the caged lion-第5节

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e；　Robert　III。　was　the　eldest；　the　Duke　of　Albany　the　second。　These　were　both　dead；　and　were　represented；　the　one　by　the　captive　young　King　James；　the　other　by　the　Regent；　Duke　Murdoch　of　Albany；　and　his　brother　John；　Earl　of　Buchan；　now　about　to　head　a　Scottish　force；　among　whom　Patrick　Drummond　intended　to　sail；　to　assist　the　French。

Others　of　the　eleven；　Earls　of　Athol；　Menteith；　&c。；　survived；　but　the　youngest　of　the　brotherhood；　by　name　Malcolm；　who　had　married　the　heiress　of　Glenuskie；　had　been　killed　at　Homildon　Hill；　when　he　had　solemnly　charged　his　Stewart　nephews　and　brothers　to　leave　his　two　orphan　children　to　the　sole　charge　of　their　mother's　cousin；　Sir　David　Drummond；　a　good　old　man；　who　had　been　the　best　supporter　and　confidant　of　poor　Robert　III。　in　his　unhappy　reign；　and　in　embassies　to　France　had　lost　much　of　the　rugged　barbarism　to　which　Scotland　had　retrograded　during　the　wars　with　England。



CHAPTER　II：　　THE　RESCUE　OF　COLDINGHAM



It　was　a　lonely　tract　of　road；　marked　only　by　the　bare　space　trodden　by　feet　of　man　and　horse；　and　yet；　in　truth；　the　highway　between　Berwick　and　Edinburgh；　which　descended　from　a　heathery　moorland　into　a　somewhat　spacious　valley；　with　copsewood　clothing　one　side；　in　the　midst　of　which　rose　a　high　mound　or　knoll；　probably　once　the　site　of　a　camp；　for　it　still　bore　lines　of　circumvallation；　although　it　was　entirely　deserted；　except　by　the　wandering　shepherds　of　the　neighbourhood；　or　occasionally　by　outlaws；　who　found　an　admirable　ambush　in　the　rear。

The　spring　had　hung　the　hazels　with　tassels；　bedecked　the　willows　with　golden　downy　tufts；　and　opened　the　primroses　and　celandines　beneath　them；　when　the　solitary　dale　was　disturbed　by　the　hasty　clatter　of　horses'　feet；　and　hard；　heavy　breathing　as　of　those　who　had　galloped　headlong　beyond　their　strength。　　Here；　however；　the　foremost　of　the　party；　an　old　esquire；　who　grasped　the　bridle…rein　of　youth　by　his　side；　drew　up　his　own　horse；　and　that　which　he　was　dragging　on　with　him；　saying　…

'We　may　breathe　here　a　moment；　there　is　shelter　in　the　wood。　　And　you；　Rab；　get　ye　up　to　the　top　of　Jill's　Knowe；　and　keep　a　good　look…　out。'

'Let　me　go　back；　you　false　villain！'　sobbed　the　boy；　with　the　first　use　of　his　recovered　breath。

'Do　not　be　so　daft；　Lord　Malcolm；'　replied　the　Squire；　retaining　his　hold　on　the　boy's　bridle；　'what；　rin　your　head　into　the　wolf's　mouth　again；　when　we've　barely　brought　you　off　haill　and　sain？'

'Haill　and　sain？　　Dastard　and　forlorn；'　cried　Malcolm；　with　passionate　weeping。　　'II　to　flee　and　leave　my　sistermy　uncle！　Oh；　where　are　they？　　Halbert；　let　me　go；　I'll　never　pardon　thee。'

'Hoot；　my　lord！　would　I　let　you　gang；　when　the　Tutor　spak　to　me　as　plain　as　I　hear　you　now？　　〃Take　off　Lord　Malcolm；〃　says　he；　〃save　him；　and　you　save　the　rest。　　See　him　safe　to　the　Earl　of　Mar。〃　　Those　were　his　words；　my　lord；　and　if　you　wilna　heed　them；　I　will。'

