The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-12-04


his left hand he seized the king by the
collar of his doublet, and set the point
of his sword to his back, between the
shoulder blades.
| Now" ne cried, '1et a man lay hand
on my Lord Douglas, and will slay the
kingi'
At this there was great .consterna-
ton, but for fear of Sholto's keeping
his word half score would have rush
ed forward to the assistance of the boy.
The scream of a woman from some
! concealed portal showed that the queen
mother was waiting to witness the
downfall of the mighty house which, in
her opinion, threatened her boy s
throne
Sholto's arm was already drawn back
for the thrust, when the earl of Doug
las was heard. He had risen to his feet,
and now stood, easy and careless as
ever, with his thumb in the blue, silken
sash which girt his waist.
"Sholto," he said, calmly. you forget
your place. Let the king go instantly,
and ask his majesty's pardon. Set
your sword again in it's sheath. am
your lord. 1 dubbed you knight. Do
as command you"
Sholto most unwillingly did as he was
hidden. and the king placed himself
closer to William Douglas.
And now" said the earl, facing the
array of armed men who thronged the
banquet hall, what would We with the
Douglas? Do We mean my death, as, by
the bulls head here on the table ye
would have me believer"
For black treason do we apprehend
you, earl of Douglas" creaked the
voice of the chancellor, still Speaking
from behind the array of men-at-arms,
land because you have set yourself
above the king. But we are no butch
ers, and trial shall We have by your
peers"
''And who in this place are the peers
of the earl of Douglas?" said the young
man, haughtily.
Il will not handy words with you, my
Lord Douglas. You are oyermastered.
Yield yourself, therefore, as, indeed,
you must, without remead. Deliver
your weapons and submit. IT'S our
willt'
MY brave chancellor" said the Earl
William, still in voice of pleasant
irony, you have well chosen your time
to shame yourself We are your in
vited guests, and the guests of the king
of Scotland. We are here unarmed,
sitting at meat with you in your house.
We have come hither unattended,
trusting to the honor of these noble
knights and gentlemen. Therefore, my
brother and L have no swords to de-
liver. But if, being honorable men, you
stand, as is natural, upon a nice pune
tilio, I can satisfy you"
He turned again to Sholto MacKim.
"Give me your sword" he said.
''Tis better 1 should render it than
you"
With great unwillingness the captain
of the guard of Thrieve did as he was
hidden. The earl reversed it in his
hand and held III nv the nOiOt
And now, my lord chancellor, I de-
liver you a Douglas sword, depending
upon the word of an honorable man
and the invitation of the king of Scot
land"
But even so the chancellor would not
advance from behind the cover of his
soldiers. and the earl looked around for
someone to whom to surrender.
''Will you then appoint one of your
knights to whom I may deliver this
weapon? Is there none who will dare
to come near even the hilt Of a Douglas
sword? Here, then. Sholto, break it
over your knee, and cast it upon the
board as witness against treachery."
Sholto did as he was bid. breaking
his sword and casting the pieces upon
the table in the place where the king
had sat.
And now, my lords, I am ready"
said the earl, and his brother David
stood up beside him, looking, as they
faced the unbroken ring of their foes,
the two noblest and gallantest youths
in Scotland.
AT this the king caught Lord William
by the hand, and, lifting up his voice,
wept aloud, with the sudden breaking
Of boy.
My cousin, my cousin Douglas" he
cried, they shall not harm you.
swear it on my faith as a king
At last an officer of the chancelIorss
guard mustered courage to approach
the Earl of Douglas, and. saluting. he
motioned him to follow This, with his
head erect and his usual easy grace, |
he did, David walking abreast of his |
brother, and Sholto, with all his heart |
filed with the deadly chill of hopeless
ness, followed them through the sullen |
ranks of traitors.
And even as he went, Earl Douglas /
looked about him every way that he !
might see her for whose sake he had I,
adventured within the portals of death. |
(Fo be Continued.)