tone, as though rebuked.

'Sir ranger,' said Sir Patrick courteously, 'I trust you will
let the young demoiselle have her hawk. It was loosed in
ignorance and heedlessness, no doubt, but I trow it is the rule
in England, as elsewhere, that ladies of the blood royal are not
bound by forest laws.'

'Sir, if we had known,' said the ranger, who was evidently of
gentle blood, as he took his foot off the jesses, and Jean now
allowed David to remount her.

'But my Lord Duke is very heedful of his bustards, and when
Roger there went to seize the bird, my young lady was over-ready
with her knife.'

'Who would not be for thee, my bird?' murmured Jean.

'And yonder big fellow came plunging down and up with his
sword--so as he was nigh on being the death of poor Roger again
for doing his duty. If such be the ways of you Scots, sir, they
be not English ways under my Lord Duke, that is to say, and if I
let the lady and her hawk go, forest law must have its due on
the young man there--I must have him up to Fotheringay to abide
the Duke's pleasure.'

'Heed me not, Sir Patrick!' exclaimed Geordie. 'I would not
have those of your meinie brought into jeopardy for my cause.'

David was plucking his father's mantle to suggest who George