#illo14">270</a></td></tr> + +</table></div> + +<p> </p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_1" id="Page_1">[Pg 1-3]</a></span></p> +<p class="double3"> </p> + +<h2><a name="The_King_Intervenes" id="The_King_Intervenes"></a><span class="smcap">The King Intervenes</span></h2> + +<hr class="secondlarge" /> + +<p class="n"><span style="float:left;font-size:40px;line-height:25px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:1px;">L</span>ate evening had fallen on the grey walls of Stirling Castle, and dark +night on the town itself, where narrow streets and high gables gave +early welcome to the mirk, while the westward-facing turrets of the +castle still reflected the departing glory of the sky.</p> + +<p>With some suggestion of stealth in his movements, a young man picked +his way through the thickening gloom of the streets. There was still +light enough to show that, judging by his costume, he was of the +well-to-do farmer class. This was proclaimed by his broad, coarse, +bonnet and the grey check plaid which he wore, not looped to the +shoulder and pinned there by a brooch, Highland fashion, but wrapped +round his <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_4" id="Page_4">[Pg 4]</a></span>middle, with the two ends brought over the shoulders and +tucked under the wide belt which the plaid itself made, the fringes +hanging down at each knee, as a Lowland shepherd might have worn the +garment. As he threaded his way through the tortuous streets, ever +descending, he heard the clatter of a troop of horse coming up, and +paused, looking to the right and left, as if desirous of escaping an +encounter which seemed inevitable. But if such were his object, the +stoppage, although momentary, was already too long, for ere he could +deflect his course, the foremost of the horsemen was upon him, a well +known noble of the Scottish Court.</p> + +<p>“Out of the way, fellow!” cried the rider, and, barely giving him time +to obey, the horseman struck at the pedestrian fiercely with his whip. +The young man’s agility saved him. Nimbly he placed his back against +the wall, thus avoiding the horse’s hoof and the rider’s lash. The +victim’s right hand made a swift motion to his left hip, but finding +no weapon of defence there, the arm fell back to his side again, and +he laughed quietly to himself. The next motion of his hand was more in +accordance with his station, for it removed his bonnet, and he stood +uncovered until the proud cavalcade passed him.</p> + +<p><a name="illo1" id="illo1"></a></p><div class="figcenter" style="width: 376px;"> +<img src="images/i011.jpg" width="376" class="illogap" height="500" alt="“Out of the Way, Fellow!”" title="" /> +<span class="caption"><span class="smcap">“Out of the Way, Fellow!”</span></span> +</div> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_5" id="Page_5">[Pg 5]</a></span></p><p>When the street was once more clear and the echoing sounds had died +away in the direction of the castle, the youth descended and descended +until he came to the lower part of the town where, turning aside up a +narrow lane, he knocked at the door of a closed and shuttered +building, evidently an abiding place of the poorer inhabitants of +Stirling. With some degree of caution the door was slightly opened, +but when the occupant saw, by the flash of light that came from +within, who his visitor was, he threw the portal wide and warmly +welcomed the newcomer.</p> + +<p>“Hey, guidman!” he cried, “ye’re late the night in Stirling.”</p> + +<p>“Yes,” said the young man stepping inside, “but the farm will see +nothing of me till the morning. I’ve a friend in town who gives me a +bed for myself and a stall for my horse, and gets the same in return +when he pays a visit to the country.”</p> + +<p>“A fair exchange,” replied the host as he closed and barred the door.</p> + +<p>The low room in which the stranger found himself was palpably a +cobbler’s shop. Boots and shoes of various sizes and different degrees +of ill repair strewed the floor, and the bench in the corner under a +lighted cruzie held implements <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_6" id="Page_6">[Pg 6]</a></span>of the trade, while the apron which +enveloped the man of the door proclaimed his occupation. The incomer +seated himself on a stool, and the cobbler returned to his last, +resuming his interrupted work. He looked up however, from time to +time, in kindly fashion at his visitor, who seemed to be a welcome +guest.</p> + +<p>“Well,” said the shoemaker with a laugh, “what’s wrong with you?”</p> + +<p>“Wrong with me? Nothing. Why do you think there is anything amiss?”</p> + +<p>“You are flushed in the face; your breath comes quick as if you had +been running, and there’s a set about your lips that spells anger.”</p> + +<p>“You are a very observing man, Flemming,” replied he of the plaid. “I +have been walking fast so that I should have little chance of meeting +any one. But it is as well to tell the whole truth as only part of it. +I had a fright up the street. One of those young court sprigs riding +to the castle tried to trample me under the feet of his horse, and +struck at me with his whip for getting into his road, so I had just to +plaster my back against somebody’s front door and keep out of the +way.”</p> + +<p>“It’s easy to see that you live in the country, Ballengeich,” replied +the cobbler, “or you <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_7" id="Page_7">[Pg 7]</a></span>would never get red in the face over a little +thing like that.”</p> + +<p>“I had some thought of pulling him off his horse, nevertheless,” said +the Laird of Ballengeich, whose brow wrinkled into a frown at the +thought of the indignity he had suffered.</p> + +<p>“It was just as well you left him alone,” commented the cobbler, “for +an unarmed man must even take whatever those court gallants think fit +to offer, and if wise, he keeps the gap in his face shut, for fear he +gets a bigger gap opened in his head. Such doings on the part of the +nobles do not make them exactly popular. Still, I am speaking rather +freely, and doubtless you are a firm friend of the new king?” and the +shoemaker cast a cautious sidelong glance at his visitor.</p> + +<p>“A friend of the king? I wonder to hear you! I doubt if he has a +greater enemy than myself in all Scotland.”</p> + +<p>“Do you mean that, Ballengeich?” inquired the shoemaker, with more of +interest than the subject appeared to demand, laying down his hammer +as he spoke, and looking intently at his guest.</p> + +<p>“I’d never say it, if it wasn’t true,” replied the laird.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_8" id="Page_8">[Pg 8]</a></span></p><p>It was some moments before the workman spoke, and then he surprised +the laird by a remark which had apparently nothing to do with what had +been said before.</p> + +<p>“You are not a married man, I think you told me?”</p> + +<p>“No, I am not. There’s time enough for that yet,” returned the other +with a smile. “You see, I am new to my situation of responsibility, +and it’s as well not to take in the wife till you are sure you can +support her.”</p> + +<p>“What like a house have you got, and how far is it from Stirling?”</p> + +<p>“The house is well enough in its way; there’s more room in it than I +care to occupy. It’s strongly built of stone, and could stand a siege +if necessary, as very likely it has done in days long past, for it’s a +stout old mansion. It’s near enough to Stirling for me to come in and +see my friend the cobbler in the evening, and sleep in my own bed that +night, if I care to do so.”</p> + +<p>“Is it in a lonely place?”</p> + +<p>“I can hardly say that. It is at the top of a bit hill, yet there’s +room enough to give you rest and retirement if you should think of +keeping retreat from the busy world of the town. What’s on your mind, +Flemming? Are you swithering <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">[Pg 9]</a></span>whether you’ll turn farmer or no? Let me +inform you that it’s a poor occupation.”</p> + +<p>“I’ll tell you what’s on my mind, Ballengeich, if you’ll swear piously +to keep it a secret.”</p> + +<p>“Indeed, I’ll do nothing of the sort,” replied the young man +decisively. “An honest man’s bare word is as good as his bond, and the +strongest oath ever sworn never yet kept a rascal from divulging a +secret intrusted to him.”</p> + +<p>“You’re right in that; you’re right in that,” the cobbler hastened to +add, “but this involves others as well as myself, and all are bound to +each other by oaths.”</p> + +<p>“Then I venture to say you are engaged in some nefarious business. +What is it? I’ll tell nobody, and mayhap, young as I am, I can +give you some plain, useful advice from the green fields that will +counteract the pernicious notions that rise in the stifling wynds +of the crowded town.”</p> + +<p>“Well, I’m not at all sure that we don’t need it, for to tell the +truth I have met with a wild set of lads, and I find myself wondering +how long my head will be in partnership with my body.”</p> + +<p>“Is the case so serious as that?”</p> + +<p>“Aye, it is.”</p> + +<p>“Then why not withdraw?”</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">[Pg 10]</a></span></p><p>“Ah, that’s easier said than done. When you once shut a spring door +on yourself, it isn’t by saying ‘I will’ that you get out. You’ll not +have forgotten the first night we met, when you jumped down on my back +from the wall of the Grey Friars’ Church?”</p> + +<p>“I remember it very distinctly, but which was the more surprised, you +or I, I have never yet been able to settle. I know I was very much +taken aback.”</p> + +<p>“Not so much as I,” interrupted the cobbler dryly, “when you came +plump on my shoulders.”</p> + +<p>“I was going to say,” went on Ballengeich, “that I’m afraid my +explanation about taking a short cut was rather incoherent.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, no more than mine, that I was there to catch a thief. It was none +of my business to learn why you were in the kirkyard.”</p> + +<p>“By the way, did you ever hear any more of the thief you were after?”</p> + +<p>“That’s just the point I am coming to. The man we were after was his +youthful majesty, James the Fifth, of Scotland.”</p> + +<p>“What, the king!” exclaimed the amazed laird.</p> + +<p>“Just him, and no other,” replied the cobbler, “and very glad I am +that the ploy miscarried, although I fear it’s to come on again.”</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[Pg 11]</a></span></p><p>“I never heard the like of this!”</p> + +<p>“You may well say that. You see it is known that the king in disguise +visits a certain house, for what purpose his majesty will be able to +tell you better than I. He goes unattended and secretly, and this +gives us our chance.”</p> + +<p>“But what in the name of the god of fools whoever he happens to be, +would you do with Jamie once you got him?”</p> + +<p>“’Deed there’s many things that might be mended in this country, as +you very well know, and the king can mend them if he likes, with a +word. Now rather than have his throat cut, our leader thinks he will +agree to reasonable reform.”</p> + +<p>“And supposing he doesn’t agree, are you going to cut his throat?”</p> + +<p>“I don’t know what would happen if he proved stubborn. The moderate +section is just for locking him by somewhere until he listens to +wisdom.”</p> + +<p>“And it is in your mind that my house should become a prison for the +king?”</p> + +<p>“It seems to me worth considering.”</p> + +<p>“There seems to me very little worth considering in the matter. It is +a mad scheme. Supposing the king promised under compulsion, what would +be his first action the moment he returned to Stirling Castle? He +would scour the country <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">[Pg 12]</a></span>for you, and your heads would come off one by +one like buttons from an old coat.”</p> + +<p>“That’s what I said. ‘Trust the word of a Stuart,’ says I, ‘it’s pure +nonsense!’”</p> + +<p>“Oh I’m not sure but the word of a Stuart is as good as the word of +any other man,” replied Ballengeich with a ring of anger in his voice, +at which the cobbler looked up surprised.</p> + +<p>“You’re not such an enemy of the king as you let on at first,” +commented the mender of shoes. “I doubt if I should have told you all +this.”</p> + +<p>“Have no fear. I can pledge you that my word is as good as a Stuart’s +at least.”</p> + +<p>“I hope it’s a good deal better.”</p> + +<p>“Your plan is not only useless, but dangerous, my friend. I told you +I would give you my advice, and now you have it. Do you think James is +a lad that you can tie to your bench stool here, lock your door, and +expect to find him when you came back? You must remember that James +has been in captivity before, when the Earl of Angus thought he had +him secure in the stronghold of Falkland, and yet, Jamie, who was then +but a lad of sixteen, managed to escape. Man Flemming, I must tell you +about that some day.”</p> + +<p>“Tell me about what?” inquired the shoemaker.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[Pg 13]</a></span></p><p>“Oh well, it may not be true after all,” said young Ballengeich in +confusion, “but a friend of mine was gardener at Falkland and knew the +whole story about James’s escape. Never mind that; my advice to you is +to shake hands with all such schemes, and turn your back on them.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, that’s soon said,” cried the cobbler with some impatience. “‘Keep +out of the fire and ye’ll not be burnt,’ says the branch on the tree +to the faggot on the woodman’s back. You see, Ballengeich, in this +matter I’m between the cart-wheel and the hard road. My head’s off if +this ploy miscarries, as you’ve just told me, and my throat’s cut if I +withdraw from the secret conclave. It’s but a choice between two +hashings. There’s a dead cobbler in any event.”</p> + +<p>“I see your difficulty,” said the laird; “do you want to be helped out +of it?”</p> + +<p>“Does the toad want to get from under the harrow?”</p> + +<p>“When is your next meeting, and where?”</p> + +<p>“The meetings are held in this room, and the next will be on Wednesday +night at eleven o’clock.”</p> + +<p>“Bless my soul!” cried Ballengeich. “Would nothing content you but to +drink the whole <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[Pg 14]</a></span>bucketful? The rendezvous in your shop! Then whoever +escapes, your head’s on a pike.”</p> + +<p>“Aye,” murmured the shoemaker dismally.</p> + +<p>“It isn’t taking very many of you to overturn the House of Stuart,” +said the laird, looking about the room, which was small.</p> + +<p>“There’s just one less than a dozen,” replied the cobbler.</p> + +<p>“Then we’ll make up the number to the even twelve, hoping good luck +will attend us, for we will be as many as the Apostles. Between now +and Wednesday you might confer with your leaders, Flemming. Tell them +you know a young man you can trust, who owns exactly the kind of house +that James can be kept fast in, if he is captured. Say that your new +conspirator will take the oath, or anything else they like to give, +and add, what is more to the purpose, that he has a plot of his own +which differs from theirs, in giving at least as much chance of +success, and possesses the additional advantage of being safe. Whether +his plan miscarries or not, there will be no need to fear a reprisal, +and that is much to say in its favour.”</p> + +<p>“It is everything in its favour,” said the shoemaker with a sigh of +relief.</p> + +<p>“Very well, then, I will meet you here on Wednesday <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[Pg 15]</a></span>night at this +time, and learn whether or no they agree to have me as one of their +number. If they refuse, there’s no harm done; I shall say nothing, and +the king will know no more about the matter than he does now.”</p> + +<p>“I could not ask better assurance than that,” said the host cordially +as his guest rose.</p> + +<p>They shook hands, and the guidman of Ballengeich, after peering out +into the darkness to see that the way was clear, took his leave.</p> + +<p>The laird was prompt in keeping his appointment on the following +Wednesday, and learned that the conspirators were glad of his +assistance. The cobbler’s tool-box had been pushed out of the way, +and a makeshift table, composed of three boards and two trestles, +occupied the centre of the room. A bench made up in similar fashion +ran along the back wall, and there were besides, half a dozen stools. +A hospitable pitcher of strong drink stood on the rude table, with a +few small measures, cups and horns.</p> + +<p>As if the weight of conspiracy had lain heavy on his shoulders, the +young Laird of Ballengeich seemed older than he had ever looked +before. Lines of care marked his brow, and his distraught manner +proclaimed the plot-monger new to a dangerous business. The lights, +however, were dim, <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[Pg 16]</a></span>and Ballengeich doubted if any there present would +recognise him should they meet him in broad day, and this, in a +measure, was comforting. The cobbler sat very quiet on his accustomed +bench, the others occupying the stools and the board along the wall.</p> + +<p>“We have been told,” began the leader, who filled the chair at the +head of the table, where he had administered the oath with much +solemnity to their new member, “we have been told that you own a house +which you will place at our disposal should the purpose for which we +are gathered here together, succeed.”</p> + +<p>“I have such a house,” said the laird, “and it is of course, placed +freely at your service. But the plan you propose is so full of danger +that I wondered if you have given the project the deep consideration +it deserves. It will be a hazardous undertaking to get the king safely +into my house, but let us suppose that done. How are you going to keep +him there?”</p> + +<p>“We will set a guard over him.”</p> + +<p>“Very good. Which of you are to be the guardsmen, and how many?”</p> + +<p>The conspirators looked one at another, but none replied. At last the +leader said,—</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[Pg 17]</a></span></p><p>“It will be time to settle that when we have him safely under bolt.”</p> + +<p>“Pardon me, not so. The time to arrange all things is now. Everything +must be cut and dried, or failure is certain. The moment the king is +missing the country will be scoured for him. There will be no possible +place of refuge for miles round that will not be searched for the +missing monarch. We will suppose that four of you are guarding the +king, two and two, turn about. What are the four, and myself, to say +to the king’s soldiers when they demand entrance to my house?”</p> + +<p>“The king is but a boy, and when he sees death or compliance before +him he will accede to our demands.”</p> + +<p>“He is a boy, it is true,” agreed the laird, “but he is a boy, as I +pointed out to my friend Flemming, who escaped from the clutches of +the Earl of Angus, out of the stronghold of Falkland Palace, and who +afterwards drove the earl and many of the Douglas leaders into English +exile. That is the kind of boy you have to deal with. Suppose then, he +gives consent to all you place before him? Do you think he will keep +his word?”</p> + +<p>“I doubt it,” said the cobbler, speaking for the <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[Pg 18]</a></span>first time. “The +word of a Stuart is not worth the snap of my finger.”</p> + +<p>“On the other hand, if he does not accede,” continued Ballengeich, +“what are we to do with him?”</p> + +<p>“Cut his throat,” replied the leader decisively.</p> + +<p>“No, no,” cried several others, and for a moment there was a clamour +of discussion, all speaking at once, while the laird stood silently +regarding the vociferous disputants. Finally their leader said,—</p> + +<p>“What better plan have you to propose?”</p> + +<p>“The king is a boy,” spoke up Ballengeich, “as you have said.” At the +sound of his voice instant silence reigned. “But he is a boy, as I +have told you, extremely difficult to handle with violence. I propose +then to approach him peaceably. The fact that he is a boy, or a very +young man at least, implies that his mind will be more impressionable +than that of an older person whose ideas are set. I propose then that +a deputation wait upon his majesty and place before him the evils that +require remedying, being prepared to answer any question he may ask +regarding the method of their amendment. If peaceable means fail, +then try violence, say I, but it is hardly fair to the young man to +approach him at the beginning <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[Pg 19]</a></span>of his reign with a dirk in the hand. +His answer would likely be a reference to his headsman; that is a +favourite Stuart mode of argument. I have some friends about the +castle,” continued the laird. “I supply them with various necessaries +from the farm; and if I do say it myself, I am well thought of by some +in authority. I can guarantee you, I am sure, a safe conduct for your +mission.”</p> + +<p>“But if safe conduct be refused?” said the leader.</p> + +<p>“In that case, no harm’s done. I shall divulge the names of none here +present, for indeed I know the name of none, except of my friend the +cobbler.”</p> + +<p>“Will you head the delegation, and be its spokesman?”</p> + +<p>“No. My power to serve you lies in the fact that I am well thought of +in the palace. This power would be instantly destroyed were I known +as disaffected. I would put it on this basis. My friend, Flemming, is +the spokesman of ten others who have grievances to place before his +majesty. Therefore, as a matter of friendship between Flemming and +myself, I ask safe conduct for the eleven.”</p> + +<p>“Indeed,” cried the cobbler, “I wish you <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[Pg 20]</a></span>would leave my name out of +the affair, since no one else seems eager to put his own forward.”</p> + +<p>“I put mine forward in making the request,” said Ballengeich.</p> + +<p>“Aye, but not as one of the deputation.”</p> + +<p>“Very well,” agreed the laird in an offhand manner, “if you make a +point of it, I have no objection to saying that I shall make one of +the concert. I only proposed to keep out of it, because it is always +wise to have an unbiased person to put in his word at a critical +moment, and it seems to me important to have such a person on the +outside. But it shall be exactly as you please; I care little one +way or the other. I have made my proposal, and with you rests the +acceptance or the rejection of it. If you think it safer to kidnap a +king than to have a friendly chat with him, amicably arranged +beforehand, then all I can say is, that I don’t in the least agree +with you. Please yourselves; please yourselves. We have but one neck +apiece, and surely we can risk it in the manner that brings us most +content.”</p> + +<p>“There is wisdom in what the laird says,” cried one of the more +moderate party. “I never liked the kidnapping idea.”</p> + +<p>“Nor I,” said the cobbler. “It was but a wild Hielan’ notion.”</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[Pg 21]</a></span></p><p>“My project has this advantage,” continued Ballengeich with nonchalant +impartiality, “that if it does not succeed, you can then fall back +upon abduction. Nothing in this proposal interferes with the ultimate +carrying out of your first plan.”</p> + +<p>“It is putting our heads in the lion’s mouth,” objected the leader, +but in the discussion that followed he was outvoted. Then came the +choosing of the delegates, on which rock the enterprise was nearly +wrecked, for there seemed to be no anxiety on the part of any four +present to form the committee of expostulation which was to meet the +monarch. At last it was decided that all should go, if Ballengeich +could produce a written safe-conduct signed by the king, which would +include eleven persons.</p> + +<p>Within three days this document was placed in the hands of the cobbler +by Ballengeich, who told him that it had been signed that morning. And +he added that the king had expressed himself as well pleased to +receive a deputation of his loyal subjects.</p> + +<p>The cobbler handled the passport gingerly, as if he were not +altogether assured of its potency to protect him.</p> + +<p>“The conference is for Wednesday at midday,” said Ballengeich. +“Assemble some minutes <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[Pg 22]</a></span>before that hour in the courtyard of the +castle, and you will be conducted to the Presence.”</p> + +<p>“Wednesday!” echoed the cobbler, his face turning pale. “Why +Wednesday, the day of our weekly meetings? Did you suggest it?”</p> + +<p>“It was the king’s suggestion, of course,” replied Ballengeich. “It is +merely a coincidence, and is, I think, a good omen.”</p> + +<p>“I wish I were sure of it,” moaned the cobbler.</p> + +<p>Before the bell rang twelve the conspirators were gathered together in +the courtyard of Castle Stirling; huddled would perhaps be the more +accurate word, for they were eleven very frightened men. More than one +cast longing looks towards the gate by which they had come in, but +some places are easier to enter than to leave, and the portal was well +guarded by stalwart soldiers.</p> + +<p>As the bell slowly tolled twelve, an official came from the palace +into the courtyard, searched the delegation for concealed weapons, and +curtly commanded them to follow him. Climbing the stone stairway they +were ushered into a large room containing a long oaken table with five +chairs on one side and six on the other. At the head of the table was +a high-backed seat resembling a throne. The official left them +standing there alone, and after he had closed the door <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[Pg 23]</a></span>they heard the +ominous sound of bolts being thrust into their places. The silence +which followed seemed oppressive; almost suffocating. No man spoke, +but each stood like a statue holding his cap in his hand. At last the +tension was broken, but it would scarcely be correct to say that it +was relieved. The heavy curtains parted and the king entered the room, +clad in the imposing robes of his high state. A frown was on his brow, +and he advanced straight from the doorway to the throne at the head of +the table, without speaking or casting a glance at any one of the +eleven. When he had seated himself he said gruffly,—</p> + +<p>“There is a chair for each of you; sit down.”</p> + +<p>It is doubtful if any of the company, except the cobbler, at first +recognised their ruler as the alleged Laird of Ballengeich; but at the +sound of the monarch’s voice several started and looked anxiously one +at another. Again the king addressed them,—</p> + +<p>“A week ago to-night I met you in Flemming’s room. I appointed this +day for the conference that the routine of your meetings might not be +disturbed, as I thought it well that the last of your rebellious +gatherings should be held in the Castle <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[Pg 24]</a></span>of Stirling, for I am +resolved that this conclave shall be your final effort in treason. One +of your number has stated that the word of a Stuart is not to be +trusted. This reputation appears to have descended to me, and it is a +pity I should not take advantage of it.”</p> + +<p>When the king ceased speaking he lifted a small mallet and smote a +resounding bell, which was on the table before him. A curtain parted +and two men entered bearing between them a block covered with black +cloth; this they placed silently in the centre of the floor and +withdrew. Again the king smote the bell and there entered a masked +executioner with a gleaming axe over his shoulder. He took his place +beside the block, resting the head of his axe on the floor.</p> + +<p>“This,” continued the king, “is the entertainment I have provided for +you. Each of you shall taste of that,” and he pointed to the heading +block.</p> + +<p>The cobbler rose unsteadily to his feet, drawing from his bosom with +trembling fingers the parchment bearing the king’s signature. He +moistened his dry lips with his tongue, then spoke in a low voice.</p> + +<p>“Sir,” he said, “we are here under safe conduct from the king.”</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[Pg 25]</a></span></p><p>“Safe conduct to where?” cried James angrily, “that is the point. I +stand by the document; read it; read it!”</p> + +<p>“Sir, it says safe conduct for eleven men here present, under +protection of your royal word.”</p> + +<p>“You do not keep to the point, cobbler,” shouted the king bringing his +fist down on the table. “Safe conduct to where? I asked. The parchment +does not say safe conduct back into Stirling again. Safe conduct to +Heaven, or elsewhere, was what I guaranteed.”</p> + +<p>“That is but an advocate’s quibble, your majesty. Safe conduct is a +phrase well understood by high and low alike. But we have placed our +heads in the lion’s mouth, as our leader said last Wednesday night, +and we cannot complain if now his jaws are shut. Nevertheless I would +respectfully submit to your majesty that I alone of those present +doubted a Stuart’s word, and am like to have my doubts practically +confirmed. I would also point out to your majesty that my comrades +would not have been here had I not trusted the Master of Ballengeich, +and through him the king, therefore, I ask you to let me alone pay the +penalty of my error, and allow my friends to go scatheless from the +grim walls of Stirling.”</p> + +<p>“There is reason in what you say,” replied the <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[Pg 26]</a></span>king. “Are you all +agreed to that?” he asked of the others.</p> + +<p>“No, by God,” cried the leader springing to his feet and smiting the +table with his fist as lustily as the king had done. “We stand +together, or fall together. The mistake was ours as much as his, and +we entered these gates with our eyes open.”</p> + +<p>“Headsman,” said the king, “do your duty.”</p> + +<p>The headsman whipped off the black cloth and displayed underneath it a +box containing a large jug surrounded by eleven drinking-horns. Those +present, all now on their feet, glanced with amazement from the masked +man to the king. The sternness had vanished from his majesty’s face, +as if a dark cloud had passed from the sun and allowed it to shine +again. There sparkled in the king’s eye all the jubilant mischief of +the incorrigible boy, and his laughter rang to the ceiling. Somewhat +recovering his gravity he stretched out his hand and pointed a finger +at the cobbler.</p> + +<p>“I frightened you, Flemming,” he cried. “I frightened you; don’t deny +it. I’ll wager my gold crown against a weaver’s woollen bonnet, I +frightened the whole eleven of you.”</p> + +<p>“Indeed,” said the cobbler with an uneasy laugh, “I shall be the first +to admit it.”</p> + +<p><a name="illo2" id="illo2"></a></p><div class="figcenter" style="width: 367px;"> +<img src="images/i034.jpg" class="illogap" width="367" height="500" alt="“Headsman: Do your Duty.”" title="" /> +<span class="caption">“<span class="smcap">Headsman: Do your Duty.</span>”</span> +</div> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[Pg 27]</a></span></p><p>“Your face was as white as a harvest moon in mid-sky, and I heard +somebody’s teeth chatter. Now the drink we have had at our meetings +heretofore was vile, and no more fitted for a Christian throat than is +the headsman’s axe; but if you ever tasted anything better than this, +tell me where to get a hogshead of it.”</p> + +<p>The headsman having filled their horns, the leader raised the flagon +above his head and said,—</p> + +<p>“I give you the toast of The King!”</p> + +<p>“No, no,” proclaimed the boyish monarch, “I want to drink this myself. +I’ll give you a toast. May there never come a time when a Scotchman is +afraid to risk his head for what he thinks is right.”</p> + +<p>And this toast they drank together.</p> + +<p> </p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[Pg 28-31]</a></span></p> +<p class="double3"> </p> +<h2><a name="The_King_Dines" id="The_King_Dines"></a><span class="smcap">The King Dines</span></h2> + +<hr class="secondlarge" /> + +<p><span style="float: left; font-size: 100%; line-height: 80%; margin-top: 0;">“</span><span class="n"><span style="float:left;font-size:40px;line-height:25px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:1px;">W</span></span>hen kings frown, courtiers tremble,” said Sir Donald Sinclair to the +Archbishop of St. Andrews, “but in Stirling the case seems reversed. +The courtiers frown, and the king looks anxiously towards them.”</p> + +<p>“Indeed,” replied the prelate, “that may well be. When a man invites a +company to dine with him, and then makes the discovery that his larder +is empty, there is cause for anxiety, be he king or churl. In truth my +wame’s beginning to think my throat’s cut.” And the learned churchman +sympathetically smoothed down that portion of his person first named, +whose rounded contour gave evidence that its owner was accustomed to +ample rations regularly served.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[Pg 32]</a></span></p><p>“Ah well,” continued Sir Donald, “his youthful majesty’s foot is +hardly in the stirrup yet, and I’m much mistaken in the glint of his +eye and the tint of his beard, if once he is firmly in the saddle the +horse will not feel the prick of the spur, should it try any tricks +with him.”</p> + +<p>“Scotland would be none the worse of a firm king,” admitted the +archbishop, glancing furtively at the person they were discussing, +“but James has been so long under the control of others that it will +need some force of character to establish a will of his own. I doubt +he is but a nought posing as a nine,” concluded his reverence in a +lower tone of voice.</p> + +<p>“I know little of mathematics,” said Sir Donald, “but yet enough to +tell me that a nought needs merely a flourish to become a nine, and +those nines among us who think him a nought, may become noughts should +he prove a nine. There’s a problem in figures for you, archbishop, +with a warning at the end of it, like the flourish at the tail of the +nine.”</p> + +<p>The young man to whom they referred, James, the fifth of that name, +had been pacing the floor a little distance from the large group of +hungry men who were awaiting their dinner with some impatience. Now +and then the king paused in his <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[Pg 33]</a></span>perambulation, and gazed out of a +window overlooking the courtyard, again resuming his disturbed march +when his brief scrutiny was completed. The members of the group talked +in whispers, one with another, none too well pleased at being kept +waiting for so important a function as a meal.</p> + +<p>Suddenly there was a clatter of horse’s hoofs in the courtyard. The +king turned once more to the window, glanced a moment at the commotion +below, then gave utterance to an exclamation of annoyance, his right +hand clenching angrily. Wheeling quickly to the guards at the door he +cried,—</p> + +<p>“Bring the chief huntsman here at once, and a prod in the back with a +pike may make up for his loitering in the courtyard.”</p> + +<p>The men, who stood like statues with long axes at the doorway, made no +move; but two soldiers, sitting on a bench outside, sprang to their +feet and ran clattering down the stair. They returned presently with +the chief huntsman, whom they projected suddenly into the room with a +violence little to the woodman’s taste, for he neglected to remove his +bonnet in the royal presence, and so far forgot himself as to turn his +head when <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[Pg 34]</a></span>he recovered his equilibrium, roundly cursing those who had +made a projectile of him.</p> + +<p>“Well, woodlander!” cried the king, his stern voice ringing down again +from the lofty rafters of the great hall. “Are there no deer in my +forests of the north?”</p> + +<p>“Deer in plenty, your majesty,” answered the fellow with a mixture of +deference and disrespect, which in truth seemed to tinge the manners +of all present. “There are deer in the king’s forest, and yet a lack +of venison in the king’s larder!”</p> + +<p>“What mean you by that, you scoundrel?” exclaimed the king, a flush +overspreading his face, ruddy as his beard. “Have your marksmen lost +their skill with bow and arrow, that you return destitute to the +castle?”</p> + +<p>“The marksmen are expert as ever, your majesty, and their arrows fly +as unerringly to their billet, but in these rude times, your majesty, +the sting of an arrow may not be followed by the whetting of a +butcher’s knife.”</p> + +<p>The king took an impatient step forward, then checked himself. One or +two among the group of noblemen near the door laughed, and there was a +ripple of suppressed merriment over the whole company. At first the +frown on the king’s brow deepened, and then as suddenly it cleared +away, <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[Pg 35]</a></span>as a puff of wind scatters the mist from the heights of +Stirling. When the king spoke again it was in a calm, even voice. “As +I understand you, there was no difficulty in capturing the deer, but +you encountered some obstacle between the forest and Stirling which +caused you to return empty-handed. I hope you have not added the +occupation of itinerant flesher to the noble calling of forest +huntsman?”</p> + +<p>“Indeed, your majesty,” replied the unabashed hunter, “the profession +of flesher was forced upon me. The deer we had slaughtered found it +impossible to win by the gates of Arnprior.”</p> + +<p>“Ah! John Buchanan then happened to need venison as you passed?”</p> + +<p>“Your majesty has hit the gold there. Buchanan not only needed it but +took it from us.”</p> + +<p>“Did you inform him that your cargo was intended for the larder of the +king?”</p> + +<p>“I told him that in so many words, your majesty; and he replied that +if James was king in Stirling, John was king in Kippen, and having the +shorter name, he took the shorter method of supplying his kitchen.”</p> + +<p>“Made you any effort to defend your gear?”</p> + +<p>“Truth to say, your majesty, that were a useless trial. The huntsman +who will face the deer <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[Pg 36]</a></span>thinks no shame to turn his back on the wild +boar, and Buchanan, when he demanded your majesty’s venison, was well +supported by a number of mad caterans with drawn swords in their +hands, who had made up for a lack of good meat with a plentitude of +strong drink. Resistance was futile, and we were fain to take the +bannock that was handed to us, even though the ashes were upon it. +Ronald of the Hills, a daft Heilan’man who knew no better, drew an +arrow to his ear and would have pinned Buchanan to his own gate, +resulting in the destruction of us all, had I not, with my stave, +smote the weapon from his hand. Then the mad youth made such to-do +that we had just to tie him up and bring him to Stirling on the +horse’s back like a sack of fodder.”</p> + +<p>“Your caution does credit to your Lowland breeding, Master huntsman, +and the conduct of Ronald cannot be too severely condemned. Bring him +here, I beg of you, that he may receive the king’s censure.”</p> + +<p>Ronald was brought in, a wild, unkempt figure, his scanty dress +disordered, bearing witness to the struggle in which he had but lately +been engaged. His elbows were pinioned behind him, and his shock of +red hair stood out like a heather broom. He scowled fiercely at the +huntsman, and that <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[Pg 37]</a></span>cautious individual edged away from him, bound as +he was.</p> + +<p>“By my beard! as the men of the heathen East swear,” said the king, +“his hair somewhat matches my own in hue. Ronald, what is the first +duty of a huntsman?”</p> + +<p>“He speaks only the Gaelic, your majesty,” explained the royal ranger.</p> + +<p>“You have the Gaelic, MacNeish,” continued the king, addressing one of +his train. “Expound to him, I beg of you, my question. What is the +first duty of a huntsman?”</p> + +<p>MacNeish, stepping forward, put the question in Gaelic and received +Ronald’s reply.</p> + +<p>“He says, your majesty, that a huntsman’s first duty is to kill the +game he is sent for.”</p> + +<p>“Quite right,” and the king nodded approval. “Ask him if he knows as +well the second duty of a huntsman.”</p> + +<p>Ronald’s eye flashed as he gave his answer with a vehemence that +caused the chief huntsman to move still farther away from him.</p> + +<p>“He says, your majesty,” translated MacNeish, “that the second duty of +a huntsman is to cut the throat of any cateran who presumes to +interfere with the progress of the provender from the forest to his +master’s kitchen.”</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[Pg 38]</a></span></p><p>“Right again,” cried the king, smiting his thigh, “and an answer +worthy of all commendation. Tell him this, MacNeish, that hereafter he +is the chief huntsman to the Castle of Stirling. We will place this +cowardly hellion in the kitchen where he will be safe from the hungry +frenzy of a Buchanan, drunk or sober.”</p> + +<p>“But, your majesty—” protested the deposed ranger.</p> + +<p>“To the kitchen with him!” sternly commanded the king. “Strip off the +woodlander’s jacket he has disgraced and tie round him the strings of +a scullion’s apron, which will suit his middle better than the belt of +a sword.” Then the king, flashing forth his own weapon and stepping +aside, swung it over the head of the Highlander, who stood like a +statue in spite of the menace, and the sword came down with a deft +accuracy which severed the binding cords without touching the person +of the prisoner, freeing him at a stroke. A murmur of admiration at +the dexterity of the king went up from the assemblage, every member of +which was himself an expert with the weapon. The freed Highlander +raised his brawny arms above his head and gave startling vent to the +war-cry of his clan, “Loch Sloy! Loch Sloy!” unmindful of the presence +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[Pg 39]</a></span>in which he stood. Then he knelt swiftly and brought his lips to the +buckle of the king’s shoe.</p> + +<p>“Gratitude in a MacFarlane!” sneered MacNeish.</p> + +<p>“Aye,” said the king, “and bravery too, for he never winked an eyelash +when the sword swung above him; an admirable combination of qualities +whether in a MacFarlane or a MacNeish. And now, gentlemen,” continued +his majesty, “although the affair of the huntsman is settled, it +brings us no nearer our venison. If the cook will not to the king, +then must the king to the cook. Gentlemen, to your arms and your +horses! They say a Scotsman fights well when he is hungry; let us put +the proverb to the test. We ride and dine with his majesty of Kippen.”</p> + +<p>A spontaneous cheer burst from every man in the great hall to the +accompaniment of a rattle of swords. Most of those present were more +anxious to follow the king to a contest than into a council chamber. +When silence ensued, the mild voice of the archbishop, perhaps because +it was due to his profession, put in a seasonable word; and the nobles +scowled for they knew he had great influence with the king.</p> + +<p>“Your majesty, if the Buchanans are drunk——”</p> + +<p>“If they are drunk, my lord archbishop,” interrupted <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[Pg 40]</a></span>James, “we will +sober them. ’Tis a duty even the Church owes to the inebriate.” And +with that he led the way out of the hall, his reply clearing the brows +of his followers.</p> + +<p>A few minutes later a clattering cavalcade rode forth from the Castle +of Stirling, through the town and down the path of Ballengeich, a +score of soldiers bringing up the tail of the procession; and in due +time the company came to the entrance of Arnprior Castle. There seemed +like to be opposition at the gate, but Sir Donald, spurring his horse +forward among the guard, scattered the members of it right and left, +and, raising both voice and sword, shouted,—</p> + +<p>“The king! The king! Make way for the King of Scotland!”</p> + +<p>The defenders seeing themselves outnumbered, as the huntsmen had been +in that locality a short time before, gave up their axes to the +invaders as meekly as the royal rangers had given up their venison.</p> + +<p>The king placed his own guard at the gate. Springing from his horse he +entered the castle door, and mounted the stone steps, sword in hand, +his retinue close at his heels. The great hall to which they ascended +was no monk’s chapel of silence. There was wafted to them, or rather +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[Pg 41]</a></span>blown down upon them like a fierce hurricane, the martial strains of +“Buchanan for ever,” played by pipers anything but scant of wind; yet +even this tornado was not sufficient to drown the roar of human +voices, some singing, others apparently in the heat of altercation, +and during the height of this deafening clamour the king and his +followers entered the dining-hall practically unobserved.</p> + +<p>On the long oaken table, servitors were busily placing smoking viands +soon to be consumed; others were filling the drinking-horns, while +some of the guests were engaged in emptying them, although the meal +had not yet begun. Buchanan, his back towards the incomers, his brawny +hands on the table, leaning forward, was shouting to the company, +commanding his guests to seat themselves and fall to while the venison +was hot. There seemed to be several loud voiced disputes going on +regarding precedence. The first intimation that the bellowing laird +had of the intruder’s presence was the cold touch of steel on his bare +neck. He sprang round as if a wasp had stung him, his right hand +swinging instinctively to the hilt of his sword, but the point of +another was within an inch of his throat, and his hand fell away from +his weapon.</p> + +<p>“The fame of your hospitality has spread <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[Pg 42]</a></span>abroad, Buchanan,” spoke the +clear voice of the king, “so we have come to test its quality.”</p> + +<p>The pipers had stopped in their march, and with the ceasing of the +music, the wind from the bags escaped to the outer air with a long +wailing groan. The tumult of discussion subsided, and all eyes turned +towards the speaker, some of the guests hastily drawing swords but +returning them again to the scabbards when they saw themselves +confronted by the king. Buchanan steadied himself with his back +against the table, and in the sudden silence it seemed long ere he +found his tongue. At last he said,—</p> + +<p>“Does the king come as a guest with a drawn sword in his hand?”</p> + +<p>“As you get north of Stirling, Buchanan,’ replied James with a smile, +“it is customary to bring the knife with you when you go out to dine. +But I am quite in agreement with the Laird of Arnprior in thinking the +sword an ill ornament in a banqueting-hall, therefore bestow your +weapons on Sir Donald here, and command your clan now present to +disarm.”</p> + +<p><a name="illo3" id="illo3"></a></p> +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 391px;"> +<img src="images/i051.jpg" class="illogap" width="391" height="500" alt="“As you get north of Stirling, Buchanan,” replied +James, with a smile, “it is customary to bring the knife with you when +you go out to dine.”" title="" /> +<span class="caption"><span class="smcap">“‘As you get north of Stirling, Buchanan,’ replied +James, with a smile, ‘it is customary to bring the knife with you when +you go out to dine.’”</span></span> +</div> + +<p>With visible reluctance Buchanan divested himself of sword and dirk, +and his comrades, now stricken dumb, followed his example. The <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[Pg 43]</a></span>weapons were thrown together in a corner of the hall where some of the +king’s soldiers stood guard over them. His majesty’s prediction +regarding the sobering effect of his advent was amply fulfilled. The +disarmed men looked with dismay on one another, for they knew that +such a prelude might well have its grand finale at the block or the +gibbet. The king, although seemingly in high spirits, was an unknown +quantity, and before now there had been those in power who, with a +smile on their lips, had sent doomed men to a scaffold.</p> + +<p>“In intercepting my venison, Buchanan,” continued the king with the +utmost politeness, “you were actuated by one of two motives. Your +intervention was either an insult to the king, or it was an intimation +that you desired to become his cook. In which light am I to view your +action, Buchanan?”</p> + +<p>There was in the king’s voice a sinister ring as he uttered this +sentence that belied the smile upon his lips, and apprehension +deepened as all present awaited Buchanan’s reply. At the word “cook,” +he had straightened himself, and a deeper flush than the wine had left +there, overspread his countenance; now he bowed with deference and +said,—</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[Pg 44]</a></span></p><p>“It has ever been my ambition to see your majesty grace with his +presence my humble board.”</p> + +<p>“I was sure of it,” cried James with a hearty laugh which brought +relief to the anxious hearts of many standing before him. The king +thrust his sword into a scabbard, and, with a clangour of hilt on +iron, those behind him followed his example.</p> + +<p>“And now,” cried James, “let the king’s men eat while the laird’s men +wait upon them. And as for you, John Buchanan, it is to-day my +pleasure that you have the honour of being my cup-bearer.”</p> + +<p>Whether the honour thus thrust upon the Laird of Arnprior was as much +to his liking as an invitation to sit down with his guest would have +been, is questionable, but he served his majesty with good grace, and +the king was loud in his praise of the venison, although his +compliments fell sadly on the ears of the hungry men who watched it +disappear so rapidly. At the end of the feast James rose with his +flagon in his hand.</p> + +<p>“I give you the king,” he cried, “the King of Kippen. When I left +Stirling I had made up my mind that there could be but one king in a +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[Pg 45]</a></span>country, but glorious Scotland shall have no such restriction, and I +bestow upon Buchanan, whose ample cheer we have done justice to, the +title of King of Kippen, so long as he does not fall into the error of +supposing that Kippen includes all of Scotland, instead of Scotland +including Kippen. And so, Laird of Arnprior, King of Kippen, we drink +your good health, and when next my venison passes your door, take only +that portion of it which bears the same relation to the whole, as the +district of Kippen does to broad Scotland.”</p> + +<p>The toast was drunk with cheers, and when silence came, the King of +Kippen, casting a rueful glance along the empty board, said,—</p> + +<p>“I thank your majesty for your good wishes, but in truth the advice +you give will be hard to follow, for I see I should have stolen twice +the quantity of venison I did, because as I have not done so, I and my +men are like to go hungry.”</p> + +<p>And thus Buchanan came into his title of King of Kippen, although he +had to wait some time for his dinner on the day he acquired the +distinction.</p> + +<p> </p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[Pg 46-49]</a></span></p> +<p class="double3"> </p> + +<h2><a name="The_Kings_Tryst" id="The_Kings_Tryst"></a><span class="smcap">The King’s Tryst</span></h2> + +<hr class="secondlarge" /> + +<p class="n"><span style="float:left;font-size:40px;line-height:25px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:1px;">T</span>he king ruled. There was none to question the supremacy of James the +Fifth. At the age of twenty-two he now sat firmly on his throne. He +was at peace with England, friendly with France, and was pledged to +take a wife from that country. His great grandfather, James the +Second, had crushed the Black Douglas, and he himself had scattered +the Red Douglas to exile. No Scottish noble was now powerful enough to +threaten the stability of the throne. The country was contented and +prosperous, so James might well take his pleasure as best pleased him. +If any danger lurked near him it was unseen and unthought of.</p> + +<p>The king, ever first in the chase, whether the quarry ran on four legs +or on two, found himself <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[Pg 50]</a></span>alone on the road leading north-west from +Stirling, having outstripped his comrades in their hunt of the deer. +Evening was falling and James being some miles from Stirling Castle, +raised his bugle to his lips to call together his scattered followers, +but before a blast broke the stillness, his majesty was accosted by a +woman who emerged suddenly and unnoticed from the forest on his left +hand.</p> + +<p>“My lord, the king;” she said, and her voice, like the sound of silver +bells, thrilled with a note of inquiry.</p> + +<p>“Yes, my lassie,” answered the young man, peering down at his +questioner, lowering his bugle, and reining in his frightened horse, +which was startled by the sudden apparition before him. The dusk had +not yet so far thickened but the king could see that his interlocutor +was young and strikingly beautiful. Although dressed in the garb of +the lower orders, there was a quiet and imposing dignity in her +demeanour as she stood there by the side of the road. Her head was +uncovered, the shawl she wore over it having slipped down to her +shoulders, and her abundant hair, unknotted and unribboned, was ruddy +as spun gold. Her complexion was dazzlingly fair, her eyes of the +deepest blue, and her features perfection, except that her small mouth +showed a trifle too much firmness, <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[Pg 51]</a></span>a quality which her strong but +finely moulded chin corroborated and emphasised. The king, ever a +connoisseur of womanly loveliness, almost held his breath as he gazed +down upon the comely face upturned to him.</p> + +<p>“They told me at Stirling,” she said, “that you were hunting through +this district, and I have been searching for you in the forest.”</p> + +<p>“Good heavens, girl!” cried the king; “have you walked all the way +from Stirling?”</p> + +<p>“Aye, and much further. It is nothing, for I am accustomed to it. And +now I crave a word with your majesty.”</p> + +<p>“Surely, surely!” replied the king with enthusiasm, no thought of +danger in this unconventional encounter even occurring to him. The +natural prudence of James invariably deserted him where a pretty woman +was concerned. Now, instead of summoning his train, he looked +anxiously up and down the road listening for any sound of his men, but +the stillness seemed to increase with the darkness, and the silence +was profound, not even the rustle of a leaf disturbing it.</p> + +<p>“And who, my girl, are you?” continued the king, noticing that her +eyes followed his glance up and down the road with some trace of +apprehension in them, and that she hesitated to speak.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[Pg 52]</a></span></p><p>“May it please your gracious majesty, I am humble tirewoman to that +noble lady, Margaret Stuart, your honoured mother.”</p> + +<p>The king gave a whistle of astonishment.</p> + +<p>“My mother!” he exclaimed. “Then what in the name of Heaven are you +doing here and alone, so far from Methven?”</p> + +<p>“We came from Methven yesterday to her ladyship’s castle of Doune.”</p> + +<p>“Then her ladyship must have come to a very sudden resolution to +travel, for the constable of Doune is in my hunting-party, and I’ll +swear he expected no visitors.”</p> + +<p>“My gracious lady did not wish Stuart the constable to expect her, nor +does she now desire his knowledge of her presence in the castle. She +commanded me to ask your majesty to request the constable to remain in +Stirling, where, she understands, he spends most of his time. She begs +your majesty to come to her with all speed and secrecy.”</p> + +<p>“I wonder what is wrong now?” mused the king. “I have not heard from +her for nearly a year. She has quarrelled with her third husband, I +suppose, for the Tudors are all daft where matrimony is concerned.”</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[Pg 53]</a></span></p><p>“What does your majesty say?” asked the girl.</p> + +<p>“I was speaking to myself rather than to you, but I may add that I am +ready to go anywhere if you are to be my guide. Lend me your hand and +spring up here behind me. We will gallop to Doune at once.”</p> + +<p>The young woman drew back a step or two.</p> + +<p>“No, no,” she said. “The Lady Margaret is most anxious that your visit +should be unknown to any but herself, so she begs you to dismiss your +followers and lay your commands upon Constable Stuart of Doune.”</p> + +<p>“But my followers are all of them old enough to look after +themselves,” objected the king, “and the constable is not likely to +leave Stirling where he has remained these many months.”</p> + +<p>“The Lady Margaret thought,” persisted the girl, “that if your retinue +returned to Stirling and learned of your continued absence, anxiety +would ensue, and a search might be undertaken that would extend to +Doune.”</p> + +<p>“How did my lady mother know I was hunting when you could not have +learned of my excursion until you reached Stirling?” asked the king, +with a glimmer of that caution which appeared to have deserted him.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[Pg 54]</a></span></p><p>The girl seemed somewhat nonplussed by the question, but she answered +presently with quiet deliberation,—</p> + +<p>“Her ladyship was much perturbed and feared I should not find you at +the castle. She gave me various instructions, which she trusted I +could accommodate to varying contingencies.”</p> + +<p>“My girl,” said the king leaning towards her, “you do not speak like a +serving-maid. What is your name?”</p> + +<p>“I have been a gentlewoman, sire,” she answered simply, “but women, +alas, cannot control their fortunes. My name is Catherine. I will now +forward to Doune, and wait for you at the further side of the new +bridge the tailor has built over the Teith. If you will secure your +horse somewhere before coming to the river, and meet me there on foot, +I will conduct you to the castle. Will you come?”</p> + +<p>“Of a surety,” cried the king, in a tone that left no doubt of his +intentions. “I shall overtake you long before you are at the bridge!” +As he said this the girl fled away in the darkness, and then he raised +his bugle to his lips and blew a blast that speedily brought answering +calls.</p> + +<p>James’s unexplained absences were so frequent that his announcement of +an intention not to return <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[Pg 55]</a></span>home that night caused no surprise among +his company; so, bidding him good-night, they cantered off towards +Stirling, while he, unaccompanied, set his face to the north-west, and +his spurs to the horse’s flanks, but his steed was already tired out +and could not now keep pace with his impatience. To his +disappointment, he did not overtake the girl, but found her waiting +for him at the new bridge, and together they walked the short half +mile to the castle. The young man was inclined to be conversational, +but the girl made brief replies and finally besought his silence.</p> + +<p>The night had proved exceedingly dark, and they were almost at the +castle before its huge bulk loomed blackly before them. There was +something so sinister in its dim, grim contour that for the first time +since he set out on this night adventure, a suspicion that he was +acting unwisely crossed the king’s mind.</p> + +<p>Still, he meditated, it was his mother’s own castle, the constable of +which was a warm friend of his—almost, as one might say, a relative, +for Stuart was the younger brother of his mother’s husband, so what +could be amiss with this visit?</p> + +<p>“You are not taking me to the main entrance,” he whispered.</p> + +<p>“No, to the postern door.”</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[Pg 56]</a></span></p><p>“But the postern door is situated in the wall high above my reach; it +is intended for the exit of a possible messenger during a siege and +not for the entrance of a guest.”</p> + +<p>“I am acting in accordance with my instructions,” replied the girl. “A +rope ladder descends from the postern door.”</p> + +<p>“A rope ladder! that sounds promising; will you ascend it?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, sire, but meanwhile, I implore your majesty to be silent.”</p> + +<p>The king said no more until the rope ladder was in his hand.</p> + +<p>“I hope it is strong,” he murmured.</p> + +<p>Then he mounted lightly up in the darkness, until he stood on the sill +of the narrow doorway, when he reached forward his hand to assist his +slower comrade in mounting, but she sprang past him without availing +herself of his aid. In a low voice she begged pardon for preceding +him. Then walked up and up a winding stone staircase, on whose steps +there was barely room for two to pass each other. She pushed open a +door and allowed some light to stream through on the turret stair, +which disappeared in the darkness still further aloft.</p> + +<p>The king found himself in a large square apartment <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[Pg 57]</a></span>either on the +first or second story. It appeared in some sort to be a lady’s +boudoir, for the benches were cushioned and comfortable, and there +were evidences, about on small tables, of tapestry work and other +needle employment recently abandoned.</p> + +<p>“Will your majesty kindly be seated,” said the girl. “I must draw up +the ladder, close the postern door, and then inform my lady that you +are here.”</p> + +<p>She went out by the way they had entered and shut the door with a +force that seemed to the king unnecessary, but he caught his breath an +instant later as his quick ear seemed to tell him that a bolt had +fallen. He rose at once, tried to open the door, and discovered it was +indeed barred on the outside. One other exit remained to be tested; a +larger door evidently communicating with another room or passage; that +also he found locked. He returned to the middle of the room and stood +there for a few moments with knitted brow.</p> + +<p>“Trapped, Jamie, my lad! Trapped!” he muttered to himself. “Now what +object can my mother have in this? Does she expect by such childish +means to resume her authority over me? Does she hope that her third +husband shall rule <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[Pg 58]</a></span>Scotland in my name as did her second, with me a +prisoner? By Saint Andrew, no!”</p> + +<p>The king seized a bench, raised it over his head and crashed it in +bits against the larger door with a noise that reverberated through +the castle.</p> + +<p>“Open!” he cried; “open instantly!”</p> + +<p>Then he paused, awaiting the result of his fury. Presently he thought +he heard light footsteps coming along the passage and an instant later +the huge key turned slowly in the lock. The door opened, and to his +amazement he saw standing before him with wide frightened eyes, his +guide, but dressed now as a lady.</p> + +<p>“Madam,” said the king sternly, “I ask you the meaning of this +pleasantry?”</p> + +<p>“Pleasantry,” echoed the girl, staring at him with her hand upon a +huge iron key, alert to run if this handsome maniac, strewn round by +the wreckage of the bench he had broken, attempted to lay hands on +her.</p> + +<p>“Pleasantry?” she repeated; “that is a question I may well ask you. +Who are you, sir, and what are you doing here?”</p> + +<p>“Who I am, and what I am doing here, you know very well, because you +brought me here. A change of garb does not change a well-remembered +face,” and the king bowed to his visitor <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[Pg 59]</a></span>with a return of his +customary courtliness, now that his suspicions were allayed, for he +knew how to deal with pretty women. “Madam, there is no queen in +Scotland, but you are queen by right of nature, and though you doff +your gown, you cannot change your golden crown.”</p> + +<p>The girl’s hand unconsciously went up to her ruddy hair, while she +murmured more to herself than to him,—</p> + +<p>“This is some of Catherine’s work.”</p> + +<p>“Catherine was your name in the forest, my lady, what is your name in +the castle?”</p> + +<p>“Isabel is my name in castle and forest alike. You have met my twin +sister, Catherine. Why has she brought you here?”</p> + +<p>“Like an obedient son, I am here at the command of my honourable +mother; and your sister—if indeed goddesses so strangely fair, and so +strangely similar can be two persons—has gone to acquaint my mother +of my arrival.”</p> + +<p>The girl’s alarm seemed to increase as the king’s diminished. Trouble, +dismay, and fear marred her perfect face, and as the king scrutinised +her more minutely, he saw that the firm mouth and the resolute chin of +her sister had no place in the more softened and womanly features of +the lady before him.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[Pg 60]</a></span></p><p>“Your mother? Who is she?”</p> + +<p>“First, Margaret Tudor, daughter of the King of England, second, +Margaret Stuart, wife of the King of Scotland, third, Margaret +Douglas, ill mate of the Earl of Angus; fourth, and let us hope +finally, Margaret Stuart again, spouse of Lord Methven, and owner of +this castle.”</p> + +<p>The girl swayed as if she would fall, all colour struck suddenly from +her face. She leaned, nearly fainting, against the stone wall, passing +her hand once or twice across her terror-filled eyes.</p> + +<p>“Great God,” she moaned, “do not tell me that you are James, King of +Scotland, here, and alone, in this den of Douglases!”</p> + +<p>“Douglas!” cried the king roused at the hated name. “How can there be +Douglases in the Castle of Doune; my mother’s house, constabled by my +friend, young Stuart.”</p> + +<p>“Your mother’s house?” said the girl with an uncanny laugh. “When has +the Lady Margaret set foot in Doune? Not since she was divorced from +my uncle, Archibald Douglas, Earl of Angus! And the constable? Aye, +the constable is in Stirling. Doune Castle stands gloomy and alone, +but in Stirling with the young king, there are masques, and hunting +and gaiety. Young Stuart draws the revenues of his charge, <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[Pg 61]</a></span>but pays +slight attention to the fulfilment of his duty.”</p> + +<p>“You are then Isabel Douglas? And now, to echo your own question, how +came you here? If this is a den of Douglases, as you say, how comes my +mother’s castle to be officered by the enemies of her son?”</p> + +<p>“That you ask such a question shows little foresight or knowledge of +men. When your first step-father, and my uncle, Archibald Douglas, had +control of this castle through your mother’s name, he filled it with +his own adherents.”</p> + +<p>“Naturally; nepotism was a well-known trait of my domineering +step-father, which did not add to his popularity in Scotland. Who can +get office, or justice against a Douglas? was their cry. But did not +young Stuart, when he was made constable, put in his own men?”</p> + +<p>“The constable cares nothing for this stronghold so long as it +furnishes money which he may spend gaily in Stirling.”</p> + +<p>“I see. So you and your sister found refuge among your underlings? and +where so safe from search as within the king’s mother’s own fortress, +almost under the shadow of Stirling? An admirable device. Why then do +you jeopardise your safety by letting me into the secret?”</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[Pg 62]</a></span></p><p>The girl sighed deeply with downcast eyes, then she flashed a glance +at him which had something in it of the old Douglas hauteur.</p> + +<p>“I fear,” she said, “that it is not our safety which is jeopardised.”</p> + +<p>“You mean that I am in danger?”</p> + +<p>“The same stronghold which gives immunity to a family of the Red +Douglases can hardly be expected to confer security upon James the +Fifth, their persecutor.”</p> + +<p>“No. Certainly that would be too much to expect. Are you then in this +plot against me, my lady?”</p> + +<p>“I have not heard of any plot. If there is one I know nothing of it. I +merely acquaint you with some hint of my fears.”</p> + +<p>“Then I charge you as a loyal subject of the lawful king, to guide me +from this stronghold, into which I have been cozened by treachery and +falsehood.”</p> + +<p>Catherine, who had entered silently and unnoticed through the smaller +door, now stepped forward, drew her sister into the room, took out the +huge key, closed the door and locked it, then turned fiercely to the +king. Her beautiful white right arm was bare to the elbow, the loose +sleeve rolled up, and in her hand she held a dagger. <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[Pg 63]</a></span>With her back +against the newly locked door, she said,—</p> + +<p>“I’ll be your majesty’s guide from this castle, and your perjured soul +shall find exit through a postern gate made by my dagger!”</p> + +<p>“Oh, Catherine, Catherine,” sobbed Isabel, weeping in fear and horror +of the situation, “you cannot contemplate so awful a deed, a murder so +foul, for however unworthy he may be, he is still the king.”</p> + +<p>“What is there foul in ridding the world of a reptile such as he? How +many innocent lives has he taken to encompass his revenge? How many +now of our name are exiled and starving because of his action? I shall +strike the blow with greater surety, for in killing him I extinguish +his treacherous race.”</p> + +<p>“No good can come from assassination, Catherine.”</p> + +<p>“What greater evil can spring from his death than from his life?”</p> + +<p>“His killing will not bring back those whom he has slain; it will not +cause our banished kinsmen to return. It will be a murder for +revenge.”</p> + +<p>“And not the first in Scotland,” said Catherine grimly.</p> + +<p>The king had once more seated himself, and <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">[Pg 64]</a></span>now, resting his chin on +his open palm, listened to the discussion with the interested bearing +of one who had little concern with its result. A half amused smile +wreathed his lips, and once or twice he made a motion as if he would +intervene, but on second thoughts kept silent.</p> + +<p>“Do not attempt this fell deed, dear sister,” pleaded Isabel +earnestly. “Let us away as we intended. The horses are ready and +waiting for us. Our mother is looking for our coming in her room. The +night wears on and we must pass Stirling while it is yet dark, so +there is no time to be lost. Dear sister, let us quit Scotland, as we +purposed, an accursed land to all of our name, but let us quit it with +unstained hands.”</p> + +<p>“Isabel, darling,” said Catherine in a low voice that quavered with +the emotion caused by her sister’s distress and appeal, “what unlucky +chance brought you to this fatal door at such a moment? Can you not +understand that I have gone too far to retreat? Who, having caged the +tiger, dare open again the gate and set him free? If for no other +reason, the king must die because he is here and because I brought him +here. Open the door behind you, Isabel, go down the circular stair, +and at the postern step you will find the rope ladder <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[Pg 65]</a></span>by which I +ascended. Get you to the courtyard and there wait for me, saying +nothing.”</p> + +<p>“Catherine, Catherine, the king will pardon you. He will surely +forgive what you have done in exchange for his life.”</p> + +<p>“Forgiveness!” cried Catherine, her eyes blazing again. “I want no +forgiveness from the king of Scotland. Pardon! The tiger would pardon, +till once he is free again. The king must die.”</p> + +<p>“I shall go as you have bid me, Catherine, but not to do your bidding. +I shall arouse this castle and prevent an abominable crime.”</p> + +<p>Catherine laughed harshly.</p> + +<p>“Whom would you call to your assistance? Douglases, Douglases, +Douglases! How many of your way of thinking will you find in the +castle? You know well, one only, and that is our mother, old and +helpless. Rouse the castle, Isabel, if you will, and find a dead man, +and perhaps a dead sister, when you break in this locked door.”</p> + +<p>The helpless Isabel sank her head against the wall and burst into a +fury of weeping.</p> + +<p>“Ladies,” said the king soothingly, rising to his feet, “will you +graciously condone my intervention in this dispute? You are discussing +an important act, from the commission of which all <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">[Pg 66]</a></span>sentiment should +be eliminated; an act which requires the hard strong mind of a man +brought to bear upon the pros and cons of its consummation. You are +dealing with it entirely from the standpoint of the heart and not of +the head, an error common with women, and one that has ever precluded +their effective dealing with matters of State. You will pardon me, +Lady Isabel, when I say that your sister takes a much more practical +view of the situation than you do. She is perfectly right in holding +that, having me prisoner here, it is impossible to allow me to go +scatheless. There is no greater folly than the folly of half doing a +thing.”</p> + +<p>“Does your majesty argue in favour of your own murder?” asked Isabel +amazed, gazing at the young man through her tears.</p> + +<p>“Not so, but still that is a consideration which I must endeavour to +eliminate from my mind, if my advice is to be impartial, and of +service to you. May I beg of you to be seated? We have the night +before us, and may consider the various interesting points at our +leisure, and thus no irremediable mistake need be made.”</p> + +<p>Isabel, wellnigh exhausted with the intensity of her feelings, sank +upon the bench, but Catherine still stood motionless, dagger in hand, +her back <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">[Pg 67]</a></span>against the door. The king, seeing she did not intend to +obey, went on suavely. There was a light of intense admiration in his +eye as he regarded the standing woman.</p> + +<p>“Ladies,” he said, “can you tell me when last a King of Scotland—a +James also—and a Catherine Douglas bore relation to each other in +somewhat similar circumstances?”</p> + +<p>The king paused, but the girl, lowering at him, made no reply, and +after a few moments the young man went on.</p> + +<p>“It was a year more than a century ago, when the life of James the +First was not only threatened, but extinguished, not by one brave +woman, but by a mob of cowardly assassins. Then Catherine Douglas +nearly saved the life of her king. She thrust her fair young arm into +the iron loops of a door, and had it shattered by those craven +miscreants.”</p> + +<p>Isabel wept quietly, her face in her two open hands. But Catherine +answered in anger,—</p> + +<p>“Why did the Catherine Douglas of that day risk her life to save the +king? Because James the First was a just monarch. Why does the +Catherine Douglas of to-day wish to thrust her dagger into the false +heart of James the Fifth? Because he has turned on the hand that +nurtured him——”</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">[Pg 68]</a></span></p><p>“The hand that imprisoned him, Lady Catherine. Pardon my correction.”</p> + +<p>“He turned on the man who governed Scotland wisely and well.”</p> + +<p>“Again pardon me; he had no right to govern. I was the king, not +Archibald Douglas. But all that is beside the question, and +recrimination is as bad as sentiment for clouding cold reason. What I +wished to point out is, that assassination of kings or the capture of +them very rarely accomplishes its object. James the First was +assassinated and as result two Stuarts, two Grahams and two Chamberses +were tortured and executed; so his murderers profited little. My +grandfather James the Third was carried off by the Boyds, but Sir +Alexander Boyd was beheaded and his brother and nephew suffered +forfeiture. I think I have shown then that violence is usually +futile.”</p> + +<p>“Not so,” answered Catherine; “your grandfather was assassinated, +and the man who killed him is not known to this day. Your +great-grandfather basely murdered the Black Douglas in Stirling, +thus breaking his word of honour for he had given Douglas safe +conduct, yet he profited by his act and crushed my kinsmen.”</p> + +<p>“I see, Lady Catherine, that you are too well versed in history for me +to contend with you successfully <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">[Pg 69]</a></span>on that subject,” said the king with +a silent laugh. “We will therefore restrict the inquiry to the present +case, as wise people should. Tell me then, so that I may be the better +able to advise you, what is your true object—revenge and my death, or +the wringing from me of concessions for your family?”</p> + +<p>“I could not wring concessions from you, because you could not make +good those concessions unless I released you. I dare not release you, +because I dare not trust you.”</p> + +<p>“I foresaw your difficulty, and so I told your sister that, having +gone so far, you could not retreat. The issue is therefore narrowed +down to death, and how it may best be accomplished. You have made the +tactical mistake of forewarning me. I cannot understand why you did +not mount my horse beside me and stab me in the back as we rode +through the forest. Did this not occur to you, Lady Catherine?”</p> + +<p>“It did, but there were objections. Your horse would doubtless have +escaped me, and would have galloped riderless to Stirling; your body +would have been found by break of day, and we but a few hours’ march +from Stirling. Here I expect you to lie undiscovered in this locked +room till we are safe in England.”</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">[Pg 70]</a></span></p><p>“That is clear reasoning,” commented the king with impartiality, “but +have you looked beyond? Who will be the successor of the throne? I +have neither brother nor sister; my two uncles died before I was born, +and I perish childless. I think you mentioned that you wished to +extinguish our line. Very well; what follows? Who is heir to the +throne?”</p> + +<p>“It matters nothing to me,” said Catherine firmly. “Whoever rules +Scotland could not be a greater enemy to my race than you are.”</p> + +<p>“I am not so sure of that. I think your dagger-blow will bring +consequences you do not look for, and that your kin, now exiled in +England will find the stroke a savage one for them. You forget that +the stern King of England is my uncle, and on this relationship may +lay claim to the Scottish throne. Be that as it may, it will be no +secret that a Douglas committed the murder; and think you Henry VIII +will offer safe refuge to his nephew’s assassins? You much misjudge +him if you do. It would have been far better to have slain me in the +forest. This castle business is but an ill-judged, ill thought-out +plan. I am sorry to appear adversely critical, but such is my opinion, +and it confirms me in the belief that women should leave steel and +State alone.”</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">[Pg 71]</a></span></p><p>“I dare not let you go,” reiterated Catherine.</p> + +<p>“Of a surety you dare not; that is what I have said from the +beginning. On the other hand, I can make no concession, under +coercion, that would save my life. You see we are both cowardly, each +in a different way. And now having come to the absolutely logical +conclusion that the king must die, you should turn your mind to the +difficulties that confront you. I, you see, am also armed.”</p> + +<p>The king as he spoke took from his doublet a dagger almost similar to +the one held by the girl. A gentle smile graced his lips as he ran his +thumb along the edge, and then glanced up at the two in time to notice +their consternation at this new element in the situation.</p> + +<p>“If you enter a tiger’s cage you should expect a touch of his claws, +so, Lady Catherine, your task is more serious than you anticipated. +There is furthermore another source of danger against you, and it is +my sincere wish that in the struggle to come you may not be too +severely handicapped. While the issue of our contest is still in +doubt, your sister will assuredly unlock the door and give the alarm, +hoping to prevent your contemplated crime, or my killing of you. I +think it right that you should not be called upon to suffer <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">[Pg 72]</a></span>this +intervention, for, if you will permit me to say so, I admire your +determination as much as I admire, in another way, the Lady Isabel’s +leaning towards mercy. I shall then, take this key from the larger +door and place it, with your sister, outside on the narrow stairway. +You have withdrawn the rope ladder so she cannot alarm the garrison.”</p> + +<p>“But I have not withdrawn it,” said Catherine quickly. “My sister must +not leave this room or she will bring interference.”</p> + +<p>“Then,” said the king calmly, as he rose and took the key from the +large door, “we shall at least make it impossible for her to open the +way into the hall.” And so saying, he stepped to the smaller door, +which he opened, and before either of the women could prevent his +action, or even grasp an inkling of his design, he stepped outside, +key in hand, and thrust to their places the bolts of the stairway +door.</p> + +<p>The two girls looked at each other for a moment in silence, Isabel +plainly panic-stricken, while in Catherine’s face anger struggled with +chagrin. Each was quick to see the sudden consequences of this turning +of the tables; the two were helpless prisoners in a remote portion of +the castle, no one within its walls being acquainted with their +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">[Pg 73]</a></span>whereabouts. The king, insulted, hoodwinked, and all but murdered, +was now at liberty, free to ride the few short leagues that lay +between Doune and Stirling, and before daybreak the fortress would be +in the hands of an overwhelming force with the present garrison +prisoners. In the awed stillness an unexpected sound came to them from +the outside; the sound of a man endeavouring to suppress the hearty +laughter that overmastered him. To be doomed is bad enough, but to be +made the subject of levity was too much for the dauntless Catherine. +She flung her dagger ringing to the stone floor with a gesture of +rage, then sank upon a bench and gave way to tears; tears of bitter +humiliation and rage.</p> + +<p>“Ladies,” said the king from the outside, “I beg that you will allow +me to open the door.” But, receiving no answer, the bolts were drawn +once more; James again entered the apartment and gazed down upon two +fair proud heads, crowned with ruddy hair.</p> + +<p>“Dear ladies,” said the king, “forgive me my untimely mirth. Both of +you take matters much too seriously; a little laughter is necessary in +this world. My Lady Catherine, I told you that I could grant no +concessions under coercion, but now coercion has vanished and I enter +this room <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">[Pg 74]</a></span>a free man of my own will. Tell me, my girl, what is it you +want? The rescinding of your father’s exile? It is granted. The right +to live unmolested in your own castle? It is granted. Safe conduct to +England? It is granted. The privilege of remaining in Doune? It is +granted. But do not ask me to rescind banishment against Archibald +Douglas, Earl of Angus, for that I shall not concede. The Douglas +ambition, and not the Scottish king, has wrecked the Douglas family, +both Black and Red. But as far as concerns your own immediate kin, +with one exception, I shall give anything you like to ask.”</p> + +<p>Catherine rose to her feet, threw back her auburn tresses, and said +curtly,—</p> + +<p>“We ask nothing but the privilege of leaving the country you rule.”</p> + +<p>The king bowed.</p> + +<p>“And you, Lady Isabel?”</p> + +<p>“I go with my sister and my mother.”</p> + +<p><a name="illo4" id="illo4"></a></p><div class="figcenter" style="width: 434px;"> +<img src="images/i084.jpg" class="illogap" width="434" height="500" alt="“My fair antagonist, I bid you good-night.”" title="" /> +<span class="caption"><span class="smcap">“My fair antagonist, I bid you good-night.”</span></span> +</div> + +<p>“I grieve at your decision, ladies, and for the first time in my life +envy England in getting an advantage over poor old Scotland, which I +hope will not be irreparable, for I trust you will return. But if such +be your determination, then go in peace, and in the daylight. Your +journey shall not be molested by me. But, before you add <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">[Pg 75]</a></span>finality to your intentions, I think it would be but fair to inform +your lady mother that the king is anxious to be of service to her, and +perhaps she may be content to accept what her daughters are apparently +too proud to receive.”</p> + +<p>James placed the key once more in the lock, and turning to Catherine +said,—</p> + +<p>“My fair antagonist, I bid you good-night.”</p> + +<p>He stretched out his right hand, and she, with some hesitation and +visible reluctance placed her palm in his. Then the king raised to his +lips the hand which at one time seemed like to have stricken him.</p> + +<p>“And you, sweet Isabel, whose gentle words I shall not soon forget, +you will not refuse me your hand?”</p> + +<p>“No, your majesty, if you will promise to think kindly of me.”</p> + +<p>The king, however, did not raise her hand to his lips, but placing an +arm about her waist he drew her towards him and kissed her. Next +moment he was hurrying down the stone steps, and the two were left +alone together.</p> + +<p> </p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">[Pg 76-79]</a></span></p> +<p class="double3"> </p> +<h2><a name="The_King_Investigates" id="The_King_Investigates"></a><span class="smcap">The King Investigates</span></h2> + +<hr class="secondlarge" /> + +<p class="n"><span style="float:left;font-size:40px;line-height:25px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:1px;">T</span>he king, wishing to decide wisely, was troubled by a conflict of +evidence, the bane of impartial judges all the world over. A courier +from England had brought formal complaint that, while the two +countries were ostensibly at peace, the condition along the border was +practically a state of war. Raids were continually being made from the +southern portion of Scotland across the boundary into England, and the +robbers retreated unscathed to hide themselves among their hills, +carrying their booty with them. These ruffians had long gone +unpunished, and now England made friendly protest in the matter.</p> + +<p>The king gathered his nobles about him and laid the case before them. +Not a man among <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">[Pg 80]</a></span>them but was older than himself, and therefore more +experienced. James requested advice regarding the action it might be +thought wise to take. Many of the nobles whose estates lay in the +Lowlands of Scotland had themselves suffered from Highland +cattle-lifters, and thus they were imbued with a fellow feeling for +the raided English across the border. The English protest, they said, +was courteously made. The evil was undoubted, and had existed +unchecked for years, growing worse rather than better. Henry VIII, who +now occupied the English throne, was a strong and determined man, and +this continued source of irritation in the northern part of his realm +might easily lead to a deplorable war between the two countries. In +addition, James of Scotland was nephew to Henry of England, and the +expostulation from uncle to nephew was of the mildest, without any +threat even intimated.</p> + +<p>The nobles thought that James might well put a stop to a state of +things which no just man could approve, and thus do an act of justice +which would at the same time please an august relative. James admitted +that these were powerful arguments, but still if the Border robbers, +who had many followers, resisted the Scottish force sent against them, +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">[Pg 81]</a></span>there would be civil war, an outcome not to be looked forward to with +light heart.</p> + +<p>“In truth,” said the king, “I would rather lead an army against +England, with England in the right, than against my own countrymen, +even if they were in the wrong.”</p> + +<p>This remark seemed to encourage certain gentlemen there present, who +up to that moment had not spoken. The Earl of Bothwell, as the highest +in rank among the silent phalanx, stepped forward and said,—</p> + +<p>“Your majesty, there are always two sides to a question, and, with +your permission, I should be glad to put in a word for those Border +riders who have been so ruthlessly condemned by men who know nothing +of them.”</p> + +<p>“It is for the purpose of hearing all there is to say that I called +you together,” rejoined the king. “Speak, my Lord of Bothwell.”</p> + +<p>“In the first place, your majesty, these Border men have had to stand +the first brunt of all invasions into our country for centuries past. +It is, therefore, little to be wondered at that they have small liking +for the English. We are at peace with those to the south of us now, it +is true; but how long that peace will remain unbroken, no man can say. +There is, however, one thing certain, <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">[Pg 82]</a></span>that if the King of Scotland +exercises the power he undoubtedly possesses, and crushes the Border +forces, he will have destroyed a staunch bulwark of his realm, and I +quite agree with those gentlemen who have spoken so eloquently against +the Borderers, that the King of England, and the people of England, +will be well pleased.”</p> + +<p>This statement had a marked effect on King James, and it would have +been well if those who agreed with the Earl of Bothwell had been as +moderate in their denunciation. But some of them, apparently, could +not forget the youth of the king, and, not having the sense to see +that his majesty’s desire was to render a just decision, thought he +might be frightened by strong language.</p> + +<p>“It is easy for those to speak well of the pike, who have not felt the +prod of its point,” cried Lord Maxwell angrily. “Few English invasions +have reached Stirling, but every one of them have crossed the Border. +What matters the lifting of some English cattle? The Southerners never +scrupled to eat good Scottish beef whenever they set foot on Scottish +soil. I would hang the English envoy for daring to come to a Scottish +king with complaints of cattle lifting.”</p> + +<p>The king frowned slightly but said nothing, <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">[Pg 83]</a></span>and then Adam Scott of +Tushielaw had to thrust his bull neck into the noose.</p> + +<p>“I give you fair warning,” he cried, “that if the king’s forces are +turned against the Borderers, my sword helps my neighbours.”</p> + +<p>“And I say the same,” shouted Cockburn of Henderland.</p> + +<p>Some of the opposition were about to speak, but the king held up his +hand for silence.</p> + +<p>“That is treason,” he said quietly. “Adam Scott, I have heard that you +are called King of the Border. Scotland is blessed with a number of +men who are king of this, or king of that, and I am sure I make no +objection, as long as they do not forget the difference that exists +between a king in name and a king in reality. I asked for advice, but +not for threats.”</p> + +<p>Then to the whole assemblage he went on—</p> + +<p>“Gentlemen, I thank you for your counsel. I shall give a soothing +reply to my uncle’s ambassador, keeping in mind the peace that exists +between the two countries, and then I shall take what has been said on +each side into consideration and let you know the result.”</p> + +<p>Accepting this as dismissal, those there congregated withdrew, save +only Sir David Lyndsay, <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">[Pg 84]</a></span>the king having made a sign for him to +remain. “Well, Davie,” he said, when they were alone, “what do you +think of it all?”</p> + +<p>“To tell truth, your majesty,” answered the poet, “it’s a knotty +problem, not to be solved by rhyming brain. When the first spokesman +finished I was entirely of his opinion, but, after that, the Earl of +Bothwell’s plea seemed equally weighty, and between the two I don’t +know what to think.”</p> + +<p>“That is the disadvantage of an unbiased mind, Davie. Now, with good, +strong prejudices, one side or the other, the way would be clear, and +yet I despise a man who doesn’t know his own mind.”</p> + +<p>“Scott and Cockburn seemed to know their minds very well,” ventured +the poet, with a smile.</p> + +<p>“Yes, and if one or two more of them had spoken as decidedly, I would +have been off to the Border to-night at the head of my troops. It is a +weakness of mine, but I can’t put up with a threat very well.”</p> + +<p>“Kings are rarely called upon to thole a threat,” said Sir David, with +a laugh.</p> + +<p>“I’m not so sure of that, Davie. Kings have to thole many things if +they are to rule justly. <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">[Pg 85]</a></span>Now, Davie, if you’ll but tell me just what +to do, it will be a great help, for then I can take the opposite +direction with confidence.”</p> + +<p>But the poet shook his head.</p> + +<p>“I cannot tell you,” he said. “There seems much to be said for both +sides.”</p> + +<p>“Then, Davie, send down to the town for the cobbler; send for +Flemming, he is a common-sense, canny body; he shall be the Solomon of +the occasion. That broad-faced hammer of his seems to rap out wisdom +as well as drive pegs. Bring him up with you, and we’ll place the case +before him.”</p> + +<p>As the rhymster left the room, Sir Donald Sinclair came clanking in, +seemingly in something of a hurry.</p> + +<p>“Was it your majesty’s pleasure,” began Sir Donald, “to have detained +Adam Scott and Cockburn?”</p> + +<p>“No. Why do you ask?”</p> + +<p>“Because they have mounted their horses and are off to the Border as +fast as two good steeds can carry them.”</p> + +<p>“And where are Bothwell, Home, and Maxwell, and the Lairds of +Fairniherst, Johnston and Buccleuch?”</p> + +<p>“They are all closeted in the Earl of Bothwell’s <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">[Pg 86]</a></span>room, your majesty. +Shall I take any action regarding them?”</p> + +<p>“Oh no; do not meddle with them. You heard the opinions given a while +since, Donald? What conclusion did you arrive at?”</p> + +<p>“I am scarcely an impartial judge, your majesty. A soldier is ever for +fighting, and I fear he pays little attention to the right or wrong of +it.”</p> + +<p>“You would try a fall with the Border kings perhaps?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, your majesty, I would.”</p> + +<p>“Then I need have no fear but the troops will respond if I call on +them?”</p> + +<p>“None in the least, your majesty.”</p> + +<p>“Well, I am glad to hear that, Sir Donald, and, meanwhile, I can think +of the project without any doubt regarding my army.”</p> + +<p>When the cobbler came to the castle with Sir David, the king led the +way to one of his small private rooms, and there sketched out the +argument on both sides of the question with great impartiality.