u," he said. "There is need of
some like you in this town of Edinburgh."

"When I was in Edinburgh," I replied, "I had not the spirit of a pooked
hen, but holding the banner at Sanquhar hath wondrously brisked me."

All this while I could see the lips of Anton Lennox moving. And I knew
right well that if I had little to say at the last bitter pinch, he
would deliver his soul for the two of us--ay, and for the Earl, too, if
he were permitted.

It was just at this moment that we came in sight of the Maiden, which
was set high on a platform of black wood. There was much scaffolding,
and also a tall ladder leading thereto. But what took and held my eye,
was the evil leaden glitter of the broad knife, which would presently
shear away my life.

CHAPTER LVI.

THE MAID ON THE WHITE HORSE.

Then slowly a rim about my neck grew icy cold till it ached with the
pain--as when, on a hot day, one holds one's wrists over-long in a
running stream. Nevertheless, my southland pride and the grace of God
kept me from vulgarly showing my fear.

Yet even the Earl, who came of a family that ought by this time to have
grown accustomed to losing their heads, was shaken somewhat by the sight
of the Maiden. And, indeed, such present and visible death will daunton
the most resolute courage. Therefore he caused bind the napkin upon his
face, ere he approached nearer, and so was led upon the scaffold first.
I went next, schooling myself to go firmly and saying only, "It will
soon be over! It will soon be over!" Then I would fall to my
twenty-third Psalm again, and specially to the verse about "death's dark
vale," which did indeed strengthen me so that I feared none ill, or at
least not so very much. But at such times one goes on, winning through
unshamed, more by the mechanical action of one's body and the instinct
of silence, than by the actual thing which men call courage.

But when at last we stood upon the scaffold, and looked about us at the
great concourse of people, all silent and all waiting to see us die,
more than everything else I wished that they had thought to put a rail
about the edge. For the platform being so high, and the time so early in
morning, I walked a little as though my legs had been the legs of
another and not mine own. But in time this also passed off.

Then they read Cantyre's warrant, and asked him if he had aught to say.
He had a long paper prepared, which, standing between his two friends,
who held hi