Aft trifles big mishanters bring,
Frae whilk a hunder mair may spring;
An’ some, wha thrawart tempers ha’e,
Aft stand unkent in their ain way;
But aye, to guard against a coup,
Fowk should look weel afore they loup.
--_Richard Gall_--“_The Tint Quey._”
* * * * *
The fish shall never swim the flood,
Nor corn grow through the clay,
If the fiercest fire that ever was kindled
Twine me and Rothiemay.
--_Ballad_--“_The Burning of Frendraught._”
The timely interposition of the Sheriff prevented the commission of
more violence. “Back! Altoncroft!” cried he, whilst his men surrounded
the fallen trooper, whom Ballinshaw, with trembling arms, was
endeavouring to raise. “Draw off your followers, Altoncroft,”
continued Sir Robert. “You have broken Border faith, and insulted the
representative of the law and the King.”
Altoncroft, sullenly sheathing his dagger, answered with a growl--“The
audacious falsehoods of this varlet would have moved patient Job; and
I am not to be blamed.”
“I swore no falsehoods, but gave leal and soothfast witnessing,”
retorted Johnston, who was now resting on his left elbow; “and this
I’ll also swear, that next time we meet in a fair field we shall not
part thus,” shaking his gauntleted right hand at his enemy.
“Come awa’ oot o’ this sturyfyke, master,” whispered the gaberlunzie
to Ruthven. “You stand in deadly peril; for Royston Scott is nae craw
to shoot at. Come awa’.”
He succeeded in drawing Ruthven out of the tumult. Altoncroft obeyed
the Sheriff by leading his men back some space, and so allowed his
victim’s comrades to gather around him and do what they could to
staunch his wound. Under the impression that the gentle Johnston was
dying, the attendant priest pressed through the confusion, knelt on
the grass at his side, and holding up a crucifix, prepared to shrive
him; but Edie scouted the notion that his end was near.
“Dinna fear for me, holy father,” he said, smiling grimly. “As broken
a ship has come to land; and Death and me winna shake hands at this
time o’ day. And never think that I have perjured mysel’; for the sin
o’ perjury is not on my conscience. The ground is not Ballinshaw’s,
you say? I never made faith that it is. Bethink ye, holy father, o’ my
words. I swore that I stood on my master’s ground; and so I did. Pull
aff my boots, and you will find, in the soles o’ them, an inch or twa
o’ earth from the yard o’ Ballinshaw tower. _That_ saves my
conscience, and makes the matter but a jest: so if I am to die, I
winna die with a falsehood in my mouth.” He finished with a hollow
laugh at the deception which he had practised.
At this juncture a horseman, with the royal cognizance, the rampant
red lion, emblazoned on his breast, galloped up the side of the
stream, and made directly towards the Sheriff, to whom he delivered a
sealed packet. The knight cut asunder the silken strings that bound
it, broke the seal, and opening the packet, eagerly scanned the paper
which it contained. His cheek reddened, his eyes sparkled, and he bit
his nether lip, then deliberately re-folding the document, which
seemed to have given him both surprise and mortification, he handed a
few coins to the messenger, who, after making dutiful acknowledgment,
turned his horse, and rode off as rapidly as he had come.
“A strange revolution of Fortune’s wheel,” whispered the Sheriff to
his chief attendant. “The King’s Grace has appointed George Hepburn,
the kinsman of Altoncroft, Sheriff in my room, and commends me to
resign my office into his hands without delay, for which purpose he is
to be at Jedburgh to-morrow at noon. This is the work of my unfriends
at our fickle Sovereign’s court. Altoncroft cannot yet know of the
change, else he would spurn my authority and provoke strife:
therefore, I must dismiss him at once. I should have arrested him when
he stabbed the witness; but I feared that such action would only
embroil the business still further; and I am now glad it was not
done.”
