nks, Sir
Knight; I suppose I may not hope that you will become a follower of the
knight adventurer.'

'I cannot fight under the English banner, my liege. Elsewhere I would
fellow you to the death.'

'This is no time to show your error,' said James; 'and I therefore
counsel you to come no farther. The English will be pricking forth in
search of us: so I will but thank you for your loyal aid.'

'I entreat you, Sir,' cried Patrick, 'not to believe that we meant this
matter to go as it has done! It had long been our desire--of all of us,
that is, save my Lord Buchan's retainers--to find you and release you;
but never did we deem that Lord Douglas would have dared to conduct
matters thus.'

'You would be little the better for me did Lord Douglas bring me back on
his own terms,' said James, smiling. 'No, no; when I go home, it shall
be as a free king, able to do justice to all alike; and for that I am
content to bide my time, and trust to such as you to back me when it
comes.'

'And with all my heart, Sir,' said Patrick. 'Would that you were where I
could do so now. Ah! laddie,' to Malcolm; 'ye're in good hands. My
certie, I kenned ye but by your voice! Ye're verily grown into a goodly
ship after all, and ye stood as brave as the rest. My poor father would
have been fain to see this day!'

Malcolm flushed to the ears; somehow Patrick's praise was not as pleasant
to him as he would have expected, and he only faltered, 'You know--'

'I ken but what Johnnie Swinton brought me in a letter frae the Abbot of
Coldingham, that my father--the saints be with him!--had been set on and
slain by yon accursed Master of Albany--would that his thrapple were in
my grip!--that he had sent you southwards to the King, and that your
sister was in St. Abbs. Is it so?'

Malcolm had barely time to make a sign of affirmation, when the King
hurried him on. 'I grieve to balk you of your family tidings, but delay
will be ill for one or other of us; so fare thee well, Sir Patrick, till
better times.'

He shook the knight's hand as he spoke, cut short his protestations, and
leapt down the bank, saying in a low voice, as he stretched out his hand
and helped Malcolm down after him, 'He would have known me again for your
guest if we had stood many moments longer; he looked hard at me as it
was; and neither in England nor Scotland may that journey of mine be
blazed abroad.'

Malcolm was on the whole rather relieved; he could not help f