brothers (who had kissed at meeting), following, arm in arm. 'Twas a
noble sight those three great men--the old chief and his first and last
born sons. But to my mind, much as I loved my master, Sorley Boy was
the grandest of the three. While he was by, a man could look at no one
else. Every gesture, every toss of the head, and swing of the arm had
force in it; and to me it seemed a wonder that such a man should need an
army at his back to carry him anywhere he willed.

He halted again presently, and wheeled round on his sons.

"Why did you fire the beacon?" he asked of Ludar.

"Because the time had come," said Ludar. "To-day Dunluce is slenderly
guarded; to-morrow it will be full of the enemy."

Then he coloured up with a flush as he added:

"Father, I demand a favour--the first for ten years."

"It is granted, lad. I know what it is. You shall take the castle."

Then Ludar grew radiant, as he clutched his father's hand and thanked
him for this mighty honour. And Alexander seemed scarcely less happy
for his young brother's sake.

"We be a thousand armed man," said the old chief (he spoke in his own
tongue, to which even I was growing somewhat familiar by now). "Take
three hundred with you, Ludar, my son, and turn westward. Alexander,
with three hundred more, shall march to the sea, northward, as we go
now. I, with the rest, will strike eastward to Bonandonnye. To-morrow,
boy, if Dunluce be not yours, Alexander shall come to take it for you.
The day after, if you both fail, I shall be there myself with the
clansmen from the Isles, who are already upon the sea. Here we part
company, lads. When we meet again one of us shall not see the other
two. Last night I heard the Banshee."

"And I," said Alexander.

"And I," said Ludar.

"Farewell, then," said Sorley Boy. "Do you, Ludar, choose your three
hundred and begone. After you, Alexander do the same. I will take the
rest. The pipers shall come with me to draw the enemy eastward."

The division was soon made. Ludar chose the clansmen who knew best the
parts about Dunluce and the country we should have to cross to reach it.
In an hour we were ready to start.

"Farewell," said the old chief. "We meet all at Dunluce two days
hence."

"Dead or alive," said Alexander.

Then the order was given to march, and we turned suddenly up the
westward slope of the glen, the men behind us shouting, "_Dunluce!
Froach Eilan! Ludar_!" till our several pa