cool enough in danger. Nothing daunts him except the flutter of a
farthingale. But then my lord knows well that is a fault most
commendable in this castle of Thrieve. Sholto will be an honest
captain of your house-carls, if you see to it that the steward locks
up his loaves of sugar and his most toothsome preserves."

"Faith," cried the Earl, heartily, "I know not but what I would join
Master Sholto in a raid on these dainties myself."

In this fashion was Sholto MacKim placed in command of the house-guard
of the castle of Thrieve.




CHAPTER XV

THE NIGHT ALARM


At parting with his father, the young captain received many wise and
grave instructions, all of which he resolved to remember and profit
by--a resolution which he did not fail to keep for full five minutes.

"Be douce in deportment," said his father, speaking quietly and yet
with a certain sternness of demeanour. "Think three times before you
give an order, but let no man think even once before obeying it. Set
him astraddle the wooden horse with a spear shaft at either foot to
teach him that a soldier's first duty is not to think. Keep your eyes
more on the alert for the approach of an enemy than for the ankles of