"I'll soon find out."
"What was the signal agreed upon?" whispered Gray.
"This," replied the other, discharging a hand-gun the air,
Almost immediately afterwards, two sparks appeared about half-a-mile off; they brightened fast, and then two pale blue lights were seen burning close to the edge of the water.
"'Tis the Harry! Give way, Jamie—give way, Borthwick!" said Sir Patrick. The oars dipped into the water, and the sharp-prowed boat shot over the waves towards the lights, which soon faded away and expired. The night was now intensely dark, for not a vestige of moon was visible; but soon a noise was heard above the incessant dashing of the sea. It was like the flapping of a sail; and then one faint blink of moonlight, as it broke through an opening in the clouds, showed, close by, a large and high-pooped vessel coming suddenly to the wind, as if the watch had descried the boat upon the water; and this proved to be the case, for almost immediately, a voice in English cried out,
"Boat, a-hoy!"
Gray, who answered the hail, and held the tiller, passed the fisher boat under the towering stern of the English ship, and sheering sharply round on her larboard side, the little craft was soon made fast; but Jamie was commanded to remain in her, while Sir Patrick Gray, Borthwick, and the third personage, who proved to be no other than Sir James Shaw of Sauchie, governor of Stirling, were introduced to the state-cabin, where, with some reluctance, we are compelled to accompany them.
CHAPTER IX.
THE BANE OF SCOTLAND.
"By Chericul's dark wandering streams.
Where cane-tufts shadow all the wild;
Sweet visions haunt my waking dreams
Of Scotland, loved while still a child;
Of castled rocks stupendous piled,
By Esk or Eden's classic wave,
When loves of youth and friendship smiled,
Uncursed by thee, vile yellow slave!"
LEYDEN: The Gold Coin