originally been crimson, wear and the weather had changed into a dingy-purple: it had once possessed three rows of innumerable small brass bell-buttons, but many of them were then gone, and the gold-lace with which it had been trimmed was tattered and tarnished. His short trowsers scarcely reached his knees, which were bare; his legs were also without hosen, and pieces of untanned ox-skin were tied about his feet, and came up like moccasins about his ancles--a primitive protection for the feet, partaking, in some degree, of all the qualities of the buskin, the shoe, and the sandal. From his belt he wore a broadsword, with a rusty basketed hilt, and a dagger, which by its glittering handle, contrasted with his robber-like appearance, suggested an apprehension that it had been the spoil of a foeman of some consideration.

Southennan looked at him with a smile, admiring his wild and stalwart form and demeanour, as he stood on the brow of the rising ground, like an oak which had been scathed by the tempest, or a tower which, though in ruins, was yet capable, with the freebooters it harboured, to make a stern resistance. "What would ye, Knockwhinnie," said Southennan, for he knew the outlaw.

"Leave to go with you to Edinburgh," was the reply.

"How can you think of going to Edinburgh ?--you told me a price is set upon your head: you will be seized before we reach Paisley but what would you in Edinburgh ?"

:

"Petition the Queen's Highness for pardon. I am not a guilty man, but an avenger. I but attempted to execute justice on the criminal who quenched the joy of my hearth."

"I have pitied you," replied the young Laird, " and will do so still, even to the hazard of my own undoing. I will try what may be done to procure a remission of the sentence proclaimed against you, but it is not meet that you should travel publicly in that garb on the highway.”

"If that be all it is soon doffed," replied Knock whinnie; and, turning round, he blew a small ivory whistle which hung from his neck by a light silver chain, and descending to the spot where the provisions were set out, on the invitation of Southennan, largely partook of them.

As he was eating, Father Jerome frequently turned his eyes heavenward and crossed himself. Baldy gave his attendance with an unvarying visage, but Hughoc every now and then stooped and turned up the corner of his eye with a degree of shrewdness and awe, evidently wondering wherefore it was that such an outcast was treated with so much courtesy. Before

Knockwhinnie had finished his repast, a young man, bravely appareled as a groom, came to the top of the rising ground, leading by the bridle a splendid horse, and mounted on another scarcely less superbly caparisoned. The outlaw, waving to him with his hand, immediately arose, and followed his servant to that knoll on the heath, from behind which Hughoc had so hastily returned.

Southennan stood for some time silent and perplexed. At last, bidding his servants partake of the refreshments, he touched Father Jerome slightly on the arm, and led him off to a short distance from them.

"What shall we do?" said Southennan : "this desperate man will assuredly come with us.”

"The presentation of his petition," replied the chaplain, "is plainly not all the intent which takes him to Edinburgh; he has, I am persuaded, some other purpose; for, were it not so, it had been better for him to have trusted you. What is his story? I have sometimes heard of his name, but I knew not that he was so near a neighbour."

"Nor did I," said the young Laird: "his usual haunt is beyond the Gryfe, and about the pad of Neilston. Of his story I know but little it was however from himself I heard it, and it was tragical. I will, however, ask him to tell me more of it."

"Surely," cried the alarmed priest, "you will not permit an outlaw, and such an outcast-looking trooper to travel in our company."

"He has said he will come," replied Southennan, "and I fancy he intends to do so, for I apprehend he is one that will have his own way. I have remarked, however, that he hath such breeding, that were I to refuse him, he would not mix with us, but follow. Indeed, to acknowledge the truth, Father, but for the risk he runs himself, I should not be displeased with his company--the weather and a bed on the heath, with but the heavens for a tester, have done more damage to the man than to the knight."

"Is he of that degree?"

"That you ask, makes me doubt, but only because I never heard. I have, however, observed that, short as our acquaintanceship has been, much of his roughness is put on, and when unguardedly he talked of a courtly pastime, he spoke as one that had flourished in the eye-light of fair ladies, with gallants of knightly urbanity."

While they were thus conversing, Knockwhinnie reap

now

peared, mounted, and in costly apparel. He was equipped like a prosperous gentleman, wearing a lofty plume in his cap, and though his embrowned complexion could not be so speedily changed, he bore a proud and warlike port, confirming to Father Jerome the opinion which Southennan had expressed.

"For a time, Southennan," said Knockwhinnie, as he drew near, "I have cast my slough-think you the outlaw will be recognised in this garb ?"

66

No, not the outlaw," replied the young Laird, eyeing him thoughtfully," but one that made him so may."

"Allons!" cried Knockwhinnie, gently pricking his horse, and adding, "the Queen, I have heard, brings a noble company with her from Paris, and I may see among them some of my French friends.'

