t was not considered necessary that he should be
accompanied by any of the troopers, for Hiniltie lay but a few miles
across the frontier. In high spirits he galloped away and, riding
through Yardhope, was soon at Alwinton; and thence took the track
through Kidland Lee, passed round the head of the Usmay brook, along
the foot of Maiden Cross Hill, and crossed the frontier at Windy Guile.
Here he stood on the crest of the Cheviots and, descending, passed
along at the foot of Windburgh Hill; and by noon entered the tiny
hamlet of Hiniltie, above which, perched on one of the spurs of the
hill, stood the Armstrongs' hold. It was smaller than that of Yardhope,
and had no surrounding wall; but, like it, was built for defence
against a sudden attack.

Adam Armstrong was on good terms with his neighbours across the border.
Although other members of his family were frequently engaged in forays,
it was seldom, indeed, that he buckled on armour, and only when there
was a general call to arms. He was, however, on bad terms with the
Bairds, partly because his wife was a sister of Forster's, partly
because of frays that had arisen between his herdsmen and those of the
Bairds, for his cattle wandered far and wide on the mountain slopes to
the south, and sometimes passed the ill-defined line, beyond which the
Bairds regarded the country as their own. Jedburgh was but ten miles
away, Hawick but six or seven, and any stay after the sun rose would
speedily have brought strong bodies of men from these towns, as well as
from his still nearer neighbours, at Chester, Abbotrule, and Hobkirk.

Oswald's approach was seen, and two of his cousins--Allan, who was a
lad of about the same age, and Janet, a year younger--ran out from the
house to meet him.

"We have been expecting you for the last ten days," the former
exclaimed, "and had well nigh given you up."

"I hold you to be a laggard," the girl added, "and unless you can duly
excuse yourself, shall have naught to say to you."

"My excuse is a good one, Janet. My father made a foray, a fortnight
since, into the Bairds' country, to rescue some of the cattle they had
driven off from our neighbours, some days before. There was a sharp
fight, and Allan Baird was killed; and since then we have been
expecting a return visit from them, and have been sleeping with our
arms beside us. Doubtless they will come someday, but as it is evident
they don't mean to come at present, my father let me leave."