e you are afraid for your own skin!"

"My place is with my master," said Sholto, curtly, and the boy looked
ashamed for a moment; but he soon recovered himself and returned to
the charge.

"Well, then, 'tis because you want to see Maud Lindesay that you are
so set on returning. I saw you kiss Maud's hand in the dark of the
stairs. Aha! Master Sholto, what say you now?"

"Hold your tongue, David," cried his brother; "you might have seen him
kiss yet more pleasantly, and yet do no harm. But, after all, you and
I are Douglases and our star is in the zenith. We will fall together,
if fall we must. Not a word more about it. David, I will race you to
yonder dovecot for a golden lion."

"Done with you!" cried his brother, joyously, and in an instant spurs
were into the flanks of their horses, and the young men flew
thundering over the green turf, riding swiftly into the golden haze
from which rose ever higher and higher the dark towers of the Castle
of Edinburgh.

Past grey peel and wind-swept fortalice the young Lords of Douglas rode
that autumn day, gaily as to a wedding, on their way to place
themselves in the power of their house's enemies. The sea plain
pursued them, flecked green and purple on their right hand. Little
ships floated on the smooth surface of the firth, hardly larger in
size than the boats of fisher folk, yet ships withal which had
adventured into far seas and brought back rich produce into the barren
lands of the Scots.

At last they entered the demesne of Holyrood, and saw the deer
crouching and basking about the copses or scampering over the broomy
knowes of the Nether Hill. As they came near to the Canongate Port,
they saw a gallant band gaily dressed coming forth to meet them, and
the Earl's eye brightened as it caught in the midst the glint of
ladies' attiring.

"See, Sholto," he cried, "and repent! Yonder is not a single lance
shining, and you cannot turn your grumbling head but you will see nigh
two score, with a stout Douglas heart bumping under each."

"Ah," said Sholto, without joy or conviction, "but we are neither in
nor yet out of this weary town of Edinburgh!"

As the cavalcade approached, there came a boy on a pony at speed
towards them. He carried a switch in his hand, and with it he urged
his little beast to still greater endeavours.

"The King!" cried David, cheerfully. "I heard he was a sturdy brat
enough!"

And in another moment the two young men of the dominant house wer