THE LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA RIVERSIDE FROM THE LIBRARY OF DR. J. LLOYD EATON .'♦ MAD SIR UCHTRED OF THE HILLS *fi- .^>^^<^ MAD SIR UCHTRED OF THE HILLS ^^A S. R. CROCKETT Author of " The Raiders," " The Stickit Minister," etc. ycijj iorft MACMILLAN AND COMPANY AND LONDON 1894 All rights r nerved Copyright, 1894, By MACMILLAN AND CO. Set up and electrotyped July, 1894. Reprinted August, 1894. Norfaool! 13r«B : J, 8. CushinK & Co. — Berwick & Smith. Boston, Mass., U.S.A. TO Bab lb fllasson IN GRATITUDE, AFFECTION AND REVERENCE CONTENTS. PAGE I. NEBUCHADNEZZAR ON CLASHDAAN . I II. THE WATERFLY 7 III. A POPINJAY IN RED AND GREEN . 19 IV. THE CURSE OF ALEXANDER RENFIELD 3$ V. THE VISIONS OF SIR UCHTRED ON CLASHDAAN 5^ VI. GIBBIE THE HUNTER CASTS HIS BREEKS 70 VII. WISE HELEN, BABE ISBEL, AND BOY PIERCE 87 VIII. THE FACE AT THE WINDOW IX. THE BEAST-MAN .... X. THE WIFE'S QUEST ON CLASHDAAN XI. HUNTED WITH DOGS . Xn. BROTHER AND BROTHER . XIII. WHERE A LITTLE CHILD SHALL LEAD 181 vii lOI 119 134 151 163 Advertisement. He that tells the tale bears witness that the hereafter to be mentioned Sir Uchtred of Garthland is not that William Mac Dowall of Garthland in the parish of Stoney Kirk, who was a most constant and serious profes- sor and defender of the Covenants National and Solemn League, and several times at/ier- ciat to the spoiling of his goods by David Graham, sometime Sheriff of Wigtoiin. The kindly reader will take carefully this adver- tisement, both for truth'' s sake, and still more, that the tale teller may dwell at peace in his 07un land, where men have long memories, and one may not speak hastily of another man''s kin. So all shall be well. IX CHAPTER I. NEBUCHADNEZZAR ON CLASHDAAN. :AD Sir Uchtred of Garthland sat in the ^^- x,-^ place that is called the Hass of the Wolf's Slock. It lies on the hoary side of Clash- daan, whence all the Dungeon of Buchan is seen to swim be- neath like a blue cauldron shot with the silver threads of still and sleeping waters. They had hunted him with dogs that day. He was no 2 Mad Sir Uchtred longer Sir Uchtred of Garth- land, but only the beast-man of the hills, accursed of God, out- cast of man, and the quarry of the hunters. Had you asked Wild Sir Uchtred himself who he was, and if in that moment he had not flown at your throat, he might have said, " I am that King Nebuchadnezzar of Baby- lon, whom God hath driven forth to be a beast of the field." But Uchtred the Wild Man spake not so. He only sat on the side of Clashdaan, and laughed, thrusting forward his Of the Hills. 3 shaggy head to look over the diff, as an eagle cranes his neck to watch the strifes of kites and crows far below his eyrie. Uchtred the Wild Man smote his thigh and laughed, a strange cackle of elricht laughter which made the blood of men run cold when they listened to it unawares. It was not a good thing to hear the maniac thing laugh on the hillside all alone. . Yet time had been when Sir Uchtred of Garthland was a belted knight and stood at the King's knee. Nay, in the day of little David Crookback, his 4 Mad Sir Uchfred father had risen against his King with fifty stout Dowalls of Garthland and MacCullochs of Myrtoun behind him. But in the day of Scotland's skaith Uchtred of Garthland forgot the blessed Covenants that his father had sworn. It was a common thing to forget them in those days. Kings set the example. But God so ordained it that none forgat them and prospered. Now Uchtred of Garthland was worse than any — except only crafty Lauderdale the Fox, who sat in the Cham- ber of Stars and hissed the hell- Of the Hills. 5 hounds on. So now the Man Beast sat in the Hass of the Wolf's Slock. The Thing that laughed at the baffled hunters on the Clints of Clashdaan had wife and bonny bairns but three years agone ; and my lady of Garth- land sat in the tower by the waterside and wept for Uch- tred, whom a just God had cast out of his regality. This was how the matter came to pass. It was the time of shuttinc: kirks and testing ministers, and Garthland, with the earl's coro- net before him, abjured the 6 Mad Sir Ucbtred. Covenants as though he had never sworn them, and set him- self with all his men to do the King's will. About Whitehall and Hampton Court the King was merry among his lemans, and in Scotland so also was Garthland among the Whigga- mores of the west. To each man his work and his desire. But God over all. And that is the way Sir Uchtred sat on Clashdaan. CHAPTER II. THE WATERFLY. FAIR place when in the morning the sun shines is the Italianate Terrace at Garthland. Sir Uch- trcd had newly planted it about with dwarfish foreicfn trees when he brought home from out of the French convent his young and gently bred wife, Philippa. Among the rude Dowalls noth- ing so stranire and rare as Phil- ippa Forrester had ever been 7 8 Mad Sir Ucbtred seen. The simplest thing that she put on became her like the Queen's coronation robe, and she wore it with a difference. At every weapon-shawing she bore the palm. And the men waited on her, louting low at all the kirk doors, while Sir Uchtred scowled at them proudly and securely from beneath his bent brows. For Uchtred had won her love, a thing which is none so common with young convent- bred brides. By many a long Scots mile he was the best man, as men in their war gear meas- Of the Hills. 9 ure goodness, in all the sheriff- dom of Wigtoun, and the eyes of Philippa his wife told him so. To each gentle Agnew, hand- some Maxwell, hectoring Ken- nedy, and Stewart with the sprig in his cap, this convent-bred lass gave the back of her hand when they bent over her saddle leather. But one only kept on wearying her with the slow persistence of liis wooing, and he even the nearest of kin to her husband, Randolph Dowall, half brother of Sir Uchtred. Randolph, though half a dozen of years younger than lo Mad Sir Uchtred his brother, had been in France with the King in the clays when his most Sacred Majesty spent much time writing promises to the well affected, who would be likely to send him either money or gear. Then Randolph, being but a boy, had ruffled it with the best among the press at St. Germain, and worn the King's shoulder knot. But Sir Uchtred had dipped his sword red at a time when the King found small comfort in shoulder knots. Yet Randolph, being brought up in the French manner, be- lieved that he had but to swing Of the Hills. ii his curled hat feather, and mince upon his toes as he walked, in order to win a lady's favour. But Philippa Dowall had begun to teach him better of it. They paced the terrace together, and twice in every turn they passed under the eyes of Sir Uchtred, where he sat gloomily apart in his own little chamber, at times busking his war gear, and by whiles reading in a new book by the Duke of Lauderdale, his chaplain, called "The Spirit of Popery," which pleased him much. As well almost as though he 12 Mad Sir Uchfred had heard their words as they walked the terrace, Sir Uchtred knew what was being said. Yet he was not at all jealous of his wife, knowing that to him no least cause was given, for her heart was wholly his, and her honour all her own. As she went by she sometimes flouted him with a gay hand, and bade him come out and join them for a lazy drone. But, all the same, a slow fire burned in his heart against his brother, who thus flaunted it in silken bravery by his lady's side. Yet he it was who so liberally Of the Hills. 13 supplied Randolph with money to send to Paris for the gawcy attire of silk and lace which so well set off his fair head and slim body. Sir Uchtred was willing that his brother should break his fool's heart against his wife's will ; but, deep within him, he hated his brother, and meant one day to take his life. In the meantime, however, he sat within and read the precious doctrine of Doctor George Hickes, and laughed as he read, for they were words that pleased him well. Without on the terrace the 14 Mad Sir Uchtred talk went merrily, for, being con- vent-bred, Philippa had skill in her words, and also much delight in them. She mocked gaily at Ran- dolph and his fervent protesta- tions, shaking the while a little spray of May blossom in her hand, from Vv^hich the small milky petals, a little over-ripe, shed themselves fragrantly as she walked. Randolph Dowall bethought him that he had never seen anything so fair, and sighed as he passed his hand through his scented love-locks, wondering if ever in the way of Of the Hills. 15 love he should win to touch her hand. And Sir Uchtred watched him keenly, and because he was his brother, he knew all that was in his mind. Then he reached back his hand to where, swinging at the belt of his buff riding coat, his great basket-hilted sword hung. His hand gripped the sheath six inches from the point. That, thought Sir Uchtred, grimly, were enough. This is how they talked upon the Italianate Terrace without. "Go hence and scent thy ring- lets, waterfly! " scorned Philii)pa, 1 6 Mad Sir Uchfred flicking the branch of May blos- som at the winking dandeHons in the grass, " I have no need for the service of men-maids. But at Castle Stewart the lady com- plained to me on Sunday, after Mess John made an end of ser- vice, concerning the rudeness of her maidens. She hath need of the like of thee. Thou art not rude, waterfly ! " And as she spoke she laughed tinklingly in her throat, like water that runs over loose peb- bles in a shallow place, mightily pretty to hear. " Wherefore does it please you Of the Hills. 17 to be cruel, lady of my love ? " said Randolph, trying to anger her with his words. But she only laughed again merrily, till one heard the water of the beck laugh also in the sunshine for company. And in his study Sir Uchtred laughed, but otherwise, for his mirth made no sound. " ' Lady of thy love, ' " scoffed Philippa, "hath a popinjay a love ? Can a waterfly be amor- ous ? I saw one only this morn- ing, caressing his own silly crown, and smoothing down his shining wings. Is not that 1 8 Mad Sir Uchtred. rather the way of the waterfly ? No, Randolph, do not thou meddle with love-making, I pray thee. After all, that is a man's matter." " It pleases you to be witty, my lady," replied Randolph, " but know that hearts break under silken doublets as mine is breaking for you, for even a glinting waterfly may love — aye, and die of it too ! " CHAPTER III. A POPINJAY IN RED AND GREEN. ;T that Philippa Dow- all's laughter pealed merrily, rising gaily- over the roof-trees of Garthland New Place. " Uchtred," she cried, " old sobersides, come out, here is something better than books. Do you hear what says this brother of thine.'* He is a wit — a perfect pastrycook of dainty 20 Mad Sir Ucbtred devices. His cates be much to my taste." Sir Uchtred came to the win- dow of his study, which stood open. *' What says my good brother? He has, indeed, a very pretty wit, albeit he wears it not often on me." " He says," cried Philippa, making a pretty wilful mouth, " that the waterfiies in the meadow oft break their hearts all for the love of a lady. Then they fall into the river and the trout G:et them. So even I have seen them do. It is wonderfully Of tbe Hills, 21 observed. I had not known the reason heretofore, though in the convent I read of Dame Berners and her Angle." But Randolph kept his sulky silence, and twisted the lace of his sleeve between his fingers. The daintily mocking Philippa trilled upon her merry way, drollinf{ with the idea, while Sir Uchtred stood with his finger between the slim vellum covers of Doctor Hickes and gloomed — well pleased with his wife, but hating his brother no whit less than if he had won all her heart from him. 22 Mad Sir Uchtred " And a popinjay, methinks you said," went on Philippa, " a popinjay is a very love-sick fowl. Providence is wise, and made nothing in vain. So he made the popinjay to be love- sick, for who can eat a popinjay } Or who desires twice to hear a popinjay sing } Or can a popin- jay pull a string and fire a cannon like those golden birds of FortuG^al which the Italian with curled locks showed me at Holyrood ? " " Nay," muttered Sir Uchtred, " nor yet can a popinjay, like the silly cuckoo, lay his Qgg in another bird's nest." Of tbe Hills. 