the lands of
an English forayer, and is by him conveyed to Lord Dacre, at that time one
of the Wardens of the Marches, by whom he is detained as a hostage, and
carried along with the English troops, then advancing towards Branksome
under the command of the Lord Wardens in person.

"(But) though the child was led away,
In Branksome still he seemed to stay,
For so the Dwarf his part did play."

{366} And there, according to his own malicious nature, played likewise a
score of monkey tricks, all of which, grotesque and "_undignified_"! as
they may be, yet most ingeniously divert the mind of the reader from the
real errand and mission of this supernatural being.

Shortly afterwards, on his exhibiting symptoms of cowardice at the expected
contest, he is conveyed from the castle by the Ladye's order, and speedily
rejoins his lord, after the infliction of a severe chastisement from the
arm of Wat Tinlinn. He then procures Cranstoun's admission within the walls
of Branksome (where the whole clan Scott was assembling at the tidings of
the English Raid) by the same spell--

"Which to his lord he did impart,
And made him seem, by glamour art,
A knight from hermitage."

And on the following day, as Deloraine did not appear in the lists ready to
engage in the appointed duel with Richard Musgrave, we are told,--

"Meantime, full anxious was the Dame,
For now arose disputed claim,
Of who should fight for Deloraine,
'Twixt Harden and 'twixt Thirtlestaine,
&c. &c.
But yet, not long the strife--for, lo!
Himself the Knight of Deloraine,
Strong, as it seemed, and free from pain,
In armour sheathed from top to toe,
Appeared, and craved the combat due;
The Dame her charm successful knew,
And the fierce chiefs their claims withdrew."

The conflict takes place, and ends in favour of the Scottish knight; when
the following scene occurs:

"As if exhausted in the fight,
Or musing o'er the piteous sight,
The silent victor stands:
His beaver did he not unclasp,
Marked not the shouts, felt not the grasp
Of gratulating hands.
When lo! strange cries of wild surprise,
Mingled with seeming terror rise
Among the Scottish bands,
And all, amid the thronged array,
In panic haste gave open way
To a half-naked ghastly man,
Who downward from the castle ran;
He crossed the barriers at a bound,
And wild and haggard looked around,
As dizzy, and i