unction. "But, Robert Semple, though I was willing to oblige ye
as a friend by taking over your debt, I'll no deny that ye gied me a
fricht. For hae I no this day delivered to the bursar o' the castle o'
Thrieve sax bales o' pepper and three o' the best spice, besides much
cumin, alum, ginger, seat-well, almonds, rice, figs, raisins, and
other sic thing. Moreover, there is owing to me, for wine and vinegar,
mair than twa hunder pound. Was that no enough to gar me tak a 'dwam'
when ye spoke o' the great nobles no payin'!"

"I would that all our outlying monies were as safe," said Semple; "but
here come the knights and squires forth from their tents. Tell me,
Ninian, which o' the lads are your sister's sons."

"There is but one o' the esquires that is Barbara Halliburton's son,"
answered the Bailie; "the ither is her ain man--and a great ram-stam,
unbiddable, unhallowed deevil he is--Guid forbid that I should say as
muckle to his face!"

CHAPTER XXII

WAGER OF BATTLE

The knights had moved slowly out from their pavilions on either side,
and now stood waiting the order to charge. My Lord Maxwell sat by the
side of the Lady Sybilla, and held the truncheon, the casting down of
which was to part the combatants and end the fight. The three knights
on the southern or Earl's side were a singular contrast to their
opponents. Two of them, the Earl William and his cousin Hugh, were no
more than boys in years, though already old in military exercises; the
third, Alan Fleming of Cumbernauld, was a strong horseman and
excellent with his lance, though also slender of body and more
distinguished for dexterity than for power of arm. Yet he was destined
to lay a good lance in rest that day, and to come forth unshamed.

The Avondale party were to the eye infinitely the stronger, that is
when knights only were considered. For James Douglas was little less
than a giant. His jolly person and frank manners seemed to fill all
the field with good humour, and from his station he cried challenges
to his cousin the Earl and defiances to his brother Hugh, with that
broad rollicking wit which endeared him to the commons, to whom
"Mickle Lord Jamie" had long been a popular hero.

"Bid our Hugh there rin hame for his hippen clouts lest he make of
himself a shame," he cried; "'tis not fair that we should have to
fight with babes."

"Mayhap he will be as David to your Goliath, thou great gomeril!"
replied the Earl with equal good humour