Father Jerome, at these words, exchanged looks with Southennan, who said briskly,

"Then it is not for your pardon only that you seek the Queen's presence, and undertake this hazardous expedition." "No," was the answer; and with a dark and searching look, he muttered deeply and hoarsely into the ear of Southennan, "I seek revenge."

66

CHAPTER V.

"Here's a rich devouring cormorant,
Comes up to town with his leathern budget stuffed
Till it crack again."

THE FAITHFUL FRIEND.

FATHER Jerome, having again mounted, was the first who left the spring where the party had refreshed themselves, steering his mule at her sober accustomed pace across the heath. Southennan and Knockwhinnie rode together, and at some distance behind, Stayns, the servant of the outlaw, with Baldy and the boy followed.

By this time the wind had risen and blew gustily over the moor, and the skies overcast threatened rain; but owing to the interest which Southennan took in the conversation of his companion, the pace of the travellers was not mended,

and their servants in consequence had leisure for a chat in their way.

Baldy had not much faith in Stayns on several accounts; first, because he was an English lad, and rather more familiar, as he thought, than became the rank of his servitude; and secondly, he belonged to a master who for some other cause than the "biggin o' kirks" was then not on very intimate terms with any sort of household society; but the greatest cause of Baldy's dislike was his irreligion, as he scarcely seemed to know the difference between the old and the new faith. He, as well as all the house of Southennan, was of the Roman Church; but with the exception of himself and Abigail Cuninghame, none of the servants were very inveterate in their attachment to the worship of their fathers; few, indeed, of the common people were as yet well acquainted with the special doctrines of the heresy. Even Father Jerome was not deeply versed in that matter; he took more pains to preserve the old piety alive on the household altar, though it sometimes flamed but feebly, than to heap it with the billets and coals of bigotry.

Thus though it happened that Baldy was civil to the servant of his master's companion, he yet manifested no particular inclination to cultivate his acquaintance, but behaved 'owards him with a degree of taciturnity that might not have been ill described a sulkiness.

Stayns was a lively, shrewd youth, and not being altogether satisfied with the uncompanionable humour of Baldy, after some time dropped behind, and threw himself into discourse with Hughoc, who was then whistling aloud to cheer his courage up; for he was somewhat disconcerted at the idea of visiting the Royal Court in the company of a banished man. Whether Stayns had any pranks to play upon Southennan's squire and page, or was only stirred by curiosity, time will determine; but after some light and jocular remarks to the boy, he said,

"This affair of going to see the Queen will cost your master something."

"Is'e warrant it," replied Hughoc-"twal pennies and a boddle-they say it is dreadfu' dear to live in Embro."

"Yes," rejoined Stayns ; "and fair cost is not the worst of it. I hope you have not only a purse well filled, but a snug pocket to keep it in."

"As to the filling," said Hughoc, "the less said on that

head the better; but it would tak the supplest finger on Cloo tie's claw to find the pouch that I keep my purse in."

"And doubtless the old priest there has been equally provident," said Stayns.

"Whisht-whisht!" cried the boy, "Lord sake gin you speak o' his purse ye'll hae cauld iron in your kyte like a flash o' lightning."

"Indeed!" replied Stayns : " has he then such a treasure ?” "Ye shouldna' speer at me, for I'm a' but sworn no' to say a word about what he has or what he has na'; but the likes o' his valise is no to be found at every dyke side, as ye may guess without speering."

"Why! I have not travelled with such a well-furnished company this many a day," said Stayns, with an emphatic laugh. "And your master, what may he have taken with

him ?"

"Lord! man, ye're awfu' curious! What ken I what the Laird has? Ye should ask himsel', if ye're greenin 'to ken." And with these words, Hughoc, giving his cob a hearty cut with his whip on the flank, was alongside of Baldy, leaving Stayns to follow by himself.

"Man Baldy, that Knockwhinnie's man is an unca' queer fish; he has been wiseing by a' manner o' means to learn what siller we ha'e about us and amang us."

"Has he?" cried Baldy, with a look of alarm. "Deed he has, sure that I like it. ringing robber? wi' him."

and to let you intil a secret, Baldy, I'm no' Didna' ye say that his master was a rank Gude safe's! I wish we hadna' foregathered

"I hope," said Baldy, not quite content with the news, "ye gave him no satisfaction as to what we ha'e ?"

"Just as little as I could in decency," replied Hughoc; "but it wasna' possible to pretend that we were gaun to Embro' to link and gallant wi' the Queen, an' de'il-be-licket in our pouch though the lad's only an Englisher, he's no' sae saft as to believe that spade shafts will bear plums; but I hope we'll be in the town of Paisley before dark, for a' that."

"I hope we shall," replied Baldy; "but what said he to you, Hughoc?"

"Na, that's no' an easy remembrance; but it was a' to the purpose o' what I had, and what ye might have; and he counted in his ain mind the Laird at mair merks' worth than was gude

manners.