The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1902-11-16

regarding precedence The first irti-
nation that the believing laird had Of
the intruders presence was the cold
touch of steel on his bare neck He
sprang round as If 3 wasp had stung
him. his right hand swinging instinct
lively to the hilt of his sword, but the
point Of another was within an inch
of his throat, and his hand fell away
from his weapon
The fame of your hospitality has
spread abroad. Buchanan spoke the
clear voice of the king, so we have
come to test its quality
The piperS had stopped IN their
march, and with the ceasing of the
music the wind from the bags escaped
TO the outer air with d long waiting
gr0an. The tumult of discussion sub
sided, and all eyes turned toward the
speaker, some of the guests hastily
drawing swords but returning them
again to the sea bbards when they saw
themselves confronted by the king. Blu
chanan steadied himself with his back
| against the table. and in the sudden
silence it seemed ere long he found
his tongue. At last he said:
Does the king come as a guest with
q drawn sword in his hands''
AS you get north of Stirling Bu-
chanan," replied James with a smile
1t is customary to bring the knife with
you when you go out TO dine. But
am quite in agreement with the laird
of Arnprior in thinking the sword an
/ III ornament in a banqueting hall,
| therefore bestow your weapons on Sir
Donald here, and command your clan
/ now present 10 disarm.
With visible reluctance Buchanan di-
vested himself of sword and dirk, and
| his comrades, now stricken dumb fol-
lowed his example The weapons were
thrown together in a corner of the hall
where some of the kings soldiers stood
guard over them. His maiesty's pre-
diction regarding the SOLDERING effect of
his advent was amply fulfilled The
! disarmed men looked with dismay on
one another, for they knew that such a
prelude might well have its grand
| finale at the block or the gibbet The
king, although seemingly in high spir~
its, was an unknown quantity. and
before now there had been those in
power who. with a smile on their lips.
had sent doomed men to a sea fold
IN intercepting my venison. Blu
chanan,' continued the king with the
utmost pofiteneSS you were actuated
by one of two motives. Your inter-
vention was either an insult to the
king or it was an animation that YOU
desired to become his cook In which
hight am l to view your action, Bu-
chanan?"
There was in the kings voice a
sinister ring as he uttered this SEN
tence that beiied the smile upon his
lips. and apprehension deepened as all
present awaited Buchanan's reply Al
the word COOK he had Strengthened
himself, and a deeper flush than the
wine had left there overspread his
eountenance. Now he bowed with def
erence and said:
1T has ever been my ambition to
see your majesty grace with his pres
ence my humble board-v
Il was sure of it, cried James. with
hearty laugh, which brought re-
lief to the anxious hearts of many
standing before HIM. The king thrust
his sword INTO a scabbard and, with
clangor of hilt on iron, those be-
hind him followed his example.
And now cried James, '.let the
kings men eat while the 'laird's men
wait upon them. And as for you, John
Buchanan, it is today my pleasure that
you have the honor of being my cup
bearer
Whether the honor thus thrust upon
the Laird of ArnDrior was as much
to his liking as an invitation to sit
down with his guest would have been,
is questionable, but he served his
majesty with good grace. and the king
was loud in his praise OF the vepison,
although his compliments fell sadly on