23 " I will buy you a popinjay, my lady Philippa, since you love them so," said Randolph, pluck- ing up heart of grace, " a sailor at the Garlics hath one green and red." " I pray you do not so," cried the lady Philippa, in gaily affected terror. " We cannot have two in the house, and already we have one in blue and yellow ! A popinjay in green and red were too much mercy. We should lose distinction in our joys." Yet Randolph, since he could tliink on nothing better, went 24 Mad Sir Ucbtred down to the Garlics, ridinG: upon his well caparisoned horse, with the little silver rings clink- ing and jingling on his bridle reins. There by the tiny port he found the sailor, and of him he bought the popinjay, which stood in the sunlight upon a perch and screamed at the tat- tered bairns of the place, who called it "papish crow" and other names of approbium. For a piece of gold and a paper of the black Virginian herb which is beloved of sailors, Randolph acquired the bird and bore it screaming and chat- Of the Hills. 25 tering to Garthland on the brae. "And who would buy a popinjay To win a ladfs love?'' chaunted Philippa of Garthland, as she saw Randolph come. And she called her husband out to admire. Then when Uchtrcd had cfone again within, his brother came to Philii)pa to offer the popin- jay. " I brought it for your bower," said he. " So gay a bird did but ill become the cabin of a tarry sailor." 26 Mad Sir Uchtred " Even as so gay a bird as the civer doth but ill beseem the New Place of Garthland. Why do not you go to the court where you might flaunt it to your liking? There be dames a many there who would give thee love for thy popinjays, good brother ! " said Philippa, more seriously, speaking most like a tender elder sister. " My court is where my Queen is ! " replied Randolph, who was indeed a very pretty courtier. " And I pray thee which Queen "i " queried Philippa, Of the Hills. 27 softly, yet with a dangerous light in her fringed eyes. '* There is but one Queen for me in Garthland or elsewhere," said Randolph Do wall, twirling his scented locks in the Italian manner, and letting his blue eyes court for him. " I woo her in the erlie's hall, I woo her in the byre ; In silks or simple cleading, She's the queen of heart's desire ! " This is the verse that the Lady of Garthland lilted gaily with the light of saucy scorn in her eyes. Yet was she not so safe as she thoui^ht — for it is ever 28 Mad Sir Uchtred dangerous, even in a good cause, to sit in the scorner's chair. " Kate ! " she called, raising her voice to reach her chamber lattice. A waiting maid appeared — no jimp handmaid of the courts of Whitehall, but a blowsed daughter of the moors. Yet was she not uncomely, save that her hands were coarsened with toil, but her teeth and her eyes glistened as she, the gypsy, smiled a smile even saucier than that of her mistress. " Kate, " cried the Lady of Garthland, "do you love popin- Of the Hills. 29 jays ? Here is one for you with the love of the giver! " " An' wha's the gi'er, an' wha's the braw wooer ? " cried Kate Kennedy, in llie broad speech of the place, and the clacking accent of the moors. " Why, even Randolph of Garthland. He gives you his love and service, Kate. He has to spare of these. He finds queens on every berry bush ! " "Juist let him try it, I daur him to come ncr me ! " cried Kate, stamping her foot, " I'se e'en <^ic him what I ^ied him i' the byre yestreen." 30 Mad Sir Uchtred "And what was that? " queried her mistress, as one who knows beforehand. " E'en a pair o' weel daudit lugs!" said Kate, with fire spark- ling in her eyes. " But he has brought you a gay popinjay, Kate. What say you to that ? " laughed Philippa of Garthland, drolling with her eyes on Randolph, till the court- ier blushed and swore softly un- der his breath. More he dared not, lest she should call forth Uchtred his brother, who sat at his window and read of Whig killings. Of the Hills. $i " See the popinjay your lover has brought you, Kate ? " and she plucked lightly and roguishly at its gaudy tail, till the bird screamed with anger. " Deil tak' him an' his bird baith," cried Kate, " I canna bide skraichin' parrots. They are the deil's birds." " An' what bird do you like, Kate } " queried her mistress. " Deed," replied Kate, with some fervour, " I am partial maist o' a' to a guid clockin' hen." " But that is not a fine lover's gift like a po})injay," said Phil- ippa. 32 Mad Sir Uchtred " Na, they hae'na that muckle sense," quoth Kate Kennedy. "They are but feckless folk — a silly clan, gowks run wud ! " Kate was a woman of experi- ence in lovers. " You hear, Master Randolph ! " said Philippa, as Kate returned to her own domains in the kitchen wing of Garthland. *' Why are you so cruel } " asked Randolph, as they paced the terrace. " Cruel ! thou silly boy," she answered, though she was younger far than he, " I am not cruel to love when it is honest Of the Hills. 33 love. Love a maid, Randolph, and marry her as did your brother " " My brother," Randolph scoffed, with a fleer of his hand — which, however, he had better have let alone, for from his win- dow in the house of Garthland Uchtred saw and hated his brother with a still and deadly hatred — the hate that can let pass ninety-nine opportunities and kill at the hundredth. " Aye, your brother," said the loyal lady, " tliink not that I am as the ladies of the court. I i)ut not on a new love willi each D 34 Mad Sir Uchtred. year's spring attiring. An such liketh you, there be plenty of them at Whitehall, who hon- estly love dishonestly. It is their boast. His sacred Majesty (whom may God save according to his need) hath heard of such. For me I like it better to bide in Garthland and teach the bairns their prayers." CHAPTER IV. THE CURSE OF ALEXANDER REN- FIELD. jT was a fine summer day in high June, when the orchards at Garth- land were all a-flush with the blossom that brings the goodly fruit, and the leaves were very green. Sir Uchtred, who now stood for his King against all religions — he that had borne the silver cups when the tables were set white and fair in the 35 36 Mad Sir Uchtred house of the Lord — took horse and rode. Sixteen bold troopers of the King were at his back to do his will, ready to kill man and kiss maid in the King's name, as was rare sport in the country of the Whigs. But Randolph, his brother, abode at home and played with Pierce, son of Philippa and Uchtred, upon the Italianate Terrace. He taught the child to sit his horse like a man while his brother did the sterner work of his lord the King. For they rode that day to turn out of his kirk and manse Alex- Of the Hills. 37 ander Renfield, the minister of Kirkchrist, whom the people loved. An hour afterwards, clattering in iron and bravery, Uchtred of Garthland turned his bridle and rode up the kirk loanine:. As he came under the wall of the manse the lilac blossom hung overhead ; and Uchtred, having sword in hand, in wantonness cut a branch of the scented blossom and caught it as it fell. There was a great silence in the kirk as tlic men rode for- ward. A bronze-faced conu:re- gation sat listening to one who 38 Mad Sir Ucbtred preached to them from an old black pulpit over which hung a sounding-board. Every man heard the trampling of the horses, yet none so much as turned his head about. The minister who preached was a little fair man, slender and delicate. It seemed as though a breath of wind might blovv^ him away. Yet he swayed the folks' hearts as the breath of God that blows upon the trees of the forest. " Christ hath a folk in Scot- land that shall not fail Him, though the horse and his rider Of the Hills. 39 trample them under foot, yet shall they that love the Lord not be utterly cast down." So ran the sermon, and the people listened. With that Sir Uchtred of Garthland set the hilt of his sword to the door and drave it open, both leaves of it clashing back arrainst the wall. Then bowing his head, but not for meekness, upon his horse's neck, he rode in, armed as he was — into the quiet and solemn house of prayer. The spray of cut lilac bloom from the manse wall was in his hand, and the babe in the 40 Mad Sir Uchtrecl arms of the minister's wife crowed tor pluck at it as the war-horse clattered up the aisle. Then in the narrow seats the men stood up, grim and silent, while the women sat and trembled, some crying out to God to help them in their trouble. But the little fair man in the pulpit, that had feared the face of God all his days, feared not the face of man. Perhaps no man who truly docs the one can do the other. He put out his hand with a gesture of command to the people and to the intruder, as a general who halts a squad- Of the Hills. 41 ron. " Uchtrcd Dowall of Garth- land, perjured and mans worn, in the name of the Lord I arrest thee from coming further." And Sir Uchtred, though a proud man, stayed. But for all that, he cried the King's com- mission for the taking of Alex- ander Renfield, because of nonconformity and resisting the King's authority for the shutting up of the kirk, and the warranty for the poinding of his goods and chattels which were escheat to the Crown. So the little fair man came down. But even as he was on 42 Mad Sir Ucbtred the stairway he turned him about and laid his hand on the pulpit door, saying, " Alexander Rcn- field hath steeked thee in the name of Most High God. See and bide thou shut till the Lord send a man to open thee in his own good time." Then he lifted his hand and got him down. Which thing came to pass to the admiration of the people of Kirkchrist ; for the curate of Langloan essaying a year after that to open the door, was hindered by a spirit that withstood him, and perhaps also by the memory of the curse Of the Hills. 43 of Alexander Renfield, for all the people of Kirkchrist held him to be a prophet. And, when out of liquor, all the curates were very superstitious. So they shut to the door of the kirk, and the minister stood quiet and silent between two troopers while they turned the slender gear that was in the manse out upon the green. And the minister's wife stood by the little grey sundial and saw all the plenishing that she had brought fr(jm her home made into a heap — the goodly cloths she had spun with hope in her 44 Mad Sh Uchtred heart, and the httle lovable thino-s that were of no value to O any, but dear to her as her life. She stood with her bairns in her hand, like a hen that gathers her chickens, as near to her husband as they would let her. But Vv^hen they set the children's cradle on high a-top of all, and Uchtred of Garthland cried to a soldier to set his match to the rubbish- heap, suddenly she wailed aloud. It was only for the cradle that her foot would rock no more. She had seen so many flaxen heads in it, and some of them were now within the veil. So Of the Hills. 