neral MacKay, and that canting Puritan will be vastly amused when he
learns that he had hired us to assassinate my Lord Dundee. He will be
more apt to consider our execution an act of judgment for joining the
Malignants. We got our passes by trickery from Lord Nottingham, and
they have tricked us, and, by the gods! the whole affair is a fine
jest, except the hanging. I would rather it had been shooting, but I
grant that if MacKay had sent us on such an errand, both he and we
deserve to be hung." And the Englishman shrugged his shoulders as one
who had said his last word and accepted his fate.

He carried himself so bravely, with such an ingenuous countenance and
honest speech, that Claverhouse was interested in the man, and the
reference to MacKay arrested him in his purpose. They were not likely
to have come on such an errand from MacKay's camp without the English
general knowing what they were about. Was MacKay the man to sanction a
proceeding so cowardly and so contrary to the rules of war? Of all
things in the world, was not this action the one his principles would
most strongly condemn? Certainly their conversation by the riverside
had been suspicious, but then Grimond had made one hideous mistake
before. It was possible that he had made another. Graham had insulted
his loyal wife through Grimond's blundering; it would be almost as bad
if he put to an ignominious death two adventurous, blundering English
Cavaliers. He ordered that the Englishmen should be kept under close
arrest till next morning, and he sent the following letter by a swift
messenger and under flag of truce to the general of the English
forces.

BLAIR CASTLE, _July 26, 1689_.

_To Major-General Hugh MacKay, Commanding the forces in the
interests of the Prince of Orange._

SIR: It is years since we have met and many things have happened
since, but I freely acknowledge that you have ever been a good
soldier and one who would not condescend to dishonor. And this
being my mind I crave your assistance in the following matter.

Two English officers have been arrested in disguise and carrying
compromising passes; there is reason to believe that their errand
was to assassinate me, and if this be the case they shall be hung
early to-morrow morning.

Albeit we were rivals in the Low Country and will soon fight our
duel to the death, I am loath to believe that this thing is true
of you, and