</p> + +<p>“Now, Flemming,” he said, at the conclusion, “what is there to do?”</p> + +<p>For a long time the shoemaker made no reply; then he scratched his +head in perplexed fashion. At last he said:</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">[Pg 87]</a></span></p><p>“It gets beyond me, your majesty. Thieving is not right unless it’s +done under cover of law, which these reiving lads to the South seem to +take small account of. On the other hand, to destroy them root and +branch may be leaving Scotland naked to her enemy. I admit I’m fairly +in a corner.”</p> + +<p>Sir David Lyndsay laughed.</p> + +<p>“You’re as bad as I am, cobbler,” he said.</p> + +<p>“There is one point,” commented the king, “that no one seems to have +taken any notice of, and that is this: Those who speak against the +Border marauders are those who know little of them except by hearsay; +while the lords in their neighbourhood, who should know them well, +stand up for them, and even threaten to draw sword on their behalf.”</p> + +<p>“That certainly speaks well for the villains,” admitted the cobbler.</p> + +<p>“Then what is your verdict,” demanded the king.</p> + +<p>“Well, I kind of think I should leave them alone,” said Flemming +cautiously.</p> + +<p>“Do you agree with him, David?”</p> + +<p>“I’m not sure but I do. It seems a choice of two evils.”</p> + +<p>The king laughed riotously and smote his thigh.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">[Pg 88]</a></span></p><p>“Well, of all half-hearted counsellors, King James has the champion +pair; and yet I had made up my mind before I asked the advice of +either of you.”</p> + +<p>“And what was that?” inquired Sir David, “to attack them?”</p> + +<p>“No.”</p> + +<p>“To leave them alone?” suggested the cobbler.</p> + +<p>“No.”</p> + +<p>“What then?” cried both together.</p> + +<p>“What then? Why, just to get a little surer information. Here are +three men of open minds. I propose that for the next week, or +thereabouts, we three shall be honest cattle merchants, who will mount +our honest horses and take a quiet bit journey along the Border. The +scenery, they tell me, is grand, and David here will make poems on it. +It’s a healthy country, and the cobbler has been bending too +assiduously over broken shoes of late, so the fresh air and the +exercise will do him good.”</p> + +<p>“Losh, your majesty!” cried the cobbler, in dismay, “I’m no horseman. +I never rode any four-legged thing but a cobbler’s bench, and that +side-saddle fashion.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, you’ll have learnt when we reach the Border,” said the king, with +a laugh. “Before <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">[Pg 89]</a></span>two days are past you’ll be riding as well as Sir +David, who is at present the worst horseman in all Scotland.”</p> + +<p>“Pegasus is the steed I yearn to ride,” returned the poet, with a wry +face.</p> + +<p>“Yes, and even it sometimes throws you, David. You’ll never be the +Psalmist your namesake was. Well, we’ll look on it as agreed. Flemming +shall be purse-bearer, and so our tour will be an economical one. Here +is a purse well filled. You will look after the drover’s costumes, +make all disbursements, and take care that you do not betray us by +undue lavishness.”</p> + +<p>Thus it came about that three supposed drovers took their way to the +Border by a route which drovers were never known to travel before, +and, besides this, they were travelling empty-handed towards England, +whereas, real drovers faced the south with their herds before them, +and the north with those herds sold or stolen. Not one of the three +had in his vocabulary a single word pertaining to the cattle trade, +and every man with whom they spoke knew at once that, whatever else +they might be, they were not drovers, and so the ill-fated three went +blundering through the free-booters’ country, climbing hills and +descending dales, and frightening honest folk with the questions <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">[Pg 90]</a></span>they +asked; questions about men whose names should be spoken in a whisper, +and even then with a look of fear over the shoulder. Innkeepers who +saw them approach with delight, watched them leave with relief, +thanking God that no raider had happened inside to hear their innocent +inquiries; yet the three themselves were enjoying an interesting and +instructive journey, and the king had come to the conclusion that the +devil was not so black as he was painted.</p> + +<p>At last, they stumbled into a hostelry kept by a man whose name was +Armstrong. Their horses were taken care of and the trio sat down to a +hearty meal, as had been their luck all along the Border.</p> + +<p>“Landlord, does this meat come from England?” asked the king.</p> + +<p>The landlord caught his breath. He stood stock still for a moment and +then replied,—</p> + +<p>“I hope it is to your lordship’s liking.”</p> + +<p>“Oh! I’m no lordship,” said James, “but an honest drover body, trying +to find new markets for my stock.”</p> + +<p>“I can see that,” replied the landlord; “then you will know that this +meat’s raised by Scotchmen.”</p> + +<p>“Raised!” laughed the king. “Raised where? <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">[Pg 91]</a></span>In Northumberland? Are you +sure ‘lift’ is not the word you mean?”</p> + +<p>“Sir,” said the landlord, gravely, “there’s no lifting of cattle +hereabout. This is not the Highlands. All in the neighbourhood are +honest farmers or foresters.”</p> + +<p>“Earning their bread by the sweat of their brow,” put in Sir David +Lyndsay.</p> + +<p>“Doubtless, when the English are after them,” suggested the cobbler.</p> + +<p>The landlord did not join in their mirth, but merely said,—</p> + +<p>“If your dinner is to your liking, my duty is done.”</p> + +<p>“Quite so,” answered the king. “We were merely curious regarding the +origin of your viands; but the question seems to be a ticklish one in +this district.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, not at all,” replied the innkeeper grimly. “If you question +enough, you are sure to meet some one who will make you a suitable +answer.”</p> + +<p>The landlord, seemingly not liking the turn of the conversation, +disappeared, and during the rest of the meal they were waited upon by +a lowering, silent woman, who scowled savagely at them, and made no +reply to the raillery of the king, who <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">[Pg 92]</a></span>was in the highest spirits. +They had ridden far that morning since breakfasting, and it was well +after midday when they drew away from a table that had been devoted to +their satisfying. Sir David and Flemming showed little inclination to +proceed with their journey.</p> + +<p>“The poor beasts must have a rest,” said the poet, although none of +the three were horsemen enough to go out and see how the animals fared +at the hands of the stableman. The king was accustomed to be waited +upon, and the other two knew little and cared less about horses. As +they sat there in great content they heard suddenly a commotion +outside and the clatter of many hoofs on the stone causeway. The door +burst in, and there came, trampling, half a dozen men, who entered +with scant ceremony, led by a stalwart individual who cast a quick +glance from one to the other of the three who were seated. His eye +rested on the king, whom, with quick intuition, he took to be the +leader of the expedition and, doffing his feathered bonnet in a +salutation that had more of mockery than respect in it, he said: “I +hear that, like myself, you’re in the cattle trade, and that you’re +anxious to learn the prospect of doing business in this mountainous +locality.”</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">[Pg 93]</a></span></p><p>“You are quite right,” replied the king.</p> + +<p>“I have in my byres near by,” continued the man, “some of the finest +stirks that ever stood on four hoofs. Would you be willing to come and +give me your opinion of them, and say how much you care to pay for as +many as you need?”</p> + +<p>Again the man swept his bonnet nearly to the floor, and his six men, +who stood back against the wall, as if to give the speaker the stage +in the centre of the floor, glanced one at another. The king, however, +was unruffled, and he replied with a twinkle in his eye,—</p> + +<p>“My good sir, you are mistaken, we are on the other side of the +market. We are sellers and not buyers.”</p> + +<p>“So was Judas,” said the incomer, his politeness giving way to an +expression of fierceness and cruelty which went far to terrify two of +the seated men. “Are you sure, sir, that the cattle you sell have not +two legs instead of four?”</p> + +<p>“I don’t understand you,” replied the king.</p> + +<p>“Is it men or stirks, you would give to the butcher?”</p> + +<p>“Still I do not understand you,” repeated the king.</p> + +<p>“Oh, very well. How much are you asking for your cattle?”</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">[Pg 94]</a></span></p><p>“We are here rather to see how much may be offered.”</p> + +<p>“I can well believe you. Still, you must know something of the price +of beasts on hoofs. How much would you want for a good, fat stirk? +Answer me that!”</p> + +<p>The king glanced at his two companions, and his glance said as plainly +as words, “Give me a hint, in heaven’s name, regarding the cost of a +beast;” but in all Scotland he could not have found two men who knew +less about the subject.</p> + +<p>“Oh, well,” said the king, nonchalantly, not at all liking the turn +affairs had taken, “I suppose we would be satisfied with twenty +pounds,” and this being received with a roar of laughter, he added +hastily, “twenty pounds Scots.”</p> + +<p>“Oh,” said the big man, “I was afraid you were going to demand that +amount in English currency. It is evident you will do well at the +trade, if you can find such buyers.”</p> + +<p>“Then make us an offer,” suggested the king, with the air of a man +willing to listen to reason.</p> + +<p>“Where are your cattle?”</p> + +<p>“They’re in the north.”</p> + +<p>“What part of the north?”</p> + +<p>“My good fellow,” cried the king, his temper rising, “you have asked +many questions and answered <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">[Pg 95]</a></span>none. Who are you, and what right have +you to make your demands in such a tone?”</p> + +<p>“Ah, then there’s some spirit among the three of you. I am glad to see +that. Who am I? I am Johnny Armstrong. Did you ever hear tell of him? +And I suspect that your cattle are grown in the high town of Stirling. +Am I right in that? It is in Stirling that you can sell what you may +lift on the Border, and your cattle will be paid for in king’s gold. +You are spies, my fine gentlemen, and know as little of cattle as I +know of the king and the court.”</p> + +<p>The king rejoined calmly,—</p> + +<p>“The country is at peace. There can be no spies except in a time of +war.”</p> + +<p>“Is it even so? Then what are you three doing rampaging up and down my +land on the Border?”</p> + +<p>“That the lands may be yours we do not dispute, nor have we interfered +with them. The highways are the king’s, and we three are peaceful +subjects of his, claiming, therefore, the right to travel on them as +we will, so long as we infringe not his peace or the liberty of any +man.”</p> + +<p>“Stoutly spoken and bravely, considering in what king’s dominion you +now find yourself. You have to learn that Johnny, and not Jamie, <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">[Pg 96]</a></span>is +king of the Border. And when you’re in the hands of a man named +Armstrong, you’ll find how little a boy named Stuart can do for you. +Tie them up!”</p> + +<p>Before one of the three could move from the stool he occupied, they +were set upon by the ruffians, and each Stirling man found his ankles +fastened together and his elbows tied behind his back with a speed +that amazed him.</p> + +<p>“Bless my soul,” moaned the poet, “all this in broad daylight, and in +the king’s dominion.”</p> + +<p>They were carried outside and flung thus helpless, face downward on +horses, like so many sacks of corn, each before a mounted man. +Armstrong sprung upon his horse and led his men from the high road +into the forest, his followers numbering something like a score. The +captives, from their agonising position on the horses, could see +nothing of the way they were being taken, except that they journeyed +on and on through dense woodland. They lost all knowledge of +direction, and, by and by, came to the margin of a brawling stream, +arriving at last, much to their relief, at a stronghold of vast +extent, situated on a beetling rock that overhung the river. Here the +three were placed on their feet again, and chattering women and +children crowded round them, but, <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">[Pg 97]</a></span>in no case, was there a word of +pity or an expression of sympathy for their plight.</p> + +<p>The striking feature of the castle was a tall square tower, which +might be anything from seventy to a hundred feet in height; and +connected with it were several stone buildings, some two stories and +some three stories high. Round the castle, in a wide, irregular +circle, had been built a stout stone wall, perhaps twenty feet high, +wide enough on the top for half a dozen men to walk abreast. The space +enclosed was tolerably flat, and large enough for a small army to +exercise in. Leaning against the inside of this wall was an array of +sheds, which provided stabling for the horses, and numerous stalls in +which many cattle were lowing. The contour of the wall was broken by a +gateway, through which the troop and their captives had entered. The +inlet could be closed by a massive gate, which now stood open, and by +a stout portcullis that hung ready to drop when a lever was pulled. +But the most gruesome feature of this robber’s lair was a stout beam +of timber, which projected horizontally from the highest open window +of the square tower. Attached to the further end of the beam was a +thick rope, the looped end of which encircled the drawn neck of a man, +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">[Pg 98]</a></span>whose lifeless body swayed like a leaden pendulum, helpless in the +strong breeze. Seeing the eyes of the three directed to this pitiful +object, Armstrong said to one of his men,—</p> + +<p>“Just slip that fellow’s head from the noose, Peter; we may need the +rope again to-night.” Then turning to his prisoners, Armstrong spoke +like a courteous host anxious to exhibit to a welcome guest the +striking features of his domain.</p> + +<p>“That’s but a grisly sight, gentlemen, to contemplate on a lowering +evening.”</p> + +<p>The day was darkening to its close, and a storm, coming up out of the +west, was bringing the night quicker than the hour sanctioned.</p> + +<p>“But here is an ingenious contrivance,” continued the freebooter, +cheerfully, “which has commanded the admiration of many a man we were +compelled to hang. You see there are so many meddlesome bodies in this +world that a person like myself, who wishes to live in peace with all +his fellows, must sometimes give the interferers a sharp bit lesson.”</p> + +<p>“I can well believe it,” answered the king.</p> + +<p>“An Englishman of great ingenuity had a plan for capturing us, but, as +it stands, we captured him; and being a merciful man, always loth to +hang, when anything else can be done, I set him <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">[Pg 99]</a></span>at work here, and +this is one of his constructions. As it’s growing dark, come nearer +that you may see how it works.”</p> + +<p>At the bottom of the tower, and close to it, there lay a wooden +platform which afforded standing room for six or seven men. Peter got +up on this platform and pulled a cord, which opened a concealed +sluice-gate and resulted in a roar of pouring water. Gradually the +platform lifted, and the king saw that it was placed on top of a tall +pine-tree that had been cut in the form of a screw, the gigantic +threads of which were well oiled. A whirling horizontal water-wheel, +through the centre of which the big screw came slowly upwards, with +Peter on the gradually elevating platform, formed the motive power of +the contrivance.</p> + +<p>“You understand the mechanism?” said Armstrong. “By pulling one cord, +the water comes in on this side of the wheel and the platform ascends. +Another cord closes the sluice and everything is stationary. A third +cord opens the gate which lets the water drive the wheel in the +opposite direction and then the platform descends. You see, I have +taken away the old lower stairway that was originally built for the +tower, and this is the only means of getting up and down from the top +story. It does not, if you will notice, go entirely <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">[Pg 100]</a></span>to the top, but +stops at that door, fifty feet from the rock, into which Peter is now +entering.”</p> + +<p>“It is a most ingenious invention,” admitted the king. “I never saw +anything like it before.”</p> + +<p>“It would be very useful in a place like Stirling,” said Johnny, +looking hard at his prisoner.</p> + +<p>“I suppose it would,” replied the king, in a tone indicating that it +was no affair of his, “but you see I’m not a Stirling man myself. I +belong rather to all Scotland; a man of the world, as you might say.”</p> + +<p>By this time Peter had climbed to the highest room of the tower, +worked his way on hands and knees out to the end of the beam, and had +drawn up to him the swaying body. With the deftness of expert +practice, he loosened the noose and the body dropped like a plummet +through the air, disappearing into the chasm below. Peter, taking the +noose with him, crawled backward, like a crab, out of sight, and into +the tower again. Armstrong, from below, had opened the other sluice, +and the empty platform descended as leisurely and as tremblingly as it +had risen. Armstrong himself cut the cords that bound the ankles of +his captives.</p> + +<p>“Now, gentlemen,” he said, “if you will step <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">[Pg 101]</a></span>on the platform I shall +have the pleasure of showing you to your rooms.”</p> + +<p>Three armed men and the three prisoners moved upwards together.</p> + +<p>“A fine sylvan view you have,” said the king.</p> + +<p>“Is it not!” exclaimed Armstrong, seemingly delighted that it pleased +his visitor.</p> + +<p>After the mechanical device had landed them some fifty feet above the +rocks, they ascended several flights of stairs, a man with a torch +leading the way. The prisoners were conducted to a small room, which +had the roof of the tower for its ceiling. In a corner of the cell +cowered a very abject specimen of the human race, who, when the others +came, seemed anxious to attract as little attention as possible.</p> + +<p>Armstrong, again, with his own hands removed the remaining cords from +the prisoners, and the three stretched up their arms, glad to find +them at liberty once more.</p> + +<p>“Place the torch in its holder,” said Johnny. “Now, gentlemen, that +will last long enough to light you to your supper, which you will find +on the floor behind you. I’m sure you will rest here comfortably for +the night. The air is pure at this height, and I think you’ll like +this eagle’s nest better than a dungeon under the ground. For <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">[Pg 102]</a></span>my own +part, I abhor a subterranean cell, and goodness knows I’ve been in +many a one, but we’re civilised folk here on the Border and try to +treat our prisoners kindly.”</p> + +<p>“You must, indeed, earn their fervent gratitude,” said the king.</p> + +<p>“We should, we should,” returned Johnny, “but I’m not certain that we +do. Man is a thrawn beast as a rule. And now, you’ll just think over +your situation through the night, and be ready to answer me in the +morning all the questions I’ll ask of you. I’ll be wanting to know who +sent you here, and what news you have returned to him since you have +been on the Border.”</p> + +<p>“We will give your request our deep consideration,” replied the king.</p> + +<p>“I’m glad to hear that. You see, we are such merciful people that we +have but one rope to hang our enemies with, while we should have a +dozen by rights. Still, I think we could manage three at a pinch, if +your answers should happen to displease me. You will excuse the +barring of the door, but the window is open to you if your lodgings +are not to your liking. And so, good-night, the three of you.”</p> + +<p>“Good-night to you, Mr. Armstrong,” said the king.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">[Pg 103]</a></span></p><p>Peter had drawn in the rope, and its sinister loop lay on the floor, +its further length resting on the window sill, and extending out to +the end of the beam. The cobbler examined it with interest. “Come,” +cried the king, “there is little use letting a supper wait for the +eating merely because we seem to have gone wrong in our inquiries +about the cattle.”</p> + +<p>Neither the poet nor the cobbler had any appetite for supper, but the +king was young and hungry, and did justice to the hospitality of the +Armstrongs.</p> + +<p>“Have you been here long?” he asked of the prisoner in the corner.</p> + +<p>“A good while,” answered the latter despondently. “I don’t know for +how long. They hanged my mate.”</p> + +<p>“I saw that. Do they hang many here about?”</p> + +<p>“I think they do,” replied the prisoner. “Some fling themselves down +on the rocks, and others are starved to death. You see, the Armstrongs +go off on a raid, and there’s no one here to bring us food, for the +women folk don’t like to tamper with that machine that comes to the +lower stair. I doubt if Johnny starves them intentionally, but he’s +kept away sometimes longer than he expects.”</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">[Pg 104]</a></span></p><p>“Bless me,” cried the king, “think of this happening in Scotland. And +now, cobbler, what are we to do?”</p> + +<p>“I’m wondering if this man would venture out to the end of the beam +and untie the rope,” suggested Flemming.</p> + +<p>“Oh, I’ll do that, willingly,” cried the prisoner. “But what is the +use of it; it’s about ten times too short, as the Armstrongs well +know.”</p> + +<p>“Are we likely to be disturbed here through the night?” asked +Flemming.</p> + +<p>“Oh no, nor till late in the day to-morrow; they’ll be down there +eating and drinking till all hours, then they sleep long.”</p> + +<p>“Very well. Untie the other end of the rope, and see you crawl back +here without falling.”</p> + +<p>As the prisoner obeyed instructions, Flemming rose to his feet and +began feeling in his pockets, drawing forth, at last, a large brown +ball.</p> + +<p>“What is your plan, cobbler?” asked the king, with interest.</p> + +<p>“Well, you see,” replied Flemming, “the rope’s short, but it’s very +thick.”</p> + +<p>“I don’t see how that is to help us.”</p> + +<p>“There are nine or ten strands that have gone to the making of it, and +I’m thinking that each of those strands will bear a man. Luckily, I +have <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">[Pg 105]</a></span>got a ball of my cobbler’s wax here, and that will strengthen +the strands, keep the knots from slipping, and make it easier to climb +down.”</p> + +<p>“Cobbler!” cried the king, “if that lets us escape, I’ll knight you.”</p> + +<p>“I care little for knighthood,” returned the cobbler, “but I don’t +want to be benighted here.”</p> + +<p>“After such a remark as that, your majesty,” exclaimed the poet, “I +think you should have him beheaded, if he doesn’t get us out of this +safely.”</p> + +<p>“Indeed, Sir David,” said the cobbler, as he unwound the rope, “if I +don’t get you out of here, the Armstrongs will save his majesty all +trouble on the score of decapitation.”</p> + +<p>There was silence now as the three watched the deft hands of the +cobbler, hurrying to make the most of the last rays of the flickering +torch in the wall. He tested the strands and proved them strong, then +ran each along the ball of wax, thus cementing their loose thread +together. He knotted the ends with extreme care, tried their +resistance thoroughly, and waxed them unsparingly. It was a business +of breathless interest, but at last the snake-like length of thin rope +lay on the floor at his disposal. He tied an end securely to the beam +just outside the window-sill so <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">[Pg 106]</a></span>that there would be no sharp edge to +cut the cord, then he paid out the line into the darkness, slowly and +carefully that it might not became entangled.</p> + +<p>“There,” he said at last, with a sigh of satisfaction, “who’s first +for the rope. We three await your majesty’s commands.”</p> + +<p>“Do you know the country hereabout?” asked the king of the man who had +been prisoner longest.</p> + +<p>“Every inch of it.”</p> + +<p>“Can you guide us safely to the north in the darkness?”</p> + +<p>“Oh, yes, once I am down by the stream.”</p> + +<p>“Then,” said the king, “go down by the stream. When you are on firm +footing say no word, but shake the rope. If you prove a true guide to +us this night we will pay you well.”</p> + +<p>“I shall be well paid with my liberty,” replied the prisoner, crawling +cautiously over the stone sill and disappearing in the darkness. The +cobbler held the taut line in his hand. No man spoke, they hardly +seemed to breathe until the cobbler said:</p> + +<p>“He’s safe. Your majesty should go next.”</p> + +<p>“The captain is the last to leave the ship,” said the king; “over you +go, Flemming.” After the <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">[Pg 107]</a></span>cobbler, Sir David descended, followed by +the king; and they found at the bottom of the ravine some yards of +line to spare.</p> + +<p>Their adventures through that wild night and the next day, until they +came to a village where they could purchase horses, form a story in +themselves.</p> + +<p>When the king reached Stirling, and was dressed once more in a costume +more suited to his station than that which had been torn by the +brambles of the Border, he called to him the chief minister of his +realm.</p> + +<p>“You will arrest immediately,” he said, “Cockburn of Henderland, and +Adam Scott of Tushielaw, and have them beheaded.”</p> + +<p>“Without trial, your majesty?” asked the minister in amazement.</p> + +<p>“Certainly not without trial, but see that the trial is as short as +possible. Their crime is treason; the witnesses as many as you like to +choose from our last council meeting. I love and adhere to the +processes of law, but see that there is no mistake about the block +being at the end of your trial.” The minister made a note of this and +awaited further instructions. “Place the Earl of Bothwell in the +strongest room that Edinburgh Castle has vacant. Imprison Lord Maxwell +and <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">[Pg 108]</a></span>Lord Home and the Lairds of Fairniherst, Johnston and Buccleuch, +in whatever stronghold is most convenient. Let these orders be carried +out as speedily as possible.”</p> + +<p>The next man called into the royal presence was Sir Donald Sinclair.</p> + +<p>“Have you five hundred mounted men ready for the road, Sir Donald?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, your majesty, a thousand if you want them.”</p> + +<p>“Very well, a thousand I shall have, and I shall ride with you to the +Border.”</p> + +<p>Nevertheless, when the king came to the inn where he had been +captured, there were but twenty troopers with him. Sir Donald was the +spokesman on that occasion. He said to the landlord, whose roving eye +was taking count of the number of horses,—</p> + +<p>“Go to Johnny Armstrong and tell him that the king, with twenty +mounted men at his back, commands his presence here, and see that he +comes quickly.”</p> + +<p>Johnny was not slow in replying to the invitation, and forty troopers +rode behind him. The king sat on his horse, a little in advance of his +squadron. As a mounted man, James looked well, and there was but +little resemblance between <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">[Pg 109]</a></span>him and the unfortunate drover, who had +been taken prisoner at that spot two short weeks before.</p> + +<p>“I have come promptly in answer to your majesty’s call,” said +Armstrong, politely removing his bonnet, but making no motion to pay +further deference to the King of Scotland.</p> + +<p>“It gives me great pleasure to see you,” replied the king, suavely. +“You travel with a large escort, Mr. Armstrong?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, your majesty, I am a sociable man and I like good company. The +more stout fellows that are at my back, the better I am pleased.”</p> + +<p>“In this respect we are very much alike, Mr. Armstrong, as you will +admit if you but cast your eyes to the rear of your little company.”</p> + +<p>At this, Johnny Armstrong violated a strict rule of royal etiquette +and turned the back of his head to his king. He saw the forest alive +with mounted men, their circle closing in upon him. He muttered the +word: “Trapped!” and struck the spurs into his horse’s flank. The +stung steed pranced in a semi-circle answering his master’s rein, but +the fence of mounted steel was complete, every drawn sword a picket. +Again Armstrong, laughing uneasily, faced the king, who still stood +motionless.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">[Pg 110]</a></span></p><p>“Your majesty has certainly the advantage of me as far as escort is +concerned.”</p> + +<p>“It would seem so,” replied James. “You travel with twoscore of men; I +with a thousand.”</p> + +<p>“I have ever been a loyal subject of your majesty,” said Armstrong, +moistening his dry lips. “I hope I am to take no scathe for coming +promptly and cordially to welcome your majesty to my poor district.”</p> + +<p>“You will be better able to answer your own question when you have +replied to a few of mine. Have you ever met me before, Mr. Armstrong?”</p> + +<p>The robber looked intently at the king.</p> + +<p>“I think not,” he said.</p> + +<p>“Have you ever seen this man before?” and James motioned Sir David +Lyndsay from the troop at his side.</p> + +<p>Armstrong drew the back of his hand across his brow.</p> + +<p>“I seem to remember him,” he said, “but cannot tell where I have met +him.”</p> + +<p>“Perhaps this third man will quicken your memory,” and the cobbler +came forward, dressed as he had been the night he was captured.</p> + +<p>Armstrong gasped, and a greenish pallor overspread his face.</p> + +<p><a name="illo5" id="illo5"></a></p><div class="figcenter" style="width: 432px;"> +<img src="images/i121.jpg" class="illogap" width="432" height="500" alt="“The forty-one trees bore their burden.”" title="" /> +<span class="caption smcap">“The forty-one trees bore their burden.”</span> +</div> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">[Pg 111]</a></span></p><p>“What is your answer, Armstrong?” asked the king.</p> + +<p>“I and my forty men will serve your majesty faithfully in your army if +you grant us our lives.”</p> + +<p>“No thieves ride with any of Scotland’s brigade, Armstrong.”</p> + +<p>“I will load your stoutest horse with gold until he cannot walk, if +you spare our lives.”</p> + +<p>“The revenues of Scotland are sufficient as they are, Armstrong,” +replied the king.</p> + +<p>“Harry of England will be glad to hear that the King of Scotland has +destroyed twoscore of his stoutest warriors.”</p> + +<p>“The King of England is my relative, and I shall be happy to please +him. The defence of Scotland is my care, and I have honest men enough +in my army to see that it is secure. Have you anything further to say, +Armstrong?”</p> + +<p>“It is folly to seek grace at a graceless face. If we are for the +tree, then to the tree with us. But if you make this fair forest bear +such woeful fruit, you shall see the day when you shall die for lack +of stout hearts like ours to follow you, as sure as this day is the +fatal thirteenth.”</p> + +<p>The forty-one trees bore their burden, and thirteen years from that +time the outlaw’s prophecy was fulfilled.</p> + +<p> </p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113">[Pg 112-115]</a></span></p> +<p class="double3"> </p> +<h2><a name="The_Kings_Gold" id="The_Kings_Gold"></a><span class="smcap">The King’s Gold</span></h2> + +<hr class="secondlarge" /> + +<p class="n"><span style="float:left;font-size:40px;line-height:25px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:1px;">I</span>t is strange to record that the first serious difficulty which James +encountered with the nobles who supported him, arose not over a +question of State, but through the machinations of a foreign +mountebank. The issue came to a point where, if the king had proceeded +to punish the intriguer, his majesty might have stood alone while the +lords of his court would have ranged themselves in support of the +charlatan—a most serious state of things, the like of which has +before now overturned a throne. In dealing with this unexpected +crisis, the young king acted with a wisdom scarcely to be expected +from his years. He directed the nobility as a skilful rider manages a +mettlesome horse, sparing curb and spur when the use of the one might +have <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_116" id="Page_116">[Pg 116]</a></span>unseated him, or the use of the other resulted in a frenzied +bolt. Thus the judicious horseman keeps his saddle, yet arrives at the +destination he has marked out from the beginning.</p> + +<p>In the dusk of the evening, James went down the high street of +Stirling, keeping close to the wall as was his custom when about to +pay a visit to his friend the cobbler, for although several members of +the court knew that he had a liking for low company, the king was well +aware of the haughty disdain with which the nobles regarded those of +the mechanical or trading classes. So he thought it best not to run +counter to a prejudice so deeply rooted, and for this reason he +restricted the knowledge of his visits to a few of his more intimate +friends.</p> + +<p>As the king was about to turn out of the main street he ran suddenly +into the arms of a man coming from the shop of a clothier who made +costumes for the court. As each started back from the unexpected +encounter, the light from the mercer’s shop window lit up the face of +his majesty’s opponent, and the latter saw that he had before him his +old friend, Sir David Lyndsay.</p> + +<p>“Ha, Davie!” cried the king, “it’s surely late in the day to choose +the colours for a new jacket.”</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117">[Pg 117]</a></span></p><p>“Indeed your majesty is in the right,” replied Sir David, “but I was +not selecting cloth; I was merely enacting the part of an honest man, +and liquidating a reckoning of long standing.”</p> + +<p>“What, a poet with money!” exclaimed the king. “Who ever heard of such +a thing? Man Davie, you might share the knowledge of your +treasure-house with a friend. Kings are always in want of money. Is +your gold mine rich enough for two?”</p> + +<p>The king spoke jocularly, placing no particular meaning upon his +words, and if Sir David had answered in kind, James would doubtless +have thought no more about the matter, but the poet stammered and +showed such evident confusion that his majesty’s quick suspicions were +at once aroused. He remembered that of late a change had come over the +court. Scottish nobles were too poor to be lavish in dress, and +frequently the somewhat meagre state of their wardrobe had furnished a +subject for jest on the part of ambassadors from France or Spain. But +when other foreigners less privileged than an ambassador had ventured +to make the same theme one for mirth, they speedily found there was no +joke in Scottish steel, which was ever at an opponent’s service, even +if gold were not. So those who <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118">[Pg 118]</a></span>were wise and fond of life, became +careful not to make invidious comparisons between the gallants of +Edinburgh and Stirling, and those of Paris and Madrid. But of late the +court at Stirling had blossomed out in fine array, and although this +grandeur had attracted the notice of the king and pleased him, he had +given no thought to the origin of the new splendour.</p> + +<p>The king instantly changed his mind regarding his visit to the +cobbler, linked arm with the poet, and together they went up the +street. This sudden reversion of direction gave the royal wanderer a +new theme for thought and surmise. It seemed as if all the town was on +the move, acting as surreptitiously as he himself had done a few +moments previously. At first he imagined he had been followed, and the +suspicion angered him. In the gloom he was unable to recognise any of +the wayfarers, and each seemed anxious to avoid detection, passing +hurriedly or slipping quietly down some less frequented alley or lane. +Certain of the figures appeared familiar, but none stopped to question +the king.</p> + +<p>“Davie,” cried James, pausing in the middle of the street, “you make a +very poor conspirator.”</p> + +<p>“Indeed, your majesty,” replied the poet earnestly, “no one is less of +a conspirator than I.”</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_119" id="Page_119">[Pg 119]</a></span></p><p>“Davie, you are hiding something from me.”</p> + +<p>“That I am not, your majesty. I am quite ready to answer truly any +question your majesty cares to ask.”</p> + +<p>“The trouble is, Davie, that my majesty has not yet got a clue which +will lead to shrewd questioning, but as a beginning, I ask you, what +is the meaning of all this court stir in the old town of Stirling?”</p> + +<p>“How should I know, your majesty?” asked the poet in evident distress.</p> + +<p>“There now, Davie, there now! The very first question I propound gets +an evasive answer. The man who did not know would have replied that he +did not. I dislike being juggled with, and for the first time in my +life, Sir David Lyndsay, I am angered with you.”</p> + +<p>The knight was visibly perturbed, but at last he answered,—</p> + +<p>“In this matter I am sworn to secrecy.”</p> + +<p>“All secrets reveal themselves at the king’s command,” replied James +sternly. “Speak out; speak fully, and speak quickly.”</p> + +<p>“There is no guilt in the secret, your majesty. I doubt if any of your +court would hesitate to tell you all, were it not that they fear +ridicule, <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120">[Pg 120]</a></span>which is a thing a Scottish noble is loth to put up with +whether from the king or commoner.”</p> + +<p>“Get on, and waste not so much time in the introduction,” said his +majesty shortly.</p> + +<p>“Well, there came some time since to Stirling, an Italian chemist, who +took up his abode and set up his shop in the abandoned refectory of +the old Monastery. He is the author of many wonderful inventions, but +none interests the court so much as the compounding of pure gold in a +crucible from the ordinary earth of the fields.”</p> + +<p>“I can well believe that,” cried the king. “I have some stout fighters +in my court who fear neither man nor devil in battle, yet who would +stand with mouth agape before a juggler’s tent. But surely, Davie, +you, who have been to the colleges, and have read much from learned +books, are not such a fool as to be deluded by that ancient fallacy, +the transmutation of any other metals into gold?”</p> + +<p>Sir David laughed uneasily.</p> + +<p>“I did not say I believed it, your majesty, still, a man must place +some credence in what his eye sees done, as well as in what he reads +from books; and after all, the proof of the cudgel is the rap on the +head. I have beheld the contest, beginning with an empty pot and +ending with a bar of gold.”</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_121" id="Page_121">[Pg 121]</a></span></p><p>“Doubtless. I have seen a juggler swallow hot iron, but I have never +believed it went down his throttle, although it appeared to have done +so. Did you get any share of the transmuted gold? That’s the practical +test, my Davie.”</p> + +<p>“That is exactly the test your barons applied. I doubt if their +nobilities would take much interest in a scientific experiment were +there no profit at the end of it. Each man entering the laboratory +pays what he pleases to the money taker at the table, but it must not +be less than one gold bonnet-piece. When all have entered, the doors +are closed and locked. The amount of money collected is weighed +against small bars of gold which the alchemist places in the opposite +scale until the two are equally balanced. This bar of gold he then +throws into the crucible.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, he puts gold into the crucible, does he? Where then is the +profit? I thought these necromancers made gold from iron.”</p> + +<p>“Signor Farini’s method is different, your majesty. He asserts that +like attracts like, and that the gold in the crucible will take to +itself the minute unseen particles which he believes exists in all +soils; the intense heat burning away the dross and leaving the refined +gold.”</p> + +<p>“I see; and how ends this experiment?”</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_122" id="Page_122">[Pg 122]</a></span></p><p>“The residue is cooled and weighed. Sometimes it is double the amount +of gold put in, sometimes treble; and I have known him upon occasion +take from the crucible quadruple the gold of the bar, but never have I +known a melting fall below double the amount collected by the man at +the table. At the final act each noble has returned to him double or +treble the gold he relinquished on entering.”</p> + +<p>“Where then arises the profit to your Italian? I never knew these +foreigners to work for nothing.”</p> + +<p>“He says he does it for love of Scotland and hatred of England; an +ancient enemy. Were but the Scottish nation rich, he thinks they could +the better withstand incursions from the south.”</p> + +<p>“Well, Davie, that seems to me a most unsubstantial reason. Scotland’s +protection has been her poverty in all except hard knocks. Were she as +wealthy as France it would be the greater temptation for Englishers to +overrun the country. My grandfather, James the Third, had a black +chest full of gold and jewels, yet he was murdered flying from defeat +in battle. When does this golden wizard fire his cauldron, Davie?”</p> + +<p>“To-night, your majesty. That is the reason <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_123" id="Page_123">[Pg 123]</a></span>the nobles of your court +were making sly haste to his domicile.”</p> + +<p>“Ah, and Sir David Lyndsay was hurrying to the same spot so blindly +that he nearly overran his monarch.”</p> + +<p>“It is even so, your majesty.”</p> + +<p>“Then am I hindering you from much profit, and you must even blame +yourself for being so long in the telling. However, it is never too +late to turn one bonnet-piece into two. So, Davie, lead the way, for I +would see this alchemist turn out gold from a pot as a housewife boils +potatoes.”</p> + +<p>“I fear, your majesty, that the doors will be shut.”</p> + +<p>“If they are, Davie, the king’s name will open them. Lead the way; +lead the way.”</p> + +<p>The doors were not shut but were just on the point of closing when Sir +David put his shoulder to them and forced his way in, followed closely +by his companion. The king and his henchman found themselves in a +small ante-room, furnished only with a bench and a table; on the +latter was a yellow heap of bonnet-pieces of the king’s own coinage. +Beside this heap lay a scroll with the requisites for writing. The +money-taker, a gaunt foreigner clad in long robes like a monk, closed +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_124" id="Page_124">[Pg 124]</a></span>the door and barred it securely, then returned to the table. He +nodded to Sir David, and glanced with some distrust upon his +plaid-covered companion.</p> + +<p>“Whom have you brought to us, Sir Lyndsay?” asked the man +suspiciously.</p> + +<p>“A friend of mine, the Master of Ballengeich; one who can keep his own +counsel and who wishes to turn an honest penny.”</p> + +<p>“We admit none except those connected with the court,” demurred the +money-taker.</p> + +<p>“Well, in a manner, Ballengeich is connected with the court. He +supplies the castle with the products of his farm.”</p> + +<p>The man shook his head.</p> + +<p>“That will not do,” he said, “my orders are strict. I dare not admit +him.”</p> + +<p>“Is not my money as good as another’s?” asked Ballengeich, speaking +for the first time.</p> + +<p>“No offence is meant to you, sir, as your friend Sir Lyndsay knows, +but I have my orders and dare not exceed them.”</p> + +<p>“Do you refuse me admittance then?”</p> + +<p>“I am compelled to do so, sir, greatly to my regret.”</p> + +<p>“Is not my surety sufficient?” asked Sir David.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_125" id="Page_125">[Pg 125]</a></span></p><p>“I am deeply grieved to refuse you, sir, but I cannot disobey my +strict instructions.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, very well then,” said the king impatiently, “we will stay no +further question. Sir David here is a close friend of the king, and a +friend of my own, therefore we will return to the castle and get the +king’s warrant, which, I trust, will open any door in Stirling.”</p> + +<p>The warder seemed nonplussed at this and looked quickly from one to +the other; finally he said,—</p> + +<p>“Will you allow me a moment to consult with my master?”</p> + +<p>“Very well, so that you do not hold us long,” replied the Master of +Ballengeich.</p> + +<p>“I shall do my errand quickly, for at this moment I am keeping the +whole nobility of Scotland waiting.”</p> + +<p>The man disappeared, taking, however, the gold with him in a bag. In a +short space of time he returned and bowing to the two waiting men he +said,—</p> + +<p>“My master is anxious to please you, Sir Lyndsay, and will accept the +money of your friend.” Whereupon the two placed upon the table five +gold pieces each, and the amount was credited opposite their names +upon the parchment.</p> + +<p><a name="illo6" id="illo6"></a></p><div class="figcenter" style="width: 328px;"> +<img src="images/i138.jpg" class="illogap" width="328" height="500" alt="The figure of a tall man." title="" /> +<span class="caption"><span class="smcap">“The figure of a tall man.”</span></span> +</div> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_126" id="Page_126">[Pg 126]</a></span></p><p>Sir David, leading the way, drew aside one heavy curtain and then a +second one, which allowed them to enter a long low-roofed room almost +in total darkness, as far as the end to which they were introduced was +concerned; but the upper portion of the hall was lit in lurid fashion. +At the further end of the Refectory was a raised platform on which the +heads of the Order had dined, during the prosperous days of the +edifice, while the humbler brethren occupied, as was customary, the +main body of the lower floor. Upon this platform stood a metal tripod, +which held a basket of dazzling fire, and in this basket was set a +crucible, now changing from red to white, under the constant exertions +of two creatures who looked like imps from the lower regions rather +than inhabitants of the upper world. These two strove industriously +with a huge bellows which caused the fire to roar fiercely, and this +unholy light cast its effulgence upon the faces of many notable men +packed closely together in the body of the hall; it also shone on the +figure of a tall man, the ghastly pallor of whose countenance was +enhanced by a fringe of hair black as midnight. He had a nose like a +vulture’s beak, and eyes piercing in their intensity, as black as his +midnight hair. His costume also resembled that of a <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_127" id="Page_127">[Pg 127]</a></span>monk in cut, but it was scarlet in hue; and the radiance of the +furnace caused it to glow as if illumined by some fire from within.</p> + +<p>At the moment the last two entered, Farini was explaining to his +audience, in an accent palpably foreign, that he was a man of science, +and that the devil gave him no aid in his researches, an assertion +doubtless perfectly accurate. His audience listened to him with +visible impatience, evidently anxious for talk to cease and practical +work to begin.</p> + +<p>The wizard held in his right hand the bag of gold that the king had +seen taken from the outer room. Presently there entered through +another curtained doorway, on what might be called the stage, the +money-taker in the monk’s dress, who handed to the necromancer the +coins given him by Lyndsay and Ballengeich, which the wizard tossed +carelessly into the bag. The attendant placed the scroll upon a table +and then came forward with a weighing-machine held in his hand. The +alchemist placed the gold from the bag upon one side of the scale, and +threw into the other, bar after bar of yellow metal until the two were +equal. Then the bag of gold was placed on the table beside the scroll, +and the wizard carefully deposited the yellow bars within the +crucible, <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_128" id="Page_128">[Pg 128]</a></span>the two imps now working the bellows more strenuously than +ever.</p> + +<p>The experiment was carried on precisely as Sir David had foretold, but +there was one weird effect which the poet had not mentioned. When the +necromancer added to the melting-pot huge lumps of what appeared to be +common soil from the field, the mixture glared each time with a new +colour. Once a vivid violet colour flamed up, which cast such a livid +death-like hue on the faces of the knights there present, that each +looked upon the other in obvious fear. Again the flame was pure white; +again scarlet; again blue; again yellow. When at last the incantation +was complete, the bellows-work was stopped. The coruscating caldron +was lifted from the fire by an iron hook and chain, and set upon the +stone floor to cool, bubbling and sparkling like a thing of evil; but +the radiance became duller and duller as time went on, and finally its +contents were poured out into a mould of sand, and there congealing, +the result was lifted by tongs and laid upon the scale. The bag of +gold was placed again in the opposite disc, but the heated metal far +outweighed it. The wizard then unlocked a desk and threw coin after +coin in the pan that held the bag, until at last the beam of the scale +hung level. The secretary now <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_129" id="Page_129">[Pg 129]</a></span>pushed forward a table to the edge of +the platform, and on the table placed a rush-light which served but to +illuminate the parchment before him. With great rapidity he counted +the gold pieces which were not in the bag, then whispered to his +master.</p> + +<p>The room was deathly still as the man in scarlet stepped forward to +make his announcement.</p> + +<p>“I regret,” he said, “that our experiment has not been as successful +as I had hoped. This doubtless has been caused by the poverty of the +earth from which I took my material. I shall dig elsewhere against our +next meeting, and then we may look for better results. To-night I can +return to you but double the money you gave to my treasurer.”</p> + +<p>At this there went up what seemed to be a sigh of relief from the +audience, which had been holding its breath with all the eagerness of +a gambler, who had made a stake and awaited the outcome of the throw.</p> + +<p>The necromancer, taking the parchment, called out name after name, and +as each title was enunciated the bearer of it came to the edge of the +platform and received from the secretary double the amount of gold +pieces set down on the parchment. As each man secreted his treasure he +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_130" id="Page_130">[Pg 130]</a></span>passed along out of the hall; and so it came about that Sir David and +Ballengeich, being the last on the list, received the remaining coins +on the table, and silently took their departure.</p> + +<p>The king spoke no word until they had entered the castle and were +within his private room. Once there, the first thing he did was to +pull from his pouch the coins he had received and examine them +carefully one by one. There was no doubt about them, each was a good +Scottish gold piece, with the king’s profile and bonnet stamped +thereon.</p> + +<p>“You will find them genuine,” said Sir David. “I had my own fears +regarding them at first, thinking that this foreigner was trying the +trick which Robert Cockran, the mason, accomplished so successfully +during the reign of your grandfather, mixing the silver coins with +copper and lead; but I had them tested by a goldsmith in Edinburgh and +was assured the pieces are just what they claim to be.”</p> + +<p>“Prudent man!” exclaimed the king, throwing himself down on a seat and +jingling the gold pieces. “Well, Davie, what do you think of it all? +Give me an opinion as honest as the coin.”</p> + +<p>“Truth to tell, your majesty, I do not know what to think of it. It +may be as he says, that the earth here contains particles of gold, +that are <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_131" id="Page_131">[Pg 131]</a></span>drawn to the bars he throws in the melting-pot. If the man +is a cheat, where can he hope for his profit?”</p> + +<p>“Where indeed? I mind you told me he had other marvellous inventions; +what are they?”</p> + +<p>“He has a plan by which a man in full armour can enter the water and +walk beneath it for any length of time without suffocating.”</p> + +<p>“Have you seen this tried?”</p> + +<p>“No, your majesty; there has been no opportunity.”</p> + +<p>“What an admirable contrivance for invading Ireland! What are his +plans as far as England is concerned? He seems, if I remember your +tale aright, to have some animosity in that direction.”</p> + +<p>“He has constructed a pair of wings, and each soldier being provided +with them can sail through the air across the Border.”</p> + +<p>“Admirable, admirable!” exclaimed the king nodding his head. “Now +indeed is England ours, and France too for that matter, if his wings +will carry so far. Have you seen these wings?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, your majesty, but I have not seen them tried. They seem to be +made of fine silk stretched on an extremely light framework, and are +worked by the arms thrust up or down; thus, he says, a man may rise or +fall at will.”</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_132" id="Page_132">[Pg 132]</a></span></p><p>“As to the falling, I believe him, and the rising I shall believe when +I see it. Has our visit to-night then taught you nothing, David?”</p> + +<p>“Nothing but what I knew before. What has it taught your majesty?”</p> + +<p>“In the first place our charlatan does not want the king to know what +he is doing, because when his subordinate refused me admittance and I +said to him I would appeal to the king, he saw at once that this was +serious, and wished to consult his master. His master was then willing +to admit anyone so long as there was no appeal to the king. I +therefore surmise he is most anxious to conceal his operations from +me. What is your opinion, Davie?”</p> + +<p>“It would seem that your majesty is in the right.”</p> + +<p>“Then again if he is a real scientist and has discovered an easy +method of producing gold and is desirous to enrich Scotland, why +should he object to a plain farmer like the Guidman of Ballengeich +profiting by his production?”</p> + +<p>“That is quite true, your majesty; but I suppose the line must be +drawn somewhere, and I imagine he purposes to enrich only those of the +highest rank, as being more powerful than the yeomen.”</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_133" id="Page_133">[Pg 133]</a></span></p><p>“Then we come back, Davie, to what I said before; why exclude the king +who is of higher rank than any noble?”</p> + +<p>“I have already confessed, your majesty, that I cannot fathom his +motives.”</p> + +<p>“Well, you see at what we have arrived. This foreigner wishes to +influence those who can influence the king. He wishes to have among +his audience none but those belonging to the court. He has some +project that he dare not place before the king. We will now return to +the consideration of that project. In the first place, the man is not +an Italian. Did a scholar like you, Davie, fail to notice that when he +was in want of a word, it was a French word he used? He is therefore +no Italian, but a Frenchman masquerading as an Italian. Therefore, the +project, whatever it is, pertains to France, and it is his desire that +this shall not be known. Now what does France most desire Scotland to +do at this moment?”</p> + +<p>“It thinks we should avenge Flodden; and many belonging to the court +are in agreement with France on this point.”</p> + +<p>“Has your necromancer ever mentioned Flodden?”</p> + +<p>“Once or twice he spoke of it with regret.”</p> + +<p>“I thought so,” continued the king; “and <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_134" id="Page_134">[Pg 134]</a></span>now I hope you are beginning +to see his design.”</p> + +<p>“What your majesty says is very ingenious; but if I may be permitted +to raise an objection to the theory, I would ask your majesty why this +was not done through the French ambassador? French gold has been used +before now in the Scottish Court; and it seems to me that a great +nation like France would not stoop to enlist the devices of a +charlatan, if this man be a charlatan.”</p> + +<p>“Ah, now we enter the domain of State secrets, Davie, and there is +where a king has an advantage over the commoner. Of course I know many +things hidden from you which give colour to my surmise. Some while ago +the French ambassador offered me a subsidy. Now I am not so avaricious +as my grandfather, nor so lavish as my father, and I told the +ambassador that I would depend on Scottish gold. I acquainted him with +the success of my German miners in extracting gold from Leadhills in +the Clydesdale, and I showed him my newly coined pieces. He was so +condescendingly pleased and interested that he begged the privilege of +having his own bars of metal coined in my mint, in order to disburse +his expenses in the coin of the realm, and also to send some of our +bonnet-pieces as <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_135" id="Page_135">[Pg 135]</a></span>specimens to France itself. This right of coinage I +willingly bestowed upon him; firstly, because he asked it; secondly, I +was glad to have some account of his expenditure. When I came in just +now I examined these coins closely, and you imagined that I was +suspicious of the purity of the metal. This was not so. I told my +mint-master to coin all the bars the ambassador gave him, to keep a +strict account of the issue, and to mark each piece with the letter +‘F’ on the margin. I find three of the coins which we received +to-night bearing this private mark; therefore, they have passed +through the hands of the French ambassador to the alchemist.”</p> + +<p>Sir David gave forth an exclamation of surprise. He left his seat, +took the bonnet-pieces from his pocket and placed them under the lamp.</p> + +<p>“Now,” said the king, “you need sharp eyes to detect this mark, but +there it is, and there, and there. Let us look a little closer into +the object of France. The battle of Flodden was fought when I was +little more than a year old; it destroyed the king, the flower of +Scottish nobility, and ten thousand of her common soldiers. Who was +responsible for this frightful calamity? My mother was strongly +against the campaign, which was to bring the forces of her husband in +contention <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_136" id="Page_136">[Pg 136]</a></span>with the forces of her brother, at that moment absent in +France. The man who urged on the conflict was De la Motte, the French +ambassador, standing ever at my father’s side, whispering his +treacherous, poisonous advice into an ear too willing to listen. +England was not a bitter enemy, for England did not follow up her +victory and march into Scotland, where none were left to command a +Scottish army, and no Scottish army was left to obey. Scotland, on +this occasion, was merely the catspaw of France. Now I am the son of +an Englishwoman. The English king is my uncle, and France fears that I +will keep the peace with my neighbour; so through his ambassador, he +sounds me, and learns that such indeed is my intention. France +resolves to leave me alone and accomplish its object by corrupting, +with gold coined in my own mint, the nobles of my court, and, by God!” +cried James in sudden anger, bringing his fist down on the table and +making the coins jingle, “France is succeeding, through the blind +stupidity of men who might have been expected to know their right hand +from their left. The greatest heads of my realm are being cozened by a +trickster; befooled in a way that any humble ploughman should be +ashamed of. You see now why they wish to keep the silly <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_137" id="Page_137">[Pg 137]</a></span>proceedings +from the king. I tell you, Davie, that Italian’s head comes off, and +thus in some small measure will I avenge Flodden.”</p> + +<p>Sir David Lyndsay sat meditatively silent for some moments while the +king in angry impatience strode up and down the small limits of the +room. When the heat of his majesty’s temper had partially cooled, Sir +David spoke with something of diplomatic shrewdness.</p> + +<p>“I never before realised the depth and penetration of your majesty’s +mind. You have gone straight to the heart of this mystery, and have +thrown light into its obscurest corner, as a dozen flaming torches +would have illumined that dark laboratory in the Monastery. I have +shared the stupidity of your nobles, which the clarity of your +judgment now exposes so plainly; therefore, I feel that it would be +presumption on my part to offer advice to your majesty in the further +prosecution of this affair.”</p> + +<p>“No, Davie, no,” said the king, stopping in his march and speaking +with pleased cordiality, “no, I value your advice; you are an honest +man, and it is not to be expected that the subtilty and craftiness of +these foreigners should be as clear to you as the sunshine on a +Highland hill. Speak out, Davie, and if you give me your counsel, I +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_138" id="Page_138">[Pg 138]</a></span>know it will be as wholesome as oatmeal porridge.”</p> + +<p>“Well, your majesty, you must meet subtilty with subtilty.”</p> + +<p>“I am not sure that the adage holds good, Davie,” demurred the king. +“You cannot outrace a Highlandman in his own glen, although you may +fight him fairly in the open. Once this Frenchman’s head is off, you +stop his boiling-pot.”</p> + +<p>“That is quite true, your majesty, but if the French ambassador should +put in a claim for his worthless carcass, you will find yourself on +the eve of a break with France, if you proceed to his execution.”</p> + +<p>“But I shall have made France throw off its mask.”</p> + +<p>“It is not France I am thinking about, your majesty. Your own nobles +have gone clean daft over this Italian. He is their goose that lays +the golden eggs, and you saw yourself to-night with what breathless +expectation they watched his experimenting. I am sure, your majesty, +that they will stand by him, and that you will find not only France +but Scotland arrayed against you. A moment’s reflection will show you +the danger. These <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_139" id="Page_139">[Pg 139]</a></span>meetings have been going on for months past, yet no +whisper of their progress has reached your majesty’s ears.”</p> + +<p>“That is true; even you yourself, Davie, kept silent.”</p> + +<p>“I swore an oath of silence, and honestly, I did not think that this +gold-making was an affair of State.”</p> + +<p>“Very well. I will act with caution. The breath of the money-getter +tarnishes the polish of the sword; and in my dealings I shall try to +recollect that I have to do with men growing rapidly rich, as well as +with nobles who should be too proud to accept unearned gold from any +man. Now, Davie, I’ll need your help in this, and in aiding me you +will assist yourself, thus will virtue be its own reward, as is +preached to us. I will give you as many gold pieces as you need, and +instead of paying three pieces at the entrance, give the man three +hundred. Urge all the nobles to increase their wagers; for thus we +shall soon learn the depths of this yellow treasury. If I attempt to +wring the neck of the goose before the eggs are laid, my followers +would be justified in saying that the English part of my nature had +got the better of the Scotch. Meanwhile, I will know <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_140" id="Page_140">[Pg 140]</a></span>nothing of this +man’s doings, and I hope for your sake, Davie, that the gold mine will +prove as prolific as my own in the Clydesdale.”</p> + +<p>The nobles followed the example set to them by the lavish Sir David. +They needed no urging from him to increase their stakes. The fever of +the gambler was on each of them, and soon the alleged Italian began to +be embarrassed in keeping up the pace he had set for himself. It +required now an enormous sum to pay even double the amount taken at +the door. The necromancer announced that the meetings would be held +less often, but the nobles would not have it so. Then his experiments +became less and less successful. One night the bonus amounted only to +half the coins given to the treasurer, and then there were ominous +grumblings. At the next meeting the bare amount paid in was given +back, and the deep roar of resentment which greeted this proclamation +made the foreigner tremble in his red robe. The ambassador was sending +messenger after messenger to France, and looked anxiously for their +return, while the necromancer did everything to gain time. At last +there came an experiment which failed entirely; no gold was produced +in the crucible. The alchemist begged for a postponement, but swords +flashed forth and he <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_141" id="Page_141">[Pg 141]</a></span>was compelled on the spot to renew his +incantation. If gold could be made on one occasion why not on another? +cried the barons with some show of reason. The conjurer had conjured +up a demon he could not control; the demon of greed.</p> + +<p>The only man about the court who seemed to know nothing of what was +going forward was the king himself. The French ambassador narrowly +watched his actions, but James was the same free-hearted, jovial, +pleasure-seeking monarch he had always been. He hunted and caroused, +and was the life of any party of pleasure which sallied forth from the +castle. He disappeared now and then, as was his custom, and could not +be found, although his nobles winked at one another, while the +perturbed French ambassador looked anxiously for the treasure ship +that never came.</p> + +<p>At last the nobles, who, in spite of their threatenings, had too much +shrewdness to kill the gold-maker, hoping his lapse of power was only +temporary, forced the question to a head and made appeal to the +astonished king himself. Here was a man, they said, who could make +gold and wouldn’t. They desired a mandate to go forth, compelling him +to resume the lucrative occupation he had abandoned.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_142" id="Page_142">[Pg 142]</a></span></p><p>The king expressed his amazement at what he heard, and summoned the +mountebank before him. The gold-maker abandoned his robe of scarlet +and appeared before James dressed soberly. He confessed that he knew +the secret of extracting gold from ordinary soil, but submitted that +he was not a Scottish citizen and therefore could not properly be +coerced by the Scottish laws so long as he infringed none of the +statutes. The king held that this appeal was well founded, and +disclaimed any desire to coerce a citizen of a friendly state. At this +the charlatan brightened perceptibly, and proportionately the gloom on +the brows of the nobles deepened.</p> + +<p>“But if you can produce gold, as you say, why do you refuse to do so?” +demanded the king.</p> + +<p>“I respectfully submit to your majesty,” replied the mountebank, “that +I have now perfected an invention of infinitely greater value than the +gold-making process; an invention that will give Scotland a power +possessed by no other nation, and which will enable it to conquer any +kingdom, no matter how remote it may be from this land I so much +honour. I wish, then, to devote the remaining energies of my life to +the enlarging of this invention, rather than waste my time in what is, +after all, the lowest pursuit to which a man <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_143" id="Page_143">[Pg 143]</a></span>may demean himself, +namely, the mere gathering of money,” and the speaker cast a glance of +triumph at the disgruntled barons.</p> + +<p>“I quite agree with you regarding your estimation of acquisitiveness,” +said the king cordially, giving no heed to the murmurs of his +followers. “In what does this new invention consist?”</p> + +<p>“It is simply a pair of wings, your majesty, made from the finest silk +which I import from France. They may be fitted to any human being, and +they give that human being the power which birds have long possessed.”</p> + +<p>“Well,” said the king with a laugh, “I should be the last to teach a +Scottish warrior to fly; still the ability to do so would have been, +on several occasions, advantageous to us. Have you your wings at +hand?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, your majesty.”</p> + +<p>“Then you yourself shall test them in our presence.”</p> + +<p>“But I should like to spend, your majesty, some further time on +preparation,” demurred the man uneasily.</p> + +<p>“I thought you said a moment ago that the invention was perfect.”</p> + +<p>“Nothing human is perfect, your majesty, and if I said so I spoke with +the over-confidence of the <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_144" id="Page_144">[Pg 144]</a></span>inventor. I have, however, succeeded in +sailing through the air, but cannot yet make way against a wind.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, you have succeeded so far as to interest us in a most attractive +experiment. Bid your assistant bring them at once, and let us +understand their principle. I rejoice to know that Scotland is to have +the benefit of your great genius.”</p> + +<p>Farini showed little enthusiasm anent the king’s confidence in him. He +had, during the colloquy, cast many an anxious glance towards the +French ambassador, apparently much to the annoyance of that high +dignitary, for now the Frenchman, seeing his continued hesitation, +said sharply,—</p> + +<p>“You have heard his majesty’s commands; get on your paraphernalia.”</p> + +<p>When the Italian was at last equipped, looking like a demon in a +painting that hung in the chapel, the king led the way to the edge of +Stirling cliff.</p> + +<p>“There,” he said, indicating a spot on the brow of the precipice, “you +could not find in all Scotland a better vantage-point for a flight.”</p> + +<p><a name="illo7" id="illo7"></a></p><div class="figcenter" style="width: 384px;"> +<img src="images/i157.jpg" class="illogap" width="384" height="500" alt="“With a wild scream Farini endeavoured to support +himself with his gauze-like wings.”" title="" /> +<span class="caption"><span class="smcap">“With a wild scream Farini endeavoured to support +himself with his gauze-like wings.”</span></span> +</div> + +<p>The terrified man stood for a moment on the verge of the appalling +precipice; then he gave utterance to a remarkable pronouncement, the +import <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_145" id="Page_145">[Pg 145]</a></span>of which was perhaps misunderstood because of the chattering of his +teeth.</p> + +<p>“Oh, not here, your majesty! Forgive me, and I will confess +everything. The gold which I pretended <span style="white-space: nowrap">to——”</span></p> + +<p>“Fly, you fool!” cried the French ambassador, pushing the Italian +suddenly between the shoulders and launching him into space. With a +wild scream Farini endeavoured to support himself with his gauze-like +wings, and for a moment seemed to hover in mid-air; but the framework +cracked and the victim, whirling head over heels, fell like a plummet +to the bottom of the cliff.</p> + +<p>“I fear you have been too impetuous with him,” said the king severely, +although as his majesty glanced at Sir David Lyndsay the faint +suspicion of a wink momentarily obscured his eye,—a temporary veiling +of the royal refulgence, which passed unnoticed as every one else was +gazing over the cliff at the motionless form of the fallen man.</p> + +<p>“I am to blame, sire,” replied the ambassador contritely, “but I think +the villain is an impostor, and I could not bear to see your royal +indulgence trifled with. However, I am willing to make amends for my +imprudence, and if the scoundrel lives, I shall, at my own expense, +transport him <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_146" id="Page_146">[Pg 146]</a></span>instantly to France, where he shall have the attendance +of the best surgeons the country affords.”</p> + +<p>“That is very generous of you,” replied the king.</p> + +<p>And the ambassador, craving permission to retire, hastened to +translate his benevolence into action.</p> + +<p>Farini was still unconscious when the ambassador and his attendants +reached him; but the French nobleman proved as good as his word, for +he had the injured man, whose thigh-bone was broken, conveyed in a +litter to Leith, and from there shipped to France. But it was many a +day before the Scottish nobles ceased to deplore the untimely +departure of their gold-maker.</p> + +<p> </p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_147" id="Page_147">[Pg 147-149]</a></span></p> +<p class="double3"> </p> +<h2><a name="The_King_A-Begging" id="The_King_A-Begging"></a><span class="smcap">The King A-Begging</span></h2> + +<hr class="secondlarge" /> + +<p><a name="illo8" id="illo8"></a></p> +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 373px;"> +<img src="images/i162.jpg" class="illogap" width="373" height="500" alt="The King had composed a poem in thirteen stanzas, +entitled “The Beggar Man.”" title="" /> +<span class="caption"><span class="smcap">“The King had composed a poem in thirteen stanzas, +entitled ‘The Beggar Man.’”</span></span> +</div> + +<p class="n"><span style="float:left;font-size:40px;line-height:25px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:1px;">L</span>iterary ambition has before now led men into difficulties. The king +had completed a poem in thirteen stanzas entitled “The Beggar Man,” +and the prime requisite of a completed poem is an audience to listen +to it. In spite of the fact that he wrote poetry, the king was a +sensible person, and he knew that if he read his verses to the court, +the members thereof were not the persons to criticise adequately the +merits of such a composition; for you cannot expect a high noble, who, +if he ever notices a beggar, merely does so to throw a curse at him, +or lay the flat of his sword over his shoulders, to appreciate an epic +which celebrates the free life led by a mendicant.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_150" id="Page_150">[Pg 150]</a></span></p><p>The king was well aware that he would receive ample praise for his +production; king’s goods are ever the best in the market, and though, +like every other literary man, it was praise and not criticism that +James wanted, still he preferred to have such praise from the lips of +one who knew something of the life he tried to sing; therefore, as +evening came on, the monarch dressed himself in his farmer costume, +and, taking his thirteen stanzas with him, ventured upon a cautious +visit to his friend the cobbler in the lower town of Stirling.</p> + +<p>The cobbler listened with an attention which was in itself flattering, +and paid his royal visitor the additional compliment of asking him to +repeat certain of the verses, which the king in his own heart thought +were the best. Then when the thirteenth stanza was arrived at, with +the “No-that-bad” commendation, which is dear to the heart of the +chary Scotchman, be he of high or low degree, Flemming continued,—</p> + +<p>“They might be worse, and we’ve had many a poet of great reputation in +Scotland who would not be ashamed to father them. But I’m thinking you +paint the existence of a beggar in brighter colours than the life +itself warrants.”</p> + +<p>“No, no, Flemming,” protested the king earnestly. <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_151" id="Page_151">[Pg 151]</a></span>“I’m convinced that +only the beggar knows what true contentment is. You see he begins at +the very bottom of the ladder and every step he takes must be a step +upward. Now imagine a man at the top, like myself; any move I make in +the way of changing my condition must be downward. A beggar is the +real king, and a king is but a beggar, for he holds his position by +the favour of others. You see, Flemming, anything a beggar gets is so +much to the good; and, as he has nothing to lose, not even his +head—for who would send a beggar to the block—he must needs be +therefore the most contented man on the face of the footstool.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, that’s maybe true enough,” replied Flemming, set in his own +notion notwithstanding it was the king who opposed him; “but look you, +what a scope a beggar has for envy, for there’s nobody he meets that’s +not better off than himself.”</p> + +<p>“You go to extremes, Flemming. An envious man is unhappy wherever you +place him; but I’m speaking of ordinary persons like ourselves, with +charity and good-will toward all their fellow-kind. That man, I say, +is happier as a beggar than as a king.”</p> + +<p>“Well, in so far as concerns myself, your majesty, <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_152" id="Page_152">[Pg 152]</a></span>I’d like to be +sure of a roof over my head when the rain’s coming down, and of that a +beggar never can be. A king or a cobbler has a place to lay his head, +at any rate.”</p> + +<p>“Aye,” admitted the king, “but sometimes that place is the block. To +tell you the truth, Flemming, I’m thinking of taking a week at the +begging myself. A poet should have practical knowledge of the subject +about which he writes. Give me a week on the road, Flemming, and I’ll +pen you a poem on beggary that will get warmer praise from you than +this has had.”</p> + +<p>“I give your rhyming the very highest praise, and say that Gavin +Douglas himself might have been proud had he put those lines +together.”</p> + +<p>To this the king made no reply, and the cobbler, looking up at him, +saw that a frown marred his brow. Then he remembered, as usual a +trifle late, James’s hatred of the Douglas name; a hatred that had +been honestly earned by the Earl of Angus, head of that clan. Flemming +was learning that it was as dangerous to praise, as to criticise a +king. With native caution however, the cobbler took no notice of his +majesty’s displeasure, but added an amendment to his first statement.</p> + +<p>“It would perhaps be more truthful to say that <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_153" id="Page_153">[Pg 153]</a></span>the verses are worthy +of Sir David Lyndsay. In fact, although Sir David is a greater poet +than Gavin Douglas, I doubt very much if in his happiest moments he +could have equalled ‘The Beggar Man.’”</p> + +<p>In mentioning Sir David Lyndsay, Flemming had named the king’s +greatest friend, and the cobbler’s desire to please could not have +escaped the notice of a man much less shrewd than was James the Fifth. +The king rose to his feet, checking a laugh.</p> + +<p>“Man Flemming,” he said, “I wonder at you! Have you forgotten that Sir +David Lyndsay married Janet Douglas?”</p> + +<p>The palpable dismay on the cobbler’s countenance caused the young man +to laugh outright.</p> + +<p>“The cobbler should stick to his honesty, and not endeavour to tread +the slippery path of courtiership. Flemming, if I wanted flattery I +could get that up at the castle. I come down here for something +better. If anything I could write were half so good as Sir David’s +worst, I should be a pleased man. But I’m learning, Flemming, I’m +learning. This very day some of my most powerful nobles have presented +me with a respectful petition. A year ago I should have said ‘No’ +before I had got to the signature of it. <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_154" id="Page_154">[Pg 154]</a></span>But now I have thanked them +for their attention to affairs of State, although between me and you +and that bench, Flemming, it’s a pure matter of their own greed and +selfishness. So I’ve told them I will give the subject my deepest +consideration, and that they shall have their answer this day +fortnight. Is not that the wisdom of the serpent combined with the +harmlessness of the dove?”</p> + +<p>“It is indeed,” agreed the cobbler.</p> + +<p>“Very well; to-morrow it shall be given out that this petition will +occupy my mind for at least a week, and during that time the king is +invisible to all comers, high or low. To-morrow, Flemming, you’ll get +me as clean a suit of beggar’s rags as you can lay your hands on. I’ll +come down here as the Master of Ballengeich, and leave these farmer’s +clothes in your care. I shall pass from this door as a beggar, and +come back to it in the same condition a week or ten days hence, so see +that you’re at hand to receive me.”</p> + +<p>“Does your majesty intend to go alone?”</p> + +<p>“Entirely alone, Flemming. Bless me, do you imagine I would tramp the +country as a beggar with a troop of horse at my back?”</p> + +<p>“Your majesty would be wise to think twice of such a project,” warned +the cobbler.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_155" id="Page_155">[Pg 155]</a></span></p><p>“Oh, well, I’ve doubled the number; I’ve thought four times about it; +once when I was writing the poem, and three times while you were +raising objections to my assertion that the beggar is the happiest man +on earth.”</p> + +<p>“If your majesty’s mind is fixed, then there’s no more to be said. But +take my advice and put a belt round your body with a number of gold +pieces in it, for the time may come when you’ll want a horse in a +hurry, and perhaps you may be refused lodgings even when you greatly +need them; in either case a few gold rascals will stand your friend.”</p> + +<p>“That’s canny counsel, Flemming, and I’ll act on it.”</p> + +<p>“And perhaps it might be as well to leave with some one in whom you +have confidence, instructions so that you could be communicated with +if your presence was needed hurriedly at Stirling.”</p> + +<p>“No, no, Flemming. Nothing can go wrong in a week. A beggar with a +string tied to his legs that some one in Stirling can pull at his +pleasure, is not a real beggar, but a slave. If they should want me +sorely in Stirling before I return, they’ll think the more of me once +I am back.”</p> + +<p>And thus it came about that the King of Scotland, with a belt of gold +around his waist in case <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_156" id="Page_156">[Pg 156]</a></span>of need, and garments concealing the belt +which gave little indication that anything worth a robber’s care was +underneath, tramped the high roads and byways of a part of Scotland, +finding in general a welcome wherever he went, for he could tell a +story that would bring a laugh, and sing a song that would bring a +tear, and all such rarely starve or lack shelter in this sympathetic +world.</p> + +<p>Only once did he feel himself in danger, and that was on what he +thought to be the last day of his tramp, for in the evening he +expected to reach the lower town of Stirling, even though he came to +it late in the night. But the weather of Scotland has always something +to say to the pedestrian, and it delights in upsetting his plans.</p> + +<p>He was still more than two leagues from his castle, and the dark +Forest of Torwood lay between him and royal Stirling, when towards the +end of a lowering day, there came up over the hills to the west one of +the fiercest storms he had ever beheld, which drove him for shelter to +a wayside inn on the outskirts of the forest. The place of shelter was +low and forbidding enough, but needs must when a Scottish storm +drives, and the king burst in on a drinking company, bringing a swirl +of rain and a blast of wind with him; so <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_157" id="Page_157">[Pg 157]</a></span>fierce in truth was the wind +that one of the drinkers had to spring to his feet and put his +shoulder to the door before the king could get it closed again. He +found but scant welcome in the company. Those seated on the benches by +the fire scowled at him; and the landlord seeing he was but a beggar, +did not limit his displeasure to so silent a censure.</p> + +<p>“What in the fiend’s name,” he cried angrily, “does the like of you +want in here?”</p> + +<p>The king nonchalantly shook the water from his rags and took a step +nearer the fire.</p> + +<p>“That is a very unnecessary question, landlord,” said the young man +with a smile, “nevertheless, I will answer it. I want shelter in the +first place, and food and drink as soon as you can bring them.”</p> + +<p>“Shelter you can get behind a stone dyke or in the forest,” retorted +his host; “food and drink are for those who can pay for it. Get you +gone! You mar good company.”</p> + +<p>“In truth, landlord, your company is none to my liking, but I happen +to prefer it to the storm. Food and drink, you say, are for those who +can pay; you see one of them before you, therefore, sir, hasten to +your duty, or it may be mine to hurry you unpleasantly.”</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_158" id="Page_158">[Pg 158]</a></span></p><p>This truculence on the part of a supposed beggar had not the effect +one might have expected of increasing the boisterousness of the +landlord. That individual well knew that many beggars were better able +to pay their way than was he himself when he took to journeying, so he +replied more civilly,—</p> + +<p>“I’ll take your order for a meal when I have seen the colour of your +money.”</p> + +<p>“Quite right,” said the king, “and only fair Scottish caution.” Then +with a lack of that quality he had just commended, he drew his belt +out from under his coat, and taking a gold piece from it, threw the +coin on the table.</p> + +<p>The entrance of the king and the manner of his reception exposed him +to the danger almost sure to attend the display of so much wealth in +such forbidding company. A moment later he realised the jeopardy in +which his rashness had placed him, by the significant glances which +the half-dozen rough men there seated gave to each other. He was alone +and unarmed in a disreputable bothy on the edge of a forest, well +known as the refuge of desperate characters. He wished that he had +even one of the sharp knives belonging to his friend the cobbler, so +that he might defend himself. However, the evil was done, if <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_159" id="Page_159">[Pg 159]</a></span>evil it +was, and there was no help for it. James was never a man to cross a +bridge before he came to it; so he set himself down to the steaming +venison brought for his refreshment, and made no inquiry whether it +were poached or not, being well aware that any question in that +direction was as unnecessary as had been the landlord’s first query to +himself. He was young. His appetite, at all times of the best, was +sharpened by his journey, and the ale, poor as it was, seemed to him +the finest brew he had ever tasted. The landlord was now all +obsequiousness, and told the beggar he could command the best in the +house.</p> + +<p>When the time came to retire, his host brought the king by a ladder to +a loft which occupied the whole length of the building, and muttered +something about the others sleeping here as well, but thanked Heaven +there was room enough for an army.</p> + +<p>“This will not do for me,” said the beggar, coming down again. “I’ll +take to the storm first. What is this chamber leading out from the +tap-room?”</p> + +<p>“That is my own,” replied the landlord, with some return of his old +incivility, “and I’ll give it up to no beggar.”</p> + +<p>The king without answering opened the door <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_160" id="Page_160">[Pg 160]</a></span>of the chamber and found +himself in a room that could be barricaded. Taking a light with him he +examined it more minutely.</p> + +<p>“Is this matchlock loaded?” he asked, pointing to a clumsy gun, which +had doubtless caused the death of more than one deer in the forest.</p> + +<p>The landlord answered in surly fashion that it was, but the king +tested the point for himself.</p> + +<p>“Now,” he said, “I rest here, and you will see that I am not +disturbed. Any man who attempts to enter this room gets the contents +of this gun in him, and I’ll trust to my two daggers to take care of +the rest.”</p> + +<p>He had no dagger with him, but he spoke for the benefit of the company +in the tap-room. Something in his resolute manner seemed to impress +the landlord, who grumbled, muttering half to himself and half to his +companions, but he nevertheless retired, leaving the king alone, +whereupon James fortified the door, and afterward slept unmolested the +sleep of a tired man, until broad day woke him.</p> + +<p>Wonderful is the change wrought in a man’s feelings by a fair morning. +A new day; a new lease of life. The recurrent morning must have been +contrived to give discouraged humanity a fresh chance. The king, +amazed to find that he <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_161" id="Page_161">[Pg 161]</a></span>had slept so soundly in spite of the weight of +apprehension on his mind the night before, discovered this +apprehension to be groundless in the clear light of the new day. The +sulky villains of the tap-room were now honest fellows who would harm +no one, and James laughed aloud at his needless fears; the loaded +matchlock in the corner giving no hint of its influence towards a +peaceful night. The landlord seemed, indeed, a most civil person, who +would be the last to turn a penniless man from his door. James, over +his breakfast, asked what had become of the company, and his host +replied that they were woodlanders; good lads in their way, but +abashed before strangers. Some of them had gone to their affairs in +the forest and others had proceeded to St. Ninians, to enjoy the +hanging set for that day.</p> + +<p>“And which way may your honour be journeying?” asked the innkeeper, +“for I see that you are no beggar.”</p> + +<p>“I am no beggar at such an inhospitable house as this,” replied the +wayfarer, “but elsewhere I am a beggar, that is to say, the gold I +come by is asked for, and not earned.”</p> + +<p>“Ah, that’s it, is it?” said the other with a nod, “but for such a +trade you need your weapons by your side.”</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_162" id="Page_162">[Pg 162]</a></span></p><p>“The deadliest weapons,” rejoined the king mysteriously, “are not +always those most plainly on view. The sting of the wasp is generally +felt before it is seen.”</p> + +<p>The landlord was plainly disturbed by the intelligence he had +received, and now made some ado to get the change for the gold piece, +but his guest replied airily that it did not matter.</p> + +<p>“With whatever’s coming to me,” he said, “feed the next beggar that +applies to you on a rainy night with less at his belt to commend him +than I have.”</p> + +<p>“Well, good-day to you, and thank you,” said the innkeeper. “If you’re +going Stirling way, your road’s straight through the forest, and when +you come to St. Ninians you’ll be in time to see a fine hanging, for +they’re throttling Baldy Hutchinson to-day, the biggest man between +here and the Border, yes, and beyond it, I warrant.”</p> + +<p>“That will be interesting,” replied the king. “Good-day to you.”</p> + +<p><a name="illo9" id="illo9"></a></p> +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 385px;"> +<img src="images/i177.jpg" class="illogap" width="385" height="500" alt="“Five stalwart ruffians fell upon him.”" title="" /> +<span class="caption"><span class="smcap">“Five stalwart ruffians fell upon him.”</span></span> +</div> + +<p>At the side of the wall, which ran from the end of the hostel and +enclosed a bit of ground appertaining to it, James stooped ostensibly +to tie his shoe, but in reality to learn if his late host made any +move, for he suspected that the sinister company of the night before +might not <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_163" id="Page_163">[Pg 163]</a></span>be so far away as the landlord had intimated. His stratagem was not +without its reward. The back door opened, and he heard the landlord +say in a husky whisper to some one unseen,—</p> + +<p>“Run, Jock, as fast’s you can to the second turning in the road, and +tell Steenie and his men they’d best leave this chap alone; he’s a +robber himself.”</p> + +<p>The king smiled as he walked slowly north towards the forest and saw a +bare-legged boy race at great speed across the fields and disappear at +their margin. He resolved to give time for this message to arrive, so +that he might not be molested, and therefore sauntered at a more +leisurely rate than that at which a man usually begins a journey on an +inspiring morning.</p> + +<p>Entering the forest at last, he relaxed no precaution, but kept to the +middle of the road with his stout stick ready in his hand. Whether +Jock found his men or not he never learned, but at the second turning +five stalwart ruffians fell upon him; two armed with knives, and three +with cudgels. The king’s early athletic training was to be put to a +practical test. His first action was to break the wrist of one of the +scoundrels who held a knife, but before he could pay attention to any +of the others he had received two or three <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_164" id="Page_164">[Pg 164]</a></span>resounding blows from the +cudgels, and now was fully occupied warding off their strokes, backing +down the road to keep his assailants in front of him. His great +agility gave him an advantage over the comparative clumsiness of the +four yokels who pressed him, but he was well aware that an unguarded +blow might lay him at their mercy. He was more afraid of the single +knife than of the three clubs, and springing through a fortunate +opening was delighted to crack the crown of the man who held the +blade, stretching him helpless in a cart rut. The three who remained +seemed in no way disheartened by the discomfiture of their comrades, +but came on with greater fury. The king retreated and retreated +baffling their evident desire to get in his rear, and thus the +fighting four came to the corner of the road that James had passed a +short time previously. One of the trio got in a nasty crack on the top +of the beggar’s bonnet, which brought him to his knees, and before he +could recover his footing, a blow on the shoulder felled him. At this +critical juncture there rose a wild shout down the road, for the +fighting party, in coming round the turn, had brought themselves +within view of a sturdy pedestrian forging along at a great pace, +which he nevertheless marvellously accelerated on seeing the mêlée. +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_165" id="Page_165">[Pg 165]</a></span>For a moment the dazed man on the ground thought that the landlord +had come to his rescue, but it was not so. It seemed as if a remnant +of the storm had swept like a whirlwind among the aggressors, for the +newcomer in the fray, with savage exclamations, which showed his +delight in a tumult, scattered the enemy as a tornado drives before it +the leaves of a forest. The king raised himself on his elbow and +watched the gigantic stranger lay about him with his stick, while the +five, with cries of terror, disappeared into the forest, for the two +that were prostrate had now recovered wind enough to run.