The Sheriff went over to Royston Scott, and said that after what had
happened on the field, the arbitration proceedings behoved to be
adjourned to some future day, and also enjoined him to retire, and to
keep the peace. Altoncroft obeyed, and departed with his followers.
“There’s the main danger blawn ower,” said the gaberlunzie, viewing
with much satisfaction the rude Laird’s retreat. “We winna toom a
tankard wi’ the gentle Johnston the nicht; and wha kens whether he’ll
see the morn? We’ll tak’ the road, wi’ your leave, master, as lang as
the play is fair.”
What road?--whither were they going? Ruthven indicated his intended
destination, but did not desire to return to Greenholm, where he had
changed his dress; and he added that he wished his route to be taken,
so far as practicable, by paths not commonly frequented, to avoid any
other mischance. The gaberlunzie was ready to accompany him by any
route.
They left the Deadman’s Holm without attracting much notice, and were
speedily in the midst of solitudes. As the day wore to its close, they
made a halt on the edge of a wood, and what Harthill’s wallet yet
contained, in the shape of viands, formed a substantial repast. This
done, the journey was resumed while the sun was setting.
How red he glares amongst those deepening clouds,
Like the blood he predicts.
Soon, through the fading lustre above Sol’s ocean-bed, Hesperus, the
lover’s star, sparkled brightly. Our wayfarer’s path now led near a
sluggish stream which skirted a hilly chain, and beyond the heights
lay a village, where, as Harthill said, they might find lodgement for
the night; but it had this disadvantage, that it was part of the
barony pertaining to Altoncroft’s kinsman, the newly-made Sheriff,
and, therefore, Ruthven thought that their more prudent course would
be to seek a less questionable place of rest. But, in short, to tell
the truth, he was secretly desirous of parting, as soon as might be,
with Willie, and of pursuing his course alone to Berwick, where he
might obtain shipping for France--a country which afforded
opportunities, to friendless and adventurous young Scots like himself
of carving out their fortunes with their swords.
The twilight darkened, and the path grew wilder. Occasionally the
harsh screams of birds of prey smote on the ear, and seemed to chill
the gaberlunzie’s blood.
“I dinna like the cries o’ thae birds ava--they aye bode ill,” he
said. “Nae doubt they think to pyke our banes belyve. Shue! shue! ye
evil emissaries! Our Lady help us! was yon a groan? Heard you
naething, master?”
“It sounded like the fall of a fragment of rock from yonder cliff,”
answered Ruthven, with indifference.
Harthill shook his head, as if dubious of the explanation. His mind
engrained with superstitious frailty, he began to hear uncanny sounds
all around him. Every sough of the wind among the brackens was a dread
presage. Hurrying his steps, he frequently left Ruthven in the rear;
and to every half-jocular remonstrance of the youth, whose strength of
limb was fast failing, Willie had but one apology:--
“It’s a bogley part this after dark. I’ve heard as mony stories aboot
ugsome sichts seen here as there’s teeth in my head. I wadna put ower
a nicht here, no for the crown o’ Scotland. Haste you, master, haste
you! It’s for your ain gude.”
Without doubt he meant well. But Ruthven flagged more and more, and,
after climbing a grassy eminence, which was surmounted by the ruins of
a place of strength, he protested that, happen what might, he would go
no farther.
“You’re in jest, master?” cried Harthill, scratching the side of his
head in sheer vexation.
“We can rest here till daylight,” replied Ruthven. “The place is lone,
and therefore safe.”
“Safe?” echoed Willie, with somewhat of asperity. “If we be sae daft
as to rest here, we may ne’er see daylicht. Be advised, master, be
advised.”
Ruthven, however, was not to be advised. He advanced towards the ruin.
The gaberlunzie followed with laggard pace, and shrank back when an
owl started out, and, hooting dolefully, flew over their heads.
“There’s a warning!” ejaculated Willie. “The place is fu’ o’ uncanny
things. Come back, for ony sake.”
