"Met with the stipulated reward of his treachery, and in a manner little to his liking, on presenting himself next evening at Thrave to receive the promised bribe." "'Thou shalt have it, false limmer,--every farthing,--yea, godspenny and principal,' said Douglas, sternly; 'though in a way, I trow, but little to your advantage.'" "'How, my lord?'" asked the trembling wretch. "'Molten hot, and poured down your dog's-throat, to warn my warders of Thrave what they may expect if they so betrayed _me_, and not to sleep with their doors unlatched. Away with him to the kitchen, and let this be his doom!'" "In vain did the wretch shriek for mercy on his bended knees; he was dragged to the kitchen of the castle, and there the commands of the earl were literally and awfully obeyed. The skimming-ladle of the great pot was filled with new gold _lions_ (each of which had the image of St. Andrew on one side, and a lion rampant on the other); after being molten to a seething mass, they were poured down the throat of the warder, and in ten minutes after, his mutilated corpse was flung into the gallows slot."[3] FOOTNOTES: [Footnote 3: The metal was molten by the command of Douglas, and poured down his throat; and thus he received both his reward and punishment at the same time.--"History of Galloway," 1841, vol. i.] CHAPTER XLIV. THE BOND. Let never man be bold enough to say-- Thus, and no further, shall my passion stray; The first crime past compels us into more, And guilt grows _fate_, that was but _choice_ before. AARON HILL. The silence of a minute was, perhaps, the most severe comment which followed this story of more than Oriental barbarity. Indignation made the fiery young king almost speechless. He snatched from the table one of those Beauvais goblets, which were then greatly esteemed and were mounted with silver-gilt. It was full of water, and he drank it thirstily. "My brave kinsman--so young, so faithful, and so merry!" exclaimed Sir Patrick Gray, with more of grief than anger in his tone; "I would give my life to save his; for it must be in imminent peril." "No such sacrifice will be necessary," said the king; "we shall write to this daring lord, commanding him at once, on peril of his allegiance, to yield up Sir Thomas MacLellan of Bombie to our messenger, and set him forth of Thrave." "But who," asked the chancellor, "will be daring enough to bear such a message into the wilds of Galloway, beyond the land of the Annandale thieves?" "That will I, and blithely, too: MacLellan would do as much for me," replied Sir Patrick, with energy. "Reflect, my friend; a royal herald were safer," said the king. "You are the enemy of Douglas in more ways than one." "How, your highness? I am not wont to reflect much in time of peril." "True, Sir Patrick; but this mission becomes doubly one of life and death, and of many perils to you; for loyalty to me is, perhaps, your smallest crime in the eyes of Douglas," said the king.