</p> + +<p>“Losh,” panted the giant, returning to the man on the road, “I wish +I’d been here at the beginning.”</p> + +<p>“Thank goodness you came at the end,” said the king, staggering +unsteadily to his feet.</p> + +<p>“Are you hurt?” asked the stranger.</p> + +<p>“I’m not just sure yet,” replied the king, removing his bonnet and +rubbing the top of his head with a circular movement of his hand.</p> + +<p>“Just a bit cloor on the croon,” said the other in broad Lowland +Scotch. “It stunners a man, but it’s nothin’ ava when ye can stan’ on +your ain feet.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, it’s not the first time I’ve had to fight <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_166" id="Page_166">[Pg 166]</a></span>for my crown,” said +James with a laugh, “but five to one are odds a little more heavy than +I care to encounter.”</p> + +<p>“Are ye able to walk on, for I’m in a bit o’ a hurry, as ye’d have +seen if your attention hadna been turned to the north.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, quite able,” replied the king as they strode along together.</p> + +<p>“What’s wrong wi’ those scamps to lay on a poor beggar man?” asked the +stranger.</p> + +<p>“Nothing, except that the beggar man is not so poor as he looks, and +has a belt of gold about him, which he was foolish enough to show last +night at the inn where these lads were drinking.”</p> + +<p>“Then the lesson hasn’t taught you much, or you wouldn’t say that to a +complete stranger in the middle of a black forest, and you alone with +him, that is, unless they’ve succeeded in reiving the belt away from +you?”</p> + +<p>“No, they have not robbed me, and to show you that I am not such a +fool as you take me for, I may add that the moment you came up I +resolved to give to my rescuer every gold piece that is in my belt. So +you see, if you thought of robbing me, there’s little use in taking by +force what a man is more than willing to give you of his own free +will.”</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_167" id="Page_167">[Pg 167]</a></span></p><p>The giant threw back his head and the wood resounded with his +laughter.</p> + +<p>“What I have said seems to amuse you,” said the king not too well +pleased at the boisterous merriment of his companion.</p> + +<p>“It does that,” replied the stranger, still struggling with his mirth; +then striking the king on the shoulder, he continued, “I suppose there +is not another man in all broad Scotland to-day but me, that wouldn’t +give the snap of his fingers for all the gold you ever carried.”</p> + +<p>“Then you must be wealthy,” commented the king. “Yet it can’t be that, +for the richest men I know are the greediest.”</p> + +<p>“No, it isn’t that,” rejoined the stranger, “but if you wander +anywhere about this region you will understand what I mean when I tell +you that I’m Baldy Hutchinson.”</p> + +<p>“Baldy Hutchinson!” echoed the king, wrinkling his brows, trying to +remember where he had heard that name before, then with sudden +enlightenment,—</p> + +<p>“What, not the man who is to be hanged to-day at St. Ninians?”</p> + +<p>“The very same, so you see that all the gold ever minted is of little +use to a man with a tightening rope round his neck.” And the +comicality <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_168" id="Page_168">[Pg 168]</a></span>of the situation again overcoming Mr. Hutchinson, his +robust sides shook once more with laughter.</p> + +<p>The king stopped in the middle of the road and stared at his companion +with amazement.</p> + +<p>“Surely you are aware,” he said at last, “that you are on the direct +road to St. Ninians?”</p> + +<p>“Surely, surely,” replied Baldy, “and you remind me, that we must not +stand yammering here, for there will be a great gathering there to see +the hanging. All my friends are there now, and if I say it, who +shouldn’t, I’ve more friends than possibly any other man in this part +of Scotland.”</p> + +<p>“But, do you mean that you are going voluntarily to your own hanging? +Bless my soul, man, turn in your tracks and make for across the +Border.”</p> + +<p>Hutchinson shook his head.</p> + +<p>“If I had intended to do that,” he said, “I could have saved myself +many a long step yesterday and this morning, for I was a good deal +nearer the Border than I am at this moment. No, no, you see I have +passed my word. The sheriff gave me a week among my own friends to +settle my worldly affairs, and bid the wife and the bairns good-bye. +So I said to the sheriff, ‘I’m your <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_169" id="Page_169">[Pg 169]</a></span>man whenever you are ready for +the hanging.’ Now, the word of Baldy Hutchinson has never been broken +yet, and the sheriff knew it, although I must admit he swithered long +ere he trusted it on an occasion like this. But at last he said to me, +‘Baldy,’ says he, ‘I’ll take your plighted word. You’ve got a week +before you, and you must just go and come as quietly as you can, and +be here before the clock strikes twelve on Friday, for folk’ll want to +see you hanged before they have their dinners.’ And that’s what way +I’m in such a hurry now, for I’m feared the farmers will be gathered, +and that it will be difficult for me to place myself in the hands of +the sheriff without somebody getting to jalouse what has happened.”</p> + +<p>“I’ve heard many a strange tale,” said the king, “but this beats +anything in my experience.”</p> + +<p>“Oh there’s a great deal to be picked up by tramping the roads,” +replied Hutchinson sagely.</p> + +<p>“What is your crime?” inquired his majesty.</p> + +<p>“Oh, the crime’s neither here nor there. If they want to hang a man, +they’ll hang him crime or no crime.”</p> + +<p>“But why should they want to hang a man with so many friends?”</p> + +<p>“Well, you see a man may have many friends <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_170" id="Page_170">[Pg 170]</a></span>and yet two or three +powerful enemies. My crime, as you call it, is that I’m related to the +Douglases; that’s the real crime; but that’s not what I’m to be hanged +for. Oh no, it’s all done according to the legal satisfaction of the +lawyers. I’m hanged for treason to the king; a right royal crime, that +dubs a man a gentleman as much as if the king’s sword slaps his bended +back; a crime that better men than me have often suffered for, and +that many will suffer for yet ere kings are abolished, I’m thinking. +You see, as I said, I married into the Douglas family, and when the +Earl of Angus let this young sprig of a king slip through his fingers, +it was as much as one’s very life was worth to whisper the name of +Douglas. Now I think the Earl of Angus a good man, and when he was +driven to England, and the Douglases scattered far and wide by this +rapscallion callant with a crown on his head, I being an outspoken +man, gave my opinion of the king, damn him, and there were plenty to +report it. I did not deny it, indeed I do not deny it to-day, +therefore my neck’s like to be longer before the sun goes down.”</p> + +<p>“But surely,” exclaimed the beggar, “they will not hang a man in +Scotland for merely saying a hasty word against the king?”</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_171" id="Page_171">[Pg 171]</a></span></p><p>“There’s more happens in this realm than the king kens of, and all +done in his name too. But to speak truth, there was a bit extra +against me as well. A wheen of the daft bodies in Stirling made up a +slip of a plot to trap the king and put him in hiding for a while +until he listened to what they called reason. There were two weavers +among them and weavers are always plotting; a cobbler, and such like +people, and they sent word, would I come and help them. I was fool +enough to write them a note, and entrusted it to their messenger. I +told them to leave the king alone until I came to Stirling, and then I +would just nab him myself, put him under my oxter and walk down +towards the Border with him, for I knew that if they went on they’d +but lose their silly heads. And so, wishing no harm to the king, I +made my way to Stirling, but did not get within a mile of it, for they +tripped me up at St. Ninians, having captured my letter. So I was +sentenced, and it seems the king found out all about their plot as I +knew he would, and pardoned the men who were going to kidnap him, +while the man who wanted to stop such foolishness is to be hanged in +his name.”</p> + +<p>“That seems villainously unfair,” said the <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_172" id="Page_172">[Pg 172]</a></span>beggar. “Didn’t the eleven +try to do anything for you?”</p> + +<p>“How do you know there were eleven?” cried Hutchinson, turning round +upon him.</p> + +<p>“I thought you said eleven.”</p> + +<p>“Well, maybe I did, maybe I did; yes, there were eleven of them. They +never got my letter. Their messenger was a traitor, as is usually the +case, and merely told them I would have nothing to do with their +foolish venture; and that brings me to the point I have been coming +to. You see although I would keep my word in any case, yet I’m not so +feared to approach St. Ninians as another man might be. Young Jamie, +the king, seems to have more sense in his noodle than he gets credit +for. Some of his forbears would have snapped off the heads of that +eleven without thinking more of the matter, but he seems to have +recognised they were but poor silly bodies, and so let them go. Now +the moment they set me at liberty, a week since, I got a messenger I +could trust, and sent him to the cobbler, Flemming by name. I told +Flemming I was to be hanged, but he had still a week to get me a +reprieve. I asked him to go to the king and tell him the whole truth +of the matter, so I’m thinking that a pardon will be on the scaffold +there <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_173" id="Page_173">[Pg 173]</a></span>before me; still, the disappointment of the hundreds waiting to +see the hanging will be great.”</p> + +<p>“Good God!” cried the beggar aghast, stopping dead in the middle of +the road and regarding his comrade with horror.</p> + +<p>“What’s wrong with you?” asked the big man stopping also.</p> + +<p>“Has it never occurred to you that the king may be away from the +palace, and no one in the place able to find him?”</p> + +<p>“No one able to find the King of Scotland? That’s an unheard-of +thing.”</p> + +<p>“Listen to me, Hutchinson. Let us avoid St. Ninians, and go direct to +Stirling; it’s only a mile or two further on. Let us see the cobbler +before running your neck into a noose.”</p> + +<p>“But, man, the cobbler will be at St. Ninians, either with a pardon or +to see me hanged, like the good friend he is.”</p> + +<p>“There will be no pardon at St. Ninians. Let us to Stirling; let us to +Stirling. I know that the king has not been at home for a week past.”</p> + +<p>“How can you know that?”</p> + +<p>“Never mind how I know it. Will you do what I tell you?”</p> + +<p>“Not I! I’m a lad o’ my word.”</p> + +<p>“Then you are a doomed man. I tell you the <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_174" id="Page_174">[Pg 174]</a></span>king has not been in +Stirling since you left St. Ninians.” Then with a burst of impatience +James cried, “You stubborn fool, I am the king!”</p> + +<p>At first the big man seemed inclined to laugh, and he looked over the +beggar from top to toe, but presently an expression of pity overspread +his countenance, and he spoke soothingly to his comrade.</p> + +<p>“Yes, yes, my man,” he said, “I knew you were the king from the very +first. Just sit down on this stone for a minute and let me examine +that clip you got on the top of the head. I fear me it’s worse than I +thought it was.”</p> + +<p>“Nonsense,” cried the king, “my head is perfectly right; it is yours +that is gone aglee.”</p> + +<p>“True enough, true enough,” continued Hutchinson mildly, in the tone +that he would have used towards a fractious child, “and you are not +the first that’s said it. But let us get on to St. Ninians.”</p> + +<p>“No, let us make direct for Stirling.”</p> + +<p>“I’ll tell you what we’ll do,” continued Hutchinson in the same tone +of exasperating tolerance. “I’ll to St. Ninians and let them know the +king’s pardon’s coming. You’ll trot along <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_175" id="Page_175">[Pg 175]</a></span>to Stirling, put on your +king’s clothes and then come and set me free. That’s the way we’ll +arrange it, my mannie.”</p> + +<p>The king made a gesture of despair, but remained silent, and they +walked rapidly down the road together. They had quitted the forest, +and the village of St. Ninians was now in view. As they approached the +place more nearly, Hutchinson was pleased to see that a great crowd +had gathered to view the hanging. He seemed to take this as a personal +compliment to himself; as an evidence of his popularity.</p> + +<p>The two made their way to the back of the great assemblage where a few +soldiers guarded an enclosure within which was the anxious sheriff and +his minor officials.</p> + +<p>“Bless me, Baldy!” cried the sheriff in a tone of great relief, “I +thought you had given me the slip.”</p> + +<p>“Ye thought naething o’ the kind, sheriff,” rejoined Baldy +complacently. “I said I would be here, and here I am.”</p> + +<p>“You are just late enough,” grumbled the sheriff. “The people have +been waiting this two hours.”</p> + +<p>“They’ll think it all the better when they see <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_176" id="Page_176">[Pg 176]</a></span>it,” commented Baldy. +“I was held back a bit on the road. Has there no message come from the +king?”</p> + +<p>“Could you expect it, when the crime’s treason?” asked the sheriff +impatiently, “but there’s been a cobbler here that’s given me more +bother than twenty kings, and cannot be pacified. He says the king’s +away from Stirling, and this execution must be put by for another ten +days, which is impossible.”</p> + +<p>“Allow me a word in your ear privately,” said the beggar to the +sheriff.</p> + +<p>“I’ll see you after the job’s done,” replied the badgered man. “I have +no more places to give away, you must just stand your chances with the +mob.”</p> + +<p>Baldy put his open hand to the side of his mouth and whispered to the +sheriff:</p> + +<p>“This beggar man,” he said, “has been misused by a gang of thieves in +Torwood Forest.”</p> + +<p>“I cannot attend to that now,” rejoined the sheriff with increasing +irritation.</p> + +<p>“No, no,” continued Baldy suavely, “it’s no that, but he’s got a +frightful dunner on the top o’ the head, and he thinks he’s the king.”</p> + +<p>“I <i>am</i> the king,” cried the beggar, overhearing the last word of +caution, “and I warn you, <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_177" id="Page_177">[Pg 177]</a></span>sir, that you proceed with this execution +at your peril. I am James of Scotland, and I forbid the hanging.”</p> + +<p>At this moment there broke through the insufficient military guard a +wild unkempt figure, whose appearance caused trepidation to the +already much-tried sheriff.</p> + +<p>“There’s the crazy cobbler again,” he moaned dejectedly. “Now the +fat’s all in the fire. I think I’ll hang the three of them, trial or +no trial.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, your majesty!” cried the cobbler,—and it was hard to say which +of the two was the more disreputable in appearance,—“this man +Hutchinson is innocent. You will surely not allow the hanging to take +place, now you are here.”</p> + +<p>“I’ll not allow it, if I can prevent it, and can get this fool of a +sheriff to listen.”</p> + +<p>“Fool of a sheriff! say you,” stuttered that official in rising anger. +“Here, guard, take these two ragamuffins into custody, and see that +they are kept quiet till this hanging’s done with. Hutchinson, get up +on the scaffold; this is all your fault. Hangman, do your duty.”</p> + +<p>Baldy Hutchinson, begging the cobbler to make no further trouble, +mounted the steps leading to the platform, the hangman close behind +him. <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_178" id="Page_178">[Pg 178]</a></span>Before the guard could lay hands on the king, he sprang also up +the steps, and took a place on the outward edge of the scaffold. +Raising his hand, he demanded silence.</p> + +<p>“I am James, King of Scotland,” he proclaimed in stentorian tones. “I +command you as loyal subjects to depart to your homes. There will be +no execution to-day. The king reprieves Baldy Hutchinson.”</p> + +<p>The cobbler stood at the king’s back, and when he had ended, lifted +his voice and shouted,—</p> + +<p>“God save the King!”</p> + +<p>The mob heard the announcement in silence, and then a roar of laughter +followed, as they gazed at the two tattered figures on the edge of the +platform. But the laughter was followed by an ominous howl of rage, as +they understood that they were like to be cheated of a spectacle.</p> + +<p><a name="illo10" id="illo10"></a></p> +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 435px;"> +<img src="images/i194.jpg" class="illogap" width="435" height="504" alt="“‘I am James, King of Scotland,’ he proclaimed, in +stentorian tones.”" title="" /> +<span class="caption"><span class="smcap">“‘I am James, King of Scotland,’ he proclaimed, in +stentorian tones.”</span></span> +</div> + +<p>“Losh, I’ll king him,” shouted the indignant sheriff, as he mounted +the steps, and before the beggar or his comrade could defend +themselves, that official with his own hands precipitated them down +among the assemblage at the foot of the scaffold. And now the spirit +of a wild beast was let loose among the rabble. The king and his +henchman staggered to their feet and beat off, as <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_179" id="Page_179">[Pg 179]</a></span>well as they could, the multitude that pressed vociferously upon them. +A soldier, struggling through, tried to arrest the beggarman, but the +king nimbly wrested his sword from him, and circled the blade in the +air with a venomous hiss of steel that caused the nearer portion of +the mob to press back eagerly, as, a moment before, they had pressed +forward. The man who swung a blade like that was certainly worthy of +respect, be he beggar or monarch. The cobbler’s face was grimed and +bleeding, but the king’s newly won sword cleared a space around him. +And now the bellowing voice of Baldy Hutchinson made itself heard +above the din.</p> + +<p>“Stand back from him,” he shouted. “They’re decent honest bodies, even +if they’ve gone clean mad.”</p> + +<p>But now these at the back of the crowd were forcing the others +forward, and Baldy saw that in spite of the sword, his old and his new +friend would be presently engulfed. He turned to one of the upright +posts of the scaffold and gave it a tremendous shuddering kick; then +reaching up to the cross-bar and exerting his Samson-like strength, he +wrenched it with a crash of tearing wood down from its position, and +armed with this formidable weapon he sprung into the mob, <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_180" id="Page_180">[Pg 180]</a></span>scattering +it right and left with his hangman’s beam.</p> + +<p>“A riot and a rescue!” roared the sheriff. “Mount, Trooper MacKenzie, +and ride as if the devil were after you to Stirling; to Stirling, man, +and bring back with you a troop of the king’s horse.”</p> + +<p>“We must stop that man getting to Stirling,” said Baldy, “or he’ll +have the king’s men on you. I’ll clear a way for you through the +people, and then you two must take leg bail for it to the forest.”</p> + +<p>“Stand where you are,” said the beggar. “The king’s horse is what I +want to see.”</p> + +<p>“Dods, you’ll see them soon enough. Look at that gallop!”</p> + +<p>MacKenzie indeed had lost no time in getting astride his steed, and +was now disappearing towards Stirling like the wind. The more timorous +of the assemblage, fearing the oncoming of the cavalry, which usually +made short work of all opposition, caring little who was trampled +beneath horses’ hoofs, began to disperse, and seek stations of greater +safety than the space before the scaffold afforded.</p> + +<p>“Believe me,” said Baldy earnestly to his two friends, “you’d better +make your legs save your <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_181" id="Page_181">[Pg 181]</a></span>throttle. This is a hanging affair for you +as well as for me, for you’ve interfered with the due course of the +law.”</p> + +<p>“It’s not the first time I’ve done so,” said the beggar with great +composure, and shortly after they heard the thunder of horses’ hoofs +coming from the north.</p> + +<p>“Thank God!” said the sheriff when he heard the welcome sound. The mob +dissolved and left a free passage for the galloping cavalcade. The +stout Baldy Hutchinson and his two comrades stood alone to receive the +onset.</p> + +<p>The king took a few steps forward, raised his sword aloft and +shouted,—</p> + +<p>“Halt, Sir Donald!”</p> + +<p>Sir Donald Sinclair obeyed the command so suddenly that his horse’s +front feet tore up the turf as he reined back, while his sharp order +to the troop behind him brought the company to an almost instantaneous +stand.</p> + +<p>“Sir Donald,” said the king, “I am for Stirling with my two friends +here. See that we are not followed, and ask this hilarious company to +disperse quietly to their homes. Do it kindly, Sir Donald. There is no +particular hurry, and they have all the afternoon before them. Bring +your troop back to Stirling in an hour or two.”</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_182" id="Page_182">[Pg 182]</a></span></p><p>“Will your majesty not take my horse?” asked Sir Donald Sinclair.</p> + +<p>“No, Donald,” replied the king with a smile, glancing down at his +rags. “Scottish horsemen have always looked well in the saddle; +yourself are an example of that, and I have no wish to make this +costume fashionable as a riding suit.”</p> + +<p>The sheriff who stood by with dropped jaw, now flung himself on his +knees and craved pardon for laying hands on the Lord’s anointed.</p> + +<p>“The least said of that the better,” remarked the king drily. “But if +you are sorry, sheriff, that the people should be disappointed at not +seeing a man hanged, I think you would make a very good substitute for +my big friend Baldy here.”</p> + +<p>The sheriff tremulously asserted that the populace were but too +pleased at this exhibition of the royal clemency.</p> + +<p>“If that is the case then,” replied his majesty, “we shall not need to +trouble you. And so, farewell to you!”</p> + +<p>The king, Baldy, and the cobbler took the road towards Stirling, and +Sir Donald spread out his troop to intercept traffic in that +direction. Advancing toward the bewildered crowd, Sir Donald spoke to +them.</p> + +<p>“You will go quietly to your homes,” he said. <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_183" id="Page_183">[Pg 183]</a></span>“You have not seen the +hanging, but you have witnessed to-day what none in Scotland ever saw +before, the king intervene personally to save a doomed man; therefore, +be satisfied, and go home.”</p> + +<p>Some one in the mob cried,—</p> + +<p>“Hurrah for the poor man’s king! Cheer, lads, cheer!” A great uproar +was lifted to the skies; afar off the three pedestrians heard it, and +Baldy, the man of many friends, taking the clamour as a public +compliment to himself, waved his bonnet at the distant vociferous +multitude.</p> + +<p> </p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_185" id="Page_185">[Pg 184-187]</a></span></p> +<p class="double3"> </p> +<h2><a name="The_Kings_Visit" id="The_Kings_Visit"></a><span class="smcap">The King’s Visit</span></h2> + +<hr class="secondlarge" /> + +<p><span style="float: left; font-size: 100%; line-height: 80%; margin-top: 0;">“</span><span class="n"><span style="float:left;font-size:40px;line-height:25px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:1px;">N</span></span>o, no,” said the king decisively, “Bring them in, bring them in. +I’ll have none cast into prison without at least a hearing. Have any +of your men been killed?”</p> + +<p>“No, your majesty,” replied Sir Donald, “but some of them have wounds +they will not forget in a hurry; the Highlandmen fought like +tiger-cats.”</p> + +<p>“How many are there of them?” asked the king.</p> + +<p>“Something more than a score, with a piper that’s noisier than the +other twenty, led by a breechless ruffian, although I must say he +knows what to do with a sword.”</p> + +<p>“All armed, you say?”</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_188" id="Page_188">[Pg 188]</a></span></p><p>“Every one of them but the piper. About half an hour ago they came +marching up the main street of Stirling, each man with his sword +drawn, and the pipes skirling death and defiance. They had the whole +town at their heels laughing and jeering at them and imitating the +wild Highland music. At first, they paid little attention to the mob +that followed them, but in the square their leader gave a word in +Gaelic, and at once the whole company swerved about and charged the +crowd. There was instant panic among the townspeople, who fled in all +directions out-screaming the pibroch in their fright. No one was hurt, +for the Highlandmen struck them with the flat of their swords, but +several were trampled under foot and are none the better for it.”</p> + +<p>“It serves them right,” commented the king. “I hope it will teach them +manners, towards strangers, at least. What followed?”</p> + +<p>“A whistle from their leader collected his helots again, and so they +marched straight from the square to the gates of the castle. The two +soldiers on guard crossed pikes before them, but the leader, without a +word, struck down their weapons and attempted to march in, brave as +you please; who but they! There was a bit of a scuffle at the gate, +then the bugle sounded and we surrounded <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_189" id="Page_189">[Pg 189]</a></span>them, trying to disarm them +peaceably at first, but they fought like demons, and so there’s some +sore heads among them.”</p> + +<p>“You disarmed them, of course?”</p> + +<p>“Certainly, your majesty.”</p> + +<p>“Very well; bring them in and let us hear what they have to say for +themselves.”</p> + +<p>The doors were flung open, a sharp command was given, and presently +there entered the group of Highlanders, disarmed and with their elbows +tied behind their backs. A strong guard of the soldiery accompanied +them on either side. The Highlanders were men of magnificent physique, +a quality that was enhanced by the picturesque costume they wore, in +spite of the fact that in some instances, this costume was in tatters, +and the wearers cut and bleeding. But, stalwart as his followers were, +their leader far outmeasured them in height and girth; a truly +magnificent specimen of the human race, who strode up the long room +with an imperial swagger such as had never before been seen in +Stirling, in spite of the fact that his arms were pinioned. He marched +on until he came before the king, and there took his stand, without +any indication of bowing his bonneted head, or bending his sturdy bare +knees. The moment the leader set his foot across the threshold, <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_190" id="Page_190">[Pg 190]</a></span>the +unabashed piper immediately protruded his chest, and struck up the +wild strain of “Failte mhic an Abba,” or the Salute to the Chief.</p> + +<p>“Stop it, ye deevil!” cried the captain of the guard. “How dare you +set up such a squawking in the presence of the king?” and as the piper +paid not the slightest attention to him, he struck the mouth-piece +from the lips of the performer. This, however, did not cause a +cessation of the music, for the bag under the piper’s elbow was filled +with wind and the fingers of the musician bravely kept up the strain +on the reed chanter with its nine holes, and thus he played until his +chief came to a stand before the king. The king gazed with undisguised +admiration upon the foremost Highlander, and said quietly to the +captain of the guard,—</p> + +<p>“Unbind him!”</p> + +<p>On finding his arms released, the mountaineer stretched them out once +or twice, then folded them across his breast, making no motion however +to remove his plumed bonnet, although every one else in the room +except himself and his men were uncovered.</p> + +<p>“You have come in from the country,” began the king, a suspicion of a +smile hovering about his lips, “to enjoy the metropolitan delights of +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_191" id="Page_191">[Pg 191]</a></span>Stirling. How are you satisfied with your reception?”</p> + +<p>The big Highlandman made no reply, but frowned heavily, and bestowed a +savage glance on several of the courtiers, among whom a light ripple +of laughter had run after the king put his question.</p> + +<p>“These savages,” suggested Sir Donald, “do not understand anything but +the Gaelic. Is it your majesty’s pleasure that the interpreter be +called?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, bring him in.”</p> + +<p>When the interpreter arrived, the king said,—</p> + +<p>“Ask this man if his action is the forefront of a Highland invasion of +the Lowlands, or merely a little private attempt on his own part to +take the castle by assault?”</p> + +<p>The interpreter put the question in Gaelic, and was answered with +gruff brevity by the marauder. The interpreter, bowing low to the +king, said smoothly,—</p> + +<p>“This man humbly begs to inform your majesty—”</p> + +<p>“Speak truth, MacPherson!” cautioned the king. “Translate faithfully +exactly what he says. Our friend here, by the look of him, does <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_192" id="Page_192">[Pg 192]</a></span>not +do anything humbly, or fawn or beg. Translate accurately. What does he +say?”</p> + +<p>The polite MacPherson was taken aback by this reproof, but answered,—</p> + +<p>“He says, your majesty, he will hold no communication with me, because +I am of an inferior clan, which is untrue. The MacPhersons were a +civilised clan centuries ago, which the MacNabs are not to this day, +so please your majesty.”</p> + +<p>The MacNab’s hand darted to his left side, but finding no sword to his +grasp, it fell away again.</p> + +<p>“You are a liar!” cried the chief in very passable English which was +not to be misunderstood. “The MacPhersons are no clan, but an +insignificant branch of the Chattan. ‘Touch not the Cat’ is your +motto, and a good one, for a MacPherson can scratch but he cannot +handle the broadsword.”</p> + +<p>MacPherson drew himself up, his face reddening with anger. His hand +also sought instinctively the hilt of his sword, but the presence in +which he stood restricted him.</p> + +<p>“It is quite safe,” he said with something like the spit of a cat, +“for a heathen to insult a Christian in the presence of his king, and +the MacNabs have ever shown a taste for the cautious cause.”</p> + +<p>“Tut, tut,” cried the king with impatience, “am I to find myself +involved in a Highland feud <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_193" id="Page_193">[Pg 193]</a></span>in my own hall? MacPherson, it seems this +man does not require your interpreting, so perhaps it will further the +peace of our realm if you withdraw quietly.”</p> + +<p>MacPherson with a low obeisance, did so; then to MacNab the king +spoke,—</p> + +<p>“Sir, as it appears you are acquainted with our language, why did you +not reply to the question I put to you?”</p> + +<p>“Because I would have you know it was not the proper kind of question +to ask the like of me. I am a descendant of kings.”</p> + +<p>“Well, as far as that goes, I am a descendant of kings myself, though +sorry I should be to defend all their actions.”</p> + +<p>“Your family only began with Robert the Bruce; mine was old ere he +came to the throne.”</p> + +<p>“That may well be, still you must admit that what Robert lacked in +ancestry, he furnished forth in ability.”</p> + +<p>“But the Clan MacNab defeated him at the battle of Del Rhi.”</p> + +<p>“True, with some assistance, which you ignore, from Alexander of +Argyll. However, if this discussion is to become a competition in +history, for the benefit of our ignorant courtiers, I may be allowed +to add that my good ancestor, Robert, did <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_194" id="Page_194">[Pg 194]</a></span>not forget the actions of +the MacNabs at Del Rhi, and later overran their country, dismantled +their fortresses, leaving the clan in a more sane and chastened +condition than that in which he found it. But what has all this to do +with your coming storming into a peaceable town like Stirling?”</p> + +<p>“In truth, your majesty,” whispered Sir David Lyndsay, “I think they +must have come to replenish their wardrobe, and in that they are not a +moment too soon.”</p> + +<p>“I came,” said the chief, who had not heard this last remark, “because +of the foray you have mentioned. I came because Robert the Bruce +desolated our country.”</p> + +<p>“By my good sword!” cried James, “speaking as one king to another, +your revenge is somewhat belated, a lapse of two centuries should have +outlawed the debt. Did you expect then to take Stirling with twenty +men?”</p> + +<p>“I expected King James the Fifth to rectify the wrong done by King +Robert the First.”</p> + +<p>“Your expectation does honour to my reputation as a just man, but I +have already disclaimed responsibility for the deeds of ancestors less +remote than good King Robert.”</p> + +<p>“You have made proclamation in the Highlands <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_195" id="Page_195">[Pg 195]</a></span>that the chieftains must +bring you proof of their right to occupy their lands.”</p> + +<p>“I have, and some have preferred to me their deeds of tenure, others +prepared to fight; the cases have been settled in both instances. To +which of these two classes do you belong, Chief of the Clan MacNab?”</p> + +<p>“To neither. I cannot submit to you our parchments because Robert, +your ancestor, destroyed them. I cannot fight the army of the Lowlands +because my clan is small, therefore I, Finlay MacNab, fifth of my +name, as you are fifth of yours, come to you in peace, asking you to +repair the wrong done by your ancestor.”</p> + +<p>“Indeed!” cried the king. “If the present advent typifies your idea of +a peaceful visit, then God forfend that I should ever meet you in +anger.”</p> + +<p>“I came in peace and have been shamefully used.”</p> + +<p>“You must not hold that against us,” said James. “Look you now, if I +had come storming at your castle door, sword in hand, how would you +have treated me, Finlay the Fifth?”</p> + +<p>“If you had come with only twenty men behind you, I should treat you +with all the hospitality of Glendochart, which far exceeds that of +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_196" id="Page_196">[Pg 196]</a></span>Stirling or any other part of your money-making Lowlands, where gold +coin is valued more than a steel blade.”</p> + +<p>“It has all been a mistake,” said the king with great cordiality. “The +parchment you seek shall be given you, and I trust that your +generosity, Lord of Glendochart, will allow me to amend your opinion +of Stirling hospitality. I shall take it kindly if you will be my +guests in the castle until my officers of law repair the harshness of +my ancestor, Robert.” Then, turning to the guard the king continued,—</p> + +<p>“Unbind these gentlemen, and return to them their arms.”</p> + +<p>While the loosening of the men was rapidly being accomplished, the +captain of the guard brought the chief his sword, and would have +presented it to him, but the king himself rose and took the weapon in +his own hand, tendering it to its owner. The chieftain accepted the +sword and rested its point on the floor, then in dignified native +courtesy, he doffed his broad, feathered bonnet.</p> + +<p>“Sire,” he said, with slow deliberation, “Scotland has a king that +this good blade shall ever be proud to serve.”</p> + +<p>For three days, the MacNabs were the guests <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_197" id="Page_197">[Pg 197]</a></span>of the king in the +castle, while the legal documents were being prepared. King and +chieftain walked the town together, and all that Stirling had to show, +MacNab beheld. The king was desirous of costuming, at his own expense, +the portion of the clan that was now in his castle, whose disarray was +largely due to his own soldiers, but he feared the proposal might +offend the pride of Finlay the Fifth.</p> + +<p>James’s tact, however, overcame the difficulty.</p> + +<p>“When I visit you, MacNab, over by Loch Tay, there is one favour I +must ask; I want your tailors to make for me and the men of my +following, suits of kilts in the MacNab tartan.”</p> + +<p>“Surely, surely,” replied the chief, “and a better weaving you will +get nowhere in the Highlands.”</p> + +<p>“I like the colour of it,” continued the king. “There is a royal red +in it that pleases me. Now there is a good deal of red in the Stuart +tartan, and I should be greatly gratified if you would permit your men +to wear my colours, as my men shall wear yours. My tailors here will +be proud to boast that they have made costumes for the Clan MacNab. +You know what tradesmen bodies are, they’re pleased when we take a +little notice of them.”</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_198" id="Page_198">[Pg 198]</a></span></p><p>“Surely,” again replied MacNab, more dubiously, “and I shall send them +the money for it when I get home.”</p> + +<p>“Indeed,” said the king, “if you think I am going to have a full purse +when I’m in the MacNab country, you’re mistaken.”</p> + +<p>“I never suggested such a thing,” replied the chief indignantly. +“You’ll count nane o’ yer ain bawbees when you are with me.”</p> + +<p>“Ah, well,” rejoined the king, “that’s right, and so you will just +leave me to settle with my own tailors here.”</p> + +<p>Thus the re-costuming came about, and all in all it was just as well +that MacNab did not insist on his own tartan, for there was none of it +in Stirling, while of the Stuart plaid there was a sufficiency to +clothe a regiment.</p> + +<p>On the last night, there was a banquet given which was the best that +Stirling could bestow, in honour of the Clan MacNab. The great hall +was decorated with the colours of the clan, and at the further end had +been painted the arms of the MacNab—the open boat, with its oars, on +the sea proper, the head of the savage, the two supporting figures and +the Latin motto underneath, “Timor omnis abseto”. Five pipers of the +king’s court had learned the Salute to the Chief, and <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_199" id="Page_199">[Pg 199]</a></span>now, headed by +MacNab’s own, they paced up and down the long room, making it ring +with their war-like music. The king and the chieftain came in +together, and as the latter took his place at his host’s right hand, +his impassive face betrayed no surprise at the splendid preparations +which had been made for his reception. Indeed, the Highlanders all +acted as if they had been accustomed to sit down to such a banquet +every night. Many dainties were placed on the ample board cunningly +prepared by foreign cooks, the like of which the Highlanders had never +before tasted; but the mountaineers ate stolidly whatever was set in +front of them, and if unusual flavours saluted their palates, the +strangers made no sign of approval or the reverse. The red wine of +Burgundy, grown old in the king’s cellars, was new to most of them, +and they drank it like water, emptying their tankards as fast as the +attendant could refill them. Soon the ruddy fluid, whose potency had +been under-estimated, began to have its effect, and the dinner table +became noisy as the meal progressed, songs bursting forth now and +then, with strange shouts and cries more familiar to the hills of Loch +Tay than to the rafters of Stirling. The chief himself, lost the +solemn dignity which had at first characterised him, and as he emptied +flagon after <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_200" id="Page_200">[Pg 200]</a></span>flagon he boasted loudly of the prowess of his clan; +foretold what he would do in future fields now that he was allied with +the King of Scotland. Often forgetting himself, he fell into the +Gaelic, roaring forth a torrent of words that had no meaning for many +there present, then remembering the king did not understand the +language, he expressed his pity for a man in such condition, saying +the Gaelic was the oldest tongue in existence, and the first spoken by +human lips upon this earth. It was much more expressive, he said, than +the dialect of the Lowlands, and the only language that could +fittingly describe war and battle, just as the pibroch was the only +music suitable to strife, to all of which the smiling king nodded +approval. At last MacNab sprang to his feet, holding aloft his +brimming flagon, which literally rained Burgundy down upon him, and +called for cheers for the King of Scotland, a worthy prince who knew +well how to entertain a brother prince. Repeating this in Gaelic, his +men, who had also risen with their chief, now sprang upon the benches, +where standing unsteadily, they raised a series of yells so wild that +a shudder of fear passed through many of the courtiers there present. +The chief, calling to his piper, commanded him instantly to compose a +pibroch for the king, and <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_201" id="Page_201">[Pg 201]</a></span>that ready musician, swelling with pride, marched up and down and +round and round the great hall pouring forth a triumphal quickstep, +with many wonderful flourishes and variations. Then at a word from the +chief, each man placed his flagon on the table, whipped out his sword, +swung it overhead, to the amazement of the courtiers, for it is not in +accord with etiquette to show cold steel to the eyes of the king. Down +came the blades instantly and together, each man splitting in two the +goblet he had drunk from.</p> + +<p><a name="illo11" id="illo11"></a></p> +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 376px;"> +<img src="images/i217.jpg" class="illogap" width="376" height="500" alt="At last MacNab sprang to his feet, holding aloft his +brimming flagon." title="" /> +<span class="caption"><span class="smcap">“At last MacNab sprang to his feet, holding aloft his +brimming flagon.”</span></span> +</div> + +<p>“You must all come to Loch Tay,” cried the chief, “and I will show you +a banqueting hall in honour of James the Fifth, such as you have never +before seen.” Then to the horror of the courtiers, he suddenly smote +the king on the back with his open palm and cried, “Jamie, my lad, +you’ll come and visit me at Loch Tay?”</p> + +<p>The smitten king laughed heartily and replied,—</p> + +<p>“Yes, Finlay, I will.”</p> + +<p>The next day the MacNabs marched from the castle and down through the +town of Stirling with much pomp and circumstance. They were escorted +by the king’s own guard, and this time the populace made no sneering +remarks but <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_202" id="Page_202">[Pg 202]</a></span>thronged the windows and the roofs, cheering heartily, +while the Highlanders kept proud step to the shrill music of the +pipes. And thus the clansmen set faces towards the north on their long +tramp home.</p> + +<p>“What proud ‘deevils’ they are,” said Sir David Lyndsay to the king +after the northern company had departed. “I have been through the +MacNab country from one end of it to the other, and there is not a +decent hut on the hillside, let alone a castle fit to entertain a +king, yet the chief gives an invitation in the heat of wine, and when +he is sobered, he is too proud to admit that he cannot make good the +words he has uttered.”</p> + +<p>“That very thing is troubling me,” replied the king, “but it’s a long +time till July, and between now and then we will make him some excuse +for not returning his visit, and thus avoid putting the old man to +shame.”</p> + +<p>“But that too will offend him beyond repair,” objected the poet.</p> + +<p>“Well, we must just lay our heads together, Davie,” answered the king, +“and think of some way that will neither be an insult nor a +humiliation. It might not be a bad plan for me to put on disguise and +visit Finlay alone.”</p> + +<p>“Would you trust yourself, unaccompanied, <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_203" id="Page_203">[Pg 203]</a></span>among those wild caterans? +One doesn’t know what they might do.”</p> + +<p>“I wish I were as safe in Stirling as I should be among the MacNabs,” +replied the king.</p> + +<p>However, affairs of state did not permit the carrying out of the +king’s intention. Embassies came from various countries, and the king +must entertain the foreigners in a manner becoming their importance. +This, however, gave James the valid excuse he required, and so he sent +a commission to the chief of the MacNabs. “His majesty,” said the head +commissioner, “is entertaining the ambassadors from Spain and from +France, and likewise a legate from the Pope. If he came north, he must +at least bring with him these great noblemen with their retinues; and +while he would have been glad to visit you with some of his own men, +he could not impose upon the hospitality thus generously tendered, by +bringing also a large number of strangers and foreigners.”</p> + +<p>“Tell his majesty,” replied MacNab with dignity, “that whether he +bring with him the King of Spain, the Emperor of France, or even the +Pope himself, none of these princes is, in the estimation of MacNab, +superior to James the Fifth, of Scotland. The entertainment therefore, +which <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_204" id="Page_204">[Pg 204]</a></span>the king graciously condescends to accept, is certainly good +enough for any foreigners that may accompany him, be their nobility +ever so high.”</p> + +<p>When this reply was reported to the king he first smiled and then +sighed.</p> + +<p>“I can do nothing further,” he said. “Return to MacNab and tell him +that the Pope’s legate desires to visit the Priory on Loch Tay. Tell +the chief that we will take the boat along the lake on the day +arranged. Say that the foreigners are anxious to taste the venison of +the hills, and that nothing could be better than to give us a dinner +under the trees. Tell him that he need not be at any trouble to +provide us lodging, for we shall return to the Island Priory and there +sleep.”</p> + +<p>In the early morning the king and his followers, the ambassadors and +their train embarked on boats that had been brought overland for their +accommodation, and sailed from the Island Priory the length of the +beautiful lake; the numerous craft being driven through the water by +strong northern oarsmen, their wild chaunting choruses echoing back +from the picturesque mountains as they bent to their work. The evening +before, horses for the party had been led through forests, over the +hills, and along the strand, to the meeting-place at the other end of +the lake. Here they <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_205" id="Page_205">[Pg 205]</a></span>were greeted by the MacNabs, pipers and all, and +mounting the horses the gay cavalcade was led up the valley. The king +had warned their foreign Highnesses that they were not to expect in +this wilderness the niceties of Rome, Paris or Madrid, and each of the +ambassadors expressed his delight at the prospect of an outing certain +to contain so much that was novel and unusual to them.</p> + +<p>A summer haze hung in the valley, and when the king came in sight of +the stronghold of the MacNabs he rubbed his eyes in wonder, thinking +the misty uncertainty of the atmosphere was playing wizard tricks with +his vision. There, before them, stood the most bulky edifice, the most +extraordinary pile he had ever beheld. Tremendous in extent, it seemed +to have embodied every marked feature of a mediæval castle. At one end +a great square keep arose, its amazing height looming gigantically in +the gauze-like magic of the mist. A high wall, machicolated at the +top, connected this keep with a small octagonal tower, whose twin was +placed some distance to the left, leaving an opening between for a +wide entrance. The two octagonal towers formed a sort of frame for a +roaring waterfall in the background. From the second octagonal tower +another extended lofty <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_206" id="Page_206">[Pg 206]</a></span>wall connected it with a round peel as high as +the keep. This castle of a size so enormous that it made all others +its beholders had ever seen shrink into comparative insignificance, +was surrounded by a bailey wall; outside of that was a moat which +proved to be a foaming river, fed by the volume of water which came +down the precipice behind the castle. The lashing current and the +snow-white cascade formed a striking contrast to the deep moss-green +hue of the castle itself.</p> + +<p>“We have many great strongholds in Italy,” said the Pope’s legate, +“but never have I seen anything to compare with this.”</p> + +<p>“Oh,” said MacNab slightingly, “we are but a small clan; you should +see the Highland castles further north; they are of stone; indeed our +own fortresses, which are further inland, are also of stone. This is +merely our pleasure-house built of pine-trees.”</p> + +<p>“A castle of logs!” exclaimed the Pope’s legate. “I never before heard +of such a thing.”</p> + +<p>They crossed the bridge, passed between the two octagonal towers and +entered the extensive courtyard, surrounded by the castle itself; a +courtyard broad enough to afford manœvring ground for an army. The +interior walls were as attractive as the outside was grim and +forbidding. Balconies <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_207" id="Page_207">[Pg 207]</a></span>ran around three sides of the enclosure, tall +thin, straight pine poles, rising three stories high, supporting them, +each pole fluttering a flag at the top. The balconies were all +festooned with branches of living green.</p> + +<p>The air was tremulous with the thunder of the cataract and the +courtyard was cut in two by a rushing torrent, spanned by rustic +bridges. The walls were peopled by cheering clansmen, and nearly a +score of pipers did much to increase the din. Inside, the king and his +men found ample accommodation; their rooms were carpeted with moss and +with flowers, forming a variety of colour and yielding a softness to +the foot which the artificial piles of Eastern looms would have +attempted to rival in vain. Here for three days the royal party was +entertained. Hunting in the forest gave them prodigious appetites, and +there was no criticism of the cooking. The supply of food and drink +was lavish in the extreme; fish from the river and the loch, game from +the moors and venison from the hills.</p> + +<p>It was evening of the third day when the cavalcade set out again for +the Priory; the chief, Finlay MacNab, accompanied his guests down the +valley, and when some distance from the castle of logs, James smote +him on the shoulder, copying <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_208" id="Page_208">[Pg 208]</a></span>thus his own astonishing action. “Sir +Finlay,” he cried, “a king’s hand should be no less potent than a +king’s sword, and thus I create thee a knight of my realm, for never +before has monarch been so royally entertained, and now I pause here +to look once more on your castle of pine.”</p> + +<p>So they all stayed progress and turned their eyes toward the wooden +palace they had left.</p> + +<p>“If it were built of stone,” said the Pope’s legate, “it would be the +strongest house in the world as it is the largest.”</p> + +<p>“A bulwark of bones is better than a castle of stones,” said Sir +Finlay. “That is an old Highland saying with us, which means that a +brave following is the best ward. I will show you my bulwark of +bones.”</p> + +<p>And with that, bowing to the king as if to ask permission, he raised +his bugle to his lips and blew a blast. Instantly from the corner of +the further bastion a torch flamed forth, and that torch lighted the +one next it, and this its neighbour, so that speedily a line of fire +ran along the outlines of the castle, marking out the square towers +and the round, lining the curtain, the smaller towers, turrets and +parapets. Then at the top of the bailey wall a circle of Highlanders +lit torch after torch, and thus was the whole castle illumined by a +circle <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_209" id="Page_209">[Pg 209]</a></span>of fire. The huge edifice was etched in flame against the +sombre background of the high mountain.</p> + +<p>“Confess, legate,” cried the king, “that you never saw anything more +beautiful even in fair Italy.”</p> + +<p>“I am willing to admit as much,” replied the Roman.</p> + +<p>Another blast from the bugle and all the torches on the castle itself +disappeared, although the fire on the bailey wall remained intact, and +the reason for this soon became apparent. From machicolated tower, +keep, peel and curtain, the nimble Highlanders, torchless, scrambled +down, cheering as they came. It seemed incredible that they could have +attained such speed, picking their precarious way by grasping +protruding branch or stump or limb, or by thrusting hand between the +interstices of the timber, without slipping, falling and breaking +their necks.</p> + +<p>For a moment the castle walls were alive with fluttering tartans, +strongly illuminated by the torches from the outer bailey. Each man +held his breath while this perilous acrobatic performance was being +accomplished, and silence reigned over the royal party until suddenly +broken by the Italian.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_210" id="Page_210">[Pg 210]</a></span></p><p>“Highlander!” he cried, “your castle is on fire.”</p> + +<p>“Aye,” said the Highlander calmly, raising his bugle again to his +lips.</p> + +<p>At the next blast those on the bailey wall thrust their torches, still +burning among the chinks of the logs, and swarmed to the ground as +speedily and as safely as those on the main building had done. Now the +lighted torches that had been thrown on the roof of the castle, +disappearing a moment from sight, gave evidence of their existence. +Here and there a long tongue of flame sprung up and died down again.</p> + +<p>“Can nothing be done to save the palace?” shouted the excitable +Frenchman. “The waterfall; the waterfall! Let us go back, or the +castle will be destroyed.”</p> + +<p>“Stand where you are,” said the chief, “and you will see a sight worth +coming north for.”</p> + +<p>Now almost with the suddenness of an explosion, great sheets of flame +rose towering into a mountain of fire, as if this roaring furnace +would emulate in height the wooded hills behind it. The logs +themselves seemed to redden as the light glowed through every crevice +between them. The bastions, the bailey walls, were great wheels of +flame, encircling a palace that had all the vivid <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_211" id="Page_211">[Pg 211]</a></span>radiance of molten +gold. The valley for miles up and down was lighter than the sun ever +made it.</p> + +<p>“Chieftain,” said the legate in an awed whisper, “is this +conflagration accident or design?”</p> + +<p>“It is our custom,” replied MacNab. “A monarch’s pathway must be +lighted, and it is not fitting that a residence once honoured by our +king should ever again be occupied by anyone less noble. The pine tree +is the badge of my clan. At my behest the pine tree sheltered the +king, and now, at the blast of my bugle, it sends forth to the glen +its farewell of flame.”</p> + +<p> </p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_213" id="Page_213">[Pg 212-215]</a></span></p> +<p class="double3"> </p> +<h2><a name="The_King_Explores" id="The_King_Explores"></a><span class="smcap">The King Explores</span></h2> + +<hr class="secondlarge" /> + +<p class="n"><span style="float:left;font-size:40px;line-height:25px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:1px;">J</span>ames was pleased with himself. He had finished a poem, admitted by +all the court to excel anything that Sir David Lyndsay ever wrote, and +he had out-distanced James MacDonald, son of the Laird of Sleat, in a +contest for the preference of the fairest lady in Stirling, and young +MacDonald was certainly the handsomest sprig about the palace. So the +double victory in the art of rhythm and of love naturally induced the +king to hold a great conceit of himself. Poor Davie, who was as modest +a man regarding his own merits as could be found in the realm, quite +readily and honestly hailed the king his superior in the construction +of jingling rhyme, but the strapping young Highlander <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_216" id="Page_216">[Pg 216]</a></span>was proud as +any scion of the royal house, and he took his defeat less diffidently.</p> + +<p>“If the king,” he said boldly, “was plain Jamie Stuart, as I am Jamie +MacDonald, we would soon see who was winner of the bonniest lass, and +if he objected to fair play I’d not scruple to meet him sword in hand +on the heather of the hills, but not on the stones of Stirling. It is +the crown that has won, and not the face underneath it.”</p> + +<p>Now this was rank treason, for you must never talk of swords in +relation to a king, except that they be drawn in his defence. The +inexperienced young man made a very poor courtier, for he spoke as his +mind prompted him, a reckless habit that has brought many a head to +the block. Although MacDonald had a number of friends who admired the +frank, if somewhat hot-headed nature of the youth, his Highland +swagger often earned for him not a few enemies who would have been +glad of his downfall. Besides this, there are always about a court +plenty of sycophants eager to curry favour with the ruling power; and +so it was not long after these injudicious utterances had been given +forth that they were brought, with many exaggerations, to the ears of +the king.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_217" id="Page_217">[Pg 217]</a></span></p><p>“You think, then,” said his majesty to one of the tale-bearers, “that +if Jamie had the chance he would run his iron through my royal +person?”</p> + +<p>“There is little doubt of it, your majesty,” replied the parasite.</p> + +<p>“Ah, well,” commented James, “kings must take their luck like other +folk, and some day Jamie and I may meet on the heather with no other +witnesses than the mountains around us and the blue sky above us, and +in that case I shall have to do the best I can. I make no doubt that +MacDonald’s position in Stirling is less pleasant than my own. He is +practically a prisoner, held hostage here for the good conduct of his +father, the firebrand of Sleat, so we must not take too seriously the +vapouring of a youth whose leg is tied. I was once a captive myself to +the Douglas, and I used words that would scarcely have been pleasant +for my gaoler to hear had some kind friend carried them, so I have +ever a soft side for the man in thrall.”</p> + +<p>To the amazement of the courtiers, who had shown some inclination to +avoid the company of MacDonald after he had unburdened his soul, the +king continued to treat the Highlander as affably as ever, but many +thought his majesty was merely biding his time, which was indeed the +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_218" id="Page_218">[Pg 218]</a></span>case. The wiser heads about the court strongly approved of this +diplomacy, as before they had looked askance at the king’s rivalry +with the irascible youth. They knew that affairs were not going well +in the north, and so loose were the bonds restraining MacDonald, that +at any moment he might very readily have escaped, ridden to the hills, +and there augmented the almost constant warfare in those mountainous +regions. Every clan that could be kept quiet was so much to the good, +for although they fought mostly among themselves, there was ever a +danger of a combination which might threaten the throne of Scotland. +Very often the king recklessly offended those whom he should +conciliate, but even the wiseacres were compelled to admit that his +jaunty kindness frequently smoothed out what looked like a dangerous +quarrel. The sage counsellors, however, thought the king should keep a +closer watch on those Highland chieftains who were practically +hostages in his court. But to this advice James would never listen. +Having been a captive himself not so very long before, as he +frequently remarked, he thus felt an intense sympathy for those in +like condition, even though he himself kept them so through the +necessity of internal politics, yet he <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_219" id="Page_219">[Pg 219]</a></span>always endeavoured to make the +restraint sit as lightly as possible on his victims.</p> + +<p>Some weeks after the ill-considered anti-royal threats had been made, +their promulgator was one of a group in the courtyard of the castle, +when the captain of the guard came forward and said the king wished to +see him in his private chamber. MacDonald may have been taken aback by +the unexpected summons, but he carried the matter off nonchalantly +enough, with the air of one who fears neither potentate nor peasant, +and so accompanied the captain; but the gossips nodded their heads +sagely at one another, whispering that it would be well to take a good +view of MacDonald’s back, as they were little likely to see him soon +again, and this whisper proved true, for next day MacDonald had +completely disappeared, no one knew whither.</p> + +<p>When James the laird’s son, entered the presence of James the king, +the latter said as soon as the captain had left them alone together,—</p> + +<p>“Jamie, my man, you understand the Gaelic, so it is possible you +understand those who speak it.”</p> + +<p>“If your majesty means the Highlanders, they are easily enough +understood. They are plain, simple, honest bodies who speak what’s on +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_220" id="Page_220">[Pg 220]</a></span>their minds, and who are always willing, in an argument, to exchange +the wag of the tongue for a swoop of the black knife.”</p> + +<p>“I admit,” said the king with a smile, “that they are a guileless +pastoral people, easy to get on with if you comprehend them, but that +is where I’m at a loss, and I thought your head might supplement my +own.”</p> + +<p>“I am delighted to hear you want my head for no other purpose but that +of giving advice,” returned the Highlander candidly.</p> + +<p>“Truth to tell, Jamie, your head would be of little use to me were it +not on your shoulders. If the head were that of a winsome lassie I +might be tempted to take it on my own shoulder, but otherwise I am +well content to let heads remain where Providence places them.”</p> + +<p>Whether intentional or not, the king had touched a sore spot when he +referred to the laying of a winsome lassie’s head on his shoulder, and +MacDonald drew himself up rather stiffly.</p> + +<p>“In any ploy with the ladies,” he said, “your majesty has the weight +of an ermine cloak in your favour, and we all know how the lassies +like millinery.”</p> + +<p>“Then, Jamie, in a fair field, you think you would have the advantage +of me, as for example <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_221" id="Page_221">[Pg 221]</a></span>if our carpet were the heather instead of the +weaving of an Eastern loom?”</p> + +<p>“I just think that,” said MacDonald stoutly.</p> + +<p>The king threw back his head and laughed the generous laugh of the +all-conquering man.</p> + +<p>“E-god, Jamie, my man, we may put that to the test before long, but it +is in the high realms of statesmanship I want your advice, and not in +the frivolous courts of love. You may give that advice the more freely +when I tell you that I have made up my mind what to do in any case, +and am not likely to be swayed one way or other by the counsel I shall +receive.”</p> + +<p>“Then why does your majesty wish to have my opinion?” asked the +Highlander.</p> + +<p>“Lord, I’ll want more than your opinion before this is done with, but +I may tell you at once that there’s troublesome news from Skye.”</p> + +<p>“Are the MacLeods up again?”</p> + +<p>“Aye, they’re up and down. They’re up in their anger and down on their +neighbours. I cannot fathom the intricacies of their disputes, but it +may interest you to know that some of your clan are engaged in it. I +suspect that Alexander MacLeod of Dunvegan is behind all this, +although he may not be an active participant.”</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_222" id="Page_222">[Pg 222]</a></span></p><p>“Ah, that is Allaster Crottach,” said the young man, knitting his +brows.</p> + +<p>“Allaster, yes, but what does Crottach mean?” asked the king.</p> + +<p>“It means the humpback.”</p> + +<p>“Yes, that’s the man, and a crafty plausible old gentleman he is. He +got a charter under the Great Seal, of all his lands, from my father, +dated the fifteenth of June, 1468. This did not satisfy him, and when +I came to the throne he asked for a similar charter from me, which I +signed on the thirteenth of February last. Its conditions seemed to be +most advantageous to him, for all that was required of him was that he +should keep for my use a galley of twenty-six oars, and likewise keep +the peace. I am not aware whether the galley has been built or not, +but there is certainly very little peace where a MacLeod has a +claymore in his hand. Now, Jamie, the MacLeods are your neighbours in +Sleat, so tell me what you would do were the king’s crown on your +head?”</p> + +<p>“I should withdraw their charter,” said MacDonald.</p> + +<p>“That seems but just,” concurred the king, “still, I doubt if our +friend the humpback <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_223" id="Page_223">[Pg 223]</a></span>places very much value on the writing of his +august sovereign. He knows he holds his lands as he holds his sword, +his grip on the one relaxing when he loses his grip on the other. We +will suppose, however, the charter withdrawn and the MacLeod laughing +defiance at us. What next, MacDonald?”</p> + +<p>“Next! I would raise an army and march against him and make him laugh +on the other side of his crooked mouth.”</p> + +<p>“Hum,” said the king, “that means traversing the country of the +Grahams, who would probably let us by; then we next meet the Stewarts, +and for my name’s sake perhaps they might not molest us. We march out +of their country into the land of the MacNabs, and the chief is an old +friend of mine, so we need fear no disturbance there. After that we +must trust ourselves to the tender mercies of the Campbells, and the +outcome would depend on what they could make by attacking us or by +leaving us alone. Next the Clan Cameron confronts us, and are more +likely than not to dispute our passage. After them the MacDonalds, and +there, of course, you stand my friend. When at last we reached the +Sound of Sleat, how many of us would be left, and how <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_224" id="Page_224">[Pg 224]</a></span>are we to get +across to Skye with the MacLeods on the mainland to the north of us? I +am thinking, Jamie, there are lions in that path.”</p> + +<p>“The lions are imaginary, your majesty. The Grahams, the Stewarts, the +MacNabs would rise not against you, but for you, delighted to be led +by their king. The Campbells themselves must join you, if your force +were large enough to do without them. Among the MacDonalds alone I +could guarantee you an army. You forget that the Highlandman is always +anxious for warfare. Leave Stirling with a thousand men and you will +have ten thousand before you are at the shores of Sleat.”</p> + +<p>The king meditated for a few moments, then he looked up at his comrade +with that engaging smile of his.</p> + +<p>“It may all be as you say, Jamie. Perhaps the Highlands would rise +with me instead of against me, but a prudent commander must not ignore +the possibility of the reverse. However, apart from all this I am +desirous of quelling the military ardour of the Highlands, not of +augmenting it. It’s easy enough setting the heather on fire in dry +weather, but he is a wise prophet who tells where the conflagration +ends. I would rather <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_225" id="Page_225">[Pg 225]</a></span>carry a bucket of water than a sword, even +though it may be heavier.”</p> + +<p>“If your majesty will tell me what you have resolved upon, then I +shall very blithely give you my opinion on it. It is always easier to +criticise the plans of another than to put forward sensible plans of +one’s own.”</p> + +<p>“You are right in that, Jamie, and the remark shows I have chosen a +wise counsellor. Very well, then. I have never seen the renowned +island of Skye. They tell me it is even more picturesque than Stirling +itself. I propose then to don a disguise, visit Skye, and find out if +I can what the turbulent islanders want. If I am not able to grant +their desire, I can at least deal the better with them for being +acquainted.”</p> + +<p>“Your majesty does not purpose going alone?” cried MacDonald in +amazement.</p> + +<p>“Certainly not. I shall be well guarded.”</p> + +<p>“Ah, that is a different matter, and exactly what I advised.”</p> + +<p>“You advised an army, which I shall not take with me. I shall be well +guarded by my good right arm, and by the still more potent right arm, +if I may believe his own statement, of my friend, Jamie MacDonald of +Sleat.”</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_226" id="Page_226">[Pg 226]</a></span></p><p>With bent brows MacDonald pondered for a few moments, then looking up, +said,—</p> + +<p>“Will your majesty trust yourself in the wilderness with a prisoner?”</p> + +<p>“There is no question of any prisoner. If you refer to yourself, you +have always been at liberty to come and go as pleased you. As for +trusting, I trust myself to a good comrade, and a Highland gentleman.”</p> + +<p>The king rose as he spoke and extended his hand, which the other +grasped with great cordiality.</p> + +<p>“You will get yourself out of Stirling to-night,” continued the king, +“as quietly as possible, and hie you to my Castle of Doune, and there +wait until I come, which may be in a day, or may be in a week. I will +tell the court that you have gone to your own home, which will be true +enough. That will keep the gossips from saying we have each made away +with the other if we both leave together. You see, Jamie, I must have +some one with me who speaks the Gaelic.”</p> + +<p>“My advice has been slighted so far,” said MacDonald, “yet I must give +you another piece of it. We are going into a kittleish country. I +advise you to order your fleet into some safe cove <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_227" id="Page_227">[Pg 227]</a></span>on the west coast. +It will do the west Highlanders good to see what ships you have, for +they think that no one but themselves and Noah could build a boat. +When we come up into my own country we’ll get a gillie or two that can +be depended on to wait on us, then if we are nipped, one or other of +these gillies can easily steal a boat and make for the fleet with your +orders to the admiral.”</p> + +<p>“That is not a bad plan, Jamie,” said the king, “and we will arrange +it as you suggest.”</p> + +<p>The court wondered greatly at the sudden disappearance of James +MacDonald, but none dared to make inquiry, some thinking he had +escaped to the north, others, that a dungeon in Stirling Castle might +reveal his whereabouts. The king was as genial as ever, and the +wiseacres surmised from his manner that he meditated going off on +tramp again. The fleet was ordered to Loch Torridon, where it could +keep a watchful eye on turbulent Skye. The king spent three days in +settling those affairs of the realm which demanded immediate +attention, left Sir Donald Sinclair in temporary command, and rode off +to Doune Castle.</p> + +<p>From this stronghold there issued next morning before daylight, two +well-mounted young <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_228" id="Page_228">[Pg 228]</a></span>men, who struck in a northwesterly direction for +the wild Highland country. Their adventures were many and various, but +MacDonald’s Gaelic and knowledge of the locality carried them +scatheless to the coast, although much of the journey was done on +foot, for before half the way was accomplished the insurmountable +difficulty of the passes compelled them to relinquish their horses. As +it was unadvisable for them to enter Skye in anything like state, the +two travellers contented themselves with an ordinary fishing-boat, +which spread sail when the winds were fair, and depended on the oars +of the crew when the sea was calm. They were accompanied by two +gillies, who were intended to be useful on any ordinary occasion, and +necessary in case of emergency, for the boat and its crew were to wait +in any harbour of Skye that was determined upon and carry news to Loch +Torridon if the presence of the fleet was deemed necessary.</p> + +<p>It was a beautiful evening, with the sea as smooth as glass, when the +fishing-boat, with sails folded, propelled by the stalwart arms of the +rowers, entered a land-locked harbour, guarded by bold headlands. The +name given to the place by MacDonald was so unpronounceable in Gaelic +that it completely baffled the Saxon tongue of the <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_229" id="Page_229">[Pg 229]</a></span>king, but although +his majesty was not aware of the fact, his own presence was to remedy +that difficulty, because the place was ever afterwards known as the +Haven of the King—Portree.</p> + +<p>The scattered village climbed up the steep acclivity, and as the royal +party rounded the headland and came in sight of the place, it seemed +as if the inhabitants knew a distinguished visitor was about to honour +them with his presence, for the whole population, cheering and +gesticulating, was gathered along the shore. The gillie, however, +informed his master that the demonstration was probably on the +occasion of the launch of the handsome ship which they now saw, +covered with flags, riding placidly on the surface of the bay. She was +evidently new for her sides were fresh from the axe, without stain of +either weather or wave.</p> + +<p>“It seems the boat is yours,” said MacDonald to the king in English. +“It is the twenty-six oared galley that Allaster Crottach was bound by +his agreement to build for you. My man tells me that it is to be taken +to-morrow to Dunvegan Castle, so it is likely to be used by Allaster +Crottach himself before your majesty sets foot in it, for if it had +been intended only for the king it would have been left here so <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_230" id="Page_230">[Pg 230]</a></span>that +it might be convenient to the mainland. It has been built by Malcolm +MacLeod, the leader of all the people in these parts. He thinks +himself the most famous boat-builder in the world, so Allaster has at +least fulfilled one part of his agreement, and doubtless believes this +to be the finest craft afloat.”</p> + +<p>“It is indeed a beautiful barge,” assented the king, admiring the +graceful lines of the ship. “But what is that long-haired, bare-legged +cateran screaming about with his arms going like a windmill? The crowd +evidently appreciates his efforts, for they are rapturous in their +applause.”</p> + +<p>MacDonald held up his hand and the oarsmen paused, while the boat +gently glided towards the shore. In the still air, across the water, +the impassioned Gaelic words came clearly to the voyagers.</p> + +<p>“He is saying,” translated MacDonald, after a few moments listening, +“that the MacLeods are like the eternal rocks of Skye, and their +enemies like the waves of the sea. Their enemies dash against them and +they remain unmoved, while the wave is shattered into infinitesimal +spray. So do the MacLeods defy and scorn all who come against them.”</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_231" id="Page_231">[Pg 231]</a></span></p><p>The king shrugged his shoulders.</p> + +<p>“The man forgets that the sea also is eternal, and that it ultimately +wears away the cliff. This appears to be an incitement towards war, +then?”</p> + +<p>“Oh, not so,” replied MacDonald. “The man is one of their poets, and +he is reciting an epic he has written, doubtless in praise of +Malcolm’s boat-building.”</p> + +<p>“God save us!” cried the king. “Have we then poets in Skye?”</p> + +<p>“The whole of the Highlands is a land of poetry, your majesty,” +affirmed MacDonald drawing himself up proudly, “although the very poor +judges of the art in Stirling may not be aware of the fact.”</p> + +<p>The king laughed heartily at this.</p> + +<p>“I must tell that to Davie Lyndsay,” he said. “But here we have +another follower of the muse who has taken the place of the first. +Surely nowhere else is the goddess served by votaries so unkempt. What +is this one saying?”</p> + +<p>“He says that beautiful is the western sky when the sun sinks beneath +the wave, but more beautiful still is the cheek of the Rose of Skye, +the daughter of their chieftain.”</p> + +<p>“Ah, that is better and more reassuring. I think either of us, Jamie, +would rather be within <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_232" id="Page_232">[Pg 232]</a></span>sight of the smiles of the Rose of Skye than +within reach of the claymores of her kinsmen.”</p> + +<p>By this time the assemblage on shore became aware that visitors were +approaching, and the declamation ceased. Malcolm MacLeod himself came +forward on the landing to greet the newcomers. He was a huge man of +about fifty, tall and well proportioned, with an honest but masterful +face, all in all a magnificent specimen of the race, destined by +nature to be a leader of men. He received his visitors with dignified +courtesy.</p> + +<p>“I am James MacDonald,” explained that young man by way of +introduction, “son of the Laird of Sleat. We heard you had built a +boat for the king, and so have come to see it. This is James Stuart, a +friend of mine from the Lowlands, and I have brought him with me that +he may learn what boat-building really is.”</p> + +<p>“You are very welcome,” said MacLeod, “and just in time, for they are +taking her round the headland to Dunvegan to-morrow morning. Aye, +she’s a bonnie boat, if I do say it myself, for no one knows her and +what she’ll do better than I.”</p> + +<p>“The king should be proud of her,” said MacDonald.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_233" id="Page_233">[Pg 233]</a></span></p><p>MacLeod tossed his shaggy head and replied with a sneer,—</p> + +<p>“It’s little the king knows about boats. He should be playing with a +shallop in a tub of water, instead of meddling with men’s affairs. +Allaster Crottach is our king, and if he graciously pleases to tickle +the lad in Stirling by saying he owns the boat, Allaster himself will +have the using of her. I would not spike a plank for the king, but I’d +build a fleet for Allaster if he wanted it. Has your friend the +Gaelic? If he has, he may tell the king what I say, when he goes back +to the Lowlands.”</p> + +<p>“No, he has no Gaelic, Malcolm, but I’ll put into the English whatever +you like to say.”</p> + +<p>And so he gave to the king a free rendition of MacLeod’s remarks, +toning them down a little, but James was shrewd enough to suspect from +the manner of the man of Skye, that he held his nominal monarch in +slight esteem.</p> + +<p>Malcolm MacLeod took the strangers to his own house, which was the +best in the village. Almost the entire population of the port had been +working on the king’s boat, and now that it was finished and launched, +the place had earned a holiday. Malcolm was delighted to have visitors +who could bear witness to the skill of his <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_234" id="Page_234">[Pg 234]</a></span>designing, appreciate the +genius of the poets and listen to the skreigh of the piping. The +strangers were most hospitably entertained and entered thoroughly into +the spirit of the festivities. The morning after their arrival they +cheered as lustily as the others when the twenty-six oars of the +king’s barge struck the water and the craft moved majestically out of +the harbour. They seemed to have come into a land of good-will toward +all mankind; high and low vying with each other to make their stay as +pleasant as possible.</p> + +<p>“Losh, Jamie,” said the king to his friend two or three days after +their arrival, “I might well have ignored your advice about the ships, +as I did your base counsel about the army. I need no fleet here to +protect me in Skye where every man is my friend.”</p> + +<p>“That is very true,” replied MacDonald, “but you must not forget that +no one has any suspicion who you are. Everyone is a friend of James +Stuart of the Lowlands, but I hear nobody say a good word for the +king.”</p> + +<p>“What have they against him?” asked the Guidman of Ballengeich with a +frown, for it was not complimentary to hear that in a part of his own +dominion he was thought little of.</p> + +<p><a name="illo12" id="illo12"></a></p> +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 442px;"> +<img src="images/i252.jpg" class="illogap" width="442" height="500" alt="“The strangers were most hospitably entertained, and +entered thoroughly into the spirit of the festivities.”" title="" /> +<span class="caption"><span class="smcap">“The strangers were most hospitably entertained, and +entered thoroughly into the spirit of the festivities.”</span></span> +</div> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_235" id="Page_235">[Pg 235]</a></span></p><p>“It isn’t exactly that they have anything against the king,” said +MacDonald, perhaps not slow to prick the self-esteem of his comrade, +“but they consider him merely a boy, of small weight in their affairs +one way or another. They neither fear him nor respect him. The real +monarch of these regions is the humpback in Dunvegan Castle; and even +if they knew you were the king, your sternest command would have no +effect against his slightest wish, unless you had irresistible force +at the back of you.”</p> + +<p>“Ah, Jamie, you are simply trying to justify the bringing of the fleet +round Scotland.”</p> + +<p>“Indeed and I am not. The only use to which you can put your fleet +will be to get you away from here in case of trouble. As far as its +force is concerned, these islanders would simply take to the hills and +defy it.”</p> + +<p>“Ah, well,” said the king, “I’ll make them think better of me before I +am done with them.”</p> + +<p>The week’s festivities were to end with a grand poetical contest. All +the bards of the island were scribbling; at any rate, those who could +write. The poets who had not that gift were committing their verses to +memory that they might be prepared to recite them before the judges, +three famous minstrels, who were chosen from three <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_236" id="Page_236">[Pg 236]</a></span>districts on the +island, thus giving variety and a chance of fairness to their +decisions.</p> + +<p>The king resolved to enter this competition, and he employed MacDonald +every evening translating into the language of Skye, the poem which +had been considered so good in Stirling, and MacDonald was to recite +it for him at the contest. But this Homeric competition was endangered +by disquieting news brought to the island by the fishermen. They +reported that a powerful fleet had been seen rounding the northern +coast of Scotland, and was now making towards the south. This +unexpected intelligence seemed to change instantaneously the attitude +of the islanders towards their two guests. Suspicion electrified the +air. The news of the sighting of the fleet, coming so quickly on the +advent of two strangers, who apparently had no particular business on +the island, caused them to be looked upon as spies, and for a day or +two they were in danger of being treated as such. The king’s alertness +of mind saved the situation. He had brought with him from Stirling, in +case of emergencies, several sheets of blank parchment, each bearing +the Great Seal of Scotland. Once more the useful MacDonald was his +amanuensis. A proclamation in Gaelic was written and the signature of +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_237" id="Page_237">[Pg 237]</a></span>James the Fifth inscribed thereon. This document was enclosed with a +communication, containing directions to the admiral of the fleet, and +MacDonald entrusted the packet to one of his gillies, with orders +that sail should be set for Loch Torridon, and the message given to +the officer in command.</p> + +<p>Three days later the ferment on the island was immeasurably increased +when the guard on the headland reported that a ship of war was making +direct for the harbour. A horseman was despatched full gallop to +Dunvegan Castle to inform the head of the clan of the mysterious visit +of the two men, followed so soon by the approach of a belligerent +vessel. But before the messenger was ten miles on his way, the +ceremony was over and done with. The big ship sailed majestically +through the narrows, cast anchor and fired a salute. A well-manned +boat was lowered and rowed to the shore. There stepped from the boat +an officer in a splendid uniform, followed by a lieutenant and half a +dozen men, one of whom carried the flag of Scotland. This company +marched to the cross, which stood in the centre of the village, and +the crowd sullenly followed, with Malcolm MacLeod at their head, not +knowing what the action of the naval officer might portend, <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_238" id="Page_238">[Pg 238]</a></span>and in +absence of definite orders from their chief, hesitating to oppose this +inland march. Many of those on the fleet were Highlanders, and the +second in command was one of them. This man mounted the three steps at +the foot of the cross and stood with his back against the upright +stone. His chief handed him a roll of parchment, and the subordinate +officer in a loud voice, and in excellent Gaelic, cried,—</p> + +<p>“A Proclamation from His Most Excellent Majesty, James the Fifth of +Scotland! God save the King!”</p> + +<p>At this the chief officer raised his sword in salute, and his men sent +up a cheer, but the aggregation was not seconded by any of the large +concourse there gathered together. Undaunted by this frigid reception +the officer unrolled the manuscript and read its contents in a voice +that reached to the furthest outskirts of the crowd:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>“I, James of Scotland, lawful King of this realm, do +proclaim to all loyal subjects, that the safety and liberty +of my land depends on an unconquerable fleet, and that the +merit of the fleet consists in stout well-built ships, +therefore the man whom I, the King, delight to honour is he +whose skill produces the best sea-going craft, so I hereon +inscribe the name of Malcolm MacLeod, master shipbuilder, a +man who has designed and constructed <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_239" id="Page_239">[Pg 239]</a></span>a boat of which all +Scotland has reason to be proud. The King’s barge of +twenty-six oars, planned by Malcolm MacLeod and built for +him by the people of Skye, will be used as a model for all +ship-builders in the Scottish navy.”</p></div> + +<p>The reader now looked up from his parchment and gazed over the +assemblage.</p> + +<p>“Is Malcolm MacLeod here?” he asked. “Let him step forward.”</p> + +<p>The giant, somewhat dazed, walking like a man in a dream, approached +the foot of the cross. The officer rolled the proclamation and +presented it to the shipbuilder, saying:—</p> + +<p>“From the hand of the king, to the hand of Malcolm MacLeod.”</p> + +<p>Malcolm accepted it, muttering half with a smile, half with a frown,—</p> + +<p>“E-god, the king knows a good boat when he gets it.”</p> + +<p>Then the officer uplifted his sword and cried,—</p> + +<p>“God save the king;” and now the hills around re-echoed with the +cheering.</p> + +<p>The little company without another word retraced their steps to the +small boat, and made for the ship which was now facing outward, anchor +hoisted and sails spread once more, so the watching Highlanders had a +view of a large vessel superbly <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_240" id="Page_240">[Pg 240]</a></span>managed, as the west wind which +brought her into the harbour took her safely out again.</p> + +<p>The royal young man had a striking lesson on the fickleness of the +populace. Heretofore as MacDonald had truly said, no one had a good +word to say for the king; now it was evident that James V. of Scotland +was the greatest and wisest monarch that ever sat on a throne.</p> + +<p>Malcolm MacLeod had been always so proud of his skill that this +proclamation could hardly augment his self-esteem, but it suddenly +changed his views regarding his august overlord. In conversation ever +after it became, “I and the king,” and he was almost willing to admit +that James was very nearly as great a man as Alexander MacLeod of +Dunvegan.</p> + +<p>The enthusiasm was so great that several bards composed special poems +in honour of the king of Scotland, and next day the effusions were to +be heard at the cross, and the prizes awarded. The first thing done, +however, after the departure of the ship, was to send another mounted +messenger to Dunvegan Castle, so that the lord of the island might +learn that no invasion was to be feared from the fleet. The parchment +proclamation was sent on to the chief, ostensibly in explanation of +the ship’s visit, but probably because Malcolm was not <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_241" id="Page_241">[Pg 241]</a></span>loth to let +the head of the clan know what the head of the country thought of his +workmanship.</p> + +<p>It was early next morning that the reading and reciting of the poems +began, and so lengthy were these effusions that it was well past noon +before the last had been heard. To the chagrin of James he found +himself fifteenth on the list when the honours were awarded. +MacDonald, endeavouring to keep a straight face, told the king of the +judges’ decision, adding,—</p> + +<p>“It will be as well not to let Davie Lyndsay know of this.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, you may tell whom you please,” cried the king. “I was sure you +would bungle it in the Gaelic.”</p> + +<p>The king was pacing up and down the room in no very good humour, so +the young Highlander thought it best not to reply. He was saved +however, from the embarrassment of silence by the entrance of Malcolm +MacLeod.</p> + +<p>“You are in great good fortune,” said Malcolm. “The messengers have +returned with a score of horsemen at their backs, and Dunvegan himself +invites you to the castle.”</p> + +<p>MacDonald seemed in no way jubilant over what his host considered the +utmost honour that could be bestowed upon two strangers.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_242" id="Page_242">[Pg 242]</a></span></p><p>“What does he say?” demanded the king.</p> + +<p>“He says that MacLeod of Dunvegan has invited us to his castle.”</p> + +<p>“Well, we will go then. I suppose we can get horses here, or shall we +journey round by boat?”</p> + +<p>“I understand,” replied MacDonald, “that the chief has sent horses for +us, and furthermore an escort of a score of men, so I’m thinking we +have very little choice about the matter.”</p> + +<p>“Very well,” returned the king with a shrug of indifference, “let us +be off and see our new host. I wonder if he will be as easily +flattered as the one we are leaving.”</p> + +<p>“I doubt it,” said MacDonald seriously.</p> + +<p> </p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_243" id="Page_243">[Pg 243-245]</a></span></p> +<p class="double3"> </p> +<h2><a name="The_King_Drinks" id="The_King_Drinks"></a><span class="smcap">The King Drinks</span></h2> + +<hr class="secondlarge" /> + +<p class="n"><span style="float:left;font-size:40px;line-height:25px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:1px;">T</span>he two young men mounted the small shaggy horses that had been +provided for them by the forethought of their future host, MacLeod of +Dunvegan. Apparently the king had forgotten all about his crushing +defeat in the poetical contest of the day before, for he was blithe +and gay, the most cheerful of those assembled, adventuring now and +then scraps of Gaelic that he had picked up, and his pronunciation +contributed much to the hilarity of the occasion.</p> + +<p>MacDonald, on the other hand, was gloomy and taciturn, as if already +some premonition of the fate that awaited him at Dunvegan cast its +shadow before. The news of the great condescension of the laird in +inviting two strangers to his castle <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_246" id="Page_246">[Pg 246]</a></span>had spread through all the land, +and, early as was the hour, the whole population of the district had +gathered to wish the travellers a cordial farewell. The escort, as the +king called the score of men, who were to act as convoy from one port +to the other; or the guard, as MacDonald termed them, sat on their +horses in silence, awaiting the word of command to set forth.</p> + +<p>At last this word was given, and the procession began its march amidst +the cheers of the people and a skirling of the pipes. The distance was +little more than seven leagues over a wild uninviting country. +MacDonald sat his horse dejected and silent, for the prospect +confronting him was far from alluring. The king was incognito, he was +not; and he had begun to doubt the wisdom of having given his actual +designation to the people of Skye, for the relations between this +island and the mainland were at that time far from being of the most +cordial description.</p> + +<p><a name="illo13" id="illo13"></a></p><div class="figcenter" style="width: 397px;"> +<img src="images/i265.jpg" class="illogap" width="397" height="500" alt="The King, however, appeared to have no forebodings, but +trotted along with great complacency." title="" /> +<span class="caption smcap">“The King, however, appeared to have no forebodings, but +trotted along with great complacency.”