"Her friends would rather see you on the gibbet than at the altar." "I care nought for her friends," Archie said, "if I can get herself.
My own lands are wide enough, and I need no dowry with my wife." "I see you are hopeless," the king replied.

"Well, go, Archie; but whatever be your errand, beware of the Lornes.

Remember I have scarce begun to win Scotland yet, and cannot spare you." A quarter of an hour later Archie, with twenty picked men, took his way northward.

Avoiding all towns and frequented roads, Archie marched rapidly north to the point of Renfrew and crossed the Firth of Clyde by boat; then he kept north round the head of Loch Fyne, and avoiding Dalmally skirted the head of Loch Etive and the slopes of Ben Nevis, and so came down on Loch Leven.
The convent stood at the extremity of a promontory jutting into the lake.

The neck was very narrow, and across it were strong walls, with a gate and flanking towers.