a red glare over the crowd, and gleamed upon the breast of the rapid flowing Nith as it sped onward to the Solway, the stream beating against the arches of the bridge as they impeded its course, and murmuring a melancholy song, that at the moment seemed like a dirge for the dead knight.

The light shone upon the grey-hooded monks; upon the gloomy visages of the defeated Borderers as they stood. wounded, holding by the croups of their saddles, or sat motionless in their seats with thoughts of dire vengeance in their hearts. The lights flashed on the now anxious faces of the townsfolk as they stood in breathless awe at the weird sound the man's voice had made, and already abashed by the memory of what had occurred.

The sudden pause in the uproar which had been rampant only a moment before, the unsteady light cast over all by the flaming links, and the stillness of the night-for the very wind seemed to have become hushed-imparted a solemnity to the wild scene, and to the vow which had just been spoken that subdued the passions of the men, and held them as if spell-bound.

The eerie pause was broken by Richard Janfarie starting to his feet, and directing his followers to carry their chief to the monastery.

In grim silence a litter of spears was formed, and the body of the dead knight placed upon it. In grim silence the men with their sad burthen, headed by four monks as torch-bearers, passed through the crowd which made way for them, and marched up the street to the monastery.

Then the people slowly turned to the mournful task of seeking their wounded and dead friends. Low moans and bitter shrieks of anguish disturbed the night, as wives, mothers, and sweethearts, now rushing forth from their homes, encountered friends bearing the lifeless remains of those who were dearest to them, or recognized the mainstay of their households lying disabled on the street. It was a sad night's work for the bonnie town of Dumfries; and many hearts ached with the memory of it long afterward. One of its saddest incidents was connected with the man who had so desperately assaulted Sir Hugh, and whose fall had been the main instrument of the knight's death. His wife found her husband and son both slain and hideously disfigured by horses' hoofs. With shrieks of despair she

threw herself upon the mangled bodies, kissing their clotted lips, and calling to them by name to rise.

She had to be forced away by some kindly neighbours, who said that her reason was affected. The man had been a good husband, and the son who had wrought such swift retribution for his father's fall had been her only bairn.

As soon as the body of Sir Hugh had been lifted up, Cochrane grasped Richard's arm.

"We cannot halt in the pursuit," he said;

we must

leave till we return what marks of respect we owe your father."

us.

"I am ready," answered Janfarie, dourly.

"Pick a dozen of your best men, then, to accompany The fewer we are the more lightly we will follow the track. I will not pause in the chase till he is captured." "I shall not pause in the chase till he is dead," was Janfarie's hollow response.

"Let it be such a death as he merits-not that of honourable folk, but the gibbet of a felon.”

"It shall be the worst that I can find for him when the hour comes."

Cochrane clasped his hand, peering in his face with a strange vicious glitter in his eyes.

"Let me guide your choice," he said, greedily. "I know his spirit, and I know where to strike him deepest. Let me guide your choice in the atonement you would wreak upon him, and I promise you that you shall see him degraded, spurned, and mocked at by those whose esteem he values most-ay, by Saint Andrew, even by Mistress Katherine herself. Then let him swing on the highest tree at hand."

Janfarie caught the venomous glitter of the man's eyes, and he did not altogether relish it, embittered though he was to the last degree against the subject of their conversation.

"Such retribution as you purpose would be worth tarrying for; but I can promise nought save this, that there is no torture I would not put him to."

"Enough. The memory of your father will keep your purpose steady."

"That memory will feed my hate while I have power to lift a hand."

Here Nicol, who had been scouring the streets for stray or wounded followers, rushed up to his brother.

"We have missed them again," he shouted. "They have crossed the river in a boat."

"Who gave you these tidings?"

"This fellow who has had a tussle with Lamington, and who followed them to the river bank."

"Get your men together," said Cochrane hastily to Janfarie;" we may have them before the night is out yet. You, Nicol, must hie to Linlithgow with tidings of this treachery to his Majesty. We shall have the highest

authority of the land for what we do."

"By your leave, I would rather continue in the chase," rejoined Nicol, disappointed by the prospect of being removed from his share in the pursuit.

Cochrane answered him with an air of persuasive confidence, which flattered the youth and modified his disappointment.

