ish
Guard--and death to all who would infringe our privileges!"

"Take reason with you, gentlemen cavaliers," said the Provost Marshal;
"consider my commission."

"We will have no reason at your hand," said Cunningham; "our own
officers shall do us reason. We will be judged by the King's grace,
or by our own Captain, now that the Lord High Constable is not in
presence."

"And we will be hanged by none," said Lindesay, "but Sandie Wilson, the
auld Marshals man of our ain body."

"It would be a positive cheating of Sandie, who is as honest a man as
ever tied noose upon hemp, did we give way to any other proceeding,"
said the Balafre. "Were I to be hanged myself, no other should tie
tippet about my craig."

"But hear ye," said the Provost Marshal, "this young fellow belongs not
to you, and cannot share what you call your privileges."

"What we call our privileges, all shall admit to be such," said
Cunningham.

"We will not hear them questioned!" was the universal cry of the
Archers.

"Ye are mad, my masters," said Tristan l'Hermite. "No one disputes your
privileges; but this youth is not one of you."

"He is my nephew," said the Balafre, with a triumphant air.

"But no Archer of the Guard, I think," retorted Tristan l'Hermite.

The Archers looked on each other in some uncertainty.

"Stand to it yet, comrade," whispered Cunningham to Balafre. "Say he is
engaged with us."

"Saint Martin! you say well, fair countryman," answered Lesly; and
raising his voice, swore that he had that day enrolled his kinsman as
one of his own retinue. This declaration was a decisive argument.

"It is well, gentlemen," said the Provost Tristan, who was aware of
the King's nervous apprehension of disaffection creeping in among his
Guards. "You know, as you say, your privileges, and it is not my duty to
have brawls with the King's Guards, if it is to be avoided. But I will
report this matter for the King's own decision; and I would have you
to be aware, that, in doing so, I act more mildly than perhaps my duty
warrants."

So saying, he put his troop into motion, while the Archers, remaining on
the spot, held a hasty consultation what was next to be done. "We must
report the matter to Lord Crawford, our Captain, in the first place, and
have the young fellow's name put on the roll."

"But, gentlemen, and my worthy friends and preservers," said Quentin,
with some hesitation, "I have not yet determined whether to take service
with