than to
live alone on the moors. Methinks he would make a cheery companion, and
one I could take to, heartily; and indeed, during the long winters,
'tis no slight thing to have one merry fellow, who can keep one alive,
and of whose mettle and skill you are well assured."

"So let it be, then, Robert. You have tried him, and yours should be
the advantage. But for the month he shall remain here, under Malcolm's
eye."

Oswald went down with the man, who was Baird's right hand in the hold.

"What will be my duties?" he asked.

"To keep your arms and armour ready for service."

"That will be an easy task, methinks; for I see that instead of being
polished and bright, as were ours at Dunbar, the others keep their
steel caps and back pieces painted a sombre colour."

The other nodded.

"Yes, our arms are for use and not for show; and when we ride by
moonlight, we care not to have our presence shown, miles away, by the
glint of the moon on our armour.

"You will do your turn of keeping watch and ward. Just at present there
will be a good deal of that, for we have been stirring up a wasps'
nest, and mayhap they may come and try to sting. When you are off duty,
you will be your own master, save that you had best be within sound of
the warder's horn.

"I will hand over a horse to you. For the present, it is at that croft
on the opposite hill. Each of the tenants keeps two or three at our
service. We have only the Bairds' own horses kept in the hold. It would
be too much trouble to gather forage for those of the twenty men who
always live here, and indeed, we have no room for such number.

"Mind that you drink not too much, over in the village there; for
though the Bairds care not, on feast days, if the whole garrison gets
drunk, so that there are enough sober to keep watch and ward, they set
their faces against it at other times, seeing that it leads to broils
and quarrels."

"I will take care. I like my cup, occasionally; and can drink with
others, without my head getting addled, but as a rule I care not
overmuch for it."

After being roughly introduced to several of the retainers as a new
comrade, Oswald was left to follow his own devices. Presently, Roger
came out into the courtyard.

"So you have got service, comrade," he said, in a voice that could be
heard by any of those standing near. "You had better fortune than I had
expected."

"That have I," he replied. "Still, I thought that it would be hard, if
on