"Avondale, Avondale!" from the men of Lanarkshire informed the young
Earl of the name of one at least of those who had arrived. A frown so
quick and angry darkened his brow that it showed the consideration in
which the Douglas held his granduncle James the Gross, Earl of
Avondale.

"I hope, at least," he said in a low voice to Malise, who stood half a
step behind him, "that my cousins Will and James have come with him.
They are good metal for a tourney, and worth breaking a lance with."

By this time the banners of the visitors were discernible crossing the
fords of Lochar, while high advanced above all private pennons two
standards could be seen, the banner royal of Scotland, and close
beside the rampant lion the white lilies of France.

"Saint Bride!" cried the Earl, "have they brought the King of Scots to
visit me? His Majesty had been better at his horn-book, or playing
ball in the tennis court of Stirling."

Then came David back, riding swiftly on his fine dark chestnut, which,
being free from the mantle wherein the horses of knights were swathed,
and having its mane and tail left long, made a gallant show as the lad
threw it almost on its haunches in his boyish pride of horsemanship.

"William," said David Douglas, "a word in your ear, brother. The whole
tribe are here,--fat Jamie and all his clan."

The brothers conferred a little apart, for in those troubled times men
learned caution early, and though the Douglas was the greatest lord in
Scotland, yet, surrounded by meaner men as he was, it behoved him to