follow. This, with his head erect, and his usual easy grace, he did,
David walking abreast of him. And Sholto, with all his heart filled
with the deadly chill of hopelessness, followed them through the
sullen ranks of the traitors.

And even as he went Earl Douglas looked about him every way that he
might see once more her for whose sake he had adventured within the
portals of death.




CHAPTER XXXIV

BETRAYED WITH A KISS


The earl and his brother were incarcerated in the lower chamber of the
High Keep called David's Tower, which rose next in order eastward from
the banqueting-hall, following the line of the battlements.

Beneath, the rock on which the castle was built fell away towards the
Nor' Loch in a precipice so steep that no descent was to be thought
of--and this indeed was the chief defence of the prison, for the
window of the chamber was large and opened easily according to the
French fashion.

"I pray that you permit my young knight, Sir Sholto MacKim, to
accompany me," said the Earl to the officer who conducted them to
their prison-house.