45 when the cradle was set on the heap to be burned, she cried aloud as she had not done when God took her bairns themselves out of her arms. Then Alexander Renfield lifted up his voice from where he stood between two soldiers with his hands tied before him. He pointed with his bound wrists to the knight, who reined his horse and looked on silently, doing the King's work and Lauder- dale's. " The Lord judge be- tween thee, Uchtrcd Dowall of Garthland, and me that am but his minister in Kirkchrist. The 46 Mad Sir Ucbtred Lord do so to thee and more also. Thou hast made desolate the sweetest roof -tree that reeked in Galloway this day. See that thou come near thine own in peace this night. A greater than thou art ate grass like an ox. Thou hast built Garthland where it shines fair on the brae. But in his time King Nebuchadnezzar built Babylon, that was of marble and greater than many Garth- lands. Yet the Lord laid him full low. Even so shall he do with thee, thou bloody and deceitful man, for the cry of Of the Hills. 47 the mother of my children this day." Sir Uchtred of Garthland pointed with his sword at the minister where he stood, but his tongue gave forth no word of command. For even then the Lord's hand smote him. In a moment he fell from pride, and that in sight of all the peo- ple who had seen him ride to the kirk door. As a strained fiddle-string that snaps, so a chord twanged in his head. He tossed the lilac branch to the roof of the kirk, and so fell to the ground 48 Mad Sir Ucbtred grovelling. His soldiers ran to him to help him, but he struck at them, gnashing his teeth and foaming. His serving-man that was more wicked than himself lifted up his masters head; but Uchtred of Garth- land bit him in the palm till the blood ran from the tips of his fingers. After a little they mastered him and set him on the horse which they had brought to carry the minister. And a fear fell on them all, so that they let Alexander Renfield go, and the cavalcade that had ridden up so bravely moved Of the Hills. 49 slowly away from the kirkyard of Christ's kirk. Then all the people rushed forward to put out the fire upon the green. And Millicent Renfield stood with her children's cradle in her arms and watched the troopers go. Then the people sang, Alexander Renfield leading them : " For His mercies aye endure. Ever faithful, ever sure." But even when they saw as they went the roofs of the New Place of Garthland, which Sir Uchtred had built with the 50 Mad Sir Uchtred fines and exactions of the Whio^s, the word of the Lord by the mouth of Alexander Renfield, whom men called a prophet, fell like a fire-flaught when the thunder gathers on steep Clashdaan. Sir Uchtred, having the power of one pos- sessed with a devil, caught suddenly at the two men that held him on his horse and with the strength of ten he rent them. Then, being filled with an evil spirit, he ran with sur- prising swiftness across the fields, taking burns and deep linns in his stride, and over- Of ibe Hills. 51 leaping rocks and fences as a deer leaps, so that the horse- men were left far behind and could not by any means lay hands upon him. CHAPTER V. TPIE VISIONS OF SIR UCHTRED ON CLASHDAAN. ?#^OT-FOOT he fled un- til over-passing Cree (^ Water, he felt under his feet the ruc^c^ed heather of the easterly hills. The burns roared in his ears. Upon steep Clashdaan he heard the tramp of armed men, which feared him so greatly that he fled, casting his garments abroad in the way as he ran. 52 Mad Sir Ucbtred. 53 From top to top among the uttermost hills Sir Uchtred fled, Hstening ever for the yell of viewless hounds and the cry of questing demons. So it was all the day. The sun of that Sab- bath of judgment rose to its meridian, paused, and sank. It beat upon the throbbing, restless head of the madman who had so lately been Sir Uchtred of Garth- land. Again he rose and fled, leaping from rock to rock like the wild goat on the hill. But God is merciful even in the midst of His just judgments upon the persecutor, for as he 54 Mad Sir Uchtred came to the burn of Cul.sharg, which comes down over broad slats of granite and barren screes of rock, roaring white the while, He caused him to stumble and fall. The madman lay with his head in the cold wash of the water, which cooled his brain yet covered not his mouth. Then the night came. A se- rene and austere coolness settled down on the hills. The world was ver}' full of sweet air to breathe. The bog myrtle, which men name "gall of the hills," gave forth a rare smell, and Sir Uchtred awoke out of his dream. Of the Hills. 55 He sat on the heights of Ben Yellarav, and saw the stillness of an older world towards Enoch. He was mother naked as when God made him, for all his gay war gear was scattered upon the way to Kirkchrist. Yet he was not a-cold. His madman's blood ran too hotly. But he grew so sane that he questioned of him- self how he came thither. In a moment more he had asked him- self why he sat there naked as when he was born, and perhaps in the asking the madness had departed from him. But out of the stillness he 56 Mad Sir Ucbtred heard, as it were, the cry of a young child, and sometimes it seemed like the voice of his boy, Pierce, when he drove his wooden hobby-horses at his play, and sometimes like a bairn of the hill-folk yearning and crying for a father who had never come home — mad Uchtred knew why. Then for the first time was Uchtred the persecutor afraid, and fled, hiding his face in his hands ; but when the child's wail- ing pursued him, he became an- gry and longed to leap upon it to throttle it. For the sound troubled him. Of the Hills. 57 So he turned, and like an ad- der among the heather he ghded towards the spot whence he heard the crying. It was in a bush of heather with great grey stones all about. Sir Uchtred made sure of the spot, for he noted the heather stir as with the rack- ing sobs of the young bairn. Now Sir Uchtred lay very still till the pity of the babe's sorrow caught him by the midriff, and dry sobs rose and rent him in the throat. Then he sprang upon the clump of heather where he knew the child lay concealed, his fingers tense and jerking for the 58 Mad Sir Uchlred grip of strangling. But he only caught the heather and the dry brown bent. Yet, looking up, before him in the midst of a kind of misty light he was aware of a young child, exceeding fair, with a crown of sunlight upon its head, and about its neck a thin, wet, scarlet cord. And a young voice shrilled in his ear, even the voice which he had heard wail in the darkness, and it said : " I am the Babe of Bethlehem whom ye slew ! " And the voice pierced to the dividing of his marrow, so that Of the Hills. 59 great fear fell upon the man who was accursed of God. Yet he could not flee, but sat staring crouched in the heather bush into the which he had sprung; and slowly with the tink- ling of cymbals and the noise of sweet singing the portent melted away. This is the true story of the first vision that Sir Uchtred saw upon Clashdaan. Airain the same nio:ht the madness came on Sir Uchtred and he fled along the shaggy tops of the lonely hills, till on the bare scalp of the Merrick, 6o Mad Sir Uchtred close under the lift with all the other mountains crouched and dwarfed beneath him, he had a vision. He saw himself like Lucifer, Star of the Morning, flash out of the blackness be- tween the tingling points of light, for a moment curve in trailing fire across the firma- ment, and plunge into the lake of eternal fire in which burn for ever all the sins and despairs of the universe. Sir Uchtred sprang to his feet, and there, pinnacled on Mer- rick, he raised his hands to heaven and cried out in a Of the Hills. 6i terrible voice which only God heard : " A fallen star ! a fallen star ! " And this was the second vision of Mad Sir Uchtred of the Hills. Aijain Sir Uchtred saw an- other vision, and it was of a table set with holy bread, and the clean silver cups held the wine of communion. And above the bread was written in letters of blood, " Whoso eatcth and drinketh unworthily is guilty of the body and blood of the Lord." And Sir Uchtred cried with a great and bitter cry, for surely he had eaten and drunken in the 62 Mad Sir Uchtred liouse of God — yea, and borne too the silver cup of the wine as the elders paced slow and solemn to the tables on which the fair linen cloths were laid. And the last vision that Sir Uchtred had was this. It was the Last Day, and he saw the heavens run together as a fiery scroll, and the earth crumpled up and wrapped in the fire as a child's ball is wrapped in a ker- chief. And a voice, very great and mighty, like all the oceans of the world falling into the pit of burning pain, cried to him : " Thou hast refused Christ and Of tbe Hills. 63 persecuted Him. Now shall all the sins of the world be laid on thee and thou shalt bear them all." So before his eyes he saw this great red ball which glowed like molten metal. It waxed in great- ness before his eyes till it swal- lowed up all things. Then it still grew nearer and nearer to him till he felt that it was but wait- inc: to en2:ulf him. And these words were written across it: "THE WRATH AND CURSE OF GOD." And Sir Uchtrcd swooned away for the terror of the vision. 64 Mad Sir Uchtred When he awoke the morning was breaking in the east. The red bars of cloud glowed like a furnace grate. The crest of the Dungeon bristled black against the fire. There was no sound, save a burn soughing somewhere in the hollows of the hills. But above the birds cried in the dewy chill of the sunrising. Sir Uchtred came to himself, and looked about him. It was his hour. It may be that, had he thought on his sweet wife Philippa or his little son Pierce, the evil spirit from the Lord mi^rht have de- Of the Hills. 65 parted from him ; but it hap- pened (though not by chance, as unlearned men say) that his first thoughts fell on that Alex- ander Renfield, who had angered him and defied him. " I shall call my men out quickly and harry the rebel. The loons bide long abed. But an they haste not, I shall rattle their bones for them." So he arose and set his matted and dishevelled hair jauntily, as it had been a cavalier's hat. He tightened the cord at his waist, as thouG:h it were a belt and a great basket-hiltcd brand had 66 Mad Sir Ucbtred swung there. He thrust ghostly pistols within it, and cried the word of command on the lone- some mountain-side as to a troop of horse. Yet all the while he knew not that he was naked, and that his feet were cut by the stones of sharp granite. Now so marvellous are the ways of the Lord, that even at that moment the herd that is in the shieling of the Laggan and Robina his wife declare that on the steep side of Clashdaan they saw a troop of horsemen exercis- ing, and in the midst they clearly Of the Hills. 67 noted a naked man upon a coal- black horse. The troop passed thwartwise over the mountain steep, where not a dog could stand, thrice turned at the word of command, and so rode back with bits clicking and stirrup irons jingling. Upon the sum- mit, ere they passed from sight, their strange leader halted them; with a great roar they shot off their muskets, and so vanished, the smoke of the powder linger- ing long in the clear air. There- after, waiting the space of several minutes, the herd and his wife, thinking it rained, saw their 68 Mad Sir Uchtred hands and the stones about the onstead spotted as with blood, which began softly to fall in broad drops and splashes. The herd set his hand to his lips, and found it sweet to the palate. Therefore he knew that it was the blood of the martyrs. So he and his wife went immediately into their closet, shutting the door, and there fell to their exer- cises, knowing that they had in- deed saen a great marvel. [This is in the original ac- count of these transactions com- piled by order of the United Societies, attested by Alexander Of the Hills. 