แ Nay, but you must submit to this for all our sakes. There is no other I can trust to bear my message to the king, and it is from him only that I care to seek assistance in this matter. There are other reasons besides that his Majesty should have early knowledge of this outrage."

Musgrave or Fenwick might go," said Nicol, still hesitating; "they are my seniors, and therefore better qualified to report the affair to his Majesty."

Cochrane placed his hand on Nicol's shoulder and whispered

Ay, but there is a missive that must be placed in the king's own hand, and I would trust it to none other save you. Will you serve me?"

the

"Since there is no help for it, I will."

"I shall owe you much for this service, and I may have power to pay it sooner than you hope-trust me."

A few minutes sufficed for Cochrane to give his now willing carrier the needful instructions and the packet of which he had spoken. By that time Janfarie had selected his men, had got the leash of hounds together, and arms had been examined.

When Cochrane joined the party the gates of the bridge were opened, and they rode across in double file at a smart canter. The pale starlight gleamed upon their

steel caps, and the bridge gave out a hollow sound under the horses' hoofs. They rode steadily, and without a word passing amongst them.

Every man was conscious that he was engaged in a hunt which was to end only at the death at the quarry.

CHAPTER VII.

THE PRIORY OF KELLS.

Sublime is the faith of a lonely soul,
In pain and trouble cherished;
Sublime the spirit of hope that lives,
When earthly hope has perished."

PROF. WILSON, Isle of Palms.

THE riot had been at its height when Lamington, with Katherine, had followed Will Craig to the bank of the river where he had the boat moored at a point nearly opposite the water-gate of the monastery. They were unaware that any bad observed their flight. But the man who had received Will's last blow had seen them, had followed them at a safe distance, and so had been able to give intelligence of their route.

They embarked; Will pulled across the stream, his giant arms making the oars fly through the water, and carrying the boat a little way up the stream in spite of the strong current.

He pulled to the shore through a thick bed of rushes at the western end of a short row of houses which formed the nucleus of Maxweltown.

the

The motion of the boat and the keen breeze blowing upon her cheeks had revived the lady, and she was able to spring lightly to the land. Lamington led her up the bank and then waited for Will, who had stayed to make fast the boat to a huge stone, having explained that he had found it there, and "didna want the owner to be waur for the liberty he had ta'en wi' his cockleshell." The tumult on the other side was ringing in their ears, and Katherine clung closely to her lover, disturbed by the wild sounds she heard, although she knew that they insured their present safety.

ony

retainers, after she had safely passed before the eyes of her father and brother, as at the knowledge of her helpless position.

"A face to scare me!" he cried, with a loud guffaw. "There's no a face o' man, woman, or imp could do that; and I'll prove it, whether ye are blind or no. I ken a fresh lip when I see it."

He suddenly threw his arm round her neck. She started from him, and in doing so the bandage which had concealed one of her eyes and part of her face was lifted off by his bent arm.

The loud laugh with which the men had greeted their comrade's exploit became abruptly hushed when they heard him exclaim

"Mistress Katherine herself, or I'm bewitched."

She attempted to re-cover her face, and to laugh the man out of his conviction. But he promptly bade one of his comrades summon the master of Johnstone and Sir Robert Cochrane, whilst he seized her by the arm. She instantly gave the signal with all her might, and Hislop sprang to the door to prevent any one passing. He had a sharp tussle with three of the men until a heavy blow on the head with a spear-staff laid him insensible on the floor.

Meanwhile Katherine, assisted by the dame, had been struggling to release herself, and to repeat the signal. Thus she was when Gordon came to the rescue.

A glance showed him the position of affairs.

Her cry of joy at his appearance turned the attention of her captors to him, and four spears were instantly levelled at his breast.

Parrying the thrust of the foremost, he cut the man down, and springing to one side, gripped a second by the throat, and hurled him over his fallen comrade with such force that his head striking on the floor, he was stunned. The other two made furious lounges, which were dexterously warded, and by another sudden spring he closed with the third man. The fourth, however, as if prepared for this movement, suddenly dropped his spear and drew his whinger, with which he would be able to assist his comrade better at close quarters.

At the same time the man who had recognized Katherine