The Caged Lion

hery moorland into a somewhat spacious valley, with copsewood clothing one side, in the midst of which rose a high mound or knoll, probably once the site of a camp, for it still bore l

dale was disturbed by the hasty clatter of horses' feet, and hard, heavy breathing as of those who had galloped headlong beyond their strength. Here, however, the

r in the wood. And you, Rab, get ye up to the

in!' sobbed the boy, with the fi

his hold on the boy's bridle; 'what, rin your head into the wolf'

sionate weeping. 'I-I to flee and leave my sister-my uncle! Oh

now? "Take off Lord Malcolm," says he; "save him, and you save the rest. See him safe t

her? Let us go back and fall on them, Halbert; better die saving her than kno

fray, as no doubt was his purpose, or were you in his hands to be mewed in a convent, then were your sister worth the wedding; but the Master will never wed her while you live and have friends to back you, and his father, t

gate; 'tis a knight in blue damasked steel: he, met

cheild: maybe he'd guide my lord here to a wiser wit, an

dants suddenly came round the foot of Jill's Knowe upon the fugitives, who were profiting by the interval to loosen the girths of their horses, and water them at the pool under the thicket, whilst Halbert in vain tried to pacify

my kind host-what is it?

They have been reft-reft from me, and I have done noth

ham Abbey, after the frequent fashion of the devoutly inclined among the Scottish nobility, in whose castles there was often little commodity for religious observances. Short, however, as was the distance, they had in the midst of it been suddenly assailed by a band of armed men, among whom might easily be recognized the giant form of young Walter Stewart, the Master of Albany, the Regent D

had made this treacherous attack, evidently hoping to rid himself of the brother, and secure the sister. No sooner had the Tutor of Glenuskie perceived that his own party were overmatched, than he had bidden his faithful squire to secure the bairns-if not both, at least the boy; and Halbert, perceiving that Lilias had already been p

o doubtful, since no one could guess whether Walter Stewart would make for Edinburgh or for Doune. With the utmost agility Sir James sprang up the side of the mound, reconnoitre

d to me,' said Sir James; and at his words th

upon you?' dema

east three men). 'It wad be a fule's wark to withstand them. Bes

ned Sir James. 'They must have broken up after striking their blow, or h

ye loons; back among the hazels. Hol

horse to a tree. The skene and broadsword, which I see

rth with colour on his cheek, light in his eye, th

ell me that: I know my duty better than not to do the bid

ne heart good to hew down a minion of Albany. What were I worth could I not strike a blow against so foul a wrong to my own orphan kindred? B

wiry groom, whom Malcolm knew as Christopher Hall, a retainer of the Duke of Albany; and beside him rode her captor, Sir Walter Stewart, a man little above twenty, but with a bronzed, hardened, reckless expression that made him look much older, and of huge height and giant build. Malcolm knew him well, and regarded him with unmitigated horror and dread, both from the knowledge of his ruffianly violence even towards his father, from fear of his intentions, and from the misery that his brutal jests, scoffs, and practical jokes had often personally inflicted: and the sight of his sister in the power of this wicked man was the realization of all his worst fears. But ere there was time for more than one strong pang of consternation and constitutional terror, Sir James's shout of 'St. Andrew for the right!' was ringing out, echoed by all the fifteen in ambush with him, as simultaneously they leapt forward. Malcolm, among the first, darting with one spring, as it were, to the ho

nging together and turning to look round, the first shock was over, and the retainers of Albany, probably fancying the attack ma

o drag him from his horse. The young giant writhed, struggled, cursed, raged; he had not space to draw sword or even dagger, but he struck furiously with his gauntleted hand, strove to drive his horse forward. The struggle like that of Hercules and Ant?us, so desperate and mighty was the strength put forth o

oice, 'Walter Stewart of Albany, on one condition I grant thee thy life. It is that thou take the most solemn oath on the spot that no spulzie or private brawl shall henceforth

-louper,' muttered Walter, 'to

the St. Andrew's cross on his breast, and lighted up that red fire that lurked in his eyes, and withal the ca

y calmness of the voice the Master of Albany, who was but a mere commonp

will swear,' he

t's eyes, large pale ones, dilated as if with increased consternation, the sweat started on his forehead, and his breath came in shorter gasps. Malcolm and Lilias, standing near, likewise felt a sense of strange awe

r James, now taking away his

he words of the oath after his dictation: 'I, Walter Stewart, Master of Albany, hereby swear to God and St. Andrew, to fight in no private brawl, to spoil no man