69 Paton, herd in Laggan Cothouse, and Robina his wife. These two are certified to be respectable and God-fearing people by the minister and session of the So- cieties' meeting-house at Crce Brig.] CHAPTER VI. GIBBIE THE HUNTER CASTS HIS BREEKS. g^ai R UCHTRED WAN TING- WIT set off in the morn- ino; lis^ht all alone over the heather. It was the clear light of the morning, and the man was a fearsome sight with fall- ing upon the slippery rocks and shining screes of the hill- side. Yet he carried himself as though he were riding his troop 70 Mad Sir Ucbtred. 71 down the High Street of Edin- burgh town to be guard to his Majesty at Holyrood House. The wide empty spaces rang with his words of command. He shouted blasphemies if the ghostly squadron did not wheel and halt to his mind. He pointed to this and that Whig's dwelling who should receive a domiciliary visit some fine day, and have his goods routed out and the choice of the Test in his throat or a bullet in his gullet. At last he came where there dwelt a tenant of his own, 72 Mad Sir Uchtred Gibbie Macallister, a rough-rid- ing, swearing blade, and the best shot with a musket in all the countryside. " Bide where ye are ! " cried Sir Uchtred, reining up in front of his troop of phantasy. " I will rout out Gibbie to ride forth with us and keep us merry. We are all as doleful as psalmsingers this brave mornino:." So he went to the rude, low door and knocked with his knuckles cavalierly, thinking them the great iron hilt of his sword. Of the Hills. 73 " Whereaway, Gibbie, you drunken dog ! Rise and ride, or we shall break the door and dowse thee with thy own watercan." There was a stirring within, but no word of opening. " Undo the door, Gibbie, thou sot ! Thou hast been drunk yestreen, without a doubt, and thy greybeard is empty. Though your head be like a red gaud of iron, to ride a-Whig-hunting will do thee good. Open, man ! 'Tis I, Uchtred of Garthland." But tlie man witliin opened 74 M'^id Sir Ucbtred not, nor did Mad Sir Uchtrcd hear any sound ; so he went round the house, and would have thrust his hand and arm inside the narrow and deep-set window, but from within sud- denly a musket cracked, and Sir Uchtred sprang into the air. He clapped his hand to his shoulder, and the red blood sprang between his fingers, though the shot had done no more than touch him, having come as near to missing him as bullet could come and yet take effect. Sir Uchtred fled back to the Of the Hills. 75 braeface and threw himself on the turf by the burnside, moan- ing like a beast when it is hurt. First he bit at the place whence the blood ran ; then, coming a little to himself, he bathed the wound in the burn water that ran through the hollow, and bound it about with withes and soft curled moss. In a moment the madman knew that his visionary troop was gone from him, and that he was wounded and alone. Yet was he but the more dan- gerous; for lie lay in the hollow where he could be seen from 76 Mad Sir Uchtred the narrow window of Gibbie Macallister's cothouse. He dragged himself out of the water as one sore hurt. He bent himself double with simu- lated agony. He threw himself hither and thither as though in grips with death, jerked his hands once or twice, and then lay back, relaxed and still. Yet it was but the cunnino: of the- man-wanting-wit. The wound itself was no more to him than a leech letting an ounce of blood. It was not long before Gibbie of the Langbarns undid the hasp Of the Hills. yy of his door and stole out. He lived alone and did his necessi- ties for himself, without let or help from womankind. Gibbie held his musket pointing with the wide mouth towards the madman, who lay motionless by the well, all fallen together in a heap. Gibbie's mouth was open and his eyes wide with terror as he came near. But Uchtrcd lay as one dead, Gibbie watched him long, but at the last, moved by curiosity, he leaned to turn him over. One of the madman's hands rose stiffly like the sail of a windmill, but as it came round 78 Mad Sir Uchtred to fall it caught at the man's gun. In a moment the madman had sprung to his feet and snatched the musket clear of the man's horrified hand. Gibbie turned to flee, but swifter than he was Sir Uchtred, who had that morn- ing run fleetfoot like a deer over the Glints of Glashdaan. Yet Gibbie fled, inarticulate noises wheezing in his parched throat as he went. But round him circled Uchtred of Garth- land as a gull round a herring- boat, holding his musket in hand, and heading him off from his house and up to the hill. Of the Hills. 79 Each time the pitiable fugitive turned like a hunted hare he found the madman facing him, and the black eye of the musket, which he himself had loaded, looking into his. And he re- membered with terror that he had wadded it with three leaves of the Bible. At last Gibbie could go no further. The rough rider, who had ridden so hardly over the muir folk, came himself to know what it was to be hunted to the death. He sank down on his knees and held out his hands in })itifiil petition. 8o Mad Sir Ucbtred "Base covenanting dog!" cried Uchtred of Garthland. " Set the bandage over thine eyes, for thou shalt die ! " " I am no Covenanter, noble Sir Uchtred, as thou well know- est. I will swear it with great oaths," cried Gibbie the wretched one. " I ken the Whigs can swear. Did they not swear the Cove- nant, and was I myself not there ? It is the praying that I can tell them by. So e'en fall to the praying, sirrah, for your time is short to live." Poor Gibbie was in a perilous Of the Hills. 8i case. Even his enemies had been sorry for him. Pray he could not, yet to die he was mightily unwilling; and also, as one might avouch without uncharity, ex- ceeding ill-prepared. He lifted up his hands in appeal. " O Garthland," he cried, " do ye no mind Gibbie, puir Gibbie, that used to sweer siccan ill words at the dogs that ye lickit him wi' his ain whap for blas- phemy? Ye mind, he aye rade in your front file an' sang braw sculduddery ballants till ye. Gibbie was nae Covenanter — 82 Mad Sir Uchtred na,^ God forbid, never nane. He never prayed ony. The Lord preserve me! Na, nae siccan ploys for Gibbie. Let him aff this time, wise Sir Uchtred, and he'll never again let blaff wi' Broon Bess at ye a' the days o' him." A gleam of irony so grim that it could not be named humour shone in the madman's eye. "Gibbie," he said, "strip, an' ye shall get a bowshot's law; then, gin I grip ye, Gibbie, ye can say, ' Guid e'en ' to this braw world that has used you an' me sae weel ! " Of the Hills. 83 Sir Uchtred sat nursing the musket on his knee, while Gibbie stripped his long blue coat from off him and stood ready for the race. " Noo, Gibbie, ye see yon scroG:g:ie thorn ? " said his mas- ter, quite sanely. " I'll gie ye to there. Then frae that to your ain door cheek your heels keep your head, for gin I catch ye, ye are no better than a dead mankin." " I ken that," said Gibbie, bracing himself bravely for the attempt. I Flinging his bonnet on the 84 Mad Sir Uchtred turf, he set off leisurely at a walking pace towards the little scrunted thorn. " Faster ! " cried the madman, half rising in his place with the musket in his hand. " Na, na ; I ken better than the breathe mysel' ower sune for the race," returned Gibbie. " I hae the safe conduct o' the honour o' Sir Uchtred Dowall of Garthland." " You shall have to the scrog- gie thorn," he said ; " but do not try the honour ower sair." Slowly Gibbie made his way to the tree. Within three yards Of the Hills. 85 of it he stopped and calmly disencumbered himself of his knee-breeks. " Bare shanks baith o' us is fair hornie," he cried, and set off running at the top of his speed. But when the madman rose, something in Gibbie's words, or mayhap something in the sight which he presented skim- mino: over the moor with his bare shanks twinkling under his flying upper garment, caused Sir Uchtred to break into a great fit of laughter, which lasted till Gibbie was safely bar- 86 Mad Sir Ucbtred. ricaded in his little cothouse of Langbarns, with all his domes- tic furniture piled at the back of the door, and his porridge- pot set legs outward in the narrow window and buttressed within with a great weaver's beam. Sir Uchtred set the flintlock upon the ground, and with his heel stamped the musket in two, snapping it like a rotten branch at the breech. Then, as the crying of men came to him upon the wind, he turned and ran like wind in the direction of Clashdaan. CHAPTER VII. WISE HELEN, BABE ISBEL, AND BOY PIERCE. ;T the place of Garth- land in the first days of the falling of the curse there was confusion and deray. To Philippa Forrester, whom Sir Uchtrcd had made a Dowall of Garthland, it seemed that God had taken away her prop and place in life. He had brought her from the convent, and made her a sheltered home 87 88 Mad Sir Uchtred on the leeside of life. She loved him as a woman loves a man who has been her all, and who to her shows himself other and better than he does to the world. At first Philippa could do little but go out on the sandy braes behind the New Place of Garthland and sit in a dell among the rabbits that sported among the young grass. With her there went one day her children, Helen, Isbel, and little Pierce. " Mother," said Helen, who was a girl, slender, like a shoot- ing willow, of the age of seven Of the Hills. 89 years — " mother, why does father not come back to us ? " " He will surely come, child," said the Lady of Garthland. " But why — why does he stay away so long? He does not love us, or he would come home and not let our mother weep," persisted the child. " Helen, you do not under- stand," said her mother. " God has kept your father with Him for a little, but He will surely send him back to Helen and Isbel and to little Pierce, who rides on horseback like a man." "I can ride better than Gib- 90 Mad Sir Ucbtred bie MacalHster, mother ! " said Pierce. "And to you, mother?" said Helen, "for you need him more than we, though you are grown up, for we do not weep." " Do not weep, Httle mother," said Pierce. " I will take care of you, for I am a man. Helen and Isbel are only girls ; but I will fight for you, little mother, for I am Pierce Dowall of Garth- land, and I ride like a trooper already — Uncle Randolph says so ! And when I fall off I do not cry ! " " What does Randolph know Of the Hills. 91 of how a man rides ? " flashed Philippa, fiercely. " Why does he not ride forth to bring Uch- tred home to me ? " Then Isbel, who was the youngest and lisped in the ac- cents of a babe, took up the par- al^le against her mother, for the tender and innocent mercies of children are often cruder than those of the wicked. "God must love our father very much," said little Isbel Dowall. And she patted her mother's liaiid between her two tliat were soft and winsomely dimpled. " A' course He loves our 92 Mad Sir Ucbtred father," said Pierce, indignantly. " Our father is Sir Uchtred of Garthland. A' course God loves him." Isbel looked at her mother. She herself did not mind much what Pierce said. He was always saying something not very wise. It was true he could ride a horse. But, after all, overly much might be made of that, thought both Helen and Isbel. Helen also looked at her mother. " Tell us," she said, "does God love our father very much that He keeps him so long from us } " Of the Hills. 