The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-10-30
IRE BLACK DOUGLAS.
BY S. r.. CROCKETT.
Copyright, 1898. BY s. r Crockett
CHAPTER TX.
LAURENCE SINGS A HYMN.

s,kor instant the two young men mad
uo.hed and we're rolling on the ground,
shifting and striking according to their abil-
VIC W.. snolto might easily have had the better
M fray hut for the fact OF L~aurence's re-
OF w Jagr,dntion, for the elder brother was
eeu' .iIor nv an inch. and Of a frame OF body
wv ,i,be and supple. But the accuracy OF
1N"sonce MacKim's shape and the severe
psIa,no Of the smithy had not left a super
saons ounce Of flesh on him anywhere.
p|D1 . minute the brothers had become the
...,rs Of n riotous. laughing thronR OF varlets.
.sah.rs seeking their corps. young squires
Nv, nv their lords to find out the exact posi-
-. ~, allotted 10 each contingent by the pro-
~, ~ tho camp. For. as the wappenshaw
~. N be Of three days duration. In all Its
Ma rnrts, a wilderness OF tents had already
I.mn TO arise under the scattered white
AIMS OF the great Borelnnd croft which
,,,etehed up from the river.
These all laughed and tested after their
,,rd encouraging the youths tn fight It out.
- naming Laurence the Brock. or Badger.
s-or, his stoutness. and slim Sholto the Whit
,.dck. or. as one might say. the Weasel.
at him. Whittericki Grip himl Grin him!
rov you have him at the pinch. Well pulled.
nro.t- IT'S a whoves on Brockl Good. Brock
T.I donel Well done! All. would your
Hands of that daRgerl Let flsticuffs settle
n The whitterick hath 1.-THE Whitte-ick!"
And thus ran the comment. Sholto being
,umbered with his armor. Laurence might
m time have gotten the upper grip. But q d.
r.r.ion occurred which completely altered
n, character OF the conflict. A stout red
6sh Young man came II. holding in his hand
, staf painted with twininG stripes OF white
and rcd. which showed him to be the marshal
otthst part OF the camp which pertained to tho
F,d Of Angus. He lookedson n moment from
ths skirts Of the crowd and then elbowed his
I,y self.importantly into the centre till he
stood Immediately about Laurence and Sholto.
what means this hubbub. I IA Quit
vnur hold there and come with me. My-Lord
Of Angus shall settle this disputed"
He had come up Just when TIE young men
were in the final grips. Sholto atSlast having
rottan his will Of his brothers head. and. as
the Saving Is. was giving him Dutch spice"
IN no very knightly fashion.
The Angus marshal seeing this. seized Shot,
toby the collar Of his mailed shirt. and. draw
ipr him suddenly back. caused him to lose
hold OF his brother. who as quickly rose to his
f,et The red man began to beat Sholto about
the headpiece right heartily with his staff.
which exercise made a great ringing noise.
though, naturally. the skull cap being the
work Of Malise MacKim. little harm ensued to
the head inclosed therein.
But Master Laurence was instantly on fire.
Here, Foxy-Face." he cried. let my broth
or abe! What business Is it Of yours II two
gentlemen have a difference? Go back to
your Angus kernes and ragged craw-bogle
Highland folkl"
Meantime Sholto h~ad-recovered from his
surprise and the crowd OF -Nrlets was melting
apace, thinking the Angus marshal some one
Of consequence But the brothers MacKim
we're not the lads to take beating with a stick
meekly. and the provost. who. indeed. had moth
Ing to do with the Galloway part OF the en-
campment. had far better have confined his
ofRciousness to his own quarters.
Take him on the right. Sholto." cried
laurence. 'and 1 will ave at him from the
side" The Red Angus drew his sword and
threatened forthwith to slay the lads II they
came near him. But with a spring like a gray
grimalkin Of the woods. Sholto leaped within
his guard ere he had time to draw back his
arm for thrust or parry. and at the same mo-
ment Laurence. snatching the red and white
staff out OF his hand. dealt him so sturdy a
blow between the shoulders that, though he
- VI WclkHL cuuhl W uOJu vi HIS OppOuOuISs
he was knocked breathless at the first blow
and went down beneath the impetus OF Shot,
tos attack.
Laurence coolly d~isenRaged his brother and
began to thrash the Angus man with his own
stan upon all exposed parts till the dry wood
broke. Then he threw the pieces at his head.
and the two brothers went off arm in arm to
fnd a.woody covert in which TO repair dam
hRhR a0niDuf tha oyann a.oko-ri-~ .-d Az L.
specton OF their lord and his keen-eyed mas
ter armorer.
As soon as they had discovered such a So
clustered holt. Laurence. who had frequent
experience OF such rough-and-tumble en-
counters. stripped off his doublet OF purple
velvet. and turning the sleeve inside out he
showed his brother that it was lined with a
rough surfaced felt cloth almost OF the nature
Of easle. This being rubbed briskly upon
any dusty garment or fouled armor proved
most excellent for restoring the gloss and
beauty. The young men being, as 1t were,
corn 10 the trade. and knowing that their ar
msment must meet their fathers memorable
Ge as he passed along their lines with the
Lar, rubbed and polished their best, and
"hen. after half an hours brisk work. each
saamlned the other. not a speck or stain was
NN VI ''hp NdElOuS CASUAL luClueuUb
VI the morning. Two bright. ~fresh-colored
,ouths emerged from their thicket. immacu-
MeE clad and with countenances OF such
sneruolc innocence that my Lord Abbot Will
nAm OF the great Clstercian abbey Of Dulce
Vol, looking upon them as with bare. bowed
nea1s, they knelt reverently on one knee to
S NJ, MS blessing. said to his train: They look
- TWO young angels. 1t is a shame and a
'm ina two such fair innocents should be
v~mpened to join In aught ruder than the
'"Sn'inG OF psalms In holy service"
anereat one OF his company who had been
NNless to their treatment OF the Angus pro-
wst and also OF L%aurence's encounter with the
.oxnt OF the black armor was seized ~inconti-
seuuy with a fit Of coughing which almost
piess You. my sons" said the abbot, "I will
wax. 70 my nephew, the Earl. concerning you.
w iaees plead for you. Evil cannot dwell In
a ialr bodies. What are your namesP"
Ing Younger knelt with his fingers Joined
~ MS eye meekly on the grass. while sholto.
~ mad risen. stood quietly by with his steel
@pin his hand.
laurence MacKim." said the younger mod
~, "lthout venturing to raise his eyes from
~rsiouhn' and this is my brother Sholto!'
I"ny you sing. pretty boy?" said the abbot to
VIC nnEn 49,