The task was difficult; and, as in these calamitous seasons we hardly know whom to trust, I determined to execute it myself.' "I inquired whether Lord Douglas had actually sailed.

'Yes,' replied the father; 'I stood on the beach till the ship disappeared.'" A half-stifled groan burst from the indignant breast of Wallace.

It interrupted Monteith for an instant, but without noticing it he proceeded: "Not only the brave Douglas was then wrested from his country, with our king, but also that holy pillar of Jacob** which prophets have declared to be the palladium of Scotland!" **The tradition respecting this stone is as follows: Hiber, or Iber, the Phoenician, who came from the Holy Land to inhabit the coast of Spain, brought this sacred relic along with him.

From Spain he transplanted it with the colony he sent to people the south of Ireland; and from Ireland it was brought into Scotland by the great Fergus, the son of Ferchard.

He placed it in Argyleshire; but MacAlpine removed it to Scone, and fixed it in the royal chair in which all the succeeding kings of Scotland were inaugurated.