head he observed that six soldiers stood behind him. The one who had touched him spoke "His lordship, the Earl of Mar, desires to see you, comrade." CHAPTER XXXVIII. "MUCKLE" WILL. "The Douglas turned him on his steed, "Art thou akin to lord or knight, Or courtly squire, or warrior leal?' FINDING himself surrounded by six stalwart fellows, fully armed, Will's first thought was to fight for his liberty; but his second thought showed him of what little avail his weaponless hands could be against so many. He therefore thrust his hand into the pouch in which he had placed the letter Katherine had entrusted to him, clutched it, and crumpled it into a ball. He closed his big hand over it, and held it there securely. Then he grinned in the face of the officer who had addressed him, and answered— "His lordship does me muckle honour; but wha' might he be, for I never heard o' the chiel afore?" "You'll have the chance of knowing him now-march," said the officer. The men moved. Will attempted to expostulate, and promised to come back and see his lordship another time; but he was roughly hustled forward, and his words were unheeded. Stark during these proceedings kept closely by his master's side, looking up occasionally at his face, and growling as if only waiting for the command to spring at the soldiers. Will, however, had no desire either to risk his own skin or the hound's in a useless struggle, and so he permitted himself to be driven forward, and the dog followed. The party was obliged to halt in the ante-room of the earl's apartment, and there Stark gave vent to another protest against the whole proceedings by a low, prolonged growl. Will for the first time spoke to the faithful companion of his troubles. 66 Hand your tongue, you ill-mannered brute," he said, as if angry. "Do you no ken you're in the King's ain house, and gaun to seen ane o' the King's ain lords? There, take that bite atween your jaws, and haud it there just to keep your tongue quiet." Stooping, he thrust the crumpled letter into the dog's mouth, and managed it so adroitly that none of those around him saw or suspected what the "bite" was with which he attempted to quiet the animal. Will held up his finger warningly, and grinning, so that the soldiers and attendants looked at one another, smiling at the evidence that the fellow was a half-wit. "Noo, Stark," said Will, confirming the impression of his imbecility by addressing the hound as if it had a human comprehension, "dinna ye be swallowing it a' at ance; keep it atween your teeth, lad, for Guid kens whan ye'll get sic a bite as that again.' He was at this moment commanded by an orderly to follow him, and he was conducted into the presence of the newly dubbed Earl of Mar—a title which Cochrane quietly and resolutely required every one to remember. He who forgot the fact of the favourite's elevation, or failed to respect it, was made to suffer for it by some prompt penalty inflicted on him in whatever most nearly concerned him. Conscious of his inability to enforce the recognition of his newly acquired dignity on those discontented nobles and gentlemen who were powerful enough or bold enough to stand in open opposition to him, he lost no opportunity of compelling the acknowledgment of his position from all who could not or would not risk the loss of place and influence by offending him. The successful statesman was seated by a table, upon which were spread numerous documents and charts with which he appeared to have been deeply occupied. When Muckle Will was ushered in, Cochrane looked up from his papers, scrutinized the man narrowly, and then signalled to the attendant to withdraw. Will made his salute with respectful clownishness; and whilst Stark amused himself by diligently gnawing a piece of paper, and tearing it in fragments, his master began to stare about him until he was abruptly accosted by a sharp clear voice "What are you doing here, my man?" Will almost jumped from the floor, so sudden and penetrating had been the utterance. But if the speaker had been attempting to throw him off his guard, he failed. "Saunts be wi' us," cried Will, in simple wonder; "but ye gar'd my heart loup. What am I doing here?'deed -and ye'll first hae to tell me that yoursel', sir; for I came here on your honour's lordship's invitation, and no for any errand o' my ain ava. I'll be thankful when ye let me awa' again, for I couldna thole to bide in a place wi' sodgers on ilka hand, and prim-mouthed serving men everywhere glowering at ye at every step and turn as though they were feared ye was gaun to lift the house on your shouthers and make awa' wi' it." Cochrane