_Facing page_

"Out of the way, fellow!" 4

"Headsman, do your duty" 26

"'As you get north of Sterling, Buchanan,' replied
James, with a smile, 'it is customary
to bring the knife with you when you go
out to dine'" 42

"My fair antagonist, I bid you good-night" 74

"The forty-one trees bore their burden" 110

"The figure of a tall man" 126

"With a wild scream Farini endeavoured to support
himself with his gauze-like wings" 144

"The King had composed a poem in thirteen
stanzas, entitled 'The Beggar Man'" 148

"Five stalwart ruffians fell upon him" 162

"'I am James, King of Scotland,' he proclaimed
in stentorian tones" 178

"At last MacNab sprang to his feet, holding
aloft his brimming flagon" 201

"The strangers were most hospitably entertained,
and entered thoroughly into the
spirit of the festivities" 234

"The King, however, appeared to have no forebodings,
but trotted along with great complacency" 246

"The two went outside and took the road by
which they had come" 270

THE KING INTERVENES

Late evening had fallen on the grey walls of Stirling Castle, and dark
night on the town itself, where narrow streets and high gables gave
early welcome to the mirk, while the westward-facing turrets of the
castle still reflected the departing glory of the sky.

With some suggestion of stealth in his movements, a young man picked
his way through the thickening gloom of the streets. There was still
light enough to show that, judging by his costume, he was of the
well-to-do farmer class. This was proclaimed by his broad, coarse,
bonnet and the grey check plaid which he wore, not looped to the
shoulder and pinned there by a brooch, Highland fashion, but wrapped
round his middle, with the two ends brought over the shoulders and
tucked under the wide belt which the plaid itself made, the fringes
hanging down at each knee, as a Lowland shepherd might have worn the
garment. As he threaded his way through the tortuous streets, ever
descending, he heard the clatter of a troop of horse coming up, and
paused, looking to the ri