The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, October 11, 1903, Page 8

THE SUNDAY CALL g made from tland across and the rob- hide them- rying their to them he Kjhg gathered his nobles about him e before them. Not a but what was older an himself, and therefore more experi- enced. James requested advice regarding e actidn it might be thought wise to ke. The English protest, they said, made. The evil was un- existed unchecked for worse rather than bet- who now occupied the as a strong and deter- tinued source of part of his y to a deplorable wo countries. In addi- Scotland was nephew to and the expostulation sew was of the mildest, rank among forward and always two with your per- a word f ders who, have been 80 condemned by men who g of them. In the first place, these border men have had d exe: power he border forces, he will have destroyed a stanch nd I quite who have agre L the border- England and the be well pleased.” to speak well of wh felt the prod of n Lord Maxwell, angrily. F asions have reached Stirling, but every one of them has cross- ed th rder. What matters the lifting T 4 The eat good Scottish beet foot on Scottish sod. ish_envoy Scottish King wi & lifting frowned slightly, the but i said Adam Scott of Tushie- thrust his bull neck into the warning cried, King's forces are tu-ned the borderers, my sword helps And 1 say the same,” Henderland f the opposition were about to the King held up his hand for shouted Cock- he is treason” sald quietly. “Adam Scott, I have heard that you are called King of the Border. Scotland is blessed with a number of mer who are King of this or King of that, and I am sure 1 make no objection, as long as they do. mot . forget the difference that exists between a King in name and a King in v; y. 1 asked for advice, but mot for threats.” Then to the whole assemblage he went or Gentlemen, I thank you for your coun- 1 I shall give a soothing reply to my incle’s Embassador, keeping in mind the eace thit exists between the two coun- es, and then I shall take what has been said on each side into consideration and let vou know the result.” Acchpting this as dismissal, those three congregated withdrew, save only Sir Da- vid Lyndsay, the King having made a sign for him to remain. “Davie,” continued the King, “send dGown to the town for the cobbler; send for Flemming: he is & common sense, canny body. He shall be the Solomon of the occasion.”™ As the rhyvmer left the room Sir Don- 2ld Sinclair came clanking in, seemingly in something of a hurry. “Was #t your Majesty’s pleasure,” be- gen Sir Donald, “to have detained Adam Ecott and Cockburn?” “No. Why do you ask?” “Because they bhave mounted their DRESSED AST 74D BEEN THE NIGHT horses and are off to the border as fast as two good steeds can CArry them.” When the cobbler came to the castle with Sir David the King led the way to one of his small private rooms and there sketched out the argument on both sides of the question with great impartiality. “Here are three men of open minds,” said the King. “I propose that for the next week, or thereabouts, we three shall be honest cattle merchants, who will mount our honest horses and take a quiet bit of a journey along the border.” Thus it came about that threg sup- posed drovers took their way to the bor- der by a route which drovers were never known to travel before and besides this they were traveling empty handed toward England, whereas real drovers faced the south with their herds before them and the north with those herds sold or stolen. Not one of the three had in his vocabu- lary & single word pertaining to the cattle trade and every man with whom they spoke knew at once that whatever else they might be they were not drovers, and so the ill-fated three went blundering through the freebooters’ country, climb- ing hills and descending dales, and fright- ening honest folk with the questions they asked. At last they stumbled into a hostelry kept by a man whose name was Arm- strong. Their horses were taken care of id the trio sat down *s had been their luck to a hearty meal, all along the bor- “‘Landlord, does this meat come from England?” asked the King, The landloxd caught his breath. He stood stock still for a moment and then replied: “I hope it is to your Lordship's liking.” “Oh, I'm no Lordship,” said James, “‘but an honest drover body, trying to find new markets for my stock.” “1 can see that,” replied the landlord. “Then you will know that this meat's raised by Scotchmen.”, ‘‘Raised!” laughed the King. *“Raised where? - In Northumberland? Are you sure “lift’ 1s not the word you mean? “Sir!” sald the landlord, gravely, “there’s no lifting of cattle hereabouts. This is not the Highlands. All In the neighborhood are honest farmers or for- esters.” g The landlord, seemingly not liking the turn of the conversation, disappeared, and during the rest of the meal they were walted upon by a lowering, siilent wom- an, who scowled savagely at them and made no reply to the railery of the King, who was in the highest spirits. As