93 Philippa thought of the picture which Randolph had brought to her of the beast-man who couched and ran on the steep side of Clashdaan — the man who for years had lain by her side. She trembled as though a wind were blowing upon her, coming over the downs winged from the bitter east. But she must answer the children, for they were now all w^aiting and looking at her. It was Pierce who helped her out. " Tell them a-course God loves father, else why would He keep him to Himself when He miidit 94 Mad Sir Uchtred send him back to us? Tell them that — girls think of noth- ing but poppets and things to wear." Deep in Philippa's mind there was lying a word which she could not for a little grasp. She remembered it from the lessons in old convent days. Often her mind seemed on the verge of seizing it, and she knew that it would bring her comfort if only she could capture the sense. Yet the words eluded her time and again. This time it was the wise Helen who came to her aid. Of the Hills. 95 " If our father be with God, is the Lord Christ there also ? " Strano'C words these for the house of Garthland, in the court- yard of which but a Httle time ago thirty king's horses champed bit and clattered hoof, and thirty king's troopers swore the oaths of Flanders. Like a flash of the Are which shine th from the east unto the west the words of the text she sought ran athwart the mind of Philippa. " His life is hid with Christ in God ! " she said. The children stood about her 96 Mad Sir Ucbtred with their hands on her knee. They did not understand, but there was comfort in the pleas- ure which beamed in their mother's eyes. " Say that again, mother," said wise Helen, for the delight of seeing the light on her mother's face as she said it. " And you are sure he will come back ? " lisped Babe Isbel. "/ told you before that he would come," declared Pierce ; " and I shall ride to the hunting: with him and have a horse of my own, and a gun and a sword and steel cap, and fight for the king." Of the Hills. 97 " Pierce is a boy, and only thinks of riding," said Helen. " We think of you, mother," said Babe Isbel, looking reproach- fully at Pierce. " And I think of mother as much as you — you — girls ! " Pierce searched for a word of contumely which he could use in his mother's presence, but, not finding one, he put all his scorn into the last word, which indeed contained a fact which neither Helen nor Isbel could gainsay. But wise Plelen took the breeze out of his sails with case and directness. n 98 Mad Sir Uchired " Mother was a girl not so long ago," she said. "And father, he says that she is one still," said Babe Isbel, softly. And they both nodded their heads triumphantly at him. Pierce was at the end of his tether in argument. But he had the weapon of a boy in reserve. He withdrew a step behind his mother, and put out his tongue at his sisters. " Mmm7it ," he cried; "that's what I think of you." " Pierce ! " cried his mother, waking from a reverie at the sound. Of the Hills. 99 But Pierce was already disap- pearing over the hill in the direc- tion of the stables of Garthland. Philippa sighed. Something in her heart spoke to her. She clung to the thought of her husband as she had first known him, ere the evil ambition came upon him. " He will grow up into a man like his father," she said. " I wish he were a man now." For the thought came upon her that she was a widow, and yet not a widow — defenceless and forsaken, yet within a day's journey of her true husband. loo Mad Sir Uc hired. And, even as she spoke, on the side of Clashdaan Mad Sir Uchtred laughed and cried aloud. " Philippa ! " he said. But she did not hear. ;^\}^@.„0£^^ CHAPTER VIII. THE FACE AT THE WINDOW. NWISE and evil as had been Randolph Dowalls wooing of his brothers wife during the time that Uchtred was in hold with them, and sat glooming daily in his study over the gate, with his book in his hand and his eye upon the terrace — of a full certainty no fault could be found with his seemly behaviour when his brother had fled from lOI I02 Mad Sir Uchtred them to dwell with the beasts of the field. He did not even approach his sister, his brother's wife, save by asking her permission through the mouth of a messenger. He compassed her with delicatest observance, and his most familiar discourse was seasoned with the salt of deference and grace. His habit, too, was more sober, and there was now no need to call him " waterfly." But outside he daily strove to take his brother's place in authority and upon the estates, yet without unduly seeming to Of the Hills. 103 put himself forward, till all mar- velled how the stroke that had fallen on the house had changed light-wit Randolph Dowall of Garthland. To Philippa he appeared in the guise of unobtrusive and reliable friend. He was invisi- ble when he was not needed, and yet in an emergency she had only to send a messenger, and Randoljih was waiting in the hall to do her a service. There is no doubt that Ran- dolph believed that he had found the surer way into his brother's regality. And there is a possi- I04 Mad Sir Uchtred bility that he was right. At least it is certain that Philippa grew gradually to trust him and depend upon him, having none other. So that " Let us send for Randolph " became a house- hold word. " Dear Uncle Randolph," said Helen and Isbel. " Boys do not say ' dear ' all day long — only to their mothers when no one is by — but Uncle Randolph is a very proper man ! " For this was boy Pierce's strongest affirmation of excel- lence. He had been wont to use it of his father. Of the Hills. 105 So who shall say that Ran- dolph was not become a wise and prudent man ? So the m.onths slipped and the years came, and the Thing that was a beast and no man still skipped about Clashdaan and cauiT^ht the white mountain- hare, living the while under a stone. And the dew of the night was tliick and chill upon it. Yet, after all, tliis, and not Randolph, was the husband of Pliilippa, Lady of Garthland, and the father of little Pierce, who rode like a man. On a night in November, in io6 Mad Sir Ucbtred the third year of the madness of Sir Uchtred, Randolph, who had so often been called to serve the Lady of Garthland, sent a humble messatre that he would be greatly honoured if the Lady Philippa would deign to receive him for a moment in the hall. There was a certain pleasure in Philippa's heart as she went down, for Randolph had been her friend, sole and faithful, through these years of trial and adversity, and had stood by her and her children with unfailing and unselfish loyalty. The fool- ish past was buried and atoned Of the Hills. 107 for. He had been but a boy, and so she had treated him. In the great hall Randolph waited her. She came down holding her gown in one hand and a great belt clasping her waist, which, like Helen's, was slender, and swayed a little as a willow does in the wind. She was tall, yet one understood at a glance why her children called her ever " the little mother." She wore a dress of dark silk, very soft and rich, but wholly without ornament, and u})on it only the jewelled belt lay like a zone of golden sheen. io8 Mad Sir Uchtred Randolph held his feathered hat in his hand so that the plume swept the floor. Upon them both a great fire, already well burnt, threw red and dancing lights. Three or four candles set high in iron sconces hardly added to or changed the illumination. The Lady of Garthland put out her hand. Over it Randolph bowed low. " Philippa," he said, " it was in my mind to speak with you — to ask your advice, and so I ventured to send a mes- senger. Am I forgiven } " He spoke with a gentle accent, like one that fears a rebuff. Of the Hills. 109 Philippa smiled and said, " Are my owings to you so few that I should be offended when my true brother sends to speak with me ? " It seemed as if at the word " brother " Randolph of Garth- land winced a little, as though a thorn had galled him suddenly. " My lady," he said, looking away from her to the firelight and speaking slow and thought- fully, " I have been of late think- ing many thoughts, and it seems that it were best for me to go away — to take service in foreign parts " " Best to go away," stammered no Mad Sir Uchtred Philippa, seeing herself left with- out a friend and the care of the great place of Garthland upon her unaccustomed shoulders. " Best to go away — best to leave Garth- land and the children " " And you,'' said Randolph, very softly, bending towards her in the fireliG:ht. Philippa recovered herself from her surprise. " Why do you say so ? " she asked, looking straight at him as he stood, a waterfly no longer, but a comely bearded man at the opposite side of the great hall fireplace. Of the Hills. 1 1 1 Randolph was a man experi- enced in such heart matters, and he had thought this thing fully out. He knew when to be bold and when to walk circumspectly. He knew that the time for bold- ness was come. " Philippa," he said, speaking- out, " there is one reason why I should not stay, and that is my love of you, and one reason why I should not go — my love for the children — Helen and Isbel and little Pierce." Now Philij)pa had no love for this man, but he had been a true and loyal friend, and to lose him 112 Mad Sir Uchtred so suddenly was hardly to be borne. She was willing enough that he should devote himself to her service ; she had grown to look upon it as a right ; and be- sides, it was only just that every one should devote himself to the service of the children. A thought struck her. " Ah, do not go — for the sake of the children," she said, "for little Pierce that is growing be- yond my control — do not go ! " Randolph sprang forward in- stantly. He took her by the hand. " Philippa," he said, earnestly, Of the Hills. 1 1 3 and his voice was clear, " I can- not stay only because the chil- dren love me. But, if you will love me, I shall stay." He mistook her startled si- lence for consent, and his arm encircled the great golden belt. " Tell mc," he said, still more earnestly, "where in all the world is the reason why I should not stay } " There was a moment's fateful silence between them, and Phil- ippa swayed like a lily. " HERE! " cried suddenly a terrible voice behind them. 114 Mad Sir Uchtred With one startled instinct they turned, and lo ! at the barred window there appeared, ghastly white even in the red firelight, the face of the mad- man, Uchtred of the Hills, the man-beast of Clashdaan. " Wife and brother," he cried, shaking the bars, "/ am the reason ! " Without a word Randolph Dowall snatched a pistol from his belt and fired at the window, shatterinGf the wooden frame. But the fierce and terrible coun- tenance was gone, and only the echoes of the noise reverberated Of the Hills. 