"Whence came that forried weapon ?" cried Lord Mar.
"It is my lady's blood," replied Halbert, still looking on it.

"I found it where she lay, in the hall, and I will carry it to my master.
Was not every drop of her blood dear to him?
and here are many." As the old man spoke he bent his head on the sword, and groaned heavily.
"England shall hear more of this!" cried Mar, as he threw himself across the horse.

"Give me that fatal box; I will buckle it to my saddle-bow.

Inadequate will be my utmost care of it, to repay the vast sorrow its preservation and mine have brought upon the head of my deliverer." The Englishman in silence mounted his horse, and Halbert opened a back-gate that led to the hills which lay between Ellerslie and Bothwell Castle.

Lord Mar took a golden-trophied bugle from his breast: "Give this to your master, and tell him that by whatever hands he sends it, the sight of it shall always command the services of Donald Mar.