e sudden breaking lamentation of a child.

"My cousin, my dear cousin Douglas," he cried, "they shall not harm
you, I swear it on my faith as a King."

At last an officer of the Chancellor's guard mustered courage to
approach the Earl of Douglas, and, saluting, he motioned him to
follow. This, with his head erect, and his usual easy grace, he did,
David walking abreast of him. And Sholto, with all his heart filled
with the deadly chill of hopelessness, followed them through the
sullen ranks of the traitors.

And even as he went Earl Douglas looked about him every way that he
might see once more her for whose sake he had adventured within the
portals of death.

CHAPTER XXXIV

BETRAYED WITH A KISS

The earl and his brother were incarcerated in the lower chamber of the
High Keep called David's Tower, which rose next in order eastward from
the banqueting-hall, following the line of the battlements.

Beneath, the rock on which the castle was built fell away towards the
Nor' Loch in a precipice so steep that no descent was to be thought
of--and this indeed was the chief defence of the prison, for the
window of the chamber was large and opened easily according to the
French fashion.

"I pray that you permit my young knight, Sir Sholto MacKim, to
accompany me," said the Earl to the officer who conducted them to
their prison-house.

"I have no orders concerning him," said the man, gruffly, but
nevertheless permitted Sholto to enter after the Earl and his brother.

The chamber was bare save for a _prie-dieu_ in the angle of the wall,
at which the Douglas looked with a strange smile upon his face.

"Right _a propos_," said he; "they have need of religion in this house
of traitors."

David Douglas went to the window-seat of low stone, and bent his head
into his hands. He was but a boy and life was sweet to him, for he had
just begun to taste the apple and to dream of the forbidden fruit. He
held his head down and was silent a space. Then suddenly he sobbed
aloud with a quick, gasping noise, startling enough in that still
place.

"For God's dear sake, David laddie," said his brother, going over to
him, placing his hand upon his shoulder, "be silent. They will think
that we are afraid."

The boy stilled himself instantly at the word, and looked up at his
brother with a pale sort of smile.

"No, William, I am not afraid, and if indeed we must die I will not
disgrace you. Be never feared of that. Yet I thou