limbs as active as a wild deer, and an eye twinkling and alert.

'He shall be put in better trim ere the English pock-puddings
see him,' said Douglas, looking at him, perhaps for the first
time, as something unsuited to that orderly company.

'That is thine own affair,' said Sir Patrick. 'Mine is that he
should comport himself as becomes one of my troop. What's his
name?'

'Ringan Raefoot,' replied Geordie Sir Patrick began to put the
oath of obedience to him, but the boy cried out--

'I'll ne'er swear to any save my lawful lord, the Yerl of Angus,
and my lord the Master.'

'Hist, Ringan,' interposed Geordie. 'Sir, I will answer for his
faith to me, and so long as he is leal to me he will be the same
to thee; but I doubt whether it be expedient to compel him.'

So did Sir Patrick, and he said--

'Then be it so, I trust to his faith to thee. Only remembering
that if he plunder or brawl, I may have to leave him hanging on
the next bush.'

'And if he doth, the Red Douglas will ken the reason why,' quoth
Ringan, with head aloft.

It was thought well to turn a deaf ear to this observation.