"And beheading for thee, so I care not whether we surrender to-night or a week hence."
"You play but ill the jovial desperado," said the Castellan with contempt, as he turned from him.
"Yet he fights for his own hand and commoditie, as Hal o' the Wynd fought," said the abbot of Tongland.
"I am weary of this," exclaimed Sir Patrick Gray; "coward, will you not advance to meet me?"
"And fight with a flag of truce flying; I am not so ignorant of the rules of war," replied Achanna, who felt that the crowd of brave and reckless men about the castle-gate viewed him with derision; "My courage has never failed me, sirs, though I knew the fate in store for me, as—as——"
"As what, fellow?" demanded Lauder.
"A follower of the conquered Douglas and his outlawed adherents."
"Conquered—outlawed!" muttered those who heard him.
"Well, sir, doth not that breach in the castle wall look as if we shall soon be the first, as surely as we are the second."
"Jibing villain," exclaimed Lauder, "beware lest I spare the doomster all trouble, by passing my sword through thee!"