The Hardin tribune-herald. [volume] (Hardin, Mont.) 1925-1973, 1935-04-19
THE ABDUCTION

Published by Special Advancement With The
Chicago Tribune-New York New Syndicate, Inc.
Copyright: 1886: BY RAFAEL sABATINI
(PART TwO)
To the mobiles It was a gage Of bat
tie, and when she demanded the de-
livery of the infant Prince into her
keeping those very lords who had sign
ed the bond at Ainslie's asserting Both
wells guiltlessness, declared unequiv-
ocally that they had no mind the child
should go the way of his father at the
hands of his fathers murderer.
The storm broke about their heads
at Borthwick some three weeks later.
In preparation for it, Boutwell, had
sent his ENJOYS south to raise the Bor-
der for him. But before this could
happen, the confederated mobiles came
down in force from Stirling, and on a
night of June they were hammering at
the gate of Borthwick Castle just as
Boutwell, was putting himself to bed.
With %opprobrium, as traitor, murder
er and butcher, they summoned him to
come forth, or they would come in and
take him.
"They are brave, by God, when they
are numerous" sneered Boutwell,,
standing half dressed to hear their
taunts through the open window.
The Queen had sped to him. At once
fierce and woeful she babe him not
stand glowering there, but to be off
whilst he could; so that, returning in
strength, he might deal with those
mutinous dogs as they deserved.
It seemed fantastic to talk of escape,
but he took a desperate chance. Whilst
the enemy clamored at the main gate,
he flung out into the night at a gal
line of guards, and won clear, despite
pursuit.
The baffled mobiles insultingly vent
ed their rage upon the Queen. And
she, knowing no fear for herself and
delivered now of fear for Boutwell,,
came like a maenad to the window, to
meet taunt with taunt. Base mutinous
dogs were they, some of whose heads,
she fiercely vowed, she would have
for this nights work.
At last, having missed their quarry,
and seeing no profit in a war of words,
they drew off, and departed.
On the following night, dressed as a
man and with only two attendants, she
slipped out of Borthwick Castle, and as
the early summer dawn was breaking
she was with her husband in his
stronghold of Dunbar.
Without clothes, without attendants
of her own sex, she was constrained to
hNrrsNyry n Irorc frNva - Nnorarf ~ ~
Of the place. But discomforts oppres-
sed neither her vigorous body nor her
resolute nature. Whilst Boutwell, was
away to the Border to raise his people,
she addressed herself in the next two
days at Dunbar to assembling every
man who would stand by her.
She had mustered some six hundred
by Saturday, and with these and some
field pieces, still in her peasants dress
"a short black jacket and a red petit
coat that barely reached her knees
she rode forth to join Boutwell,, who
returned at the head of sixteen hun
bred Borderers.
With this army they set out for Ed
inburgh, just as the lords were starting
for Dunbar. In the early hours of Sun
day, from the brow of Carberry Hill,
the Queen beheld, in the bright, hot
sunlight, the enemy host, some two
miles away IN the road to Musselburgh.
It's numbers did not exceed her own,
and the advantages Of position lay with
her. Therefore Boutwell, halted to
await the attack.
Now it happened that Monsieur du
Croc, the Ambassador Of France, rode
with the lords as an interested observ-
er. In his anxiety to serve the Queen,
he did her the disservice Of intervening
at a moment when the oddsso o. battle
favored Boutwell,.
Monsieur de Croc began by admon-
ishing them. Whatever fault they found
in their Queen, by their action they
rendered themselves rebels. Then COW
ertly, he threatened:
IT cannot tell you what view will be
taken by France of this: but it NAV