the caged lion-第25节

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　　They　must　soon　be　with　us　from　the　camp。'

Suddenly　a　voice　shouted；　'The　Scots！　the　Scots！　　'Tis　the　Scots！　Treachery！　we　are　betrayed。　　Come；　Sir'　（to　Percy）；　'they'll　be　on　you。　　Treason！'

'An'　it　were；　you　fool；　would　a　Percy　turn　his　back？'　cried　Ralf；　striking　at　the　man；　but　the　panic　had　seized　the　whole　body；　all　were　shouting　that　the　false　Scots　king　had　brought　his　countrymen　down　on　them；　they　scattered　hither　and　thither；　and　would　have　fallen　an　easy　prey　if　they　had　been　pursued。　　But　this　did　not　seem　to　be　the　purpose　of　the　enemy；　who　merely　extended　themselves　so　as　to　form　a　hedge　around　the　few　who　stood；　sword　in　hand；　disdaining　to　fly。　　These　were；　James；　somewhat　in　advance；　with　his　head　high；　and　a　lion　look　on　his　brow；　Malcolm；　white　with　dismay；　Ralf；　restless　with　fury；　Kitson　and　Trenton；　apparently　as　unmoved　as　ever；　Brewster；　equally　steady：　　and　Malcolm's　follower；　Halbert；　in　a　glow　of　hopeful　excitement。

'Never　fear；　friends；'　said　James；　kindly；　'to　you　this　can　only　be　matter　of　ransom。'

'I　fear　nothing；'　sharply　answered　Ralf。

'We'll　stand　by　you；　Sir；'　said　Kitson　to　Ralf；　'but　if　ever　there　were　foul　treason'

'Pshaw！　you　ass；'　were　all　Percy's　thanks；　for　at　that　moment　a　horseman　came　forward　from　among　the　enemy；　a　gigantic　form　on　a　tall　white　horse；　altogether　a　'dark　gray　man；'　the　open　visor　revealing　an　elderly　face；　hard…featured　and　grim；　and　the　shield　on　his　arm　so　dinted；　faded；　and　battered；　as　scarce　to　show　the　blue　chief　and　the　bleeding　crowned　heart；　but　it　was　no　unfamiliar　sight　to　Malcolm's　eyes；　and　with　a　slight　shudder　he　bent　his　head　in　answer　to　the　fierce　whisper；　'Old　Douglas　himself！'　with　which　Hotspur's　son　certified　himself　that　he　had　the　foe　of　his　house　before　him。　　King　James；　resting　the　point　of　his　sword　on　his　mailed　foot；　stood　erect　and　gravely　expectant；　and　the　Scot；　springing　to　the　ground；　advanced　with　the　words；　'We　greet　you　well；　my　liege；　and　hereby'　he　was　bending　his　knee　as　he　spoke；　and　removing　his　gauntlet　in　preparation　for　the　act　of　homage。

'Hold；　Earl　Douglas；'　said　James；　'homage　is　vain　to　a　captive。'

'You　are　captive　no　longer；　Sir　King；'　said　Earl　Archibald。　　'We　have　long　awaited　this　occasion；　and　will　at　once　return　to　Scotland　with　you；　with　the　arms　and　treasure　we　have　gained　here；　and　will　bear　down　the　craven　Albany。'

Kitson　and　Trenton　looked　at　one　another　and　grasped　their　swords；　as　though　doubting　whether　they　ought　not　to　cut　down　their　king's　prisoner　rather　than　let　him　be　rescued；　and　meanwhile　the　cry；　'Save　King　James！'　broke　out　on　all　sides；　knights　leapt　down　to　tender　their　homage；　and　among　the　foremost　Malcolm　knew　Sir　Patrick　Drummond；　crying　aloud；　'My　lord；　my　lord；　we　have　waited　long　for　you。　　Be　a　free　king　in　free　Scotland！　　Trust　us；　my　liege。'

'Trust　you；　my　friends！'　said　James；　deeply　touched；　'I　trust　you　with　all　my　heart；　but　how　could　you　trust　me　if　I　began　with　a　breach　of　faith　to　the　King　of　England？'