permitted him to run on, apparently trying to fathom the character of the man, whose freedom of speech did not seem in any way to betoken disrespect. "Ah, you do not like the place. How did you enter it, then ?" Will looked sheepish, twisted his shoulders, and grinned slyly in the face of his inquisitor. "Weel, my lord," he began slowly, "if I maun tell ye the real truth, it was a lass that tempted me in, and mony wiser folk nor me hae been led out o' their gate by the same temptation." The inquisitor nodded and smiled approvingly, as if interested in Will's adventure. "And the name o' the lass?" he inquired. "Hoots, my lord, I couldna tell ye that, for wha kens what use ye might make o't, and she's no fit for the like o' you, though she is a braw lass. Na, na, my lord, ye maun keep to your ain side o' the wa'." 66 Where are you going when you leave the palace?" "Hame." "No very far frae the Rhinns o' Gallowa." The inquisitor pounced upon him now, having, as he thought, confused him by the diversity of his questions. "You are in the service of Gordon of Lamington ?” "I'll no say but I might hae been," rejoined Will, quite composed. And you have received a letter for him from the lady who was known as Katherine Janfarie ? " "Have I so?" "I know it." "Weel, if your lordship kens a' aboot it, what's the good o' speering?" "You must deliver that letter to me." "But whar is it?" "You have it. Come, come, my man, do not waste time, for you must obey me sooner or later, and it will be better for yourself to obey instantly. By proving yourself ready to serve me, you will find that I can be a good master." "I would be loth to doubt that, or to disobey your lordship; but when a body hasna got the thing that's wanted, what way is he to do your bidding? 66 By telling me where you have hidden it." "Hidden it ?-me hide it! What would I do that for?" The evident simplicity of the man, and the cunning with which he admitted everything he could not deny, yet held back, by clever equivocal answers, the most important information required, puzzled the inquisitor not a little. Observing the fellow on his entrance, he had not anticipated any difficulty in obtaining from him a full confession, and he was therefore surprised that, after a conversation of several minutes' duration, he felt that so far he had been baffled by the shrewd yokel. He did not like the feeling at all, although he had a sufficient appreciation of character, even when opposed to him, to be somewhat amused, knowing that ultimately his power must prevail. "What is your name?" he said quietly, again changing the subject. "Will." "What else?" "Muckle Will." U "What else?" Will scratched his head as if unable to conceive what more a man could require in a name; then, as if with a sudden recollection, he cried 66 66 Oh, folk whiles call me Muckle Will Craig." Well, Muckle Will Craig, you are well named, and you have more wit than you seem desirous of appearing to possess; which is something in your favour, since most men are anxious to seem possessed of more than Heaven has given them. I like you the better for it; so now tell me, have you ever heard of the boot?" Ay, I hae heard tell o' boots, and shoon too." Yes, yes; but this is an iron boot which we keep in the Castle of Edinburgh. It is a wonderful boot, and has been known to make even the dumb speak." "Od, man, it maun be a useful implement," said Will, grinning as a child might have done at a fairy tale. "Very useful," continued his lordship; "and especially so, when we have a dour or a foolish person to deal with, who refuses to answer civil questions. We just put the boot on him and wedge it up tight until he has spoken, or his bones are crushed into jelly.' Will's face gave a wry twist at this, and he muttered uneasily "I wouldna like to try on your boot, master." "Then we have, besides, some pretty little instruments which grip the thumbs in much the same fashion, and various other contrivances by which to test the strength of stupid knaves who continue sullen and silent. Last of all, we have a gallows." Will's uneasiness increased; he shuffled with his feet, and drew his hands behind him as if the instruments of torture were already in sight. "They maun be a' wheen ugly things." "Would you like to see them?" 'No, I'm muckle obliged to your lordship, but I hae nae curiosity about sic affairs." "I thought so; but I am afraid, my man, we shall have to try the effect of them all on your sturdy frame—a course which I would be sorry to adopt with you, Will, because I would rather offer you a snug place in my service than make a cripple of such a brave-looking fellow." |