"And so thou wilt. Come near," said Scott. "Listen. I know that the prince wishes to get out of the hands of Angus, and I wish to undo the grasp—understand ye."
"But an thou fail our heads may lick sawdust," replied Heiton. "Good-by."
"When wilt thou return?" cried Scott after him.
"I will tell thee when I know what's o'clock at Darnick," was the reply.
And Heiton spurred on more hastily than ever, and never lifted rein or rested heel till he was at his own tower.
"What's brought ye here, man, when the king needs thee?" said his wife, when he entered. "Thou look'st as if the king's headsman were after thee, and not thou after his enemies. Saw ye my messenger?"
"I did, Jessie," replied he; "but there's one wheel within another wheel, and one within that."
"And thou'st lost thy wits among wheels, and may even lose thy head under an axe."
"And 'tis because I fear that I am here," he said, "to tell thee thou'rt wrong, lass. Scott wants only to free the king from the hands of the Douglas. What am I to do? I am placed between the horns of a dilemma. If I go with the king, I go against him, and may see the Heading Hill at Stirling; if I go with Scott, I go against Douglas, and may lose my head even before I get there."
"A woman's wits are like her palfrey," said the wife—"go quickest when hardest pressed. Get thee back for the men, and come here to Darnick as fast as spurs can drive thee. There's no fear of your being suspected of a want of loyalty, for Douglas does not know that Scott is at the back of Hallidon; but hark ye, keep out of Scott's path, for he has a trick of keeping live stock when they come in his way."