the caged lion-第7章

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d　with　his　sword　in　his　hand；　his　arm　round　his　sister's　waist；　assuring　her　that　she　was　safe；　and　himself　glowing　for　the　first　time　with　manly　exultation。　Had　he　not　saved　and　rescued　her　himself？

It　was　as　well；　however；　that　the　rescue　did　not　depend　on　his　sole　prowess。　　Indeed；　by　the　time　the　brother　and　sister　were　clinging　together　and　turning　to　look　round；　the　first　shock　was　over；　and　the　retainers　of　Albany；　probably　fancying　the　attack　made　by　a　much　larger　troop；　were　either　in　full　flight；　or　getting　decidedly　the　worst　in　their　encounters　with　their　assailants。

Sir　James　Stewart　had　at　the　first　onset　sprung　like　a　lion　upon　the　Master　of　Albany；　and　without　drawing　his　sword　had　grappled　with　him。　　'In　the　name　of　St。　Andrew　and　the　King；　yield　thy　prey；　thou　dastard；'　were　his　words　as　he　threw　his　arms　round　the　body　of　Sir　Walter；　and　exerted　his　full　strength　to　drag　him　from　his　horse。　The　young　giant　writhed；　struggled；　cursed；　raged；　he　had　not　space　to　draw　sword　or　even　dagger；　but　he　struck　furiously　with　his　gauntleted　hand；　strove　to　drive　his　horse　forward。　　The　struggle　like　that　of　Hercules　and　Antaeus；　so　desperate　and　mighty　was　the　strength　put　forth　on　either　side；　but　nothing　could　unclasp　the　iron　grip　of　those　sinewy　arms；　and　almost　as　soon　as　Malcolm　and　Lilias　had　eyes　to　see　what　was　passing；　Walter　Stewart　was　being　dragged　off　his　horse　by　that　tremendous　grapple；　and　the　next　moment　his　armour　rung　as　he　lay　prostrate　on　his　back　upon　the　ground。

His　conqueror　set　his　mailed　foot　upon　his　neck　lightly；　but　so　as　to　prevent　any　attempt　to　rise；　and　after　one　moment's　pause　to　gather　breath；　said　in　a　clear　deep　trumpet　voice；　'Walter　Stewart　of　Albany；　on　one　condition　I　grant　thee　thy　life。　　It　is　that　thou　take　the　most　solemn　oath　on　the　spot　that　no　spulzie　or　private　brawl　shall　henceforth　stain　that　hand　of　thine　while　thy　father　holds　the　power　in　Scotland。　　Take　that　oath；　thou　livest：　　refuse　it；　and'　He　held　up　the　deadly　little　dagger　called　the　misericorde。

'And　who　art　thou；　caitiff　land…louper；'　muttered　Walter；　'to　put　to　oath　knights　and　princes？'

The　knight　raised　the　visor　of　his　helmet。　　The　evening　sun　shone　resplendently　on　his　damasked　blue　armour　and　the　St。　Andrew's　cross　on　his　breast；　and　lighted　up　that　red　fire　that　lurked　in　his　eyes；　and　withal　the　calm　power　and　righteous　indignation　on　his　features　might　have　befitted　an　avenging　angel　wielding　the　lightning。

'Thou　wilt　know　me　when　we　meet　again；'　was　all　he　said；　and　for　the　very　calmness　of　the　voice　the　Master　of　Albany；　who　was　but　a　mere　commonplace　insolent　ruffian；　quailed　with　awe　and　terror　to　the　very　backbone。

'Loose　me；　and　I　will　swear；'　he　faintly　murmured。

Sir　James；　before　removing　his　foot；　unclasped　his　gorget；　and　undoing　a　chain；　held　up　a　jewel　shaped　like　a　St。　Andrew's　cross；　with　a　diamond　in　the　midst；　covering　a　fragmentary　relic。　　At　the　sight　Walter　Stewart's　eyes；　large　pale　ones；　dilated　as　if　with　increased　consternation；　the　sweat　started　on　his　forehead；　and　his　breath　came　in　shorter　gasps。　　Malcolm　and　Lilias；　standing　near；　likewise　felt　a　sense　of　strange　awe；　for　they　too　had　heard　of　this　relic；　a　supposed　fragment　of　St。　Andrew's　own　instrument　of　martyrdom；　which　had　belonged　to　St。　Margaret；　and　had　been　thought　a　palladium　to　the　royal　family　and　House　of　Stewart。

'Rise　on　thy　knees；'　said　Sir　James；　now　taking　away　his　foot；　'and　swear　upon　this。'

Walter；　completely　cowed　and　overawed；　rose　to　his　knees　at　his　victor's　command；　laid　his　hand　on　the　relic；　and　in　a　shaken；　almost　tremulous　voice；　repeated　the　words　of　the　oath　after　his　dictation：　'I；　Walter　Stewart；　Master　of　Albany；　hereby　swear　to　God　and　St。　Andrew；　to　fight　in　no　private　brawl；　to　spoil　no　man　nor　woman；　to　oppress　no　poor　man；　clerk；　widow；　maid；　or　orphan；　to　abstain　from　all　wrong　or　spulzie　from　this　hour　until　the　King　shall　come　again　in　peace。'

He　uttered　the　words；　and　kissed　the　jewel　that　was　tendered　to　him；　and　then　Sir　James　said；　in　the　same　cold　and　dignified　tone；　'Let　thine　oath　be　sacred；　or　beware。　　Now；　mount　and　go　thy　way；　but　take　heed　HOW　I　meet　thee　again。'