</span> +</div> + +<p>Dunvegan Castle was a grim stronghold in which the MacLeods sat so +secure that all the efforts of all the MacDonalds, even if they were +for once united, could not dislodge them. It was one of the most +remote inhabited places in all Scotland, its next neighbour to the +west being that new land of America discovered not yet fifty <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_247" id="Page_247">[Pg 247]</a></span>years. For the son of one Highland chieftain to come so completely +into the power of another, his own people knowing practically nothing +of his whereabouts, was a situation that did not commend itself to the +young man. Allaster Crottach was celebrated more for craft than for +violence. He had extended and consolidated his possessions with the +skill of a diplomatist rather than by the arms of his soldiers, and +MacDonald thought it quite likely that a slice of Sleat might be the +ransom for his release. If through any incautious remark of his +comrade the Crottach became aware that he held not only MacDonald of +Sleat but also the King of Scotland, the fates only knew what might +happen. The king, however, appeared to have no forebodings, but +trotted along with great complacency, commenting now and then on the +barrenness of the landscape.</p> + +<p>The party had accomplished little more than half the distance, when, +as they fronted a slight elevation, there came to them over the hills +wild pipe music, louder than anything of that kind the king had ever +heard.</p> + +<p>“The MacLeod is evidently about to welcome us in state,” said his +majesty to MacDonald, “he must have the very monarch of pipers in his +train.”</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_248" id="Page_248">[Pg 248]</a></span></p><p>“The MacRimmon,” admitted MacDonald, “are acknowledged to be the best +pipers in all the Highlands, and they are hereditary musicians to the +MacLeod. The sounds we hear indicate that a number of pipers are +playing in unison.”</p> + +<p>On reaching the brow of the hill they found this was indeed the case. +There were from thirty to fifty pipers, but they evidently bore no +greeting to the travellers, for the musical party was marching in the +same direction as themselves, playing vigorously as they swung along. +At the instance of the king, MacDonald made inquiries regarding this +extraordinary spectacle. The taciturn commander of the guard answered +briefly that it was the College of Pipers. The students were marching +back to Bocraig on the other side of Loch Follart, where instruction +in piping was bestowed by the MacRimmon; this excursion over the hills +giving them training in piping and in tramping at the same time. The +musical regiment took its way straight across the moors and so very +soon was lost sight of by the two travellers, who kept to a track +which was more or less of a road.</p> + +<p>In due time the cavalcade reached Dunvegan Castle, and even a man +accustomed to so stout a fortress as that of Stirling could not but be +struck by the size, the strength, and the situation of this <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_249" id="Page_249">[Pg 249]</a></span>frowning +stronghold; yet, extensive as it was, its proprietor evidently found +it inadequate for his ambitions, as he was now building a massive +tower which added a further dignity to the structure.</p> + +<p>The king and his companion were received at the front entrance by an +old man, whom each at once knew could not be their host, for his back +had originally been straight enough, though now slightly stooped +through age. He led them within, and up a stair direct to the +apartments reserved for them. Their aged conductor spoke no English, +so the burden of conversation fell on MacDonald. As soon as the latter +perceived that he and his friend were to be separated, the king lodged +at one end of the castle, and himself at the other, he protested +against this arrangement, demanding two adjoining rooms. The old man +replied that he was following instructions given, and if the rooms +assigned were not satisfactory, his master would doubtless change them +on the morrow.</p> + +<p>“But, my good man,” expostulated MacDonald, “we expect to be leaving +the castle to-morrow.”</p> + +<p>“In that case,” replied their cicerone with a scarcely perceptible +shrug of the shoulders, “it <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_250" id="Page_250">[Pg 250]</a></span>makes but little difference for one +night.” The king inquiring into the purport of the discussion, quite +agreed with the elderly guide, that the matter was of small moment.</p> + +<p>“If our genial innkeeper intends to murder us,” he said, “we shall be +quite as helpless together as separate, for he has irresistible force +at his command. If we are in a trap there is little use in snarling at +the bars. By all accounts Dunvegan is a shrewd man, and I can see no +object which he can attain by doing harm to either of us. If he had a +son who was next heir to the position I hold, I confess I might sleep +uneasily to-night; but as he must know that the king’s fleet is +hovering about his coast, and that his castle would make a most +excellent target for it, as he cannot transport his house to the hills +should the ships sail up the loch, I don’t see what he can gain by +maltreating two men, whom he must suspect of having some connection +with the advent of the fleet.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, I have no thought,” replied MacDonald, “that the Eagle of +Dunvegan would fly so high as you suggest, but there are lowlier +perches on which he may like to fix his talons. He has long cast +covetous eyes across the Sound of Sleat to the mainland, and, whatever +he knows or suspects, <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_251" id="Page_251">[Pg 251]</a></span>he is sure of one thing, which is that he has +the son of the Laird of Sleat safely landed in his own house.”</p> + +<p>“How distrustful you Highlanders are of each other!” cried the young +monarch laughing. “Bless me, Jamie, no bargain made in durance will +hold; then you must remember you have me behind you, and I have all +the power in Scotland behind me.”</p> + +<p>“That is very true, but the power of nothing is behind either of us if +we cannot get word to the outside world. Last night on learning we +were invited to this place, I searched for my gillies, but without +success. My boat and its crew have been taken elsewhere. So you see +there is at least a design to cut our communications. I’m thinking +we’ll see more of Loch Follart from this window for a while than of +the field of Bannockburn from Stirling Towers.”</p> + +<p>“I quite agree with you, Jamie, that we’re fairly nabbed, but the old +gentleman who has us in thrall can make nothing by ill-using us. +Sooner or later he must divulge his plan, whatever it is, before he +can benefit from it, and when he does that it will be time enough to +consider what course we are to pursue.” Then turning suddenly towards +their guide, who had been standing motionless <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_252" id="Page_252">[Pg 252]</a></span>during this +conversation, the king said sharply in English,—</p> + +<p>“Is your master at home?”</p> + +<p>The old man made no reply, but looked at MacDonald as if for +translation. The latter repeated the question in Gaelic and received +an affirmative answer.</p> + +<p>“He says the laird is at home. He has no English.”</p> + +<p>“I wasn’t just sure of that, so I tested it by an abrupt question, +thus locking the door after the horse was stolen, for we have spoken +rather plainly before him, and so have proved ourselves in the +beginning very poor conspirators. However, I care little what the next +move is so long as it brings us something to eat. Clear your gloomy +brow, Jamie, and tell them in the most culinary Gaelic that this is +not a fast-day with us, and the ride across the moors has increased +our appetites.”</p> + +<p>MacDonald followed his custodian down the long corridor, and the king +entered the apartment assigned to him.</p> + +<p>After sufficient time had elapsed to allow the travellers to remove +the traces of travel from their persons, they were summoned to a small +room where they found a most welcome and substantial <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_253" id="Page_253">[Pg 253]</a></span>meal set out for +them. A generous flagon of wine stood by each trencher; it was the +first the king had had an opportunity of tasting since he left his +capital, and he seized upon the measure with some eagerness.</p> + +<p>“Here’s to the MacLeod!” he cried.</p> + +<p>“I drink to the king, and good luck to him!” said MacDonald.</p> + +<p>“I drink to anything, so long as the wine is sound,” rejoined his +majesty, enjoying a deep draught. “E-god, Jamie,” he cried setting the +flagon down again, “that’s better claret than we have in Stirling.”</p> + +<p>“There is no reason why it shouldn’t be excellent,” replied MacDonald, +“for the laird’s own ships bring it direct from the coast of France to +the coast of Skye, and there’s little chance of adulteration between +the two.”</p> + +<p>When the repast was finished the aged man who had received them at the +door entered and announced that MacLeod of MacLeod was ready to greet +them in his study. They followed him and were ushered into an oblong +room somewhat larger than the one they had left. The king was +astonished to find the walls lined with numerous volumes, some of the +tomes massive in heavy binding. As books were not over-plentiful even +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_254" id="Page_254">[Pg 254]</a></span>in the realms of civilisation, he had not expected to find them in a +corner of the world so remote.</p> + +<p>Allaster the Hunchback sat by the side of a huge oaken table, and he +did not rise from his chair when his visitors were presented to him, +either because he wished the better to conceal the deformity which +gave him his nickname, or because he did not consider his guests of +such importance as to deserve a more courteous reception. He addressed +them in excellent English, and the king constituted himself spokesman +for the occasion, MacDonald standing by taciturn, in spite of the +excellence of the wine, which indeed he had consumed somewhat +sparingly.</p> + +<p>“I understand,” began MacLeod, “that you have honoured my poor rugged +island of Skye with your presence for some days.”</p> + +<p>“The honour, sir, has been ours,” replied the king with an inclination +of his head. “I was visiting my friend MacDonald in Sleat and heard of +the king’s barge, so we came over to see it.”</p> + +<p>“This is your friend MacDonald of Sleat then?”</p> + +<p>“Yes. May I have the pleasure of presenting Mr. James MacDonald to the +MacLeod?”</p> + +<p>The two Highlanders, one sitting, one standing, bowed somewhat +distantly to each other as <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_255" id="Page_255">[Pg 255]</a></span>the king, with a flourish of his hand, +made the introduction.</p> + +<p>“Perhaps,” continued MacLeod suavely, “your friend from Sleat will do +a like obligement for yourself.”</p> + +<p>“I shall not put him to that trouble,” said the king airily. “I am of +such small account that it would be a pity to put upon a Highland +chieftain the task of pronouncing my name. I am called the Guidman of +Ballengeich, very much at your service, sir.”</p> + +<p>“Guidman, meaning farmer of course?” asked Dunvegan.</p> + +<p>“Meaning small farmer,” said the king with a graceful inclination of +the head.</p> + +<p>The tones of the MacLeod had not been too cordial from the first, but +they became less so at this confession of low quality on the part of +his visitor.</p> + +<p>“You will forgive my ignorance, but where is Ballengeich?”</p> + +<p>“It is a little steading near Stirling, but of more value than its +size would indicate, for I am fortunate in possessing the custom of +the court.”</p> + +<p>“You cater for the castle then?” asked MacLeod frigidly.</p> + +<p>“Yes, in various ways.”</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_256" id="Page_256">[Pg 256]</a></span></p><p>MacLeod turned from his loquacious guest as if he desired to hold no +further converse with him, and thus, however crafty he might be, he +convinced the king that the castle had no suspicion whom it held. +MacLeod said abruptly to his other visitor, fastening his piercing +eyes upon him,—</p> + +<p>“I heard you were prisoner at Stirling?”</p> + +<p>“Prisoner, sir!” cried MacDonald angrily, the red colour mounting to +the roots of his hair. But before he could speak further his garrulous +companion struck in.</p> + +<p>“What an absurd rumour. MacDonald a prisoner! I assure you he was no +more a prisoner at Stirling Castle than he is at this moment in +Dunvegan Castle.”</p> + +<p>“Ah,” said McLeod turning again to the farmer, his eyes partially +closing, examining the other with more severe scrutiny than had +previously been the case. “He was at liberty to come and go as he +pleased, then?”</p> + +<p>“As free as air, sir; otherwise how could he have visited my slight +holding and thus become acquainted with me?”</p> + +<p>“I thought perhaps he had met you in the courtyard of Stirling with a +sack of corn on your shoulder.”</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_257" id="Page_257">[Pg 257]</a></span></p><p>The king laughed heartily at this.</p> + +<p>“I said a <i>small</i> farmer certainly, but I am not quite so unimportant +as you seem to imply. I have a better horse to carry my corn than the +one that to-day carried me to Dunvegan.”</p> + +<p>The laird ignored this disparagement of his cattle.</p> + +<p>“You came to Skye then to see the king’s boat, of which you had heard +favourable report? The news of her seems to have travelled very +quickly.”</p> + +<p>“Indeed and that’s true,” said the king complacently. “Information +spreads rapidly in the Highlands.”</p> + +<p>“It seems to spread to the Lowlands as well. You heard the king’s +proclamation perhaps?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, we heard the pronouncement.”</p> + +<p>“It’s possible you came from the fleet?”</p> + +<p>“No. We came overland.”</p> + +<p>“Had you heard of the fame of Malcolm’s boat before you left +Stirling?”</p> + +<p>“I did not say we left Stirling. As a matter of fact we left the small +village of Doune some miles to the north of it, and at that time had +heard nothing either of Malcolm or his boat.”</p> + +<p>“Hum,” ejaculated the laird, rummaging among his papers on the table. +The king glancing <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_258" id="Page_258">[Pg 258]</a></span>in the direction of MacLeod’s hands saw spread out +the charter which he himself had signed, giving MacLeod tenure of his +land, and beside it, as if this island magnate had been comparing the +signatures was the recent draft of the proclamation commending Malcolm +MacLeod’s boat. This document Dunvegan passed to the Guidman of +Ballengeich.</p> + +<p>“You know the king’s writing perhaps? Will you tell me whether this +is, as I suspect, a forgery?”</p> + +<p>James wrinkled his brows and examined the signature with minute care. +“I have seen the writing of his majesty,” he said at last, “but +MacDonald here knows it better than I. What do you think of it, +Jamie?” he continued, passing on the parchment to his friend. “Is this +the real Mackay, or is it not?”</p> + +<p>“It is,” said MacDonald shortly and definitely.</p> + +<p>“You say that is the actual signature of the king?” inquired MacLeod.</p> + +<p>“I could swear it is as genuine as the one on your charter,” replied +MacDonald.</p> + +<p>“Well, now,” said MacLeod leaning back in his chair, “will you resolve +a mystery for me? How is it likely that James Fifth ever heard of +Malcolm MacLeod’s boat? and if he did, do you consider it <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_259" id="Page_259">[Pg 259]</a></span>probable +that an august monarch would compliment a Highland cateran’s skill +with the axe?”</p> + +<p>“James is a douce body,” said the king, “and knows more of what is +going on in his realm than folk who think themselves wiser might +imagine.”</p> + +<p>“You hint, then,” said MacLeod, drawing down his black brows, “that +his majesty may have spies in Skye?”</p> + +<p>“Truth to tell, Laird of Dunvegan, it is more than likely,” admitted +the king, with an air of great candour.</p> + +<p>The frown on MacLeod’s countenance deepened, and he said harshly,—</p> + +<p>“You two gentlemen probably know the fate of spies when they are +captured. Their fate is a short shrift, and a long rope.”</p> + +<p>“And quite properly so,” rejoined the king promptly.</p> + +<p>“I am glad that you are so well informed, and need no instruction from +me,” commented the Crottach with menace in his tone.</p> + +<p>Suddenly the king’s manner changed, and the air of authority which was +natural to him asserted itself.</p> + +<p>“MacLeod of Skye,” he cried, “this discussion and beating about the +bush is interesting, but nothing at all to the purpose. You are +hinting <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_260" id="Page_260">[Pg 260]</a></span>that we two are spies, and I tell you there are no spies, and +can be no spies on this island.”</p> + +<p>“I have only your word to set against my own doubts,” said the +MacLeod.</p> + +<p>“My word and your doubts are both aside from the purpose. Your mind +has become confused. Unless you are at war with James of Scotland, +there can be spies neither in the domain you hold under his hand, nor +in the kingdom over which he rules. Are you a rebel against your king, +MacLeod of Skye?”</p> + +<p>“That I am not,” answered Allaster hastily, and with evident +discomposure.</p> + +<p>“Very well then. You see the absurdity of an argument on espionage. +MacDonald and I have as much right on the island of Skye as you have, +because it is part of the Kingdom of Scotland, and we are loyal, if +humble subjects of his majesty.”</p> + +<p>“You are not come here then to report on the condition of Skye?”</p> + +<p>“We came here of our own free will; the messengers of no man, and we +are to report to no man. If the king should ask me any question +regarding my visit to Skye, I would answer him, that I had met with +the utmost courtesy, except from its chief. I would say that MacLeod +of <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_261" id="Page_261">[Pg 261]</a></span>MacLeod was so ignorant regarding the usages of good society that +he received us sitting down, and never asked us to be seated, an error +in politeness which I was myself forced to amend. MacDonald, plant +yourself on that chair beside you. I will take this one.”</p> + +<p>MacDonald promptly obeyed the command, and the king seated himself, +throwing one leg over the other and leaning back in comfort.</p> + +<p>“Now, my Lord of Skye,” he said, “have you any further questions to +ask, or any additional hints to bestow upon your guests, at present in +your sullen presence upon your own invitation?”</p> + +<p>The chieftain regarded the king in silence for a few moments, then +said without change of countenance,—</p> + +<p>“By God! you may be a small farmer, but you are a brave man. You are +the first who has questioned the authority of the MacLeod on his own +ground. So the case being without precedent, one has to be made, and +that will require some thought. We will postpone the question until +later. I trust you will both honour me with your presence at dinner +this evening, but if you prefer it, you may sup alone in your own +apartments.”</p> + +<p>“We are sociable travellers,” said the king rising, for the laird’s +words had in them an inflection <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_262" id="Page_262">[Pg 262]</a></span>of dismissal, “and we will have great +pleasure in accepting seats at your table.”</p> + +<p>Then with a bow to the man who still remained in his chair, the king +and his comrade withdrew. They consulted together for a time in the +room of the former, but reached no definite decision. MacDonald urged +that they should come to an understanding with their host at once, and +learn whether they were prisoners or free men, but the king held that +Allaster should have the time for thinking over the situation which +had been practically agreed on.</p> + +<p>“There is no hurry,” he said. “Each of us is younger than Allaster and +so there is time to bide.”</p> + +<p>On being summoned to the great dining-hall that night, they found a +company awaiting dinner numbering perhaps a score, all men. A piper +was marching up and down the room making the timbers ring with his +martial music. The MacLeod stood at the head of his table, a stalwart +man whose massive head seemed sunk rather deep between his broad +shoulders, but otherwise, perhaps because his costume was cunningly +arranged, there was slight indication of the deformity with which he +was afflicted. He greeted his guests with no great show of affability, +and indicated <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_263" id="Page_263">[Pg 263]</a></span>the bench at his right hand as the seat of MacDonald. +The young Highlander hesitated to take the place of preference, and +glanced uneasily at his comrade.</p> + +<p>“I am slightly deaf in my right ear,” said the king good naturedly, +“and as I should be grieved to miss any observations you may make, I +will, with your permission, occupy the place you would bestow upon my +friend.”</p> + +<p>MacLeod looked sternly at the speaker for a moment, but seeing that +MacDonald, without protest moved speedily round to the left, he said +at last,—</p> + +<p>“Settle it as pleases you, but I should have thought a Highland +chieftain took precedence of a Lowland huckster.”</p> + +<p>“Not a huckster exactly,” explained the king with a smile. “My +patrimony of Ballengeich may be small, but such as it is, I am the +undisputed laird of it, while at best MacDonald is but the son of a +laird, so because of my deaf ear, and according to your own rules of +precedence, I think I may claim the place of honour at your right.” +And as the MacLeod, with an angry growl sat down, the king and +MacDonald followed his example. The others took their places in some +haste, and with more or less of disorder. <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_264" id="Page_264">[Pg 264]</a></span>It was plain that MacLeod +preferred the silent Highlander to the more loquacious farmer of +Ballengeich, for during the meal he addressed most of his remarks to +the man on his left, although his advances were not as cordially +received as perhaps they might have been. The king showed no +resentment at this neglect, but concentrated his attention on the +business at hand.</p> + +<p>When the eating was done with, the servants placed three large flagons +before their master and the two who sat on either side of him. These +they filled to the brim with wine.</p> + +<p>“Gentlemen,” said MacLeod, “it is a custom in this castle that our +guests, to show they are good men and true, each empty one of these +flagons at a draught, and without drawing breath. Will you then +accompany me to any toast you may care to name?”</p> + +<p>“The wine I have already consumed at your hospitable board,” said the +king, “is the best that ever ran down a thirsty man’s throat; but if I +supplement it with so generous and instant an addition, I fear my legs +will refuse their service, even if my head retain sense enough to give +the command.”</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_265" id="Page_265">[Pg 265]</a></span></p><p>“That need not trouble you,” said MacLeod, “for in the last hundred +years no man has insulted this vintage by leaving the hall on his own +feet. There stand your legs against the wall, Guidman of Ballengeich.”</p> + +<p>The king, glancing over his shoulder, saw standing against the wall a +row of brawny gillies, each two of whom supported a stretcher, whose +use was at once apparent.</p> + +<p>“Very well,” cried the king to his host; “give you a suitable toast, +MacLeod, and I will enter with you the rosy realms of the red wine.”</p> + +<p>MacLeod then stood up.</p> + +<p>“I give you,” he said, “the King of Scotland. May he be blest with +more wisdom than were some of his ancestors!” This he repeated in +Gaelic, and the sentiment was received uproariously, for the wine was +already making itself felt in the great hall.</p> + +<p>If MacLeod had any design in offering this toast it did not appear on +the surface, and if he expected a hesitancy on the part of his guests +to do honour to it, he was disappointed, for each young man rose with +the rest.</p> + +<p>“Here’s to the king!” cried the one on his right, “and may he imbibe +wisdom as I imbibe <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_266" id="Page_266">[Pg 266]</a></span>wine.” Then raising the flagon to his lips he +drained it dry and set it with a crash on the table again.</p> + +<p>MacLeod and MacDonald drank more slowly, but they ultimately achieved +the same end. Then all seated themselves once more, and the drinking +continued without the useless intervention of further talk. One by one +the revellers sank under the table unnoticed by their noisy comrades, +to be quickly pounced upon by the watchful stretcher-bearers, who, +with a deftness evidently the result of much practice, placed the +helpless individual on the carrier and marched off with him. This +continuous disappearance of the fallen rapidly thinned the ranks of +the combatants struggling with the giant Bacchus.</p> + +<p>The king had been reluctant to enter this contest, fearing the red +wine would loosen his tongue, but as the evening wore on he found all +his resolution concentrated in a determination to walk to his bed. +MacDonald proved no protection. Early in the bout his unaccustomed +head descended gently upon the table and he was promptly carried off +to rest.</p> + +<p>At last MacLeod and the king sat alone in the hall, that looked larger +now it was so nearly empty; and James, as a test of what sense +remained to <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_267" id="Page_267">[Pg 267]</a></span>him, set himself to count the torches burning more and +more dimly in the haze of their own smoke. But he gave up the attempt +when he saw that they had increased by hundreds and thousands, and +were engaged in a wild pyrotechnic dance to the rhythm of the last +march that had been played on the pipes. He swayed over towards his +host and smote him uncertainly on the shoulder.</p> + +<p>“MacLeod,” he cried, “I challenge you to stand, and I’ll wager you I +can walk further down the corridor with fewer collisions against +either wall than any man in Skye.”</p> + +<p>With difficulty the king rose to his feet, and as he did so the stool +on which he sat, because of a lurch against it, fell clattering to the +floor.</p> + +<p>“The very benches are drunk, MacLeod, and the table sways like a ship +at sea. That stool is as insecure as a throne. Rise up if you can and +see if yours is any better.”</p> + +<p>But the MacLeod sat helpless, glaring at him from under his shaggy +eyebrows. Seeing him stationary the king laughed so heartily that he +nearly unbalanced himself, and was forced to cling for support to the +edge of the table. Then straightening himself to excessive rigidity he +muttered,—</p> + +<p>“Good-night, MacLeod. Sit there and see the <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_268" id="Page_268">[Pg 268]</a></span>rule of your house broken +by your——” If the next word were “monarch,” or “king,” it was never +uttered, for as James made his uncertain way towards the door, the +expert gillies, who knew their business, came up behind him, swooped +the stretcher against his unreliant legs, and they failing instantly, +he fell backward on the stoutly woven web between the two poles. There +was a guttural laugh from MacLeod, and the prone man helplessly waving +his hands, shouted,—</p> + +<p>“Unfair, by Saint Andrew, unfair! Curse the foe who attacks a man from +the rear.”</p> + +<p> </p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_269" id="Page_269">[Pg 269-271]</a></span></p> +<p class="double3"> </p> + +<h2><a name="The_King_Sails" id="The_King_Sails"></a><span class="smcap">The King Sails</span></h2> + +<hr class="secondlarge" /> + +<p><a name="illo14" id="illo14"></a></p><div class="figcenter" style="width: 425px;"> +<img src="images/i290.jpg" class="illogap" width="425" height="500" alt="“The two went outside and took the road by which they +had come.”" title="" /> +<span class="caption smcap">“The two went outside and took the road by which they +had come.”</span> +</div> + +<p class="n"><span style="float:left;font-size:40px;line-height:25px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:1px;">T</span>he young men awoke somewhat late next day with heads reasonably +clear, a very practical testimonial to the soundness of their previous +night’s vintage.</p> + +<p>“What’s to be done?” asked the king.</p> + +<p>MacDonald proposed that they should repair instantly to MacLeod and +demand of him conveyance and safe conduct to the mainland.</p> + +<p>“We can scarcely do that,” demurred the king, “until we are sure that +detention is intended. Let us put the matter at once to a practical +test, and see if we are prevented from leaving the castle. If we are, +then is the time for protest.”</p> + +<p>Acting on this suggestion, the two went outside and took the road by +which they had come. They <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_272" id="Page_272">[Pg 272]</a></span>found an agile young gillie at their heels +before they were out of sight of Dunvegan.</p> + +<p>“Why are you following us?” asked MacDonald, in Gaelic.</p> + +<p>“I was told to wait on your lordships,” returned the man.</p> + +<p>“We need no waiting on; turn back.”</p> + +<p>But the gillie shook his shaggy uncovered head and patiently trod in +their footsteps.</p> + +<p>“Let us see how far he will follow,” said the king as he strode on. +The gillie accompanied them for half an hour or more without making +any protest, but at last he said to MacDonald that he thought it was +time to return.</p> + +<p>“We are going through to the coast we came from,” replied MacDonald, +“and do not intend to return.”</p> + +<p>At this the gillie drew from his belt a short black tube that looked +like a practising chanter, which indeed it was, and on this he blew a +few shrill notes. Up to that moment the way had been clear, but now +there appeared over the hill in front of them a dozen armed men, who +approached carelessly as if they had merely happened to be in the +neighbourhood, or were journeying together toward the castle.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_273" id="Page_273">[Pg 273]</a></span></p><p>“I think it is time to go back,” suggested the gillie in a dull, +uninterested voice.</p> + +<p>“I think it is myself,” replied MacDonald.</p> + +<p>And so the futile excursion came to an end.</p> + +<p>Once more in the castle they were confronted again by the question, +What next?</p> + +<p>“I am certain,” said the king, “that if MacLeod is attempting to hold +us, there is little use in making appeal to him, and we have small +chance of getting word to the fleet. I propose then to coerce him. He +was alone in his study yesterday, and he may be alone there now. A +sword’s point at a man’s throat is an irresistible argument.”</p> + +<p>“But will he keep his word if he gives it under distress?” objected +MacDonald.</p> + +<p>“I think he will, but it is better not to put too strong a temptation +on him. If we come on him alone we will make him sign a pass for us. +Then we will gag and tie him securely, convey him, when the way is +clear, to this room, where he will be less likely to be looked for. We +will then give him the consolation that if his pass proves useless we +will return and finish the business by sending him into a less +troublesome world.”</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_274" id="Page_274">[Pg 274]</a></span></p><p>This advice was no sooner promulgated than it was acted upon. The pair +traversed the corridors unseen until they came to the door of the +study, then, slipping out their swords, they entered quickly +unannounced. The sight which confronted them was so unexpected that +each stood there with drawn sword in hand as if stricken into stone.</p> + +<p>MacLeod was not in the room, but in his stead, beside the wall of +books, her hand upraised, taking down a small vellum-covered volume, +was the most beautiful young girl, of perhaps nineteen or twenty, that +either of them had ever looked upon. She seemed surprised at their +abrupt entrance and remained statuesquely in her position, as +motionless as they. The young woman was the first of the three to +recover her composure. Relinquishing the book to the shelf, the hand +came down to her side, and she said in most charming, liquid tones, +but in broken English,—</p> + +<p>“You are looking for my father perhaps?”</p> + +<p>The king, ever gallant, swept his hat from his head and bowed low, his +alertness of mind saving the situation, for he answered quickly,—</p> + +<p>“Indeed no, my lady. We thought the room was empty, so I implore you +to pardon our intrusion. We were here yesterday, and my friend and <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_275" id="Page_275">[Pg 275]</a></span>I +have just had a dispute regarding the size of these gigantic tomes on +the lower shelf; my friend insisting that they exceeded our sword +blades in length. Pardon me madam?” and the king stepped briskly to +the largest book, laying his sword down its back as if in measurement.</p> + +<p>“There, Jamie,” he cried, “I have won the wager. I knew it was not +more than three quarters the length of my blade.”</p> + +<p>The glance of fear to which the young woman had treated them departed +from her face, and she smiled slightly at the young man’s eagerness.</p> + +<p>“I gather from your remark,” he said, “that you are Miss MacLeod of +Dunvegan. May I introduce my friend, James MacDonald of Sleat. My own +name is James Stuart, and for a time we are your father’s guests at +Dunvegan.”</p> + +<p>The young lady with inimitable grace bowed her queenly head to each of +them in turn. The men slipped their swords quietly back into their +scabbards.</p> + +<p>“I give you good welcome to Dunvegan,” said the girl. “I regret that I +do not speak fair the English.”</p> + +<p>“Indeed, my lady,” rejoined the susceptible king, “it is the most +charming English I ever heard.”</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_276" id="Page_276">[Pg 276]</a></span></p><p>The fair stranger laughed in low and most melodious cadence, like a +distant cathedral’s chime falling on the evening air.</p> + +<p>“I am thinking you will be flattering me,” she said, “but I know my +English is not good, for there are few in these parts that I can speak +to in it.”</p> + +<p>“I shall be delighted to be your teacher,” replied the king with his +most courteous intonation. He knew from experience that any offer of +tutorship from him had always proved exceedingly acceptable to the +more dainty sex, and this knowledge gave him unbounded confidence +while it augmented his natural self-esteem.</p> + +<p>“It is perhaps that you already speak the Gaelic?” suggested the young +woman.</p> + +<p>“Alas! no madam. But I should be overjoyed to learn and there, it may +be, you will accept me in the part of pupil. You will find me a +devoted and most obedient scholar. I am in a way what you might call a +poet, and I am told on every hand that Gaelic is the proper medium for +that art.”</p> + +<p>A puzzled expression troubled the face of the girl as she endeavoured +to follow the communication addressed to her, but MacDonald sprang +somewhat eagerly to the rescue, and delivered a <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_277" id="Page_277">[Pg 277]</a></span>long harangue in her +native language. Her delight was instant, the cloud on her brow +disappearing as if by magic under the genial influence of the +accustomed converse. The king’s physiognomy also underwent a change +but the transformation was not so pleasing as that which had illumined +the countenance of the girl. His majesty distinctly scowled at the +intrepid subject who had so impetuously intervened, but the pair paid +slight attention to him, conversing amiably together, much to their +mutual pleasure.</p> + +<p>Now, it is nowhere considered polite to use a language not understood +by some one person in the party. This fact MacDonald knew perfectly +well, and he doubtless would have acted differently if he had taken +the time to think, but he had become so engrossed by the beauty of the +lady, that, for the moment, every other consideration seemed to have +fled from his mind. Miss MacLeod is to be excused because she probably +supposed a Stuart to be more or less acquainted with the language, in +spite of his former disclaimer, which it is not likely she fully +comprehended. So she talked fluently and laughed lightly, while one of +her auditors was consumed by an anger he dared not show.</p> + +<p>The tension of the situation was changed rather <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_278" id="Page_278">[Pg 278]</a></span>than relieved, by the +silent opening of the door, and the pause of MacLeod himself on the +threshold, gazing dubiously at the group before him. The animation of +the girl fell from her the moment she beheld her father, and the young +men, turning, were confronted by the gloomy features of the chieftain. +The MacLeod closed the door softly, and, without a word, walked to his +chair beside the table. The girl, bowing slightly, with visible +restraint, quitted the room, and, as she did so, MacDonald’s alertness +again proved his friend, for he tip-toed quickly to the door, before +the king, accustomed to be waited upon rather than waiting, +recollected himself; and held it open for the lady, making a gallant +sweep with his bonnet as she passed out.</p> + +<p>When the supple young man returned to his place beside the king he +said in a whisper,—</p> + +<p>“No sword’s point play with the father of such a beauty, eh?”</p> + +<p>To this remark his majesty made no reply, but said rather gruffly and +abruptly to his host,—</p> + +<p>“Do you hold us prisoners in this castle, sir?”</p> + +<p>“That will depend on the answers I get from you,” replied the MacLeod +slowly. “Are you two or either of you, emissaries of the king?”</p> + +<p>“We are not.”</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_279" id="Page_279">[Pg 279]</a></span></p><p>“Does the king know you are here?”</p> + +<p>“Regarding the king, his knowledge or his doings, you had better +address your inquiries to him personally. We have no authority to +speak for his majesty.”</p> + +<p>“You are merely two private gentlemen, then, come all this distance to +satisfy a love of travel and a taste for scenery?”</p> + +<p>“You have stated the case with great accuracy, sir.”</p> + +<p>“Yesterday you spoke of my lack of manners in failing to ask you to be +seated; I shall now refer to a breach of politeness on your own part. +It is customary when strangers visit a province under an acknowledged +ruler, that they should make a formal call upon the ruler before +betaking themselves to other portions of his territory. You remained +for several days in Skye without taking the trouble to inform me of +your arrival.”</p> + +<p>“Sir,” replied James haughtily, “I dispute your contention entirely. +You are not the ruler of Skye.”</p> + +<p>“Who is then?”</p> + +<p>“The King of Scotland, of course.”</p> + +<p>The MacLeod laughed in a fashion that somewhat resembled the snarl of +an angry dog.</p> + +<p>“Of course, as you say. No one disputes that <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_280" id="Page_280">[Pg 280]</a></span>James is king of all +Scotland, and I would be the last to question his right, because I +hold my lands under charter bearing his signature, carrying the Great +Seal of the kingdom; nevertheless, the MacLeods held Skye long before +the present royal family of Scotland were heard of, and I would have +been MacLeod of MacLeod although James had never put his hand to this +parchment. Meanwhile, I take the risk of detaining you until I learn +more about you, and if the king makes objection, I shall apologise.”</p> + +<p>“You <i>will</i> apologise,” said James sternly.</p> + +<p>“Oh, it is easily done, and fair words smooth many a difficulty. I +shall write to him if he complain, that I asked especially if you were +his men, that you denied it, and so, both for his safety and my own, I +considered it well to discover whether or not you were enemies of the +realm. If the father of MacDonald is offended I shall be pleased to +meet him either on sea or land, in anger or in friendship, and as for +you, who talk so glibly of the king, I would warn you that many things +happen in Skye that the king knows nothing of, besides the making of +strong drink.”</p> + +<p>The king made him a courtier-like bow for this long speech, and +answered lightly,—</p> + +<p>“The cock crows blithely on his own midden. <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_281" id="Page_281">[Pg 281]</a></span>Your midden is here, +while mine is far away, therefore the contest in crowing is somewhat +uneven. Nevertheless I indulge in a final flapping of my wings and an +effort of the throat when I say that you will apologise, not by +writing at your ease in Dunvegan Castle, but on your bended knees at +Stirling.”</p> + +<p>“That’s as may be,” said the MacLeod indifferently, and it was quite +obvious that he remained unmoved by the threat. “Gentlemen, I have the +honour to wish you good morning.”</p> + +<p>“One moment. Are we then to consider ourselves prisoners?”</p> + +<p>“You may consider yourselves whatever best pleases you. If you make +another attempt like the one you indulged in this morning, I shall +clap you both in the deepest dungeons I possess. Some would even go so +far as to call that imprisonment, but if each gives me his word of +honour that he will make no attempt at escape, and also that he will +not communicate with Stirling, then you are as free of my house and my +grounds as if you were the most welcome of guests. But I warn you that +if, when you pass your words, you attempt to tamper with any of my +men, I shall know of it very soon after, and then comes the dungeon.”</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_282" id="Page_282">[Pg 282]</a></span></p><p>The king hesitated and looked at his friend, but MacDonald, who had +taken no part in this conversation, seemed in an absent dream, his +eyes gazing on vacancy, or perhaps beholding a vision that entranced +him.</p> + +<p>“What do you say, MacDonald?” enquired the king sharply.</p> + +<p>MacDonald recovered himself with a start.</p> + +<p>“To what?” he asked.</p> + +<p>“To the terms proposed by our gaoler.”</p> + +<p>“I did not hear them; what are they?”</p> + +<p>“Will you give your word not to escape?”</p> + +<p>“Oh, willingly.”</p> + +<p>“And not to communicate with Stirling?”</p> + +<p>“I don’t care if I never see Stirling again.”</p> + +<p>The king turned to the chief.</p> + +<p>“There is little difficulty, you see,” he said, “with your fellow +Highlander. I however, am supposed to be a Lowlander, and therefore +cautious. I give you my word not to communicate with Stirling. As for +the other proviso, I amend it as follows. I shall not leave this +island without your knowledge and your company. If that is +satisfactory, I pledge my faith.”</p> + +<p>“Perfectly satisfactory,” answered the MacLeod, and with that the two +young men took their departure.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_283" id="Page_283">[Pg 283]</a></span></p><p>Once more in the king’s room, from which, earlier in the day they had +set out so confidently, MacDonald flung himself upon a bench, but the +king paced up and down the apartment. The former thought the latter +was ruminating on the conditions that had been wrung from him, but the +first words of the king proved his mistake.</p> + +<p>“Jamie, you hardly gave me fair play, you and your Gaelic, with that +dainty offspring of so grim a sire.”</p> + +<p>“Master of Ballengeich,” replied the Highlander, “a man plays for his +own hand. You should have learned the Gaelic long ago.”</p> + +<p>The king stopped abruptly in his walk.</p> + +<p>“Why do you call me by that name?”</p> + +<p>“Merely to show that in this ploy the royal prerogative is not brought +into play; it is already settled that when I meet the king, I am +defeated. It remains to be seen what luck plain James MacDonald has in +a contest with plain James Stuart.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, it’s to be a contest then?”</p> + +<p>“Not unless you wish it so. I am content to exchange all the fair +damsels of Stirling for this one Highland lassie.”</p> + +<p>“You’ll exchange!” cried the king. “I make bold to say she is not +yours to exchange.”</p> + +<p>“I intend to make her mine.”</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_284" id="Page_284">[Pg 284]</a></span></p><p>“Ah, we’ll see about that, Jamie.”</p> + +<p>“We will, Ballengeich,” said MacDonald with confident precision. And +so the contest began.</p> + +<p>The girl, who saw few in her father’s castle to be compared with those +whom she supposed to be mere visitors at Dunvegan, was at first +equally charming to each. A younger sister was her almost constant +companion, which was very well at first but latterly became irksome to +both the suitors. Occasionally, however, one James or the other saw +her alone and made the most of the opportunity presented, but the king +soon found himself tremendously handicapped in the matter of language. +The young lady possessed a keen sense of humour, and this, with the +ever present knowledge that her English was not that of the schools, +made her loth to adventure in that tongue before one accustomed to +its polished use. This same sense of humour was equally embarrassing +when the king madly plunged into the intricacies and ambushes of the +Gaelic. His majesty was brave enough for anything and did not +hesitate, as a forlorn hope, to call his scant knowledge of the Gaelic +to his aid, but even he could see that the result was invariably +unhappy, for although the girl made every endeavour to retain her +composure, there were times when some unfortunate <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_285" id="Page_285">[Pg 285]</a></span>phrase made her +slight frame quiver with suppressed merriment, and no one knew better +than the baffled king, that laughter banishes sentiment. The serious +Highlander, not less manly and handsome than his competitor, was +gifted with an immeasurable advantage in his familiarity with every +phase and inflection of his native vernacular. In his despair the king +struck up a close friendship with Donald, the second son of the +MacLeod, the elder son being absent on some foray or expedition, and +his majesty made a frantic effort to learn the only speech with which +his new comrade was equipped. But this race against time gave +MacDonald long and uninterrupted conferences with his inamorata, and +the king saw, too late, the futility of his endeavour. It might have +been wiser if he had taken his lessons from the girl herself instead +of from her brother, but his majesty was more proficient in teaching +than in learning from the fair sex. He had come to the conclusion that +his uninteresting rambles with Donald were not likely to further his +quest, and was sitting in his room cogitating upon some new method of +attack when MacDonald burst into the apartment with radiant face. The +king looked up at his visitor with no great good nature, and said +sharply,—</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_286" id="Page_286">[Pg 286]</a></span></p><p>“Well, what is it?”</p> + +<p>“Your majesty,” cried MacDonald jubilantly, “I think I have found a +method of escape, and that without in any way impugning our pledges.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, is that all,” said the king, with the air of snubbing too +enthusiastic a courtier. “I thought the house was on fire.”</p> + +<p>“And I thought, your majesty,” returned MacDonald, “that this subject +was ever uppermost in your mind.”</p> + +<p>The king rested his closed fist on his hip, leaned his head a little +to one side and examined his rival critically.</p> + +<p>“Why have you returned so unexpectedly to the phrase, your majesty?”</p> + +<p>“Because, your majesty,” answered MacDonald laughing, “the phrase, +Guidman of Ballengeich, no longer matters.”</p> + +<p>“I do not understand you.”</p> + +<p>“It is to make myself understood that I have come so hurriedly. I beg +then to inform your majesty, that Miss MacLeod has consented to become +my wife. I have spoken to her father, who has somewhat grudgingly and +conditionally given his consent. It occurred to me that if I wedded +the daughter of your gaoler, I may have enough <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_287" id="Page_287">[Pg 287]</a></span>influence with the +family to secure your majesty’s release.”</p> + +<p>“I have no doubt,” said the king, “that this was your object from the +beginning. And so you have exchanged a temporary gaoler for one that +will last you all your life.”</p> + +<p>The Highlander knit his brow and compressed his lips, as if to hold +back some retort which later he might regret. There was a moment’s +constrained silence, then the king flung off his ill-humour as if it +were a cloak.</p> + +<p>“Forgive me, Jamie,” he cried, springing to his feet. “Forgive the +wounded vanity of the vanquished.”</p> + +<p>He extended his hand impetuously, which the other grasped with eager +cordiality.</p> + +<p>“Jamie, my lad, you were right. The crown weighs heavy when it is +thrown into the scale, but with this lassie I well believe it would +have made not an ounce of difference. Let the best man win, say I, and +you’re the victor, so you have my warmest congratulation. Still, +Jamie, you must admit that the Gaelic is the cursedest lingo ever a +poor Lowland-bred man tried to get his tongue round. So now you see, +Jamie, we are even again. You think the crown defeated you at +Stirling, and I hold the language defeated me <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_288" id="Page_288">[Pg 288]</a></span>in Skye; thus we are +both able to retain a good opinion of ourselves, which is the splendid +privilege of every Scotchman to hold. Your bravery deserves success, +for it requires some courage to face your future father-in-law. What +did the old curmudgeon say?”</p> + +<p>“He gave little indication of pleasure or the reverse. He offered me +my liberty, now that I had pledged it in another direction, but he +refused to release you, so I declined to accept his clemency.”</p> + +<p>“Then my proposed rescue must await the marriage ceremony?”</p> + +<p>“Not so. I have a more immediate and practical remedy. You have not +forgotten the twenty-six oared barge which the MacLeod was to keep for +the king, and which Malcolm MacLeod built for him.”</p> + +<p>“It is not very likely, when I issued a proclamation commending +Malcolm as the greatest shipbuilder in the world.”</p> + +<p>“Well, Malcolm has arrived at Dunvegan to receive into his own hands +once more that same proclamation. I asked him, in MacLeod’s presence, +if the fleet still lingered in Torridon Bay, and he answered that it +did. MacLeod pricked up his ears at this, and thinking he was to get +some <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_289" id="Page_289">[Pg 289]</a></span>information, now that I proposed myself as a member of his +family, inquired if I knew why it remained so long. I said I had a +suspicion of the cause. If Malcolm had not replied to the king’s +proclamation it was natural that the fleet would wait until he did. +Old Alexander and Malcolm seemed surprised that a response was +expected, Malcolm being but a simple yeoman. However, we wrote out a +courteous reply to the king, in Gaelic, and Malcolm is to send it to +the fleet as soon as he returns to the northern coast.”</p> + +<p>“I don’t see how that is to help us,” demurred his majesty.</p> + +<p>“Here is my proposal. If you will now write out an order to the +admiral commanding the fleet to appear before Dunvegan Castle, I will +ride part of the way home with Malcolm, and suggest to him at parting, +that perhaps none of the officers of the fleet understand Gaelic, or +at least that none can read it, so I will fasten your letter to the +other document, and tell Malcolm it is a translation of his Gaelic +effusion. Neither Malcolm nor any of his friends at the port can read +English, and as he is a simple minded man it is not likely that he +will return and allow the laird a perusal. So in that way we may get +word to the fleet. Even if the letter is discovered, you will <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_290" id="Page_290">[Pg 290]</a></span>have +kept your word, for you promised only not to communicate with +Stirling.”</p> + +<p>The king pronounced the device a feasible one, and set himself at once +to the writing of the letter.</p> + +<p>MacDonald succeeded in getting the unsuspicious Malcolm to take charge +of the supposed English version of his note, and the king was left to +await the result with whatever patience was vouchsafed him. The island +had suddenly lost all interest for him and he fervently wished himself +safely in Stirling once more. He complimented the girl on the +excellent choice she had made, and she returned his compliment +laughingly in Gaelic, glancing timidly at MacDonald as she asked him +to be her interpreter.</p> + +<p>Two or three days later there was a commotion in the castle. The +guards on the western headlands reported the approach of numerous +ships, and by-and-by from the castle wall itself the fleet could be +seen sailing slowly up Loch Follart. For the first time since they had +known him, lines of deep anxiety marked the frowning brow of MacLeod +as he stood gazing at the approaching vessels. Here were visitors who, +if they proved not to his liking, he could scarcely threaten with the +dungeons of Dunvegan.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_291" id="Page_291">[Pg 291]</a></span></p><p>“What do you make of this, MacDonald?” said the chieftain, turning to +his future son-in-law, as if already he looked to him for support and +counsel.</p> + +<p>But MacDonald shook his head, in spite of the fact that his wife +who-was-to-be, stood very close to him.</p> + +<p>“All negotiations have been carried on by my friend here, and so to +him I must refer you. He is the leader of our expedition of two.”</p> + +<p>During his brief acquaintance MacLeod had but thinly veiled his +dislike of the Lowlander, who had always ventured to speak with him in +a free and easy manner to which he was unaccustomed. Instead then of +addressing his question to the other, he returned to his occupation of +watching the ships manœuvring in the loch before him. But his air +of expectancy seemed to indicate that he thought the usual glibness +exhibited by the man at his right would bring forth some sort of +explanation, but the king stood as silent as himself, his eyes fixed +on the fleet. One by one the ships came to anchor and even an amateur +in the art of naval warfare could see by the protruding guns that they +were prepared for action.</p> + +<p>MacLeod could restrain his impatience no longer, so without glancing +at his visitor, he said,—</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_292" id="Page_292">[Pg 292]</a></span></p><p>“Perhaps you, sir, can tell me the purport of all this display.”</p> + +<p>“Assuredly,” answered the king with a trace of sternness in his tone +that had hitherto been absent in his converse with his gaoler. “The +fleet comes at the command of the king to take away your prisoners, if +they are unharmed, or to batter down your castle if they have been +molested.”</p> + +<p>“I suppose then I should be thankful they are unharmed?”</p> + +<p>“You have reason,” said the king shortly.</p> + +<p>“His majesty must set great value on your heads if he sends his whole +fleet to succour you.”</p> + +<p>“He does.”</p> + +<p>“How did he know you were here if you did not break your parole and +communicate with Stirling?”</p> + +<p>“The king knows there is more going on in Skye than the making of +strong drink. I did not break my parole, neither did MacDonald.”</p> + +<p>“In spite of what you said to me, you must have told the king before +you left Stirling where you were going.”</p> + +<p>“I did not.”</p> + +<p>“Then word must have been brought to him from Skye?”</p> + +<p>“It was not.”</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_293" id="Page_293">[Pg 293]</a></span></p><p>“In that case the only conclusion I can come to is that the king is +unaware of your presence here.”</p> + +<p>“He is well aware of it.”</p> + +<p>“You speak in riddles, my friend. However, I had no real wish to +detain you, and you might have gone where you pleased any time this +fortnight or more.”</p> + +<p>“So you say now.”</p> + +<p>“It’s true enough, and if you wish to visit the fleet one of my boats +will be ready to carry you the moment you give the order. I told you +the first day that if you were a friend of the king’s, or an emissary +of his, you could go on your way unchecked. Did I not, MacDonald?”</p> + +<p>“You said something of that sort, sir.”</p> + +<p>“You denied being a friend of the king’s,” persisted MacLeod, “and +said you were but a small farmer near Stirling.”</p> + +<p>“I deny yet that I am a friend of the king. On the contrary, I don’t +mind confessing to you that I am the greatest enemy he has in the +world, and it’s well he knows it.”</p> + +<p>“You amaze me. Then you do not wish to meet the fleet.”</p> + +<p>“On the contrary, I do, and I ask you to order a suitable boat for +me.”</p> + +<p>“You shall have the best boat in my possession,” <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_294" id="Page_294">[Pg 294]</a></span>said MacLeod leaving +them for a moment to give his command.</p> + +<p>In a short time a large boat with ten oarsmen was waiting at the +landing.</p> + +<p>“They are ready for you,” said MacLeod with an effort at geniality, +which gave a most sinister effect to his face. “I am sorry to bid you +good-bye, but I hope you bear away with you no ill will against +Dunvegan.”</p> + +<p>“Sir,” said the king ignoring his compliments, “that boat will not do +for me.”</p> + +<p>“It is the best I have,” said MacLeod looking at his truculent guest +with new anxiety.</p> + +<p>“The boat you must bring to the landing is the twenty-six oared barge, +which Malcolm MacLeod builded so well.”</p> + +<p>The MacLeod stepped back two paces.</p> + +<p>“That boat is for the king,” he said in a voice scarcely above a +whisper.</p> + +<p>“Yes, it is for the king, therefore the king demands it. Give the +order instantly that it be brought to the landing, well manned with +twenty-six rowers.”</p> + +<p>All colour left MacLeod’s face. His next words were to MacDonald.</p> + +<p>“Is this true?” he said.</p> + +<p>“Yes,” answered MacDonald, “it is true.”</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_295" id="Page_295">[Pg 295]</a></span></p><p>The girl, her wide eyes distended with fear, clutched the arm of her +lover. Even she knew this was a case for the headsman, but MacLeod, +with not a quiver in his voice, called down to his followers,—</p> + +<p>“Bring round the king’s barge, and see it is well manned. I myself +will take the rudder.”</p> + +<p>The stern face of the king relaxed as he saw this chieftain stand +straighter than ever before since he had known him, ready to take on +his head whatever might befall.</p> + +<p>The girl impetuously flung herself at the king’s feet, and in her +excitement forgetting the limitations of his learning, she poured +forth a plea for her father in Gaelic. The king smiled as he stooped +and raised the suppliant.</p> + +<p>“My dear,” he said, “I shall never hear that language without thinking +of you, and of my own discomfiture. If it were not that MacDonald +stands there with that dour Highland look on his face, it is I would +kneel at your feet. Your father is to come with me to Stirling, for I +have said he should, and I must keep my word with myself as well as I +have kept it with him. Do not draw away your hand, in spite of +MacDonald’s scowls, for I have this to promise you. If you and he will +accompany us to Stirling, I pledge to <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_296" id="Page_296">[Pg 296]</a></span>you the king’s word that I +shall grant you whatever you ask. So you see you need have no fear for +your father’s safety.” Saying this, the king, with that courtly manner +which so well became him, gave the hand of the girl into that of +MacDonald.</p> + +<p>Thus it came about that the MacLeod took a voyage he had not intended, +and came so unscathed from it that he long outlived the man who was +the cause of his journey.</p> + +<p> </p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_297" id="Page_297">[Pg 297-299]</a></span></p> +<p class="double3"> </p> +<h2><a name="The_King_Weds" id="The_King_Weds"></a><span class="smcap">The King Weds</span></h2> + +<hr class="secondlarge" /> + +<p class="n"><span style="float:left;font-size:40px;line-height:25px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:1px;">E</span>ven a stranger in Stirling must have been impressed by the fact that +something unusual was afoot, not to be explained by the mere +preparation for ushering in the New Year. Inquiry soon solved the +problem of the decorations and the rejoicings. James the Fifth, the +most popular king Scotland had possessed since the days of Bruce, was +about to be married, and most of his subjects thought it high time, +for he had reached the mature age of twenty-six, and monarchs are +expected to take a mate somewhat earlier than other folk. As the king, +with a splendid retinue, was to depart shortly after the new year on a +journey to France to claim his bride, the capital city flung its +bunting to the breeze, and the <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_300" id="Page_300">[Pg 300]</a></span>inhabitants thereof pledged each other +and the king in bumpers of exhilarating beverages; indeed all Scotland +was following the example set to it by Stirling, for the marriage was +extremely well liked throughout the land.</p> + +<p>The king’s father had linked himself to an English princess, and the +Scottish people thought little of her. The precipitate marriage of +this queen, only a few months after her husband’s death, still further +lowered her in public estimation. Scotland professed slight regard for +Margaret of England, and was glad when her son refused the offer of +his uncle, Henry the Eighth, to provide him with a wife. Indeed, James +was at that moment the most sought-after young man in the world, so +far as matrimony was concerned. The Pope, who now addressed him as +Defender of the Faith, had a favourite candidate for his hand. Henry +the Eighth was anxious that he should have all England to pick and +choose from. The Emperor Charles the Fifth wished him to marry +Princess Mary of Portugal; Francis the First of France was eager to +supply him with a well-dowered bride. Never before had any youth such +an embarrassment of choice, but James himself decided that he would go +a-wooing to France, and his subjects universally applauded his +preference. James’s <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_301" id="Page_301">[Pg 301]</a></span>elderly relative, John, Duke of Albany, had +married the heiress of De la Tour d’Auvergne, and the young king +resolved to follow his example. Apart from this, James, in a manner, +was pledged from the time he was three years of age, for Albany, when +Regent of Scotland, had promised France that the young ruler should +seek his consort in that country; so there had now been chosen for him +Mary, daughter of the Duc de Vendôme, who was reported beautiful, and, +what was more to the purpose in a thrifty nation, was known to be +wealthy.</p> + +<p>This courting by all Europe might have turned the head of a less +sensible young man than James, but he well knew the reason that so +many distinguished persons desired his alliance. Henry the Eighth was +at loggerheads with France; the Emperor Charles and Francis the First +were engaged in one of their customary aimless wars, the advantage as +usual inclining rather to the emperor’s side. Scotland was at peace +with itself and with all the world. The Scots were excellent fighters +in whatever part of the world they encountered an enemy, and the +strong fleet which James the Fourth had builded was augmented by his +son and might prove a powerful factor in European politics. France and +Scotland had long been <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_302" id="Page_302">[Pg 302]</a></span>traditional friends, and so this new mating +aroused enthusiasm in both countries.</p> + +<p>Thus Stirling put on gay attire and her citizens went about with +smiles on their faces, all except one, and that one was James himself, +who became more and more gloomy as the time for his departure +approached. He had no desire to take upon himself the trammels of the +matrimonial estate, and although his uncle, the strenuous Henry, was +ultimately to set an example before the world of the ease with which +the restrictions of marriage were to be shuffled off, yet at this time +Henry himself was merely an amateur at the business, engaged in +getting rid of Catherine of Arragon, a task which he had not yet +succeeded in accomplishing. James had postponed and re-postponed the +fateful journey; but at last he saw it must be taken, or a friendly +country, one of the proudest on earth, would be deliberately insulted +in the face of the world. Not only this, but his own subjects were +getting restive, and he knew as well as they that a disputed +succession in the event of his early death might lead to civil war. +So, making the best of the hard bargain which is imposed on princes, +where what should be the most endearing ties of human affection are +concerned, James set his face resolutely towards <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_303" id="Page_303">[Pg 303]</a></span>the south, and +attended by a brilliant escort, sailed for France. After a stormy +voyage, for the month was January, the royal party landed in France, +and was met by a company of nobles, only less splendid than itself in +that a king was one of the visitors; for Francis had remained at +Loches, to welcome his brother sovereign at that great and sinister +stronghold, where the Court of France for the moment held its seat. +Both time and weather seemed unpropitious for joyous occasion. News +arrived at Loches that the French army had suffered defeat in its +invasion of the Duke of Savoy’s territory, and these tidings exercised +a depressing influence on the welcoming delegation.</p> + +<p>As the united escorts of France and Scotland set out on their journey +to Loches a flurry of damp snow filled the air, raw from off the +Channel, and the road proved wellnigh impassable through depth of mud. +The discontented countenance of the king, who was wont to be the life +of any party of which he was a member, lowered the spirits of his +Scottish followers to the level of those saddened by military defeat +and the horsemen made their way through the quagmires of Northern +France more like a slow funeral procession than wedding guests.</p> + +<p>At the castle where they halted at the end of the <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_304" id="Page_304">[Pg 304]</a></span>first day’s +journey, the King speedily retired to the apartment assigned to him +without a word of cheer even to the most intimate of his comrades.</p> + +<p>The travellers had accomplished only about twelve leagues from the +sea-coast on their first day’s journey, and darkness had set in before +the horsemen clattered through the narrow streets of a little town and +came to the frowning gates of a great castle, whose huge tower in the +glare of numerous torches loomed out white against the wintry sky. The +chief room of the suite reserved for the king was the only cheerful +object his majesty had seen that day. A roaring bonfire of bulky logs +shed a flickering radiance on the tapestry that hung along the wall, +almost giving animation to the knights pictured thereon, sternly +battling against foes in anger, or merrily joisting with friends for +pleasure at some forgotten tournament.</p> + +<p>The king, probably actuated by the military instincts of his race +urging him to get his bearings, even though he was in the care of a +friendly country, strode to one of the windows and looked out. Dark as +was the night and cloudy the sky, the landscape was nevertheless +etched into tolerable distinctness by the snow that had fallen, and he +saw far beneath him the depths of a profound <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_305" id="Page_305">[Pg 305]</a></span>valley, and what +appeared to be a town much lower than the one through which he had +just ridden. The stronghold appeared to stand on a platform of rock +which was at least impregnable from this side. James turned from the +wintry scene outside to the more alluring prospect within the +apartment. A stout oaken table in the centre of the room was weighted +with a sumptuous repast; and the king, with the stalwart appetite of +youth and health augmented by a tiresome journey in keen air, +forthwith fell to, and did ample justice to the providing of his +unknown host. The choicest vintages of France did something to dispel +that depression which had settled down upon him, and the outside glow +of the great fire supplemented the inward ardour of good wine.</p> + +<p>The king drew up his cushioned chair to the blaze, and while his +attendants speedily cleared the board, a delicious drowsiness stole +over him. He was partially aroused from this by the entrance of his +poetical friend and confidant, Sir David Lyndsay.</p> + +<p>“Your majesty,” said the rhymster, “the constable of these towers +craves permission to pay his respects to you, extending a welcome on +behalf of his master, the King of France.”</p> + +<p>“Bring him in, Davie,” cried James; “for in <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_306" id="Page_306">[Pg 306]</a></span>truth he has already +extended the most cordial of welcomes, and I desire to thank him for +my reception.”</p> + +<p>Shortly after Sir David Lyndsay ushered into the room a young man of +about the same age as the king, dressed in that superb and picturesque +costume which denoted a high noble of France, and which added the +lustre of fine raiment to the distinguished court of Francis the +First. The king greeted his visitor with that affability, which +invariably drew even the most surly toward him, without relaxing the +dignity which is supposed to be the heritage of a monarch.</p> + +<p>“I am delighted to think,” said the newcomer, “that the King of +Scotland has honoured my house by making it his first halting-place in +that realm which has ever been the friend of his country.”</p> + +<p>“Sir,” replied James, “the obligation rests entirely upon me. After a +stormy voyage and an inclement land journey, the hospitality of your +board is one of the most grateful encounters I have ever met with. I +plead an ignorance of geography which is deplorable; and cannot in the +least guess where I am, beyond the fact that the boundaries of France +encompass me.”</p> + +<p>“I shall not pretend,” said the young man, <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_307" id="Page_307">[Pg 307]</a></span>“that my house is unworthy +even of the distinguished guest which it now holds. Your majesty +stands within historic walls, for in an adjoining apartment was born +William, the founder of a great race of English kings. Scotchmen have +defended this castle, and Scotchmen have assaulted it, so its very +stones are linked with the fortunes of your country. Brave Henry the +Fifth of England captured it, and France took it from his successor. +My own family, like the Scotch, have both stood its guard and have +been the foremost through a breach to sack it. I am but now employed +in repairing the ravages of recent turmoil.”</p> + +<p>Here the King interrupted him, as if to mend the reputation of +ignorance he had bestowed upon himself.</p> + +<p>“I take it, then, that I speak to one of the renowned name of Talbot, +and that this fortress is no other than the Castle of Falaise?” and +the king impetuously extended his hand to him. “We both come of a +stormy line, Talbot. Indeed we are even more intimately associated +than you have hinted, for one of your name had the temerity to invade +Scotland itself in the interests of Edward Baliol—yes, by the Rood, +and successfully too.”</p> + +<p>“Ah, your majesty, it does not become the <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_308" id="Page_308">[Pg 308]</a></span>pride of our house to refer +to Richard Talbot, for three years later the Scots took him prisoner, +and he retired defeated from your country.”</p> + +<p>“Indeed,” replied the king gaily, “if my memory serves me truly, we +valued your valiant ancestor so highly that we made the King of +England pay two thousand marks for him. We Scots are a frugal people; +we weigh many of the blessings of life against good hard coin, and by +Saint Andrew of Scotland, Talbot, I hold myself to-day no better than +the rest, for, speaking as young man to young man, I think it unworthy +of either king or peasant to take a woman to his bosom for aught save +love of her.”</p> + +<p>“In that I cordially agree with your majesty,” said Talbot, with a +fervour that made the king glance at him with even more of sympathy +than he had already exhibited. A wave of emotion seemed to overwhelm +the sensitive James, and submerge for the moment all discretion; he +appeared to forget that he spoke to a stranger and one foreign to him, +yet James rarely mistook his man, and in this case his intuition was +not at fault. To lay bare the secrets of his heart to one unknown to +him shortly before, was an experiment of risk; but, as he had said, he +spoke as young man to young man, and healthy youth is rarely cynical, +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_309" id="Page_309">[Pg 309]</a></span>no matter to what country it belongs. The heart knows nothing of +nationality, and a true man is a true man wherever he hails from.</p> + +<p>James sprang to his feet and paced the long room in an excess of +excitement, a cloud on his brow; hands clenching and unclenching as he +walked. Equally with the lowest in his realm he felt the need of a +compassionate confidant. At last the words poured forth from him in an +ecstasy of confession.</p> + +<p>“Talbot,” he cried, “I am on a journey that shames my very manhood. I +have lived my life as others of my age, and whatever of contrition I +may feel, that rests between my Maker and myself. I am as He formed +me, and if I was made imperfect I may be to blame that I strove so +little to overcome my deficiency, but, by God, I say it here, I never +bought another nor sold myself. Now, on the contrary, I go to the loud +marketplace; now I approach a woman I have never seen, and who has +never seen me, to pledge our lives together, the consideration for +this union set down on parchment, and a stipulated sum paid over in +lands and gold.”</p> + +<p>The king stopped suddenly in his perambulation, raised his hands and +said impressively,—</p> + +<p>“I tell you, friend and host, I am no better than <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_310" id="Page_310">[Pg 310]</a></span>my fellows and +worse than many of them, but when the priest mutters the words that +bind, I say the man should have no thought in his mind, but of the +woman who stands beside him; and she no thought in hers but of the man +in whose hand she places her own.”</p> + +<p>“Then why go on with this quest?” cried young Talbot with an +impetuosity equal to that of his guest.</p> + +<p>“Why go on; how can I stop? The fate of kingdoms depends on my action. +My honour is at stake. My pledged word is given. How can I withdraw?”</p> + +<p>“Your majesty need not withdraw. My master, Francis, is the very +prince of lovers, and every word you have uttered will awake an echo +in his own heart, although he is our senior by twenty years. If I may +venture to offer humbly such advice as occurs to me, you should tell +him that you have come to France not to be chosen for, but to choose. +France is the flower garden of the human race; here bloom the fairest +lilies of womanhood, fit to grace the proudest throne in Christendom. +Choice is the prerogative of kings.”</p> + +<p>“Indeed, Talbot, it is not,” said the king dolefully.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_311" id="Page_311">[Pg 311]</a></span></p><p>“It should be so, and can be so, where a monarch boldly demands the +right exercised unquestioned by the meanest hind. Whom shall you +offend by stoutly claiming your right? Not France, for you will wed +one of her daughters; not the king, for he is anxious to bestow upon +you the lady you may prefer. Whom then? Merely the Duke of Vendôme, +whose vaulting ambition it is to place a crown upon the head of his +daughter, though its weight may crush her.”</p> + +<p>The king looked fixedly at the perturbed young man, and a faint smile +chased away the sternness of his countenance.</p> + +<p>“I have never known an instance,” he said slowly, “where the burden of +a crown was urged as an objection even by the most romantic of women.”</p> + +<p>“It would be so urged by Mary of Vendôme, were she allowed to give +utterance to her wishes.”</p> + +<p>“You know her then?”</p> + +<p>“I am proud to claim her as a friend, and to assert she is the very +pearl of France.”</p> + +<p>“Ha, you interest me. You hint, then, that I come a bootless wooer? +That is turning the tables indeed, and now you rouse an emulation +which heretofore was absent in me. You think I cannot win and wear +this jewel of the realm?”</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_312" id="Page_312">[Pg 312]</a></span></p><p>“That you may wear it there is no doubt; that you may win it is +another matter. Mary will place her listless hand in yours, knowing +thus she pleases the king and her father, but it is rumoured her +affections are fixed upon another.”</p> + +<p>“Sir, you stir me up to competition. Now we enter the lists. You bring +the keen incentive of rivalry into play.”</p> + +<p>“Such, your majesty, was far from my intention. I spoke as a friend of +the lady. She has no more choice in this bargain than you deplored the +lack of a moment since.”</p> + +<p>The former gloom again overspread the king’s face.</p> + +<p>“There is the devil of it,” he cried impatiently. “If I could meet her +on even terms, plain man and woman, then if I loved her I would win +her, were all the nobles of France in the scales against me. But I +come to her chained; a jingling captive, and she approaches me alike +in thrall. It is a cursed fate, and I chafe at the clanking links, +though they hold me nevertheless. And all my life I can never be sure +of her; the chiming metal ever between us. I come in pomp and display, +as public as the street I walk on, and the union is as brazen as a +slave market, despite cathedral bells and archbishop’s blessing. Ah, +well, there is <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_313" id="Page_313">[Pg 313]</a></span>nothing gained by ranting. Do you ride to Loches with +me?”</p> + +<p>“I follow your majesty a day behind, but hope to overtake you before +you are well past Tours.”</p> + +<p>“I am glad of it. Good-night. I see you stand my friend, and before +this comes to a climax we may have need to consult together. Good-night; good-night!”</p> + +<p>Next morning early the itinerants were on horseback again, facing +southward. The day was wild and stormy, and so was the next that +followed it; but after leaving Tours they seemed to have entered an +enchanted land, for the clouds were dispersed and the warm sun came +forth, endowing the travellers with a genial climate like late +springtime in Scotland. As they approached Loches even the king was +amazed by the striking sight of the castle, a place formidable in its +strength, and in extent resembling a small city.</p> + +<p>The gay and gallant Francis received his fellow monarch with a +cordiality that left no doubt of its genuine character. The French +king had the geniality to meet James in the courtyard itself; he +embraced him at the very gates as soon as James had dismounted from +his horse. Notwithstanding his twenty years of seniority Francis +seemed as young as the Scottish king.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_314" id="Page_314">[Pg 314]</a></span></p><p>“By Saint Denis, James,” he cried, “you are a visitor of good omen, +for you have brought fine weather with you and the breath of spring. +All this winter we have endured the climate of Hades itself, without +its warmth.”</p> + +<p>The two rulers stood together in the courtyard, entirely alone, for no +man dare frequent their immediate neighbourhood; but in a circle some +distance removed from their centre, the Scotch and the French +fraternised together, a preeminent assemblage numbering a thousand or +more; and from the balconies beautiful ladies looked down on the +inspiring scene.</p> + +<p>The gates were still open and the drawbridge down, when a horseman +came clattering over the causeway, and, heedless of the distinguished +audience, which he scattered to right and left, amid curses on his +clumsiness, drew up his foaming horse in the very presence of royalty +itself.</p> + +<p>Francis cried out angrily at this interruption.</p> + +<p>“Unmannerly varlet, how dare you come dashing through this throng like +a drunken ploughman!”</p> + +<p>The rider flung himself off the panting horse and knelt before his +enraged master.</p> + +<p>“Sire,” he said, “my news may perhaps plead for me. The army of the +Emperor Charles, in <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_315" id="Page_315">[Pg 315]</a></span>Provence, is broken and in flight. Spain has met +a crushing defeat, and no foe insults the soil of France except by +lying dead upon it.”</p> + +<p>“Now, my good fellow,” cried the king with dancing eyes, “you are +forgiven if you had ridden down half of my nobility.”</p> + +<p>The joyous news spread like wildfire, and cheer upon cheer rose to +heaven like vocal flame to mark its advance.</p> + +<p>“Brother,” cried the great king to his newly arrived guest, placing an +arm lovingly over his shoulder, his voice with suspicion of +tremulousness about it, “you stalwart Scots have always brought luck +to our fair land of France. This glad news is the more welcome to me +that you are here when I receive it.”</p> + +<p>And so the two, like affectionate kinsmen, walked together into the +castle which, although James did not then know it, was to be his home +for many months.</p> + +<p>There was a dinner of state that evening, so gay and on a scale so +grand that James had little time or opportunity for reflection on his +mission. Here indeed, as Talbot had truly said, was the flower garden +of the human race; and the Scottish king saw many a proud lady to whom +probably he would have been delighted to bend the knee. <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_316" id="Page_316">[Pg 316]</a></span>But his bride +was not among the number. The Duchesse de Vendôme explained to the +king that her daughter was suffering from a slight illness, and apart +from this was anxious to greet her future husband in a conference more +private than the present occasion afforded. This was certainly +reasonable enough, and the important meeting took place the following +afternoon.</p> + +<p>Mary of Vendôme might truly be called the Pearl of France, if +whiteness of visage gave claim to that title. The king found himself +confronted by a drooping young woman whose stern mother gave her a +support which was certainly needed. Her face was of the pallor of wax; +and never once during that fateful interview did she raise the heavy +lids from her eyes. That she had once been beautiful was undoubted, +but now her face was almost gaunt in its excessive thinness. The +death-like hue of her delicate skin, the fact that she seemed scarce +to breathe, and that she never ventured to speak, gave her suitor the +impression that she more resembled one preparing for the tomb than a +young girl anticipating her bridal. She courtesied like one in a +trance; but the keen eyes of the king saw the tightening of her +mother’s firm hand on her wrist while she made the obeisance which +etiquette demanded. Short <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_317" id="Page_317">[Pg 317]</a></span>as was their formal greeting, it was too +long for this anæmic creature, who would have sunk to the floor were +it not for the clutch in which the determined mother held her. Even +the king, self-contained as he usually was, found little to say beyond +empty expressions of concern regarding her recent illness, ending with +a brief remark to the effect that he hoped she would soon recover from +her indisposition. But once the ordeal was over, James was filled with +a frenzy to be alone, tortured as he was by an agony of mind which +made any encounter with his fellows intolerable. He strode through the +seemingly interminable corridors of the great castle, paying slight +heed to his direction. All doors opened before him, and sentinels +saluted as he passed. At last, not knowing where he was, or how to get +outside, he said to one of the human statues who held a pike,—</p> + +<p>“Tell me, good fellow, the quickest way to the outer air; some spot +where I can be entirely alone?”</p> + +<p>The guard, saluting, called a page, whispered a word to him, and the +boy led the king to a door which gave access to a secluded garden, +enclosed on every side by high battlements, yet nevertheless filled +with great trees, under which <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_318" id="Page_318">[Pg 318]</a></span>ran paths both straight and winding. +Beside one wall lay the longest walk of this little park, and up and +down this gravelled way, his hands clasped behind him, the young king +strode in more disturbance of mind than had ever before afflicted him.</p> + +<p>“Oh, God save me; God save me!” he cried; “am I to be wedded to a +ghost? That woman is not even alive, to say whether she is willing or +no. Have I come to France to act the ghoul and rob the grave of its +due? Saints in heaven, help me! What am I to do? I cannot insult +France, yet I cannot chain my living body to that dead woman. Why is +not Talbot here? He said he would overtake me at Tours, and yet is he +not come. The Pearl of France, said he, the jewel of a toad’s head, +say I. My honour staked, and to that unbreathing image of tallow! Is +this my punishment? Do the sins of our youth thus overtake us, and in +such ghastly form? Bones of my ancestors, I will not wed the grave, +though war and slaughter come of it. And yet—and yet, my faith is +plighted; blindly, unknowingly plighted. Why does not Talbot come? He +knew what my emotions would be on seeing that denizen of another +world, and so warned me.”</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_319" id="Page_319">[Pg 319]</a></span></p><p>These muttered meditations were suddenly interrupted by a clear sweet +voice from above.</p> + +<p>“Écossais! Scottish knight! Please rescue for me my handkerchief, +which I have, alas, let fall. Wrap a stone in it and throw it hither, +I beg of you.”</p> + +<p>The startled king looked up and beheld, peering over at him from the +battlements above, one of the most piquant and pretty, laughing faces +he had ever seen. Innocent mischief sparkled in the luscious dark +eyes, which regarded him from a seemingly inaccessible perch. A wealth +of dark tousled hair made a midnight frame for a lovely countenance in +the first flush of maidenly youth. Nothing could be more marked than +the difference between the reality which thus came unexpectedly into +view, and his sombre vision of another. There also sifted down to him +from aloft, whisperings that were evidently protests, from persons +unseen; but the minx who was the cause of them merrily bade her +counsellors be quiet. She must get her handkerchief, she said, and the +Scot was the only one to recover it. Fluttering white from one of the +lower branches was a dainty bit of filmy lace, much too fragile a +covering for the stone she had suggested. The despair which enveloped +the king was dispelled as the mist vanishes before the <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_320" id="Page_320">[Pg 320]</a></span>beaming sun. +He whipped out his thin rapier and deftly disentangled the light +burden from the detaining branch. It fluttered to his hand and was +raised gallantly to his lips, at which the girl laughed most joyfully, +as if this action were intensely humorous. Other faces peeped +momentarily over the balustrade to be as quickly withdrawn when they +saw the stranger looking up at them; but the hussy herself, whoever +she was, seemed troubled by no such timorousness, resting her arms +upon the stone balustrade, with her chin above them, her inviting eyes +gazing mockingly on the man below. The king placed the handkerchief in +the bosom of his doublet, thrust home the rapier in its scabbard, +grasped the lower branch of the tree and swung himself up on it with +the agility of an acrobat. Now the insolence of those eyes was chased +away by a look of alarm.</p> + +<p>“No, no,” she cried, “stay where you are. You are too bold, Scottish +knight.”</p> + +<p>But she had to reckon with one who was a nimble wall climber, either +up or down, whose expertness in descent had often saved him from the +consequences of too ambitious climbing. The young man answered not a +word, but made his way speedily up along the branches until he <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_321" id="Page_321">[Pg 321]</a></span>stood +at a level with the parapet. Across the chasm which divided him from +the wall he saw a broad platform, railed round with a stone +balustrade, this elevated floor forming an ample promenade that was +nevertheless secluded because of the higher castle walls on every +side, walls that were unpierced by any window. A door at the farther +end of the platform gave access to the interior of the palace. A short +distance back from the balustrade stood a group of some half-dozen +very frightened women. But the first cause of all this commotion +remained in the forefront of the assemblage, angry and defiant.</p> + +<p>“How dare you, sir?” she cried. “Go back, I command you.” Then seeing +he made no motion to obey her, but was measuring with his keen eye the +distance between the bending limb on which he held his precarious +position, and the parapet, something more of supplication came into +her voice, and she continued,—</p> + +<p>“My good fellow, place the handkerchief on the point of your sword and +one of my women will reach for it. Be careful, I beg of you; that +bough will break under your weight if you venture further. The +outreached arm and the sword will span the space.”</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_322" id="Page_322">[Pg 322]</a></span></p><p>“Madam,” said the king, “the sword’s point is for my enemy. On bended +knee must I present a lady that which belongs to her.”</p> + +<p>And with this, before further expostulation was possible, the young +man made his perilous leap, clutched the parapet with his left arm, +hung suspended for one breathless moment, then flung his right leg, a +most shapely member, over the balustrade, and next instant was +kneeling at her feet, offering the gosamer token. In the instant of +crisis the young lady had given utterance to a little shriek which she +instantly suppressed, glancing nervously over her shoulder. One of her +women ran towards the door, but the girl peremptorily ordered her to +return.</p> + +<p>“The Scot will not eat you,” she cried impatiently, “even if he <i>is</i> a +savage.”</p> + +<p>“Madam, your handkerchief,” explained the savage, still offering it.</p> + +<p>“I shall not accept it,” she exclaimed, her eyes blazing with +resentment at his presumption.</p> + +<p>The king sprang to his feet and swept off his plumed hat with the air +of an Italian.</p> + +<p>“Ten thousand thanks, madam, for your cherished gift.” Saying which he +thrust the slight web back into his doublet again.</p> + +<p>“’Tis not a gift; render it to me at once, sir,” <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_323" id="Page_323">[Pg 323]</a></span>she demanded with +feminine inconsistency. She extended her hand, but the king, instead +of returning the article in dispute, grasped her fingers unawares and +raised them to his lips. She drew away her hand with an expression of +the utmost contempt, but nevertheless stood her ground, in spite of +the evident anxiety to be elsewhere of the bevy behind her.</p> + +<p>“Sir, you are unmannerly. No one has ever ventured to treat me thus.”</p> + +<p>“Then I am delighted to be the first to introduce to you so amiable a +custom. Unmannerly? Not so. We savages learn our manners from the +charming land of France; and I have been told that in one or two +instances, this country has known not only the fingers, but the lips +to be kissed.”</p> + +<p>“I implore you, sir, to desist and take your departure the way you +came; further, I warn you that danger threatens.”</p> + +<p>“I need no such warning, my lady. The danger has already encompassed +me, and my heart shall never free itself from its presence, while +remembrance of the lightning of those eyes abides with me.”</p> + +<p>The girl laughed with a trace of nervousness, and the rich colour +mounted to her cheek.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_324" id="Page_324">[Pg 324]</a></span></p><p>“Sir, you are learning your lesson well in France.”</p> + +<p>“My lady, the lowest hind in my country could not do otherwise under +such tutelage.”</p> + +<p>“You should turn your gifts to the service of your master. Go, woo for +him poor Mary of Vendôme, and see if you can cure her who is dying of +love for young Talbot of Falaise.”</p> + +<p>For a moment the king stood as if struck by the lightning he had just +referred to, then staggering back a step, rested his hand on the +parapet and steadied himself.</p> + +<p>“Good God!” he muttered in low tones, “is that true?”</p> + +<p>All coquetry disappeared from the girl as she saw the dramatic effect +her words had produced. She moved lightly forward, then held back +again, anxiety on her brow.</p> + +<p>“Sir, what is wrong with you? Are you ill? Are you a friend of +Talbot’s?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, I am a friend of his.”</p> + +<p>“And did you not know this? I thought every one knew it. Does not the +King of Scotland know? What will he do when he learns, think you, or +will it make a difference?”</p> + +<p>“The King of Scotland is a blind fool; a conceited <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_325" id="Page_325">[Pg 325]</a></span>coxcomb, who +thinks every woman that sees him must fall in love with him.”</p> + +<p>“Sir, you amaze me. Are you not a subject of his? You would not speak +so in his hearing.”</p> + +<p>“Indeed and that I would, without hesitation, and he knows it.”</p> + +<p>“Is he so handsome as they say? Alas, I am thought too young to engage +in court festivities, and in spite of my pleadings I was not allowed +even to see his arrival.”</p> + +<p>The king had now recovered his composure, and there was a return of +his gallant bearing.</p> + +<p>“Madam, tell me your name, and I shall intercede that so rigid a rule +for one so fair may be relaxed.”</p> + +<p>“Ah, now your impudence reasserts itself. My name is not for you. How +can a humble Scottish knight hope to soften a rule promulgated by the +King of France himself?”</p> + +<p>“Madam, you forget that we are guests of France, and in this courteous +country nothing is denied us. We meet with no refusals except from +proud ladies like yourself. I shall ask my captain, he shall pass my +request to the general, who will speak to the King of Scotland, and +the king, when he knows how beautiful you are, will beg the favour +from Francis himself.”</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_326" id="Page_326">[Pg 326]</a></span></p><p>The girl clasped her hands with exuberant delight.