But Ruthven still advanced. The ruin, in its palmy days, had consisted
of a massive square tower of two storeys above the ground floor, with
battlemented roof, and surrounded by an outer wall, which was now
broken down to heaps of rubbish, overgrown with coarse vegetation. The
roof had fallen in, and so had both floors, leaving only a shell of
crumbling, grim walls: the courtyard was miry: and the arched portal
preserved no vestige of the iron-bound door which had once barred
passage. As Ruthven was about to pass inward, he was stayed for a
moment by the almost hysterical entreaties of his companion, who now
assumed a tone of wailing.
“I shall lodge here till morning,” answered the youth determinedly.
“If anything earthly molests me, I carry a stout heart and a trusty
blade; and unearthly things I fear not.”
The gaberlunzie held up his hands in deprecation of such a foolhardy
resolve; but at length he said--“Aweel, master, a wilfu’ man maun ha’e
his ain way, and I maun leave you for the nicht. May a’ haly saints
watch ower you! I’ll gang-on to the neist bigging, and in the morning
I’ll come back; but I fear the morning winna find you a living wicht.”
“Never fear; but do as you say,” responded Ruthven. “Take this small
guerdon”--bestowing some money. “You’ll find me in the morning hale
and sound. Good-night, and good luck.”
The gaberlunzie was loth to part; but his superstitious nature
prevailed, and he took leave, reiterating his promise to return in the
morning.
Ruthven entered the ruined pile. The interior was heaped with fallen
stones and debris. Casting his eye upward, as from the bottom of a
deep well, he saw the dim welkin overhead, which was becoming
sprinkled with golden cressets.
Star after star, from some unseen abyss,
Came through the sky, like thoughts into the mind,
We know not whence.
Some square apertures in the walls, which once were windows, were
partly choked with grass: a narrow stone stair had given access to the
first storey, but only a few of the lower steps remained intact: the
air felt damp and chill, and the pervading silence was like that of a
sepulchre. Ruthven weariedly sat down on a hillock of ruin close to
the portal, and bending his face upon his hands, fell into a reverie,
which eventually lapsed into troubled slumber.
When he awoke from a confused dream, trembling with cold, all was dark
around him. He arose and went out into the courtyard to look at the
sky. It was cloudless, and bright with the celestial host; and a gusty
breeze blew from the west. As he turned in that direction, he
perceived, upon the verge of the horizon, a glimmering light, which
rose and fell alternately, but in short space grew into a broad and
steady glare. Was “yon red glare the western star?” or was it “the
beacon-blaze of war?” Whatever it was, it speedily became an intense
mass of flame, shedding a lurid gleam on earth and heaven.
As Ruthven watched the mysterious fire, the clatter of horses
approaching from the west struck his ear. He receded into the portal,
and drew his sword. In a few moments several horsemen, riding in
disorder, broke dimly on his view as they ascended the height. Up they
came: they urged their panting steeds over the rubbish of the wall,
and drew rein in the courtyard. They were five in number, all wearing
warlike harness, and seemed to have fled from an unsuccessful fight.
Four dismounted, but the remaining one kept his saddle, and gazed back
to the distant blaze, which was now sinking.
“Woe worth this nicht, that has seen mair ruin wrought than can be
repaired in a lang life time!” ejaculated this rider, wringing his
hands. “That cruel spoiler! that bluid-thirsty riever! Curses on him
that wad fire an auld man’s house aboon his head!”
Ruthven recognised the voice as that of Lauder of Ballinshaw.
“A stranger here! a lurking enemy!” exclaimed one of the party, spying
Ruthven in the doorway; but instantly Ruthven called out that he was
no enemy but a friend to Ballinshaw.
“By St. Bryde! this is the brave lad that defended our Edie when he
fell!” cried the man, “Of a surety he is a friend.”
Ruthven, assured of safety, stepped out of the portal, and sheathing
his brand, hastened to the old Laird’s side, inquiring what had
befallen; but the question had to be thrice repeated ere Lauder seemed
to hear and comprehend it, and then he started, and peering down into
Ruthven’s face, exclaimed--“Wha is this?”
