United States or Namibia ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
By their robes of decent brown they seemed merchants on a journey, portly of figure, and consequential of bearing. As Sholto rapidly made up to them, with his better horse and lighter weight, he perceived that the travellers were those two admirable and noteworthy magistrates of Dumfries, Robert Semple and his own uncle Ninian Halliburton of the Vennel.
The Douglas has need o' ye, lieges a'!" cried the sonorous voice of the watch. Sholto smiled as he listened. "I have at least set them on the alert. They will join the Douglasdale men as they pass by, or we will show them reason why. But they of Lanark are ill-set town-ward men, and of no true leal heart, save an it be to their own coffers.
But the horror which lay behind them in the house of La Meffraye drove them on. Almost without knowing whither they went, they turned their faces towards the west, in the direction in which lay Machecoul, the castle of the dread Lord of all the Pays de Retz. Malise, as was his custom, walked in front, Sholto and the Lord James Douglas a step behind.
When the king demanded by whom the battle had been won, the attendants are said to have answered, "Sholto Douglas, sir;" which is said to mean, "Yonder dark gray man." "Nay, have patience, idle boy, and reflect that your suit can never interfere with his. But a truce with these vanities, and let us better employ the little space which still remains to us to spend together.
"You would kill me kill me, you say " the words came low and thrilling forth from lips which were as those of the dead whose chin has not yet been bound about with a napkin, "ah, would that you could! But you cannot. Steel will not slay, poison will not destroy, nor water drown Sybilla de Thouars till her work be done!" Sholto escaped from the power of her eye.
What had come to them! Of Sholto, the eldest, the traveller, the dare-devil, the grave is unknown; but the story of how he met his death, in far Arizona, came years after to England and to Castle Dare. He sold his life dearly, as became one of his race and name.
Then, so soon as she made sure that he was indeed not coming back, she tripped quickly after him. He was taking long strides, and it required a series of small hops and skips to keep up with him. "Not really, Sholto?" she said beseechingly, almost running beside him now. He walked so fast. "Yes, madam, really!" said that young knight, still more sternly.
Well, you were suckled at the same breast as he. May a double portion of his spirit rest on you! That lowering regard is the Douglas mark. Follow on and turn not back till you find. Strike and cease not, till all be avenged. I have now no son left to save or to strike. Go, Sholto MacKim. He who is dead loved you and made you knight.
And as he did so his father widened it out with his powerful fingers to ease the weight upon the young man's chest. Presently, with a long sigh, James Douglas opened his eyes. "Where are the wolves?" he said, with a grimace of disgust. Sholto told him how all that were left alive had, for the present at least, disappeared. "Ugh, the filthy brutes!" said Lord James.
You love me!" Another moment and the King passed quietly out of the door with a bland 'Good-night' to Sholto, and joining his two companions, raised his hat to Lotys with a courteous salutation. "Good-night, Madame!" She stood in the doorway, shuddering violently from head to foot, watching his tall figure disappear in the shadows of the street.
Word Of The Day