As he went he snatched the lamp from its pin on the wall, and held it in his left high above his head.
At the further end of the corridor was the door of a little chamber, and it seemed to Sholto that the shape he had seen must have disappeared at this point.
He knocked loudly on the door with the hilt of his sword, and cried, "If any be within, open--in the name of the Earl!" No voice replied, and Sholto boldly set his foot against the lower panelling, and drove the door back to the wall with a clang.
Then at sight of a something dark, wrapped in a cloak, standing motionless against the window, the young captain of the guard elevated his lamp, and let the flicker of the light fall on the erect figure and haughty face of a young man, who, with his hand on his hip, stood considering the rude advance of his pursuers with a calm and questioning gaze.
It was the Earl of Douglas himself.
Sholto stood petrified at sight of him, and for a long minute could in no wise recover his self-control nor regain any use of his tongue.
"Well," said the Earl, haughtily, "whence this unseemly uproar?
What do you here, Sholto ?" Then the spirit of his father came upon the young captain of the guard.

He knew that he had only done his duty in its strictness, and he boldly answered the Earl: "Nay, my lord, were it not for courtesy, I have more right to ask you that question.

Your sister hath been frighted, and at sound of her terror all we who were dispersed throughout the castle rushed to the spot.

As I came down the stairs from the roof at speed, I saw something like to a great wolf about to descend the turret before me.

With my sword I struck at it, and to all appearance wounded it.