“ He gained fast upon the boy. 'He is lost,' said Edith, piteously; 'that villanous dog will tear him to pieces.' But the event belied the maiden's fear. Just as the ferocious animal seemed about to seize him, the boy was seen to turn upon his pursuer, the dog gave a loud howl, and fell to the ground, and the stranger could perceive his own dagger gleaming in the stripling's hand, as he waved it in triumph over his head ere he disappeared among the trees. ”

“ The stranger, who did not seem to understand the expressions of this address, could not, however, mistake its meaning. The language of passion is universal—and the flashing eye, and shrivelled brow of the Egyptian chief, were too unequivocal to be misunderstood. He remained silent but a moment, and then, drawing from his bosom a purse, apparently well filled, he took out a golden Jacobus, and proffered it to the patriarch, as a peace offering to his awakened anger. ”

“ The Egyptians, panic-struck by this sudden death-blow, set up a loud and stunning wail, as they crowded round the body of their chief; but the stranger and Arthur stayed not to observe their farther demeanour; and, taking advantage of the opening among their enemies, which was now afforded them, sprang out of the cave, and ascended at the top of their speed to the brow of the eminence behind it. ”

“ The fire of indignation fled from the old man's eyes as they lighted on the gold, but they were instantaneously lighted up by a fiercer and more deadly meaning. Arthur could observe significant looks circulating among the men, who also began to speak to one another in a jargon unintelligible to him. He felt convinced that the purse which the incautious stranger had produced had determined them to destroy him ”

“ But the wavering conduct of Earl James lost him at Abercorn the bravest of his adherents, and Walter Colville did not disdain to follow the example of the knight of Cadzow. He was rewarded with the hand of the heiress of Balmeny, then a ward of Colville of East Wemyss. That Baron could not, of course, hesitate to bestow her on one who brought the king's command to that effect; and, in the brief wooing space of a summer day, Walter saw and loved the lands which were to reward his loyal valour, and wooed and wedded the maiden by law appended to the enjoyment of them. ”

“ It is long since cunning men have told me that I shall die for a woman, and, by the Bruce's soul, I thought the hour had come. As for my Jacobuses, I rejoice I saved them from the filching crew, as they will serve for an earnest, a poor one to be sure, of my thankfulness to my brave deliverer;' and, so saying, he drew from his bosom the purse which had excited the fatal cupidity of the Egyptians, and gracefully proffered it to the youth. ”

“ He partook heartily of the good cheer set before him, and amused himself by returning with good-humoured smiles the stolen looks of the simpering maidens. He looked in vain, however, for Edith, who had retired from the place.
'And now,' said Walter, who began to think the stranger somewhat more at ease than he could have wished, 'Your name, wooer?'
'My name!' said the stranger, somewhat embarrassed.
'Ay, your name—all men have a name. Knaves, (laying an emphasis on the word,) many.'
'True, gudeman, true. My name, then, is Stuart—James Stuart. ”

“ Of the women, the very young ones were extremely pretty, the middle-aged and old ones more than equally ugly. Young and old, pretty and ill-favoured, all were alike deficient in that retiring modesty of expression, without which no face can be accounted truly lovely, and the want of which darkens into hideousness the plainness of homely features. They joined freely in the draughts which their male companions were making from the horns, which, filled with wine and ale, circulated among the company, and laughed as loud and joked as boldly as they did. ”

“ While Walter and Arthur therefore undid, with one caution, the massy bars and bolts which protected the oaken door, the stranger, anxious to witness the success of his messenger, ascended to the upper story, and stood at the open casement. He was immediately observed by the Egyptians, who set up a yell of savage impatience at the sight, the men brandishing their weapons, and the women waving their arms, as if threatening vengeance against him. ”

“ Come, lasses, set meat and drink before this gentle here; as the auld Earl of Douglas said,—It's ill arguing between a fu'man and a fasting.' This order was obeyed with great readiness by the serving-maidens, who set before the stranger the household bread and cheese, and a bicker of no scanty dimensions, containing the reaming ale, for which Scotland has been so long famous. There was a malicious merriment twinkling from every eye as the scene went on; for all knew well that the overstrained kindness of the host was soon to be converted into outrageous and overwhelming abuse of the guest. ”