“The stranger who defended our Edie,” said the retainer who had
previously spoken.
“Indeed!” said Ballinshaw, in a vague way, and again directing his eye
towards the fading fire. “See yonder what’s befaun. Bluidshed and
murder! Ruth and ruin! A’ is lost--the airn kist fu’ o’ merks in the
secret closet ahint the spence--the candlesticks and the plate that my
great-grandsire brought frae the Low Countries--a’ plundered--a’ gane.
But how cam’ you here, lad?”
“Night overtook me on my way, and I sought shelter here, where scant
shelter there is,” replied Ruthven.
“We seek refuge, too,” said the retainer; “but if Altoncroft be in
pursuit o’ us--”
“Altoncroft!” cried Ruthven. “Is he the ravager?”
“Ay,” returned the man. “His hatred has burnt up Ballinshaw. When we
reached hame yesterday, word was heard that our fickle King had
appointed Altoncroft’s kinsman Sheriff, in room o’ the just Sir Robert
Home; and we heard the news like our death-knell. Dreading the warst,
as weel we micht, we prepared the auld house for defence--armed every
man and callant--and keepit strict watch. Afore midnicht, Altoncroft
cam’ wi’ a’ his power. There was a fierce and deadly struggle; but he
brak’ in wi’ his ruthless band, and we were driven out, and the place
was fired. The flames lichted our way as we fled.”
“Did Edie Johnston perish in the struggle?” asked Ruthven.
“Not that I can tell,” said the retainer. “When the enemy brak’ in, we
lowered Edie into the subterranean passage that leads frae the ha’ to
the middle o’ the garden; but if the villains discovered his hiding
place, they would gi’e him but short shrift.”
NOTE.--A parallel to the catastrophe of the arbitration is
recorded in Sir John Sinclair’s “_Statistical Account of
Scotland_” (Vol. V., 153), as having occurred in the parish of
Menmuir, in the county of Forfar:--
“Two lairds quarrelled about their marches, and witnesses were
brought to swear to the old boundaries. One of these
chieftains, provoked to hear his opponent’s servant declare,
on oath, that he then stood on his master’s ground, pulled a
pistol from his belt, and shot him dead on the spot. It was
found that to save his conscience he had earth in his shoes
brought from his laird’s lands.”
“A’ my strength is blasted like a flower o’ the field, and a’ my gear
gane like snaw aff a dyke,” moaned Ballinshaw, again wringing his
hands. “But the enemy may be hard ahint us, and we maun on and
awa’--on and awa’.”
“Our horses are blawn, and we maun gi’e them some minutes’ rest,” said
the retainer, languidly laying himself on a heap of rubbish.
Scarcely had they thought of rest when the clatter of hoofs sounded in
the glen below. Ballinshaw started in affright, and the next moment
had fallen from his steed, a victim of apoplexy.
“’Tis Royston Scott!” exclaimed one of his retainers. “We are but dead
men!”
The pursuers, headed by Altoncroft, rapidly began to ascend the hill.
Leading his followers, Scott encouraged them in their work with
promise of reward. Ruthven Somervil watched their movements, and,
lifting a large stone, cast it down upon Altoncroft with so sure an
aim that it struck horse and man to the earth. For the moment there
was panic among Scott’s supporters, but an instant later, having left
their leader to recover as best he might, they made for the crest of
the hill, all eyes ablaze with vengeance against the youth who had
thrown their master.
Ruthven wisely decided on flight. Entering the ruined fort, he dragged
himself up on the broad sill of one of the windows, and leapt upon the
soft, boggy ground beneath, seized one of the horses, and galloped
away. Shouts and cries were behind him; he pricked his horse with his
dagger for want of spurs, and dashed among the mountains, never
drawing rein until he considered himself safe from the reach of the
anger of the house of Altoncroft.