ar as it goes, Oswald, you may be sure that
Douglas will not brook this disaster with patience, but will gather the
Scottish forces; and we may expect him, ere long, at the head of twenty
thousand men, and we shall have a fight as stiff as that of Otterburn.
We shall have Northumberland ablaze, and you will see that the earl and
Hotspur will soon be preparing to meet the storm.

"These last forays took them by surprise; and, as lords of the marches,
they have suffered serious humiliation, for this victory was not
theirs, but the work of Dunbar; and had he not intercepted the Scots,
on their own side of the border, they would have returned, scatheless,
with the spoils of our northern districts. This disgrace will spur them
on to make great efforts, and these will be needed, or we shall see
Northumberland, Cumberland, and Durham in flames."

Alwyn was not mistaken. Messengers were sent off to all those holding
knights' feus, throughout the county, bidding them to prepare to answer
to the Percy's call; and to hold themselves, and their tenants, in
readiness to march to any point fixed upon for a general rendezvous.
They were to warn all the countryside that, directly news arrived that
the Scots were in motion, they were to drive their cattle and horses to
the nearest fortified town, or to take them to hiding places among the
hills. Everything of value was to be taken away, or hidden, so that the
enemy should find but empty houses.

Oswald rode to Yardhope, with the message to his father.

"I know, Father," he said, "that it needed not to warn you; but as it
was but a short distance out of my way to come round here, I thought
that I would pay you a day's visit."

"No, lad; directly I heard of the victory of Dunbar, I said to myself,
this will bring the Scots upon us in force. Douglas will never put up
with the defeat, and will make every effort to turn the tables. I shall
send all there is worth taking away, to a shepherd's hut among the
fells; and shall, as soon as I hear that Douglas's preparations are
well-nigh complete, journey with your mother to Alnwick, and leave her
there. I shall return, and with my men will drive the cattle and horses
to places where there is little chance of the Scots finding them; and
will then, after leaving three or four men to look after them, come
back to Alnwick.

"What do you propose to do?"

"I shall do much the same, Father. Stoubes is strong enough to hold out
against any ordina