still for a moment and
then replied,--

"I hope it is to your lordship's liking."

"Oh! I'm no lordship," said James, "but an honest drover body, trying
to find new markets for my stock."

"I can see that," replied the landlord; "then you will know that this
meat's raised by Scotchmen."

"Raised!" laughed the king. "Raised where? In Northumberland? Are you
sure 'lift' is not the word you mean?"

"Sir," said the landlord, gravely, "there's no lifting of cattle
hereabout. This is not the Highlands. All in the neighbourhood are
honest farmers or foresters."

"Earning their bread by the sweat of their brow," put in Sir David
Lyndsay.

"Doubtless, when the English are after them," suggested the cobbler.

The landlord did not join in their mirth, but merely said,--

"If your dinner is to your liking, my duty is done."

"Quite so," answered the king. "We were merely curious regarding the
origin of your viands; but the question seems to be a ticklish one in
this district."

"Oh, not at all," replied the innkeeper grimly. "If you question
enough, you are sure to meet some one who will make you a suitable
answer."

The landlord, seemingly not liking the turn of the conversation,
disappeared, and during the rest of the meal they were waited upon by
a lowering, silent woman, who scowled savagely at them, and made no
reply to the raillery of the king, who was in the highest spirits.
They had ridden far that morning since breakfasting, and it was well
after midday when they drew away from a table that had been devoted to
their satisfying. Sir David and Flemming showed little inclination to
proceed with their journey.

"The poor beasts must have a rest," said the poet, although none of
the three were horsemen enough to go out and see how the animals fared
at the hands of the stableman. The king was accustomed to be waited
upon, and the other two knew little and cared less about horses. As
they sat there in great content they heard suddenly a commotion
outside and the clatter of many hoofs on the stone causeway. The door
burst in, and there came, trampling, half a dozen men, who entered
with scant ceremony, led by a stalwart individual who cast a quick
glance from one to the other of the three who were seated. His eye
rested on the king, whom, with quick intuition, he took to be the
leader of the expedition and, doffing his feathered bonnet in a
salutation that had more of mockery than respect in it, he said: "I
hea