devices under the pines of Loch Roan.

"Well," said Earl William, feeling his advantage and making the most
of it, "I see that in all my little love affairs I must needs take my
master armourer with me to decide whether or no the lady be a witch.
He shall resolve for me all spiritual questions with his forehammer.
Malise MacKim a witch pricker! Ha--this is a change indeed. Malise the
Smith will make the censor of his lord's love affairs, after what
certain comrades of his have told me of his own ancient love-makings.
Will he deign to come to the weapon-showing to-day, and instead of
examining the swords and halberts, the French arbalasts and German
fusils, demit that part of his office to Ninian the Highlandman, and
go peering into ladies' eyes for sorceries and scanning their lips for
such signs of the devil as lurk in the dimples of their chins? In this
he will find much employment and that of a congenial sort."

Malise was vanquished, less by the sarcasm of the Earl than by the
fear that perhaps the Highlandman might indeed have his place of
honour as chief military expert by his master's right hand at the
examination of weapons that day on the green holms of Balmaghie.

"I may have been overhasty, my lord," he said hesitatingly, "but still
do I think that the woman was far from canny."

The Earl laughed and, turning him about by the shoulders, gave him a
push down the stair, crying, "Oh, Malise, Malise, have you lived so
long in the world without finding out that a beautiful woman is always
uncanny!"

The levy that day of clansmen owning fealty to the Douglas was no