CHAPTER XX. Now have you reft me from my staff, my guide, Of comrade and of counsel. Old Play. IN the grey of the next morning's dawn, there was a loud knocking at the gate of the hostelry; and those without, proclaiming that they came in the name of the Regent, were instantly admitted. A moment or two afterwards, Michael Wing-thewind stood by the bedside of our travellers. "Up! up !" he said, "there is no slumber where Murray hath work ado." Both sleepers sprung up, and began to dress themselves. "You, old friend," said Wing-the-wind to Adam Woodcock,"must to horse instantly, with this packet to the Monks of Kennaquhair; and with this," delivering them as he spoke, "to the Knight of Avenel." "As much as commanding the monks to annul their election, I'll warrant me, of an Abbot,” quoth Adam Woodcock, as he put the packets into his bag," and charging my master to see it done-To hawk at one brother with another, is less than fair play, methinks." "Fash not thy beard about it, old boy," said Michael, "but betake thee to the saddle presently; for if these orders are not obeyed, there will be bare walls at the Kirk of Saint Mary's, and it may be at the Castle of Avenel to boot; for I heard my Lord of Morton loud with the Regent, and we are at a pass that we cannot stand with him anent trifles." "But," said Adam, "touching the Abbot of Unreason what say they to that outbreak ?—An they be shrewishly disposed, I were better pitch the packets to Satan, and take the other side of the Border for my bield." 66 "O, that was passed over as a jest, since there was little harm done.-But, hark thee, Adam," continued his comrade, "if there was a dozen vacant abbacies in your road, whether of jest or earnest, reason or unreason, draw thou never one of their mitres over thy brows-The time is not fitting, man!—besides, our Maiden longs to clip the neck of a fat churchman." "She shall never sheer mine in that capacity," said the falconer, while he knotted the kerchief in two or three double folds around his sun-burnt bull-neck, calling out at the same time, "Master Roland, Master Roland, make haste! we must back to perch and mew, and thank heaven, more than our own wit, with our bones whole, and without a stab in the stomach." 66 "the page Nay, but," said Wing-the-wind, goes not back with you, the Regent has other employment for him.” "Saints and sorrows!" exclaimed the falconer"Master Roland Græme to remain here, and I to return to Avenel !—Why, it cannot be the child cannot manage himself in this wide world without me, and I question if he will stoop to any other whistle than mine own; there are times I myself can hardly bring him to my lure." It was at Roland's tongue's end to say something concerning the occasion they had for using mutually each other's prudence, but the real anxiety which Adam evinced at parting with him, took away his disposition to such ungracious raillery. The falconer did not altogether escape, however, for, in turning his face towards the lattice, his friend Michael caught a glimpse of it, and exclaimed, "I pr'ythee, Adam Woodcock, what hast thou been doing with these eyes of thine? They are swelled to the starting from the hool!" "Nought in the world,” said he, after casting a deprecating glance at Roland Græme, “but the effect of sleeping in this d-d truckle without a pillow." 66 Why, Adam Woodcock, thou art grown strangely dainty," said his old companion; " I have known thee sleep all night with no better pillow than a bush of ling, and start up with the sun, as glegg as a falcon; and now thine eyes resem ble 66 Tush, man, what signifies how mine eyes look now ?" said Adam" let us but roast a crab-apple, pour a pottle of ale on it, and bathe our throats withal, thou shalt see a change in me." "And thou wilt be in heart to sing thy jolly ballad about the Pope," said his comrade. 66 Ay, that I will," replied the falconer," that is, when we have left this quiet town five miles behind us, if you will take your hobby and ride so far on my way." 66 Nay, that I may not," said Michael—“ I can but stop to partake your morning's draught, and see you fairly to horse-I will see that they saddle them, and toast the crab for thee, without loss of time." During his absence the falconer took the page by the hand-" May I never hood hawk again," said the good-natured fellow, " if I am not as sorry to part with you as if you were a child of mine own, craving pardon for the freedom-I cannot tell what makes me love you so much, unless it be for the reason that I loved the vicious devil of a brown galloway nag, whom my master the Knight called Satan, till Master Warden changed his name to Seyton; for, he said, it was over boldness to call a beast after the King of Darkness" 66 And," said the page, "it was over boldness in him, I trow, to call a vicious brute after a noble family." 66 Well," proceeded Adam, "Seyton or Satan, I loved that nag over every other horse in the stable-There was no sleeping on his back—he was for ever fidgetting, bolting, rearing, biting, kicking, and giving you work to do, and may be the measure of your back on the heather to the boot of it all. And I think I love you better than any lad in the castle, for the self-same qualities.". 66 Thanks, thanks, kind Adam. I hold myself bound to you for the good estimation in which you hold me." "Nay, interrupt me not," said the falconer"Satan was a good nag-But I say I think I shall call the two eyasses after you, the one Roland, and the other Græme; and, while Adam Woodcock lives, be sure you have a friend-Here is to thee, my dear son." Roland most heartily returned the grasp of the hand, and Woodcock, having taken a deep draught, continued his farewell speech. There are three things I warn you against, Roland, now that you are to tread this weary world without my experience to assist you. In the first |