Ralf　Percy　held　up　his　finger　and　nodded　his　head　to　the　Yorkshire　squires；　who　stood　open…mouthed；　still　believing　that　a　Scot　must　be　false。　　There　was　an　angry　murmur　among　the　Scots；　but　James　gazed　at　them　undauntedly；　as　though　to　look　it　down。

'Yes；　to　King　Harry！'　he　said；　in　his　trumpet　voice。　　'I　belong　to　him；　and　he　has　trusted　me　as　never　prisoner　was　trusted　before；　nor　will　I　betray　that　trust。'

'The　foul　fiend　take　such　niceties；'　muttered　old　Douglas；　but；　checking　himself；　he　said；　'Then；　Sir；　give　me　your　sword；　and　we'll　have　you　home　as　my　prisoner；　to　save　this　your　honour！'

'Yea；'　said　James；　'that　is　mine　own；　though　my　body　be　yours；　and　till　England　put　me　to　ransom　you　would　have　but　a　useless　captive。'

'Sir；'　said　Sir　John　Swinton；　pressing　forward；　'if　my　Lord　of　Douglas　be　plain…spoken；　bethink　you　that　it　is　no　cause　for　casting　aside　this　one　hope　of　freedom　that　we　have　sought　so　long。　　If　you　have　the　heart　to　strike　for　Scotland；　this　is　the　time。'

'It　is　not　the　time；'　said　James；　'nor　will　I　do　Scotland　the　wrong　of　striking　for　her　with　a　dishonoured　hand。'

'That　will　we　see　when　we　have　him　at　Hermitage　Castle；'　quoth　Douglas　to　his　followers。　　'Now；　Sir　King；　best　give　your　sword　without　more　grimace。　　Living　or　dead　you　are　ours。'

'I　yield　not；'　said　James。　　'Dead　you　may　take　mealive；　never。'　Then　turning　his　eyes　to　the　faces　that　gazed　on　him　so　earnestly　in　disappointment；　in　affection；　or　in　scorn；　he　spoke：　　'Brave　friends；　who　may　perchance　love　me　the　better　that　I　have　been　a　captive　half　my　life　and　all　my　reign；　you　can　believe　how　sair　my　heart　burns　for　my　bonnie　land's　sake；　and　how　little　I'd　reck　of　my　life　for　her　weal。　　But　broken　oaths　are　ill　beginnings。　　For　me；　so　notably　trusted　by　King　Henry；　to　break　my　bonds；　would　shame　both　Scots　and　kings；　and　it　were　yet　more　paltry　to　feign　to　yield　to　my　Lord　of　Douglas。　　Rescue　or　no　rescue；　I　am　England's　captive。　　Gentles；　kindly　brother　Scots；　in　one　way　alone　can　you　free　me。　　Give　up　this　wretched　land　of　France；　whose　troubles　are　but　lengthened　by　your　valour。　　Let　me　gang　to　King　Harry　and　tell　him　your　swords　are　at　his　service；　so　soon　as　I　am　free。　　Then　am　I　your　King　indeed；　we　return　together；　staunch　hearts　and　strong　hands；　and　the　key　shall　keep　the　castle；　and　the　bracken　bush　keep　the　cow；　though　I　lead　the　life　of　a　dog　to　bring　it　about。'

His　tawny　eye　flashed　with　falcon　light；　and　as　he　stood　towering　above　all　the　tall　men　around；　there　were　few　who　did　not　in　heart　own　him　indeed　their　king。　　But　his　picture　of　royal　power　accorded　ill　with　the　notions　of　a　Black　Douglas；　in　the　most　masterful　days　of　that　family；　and　Earl　Archibald；　who　had　come　to　regard　kings　as　beings　meant　to　be　hectored　by　Douglases；　resentfully　exclaimed；　'Hear　him；　comrades；　he　has　avouched　himself　a　Southron　at　heart。　Has　he　reckoned　how　little　it　would　cost　to　give　a　thrust　to　the　caitiff　who　has　lost　heart　in　his　prison；　and　clear　the　way　for　Albany；　who　is　at　least　a　true　Scot？'

'Do　so；　Lord　Earl；'　said　James；　'and　end　a　long　captivity。　　But　let　these　go　scatheless。'