115 through the halls and passages of Garthland. The Lady Philippa walked calmly in the direction of the outer hall door. Randolph, with the smoking pistol still in his hand, caught her by the arm. " Do not go, for your very life," he hissed. " His anger is that of a fiend. He will tear you to pieces." " Take away your liand," she said, scornfully. " You have done me enouLch wronLj. He is my husband." And she opened the door wide and went out on the terrace, ii6 Mad Sir Ucbtred while Randolph ran up into the great tower and barred the door. " Uchtred ! Uchtred ! my husband ! " she cried aloud. But only the night wind of late November wailed in her ear, and mysterious voices from the vacfue moorlands across which it had come made her heart beat with strange terror. She went to the window where the face had been seen. Part of the framework hune: outward, and she could see the fresh white splinter of the v/ood. " Uchtred, my husband, come to me," she cried again. Of the Hills. 1 1 7 Yet was there no sound save the soughing wind all about the lonely house of Garthland. Philippa Dowall, stricken with sudden terror at the silence — she who in that access of sudden alarm had not feared the face of her husband, turned her and fled up the turret stair to the room whence she had watched Uchtred ride away that Sabbath morn. There she threw herself down between the children's cots. The chamber was filled with their sweet and equal breathings. She laid her head on the trundle bed of little Pierce. He moved in ii8 Mad Sir Ucblred. his sleep; he half opened his eyes, said, " Dear little mother ! " and so fell to his sleep again. Then the Lady Philippa prayed, with her head on Pierce's pillow, as she had never prayed in the convent with the good sisters. CHAPTER IX. THE BEAST-MAN. >0 that is the reason that Uchtred, the Beast- Man, sat on Clashdaan and lauG:hed. He smote his thigh and laughed, throwing back his head till his great beard wag- gled against his bare breast. He sat with his feet bent down, and the nails set into the cjround to give him foot-hold, even as a bird turns its claws inward as it sits on a branch. He was naked H9 I20 Mad Sir Uchtred save where about the middle he had girt him with the fell of a deer; but his matted hair and beard clothed much of his body. His legs and arms were seamed and scarred — shrunk to sinew and shank-bone. The frost had opened cracks in them. The dews of night clogged his hair. The red earth of his den on the Wolf's Slock was caked hard upon him. For his food he chased the swift-foot mountain-hare and caught it. He ate his prey quick and quivering, and lay down on the rock to sleep, like the beast that he was — he that had been Of the Hills. 1 2 1 Sir Uchtred of Garthland and lived daintily, loving dalliance upon the cushions of Whitehall. Three years had Mad Sir Uchtred been on the moun- tains, and no man could take him. For when his tenantry came to seek him he ran alomx the edges of the precipices; and, thrusting forward his shaggy head, he mopped and mowed at them like an ape. And ever at his foot as he skipped along the perilous screes ran a grey beast which the common j)eople reputed to be his famihar spirit. Yet it was but a wild cat he 122 Mad Sir Uchtred had found at a rock's foot with a broken limb, and thought to kill for the lust of killing that was in him; yet because it wailed like a child, and because he was lonely, he let it live. So now it followed him like a dog, going but on three legs, trailing one useless at its side. It was, indeed, small wonder that Uchtred laughed. They had chased him two days, and they would chase him three ; for his brother Randolph Dowall reigned in his stead at Garth- land, and he wished to have as- surance in his possessions. So Of the Hills. 123 Randolph sent to the hill to take his brother, and to-morrow he himself was to hunt Clash- daan for Wild Uchtred with the fell bloodhounds that hold the trail. Uchtred opened his arms and beat upon his breast with mirth. He drummed upon the rock on which he sat, kicking it with his heels for wantonness as a child does when the master goes forth from the schoolroom. The wild cat with the wounded leg leapt from its three feet into his lap and nestled there. Uchtred of Garthland caressed it. 124 ^^'^d Sir Uchtred " They chase us, Belus," he yammered. " I am Nebuchad- nezzar, King of Babylon, whom the Jew God hath cursed — sweet Belus, my god." He looked down and spoke to the wild beast in his lap. It watched him with yellow bale- ful eyes. " For thou art my god," he wTnt on. "The Jew God would have me worship Him, but I have profaned His temples and He has cast me out — to eat grass like an ox. So He said ; but thou and I know what is better than grass, and that is Of the Hills. 125 blood — blood, the fresh sweet blood." And the hideous thing in his lap reached upward, fawning on him and rubbino^ its head against his face and mouth. " Sweet Belus, my god," he said, " they will chase us with dogs to-morrow, you and me — great dogs. It will be rare sport. Dost thou mind what we did with the last dogs that came } How I held them and choked them whilst thou hadst thy will of their ]:)ain, for they are thy enemies also, Belus, my god ! To-morrow thou shalt 126 Mad Sir Uchtred hold them that howl at thee — the men that hound them on, for they are my enemies, and I, Nebuchadnezzar, King of Babylon, shall have my will of them." The indigo blue night, wink- ing with stars, bent over Clash- daan. Uchtred, the Beast-Man, went back to his lair in the Hass of the. Wolf's Slock, danc- ing along the fretted pinnacles of the Gcranite as a withered leaf dances in the veering flaw of November. His familiar fol- lowed after, trailing a limb. To see them against the sky was Of the Hills. 127 to believe in devils ; and that is sound and wholesome doc- trine. The cave on Clashdaan was but a fox-earth between two stones ; but it was overgrown with matted heather, and being set on a promontory it was a watch-tower looking three ways over the blue cauldron of the Dungeon of Buchan. Far away in the depths of it, where the winds that were silent above at Clashdaan were sighing, a fire was leaping and sinking. At the door of his earth Uchtred turned and pointed 128 Mad Sir Ucbtred it out to the beast crouching at his feet. " See, Bckis, my god," he said ; " that is the watch-fire of them that hunt us. If thou wilt, Belus, we shall visit it to-morrow, for to-morrow is the dark of the moon. And we shall hunt the hunters ; and then, too, the hounds shall not cry, scenting us afar as they would do if we went to-night, for to- morrow they shall all be dead." So the Wild Man crept into his den, and the beast after him. The man turned him about in the smother of bracken Of the Hills. 129 and heather as a dog does when it couches. The lame wild cat leapt in between his arms and his breast and curled there. And sleep — which is God's equal mystery, like the air and the sunshine, for wild and tame, just and unjust — fell upon them twain. The great wild cat that slept in Mad Uchtrcd's bosom opened an eye when the front of the morning showed over the Range of Kells. It was a glorious promise of sunrise, but the wild beast in the madman's arms heeded it not. What the eye K I30 Mad Sir Uchired of the wild cat lighted upon was a spark of red in the stones — a spark that flitted and ever flitted, yet drew always nearer. It was a weasel among the stones, gazing fascinated at the naked and hairy throat of the wild man, who lay with his head thrown back among the leaves. The beasts saw one another ; but the will of the weasel was to the man, and to the blood that leapt under the skin of his neck. It wormed its way among the stones, rearing a yellow, snaky head, with glit- tering eyes of ruby red, watch- Of the Hills. 131 ing where in the sleeping man the live pulse beat. The wild cat made no sign nor prepared to spring till the weasel had almost set its nose against the neck of Uchtred of Garthland. Then the cat sprang, gripping the slim, snaky back in the middle. The weasel bent like a whip to bite ; but the wild cat snapped it like a rotten stick, and, letting it fall writh- ing, looked about quickly lest the sleeping man should have wakened. The cat cast no further glance at the weasel, beating its life 132 Mad Sir Uchtred out like a trodden worm on the heather, but couched open-lidded at the head of Mad Uchtred of Garthland, watching with yellow- irised eyes the dreams chase themselves across the clouded brain of that man whom God has driven out to eat with the beast of the field. Uchtred of Garthland sat up when the first beam of the sun touched him, straight as a lance laid in rest, over the saddle of Clashdaan. He put his hands, which were wet with dew, to his lips, and licked the moisture. Then he held out his arms. Of the Hills. 133 " Sweet Belus, my god ! " he said. And as the wild beast, traihng a hmb, sprang into his arms, the weasel twisted in pain and bit in agony at its own body. Uchtred set his foot upon it, because he hated its kind. With a great glad- ness to bite once before death came, the small evil beast met its curved teeth in the man's ankle. He jerked his foot and sped it over the cliff to feed the ravens on the Clints of Clashdaan. For evil sometimes slays evil, and Satan's kingdom is divided airainst itself. CHAPTER X. THE WIFE S QUEST ON CLASHDAAN. ^QT was very silent on Clashdaan. Only the winds, the wild birds, and the thunder are ever noisy there. The silence of noonday is almost as solemn and awful as that of midnight. The Lady Philippa was on Clashdaan. She who had come from the convent garden to the wide spaces and flat horizons, the fleecy cloud banks and vast arched sky of 134 Mad Sir Uchtred. 135 Garthland and its pasture lands, wandered afoot over the moun- tains of the Dungeon of Buchan. To the foot of the hill country- she had come ridino: with three of a company. Then, because there was none to say her nay, she had bidden them wait for her, and started alone into the heart of the hills to find her husband. They might have re- strained her from the mad ad- venture. It was not quite the time when servingmen said nay to the commands of so 5' 152 Mad Sir Ucbtred mountain-hare drop into her form, and knew the moment when his hand would tighten about her neck as surely as though he already heard her scream with terror like a babe. It was the day when Randolph Dowall was to hunt his brother. With bloodhound and with swart hill -gypsy the Wild Man was to be run down, for only so could Randolph win to the heri- tasre. Also he desired to wed his brother's wife. At the thought his heart became as water, so greatly did he yearn for her. Randolph knew that in the fair Of tbe Hills. 153 dvvelHns: of Garthland was no security with Uchtred ranging at his wild will on Clashdaan. Dead on the mountain-side he desired to see him, or chained in the madman's cell, where there are ways and means for the accom- plishment of desire. Either was well. So the hunt was up, and from Clashdaan Mad Sir Uchtred saw them come. He marked them track the covert by the burnside and scatter at the first steep rise of the mountain land. The great bloodhounds were held in leash. The common sort scoured the 154 Mad Sir Uchtred hill, raising the hare in their track. A great company of law- less and godless men followed them — such as had often fol- lowed himself when there was a Whig to harry. In the midst, in a blue cloak banded with gold and girt with a sword, Uchtred saw his blood brother; and from his watch- tower he gnashed upon him with his teeth for mingled hate and joy. Overhead the ravens circled and croaked. Uchtred pointed out the hunt- ers to the wild cat in his arms. " Braw work ! " he cried. Of tbe Hills. 