“ His curiosity to know more intimately the manners of a people so remarkable as the Egyptians then were, and still are—perhaps a latent wish of being able to extract from their prophetic powers some favourable auspice to his almost expiring hopes—or that nameless something which at times impels us to court the danger we at other times shun with care—all conspired to induce him to enter the cave, and he accordingly attempted to do so. ”

“ There was a cry of disappointment burst forth from the Egyptians as they perceived his intention, and many set out in pursuit. The chase was viewed with deep interest by the inmates of the house— (for Walter, Edith, and Arthur had now joined the stranger.) The wood was not far distant, the boy was famous for his swiftness of foot, and they could see that his pursuers were falling fast behind. To their dismay, however, they perceived, at length, that there was a powerful dog among the number, who continued the chase after all his human competitors had abandoned it in despair. ”

“ His check was flushed with haste; and he was so breathless that he could hardly explain—'Save yourself, sir stranger, by instant flight; the Egyptians have tracked our path hither, and are pursuing us here with numbers ten times exceeding those we encountered in the cave.'
'Let them come,' said the stranger, with a smile. 'Egyptians though they be, they cannot eat through stone walls or oaken doors. We will carouse within while they howl without, and drink the dirige of their chief.'
Arthur said nothing, but looked doubtingly at Walter. ”

“ The Egyptians were in those days of a much darker character than the remnants of their descendants, which, in spite of press-gangs and justice-warrants, still linger amongst us. Murder among themselves was a thing of everyday occurrence, and desperate robberies, committed upon the king's lieges, by no means rare. The present gang, from their vociferation, seemed in a state of excitement likely to remove any little restraints which the fear of the law's vengeance might at another time have imposed on them ”

“ Some of our women may be able to read your weird, should you so incline; you have nothing to fear.'
Arthur was by no means satisfied either that the woman was mad, or that the man meant him fairly; but, as he could not now retreat without betraying his fear to the dark searching eye which the gipsy bent on him, and was besides conscious that he possessed a well-proved sword, and considerable skill and strength in the handling of it, he signified his wish to join the merry-making, and followed the gipsy into the cave. ”

“ They perceived, with some surprise, that a considerable number of them left the rest, and made for the wood, and that those who remained, ceased the yelling manifestations of sorrow and revenge which had so affrightened Edith.
'They are meditating a retreat, methinks,' said the king.
'I fear, my liege,' said Walter, 'they are rather planning some mode of successful assault;' and the return of the Egyptians too soon verified the apprehension. They bore with them the trunk of a fallen tree, and the besieged at once saw the use for which this powerful engine was intended. ”

“ Arthur seated himself in silence, and, something neglectful of the kindness of the female who sat next him, occupied himself in surveying the motley group before him. His eye soon rested on a man seated next the damsel who occupied the place immediately to the left of the chief, and the moment he did so, he became anxious and interested. The individual was a man of rather more than middle height, of a muscular, though by no means brawny frame. His countenance was ruddy, and of a pleasant mirthful expression ”

“ But it was only while they could keep their backs to the rocky wall that they could hope to cope with their savage enemies, who, though they did not come near enough to stab, surrounded then as nearly as they could, and yelled and shouted like so many disappointed fiends. ”

“ It was agreed at length that the boy should make the attempt. To get him out of the house without endangering its inmates was comparatively easy, as the Egyptians as yet stood at some distance from the door. ”

“ The latter opposed this resolution but faintly; for, though he was, as we have said, utterly at a loss to conceive how his ca (illegible text) be benefited by the proffered kindness of the stranger, yet a vague and almost latent hope of still obtaining Edith never entirely forsook him.
He conducted the stranger through the wood, therefore, by the path which led most directly to the house of Balmeny. On reaching the skirt of the forest, it was agreed that the former should proceed alone to the dwelling of Colville, and that Arthur should remain where he was, and await the result. ”