e came to the Castle of Crichton,
and lo! there we were ten days in the place and not a man-at-arms
within miles except your own Galloway varlets! Sholto, my lad, we
might have sacked the castle, rolled all the platters down the slopes
into the Tyne, and sent the cooks trundling after them, for all that
any one could have done to stop us. Yet here are we riding forth,
feathers in our bonnets, swords by our sides, panged full of the
Chancellor's good meat and drink, and at once, as soon as we are gone,
Sholto MacKim begins the same old discontented corbie's croak!"

"But, my lord, 'tis a different matter yonder. The Castle of Edinburgh
is a strong place with many courts and doors--a hostile city round
about, not a solitary castle like Crichton. They may separate you from
us, and we may be able neither to save you nor yet to die with you, if
the worst comes to the worst."

"I may inform you as well soon as syne, you waste your breath,
Sholto," said Earl Douglas, "and it ill becomes a young knight, let me
tell you, to be so chicken-hearted. The next time I will leave you at
home to hem linen for the bed-sheets. Malise is a licensed croaker,
but I thought better of you, Master Sholto MacKim!"

The captain of the Earl's guard looked on the ground and his heart was
distressed within him. Yet, in spite of the raillery of the Douglas,
he resolved to make one more effort.

"My lord," he said, "you know not the full hatred of these men against
your house. What other object save the destruction of the Douglas can
have drawn together foes so deadly as Crichton and Livingston? At
least, my lord, if you are set on risking your own life, send back one
of us with your brother David!"

Then cried out David Douglas, who had joined them during the converse,
against so monstrous a proposal.

"I will not go back in any case," said the lad; "William has the
earldom and the titles. I may at least be allowed part of the fun.
Sholto, if William dies without heirs and I become Earl, my first act
will be to hang you on the dule tree with a raven on either side, for
a slow-bellied knave and prophet of evil!"

The Earl looked at his brother and seemed to hesitate.

"There is something in what you say, Sholto."

"My lord, if the blow fall, let not your line be wholly cut off. I
pray you let five good lads ride straight for Douglasdale with David
in the midst--"

"Sholto," cried the boy, "I will not go back, nor be a palterer, all
becaus