that for the present she should be removed, and that he should embrace a more fitting and favourable opportunity for lessening her aversion, and, if possible, for ingratiating himself into her esteem.

“ Thou art now exasperated, fair one,” he said, “ betimes thou mayst speak in more measured terms. By the word of an English knight, however, thou shalt be kindly and honourably dealt with. What! ho! let the forester's daughter be in attendance." This summons brought almost immediately into his presence a young female servant, to whom Cressingham committed the charge of the daughter of Ross, commanding, at the same time, that she should be treated with that respect and kindness which became her station. The fair captive was accordingly removed, and conducted by the forester's daughter to a remote tenement in the Castle.

It is now time that we should return to the Lady's father and to Douglas. The unusual length to which her absence on her last excursion had been protracted, soon excited alarm at Ryehill, and when subsequent search and enquiry proved unavailing, the alarm was almost increased to despair. Could she have fallen into the stream, and found a watery grave? And yet this suspicion was no sooner formed than relinquished, for some of her escort must then have returned to tell the melancholy tidings; but they too had also disappeared. Suspicion at last rested upon Cressingham, and the report of a peasant boy that

B

he had actually seen a lady mounted on a palfrey, and guarded by a company of about twenty South'rons, moving along in the direction of Sanquhar, served as more than a sufficient confirmation. The wrath and vexation of the lady's father was great, that of Douglas, who, since his retirement, from the regular siege of the fortress of Sanquhar, had united his forces to the garrison of Ryehill, was overwhelming and irrepressible. The tidings spread through the little fortress, nor was there a single soldier who did not burn with impatience to be led to the rescue of the lovely daughter of his lord. It was at last proposed to abandon Ryehill, and with the combined forces of Douglas and of Ross, which even then did not equal the number of the enemy, to renew the siege. Yet would not this be «gratifying the presumption and the pride of Cressingham? for the insolent governor had already issued a proclamation, declaring that the only ransom for the daughter of Ross would be the yielding up of Ryehill. Their perplexity was extreme; to deliver into the hands of the English the only remaining fortress in Nithsdale, which had so long withstood their assaults, was a step that seemed justifiable only in the most trying extremities; and yet to retain it was to lessen greatly the probabilities of a rescue. Patriotism said one thing, paternal tenderness and love said another. In this state of partial indecision and anxiety, it was announced to the chiefs that a servant belonging to the English garrison had just been seized in the immediate neighbourhood, and brought into the fortress. From the hope of eliciting some valuable information that might affect, and possibly assist their future proceedings, Douglas gave orders that the prisoner should be summoned immediately into his presence.

“Who art thou, Sir?” exclaimed Douglas, as an individual displaying somewhat more of the rustic than of the military exterior was led forth before him.

“My name is Ridgley, I am forester to the English garrison in the castle of Sanquhar.”

The answer seemed to have elicited more than it was the probable design of the prisoner to communicate, for it was immediately added by Sir James Ross, “ Thy dialect bespeaks thee Scottish born, does it not ?":

“ I am a Scotsman, good Sir Knight.”

“ And so," interrupted Douglas warmly, “ there breathe in Scotland men so base as to become, and to continue, the willing servants of her bitterest foe!"

“ Not their willing servant, please your Honour," replied the forester; “I dwelt near the Castle, and they compelled me to their service, but 'tis far from my feelings to submit to them willingly. I hate their service, and still more do I abhor their gibes against my native land. 1. Their late successes too, have made them more insulting to me than ever. O! how I wish the happy days of Scotland were: back again, when servants could choose their ain lords, and love them when they had chosen them. The South'rons are cowards too at heart, for even honourable women have no longer their liberty secure! 'Twas but yesterday a sentinel informed me they took captive a lady of gentle blood.” “Ah! 'tis even so," exclaimed Douglas involuntarily, and as if to himself, “and the dastardly Cressingham triumphs in the dishonour done to Douglas by the capture of his betrothed; but if there be might in this arm, if there be bravery in these noble men, vengeance and deliverance are at hand.”—He again addressed himself to Ridgley, “ Hast thou seen the lady whom the brutal governor has captured ?"

“ No, Sir Knight, but this much I know that she is confined in a remote part of the castle, and that my own daughter has been appointed to attend her.”

Here, the two chiefs retiring to some distance, engaged in a deliberation of considerable length. It was obvious from their earnestness that the subject was one of much seriousness and interest; and it seemed more than probable from the frequent looks they directed towards the prisoner, that he formed part, at least, of the theme of their deliberations. Douglas returned, “Harkye, forester," he said, “thou hast declared that thou art not willingly the servant of the South'ron, that thou abhorrest the oppression and the insolence of the English foe. Prove it then by thy deeds ;-return immediately to the castle of

Sanquhar ;-bear a message which I shall put into thy hands, to the captive lady to whom thy daughter ministers ; count the number of the garrison ; observe more closely the manners of the soldiers ; learn whether the chiefs are temperate, and whether the sentinels are vigilant. Thou hast told us the foe is insolent, insolence generally makes its victim careless, and is the precursor of his downfal. Now, mark me, forester, thy duties must call thee daily to the woods ; return to Ryehill by this hour to-morrow with thy horse and wain, and then I shall more fully disclose to thee our designs. Thy fidelity may prove the deliverance of Nithsdale and the expulsion of her proud oppressors. Thy unfaithfulness will not suffice to prevent the siege on which our hearts are determined ; and should heaven aid the cause of justice, and in spite of thy treachery give success to our arms, the first victim of Douglas vengeance next to Cressingham will be thyself! Dost thou then promise fidelity and promptitude in the name of God and of St Mary!” “I do, brave Sir Knight," returned the forester. “ Well then, thou art free, depart.” A billet to be secretly conveyed to the captive lady was intrusted to his care, and he immediately returned to the fortress of Sanquhar.

It is here proper to inform the reader, that the ultimate determination of the two chiefs, was to combine stratagem with courage in their attempts to seize the castle, and to rescue the young lady of