</p> + +<p>“I wonder if it is possible,” she said, leaning towards the gay +cavalier, as if he were now her dearest friend—for indeed it was +quite evident that she thought much of him in spite of his irregular +approach. She was too young to feel the rules of etiquette otherwise +than annoying bonds, and like an imprisoned wild bird, was willing to +take any course that promised liberty.</p> + +<p>“Your name, then, madam?”</p> + +<p>“My name is Madeleine.”</p> + +<p>“I need not ask if you are noble.”</p> + +<p>“I am at least as noble as Mary of Vendôme, whom your king is to +marry, if he is cruel enough.”</p> + +<p>At this point one of the women, who had stationed herself near the +door, came running towards the group and warned them that somebody was +approaching. The attendants, who had hitherto remained passive, +probably with some womanly curiosity regarding the strange interview, +now became wild with excitement, and joined their mistress in begging +the stranger to depart.</p> + +<p>“Not until I have whispered in your ear,” he said stoutly.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_327" id="Page_327">[Pg 327]</a></span></p><p>“I cannot permit it; I cannot permit it. Go, go at once, I implore +you.”</p> + +<p>“Then I escort you within the hall to meet whoever comes.”</p> + +<p>“Sir, you are importunate. Well, it doesn’t matter; whisper.”</p> + +<p>He bent toward her and said:—</p> + +<p>“Madeleine, you must meet me here alone at this time to-morrow.”</p> + +<p>“Never, never,” she cried resolutely.</p> + +<p>“Very well then; here I stay until you consent.”</p> + +<p>“You are cruel,” she said, tears springing in her eyes. Then +appealingly, as a knock sounded against the door, she added, “I +promise. Go at once.”</p> + +<p>The young man precipitated himself over the parapet into the tree. The +fortune which attends lovers and drunkards favoured him, and the last +bending branch lowered him as gently to the gravel of the walk as if +he were a son of the forest. He glanced upward, and saw that the +luminous face, in its diaphanous environment of dark hair was again +bent over the parapet, the lips apart and still, saying nothing, but +the eloquent eyes questioning; indeed he fancied he saw <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_328" id="Page_328">[Pg 328]</a></span>in them some +slight solicitude for his safety. He doffed his hat, kissed the tips +of his fingers and wafted the salutation toward her, while a glow of +satisfaction filled his breast as he actually saw a similar movement +on the part of her own fair fingers, which was quickly translated into +a gesture pointing to the garden door, and then she placed a +finger-tip to her lips, a silent injunction for silence. He knew when +to obey, as well as when to disobey, and vanished quickly through the +door. He retreated in no such despairing phase of mind as he had +advanced, but now paid some attention to the geography of the place +that he might return unquestioning to his tryst. Arriving at the more +public corridors of the palace, his first encounter was with the +Constable of Falaise. Talbot’s dress was travel-stained, and his +youthful face wore almost the haggardness of age. He looked like a man +who had ridden hard and slept little, finding now small comfort at the +end of a toilsome journey. The king, with a cry of pleasure at the +meeting, smote his two hands down on the shoulders of the other, who +seemed unconsciously to shrink from the boisterous touch.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_329" id="Page_329">[Pg 329]</a></span></p><p>“Talbot,” he cried, “you promised to overtake me at Tours, but you did +not.”</p> + +<p>“It is not given to every man to overtake your majesty,” said Talbot +hoarsely.</p> + +<p>“Constable of Falaise, you were not honest with me that night in your +castle. I spoke to you freely from the bottom of my heart; you +answered me from your lips outward.”</p> + +<p>“I do not understand your majesty,” replied the young man grimly.</p> + +<p>“Yes, you do. You love Mary of Vendôme. Why did you not tell me so?”</p> + +<p>“To what purpose should I have made such a confession, even if it were +the fact?”</p> + +<p>“To the purpose of truth, if for nothing else. God’s sake, man, is it +thus you love in France! Cold Scotland can be in that your tutor. In +your place, there had been a quick divorce between my sword and +scabbard. Were my rival twenty times a king, I’d face him out and say, +by Cupid’s bow, return or fight.”</p> + +<p>“What! This in your castle to your guest?” exclaimed Talbot.</p> + +<p>“No, perhaps not. You are in the right, constable, you are in the +right. I had forgotten your situation for the moment. I should have +been <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_330" id="Page_330">[Pg 330]</a></span>polite to him within my own walls, but I should have followed +him across my marches and slit his gullet on the king’s highway.”</p> + +<p>Notwithstanding his distraction of mind the newcomer smiled somewhat +wanly at the impetuosity of the other.</p> + +<p>“You must remember that while your foot presses French soil, you are +still the guest of all true Frenchmen, nevertheless your majesty’s +words have put new life into my veins. Did you see Mary of Vendôme?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, and there is not three months’ life left to her unless she draws +vitality from your presence. Man, man, why stand you here idling? +Climb walls, force bolts, kidnap the girl and marry her in spite of +all the world.”</p> + +<p>“Alas, there is not a priest in all France would dare to marry us, +knowing her pledged to your majesty.”</p> + +<p>“Priests of France! I have priests in my own train who will, at a word +from me, link you tighter than these stones are cemented together. +God’s will, Talbot, these obstacles but lend interest to the chase.”</p> + +<p>“Is it possible that you, having opportunity, care not to marry Mary +of Vendôme?” cried the amazed young man, who could not comprehend +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_331" id="Page_331">[Pg 331]</a></span>that where his preference fell another might be indifferent; for she +was, as he had said, the Pearl of France to him, and it seemed absurd +to imagine that she might not be so to all the world.</p> + +<p>“United Europe, with Francis and the Emperor Charles for once combined +could not force me to marry where I did not love. I failed to +understand this when I left Scotland, but I have grown in wisdom since +then.”</p> + +<p>“Who is she?” asked the constable, with eager interest.</p> + +<p>“Hark ye, Talbot,” said the king, lowering his voice and placing an +arm affectionately over the shoulder of the other. “You shall be my +guide. Who is the Lady Madeleine of this court?”</p> + +<p>“The Lady Madeleine? There are several.”</p> + +<p>“No, there is but one, the youngest, the most beautiful, the most +witty, the most charming. Who is she?”</p> + +<p>The constable wrinkled his brows in thought.</p> + +<p>“That must be Madeleine de Montmorency. She is the youngest of her +name, and is by many accounted beautiful. I never heard that she was +esteemed witty until your majesty said so. Rather reserved and proud. +Is that the lady?”</p> + +<p>“Proud, yes. Reserved—um, yes, that is, perhaps <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_332" id="Page_332">[Pg 332]</a></span>not when she meets a +man who knows enough to appreciate her. However, I shall speedily +solve the riddle, and must remember that you do not see the lady +through a lover’s eyes. But I will not further keep you. A change of +costume may prove to your advantage, and I doubt not an untroubled +night’s sleep will further it.”</p> + +<p>“Your majesty overwhelms me with kindness,” murmured the young lover, +warmly grasping the hand extended to him. “Have I your permission to +tell Mary of Vendôme?”</p> + +<p>“You have my permission to tell her anything, but you will bring her +no news, for I am now on my way to see her.”</p> + +<p>The king gaily marched on, his head held high, a man not to be denied, +and as he passed along all bowed at his coming, for everyone in the +court admired him. There was something unexpectedly French in the dash +of this young Scotchman. He strode across the court and up the steps +which led into the Palais Vendôme. The duchess herself met him with a +hard smile on her thin lips.</p> + +<p>“Madam,” he said bruskly, “I would see your daughter alone.”</p> + +<p>The grim duchesse hesitated.</p> + +<p>“Mary is so shy,” she said at last.</p> + +<p>But the king interrupted her.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_333" id="Page_333">[Pg 333]</a></span></p><p>“I have a cure for that. Shyness flees in my presence. I would see +your daughter alone, madam; send her to me.”</p> + +<p>There being no remedy when a king commands, the lady made the best of +a dubious proceeding.</p> + +<p>James was pacing up and down the splendid drawing-room when, from the +further door the drooping girl appeared, still with downcast eyes, +nun-like in her meek obedience. She came forward perhaps a third the +length of the room, faltered, and stood.</p> + +<p>“Mary,” said the king, “they told me you were beautiful, but I come +to announce to you that such is not my opinion. You are ambitious, +it would seem, so I tell you frankly, you will never be Queen of +Scotland.”</p> + +<p>For the first time in his presence the girl uncovered her eyes and +looked up at him.</p> + +<p>“Yes,” said the king, “your eyes are fine. I am constrained to concede +that much, and if I do not wed you myself it is but right I should +nominate a candidate for your hand. There is a friend of mine for whom +I shall use my influence with Francis and your father that they may +persuade you to marry him. He is young Talbot, Constable of Falaise, +a demented stripling who calls <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_334" id="Page_334">[Pg 334]</a></span>you the Pearl of France. Ah, now the +colour comes to your cheeks. I would not have believed it. All this +demureness then——” But the girl had sunk at his feet, grasped his +hand and pressed it to her lips.</p> + +<p>“Tut, tut,” he cried hastily, “that is a reversal of the order of +nature. Rise, and when I send young Talbot to you, see that you +welcome him; and now, good-day to you.”</p> + +<p>As he passed through the outer room the duchesse lay in wait for him +and began murmuring apologies for her daughter’s diffidence.</p> + +<p>“We have arranged all about the wedding, madam,” said the king +reassuringly as he left the palace.</p> + +<p>The next day at the hour when the king had met Madeleine for the first +time, he threaded his way eagerly through the mazes of the old castle +until he came to the door that led him out into the Elysian garden. +The weather still befriended him, being of an almost summer mildness.</p> + +<p>For several minutes he paced impatiently up and down the gravel walk, +but no laughing face greeted him from the battlements above. At last, +swearing a good round Scottish oath he said, “I’ll solve the mystery +of the balcony,” and <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_335" id="Page_335">[Pg 335]</a></span>seizing the lower branch of the tree, he was +about to climb as he had done before, when a tantalizing silvery laugh +brought his arms down to his sides again. It seemed to come from an +arbour at the further end of the grounds, but when he reached there +the place proved empty. He pretended to search among the bushes, but +nevertheless kept an eye on the arbour, when his sharp ear caught a +rustling of silk from behind the summer-house. He made a dash towards +it, then reversed his direction, speeding like the wind, and next +instant this illusive specimen of Gallic womanhood ran plump into his +arms, not seeing where she was going, her head averted to watch the +danger that threatened from another quarter.</p> + +<p>Before she could give utterance to more than one exclamatory “Oh,” he +had kissed her thrice full on the lips. She struggled in his arms like +a frightened bird, nobly indignant with shame-crimsoned cheeks, +smiting him with her powerless little snowflake of a hand. Her royal +lover laughed.</p> + +<p>“Ha, my Madeleine, this is the second stage of the game. The hand was +paradise on earth; the lips are the seventh heaven itself.”</p> + +<p>“Release me, you Scottish clown!” cried Madeleine, her black eyes +snapping fire. “I will <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_336" id="Page_336">[Pg 336]</a></span>have you whipped from the court for your +insolence.”</p> + +<p>“My dear, you could not be so cruel. Remember that poor Cupid’s back +is naked, and he would quiver under every stroke.”</p> + +<p>“I’d never have condescended to meet you, did I dream of your acting +so. ’Tis intolerable, the forwardness of you beggarly Scots!”</p> + +<p>“Nay, never beggarly, my dear, except where a woman is concerned, and +then we beg for favours.”</p> + +<p>“You little suspect who I am or you would not venture to misuse me +thus, and be so free with your ‘my dears.’”</p> + +<p>“Indeed, lass, in that you are mistaken. I not only found you in the +garden, but I found your name as well. You are Madeleine de +Montmorency.”</p> + +<p>She ceased to struggle, and actually laughed a little.</p> + +<p>“How clever you are to have discovered so much in such a short time. +Now let me go, and I will thank you; nay more, I promise that if you +ask the Duke of Montmorency for his permission, and he grants it, I +will see you as often as you please.”</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_337" id="Page_337">[Pg 337]</a></span></p><p>“Now Madeleine, I hold you to that, and I will seek an introduction to +the duke at once.”</p> + +<p>She stepped back from him panting, and sank into a deep courtesy that +seemed to be characterised more by ridicule than politeness.</p> + +<p>“Oh, thank you, sir,” she said. “I should dearly love to be an +eavesdropper at your conference.”</p> + +<p>Before he could reply, the door opened by which he had entered the +park.</p> + +<p>“In the fiend’s name, the king!” muttered James, in no manner pleased +by the unwelcome interruption.</p> + +<p>All colour left the girl’s face, and she hastily endeavoured to +arrange in brief measure the disordered masses of her hair, somewhat +tangled in the struggle. As Francis advanced up the walk, the genial +smile froze on his lips, and an expression of deep displeasure +overshadowed his countenance, a look of stern resentment coming into +his eyes that would have made any man in his realm quail before him. +The girl was the first to break the embarrassing silence, saying +breathlessly,—</p> + +<p>“Your majesty must not blame this Scottish knight. It is all my fault, +for I lured him hither.”</p> + +<p>“Peace, child,” exclaimed Francis in a voice <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_338" id="Page_338">[Pg 338]</a></span>of cold anger. “You know +not what you say. What do you here alone with the King of Scotland?”</p> + +<p>“The King of Scotland!” echoed Madeleine, in surprise, her eyes +opening wide with renewed interest as she gazed upon him. Then she +laughed. “They told me the King of Scotland was a handsome man!”</p> + +<p>James smiled at this imputation on his appearance, and even the rigour +of the lord of France relaxed a trifle, and a gleam of affection for +the wayward girl that was not to be concealed, rose in his eyes.</p> + +<p>“Sire,” said James slowly, “we are neither of us to blame. ’Tis the +accident that brought us together must bear the brunt of consequence. +I cannot marry Mary of Vendôme, and indeed I was about to beg your +majesty to issue your command that she may wed your Constable of +Falaise. If there is to be a union between France and Scotland other +than now exists, this lady, and this lady alone, must say yes or no to +it. Premising her free consent, I ask her hand in marriage.”</p> + +<p>“She is but a child,” objected Francis, breathing a sigh, which had, +however, something of relief in it.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_339" id="Page_339">[Pg 339]</a></span></p><p>“I am fully seventeen,” expostulated Madeleine, with a promptness that +made both men laugh.</p> + +<p>“Sire, Youth is a fault, which alas, travels continually with Time, +its antidote,” said James. “If I have your good wishes in this +project, on which, I confess, my heart is set, I shall at once +approach the Duke of Montmorency and solicit his consent.”</p> + +<p>The face of Francis had cleared as if a ray of sunshine had fallen +upon it.</p> + +<p>“The Duke of Montmorency!” he cried in astonishment; “what has he to +do with the marriage of my daughter?”</p> + +<p>James murmured something that may have been a prayer, but sounded +otherwise, as he turned to the girl, whose delight at thus mystifying +the great of earth was only too evident.</p> + +<p>“I told him he little suspected who I was,” said Madeleine, with what +might have been termed a giggle in one less highly placed; “but these +confident Scots think they know everything. Indeed, it is all your own +fault, father, in keeping me practically a prisoner, when the whole +castle is throbbing with joy and festivity.” Then the irrepressible +princess buried her flushed face in her hands, and laughed and +laughed, as if this <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_340" id="Page_340">[Pg 340]</a></span>were the most irresistible comedy in the world, +instead of a grave affair of state, until at last the two monarchs +were forced to laugh in sympathy.</p> + +<p>“I could not wish her a braver husband,” said Francis at last. “I see +she has bewitched you as is her habit with all of us.”</p> + +<p>And thus it came about that James the Fifth of Scotland married the +fair Madeleine of France.</p> + +<h3>THE END</h3> + +<hr class="large" /> +<div class="centerbox2 bbox2"> +<h2>By A. Conan Doyle</h2> + +<hr class="full" /> + +<h2>THE HOUND OF THE<br /> BASKERVILLES</h2> + +<h3>A Sherlock Holmes Novel</h3> + +<p class="center">Illustrated by Sidney Paget</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 35px;"> +<img src="images/iad.jpg" width="35" height="50" alt="" title="" /> +</div> + +<p><i>The London Chronicle</i>, in a review headed</p> + +<p class="center">“THE ZENITH OF SHERLOCK HOLMES,”</p> + +<p>says:</p> + +<p>“We should like to pay Dr. Doyle the highest compliment at our +command. It is not simply that this book is superior in originality +and construction to the earlier adventures of the great detective. Dr. +Doyle has provided a criminal who, as Mr. Holmes admits, is indeed a +foeman worthy of his steel.<a name="FNanchor_A_1" id="FNanchor_A_1"></a><a href="#Footnote_A_1" class="fnanchor">[A]</a> Hitherto he has found it comparatively +easy to unmask his antagonists. But in the present case he finds +himself checkmated again and again. There is pitted against him a +skill nearly equal to his own, and he wins the game almost by a hair.”</p> + +<p class="center">$1.25</p> + +<hr class="full" /> +<h2>McClure, Phillips & Co.</h2></div> + +<hr class="large" /> + +<div class="centerbox2 bbox2"> + +<h2>By George Douglas</h2> + +<hr class="full" /> + +<h2>THE HOUSE WITH THE<br />GREEN SHUTTERS</h2> + +<p>The first novel of a new master. The work has gained wide-spread +recognition on both sides of the water. Three of the most conservative +and authoritative publications in England include it among the first +twelve of the year. In this country <i>Harper’s Weekly</i> gives it as one +of the two most interesting novels of the year.</p> + +<p><i>The critics differ as to with what other master George Douglas should +be compared:</i></p> + +<p><i>The London Times</i> says: “Worthy of the hand that drew ‘Weir of +Hermiston,’” and that “Balzac and Flaubert, had they been Scotch, +would have written such a book.”</p> + +<p><i>The Spectator:</i> “His masters are Zola and Balzac, but there are few +traces of the novice and none of the imitator.”</p> + +<p><i>Vanity Fair:</i> “It moves to its end with all the terrible unity of an +Æschylean tragedy.”</p> + +<p><i>Harper’s Weekly:</i> “If Thomas Hardy had written of Scotland, instead +of Wessex, it would have been something like ‘The House with the Green +Shutters’.... If any man is his (Douglas’) master it is Thomas Hardy.”</p> + +<p class="center">Hardy, Stevenson, Zola, Flaubert, Balzac, and Æschylus.</p> + +<p class="center">Eighth Edition. $1.50.</p> + +<hr class="full" /> + +<h2>McClure, Phillips & Co.</h2></div> + +<hr class="large" /> +<h3><span class="smcap">Footnote:</span></h3> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_A_1" id="Footnote_A_1"></a><a href="#FNanchor_A_1"><span class="label">[A]</span></a> “I tell you, Watson, this time we have a foeman who is +worthy of our steel.”—<i>Sherlock Holmes.</i></p></div> + +<hr class="large" /> +<h3><span class="smcap">Transcriber’s Notes:</span></h3> + +<p>1. Minor changes have been made to correct typesetters’ errors; otherwise, +every effort has been made to remain true to the author’s words and intent.</p> + +<p>2. Placement of illustrations and page numbers have been rearranged slightly, to accommodate +the uninterrupted flow of the book.</p> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of A Prince of Good Fellows, by Robert Barr + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A PRINCE OF GOOD FELLOWS *** + +***** This file should be named 31715-h.htm or 31715-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/3/1/7/1/31715/ + +Produced by D Alexander and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This file was +produced from images generously made available by The +Internet Archive) + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: A Prince of Good Fellows + +Author: Robert Barr + +Illustrator: Edmund J. Sullivan + +Release Date: March 21, 2010 [EBook #31715] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A PRINCE OF GOOD FELLOWS *** + + + + +Produced by D Alexander and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This file was +produced from images generously made available by The +Internet Archive) + + + + + + + + + + A PRINCE OF + GOOD FELLOWS + + BY + + ROBERT BARR + + AUTHOR OF + + IN THE MIDST OF ALARMS, + TEKLA, ETC. + + ILLUSTRATED BY + + EDMUND J. SULLIVAN + + NEW YORK + + MCCLURE, PHILLIPS & CO. + + 1902 + + + + + _Copyright, 1902, by_ + MCCLURE, PHILLIPS & CO. + + _Copyright, 1901, by_ S. S. MCCLURE CO. + _Copyright, 1902, by_ S. S. MCCLURE CO. + _Copyright, 1901, by_ ROBERT BARR + _Copyright, 1902, by_ ROBERT BARR + + Published, May, 1902, R + + + + + [Illustration: JACOBUS, V, REX, SCOTORUM. + THE PRINCE OF GOOD FELLOWS] + + + + +To + +Thomas Spencer Jerome + +in his Villa of the Castle on the Island of Capri, this book is +respectfully dedicated, with the hope that some of the facts herein +set forth may aid him during his historical researches. + + + + + _A_ TABLE _of the_ CONTENTS + + + _Page_ + + THE KING INTERVENES 1 + + THE KING DINES 29 + + THE KING'S TRYST 47 + + THE KING INVESTIGATES 77 + + THE KING'S GOLD 113 + + THE KING A-BEGGING 147 + + THE KING'S VISIT 185 + + THE KING EXPLORES 213 + + THE KING DRINKS 243 + + THE KING SAILS 269 + + THE KING WEDS 297 + + + + + LIST _of_ ILLUSTRATIONS + + + The Prince of Good Fellows _Frontispiece_ + + _Facing page_ + + "Out of the way, fellow!" 4 + + "Headsman, do your duty" 26 + + "'As you get north of Sterling, Buchanan,' replied + James, with a smile, 'it is customary + to bring the knife with you when you go + out to dine'" 42 + + "My fair antagonist, I bid you good-night" 74 + + "The forty-one trees bore their burden" 110 + + "The figure of a tall man" 126 + + "With a wild scream Farini endeavoured to support + himself with his gauze-like wings" 144 + + "The King had composed a poem in thirteen + stanzas, entitled 'The Beggar Man'" 148 + + "Five stalwart ruffians fell upon him" 162 + + "'I am James, King of Scotland,' he proclaimed + in stentorian tones" 178 + + "At last MacNab sprang to his feet, holding + aloft his brimming flagon" 201 + + "The strangers were most hospitably entertained, + and entered thoroughly into the + spirit of the festivities" 234 + + "The King, however, appeared to have no forebodings, + but trotted along with great complacency" 246 + + "The two went outside and took the road by + which they had come" 270 + + + + +THE KING INTERVENES + + +Late evening had fallen on the grey walls of Stirling Castle, and dark +night on the town itself, where narrow streets and high gables gave +early welcome to the mirk, while the westward-facing turrets of the +castle still reflected the departing glory of the sky. + +With some suggestion of stealth in his movements, a young man picked +his way through the thickening gloom of the streets. There was still +light enough to show that, judging by his costume, he was of the +well-to-do farmer class. This was proclaimed by his broad, coarse, +bonnet and the grey check plaid which he wore, not looped to the +shoulder and pinned there by a brooch, Highland fashion, but wrapped +round his middle, with the two ends brought over the shoulders and +tucked under the wide belt which the plaid itself made, the fringes +hanging down at each knee, as a Lowland shepherd might have worn the +garment. As he threaded his way through the tortuous streets, ever +descending, he heard the clatter of a troop of horse coming up, and +paused, looking to the right and left, as if desirous of escaping an +encounter which seemed inevitable. But if such were his object, the +stoppage, although momentary, was already too long, for ere he could +deflect his course, the foremost of the horsemen was upon him, a well +known noble of the Scottish Court. + +"Out of the way, fellow!" cried the rider, and, barely giving him time +to obey, the horseman struck at the pedestrian fiercely with his whip. +The young man's agility saved him. Nimbly he placed his back against +the wall, thus avoiding the horse's hoof and the rider's lash. The +victim's right hand made a swift motion to his left hip, but finding +no weapon of defence there, the arm fell back to his side again, and +he laughed quietly to himself. The next motion of his hand was more in +accordance with his station, for it removed his bonnet, and he stood +uncovered until the proud cavalcade passed him. + +[Illustration: "OUT OF THE WAY, FELLOW!"] + +When the street was once more clear and the echoing sounds had died +away in the direction of the castle, the youth descended and descended +until he came to the lower part of the town where, turning aside up a +narrow lane, he knocked at the door of a closed and shuttered +building, evidently an abiding place of the poorer inhabitants of +Stirling. With some degree of caution the door was slightly opened, +but when the occupant saw, by the flash of light that came from +within, who his visitor was, he threw the portal wide and warmly +welcomed the newcomer. + +"Hey, guidman!" he cried, "ye're late the night in Stirling." + +"Yes," said the young man stepping inside, "but the farm will see +nothing of me till the morning. I've a friend in town who gives me a +bed for myself and a stall for my horse, and gets the same in return +when he pays a visit to the country." + +"A fair exchange," replied the host as he closed and barred the door. + +The low room in which the stranger found himself was palpably a +cobbler's shop. Boots and shoes of various sizes and different degrees +of ill repair strewed the floor, and the bench in the corner under a +lighted cruzie held implements of the trade, while the apron which +enveloped the man of the door proclaimed his occupation. The incomer +seated himself on a stool, and the cobbler returned to his last, +resuming his interrupted work. He looked up however, from time to +time, in kindly fashion at his visitor, who seemed to be a welcome +guest. + +"Well," said the shoemaker with a laugh, "what's wrong with you?" + +"Wrong with me? Nothing. Why do you think there is anything amiss?" + +"You are flushed in the face; your breath comes quick as if you had +been running, and there's a set about your lips that spells anger." + +"You are a very observing man, Flemming," replied he of the plaid. "I +have been walking fast so that I should have little chance of meeting +any one. But it is as well to tell the whole truth as only part of it. +I had a fright up the street. One of those young court sprigs riding +to the castle tried to trample me under the feet of his horse, and +struck at me with his whip for getting into his road, so I had just to +plaster my back against somebody's front door and keep out of the +way." + +"It's easy to see that you live in the country, Ballengeich," replied +the cobbler, "or you would never get red in the face over a little +thing like that." + +"I had some thought of pulling him off his horse, nevertheless," said +the Laird of Ballengeich, whose brow wrinkled into a frown at the +thought of the indignity he had suffered. + +"It was just as well you left him alone," commented the cobbler, "for +an unarmed man must even take whatever those court gallants think fit +to offer, and if wise, he keeps the gap in his face shut, for fear he +gets a bigger gap opened in his head. Such doings on the part of the +nobles do not make them exactly popular. Still, I am speaking rather +freely, and doubtless you are a firm friend of the new king?" and the +shoemaker cast a cautious sidelong glance at his visitor. + +"A friend of the king? I wonder to hear you! I doubt if he has a +greater enemy than myself in all Scotland." + +"Do you mean that, Ballengeich?" inquired the shoemaker, with more of +interest than the subject appeared to demand, laying down his hammer +as he spoke, and looking intently at his guest. + +"I'd never say it, if it wasn't true," replied the laird. + +It was some moments before the workman spoke, and then he surprised +the laird by a remark which had apparently nothing to do with what had +been said before. + +"You are not a married man, I think you told me?" + +"No, I am not. There's time enough for that yet," returned the other +with a smile. "You see, I am new to my situation of responsibility, +and it's as well not to take in the wife till you are sure you can +support her." + +"What like a house have you got, and how far is it from Stirling?" + +"The house is well enough in its way; there's more room in it than I +care to occupy. It's strongly built of stone, and could stand a siege +if necessary, as very likely it has done in days long past, for it's a +stout old mansion. It's near enough to Stirling for me to come in and +see my friend the cobbler in the evening, and sleep in my own bed that +night, if I care to do so." + +"Is it in a lonely place?" + +"I can hardly say that. It is at the top of a bit hill, yet there's +room enough to give you rest and retirement if you should think of +keeping retreat from the busy world of the town. What's on your mind, +Flemming? Are you swithering whether you'll turn farmer or no? Let me +inform you that it's a poor occupation." + +"I'll tell you what's on my mind, Ballengeich, if you'll swear piously +to keep it a secret." + +"Indeed, I'll do nothing of the sort," replied the young man +decisively. "An honest man's bare word is as good as his bond, and the +strongest oath ever sworn never yet kept a rascal from divulging a +secret intrusted to him." + +"You're right in that; you're right in that," the cobbler hastened to +add, "but this involves others as well as myself, and all are bound to +each other by oaths." + +"Then I venture to say you are engaged in some nefarious business. +What is it? I'll tell nobody, and mayhap, young as I am, I can +give you some plain, useful advice from the green fields that will +counteract the pernicious notions that rise in the stifling wynds +of the crowded town." + +"Well, I'm not at all sure that we don't need it, for to tell the +truth I have met with a wild set of lads, and I find myself wondering +how long my head will be in partnership with my body." + +"Is the case so serious as that?" + +"Aye, it is." + +"Then why not withdraw?" + +"Ah, that's easier said than done. When you once shut a spring door +on yourself, it isn't by saying 'I will' that you get out. You'll not +have forgotten the first night we met, when you jumped down on my back +from the wall of the Grey Friars' Church?" + +"I remember it very distinctly, but which was the more surprised, you +or I, I have never yet been able to settle. I know I was very much +taken aback." + +"Not so much as I," interrupted the cobbler dryly, "when you came +plump on my shoulders." + +"I was going to say," went on Ballengeich, "that I'm afraid my +explanation about taking a short cut was rather incoherent." + +"Oh, no more than mine, that I was there to catch a thief. It was none +of my business to learn why you were in the kirkyard." + +"By the way, did you ever hear any more of the thief you were after?" + +"That's just the point I am coming to. The man we were after was his +youthful majesty, James the Fifth, of Scotland." + +"What, the king!" exclaimed the amazed laird. + +"Just him, and no other," replied the cobbler, "and very glad I am +that the ploy miscarried, although I fear it's to come on again." + +"I never heard the like of this!" + +"You may well say that. You see it is known that the king in disguise +visits a certain house, for what purpose his majesty will be able to +tell you better than I. He goes unattended and secretly, and this +gives us our chance." + +"But what in the name of the god of fools whoever he happens to be, +would you do with Jamie once you got him?" + +"'Deed there's many things that might be mended in this country, as +you very well know, and the king can mend them if he likes, with a +word. Now rather than have his throat cut, our leader thinks he will +agree to reasonable reform." + +"And supposing he doesn't agree, are you going to cut his throat?" + +"I don't know what would happen if he proved stubborn. The moderate +section is just for locking him by somewhere until he listens to +wisdom." + +"And it is in your mind that my house should become a prison for the +king?" + +"It seems to me worth considering." + +"There seems to me very little worth considering in the matter. It is +a mad scheme. Supposing the king promised under compulsion, what would +be his first action the moment he returned to Stirling Castle? He +would scour the country for you, and your heads would come off one by +one like buttons from an old coat." + +"That's what I said. 'Trust the word of a Stuart,' says I, 'it's pure +nonsense!'" + +"Oh I'm not sure but the word of a Stuart is as good as the word of +any other man," replied Ballengeich with a ring of anger in his voice, +at which the cobbler looked up surprised. + +"You're not such an enemy of the king as you let on at first," +commented the mender of shoes. "I doubt if I should have told you all +this." + +"Have no fear. I can pledge you that my word is as good as a Stuart's +at least." + +"I hope it's a good deal better." + +"Your plan is not only useless, but dangerous, my friend. I told you +I would give you my advice, and now you have it. Do you think James is +a lad that you can tie to your bench stool here, lock your door, and +expect to find him when you came back? You must remember that James +has been in captivity before, when the Earl of Angus thought he had +him secure in the stronghold of Falkland, and yet, Jamie, who was then +but a lad of sixteen, managed to escape. Man Flemming, I must tell you +about that some day." + +"Tell me about what?" inquired the shoemaker. + +"Oh well, it may not be true after all," said young Ballengeich in +confusion, "but a friend of mine was gardener at Falkland and knew the +whole story about James's escape. Never mind that; my advice to you is +to shake hands with all such schemes, and turn your back on them." + +"Oh, that's soon said," cried the cobbler with some impatience. "'Keep +out of the fire and ye'll not be burnt,' says the branch on the tree +to the faggot on the woodman's back. You see, Ballengeich, in this +matter I'm between the cart-wheel and the hard road. My head's off if +this ploy miscarries, as you've just told me, and my throat's cut if I +withdraw from the secret conclave. It's but a choice between two +hashings. There's a dead cobbler in any event." + +"I see your difficulty," said the laird; "do you want to be helped out +of it?" + +"Does the toad want to get from under the harrow?" + +"When is your next meeting, and where?" + +"The meetings are held in this room, and the next will be on Wednesday +night at eleven o'clock." + +"Bless my soul!" cried Ballengeich. "Would nothing content you but to +drink the whole bucketful? The rendezvous in your shop! Then whoever +escapes, your head's on a pike." + +"Aye," murmured the shoemaker dismally. + +"It isn't taking very many of you to overturn the House of Stuart," +said the laird, looking about the room, which was small. + +"There's just one less than a dozen," replied the cobbler. + +"Then we'll make up the number to the even twelve, hoping good luck +will attend us, for we will be as many as the Apostles. Between now +and Wednesday you might confer with your leaders, Flemming. Tell them +you know a young man you can trust, who owns exactly the kind of house +that James can be kept fast in, if he is captured. Say that your new +conspirator will take the oath, or anything else they like to give, +and add, what is more to the purpose, that he has a plot of his own +which differs from theirs, in giving at least as much chance of +success, and possesses the additional advantage of being safe. Whether +his plan miscarries or not, there will be no need to fear a reprisal, +and that is much to say in its favour." + +"It is everything in its favour," said the shoemaker with a sigh of +relief. + +"Very well, then, I will meet you here on Wednesday night at this +time, and learn whether or no they agree to have me as one of their +number. If they refuse, there's no harm done; I shall say nothing, and +the king will know no more about the matter than he does now." + +"I could not ask better assurance than that," said the host cordially +as his guest rose. + +They shook hands, and the guidman of Ballengeich, after peering out +into the darkness to see that the way was clear, took his leave. + +The laird was prompt in keeping his appointment on the following +Wednesday, and learned that the conspirators were glad of his +assistance. The cobbler's tool-box had been pushed out of the way, +and a makeshift table, composed of three boards and two trestles, +occupied the centre of the room. A bench made up in similar fashion +ran along the back wall, and there were besides, half a dozen stools. +A hospitable pitcher of strong drink stood on the rude table, with a +few small measures, cups and horns. + +As if the weight of conspiracy had lain heavy on his shoulders, the +young Laird of Ballengeich seemed older than he had ever looked +before. Lines of care marked his brow, and his distraught manner +proclaimed the plot-monger new to a dangerous business. The lights, +however, were dim, and Ballengeich doubted if any there present would +recognise him should they meet him in broad day, and this, in a +measure, was comforting. The cobbler sat very quiet on his accustomed +bench, the others occupying the stools and the board along the wall. + +"We have been told," began the leader, who filled the chair at the +head of the table, where he had administered the oath with much +solemnity to their new member, "we have been told that you own a house +which you will place at our disposal should the purpose for which we +are gathered here together, succeed." + +"I have such a house," said the laird, "and it is of course, placed +freely at your service. But the plan you propose is so full of danger +that I wondered if you have given the project the deep consideration +it deserves. It will be a hazardous undertaking to get the king safely +into my house, but let us suppose that done. How are you going to keep +him there?" + +"We will set a guard over him." + +"Very good. Which of you are to be the guardsmen, and how many?" + +The conspirators looked one at another, but none replied. At last the +leader said,-- + +"It will be time to settle that when we have him safely under bolt." + +"Pardon me, not so. The time to arrange all things is now. Everything +must be cut and dried, or failure is certain. The moment the king is +missing the country will be scoured for him. There will be no possible +place of refuge for miles round that will not be searched for the +missing monarch. We will suppose that four of you are guarding the +king, two and two, turn about. What are the four, and myself, to say +to the king's soldiers when they demand entrance to my house?" + +"The king is but a boy, and when he sees death or compliance before +him he will accede to our demands." + +"He is a boy, it is true," agreed the laird, "but he is a boy, as I +pointed out to my friend Flemming, who escaped from the clutches of +the Earl of Angus, out of the stronghold of Falkland Palace, and who +afterwards drove the earl and many of the Douglas leaders into English +exile. That is the kind of boy you have to deal with. Suppose then, he +gives consent to all you place before him? Do you think he will keep +his word?" + +"I doubt it," said the cobbler, speaking for the first time. "The +word of a Stuart is not worth the snap of my finger." + +"On the other hand, if he does not accede," continued Ballengeich, +"what are we to do with him?" + +"Cut his throat," replied the leader decisively. + +"No, no," cried several others, and for a moment there was a clamour +of discussion, all speaking at once, while the laird stood silently +regarding the vociferous disputants. Finally their leader said,-- + +"What better plan have you to propose?" + +"The king is a boy," spoke up Ballengeich, "as you have said." At the +sound of his voice instant silence reigned. "But he is a boy, as I +have told you, extremely difficult to handle with violence. I propose +then to approach him peaceably. The fact that he is a boy, or a very +young man at least, implies that his mind will be more impressionable +than that of an older person whose ideas are set. I propose then that +a deputation wait upon his majesty and place before him the evils that +require remedying, being prepared to answer any question he may ask +regarding the method of their amendment. If peaceable means fail, +then try violence, say I, but it is hardly fair to the young man to +approach him at the beginning of his reign with a dirk in the hand. +His answer would likely be a reference to his headsman; that is a +favourite Stuart mode of argument. I have some friends about the +castle," continued the laird. "I supply them with various necessaries +from the farm; and if I do say it myself, I am well thought of by some +in authority. I can guarantee you, I am sure, a safe conduct for your +mission." + +"But if safe conduct be refused?" said the leader. + +"In that case, no harm's done. I shall divulge the names of none here +present, for indeed I know the name of none, except of my friend the +cobbler." + +"Will you head the delegation, and be its spokesman?" + +"No. My power to serve you lies in the fact that I am well thought of +in the palace. This power would be instantly destroyed were I known +as disaffected. I would put it on this basis. My friend, Flemming, is +the spokesman of ten others who have grievances to place before his +majesty. Therefore, as a matter of friendship between Flemming and +myself, I ask safe conduct for the eleven." + +"Indeed," cried the cobbler, "I wish you would leave my name out of +the affair, since no one else seems eager to put his own forward." + +"I put mine forward in making the request," said Ballengeich. + +"Aye, but not as one of the deputation." + +"Very well," agreed the laird in an offhand manner, "if you make a +point of it, I have no objection to saying that I shall make one of +the concert. I only proposed to keep out of it, because it is always +wise to have an unbiased person to put in his word at a critical +moment, and it seems to me important to have such a person on the +outside. But it shall be exactly as you please; I care little one +way or the other. I have made my proposal, and with you rests the +acceptance or the rejection of it. If you think it safer to kidnap a +king than to have a friendly chat with him, amicably arranged +beforehand, then all I can say is, that I don't in the least agree +with you. Please yourselves; please yourselves. We have but one neck +apiece, and surely we can risk it in the manner that brings us most +content." + +"There is wisdom in what the laird says," cried one of the more +moderate party. "I never liked the kidnapping idea." + +"Nor I," said the cobbler. "It was but a wild Hielan' notion." + +"My project has this advantage," continued Ballengeich with nonchalant +impartiality, "that if it does not succeed, you can then fall back +upon abduction. Nothing in this proposal interferes with the ultimate +carrying out of your first plan." + +"It is putting our heads in the lion's mouth," objected the leader, +but in the discussion that followed he was outvoted. Then came the +choosing of the delegates, on which rock the enterprise was nearly +wrecked, for there seemed to be no anxiety on the part of any four +present to form the committee of expostulation which was to meet the +monarch. At last it was decided that all should go, if Ballengeich +could produce a written safe-conduct signed by the king, which would +include eleven persons. + +Within three days this document was placed in the hands of the cobbler +by Ballengeich, who told him that it had been signed that morning. And +he added that the king had expressed himself as well pleased to +receive a deputation of his loyal subjects. + +The cobbler handled the passport gingerly, as if he were not +altogether assured of its potency to protect him. + +"The conference is for Wednesday at midday," said Ballengeich. +"Assemble some minutes before that hour in the courtyard of the +castle, and you will be conducted to the Presence." + +"Wednesday!" echoed the cobbler, his face turning pale. "Why +Wednesday, the day of our weekly meetings? Did you suggest it?" + +"It was the king's suggestion, of course," replied Ballengeich. "It is +merely a coincidence, and is, I think, a good omen." + +"I wish I were sure of it," moaned the cobbler. + +Before the bell rang twelve the conspirators were gathered together in +the courtyard of Castle Stirling; huddled would perhaps be the more +accurate word, for they were eleven very frightened men. More than one +cast longing looks towards the gate by which they had come in, but +some places are easier to enter than to leave, and the portal was well +guarded by stalwart soldiers. + +As the bell slowly tolled twelve, an official came from the palace +into the courtyard, searched the delegation for concealed weapons, and +curtly commanded them to follow him. Climbing the stone stairway they +were ushered into a large room containing a long oaken table with five +chairs on one side and six on the other. At the head of the table was +a high-backed seat resembling a throne. The official left them +standing there alone, and after he had closed the door they heard the +ominous sound of bolts being thrust into their places. The silence +which followed seemed oppressive; almost suffocating. No man spoke, +but each stood like a statue holding his cap in his hand. At last the +tension was broken, but it would scarcely be correct to say that it +was relieved. The heavy curtains parted and the king entered the room, +clad in the imposing robes of his high state. A frown was on his brow, +and he advanced straight from the doorway to the throne at the head of +the table, without speaking or casting a glance at any one of the +eleven. When he had seated himself he said gruffly,-- + +"There is a chair for each of you; sit down." + +It is doubtful if any of the company, except the cobbler, at first +recognised their ruler as the alleged Laird of Ballengeich; but at the +sound of the monarch's voice several started and looked anxiously one +at another. Again the king addressed them,-- + +"A week ago to-night I met you in Flemming's room. I appointed this +day for the conference that the routine of your meetings might not be +disturbed, as I thought it well that the last of your rebellious +gatherings should be held in the Castle of Stirling, for I am +resolved that this conclave shall be your final effort in treason. One +of your number has stated that the word of a Stuart is not to be +trusted. This reputation appears to have descended to me, and it is a +pity I should not take advantage of it." + +When the king ceased speaking he lifted a small mallet and smote a +resounding bell, which was on the table before him. A curtain parted +and two men entered bearing between them a block covered with black +cloth; this they placed silently in the centre of the floor and +withdrew. Again the king smote the bell and there entered a masked +executioner with a gleaming axe over his shoulder. He took his place +beside the block, resting the head of his axe on the floor. + +"This," continued the king, "is the entertainment I have provided for +you. Each of you shall taste of that," and he pointed to the heading +block. + +The cobbler rose unsteadily to his feet, drawing from his bosom with +trembling fingers the parchment bearing the king's signature. He +moistened his dry lips with his tongue, then spoke in a low voice. + +"Sir," he said, "we are here under safe conduct from the king." + +"Safe conduct to where?" cried James angrily, "that is the point. I +stand by the document; read it; read it!" + +"Sir, it says safe conduct for eleven men here present, under +protection of your royal word." + +"You do not keep to the point, cobbler," shouted the king bringing his +fist down on the table. "Safe conduct to where? I asked. The parchment +does not say safe conduct back into Stirling again. Safe conduct to +Heaven, or elsewhere, was what I guaranteed." + +"That is but an advocate's quibble, your majesty. Safe conduct is a +phrase well understood by high and low alike. But we have placed our +heads in the lion's mouth, as our leader said last Wednesday night, +and we cannot complain if now his jaws are shut. Nevertheless I would +respectfully submit to your majesty that I alone of those present +doubted a Stuart's word, and am like to have my doubts practically +confirmed. I would also point out to your majesty that my comrades +would not have been here had I not trusted the Master of Ballengeich, +and through him the king, therefore, I ask you to let me alone pay the +penalty of my error, and allow my friends to go scatheless from the +grim walls of Stirling." + +"There is reason in what you say," replied the king. "Are you all +agreed to that?" he asked of the others. + +"No, by God," cried the leader springing to his feet and smiting the +table with his fist as lustily as the king had done. "We stand +together, or fall together. The mistake was ours as much as his, and +we entered these gates with our eyes open." + +"Headsman," said the king, "do your duty." + +The headsman whipped off the black cloth and displayed underneath it a +box containing a large jug surrounded by eleven drinking-horns. Those +present, all now on their feet, glanced with amazement from the masked +man to the king. The sternness had vanished from his majesty's face, +as if a dark cloud had passed from the sun and allowed it to shine +again. There sparkled in the king's eye all the jubilant mischief of +the incorrigible boy, and his laughter rang to the ceiling. Somewhat +recovering his gravity he stretched out his hand and pointed a finger +at the cobbler. + +"I frightened you, Flemming," he cried. "I frightened you; don't deny +it. I'll wager my gold crown against a weaver's woollen bonnet, I +frightened the whole eleven of you." + +"Indeed," said the cobbler with an uneasy laugh, "I shall be the first +to admit it." + +[Illustration: "HEADSMAN: DO YOUR DUTY."] + +"Your face was as white as a harvest moon in mid-sky, and I heard +somebody's teeth chatter. Now the drink we have had at our meetings +heretofore was vile, and no more fitted for a Christian throat than is +the headsman's axe; but if you ever tasted anything better than this, +tell me where to get a hogshead of it." + +The headsman having filled their horns, the leader raised the flagon +above his head and said,-- + +"I give you the toast of The King!" + +"No, no," proclaimed the boyish monarch, "I want to drink this myself. +I'll give you a toast. May there never come a time when a Scotchman is +afraid to risk his head for what he thinks is right." + +And this toast they drank together. + + + + +THE KING DINES + + +"When kings frown, courtiers tremble," said Sir Donald Sinclair to the +Archbishop of St. Andrews, "but in Stirling the case seems reversed. +The courtiers frown, and the king looks anxiously towards them." + +"Indeed," replied the prelate, "that may well be. When a man invites a +company to dine with him, and then makes the discovery that his larder +is empty, there is cause for anxiety, be he king or churl. In truth my +wame's beginning to think my throat's cut." And the learned churchman +sympathetically smoothed down that portion of his person first named, +whose rounded contour gave evidence that its owner was accustomed to +ample rations regularly served. + +"Ah well," continued Sir Donald, "his youthful majesty's foot is +hardly in the stirrup yet, and I'm much mistaken in the glint of his +eye and the tint of his beard, if once he is firmly in the saddle the +horse will not feel the prick of the spur, should it try any tricks +with him." + +"Scotland would be none the worse of a firm king," admitted the +archbishop, glancing furtively at the person they were discussing, +"but James has been so long under the control of others that it will +need some force of character to establish a will of his own. I doubt +he is but a nought posing as a nine," concluded his reverence in a +lower tone of voice. + +"I know little of mathematics," said Sir Donald, "but yet enough to +tell me that a nought needs merely a flourish to become a nine, and +those nines among us who think him a nought, may become noughts should +he prove a nine. There's a problem in figures for you, archbishop, +with a warning at the end of it, like the flourish at the tail of the +nine." + +The young man to whom they referred, James, the fifth of that name, +had been pacing the floor a little distance from the large group of +hungry men who were awaiting their dinner with some impatience. Now +and then the king paused in his perambulation, and gazed out of a +window overlooking the courtyard, again resuming his disturbed march +when his brief scrutiny was completed. The members of the group talked +in whispers, one with another, none too well pleased at being kept +waiting for so important a function as a meal. + +Suddenly there was a clatter of horse's hoofs in the courtyard. The +king turned once more to the window, glanced a moment at the commotion +below, then gave utterance to an exclamation of annoyance, his right +hand clenching angrily. Wheeling quickly to the guards at the door he +cried,-- + +"Bring the chief huntsman here at once, and a prod in the back with a +pike may make up for his loitering in the courtyard." + +The men, who stood like statues with long axes at the doorway, made no +move; but two soldiers, sitting on a bench outside, sprang to their +feet and ran clattering down the stair. They returned presently with +the chief huntsman, whom they projected suddenly into the room with a +violence little to the woodman's taste, for he neglected to remove his +bonnet in the royal presence, and so far forgot himself as to turn his +head when he recovered his equilibrium, roundly cursing those who had +made a projectile of him. + +"Well, woodlander!" cried the king, his stern voice ringing down again +from the lofty rafters of the great hall. "Are there no deer in my +forests of the north?" + +"Deer in plenty, your majesty," answered the fellow with a mixture of +deference and disrespect, which in truth seemed to tinge the manners +of all present. "There are deer in the king's forest, and yet a lack +of venison in the king's larder!" + +"What mean you by that, you scoundrel?" exclaimed the king, a flush +overspreading his face, ruddy as his beard. "Have your marksmen lost +their skill with bow and arrow, that you return destitute to the +castle?" + +"The marksmen are expert as ever, your majesty, and their arrows fly +as unerringly to their billet, but in these rude times, your majesty, +the sting of an arrow may not be followed by the whetting of a +butcher's knife." + +The king took an impatient step forward, then checked himself. One or +two among the group of noblemen near the door laughed, and there was a +ripple of suppressed merriment over the whole company. At first the +frown on the king's brow deepened, and then as suddenly it cleared +away, as a puff of wind scatters the mist from the heights of +Stirling. When the king spoke again it was in a calm, even voice. "As +I understand you, there was no difficulty in capturing the deer, but +you encountered some obstacle between the forest and Stirling which +caused you to return empty-handed. I hope you have not added the +occupation of itinerant flesher to the noble calling of forest +huntsman?" + +"Indeed, your majesty," replied the unabashed hunter, "the profession +of flesher was forced upon me. The deer we had slaughtered found it +impossible to win by the gates of Arnprior." + +"Ah! John Buchanan then happened to need venison as you passed?" + +"Your majesty has hit the gold there. Buchanan not only needed it but +took it from us." + +"Did you inform him that your cargo was intended for the larder of the +king?" + +"I told him that in so many words, your majesty; and he replied that +if James was king in Stirling, John was king in Kippen, and having the +shorter name, he took the shorter method of supplying his kitchen." + +"Made you any effort to defend your gear?" + +"Truth to say, your majesty, that were a useless trial. The huntsman +who will face the deer thinks no shame to turn his back on the wild +boar, and Buchanan, when he demanded your majesty's venison, was well +supported by a number of mad caterans with drawn swords in their +hands, who had made up for a lack of good meat with a plentitude of +strong drink. Resistance was futile, and we were fain to take the +bannock that was handed to us, even though the ashes were upon it. +Ronald of the Hills, a daft Heilan'man who knew no better, drew an +arrow to his ear and would have pinned Buchanan to his own gate, +resulting in the destruction of us all, had I not, with my stave, +smote the weapon from his hand. Then the mad youth made such to-do +that we had just to tie him up and bring him to Stirling on the +horse's back like a sack of fodder." + +"Your caution does credit to your Lowland breeding, Master huntsman, +and the conduct of Ronald cannot be too severely condemned. Bring him +here, I beg of you, that he may receive the king's censure." + +Ronald was brought in, a wild, unkempt figure, his scanty dress +disordered, bearing witness to the struggle in which he had but lately +been engaged. His elbows were pinioned behind him, and his shock of +red hair stood out like a heather broom. He scowled fiercely at the +huntsman, and that cautious individual edged away from him, bound as +he was. + +"By my beard! as the men of the heathen East swear," said the king, +"his hair somewhat matches my own in hue. Ronald, what is the first +duty of a huntsman?" + +"He speaks only the Gaelic, your majesty," explained the royal ranger. + +"You have the Gaelic, MacNeish," continued the king, addressing one of +his train. "Expound to him, I beg of you, my question. What is the +first duty of a huntsman?" + +MacNeish, stepping forward, put the question in Gaelic and received +Ronald's reply. + +"He says, your majesty, that a huntsman's first duty is to kill the +game he is sent for." + +"Quite right," and the king nodded approval. "Ask him if he knows as +well the second duty of a huntsman." + +Ronald's eye flashed as he gave his answer with a vehemence that +caused the chief huntsman to move still farther away from him. + +"He says, your majesty," translated MacNeish, "that the second duty of +a huntsman is to cut the throat of any cateran who presumes to +interfere with the progress of the provender from the forest to his +master's kitchen." + +"Right again," cried the king, smiting his thigh, "and an answer +worthy of all commendation. Tell him this, MacNeish, that hereafter he +is the chief huntsman to the Castle of Stirling. We will place this +cowardly hellion in the kitchen where he will be safe from the hungry +frenzy of a Buchanan, drunk or sober." + +"But, your majesty--" protested the deposed ranger. + +"To the kitchen with him!" sternly commanded the king. "Strip off the +woodlander's jacket he has disgraced and tie round him the strings of +a scullion's apron, which will suit his middle better than the belt of +a sword." Then the king, flashing forth his own weapon and stepping +aside, swung it over the head of the Highlander, who stood like a +statue in spite of the menace, and the sword came down with a deft +accuracy which severed the binding cords without touching the person +of the prisoner, freeing him at a stroke. A murmur of admiration at +the dexterity of the king went up from the assemblage, every member of +which was himself an expert with the weapon. The freed Highlander +raised his brawny arms above his head and gave startling vent to the +war-cry of his clan, "Loch Sloy! Loch Sloy!" unmindful of the presence +in which he stood. Then he knelt swiftly and brought his lips to the +buckle of the king's shoe. + +"Gratitude in a MacFarlane!" sneered MacNeish. + +"Aye," said the king, "and bravery too, for he never winked an eyelash +when the sword swung above him; an admirable combination of qualities +whether in a MacFarlane or a MacNeish. And now, gentlemen," continued +his majesty, "although the affair of the huntsman is settled, it +brings us no nearer our venison. If the cook will not to the king, +then must the king to the cook. Gentlemen, to your arms and your +horses! They say a Scotsman fights well when he is hungry; let us put +the proverb to the test. We ride and dine with his majesty of Kippen." + +A spontaneous cheer burst from every man in the great hall to the +accompaniment of a rattle of swords. Most of those present were more +anxious to follow the king to a contest than into a council chamber. +When silence ensued, the mild voice of the archbishop, perhaps because +it was due to his profession, put in a seasonable word; and the nobles +scowled for they knew he had great influence with the king. + +"Your majesty, if the Buchanans are drunk----" + +"If they are drunk, my lord archbishop," interrupted James, "we will +sober them. 'Tis a duty even the Church owes to the inebriate." And +with that he led the way out of the hall, his reply clearing the brows +of his followers. + +A few minutes later a clattering cavalcade rode forth from the Castle +of Stirling, through the town and down the path of Ballengeich, a +score of soldiers bringing up the tail of the procession; and in due +time the company came to the entrance of Arnprior Castle. There seemed +like to be opposition at the gate, but Sir Donald, spurring his horse +forward among the guard, scattered the members of it right and left, +and, raising both voice and sword, shouted,-- + +"The king! The king! Make way for the King of Scotland!" + +The defenders seeing themselves outnumbered, as the huntsmen had been +in that locality a short time before, gave up their axes to the +invaders as meekly as the royal rangers had given up their venison. + +The king placed his own guard at the gate. Springing from his horse he +entered the castle door, and mounted the stone steps, sword in hand, +his retinue close at his heels. The great hall to which they ascended +was no monk's chapel of silence. There was wafted to them, or rather +blown down upon them like a fierce hurricane, the martial strains of +"Buchanan for ever," played by pipers anything but scant of wind; yet +even this tornado was not sufficient to drown the roar of human +voices, some singing, others apparently in the heat of altercation, +and during the height of this deafening clamour the king and his +followers entered the dining-hall practically unobserved. + +On the long oaken table, servitors were busily placing smoking viands +soon to be consumed; others were filling the drinking-horns, while +some of the guests were engaged in emptying them, although the meal +had not yet begun. Buchanan, his back towards the incomers, his brawny +hands on the table, leaning forward, was shouting to the company, +commanding his guests to seat themselves and fall to while the venison +was hot. There seemed to be several loud voiced disputes going on +regarding precedence. The first intimation that the bellowing laird +had of the intruder's presence was the cold touch of steel on his bare +neck. He sprang round as if a wasp had stung him, his right hand +swinging instinctively to the hilt of his sword, but the point of +another was within an inch of his throat, and his hand fell away from +his weapon. + +"The fame of your hospitality has spread abroad, Buchanan," spoke the +clear voice of the king, "so we have come to test its quality." + +The pipers had stopped in their march, and with the ceasing of the +music, the wind from the bags escaped to the outer air with a long +wailing groan. The tumult of discussion subsided, and all eyes turned +towards the speaker, some of the guests hastily drawing swords but +returning them again to the scabbards when they saw themselves +confronted by the king. Buchanan steadied himself with his back +against the table, and in the sudden silence it seemed long ere he +found his tongue. At last he said,-- + +"Does the king come as a guest with a drawn sword in his hand?" + +"As you get north of Stirling, Buchanan," replied James with a smile, +"it is customary to bring the knife with you when you go out to dine. +But I am quite in agreement with the Laird of Arnprior in thinking the +sword an ill ornament in a banqueting-hall, therefore bestow your +weapons on Sir Donald here, and command your clan now present to +disarm." + +[Illustration: "'AS YOU GET NORTH OF STIRLING, BUCHANAN,' REPLIED +JAMES, WITH A SMILE, 'IT IS CUSTOMARY TO BRING THE KNIFE WITH YOU +WHEN YOU GO OUT TO DINE.'"] + +With visible reluctance Buchanan divested himself of sword and dirk, +and his comrades, now stricken dumb, followed his example. The +weapons were thrown together in a corner of the hall where some of +the king's soldiers stood guard over them. His majesty's prediction +regarding the sobering effect of his advent was amply fulfilled. The +disarmed men looked with dismay on one another, for they knew that +such a prelude might well have its grand finale at the block or the +gibbet. The king, although seemingly in high spirits, was an unknown +quantity, and before now there had been those in power who, with a +smile on their lips, had sent doomed men to a scaffold. + +"In intercepting my venison, Buchanan," continued the king with the +utmost politeness, "you were actuated by one of two motives. Your +intervention was either an insult to the king, or it was an intimation +that you desired to become his cook. In which light am I to view your +action, Buchanan?" + +There was in the king's voice a sinister ring as he uttered this +sentence that belied the smile upon his lips, and apprehension +deepened as all present awaited Buchanan's reply. At the word "cook," +he had straightened himself, and a deeper flush than the wine had left +there, overspread his countenance; now he bowed with deference and +said,-- + +"It has ever been my ambition to see your majesty grace with his +presence my humble board." + +"I was sure of it," cried James with a hearty laugh which brought +relief to the anxious hearts of many standing before him. The king +thrust his sword into a scabbard, and, with a clangour of hilt on +iron, those behind him followed his example. + +"And now," cried James, "let the king's men eat while the laird's men +wait upon them. And as for you, John Buchanan, it is to-day my +pleasure that you have the honour of being my cup-bearer." + +Whether the honour thus thrust upon the Laird of Arnprior was as much +to his liking as an invitation to sit down with his guest would have +been, is questionable, but he served his majesty with good grace, +and the king was loud in his praise of the venison, although his +compliments fell sadly on the ears of the hungry men who watched it +disappear so rapidly. At the end of the feast James rose with his +flagon in his hand. + +"I give you the king," he cried, "the King of Kippen. When I left +Stirling I had made up my mind that there could be but one king in a +country, but glorious Scotland shall have no such restriction, and I +bestow upon Buchanan, whose ample cheer we have done justice to, the +title of King of Kippen, so long as he does not fall into the error of +supposing that Kippen includes all of Scotland, instead of Scotland +including Kippen. And so, Laird of Arnprior, King of Kippen, we drink +your good health, and when next my venison passes your door, take only +that portion of it which bears the same relation to the whole, as the +district of Kippen does to broad Scotland." + +The toast was drunk with cheers, and when silence came, the King of +Kippen, casting a rueful glance along the empty board, said,-- + +"I thank your majesty for your good wishes, but in truth the advice +you give will be hard to follow, for I see I should have stolen twice +the quantity of venison I did, because as I have not done so, I and my +men are like to go hungry." + +And thus Buchanan came into his title of King of Kippen, although he +had to wait some time for his dinner on the day he acquired the +distinction. + + + + +THE KING'S TRYST + + +The king ruled. There was none to question the supremacy of James the +Fifth. At the age of twenty-two he now sat firmly on his throne. He +was at peace with England, friendly with France, and was pledged to +take a wife from that country. His great grandfather, James the +Second, had crushed the Black Douglas, and he himself had scattered +the Red Douglas to exile. No Scottish noble was now powerful enough to +threaten the stability of the throne. The country was contented and +prosperous, so James might well take his pleasure as best pleased him. +If any danger lurked near him it was unseen and unthought of. + +The king, ever first in the chase, whether the quarry ran on four legs +or on two, found himself alone on the road leading north-west from +Stirling, having outstripped his comrades in their hunt of the deer. +Evening was falling and James being some miles from Stirling Castle, +raised his bugle to his lips to call together his scattered followers, +but before a blast broke the stillness, his majesty was accosted by a +woman who emerged suddenly and unnoticed from the forest on his left +hand. + +"My lord, the king;" she said, and her voice, like the sound of silver +bells, thrilled with a note of inquiry. + +"Yes, my lassie," answered the young man, peering down at his +questioner, lowering his bugle, and reining in his frightened horse, +which was startled by the sudden apparition before him. The dusk had +not yet so far thickened but the king could see that his interlocutor +was young and strikingly beautiful. Although dressed in the garb of +the lower orders, there was a quiet and imposing dignity in her +demeanour as she stood there by the side of the road. Her head was +uncovered, the shawl she wore over it having slipped down to her +shoulders, and her abundant hair, unknotted and unribboned, was ruddy +as spun gold. Her complexion was dazzlingly fair, her eyes of the +deepest blue, and her features perfection, except that her small mouth +showed a trifle too much firmness, a quality which her strong but +finely moulded chin corroborated and emphasised. The king, ever a +connoisseur of womanly loveliness, almost held his breath as he gazed +down upon the comely face upturned to him. + +"They told me at Stirling," she said, "that you were hunting through +this district, and I have been searching for you in the forest." + +"Good heavens, girl!" cried the king; "have you walked all the way +from Stirling?" + +"Aye, and much further. It is nothing, for I am accustomed to it. And +now I crave a word with your majesty." + +"Surely, surely!" replied the king with enthusiasm, no thought of +danger in this unconventional encounter even occurring to him. The +natural prudence of James invariably deserted him where a pretty woman +was concerned. Now, instead of summoning his train, he looked +anxiously up and down the road listening for any sound of his men, but +the stillness seemed to increase with the darkness, and the silence +was profound, not even the rustle of a leaf disturbing it. + +"And who, my girl, are you?" continued the king, noticing that her +eyes followed his glance up and down the road with some trace of +apprehension in them, and that she hesitated to speak. + +"May it please your gracious majesty, I am humble tirewoman to that +noble lady, Margaret Stuart, your honoured mother." + +The king gave a whistle of astonishment. + +"My mother!" he exclaimed. "Then what in the name of Heaven are you +doing here and alone, so far from Methven?" + +"We came from Methven yesterday to her ladyship's castle of Doune." + +"Then her ladyship must have come to a very sudden resolution to +travel, for the constable of Doune is in my hunting-party, and I'll +swear he expected no visitors." + +"My gracious lady did not wish Stuart the constable to expect her, nor +does she now desire his knowledge of her presence in the castle. She +commanded me to ask your majesty to request the constable to remain in +Stirling, where, she understands, he spends most of his time. She begs +your majesty to come to her with all speed and secrecy." + +"I wonder what is wrong now?" mused the king. "I have not heard from +her for nearly a year. She has quarrelled with her third husband, I +suppose, for the Tudors are all daft where matrimony is concerned." + +"What does your majesty say?" asked the girl. + +"I was speaking to myself rather than to you, but I may add that I am +ready to go anywhere if you are to be my guide. Lend me your hand and +spring up here behind me. We will gallop to Doune at once." + +The young woman drew back a step or two. + +"No, no," she said. "The Lady Margaret is most anxious that your visit +should be unknown to any but herself, so she begs you to dismiss your +followers and lay your commands upon Constable Stuart of Doune." + +"But my followers are all of them old enough to look after +themselves," objected the king, "and the constable is not likely to +leave Stirling where he has remained these many months." + +"The Lady Margaret thought," persisted the girl, "that if your retinue +returned to Stirling and learned of your continued absence, anxiety +would ensue, and a search might be undertaken that would extend to +Doune." + +"How did my lady mother know I was hunting when you could not have +learned of my excursion until you reached Stirling?" asked the king, +with a glimmer of that caution which appeared to have deserted him. + +The girl seemed somewhat nonplussed by the question, but she answered +presently with quiet deliberation,-- + +"Her ladyship was much perturbed and feared I should not find you at +the castle. She gave me various instructions, which she trusted I +could accommodate to varying contingencies." + +"My girl," said the king leaning towards her, "you do not speak like a +serving-maid. What is your name?" + +"I have been a gentlewoman, sire," she answered simply, "but women, +alas, cannot control their fortunes. My name is Catherine. I will now +forward to Doune, and wait for you at the further side of the new +bridge the tailor has built over the Teith. If you will secure your +horse somewhere before coming to the river, and meet me there on foot, +I will conduct you to the castle. Will you come?" + +"Of a surety," cried the king, in a tone that left no doubt of his +intentions. "I shall overtake you long before you are at the bridge!" +As he said this the girl fled away in the darkness, and then he raised +his bugle to his lips and blew a blast that speedily brought answering +calls. + +James's unexplained absences were so frequent that his announcement of +an intention not to return home that night caused no surprise among +his company; so, bidding him good-night, they cantered off towards +Stirling, while he, unaccompanied, set his face to the north-west, +and his spurs to the horse's flanks, but his steed was already +tired out and could not now keep pace with his impatience. To his +disappointment, he did not overtake the girl, but found her waiting +for him at the new bridge, and together they walked the short half +mile to the castle. The young man was inclined to be conversational, +but the girl made brief replies and finally besought his silence. + +The night had proved exceedingly dark, and they were almost at the +castle before its huge bulk loomed blackly before them. There was +something so sinister in its dim, grim contour that for the first time +since he set out on this night adventure, a suspicion that he was +acting unwisely crossed the king's mind. + +Still, he meditated, it was his mother's own castle, the constable of +which was a warm friend of his--almost, as one might say, a relative, +for Stuart was the younger brother of his mother's husband, so what +could be amiss with this visit? + +"You are not taking me to the main entrance," he whispered. + +"No, to the postern door." + +"But the postern door is situated in the wall high above my reach; it +is intended for the exit of a possible messenger during a siege and +not for the entrance of a guest." + +"I am acting in accordance with my instructions," replied the girl. "A +rope ladder descends from the postern door." + +"A rope ladder! that sounds promising; will you ascend it?" + +"Yes, sire, but meanwhile, I implore your majesty to be silent." + +The king said no more until the rope ladder was in his hand. + +"I hope it is strong," he murmured. + +Then he mounted lightly up in the darkness, until he stood on the sill +of the narrow doorway, when he reached forward his hand to assist his +slower comrade in mounting, but she sprang past him without availing +herself of his aid. In a low voice she begged pardon for preceding +him. Then walked up and up a winding stone staircase, on whose steps +there was barely room for two to pass each other. She pushed open a +door and allowed some light to stream through on the turret stair, +which disappeared in the darkness still further aloft. + +The king found himself in a large square apartment either on the +first or second story. It appeared in some sort to be a lady's +boudoir, for the benches were cushioned and comfortable, and there +were evidences, about on small tables, of tapestry work and other +needle employment recently abandoned. + +"Will your majesty kindly be seated," said the girl. "I must draw up +the ladder, close the postern door, and then inform my lady that you +are here." + +She went out by the way they had entered and shut the door with a +force that seemed to the king unnecessary, but he caught his breath an +instant later as his quick ear seemed to tell him that a bolt had +fallen. He rose at once, tried to open the door, and discovered it was +indeed barred on the outside. One other exit remained to be tested; a +larger door evidently communicating with another room or passage; that +also he found locked. He returned to the middle of the room and stood +there for a few moments with knitted brow. + +"Trapped, Jamie, my lad! Trapped!" he muttered to himself. "Now what +object can my mother have in this? Does she expect by such childish +means to resume her authority over me? Does she hope that her third +husband shall rule Scotland in my name as did her second, with me a +prisoner? By Saint Andrew, no!" + +The king seized a bench, raised it over his head and crashed it in +bits against the larger door with a noise that reverberated through +the castle. + +"Open!" he cried; "open instantly!" + +Then he paused, awaiting the result of his fury. Presently he thought +he heard light footsteps coming along the passage and an instant later +the huge key turned slowly in the lock. The door opened, and to his +amazement he saw standing before him with wide frightened eyes, his +guide, but dressed now as a lady. + +"Madam," said the king sternly, "I ask you the meaning of this +pleasantry?" + +"Pleasantry," echoed the girl, staring at him with her hand upon a +huge iron key, alert to run if this handsome maniac, strewn round by +the wreckage of the bench he had broken, attempted to lay hands on +her. + +"Pleasantry?" she repeated; "that is a question I may well ask you. +Who are you, sir, and what are you doing here?" + +"Who I am, and what I am doing here, you know very well, because you +brought me here. A change of garb does not change a well-remembered +face," and the king bowed to his visitor with a return of his +customary courtliness, now that his suspicions were allayed, for he +knew how to deal with pretty women. "Madam, there is no queen in +Scotland, but you are queen by right of nature, and though you doff +your gown, you cannot change your golden crown." + +The girl's hand unconsciously went up to her ruddy hair, while she +murmured more to herself than to him,-- + +"This is some of Catherine's work." + +"Catherine was your name in the forest, my lady, what is your name in +the castle?" + +"Isabel is my name in castle and forest alike. You have met my twin +sister, Catherine. Why has she brought you here?" + +"Like an obedient son, I am here at the command of my honourable +mother; and your sister--if indeed goddesses so strangely fair, and so +strangely similar can be two persons--has gone to acquaint my mother +of my arrival." + +The girl's alarm seemed to increase as the king's diminished. Trouble, +dismay, and fear marred her perfect face, and as the king scrutinised +her more minutely, he saw that the firm mouth and the resolute chin of +her sister had no place in the more softened and womanly features of +the lady before him. + +"Your mother? Who is she?" + +"First, Margaret Tudor, daughter of the King of England, second, +Margaret Stuart, wife of the King of Scotland, third, Margaret +Douglas, ill mate of the Earl of Angus; fourth, and let us hope +finally, Margaret Stuart again, spouse of Lord Methven, and owner of +this castle." + +The girl swayed as if she would fall, all colour struck suddenly from +her face. She leaned, nearly fainting, against the stone wall, passing +her hand once or twice across her terror-filled eyes. + +"Great God," she moaned, "do not tell me that you are James, King of +Scotland, here, and alone, in this den of Douglases!" + +"Douglas!" cried the king roused at the hated name. "How can there be +Douglases in the Castle of Doune; my mother's house, constabled by my +friend, young Stuart." + +"Your mother's house?" said the girl with an uncanny laugh. "When has +the Lady Margaret set foot in Doune? Not since she was divorced from +my uncle, Archibald Douglas, Earl of Angus! And the constable? Aye, +the constable is in Stirling. Doune Castle stands gloomy and alone, +but in Stirling with the young king, there are masques, and hunting +and gaiety. Young Stuart draws the revenues of his charge, but pays +slight attention to the fulfilment of his duty." + +"You are then Isabel Douglas? And now, to echo your own question, how +came you here? If this is a den of Douglases, as you say, how comes my +mother's castle to be officered by the enemies of her son?" + +"That you ask such a question shows little foresight or knowledge of +men. When your first step-father, and my uncle, Archibald Douglas, had +control of this castle through your mother's name, he filled it with +his own adherents." + +"Naturally; nepotism was a well-known trait of my domineering +step-father, which did not add to his popularity in Scotland. Who can +get office, or justice against a Douglas? was their cry. But did not +young Stuart, when he was made constable, put in his own men?" + +"The constable cares nothing for this stronghold so long as it +furnishes money which he may spend gaily in Stirling." + +"I see. So you and your sister found refuge among your underlings? and +where so safe from search as within the king's mother's own fortress, +almost under the shadow of Stirling? An admirable device. Why then do +you jeopardise your safety by letting me into the secret?" + +The girl sighed deeply with downcast eyes, then she flashed a glance +at him which had something in it of the old Douglas hauteur. + +"I fear," she said, "that it is not our safety which is jeopardised." + +"You mean that I am in danger?" + +"The same stronghold which gives immunity to a family of the Red +Douglases can hardly be expected to confer security upon James the +Fifth, their persecutor." + +"No. Certainly that would be too much to expect. Are you then in this +plot against me, my lady?" + +"I have not heard of any plot. If there is one I know nothing of it. I +merely acquaint you with some hint of my fears." + +"Then I charge you as a loyal subject of the lawful king, to guide me +from this stronghold, into which I have been cozened by treachery and +falsehood." + +Catherine, who had entered silently and unnoticed through the smaller +door, now stepped forward, drew her sister into the room, took out the +huge key, closed the door and locked it, then turned fiercely to the +king. Her beautiful white right arm was bare to the elbow, the loose +sleeve rolled up, and in her hand she held a dagger. With her back +against the newly locked door, she said,-- + +"I'll be your majesty's guide from this castle, and your perjured soul +shall find exit through a postern gate made by my dagger!" + +"Oh, Catherine, Catherine," sobbed Isabel, weeping in fear and horror +of the situation, "you cannot contemplate so awful a deed, a murder so +foul, for however unworthy he may be, he is still the king." + +"What is there foul in ridding the world of a reptile such as he? How +many innocent lives has he taken to encompass his revenge? How many +now of our name are exiled and starving because of his action? I shall +strike the blow with greater surety, for in killing him I extinguish +his treacherous race." + +"No good can come from assassination, Catherine." + +"What greater evil can spring from his death than from his life?" + +"His killing will not bring back those whom he has slain; it will not +cause our banished kinsmen to return. It will be a murder for +revenge." + +"And not the first in Scotland," said Catherine grimly. + +The king had once more seated himself, and now, resting his chin on +his open palm, listened to the discussion with the interested bearing +of one who had little concern with its result. A half amused smile +wreathed his lips, and once or twice he made a motion as if he would +intervene, but on second thoughts kept silent. + +"Do not attempt this fell deed, dear sister," pleaded Isabel +earnestly. "Let us away as we intended. The horses are ready and +waiting for us. Our mother is looking for our coming in her room. The +night wears on and we must pass Stirling while it is yet dark, so +there is no time to be lost. Dear sister, let us quit Scotland, as we +purposed, an accursed land to all of our name, but let us quit it with +unstained hands." + +"Isabel, darling," said Catherine in a low voice that quavered with +the emotion caused by her sister's distress and appeal, "what unlucky +chance brought you to this fatal door at such a moment? Can you not +understand that I have gone too far to retreat? Who, having caged the +tiger, dare open again the gate and set him free? If for no other +reason, the king must die because he is here and because I brought him +here. Open the door behind you, Isabel, go down the circular stair, +and at the postern step you will find the rope ladder by which I +ascended. Get you to the courtyard and there wait for me, saying +nothing." + +"Catherine, Catherine, the king will pardon you. He will surely +forgive what you have done in exchange for his life." + +"Forgiveness!" cried Catherine, her eyes blazing again. "I want no +forgiveness from the king of Scotland. Pardon! The tiger would pardon, +till once he is free again. The king must die." + +"I shall go as you have bid me, Catherine, but not to do your bidding. +I shall arouse this castle and prevent an abominable crime." + +Catherine laughed harshly. + +"Whom would you call to your assistance? Douglases, Douglases, +Douglases! How many of your way of thinking will you find in the +castle? You know well, one only, and that is our mother, old and +helpless. Rouse the castle, Isabel, if you will, and find a dead man, +and perhaps a dead sister, when you break in this locked door." + +The helpless Isabel sank her head against the wall and burst into a +fury of weeping. + +"Ladies," said the king soothingly, rising to his feet, "will you +graciously condone my intervention in this dispute? You are discussing +an important act, from the commission of which all sentiment should +be eliminated; an act which requires the hard strong mind of a man +brought to bear upon the pros and cons of its consummation. You are +dealing with it entirely from the standpoint of the heart and not of +the head, an error common with women, and one that has ever precluded +their effective dealing with matters of State. You will pardon me, +Lady Isabel, when I say that your sister takes a much more practical +view of the situation than you do. She is perfectly right in holding +that, having me prisoner here, it is impossible to allow me to go +scatheless. There is no greater folly than the folly of half doing a +thing." + +"Does your majesty argue in favour of your own murder?" asked Isabel +amazed, gazing at the young man through her tears. + +"Not so, but still that is a consideration which I must endeavour to +eliminate from my mind, if my advice is to be impartial, and of +service to you. May I beg of you to be seated? We have the night +before us, and may consider the various interesting points at our +leisure, and thus no irremediable mistake need be made." + +Isabel, wellnigh exhausted with the intensity of her feelings, sank +upon the bench, but Catherine still stood motionless, dagger in hand, +her back against the door. The king, seeing she did not intend to +obey, went on suavely. There was a light of intense admiration in his +eye as he regarded the standing woman. + +"Ladies," he said, "can you tell me when last a King of Scotland--a +James also--and a Catherine Douglas bore relation to each other in +somewhat similar circumstances?" + +The king paused, but the girl, lowering at him, made no reply, and +after a few moments the young man went on. + +"It was a year more than a century ago, when the life of James the +First was not only threatened, but extinguished, not by one brave +woman, but by a mob of cowardly assassins. Then Catherine Douglas +nearly saved the life of her king. She thrust her fair young arm into +the iron loops of a door, and had it shattered by those craven +miscreants." + +Isabel wept quietly, her face in her two open hands. But Catherine +answered in anger,-- + +"Why did the Catherine Douglas of that day risk her life to save the +king? Because James the First was a just monarch. Why does the +Catherine Douglas of to-day wish to thrust her dagger into the false +heart of James the Fifth? Because he has turned on the hand that +nurtured him----" + +"The hand that imprisoned him, Lady Catherine. Pardon my correction." + +"He turned on the man who governed Scotland wisely and well." + +"Again pardon me; he had no right to govern. I was the king, +not Archibald Douglas. But all that is beside the question, and +recrimination is as bad as sentiment for clouding cold reason. What I +wished to point out is, that assassination of kings or the capture +of them very rarely accomplishes its object. James the First was +assassinated and as result two Stuarts, two Grahams and two Chamberses +were tortured and executed; so his murderers profited little. My +grandfather James the Third was carried off by the Boyds, but Sir +Alexander Boyd was beheaded and his brother and nephew suffered +forfeiture. I think I have shown then that violence is usually +futile." + +"Not so," answered Catherine; "your grandfather was assassinated, +and the man who killed him is not known to this day. Your +great-grandfather basely murdered the Black Douglas in Stirling, +thus breaking his word of honour for he had given Douglas safe +conduct, yet he profited by his act and crushed my kinsmen." + +"I see, Lady Catherine, that you are too well versed in history for me +to contend with you successfully on that subject," said the king with +a silent laugh. "We will therefore restrict the inquiry to the present +case, as wise people should. Tell me then, so that I may be the better +able to advise you, what is your true object--revenge and my death, or +the wringing from me of concessions for your family?" + +"I could not wring concessions from you, because you could not make +good those concessions unless I released you. I dare not release you, +because I dare not trust you." + +"I foresaw your difficulty, and so I told your sister that, having +gone so far, you could not retreat. The issue is therefore narrowed +down to death, and how it may best be accomplished. You have made the +tactical mistake of forewarning me. I cannot understand why you did +not mount my horse beside me and stab me in the back as we rode +through the forest. Did this not occur to you, Lady Catherine?" + +"It did, but there were objections. Your horse would doubtless have +escaped me, and would have galloped riderless to Stirling; your body +would have been found by break of day, and we but a few hours' march +from Stirling. Here I expect you to lie undiscovered in this locked +room till we are safe in England." + +"That is clear reasoning," commented the king with impartiality, "but +have you looked beyond? Who will be the successor of the throne? I +have neither brother nor sister; my two uncles died before I was born, +and I perish childless. I think you mentioned that you wished to +extinguish our line. Very well; what follows? Who is heir to the +throne?" + +"It matters nothing to me," said Catherine firmly. "Whoever rules +Scotland could not be a greater enemy to my race than you are." + +"I am not so sure of that. I think your dagger-blow will bring +consequences you do not look for, and that your kin, now exiled in +England will find the stroke a savage one for them. You forget that +the stern King of England is my uncle, and on this relationship may +lay claim to the Scottish throne. Be that as it may, it will be no +secret that a Douglas committed the murder; and think you Henry VIII +will offer safe refuge to his nephew's assassins? You much misjudge +him if you do. It would have been far better to have slain me in the +forest. This castle business is but an ill-judged, ill thought-out +plan. I am sorry to appear adversely critical, but such is my opinion, +and it confirms me in the belief that women should leave steel and +State alone." + +"I dare not let you go," reiterated Catherine. + +"Of a surety you dare not; that is what I have said from the +beginning. On the other hand, I can make no concession, under +coercion, that would save my life. You see we are both cowardly, each +in a different way. And now having come to the absolutely logical +conclusion that the king must die, you should turn your mind to the +difficulties that confront you. I, you see, am also armed." + +The king as he spoke took from his doublet a dagger almost similar to +the one held by the