The very border line was ill defined, and people on one side frequently settled on the other, as is shown by the fact that several of the treaties contained provisions that those who had so moved might change their nationality, and be accounted as Scotch or Englishmen, as the case might be.
Between the Forsters and the Bairds such a feud had existed for three generations.

It had begun in a raid by the latter.

The Forster of that time had repulsed the attack, and had with his own hand killed one of the Bairds.

Six months later he was surprised and killed on his own hearthstone, at a time when his son and most of his retainers were away on a raid.

From that time the animosity between the two families had been unceasing, and several lives had been lost on both sides.