arranged
that whether they found any trace of the lost ones or no, they were
all to meet on the third day at the little town of Kirkcudbright. For
Sholto, warned by the Lady Sybilla, even at this time had his idea,
which, because of the very horror of it, he had as yet communicated to
no one.

It chanced that as the youth rode southward along the banks of the
Dee, glancing this way and that for traces of the missing maids, but
seeing only the grass trampled by hundreds of feet and the boats in
the stream dragging every pool with grapnels and ropes, two horsemen
on rough ponies ambled along some distance in front of him. By their
robes of decent brown they seemed merchants on a journey, portly of
figure, and consequential of bearing.

As Sholto rapidly made up to them, with his better horse and lighter
weight, he perceived that the travellers were those two admirable and
noteworthy magistrates of Dumfries, Robert Semple and his own uncle
Ninian Halliburton of the Vennel.

Hearing the clatter of the jennet's hoofs, they turned about suddenly
with mighty serious countenances. For in such times when the wayfarer
heard steps behind him, whether of man or beast, it repaid him to give
immediate attention thereto.

So at the sound of hoofs Ninian and his friend set their hands to
their thighs and looked over their shoulders more quickly than seemed
possible to men of their build.

"Ha, nephew Sholto," cried Ninian, exceedingly relieved, "blithe am I
to see you, lad. You will tell us the truth of this ill news that has
upturned the auld province. By your gloomy face I see that the major
part is overtrue. The Earl is dead, and he awes me for twenty-four
peck of wheaten meal, forbye ten firlots of malt and other sundries,
whilk siller, if these hungry Avondale Douglases come into possession,
I am little likely ever to see. Surely I have more cause to mourn
him--a fine lad and free with his having. If ye gat not settlement
this day, why then ye gat it the neist, with never a word of drawback
nor craving for batement."

Sholto told them briefly concerning the tragedy of Edinburgh. He had
no will for any waste of words, and as briefly thereafter of the loss
of the little maid and her companion.

The Bailie of Dumfries lifted up his hands in consternation.

"'Tis surely a plot o' thae Avondales. Stra'ven folk are never to
lippen to. And they hae made a clean sweep. No a Gallowa' Douglas
left, if they hae speerited awa' the