The earl is not accustomed to be thwarted, and they say that he is a mighty hot-tempered man.

I have no doubt that, as soon as his fellows bring him word of what has happened to them, and he finds that you have quitted the inn, he will send parties of horse out to scour the roads to Berwick and Haddington; and to search the country, far and near." "He is welcome to do that," Oswald said.

"My fear is that he will send down to the port, to inquire if any craft put out about the hour at which his men were attacked.

But even if he does so, there is no great chance of our being overtaken.

We are travelling fast, and in another hour it will be dark; and long before daybreak we shall reach Leith, having both wind and tide in our favour, all the way." They kept an anxious watch, as long as there was light enough for them to make out if a vessel left Dunbar.