"WELL, my gallant knights, what say ye, shall we proceed to-night to take up our position during the darkness, and then wait till morning gives us an opportunity of making our proposal in form ?" Such was the accost of a man of noble bearing, clad in a half suit of armour, with a cloak of dark cloth streaming from his shoulders, and whose age might be some thirty or more, to a party of four individuals of similar rank and bearing to himself, but who evidently were in attendance upon him. A few horsemen, also of military cast, followed at a short distance, though from their attire it would at first have been difficult to say whether they were on a peaceful or warlike expedition. The speaker reined in his horse, and turned inquiringly to his companions as the last words left his lips. Bright gleams of sunshine broke from between the dark masses of clouds that covered the sky and the moun tain tops which formed the horizon, throwing their gladdening rays down the rugged sides of the lower hills, which were thickly sprinkled with dwarf trees, in many places clothed with bracken and fern, bringing out the objects that lay to their left into strong relief, before the mass of stormy vapour by which the whole of the eastern heaven was enveloped. The day had been one of fitful storm; wind and rain alternately prevailing during the morning, when the gusts which had been during the previous part of the day only intermittent, though invariably violent, about noon, became one continuous tempest, obliging the party to whom we have introduced the reader to seek shelter beneath the covert of an overhanging rock, which projected so as almost to form a cave. A number of young larch trees crowned the summit, above their heads, and were scattered thickly around intermingled here and there with a birch or pine, while an extensive wood of the latter stretched at a little distance from them for miles over the undulating country far as the eye could reach. Before them, louring dimly through the mist of rain and vapour, in sullen blackness, rose the hill of which we have spoken. With some little difficulty they were enabled to conceal their horses also beneath the foliage of a tangled burn that sank to an impervious depth beside the road. After sundry English anathemas on the climate of "bonnie Scotland," commensurate in depth and earnestness with the amount of patience with which they were severally stocked, the soldiers hailed with a cry of delight the broad bright gleam of the glorious sun, as he threw the splendour of his setting disc over the shaking leaves of the bracken; and the trees, which shone with the brilliancy of ten thousand diamonds, sprang at once into the full development of all their latent beauty, as his golden light streamed from behind the clouds over the wide spread landscape. Hastily mounting their steeds, they prepared once more to resume their route. Turning abruptly to the left from the shelter of the friendly covert, the coun try stretched down by a long and continuous descent into a wide and cultivated valley. Again the upland rose bleak and abrupt, concealing, by a thick grown forest of pines with which it was covered, the deep and formidable glen in which, on an almost isolated and inaccessible rock, the Castle of Roslin stood. Above it, nearly at the summit of the rugged steep, rose the lonely watch tower; embosomed in ancient woods, that extended on both sides, far as the enclosing hills would permit; its white walls being now conspicuous in the evening sunlight, with here and there a window gleaming like molten silver, and reflecting with scattered rays the brightness it received. Beyond, the distant mountains were barely distinguishable in their rugged outline from the hazy sky by which they were overhung. The party were about immediately to proceed, when the accost of their leader, as he reined in his charger, brought them suddenly to a stand still, and he was obliged to repeat his question, his face beaming with the freshness of the air, and lighted up with the animation of his spirit, "What say you, my friends ?" All for a moment hesitated. till one younger than the rest in years, but apparently esteemed among his companions, replied, "We are ready, as indeed we are bound to do, my lord, to follow your guidance, but if you would consult our wishes in preference to the dictates of your own prudence, we should say by all means let us get under the walls of the castle speedily as possible." "Mayhap you may not so very easily find the way," grumbled out one of their attendants in an undertone, who, with his buff jerkin, completely saturated, and with the rain dripping from every part of his person, appeared to find his temper by no means amended by the lavation of something more than a Scotch mist. "What's that you say, you old grumbler ?" exclaimed one of the principals of the party. Why, I say," returned the soldier, somewhat abashed at having been overheard, "that mayhap it will be rather troublesome to find the road, without the help of that creature, who talks the barbarish lingo that my lord likes so much, and who seems to be helping his legs over that dyke in very handsome style." "Old Smithers is right, as I live. You grumbling old curmudgeon," exclaimed his officer, "could you not say so sooner." "See, my lord, our Scotch guide is favouring us with his absence ;" and he pointed towards the spot where, with seemingly slow, but really hasty strides, a short thick set Lowlander was making the best of his way over the fern, every now and then taking advantage of the trees which could interrupt the sight of those from whom he was endeavouring to escape. "It's not my business," muttered old Smithers, sulkily, "when I told you of the marsh on Kenwick flat, you warnt best pleased." "As I live, he will escape, and in this defile, death if not dishonour must befal us," cried their leader. "Michael, send one of your feathered messengers after him.” A tall broad built hard featured man, with more celerity than might have been expected from his figure, drew a bow from beneath his cloak, and without speaking a word, fitted an arrow to the string, lifted it to his eye, and drawing the shaft home to his ear, it sped through the air. True to its mark, it grazed by the trunk of a tree behind which the fugitive endeavoured to hide, and piercing his bonnet threw him to the ground. "Well done, Mick, that 'ill beat Yorkshire, any how," exclaimed a fellow soldier elated with the skill his companion had displayed, and alluding to a contest in which the archer who was from the neighbourhood of Mansfield had been engaged, "that has touched his head piece. "And given him a bloody cockscombe, I warrant me," responded one of his companions. "Well done, Michael," said the person who had spoken second, "but see, he is still endeavouring to Give him another." escape. Michael, with the same deliberation as before, drew the arrow to its head, and almost with the same success, for the shaft evidently pierced the plaid of the Scotchman as he threw his cumbrous attire from him to facilitate his flight. He instantly fell, as if dead, but the feint was perceived, and on the order being reiterated for a third arrow, and on its being drawn upon the bow, he immediately rose, and gathering his plaid together, came with a dogged and sullen air towards his captors. 66 66 Oblige him with a little strap oil," cried one of the party. Silence, my good fellow," reiterated their leader. "Do you Smithers take the gentleman under your charge, and mark you do not ill-use him." 66 "I'll pro Aye, aye, your honour," answered Smithers, be as tender over him as a young beagle," and he ceeded to keep his word, by passing a strap round the waist of their enforced guide, while he lashed the other end, at about the length of six feet, through his saddle girth, excusing himself for the sundry rough intimations of his pleasure by the reflection that he did not understand the heathenish language of his prisoner; who, in his turn seemed for the present content with inward threats of future vengeance. Smithers had hardly adjusted the strap to his liking ere he found that the party had got some little distance a-head, and very unceremoniously, and not very gently informing his protégé that they must proceed, put his horse into a trot, and thereby obliged his foot companion to keep on an active run till he rejoined his comrades. They made way quickly down the descent, but ere they had crossed the narrow and brawling stream which flowed at the bottom of the valley, the sun had altogether sunk, and the last sober remains of twilight were giving place to the deepest shades of night; and before they had cleared the little green pasture-land that bordered the rivulet, and began to ascend the higher ground, the twinkling of the stars alone afforded a tremulous and uncertain light to guide their footsteps over the rugged road, rendered still more obscure by the many hazels |