"Nay," he said, "let alone, James! I like the lad the better that he
hath no ready tongue. 'Tis not the praters that fight as this youth
hath fought this day!"

So all that Sholto found himself able to do, was no more than to kneel
on one knee and kiss his master's hand.

"I am too young," he muttered. "I am not worthy."

"Nay," said his master, "but you have fairly won your spurs. They made
me a knight when I was but two years of my age, and I cried all the
time for my nurse, your good mother, who, when she came, comforted me
with pap. Surely it was right that I should make a place for my
foster-brother within the goodly circle of the Douglas knights."

[Illustration: "I AM TOO YOUNG," HE MUTTERED; "I AM NOT WORTHY."]




CHAPTER XXIV

THE SECOND FLOUTING OF MAUD LINDESAY


Sholto MacKim stood on the lowest step of the ascent into the noble
gateway of Thrieve, hardly able to believe in his own good fortune.
But these were the days when no man awaked without having the
possibility of either a knighthood or the gallows tree to encourage