William, whose life, he said, was in imminent danger.

Every Moss-trooper was of course the decided enemy of a man placed in a situation like that in which Lord William now stood the prime foe, as it were, of their ravaging bands; and so strange did the information appear to him, that he hesitated for some moments how to reply to it.

Irwin, his first leader, thus addressed him: “The instance of an enemy passing over to the side of his foe, is by no means a singular one; it may be caused by his having deserted, for a length of time, from his own party, to whom he now fears to return, dreading the chastisement due to his crime It is also possible that it may be occasioned by a prepossession for ours; and it is still more probable, that the hope of future reward, and preferment, have been his inducements to this step. Whatever the motive, a single individual is incapable of committing injury within our walls. Let him, so please your Lordship,

be

be searched, to prove whether he conceal about him any instrument of death, which it may be his desperate purpose to level at your person; and this done, let him be brought before you."

"But should he come merely as a spy upon our strength," suggested the wary Barcu: "this is a supposition which has escaped you."

"That will be easily discovered,” replied the leader who had before spoken, "and if such he appears, we have chains and dungeons, to prevent his carrying back the information that may be required of him."

"Let him be brought into the castle hall," said Lord William, " and I will meet him there."

Irwin called upon some of his men to follow him, and they proceeded to the drawbridge, at the foot of which they found the Moss-trooper of whom they had just received intelligence. His garb was of the common Scotch plaid; a breastplate

B 3

plate of rude workmanship covered his chest, and an iron cap bound his brow; sword he had none; nor was there any weapon of death concealed in the scanty folds of his garment.

Irwin bade him rise and follow him ; he complied with Irwin's order, but his strength was so greatly exhausted, that he would have fallen again to the earth, had not two of the soldiers given him their support.

Lord William was in the hall, prepared to receive the stranger. "If youare Lord William de Mowbray," exclaimed the young man, the moment his eye fell on the person of the Baron, of the Baron, "oh save me, in

mercy save me! say but that you will not deliver me into the hands of Allanrod, and I am your slave for ever."

"Who are you?" asked Lord William, "and who is this Allanrod, of whom you speak ?"

"I am the veriest wretch that breathes upon this earth," returned the man, "and

he,

he, the vilest monster Nature ever issued from her womb."

"By your garb," replied the Baron, you are a Moss-trooper."

"I have been," answered the man, "but by your good-will, I am henceforth an English soldier."

"And who is Allanrod?" asked Lord William.

"The chief of the band into which I was deluded, and have now abjured," returned the stranger. "My father was-oh that he was so still! an humble peasant in the Tiviotdale; myself and one dear sister, ́all his household-and happy was our little family no wish beyond ourselves, till Allanrod, a second fiend, broke in upon the paradise of our tranquillity-lured me with tales of glory, and my sister with his vows of love!-Tempted by a small command which he gave me in his band of ravagers, and still more by the promises of favour that he would heap on me, I left my native vale; scarcely was I gone, ere

he returned, and with brutal violence attacked my sister's honour; my wretched, grey-haired father, who stood forth in her defence, he murdered-struck to the earth-and while he lay a bleeding corpse, my sister, still more wretched, fell a victim to his lust!"

The youth's voice was no longer audible; it was drowned in the contending feelings of his heart; he hid his face in his hands, and continued silent.

Lord William urged him to proceed to the conclusion of his tale, and after some, minutes pause, he went on thus:

"Intelligence was brought me of the horrid deed:-I flew to Tiviot, and arrived there just in time to catch my sister's dying breath; and for her, to hear me pledge an oath to Heaven of vengeance on her's, and my lost father's murderer. Admit me to your ranks, and for my own revenge I will be a lion in your cause, when opposed to the savage Allanrod. You know not whom you have to fear in Allanrod;

Y