girl. A gentle smile graced his lips as he ran his +thumb along the edge, and then glanced up at the two in time to notice +their consternation at this new element in the situation. + +"If you enter a tiger's cage you should expect a touch of his claws, +so, Lady Catherine, your task is more serious than you anticipated. +There is furthermore another source of danger against you, and it is +my sincere wish that in the struggle to come you may not be too +severely handicapped. While the issue of our contest is still in +doubt, your sister will assuredly unlock the door and give the alarm, +hoping to prevent your contemplated crime, or my killing of you. I +think it right that you should not be called upon to suffer this +intervention, for, if you will permit me to say so, I admire your +determination as much as I admire, in another way, the Lady Isabel's +leaning towards mercy. I shall then, take this key from the larger +door and place it, with your sister, outside on the narrow stairway. +You have withdrawn the rope ladder so she cannot alarm the garrison." + +"But I have not withdrawn it," said Catherine quickly. "My sister must +not leave this room or she will bring interference." + +"Then," said the king calmly, as he rose and took the key from the +large door, "we shall at least make it impossible for her to open the +way into the hall." And so saying, he stepped to the smaller door, +which he opened, and before either of the women could prevent his +action, or even grasp an inkling of his design, he stepped outside, +key in hand, and thrust to their places the bolts of the stairway +door. + +The two girls looked at each other for a moment in silence, Isabel +plainly panic-stricken, while in Catherine's face anger struggled with +chagrin. Each was quick to see the sudden consequences of this turning +of the tables; the two were helpless prisoners in a remote portion of +the castle, no one within its walls being acquainted with their +whereabouts. The king, insulted, hoodwinked, and all but murdered, +was now at liberty, free to ride the few short leagues that lay +between Doune and Stirling, and before daybreak the fortress would be +in the hands of an overwhelming force with the present garrison +prisoners. In the awed stillness an unexpected sound came to them from +the outside; the sound of a man endeavouring to suppress the hearty +laughter that overmastered him. To be doomed is bad enough, but to be +made the subject of levity was too much for the dauntless Catherine. +She flung her dagger ringing to the stone floor with a gesture of +rage, then sank upon a bench and gave way to tears; tears of bitter +humiliation and rage. + +"Ladies," said the king from the outside, "I beg that you will allow +me to open the door." But, receiving no answer, the bolts were drawn +once more; James again entered the apartment and gazed down upon two +fair proud heads, crowned with ruddy hair. + +"Dear ladies," said the king, "forgive me my untimely mirth. Both of +you take matters much too seriously; a little laughter is necessary in +this world. My Lady Catherine, I told you that I could grant no +concessions under coercion, but now coercion has vanished and I enter +this room a free man of my own will. Tell me, my girl, what is it you +want? The rescinding of your father's exile? It is granted. The right +to live unmolested in your own castle? It is granted. Safe conduct to +England? It is granted. The privilege of remaining in Doune? It is +granted. But do not ask me to rescind banishment against Archibald +Douglas, Earl of Angus, for that I shall not concede. The Douglas +ambition, and not the Scottish king, has wrecked the Douglas family, +both Black and Red. But as far as concerns your own immediate kin, +with one exception, I shall give anything you like to ask." + +Catherine rose to her feet, threw back her auburn tresses, and said +curtly,-- + +"We ask nothing but the privilege of leaving the country you rule." + +The king bowed. + +"And you, Lady Isabel?" + +"I go with my sister and my mother." + +[Illustration: "MY FAIR ANTAGONIST, I BID YOU GOOD-NIGHT."] + +"I grieve at your decision, ladies, and for the first time in my life +envy England in getting an advantage over poor old Scotland, which I +hope will not be irreparable, for I trust you will return. But if such +be your determination, then go in peace, and in the daylight. Your +journey shall not be molested by me. But, before you add finality to +your intentions, I think it would be but fair to inform your lady +mother that the king is anxious to be of service to her, and perhaps +she may be content to accept what her daughters are apparently too +proud to receive." + +James placed the key once more in the lock, and turning to Catherine +said,-- + +"My fair antagonist, I bid you good-night." + +He stretched out his right hand, and she, with some hesitation and +visible reluctance placed her palm in his. Then the king raised to his +lips the hand which at one time seemed like to have stricken him. + +"And you, sweet Isabel, whose gentle words I shall not soon forget, +you will not refuse me your hand?" + +"No, your majesty, if you will promise to think kindly of me." + +The king, however, did not raise her hand to his lips, but placing an +arm about her waist he drew her towards him and kissed her. Next +moment he was hurrying down the stone steps, and the two were left +alone together. + + + + +THE KING INVESTIGATES + + +The king, wishing to decide wisely, was troubled by a conflict of +evidence, the bane of impartial judges all the world over. A courier +from England had brought formal complaint that, while the two +countries were ostensibly at peace, the condition along the border +was practically a state of war. Raids were continually being made +from the southern portion of Scotland across the boundary into England, +and the robbers retreated unscathed to hide themselves among their +hills, carrying their booty with them. These ruffians had long gone +unpunished, and now England made friendly protest in the matter. + +The king gathered his nobles about him and laid the case before them. +Not a man among them but was older than himself, and therefore more +experienced. James requested advice regarding the action it might +be thought wise to take. Many of the nobles whose estates lay in +the Lowlands of Scotland had themselves suffered from Highland +cattle-lifters, and thus they were imbued with a fellow feeling for +the raided English across the border. The English protest, they +said, was courteously made. The evil was undoubted, and had existed +unchecked for years, growing worse rather than better. Henry VIII, who +now occupied the English throne, was a strong and determined man, and +this continued source of irritation in the northern part of his realm +might easily lead to a deplorable war between the two countries. In +addition, James of Scotland was nephew to Henry of England, and the +expostulation from uncle to nephew was of the mildest, without any +threat even intimated. + +The nobles thought that James might well put a stop to a state of +things which no just man could approve, and thus do an act of justice +which would at the same time please an august relative. James admitted +that these were powerful arguments, but still if the Border robbers, +who had many followers, resisted the Scottish force sent against them, +there would be civil war, an outcome not to be looked forward to with +light heart. + +"In truth," said the king, "I would rather lead an army against +England, with England in the right, than against my own countrymen, +even if they were in the wrong." + +This remark seemed to encourage certain gentlemen there present, who +up to that moment had not spoken. The Earl of Bothwell, as the highest +in rank among the silent phalanx, stepped forward and said,-- + +"Your majesty, there are always two sides to a question, and, with +your permission, I should be glad to put in a word for those Border +riders who have been so ruthlessly condemned by men who know nothing +of them." + +"It is for the purpose of hearing all there is to say that I called +you together," rejoined the king. "Speak, my Lord of Bothwell." + +"In the first place, your majesty, these Border men have had to stand +the first brunt of all invasions into our country for centuries past. +It is, therefore, little to be wondered at that they have small liking +for the English. We are at peace with those to the south of us now, it +is true; but how long that peace will remain unbroken, no man can say. +There is, however, one thing certain, that if the King of Scotland +exercises the power he undoubtedly possesses, and crushes the Border +forces, he will have destroyed a staunch bulwark of his realm, and I +quite agree with those gentlemen who have spoken so eloquently against +the Borderers, that the King of England, and the people of England, +will be well pleased." + +This statement had a marked effect on King James, and it would have +been well if those who agreed with the Earl of Bothwell had been as +moderate in their denunciation. But some of them, apparently, could +not forget the youth of the king, and, not having the sense to see +that his majesty's desire was to render a just decision, thought he +might be frightened by strong language. + +"It is easy for those to speak well of the pike, who have not felt the +prod of its point," cried Lord Maxwell angrily. "Few English invasions +have reached Stirling, but every one of them have crossed the Border. +What matters the lifting of some English cattle? The Southerners never +scrupled to eat good Scottish beef whenever they set foot on Scottish +soil. I would hang the English envoy for daring to come to a Scottish +king with complaints of cattle lifting." + +The king frowned slightly but said nothing, and then Adam Scott of +Tushielaw had to thrust his bull neck into the noose. + +"I give you fair warning," he cried, "that if the king's forces are +turned against the Borderers, my sword helps my neighbours." + +"And I say the same," shouted Cockburn of Henderland. + +Some of the opposition were about to speak, but the king held up his +hand for silence. + +"That is treason," he said quietly. "Adam Scott, I have heard that you +are called King of the Border. Scotland is blessed with a number of +men who are king of this, or king of that, and I am sure I make no +objection, as long as they do not forget the difference that exists +between a king in name and a king in reality. I asked for advice, but +not for threats." + +Then to the whole assemblage he went on-- + +"Gentlemen, I thank you for your counsel. I shall give a soothing +reply to my uncle's ambassador, keeping in mind the peace that exists +between the two countries, and then I shall take what has been said on +each side into consideration and let you know the result." + +Accepting this as dismissal, those there congregated withdrew, save +only Sir David Lyndsay, the king having made a sign for him to +remain. "Well, Davie," he said, when they were alone, "what do you +think of it all?" + +"To tell truth, your majesty," answered the poet, "it's a knotty +problem, not to be solved by rhyming brain. When the first spokesman +finished I was entirely of his opinion, but, after that, the Earl of +Bothwell's plea seemed equally weighty, and between the two I don't +know what to think." + +"That is the disadvantage of an unbiased mind, Davie. Now, with good, +strong prejudices, one side or the other, the way would be clear, and +yet I despise a man who doesn't know his own mind." + +"Scott and Cockburn seemed to know their minds very well," ventured +the poet, with a smile. + +"Yes, and if one or two more of them had spoken as decidedly, I would +have been off to the Border to-night at the head of my troops. It is a +weakness of mine, but I can't put up with a threat very well." + +"Kings are rarely called upon to thole a threat," said Sir David, with +a laugh. + +"I'm not so sure of that, Davie. Kings have to thole many things if +they are to rule justly. Now, Davie, if you'll but tell me just what +to do, it will be a great help, for then I can take the opposite +direction with confidence." + +But the poet shook his head. + +"I cannot tell you," he said. "There seems much to be said for both +sides." + +"Then, Davie, send down to the town for the cobbler; send for +Flemming, he is a common-sense, canny body; he shall be the Solomon of +the occasion. That broad-faced hammer of his seems to rap out wisdom +as well as drive pegs. Bring him up with you, and we'll place the case +before him." + +As the rhymster left the room, Sir Donald Sinclair came clanking in, +seemingly in something of a hurry. + +"Was it your majesty's pleasure," began Sir Donald, "to have detained +Adam Scott and Cockburn?" + +"No. Why do you ask?" + +"Because they have mounted their horses and are off to the Border as +fast as two good steeds can carry them." + +"And where are Bothwell, Home, and Maxwell, and the Lairds of +Fairniherst, Johnston and Buccleuch?" + +"They are all closeted in the Earl of Bothwell's room, your majesty. +Shall I take any action regarding them?" + +"Oh no; do not meddle with them. You heard the opinions given a while +since, Donald? What conclusion did you arrive at?" + +"I am scarcely an impartial judge, your majesty. A soldier is ever for +fighting, and I fear he pays little attention to the right or wrong of +it." + +"You would try a fall with the Border kings perhaps?" + +"Yes, your majesty, I would." + +"Then I need have no fear but the troops will respond if I call on +them?" + +"None in the least, your majesty." + +"Well, I am glad to hear that, Sir Donald, and, meanwhile, I can think +of the project without any doubt regarding my army." + +When the cobbler came to the castle with Sir David, the king led the +way to one of his small private rooms, and there sketched out the +argument on both sides of the question with great impartiality. + +"Now, Flemming," he said, at the conclusion, "what is there to do?" + +For a long time the shoemaker made no reply; then he scratched his +head in perplexed fashion. At last he said: + +"It gets beyond me, your majesty. Thieving is not right unless it's +done under cover of law, which these reiving lads to the South seem to +take small account of. On the other hand, to destroy them root and +branch may be leaving Scotland naked to her enemy. I admit I'm fairly +in a corner." + +Sir David Lyndsay laughed. + +"You're as bad as I am, cobbler," he said. + +"There is one point," commented the king, "that no one seems to have +taken any notice of, and that is this: Those who speak against the +Border marauders are those who know little of them except by hearsay; +while the lords in their neighbourhood, who should know them well, +stand up for them, and even threaten to draw sword on their behalf." + +"That certainly speaks well for the villains," admitted the cobbler. + +"Then what is your verdict," demanded the king. + +"Well, I kind of think I should leave them alone," said Flemming +cautiously. + +"Do you agree with him, David?" + +"I'm not sure but I do. It seems a choice of two evils." + +The king laughed riotously and smote his thigh. + +"Well, of all half-hearted counsellors, King James has the champion +pair; and yet I had made up my mind before I asked the advice of +either of you." + +"And what was that?" inquired Sir David, "to attack them?" + +"No." + +"To leave them alone?" suggested the cobbler. + +"No." + +"What then?" cried both together. + +"What then? Why, just to get a little surer information. Here are +three men of open minds. I propose that for the next week, or +thereabouts, we three shall be honest cattle merchants, who will mount +our honest horses and take a quiet bit journey along the Border. The +scenery, they tell me, is grand, and David here will make poems on + it. It's a healthy country, and the cobbler has been bending too +assiduously over broken shoes of late, so the fresh air and the +exercise will do him good." + +"Losh, your majesty!" cried the cobbler, in dismay, "I'm no horseman. +I never rode any four-legged thing but a cobbler's bench, and that +side-saddle fashion." + +"Oh, you'll have learnt when we reach the Border," said the king, with +a laugh. "Before two days are past you'll be riding as well as Sir +David, who is at present the worst horseman in all Scotland." + +"Pegasus is the steed I yearn to ride," returned the poet, with a wry +face. + +"Yes, and even it sometimes throws you, David. You'll never be the +Psalmist your namesake was. Well, we'll look on it as agreed. Flemming +shall be purse-bearer, and so our tour will be an economical one. Here +is a purse well filled. You will look after the drover's costumes, +make all disbursements, and take care that you do not betray us by +undue lavishness." + +Thus it came about that three supposed drovers took their way to the +Border by a route which drovers were never known to travel before, +and, besides this, they were travelling empty-handed towards England, +whereas, real drovers faced the south with their herds before them, +and the north with those herds sold or stolen. Not one of the three +had in his vocabulary a single word pertaining to the cattle trade, +and every man with whom they spoke knew at once that, whatever else +they might be, they were not drovers, and so the ill-fated three went +blundering through the free-booters' country, climbing hills and +descending dales, and frightening honest folk with the questions they +asked; questions about men whose names should be spoken in a whisper, +and even then with a look of fear over the shoulder. Innkeepers who +saw them approach with delight, watched them leave with relief, +thanking God that no raider had happened inside to hear their innocent +inquiries; yet the three themselves were enjoying an interesting and +instructive journey, and the king had come to the conclusion that the +devil was not so black as he was painted. + +At last, they stumbled into a hostelry kept by a man whose name was +Armstrong. Their horses were taken care of and the trio sat down to a +hearty meal, as had been their luck all along the Border. + +"Landlord, does this meat come from England?" asked the king. + +The landlord caught his breath. He stood stock still for a moment and +then replied,-- + +"I hope it is to your lordship's liking." + +"Oh! I'm no lordship," said James, "but an honest drover body, trying +to find new markets for my stock." + +"I can see that," replied the landlord; "then you will know that this +meat's raised by Scotchmen." + +"Raised!" laughed the king. "Raised where? In Northumberland? Are you +sure 'lift' is not the word you mean?" + +"Sir," said the landlord, gravely, "there's no lifting of cattle +hereabout. This is not the Highlands. All in the neighbourhood are +honest farmers or foresters." + +"Earning their bread by the sweat of their brow," put in Sir David +Lyndsay. + +"Doubtless, when the English are after them," suggested the cobbler. + +The landlord did not join in their mirth, but merely said,-- + +"If your dinner is to your liking, my duty is done." + +"Quite so," answered the king. "We were merely curious regarding the +origin of your viands; but the question seems to be a ticklish one in +this district." + +"Oh, not at all," replied the innkeeper grimly. "If you question +enough, you are sure to meet some one who will make you a suitable +answer." + +The landlord, seemingly not liking the turn of the conversation, +disappeared, and during the rest of the meal they were waited upon by +a lowering, silent woman, who scowled savagely at them, and made no +reply to the raillery of the king, who was in the highest spirits. +They had ridden far that morning since breakfasting, and it was well +after midday when they drew away from a table that had been devoted to +their satisfying. Sir David and Flemming showed little inclination to +proceed with their journey. + +"The poor beasts must have a rest," said the poet, although none of +the three were horsemen enough to go out and see how the animals fared +at the hands of the stableman. The king was accustomed to be waited +upon, and the other two knew little and cared less about horses. As +they sat there in great content they heard suddenly a commotion +outside and the clatter of many hoofs on the stone causeway. The door +burst in, and there came, trampling, half a dozen men, who entered +with scant ceremony, led by a stalwart individual who cast a quick +glance from one to the other of the three who were seated. His eye +rested on the king, whom, with quick intuition, he took to be the +leader of the expedition and, doffing his feathered bonnet in a +salutation that had more of mockery than respect in it, he said: "I +hear that, like myself, you're in the cattle trade, and that you're +anxious to learn the prospect of doing business in this mountainous +locality." + +"You are quite right," replied the king. + +"I have in my byres near by," continued the man, "some of the finest +stirks that ever stood on four hoofs. Would you be willing to come and +give me your opinion of them, and say how much you care to pay for as +many as you need?" + +Again the man swept his bonnet nearly to the floor, and his six men, +who stood back against the wall, as if to give the speaker the stage +in the centre of the floor, glanced one at another. The king, however, +was unruffled, and he replied with a twinkle in his eye,-- + +"My good sir, you are mistaken, we are on the other side of the +market. We are sellers and not buyers." + +"So was Judas," said the incomer, his politeness giving way to an +expression of fierceness and cruelty which went far to terrify two of +the seated men. "Are you sure, sir, that the cattle you sell have not +two legs instead of four?" + +"I don't understand you," replied the king. + +"Is it men or stirks, you would give to the butcher?" + +"Still I do not understand you," repeated the king. + +"Oh, very well. How much are you asking for your cattle?" + +"We are here rather to see how much may be offered." + +"I can well believe you. Still, you must know something of the price +of beasts on hoofs. How much would you want for a good, fat stirk? +Answer me that!" + +The king glanced at his two companions, and his glance said as plainly +as words, "Give me a hint, in heaven's name, regarding the cost of a +beast;" but in all Scotland he could not have found two men who knew +less about the subject. + +"Oh, well," said the king, nonchalantly, not at all liking the turn +affairs had taken, "I suppose we would be satisfied with twenty +pounds," and this being received with a roar of laughter, he added +hastily, "twenty pounds Scots." + +"Oh," said the big man, "I was afraid you were going to demand that +amount in English currency. It is evident you will do well at the +trade, if you can find such buyers." + +"Then make us an offer," suggested the king, with the air of a man +willing to listen to reason. + +"Where are your cattle?" + +"They're in the north." + +"What part of the north?" + +"My good fellow," cried the king, his temper rising, "you have asked +many questions and answered none. Who are you, and what right have +you to make your demands in such a tone?" + +"Ah, then there's some spirit among the three of you. I am glad to see +that. Who am I? I am Johnny Armstrong. Did you ever hear tell of him? +And I suspect that your cattle are grown in the high town of Stirling. +Am I right in that? It is in Stirling that you can sell what you may +lift on the Border, and your cattle will be paid for in king's gold. +You are spies, my fine gentlemen, and know as little of cattle as I +know of the king and the court." + +The king rejoined calmly,-- + +"The country is at peace. There can be no spies except in a time of +war." + +"Is it even so? Then what are you three doing rampaging up and down my +land on the Border?" + +"That the lands may be yours we do not dispute, nor have we interfered +with them. The highways are the king's, and we three are peaceful +subjects of his, claiming, therefore, the right to travel on them as +we will, so long as we infringe not his peace or the liberty of any +man." + +"Stoutly spoken and bravely, considering in what king's dominion you +now find yourself. You have to learn that Johnny, and not Jamie, is +king of the Border. And when you're in the hands of a man named +Armstrong, you'll find how little a boy named Stuart can do for you. +Tie them up!" + +Before one of the three could move from the stool he occupied, they +were set upon by the ruffians, and each Stirling man found his ankles +fastened together and his elbows tied behind his back with a speed +that amazed him. + +"Bless my soul," moaned the poet, "all this in broad daylight, and in +the king's dominion." + +They were carried outside and flung thus helpless, face downward +on horses, like so many sacks of corn, each before a mounted man. +Armstrong sprung upon his horse and led his men from the high road +into the forest, his followers numbering something like a score. +The captives, from their agonising position on the horses, could +see nothing of the way they were being taken, except that they +journeyed on and on through dense woodland. They lost all knowledge +of direction, and, by and by, came to the margin of a brawling +stream, arriving at last, much to their relief, at a stronghold of +vast extent, situated on a beetling rock that overhung the river. Here +the three were placed on their feet again, and chattering women and +children crowded round them, but, in no case, was there a word of +pity or an expression of sympathy for their plight. + +The striking feature of the castle was a tall square tower, which +might be anything from seventy to a hundred feet in height; and +connected with it were several stone buildings, some two stories and +some three stories high. Round the castle, in a wide, irregular +circle, had been built a stout stone wall, perhaps twenty feet high, +wide enough on the top for half a dozen men to walk abreast. The space +enclosed was tolerably flat, and large enough for a small army to +exercise in. Leaning against the inside of this wall was an array of +sheds, which provided stabling for the horses, and numerous stalls in +which many cattle were lowing. The contour of the wall was broken by a +gateway, through which the troop and their captives had entered. The +inlet could be closed by a massive gate, which now stood open, and by +a stout portcullis that hung ready to drop when a lever was pulled. +But the most gruesome feature of this robber's lair was a stout beam +of timber, which projected horizontally from the highest open window +of the square tower. Attached to the further end of the beam was a +thick rope, the looped end of which encircled the drawn neck of a man, +whose lifeless body swayed like a leaden pendulum, helpless in the +strong breeze. Seeing the eyes of the three directed to this pitiful +object, Armstrong said to one of his men,-- + +"Just slip that fellow's head from the noose, Peter; we may need the +rope again to-night." Then turning to his prisoners, Armstrong spoke +like a courteous host anxious to exhibit to a welcome guest the +striking features of his domain. + +"That's but a grisly sight, gentlemen, to contemplate on a lowering +evening." + +The day was darkening to its close, and a storm, coming up out of the +west, was bringing the night quicker than the hour sanctioned. + +"But here is an ingenious contrivance," continued the freebooter, +cheerfully, "which has commanded the admiration of many a man we were +compelled to hang. You see there are so many meddlesome bodies in this +world that a person like myself, who wishes to live in peace with all +his fellows, must sometimes give the interferers a sharp bit lesson." + +"I can well believe it," answered the king. + +"An Englishman of great ingenuity had a plan for capturing us, but, as +it stands, we captured him; and being a merciful man, always loth to +hang, when anything else can be done, I set him at work here, and +this is one of his constructions. As it's growing dark, come nearer +that you may see how it works." + +At the bottom of the tower, and close to it, there lay a wooden +platform which afforded standing room for six or seven men. Peter got +up on this platform and pulled a cord, which opened a concealed +sluice-gate and resulted in a roar of pouring water. Gradually the +platform lifted, and the king saw that it was placed on top of a tall +pine-tree that had been cut in the form of a screw, the gigantic +threads of which were well oiled. A whirling horizontal water-wheel, +through the centre of which the big screw came slowly upwards, with +Peter on the gradually elevating platform, formed the motive power of +the contrivance. + +"You understand the mechanism?" said Armstrong. "By pulling one cord, +the water comes in on this side of the wheel and the platform ascends. +Another cord closes the sluice and everything is stationary. A third +cord opens the gate which lets the water drive the wheel in the +opposite direction and then the platform descends. You see, I have +taken away the old lower stairway that was originally built for the +tower, and this is the only means of getting up and down from the top +story. It does not, if you will notice, go entirely to the top, but +stops at that door, fifty feet from the rock, into which Peter is now +entering." + +"It is a most ingenious invention," admitted the king. "I never saw +anything like it before." + +"It would be very useful in a place like Stirling," said Johnny, +looking hard at his prisoner. + +"I suppose it would," replied the king, in a tone indicating that it +was no affair of his, "but you see I'm not a Stirling man myself. I +belong rather to all Scotland; a man of the world, as you might say." + +By this time Peter had climbed to the highest room of the tower, +worked his way on hands and knees out to the end of the beam, and had +drawn up to him the swaying body. With the deftness of expert +practice, he loosened the noose and the body dropped like a plummet +through the air, disappearing into the chasm below. Peter, taking the +noose with him, crawled backward, like a crab, out of sight, and into +the tower again. Armstrong, from below, had opened the other sluice, +and the empty platform descended as leisurely and as tremblingly as it +had risen. Armstrong himself cut the cords that bound the ankles of +his captives. + +"Now, gentlemen," he said, "if you will step on the platform I shall +have the pleasure of showing you to your rooms." + +Three armed men and the three prisoners moved upwards together. + +"A fine sylvan view you have," said the king. + +"Is it not!" exclaimed Armstrong, seemingly delighted that it pleased +his visitor. + +After the mechanical device had landed them some fifty feet above the +rocks, they ascended several flights of stairs, a man with a torch +leading the way. The prisoners were conducted to a small room, which +had the roof of the tower for its ceiling. In a corner of the cell +cowered a very abject specimen of the human race, who, when the others +came, seemed anxious to attract as little attention as possible. + +Armstrong, again, with his own hands removed the remaining cords from +the prisoners, and the three stretched up their arms, glad to find +them at liberty once more. + +"Place the torch in its holder," said Johnny. "Now, gentlemen, that +will last long enough to light you to your supper, which you will find +on the floor behind you. I'm sure you will rest here comfortably for +the night. The air is pure at this height, and I think you'll like +this eagle's nest better than a dungeon under the ground. For my own +part, I abhor a subterranean cell, and goodness knows I've been in +many a one, but we're civilised folk here on the Border and try to +treat our prisoners kindly." + +"You must, indeed, earn their fervent gratitude," said the king. + +"We should, we should," returned Johnny, "but I'm not certain that we +do. Man is a thrawn beast as a rule. And now, you'll just think over +your situation through the night, and be ready to answer me in the +morning all the questions I'll ask of you. I'll be wanting to know who +sent you here, and what news you have returned to him since you have +been on the Border." + +"We will give your request our deep consideration," replied the king. + +"I'm glad to hear that. You see, we are such merciful people that we +have but one rope to hang our enemies with, while we should have a +dozen by rights. Still, I think we could manage three at a pinch, if +your answers should happen to displease me. You will excuse the +barring of the door, but the window is open to you if your lodgings +are not to your liking. And so, good-night, the three of you." + +"Good-night to you, Mr. Armstrong," said the king. + +Peter had drawn in the rope, and its sinister loop lay on the floor, +its further length resting on the window sill, and extending out to +the end of the beam. The cobbler examined it with interest. "Come," +cried the king, "there is little use letting a supper wait for the +eating merely because we seem to have gone wrong in our inquiries +about the cattle." + +Neither the poet nor the cobbler had any appetite for supper, but the +king was young and hungry, and did justice to the hospitality of the +Armstrongs. + +"Have you been here long?" he asked of the prisoner in the corner. + +"A good while," answered the latter despondently. "I don't know for +how long. They hanged my mate." + +"I saw that. Do they hang many here about?" + +"I think they do," replied the prisoner. "Some fling themselves down +on the rocks, and others are starved to death. You see, the Armstrongs +go off on a raid, and there's no one here to bring us food, for the +women folk don't like to tamper with that machine that comes to the +lower stair. I doubt if Johnny starves them intentionally, but he's +kept away sometimes longer than he expects." + +"Bless me," cried the king, "think of this happening in Scotland. And +now, cobbler, what are we to do?" + +"I'm wondering if this man would venture out to the end of the beam +and untie the rope," suggested Flemming. + +"Oh, I'll do that, willingly," cried the prisoner. "But what is the +use of it; it's about ten times too short, as the Armstrongs well +know." + +"Are we likely to be disturbed here through the night?" asked +Flemming. + +"Oh no, nor till late in the day to-morrow; they'll be down there +eating and drinking till all hours, then they sleep long." + +"Very well. Untie the other end of the rope, and see you crawl back +here without falling." + +As the prisoner obeyed instructions, Flemming rose to his feet and +began feeling in his pockets, drawing forth, at last, a large brown +ball. + +"What is your plan, cobbler?" asked the king, with interest. + +"Well, you see," replied Flemming, "the rope's short, but it's very +thick." + +"I don't see how that is to help us." + +"There are nine or ten strands that have gone to the making of it, and +I'm thinking that each of those strands will bear a man. Luckily, I +have got a ball of my cobbler's wax here, and that will strengthen +the strands, keep the knots from slipping, and make it easier to climb +down." + +"Cobbler!" cried the king, "if that lets us escape, I'll knight you." + +"I care little for knighthood," returned the cobbler, "but I don't +want to be benighted here." + +"After such a remark as that, your majesty," exclaimed the poet, "I +think you should have him beheaded, if he doesn't get us out of this +safely." + +"Indeed, Sir David," said the cobbler, as he unwound the rope, "if I +don't get you out of here, the Armstrongs will save his majesty all +trouble on the score of decapitation." + +There was silence now as the three watched the deft hands of the +cobbler, hurrying to make the most of the last rays of the flickering +torch in the wall. He tested the strands and proved them strong, +then ran each along the ball of wax, thus cementing their loose +thread together. He knotted the ends with extreme care, tried their +resistance thoroughly, and waxed them unsparingly. It was a business +of breathless interest, but at last the snake-like length of thin rope +lay on the floor at his disposal. He tied an end securely to the beam +just outside the window-sill so that there would be no sharp edge to +cut the cord, then he paid out the line into the darkness, slowly and +carefully that it might not became entangled. + +"There," he said at last, with a sigh of satisfaction, "who's first +for the rope. We three await your majesty's commands." + +"Do you know the country hereabout?" asked the king of the man who had +been prisoner longest. + +"Every inch of it." + +"Can you guide us safely to the north in the darkness?" + +"Oh, yes, once I am down by the stream." + +"Then," said the king, "go down by the stream. When you are on firm +footing say no word, but shake the rope. If you prove a true guide to +us this night we will pay you well." + +"I shall be well paid with my liberty," replied the prisoner, crawling +cautiously over the stone sill and disappearing in the darkness. The +cobbler held the taut line in his hand. No man spoke, they hardly +seemed to breathe until the cobbler said: + +"He's safe. Your majesty should go next." + +"The captain is the last to leave the ship," said the king; "over you +go, Flemming." After the cobbler, Sir David descended, followed by +the king; and they found at the bottom of the ravine some yards of +line to spare. + +Their adventures through that wild night and the next day, until they +came to a village where they could purchase horses, form a story in +themselves. + +When the king reached Stirling, and was dressed once more in a costume +more suited to his station than that which had been torn by the +brambles of the Border, he called to him the chief minister of his +realm. + +"You will arrest immediately," he said, "Cockburn of Henderland, and +Adam Scott of Tushielaw, and have them beheaded." + +"Without trial, your majesty?" asked the minister in amazement. + +"Certainly not without trial, but see that the trial is as short as +possible. Their crime is treason; the witnesses as many as you like to +choose from our last council meeting. I love and adhere to the +processes of law, but see that there is no mistake about the block +being at the end of your trial." The minister made a note of this and +awaited further instructions. "Place the Earl of Bothwell in the +strongest room that Edinburgh Castle has vacant. Imprison Lord Maxwell +and Lord Home and the Lairds of Fairniherst, Johnston and Buccleuch, +in whatever stronghold is most convenient. Let these orders be carried +out as speedily as possible." + +The next man called into the royal presence was Sir Donald Sinclair. + +"Have you five hundred mounted men ready for the road, Sir Donald?" + +"Yes, your majesty, a thousand if you want them." + +"Very well, a thousand I shall have, and I shall ride with you to the +Border." + +Nevertheless, when the king came to the inn where he had been +captured, there were but twenty troopers with him. Sir Donald was the +spokesman on that occasion. He said to the landlord, whose roving eye +was taking count of the number of horses,-- + +"Go to Johnny Armstrong and tell him that the king, with twenty +mounted men at his back, commands his presence here, and see that he +comes quickly." + +Johnny was not slow in replying to the invitation, and forty troopers +rode behind him. The king sat on his horse, a little in advance of his +squadron. As a mounted man, James looked well, and there was but +little resemblance between him and the unfortunate drover, who had +been taken prisoner at that spot two short weeks before. + +"I have come promptly in answer to your majesty's call," said +Armstrong, politely removing his bonnet, but making no motion to pay +further deference to the King of Scotland. + +"It gives me great pleasure to see you," replied the king, suavely. +"You travel with a large escort, Mr. Armstrong?" + +"Yes, your majesty, I am a sociable man and I like good company. The +more stout fellows that are at my back, the better I am pleased." + +"In this respect we are very much alike, Mr. Armstrong, as you will +admit if you but cast your eyes to the rear of your little company." + +At this, Johnny Armstrong violated a strict rule of royal etiquette +and turned the back of his head to his king. He saw the forest alive +with mounted men, their circle closing in upon him. He muttered the +word: "Trapped!" and struck the spurs into his horse's flank. The +stung steed pranced in a semi-circle answering his master's rein, but +the fence of mounted steel was complete, every drawn sword a picket. +Again Armstrong, laughing uneasily, faced the king, who still stood +motionless. + +"Your majesty has certainly the advantage of me as far as escort is +concerned." + +"It would seem so," replied James. "You travel with twoscore of men; I +with a thousand." + +"I have ever been a loyal subject of your majesty," said Armstrong, +moistening his dry lips. "I hope I am to take no scathe for coming +promptly and cordially to welcome your majesty to my poor district." + +"You will be better able to answer your own question when you have +replied to a few of mine. Have you ever met me before, Mr. Armstrong?" + +The robber looked intently at the king. + +"I think not," he said. + +"Have you ever seen this man before?" and James motioned Sir David +Lyndsay from the troop at his side. + +Armstrong drew the back of his hand across his brow. + +"I seem to remember him," he said, "but cannot tell where I have met +him." + +"Perhaps this third man will quicken your memory," and the cobbler +came forward, dressed as he had been the night he was captured. + +Armstrong gasped, and a greenish pallor overspread his face. + +[Illustration: "THE FORTY-ONE TREES BORE THEIR BURDEN."] + +"What is your answer, Armstrong?" asked the king. + +"I and my forty men will serve your majesty faithfully in your army if +you grant us our lives." + +"No thieves ride with any of Scotland's brigade, Armstrong." + +"I will load your stoutest horse with gold until he cannot walk, if +you spare our lives." + +"The revenues of Scotland are sufficient as they are, Armstrong," +replied the king. + +"Harry of England will be glad to hear that the King of Scotland has +destroyed twoscore of his stoutest warriors." + +"The King of England is my relative, and I shall be happy to please +him. The defence of Scotland is my care, and I have honest men enough +in my army to see that it is secure. Have you anything further to say, +Armstrong?" + +"It is folly to seek grace at a graceless face. If we are for the +tree, then to the tree with us. But if you make this fair forest bear +such woeful fruit, you shall see the day when you shall die for lack +of stout hearts like ours to follow you, as sure as this day is the +fatal thirteenth." + +The forty-one trees bore their burden, and thirteen years from that +time the outlaw's prophecy was fulfilled. + + + + +THE KING'S GOLD + + +It is strange to record that the first serious difficulty which +James encountered with the nobles who supported him, arose not +over a question of State, but through the machinations of a foreign +mountebank. The issue came to a point where, if the king had proceeded +to punish the intriguer, his majesty might have stood alone while the +lords of his court would have ranged themselves in support of the +charlatan--a most serious state of things, the like of which has +before now overturned a throne. In dealing with this unexpected +crisis, the young king acted with a wisdom scarcely to be expected +from his years. He directed the nobility as a skilful rider manages a +mettlesome horse, sparing curb and spur when the use of the one might +have unseated him, or the use of the other resulted in a frenzied +bolt. Thus the judicious horseman keeps his saddle, yet arrives at the +destination he has marked out from the beginning. + +In the dusk of the evening, James went down the high street of +Stirling, keeping close to the wall as was his custom when about to +pay a visit to his friend the cobbler, for although several members of +the court knew that he had a liking for low company, the king was well +aware of the haughty disdain with which the nobles regarded those of +the mechanical or trading classes. So he thought it best not to run +counter to a prejudice so deeply rooted, and for this reason he +restricted the knowledge of his visits to a few of his more intimate +friends. + +As the king was about to turn out of the main street he ran suddenly +into the arms of a man coming from the shop of a clothier who made +costumes for the court. As each started back from the unexpected +encounter, the light from the mercer's shop window lit up the face of +his majesty's opponent, and the latter saw that he had before him his +old friend, Sir David Lyndsay. + +"Ha, Davie!" cried the king, "it's surely late in the day to choose +the colours for a new jacket." + +"Indeed your majesty is in the right," replied Sir David, "but I was +not selecting cloth; I was merely enacting the part of an honest man, +and liquidating a reckoning of long standing." + +"What, a poet with money!" exclaimed the king. "Who ever heard of +such a thing? Man Davie, you might share the knowledge of your +treasure-house with a friend. Kings are always in want of money. +Is your gold mine rich enough for two?" + +The king spoke jocularly, placing no particular meaning upon his +words, and if Sir David had answered in kind, James would doubtless +have thought no more about the matter, but the poet stammered and +showed such evident confusion that his majesty's quick suspicions were +at once aroused. He remembered that of late a change had come over the +court. Scottish nobles were too poor to be lavish in dress, and +frequently the somewhat meagre state of their wardrobe had furnished a +subject for jest on the part of ambassadors from France or Spain. But +when other foreigners less privileged than an ambassador had ventured +to make the same theme one for mirth, they speedily found there was no +joke in Scottish steel, which was ever at an opponent's service, even +if gold were not. So those who were wise and fond of life, became +careful not to make invidious comparisons between the gallants of +Edinburgh and Stirling, and those of Paris and Madrid. But of late the +court at Stirling had blossomed out in fine array, and although this +grandeur had attracted the notice of the king and pleased him, he had +given no thought to the origin of the new splendour. + +The king instantly changed his mind regarding his visit to the +cobbler, linked arm with the poet, and together they went up the +street. This sudden reversion of direction gave the royal wanderer a +new theme for thought and surmise. It seemed as if all the town was on +the move, acting as surreptitiously as he himself had done a few +moments previously. At first he imagined he had been followed, and the +suspicion angered him. In the gloom he was unable to recognise any of +the wayfarers, and each seemed anxious to avoid detection, passing +hurriedly or slipping quietly down some less frequented alley or lane. +Certain of the figures appeared familiar, but none stopped to question +the king. + +"Davie," cried James, pausing in the middle of the street, "you make a +very poor conspirator." + +"Indeed, your majesty," replied the poet earnestly, "no one is less of +a conspirator than I." + +"Davie, you are hiding something from me." + +"That I am not, your majesty. I am quite ready to answer truly any +question your majesty cares to ask." + +"The trouble is, Davie, that my majesty has not yet got a clue which +will lead to shrewd questioning, but as a beginning, I ask you, what +is the meaning of all this court stir in the old town of Stirling?" + +"How should I know, your majesty?" asked the poet in evident distress. + +"There now, Davie, there now! The very first question I propound gets +an evasive answer. The man who did not know would have replied that he +did not. I dislike being juggled with, and for the first time in my +life, Sir David Lyndsay, I am angered with you." + +The knight was visibly perturbed, but at last he answered,-- + +"In this matter I am sworn to secrecy." + +"All secrets reveal themselves at the king's command," replied James +sternly. "Speak out; speak fully, and speak quickly." + +"There is no guilt in the secret, your majesty. I doubt if any of your +court would hesitate to tell you all, were it not that they fear +ridicule, which is a thing a Scottish noble is loth to put up with +whether from the king or commoner." + +"Get on, and waste not so much time in the introduction," said his +majesty shortly. + +"Well, there came some time since to Stirling, an Italian chemist, who +took up his abode and set up his shop in the abandoned refectory of +the old Monastery. He is the author of many wonderful inventions, but +none interests the court so much as the compounding of pure gold in a +crucible from the ordinary earth of the fields." + +"I can well believe that," cried the king. "I have some stout fighters +in my court who fear neither man nor devil in battle, yet who would +stand with mouth agape before a juggler's tent. But surely, Davie, +you, who have been to the colleges, and have read much from learned +books, are not such a fool as to be deluded by that ancient fallacy, +the transmutation of any other metals into gold?" + +Sir David laughed uneasily. + +"I did not say I believed it, your majesty, still, a man must place +some credence in what his eye sees done, as well as in what he reads +from books; and after all, the proof of the cudgel is the rap on the +head. I have beheld the contest, beginning with an empty pot and +ending with a bar of gold." + +"Doubtless. I have seen a juggler swallow hot iron, but I have never +believed it went down his throttle, although it appeared to have done +so. Did you get any share of the transmuted gold? That's the practical +test, my Davie." + +"That is exactly the test your barons applied. I doubt if their +nobilities would take much interest in a scientific experiment were +there no profit at the end of it. Each man entering the laboratory +pays what he pleases to the money taker at the table, but it must not +be less than one gold bonnet-piece. When all have entered, the doors +are closed and locked. The amount of money collected is weighed +against small bars of gold which the alchemist places in the opposite +scale until the two are equally balanced. This bar of gold he then +throws into the crucible." + +"Oh, he puts gold into the crucible, does he? Where then is the +profit? I thought these necromancers made gold from iron." + +"Signor Farini's method is different, your majesty. He asserts that +like attracts like, and that the gold in the crucible will take to +itself the minute unseen particles which he believes exists in all +soils; the intense heat burning away the dross and leaving the refined +gold." + +"I see; and how ends this experiment?" + +"The residue is cooled and weighed. Sometimes it is double the amount +of gold put in, sometimes treble; and I have known him upon occasion +take from the crucible quadruple the gold of the bar, but never have I +known a melting fall below double the amount collected by the man at +the table. At the final act each noble has returned to him double or +treble the gold he relinquished on entering." + +"Where then arises the profit to your Italian? I never knew these +foreigners to work for nothing." + +"He says he does it for love of Scotland and hatred of England; an +ancient enemy. Were but the Scottish nation rich, he thinks they could +the better withstand incursions from the south." + +"Well, Davie, that seems to me a most unsubstantial reason. Scotland's +protection has been her poverty in all except hard knocks. Were she as +wealthy as France it would be the greater temptation for Englishers to +overrun the country. My grandfather, James the Third, had a black +chest full of gold and jewels, yet he was murdered flying from defeat +in battle. When does this golden wizard fire his cauldron, Davie?" + +"To-night, your majesty. That is the reason the nobles of your court +were making sly haste to his domicile." + +"Ah, and Sir David Lyndsay was hurrying to the same spot so blindly +that he nearly overran his monarch." + +"It is even so, your majesty." + +"Then am I hindering you from much profit, and you must even blame +yourself for being so long in the telling. However, it is never too +late to turn one bonnet-piece into two. So, Davie, lead the way, for I +would see this alchemist turn out gold from a pot as a housewife boils +potatoes." + +"I fear, your majesty, that the doors will be shut." + +"If they are, Davie, the king's name will open them. Lead the way; +lead the way." + +The doors were not shut but were just on the point of closing when Sir +David put his shoulder to them and forced his way in, followed closely +by his companion. The king and his henchman found themselves in a +small ante-room, furnished only with a bench and a table; on the +latter was a yellow heap of bonnet-pieces of the king's own coinage. +Beside this heap lay a scroll with the requisites for writing. The +money-taker, a gaunt foreigner clad in long robes like a monk, closed +the door and barred it securely, then returned to the table. He +nodded to Sir David, and glanced with some distrust upon his +plaid-covered companion. + +"Whom have you brought to us, Sir Lyndsay?" asked the man +suspiciously. + +"A friend of mine, the Master of Ballengeich; one who can keep his own +counsel and who wishes to turn an honest penny." + +"We admit none except those connected with the court," demurred the +money-taker. + +"Well, in a manner, Ballengeich is connected with the court. He +supplies the castle with the products of his farm." + +The man shook his head. + +"That will not do," he said, "my orders are strict. I dare not admit +him." + +"Is not my money as good as another's?" asked Ballengeich, speaking +for the first time. + +"No offence is meant to you, sir, as your friend Sir Lyndsay knows, +but I have my orders and dare not exceed them." + +"Do you refuse me admittance then?" + +"I am compelled to do so, sir, greatly to my regret." + +"Is not my surety sufficient?" asked Sir David. + +"I am deeply grieved to refuse you, sir, but I cannot disobey my +strict instructions." + +"Oh, very well then," said the king impatiently, "we will stay no +further question. Sir David here is a close friend of the king, and a +friend of my own, therefore we will return to the castle and get the +king's warrant, which, I trust, will open any door in Stirling." + +The warder seemed nonplussed at this and looked quickly from one to +the other; finally he said,-- + +"Will you allow me a moment to consult with my master?" + +"Very well, so that you do not hold us long," replied the Master of +Ballengeich. + +"I shall do my errand quickly, for at this moment I am keeping the +whole nobility of Scotland waiting." + +The man disappeared, taking, however, the gold with him in a bag. In a +short space of time he returned and bowing to the two waiting men he +said,-- + +"My master is anxious to please you, Sir Lyndsay, and will accept the +money of your friend." Whereupon the two placed upon the table five +gold pieces each, and the amount was credited opposite their names +upon the parchment. + +[Illustration: "THE FIGURE OF A TALL MAN."] + +Sir David, leading the way, drew aside one heavy curtain and then a +second one, which allowed them to enter a long low-roofed room almost +in total darkness, as far as the end to which they were introduced was +concerned; but the upper portion of the hall was lit in lurid fashion. +At the further end of the Refectory was a raised platform on which +the heads of the Order had dined, during the prosperous days of the +edifice, while the humbler brethren occupied, as was customary, the +main body of the lower floor. Upon this platform stood a metal tripod, +which held a basket of dazzling fire, and in this basket was set a +crucible, now changing from red to white, under the constant exertions +of two creatures who looked like imps from the lower regions rather +than inhabitants of the upper world. These two strove industriously +with a huge bellows which caused the fire to roar fiercely, and this +unholy light cast its effulgence upon the faces of many notable men +packed closely together in the body of the hall; it also shone on the +figure of a tall man, the ghastly pallor of whose countenance was +enhanced by a fringe of hair black as midnight. He had a nose like a +vulture's beak, and eyes piercing in their intensity, as black as his +midnight hair. His costume also resembled that of a monk in cut, but +it was scarlet in hue; and the radiance of the furnace caused it to +glow as if illumined by some fire from within. + +At the moment the last two entered, Farini was explaining to his +audience, in an accent palpably foreign, that he was a man of science, +and that the devil gave him no aid in his researches, an assertion +doubtless perfectly accurate. His audience listened to him with +visible impatience, evidently anxious for talk to cease and practical +work to begin. + +The wizard held in his right hand the bag of gold that the king had +seen taken from the outer room. Presently there entered through +another curtained doorway, on what might be called the stage, the +money-taker in the monk's dress, who handed to the necromancer the +coins given him by Lyndsay and Ballengeich, which the wizard tossed +carelessly into the bag. The attendant placed the scroll upon a table +and then came forward with a weighing-machine held in his hand. The +alchemist placed the gold from the bag upon one side of the scale, and +threw into the other, bar after bar of yellow metal until the two were +equal. Then the bag of gold was placed on the table beside the scroll, +and the wizard carefully deposited the yellow bars within the +crucible, the two imps now working the bellows more strenuously than +ever. + +The experiment was carried on precisely as Sir David had foretold, but +there was one weird effect which the poet had not mentioned. When the +necromancer added to the melting-pot huge lumps of what appeared to be +common soil from the field, the mixture glared each time with a new +colour. Once a vivid violet colour flamed up, which cast such a livid +death-like hue on the faces of the knights there present, that each +looked upon the other in obvious fear. Again the flame was pure white; +again scarlet; again blue; again yellow. When at last the incantation +was complete, the bellows-work was stopped. The coruscating caldron +was lifted from the fire by an iron hook and chain, and set upon the +stone floor to cool, bubbling and sparkling like a thing of evil; but +the radiance became duller and duller as time went on, and finally its +contents were poured out into a mould of sand, and there congealing, +the result was lifted by tongs and laid upon the scale. The bag of +gold was placed again in the opposite disc, but the heated metal far +outweighed it. The wizard then unlocked a desk and threw coin after +coin in the pan that held the bag, until at last the beam of the scale +hung level. The secretary now pushed forward a table to the edge of +the platform, and on the table placed a rush-light which served but to +illuminate the parchment before him. With great rapidity he counted +the gold pieces which were not in the bag, then whispered to his +master. + +The room was deathly still as the man in scarlet stepped forward to +make his announcement. + +"I regret," he said, "that our experiment has not been as successful +as I had hoped. This doubtless has been caused by the poverty of the +earth from which I took my material. I shall dig elsewhere against our +next meeting, and then we may look for better results. To-night I can +return to you but double the money you gave to my treasurer." + +At this there went up what seemed to be a sigh of relief from the +audience, which had been holding its breath with all the eagerness of +a gambler, who had made a stake and awaited the outcome of the throw. + +The necromancer, taking the parchment, called out name after name, and +as each title was enunciated the bearer of it came to the edge of the +platform and received from the secretary double the amount of gold +pieces set down on the parchment. As each man secreted his treasure he +passed along out of the hall; and so it came about that Sir David and +Ballengeich, being the last on the list, received the remaining coins +on the table, and silently took their departure. + +The king spoke no word until they had entered the castle and were +within his private room. Once there, the first thing he did was to +pull from his pouch the coins he had received and examine them +carefully one by one. There was no doubt about them, each was a good +Scottish gold piece, with the king's profile and bonnet stamped +thereon. + +"You will find them genuine," said Sir David. "I had my own fears +regarding them at first, thinking that this foreigner was trying the +trick which Robert Cockran, the mason, accomplished so successfully +during the reign of your grandfather, mixing the silver coins with +copper and lead; but I had them tested by a goldsmith in Edinburgh and +was assured the pieces are just what they claim to be." + +"Prudent man!" exclaimed the king, throwing himself down on a seat and +jingling the gold pieces. "Well, Davie, what do you think of it all? +Give me an opinion as honest as the coin." + +"Truth to tell, your majesty, I do not know what to think of it. It +may be as he says, that the earth here contains particles of gold, +that are drawn to the bars he throws in the melting-pot. If the man +is a cheat, where can he hope for his profit?" + +"Where indeed? I mind you told me he had other marvellous inventions; +what are they?" + +"He has a plan by which a man in full armour can enter the water and +walk beneath it for any length of time without suffocating." + +"Have you seen this tried?" + +"No, your majesty; there has been no opportunity." + +"What an admirable contrivance for invading Ireland! What are his +plans as far as England is concerned? He seems, if I remember your +tale aright, to have some animosity in that direction." + +"He has constructed a pair of wings, and each soldier being provided +with them can sail through the air across the Border." + +"Admirable, admirable!" exclaimed the king nodding his head. "Now +indeed is England ours, and France too for that matter, if his wings +will carry so far. Have you seen these wings?" + +"Yes, your majesty, but I have not seen them tried. They seem to be +made of fine silk stretched on an extremely light framework, and are +worked by the arms thrust up or down; thus, he says, a man may rise or +fall at will." + +"As to the falling, I believe him, and the rising I shall believe when +I see it. Has our visit to-night then taught you nothing, David?" + +"Nothing but what I knew before. What has it taught your majesty?" + +"In the first place our charlatan does not want the king to know what +he is doing, because when his subordinate refused me admittance and I +said to him I would appeal to the king, he saw at once that this was +serious, and wished to consult his master. His master was then willing +to admit anyone so long as there was no appeal to the king. I +therefore surmise he is most anxious to conceal his operations from +me. What is your opinion, Davie?" + +"It would seem that your majesty is in the right." + +"Then again if he is a real scientist and has discovered an easy +method of producing gold and is desirous to enrich Scotland, why +should he object to a plain farmer like the Guidman of Ballengeich +profiting by his production?" + +"That is quite true, your majesty; but I suppose the line must be +drawn somewhere, and I imagine he purposes to enrich only those of the +highest rank, as being more powerful than the yeomen." + +"Then we come back, Davie, to what I said before; why exclude the king +who is of higher rank than any noble?" + +"I have already confessed, your majesty, that I cannot fathom his +motives." + +"Well, you see at what we have arrived. This foreigner wishes to +influence those who can influence the king. He wishes to have among +his audience none but those belonging to the court. He has some +project that he dare not place before the king. We will now return to +the consideration of that project. In the first place, the man is not +an Italian. Did a scholar like you, Davie, fail to notice that when he +was in want of a word, it was a French word he used? He is therefore +no Italian, but a Frenchman masquerading as an Italian. Therefore, the +project, whatever it is, pertains to France, and it is his desire that +this shall not be known. Now what does France most desire Scotland to +do at this moment?" + +"It thinks we should avenge Flodden; and many belonging to the court +are in agreement with France on this point." + +"Has your necromancer ever mentioned Flodden?" + +"Once or twice he spoke of it with regret." + +"I thought so," continued the king; "and now I hope you are beginning +to see his design." + +"What your majesty says is very ingenious; but if I may be permitted +to raise an objection to the theory, I would ask your majesty why this +was not done through the French ambassador? French gold has been used +before now in the Scottish Court; and it seems to me that a great +nation like France would not stoop to enlist the devices of a +charlatan, if this man be a charlatan." + +"Ah, now we enter the domain of State secrets, Davie, and there is +where a king has an advantage over the commoner. Of course I know many +things hidden from you which give colour to my surmise. Some while ago +the French ambassador offered me a subsidy. Now I am not so avaricious +as my grandfather, nor so lavish as my father, and I told the +ambassador that I would depend on Scottish gold. I acquainted him with +the success of my German miners in extracting gold from Leadhills in +the Clydesdale, and I showed him my newly coined pieces. He was so +condescendingly pleased and interested that he begged the privilege of +having his own bars of metal coined in my mint, in order to disburse +his expenses in the coin of the realm, and also to send some of our +bonnet-pieces as specimens to France itself. This right of coinage I +willingly bestowed upon him; firstly, because he asked it; secondly, I +was glad to have some account of his expenditure. When I came in just +now I examined these coins closely, and you imagined that I was +suspicious of the purity of the metal. This was not so. I told my +mint-master to coin all the bars the ambassador gave him, to keep a +strict account of the issue, and to mark each piece with the letter +'F' on the margin. I find three of the coins which we received +to-night bearing this private mark; therefore, they have passed +through the hands of the French ambassador to the alchemist." + +Sir David gave forth an exclamation of surprise. He left his seat, +took the bonnet-pieces from his pocket and placed them under the lamp. + +"Now," said the king, "you need sharp eyes to detect this mark, but +there it is, and there, and there. Let us look a little closer into +the object of France. The battle of Flodden was fought when I was +little more than a year old; it destroyed the king, the flower of +Scottish nobility, and ten thousand of her common soldiers. Who was +responsible for this frightful calamity? My mother was strongly +against the campaign, which was to bring the forces of her husband in +contention with the forces of her brother, at that moment absent in +France. The man who urged on the conflict was De la Motte, the French +ambassador, standing ever at my father's side, whispering his +treacherous, poisonous advice into an ear too willing to listen. +England was not a bitter enemy, for England did not follow up her +victory and march into Scotland, where none were left to command a +Scottish army, and no Scottish army was left to obey. Scotland, on +this occasion, was merely the catspaw of France. Now I am the son of +an Englishwoman. The English king is my uncle, and France fears that I +will keep the peace with my neighbour; so through his ambassador, he +sounds me, and learns that such indeed is my intention. France +resolves to leave me alone and accomplish its object by corrupting, +with gold coined in my own mint, the nobles of my court, and, by God!" +cried James in sudden anger, bringing his fist down on the table and +making the coins jingle, "France is succeeding, through the blind +stupidity of men who might have been expected to know their right hand +from their left. The greatest heads of my realm are being cozened by a +trickster; befooled in a way that any humble ploughman should be +ashamed of. You see now why they wish to keep the silly proceedings +from the king. I tell you, Davie, that Italian's head comes off, and +thus in some small measure will I avenge Flodden." + +Sir David Lyndsay sat meditatively silent for some moments while the +king in angry impatience strode up and down the small limits of the +room. When the heat of his majesty's temper had partially cooled, Sir +David spoke with something of diplomatic shrewdness. + +"I never before realised the depth and penetration of your majesty's +mind. You have gone straight to the heart of this mystery, and have +thrown light into its obscurest corner, as a dozen flaming torches +would have illumined that dark laboratory in the Monastery. I have +shared the stupidity of your nobles, which the clarity of your +judgment now exposes so plainly; therefore, I feel that it would be +presumption on my part to offer advice to your majesty in the further +prosecution of this affair." + +"No, Davie, no," said the king, stopping in his march and speaking +with pleased cordiality, "no, I value your advice; you are an honest +man, and it is not to be expected that the subtilty and craftiness of +these foreigners should be as clear to you as the sunshine on a +Highland hill. Speak out, Davie, and if you give me your counsel, I +know it will be as wholesome as oatmeal porridge." + +"Well, your majesty, you must meet subtilty with subtilty." + +"I am not sure that the adage holds good, Davie," demurred the king. +"You cannot outrace a Highlandman in his own glen, although you may +fight him fairly in the open. Once this Frenchman's head is off, you +stop his boiling-pot." + +"That is quite true, your majesty, but if the French ambassador should +put in a claim for his worthless carcass, you will find yourself on +the eve of a break with France, if you proceed to his execution." + +"But I shall have made France throw off its mask." + +"It is not France I am thinking about, your majesty. Your own nobles +have gone clean daft over this Italian. He is their goose that lays +the golden eggs, and you saw yourself to-night with what breathless +expectation they watched his experimenting. I am sure, your majesty, +that they will stand by him, and that you will find not only France +but Scotland arrayed against you. A moment's reflection will show you +the danger. These meetings have been going on for months past, yet no +whisper of their progress has reached your majesty's ears." + +"That is true; even you yourself, Davie, kept silent." + +"I swore an oath of silence, and honestly, I did not think that this +gold-making was an affair of State." + +"Very well. I will act with caution. The breath of the money-getter +tarnishes the polish of the sword; and in my dealings I shall try to +recollect that I have to do with men growing rapidly rich, as well as +with nobles who should be too proud to accept unearned gold from any +man. Now, Davie, I'll need your help in this, and in aiding me you +will assist yourself, thus will virtue be its own reward, as is +preached to us. I will give you as many gold pieces as you need, and +instead of paying three pieces at the entrance, give the man three +hundred. Urge all the nobles to increase their wagers; for thus we +shall soon learn the depths of this yellow treasury. If I attempt to +wring the neck of the goose before the eggs are laid, my followers +would be justified in saying that the English part of my nature had +got the better of the Scotch. Meanwhile, I will know nothing of this +man's doings, and I hope for your sake, Davie, that the gold mine will +prove as prolific as my own in the Clydesdale." + +The nobles followed the example set to them by the lavish Sir David. +They needed no urging from him to increase their stakes. The fever of +the gambler was on each of them, and soon the alleged Italian began to +be embarrassed in keeping up the pace he had set for himself. It +required now an enormous sum to pay even double the amount taken at +the door. The necromancer announced that the meetings would be held +less often, but the nobles would not have it so. Then his experiments +became less and less successful. One night the bonus amounted only to +half the coins given to the treasurer, and then there were ominous +grumblings. At the next meeting the bare amount paid in was given +back, and the deep roar of resentment which greeted this proclamation +made the foreigner tremble in his red robe. The ambassador was sending +messenger after messenger to France, and looked anxiously for their +return, while the necromancer did everything to gain time. At last +there came an experiment which failed entirely; no gold was produced +in the crucible. The alchemist begged for a postponement, but +swords flashed forth and he was compelled on the spot to renew his +incantation. If gold could be made on one occasion why not on another? +cried the barons with some show of reason. The conjurer had conjured +up a demon he could not control; the demon of greed. + +The only man about the court who seemed to know nothing of what was +going forward was the king himself. The French ambassador narrowly +watched his actions, but James was the same free-hearted, jovial, +pleasure-seeking monarch he had always been. He hunted and caroused, +and was the life of any party of pleasure which sallied forth from the +castle. He disappeared now and then, as was his custom, and could not +be found, although his nobles winked at one another, while the +perturbed French ambassador looked anxiously for the treasure ship +that never came. + +At last the nobles, who, in spite of their threatenings, had too much +shrewdness to kill the gold-maker, hoping his lapse of power was only +temporary, forced the question to a head and made appeal to the +astonished king himself. Here was a man, they said, who could make +gold and wouldn't. They desired a mandate to go forth, compelling him +to resume the lucrative occupation he had abandoned. + +The king pressed his amazement at what he heard, and summoned the +mountebank before him. The gold-maker abandoned his robe of scarlet +and appeared before James dressed soberly. He confessed that he knew +the secret of extracting gold from ordinary soil, but submitted that +he was not a Scottish citizen and therefore could not properly be +coerced by the Scottish laws so long as he infringed none of the +statutes. The king held that this appeal was well founded, and +disclaimed any desire to coerce a citizen of a friendly state. At this +the charlatan brightened perceptibly, and proportionately the gloom on +the brows of the nobles deepened. + +"But if you can produce gold, as you say, why do you refuse to do so?" +demanded the king. + +"I respectfully submit to your majesty," replied the mountebank, "that +I have now perfected an invention of infinitely greater value than the +gold-making process; an invention that will give Scotland a power +possessed by no other nation, and which will enable it to conquer any +kingdom, no matter how remote it may be from this land I so much +honour. I wish, then, to devote the remaining energies of my life to +the enlarging of this invention, rather than waste my time in what is, +after all, the lowest pursuit to which a man may demean himself, +namely, the mere gathering of money," and the speaker cast a glance of +triumph at the disgruntled barons. + +"I quite agree with you regarding your estimation of acquisitiveness," +said the king cordially, giving no heed to the murmurs of his +followers. "In what does this new invention consist?" + +"It is simply a pair of wings, your majesty, made from the finest silk +which I import from France. They may be fitted to any human being, and +they give that human being the power which birds have long possessed." + +"Well," said the king with a laugh, "I should be the last to teach a +Scottish warrior to fly; still the ability to do so would have been, +on several occasions, advantageous to us. Have you your wings at +hand?" + +"Yes, your majesty." + +"Then you yourself shall test them in our presence." + +"But I should like to spend, your majesty, some further time on +preparation," demurred the man uneasily. + +"I thought you said a moment ago that the invention was perfect." + +"Nothing human is perfect, your majesty, and if I said so I spoke with +the over-confidence of the inventor. I have, however, succeeded in +sailing through the air, but cannot yet make way against a wind." + +"Oh, you have succeeded so far as to interest us in a most attractive +experiment. Bid your assistant bring them at once, and let us +understand their principle. I rejoice to know that Scotland is to have +the benefit of your great genius." + +Farini showed little enthusiasm anent the king's confidence in him. He +had, during the colloquy, cast many an anxious glance towards the +French ambassador, apparently much to the annoyance of that high +dignitary, for now the Frenchman, seeing his continued hesitation, +said sharply,-- + +"You have heard his majesty's commands; get on your paraphernalia." + +When the Italian was at last equipped, looking like a demon in a +painting that hung in the chapel, the king led the way to the edge of +Stirling cliff. + +"There," he said, indicating a spot on the brow of the precipice, "you +could not find in all Scotland a better vantage-point for a flight." + +[Illustration: "WITH A WILD SCREAM FARINI ENDEAVOURED TO SUPPORT +HIMSELF WITH HIS GAUZE-LIKE WINGS."] + +The terrified man stood for a moment on the verge of the appalling +precipice; then he gave utterance to a remarkable pronouncement, the +import of which was perhaps misunderstood because of the chattering +of his teeth. + +"Oh, not here, your majesty! Forgive me, and I will confess +everything. The gold which I pretended to----" + +"Fly, you fool!" cried the French ambassador, pushing the Italian +suddenly between the shoulders and launching him into space. With a +wild scream Farini endeavoured to support himself with his gauze-like +wings, and for a moment seemed to hover in mid-air; but the framework +cracked and the victim, whirling head over heels, fell like a plummet +to the bottom of the cliff. + +"I fear you have been too impetuous with him," said the king severely, +although as his majesty glanced at Sir David Lyndsay the faint +suspicion of a wink momentarily obscured his eye,--a temporary veiling +of the royal refulgence, which passed unnoticed as every one else was +gazing over the cliff at the motionless form of the fallen man. + +"I am to blame, sire," replied the ambassador contritely, "but I think +the villain is an impostor, and I could not bear to see your royal +indulgence trifled with. However, I am willing to make amends for my +imprudence, and if the scoundrel lives, I shall, at my own expense, +transport him instantly to France, where he shall have the attendance +of the best surgeons the country affords." + +"That is very generous of you," replied the king. + +And the ambassador, craving permission to retire, hastened to +translate his benevolence into action. + +Farini was still unconscious when the ambassador and his attendants +reached him; but the French nobleman proved as good as his word, for +he had the injured man, whose thigh-bone was broken, conveyed in a +litter to Leith, and from there shipped to France. But it was many a +day before the Scottish nobles ceased to deplore the untimely +departure of their gold-maker. + +[Illustration: "THE KING HAD COMPOSED A POEM IN THIRTEEN STANZAS, +ENTITLED 'THE BEGGAR MAN.'"] + + + + +THE KING A-BEGGING + + +Literary ambition has before now led men into difficulties. The king +had completed a poem in thirteen stanzas entitled "The Beggar Man," +and the prime requisite of a completed poem is an audience to listen +to it. In spite of the fact that he wrote poetry, the king was a +sensible person, and he knew that if he read his verses to the court, +the members thereof were not the persons to criticise adequately the +merits of such a composition; for you cannot expect a high noble, who, +if he ever notices a beggar, merely does so to throw a curse at him, +or lay the flat of his sword over his shoulders, to appreciate an epic +which celebrates the free life led by a mendicant. + +The king was well aware that he would receive ample praise for his +production; king's goods are ever the best in the market, and though, +like every other literary man, it was praise and not criticism that +James wanted, still he preferred to have such praise from the lips of +one who knew something of the life he tried to sing; therefore, as +evening came on, the monarch dressed himself in his farmer costume, +and, taking his thirteen stanzas with him, ventured upon a cautious +visit to his friend the cobbler in the lower town of Stirling. + +The cobbler listened with an attention which was in itself flattering, +and paid his royal visitor the additional compliment of asking him to +repeat certain of the verses, which the king in his own heart thought +were the best. Then when the thirteenth stanza was arrived at, with +the "No-that-bad" commendation, which is dear to the heart of the +chary Scotchman, be he of high or low degree, Flemming continued,-- + +"They might be worse, and we've had many a poet of great reputation in +Scotland who would not be ashamed to father them. But I'm thinking you +paint the existence of a beggar in brighter colours than the life +itself warrants." + +"No, no, Flemming," protested the king earnestly. "I'm convinced that +only the beggar knows what true contentment is. You see he begins at +the very bottom of the ladder and every step he takes must be a step +upward. Now imagine a man at the top, like myself; any move I make in +the way of changing my condition must be downward. A beggar is the +real king, and a king is but a beggar, for he holds his position by +the favour of others. You see, Flemming, anything a beggar gets is so +much to the good; and, as he has nothing to lose, not even his +head--for who would send a beggar to the block--he must needs be +therefore the most contented man on the face of the footstool." + +"Oh, that's maybe true enough," replied Flemming, set in his own +notion notwithstanding it was the king who opposed him; "but look you, +what a scope a beggar has for envy, for there's nobody he meets that's +not better off than himself." + +"You go to extremes, Flemming. An envious man is unhappy wherever you +place him; but I'm speaking of ordinary persons like ourselves, with +charity and good-will toward all their fellow-kind. That man, I say, +is happier as a beggar than as a king." + +"Well, in so far as concerns myself, your majesty, I'd like to be +sure of a roof over my head when the rain's coming down, and of that a +beggar never can be. A king or a cobbler has a place to lay his head, +at any rate." + +"Aye," admitted the king, "but sometimes that place is the block. To +tell you the truth, Flemming, I'm thinking of taking a week at the +begging myself. A poet should have practical knowledge of the subject +about which he writes. Give me a week on the road, Flemming, and I'll +pen you a poem on beggary that will get warmer praise from you than +this has had." + +"I give your rhyming the very highest praise, and say that Gavin +Douglas himself might have been proud had he put those lines +together." + +To this the king made no reply, and the cobbler, looking up at him, +saw that a frown marred his brow. Then he remembered, as usual a +trifle late, James's hatred of the Douglas name; a hatred that had +been honestly earned by the Earl of Angus, head of that clan. Flemming +was learning that it was as dangerous to praise, as to criticise a +king. With native caution however, the cobbler took no notice of his +majesty's displeasure, but added an amendment to his first statement. + +"It would perhaps be more truthful to say that the verses are worthy +of Sir David Lyndsay. In fact, although Sir David is a greater poet +than Gavin Douglas, I doubt very much if in his happiest moments he +could have equalled 'The Beggar Man.'" + +In mentioning Sir David Lyndsay, Flemming had named the king's +greatest friend, and the cobbler's desire to please could not have +escaped the notice of a man much less shrewd than was James the Fifth. +The king rose to his feet, checking a laugh. + +"Man Flemming," he said, "I wonder at you! Have you forgotten that Sir +David Lyndsay married Janet Douglas?" + +The palpable dismay on the cobbler's countenance caused the young man +to laugh outright. + +"The cobbler should stick to his honesty, and not endeavour to tread +the slippery path of courtiership. Flemming, if I wanted flattery I +could get that up at the castle. I come down here for something +better. If anything I could write were half so good as Sir David's +worst, I should be a pleased man. But I'm learning, Flemming, I'm +learning. This very day some of my most powerful nobles have presented +me with a respectful petition. A year ago I should have said 'No' +before I had got to the signature of it. But now I have thanked them +for their attention to affairs of State, although between me and you +and that bench, Flemming, it's a pure matter of their own greed and +selfishness. So I've told them I will give the subject my deepest +consideration, and that they shall have their answer this day +fortnight. Is not that the wisdom of the serpent combined with the +harmlessness of the dove?" + +"It is indeed," agreed the cobbler. + +"Very well; to-morrow it shall be given out that this petition will +occupy my mind for at least a week, and during that time the king is +invisible to all comers, high or low. To-morrow, Flemming, you'll get +me as clean a suit of beggar's rags as you can lay your hands on. I'll +come down here as the Master of Ballengeich, and leave these farmer's +clothes in your care. I shall pass from this door as a beggar, and +come back to it in the same condition a week or ten days hence, so see +that you're at hand to receive me." + +"Does your majesty intend to go alone?" + +"Entirely alone, Flemming. Bless me, do you imagine I would tramp the +country as a beggar with a troop of horse at my back?" + +"Your majesty would be wise to think twice of such a project," warned +the cobbler. + +"Oh, well, I've doubled the number; I've thought four times about it; +once when I was writing the poem, and three times while you were +raising objections to my assertion that the beggar is the happiest man +on earth." + +"If your majesty's mind is fixed, then there's no more to be said. But +take my advice and put a belt round your body with a number of gold +pieces in it, for the time may come when you'll want a horse in a +hurry, and perhaps you may be refused lodgings even when you greatly +need them; in either case a few gold rascals will stand your friend." + +"That's canny counsel, Flemming, and I'll act on it." + +"And perhaps it might be as well to leave with some one in whom you +have confidence, instructions so that you could be communicated with +if your presence was needed hurriedly at Stirling." + +"No, no, Flemming. Nothing can go wrong in a week. A beggar with a +string tied to his legs that some one in Stirling can pull at his +pleasure, is not a real beggar, but a slave. If they should want me +sorely in Stirling before I return, they'll think the more of me once +I am back." + +And thus it came about that the King of Scotland, with a belt of gold +around his waist in case of need, and garments concealing the belt +which gave little indication that anything worth a robber's care was +underneath, tramped the high roads and byways of a part of Scotland, +finding in general a welcome wherever he went, for he could tell a +story that would bring a laugh, and sing a song that would bring a +tear, and all such rarely starve or lack shelter in this sympathetic +world. + +Only once did he feel himself in danger, and that was on what he +thought to be the last day of his tramp, for in the evening he +expected to reach the lower town of Stirling, even though he came to +it late in the night. But the weather of Scotland has always something +to say to the pedestrian, and it delights in upsetting his plans. + +He was still more than two leagues from his castle, and the dark +Forest of Torwood lay between him and royal Stirling, when towards the +end of a lowering day, there came up over the hills to the west one of +the fiercest storms he had ever beheld, which drove him for shelter to +a wayside inn on the outskirts of the forest. The place of shelter was +low and forbidding enough, but needs must when a Scottish storm +drives, and the king burst in on a drinking company, bringing a swirl +of rain and a blast of wind with him; so fierce in truth was the wind +that one of the drinkers had to spring to his feet and put his +shoulder to the door before the king could get it closed again. He +found but scant welcome in the company. Those seated on the benches by +the fire scowled at him; and the landlord seeing he was but a beggar, +did not limit his displeasure to so silent a censure. + +"What in the fiend's name," he cried angrily, "does the like of you +want in here?" + +The king nonchalantly shook the water from his rags and took a step +nearer the fire. + +"That is a very unnecessary question, landlord," said the young man +with a smile, "nevertheless, I will answer it. I want shelter in the +first place, and food and drink as soon as you can bring them." + +"Shelter you can get behind a stone dyke or in the forest," retorted +his host; "food and drink are for those who can pay for it. Get you +gone! You mar good company." + +"In truth, landlord, your company is none to my liking, but I happen +to prefer it to the storm. Food and drink, you say, are for those who +can pay; you see one of them before you, therefore, sir, hasten to +your duty, or it may be mine to hurry you unpleasantly." + +This truculence on the part of a supposed beggar had not the effect +one might have expected of increasing the boisterousness of the +landlord. That individual well knew that many beggars were better able +to pay their way than was he himself when he took to journeying, so he +replied more civilly,-- + +"I'll take your order for a meal when I have seen the colour of your +money." + +"Quite right," said the king, "and only fair Scottish caution." Then +with a lack of that quality he had just commended, he drew his belt +out from under his coat, and taking a gold piece from it, threw the +coin on the table. + +The entrance of the king and the manner of his reception exposed him +to the danger almost sure to attend the display of so much wealth in +such forbidding company. A moment later he realised the jeopardy in +which his rashness had placed him, by the significant glances which +the half-dozen rough men there seated gave to each other. He was alone +and unarmed in a disreputable bothy on the edge of a forest, well +known as the refuge of desperate characters. He wished that he had +even one of the sharp knives belonging to his friend the cobbler, so +that he might defend himself. However, the evil was done, if evil it +was, and there was no help for it. James was never a man to cross a +bridge before he came to it; so he set himself down to the steaming +venison brought for his refreshment, and made no inquiry whether it +were poached or not, being well aware that any question in that +direction was as unnecessary as had been the landlord's first query +to himself. He was young. His appetite, at all times of the best, was +sharpened by his journey, and the ale, poor as it was, seemed to +him the finest brew he had ever tasted. The landlord was now all +obsequiousness, and told the beggar he could command the best in the +house. + +When the time came to retire, his host brought the king by a ladder to +a loft which occupied the whole length of the building, and muttered +something about the others sleeping here as well, but thanked Heaven +there was room enough for an army. + +"This will not do for me," said the beggar, coming down again. "I'll +take to the storm first. What is this chamber leading out from the +tap-room?" + +"That is my own," replied the landlord, with some return of his old +incivility, "and I'll give it up to no beggar." + +The king without answering opened the door of the chamber and found +himself in a room that could be barricaded. Taking a light with him he +examined it more minutely. + +"Is this matchlock loaded?" he asked, pointing to a clumsy gun, which +had doubtless caused the death of more than one deer in the forest. + +The landlord answered in surly fashion that it was, but the king +tested the point for himself. + +"Now," he said, "I rest here, and you will see that I am not +disturbed. Any man who attempts to enter this room gets the contents +of this gun in him, and I'll trust to my two daggers to take care of +the rest." + +He had no dagger with him, but he spoke for the benefit of the company +in the tap-room. Something in his resolute manner seemed to impress +the landlord, who grumbled, muttering half to himself and half to his +companions, but he nevertheless retired, leaving the king alone, +whereupon James fortified the door, and afterward slept unmolested the +sleep of a tired man, until broad day woke him. + +Wonderful is the change wrought in a man's feelings by a fair morning. +A new day; a new lease of life. The recurrent morning must have been +contrived to give discouraged humanity a fresh chance. The king, +amazed to find that he had slept so soundly in spite of the weight +of apprehension on his mind the night before, discovered this +apprehension to be groundless in the clear light of the new day. The +sulky villains of the tap-room were now honest fellows who would harm +no one, and James laughed aloud at his needless fears; the loaded +matchlock in the corner giving no hint of its influence towards a +peaceful night. The landlord seemed, indeed, a most civil person, +who would be the last to turn a penniless man from his door. James, +over his breakfast, asked what had become of the company, and his +host replied that they were woodlanders; good lads in their way, but +abashed before strangers. Some of them had gone to their affairs in +the forest and others had proceeded to St. Ninians, to enjoy the +hanging set for that day. + +"And which way may your honour be journeying?" asked the innkeeper, +"for I see that you are no beggar." + +"I am no beggar at such an inhospitable house as this," replied the +wayfarer, "but elsewhere I am a beggar, that is to say, the gold I +come by is asked for, and not earned." + +"Ah, that's it, is it?" said the other with a nod, "but for such a +trade you need your weapons by your side." + +"The deadliest weapons," rejoined the king mysteriously, "are not +always those most plainly on view. The sting of the wasp is generally +felt before it is seen." + +The landlord was plainly disturbed by the intelligence he had +received, and now made some ado to get the change for the gold piece, +but his guest replied airily that it did not matter. + +"With whatever's coming to me," he said, "feed the next beggar that +applies to you on a rainy night with less at his belt to commend him +than I have." + +"Well, good-day to you, and thank you," said the innkeeper. "If you're +going Stirling way, your road's straight through the forest, and when +you come to St. Ninians you'll be in time to see a fine hanging, for +they're throttling