With　one　voice；　Percy；　Kitson；　Trenton；　and　Brewster；　shouted　their　resolve　to　defend　him　to　the　last；　and　Malcolm；　flinging　himself　on　Patrick　Drummond；　adjured　him　to　save　the　King。

'Thou　here；　laddie！'　said　Patrick；　amazed；　and　while　several　more　knights　exclaimed；　'Sir；　Sir；　we'll　see　no　hand　laid　on　you！'　he　thrust　forward；　'Take　my　horse；　Sir；　ride　on；　and　I'll　see　no　scathe　befall　you。'

'Thanks；'　said　James；　'but　my　feet　will　serve　me　best；　we　will　keep　together。'

The　Scottish　force　seemed　dividing　into　two：　　Douglas　and　his　friends　and　retainers；　mounted　and　holding　together；　as　though　still　undecided　whether　to　grapple　with　the　King　and　his　half…dozen　companions；　while　Drummond　and　about　ten　more　lances　were　disposed　to　guard　him　at　all　risks。

'Now；'　said　James　to　his　English　friends；　and　therewith；　sword　in　hand；　he　moved　with　a　steady　but　swift　stride　towards　the　camp；　nor　did　Douglas　attempt　pursuit；　some　of　the　other　horsemen　hovered　between；　and　Patrick　Drummond；　with　a　puzzled　face；　kept　near　on　foot。　　So　they　proceeded　till　they　reached　a　bank　and　willow　hedge；　through　which　horses　could　hardly　have　pursued　them。

On　the　other　side　of　this；　James　turned　round　and　said；　'Thanks；　Sir　Knight；　I　suppose　I　may　not　hope　that　you　will　become　a　follower　of　the　knight　adventurer。'

'I　cannot　fight　under　the　English　banner；　my　liege。　　Elsewhere　I　would　fellow　you　to　the　death。'

'This　is　no　time　to　show　your　error；'　said　James；　'and　I　therefore　counsel　you　to　come　no　farther。　　The　English　will　be　pricking　forth　in　search　of　us：　　so　I　will　but　thank　you　for　your　loyal　aid。'

'I　entreat　you；　Sir；'　cried　Patrick；　'not　to　believe　that　we　meant　this　matter　to　go　as　it　has　done！　　It　had　long　been　our　desireof　all　of　us；　that　is；　save　my　Lord　Buchan's　retainersto　find　you　and　release　you；　but　never　did　we　deem　that　Lord　Douglas　would　have　dared　to　conduct　matters　thus。'

'You　would　be　little　the　better　for　me　did　Lord　Douglas　bring　me　back　on　his　own　terms；'　said　James；　smiling。　　'No；　no；　when　I　go　home；　it　shall　be　as　a　free　king；　able　to　do　justice　to　all　alike；　and　for　that　I　am　content　to　bide　my　time；　and　trust　to　such　as　you　to　back　me　when　it　comes。'

'And　with　all　my　heart；　Sir；'　said　Patrick。　　'Would　that　you　were　where　I　could　do　so　now。　　Ah！　laddie；'　to　Malcolm；　'ye're　in　good　hands。　　My　certie；　I　kenned　ye　but　by　your　voice！　　Ye're　verily　grown　into　a　goodly　ship　after　all；　and　ye　stood　as　brave　as　the　rest。　　My　poor　father　would　have　been　fain　to　see　this　day！'

Malcolm　flushed　to　the　ears；　somehow　Patrick's　praise　was　not　as　pleasant　to　him　as　he　would　have　expected；　and　he　only　faltered；　'You　know'

'I　ken　but　what　Johnnie　Swinton　brought　me　in　a　letter　frae　the　Abbot　of　Coldingham；　that　my　fatherthe　saints　be　with　him！had　been　set　on　and　slain　by　yon　accursed　Master　of　Albanywould　that　his　thrapple　were　in　my　grip！that　he　had　sent　you　southwards　to　the　King；　and　that　your　sister　was　in　St。　Abbs。　　Is　it　so？'

Malcolm　had　barely　time　to　make　a　sign　of　affirmation；　when　the　King　hurried　him　on。　　'I　grieve　to　balk　y