apparently well used to the operation, stood still with its feet
planted wide apart. Then they ran quickly round to the side towards
which the swaying bulk threatened to fall, the saddle slipped, and,
like a top-heavy forest tree, James the Gross subsided into the arms
of his attendants, who, straining and panting, presently set him on
his feet upon the blazoned royal foot-cloth at the threshold of the
pavilion.

Almost he had fallen backwards when he saw the use to which his daring
sons had put the emblem of royal authority.

"Guid save us a', laddies," he cried, staggering across the flag into
the tent, "ken ye what ye do? The royal banner o' the King o'
Scots--to mak' a floor-clout o'! Sirce, sirce, in three weeks I shall
be as childless as the Countess o' Douglas is this day."

"That," said William Douglas, coldly, indicating with his finger the
trampled cloth, "is not the banner of Scotland, but only that of the
Seneschal Stewarts. The King of Scots is but a puling brat, and they
who usurp his name are murderous hounds whose necks I shall presently
stretch with the rogue's halter!"

Young James Douglas had set an oaken folding chair for his father at
the upper end of the pavilion, and into this James the Gross fell
rather than seated himself.

His sons William and James continued to stand before him, as was the
dutiful habit of the time. Their father recovered his breath before
beginning to speak.

"What's this--what's this I hear?" he exclaimed testily, "is it true
that ye are in flat rebellion against the lawful authority of the
king? Laddies, laddies, ye maun come in wi' me to his excellence the
Chancellor and make instanter your obedience. Ye are young and for my
sake he will surely overlook this. I will speak with him."

"Father," said William Douglas, with a cold firmness in his voice, "we
are here to punish the murderers of our cousins. We shall indeed enter
the guilty city, but it will be with fire and sword."

"Aye," cried rollicking, headstrong James, "and we will roast the
Crichton on a spit and hang that smug traitor, Tutor Livingston, over
the walls of David's Tower, a bonny ferlie for his leman's wonder!"

There came a cunning look into the small pig's eyes of James the
Gross.

"Na, na, foolish laddies, thae things will ye no do. Mind ye not the
taunts and scorns that the Earl--the late Earl o' Douglas that is--put
upon us a'? Think on his pride and vainglory, whilk Scripture says
shall