be brocht low. Think in especial how this righteous judgment
that has fallen on him and on his brother has cleared our way to the
Earldom."

The choleric younger brother leaped forward with an oath on his lips,
but his calmer senior kept him back with his hand.

"Silence, James!" he said; "I will answer our father. Sir, we have
heard what you say, but our minds are not changed. What cause to
associate yourself with traitors and mansworn you may have, we do not
know and we do not care."

At his son's first words James the Gross rose with a sudden surprising
access of dignity remarkable in one of his figure.

"I bid you remember," he said, speaking southland English, as he was
wont to do in moments of excitement, "I bid you remember, sirrah, that
I am the Earl of Douglas and Avondale, Justicer of Scotland--and your
father."

William Douglas bowed, respectful but unmoved.

"My lord," he said, "I forget nothing. I do not judge you. You are in
authority over our house. You shall do what you will with these forces
without there, so be you can convince them of your right. Black
murder, whether you knew and approved it or no, has made you Earl of
Douglas. But, sir, if you take part with my cousins' murderers now, or
screen them from our just vengeance and the vengeance of God, I tell
you that from this day you are a man without children. For in this
matter I speak not only for myself, but for all your sons!" He turned
to his brother.

"James," he said, "call in the others." James went to the tent door
and called aloud.

"Archibald, Hugh, and John, come hither quickly."

A moment after three young men of noble build, little more than lads
indeed, but with the dark Douglas allure stamped plainly upon their
countenances, entered, bowed to their father, and stood silent with
their hands crossed upon the hilts of their swords.

William Douglas went on with the same determinate and relentless calm.

"My lord," he said, very respectfully, "here stand your five sons, all
soldiers and Douglases, waiting to hear your will. Murder has been
done upon the chief of our house by two men of cowardly heart and mean
consideration, Crichton and Livingston, instigated by the false
ambassador of the King of France. We have come hither to punish these
slayers of our kin, and we desire to know what you, our father, think
concerning the matter."

James the Gross was still standing, steadying himself with his hand on
the arm of the oak