ath the flaps.

Maisie laid her hand on her heart to still its painful beating. Clearly
there was no chance of drawing the bag from under the rider's head, for
his hand was twisted firmly in the strap. It was with mighty grief in
her heart that Maisie Lennox stepped back. But at sight of the pistols
on the table, a thought and a hope sprang up together within her. She
hasted to take them up and draw the charges, leaving only a sprinkling
of powder in the pan of each.

And as she rode off, she bore with her the landlady's benediction, for
the good wife had never been so paid for caller spring water before.

It was at the entrance to the wild place known as the Devil's Beef Tub,
near the last wood on the upward way over the hills, that Maisie waited
for the King's rider. There were, no doubt, many thoughts in her heart,
but she did not dwell upon them--save it might be upon this one, that if
the rider discovered that the charges had been drawn, it would certainly
go ill with her and worse with those whom she had come out to save.

What wonder then if her maid's heart flew faster even than Gay Garland
had done when he fled before the gypsy clan.

At last, after long waiting, she heard far off the clatter of a horse's
feet on the road, and her courage returned to her. As the King's
messenger came trotting easily down an incline, she rode as quietly out
of a byway into the road and let him range alongside.

With a polite toss of the reins, as was then the modish fashion, she
bade him good day.

"Ye are a bonny birkie. Hae ye ony sisters?" said the man in the Lothian
tongue.

Maisie answered him no--an only bairn and riding to the college at
Edinburgh.

"Ye'll be a braw student no doubt."

She told him so-so.

"I'se warrant ye!" said he, for he was jovial by nature, and warmed with
Mistress Cranstoun's wine.

So they rode on in friendly enough talk till they were nearing the wood,
when Maisie, knowing that the time had come, wheeled about and bade him
"Stand!" At the same time she pointed a pistol at his head.

"Deliver me your mails," she said, "or I shall take your life!"

The man laughed as at a pleasant jest.

"Gae wa' wi' ye, birkie. Nane o' your college tricks wi' me, or ye may
aiblins come to a mishap. I am no' a man to tak' offence, but this
somewhat passes merrymaking!"

But when Maisie pulled the other pistol and levelled it also at his
head, the rider hesitated no longer, but pulled out his own