"What want you here, Allan Kerr?" Archie said.
"I came in search of you, little traitor," young Kerr replied angrily.
"Here I am," Archie said; "why don't you come and take me?"
Allan saw that the number of the defenders of the gate exceeded that of his own party, and there might, for aught he knew, be more within.
"I will take you tomorrow," he said.
"Tomorrow never comes," Archie replied with a laugh. "Your father thought to take me yesterday. How is the good knight? Not suffering, I trust, greatly either in body or temper?"
"You shall repent this, Archibald Forbes," Allan Kerr exclaimed furiously. "It will be my turn next time."
And turning his horse he rode off at full speed, attended by his followers.
"We had best start at once, Master Archie," Sandy Graham said: "it is eight miles to the Kerrs' hold, and when Allan Kerr returns there you may be sure they will call out their vassals and will be here betimes in the morning. Best get another cart from the village, for your men are weary and footsore, seeing that since yesterday even they have been marching without ceasing. Elspie will by this time have got supper ready. There was a row of ducks and chickens on the spit when I came away."
"That were best, Sandy. Do you see to their comforts, and aid my mother pack up such things as she most values, and I will go myself down to the village for the cart, for I wish to speak with some there."