The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-10-23

blackjack in as close imitation as Mas
ter Laurence dared compass of the
Earl Douglas himself. His bow was
slung at his back, all ready for the in
spection. A sash of orange silk was
twisted about his waist, and in this he
/ would set his thumb knowingly and
stare boldly as often as the pair of
| brothers overlook a pretty girl. For
Master Laurence loved beauty, and
thought not lightly of his own.
Sholto, though as we shall soon see,
| despised not love, had eyes more for
the knights and men-at-arms, and con-
sidered that his heaven would be fully
attained as soon as he should ride one
of those great prancing horses and
| carry a lance with the pennon of Doug
las upon it.
Meantime he wore the steel cap, the
| ringed-neck mail, the close fitting
doublet of blue, dotted over with red
Douglas hearts. and having the white
cross of st. Andrew transversely upon
It, About his waist was a peaked brace
OF shining plate armor, damaScened in
gold by Malise himself, and filling out
his almost girlish waist to manlier pro-
portions. From this depended a row
of tags of soft leather Close chain
mail covered his legs, to which at the
knees were added caps of triple plate.
sheaf of arrows in a blue and gold
culver on. his left, and a short Scot
fish bow in his hand completed the at
tire of a fully equipped and fully eff
Gent archer Of the earl's guard.
The lads were soon at the fords of
LOchar. where in the dry summers the
stones show all the way across, one in
the midst being named the Black Doug
las, in the place where as tradition af-
firms. Archibald the Grim used to
pause to look at his new fortress of
Thrieve, rising on its impregnable is
land above the rich water meadows.
Now neither Sholto nor Laurence
wished to wet their leg array before the
work and pageant of the day began.
This was specially the desire of Lau-
renee, because of the maids who would
assemble on the Boreland braes, and of
SholtO, iEasmuch as he hoped to win
the prize for the best accoutralnent and
the most point device attiring among
all the archerS of the earl's guard. The
young men had asked crusty Simon
COnchie, the bOatman ct the ferry
croft, to set them over offering him
sroat for his pains. But ne was far
too busy to pay any attention TO them
on such an occasion, only passing long
enough to cry to them that they must
cen cross at the fords, as many of
their betters would do that day.
There was nothing for it, therefore,
but either to strip to the waist or wait
the chances of the traffic. Both ShOlto
and Laurence were exceedingly 10th to
take the farmer course. They had rot.
however. long to wait, for a train Of
sumpter mules belonging to the Lord
Herries of Terregies, whose father had
been with Archibald, the Tineman, in
France, came up laden with the chOic-
est products of the border country,
which he designed to offer as part Of
the ''service-kane" to his over lord, the
Earl of Douglas.
Now mules are all snorting. ill-condi-
toned brutes and are ever ready to run
away upon the least excuse or even
without any. So as soon as they caught
the CLINT of Sholto's blue baldric and
shining steel girdle-brace suddenly ap-
pear from behind a knoll, they incon-
tinently bolted every way with noses
to the ground, scattering packs and
brandishing heels like young colts
turned to grass. 1t CHANGED that one
of the largest mules made directly tc-
ward the fOrdS of Lochar, ard the
youths, catching the flying bride at
either side. applied a sort OF brake |
which sufficiently slowed the beasts |
to enable such agile ship |
jacks as Sholto ard Laurence to /
mount. But as they were concerned |
more with their leaping from the |
ground than with what was already /
upon the animals back. their heads /
met in the midst with a crasn-in which /
collision the superior weight Of the /
younger had very naturally the better |
of the encounter.
Sholto dropped instantly back to the |
ground. He was somewhat stunned by |
the blow, but the sight of his brother
splashing through the !
shadows aroused him. He arose, and |
Selling the first stone that came to
hand, hurled it at him, swearing fra /
ternally that he would smite him in the
brisket with a dirk as soon as he
caught him for that bastard blow. The
first stone flew wide, though the splash
caused the mule to shy into deeper
water to the dampening of his riders
legs. But the second, being better
aimed, took the animal fairly on the
rump, and bringing up on hy-geJed |
spot, sent 1t with flying bags and loud
squeals into the woods of Glen Lochar. J
which come down close TO the lords on
every side, where presently Laurence
found himself, like AbsOlom. caught in
he branches Of q beech and left hang
ng between heaven and earth. L
A rider in complete plate Of black
taught him down still holding on to his
DOW, and placing him across the sad
lie. brought down the fiat of his mailed
II.
being uncovered by mail, responded
With a resounding smack. Then, amid
he boisterous laughter Of the men at
rms, he let Laurence slip 10 the
ground.
But the younger son Of Brawny Kim,
master a.rmorer of Cariinwark, was
lot the lad to take such an insult
neelzly, even from a man-at-arms rid
ng on horseback. He threw his bow
nto convenient thicket. and, selling
he most convenient ammunition, which
hanced to be in great plenty that DAY .
Ipon the braes of Balmaghie, he pur-
ued his insulter along the glade with
UGH excellent aim and good effect
hat the black unadcrned armOr OF the
lorseman showed disks of de;ilemant !
IL over, like a tree trunk covered with
oad-stool growths.
"Shoot down the intolerabie young
ascall Shall he thus beard my lord
Iaxwell?" cried voice from the troop
7ho witnessed the chase. And more
han one bow was bent and several
and fusils leveled from the company
which followed behind.
But the knight threw up his visor.
Hold therel" he cried, '.the boy is
light 1t was L who insulted him, and
e did right to be revenged, though
he rogue's aim is more to be admired
han his choice of weapons. Come I
timer, lad. Tell me who thou arr, and
that is thy fathers quality?"
II am. Laurence MacKim. an archer
{ my lords guard, and the younger
on of Malise MacKim, master armorer
0 the Douglas