Part 17 (1/2)

”'I thank you,' he says at last. 'I thank you all, my men, for your good will. We have done well together in the past, and we'll do better in time to come. I will prove to the rebel folk o' this land that Gilbert Burnet will make them obey.'

”'Faith, Gilbert,' says Maister Veitch, 'hae ye no the grace to speak o'

your verra guid friend? I think ye're beholden to me for a hantle o'

your success.'

”The Captain looks at him wi' a glint o' guid humour. 'No more, Michael,' says he, 'than the cook owes to the scullion. You do my dirty work.'

”'Dirty work, quotha,' cried Maister Veitch, who was hot and fl.u.s.tered with wine. 'I wouldna tak that from any other than yoursel', Gilbert, and maybe no from you.'

”'Take it or not, just as you please,' said the Captain, scornfully.

'It's no concern o' mine.'

”This angered the other, and he spoke up fiercely:

”I am of as guid blood as yoursel', Gilbert Burnet. Is a Tweeddale gentleman no as guid as a bit westland lairdie?”

”'Faith, that is too much,' says the Captain. 'Michael, I'll make you answer for this yet.' So he sat with lowered brows, while Maister Veitch, to a' appearance, had forgotten the words he had spoken.

”In a little the Captain dismisses the men to their sleeping-quarters, and the pair were left alone, save for mysel', whae being in the dark shadows near the door escaped the sicht o' a'. The two gentlemen sat at the board eyeing each other with little love. By and by Gilbert speaks.

”Ye called me a bit westland lairdie no long syne, Maister Veitch, if ye'll be remembering.'

”The ither looks up. 'And what if I did?' says he. 'Is't no the fact?'

”'That it's no the fact I have a d.a.m.ned good mind to let you see,' says the ither.

”Michael looks at him askance. 'This is a gey queer way to treat your friends. I've done a' in my power to aid you in a' your pliskies. I've turned clean against the Laird o' Barns, who never did me ony ill, a'

for the sake o' you. And forbye that, I've done what I could to further your cause wi' my sister, who is none so well inclined to you. And this is a' the thanks I get for it, Gilbert?'

”I saw by the dour face o' the Captain that he was mortal thrawn.

”'And a' the thanks ye are likely to get,' says he. 'Is't no enough that a man o' my birth and fame should be willing to mate wi' one o'

your paltry house, a set o' thieves and reivers wi' no claim to honour save the exaltation o' the gallows-rope? Gad, I think it's a mighty favour that I should be so keen to take the la.s.s from among you.'

”'By Heaven, that is too much to swallow!' said Maister Michael, as some sparks o' proper feeling rose in him at last; and he struggled to his feet.

”The Captain also rose and looked at him disdainfully.

”'What would you do?' said he.

”'This,' said the other, clean carried wi' anger; and he struck him a ringing lick on the face.

”Gilbert went back a step, and (for his honour I say it) kept his wrath doun.

”'That's a pity,' says he; 'that was a bad action o' yours, Michael, as ye'll soon ken. I'll trouble ye to draw.'

”I hae felt vexed for mony folk in my life, but never for yin sae muckle as puir Maister Veitch. He reddened and stumbled and plucked his sword from its sheath. He was dazed wi' wine and drowsiness, but his enemy made nocht o' that.