'Twas a noble sight those three great men--the old chief and his first and last born sons.

But to my mind, much as I loved my master, Sorley Boy was the grandest of the three.

While he was by, a man could look at no one else.

Every gesture, every toss of the head, and swing of the arm had force in it; and to me it seemed a wonder that such a man should need an army at his back to carry him anywhere he willed.
He halted again presently, and wheeled round on his sons.
"Why did you fire the beacon ?" he asked of Ludar.
"Because the time had come," said Ludar.

"To-day Dunluce is slenderly guarded; to-morrow it will be full of the enemy." Then he coloured up with a flush as he added: "Father, I demand a favour--the first for ten years." "It is granted, lad.