ht
offend the pride of Finlay the Fifth.

James's tact, however, overcame the difficulty.

"When I visit you, MacNab, over by Loch Tay, there is one favour I
must ask; I want your tailors to make for me and the men of my
following, suits of kilts in the MacNab tartan."

"Surely, surely," replied the chief, "and a better weaving you will
get nowhere in the Highlands."

"I like the colour of it," continued the king. "There is a royal red
in it that pleases me. Now there is a good deal of red in the Stuart
tartan, and I should be greatly gratified if you would permit your men
to wear my colours, as my men shall wear yours. My tailors here will
be proud to boast that they have made costumes for the Clan MacNab.
You know what tradesmen bodies are, they're pleased when we take a
little notice of them."

"Surely," again replied MacNab, more dubiously, "and I shall send them
the money for it when I get home."

"Indeed," said the king, "if you think I am going to have a full purse
when I'm in the MacNab country, you're mistaken."

"I never suggested such a thing," replied the chief indignantly.
"You'll count nane o' yer ain bawbees when you are with me."

"Ah, well," rejoined the king, "that's right, and so you will just
leave me to settle with my own tailors here."

Thus the re-costuming came about, and all in all it was just as well
that MacNab did not insist on his own tartan, for there was none of it
in Stirling, while of the Stuart plaid there was a sufficiency to
clothe a regiment.

On the last night, there was a banquet given which was the best that
Stirling could bestow, in honour of the Clan MacNab. The great hall
was decorated with the colours of the clan, and at the further end had
been painted the arms of the MacNab--the open boat, with its oars, on
the sea proper, the head of the savage, the two supporting figures and
the Latin motto underneath, "Timor omnis abseto". Five pipers of the
king's court had learned the Salute to the Chief, and now, headed
by MacNab's own, they paced up and down the long room, making it
ring with their war-like music. The king and the chieftain came in
together, and as the latter took his place at his host's right hand,
his impassive face betrayed no surprise at the splendid preparations
which had been made for his reception. Indeed, the Highlanders all
acted as if they had been accustomed to sit down to such a banquet
every night. Many dainties were placed on the ample board