Sir James said, in the same cold and dignified tone, 'Let thine oath be sacr

r word he flung himself into the saddle, and rode away to join such of his followers as were waitin

ks, his eye sought for the guardian who had ever been his mouthpiece, and, with

round; he fell before my horse. I saw no more, for the Master

good old man. Those villains will not dare to follow; or i

Lilias, 'how

ill do better to take your seat; I fear it must be en

m, in a more alert and confident voice

u hast won her back by thine own exploit, and mayst well have the keep

en such a leap as at finding himself suddenly raised from the depres

one foot upon his toe, and with a spring of her own, assisted by Sir James's well-practised hand, was instantly perched on the crupper, clasping her brother round the waist with her

bonnie tidings for Patie that thou didst loose me all thyself. The

o them for private whispers. In about an hour's time they had crossed the bit of table-land that formed the moor,

ined with blood. Perhaps, both Lilias and old Halbert suggested, some of their people had returned and taken him to the Abbey of Coldi

lm Ceanmohr, in testimony of his gratitude for his recovery of his father's throne from the usurpe

he manifold purposes of an ecclesiastical school, a model farm, a harbour for travellers, and a fortified castle. At this period, the Prior, John de Akecliff, or Oakcliff, was an excellent man, a

zag and cable, dog-tooth and parrot-beak, visages human and diabolic, wherewith the Norman builders loved to surround their doorways. The doors w

colm! Ah! but this will ease the

is here?' c

ou had been set upon by the Master of Albany, and sair harried, and they say the

hat was called Edgar's Walls, a house raised by the good founder, for his own lodging and that of visitors, within the monastery. It was a narrow building, about thirty feet from the church, was perfectly familiar to Malcolm, who bent his steps at once thither, among the congratul

already reached him, and he held out his hands, kissed and blessed his restored charges, and gave thanks with all his heart; but there was a strange wanness upon his face, and a spasm of severe pain c

laid aside his helmet, washed his face, and arranged his bright locks, and as he rose to foll

mself on the pillow, and, with his eyes dilating into a

ias, clasping Malcolm'

his grave many a day; his sons, woe is me!-Sir,' recovering himself, 'par

of a few moments' private speech with you. I will not

there was an atmosphere of obedience abou

hat you should give thanks in the chur

the lornness of their approaching desolation, neither of them having dared to utter the foreboding upon their hearts, but feeling it all the more surely; and while the sister's spirit longed fervently after him who

gned his place to Lilias, but did not leave the room and Sir David thus spoke: 'Bairns, God in His mercy hath raised you up the best of guardians in the stead of your ain poor Tutor. Malcolm, laddie, you will ride the

Malcolm, 'I cannot

ut of Albany's reach is the poor lassie worth his molesting; but when I am gone, your uncles of Albany and Athole become your tutors, and t

nearer protector be found. Meantime,' he laid one hand on Malcolm's head, and with the other took out the relic which had had so great an effect upon Walte

Sir David. 'You will striv

an to part us! Let us abide as we have been till I am

udge of that,' re

was before, and that were I a whole man and sain, riding back to Gl

ister-he talked boldly of protecting her after this day's exploit. But Prior Akecliff gave him no more encouragement than did his uncle. The Benedictine vows were out of the question till he should be eighteen, and the renunciation of the world they involved would be ruinous to Lilias, since she would become his heiress. Moreover, the Prior himself w

ias. 'I should be far happier to know you in s

at if this villain

d, as you have so often been told, my young Lord, your absence is a far greater protection to your sister t

tery of St. Abbs, about six miles off, whence she could be summoned at any time to be with her uncle in Coldingham;

all the other inmates of the convent; they knelt on the floor of the candle-lit church, and held each other's hands as they prayed; Lilias still the stronger and more hopeful, while Malcolm, as he look

ter,' he said to Lilias, 'we deem it safer that you should ride to St. Abbs ere daylight.

asleep, Lilias had to depart without taking leave of him. With Malcolm the last words were spoken while

ior tells me, your strength and man

m; 'I will neither chea

y compact. Patie is winning his fortu

es has brought him, he will be but too glad to exchange

sist the lady to her saddle, and with one long earnest embrace the brother and sister were parted, and Lilias rode away with the Prior by her side, letting the tears flow quietly d

ound which has since been undermined by the waves, and has been devoured by them. The sea, far below, calmly brightened with the brightening sky, and reflected the morning stars in a lucid track of light, strong enough to make the lights glisten red in the convent windows. Lilias was expected, was a frequent guest, and had many friends there, and as the sweet sound of the Lauds c