d policy of not
seeming to hear expressions which, being heard, required, even in his
own eyes, some display of displeasure. He passed on, therefore, in his
discourse, without observing his son's speech, but in private Rothsay's
rashness augmented the displeasure which his father began to entertain
against him.

"It is well the Douglas is on the marches," said the King. "His
breast, like those of his ancestors, has ever been the best bulwark of
Scotland."

"Then woe betide us if he should turn his back to the enemy," said the
incorrigible Rothsay.

"Dare you impeach the courage of Douglas?" replied the King, extremely
chafed.

"No man dare question the Earl's courage," said Rothsay, "it is as
certain as his pride; but his luck may be something doubted."

"By St. Andrew, David," exclaimed his father, "thou art like a screech
owl, every word thou sayest betokens strife and calamity."

"I am silent, father," answered the youth.

"And what news of our Highland disturbances?" continued the King,
addressing the prior.

"I trust they have assumed a favourable aspect," answered the clergyman.
"The fire which threatened the whole country is likely to be drenched
out by the blood of some forty or fifty kerne; for the two great
confederacies have agreed, by solemn indenture of arms, to decided their
quarrel with such weapons as your Highness may name, and in your royal
presence, in such place as shall be appointed, on the 30th of March next
to come, being Palm Sunday; the number of combatants being limited to
thirty on each side; and the fight to be maintained to extremity, since
they affectionately make humble suit and petition to your Majesty that
you will parentally condescend to waive for the day your royal privilege
of interrupting the combat, by flinging down of truncheon or crying of
'Ho!' until the battle shall be utterly fought to an end."

"The wild savages!" exclaimed the King, "would they limit our best and
dearest royal privilege, that of putting a stop to strife, and crying
truce to battle? Will they remove the only motive which could bring me
to the butcherly spectacle of their combat? Would they fight like men,
or like their own mountain wolves?"

"My lord," said Albany, "the Earl of Crawford and I had presumed,
without consulting you, to ratify that preliminary, for the adoption of
which we saw much and pressing reason."

"How! the Earl of Crawford!" said the King. "Methinks he is a young
counsellor