"And whom do you charge with this foul crime?" asked Sir Oscar Redmain,
though indeed none needed to be told.

"I charge Roderic MacAlpin, king of Gigha," said Alpin, and at that
there was a great yell of execration.

"Down with the traitor! Death to him!" was the cry as the crowd opened.

And Alpin turning round saw Duncan Graham -- taller by a head than the
tallest man there present -- leading in the criminal, followed by his
two companions of Colonsay and Jura.

In a moment Alpin sprang forward at his enemy. He raised his right hand
and all saw that he held the bloodstained knife.

"Die, slayer of the just!" he cried, bringing down the weapon upon
Roderic's breast.

But Roderic of Gigha laughed a mocking laugh, and catching Alpin by the
wrist he threw him backward. Duncan Graham broke his fall and tore the
weapon from his grasp.

"Oh, foolish lad!" he murmured, "to attempt such a thing within the very
fences of the court!"

"Alpin of Bute," said the judge gravely as he rose from his seat, "you
have done that which no other man in this land might do without the
severest punishment. You are here to plead the cause of justice, and not
to insult those whom you have summoned to this place to do justice for
you. Bear yourself discreetly, or resign your cause into the hands of