CHAPTER IX.

The curse of growing factions and divisions Still vex your councils! Venice Preserved.

The prudence of Morton found sufficient occupation in stemming the furious current of these contending parties, when, two days after his return to Hamilton, he was visited by his friend and colleague, the Reverend Mr Poundtext, flying, as he presently found, from the face of John Balfour of Burley, whom he left not a little incensed at the share he had taken in the liberation of Lord Evandale. When the worthy divine had somewhat recruited his spirits, after the hurry and fatigue of his journey, he proceeded to give Morton an account of what had passed in the vicinity of Tillietudlem after the memorable morning of his departure.

The night march of Morton had been accomplished with such dexterity, and the men were so faithful to their trust, that Burley received no intelligence of what had happened until the morning was far advanced. His first enquiry was, whether Macbriar and Kettledrummle had arrived, agreeably to the summons which he had dispatched at midnight. Macbriar had come, and Kettledrummle, though a heavy traveller, might, he was informed, be instantly expected. Burley then dispatched a messenger to Morton's quarters to summon him to an immediate council. The messenger returned with news that he had left the place. Poundtext was next summoned; but he thinking, as he said himself, that it was ill dealing with fractious folk, had withdrawn to his own quiet manse, preferring a dark ride, though he had been on horseback the whole preceding day, to a renewal in the morning of a controversy with Burley, whose ferocity overawed him when unsupported by the firmness of Morton. Burley's next enquiries were directed after Lord Evandale; and great was his rage when he learned that he had been conveyed away over night by a party of the marksmen of Milnwood, under the immediate command of Henry Morton himself.

Now, provide a numbered list of answers to these questions:

1. When did a group of people walk?
2. Where at?
3. Was it done well?
4. When did someone finally get information about it?
5. Who was it?
6. How many people did he first ask about?
7. Who were they?
8. Did both make it?
9. Who made it?
10. Who was approached by a buddy and coworker?
11. When?
12. Who was it?
13. Where had he gone from in the morn?
14. Was he full of vigor when telling?
15. Why not?
16. Who sent a message for a sudden meeting?
17. To whom?
18. Who was sent for next?
19. Where was he?
20. Was Burley happy after learning what had happened?

Numbered answers:
1. At night
2. Morton
3. Yes
4. when the morning was far advanced
5. Burley
6. Two
7. Macbriar and Kettledrummle
8. No
9. Macbriar
10. Morton
11. two days after his return to Hamilton
12. the Reverend Mr Poundtext
13. the vicinity of Tillietudlem
14. No
15. because of the hurry and fatigue of his journey
16. Burley
17. Morton
18. Poundtext
19. his own quiet manse
20. No