and though he had undoubtedly been a gallant knight in his day, yet in
these matters (as James Douglas whispered to his brother) a week's
steady practice is worth a lifetime of theory. Still there was nothing
for the brothers from Douglasdale but to make the best of their
bargain. The person most deserving of pity, however, was the young
laird of the Bass, who, being thus dispossessed, went out to the back
of the lists and actually shed tears, being little more than a boy,
and none looking on to see him.

Then he came back hastily, and besought James of Douglas to let him
fight as his squire, saying that as he had never taken up the
knighthood which had been bestowed on him by the Earl for his journey
to France, there could be nothing irregular in his fighting once more
as a simple esquire. And thus, after an appeal to the Earl himself, it
was arranged, much to John Lauder's content.

For his third knight the Douglas had made choice of his cousin Hugh,
younger brother of his two opponents, and at that William and James of
Avondale shook their heads.

"He pushes a good tree, our Hughie," said James. "If he comes at you,
Will, mind that trick of swerving that he hath. Aim at his right
gauntlet, and you will hit his shield."

The conflict on the Boat Croft differed much from the chivalrous
encounters of an earlier time and a richer country. And of this more
anon.

It chanced that on the borders of the crowd which that day begirt the
great enclosure of the lists two burgesses of Dumfries stood on