was chiefly aware of one young man of very striking
appearance, whose dark hair flowed back from a broad brow, white as a
lady's, and who looked like one born to command. On the faces of many of
the men who entered and overflowed the little kitchen of the Duchrae,
was the hunted look of them that oftentimes glance this way and that for
a path of escape. But on the face of this man was only a free soldierly
indifference to danger, as of one who had passed through many perils and
come forth scatheless.

Last of all the Master of the House entered with the familiarity of the
well-accustomed. He was alert and active, a man of great height, yet
holding himself like a soldier. Three counties knew him by his long grey
beard and bushy eyebrows for Anthony Lennox, one of the most famous
leaders of the original United Societies. To me he was but Maisie
Lennox's father, and indeed he had never wared many words on a boy such
as I seemed to him.

But now he came and took us both by the hand in token of welcome, and to
me in especial he was full of warm feeling.

"You are welcome, young sir," he said. "Many an hour at the dyke-back
have we had, your father and I, praying for our bairns and for poor
Scotland. Alack that I left him on the way to Bothwell last year and
rode forward to tulzie wi' Robin Hamilton--and now he lies in his quiet
resting grave, an' Auld Anton is still here fighting away among the
contenders."

With Walter also he shook hands, and gave him the welcome that one true
man gives to another. Lochinvar sat silent and watchful in the strange
scene. For me I seemed to be in a familiar place, for Earlstoun was on
every tongue. And it was not for a little that I came to know that they
meant my brother Sandy, who was a great man among them--greater than
ever my father had been, though he had "sealed his testimony with his
blood," as their phrase ran.

I thought it best not to give my cousin's name, excusing myself in the
meantime by vouching that his father had suffered to the death, even as
mine had done, for the cause and honour of Scotland's Covenant.

CHAPTER XIX.

THE SWEET SINGERS OF THE DEER-SLUNK.

Now my father had drilled it into me that Anton Lennox, called the
Covenanter, was a good and sound-hearted man, even as he was doubtless a
manifest and notable Christian. But the tale concerning him that most
impressed me and touched my spirit nearest, was the tale of how he
served Muckle John Gib and