ve not taught your son amiss. He
threatens to turn out a most marvellous lad, for not only can he make
weapons, but he can excel the best of my men-at-arms in their use.
Have you any objection that he be attached to my guard?"

The strong man smiled with his usual calm, and kept his humorous grey
eyes fixed shrewdly on the Earl.

"Aye," he said, "it is indeed more fitting that Sholto, my son, should
ride behind my Lord of Douglas than stiff old Malise upon his Flanders
mare."

The Earl blushed a little, for he remembered how the armourer had
offered to ride behind him after he had shod Black Darnaway at the
Carlinwark. He went on somewhat hastily.

"I have resolved to make your son, Sholto, officer of the
castle-guard. It is perhaps over-responsible a post for so young a
man, yet I myself am younger and have heavier burdens to bear. Also
Landless Jock is growing old and stiff, and will not suffer to be
spoken to. For my father's sake I cannot be severe with him. He will
die in his charge if he will, but on Douglasdale and not at Thrieve.
So now I would have your son do my bidding without question, which is
more than his father ever did before him."

"I can answer for Sholto," said Malise MacKim. "He is afraid of
nothing save perhaps the strength of his father's right arm. He is
cool enough in danger. Nothing daunts him except the flutter of a
farthingale. But then my lord knows well that is a fault most
commendable in this castle of Thrieve. Sholto will be an honest
captain of your house-carls, if you see to it that the steward locks
up his loaves of sugar and his most toothsome preserves."

"Faith," cried the Earl, heartily, "I know not but what I would join
Master Sholto in a raid on these dainties myself."

In this fashion was Sholto MacKim placed in command of the house-guard
of the castle of Thrieve.

CHAPTER XV

THE NIGHT ALARM

At parting with his father, the young captain received many wise and
grave instructions, all of which he resolved to remember and profit
by--a resolution which he did not fail to keep for full five minutes.

"Be douce in deportment," said his father, speaking quietly and yet
with a certain sternness of demeanour. "Think three times before you
give an order, but let no man think even once before obeying it. Set
him astraddle the wooden horse with a spear shaft at either foot to
teach him that a soldier's first duty is not to think. Keep your eyes
more on the alert for