Sir　Walter's　horse　was　held　for　him　by　Brewster；　the　knight's　English　attendant；　and　without　another　word　he　flung　himself　into　the　saddle；　and　rode　away　to　join　such　of　his　followers　as　were　waiting　dispersed　at　a　safe　distance　to　mark　his　fate；　but　without　attempting　anything　for　his　assistance。

'Oh；　Sir！'　burst　forth　Malcolm；　but　then；　even　as　he　was　about　to　utter　his　thanks；　his　eye　sought　for　the　guardian　who　had　ever　been　his　mouthpiece；　and；　with　a　sudden　shriek　of　dismay；　he　cried；　'My　uncle！　where　is　he？　where　is　Sir　David？'

'Alack！　alack！'　cried　Lilias。　　'Oh；　brother；　I　saw　him　on　the　ground；　he　fell　before　my　horse。　　I　saw　no　more；　for　the　Master　held　me；　and　muffled　my　face。　　Oh；　let　us　back；　he　may　yet　live。'

'Yea；　let　us　back；'　said　Sir　James；　'if　we　may　yet　save　the　good　old　man。　　Those　villains　will　not　dare　to　follow；　or　if　they　do；　Nigel　Brewster；　you　understand　guarding　the　rear。'

'Sir；'　began　Lilias；　'how　can　we　thank'

'Not　at　all；　lady；'　replied　Sir　James；　smiling；　'you　will　do　better　to　take　your　seat；　I　fear　it　must　be　en　croupe；　for　we　can　scarce　dismount　one　of　your　guards。'

'She　shall　ride　behind　me；'　said　Malcolm；　in　a　more　alert　and　confident　voice　than　had　ever　been　heard　from　him　before。

'Ay；　right；'　said　Sir　James；　placing　a　kind　hand　on　his　shoulder；　'thou　hast　won　her　back　by　thine　own　exploit；　and　mayst　well　have　the　keeping　of　her。　　That　rush　on　the　caitiff　groom　was　well　and　shrewdly　done。'

And　for　all　Malcolm's　anxiety　for　his　uncle；　his　heart　had　never　given　such　a　leap　as　at　finding　himself　suddenly　raised　from　the　depressed　down…trodden　coward　into　something　like　manhood　and　self…　respect。

Lilias；　who；　like　most　damsels　of　her　time；　was　hardy　and　active；　saw　no　difficulties　in　the　mode　of　conveyance；　and；　so　soon　as　Malcolm　had　seated　himself　on　horseback；　she　placed　one　foot　upon　his　toe；　and　with　a　spring　of　her　own；　assisted　by　Sir　James's　well…practised　hand；　was　instantly　perched　on　the　crupper；　clasping　her　brother　round　the　waist　with　her　arms；　and　laying　her　head　on　his　shoulder　in　loving　pride　at　his　exploit；　while　for　her　further　security　Sir　James　threw　round　them　both　the　long　plaid　that　had　so　lately　bound　her。

'Dear　Malcolm'and　her　whisper　fell　sweetly　on　his　ear'it　will　be　bonnie　tidings　for　Patie　that　thou　didst　loose　me　all　thyself。　　The　false　tyrant；　to　fall　on　us　the　very　hour　Patie　was　on　the　salt　sea。'

But　they　were　riding　so　fast　that　there　was　scant　possibility　for　words；　and；　besides；　Sir　James　kept　too　close　to　them　for　private　whispers。　　In　about　an　hour's　time　they　had　crossed　the　bit　of　table…　land　that　formed　the　moor；　and　descended　into　another　little　gorge；　which　was　the　place　where　the　attack　had　been　made　upon　the　travellers。

This　was　where　it　was　possible　that　they　might　find　Sir　David；　but　no　trace　was　to　be　seen；　except　that　the　grass　was　trampled　and　stained　with　blood。　　Perhaps；　both　Lilias　and　old　Halbert　suggested；　some　of　their　people　had　returned　and　taken　him　to　the　Abbey　of　Coldingham；　and　as　this　was　by　far　the　safest　lodging　and　refuge　for　her　and　her　brother；　the　horses'　heads　were　at　once　turned　thitherwards。

The　grand　old　Priory　of　Coldingham；　founded　by　King　Edgar；　son　of　Margaret　the　Saint；　and　of　Malcolm　Ceanmohr；　in　testimony　of　his　gratitude　for　his　recovery　of　his　father's　throne　from　the　usurper　Donaldbane；　was　a　Benedictine　monastery　under　the　dominion　of　the　great　central　Abbey　of　Durham。

It　had　been　a　great　favourite　with　the　Scottish　kings　of　that　glorious　dynasty　which　sprung　from　Margaret　of　Wessex；　and　had　ample　estates；　which；　when　it　was　in　good　hands；　enabled　it　to　supply　the　manifold　purposes　of　an　ecclesiastical　school；　a　model　farm；　a　harbour　for　travellers；　and　a　fortified　castle。　　At　this　period；　the　Prior；　John　de　Akecliff；　or　Oakcliff；　was　an　excellent　man；　a　great　friend　of　Sir　David　Drummond；　and　much　disliked　and　persecuted　by　the　House　of　Albany；　so　that　there　was　little　doubt　that　this　would　be　the　first　refuge　thought　of