“I’ve come a’ these lang miles, me laddie, and I’m no’ gaeing back wi’out takking possession. Noo, ance mair, will ye open the gates?”
“No.”
“Then we must break them in.”
“Mind we don’t break your head in, then, that’s all.”
“If ye daur!”
“Oh, we daur. Don’t we, Scood?”
“Oh ay,” roared the young gillie.
The bailiff walked back to his men, whispered a few orders, and then turned once more to Kenneth, who was standing now well in sight on the crumbling battlements, with Max by his side.
“Noo, my laddie, let’s hae a’ this bet o’ besness settled doucely. Ye’ll come doon and open the gates?”
“No surrender!” cried Kenneth.