155 " Hearken to the corbies crying at the break of day. The hills were red with the sun in the morn. Red the heather shall be or the even. Quick death to the common cattle that are driven to the hunt, but to the brother that hunts the man that moved with him in one mother's side — a slow, slow death, Belus, my god. We shall wait and see the corbies pyke his een, and watch and watch till the hill-fox i^naws his white banes. And hear and hear the cry of the Ijrother that hunts his twin with the dogs of war." And tb.c wild 156 Mad Sir Uc hired cat lipped him as though she understood. "We shall hear him cry, Eelus, my god — cry for death, not for life — for the death that will not come." Uchtred crouched still in his lair on Clashdaan and the hunt circled about him. The dogs had crossed the tracks of the day before and were at a loss, scattering wide for a scent, for Uchtred whom they chased had not stirred from his lair in the Wolf's Slock that morning. He waited till the hunters were scattered over Clashdaan Of ibe Hills. i57 with a great crying that set the whaups circling and the eagles yelling to the tune of the dogs. But when his brother, habited in the blue-and-gold, came near to him, Uchtred sprang up and stood erect on a rock. The wild cat leapt to his shoulder and couched grinning. Then Uchtred of Garthland laughed a rough laugh like the clackin^ of dead men's bones. And the hunt stopped all over the hill. " Welcome, brother," cried the madman, i)()inting at the man in blue. Uchtred Want- 158 Mad Sir Uchtred ing-wit yammered and splut- tered in his rage, and his hate was not Hke the hate of a sane man, but far more terrible. Randolph Dowall blew upon his horn and gave the order to close upon the quarry. Hear- ing his voice, the madman laughed again and cried: " Hast thou brought thy god with thee, Randolph ? See, I have mine," he cried, and from his shoulder the eyes of the wild beast shone fierce and yellow even in the sunshine. " Take him, take him ! alive or dead ! " cried the brother ; Of the Hills. 159 and with good will to gain the reward the huntsmen turned. But swifter than the moun- tain-hare, circling and sweeping like a bird, fled the fleet-foot Wild Man. Now bent double on the steep garries, erect on the level stretches, or headlong down the precipices, the mad- man sped. He ran unscathed on the points of flinty rocks. He skimmed the green swelter of the bottomless shaking bogs. He returned upon his accusers, and mocked them, gibbering at them like the wikl thing that sat immovable upon his shoulder. i6o Mad Sir Uchtred Once he met a bloodhound face to face and sprang over it, speeding away ere the lumber- ins: beast could turn. Thus he played with the hunters by the hour. They shot with their muskets bullets of lead and buttons of silver at him, and the marks- men said that they could see them hopping off him like hail from a roof of tiles. So the day spent itself, while all about the hill was a great crying and the hunt was up. For the reward was doubled every hour and the men kept Of the Hills. i6i on. Randolph Dowall cried loud his orders, and overhead the corbies cried also. Once more there came a shouting, and Randolph saw the group collect that told him that something at last was found. He hastened thither, and there amonGf the heather was the best of his bloodhounds, with the head bent back loose and limp on his body. So one and another was found ; but Ran- dolph, playing his last cast for Garthland and the lady of it, hunted Clashdaan till he hunted it alone. The star oi eve was M 1 62 Mad Sir Ucbtred. looking out when on the side of the Black Garry, where peril- ously the grey stones are poised, his foot set a boulder rolling and he fell. Headlong he fell till he was caught in a cleft and the stone fell upon his leg. He heard the sharp grind of bones that snap, and the life within him seemed to crack like a matchlock at the back of his ear. CHAPTER XII. BROTHER AND BROTHER. ^'J^lf HEN Randolph Dowall awoke there was a i) mighty stillness. The hills were grey dark, and he heard no sound except the rush of a waterfall very far away. Ran- dolph Dowall wondered where he was. Then he remembered that he was on the side of Clashdaan with a broken leg. The stars were winking above, and his eyes grew accustomed to the dim light. 1 03 164 Mad Sir Uchtred He was wet with the dew and he shivered. He lay in a cleft between two deep walls of rock, and he looked up the chasm through which he had fallen. There was a spark of steady fire there. In a little he saw two. He could not take away his eyes. A grey shape grew slowly out of the darkness. Randolph Dowall saw the mat- ted locks, the naked arms, the twisted limbs of his mad brother ; and on his shoulder a black and horrible beast with glowing eyes. Randolph moved his body as though he would have fled from Of the Hills, 165 the horror. He prayed that God might take him quick to hell, and hide him far away from the face of the brother whom he had hunted with hounds and whose wife he had coveted and tempted. He tried to speak, but his tongue was a stick and clove to the roof of his mouth. He tried to pray ; but the fiery eyes set steadily, on him in the darkness of Clashdaan sucked his heart empty of prayer. That there was no pity for him in the universe, he knew. So the brothers watched one another the night through, silent, in the hate of each other, on Clashdaan 1 66 Mad Sir Uchtred where it is very silent. Only a raven hopped about and whetted a great beak, sharp as a pick, upon the dark rocks. Then at last Uchtred of Garth- land crawled nearer and looked into his brother's soul ; and it was to Randolph Dowall as though Death himself had low- ered a bony face beside his own and looked him in the eyes. " Uchtred," he pleaded, win- ning to speech at last in his despair, " do you remember that you and I ran about the braes together ? " But the madman only laughed, Of ibe Hills. 167 a laugh terrible and derisive, and below one of the dying blood- hounds lifted up his head and howled. This Randolph took for answer. He had hunted his brother with doijs. Then the pain of his crushed leg was so great that Randolph had cried aloud, but that he was afraid of the raven with the beak of steel. " Uchtred," he said again, "think of the wife who has lain in your bosom, and waits you now at Garth! and. Have i^ity." And the Wild Man crept nearer to his brother till he was i68 Mad Sir Uchlred squatted, a hideous shape, at his very head. And then there came to Randolph a memory of how he had tried to win that brother's wife from her alle- Q:iance, followinQ- her in bower and hall, compassing her with observance, that he might win to his brother's seat and lie in his brother's bed. And beneath them the wounded dog howled again for answer. " The little children — the bairns at Garthland — Helen and Isbel, and Pierce that rides on a horse like a man, have Of I be Hills. 169 you forgotten them, Uchtred, my brother ? " So hopelessly and pitifully he tried to rouse the madman to mercy. But the rather he an- gered him instead. He reached out a cold and clammy hand to his brother's throat. Randolph shuddered as the wet and hairy hand clutched at him, plucking at his throat. It was like a beast's claw. For a moment his life wavered in the balance like an aspen leaf on an October gos- samer, for the spirit of the wild beast on his shoulder had en- tered into Uchtred the madman. 170 Mad Sir Uchircd But he withdrew his hand, for in the darkness far down he heard a bell ring. He lifted his head and listened. Yes, he heard it ; he — Mad Uchtred of Garthland. It was a sweet church-bell. When had he heard it — surely long ago, in another life } It was the church-bell at Kirkchrist, and he heard his mother's voice calling him from his play, " Come, Uchtred ; come, Randolph ! Be ready to go to the house of God in company." So wild Sir Uchtred with- drew himself from his brother a little way and sat on a knoll Of tbe Hills. 171 to think over the matter. It was not possible to hear the rin2:inor of the Kirkchrist bell from the steeps of Clashclaan. The grey inconceivable night swarmed about him with voices. The hounds of hell gave tongue in his brain. " Kill him ! " they cried ; " he is in thy power. He hunted thee with dogs. He sought to take thy heritage and thy wife — to dispossess thy children." The beast on his shoulder lipped him in a wild caress and put the yearning of her fierce blood into him. 172 Mad Sir Ucbired But ever through the sweet stinging thoughts of his brother's life, ebbing under his hands, as that of the hounds had ebbed that day, there came hindering him the sweet bells of Christ's Kirk of Machermore ; and the voice of a mother called her lit- tle lads from the playing-fields: " Uchtred ! Randolph ! come hither to me." And for a mo- ment in the madman's eyes some- thing other than madness woke. The wild cat leapt from his shoulder and prowled restlessly up and down, trailing a limb. Her head was low down to the Of the Hills. 173 o-round. She went and snuffed at the wounded man's face. "Belus," cried Uchtred of Garthland, quickly, " come hither ! " But first the beast laid a broad foot like velvet on the neck of Randolph, and throudi the velvet like a circle of steel points he felt the un- sheathed claws. The three- pointed scarlet mark stood out ever after on the paleness of his skin. Apart on a knoll Mad Uch- tred sat, and the universe worked turbidly about him and within. Sometimes he heard the thunder 174 Mad Sir Uchtred rattle, and anon it changed into the thinner noise of musketry. He was giving the order to fire. The hill folk were kneeling on the brown bent with the nap- kins about their eyes. Then he heard a loud silence, and through the thunder-cloud the face of very God looked throuo;h to see Uch- tred Dowall's handiwork dabbled with something dark, lying on the heather where the martyrs had fallen. And Uchtred of Garthland for the first time un- derstood some part of his pun- ishment. Before him the lame beast Of the Hills. 175 prowled restlessly and trailed a limb. At his feet, a little way off, his brother moaned without hope. Yet in a moment the ereat thunder-cloud of his black life rolled itself up like a scroll, and passed away in burning fire. The clear spaces of the heavens brightened with a calmer radi- ance. He saw his brother's face nearer. It was grey and pallid like the face of a man upon his bier. It made him think of his father stretched out as he had seen him with the corpse-lights burnino- about him. He had not thought Randolph like his father 1^6 Mad Sir Uchtred before, but the likeness came out plainly now. The heavens spread a great clearness over his head. The stars vv^ithdrew themselves fur- ther from him. The day-break grew more conspicuous. The wild, maimed beast prowled fur- ther off. Again he heard the church-bells ring, and his moth- er's voice callino: as from the sky, " Uchtred! Randolph! come hither to me." His brother lay beneath him in the clear morn- ing — the brother that had hunted him; and, lo! he did not hate him any more. He looked Of the Hills. 