'What；　and　leave　my　sister　to　the　reivers？　　Oh；　what　may　not　they　be　doing　to　her？　　Let　us　go　back　and　fall　on　them；　Halbert；　better　die　saving　her　than　know　her　in　Walter　Stewart's　hands。　　Then　were　I　the　wretched　craven　he　calls　me。'

'Look　you；　Lord　Malcolm；'　said　Halbert；　laying　his　finger　on　his　nose；　with　a　knowing　expression；　'my　young　lady　is　safe　from　harm　so　long　as　you　are　out　of　the　Master　of　Albany's　reach。　　Had　you　come　by　a　canny　thrust　in　the　fray；　as　no　doubt　was　his　purpose；　or　were　you　in　his　hands　to　be　mewed　in　a　convent；　then　were　your　sister　worth　the　wedding；　but　the　Master　will　never　wed　her　while　you　live　and　have　friends　to　back　you；　and　his　father；　the　Regent；　will　see　she　has　no　ill…usage。　　You'll　do　best　for　yourself　and　her　too；　as　well　as　Sir　David；　if　you　make　for　Dunbar；　and　call　ben　your　uncles　of　Athole　and　Strathern。How　now；　Rab？　are　the　loons　making　this　way？'

'Na；　na！'　said　Rab；　descending；　''tis　from　the　other　gate；　'tis　a　knight　in　blue　damasked　steel：　　he；　methinks；　that　harboured　in　our　castle　some　weeks　syne。'

'Hm！'　said　Halbert；　considering；　'he　looked　like　a　trusty　cheild：　maybe　he'd　guide　my　lord　here　to　a　wiser　wit；　and　a　good　lance　on　the　way　to　Dunbar　is　not　to　be　scorned。'

In　fact；　there　would　have　been　no　time　for　one　party　to　conceal　themselves　from　the　other；　for；　hidden　by　the　copsewood；　and　unheeded　by　the　watchers　who　were　gazing　in　the　opposite　direction；　Sir　James　Stewart　and　his　two　attendants　suddenly　came　round　the　foot　of　Jill's　Knowe　upon　the　fugitives；　who　were　profiting　by　the　interval　to　loosen　the　girths　of　their　horses；　and　water　them　at　the　pool　under　the　thicket；　whilst　Halbert　in　vain　tried　to　pacify　and　reason　with　the　young　master；　who　had　thrown　himself　on　the　grass　in　an　agony　of　grief　and　despair。　　Sir　James；　after　the　first　momentary　start；　recognized　the　party　in　an　instant；　and　at　once　leapt　from　his　horse；　exclaiming　…

'How　now；　my　bonnie　manmy　kind　hostwhat　is　it？　what　makes　this　grief？'

'Do　not　speak　to　me；　Sir；'　muttered　the　unhappy　boy。　　'They　have　been　reftreft　from　me；　and　I　have　done　nothing　for　them。　　Walter　of　Albany　has　them；　and　I　am　here。'

And　he　gave　way　to　another　paroxysm　of　grief；　while　Halbert　explained　to　Sir　James　Stewart　that　when　Sir　Patrick　Drummond　had　gone　to　embark　for　France；　with　the　army　led　to　the　aid　of　Charles　VI。　by　the　Earl　of　Buchan；　his　father　and　cousins；　with　a　large　escort；　had　accompanied　him　to　Eyemouth；　whence；　after　taking　leave　of　him；　they　had　set　out　to　spend　Passion…tide　and　Easter　at　Coldingham　Abbey；　after　the　frequent　fashion　of　the　devoutly　inclined　among　the　Scottish　nobility；　in　whose　castles　there　was　often　little　commodity　for　religious　observances。　　Short；　however；　as　was　the　distance；　they　had　in　the　midst　of　it　been　suddenly　assailed　by　a　band　of　armed　men；　among　whom　might　easily　be　recognized　the　giant　form　of　young　Walter　Stewart；　the　Master　of　Albany；　the　Regent　Duke　Murdoch's　eldest　son；　who　was　well　known　for　his　lawless　excesses　and　violence。　　His　father's　silky　sayings；　and　his　own　ruder　speeches；　had　long　made　it　known　to　the　House　of　Glenuskie　that　the　family　policy　was　to　cajole　or　to　drive　the　sickly　heir　into　a　convent；　and；　rendering　Lilias　the　possessor　of　the　broad　lands　inherited　from　both　parents；　unite　her　and　them　to　the　Albany　family