they sat there in great content they heard suddenly a commotion outside and the clatter of many hoofs on the stone causeway. The door burst in, and there came, trampling, half a dozen men, who entered with scant ceremony, led by a stalwart individual who cast & quicx glance from one to the other of the thres who were seated. His eye rested on the King, whom, with a quick intultion, he took to be the leader of the expedition, and, doffing his feathered bonnet in a salutation that had more of mockery than respect in it, he said: “I hear that, like myself, you're in the cattle trade, and that you're anxious to learn the prospect of doing business fn this mountain locality.” “You are quite right,” replied the King. “I have in my byres near by,” continued the man, “some of the finest stirks that ever stood on four hoofs. Would you be willing to come and give me your opinion of them, and say how much you are to pay for as many as you need?” Again the man swept his bonnet nearly to the ficor, and his six men, who stood back against the wall as-if to give the speaker the stage in the center of the floor, glanced one at another. The King, however, was unruffled, and he replied with a twinkle in his eye: “My good sfr, you are mistaken; we are on the other side of the market. We are sellers and not buyers.” “S80 was Judas,” said the incomer, his politeness glving way to an expression of flerceness and cruelty which went far to terrify two of the seated men. “Are you LB STIGITES 7> - BQBERT BIPR sure, sir, that the cattle you sell have notdispute, two legs instead of four? “l don’t understand you,” King. > < “1s It men or stirks you would give to the butcher?” “‘Still I do not understand you,” repeat- ed the King. “‘Oh, very well. How much are you ask- ing for your cattle?” . ““We are here rather te sse hew much may be oftered.’” - “'I can well believe you. Still, you must know something of the price of beasts on hoofs. How much would you want for a good, fat stirk? Answer me that!" “'Oh, well,” sald the King, nogchalantly, not at all liking the turn affairs had taken, ““I ‘suppose we would be satisfled with £20," gnd this belng received with a roar of laughter, he added. hastily, “£20 Scots.” i “‘Oh,” said the big man, “I was afraid you were going to demand that amount in English currcney. It is evident you will do we!l at the trade if you can find such buyers."” “Then make us an offer,” suggested the King, with the air of a man wiliing to listén to reason. ‘““Where are your cattle?’ “They’re In the north.” “What part of the north?’ “My good fellow,” cried the King, hls temper rising, ‘you have asked manv q\lruou and answered none. Who ase repiled the nor have we Interfered with them. The highways are the King's, and we there are peaceful subjects of his, claiming, therefore, the right to travel on them as we will so long as we iafringe not his peace or the liberty of’any man.” “Stoutly spoken and bravely, consider- ing in what king's dominion you now find yourself. You have to learn that Johhny and not Jamie is the king of the border. And when you're in the hands of a man named Armstrong youw'll find how little a boy named Stuart can do for you. Tie them up!” Before one of the three could move from the stool he occupied they were set upon by the rufflans and each Stirling man found his ankles fastened together, his elbows tied behind his back with a speed that amazed him. “‘Bless my soul,” moaned the poet, “all this in broad daylight and in the King's dominion.” They were carried outside and flung, thus bhelpless, face downward on horses, like so many sacks of corn, each before 2 mounted man. Armstrong sprang upon his horse and led his men from the high road into the forest, his followers number- ing something like a score. The captives, from their agonizing positions on the horses, could see nothing of the way they ‘were being taken, except that they jour- neyed on through dense woodland. They lost all knowledge of direction, and by and by came to the margin of & brawling you, and what right have you to makestream, arriving at last, much to their your demands in such a tone?’ 1 “Ah, then, there's some spirit among the three of you. I am glad to see that. Who am 1?° I am Johnny Armstrong. Did you ever hear tell of him? And I suspect that your cattle are grown in the high town of Stirling. Am I right in that? It is in Stirling that you can sell what you may lift on the border, and your cattle will be paid for in King's gold. You are sples, my fine gentlemen, and know as little about cattle as I know of the King and his court.” The King rejoined calmly: “The country is at peace. There can be no spies except in time of war.” “Is it even so? Then what are you three doing rampaging up and down my land on the border?” “That the lands may be yours we do not relief, at a stronghold of vast extent, sit- uated on a beetling rock that overhung the river. The prisoners were conducted to a small room, .which had the roof of the tower for its celling. In & corner of