Baldy Hutchinson to-day, the biggest man between +here and the Border, yes, and beyond it, I warrant." + +"That will be interesting," replied the king. "Good-day to you." + +[Illustration: "FIVE STALWART RUFFIANS FELL UPON HIM."] + +At the side of the wall, which ran from the end of the hostel and +enclosed a bit of ground appertaining to it, James stooped ostensibly +to tie his shoe, but in reality to learn if his late host made any +move, for he suspected that the sinister company of the night +before might not be so far away as the landlord had intimated. His +stratagem was not without its reward. The back door opened, and he +heard the landlord say in a husky whisper to some one unseen,-- + +"Run, Jock, as fast's you can to the second turning in the road, and +tell Steenie and his men they'd best leave this chap alone; he's a +robber himself." + +The king smiled as he walked slowly north towards the forest and saw a +bare-legged boy race at great speed across the fields and disappear at +their margin. He resolved to give time for this message to arrive, so +that he might not be molested, and therefore sauntered at a more +leisurely rate than that at which a man usually begins a journey on an +inspiring morning. + +Entering the forest at last, he relaxed no precaution, but kept to the +middle of the road with his stout stick ready in his hand. Whether +Jock found his men or not he never learned, but at the second turning +five stalwart ruffians fell upon him; two armed with knives, and three +with cudgels. The king's early athletic training was to be put to a +practical test. His first action was to break the wrist of one of the +scoundrels who held a knife, but before he could pay attention to any +of the others he had received two or three resounding blows from the +cudgels, and now was fully occupied warding off their strokes, backing +down the road to keep his assailants in front of him. His great +agility gave him an advantage over the comparative clumsiness of the +four yokels who pressed him, but he was well aware that an unguarded +blow might lay him at their mercy. He was more afraid of the single +knife than of the three clubs, and springing through a fortunate +opening was delighted to crack the crown of the man who held the +blade, stretching him helpless in a cart rut. The three who remained +seemed in no way disheartened by the discomfiture of their comrades, +but came on with greater fury. The king retreated and retreated +baffling their evident desire to get in his rear, and thus the +fighting four came to the corner of the road that James had passed a +short time previously. One of the trio got in a nasty crack on the top +of the beggar's bonnet, which brought him to his knees, and before he +could recover his footing, a blow on the shoulder felled him. At this +critical juncture there rose a wild shout down the road, for the +fighting party, in coming round the turn, had brought themselves +within view of a sturdy pedestrian forging along at a great pace, +which he nevertheless marvellously accelerated on seeing the melee. +For a moment the dazed man on the ground thought that the landlord +had come to his rescue, but it was not so. It seemed as if a remnant +of the storm had swept like a whirlwind among the aggressors, for the +newcomer in the fray, with savage exclamations, which showed his +delight in a tumult, scattered the enemy as a tornado drives before it +the leaves of a forest. The king raised himself on his elbow and +watched the gigantic stranger lay about him with his stick, while the +five, with cries of terror, disappeared into the forest, for the two +that were prostrate had now recovered wind enough to run. + +"Losh," panted the giant, returning to the man on the road, "I wish +I'd been here at the beginning." + +"Thank goodness you came at the end," said the king, staggering +unsteadily to his feet. + +"Are you hurt?" asked the stranger. + +"I'm not just sure yet," replied the king, removing his bonnet and +rubbing the top of his head with a circular movement of his hand. + +"Just a bit cloor on the croon," said the other in broad Lowland +Scotch. "It stunners a man, but it's nothin' ava when ye can stan' on +your ain feet." + +"Oh, it's not the first time I've had to fight for my crown," said +James with a laugh, "but five to one are odds a little more heavy than +I care to encounter." + +"Are ye able to walk on, for I'm in a bit o' a hurry, as ye'd have +seen if your attention hadna been turned to the north." + +"Oh, quite able," replied the king as they strode along together. + +"What's wrong wi' those scamps to lay on a poor beggar man?" asked the +stranger. + +"Nothing, except that the beggar man is not so poor as he looks, and +has a belt of gold about him, which he was foolish enough to show last +night at the inn where these lads were drinking." + +"Then the lesson hasn't taught you much, or you wouldn't say that to a +complete stranger in the middle of a black forest, and you alone with +him, that is, unless they've succeeded in reiving the belt away from +you?" + +"No, they have not robbed me, and to show you that I am not such a +fool as you take me for, I may add that the moment you came up I +resolved to give to my rescuer every gold piece that is in my belt. So +you see, if you thought of robbing me, there's little use in taking by +force what a man is more than willing to give you of his own free +will." + +The giant threw back his head and the wood resounded with his +laughter. + +"What I have said seems to amuse you," said the king not too well +pleased at the boisterous merriment of his companion. + +"It does that," replied the stranger, still struggling with his mirth; +then striking the king on the shoulder, he continued, "I suppose there +is not another man in all broad Scotland to-day but me, that wouldn't +give the snap of his fingers for all the gold you ever carried." + +"Then you must be wealthy," commented the king. "Yet it can't be that, +for the richest men I know are the greediest." + +"No, it isn't that," rejoined the stranger, "but if you wander +anywhere about this region you will understand what I mean when I tell +you that I'm Baldy Hutchinson." + +"Baldy Hutchinson!" echoed the king, wrinkling his brows, trying to +remember where he had heard that name before, then with sudden +enlightenment,-- + +"What, not the man who is to be hanged to-day at St. Ninians?" + +"The very same, so you see that all the gold ever minted is of +little use to a man with a tightening rope round his neck." And +the comicality of the situation again overcoming Mr. Hutchinson, +his robust sides shook once more with laughter. + +The king stopped in the middle of the road and stared at his companion +with amazement. + +"Surely you are aware," he said at last, "that you are on the direct +road to St. Ninians?" + +"Surely, surely," replied Baldy, "and you remind me, that we must not +stand yammering here, for there will be a great gathering there to see +the hanging. All my friends are there now, and if I say it, who +shouldn't, I've more friends than possibly any other man in this part +of Scotland." + +"But, do you mean that you are going voluntarily to your own hanging? +Bless my soul, man, turn in your tracks and make for across the +Border." + +Hutchinson shook his head. + +"If I had intended to do that," he said, "I could have saved myself +many a long step yesterday and this morning, for I was a good deal +nearer the Border than I am at this moment. No, no, you see I have +passed my word. The sheriff gave me a week among my own friends to +settle my worldly affairs, and bid the wife and the bairns good-bye. +So I said to the sheriff, 'I'm your man whenever you are ready for +the hanging.' Now, the word of Baldy Hutchinson has never been broken +yet, and the sheriff knew it, although I must admit he swithered long +ere he trusted it on an occasion like this. But at last he said to me, +'Baldy,' says he, 'I'll take your plighted word. You've got a week +before you, and you must just go and come as quietly as you can, and +be here before the clock strikes twelve on Friday, for folk'll want to +see you hanged before they have their dinners.' And that's what way +I'm in such a hurry now, for I'm feared the farmers will be gathered, +and that it will be difficult for me to place myself in the hands of +the sheriff without somebody getting to jalouse what has happened." + +"I've heard many a strange tale," said the king, "but this beats +anything in my experience." + +"Oh there's a great deal to be picked up by tramping the roads," +replied Hutchinson sagely. + +"What is your crime?" inquired his majesty. + +"Oh, the crime's neither here nor there. If they want to hang a man, +they'll hang him crime or no crime." + +"But why should they want to hang a man with so many friends?" + +"Well, you see a man may have many friends and yet two or three +powerful enemies. My crime, as you call it, is that I'm related to the +Douglases; that's the real crime; but that's not what I'm to be hanged +for. Oh no, it's all done according to the legal satisfaction of the +lawyers. I'm hanged for treason to the king; a right royal crime, that +dubs a man a gentleman as much as if the king's sword slaps his bended +back; a crime that better men than me have often suffered for, and +that many will suffer for yet ere kings are abolished, I'm thinking. +You see, as I said, I married into the Douglas family, and when the +Earl of Angus let this young sprig of a king slip through his fingers, +it was as much as one's very life was worth to whisper the name of +Douglas. Now I think the Earl of Angus a good man, and when he was +driven to England, and the Douglases scattered far and wide by this +rapscallion callant with a crown on his head, I being an outspoken +man, gave my opinion of the king, damn him, and there were plenty to +report it. I did not deny it, indeed I do not deny it to-day, +therefore my neck's like to be longer before the sun goes down." + +"But surely," exclaimed the beggar, "they will not hang a man in +Scotland for merely saying a hasty word against the king?" + +"There's more happens in this realm than the king kens of, and all +done in his name too. But to speak truth, there was a bit extra +against me as well. A wheen of the daft bodies in Stirling made up a +slip of a plot to trap the king and put him in hiding for a while +until he listened to what they called reason. There were two weavers +among them and weavers are always plotting; a cobbler, and such like +people, and they sent word, would I come and help them. I was fool +enough to write them a note, and entrusted it to their messenger. I +told them to leave the king alone until I came to Stirling, and then I +would just nab him myself, put him under my oxter and walk down +towards the Border with him, for I knew that if they went on they'd +but lose their silly heads. And so, wishing no harm to the king, I +made my way to Stirling, but did not get within a mile of it, for they +tripped me up at St. Ninians, having captured my letter. So I was +sentenced, and it seems the king found out all about their plot as I +knew he would, and pardoned the men who were going to kidnap him, +while the man who wanted to stop such foolishness is to be hanged in +his name." + +"That seems villainously unfair," said the beggar. "Didn't the eleven +try to do anything for you?" + +"How do you know there were eleven?" cried Hutchinson, turning round +upon him. + +"I thought you said eleven." + +"Well, maybe I did, maybe I did; yes, there were eleven of them. They +never got my letter. Their messenger was a traitor, as is usually the +case, and merely told them I would have nothing to do with their +foolish venture; and that brings me to the point I have been coming +to. You see although I would keep my word in any case, yet I'm not so +feared to approach St. Ninians as another man might be. Young Jamie, +the king, seems to have more sense in his noodle than he gets credit +for. Some of his forbears would have snapped off the heads of that +eleven without thinking more of the matter, but he seems to have +recognised they were but poor silly bodies, and so let them go. Now +the moment they set me at liberty, a week since, I got a messenger I +could trust, and sent him to the cobbler, Flemming by name. I told +Flemming I was to be hanged, but he had still a week to get me a +reprieve. I asked him to go to the king and tell him the whole truth +of the matter, so I'm thinking that a pardon will be on the scaffold +there before me; still, the disappointment of the hundreds waiting to +see the hanging will be great." + +"Good God!" cried the beggar aghast, stopping dead in the middle of +the road and regarding his comrade with horror. + +"What's wrong with you?" asked the big man stopping also. + +"Has it never occurred to you that the king may be away from the +palace, and no one in the place able to find him?" + +"No one able to find the King of Scotland? That's an unheard-of +thing." + +"Listen to me, Hutchinson. Let us avoid St. Ninians, and go direct to +Stirling; it's only a mile or two further on. Let us see the cobbler +before running your neck into a noose." + +"But, man, the cobbler will be at St. Ninians, either with a pardon or +to see me hanged, like the good friend he is." + +"There will be no pardon at St. Ninians. Let us to Stirling; let us to +Stirling. I know that the king has not been at home for a week past." + +"How can you know that?" + +"Never mind how I know it. Will you do what I tell you?" + +"Not I! I'm a lad o' my word." + +"Then you are a doomed man. I tell you the king has not been in +Stirling since you left St. Ninians." Then with a burst of impatience +James cried, "You stubborn fool, I am the king!" + +At first the big man seemed inclined to laugh, and he looked over the +beggar from top to toe, but presently an expression of pity overspread +his countenance, and he spoke soothingly to his comrade. + +"Yes, yes, my man," he said, "I knew you were the king from the very +first. Just sit down on this stone for a minute and let me examine +that clip you got on the top of the head. I fear me it's worse than I +thought it was." + +"Nonsense," cried the king, "my head is perfectly right; it is yours +that is gone aglee." + +"True enough, true enough," continued Hutchinson mildly, in the tone +that he would have used towards a fractious child, "and you are not +the first that's said it. But let us get on to St. Ninians." + +"No, let us make direct for Stirling." + +"I'll tell you what we'll do," continued Hutchinson in the same tone +of exasperating tolerance. "I'll to St. Ninians and let them know the +king's pardon's coming. You'll trot along to Stirling, put on your +king's clothes and then come and set me free. That's the way we'll +arrange it, my mannie." + +The king made a gesture of despair, but remained silent, and they +walked rapidly down the road together. They had quitted the forest, +and the village of St. Ninians was now in view. As they approached the +place more nearly, Hutchinson was pleased to see that a great crowd +had gathered to view the hanging. He seemed to take this as a personal +compliment to himself; as an evidence of his popularity. + +The two made their way to the back of the great assemblage where a few +soldiers guarded an enclosure within which was the anxious sheriff and +his minor officials. + +"Bless me, Baldy!" cried the sheriff in a tone of great relief, "I +thought you had given me the slip." + +"Ye thought naething o' the kind, sheriff," rejoined Baldy +complacently. "I said I would be here, and here I am." + +"You are just late enough," grumbled the sheriff. "The people have +been waiting this two hours." + +"They'll think it all the better when they see it," commented Baldy. +"I was held back a bit on the road. Has there no message come from the +king?" + +"Could you expect it, when the crime's treason?" asked the sheriff +impatiently, "but there's been a cobbler here that's given me more +bother than twenty kings, and cannot be pacified. He says the king's +away from Stirling, and this execution must be put by for another ten +days, which is impossible." + +"Allow me a word in your ear privately," said the beggar to the +sheriff. + +"I'll see you after the job's done," replied the badgered man. "I have +no more places to give away, you must just stand your chances with the +mob." + +Baldy put his open hand to the side of his mouth and whispered to the +sheriff: + +"This beggar man," he said, "has been misused by a gang of thieves in +Torwood Forest." + +"I cannot attend to that now," rejoined the sheriff with increasing +irritation. + +"No, no," continued Baldy suavely, "it's no that, but he's got a +frightful dunner on the top o' the head, and he thinks he's the king." + +"I _am_ the king," cried the beggar, overhearing the last word of +caution, "and I warn you, sir, that you proceed with this execution +at your peril. I am James of Scotland, and I forbid the hanging." + +At this moment there broke through the insufficient military guard a +wild unkempt figure, whose appearance caused trepidation to the +already much-tried sheriff. + +"There's the crazy cobbler again," he moaned dejectedly. "Now the +fat's all in the fire. I think I'll hang the three of them, trial or +no trial." + +"Oh, your majesty!" cried the cobbler,--and it was hard to say which +of the two was the more disreputable in appearance,--"this man +Hutchinson is innocent. You will surely not allow the hanging to take +place, now you are here." + +"I'll not allow it, if I can prevent it, and can get this fool of a +sheriff to listen." + +"Fool of a sheriff! say you," stuttered that official in rising anger. +"Here, guard, take these two ragamuffins into custody, and see that +they are kept quiet till this hanging's done with. Hutchinson, get up +on the scaffold; this is all your fault. Hangman, do your duty." + +Baldy Hutchinson, begging the cobbler to make no further trouble, +mounted the steps leading to the platform, the hangman close behind +him. Before the guard could lay hands on the king, he sprang also up +the steps, and took a place on the outward edge of the scaffold. +Raising his hand, he demanded silence. + +"I am James, King of Scotland," he proclaimed in stentorian tones. "I +command you as loyal subjects to depart to your homes. There will be +no execution to-day. The king reprieves Baldy Hutchinson." + +The cobbler stood at the king's back, and when he had ended, lifted +his voice and shouted,-- + +"God save the King!" + +The mob heard the announcement in silence, and then a roar of laughter +followed, as they gazed at the two tattered figures on the edge of the +platform. But the laughter was followed by an ominous howl of rage, as +they understood that they were like to be cheated of a spectacle. + +[Illustration: "'I AM JAMES, KING OF SCOTLAND,' HE PROCLAIMED, IN +STENTORIAN TONES."] + +"Losh, I'll king him," shouted the indignant sheriff, as he mounted +the steps, and before the beggar or his comrade could defend +themselves, that official with his own hands precipitated them down +among the assemblage at the foot of the scaffold. And now the spirit +of a wild beast was let loose among the rabble. The king and his +henchman staggered to their feet and beat off, as well as they +could, the multitude that pressed vociferously upon them. A soldier, +struggling through, tried to arrest the beggarman, but the king nimbly +wrested his sword from him, and circled the blade in the air with a +venomous hiss of steel that caused the nearer portion of the mob to +press back eagerly, as, a moment before, they had pressed forward. The +man who swung a blade like that was certainly worthy of respect, be he +beggar or monarch. The cobbler's face was grimed and bleeding, but +the king's newly won sword cleared a space around him. And now the +bellowing voice of Baldy Hutchinson made itself heard above the din. + +"Stand back from him," he shouted. "They're decent honest bodies, even +if they've gone clean mad." + +But now these at the back of the crowd were forcing the others +forward, and Baldy saw that in spite of the sword, his old and his new +friend would be presently engulfed. He turned to one of the upright +posts of the scaffold and gave it a tremendous shuddering kick; then +reaching up to the cross-bar and exerting his Samson-like strength, he +wrenched it with a crash of tearing wood down from its position, and +armed with this formidable weapon he sprung into the mob, scattering +it right and left with his hangman's beam. + +"A riot and a rescue!" roared the sheriff. "Mount, Trooper MacKenzie, +and ride as if the devil were after you to Stirling; to Stirling, man, +and bring back with you a troop of the king's horse." + +"We must stop that man getting to Stirling," said Baldy, "or he'll +have the king's men on you. I'll clear a way for you through the +people, and then you two must take leg bail for it to the forest." + +"Stand where you are," said the beggar. "The king's horse is what I +want to see." + +"Dods, you'll see them soon enough. Look at that gallop!" + +MacKenzie indeed had lost no time in getting astride his steed, and +was now disappearing towards Stirling like the wind. The more timorous +of the assemblage, fearing the oncoming of the cavalry, which usually +made short work of all opposition, caring little who was trampled +beneath horses' hoofs, began to disperse, and seek stations of greater +safety than the space before the scaffold afforded. + +"Believe me," said Baldy earnestly to his two friends, "you'd better +make your legs save your throttle. This is a hanging affair for you +as well as for me, for you've interfered with the due course of the +law." + +"It's not the first time I've done so," said the beggar with great +composure, and shortly after they heard the thunder of horses' hoofs +coming from the north. + +"Thank God!" said the sheriff when he heard the welcome sound. The mob +dissolved and left a free passage for the galloping cavalcade. The +stout Baldy Hutchinson and his two comrades stood alone to receive the +onset. + +The king took a few steps forward, raised his sword aloft and +shouted,-- + +"Halt, Sir Donald!" + +Sir Donald Sinclair obeyed the command so suddenly that his horse's +front feet tore up the turf as he reined back, while his sharp order +to the troop behind him brought the company to an almost instantaneous +stand. + +"Sir Donald," said the king, "I am for Stirling with my two friends +here. See that we are not followed, and ask this hilarious company to +disperse quietly to their homes. Do it kindly, Sir Donald. There is no +particular hurry, and they have all the afternoon before them. Bring +your troop back to Stirling in an hour or two." + +"Will your majesty not take my horse?" asked Sir Donald Sinclair. + +"No, Donald," replied the king with a smile, glancing down at his +rags. "Scottish horsemen have always looked well in the saddle; +yourself are an example of that, and I have no wish to make this +costume fashionable as a riding suit." + +The sheriff who stood by with dropped jaw, now flung himself on his +knees and craved pardon for laying hands on the Lord's anointed. + +"The least said of that the better," remarked the king drily. "But if +you are sorry, sheriff, that the people should be disappointed at not +seeing a man hanged, I think you would make a very good substitute for +my big friend Baldy here." + +The sheriff tremulously asserted that the populace were but too +pleased at this exhibition of the royal clemency. + +"If that is the case then," replied his majesty, "we shall not need to +trouble you. And so, farewell to you!" + +The king, Baldy, and the cobbler took the road towards Stirling, and +Sir Donald spread out his troop to intercept traffic in that +direction. Advancing toward the bewildered crowd, Sir Donald spoke to +them. + +"You will go quietly to your homes," he said. "You have not seen the +hanging, but you have witnessed to-day what none in Scotland ever saw +before, the king intervene personally to save a doomed man; therefore, +be satisfied, and go home." + +Some one in the mob cried,-- + +"Hurrah for the poor man's king! Cheer, lads, cheer!" A great uproar +was lifted to the skies; afar off the three pedestrians heard it, +and Baldy, the man of many friends, taking the clamour as a public +compliment to himself, waved his bonnet at the distant vociferous +multitude. + + + + +THE KING'S VISIT + + +"No, no," said the king decisively, "Bring them in, bring them in. +I'll have none cast into prison without at least a hearing. Have any +of your men been killed?" + +"No, your majesty," replied Sir Donald, "but some of them have wounds +they will not forget in a hurry; the Highlandmen fought like +tiger-cats." + +"How many are there of them?" asked the king. + +"Something more than a score, with a piper that's noisier than the +other twenty, led by a breechless ruffian, although I must say he +knows what to do with a sword." + +"All armed, you say?" + +"Every one of them but the piper. About half an hour ago they came +marching up the main street of Stirling, each man with his sword +drawn, and the pipes skirling death and defiance. They had the whole +town at their heels laughing and jeering at them and imitating the +wild Highland music. At first, they paid little attention to the mob +that followed them, but in the square their leader gave a word in +Gaelic, and at once the whole company swerved about and charged the +crowd. There was instant panic among the townspeople, who fled in all +directions out-screaming the pibroch in their fright. No one was hurt, +for the Highlandmen struck them with the flat of their swords, but +several were trampled under foot and are none the better for it." + +"It serves them right," commented the king. "I hope it will teach them +manners, towards strangers, at least. What followed?" + +"A whistle from their leader collected his helots again, and so they +marched straight from the square to the gates of the castle. The two +soldiers on guard crossed pikes before them, but the leader, without a +word, struck down their weapons and attempted to march in, brave as +you please; who but they! There was a bit of a scuffle at the gate, +then the bugle sounded and we surrounded them, trying to disarm them +peaceably at first, but they fought like demons, and so there's some +sore heads among them." + +"You disarmed them, of course?" + +"Certainly, your majesty." + +"Very well; bring them in and let us hear what they have to say for +themselves." + +The doors were flung open, a sharp command was given, and presently +there entered the group of Highlanders, disarmed and with their elbows +tied behind their backs. A strong guard of the soldiery accompanied +them on either side. The Highlanders were men of magnificent physique, +a quality that was enhanced by the picturesque costume they wore, in +spite of the fact that in some instances, this costume was in tatters, +and the wearers cut and bleeding. But, stalwart as his followers +were, their leader far outmeasured them in height and girth; a truly +magnificent specimen of the human race, who strode up the long room +with an imperial swagger such as had never before been seen in +Stirling, in spite of the fact that his arms were pinioned. He marched +on until he came before the king, and there took his stand, without +any indication of bowing his bonneted head, or bending his sturdy bare +knees. The moment the leader set his foot across the threshold, the +unabashed piper immediately protruded his chest, and struck up the +wild strain of "Failte mhic an Abba," or the Salute to the Chief. + +"Stop it, ye deevil!" cried the captain of the guard. "How dare you +set up such a squawking in the presence of the king?" and as the piper +paid not the slightest attention to him, he struck the mouth-piece +from the lips of the performer. This, however, did not cause a +cessation of the music, for the bag under the piper's elbow was filled +with wind and the fingers of the musician bravely kept up the strain +on the reed chanter with its nine holes, and thus he played until his +chief came to a stand before the king. The king gazed with undisguised +admiration upon the foremost Highlander, and said quietly to the +captain of the guard,-- + +"Unbind him!" + +On finding his arms released, the mountaineer stretched them out once +or twice, then folded them across his breast, making no motion however +to remove his plumed bonnet, although every one else in the room +except himself and his men were uncovered. + +"You have come in from the country," began the king, a suspicion of a +smile hovering about his lips, "to enjoy the metropolitan delights of +Stirling. How are you satisfied with your reception?" + +The big Highlandman made no reply, but frowned heavily, and bestowed a +savage glance on several of the courtiers, among whom a light ripple +of laughter had run after the king put his question. + +"These savages," suggested Sir Donald, "do not understand anything but +the Gaelic. Is it your majesty's pleasure that the interpreter be +called?" + +"Yes, bring him in." + +When the interpreter arrived, the king said,-- + +"Ask this man if his action is the forefront of a Highland invasion of +the Lowlands, or merely a little private attempt on his own part to +take the castle by assault?" + +The interpreter put the question in Gaelic, and was answered with +gruff brevity by the marauder. The interpreter, bowing low to the +king, said smoothly,-- + +"This man humbly begs to inform your majesty--" + +"Speak truth, MacPherson!" cautioned the king. "Translate faithfully +exactly what he says. Our friend here, by the look of him, does not +do anything humbly, or fawn or beg. Translate accurately. What does he +say?" + +The polite MacPherson was taken aback by this reproof, but answered,-- + +"He says, your majesty, he will hold no communication with me, because +I am of an inferior clan, which is untrue. The MacPhersons were a +civilised clan centuries ago, which the MacNabs are not to this day, +so please your majesty." + +The MacNab's hand darted to his left side, but finding no sword to his +grasp, it fell away again. + +"You are a liar!" cried the chief in very passable English which was +not to be misunderstood. "The MacPhersons are no clan, but an +insignificant branch of the Chattan. 'Touch not the Cat' is your +motto, and a good one, for a MacPherson can scratch but he cannot +handle the broadsword." + +MacPherson drew himself up, his face reddening with anger. His hand +also sought instinctively the hilt of his sword, but the presence in +which he stood restricted him. + +"It is quite safe," he said with something like the spit of a cat, +"for a heathen to insult a Christian in the presence of his king, and +the MacNabs have ever shown a taste for the cautious cause." + +"Tut, tut," cried the king with impatience, "am I to find myself +involved in a Highland feud in my own hall? MacPherson, it seems this +man does not require your interpreting, so perhaps it will further the +peace of our realm if you withdraw quietly." + +MacPherson with a low obeisance, did so; then to MacNab the king +spoke,-- + +"Sir, as it appears you are acquainted with our language, why did you +not reply to the question I put to you?" + +"Because I would have you know it was not the proper kind of question +to ask the like of me. I am a descendant of kings." + +"Well, as far as that goes, I am a descendant of kings myself, though +sorry I should be to defend all their actions." + +"Your family only began with Robert the Bruce; mine was old ere he +came to the throne." + +"That may well be, still you must admit that what Robert lacked in +ancestry, he furnished forth in ability." + +"But the Clan MacNab defeated him at the battle of Del Rhi." + +"True, with some assistance, which you ignore, from Alexander of +Argyll. However, if this discussion is to become a competition in +history, for the benefit of our ignorant courtiers, I may be allowed +to add that my good ancestor, Robert, did not forget the actions of +the MacNabs at Del Rhi, and later overran their country, dismantled +their fortresses, leaving the clan in a more sane and chastened +condition than that in which he found it. But what has all this to do +with your coming storming into a peaceable town like Stirling?" + +"In truth, your majesty," whispered Sir David Lyndsay, "I think they +must have come to replenish their wardrobe, and in that they are not a +moment too soon." + +"I came," said the chief, who had not heard this last remark, "because +of the foray you have mentioned. I came because Robert the Bruce +desolated our country." + +"By my good sword!" cried James, "speaking as one king to another, +your revenge is somewhat belated, a lapse of two centuries should have +outlawed the debt. Did you expect then to take Stirling with twenty +men?" + +"I expected King James the Fifth to rectify the wrong done by King +Robert the First." + +"Your expectation does honour to my reputation as a just man, but I +have already disclaimed responsibility for the deeds of ancestors less +remote than good King Robert." + +"You have made proclamation in the Highlands that the chieftains must +bring you proof of their right to occupy their lands." + +"I have, and some have preferred to me their deeds of tenure, others +prepared to fight; the cases have been settled in both instances. To +which of these two classes do you belong, Chief of the Clan MacNab?" + +"To neither. I cannot submit to you our parchments because Robert, +your ancestor, destroyed them. I cannot fight the army of the Lowlands +because my clan is small, therefore I, Finlay MacNab, fifth of my +name, as you are fifth of yours, come to you in peace, asking you to +repair the wrong done by your ancestor." + +"Indeed!" cried the king. "If the present advent typifies your idea of +a peaceful visit, then God forfend that I should ever meet you in +anger." + +"I came in peace and have been shamefully used." + +"You must not hold that against us," said James. "Look you now, if I +had come storming at your castle door, sword in hand, how would you +have treated me, Finlay the Fifth?" + +"If you had come with only twenty men behind you, I should treat you +with all the hospitality of Glendochart, which far exceeds that of +Stirling or any other part of your money-making Lowlands, where gold +coin is valued more than a steel blade." + +"It has all been a mistake," said the king with great cordiality. +"The parchment you seek shall be given you, and I trust that your +generosity, Lord of Glendochart, will allow me to amend your opinion +of Stirling hospitality. I shall take it kindly if you will be my +guests in the castle until my officers of law repair the harshness of +my ancestor, Robert." Then, turning to the guard the king continued,-- + +"Unbind these gentlemen, and return to them their arms." + +While the loosening of the men was rapidly being accomplished, the +captain of the guard brought the chief his sword, and would have +presented it to him, but the king himself rose and took the weapon in +his own hand, tendering it to its owner. The chieftain accepted the +sword and rested its point on the floor, then in dignified native +courtesy, he doffed his broad, feathered bonnet. + +"Sire," he said, with slow deliberation, "Scotland has a king that +this good blade shall ever be proud to serve." + +For three days, the MacNabs were the guests of the king in the +castle, while the legal documents were being prepared. King and +chieftain walked the town together, and all that Stirling had to show, +MacNab beheld. The king was desirous of costuming, at his own expense, +the portion of the clan that was now in his castle, whose disarray was +largely due to his own soldiers, but he feared the proposal might +offend the pride of Finlay the Fifth. + +James's tact, however, overcame the difficulty. + +"When I visit you, MacNab, over by Loch Tay, there is one favour I +must ask; I want your tailors to make for me and the men of my +following, suits of kilts in the MacNab tartan." + +"Surely, surely," replied the chief, "and a better weaving you will +get nowhere in the Highlands." + +"I like the colour of it," continued the king. "There is a royal red +in it that pleases me. Now there is a good deal of red in the Stuart +tartan, and I should be greatly gratified if you would permit your men +to wear my colours, as my men shall wear yours. My tailors here will +be proud to boast that they have made costumes for the Clan MacNab. +You know what tradesmen bodies are, they're pleased when we take a +little notice of them." + +"Surely," again replied MacNab, more dubiously, "and I shall send them +the money for it when I get home." + +"Indeed," said the king, "if you think I am going to have a full purse +when I'm in the MacNab country, you're mistaken." + +"I never suggested such a thing," replied the chief indignantly. +"You'll count nane o' yer ain bawbees when you are with me." + +"Ah, well," rejoined the king, "that's right, and so you will just +leave me to settle with my own tailors here." + +Thus the re-costuming came about, and all in all it was just as well +that MacNab did not insist on his own tartan, for there was none of it +in Stirling, while of the Stuart plaid there was a sufficiency to +clothe a regiment. + +On the last night, there was a banquet given which was the best that +Stirling could bestow, in honour of the Clan MacNab. The great hall +was decorated with the colours of the clan, and at the further end had +been painted the arms of the MacNab--the open boat, with its oars, on +the sea proper, the head of the savage, the two supporting figures and +the Latin motto underneath, "Timor omnis abseto". Five pipers of the +king's court had learned the Salute to the Chief, and now, headed +by MacNab's own, they paced up and down the long room, making it +ring with their war-like music. The king and the chieftain came in +together, and as the latter took his place at his host's right hand, +his impassive face betrayed no surprise at the splendid preparations +which had been made for his reception. Indeed, the Highlanders all +acted as if they had been accustomed to sit down to such a banquet +every night. Many dainties were placed on the ample board cunningly +prepared by foreign cooks, the like of which the Highlanders had never +before tasted; but the mountaineers ate stolidly whatever was set in +front of them, and if unusual flavours saluted their palates, the +strangers made no sign of approval or the reverse. The red wine of +Burgundy, grown old in the king's cellars, was new to most of them, +and they drank it like water, emptying their tankards as fast as the +attendant could refill them. Soon the ruddy fluid, whose potency had +been under-estimated, began to have its effect, and the dinner table +became noisy as the meal progressed, songs bursting forth now and +then, with strange shouts and cries more familiar to the hills of +Loch Tay than to the rafters of Stirling. The chief himself, lost the +solemn dignity which had at first characterised him, and as he emptied +flagon after flagon he boasted loudly of the prowess of his clan; +foretold what he would do in future fields now that he was allied with +the King of Scotland. Often forgetting himself, he fell into the +Gaelic, roaring forth a torrent of words that had no meaning for many +there present, then remembering the king did not understand the +language, he expressed his pity for a man in such condition, saying +the Gaelic was the oldest tongue in existence, and the first spoken +by human lips upon this earth. It was much more expressive, he said, +than the dialect of the Lowlands, and the only language that could +fittingly describe war and battle, just as the pibroch was the only +music suitable to strife, to all of which the smiling king nodded +approval. At last MacNab sprang to his feet, holding aloft his +brimming flagon, which literally rained Burgundy down upon him, and +called for cheers for the King of Scotland, a worthy prince who knew +well how to entertain a brother prince. Repeating this in Gaelic, his +men, who had also risen with their chief, now sprang upon the benches, +where standing unsteadily, they raised a series of yells so wild that +a shudder of fear passed through many of the courtiers there present. +The chief, calling to his piper, commanded him instantly to compose a +pibroch for the king, and that ready musician, swelling with pride, +marched up and down and round and round the great hall pouring forth +a triumphal quickstep, with many wonderful flourishes and variations. +Then at a word from the chief, each man placed his flagon on the +table, whipped out his sword, swung it overhead, to the amazement of +the courtiers, for it is not in accord with etiquette to show cold +steel to the eyes of the king. Down came the blades instantly and +together, each man splitting in two the goblet he had drunk from. + +[Illustration: "AT LAST MACNAB SPRANG TO HIS FEET, HOLDING ALOFT HIS +BRIMMING FLAGON."] + +"You must all come to Loch Tay," cried the chief, "and I will show you +a banqueting hall in honour of James the Fifth, such as you have never +before seen." Then to the horror of the courtiers, he suddenly smote +the king on the back with his open palm and cried, "Jamie, my lad, +you'll come and visit me at Loch Tay?" + +The smitten king laughed heartily and replied,-- + +"Yes, Finlay, I will." + +The next day the MacNabs marched from the castle and down through the +town of Stirling with much pomp and circumstance. They were escorted +by the king's own guard, and this time the populace made no sneering +remarks but thronged the windows and the roofs, cheering heartily, +while the Highlanders kept proud step to the shrill music of the +pipes. And thus the clansmen set faces towards the north on their long +tramp home. + +"What proud 'deevils' they are," said Sir David Lyndsay to the king +after the northern company had departed. "I have been through the +MacNab country from one end of it to the other, and there is not a +decent hut on the hillside, let alone a castle fit to entertain a +king, yet the chief gives an invitation in the heat of wine, and when +he is sobered, he is too proud to admit that he cannot make good the +words he has uttered." + +"That very thing is troubling me," replied the king, "but it's a long +time till July, and between now and then we will make him some excuse +for not returning his visit, and thus avoid putting the old man to +shame." + +"But that too will offend him beyond repair," objected the poet. + +"Well, we must just lay our heads together, Davie," answered the +king, "and think of some way that will neither be an insult nor a +humiliation. It might not be a bad plan for me to put on disguise and +visit Finlay alone." + +"Would you trust yourself, unaccompanied, among those wild caterans? +One doesn't know what they might do." + +"I wish I were as safe in Stirling as I should be among the MacNabs," +replied the king. + +However, affairs of state did not permit the carrying out of the +king's intention. Embassies came from various countries, and the king +must entertain the foreigners in a manner becoming their importance. +This, however, gave James the valid excuse he required, and so he sent +a commission to the chief of the MacNabs. "His majesty," said the head +commissioner, "is entertaining the ambassadors from Spain and from +France, and likewise a legate from the Pope. If he came north, he must +at least bring with him these great noblemen with their retinues; and +while he would have been glad to visit you with some of his own men, +he could not impose upon the hospitality thus generously tendered, by +bringing also a large number of strangers and foreigners." + +"Tell his majesty," replied MacNab with dignity, "that whether he +bring with him the King of Spain, the Emperor of France, or even the +Pope himself, none of these princes is, in the estimation of MacNab, +superior to James the Fifth, of Scotland. The entertainment therefore, +which the king graciously condescends to accept, is certainly good +enough for any foreigners that may accompany him, be their nobility +ever so high." + +When this reply was reported to the king he first smiled and then +sighed. + +"I can do nothing further," he said. "Return to MacNab and tell him +that the Pope's legate desires to visit the Priory on Loch Tay. +Tell the chief that we will take the boat along the lake on the day +arranged. Say that the foreigners are anxious to taste the venison of +the hills, and that nothing could be better than to give us a dinner +under the trees. Tell him that he need not be at any trouble to +provide us lodging, for we shall return to the Island Priory and there +sleep." + +In the early morning the king and his followers, the ambassadors and +their train embarked on boats that had been brought overland for their +accommodation, and sailed from the Island Priory the length of the +beautiful lake; the numerous craft being driven through the water by +strong northern oarsmen, their wild chaunting choruses echoing back +from the picturesque mountains as they bent to their work. The evening +before, horses for the party had been led through forests, over the +hills, and along the strand, to the meeting-place at the other end of +the lake. Here they were greeted by the MacNabs, pipers and all, and +mounting the horses the gay cavalcade was led up the valley. The king +had warned their foreign Highnesses that they were not to expect in +this wilderness the niceties of Rome, Paris or Madrid, and each of the +ambassadors expressed his delight at the prospect of an outing certain +to contain so much that was novel and unusual to them. + +A summer haze hung in the valley, and when the king came in sight of +the stronghold of the MacNabs he rubbed his eyes in wonder, thinking +the misty uncertainty of the atmosphere was playing wizard tricks with +his vision. There, before them, stood the most bulky edifice, the most +extraordinary pile he had ever beheld. Tremendous in extent, it seemed +to have embodied every marked feature of a mediaeval castle. At one end +a great square keep arose, its amazing height looming gigantically in +the gauze-like magic of the mist. A high wall, machicolated at the +top, connected this keep with a small octagonal tower, whose twin was +placed some distance to the left, leaving an opening between for a +wide entrance. The two octagonal towers formed a sort of frame for a +roaring waterfall in the background. From the second octagonal tower +another extended lofty wall connected it with a round peel as high as +the keep. This castle of a size so enormous that it made all others +its beholders had ever seen shrink into comparative insignificance, +was surrounded by a bailey wall; outside of that was a moat which +proved to be a foaming river, fed by the volume of water which came +down the precipice behind the castle. The lashing current and the +snow-white cascade formed a striking contrast to the deep moss-green +hue of the castle itself. + +"We have many great strongholds in Italy," said the Pope's legate, +"but never have I seen anything to compare with this." + +"Oh," said MacNab slightingly, "we are but a small clan; you should +see the Highland castles further north; they are of stone; indeed our +own fortresses, which are further inland, are also of stone. This is +merely our pleasure-house built of pine-trees." + +"A castle of logs!" exclaimed the Pope's legate. "I never before heard +of such a thing." + +They crossed the bridge, passed between the two octagonal towers and +entered the extensive courtyard, surrounded by the castle itself; a +courtyard broad enough to afford manoevring ground for an army. The +interior walls were as attractive as the outside was grim and +forbidding. Balconies ran around three sides of the enclosure, tall +thin, straight pine poles, rising three stories high, supporting them, +each pole fluttering a flag at the top. The balconies were all +festooned with branches of living green. + +The air was tremulous with the thunder of the cataract and the +courtyard was cut in two by a rushing torrent, spanned by rustic +bridges. The walls were peopled by cheering clansmen, and nearly a +score of pipers did much to increase the din. Inside, the king and his +men found ample accommodation; their rooms were carpeted with moss and +with flowers, forming a variety of colour and yielding a softness to +the foot which the artificial piles of Eastern looms would have +attempted to rival in vain. Here for three days the royal party was +entertained. Hunting in the forest gave them prodigious appetites, and +there was no criticism of the cooking. The supply of food and drink +was lavish in the extreme; fish from the river and the loch, game from +the moors and venison from the hills. + +It was evening of the third day when the cavalcade set out again for +the Priory; the chief, Finlay MacNab, accompanied his guests down the +valley, and when some distance from the castle of logs, James smote +him on the shoulder, copying thus his own astonishing action. "Sir +Finlay," he cried, "a king's hand should be no less potent than a +king's sword, and thus I create thee a knight of my realm, for never +before has monarch been so royally entertained, and now I pause here +to look once more on your castle of pine." + +So they all stayed progress and turned their eyes toward the wooden +palace they had left. + +"If it were built of stone," said the Pope's legate, "it would be the +strongest house in the world as it is the largest." + +"A bulwark of bones is better than a castle of stones," said Sir +Finlay. "That is an old Highland saying with us, which means that a +brave following is the best ward. I will show you my bulwark of +bones." + +And with that, bowing to the king as if to ask permission, he raised +his bugle to his lips and blew a blast. Instantly from the corner of +the further bastion a torch flamed forth, and that torch lighted the +one next it, and this its neighbour, so that speedily a line of fire +ran along the outlines of the castle, marking out the square towers +and the round, lining the curtain, the smaller towers, turrets and +parapets. Then at the top of the bailey wall a circle of Highlanders +lit torch after torch, and thus was the whole castle illumined by a +circle of fire. The huge edifice was etched in flame against the +sombre background of the high mountain. + +"Confess, legate," cried the king, "that you never saw anything more +beautiful even in fair Italy." + +"I am willing to admit as much," replied the Roman. + +Another blast from the bugle and all the torches on the castle itself +disappeared, although the fire on the bailey wall remained intact, and +the reason for this soon became apparent. From machicolated tower, +keep, peel and curtain, the nimble Highlanders, torchless, scrambled +down, cheering as they came. It seemed incredible that they could +have attained such speed, picking their precarious way by grasping +protruding branch or stump or limb, or by thrusting hand between the +interstices of the timber, without slipping, falling and breaking +their necks. + +For a moment the castle walls were alive with fluttering tartans, +strongly illuminated by the torches from the outer bailey. Each man +held his breath while this perilous acrobatic performance was being +accomplished, and silence reigned over the royal party until suddenly +broken by the Italian. + +"Highlander!" he cried, "your castle is on fire." + +"Aye," said the Highlander calmly, raising his bugle again to his +lips. + +At the next blast those on the bailey wall thrust their torches, still +burning among the chinks of the logs, and swarmed to the ground as +speedily and as safely as those on the main building had done. Now +the lighted torches that had been thrown on the roof of the castle, +disappearing a moment from sight, gave evidence of their existence. +Here and there a long tongue of flame sprung up and died down again. + +"Can nothing be done to save the palace?" shouted the excitable +Frenchman. "The waterfall; the waterfall! Let us go back, or the +castle will be destroyed." + +"Stand where you are," said the chief, "and you will see a sight worth +coming north for." + +Now almost with the suddenness of an explosion, great sheets of flame +rose towering into a mountain of fire, as if this roaring furnace +would emulate in height the wooded hills behind it. The logs +themselves seemed to redden as the light glowed through every crevice +between them. The bastions, the bailey walls, were great wheels of +flame, encircling a palace that had all the vivid radiance of molten +gold. The valley for miles up and down was lighter than the sun ever +made it. + +"Chieftain," said the legate in an awed whisper, "is this +conflagration accident or design?" + +"It is our custom," replied MacNab. "A monarch's pathway must be +lighted, and it is not fitting that a residence once honoured by our +king should ever again be occupied by anyone less noble. The pine tree +is the badge of my clan. At my behest the pine tree sheltered the +king, and now, at the blast of my bugle, it sends forth to the glen +its farewell of flame." + + + + +THE KING EXPLORES + + +James was pleased with himself. He had finished a poem, admitted by +all the court to excel anything that Sir David Lyndsay ever wrote, and +he had out-distanced James MacDonald, son of the Laird of Sleat, in a +contest for the preference of the fairest lady in Stirling, and young +MacDonald was certainly the handsomest sprig about the palace. So the +double victory in the art of rhythm and of love naturally induced the +king to hold a great conceit of himself. Poor Davie, who was as modest +a man regarding his own merits as could be found in the realm, quite +readily and honestly hailed the king his superior in the construction +of jingling rhyme, but the strapping young Highlander was proud as +any scion of the royal house, and he took his defeat less diffidently. + +"If the king," he said boldly, "was plain Jamie Stuart, as I am Jamie +MacDonald, we would soon see who was winner of the bonniest lass, and +if he objected to fair play I'd not scruple to meet him sword in hand +on the heather of the hills, but not on the stones of Stirling. It is +the crown that has won, and not the face underneath it." + +Now this was rank treason, for you must never talk of swords in +relation to a king, except that they be drawn in his defence. The +inexperienced young man made a very poor courtier, for he spoke as his +mind prompted him, a reckless habit that has brought many a head to +the block. Although MacDonald had a number of friends who admired the +frank, if somewhat hot-headed nature of the youth, his Highland +swagger often earned for him not a few enemies who would have been +glad of his downfall. Besides this, there are always about a court +plenty of sycophants eager to curry favour with the ruling power; and +so it was not long after these injudicious utterances had been given +forth that they were brought, with many exaggerations, to the ears of +the king. + +"You think, then," said his majesty to one of the tale-bearers, "that +if Jamie had the chance he would run his iron through my royal +person?" + +"There is little doubt of it, your majesty," replied the parasite. + +"Ah, well," commented James, "kings must take their luck like other +folk, and some day Jamie and I may meet on the heather with no other +witnesses than the mountains around us and the blue sky above us, and +in that case I shall have to do the best I can. I make no doubt that +MacDonald's position in Stirling is less pleasant than my own. He is +practically a prisoner, held hostage here for the good conduct of his +father, the firebrand of Sleat, so we must not take too seriously the +vapouring of a youth whose leg is tied. I was once a captive myself to +the Douglas, and I used words that would scarcely have been pleasant +for my gaoler to hear had some kind friend carried them, so I have +ever a soft side for the man in thrall." + +To the amazement of the courtiers, who had shown some inclination to +avoid the company of MacDonald after he had unburdened his soul, the +king continued to treat the Highlander as affably as ever, but many +thought his majesty was merely biding his time, which was indeed the +case. The wiser heads about the court strongly approved of this +diplomacy, as before they had looked askance at the king's rivalry +with the irascible youth. They knew that affairs were not going well +in the north, and so loose were the bonds restraining MacDonald, that +at any moment he might very readily have escaped, ridden to the hills, +and there augmented the almost constant warfare in those mountainous +regions. Every clan that could be kept quiet was so much to the good, +for although they fought mostly among themselves, there was ever a +danger of a combination which might threaten the throne of Scotland. +Very often the king recklessly offended those whom he should +conciliate, but even the wiseacres were compelled to admit that his +jaunty kindness frequently smoothed out what looked like a dangerous +quarrel. The sage counsellors, however, thought the king should keep +a closer watch on those Highland chieftains who were practically +hostages in his court. But to this advice James would never listen. +Having been a captive himself not so very long before, as he +frequently remarked, he thus felt an intense sympathy for those in +like condition, even though he himself kept them so through the +necessity of internal politics, yet he always endeavoured to make +the restraint sit as lightly as possible on his victims. + +Some weeks after the ill-considered anti-royal threats had been made, +their promulgator was one of a group in the courtyard of the castle, +when the captain of the guard came forward and said the king wished to +see him in his private chamber. MacDonald may have been taken aback by +the unexpected summons, but he carried the matter off nonchalantly +enough, with the air of one who fears neither potentate nor peasant, +and so accompanied the captain; but the gossips nodded their heads +sagely at one another, whispering that it would be well to take a good +view of MacDonald's back, as they were little likely to see him soon +again, and this whisper proved true, for next day MacDonald had +completely disappeared, no one knew whither. + +When James the laird's son, entered the presence of James the king, +the latter said as soon as the captain had left them alone together,-- + +"Jamie, my man, you understand the Gaelic, so it is possible you +understand those who speak it." + +"If your majesty means the Highlanders, they are easily enough +understood. They are plain, simple, honest bodies who speak what's on +their minds, and who are always willing, in an argument, to exchange +the wag of the tongue for a swoop of the black knife." + +"I admit," said the king with a smile, "that they are a guileless +pastoral people, easy to get on with if you comprehend them, but that +is where I'm at a loss, and I thought your head might supplement my +own." + +"I am delighted to hear you want my head for no other purpose but that +of giving advice," returned the Highlander candidly. + +"Truth to tell, Jamie, your head would be of little use to me were it +not on your shoulders. If the head were that of a winsome lassie I +might be tempted to take it on my own shoulder, but otherwise I am +well content to let heads remain where Providence places them." + +Whether intentional or not, the king had touched a sore spot when he +referred to the laying of a winsome lassie's head on his shoulder, and +MacDonald drew himself up rather stiffly. + +"In any ploy with the ladies," he said, "your majesty has the weight +of an ermine cloak in your favour, and we all know how the lassies +like millinery." + +"Then, Jamie, in a fair field, you think you would have the advantage +of me, as for example if our carpet were the heather instead of the +weaving of an Eastern loom?" + +"I just think that," said MacDonald stoutly. + +The king threw back his head and laughed the generous laugh of the +all-conquering man. + +"E-god, Jamie, my man, we may put that to the test before long, but it +is in the high realms of statesmanship I want your advice, and not in +the frivolous courts of love. You may give that advice the more freely +when I tell you that I have made up my mind what to do in any case, +and am not likely to be swayed one way or other by the counsel I shall +receive." + +"Then why does your majesty wish to have my opinion?" asked the +Highlander. + +"Lord, I'll want more than your opinion before this is done with, but +I may tell you at once that there's troublesome news from Skye." + +"Are the MacLeods up again?" + +"Aye, they're up and down. They're up in their anger and down on their +neighbours. I cannot fathom the intricacies of their disputes, but it +may interest you to know that some of your clan are engaged in it. I +suspect that Alexander MacLeod of Dunvegan is behind all this, +although he may not be an active participant." + +"Ah, that is Allaster Crottach," said the young man, knitting his +brows. + +"Allaster, yes, but what does Crottach mean?" asked the king. + +"It means the humpback." + +"Yes, that's the man, and a crafty plausible old gentleman he is. He +got a charter under the Great Seal, of all his lands, from my father, +dated the fifteenth of June, 1468. This did not satisfy him, and when +I came to the throne he asked for a similar charter from me, which I +signed on the thirteenth of February last. Its conditions seemed to be +most advantageous to him, for all that was required of him was that he +should keep for my use a galley of twenty-six oars, and likewise keep +the peace. I am not aware whether the galley has been built or not, +but there is certainly very little peace where a MacLeod has a +claymore in his hand. Now, Jamie, the MacLeods are your neighbours in +Sleat, so tell me what you would do were the king's crown on your +head?" + +"I should withdraw their charter," said MacDonald. + +"That seems but just," concurred the king, "still, I doubt if our +friend the humpback places very much value on the writing of his +august sovereign. He knows he holds his lands as he holds his sword, +his grip on the one relaxing when he loses his grip on the other. We +will suppose, however, the charter withdrawn and the MacLeod laughing +defiance at us. What next, MacDonald?" + +"Next! I would raise an army and march against him and make him laugh +on the other side of his crooked mouth." + +"Hum," said the king, "that means traversing the country of the +Grahams, who would probably let us by; then we next meet the Stewarts, +and for my name's sake perhaps they might not molest us. We march out +of their country into the land of the MacNabs, and the chief is an old +friend of mine, so we need fear no disturbance there. After that we +must trust ourselves to the tender mercies of the Campbells, and the +outcome would depend on what they could make by attacking us or by +leaving us alone. Next the Clan Cameron confronts us, and are more +likely than not to dispute our passage. After them the MacDonalds, and +there, of course, you stand my friend. When at last we reached the +Sound of Sleat, how many of us would be left, and how are we to get +across to Skye with the MacLeods on the mainland to the north of us? I +am thinking, Jamie, there are lions in that path." + +"The lions are imaginary, your majesty. The Grahams, the Stewarts, the +MacNabs would rise not against you, but for you, delighted to be led +by their king. The Campbells themselves must join you, if your force +were large enough to do without them. Among the MacDonalds alone I +could guarantee you an army. You forget that the Highlandman is always +anxious for warfare. Leave Stirling with a thousand men and you will +have ten thousand before you are at the shores of Sleat." + +The king meditated for a few moments, then he looked up at his comrade +with that engaging smile of his. + +"It may all be as you say, Jamie. Perhaps the Highlands would rise +with me instead of against me, but a prudent commander must not ignore +the possibility of the reverse. However, apart from all this I am +desirous of quelling the military ardour of the Highlands, not of +augmenting it. It's easy enough setting the heather on fire in dry +weather, but he is a wise prophet who tells where the conflagration +ends. I would rather carry a bucket of water than a sword, even +though it may be heavier." + +"If your majesty will tell me what you have resolved upon, then I +shall very blithely give you my opinion on it. It is always easier to +criticise the plans of another than to put forward sensible plans of +one's own." + +"You are right in that, Jamie, and the remark shows I have chosen a +wise counsellor. Very well, then. I have never seen the renowned +island of Skye. They tell me it is even more picturesque than Stirling +itself. I propose then to don a disguise, visit Skye, and find out if +I can what the turbulent islanders want. If I am not able to grant +their desire, I can at least deal the better with them for being +acquainted." + +"Your majesty does not purpose going alone?" cried MacDonald in +amazement. + +"Certainly not. I shall be well guarded." + +"Ah, that is a different matter, and exactly what I advised." + +"You advised an army, which I shall not take with me. I shall be well +guarded by my good right arm, and by the still more potent right arm, +if I may believe his own statement, of my friend, Jamie MacDonald of +Sleat." + +With bent brows MacDonald pondered for a few moments, then looking up, +said,-- + +"Will your majesty trust yourself in the wilderness with a prisoner?" + +"There is no question of any prisoner. If you refer to yourself, you +have always been at liberty to come and go as pleased you. As for +trusting, I trust myself to a good comrade, and a Highland gentleman." + +The king rose as he spoke and extended his hand, which the other +grasped with great cordiality. + +"You will get yourself out of Stirling to-night," continued the king, +"as quietly as possible, and hie you to my Castle of Doune, and there +wait until I come, which may be in a day, or may be in a week. I will +tell the court that you have gone to your own home, which will be true +enough. That will keep the gossips from saying we have each made away +with the other if we both leave together. You see, Jamie, I must have +some one with me who speaks the Gaelic." + +"My advice has been slighted so far," said MacDonald, "yet I must give +you another piece of it. We are going into a kittleish country. I +advise you to order your fleet into some safe cove on the west coast. +It will do the west Highlanders good to see what ships you have, for +they think that no one but themselves and Noah could build a boat. +When we come up into my own country we'll get a gillie or two that can +be depended on to wait on us, then if we are nipped, one or other of +these gillies can easily steal a boat and make for the fleet with your +orders to the admiral." + +"That is not a bad plan, Jamie," said the king, "and we will arrange +it as you suggest." + +The court wondered greatly at the sudden disappearance of James +MacDonald, but none dared to make inquiry, some thinking he had +escaped to the north, others, that a dungeon in Stirling Castle might +reveal his whereabouts. The king was as genial as ever, and the +wiseacres surmised from his manner that he meditated going off on +tramp again. The fleet was ordered to Loch Torridon, where it could +keep a watchful eye on turbulent Skye. The king spent three days +in settling those affairs of the realm which demanded immediate +attention, left Sir Donald Sinclair in temporary command, and rode +off to Doune Castle. + +From this stronghold there issued next morning before daylight, two +well-mounted young men, who struck in a northwesterly direction for +the wild Highland country. Their adventures were many and various, but +MacDonald's Gaelic and knowledge of the locality carried them +scatheless to the coast, although much of the journey was done on +foot, for before half the way was accomplished the insurmountable +difficulty of the passes compelled them to relinquish their horses. As +it was unadvisable for them to enter Skye in anything like state, the +two travellers contented themselves with an ordinary fishing-boat, +which spread sail when the winds were fair, and depended on the oars +of the crew when the sea was calm. They were accompanied by two +gillies, who were intended to be useful on any ordinary occasion, and +necessary in case of emergency, for the boat and its crew were to wait +in any harbour of Skye that was determined upon and carry news to Loch +Torridon if the presence of the fleet was deemed necessary. + +It was a beautiful evening, with the sea as smooth as glass, when the +fishing-boat, with sails folded, propelled by the stalwart arms of the +rowers, entered a land-locked harbour, guarded by bold headlands. The +name given to the place by MacDonald was so unpronounceable in Gaelic +that it completely baffled the Saxon tongue of the king, but although +his majesty was not aware of the fact, his own presence was to remedy +that difficulty, because the place was ever afterwards known as the +Haven of the King--Portree. + +The scattered village climbed up the steep acclivity, and as the royal +party rounded the headland and came in sight of the place, it seemed +as if the inhabitants knew a distinguished visitor was about to honour +them with his presence, for the whole population, cheering and +gesticulating, was gathered along the shore. The gillie, however, +informed his master that the demonstration was probably on the +occasion of the launch of the handsome ship which they now saw, +covered with flags, riding placidly on the surface of the bay. She +was evidently new for her sides were fresh from the axe, without +stain of either weather or wave. + +"It seems the boat is yours," said MacDonald to the king in English. +"It is the twenty-six oared galley that Allaster Crottach was bound by +his agreement to build for you. My man tells me that it is to be taken +to-morrow to Dunvegan Castle, so it is likely to be used by Allaster +Crottach himself before your majesty sets foot in it, for if it had +been intended only for the king it would have been left here so that +it might be convenient to the mainland. It has been built by Malcolm +MacLeod, the leader of all the people in these parts. He thinks +himself the most famous boat-builder in the world, so Allaster has at +least fulfilled one part of his agreement, and doubtless believes this +to be the finest craft afloat." + +"It is indeed a beautiful barge," assented the king, admiring the +graceful lines of the ship. "But what is that long-haired, bare-legged +cateran screaming about with his arms going like a windmill? The crowd +evidently appreciates his efforts, for they are rapturous in their +applause." + +MacDonald held up his hand and the oarsmen paused, while the boat +gently glided towards the shore. In the still air, across the water, +the impassioned Gaelic words came clearly to the voyagers. + +"He is saying," translated MacDonald, after a few moments listening, +"that the MacLeods are like the eternal rocks of Skye, and their +enemies like the waves of the sea. Their enemies dash against them and +they remain unmoved, while the wave is shattered into infinitesimal +spray. So do the MacLeods defy and scorn all who come against them." + +The king shrugged his shoulders. + +"The man forgets that the sea also is eternal, and that it ultimately +wears away the cliff. This appears to be an incitement towards war, +then?" + +"Oh, not so," replied MacDonald. "The man is one of their poets, and +he is reciting an epic he has written, doubtless in praise of +Malcolm's boat-building." + +"God save us!" cried the king. "Have we then poets in Skye?" + +"The whole of the Highlands is a land of poetry, your majesty," +affirmed MacDonald drawing himself up proudly, "although the very poor +judges of the art in Stirling may not be aware of the fact." + +The king laughed heartily at this. + +"I must tell that to Davie Lyndsay," he said. "But here we have +another follower of the muse who has taken the place of the first. +Surely nowhere else is the goddess served by votaries so unkempt. What +is this one saying?" + +"He says that beautiful is the western sky when the sun sinks beneath +the wave, but more beautiful still is the cheek of the Rose of Skye, +the daughter of their chieftain." + +"Ah, that is better and more reassuring. I think either of us, Jamie, +would rather be within sight of the smiles of the Rose of Skye than +within reach of the claymores of her kinsmen." + +By this time the assemblage on shore became aware that visitors were +approaching, and the declamation ceased. Malcolm MacLeod himself came +forward on the landing to greet the newcomers. He was a huge man of +about fifty, tall and well proportioned, with an honest but masterful +face, all in all a magnificent specimen of the race, destined by +nature to be a leader of men. He received his visitors with dignified +courtesy. + +"I am James MacDonald," explained that young man by way of +introduction, "son of the Laird of Sleat. We heard you had built a +boat for the king, and so have come to see it. This is James Stuart, a +friend of mine from the Lowlands, and I have brought him with me that +he may learn what boat-building really is." + +"You are very welcome," said MacLeod, "and just in time, for they are +taking her round the headland to Dunvegan to-morrow morning. Aye, +she's a bonnie boat, if I do say it myself, for no one knows her and +what she'll do better than I." + +"The king should be proud of her," said MacDonald. + +MacLeod tossed his shaggy head and replied with a sneer,-- + +"It's little the king knows about boats. He should be playing with a +shallop in a tub of water, instead of meddling with men's affairs. +Allaster Crottach is our king, and if he graciously pleases to tickle +the lad in Stirling by saying he owns the boat, Allaster himself will +have the using of her. I would not spike a plank for the king, but I'd +build a fleet for Allaster if he wanted it. Has your friend the +Gaelic? If he has, he may tell the king what I say, when he goes back +to the Lowlands." + +"No, he has no Gaelic, Malcolm, but I'll put into the English whatever +you like to say." + +And so he gave to the king a free rendition of MacLeod's remarks, +toning them down a little, but James was shrewd enough to suspect from +the manner of the man of Skye, that he held his nominal monarch in +slight esteem. + +Malcolm MacLeod took the strangers to his own house, which was the +best in the village. Almost the entire population of the port had been +working on the king's boat, and now that it was finished and launched, +the place had earned a holiday. Malcolm was delighted to have visitors +who could bear witness to the skill of his designing, appreciate the +genius of the poets and listen to the skreigh of the piping. The +strangers were most hospitably entertained and entered thoroughly into +the spirit of the festivities. The morning after their arrival they +cheered as lustily as the others when the twenty-six oars of the +king's barge struck the water and the craft moved majestically out of +the harbour. They seemed to have come into a land of good-will toward +all mankind; high and low vying with each other to make their stay as +pleasant as possible. + +"Losh, Jamie," said the king to his friend two or three days after +their arrival, "I might well have ignored your advice about the ships, +as I did your base counsel about the army. I need no fleet here to +protect me in Skye where every man is my friend." + +"That is very true," replied MacDonald, "but you must not forget that +no one has any suspicion who you are. Everyone is a friend of James +Stuart of the Lowlands, but I hear nobody say a good word for the +king." + +"What have they against him?" asked the Guidman of Ballengeich with a +frown, for it was not complimentary to hear that in a part of his own +dominion he was thought little of. + +[Illustration: "THE STRANGERS WERE MOST HOSPITABLY ENTERTAINED, AND +ENTERED THOROUGHLY INTO THE SPIRIT OF THE FESTIVITIES."] + +"It isn't exactly that they have anything against the king," said +MacDonald, perhaps not slow to prick the self-esteem of his comrade, +"but they consider him merely a boy, of small weight in their affairs +one way or another. They neither fear him nor respect him. The real +monarch of these regions is the humpback in Dunvegan Castle; and even +if they knew you were the king, your sternest command would have no +effect against his slightest wish, unless you had irresistible force +at the back of you." + +"Ah, Jamie, you are simply trying to justify the bringing of the fleet +round Scotland." + +"Indeed and I am not. The only use to which you can put your fleet +will be to get you away from here in case of trouble. As far as its +force is concerned, these islanders would simply take to the hills and +defy it." + +"Ah, well," said the king, "I'll make them think better of me before I +am done with them." + +The week's festivities were to end with a grand poetical contest. All +the bards of the island were scribbling; at any rate, those who could +write. The poets who had not that gift were committing their verses to +memory that they might be prepared to recite them before the judges, +three famous minstrels, who were chosen from three districts on the +island, thus giving variety and a chance of fairness to their +decisions. + +The king resolved to enter this competition, and he employed MacDonald +every evening translating into the language of Skye, the poem which +had been considered so good in Stirling, and MacDonald was to recite +it for him at the contest. But this Homeric competition was endangered +by disquieting news brought to the island by the fishermen. They +reported that a powerful fleet had been seen rounding the northern +coast of Scotland, and was now making towards the south. This +unexpected intelligence seemed to change instantaneously the attitude +of the islanders towards their two guests. Suspicion electrified the +air. The news of the sighting of the fleet, coming so quickly on the +advent of two strangers, who apparently had no particular business on +the island, caused them to be looked upon as spies, and for a day or +two they were in danger of being treated as such. The king's alertness +of mind saved the situation. He had brought with him from Stirling, in +case of emergencies, several sheets of blank parchment, each bearing +the Great Seal of Scotland. Once more the useful MacDonald was his +amanuensis. A proclamation in Gaelic was written and the signature of +James the Fifth inscribed thereon. This document was enclosed with a +communication, containing directions to the admiral of the fleet, and +MacDonald entrusted the packet to one of his gillies, with orders +that sail should be set for Loch Torridon, and the message given to +the officer in command. + +Three days later the ferment on the island was immeasurably increased +when the guard on the headland reported that a ship of war was making +direct for the harbour. A horseman was despatched full gallop to +Dunvegan Castle to inform the head of the clan of the mysterious visit +of the two men, followed so soon by the approach of a belligerent +vessel. But before the messenger was ten miles on his way, the +ceremony was over and done with. The big ship sailed majestically +through the narrows, cast anchor and fired a salute. A well-manned +boat was lowered and rowed to the shore. There stepped from the boat +an officer in a splendid uniform, followed by a lieutenant and half a +dozen men, one of whom carried the flag of Scotland. This company +marched to the cross, which stood in the centre of the village, and +the crowd sullenly followed, with Malcolm MacLeod at their head, not +knowing what the action of the naval officer might portend, and in +absence of definite orders from their chief, hesitating to oppose this +inland march. Many of those on the fleet were Highlanders, and the +second in command was one of them. This man mounted the three steps at +the foot of the cross and stood with his back against the upright +stone. His chief handed him a roll of parchment, and the subordinate +officer in a loud voice, and in excellent Gaelic, cried,-- + +"A Proclamation from His Most Excellent Majesty, James the Fifth of +Scotland! God save the King!" + +At this the chief officer raised his sword in salute, and his men sent +up a cheer, but the aggregation was not seconded by any of the large +concourse there gathered together. Undaunted by this frigid reception +the officer unrolled the manuscript and read its contents in a voice +that reached to the furthest outskirts of the crowd: + + "I, James of Scotland, lawful King of this realm, do + proclaim to all loyal subjects, that the safety and liberty + of my land depends on an unconquerable fleet, and that the + merit of the fleet consists in stout well-built ships, + therefore the man whom I, the King, delight to honour is he + whose skill produces the best sea-going craft, so I hereon + inscribe the name of Malcolm MacLeod, master shipbuilder, a + man who has designed and constructed a boat of which all + Scotland has reason to be proud. The King's barge of + twenty-six oars, planned by Malcolm MacLeod and built for + him by the people of Skye, will be used as a model for all + ship-builders in the Scottish navy." + +The reader now looked up from his parchment and gazed over the +assemblage. + +"Is Malcolm MacLeod here?" he asked. "Let him step forward." + +The giant, somewhat dazed, walking like a man in a dream, approached +the foot of the cross. The officer rolled the proclamation and +presented it to the shipbuilder, saying:-- + +"From the hand of the king, to the hand of Malcolm MacLeod." + +Malcolm accepted it, muttering half with a smile, half with a frown,-- + +"E-god, the king knows a good boat when he gets it." + +Then the officer uplifted his sword and cried,-- + +"God save the king;" and now the hills around re-echoed with the +cheering. + +The little company without another word retraced their steps to the +small boat, and made for the ship which was now facing outward, anchor +hoisted and sails spread once more, so the watching Highlanders had a +view of a large vessel superbly managed, as the west wind which +brought her into the harbour took her safely out again. + +The royal young man had a striking lesson on the fickleness of the +populace. Heretofore as MacDonald had truly said, no one had a good +word to say for the king; now it was evident that James V. of Scotland +was the greatest and wisest monarch that ever sat on a throne. + +Malcolm MacLeod had been always so proud of his skill that this +proclamation could hardly augment his self-esteem, but it suddenly +changed his views regarding his august overlord. In conversation ever +after it became, "I and the king," and he was almost willing to admit +that James was very nearly as great a man as Alexander MacLeod of +Dunvegan. + +The enthusiasm was so great that several bards composed special poems +in honour of the king of Scotland, and next day the effusions were to +be heard at the cross, and the prizes awarded. The first thing done, +however, after the departure of the ship, was to send another mounted +messenger to Dunvegan Castle, so that the lord of the island might +learn that no invasion was to be feared from the fleet. The parchment +proclamation was sent on to the chief, ostensibly in explanation of +the ship's visit, but probably because Malcolm was not loth to let +the head of the clan know what the head of the country thought of his +workmanship. + +It was early next morning that the reading and reciting of the poems +began, and so lengthy were these effusions that it was well past noon +before the last had been heard. To the chagrin of James he found +himself fifteenth on the list when the honours were awarded. +MacDonald, endeavouring to keep a straight face, told the king of the +judges' decision, adding,-- + +"It will be as well not to let Davie Lyndsay know of this." + +"Oh, you may tell whom you please," cried the king. "I was sure you +would bungle it in the Gaelic." + +The king was pacing up and down the room in no very good humour, so +the young Highlander thought it best not to reply. He was saved +however, from the embarrassment of silence by the entrance of Malcolm +MacLeod. + +"You are in great good fortune," said Malcolm. "The messengers have +returned with a score of horsemen at their backs, and Dunvegan himself +invites you to the castle." + +MacDonald seemed in no way jubilant over what his host considered the +utmost honour that could be bestowed upon two strangers. + +"What does he say?" demanded the king. + +"He says that MacLeod of Dunvegan has invited us to his castle." + +"Well, we will go then. I suppose we can get horses here, or shall we +journey round by boat?" + +"I understand," replied MacDonald, "that the chief has sent horses for +us, and furthermore an escort of a score of men, so I'm thinking we +have very little choice about the matter." + +"Very well," returned the king with a shrug of indifference, "let us +be off and see our new host. I wonder if he will be as easily +flattered as the one we are leaving." + +"I doubt it," said MacDonald seriously. + + + + +THE KING DRINKS + + +The two young men mounted the small shaggy horses that had been +provided for them by the forethought of their future host, MacLeod of +Dunvegan. Apparently the king had forgotten all about his crushing +defeat in the poetical contest of the day before, for he was blithe +and gay, the most cheerful of those assembled, adventuring now and +then scraps of Gaelic that he had picked up, and his pronunciation +contributed much to the hilarity of the occasion. + +MacDonald, on the other hand, was gloomy and taciturn, as if already +some premonition of the fate that awaited him at Dunvegan cast its +shadow before. The news of the great condescension of the laird in +inviting two strangers to his castle had spread through all the land, +and, early as was the hour, the whole population of the district had +gathered to wish the travellers a cordial farewell. The escort, as the +king called the score of men, who were to act as convoy from one port +to the other; or the guard, as MacDonald termed them, sat on their +horses in silence, awaiting the word of command to set forth. + +At last this word was given, and the procession began its march amidst +the cheers of the people and a skirling of the pipes. The distance was +little more than seven leagues over a wild uninviting country. +MacDonald sat his horse dejected and silent, for the prospect +confronting him was far from alluring. The king was incognito, he was +not; and he had begun to doubt the wisdom of having given his actual +designation to the people of Skye, for the relations between this +island and the mainland were at that time far from being of the most +cordial description. + +[Illustration: "THE KING, HOWEVER, APPEARED TO HAVE NO FOREBODINGS, +BUT TROTTED ALONG WITH GREAT COMPLACENCY."] + +Dunvegan Castle was a grim stronghold in which the MacLeods sat so +secure that all the efforts of all the MacDonalds, even if they were +for once united, could not dislodge them. It was one of the most +remote inhabited places in all Scotland, its next neighbour to the +west being that new land of America discovered not yet fifty years. +For the son of one Highland chieftain to come so completely into the +power of another, his own people knowing practically nothing of his +whereabouts, was a situation that did not commend itself to the +young man. Allaster Crottach was celebrated more for craft than for +violence. He had extended and consolidated his possessions with the +skill of a diplomatist rather than by the arms of his soldiers, and +MacDonald thought it quite likely that a slice of Sleat might be +the ransom for his release. If through any incautious remark of his +comrade the Crottach became aware that he held not only MacDonald +of Sleat but also the King of Scotland, the fates only knew what +might happen. The king, however, appeared to have no forebodings, +but trotted along with great complacency, commenting now and then +on the barrenness of the landscape. + +The party had accomplished little more than half the distance, when, +as they fronted a slight elevation, there came to them over the hills +wild pipe music, louder than anything of that kind the king had ever +heard. + +"The MacLeod is evidently about to welcome us in state," said his +majesty to MacDonald, "he must have the very monarch of pipers in his +train." + +"The MacRimmon," admitted MacDonald, "are acknowledged to be the best +pipers in all the Highlands, and they are hereditary musicians to the +MacLeod. The sounds we hear indicate that a number of pipers are +playing in unison." + +On reaching the brow of the hill they found this was indeed the case. +There were from thirty to fifty pipers, but they evidently bore no +greeting to the travellers, for the musical party was marching in the +same direction as themselves, playing vigorously as they swung along. +At the instance of the king, MacDonald made inquiries regarding this +extraordinary spectacle. The taciturn commander of the guard answered +briefly that it was the College of Pipers. The students were marching +back to Bocraig on the other side of Loch Follart, where instruction +in piping was bestowed by the MacRimmon; this excursion over the hills +giving them training in piping and in tramping at the same time. The +musical regiment took its way straight across the moors and so very +soon was lost sight of by the two travellers, who kept to a track +which was more or less of a road. + +In due time the cavalcade reached Dunvegan Castle, and even a man +accustomed to so stout a fortress as that of Stirling could not but be +struck by the size, the strength, and the situation of this frowning +stronghold; yet, extensive as it was, its proprietor evidently found +it inadequate for his ambitions, as he was now building a massive +tower which added a further dignity to the structure. + +The king and his companion were received at the front entrance by an +old man, whom each at once knew could not be their host, for his back +had originally been straight enough, though now slightly stooped +through age. He led them within, and up a stair direct to the +apartments reserved for them. Their aged conductor spoke no English, +so the burden of conversation fell on MacDonald. As soon as the latter +perceived that he and his friend were to be separated, the king lodged +at one end of the castle, and himself at the other, he protested +against this arrangement, demanding two adjoining rooms. The old man +replied that he was following instructions given, and if the rooms +assigned were not satisfactory, his master would doubtless change them +on the morrow. + +"But, my good man," expostulated MacDonald, "we expect to be leaving +the castle to-morrow." + +"In that case," replied their cicerone with a scarcely perceptible +shrug of the shoulders, "it makes but little difference for one +night." The king inquiring into the purport of the discussion, quite +agreed with the elderly guide, that the matter was of small moment. + +"If our genial innkeeper intends to murder us," he said, "we shall be +quite as helpless together as separate, for he has irresistible force +at his command. If we are in a trap there is little use in snarling at +the bars. By all accounts Dunvegan is a shrewd man, and I can see no +object which he can attain by doing harm to either of us. If he had a +son who was next heir to the position I hold, I confess I might sleep +uneasily to-night; but as he must know that the king's fleet is +hovering about his coast, and that his castle would make a most +excellent target for it, as he cannot transport his house to the hills +should the ships sail up the loch, I don't see what he can gain by +maltreating two men, whom he must suspect of having some connection +with the advent of the fleet." + +"Oh, I have no thought," replied MacDonald, "that the Eagle of +Dunvegan would fly so high as you suggest, but there are lowlier +perches on which he may like to fix his talons. He has long cast +covetous eyes across the Sound of Sleat to the mainland, and, whatever +he knows or suspects, he is sure of one thing, which is that he has +the son of the Laird of Sleat safely landed in his own house." + +"How distrustful you Highlanders are of each other!" cried the young +monarch laughing. "Bless me, Jamie, no bargain made in durance will +hold; then you must remember you have me behind you, and I have all +the power in Scotland behind me." + +"That is very true, but the power of nothing is behind either of us +if we cannot get word to the outside world. Last night on learning we +were invited to this place, I searched for my gillies, but without +success. My boat and its crew have been taken elsewhere. So you see +there is at least a design to cut our communications. I'm thinking +we'll see more of Loch Follart from this window for a while than of +the field of Bannockburn from Stirling Towers." + +"I quite agree with you, Jamie, that we're fairly nabbed, but the old +gentleman who has us in thrall can make nothing by ill-using us. +Sooner or later he must divulge his plan, whatever it is, before he +can benefit from it, and when he does that it will be time enough to +consider what course we are to pursue." Then turning suddenly towards +their guide, who had been standing motionless during this +conversation, the king said sharply in English,-- + +"Is your master at home?" + +The old man made no reply, but looked at MacDonald as if for +translation. The latter repeated the question in Gaelic and received +an affirmative answer. + +"He says the laird is at home. He has no English." + +"I wasn't just sure of that, so I tested it by an abrupt question, +thus locking the door after the horse was stolen, for we have spoken +rather plainly before him, and so have proved ourselves in the +beginning very poor conspirators. However, I care little what the next +move is so long as it brings us something to eat. Clear your gloomy +brow, Jamie, and tell them in the most culinary Gaelic that this is +not a fast-day with us, and the ride across the moors has increased +our appetites." + +MacDonald followed his custodian down the long corridor, and the king +entered the apartment assigned to him. + +After sufficient time had elapsed to allow the travellers to remove +the traces of travel from their persons, they were summoned to a small +room where they found a most welcome and substantial meal set out for +them. A generous flagon of wine stood by each trencher; it was the +first the king had had an opportunity of tasting since he left his +capital, and he seized upon the measure with some eagerness. + +"Here's to the MacLeod!" he cried. + +"I drink to the king, and good luck to him!" said MacDonald. + +"I drink to anything, so long as the wine is sound," rejoined his +majesty, enjoying a deep draught. "E-god, Jamie," he cried setting the +flagon down again, "that's better claret than we have in Stirling." + +"There is no reason why it shouldn't be excellent," replied MacDonald, +"for the laird's own ships bring it direct from the coast of France to +the coast of Skye, and there's little chance of adulteration between +the two." + +When the repast was finished the aged man who had received them at the +door entered and announced that MacLeod of MacLeod was ready to greet +them in his study. They followed him and were ushered into an oblong +room somewhat larger than the one they had left. The king was +astonished to find the walls lined with numerous volumes, some of the +tomes massive in heavy binding. As books were not over-plentiful even +in the realms of civilisation, he had not expected to find them in a +corner of the world so remote. + +Allaster the Hunchback sat by the side of a huge oaken table, and he +did not rise from his chair