'Oh, Jamie! oh! dear holy Father,' cried Eleanor, turning from
the King to the Bishop, 'do not, for mercy's sake, give me over
to one of those ruffians.'

'They are coming, Eleanor,' said James, with a boy's love of
terrifying; 'the MacAlpin and Mackay are both coming down after
you, and we shall have a fight like the Clan Chattan and Clan
Kay. There's for the demoiselle who craved for knights to break
lances for her!'

'Knights indeed! Highland thieves,' said Jean; 'and 'tis for
what tocher they may force from you, James, not for her face.'

'You are right there, my puir bairn,' said the Bishop. 'These
men--save perhaps the young Master of Angus--only seek your
hands as a pretext for demands from your brother, and for
spuilzie and robbery among themselves. And I for my part would
never counsel his Grace to yield the lambs to the wolves, even
to save himself.'

'No, indeed,' broke in the King; we may not have them fighting
down here, though it would be rare sport to look on, if you were
not to be the prize. So my Lord Bishop here trows, and I am of
the same mind, that the only safety is that the birds should be
flown, and that you should have your wish and be away the morn,
with Patie of Glenuskie here, since he will take the charge of
two such silly lasses.'

The sudden granting of their wish took the maidens' breath away.
They looked from one to the other without a word; and the