177 about for Belus ; but the wild thins: had left him and he was O alone with his brother, and with such thoughts of his mother as he had not thought for years. Wild Uchtred came nearer to his brother. There was a great stone crushing his leg as it had bruised it all night. Randolph lay back with his eyes closed — white as though already in the sleep of death. Uchtred set his streno-th to the stone and dis- lodged it easily as a child's ball. It went bounding down the gorge, and the echoes clashed upwards. His brother's broad hat had N 178 Mad Sir Ucblred fallen aside and lay on the heather. Uchtred took it and filled it at a spring among the rocks. Then he came again and gave his brother to drink. He took a hunting-knife and cut away his brother's foot-gear. The foot swung loose and soft, but swollen and discoloured. There came back to Sir Uchtred some of his ancient skill as a leech. He took his brother's foot in both his hands, moving it from side to side. Randolph Dowall moaned with the access of pain, and the face of him twitched. Of the Hills. 179 With a sudden access of determination, Uchtred set his knee to the rock and pulled. The joint shot back with the noise of a pistol snapping, and his brother gave a lamentable cry. But the madman had set the limb. Thus the heart of the man whom they had counted a beast and hunted with dogs awoke to pity. He laid his brother's head higher, and wove strips of the torn clothing which he had cut from the limb for a bandai^e for the wound. Then he pillowed his brother's head upon a bundle i8o Mad Sir Ucbtred. of heather, that it might rest more easily. And ever in his head rang the bells of Macher- more, and the voice of his mother cried to him, " Uchtred ! go thou and heljD thy brother to rise, for he is fallen." CHAPTER XIII. WHERE A LITTLE CHILD SHALL LEAD. ^¥/vi#ND Mad Sir Uchtred Sabbath morn, and he knew not where to go. Over the moor and the hill he sped him, till he found himself by the little church of Kirkchrist, near the side of the water of Cree — for in the three years that Uchtred had been a beast upon the i»i 1 82 Mad Sir Uc hired mountains the curse of the Stuarts had passed away. There once was as^ain a sound of sweet singing in the kirk, with no man to make the wor- shippers afraid. Uchtred came near, and sat with his face be- tween his hands. He caught the words clearly. They God is our refuge and our strength, In straits a present aid ; Therefore although the earth remove, We will not be afraid. They were the very words he had heard ere he had ridden Of the Hills. 183 into the kirk of Kirkchrist. Alexander Renfield was again in his own pulpit. He had opened that which he had closed, and which none had en- tered since the day on which he laid his arrestment upon the pul- pit door and the curse of God fell. God had indeed been the refuge and the strength of his people; and though some had died with the bandages about their eyes, and some looking into the belching mouths of the muskets, yet they had not been afraid. But they were far more afraid 1 84 Mad Sir Uchtred that day when they told Alexan- der Renfield that the mad perse- cutor was without, sitting with his head between his knees. " The Lord hath bowed him," said Alexander Renfield; "per- haps He hath brought him here this day that his devil may be cast out. All things are possi- ble to God. Our God is a strong Lord." They told him that none dared to go near. " Let us sing the songs of David," he said. " It may be that as the evil spirit left Saul at the sound of the harp of Of the Hills. 185 David, so he may flee away from the singing of the holy psalm." So they sang sweet songs of repentance and return, to old tunes which Uchtred of Garth- land had sung when he was an innocent boy and went to the house of God with his mother. Then they sang the song which every child in Scotland learns first, and every Scottish ancient dies with upon his lips : The Lord's my shepherd, I'll not want ; He makes me down to lie In pastures green ; he leadeth me The quiet waters by. 1 86 Mad Sir Ucbtred Then they told Alexander Renfield that they heard the madman weeping like a lost soul an hour after the Doom is sealed. " God is loosening his chains," said the preacher, " and break- ing his bands in sunder. Let us pray." And all the people stood and prayed with bowed heads. A tremor passed over them all when they saw Uchtred of Garthland, whom yesterday the hunters had hunted with dogs, fling up his hands above his head and fall prone on the earth. Of the Hills. 1S7 " Bide ye here," said the minis- ter ; " I will go to him and speak with him." But they pled on him not to do the thing ; for they said, " Surely he will turn and rend thee." But Alexander Renfield put them aside, saying, " God has bidden me. His servant, go to speak with the man whom He hath cursed." So he went towards the madman ; but when Uchtred saw him come he rose up and fled away with exceed- ing swiftness. So the minister turned him 1 88 Mad Sir Uchtred about and came back. " We have not prayed enough. Our faith is weak. Let us return to our solemn exercises," he said. Then it came to Alexander Renfield from the Lord that they should send for the Lady of Garthland. And so they brou2:ht her from the meetinsf- house where by stealth and hood-winking permission they still held prelatic services. Philippa came leading babe Isbel in her hand, and wise Helen walked sedately by. But Pierce ran on before. When she came and saw her Of the Hills. 189 husband, she laid her hand on her heart to still it, and said to the people, " Sing again to him, and I will lead you in the psalm which I taught the children." So as^ain there arose the sweet sound of singing in that wild place ; and, as though drawn by the bands of a man, Uchtred of Garthland again drew near. Then the Lady Philippa took Pierce by the hand to bid him go to his father and take him by the hand. " Little Pierce," she said, " my son — go thou and take by the iQo Mad Sir Uchired hand that man who sits naked on the brae, girt about with skins, and lead him hither. He is thy father ! " And the people cried on her bitterly, saying, " He will assuredly kill the child and tear him to pieces." But the child's mother, though her heart yearned over her first- born son, who was even yet but a babe, turned and rebuked them, saying, " Let the child do his mother's will and God's. Who are ye to say the Almighty and Philippa Dovvall nay ! " For her husband was to her Of the Hills. 191 only less than her God. Some- times she prayed that he might indeed be less. So little Pierce Dowall, who was five years old and had never known fear, went to obey his mother. It was a little thing to bid a man rise up and come to his mother, while all stood afar off and waited to see what the end would be. The boy went slowly, looking briskly up the while to see the man he was to brins:. Uchtred lifted his head and was staring at the lad through the matted locks upon his head and the 192 Mad Sir Uchtred wilderness of his beard. He half rose to flee. But little Pierce Dowall waved his hand and cried to him, " Do not be afraid, poor man. I will give you my hand and not hurt you at all ! " So, though he was truly greatly afraid, Uchtred of Garthland waited. The little one came close up to him, and put out his hand. He took it and stood up his own man again, and God's, because his own little child had taken him by the hand. " Now come with me ! " Pierce said ; and, like one who obeys Of the Hills. 193 without questioning, he followed. Then when he saw him come, the minister caught up his great cloak, which he had used to wrap about himself in the hill caves, and went forward to meet Uch- tred. When Pierce came lead- ins: the man that had been mad and accursed, Alexander Renfield threw the great cloak about his shoulders. Then taking him by the other hand and coming near to the people he said, " Let us pray ; " and all the people stood up to pray. Only Pierce kneeled because he was but a little child, and with him in the midst kneeled 194 Mad Sir Ucblred Sir Uchtred of Garthland, and Philippa his wife sank on her knees beside him and set her wifely arm about his neck. And when she arose the evil spirit from the Lord had gone out of him. His tongue was loosed, and twelve strong men were sent to bring his brother home from off Clashdaan. Then they all fell on his neck, kissing and weeping — all save his little son Pierce, who said, " Now shall my father ride with me, and I shall be his com- panion." Now Philippa lived long and happily with Uchtred, 1^ Of the Hills. 195 and he was a wise man and great in the land, though he never loved the Whigs or the Dutch. And his wife never thought that she had done any great thing. But God knew, and also Uchtred of Garthland, whom they had hunted with dogs in the wild places of Clash- daan. yUST PUBLISHED. A NEW NOVEL. THE WINGS OF ICARUS. Being the Life of one Emilia Fletcher, as revealed by herself in I. Thirty-five Letters written to Constance Norris be- tween July i6, 188-, and March 26 of the following year. IL A Fragmentary Journal. IlL A Postscript. BY LAURENCE ALMA TADEMA. ISmo. Cloth, gilt top. Price SI. 25. " It is a study of the inner workings of the human heart, and if the motives of a soul were ever laid bare, it has been done in ' The Wings of Icarus.' ... A good story, told in an intensely natural and interesting manner." — Provi- dence News. " In ' The Wings of Icarus,' Laurence Alma Tadema has given us a book which, for its literary excellence and for its exquisite pen coloring and finish in evei-y detail, is as artistic a piece of work as ever her distinguished father has produced with his brush." — Boston Hotne Journal. " It is at once delicate and forcible, and holds in its story a depth of passion whose expression is yet kept within the limits of a true refinement." — Philadelphia Eve/iitig Bulletin. " It is exquisite in style, spontaneous and well-sustained in movement." " It is a story of Italian coloring, delicately suggestive, artistic rather than strong, dreamy rather than aggressive." — Chicago Eziening Post. MACMILLAN & CO., 66 Fifth Avenue .... New York. SECOND EDITION. THE RAIDERS. Being Some Passages in the Life of John Faa, Lord and Earl of Little Egypt. BY S. R. CROCKETT, The Stickit Minister, and S( Men." ISmo. Cloth. $1.50. Author of " The Stickit Minister, and Some Common Men." "A delightful tale of love and adventure." — A'^. Y. Times. " He has written a story of really absorbing interest." — Churcluniin. " ' The Raiders ' vibrates with sufficient dramatic action for a dozen ordinary novels. We are swept breathlessly on from one exciting situation to another; while through- out the story runs a vein of heedlessness and reckless daring that intensifies the boldness of the effect." — Outlook. " The author shows a keen sense of humor, complete mastering of the Scottish dialect peculiarities, and a most bold and picturesque sense of dramatic eftect, with a power and vividness in the delineation of character rarely found in a writer so gifted in the narration of tales of swift, dra- matic movement, and a literary skill rare in writers of any class." — A'^. Y. Comniercinl Advertiser. BY THE SAME AUTHOR. THE STICKIT MINISTER, AND SOME COMMON MEN. Second Edition. i2mo. Cloth. Uniform with " The Raiders." Price »1.50. " There are delicious bits of portraiture here and there in these stories — sometimes a mere touch, but always origi- nal and vital." — Boston Daily Traveller. " Full of a dry, delicious humor are they, with here and there a depth of pathos that is all the more effective because of its lucid simplicity and the quietness and dignity of its sorrow." — Chicago Evening Post. MACMILLAN & CO., 66 Fifth Avenue, New York. i DATE DUE i CAYLORD PRINT EO IN U S A {y UC SOUTHERN RFGinNAL LIBRARY FACILITY AA 000 606 885 2 ^e^' tttaiirt ■.t