Shouts and threats followed him, but he paused not till he reached the top of the ascent; then he unfastened Hector's collar, and the dog, relieved from the chain which had so long restrained him, bounded away with a deep bay in pursuit of his master, whose scent was now strong before him.

As Archie looked back, the four knights and their followers, in single file, were, as yet, scarce halfway up the ascent.

Lying round were numbers of loose boulders, and Archie at once began to roll these down the hillside.

They went but slowly at first, but as they reached the steeper portion they gathered speed, and taking great bounds crashed down the hillside.

As these formidable missiles burst down from above the knights paused.
"On!" Pembroke shouted from below; "the Scot is a traitor, and he and the hound will escape if you seize him not." Again the party hurried up the hill.