the cell cowered a very abject specimen of ‘the human race, who, when the others came, seemed anxions to attract as little at- tention as possible. Armstrong again with his own hands removed the remaining cords from the prisoners, and the three stretched up their arms, glad to find them at liberty once more, “Place the torch in its holder,” said Johnny. “Now, gentlemen, that will last long enough to light you to your supper, which you will find on the floor behind you. I'm sure you will rest here com- fortably for the night. The air is pure at this height, and I think you'll like this eagle’s mnest\ better than a dungéon un- der the ground own part, T ab- hor a subte and goodness knows I've been in many a one, but we're civilized folk here on the border, and try to treat our prisoners kindly “You gratitude, “We their fervent should,” returned I'm not certain that we do. Man is a thrawn beast a rule. And now you'll just think over your situation through the night and be ready to ame swer me in the morning all the questions T'll ask of you. I'll be wanting to know who sent you here and what news you have returned to him since you have been on the border.” “We will give your request our deep consideration,” replied the King. “I'm glad to hear that. You see, we are such merciful people that we have but one rove to hang our enemies with, while we should have a dozen by rights. Btill, I think we could manage three at a pinch if your answers should happen to displeasa me. You will excuse the barring of the door, but the window is open-to you if your lodgings are not to your liking. And so, goéd night, the three of you.” “Good night to you, Mr, Armstrong, sald the King. v Peter had drawn in the rope and its sinister loop lay on the floor, its further length resting on the window sill and extending out to the end of the beam. The cobbler examined it with Interest. ere is little for the eating to have gone “Come,” cried the King, use letting a supper wait merely because we Seem wrong in our inquirfes about the cattle Neither the poet nor the cobbler had any appetite for suppe the King was young and hungry did justice to the hospitality of the Armstrongs, “Have you been here long?’ he asked of the prisoner in the corner. “A good while,-answered the latter ¢ spondently. “I don't know for how long. They hanged my mate.” “I saw that. Do they hang many here about?” “I think they do,” replied the prisoner. “Some fling themselves down on the rocks and others are starved to death. You see the Armstrongs go off on a raid and there’s no one here to bring us food, for the women folk don't like to tamper ,With that machine that comes to the lower stair. I doubt if Johnny starves them intentiovally, but he’s kept away sometimes longer than he expects.” “Bless me!” cried the King. “Think of this_happening in Scotland!’ And now, cobbler, what are we to do?” “I'm wondering if this man would ven- ture out to the end of the beam and untie the rope,” suggested Flemming. “Oh, I'll do that willingly!” cried the prisoner. “But what is the use of it? It's about ten times too short, as the Armstrongs well know.” “Are we likely to be disturbed here through the night?”’ asked Flemming. “Oh, no; nor till late i the day to- morrow. They'll be down there eating and drinking till all hours. Then they sleap long.” “Very well. Untie the other end of the rope, and see you crawl back here with- out fallin As the prisoner obeyed instructions Flemming rose to his feet and began feeling in his pockets, drawing forth at last a large brown ball. ““What is your plan, cobbler? asked the King, with interest. “Well, you see,” replied Flemming, “the rope’s short, but it's very thick." “I don’t see how that is to help u: “There are nine or ten strands that Tz have gone to the making of it. and I'm thinking that each of those strands will bear a may I have got a ball of my cobbler's v here and that will strengthen strands, keep the knots from and make It easler to ¢ silence now as the thres watched the deft hands of the cobbler. It was a business of breathless interest, but at last the snakelike length of thin rope lay on the floor at his disposal. He tled an end securely to the beam just outside the window-sill, so that there would be no sharp edge to cut the cord, then he pald out the line into the dark- ness, slowly and carefully that it might not become entangled. “Thers,” he sald, with a sigh of satis- factio ‘“Who's first for the rope? Ws three await your Majesty’s commands.” “Do you know the country hereabouts?’ asked the King of the man who had been prisoner- longest. - “Every inch of it."” “Can you guide us safely to the north in the darkness?” “Oh, yes, once I am down by the said the King, “go down by the When you are on firm footing 1f you stream. say no word, but shake the rope. prove a true guide to us this night we will pay you well.” “I shall be well pald with my lberty,™ replied the prisoner, crawling cautiously over the stone sill and disappearing In the darkrfess. " The cobbler held the taut line in his hand. No mam spoke; they hardly seemed to breathe until the cobbler said: When the King reached Stirling and was dressed once more in a costume more suited to his station than that which had been torn by the brambles of the border, he called to him the chief minister of his Fealm. “You will arrest immediately,” he sald, “Cbckburn of Henderland and Adam Scott of Tushielaw and bave them be- headed.” “Without trial, your Majesty?" asked the Minister in amazement. “Certainly not without trial; but see that the trial is as short as possible. Their crime is treason; the witnesses as many as you like to choose from our last council meeting. I love and adhere to the processes of law, but see that there is no mistake about the block being at the end of your trial.” ister made a note of this and awaited further instru ‘“Place the Earl of B: the King, “in the Edinburgh C Lord Maxw: Lairds of F: continued room that Imprison cleuch in wh convenlent thes carried out as speedily as possibse. The next man calle he royal pres- ence was Sir I “Have you five [ ready for the road, Sir Don “Yes, your Majesty, a want them.” “Very well, a thousand I shall ha I shall ride with you to bor Nevertheless, when the King came to the Inn where he had been captured there were but twenty trooper§j with him. Sir Donald was the spokesmap on that occa- sion. He sald to the landlord, whose rov- ing eye was taking count of the number of horses “Go to Johnny Armstrong and tell him that the King, with twenty mounted men at his back, commands his presence here, and see that he comes quiekly. " Johnny was not slow in replying to the invitation, and forty troopers rode behind him. The King sat on his horse, a little in advance of his squadron. As a mount- ed man, James looked well, and there was but little resemblance between him and the unfortunate drover whd. had been taken prisoner at that spot . two short weeks before. “I have come promptly in answer to your Majesty's call,” said Armstrong po- ltely removing his bonnet, but making no motion to pay further deference to the King of Scotland “It gives me great pleasure to ses you,” repllied the King suavely. “You travel with a large escort, Mr. Armstrong.” “Yes, your Majesty, I am a soclable man and I like good company. The more stout fellows that are at my back the better I am pleased.™ “In this respect we are very much alike, Mr. ong, as you will admit if you r_eyes to the rear of yous little company.” » Johnny Armstrong violated a strict rule of royal etiquette and turned the back of his head to his King. He saw the forest alive with mounted men, their circle closing In upon him. He muttered the wprd “trapped!”’ and struck the spurs into his horse's flank. The stung steed pranced In a semi circle answering his master’s rein, but the fence of mounted steel was complete, every drawn sword a picket. Again Armstrong. laughing, ume easily, faced the King, who still stopd motionless. “Your Majesty has certainly the advan- tage of me as far as escort is concerned™ “It would seem s0,” replied James. fou travel with twoscore of men; I with* a tnousand.” “I have ever been a loyal subject of mounted men 1> usand if you nd your Maje * said Armstrong, molste: ing his dry lps. “I hope I am to take no scathe for coming promptly and cor- dially to welcome your Majesty to my poor “You will be better able to answer your own « stion when you have replied to a f ne. Have you ever met me be- fo . Armstrong?” The robber looked intently at the King. “I think not,” he said. “Have you ever seen this man before?” and James motioned Sir David Lyndsay from the troop at his side. Armstrong drew the back of his hand acress his brow. seem to remember him,” he said, annot tell where I have met him. “Perhaps this third man will quicken your memory,” and the cobbler came for- ward, dressed as he had been the night he was captured. Armstrong gasped, and a greenish pal- lor overspread his face. “What is answer, asked the King “I and my f Majesty faitht grant us our “No thieves ride with any of Scotland’s brigades, Armstrong.” “I will load your stoutest horse gold until he cannot walk, If you "‘.:r} spare our lives.” y *“The revenues of Scotland are sufficient as they are, Armstrong,” replied the King. “Harry of England will b, that the King of Scotland %i‘.l.ge:?r:;:; two score of his stoutest warriors.” “The King of England is my relative, and I shall be happy to please him. The deference of Scotland is my care, and I have honest men enough in my army to See that it is secure. Have you anything !urxlhelr :oluv_ Armstrong?* “It 1s folly to seek grac face. It we are for the tree; then ety tree with us. But if you make this fair forest bear such woful fruit, you shall see the dav when you shall die for lack of stout hearts Uke ours to follow vou, as sure as this day Is the fatal thirteenth. The forty-one trees bore their burden. and thirteen years from that time the out- law's prophecy was fulfilled. . Armstrong men will serve your In your army if you ves.