Thou canst not serve one nobler." "Nay, noble lady, knights must don, not doff their armor now.

I bring ye news, great, glorious news, which will not brook delay.

A royal messenger I come, charged by his grace my king--my country's king--with missives to his friends, calling on all who spurn a tyrant's yoke--who love their land, their homes, their freedom--on all who wish for Wallace--to awake, arise, and join their patriot king!" "Of whom speakest thou, Sir Robert Keith?
I charge thee, speak!" exclaimed Nigel, starting from the posture of dignified reserve with which he had welcomed the knight, and springing towards him.
"The patriot and the king!--of whom canst thou speak ?" said Alan, at the same instant.

"Thine are, in very truth, marvellous tidings, Sir Knight; an' thou canst call up one to unite such names, and worthy of them, he shall not call on me in vain." "Is he not worthy, Alan of Buchan, who thus flings down the gauntlet, who thus dares the fury of a mighty sovereign, and with a handful of brave men prepares to follow in the steps of Wallace, to the throne or to the scaffold ?" "Heed not my reckless boy, Sir Robert," said the countess, earnestly, as the eyes of her son fell beneath the knight's glance of fiery reproach; "no heart is truer to his country, no arm more eager to rise in her defence." "The king! the king!" gasped Nigel, some strange over-mastering emotion checking his utterance.

"Who is it that has thus dared, thus--" "And canst thou too ask, young sir ?" returned the knight, with a smile of peculiar meaning.