"Einna rash—binna rash," exclaimed Hobbie, "hear me a bit, hear me a bit. We mean ye nae harm; but, as ye are in arms for King James, as ye ca' him, and the prelates, we thought it right to keep up the auld neighbour war, and stand up for the t'other ane and the Kirk; but we'll no hurt a hair o' your heads, if ye like to gang hame quietly. And it will be your best way, for there's sure news come frae Loudoun, that him they ca' Bang, or Byng, or what is't, has bang'd the French ships and the new king aff the coast however; sae, ye had best bide content wi' auld Nanse for want of a better Queen."
Ratcliffe, who at this moment entered, confirmed these accounts, so unfavourable to the Jacobite interest. Sir Frederick, almost instantly, and without taking leave of any one, left the castle, with such of his attendants as were able to follow him.
"And what will you do, Mr Mareschal?" said Ratcliffe.
"Why, faith," answered he, smiling, "I
