CHAPTER XIII. JAMES III.

James II. left three sons; the eldest, James III., aged nine, was crowned at Kelso (August 10, 1460); his brothers, bearing the titles of Albany and Mar, were not to be his supports. His mother, Mary of Gueldres, had the charge of the boys, and, as she was won over by her uncle, Philip of Burgundy, to the cause of the House of York, while Kennedy and the Earl of Angus stood for the House of Lancaster, there was strife between them and the queen-mother and nobles. Kennedy relied on France (Louis XL), and his opponents on England.

The battle of Towton (March 30, 1461) drove Henry VI. and his queen across the Border, where Kennedy entertained the melancholy exile in the Castle of St Andrews. The grateful Henry restored Berwick to the Scots, who could not hold it long. In June 1461, while the Scots were failing to take Carlisle, Edward IV. was crowned, and sent his adherent, the exiled Earl of Douglas, to treat for an alliance with the Celts, under John, Lord of the Isles, and that Donald Balloch who was falsely believed to have long before been slain in Ireland.

It is curious to think of the Lord of the Isles dealing as an independent prince, through a renegade Douglas, with the English king. A treaty was made at John's Castle of Ardtornish--now a shell of crumbling stone on the sea-shore of the Morvern side of the Sound of Mull--with the English monarch at Westminster. The Highland chiefs promise allegiance to Edward, and, if successful, the Celts are to recover the ancient kingdom from Caithness to the Forth, while Douglas is to be all-powerful from the Forth to the Border! What are the answers to this following set of questions: 1. When was Edward IV crowned?
2. What happened in March of 1461?
3. Who left three sons?
4. How old was Jame III?
5. When was he crowned?
6. What was his mother's name?
7. Who was her uncle?
8. What was made at John's Castle of Ardtonrish?
9. Is the castle in good shape now?
10. Where is it?
11. Who was one of James III's brothers?
12. And the other?
13. Who stood for the House of Lancaster?
14. And who else?
15. Who was sent to make an alliance with the Celts?
16. Who was incorrectly thought to be slain in Ireland?
17. Who did the Highland chiefs say they gave their alliance to?
18. What were the Celts supposed to find?
19. Who was going to be all-powerful?
20. What cause was the mother, Mary, won over to?
Answer: 1. June 1461
2. The battle of Towton
3. James II
4. nine
5. August 10, 1460
6. Mary of Gueldres
7. Philip of Burgundy
8. a treaty
9. no
10. the sea-shore of the Morvern side of the Sound of Mull
11. Albany
12. Mar
13. the Earl of Angus
14. Kennedy
15. Earl of Douglas
16. Donald Balloch
17. Edward
18. the ancient kingdom from Caithness to the Forth
19. Douglas
20. the House of York

CHAPTER XXII

Wingate, notwithstanding his iron nerve, awoke with a start, in the grey of the following morning, to find his heart pounding against his ribs and a chill sense of horror stealing into his brain. Nothing had happened or was happening except that one cry,--the low, awful cry of a man in agony. He sat up, switched on the electric light by his side and gazed at the round table, his fingers clenched around the butt of his pistol. Dredlinton, from whom had come the sound, had fallen with his head and shoulders upon the table. His face was invisible, only there crept from his hidden lips a faint repetition of the cry,--the hideous sob, it might have been, as of a spirit descending into hell. Then there was silence. Phipps was sitting bolt upright, his eyes wide open, motionless but breathing heavily. He seemed to be in a state of coma, neither wholly asleep nor wholly conscious. Rees was leaning as far back in his chair as his cords permitted. His patch of high colour had gone; there was an ugly twist to his mouth, a livid tinge in his complexion, but nevertheless he slept. Wingate rose to his feet and watched. Phipps seemed keyed up to suffering. Dredlinton showed no sign. Their gaoler strolled up to the table.

"There is the bread there, Phipps," he said, "a breakfast tray outside and some coffee. How goes it?"

Phipps turned his leaden face. His eyes glowed dully.

"Go to hell!" he muttered. What are the answers to this following set of questions: 1. Who was sleeping?
2. Was he easily frightened?
3. How did he feel when he woke?
4. What did he hear?
5. Where was it coming from?
6. Where were the men?
7. What does the gaoler offer them?
8. Does Phipps appreciate the offer?
9. Was Phipps asleep?
10. Was he entirely awake?
11. So what did he seem to be like?
12. Was Rees asleep?
13. What shape was the table?
14. Was Rees tied up?
15. What was in Wingate's hand?
16. Did Wingate stay in bed?
17. What time of day does the scene take place?
18. Is it a bright morning?
19. Did something occur while Wingate was asleep?
Answer:
1. Wingate
2. No
3. terrified
4. a low, awful cry
5. Dredlinton
6. A gaol
7. bread and coffee
8. No
9. No
10. No
11. in a state of coma
12. Yes
13. it was round
14. Yes
15. a pistol
16. No
17. morning
18. no
19. No