The　almost　barbarous　fierceness　and　wild　licentiousness　of　Walter　would　have　made　the　arrangement　abhorrent　to　Lilias；　even　had　not　love　passages　already　passed　between　her　and　her　cousin；　Patrick　Drummond；　and　Sir　David　had　hitherto　protected　her　by　keeping　Malcolm　in　the　secular　life；　but　Walter；　it　seemed；　had　grown　impatient；　and　had　made　this　treacherous　attack；　evidently　hoping　to　rid　himself　of　the　brother；　and　secure　the　sister。　　No　sooner　had　the　Tutor　of　Glenuskie　perceived　that　his　own　party　were　overmatched；　than　he　had　bidden　his　faithful　squire　to　secure　the　bairnsif　not　both；　at　least　the　boy；　and　Halbert；　perceiving　that　Lilias　had　already　been　pounced　upon　by　Sir　Walter　himself　and　several　more；　seized　the　bridle　of　the　bewildered　Malcolm；　who　was　still　trying　to　draw　his　sword；　and　had　absolutely　swept　him　away　from　the　scene　of　action　before　he　had　well　realized　what　was　passing；　and　now　that　the　poor　lad　understood　the　whole；　his　horror；　grief；　and　shame　were　unspeakable。

Before　Sir　James　had　done　more　than　hear　the　outline　of　Halbert's　tale；　however；　the　watchers　on　the　mound　gave　the　signal　that　the　reivers　were　coming　that　waya　matter　hitherto　doubtful；　since　no　one　could　guess　whether　Walter　Stewart　would　make　for　Edinburgh　or　for　Doune。　　With　the　utmost　agility　Sir　James　sprang　up　the　side　of　the　mound；　reconnoitred；　and　returned　again　just　as　Halbert　was　trying　to　stir　his　master　from　the　ground；　and　Malcolm　answering　sullenly　that　he　would　not　movehe　would　be　taken　and　die　with　the　rest。

'You　may　save　them　instead；　if　you　will　attend　to　me；'　said　Sir　James；　and　at　his　words　the　boy　suddenly　started　up　with　a　look　of　hope。

'How　many　fell　upon　you？'　demanded　Sir　James。

'Full　a　hundred　lances；'　replied　Halbert　（and　a　lance　meant　at　least　three　men）。　　'It　wad　be　a　fule's　wark　to　withstand　them。　　Best　bide　fast　in　the　covert；　for　our　horses　are　sair　forfaughten。'

'If　there　are　now　more　than　twenty　lances；　I　am　greatly　mistaken；'　returned　Sir　James。　　'They　must　have　broken　up　after　striking　their　blow；　or　have　sent　to　secure　Glenuskie；　and　we；　falling　on　them　from　this　thicket'

'I　see；　I　see；'　cried　Halbert。　　'Back；　ye　loons；　back　among　the　hazels。　　Hold　every　one　his　horse　ready　to　mount。'

'With　your　favour；　Sir　Squire；　I　say；　bind　each　man　his　horse　to　a　tree。　　The　skene　and　broadsword；　which　I　see　you　all　wear；　will　be　ten　times　as　effective　on　foot。'

'Do　as　the　knight　bids；'　said　Malcolm；　starting　forth　with　colour　on　his　cheek；　light　in　his　eye；　that　made　him　another　being。　　'In　him　there　is　help。'

'Ay；　ay；　Lord　Malcolm；'　muttered　Halbert；　'you　need　not　tell　me　that：　I　know　my　duty　better　than　not　to　do　the　bidding　of　a　belted　knight；　and　pretty　man　too　of　his　inches。'

The　two　attendants　of　Sir　James　were　meantime　apparently　uttering　some　remonstrance；　to　which　he　lightly　replied；　'Tut；　Nigel；　it　will　do　thine　heart　good　to　hew　down　a　minion　of　Albany。　　What　were　I　worth　could　I　not　strike　a　blow　a