O mony a mile Sir Patrick rode Throughout the border land; To gie that letter braw and braid, Into the earlis hand.--OLD BALLAD. Reining in his horse, while all his party did the same, the elder gentleman, who was without the helmet, but wore a plumed cap, and who appeared to be the leader, hastily addressed Gray in German, but finding that he did not reply, repeated his question in French. "There has been fighting here, messire?" "As you may plainly see," replied Gray quietly, while carefully wiping his sword-blade, for the lofty bearing of the speaker displeased him. "About what did you quarrel?" "Faith, I can scarcely tell you." "Speak, messire!" said the other, authoritatively. "A knife that hung from the branch of a tree, it would seem. You have strange fashions among you here in Gueldres," said Gray, with returning anger. "You are not yet in old Gueldreland, but in Brabant," replied the other; "you appear to be a stranger?" "Yes, messire, I am a stranger," replied Sir Patrick, who had now mounted, gathered up his reins, and had his horse fully in hand, ready for any emergency, and resolved to admit of no molestation. "May I ask what object takes you towards Gueldreland?" "You may, messire, but what if I decline to reply?" "I can prove that I have the right to ask such questions, and to enforce answers." "I am come from the court of Scotland to visit old Duke Arnold--is he in Gueldres?" "No; in Brabant." "That is unfortunate." "Not so much so as you suppose. But with whom were you fighting?" "Those who fought with me: some outlaws, to all appearance, but they got more than they gave." "Outlaws!" reiterated the armed horseman with displeasure. "A rabble led by one who called himself Count Ludwig of Endhoven." "Ha!" exclaimed the other, while all his followers uttered exclamations expressive of surprise and interest. "Is it thus," said Gray, "your lords of Gueldres amuse themselves upon the highway?" "I tell you, messire, that you are in Brabant. So these were Ludwig and his Brabanciones? I would give a thousand guilders for his head! But there was blood upon your sword?" "I laid Count Ludwig's cheek open from eye to chin." "Then beware you, messire: he is cruel as a pagan, and revengeful as an Italian; and he will track you and seek you day and night while you are among us, to work you mischief, unless, in the interim, he is broken alive upon the wheel by some burg graf or burgomaster. You are going, you say, to the court of the duke of Gueldres?" "Where I am not likely to arrive soon if I remain chattering here," replied Gray coldly, as he disliked the inquisitorial manner of his questioner, who laughed and said,-- "Are you seeking knight-service? If so, you had better turn your horse's head towards Burgundy, where Duke Philip III. is putting his sword to the grindstone."