The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1902-11-25

bisboD of St. Andrews. but in Stirling
the case seems reversed. The courtiers
frown and the King looks a~nxiously to-
ward them"
Indeed" replied the prelate, that
NAV we'll be. When q man invites a
company to dine with him. and ,hen
makes the discovery that his larder is
empty, there is cause for anxiety, be nc
king CT churl. In truth my Warac's be-
ginning to think my throats cut" And
the learned churchman sympathetlcally
smoothed down that portion OF his person
first named whose rounded contour
gave evidence that its owne" WAS accus-
toned 10 ample ration9 regularly served.
All. we'll" continued Sir Donald, his
youthful Majesty's foot is hardly in the
stirrup yet. and IN Dlucn mistaken in
the CLINT of his eyes and the tint of his
beard. if once he is firmly in the saddle
the horse Will not feel the prick OF .he
spur. should it try any tricks with him.
Scotland would be none the worse of
a firm King admitted he Archbishop,
slanCing furtively at the person they
were discussing, but James has been so
long under the control of others that 1t
will need some force of character 10 es-
tahlish a will of his own. l doubt lie is
but a nolght posing as a nine, conclud-
ed his reverence in a lower tone OF
voice.
Il know little of mathematics" said
Sir Donald, "Dut yet enough to tell me
that a nought needs merely a flourish to
become a nine, and those mines among
us who think him a nought, may become
noughts should he prove a nine. There's
a problem in figures for you, Arch
bishop
Tho young man to whom they referred.
James, the fifth of that name, had been
pacing the floor a little distance from the
large group of hungry men who were
awaiting their dinner With some impa-
thence. Now and then the King paused in
his reconciliation, and gazed out of a win
dow overlooking the courtyard, again re-
Stunning his disturbed march when his
brief scrutiny was completed. The mem
bcrs of the group talked in whispers,
one with another, none too we'll pleased
at being kept waiting for so important
a function as q meal.
Suddenly there was q clatter Of horses
hoofs in the courtyard. The King turn
cd once more to the window. glanced n
moment at the commotion below. then
gave uttcrancc to an OF an
noyance, his right hand clenchinG an
grily. Wheeling quickly to the guards
at the door he cried:
Bring the chief huntsman here at
once, and a prod in the back with a pike
may make up for his lettering in the
c~OurtVard.'
The men, who stood like statues with
long axes at the doorway, made no
move; but two soldiers, sitting on a
bench outside, sprang to their feet and
ran Gathering down the stair. They re-
turned presently with the chief hunts
man, whom they projected suddenly into
the room with a violence little to the
woodlands taste, for he neglected to re-
move his bonnet IN the royal presence
and so far forgot himself as to turn his
hcad when he recovered his equilibrium,
roundly cursing those who had made q
projectile of him..
We'll woodlander.." cried the King,
his stern voice ringing down again from
the lofty ~rafters Of the great hall. Are
there no deer in my forests of the
nOrth?'
Deer in plenty. Your Majesty an
severed the fellow with a mixture of de-
ference and disrespect, which in truth
seemed to tinse the manners of all
present. There are deer in the King
forest, and yet a lack Of vcnison in the
Kings larder!"
What mean you by that, you scoun-
drcl?' exclaimed the King, a flush over
spreading his face, ruddy as his beard.
Have your marksme lost their skill
with bow and arrow. that YOU return
destitute to the castle?'
The marksmen are expert as ever.
Your Majesty, and their arrows fly as
uncrr1ngly to their billet, but in these
rude times, Your Majesty, the sting of an
arrow may not be followed by the whet-
tinS of a butchers knife"
The King took an impatient step for
ward, then checked himself. One or two
among the group of noblemcn near the
door laughed. and there was a ripple of
suppressed mcrriment over the whole
company. At first the frOWn on the
Kings brow deepened, and then as sud-
denly it cleared away, as a puff of wind
s~catters the mist from the heights of
Stirling. When the King spoke again
it was in a calm, even voice. LAS | un-
derstand you, there was no difficulty in
capturing the deer, but you encountered
some obstacle between the forest and
Stirling which caused you to return
empty-handcd. hope you have not
added the occupation of itinerant flesher
to the noble calling Of forest hunts
man..
''Indecd, Your Majesty replied the
unabashcd hunter, the profession of
licshcr was forced upon me. The deer
we had slaughtered found it impossible
to win by tho gates of Arnprior.'
All, John Buchanan then happened
to need vcni5on as you passed.
Your Majesty has hit the gold there.
buchanan not only needed it but took it
from us
Did you inform him that your cargo
was intended for the Harder of tho King"
81 told him that in SO many words.
Your Majcsty: and he replied that if
James was King in Stirling, John was
KIM in kippcn, and having the shorter
name, he took the shorter method of
supplying his Kitchen"
Made you any effort to defend your
gear?
Truth to Say, Your Majesty, that
were a uSlc6s trial. The huntsmen who