when his visitors were presented to him, +either because he wished the better to conceal the deformity which +gave him his nickname, or because he did not consider his guests of +such importance as to deserve a more courteous reception. He addressed +them in excellent English, and the king constituted himself spokesman +for the occasion, MacDonald standing by taciturn, in spite of the +excellence of the wine, which indeed he had consumed somewhat +sparingly. + +"I understand," began MacLeod, "that you have honoured my poor rugged +island of Skye with your presence for some days." + +"The honour, sir, has been ours," replied the king with an inclination +of his head. "I was visiting my friend MacDonald in Sleat and heard of +the king's barge, so we came over to see it." + +"This is your friend MacDonald of Sleat then?" + +"Yes. May I have the pleasure of presenting Mr. James MacDonald to the +MacLeod?" + +The two Highlanders, one sitting, one standing, bowed somewhat +distantly to each other as the king, with a flourish of his hand, +made the introduction. + +"Perhaps," continued MacLeod suavely, "your friend from Sleat will do +a like obligement for yourself." + +"I shall not put him to that trouble," said the king airily. "I am of +such small account that it would be a pity to put upon a Highland +chieftain the task of pronouncing my name. I am called the Guidman of +Ballengeich, very much at your service, sir." + +"Guidman, meaning farmer of course?" asked Dunvegan. + +"Meaning small farmer," said the king with a graceful inclination of +the head. + +The tones of the MacLeod had not been too cordial from the first, but +they became less so at this confession of low quality on the part of +his visitor. + +"You will forgive my ignorance, but where is Ballengeich?" + +"It is a little steading near Stirling, but of more value than its +size would indicate, for I am fortunate in possessing the custom of +the court." + +"You cater for the castle then?" asked MacLeod frigidly. + +"Yes, in various ways." + +MacLeod turned from his loquacious guest as if he desired to hold no +further converse with him, and thus, however crafty he might be, he +convinced the king that the castle had no suspicion whom it held. +MacLeod said abruptly to his other visitor, fastening his piercing +eyes upon him,-- + +"I heard you were prisoner at Stirling?" + +"Prisoner, sir!" cried MacDonald angrily, the red colour mounting to +the roots of his hair. But before he could speak further his garrulous +companion struck in. + +"What an absurd rumour. MacDonald a prisoner! I assure you he was no +more a prisoner at Stirling Castle than he is at this moment in +Dunvegan Castle." + +"Ah," said McLeod turning again to the farmer, his eyes partially +closing, examining the other with more severe scrutiny than had +previously been the case. "He was at liberty to come and go as he +pleased, then?" + +"As free as air, sir; otherwise how could he have visited my slight +holding and thus become acquainted with me?" + +"I thought perhaps he had met you in the courtyard of Stirling with a +sack of corn on your shoulder." + +The king laughed heartily at this. + +"I said a _small_ farmer certainly, but I am not quite so unimportant +as you seem to imply. I have a better horse to carry my corn than the +one that to-day carried me to Dunvegan." + +The laird ignored this disparagement of his cattle. + +"You came to Skye then to see the king's boat, of which you had heard +favourable report? The news of her seems to have travelled very +quickly." + +"Indeed and that's true," said the king complacently. "Information +spreads rapidly in the Highlands." + +"It seems to spread to the Lowlands as well. You heard the king's +proclamation perhaps?" + +"Yes, we heard the pronouncement." + +"It's possible you came from the fleet?" + +"No. We came overland." + +"Had you heard of the fame of Malcolm's boat before you left +Stirling?" + +"I did not say we left Stirling. As a matter of fact we left the small +village of Doune some miles to the north of it, and at that time had +heard nothing either of Malcolm or his boat." + +"Hum," ejaculated the laird, rummaging among his papers on the table. +The king glancing in the direction of MacLeod's hands saw spread out +the charter which he himself had signed, giving MacLeod tenure of his +land, and beside it, as if this island magnate had been comparing the +signatures was the recent draft of the proclamation commending Malcolm +MacLeod's boat. This document Dunvegan passed to the Guidman of +Ballengeich. + +"You know the king's writing perhaps? Will you tell me whether this +is, as I suspect, a forgery?" + +James wrinkled his brows and examined the signature with minute care. +"I have seen the writing of his majesty," he said at last, "but +MacDonald here knows it better than I. What do you think of it, +Jamie?" he continued, passing on the parchment to his friend. "Is this +the real Mackay, or is it not?" + +"It is," said MacDonald shortly and definitely. + +"You say that is the actual signature of the king?" inquired MacLeod. + +"I could swear it is as genuine as the one on your charter," replied +MacDonald. + +"Well, now," said MacLeod leaning back in his chair, "will you resolve +a mystery for me? How is it likely that James Fifth ever heard of +Malcolm MacLeod's boat? and if he did, do you consider it probable +that an august monarch would compliment a Highland cateran's skill +with the axe?" + +"James is a douce body," said the king, "and knows more of what is +going on in his realm than folk who think themselves wiser might +imagine." + +"You hint, then," said MacLeod, drawing down his black brows, "that +his majesty may have spies in Skye?" + +"Truth to tell, Laird of Dunvegan, it is more than likely," admitted +the king, with an air of great candour. + +The frown on MacLeod's countenance deepened, and he said harshly,-- + +"You two gentlemen probably know the fate of spies when they are +captured. Their fate is a short shrift, and a long rope." + +"And quite properly so," rejoined the king promptly. + +"I am glad that you are so well informed, and need no instruction from +me," commented the Crottach with menace in his tone. + +Suddenly the king's manner changed, and the air of authority which was +natural to him asserted itself. + +"MacLeod of Skye," he cried, "this discussion and beating about the +bush is interesting, but nothing at all to the purpose. You are +hinting that we two are spies, and I tell you there are no spies, and +can be no spies on this island." + +"I have only your word to set against my own doubts," said the +MacLeod. + +"My word and your doubts are both aside from the purpose. Your mind +has become confused. Unless you are at war with James of Scotland, +there can be spies neither in the domain you hold under his hand, nor +in the kingdom over which he rules. Are you a rebel against your king, +MacLeod of Skye?" + +"That I am not," answered Allaster hastily, and with evident +discomposure. + +"Very well then. You see the absurdity of an argument on espionage. +MacDonald and I have as much right on the island of Skye as you have, +because it is part of the Kingdom of Scotland, and we are loyal, if +humble subjects of his majesty." + +"You are not come here then to report on the condition of Skye?" + +"We came here of our own free will; the messengers of no man, and we +are to report to no man. If the king should ask me any question +regarding my visit to Skye, I would answer him, that I had met with +the utmost courtesy, except from its chief. I would say that MacLeod +of MacLeod was so ignorant regarding the usages of good society that +he received us sitting down, and never asked us to be seated, an error +in politeness which I was myself forced to amend. MacDonald, plant +yourself on that chair beside you. I will take this one." + +MacDonald promptly obeyed the command, and the king seated himself, +throwing one leg over the other and leaning back in comfort. + +"Now, my Lord of Skye," he said, "have you any further questions to +ask, or any additional hints to bestow upon your guests, at present in +your sullen presence upon your own invitation?" + +The chieftain regarded the king in silence for a few moments, then +said without change of countenance,-- + +"By God! you may be a small farmer, but you are a brave man. You are +the first who has questioned the authority of the MacLeod on his own +ground. So the case being without precedent, one has to be made, and +that will require some thought. We will postpone the question until +later. I trust you will both honour me with your presence at dinner +this evening, but if you prefer it, you may sup alone in your own +apartments." + +"We are sociable travellers," said the king rising, for the laird's +words had in them an inflection of dismissal, "and we will have great +pleasure in accepting seats at your table." + +Then with a bow to the man who still remained in his chair, the king +and his comrade withdrew. They consulted together for a time in the +room of the former, but reached no definite decision. MacDonald urged +that they should come to an understanding with their host at once, and +learn whether they were prisoners or free men, but the king held that +Allaster should have the time for thinking over the situation which +had been practically agreed on. + +"There is no hurry," he said. "Each of us is younger than Allaster and +so there is time to bide." + +On being summoned to the great dining-hall that night, they found a +company awaiting dinner numbering perhaps a score, all men. A piper +was marching up and down the room making the timbers ring with his +martial music. The MacLeod stood at the head of his table, a stalwart +man whose massive head seemed sunk rather deep between his broad +shoulders, but otherwise, perhaps because his costume was cunningly +arranged, there was slight indication of the deformity with which he +was afflicted. He greeted his guests with no great show of affability, +and indicated the bench at his right hand as the seat of MacDonald. +The young Highlander hesitated to take the place of preference, and +glanced uneasily at his comrade. + +"I am slightly deaf in my right ear," said the king good naturedly, +"and as I should be grieved to miss any observations you may make, I +will, with your permission, occupy the place you would bestow upon my +friend." + +MacLeod looked sternly at the speaker for a moment, but seeing that +MacDonald, without protest moved speedily round to the left, he said +at last,-- + +"Settle it as pleases you, but I should have thought a Highland +chieftain took precedence of a Lowland huckster." + +"Not a huckster exactly," explained the king with a smile. "My +patrimony of Ballengeich may be small, but such as it is, I am the +undisputed laird of it, while at best MacDonald is but the son of a +laird, so because of my deaf ear, and according to your own rules of +precedence, I think I may claim the place of honour at your right." +And as the MacLeod, with an angry growl sat down, the king and +MacDonald followed his example. The others took their places in some +haste, and with more or less of disorder. It was plain that MacLeod +preferred the silent Highlander to the more loquacious farmer of +Ballengeich, for during the meal he addressed most of his remarks to +the man on his left, although his advances were not as cordially +received as perhaps they might have been. The king showed no +resentment at this neglect, but concentrated his attention on the +business at hand. + +When the eating was done with, the servants placed three large flagons +before their master and the two who sat on either side of him. These +they filled to the brim with wine. + +"Gentlemen," said MacLeod, "it is a custom in this castle that our +guests, to show they are good men and true, each empty one of these +flagons at a draught, and without drawing breath. Will you then +accompany me to any toast you may care to name?" + +"The wine I have already consumed at your hospitable board," said the +king, "is the best that ever ran down a thirsty man's throat; but if I +supplement it with so generous and instant an addition, I fear my legs +will refuse their service, even if my head retain sense enough to give +the command." + +"That need not trouble you," said MacLeod, "for in the last hundred +years no man has insulted this vintage by leaving the hall on his own +feet. There stand your legs against the wall, Guidman of Ballengeich." + +The king, glancing over his shoulder, saw standing against the wall a +row of brawny gillies, each two of whom supported a stretcher, whose +use was at once apparent. + +"Very well," cried the king to his host; "give you a suitable toast, +MacLeod, and I will enter with you the rosy realms of the red wine." + +MacLeod then stood up. + +"I give you," he said, "the King of Scotland. May he be blest with +more wisdom than were some of his ancestors!" This he repeated in +Gaelic, and the sentiment was received uproariously, for the wine was +already making itself felt in the great hall. + +If MacLeod had any design in offering this toast it did not appear on +the surface, and if he expected a hesitancy on the part of his guests +to do honour to it, he was disappointed, for each young man rose with +the rest. + +"Here's to the king!" cried the one on his right, "and may he imbibe +wisdom as I imbibe wine." Then raising the flagon to his lips he +drained it dry and set it with a crash on the table again. + +MacLeod and MacDonald drank more slowly, but they ultimately achieved +the same end. Then all seated themselves once more, and the drinking +continued without the useless intervention of further talk. One by one +the revellers sank under the table unnoticed by their noisy comrades, +to be quickly pounced upon by the watchful stretcher-bearers, who, +with a deftness evidently the result of much practice, placed the +helpless individual on the carrier and marched off with him. This +continuous disappearance of the fallen rapidly thinned the ranks of +the combatants struggling with the giant Bacchus. + +The king had been reluctant to enter this contest, fearing the red +wine would loosen his tongue, but as the evening wore on he found all +his resolution concentrated in a determination to walk to his bed. +MacDonald proved no protection. Early in the bout his unaccustomed +head descended gently upon the table and he was promptly carried off +to rest. + +At last MacLeod and the king sat alone in the hall, that looked larger +now it was so nearly empty; and James, as a test of what sense +remained to him, set himself to count the torches burning more and +more dimly in the haze of their own smoke. But he gave up the attempt +when he saw that they had increased by hundreds and thousands, and +were engaged in a wild pyrotechnic dance to the rhythm of the last +march that had been played on the pipes. He swayed over towards his +host and smote him uncertainly on the shoulder. + +"MacLeod," he cried, "I challenge you to stand, and I'll wager you I +can walk further down the corridor with fewer collisions against +either wall than any man in Skye." + +With difficulty the king rose to his feet, and as he did so the stool +on which he sat, because of a lurch against it, fell clattering to the +floor. + +"The very benches are drunk, MacLeod, and the table sways like a ship +at sea. That stool is as insecure as a throne. Rise up if you can and +see if yours is any better." + +But the MacLeod sat helpless, glaring at him from under his shaggy +eyebrows. Seeing him stationary the king laughed so heartily that he +nearly unbalanced himself, and was forced to cling for support to the +edge of the table. Then straightening himself to excessive rigidity he +muttered,-- + +"Good-night, MacLeod. Sit there and see the rule of your house broken +by your----" If the next word were "monarch," or "king," it was never +uttered, for as James made his uncertain way towards the door, the +expert gillies, who knew their business, came up behind him, swooped +the stretcher against his unreliant legs, and they failing instantly, +he fell backward on the stoutly woven web between the two poles. There +was a guttural laugh from MacLeod, and the prone man helplessly waving +his hands, shouted,-- + +"Unfair, by Saint Andrew, unfair! Curse the foe who attacks a man from +the rear." + +[Illustration: "THE TWO WENT OUTSIDE AND TOOK THE ROAD BY WHICH THEY +HAD COME."] + + + + +THE KING SAILS + + +The young men awoke somewhat late next day with heads reasonably +clear, a very practical testimonial to the soundness of their previous +night's vintage. + +"What's to be done?" asked the king. + +MacDonald proposed that they should repair instantly to MacLeod and +demand of him conveyance and safe conduct to the mainland. + +"We can scarcely do that," demurred the king, "until we are sure that +detention is intended. Let us put the matter at once to a practical +test, and see if we are prevented from leaving the castle. If we are, +then is the time for protest." + +Acting on this suggestion, the two went outside and took the road by +which they had come. They found an agile young gillie at their heels +before they were out of sight of Dunvegan. + +"Why are you following us?" asked MacDonald, in Gaelic. + +"I was told to wait on your lordships," returned the man. + +"We need no waiting on; turn back." + +But the gillie shook his shaggy uncovered head and patiently trod in +their footsteps. + +"Let us see how far he will follow," said the king as he strode on. +The gillie accompanied them for half an hour or more without making +any protest, but at last he said to MacDonald that he thought it was +time to return. + +"We are going through to the coast we came from," replied MacDonald, +"and do not intend to return." + +At this the gillie drew from his belt a short black tube that looked +like a practising chanter, which indeed it was, and on this he blew a +few shrill notes. Up to that moment the way had been clear, but now +there appeared over the hill in front of them a dozen armed men, who +approached carelessly as if they had merely happened to be in the +neighbourhood, or were journeying together toward the castle. + +"I think it is time to go back," suggested the gillie in a dull, +uninterested voice. + +"I think it is myself," replied MacDonald. + +And so the futile excursion came to an end. + +Once more in the castle they were confronted again by the question, +What next? + +"I am certain," said the king, "that if MacLeod is attempting to hold +us, there is little use in making appeal to him, and we have small +chance of getting word to the fleet. I propose then to coerce him. He +was alone in his study yesterday, and he may be alone there now. A +sword's point at a man's throat is an irresistible argument." + +"But will he keep his word if he gives it under distress?" objected +MacDonald. + +"I think he will, but it is better not to put too strong a temptation +on him. If we come on him alone we will make him sign a pass for us. +Then we will gag and tie him securely, convey him, when the way is +clear, to this room, where he will be less likely to be looked for. We +will then give him the consolation that if his pass proves useless we +will return and finish the business by sending him into a less +troublesome world." + +This advice was no sooner promulgated than it was acted upon. The +pair traversed the corridors unseen until they came to the door of +the study, then, slipping out their swords, they entered quickly +unannounced. The sight which confronted them was so unexpected that +each stood there with drawn sword in hand as if stricken into stone. + +MacLeod was not in the room, but in his stead, beside the wall of +books, her hand upraised, taking down a small vellum-covered volume, +was the most beautiful young girl, of perhaps nineteen or twenty, that +either of them had ever looked upon. She seemed surprised at their +abrupt entrance and remained statuesquely in her position, as +motionless as they. The young woman was the first of the three to +recover her composure. Relinquishing the book to the shelf, the hand +came down to her side, and she said in most charming, liquid tones, +but in broken English,-- + +"You are looking for my father perhaps?" + +The king, ever gallant, swept his hat from his head and bowed low, his +alertness of mind saving the situation, for he answered quickly,-- + +"Indeed no, my lady. We thought the room was empty, so I implore you +to pardon our intrusion. We were here yesterday, and my friend and I +have just had a dispute regarding the size of these gigantic tomes on +the lower shelf; my friend insisting that they exceeded our sword +blades in length. Pardon me madam?" and the king stepped briskly to +the largest book, laying his sword down its back as if in measurement. + +"There, Jamie," he cried, "I have won the wager. I knew it was not +more than three quarters the length of my blade." + +The glance of fear to which the young woman had treated them departed +from her face, and she smiled slightly at the young man's eagerness. + +"I gather from your remark," he said, "that you are Miss MacLeod of +Dunvegan. May I introduce my friend, James MacDonald of Sleat. My own +name is James Stuart, and for a time we are your father's guests at +Dunvegan." + +The young lady with inimitable grace bowed her queenly head to each of +them in turn. The men slipped their swords quietly back into their +scabbards. + +"I give you good welcome to Dunvegan," said the girl. "I regret that +I do not speak fair the English." + +"Indeed, my lady," rejoined the susceptible king, "it is the most +charming English I ever heard." + +The fair stranger laughed in low and most melodious cadence, like a +distant cathedral's chime falling on the evening air. + +"I am thinking you will be flattering me," she said, "but I know my +English is not good, for there are few in these parts that I can speak +to in it." + +"I shall be delighted to be your teacher," replied the king with his +most courteous intonation. He knew from experience that any offer of +tutorship from him had always proved exceedingly acceptable to the +more dainty sex, and this knowledge gave him unbounded confidence +while it augmented his natural self-esteem. + +"It is perhaps that you already speak the Gaelic?" suggested the young +woman. + +"Alas! no madam. But I should be overjoyed to learn and there, it +may be, you will accept me in the part of pupil. You will find me a +devoted and most obedient scholar. I am in a way what you might call a +poet, and I am told on every hand that Gaelic is the proper medium for +that art." + +A puzzled expression troubled the face of the girl as she endeavoured +to follow the communication addressed to her, but MacDonald sprang +somewhat eagerly to the rescue, and delivered a long harangue in her +native language. Her delight was instant, the cloud on her brow +disappearing as if by magic under the genial influence of the +accustomed converse. The king's physiognomy also underwent a change +but the transformation was not so pleasing as that which had illumined +the countenance of the girl. His majesty distinctly scowled at the +intrepid subject who had so impetuously intervened, but the pair paid +slight attention to him, conversing amiably together, much to their +mutual pleasure. + +Now, it is nowhere considered polite to use a language not understood +by some one person in the party. This fact MacDonald knew perfectly +well, and he doubtless would have acted differently if he had taken +the time to think, but he had become so engrossed by the beauty of the +lady, that, for the moment, every other consideration seemed to have +fled from his mind. Miss MacLeod is to be excused because she probably +supposed a Stuart to be more or less acquainted with the language, in +spite of his former disclaimer, which it is not likely she fully +comprehended. So she talked fluently and laughed lightly, while one of +her auditors was consumed by an anger he dared not show. + +The tension of the situation was changed rather than relieved, by the +silent opening of the door, and the pause of MacLeod himself on the +threshold, gazing dubiously at the group before him. The animation of +the girl fell from her the moment she beheld her father, and the young +men, turning, were confronted by the gloomy features of the chieftain. +The MacLeod closed the door softly, and, without a word, walked to his +chair beside the table. The girl, bowing slightly, with visible +restraint, quitted the room, and, as she did so, MacDonald's alertness +again proved his friend, for he tip-toed quickly to the door, +before the king, accustomed to be waited upon rather than waiting, +recollected himself; and held it open for the lady, making a gallant +sweep with his bonnet as she passed out. + +When the supple young man returned to his place beside the king he +said in a whisper,-- + +"No sword's point play with the father of such a beauty, eh?" + +To this remark his majesty made no reply, but said rather gruffly and +abruptly to his host,-- + +"Do you hold us prisoners in this castle, sir?" + +"That will depend on the answers I get from you," replied the MacLeod +slowly. "Are you two or either of you, emissaries of the king?" + +"We are not." + +"Does the king know you are here?" + +"Regarding the king, his knowledge or his doings, you had better +address your inquiries to him personally. We have no authority to +speak for his majesty." + +"You are merely two private gentlemen, then, come all this distance to +satisfy a love of travel and a taste for scenery?" + +"You have stated the case with great accuracy, sir." + +"Yesterday you spoke of my lack of manners in failing to ask you to be +seated; I shall now refer to a breach of politeness on your own part. +It is customary when strangers visit a province under an acknowledged +ruler, that they should make a formal call upon the ruler before +betaking themselves to other portions of his territory. You remained +for several days in Skye without taking the trouble to inform me of +your arrival." + +"Sir," replied James haughtily, "I dispute your contention entirely. +You are not the ruler of Skye." + +"Who is then?" + +"The King of Scotland, of course." + +The MacLeod laughed in a fashion that somewhat resembled the snarl of +an angry dog. + +"Of course, as you say. No one disputes that James is king of all +Scotland, and I would be the last to question his right, because I +hold my lands under charter bearing his signature, carrying the Great +Seal of the kingdom; nevertheless, the MacLeods held Skye long before +the present royal family of Scotland were heard of, and I would have +been MacLeod of MacLeod although James had never put his hand to this +parchment. Meanwhile, I take the risk of detaining you until I learn +more about you, and if the king makes objection, I shall apologise." + +"You _will_ apologise," said James sternly. + +"Oh, it is easily done, and fair words smooth many a difficulty. I +shall write to him if he complain, that I asked especially if you were +his men, that you denied it, and so, both for his safety and my own, I +considered it well to discover whether or not you were enemies of the +realm. If the father of MacDonald is offended I shall be pleased to +meet him either on sea or land, in anger or in friendship, and as for +you, who talk so glibly of the king, I would warn you that many things +happen in Skye that the king knows nothing of, besides the making of +strong drink." + +The king made him a courtier-like bow for this long speech, and +answered lightly,-- + +"The cock crows blithely on his own midden. Your midden is here, +while mine is far away, therefore the contest in crowing is somewhat +uneven. Nevertheless I indulge in a final flapping of my wings and an +effort of the throat when I say that you will apologise, not by +writing at your ease in Dunvegan Castle, but on your bended knees at +Stirling." + +"That's as may be," said the MacLeod indifferently, and it was quite +obvious that he remained unmoved by the threat. "Gentlemen, I have the +honour to wish you good morning." + +"One moment. Are we then to consider ourselves prisoners?" + +"You may consider yourselves whatever best pleases you. If you make +another attempt like the one you indulged in this morning, I shall +clap you both in the deepest dungeons I possess. Some would even go so +far as to call that imprisonment, but if each gives me his word of +honour that he will make no attempt at escape, and also that he will +not communicate with Stirling, then you are as free of my house and my +grounds as if you were the most welcome of guests. But I warn you that +if, when you pass your words, you attempt to tamper with any of my +men, I shall know of it very soon after, and then comes the dungeon." + +The king hesitated and looked at his friend, but MacDonald, who had +taken no part in this conversation, seemed in an absent dream, his +eyes gazing on vacancy, or perhaps beholding a vision that entranced +him. + +"What do you say, MacDonald?" enquired the king sharply. + +MacDonald recovered himself with a start. + +"To what?" he asked. + +"To the terms proposed by our gaoler." + +"I did not hear them; what are they?" + +"Will you give your word not to escape?" + +"Oh, willingly." + +"And not to communicate with Stirling?" + +"I don't care if I never see Stirling again." + +The king turned to the chief. + +"There is little difficulty, you see," he said, "with your fellow +Highlander. I however, am supposed to be a Lowlander, and therefore +cautious. I give you my word not to communicate with Stirling. As for +the other proviso, I amend it as follows. I shall not leave this +island without your knowledge and your company. If that is +satisfactory, I pledge my faith." + +"Perfectly satisfactory," answered the MacLeod, and with that the two +young men took their departure. + +Once more in the king's room, from which, earlier in the day they had +set out so confidently, MacDonald flung himself upon a bench, but the +king paced up and down the apartment. The former thought the latter +was ruminating on the conditions that had been wrung from him, but the +first words of the king proved his mistake. + +"Jamie, you hardly gave me fair play, you and your Gaelic, with that +dainty offspring of so grim a sire." + +"Master of Ballengeich," replied the Highlander, "a man plays for his +own hand. You should have learned the Gaelic long ago." + +The king stopped abruptly in his walk. + +"Why do you call me by that name?" + +"Merely to show that in this ploy the royal prerogative is not brought +into play; it is already settled that when I meet the king, I am +defeated. It remains to be seen what luck plain James MacDonald has in +a contest with plain James Stuart." + +"Oh, it's to be a contest then?" + +"Not unless you wish it so. I am content to exchange all the fair +damsels of Stirling for this one Highland lassie." + +"You'll exchange!" cried the king. "I make bold to say she is not +yours to exchange." + +"I intend to make her mine." + +"Ah, we'll see about that, Jamie." + +"We will, Ballengeich," said MacDonald with confident precision. And +so the contest began. + +The girl, who saw few in her father's castle to be compared with those +whom she supposed to be mere visitors at Dunvegan, was at first +equally charming to each. A younger sister was her almost constant +companion, which was very well at first but latterly became irksome to +both the suitors. Occasionally, however, one James or the other saw +her alone and made the most of the opportunity presented, but the king +soon found himself tremendously handicapped in the matter of language. +The young lady possessed a keen sense of humour, and this, with the +ever present knowledge that her English was not that of the schools, +made her loth to adventure in that tongue before one accustomed to +its polished use. This same sense of humour was equally embarrassing +when the king madly plunged into the intricacies and ambushes of +the Gaelic. His majesty was brave enough for anything and did not +hesitate, as a forlorn hope, to call his scant knowledge of the Gaelic +to his aid, but even he could see that the result was invariably +unhappy, for although the girl made every endeavour to retain her +composure, there were times when some unfortunate phrase made her +slight frame quiver with suppressed merriment, and no one knew better +than the baffled king, that laughter banishes sentiment. The serious +Highlander, not less manly and handsome than his competitor, was +gifted with an immeasurable advantage in his familiarity with every +phase and inflection of his native vernacular. In his despair the +king struck up a close friendship with Donald, the second son of +the MacLeod, the elder son being absent on some foray or expedition, +and his majesty made a frantic effort to learn the only speech with +which his new comrade was equipped. But this race against time gave +MacDonald long and uninterrupted conferences with his inamorata, and +the king saw, too late, the futility of his endeavour. It might have +been wiser if he had taken his lessons from the girl herself instead +of from her brother, but his majesty was more proficient in teaching +than in learning from the fair sex. He had come to the conclusion that +his uninteresting rambles with Donald were not likely to further his +quest, and was sitting in his room cogitating upon some new method of +attack when MacDonald burst into the apartment with radiant face. The +king looked up at his visitor with no great good nature, and said +sharply,-- + +"Well, what is it?" + +"Your majesty," cried MacDonald jubilantly, "I think I have found a +method of escape, and that without in any way impugning our pledges." + +"Oh, is that all," said the king, with the air of snubbing too +enthusiastic a courtier. "I thought the house was on fire." + +"And I thought, your majesty," returned MacDonald, "that this subject +was ever uppermost in your mind." + +The king rested his closed fist on his hip, leaned his head a little +to one side and examined his rival critically. + +"Why have you returned so unexpectedly to the phrase, your majesty?" + +"Because, your majesty," answered MacDonald laughing, "the phrase, +Guidman of Ballengeich, no longer matters." + +"I do not understand you." + +"It is to make myself understood that I have come so hurriedly. I beg +then to inform your majesty, that Miss MacLeod has consented to become +my wife. I have spoken to her father, who has somewhat grudgingly and +conditionally given his consent. It occurred to me that if I wedded +the daughter of your gaoler, I may have enough influence with the +family to secure your majesty's release." + +"I have no doubt," said the king, "that this was your object from the +beginning. And so you have exchanged a temporary gaoler for one that +will last you all your life." + +The Highlander knit his brow and compressed his lips, as if to hold +back some retort which later he might regret. There was a moment's +constrained silence, then the king flung off his ill-humour as if it +were a cloak. + +"Forgive me, Jamie," he cried, springing to his feet. "Forgive the +wounded vanity of the vanquished." + +He extended his hand impetuously, which the other grasped with eager +cordiality. + +"Jamie, my lad, you were right. The crown weighs heavy when it is +thrown into the scale, but with this lassie I well believe it would +have made not an ounce of difference. Let the best man win, say I, +and you're the victor, so you have my warmest congratulation. Still, +Jamie, you must admit that the Gaelic is the cursedest lingo ever a +poor Lowland-bred man tried to get his tongue round. So now you see, +Jamie, we are even again. You think the crown defeated you at +Stirling, and I hold the language defeated me in Skye; thus we are +both able to retain a good opinion of ourselves, which is the splendid +privilege of every Scotchman to hold. Your bravery deserves success, +for it requires some courage to face your future father-in-law. What +did the old curmudgeon say?" + +"He gave little indication of pleasure or the reverse. He offered me +my liberty, now that I had pledged it in another direction, but he +refused to release you, so I declined to accept his clemency." + +"Then my proposed rescue must await the marriage ceremony?" + +"Not so. I have a more immediate and practical remedy. You have not +forgotten the twenty-six oared barge which the MacLeod was to keep for +the king, and which Malcolm MacLeod built for him." + +"It is not very likely, when I issued a proclamation commending +Malcolm as the greatest shipbuilder in the world." + +"Well, Malcolm has arrived at Dunvegan to receive into his own hands +once more that same proclamation. I asked him, in MacLeod's presence, +if the fleet still lingered in Torridon Bay, and he answered that it +did. MacLeod pricked up his ears at this, and thinking he was to get +some information, now that I proposed myself as a member of his +family, inquired if I knew why it remained so long. I said I had a +suspicion of the cause. If Malcolm had not replied to the king's +proclamation it was natural that the fleet would wait until he did. +Old Alexander and Malcolm seemed surprised that a response was +expected, Malcolm being but a simple yeoman. However, we wrote out a +courteous reply to the king, in Gaelic, and Malcolm is to send it to +the fleet as soon as he returns to the northern coast." + +"I don't see how that is to help us," demurred his majesty. + +"Here is my proposal. If you will now write out an order to the +admiral commanding the fleet to appear before Dunvegan Castle, I will +ride part of the way home with Malcolm, and suggest to him at parting, +that perhaps none of the officers of the fleet understand Gaelic, or +at least that none can read it, so I will fasten your letter to the +other document, and tell Malcolm it is a translation of his Gaelic +effusion. Neither Malcolm nor any of his friends at the port can read +English, and as he is a simple minded man it is not likely that he +will return and allow the laird a perusal. So in that way we may get +word to the fleet. Even if the letter is discovered, you will have +kept your word, for you promised only not to communicate with +Stirling." + +The king pronounced the device a feasible one, and set himself at once +to the writing of the letter. + +MacDonald succeeded in getting the unsuspicious Malcolm to take charge +of the supposed English version of his note, and the king was left to +await the result with whatever patience was vouchsafed him. The island +had suddenly lost all interest for him and he fervently wished himself +safely in Stirling once more. He complimented the girl on the +excellent choice she had made, and she returned his compliment +laughingly in Gaelic, glancing timidly at MacDonald as she asked him +to be her interpreter. + +Two or three days later there was a commotion in the castle. The +guards on the western headlands reported the approach of numerous +ships, and by-and-by from the castle wall itself the fleet could be +seen sailing slowly up Loch Follart. For the first time since they had +known him, lines of deep anxiety marked the frowning brow of MacLeod +as he stood gazing at the approaching vessels. Here were visitors who, +if they proved not to his liking, he could scarcely threaten with the +dungeons of Dunvegan. + +"What do you make of this, MacDonald?" said the chieftain, turning to +his future son-in-law, as if already he looked to him for support and +counsel. + +But MacDonald shook his head, in spite of the fact that his wife +who-was-to-be, stood very close to him. + +"All negotiations have been carried on by my friend here, and so to +him I must refer you. He is the leader of our expedition of two." + +During his brief acquaintance MacLeod had but thinly veiled his +dislike of the Lowlander, who had always ventured to speak with him in +a free and easy manner to which he was unaccustomed. Instead then of +addressing his question to the other, he returned to his occupation of +watching the ships manoeuvring in the loch before him. But his air +of expectancy seemed to indicate that he thought the usual glibness +exhibited by the man at his right would bring forth some sort of +explanation, but the king stood as silent as himself, his eyes fixed +on the fleet. One by one the ships came to anchor and even an amateur +in the art of naval warfare could see by the protruding guns that they +were prepared for action. + +MacLeod could restrain his impatience no longer, so without glancing +at his visitor, he said,-- + +"Perhaps you, sir, can tell me the purport of all this display." + +"Assuredly," answered the king with a trace of sternness in his tone +that had hitherto been absent in his converse with his gaoler. "The +fleet comes at the command of the king to take away your prisoners, if +they are unharmed, or to batter down your castle if they have been +molested." + +"I suppose then I should be thankful they are unharmed?" + +"You have reason," said the king shortly. + +"His majesty must set great value on your heads if he sends his whole +fleet to succour you." + +"He does." + +"How did he know you were here if you did not break your parole and +communicate with Stirling?" + +"The king knows there is more going on in Skye than the making of +strong drink. I did not break my parole, neither did MacDonald." + +"In spite of what you said to me, you must have told the king before +you left Stirling where you were going." + +"I did not." + +"Then word must have been brought to him from Skye?" + +"It was not." + +"In that case the only conclusion I can come to is that the king is +unaware of your presence here." + +"He is well aware of it." + +"You speak in riddles, my friend. However, I had no real wish to +detain you, and you might have gone where you pleased any time this +fortnight or more." + +"So you say now." + +"It's true enough, and if you wish to visit the fleet one of my boats +will be ready to carry you the moment you give the order. I told you +the first day that if you were a friend of the king's, or an emissary +of his, you could go on your way unchecked. Did I not, MacDonald?" + +"You said something of that sort, sir." + +"You denied being a friend of the king's," persisted MacLeod, "and +said you were but a small farmer near Stirling." + +"I deny yet that I am a friend of the king. On the contrary, I don't +mind confessing to you that I am the greatest enemy he has in the +world, and it's well he knows it." + +"You amaze me. Then you do not wish to meet the fleet." + +"On the contrary, I do, and I ask you to order a suitable boat for +me." + +"You shall have the best boat in my possession," said MacLeod leaving +them for a moment to give his command. + +In a short time a large boat with ten oarsmen was waiting at the +landing. + +"They are ready for you," said MacLeod with an effort at geniality, +which gave a most sinister effect to his face. "I am sorry to bid you +good-bye, but I hope you bear away with you no ill will against +Dunvegan." + +"Sir," said the king ignoring his compliments, "that boat will not do +for me." + +"It is the best I have," said MacLeod looking at his truculent guest +with new anxiety. + +"The boat you must bring to the landing is the twenty-six oared barge, +which Malcolm MacLeod builded so well." + +The MacLeod stepped back two paces. + +"That boat is for the king," he said in a voice scarcely above a +whisper. + +"Yes, it is for the king, therefore the king demands it. Give the +order instantly that it be brought to the landing, well manned with +twenty-six rowers." + +All colour left MacLeod's face. His next words were to MacDonald. + +"Is this true?" he said. + +"Yes," answered MacDonald, "it is true." + +The girl, her wide eyes distended with fear, clutched the arm of her +lover. Even she knew this was a case for the headsman, but MacLeod, +with not a quiver in his voice, called down to his followers,-- + +"Bring round the king's barge, and see it is well manned. I myself +will take the rudder." + +The stern face of the king relaxed as he saw this chieftain stand +straighter than ever before since he had known him, ready to take on +his head whatever might befall. + +The girl impetuously flung herself at the king's feet, and in her +excitement forgetting the limitations of his learning, she poured +forth a plea for her father in Gaelic. The king smiled as he stooped +and raised the suppliant. + +"My dear," he said, "I shall never hear that language without thinking +of you, and of my own discomfiture. If it were not that MacDonald +stands there with that dour Highland look on his face, it is I would +kneel at your feet. Your father is to come with me to Stirling, for +I have said he should, and I must keep my word with myself as well +as I have kept it with him. Do not draw away your hand, in spite of +MacDonald's scowls, for I have this to promise you. If you and he will +accompany us to Stirling, I pledge to you the king's word that I +shall grant you whatever you ask. So you see you need have no fear for +your father's safety." Saying this, the king, with that courtly manner +which so well became him, gave the hand of the girl into that of +MacDonald. + +Thus it came about that the MacLeod took a voyage he had not intended, +and came so unscathed from it that he long outlived the man who was +the cause of his journey. + + + + +THE KING WEDS + + +Even a stranger in Stirling must have been impressed by the fact +that something unusual was afoot, not to be explained by the mere +preparation for ushering in the New Year. Inquiry soon solved the +problem of the decorations and the rejoicings. James the Fifth, the +most popular king Scotland had possessed since the days of Bruce, was +about to be married, and most of his subjects thought it high time, +for he had reached the mature age of twenty-six, and monarchs are +expected to take a mate somewhat earlier than other folk. As the king, +with a splendid retinue, was to depart shortly after the new year on a +journey to France to claim his bride, the capital city flung its +bunting to the breeze, and the inhabitants thereof pledged each other +and the king in bumpers of exhilarating beverages; indeed all Scotland +was following the example set to it by Stirling, for the marriage was +extremely well liked throughout the land. + +The king's father had linked himself to an English princess, and the +Scottish people thought little of her. The precipitate marriage of +this queen, only a few months after her husband's death, still further +lowered her in public estimation. Scotland professed slight regard for +Margaret of England, and was glad when her son refused the offer of +his uncle, Henry the Eighth, to provide him with a wife. Indeed, James +was at that moment the most sought-after young man in the world, so +far as matrimony was concerned. The Pope, who now addressed him as +Defender of the Faith, had a favourite candidate for his hand. Henry +the Eighth was anxious that he should have all England to pick and +choose from. The Emperor Charles the Fifth wished him to marry +Princess Mary of Portugal; Francis the First of France was eager to +supply him with a well-dowered bride. Never before had any youth such +an embarrassment of choice, but James himself decided that he would +go a-wooing to France, and his subjects universally applauded his +preference. James's elderly relative, John, Duke of Albany, had +married the heiress of De la Tour d'Auvergne, and the young king +resolved to follow his example. Apart from this, James, in a manner, +was pledged from the time he was three years of age, for Albany, when +Regent of Scotland, had promised France that the young ruler should +seek his consort in that country; so there had now been chosen for him +Mary, daughter of the Duc de Vendome, who was reported beautiful, and, +what was more to the purpose in a thrifty nation, was known to be +wealthy. + +This courting by all Europe might have turned the head of a less +sensible young man than James, but he well knew the reason that so +many distinguished persons desired his alliance. Henry the Eighth was +at loggerheads with France; the Emperor Charles and Francis the First +were engaged in one of their customary aimless wars, the advantage as +usual inclining rather to the emperor's side. Scotland was at peace +with itself and with all the world. The Scots were excellent fighters +in whatever part of the world they encountered an enemy, and the +strong fleet which James the Fourth had builded was augmented by his +son and might prove a powerful factor in European politics. France and +Scotland had long been traditional friends, and so this new mating +aroused enthusiasm in both countries. + +Thus Stirling put on gay attire and her citizens went about with +smiles on their faces, all except one, and that one was James himself, +who became more and more gloomy as the time for his departure +approached. He had no desire to take upon himself the trammels of the +matrimonial estate, and although his uncle, the strenuous Henry, was +ultimately to set an example before the world of the ease with which +the restrictions of marriage were to be shuffled off, yet at this time +Henry himself was merely an amateur at the business, engaged in +getting rid of Catherine of Arragon, a task which he had not yet +succeeded in accomplishing. James had postponed and re-postponed the +fateful journey; but at last he saw it must be taken, or a friendly +country, one of the proudest on earth, would be deliberately insulted +in the face of the world. Not only this, but his own subjects were +getting restive, and he knew as well as they that a disputed +succession in the event of his early death might lead to civil war. +So, making the best of the hard bargain which is imposed on princes, +where what should be the most endearing ties of human affection are +concerned, James set his face resolutely towards the south, and +attended by a brilliant escort, sailed for France. After a stormy +voyage, for the month was January, the royal party landed in France, +and was met by a company of nobles, only less splendid than itself in +that a king was one of the visitors; for Francis had remained at +Loches, to welcome his brother sovereign at that great and sinister +stronghold, where the Court of France for the moment held its seat. +Both time and weather seemed unpropitious for joyous occasion. News +arrived at Loches that the French army had suffered defeat in its +invasion of the Duke of Savoy's territory, and these tidings exercised +a depressing influence on the welcoming delegation. + +As the united escorts of France and Scotland set out on their journey +to Loches a flurry of damp snow filled the air, raw from off the +Channel, and the road proved wellnigh impassable through depth of mud. +The discontented countenance of the king, who was wont to be the life +of any party of which he was a member, lowered the spirits of his +Scottish followers to the level of those saddened by military defeat +and the horsemen made their way through the quagmires of Northern +France more like a slow funeral procession than wedding guests. + +At the castle where they halted at the end of the first day's +journey, the King speedily retired to the apartment assigned to him +without a word of cheer even to the most intimate of his comrades. + +The travellers had accomplished only about twelve leagues from the +sea-coast on their first day's journey, and darkness had set in before +the horsemen clattered through the narrow streets of a little town and +came to the frowning gates of a great castle, whose huge tower in the +glare of numerous torches loomed out white against the wintry sky. The +chief room of the suite reserved for the king was the only cheerful +object his majesty had seen that day. A roaring bonfire of bulky logs +shed a flickering radiance on the tapestry that hung along the wall, +almost giving animation to the knights pictured thereon, sternly +battling against foes in anger, or merrily joisting with friends for +pleasure at some forgotten tournament. + +The king, probably actuated by the military instincts of his race +urging him to get his bearings, even though he was in the care of a +friendly country, strode to one of the windows and looked out. Dark +as was the night and cloudy the sky, the landscape was nevertheless +etched into tolerable distinctness by the snow that had fallen, and +he saw far beneath him the depths of a profound valley, and what +appeared to be a town much lower than the one through which he had +just ridden. The stronghold appeared to stand on a platform of rock +which was at least impregnable from this side. James turned from +the wintry scene outside to the more alluring prospect within the +apartment. A stout oaken table in the centre of the room was weighted +with a sumptuous repast; and the king, with the stalwart appetite +of youth and health augmented by a tiresome journey in keen air, +forthwith fell to, and did ample justice to the providing of his +unknown host. The choicest vintages of France did something to dispel +that depression which had settled down upon him, and the outside glow +of the great fire supplemented the inward ardour of good wine. + +The king drew up his cushioned chair to the blaze, and while his +attendants speedily cleared the board, a delicious drowsiness stole +over him. He was partially aroused from this by the entrance of his +poetical friend and confidant, Sir David Lyndsay. + +"Your majesty," said the rhymster, "the constable of these towers +craves permission to pay his respects to you, extending a welcome on +behalf of his master, the King of France." + +"Bring him in, Davie," cried James; "for in truth he has already +extended the most cordial of welcomes, and I desire to thank him for +my reception." + +Shortly after Sir David Lyndsay ushered into the room a young man of +about the same age as the king, dressed in that superb and picturesque +costume which denoted a high noble of France, and which added the +lustre of fine raiment to the distinguished court of Francis the +First. The king greeted his visitor with that affability, which +invariably drew even the most surly toward him, without relaxing the +dignity which is supposed to be the heritage of a monarch. + +"I am delighted to think," said the newcomer, "that the King of +Scotland has honoured my house by making it his first halting-place in +that realm which has ever been the friend of his country." + +"Sir," replied James, "the obligation rests entirely upon me. After a +stormy voyage and an inclement land journey, the hospitality of your +board is one of the most grateful encounters I have ever met with. I +plead an ignorance of geography which is deplorable; and cannot in the +least guess where I am, beyond the fact that the boundaries of France +encompass me." + +"I shall not pretend," said the young man, "that my house is unworthy +even of the distinguished guest which it now holds. Your majesty +stands within historic walls, for in an adjoining apartment was born +William, the founder of a great race of English kings. Scotchmen have +defended this castle, and Scotchmen have assaulted it, so its very +stones are linked with the fortunes of your country. Brave Henry the +Fifth of England captured it, and France took it from his successor. +My own family, like the Scotch, have both stood its guard and have +been the foremost through a breach to sack it. I am but now employed +in repairing the ravages of recent turmoil." + +Here the King interrupted him, as if to mend the reputation of +ignorance he had bestowed upon himself. + +"I take it, then, that I speak to one of the renowned name of Talbot, +and that this fortress is no other than the Castle of Falaise?" and +the king impetuously extended his hand to him. "We both come of a +stormy line, Talbot. Indeed we are even more intimately associated +than you have hinted, for one of your name had the temerity to invade +Scotland itself in the interests of Edward Baliol--yes, by the Rood, +and successfully too." + +"Ah, your majesty, it does not become the pride of our house to refer +to Richard Talbot, for three years later the Scots took him prisoner, +and he retired defeated from your country." + +"Indeed," replied the king gaily, "if my memory serves me truly, we +valued your valiant ancestor so highly that we made the King of +England pay two thousand marks for him. We Scots are a frugal people; +we weigh many of the blessings of life against good hard coin, and by +Saint Andrew of Scotland, Talbot, I hold myself to-day no better than +the rest, for, speaking as young man to young man, I think it unworthy +of either king or peasant to take a woman to his bosom for aught save +love of her." + +"In that I cordially agree with your majesty," said Talbot, with a +fervour that made the king glance at him with even more of sympathy +than he had already exhibited. A wave of emotion seemed to overwhelm +the sensitive James, and submerge for the moment all discretion; he +appeared to forget that he spoke to a stranger and one foreign to him, +yet James rarely mistook his man, and in this case his intuition was +not at fault. To lay bare the secrets of his heart to one unknown to +him shortly before, was an experiment of risk; but, as he had said, he +spoke as young man to young man, and healthy youth is rarely cynical, +no matter to what country it belongs. The heart knows nothing of +nationality, and a true man is a true man wherever he hails from. + +James sprang to his feet and paced the long room in an excess of +excitement, a cloud on his brow; hands clenching and unclenching as he +walked. Equally with the lowest in his realm he felt the need of a +compassionate confidant. At last the words poured forth from him in an +ecstasy of confession. + +"Talbot," he cried, "I am on a journey that shames my very manhood. I +have lived my life as others of my age, and whatever of contrition I +may feel, that rests between my Maker and myself. I am as He formed +me, and if I was made imperfect I may be to blame that I strove so +little to overcome my deficiency, but, by God, I say it here, I never +bought another nor sold myself. Now, on the contrary, I go to the loud +marketplace; now I approach a woman I have never seen, and who has +never seen me, to pledge our lives together, the consideration for +this union set down on parchment, and a stipulated sum paid over in +lands and gold." + +The king stopped suddenly in his perambulation, raised his hands and +said impressively,-- + +"I tell you, friend and host, I am no better than my fellows and +worse than many of them, but when the priest mutters the words that +bind, I say the man should have no thought in his mind, but of the +woman who stands beside him; and she no thought in hers but of the man +in whose hand she places her own." + +"Then why go on with this quest?" cried young Talbot with an +impetuosity equal to that of his guest. + +"Why go on; how can I stop? The fate of kingdoms depends on my action. +My honour is at stake. My pledged word is given. How can I withdraw?" + +"Your majesty need not withdraw. My master, Francis, is the very +prince of lovers, and every word you have uttered will awake an echo +in his own heart, although he is our senior by twenty years. If I may +venture to offer humbly such advice as occurs to me, you should tell +him that you have come to France not to be chosen for, but to choose. +France is the flower garden of the human race; here bloom the fairest +lilies of womanhood, fit to grace the proudest throne in Christendom. +Choice is the prerogative of kings." + +"Indeed, Talbot, it is not," said the king dolefully. + +"It should be so, and can be so, where a monarch boldly demands the +right exercised unquestioned by the meanest hind. Whom shall you +offend by stoutly claiming your right? Not France, for you will wed +one of her daughters; not the king, for he is anxious to bestow upon +you the lady you may prefer. Whom then? Merely the Duke of Vendome, +whose vaulting ambition it is to place a crown upon the head of his +daughter, though its weight may crush her." + +The king looked fixedly at the perturbed young man, and a faint smile +chased away the sternness of his countenance. + +"I have never known an instance," he said slowly, "where the burden of +a crown was urged as an objection even by the most romantic of women." + +"It would be so urged by Mary of Vendome, were she allowed to give +utterance to her wishes." + +"You know her then?" + +"I am proud to claim her as a friend, and to assert she is the very +pearl of France." + +"Ha, you interest me. You hint, then, that I come a bootless wooer? +That is turning the tables indeed, and now you rouse an emulation +which heretofore was absent in me. You think I cannot win and wear +this jewel of the realm?" + +"That you may wear it there is no doubt; that you may win it is +another matter. Mary will place her listless hand in yours, knowing +thus she pleases the king and her father, but it is rumoured her +affections are fixed upon another." + +"Sir, you stir me up to competition. Now we enter the lists. You bring +the keen incentive of rivalry into play." + +"Such, your majesty, was far from my intention. I spoke as a friend of +the lady. She has no more choice in this bargain than you deplored the +lack of a moment since." + +The former gloom again overspread the king's face. + +"There is the devil of it," he cried impatiently. "If I could meet her +on even terms, plain man and woman, then if I loved her I would win +her, were all the nobles of France in the scales against me. But I +come to her chained; a jingling captive, and she approaches me alike +in thrall. It is a cursed fate, and I chafe at the clanking links, +though they hold me nevertheless. And all my life I can never be sure +of her; the chiming metal ever between us. I come in pomp and display, +as public as the street I walk on, and the union is as brazen as a +slave market, despite cathedral bells and archbishop's blessing. Ah, +well, there is nothing gained by ranting. Do you ride to Loches with +me?" + +"I follow your majesty a day behind, but hope to overtake you before +you are well past Tours." + +"I am glad of it. Good-night. I see you stand my friend, and before +this comes to a climax we may have need to consult together. +Good-night; good-night!" + +Next morning early the itinerants were on horseback again, facing +southward. The day was wild and stormy, and so was the next that +followed it; but after leaving Tours they seemed to have entered an +enchanted land, for the clouds were dispersed and the warm sun came +forth, endowing the travellers with a genial climate like late +springtime in Scotland. As they approached Loches even the king was +amazed by the striking sight of the castle, a place formidable in +its strength, and in extent resembling a small city. + +The gay and gallant Francis received his fellow monarch with a +cordiality that left no doubt of its genuine character. The French +king had the geniality to meet James in the courtyard itself; he +embraced him at the very gates as soon as James had dismounted from +his horse. Notwithstanding his twenty years of seniority Francis +seemed as young as the Scottish king. + +"By Saint Denis, James," he cried, "you are a visitor of good omen, +for you have brought fine weather with you and the breath of spring. +All this winter we have endured the climate of Hades itself, without +its warmth." + +The two rulers stood together in the courtyard, entirely alone, for no +man dare frequent their immediate neighbourhood; but in a circle some +distance removed from their centre, the Scotch and the French +fraternised together, a preeminent assemblage numbering a thousand or +more; and from the balconies beautiful ladies looked down on the +inspiring scene. + +The gates were still open and the drawbridge down, when a horseman +came clattering over the causeway, and, heedless of the distinguished +audience, which he scattered to right and left, amid curses on his +clumsiness, drew up his foaming horse in the very presence of royalty +itself. + +Francis cried out angrily at this interruption. + +"Unmannerly varlet, how dare you come dashing through this throng like +a drunken ploughman!" + +The rider flung himself off the panting horse and knelt before his +enraged master. + +"Sire," he said, "my news may perhaps plead for me. The army of the +Emperor Charles, in Provence, is broken and in flight. Spain has met +a crushing defeat, and no foe insults the soil of France except by +lying dead upon it." + +"Now, my good fellow," cried the king with dancing eyes, "you are +forgiven if you had ridden down half of my nobility." + +The joyous news spread like wildfire, and cheer upon cheer rose to +heaven like vocal flame to mark its advance. + +"Brother," cried the great king to his newly arrived guest, placing +an arm lovingly over his shoulder, his voice with suspicion of +tremulousness about it, "you stalwart Scots have always brought luck +to our fair land of France. This glad news is the more welcome to me +that you are here when I receive it." + +And so the two, like affectionate kinsmen, walked together into the +castle which, although James did not then know it, was to be his home +for many months. + +There was a dinner of state that evening, so gay and on a scale so +grand that James had little time or opportunity for reflection on his +mission. Here indeed, as Talbot had truly said, was the flower garden +of the human race; and the Scottish king saw many a proud lady to whom +probably he would have been delighted to bend the knee. But his bride +was not among the number. The Duchesse de Vendome explained to the +king that her daughter was suffering from a slight illness, and apart +from this was anxious to greet her future husband in a conference more +private than the present occasion afforded. This was certainly +reasonable enough, and the important meeting took place the following +afternoon. + +Mary of Vendome might truly be called the Pearl of France, if +whiteness of visage gave claim to that title. The king found himself +confronted by a drooping young woman whose stern mother gave her a +support which was certainly needed. Her face was of the pallor of wax; +and never once during that fateful interview did she raise the heavy +lids from her eyes. That she had once been beautiful was undoubted, +but now her face was almost gaunt in its excessive thinness. The +death-like hue of her delicate skin, the fact that she seemed scarce +to breathe, and that she never ventured to speak, gave her suitor the +impression that she more resembled one preparing for the tomb than a +young girl anticipating her bridal. She courtesied like one in a +trance; but the keen eyes of the king saw the tightening of her +mother's firm hand on her wrist while she made the obeisance which +etiquette demanded. Short as was their formal greeting, it was too +long for this anaemic creature, who would have sunk to the floor were +it not for the clutch in which the determined mother held her. Even +the king, self-contained as he usually was, found little to say beyond +empty expressions of concern regarding her recent illness, ending with +a brief remark to the effect that he hoped she would soon recover from +her indisposition. But once the ordeal was over, James was filled with +a frenzy to be alone, tortured as he was by an agony of mind which +made any encounter with his fellows intolerable. He strode through the +seemingly interminable corridors of the great castle, paying slight +heed to his direction. All doors opened before him, and sentinels +saluted as he passed. At last, not knowing where he was, or how to get +outside, he said to one of the human statues who held a pike,-- + +"Tell me, good fellow, the quickest way to the outer air; some spot +where I can be entirely alone?" + +The guard, saluting, called a page, whispered a word to him, and the +boy led the king to a door which gave access to a secluded garden, +enclosed on every side by high battlements, yet nevertheless filled +with great trees, under which ran paths both straight and winding. +Beside one wall lay the longest walk of this little park, and up and +down this gravelled way, his hands clasped behind him, the young king +strode in more disturbance of mind than had ever before afflicted him. + +"Oh, God save me; God save me!" he cried; "am I to be wedded to a +ghost? That woman is not even alive, to say whether she is willing or +no. Have I come to France to act the ghoul and rob the grave of its +due? Saints in heaven, help me! What am I to do? I cannot insult +France, yet I cannot chain my living body to that dead woman. Why is +not Talbot here? He said he would overtake me at Tours, and yet is he +not come. The Pearl of France, said he, the jewel of a toad's head, +say I. My honour staked, and to that unbreathing image of tallow! Is +this my punishment? Do the sins of our youth thus overtake us, and in +such ghastly form? Bones of my ancestors, I will not wed the grave, +though war and slaughter come of it. And yet--and yet, my faith is +plighted; blindly, unknowingly plighted. Why does not Talbot come? He +knew what my emotions would be on seeing that denizen of another +world, and so warned me." + +These muttered meditations were suddenly interrupted by a clear sweet +voice from above. + +"Ecossais! Scottish knight! Please rescue for me my handkerchief, +which I have, alas, let fall. Wrap a stone in it and throw it hither, +I beg of you." + +The startled king looked up and beheld, peering over at him from the +battlements above, one of the most piquant and pretty, laughing faces +he had ever seen. Innocent mischief sparkled in the luscious dark +eyes, which regarded him from a seemingly inaccessible perch. A wealth +of dark tousled hair made a midnight frame for a lovely countenance in +the first flush of maidenly youth. Nothing could be more marked than +the difference between the reality which thus came unexpectedly into +view, and his sombre vision of another. There also sifted down to him +from aloft, whisperings that were evidently protests, from persons +unseen; but the minx who was the cause of them merrily bade her +counsellors be quiet. She must get her handkerchief, she said, and the +Scot was the only one to recover it. Fluttering white from one of the +lower branches was a dainty bit of filmy lace, much too fragile a +covering for the stone she had suggested. The despair which enveloped +the king was dispelled as the mist vanishes before the beaming sun. +He whipped out his thin rapier and deftly disentangled the light +burden from the detaining branch. It fluttered to his hand and was +raised gallantly to his lips, at which the girl laughed most joyfully, +as if this action were intensely humorous. Other faces peeped +momentarily over the balustrade to be as quickly withdrawn when they +saw the stranger looking up at them; but the hussy herself, whoever +she was, seemed troubled by no such timorousness, resting her arms +upon the stone balustrade, with her chin above them, her inviting eyes +gazing mockingly on the man below. The king placed the handkerchief in +the bosom of his doublet, thrust home the rapier in its scabbard, +grasped the lower branch of the tree and swung himself up on it with +the agility of an acrobat. Now the insolence of those eyes was chased +away by a look of alarm. + +"No, no," she cried, "stay where you are. You are too bold, Scottish +knight." + +But she had to reckon with one who was a nimble wall climber, either +up or down, whose expertness in descent had often saved him from the +consequences of too ambitious climbing. The young man answered not a +word, but made his way speedily up along the branches until he stood +at a level with the parapet. Across the chasm which divided him +from the wall he saw a broad platform, railed round with a stone +balustrade, this elevated floor forming an ample promenade that was +nevertheless secluded because of the higher castle walls on every +side, walls that were unpierced by any window. A door at the farther +end of the platform gave access to the interior of the palace. A short +distance back from the balustrade stood a group of some half-dozen +very frightened women. But the first cause of all this commotion +remained in the forefront of the assemblage, angry and defiant. + +"How dare you, sir?" she cried. "Go back, I command you." Then seeing +he made no motion to obey her, but was measuring with his keen eye the +distance between the bending limb on which he held his precarious +position, and the parapet, something more of supplication came into +her voice, and she continued,-- + +"My good fellow, place the handkerchief on the point of your sword and +one of my women will reach for it. Be careful, I beg of you; that +bough will break under your weight if you venture further. The +outreached arm and the sword will span the space." + +"Madam," said the king, "the sword's point is for my enemy. On bended +knee must I present a lady that which belongs to her." + +And with this, before further expostulation was possible, the young +man made his perilous leap, clutched the parapet with his left arm, +hung suspended for one breathless moment, then flung his right leg, a +most shapely member, over the balustrade, and next instant was +kneeling at her feet, offering the gosamer token. In the instant of +crisis the young lady had given utterance to a little shriek which she +instantly suppressed, glancing nervously over her shoulder. One of her +women ran towards the door, but the girl peremptorily ordered her to +return. + +"The Scot will not eat you," she cried impatiently, "even if he _is_ +a savage." + +"Madam, your handkerchief," explained the savage, still offering it. + +"I shall not accept it," she exclaimed, her eyes blazing with +resentment at his presumption. + +The king sprang to his feet and swept off his plumed hat with the air +of an Italian. + +"Ten thousand thanks, madam, for your cherished gift." Saying which he +thrust the slight web back into his doublet again. + +"'Tis not a gift; render it to me at once, sir," she demanded with +feminine inconsistency. She extended her hand, but the king, instead +of returning the article in dispute, grasped her fingers unawares and +raised them to his lips. She drew away her hand with an expression of +the utmost contempt, but nevertheless stood her ground, in spite of +the evident anxiety to be elsewhere of the bevy behind her. + +"Sir, you are unmannerly. No one has ever ventured to treat me thus." + +"Then I am delighted to be the first to introduce to you so amiable a +custom. Unmannerly? Not so. We savages learn our manners from the +charming land of France; and I have been told that in one or two +instances, this country has known not only the fingers, but the lips +to be kissed." + +"I implore you, sir, to desist and take your departure the way you +came; further, I warn you that danger threatens." + +"I need no such warning, my lady. The danger has already encompassed +me, and my heart shall never free itself from its presence, while +remembrance of the lightning of those eyes abides with me." + +The girl laughed with a trace of nervousness, and the rich colour +mounted to her cheek. + +"Sir, you are learning your lesson well in France." + +"My lady, the lowest hind in my country could not do otherwise under +such tutelage." + +"You should turn your gifts to the service of your master. Go, woo for +him poor Mary of Vendome, and see if you can cure her who is dying of +love for young Talbot of Falaise." + +For a moment the king stood as if struck by the lightning he had just +referred to, then staggering back a step, rested his hand on the +parapet and steadied himself. + +"Good God!" he muttered in low tones, "is that true?" + +All coquetry disappeared from the girl as she saw the dramatic effect +her words had produced. She moved lightly forward, then held back +again, anxiety on her brow. + +"Sir, what is wrong with you? Are you ill? Are you a friend of +Talbot's?" + +"Yes, I am a friend of his." + +"And did you not know this? I thought every one knew it. Does not the +King of Scotland know? What will he do when he learns, think you, or +will it make a difference?" + +"The King of Scotland is a blind fool; a conceited coxcomb, who +thinks every woman that sees him must fall in love with him." + +"Sir, you amaze me. Are you not a subject of his? You would not speak +so in his hearing." + +"Indeed and that I would, without hesitation, and he knows it." + +"Is he so handsome as they say? Alas, I am thought too young to engage +in court festivities, and in spite of my pleadings I was not allowed +even to see his arrival." + +The king had now recovered his composure, and there was a return of +his gallant bearing. + +"Madam, tell me your name, and I shall intercede that so rigid a rule +for one so fair may be relaxed." + +"Ah, now your impudence reasserts itself. My name is not for you. How +can a humble Scottish knight hope to soften a rule promulgated by the +King of France himself?" + +"Madam, you forget that we are guests of France, and in this courteous +country nothing is denied us. We meet with no refusals except from +proud ladies like yourself. I shall ask my captain, he shall pass my +request to the general, who will speak to the King of Scotland, and +the king, when he knows how beautiful you are, will beg the favour +from Francis himself." + +The girl clasped her hands with exuberant delight. + +"I wonder if it is possible," she said, leaning towards the gay +cavalier, as if he were now her dearest friend--for indeed it was +quite evident that she thought much of him in spite of his irregular +approach. She was too young to feel the rules of etiquette otherwise +than annoying bonds, and like an imprisoned wild bird, was willing to +take any course that promised liberty. + +"Your name, then, madam?" + +"My name is Madeleine." + +"I need not ask if you are noble." + +"I am at least as noble as Mary of Vendome, whom your king is to +marry, if he is cruel enough." + +At this point one of the women, who had stationed herself near the +door, came running towards the group and warned them that somebody +was approaching. The attendants, who had hitherto remained passive, +probably with some womanly curiosity regarding the strange interview, +now became wild with excitement, and joined their mistress in begging +the stranger to depart. + +"Not until I have whispered in your ear," he said stoutly. + +"I cannot permit it; I cannot permit it. Go, go at once, I implore +you." + +"Then I escort you within the hall to meet whoever comes." + +"Sir, you are importunate. Well, it doesn't matter; whisper." + +He bent toward her and said:-- + +"Madeleine, you must meet me here alone at this time to-morrow." + +"Never, never," she cried resolutely. + +"Very well then; here I stay until you consent." + +"You are cruel," she said, tears springing in her eyes. Then +appealingly, as a knock sounded against the door, she added, "I +promise. Go at once." + +The young man precipitated himself over the parapet into the tree. The +fortune which attends lovers and drunkards favoured him, and the last +bending branch lowered him as gently to the gravel of the walk as if +he were a son of the forest. He glanced upward, and saw that the +luminous face, in its diaphanous environment of dark hair was again +bent over the parapet, the lips apart and still, saying nothing, but +the eloquent eyes questioning; indeed he fancied he saw in them some +slight solicitude for his safety. He doffed his hat, kissed the tips +of his fingers and wafted the salutation toward her, while a glow of +satisfaction filled his breast as he actually saw a similar movement +on the part of her own fair fingers, which was quickly translated +into a gesture pointing to the garden door, and then she placed a +finger-tip to her lips, a silent injunction for silence. He knew when +to obey, as well as when to disobey, and vanished quickly through the +door. He retreated in no such despairing phase of mind as he had +advanced, but now paid some attention to the geography of the place +that he might return unquestioning to his tryst. Arriving at the more +public corridors of the palace, his first encounter was with the +Constable of Falaise. Talbot's dress was travel-stained, and his +youthful face wore almost the haggardness of age. He looked like a man +who had ridden hard and slept little, finding now small comfort at the +end of a toilsome journey. The king, with a cry of pleasure at the +meeting, smote his two hands down on the shoulders of the other, who +seemed unconsciously to shrink from the boisterous touch. + +"Talbot," he cried, "you promised to overtake me at Tours, but you did +not." + +"It is not given to every man to overtake your majesty," said Talbot +hoarsely. + +"Constable of Falaise, you were not honest with me that night in your +castle. I spoke to you freely from the bottom of my heart; you +answered me from your lips outward." + +"I do not understand your majesty," replied the young man grimly. + +"Yes, you do. You love Mary of Vendome. Why did you not tell me so?" + +"To what purpose should I have made such a confession, even if it were +the fact?" + +"To the purpose of truth, if for nothing else. God's sake, man, is it +thus you love in France! Cold Scotland can be in that your tutor. In +your place, there had been a quick divorce between my sword and +scabbard. Were my rival twenty times a king, I'd face him out and +say, by Cupid's bow, return or fight." + +"What! This in your castle to your guest?" exclaimed Talbot. + +"No, perhaps not. You are in the right, constable, you are in the +right. I had forgotten your situation for the moment. I should have +been polite to him within my own walls, but I should have followed +him across my marches and slit his gullet on the king's highway." + +Notwithstanding his distraction of mind the newcomer smiled somewhat +wanly at the impetuosity of the other. + +"You must remember that while your foot presses French soil, you are +still the guest of all true Frenchmen, nevertheless your majesty's +words have put new life into my veins. Did you see Mary of Vendome?" + +"Yes, and there is not three months' life left to her unless she draws +vitality from your presence. Man, man, why stand you here idling? +Climb walls, force bolts, kidnap the girl and marry her in spite of +all the world." + +"Alas, there is not a priest in all France would dare to marry us, +knowing her pledged to your majesty." + +"Priests of France! I have priests in my own train who will, at a word +from me, link you tighter than these stones are cemented together. +God's will, Talbot, these obstacles but lend interest to the chase." + +"Is it possible that you, having opportunity, care not to marry Mary +of Vendome?" cried the amazed young man, who could not comprehend +that where his preference fell another might be indifferent; for she +was, as he had said, the Pearl of France to him, and it seemed absurd +to imagine that she might not be so to all the world. + +"United Europe, with Francis and the Emperor Charles for once combined +could not force me to marry where I did not love. I failed to +understand this when I left Scotland, but I have grown in wisdom since +then." + +"Who is she?" asked the constable, with eager interest. + +"Hark ye, Talbot," said the king, lowering his voice and placing an +arm affectionately over the shoulder of the other. "You shall be my +guide. Who is the Lady Madeleine of this court?" + +"The Lady Madeleine? There are several." + +"No, there is but one, the youngest, the most beautiful, the most +witty, the most charming. Who is she?" + +The constable wrinkled his brows in thought. + +"That must be Madeleine de Montmorency. She is the youngest of her +name, and is by many accounted beautiful. I never heard that she was +esteemed witty until your majesty said so. Rather reserved and proud. +Is that the lady?" + +"Proud, yes. Reserved--um, yes, that is, perhaps not when she meets a +man who knows enough to appreciate her. However, I shall speedily +solve the riddle, and must remember that you do not see the lady +through a lover's eyes. But I will not further keep you. A change of +costume may prove to your advantage, and I doubt not an untroubled +night's sleep will further it." + +"Your majesty overwhelms me with kindness," murmured the young lover, +warmly grasping the hand extended to him. "Have I your permission to +tell Mary of Vendome?" + +"You have my permission to tell her anything, but you will bring her +no news, for I am now on my way to see her." + +The king gaily marched on, his head held high, a man not to be denied, +and as he passed along all bowed at his coming, for everyone in the +court admired him. There was something unexpectedly French in the dash +of this young Scotchman. He strode across the court and up the steps +which led into the Palais Vendome. The duchess herself met him with a +hard smile on her thin lips. + +"Madam," he said bruskly, "I would see your daughter alone." + +The grim duchesse hesitated. + +"Mary is so shy," she said at last. + +But the king interrupted her. + +"I have a cure for that. Shyness flees in my presence. I would see +your daughter alone, madam; send her to me." + +There being no remedy when a king commands, the lady made the best of +a dubious proceeding. + +James was pacing up and down the splendid drawing-room when, from the +further door the drooping girl appeared, still with downcast eyes, +nun-like in her meek obedience. She came forward perhaps a third the +length of the room, faltered, and stood. + +"Mary," said the king, "they told me you were beautiful, but I come +to announce to you that such is not my opinion. You are ambitious, +it would seem, so I tell you frankly, you will never be Queen of +Scotland." + +For the first time in his presence the girl uncovered her eyes and +looked up at him. + +"Yes," said the king, "your eyes are fine. I am constrained to concede +that much, and if I do not wed you myself it is but right I should +nominate a candidate for your hand. There is a friend of mine for whom +I shall use my influence with Francis and your father that they may +persuade you to marry him. He is young Talbot, Constable of Falaise, a +demented stripling who calls you the Pearl of France. Ah, now the +colour comes to your cheeks. I would not have believed it. All this +demureness then----" But the girl had sunk at his feet, grasped his +hand and pressed it to her lips. + +"Tut, tut," he cried hastily, "that is a reversal of the order of +nature. Rise, and when I send young Talbot to you, see that you +welcome him; and now, good-day to you." + +As he passed through the outer room the duchesse lay in wait for him +and began murmuring apologies for her daughter's diffidence. + +"We have arranged all about the wedding, madam," said the king +reassuringly as he left the palace. + +The next day at the hour when the king had met Madeleine for the first +time, he threaded his way eagerly through the mazes of the old castle +until he came to the door that led him out into the Elysian garden. +The weather still befriended him, being of an almost summer mildness. + +For several minutes he paced impatiently up and down the gravel walk, +but no laughing face greeted him from the battlements above. At last, +swearing a good round Scottish oath he said, "I'll solve the mystery +of the balcony," and seizing the lower branch of the tree, he was +about to climb as he had done before, when a tantalizing silvery laugh +brought his arms down to his sides again. It seemed to come from an +arbour at the further end of the grounds, but when he reached there +the place proved empty. He pretended to search among the bushes, but +nevertheless kept an eye on the arbour, when his sharp ear caught a +rustling of silk from behind the summer-house. He made a dash towards +it, then reversed his direction, speeding like the wind, and next +instant this illusive specimen of Gallic womanhood ran plump into his +arms, not seeing where she was going, her head averted to watch the +danger that threatened from another quarter. + +Before she could give utterance to more than one exclamatory "Oh," he +had kissed her thrice full on the lips. She struggled in his arms like +a frightened bird, nobly indignant with shame-crimsoned cheeks, +smiting him with her powerless little snowflake of a hand. Her royal +lover laughed. + +"Ha, my Madeleine, this is the second stage of the game. The hand was +paradise on earth; the lips are the seventh heaven itself." + +"Release me, you Scottish clown!" cried Madeleine, her black eyes +snapping fire. "I will have you whipped from the court for your +insolence." + +"My dear, you could not be so cruel. Remember that poor Cupid's back +is naked, and he would quiver under every stroke." + +"I'd never have condescended to meet you, did I dream of your acting +so. 'Tis intolerable, the forwardness of you beggarly Scots!" + +"Nay, never beggarly, my dear, except where a woman is concerned, and +then we beg for favours." + +"You little suspect who I am or you would not venture to misuse me +thus, and be so free with your 'my dears.'" + +"Indeed, lass, in that you are mistaken. I not only found you in the +garden, but I found your name as well. You are Madeleine de +Montmorency." + +She ceased to struggle, and actually laughed a little. + +"How clever you are to have discovered so much in such a short time. +Now let me go, and I will thank you; nay more, I promise that if you +ask the Duke of Montmorency for his permission, and he grants it, I +will see you as often as you please." + +"Now Madeleine, I hold you to that, and I will seek an introduction to +the duke at once." + +She stepped back from him panting, and sank into a deep courtesy that +seemed to be characterised more by ridicule than politeness. + +"Oh, thank you, sir," she said. "I should dearly love to be an +eavesdropper at your conference." + +Before he could reply, the door opened by which he had entered the +park. + +"In the fiend's name, the king!" muttered James, in no manner pleased +by the unwelcome interruption. + +All colour left the girl's face, and she hastily endeavoured to +arrange in brief measure the disordered masses of her hair, somewhat +tangled in the struggle. As Francis advanced up the walk, the genial +smile froze on his lips, and an expression of deep displeasure +overshadowed his countenance, a look of stern resentment coming into +his eyes that would have made any man in his realm quail before him. +The girl was the first to break the embarrassing silence, saying +breathlessly,-- + +"Your majesty must not blame this Scottish knight. It is all my fault, +for I lured him hither." + +"Peace, child," exclaimed Francis in a voice of cold anger. "You know +not what you say. What do you here alone with the King of Scotland?" + +"The King of Scotland!" echoed Madeleine, in surprise, her eyes +opening wide with renewed interest as she gazed upon him. Then she +laughed. "They told me the King of Scotland was a handsome man!" + +James smiled at this imputation on his appearance, and even the rigour +of the lord of France relaxed a trifle, and a gleam of affection for +the wayward girl that was not to be concealed, rose in his eyes. + +"Sire," said James slowly, "we are neither of us to blame. 'Tis the +accident that brought us together must bear the brunt of consequence. +I cannot marry Mary of Vendome, and indeed I was about to beg your +majesty to issue your command that she may wed your Constable of +Falaise. If there is to be a union between France and Scotland other +than now exists, this lady, and this lady alone, must say yes or no to +it. Premising her free consent, I ask her hand in marriage." + +"She is but a child," objected Francis, breathing a sigh, which had, +however, something of relief in it. + +"I am fully seventeen," expostulated Madeleine, with a promptness that +made both men laugh. + +"Sire, Youth is a fault, which alas, travels continually with Time, +its antidote," said James. "If I have your good wishes in this +project, on which, I confess, my heart is set, I shall at once +approach the Duke of Montmorency and solicit his consent." + +The face of Francis had cleared as if a ray of sunshine had fallen +upon it. + +"The Duke of Montmorency!" he cried in astonishment; "what has he to +do with the marriage of my daughter?" + +James murmured something that may have been a prayer, but sounded +otherwise, as he turned to the girl, whose delight at thus mystifying +the great of earth was only too evident. + +"I told him he little suspected who I was," said Madeleine, with what +might have been termed a giggle in one less highly placed; "but these +confident Scots think they know everything. Indeed, it is all your own +fault, father, in keeping me practically a prisoner, when the whole +castle is throbbing with joy and festivity." Then the irrepressible +princess buried her flushed face in her hands, and laughed and +laughed, as if this were the most irresistible comedy in the world, +instead of a grave affair of state, until at last the two monarchs +were forced to laugh in sympathy. + +"I could not wish her a braver husband," said Francis at last. "I see +she has bewitched you as is her habit with all of us." + +And thus it came about that James the Fifth of Scotland married the +fair Madeleine of France. + +THE END + + + + +By A. Conan Doyle + +THE HOUND OF THE BASKERVILLES + +A Sherlock Holmes Novel + +Illustrated by Sidney Paget + +_The London Chronicle_, in a review headed + +"THE ZENITH OF SHERLOCK HOLMES," + +says: + +"We should like to pay Dr. Doyle the highest compliment at our +command. It is not simply that this book is superior in originality +and construction to the earlier adventures of the great detective. Dr. +Doyle has provided a criminal who, as Mr. Holmes admits, is indeed a +foeman worthy of his steel.[A] Hitherto he has found it comparatively +easy to unmask his antagonists. But in the present case he finds +himself checkmated again and again. There is pitted against him a +skill nearly equal to his own, and he wins the game almost by a hair." + +[Footnote A: "I tell you, Watson, this time we have a foeman who is +worthy of our steel."--_Sherlock Holmes._] + +$1.25 + +McClure, Phillips & Co. + + + + +By George Douglas + +THE HOUSE WITH THE GREEN SHUTTERS + +The first novel of a new master. The work has gained wide-spread +recognition on both sides of the water. Three of the most conservative +and authoritative publications in England include it among the first +twelve of the year. In this country _Harper's Weekly_ gives it as one +of the two most interesting novels of the year. + +_The critics differ as to with what other master George Douglas should +be compared:_ + +_The London Times_ says: "Worthy of the hand that drew 'Weir of +Hermiston,'" and that "Balzac and Flaubert, had they been Scotch, +would have written such a book." + +_The Spectator:_ "His masters are Zola and Balzac, but there are few +traces of the novice and none of the imitator." + +_Vanity Fair:_ "It moves to its end with all the terrible unity of an +AEschylean tragedy." + +_Harper's Weekly:_ "If Thomas Hardy had written of Scotland, instead +of Wessex, it would have been something like 'The House with the Green +Shutters'.... If any man is his (Douglas') master it is Thomas Hardy." + +Hardy, Stevenson, Zola, Flaubert, Balzac, and AEschylus. + +Eighth Edition. $1.50. + +McClure, Phillips & Co. + + + + +TRANSCRIBER'S NOTE: + +Minor changes have been made to correct typesetters' errors; +otherwise, every effort has been made to remain true to the author's +words and intent. + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of A Prince of Good Fellows, by Robert Barr + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A PRINCE OF GOOD FELLOWS *** + +***** This file should be named 31715.txt or 31715.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/3/1/7/1/31715/ + +Produced by D Alexander and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This file was +produced from images generously made available by The +Internet Archive) + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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