as been in captivity before, when the Earl of Angus thought he had
him secure in the stronghold of Falkland, and yet, Jamie, who was then
but a lad of sixteen, managed to escape. Man Flemming, I must tell you
about that some day."

"Tell me about what?" inquired the shoemaker.

"Oh well, it may not be true after all," said young Ballengeich in
confusion, "but a friend of mine was gardener at Falkland and knew the
whole story about James's escape. Never mind that; my advice to you is
to shake hands with all such schemes, and turn your back on them."

"Oh, that's soon said," cried the cobbler with some impatience. "'Keep
out of the fire and ye'll not be burnt,' says the branch on the tree
to the faggot on the woodman's back. You see, Ballengeich, in this
matter I'm between the cart-wheel and the hard road. My head's off if
this ploy miscarries, as you've just told me, and my throat's cut if I
withdraw from the secret conclave. It's but a choice between two
hashings. There's a dead cobbler in any event."

"I see your difficulty," said the laird; "do you want to be helped out
of it?"

"Does the toad want to get from under the harrow?"

"When is your next meeting, and where?"

"The meetings are held in this room, and the next will be on Wednesday
night at eleven o'clock."

"Bless my soul!" cried Ballengeich. "Would nothing content you but to
drink the whole bucketful? The rendezvous in your shop! Then whoever
escapes, your head's on a pike."

"Aye," murmured the shoemaker dismally.

"It isn't taking very many of you to overturn the House of Stuart,"
said the laird, looking about the room, which was small.

"There's just one less than a dozen," replied the cobbler.

"Then we'll make up the number to the even twelve, hoping good luck
will attend us, for we will be as many as the Apostles. Between now
and Wednesday you might confer with your leaders, Flemming. Tell them
you know a young man you can trust, who owns exactly the kind of house
that James can be kept fast in, if he is captured. Say that your new
conspirator will take the oath, or anything else they like to give,
and add, what is more to the purpose, that he has a plot of his own
which differs from theirs, in giving at least as much chance of
success, and possesses the additional advantage of being safe. Whether
his plan miscarries or not, there will be no need to fear a reprisal,
and that is much to say in its favour."

"It is everything in its favou