"And over the Nine Glens of Niddisdale beside," said Sir Ringan. Dickie could be restrained no longer. He brayed out, "Hurrah, hurrah!" and waved his trencher round his head. "All the Esk, and the braid Forest, and the Nine Glens o' Niddisdale! Hurrah! Hurrah! Mountcomyn for ever! The warden for ever! hu, hu! hu!" The knight and his friends were obliged to smile at Dickie's outrageous joy; but the lady rose and went out in high dudgeon. Dickie then gave full vent to his rapture without any mitigation of voice, adding, "My lady for ever!" to the former two; and so shouting, he danced around, waving his immense wooden plate. The frolic did not take, and Sir Ringan was obliged to call him to order. "You do not consider, cousin," said the warden, "that what a woman accounts excellent sport at one time is at another high offence. See, now, you have driven my lady away from our consultation, on whose advice I have a strong reliance; and I am afraid we will scarcely prevail on her to come back." "Oh! there's no fear of my lady and me," said Dickie; "we understand one another. My lady is a kind, generous, noble soul, and so pleasant! "For as pleasant and kind as she is, I am deceived if she is easily reconciled to you. Ye dinna ken Kate Dunbar, cousin.--Boy, tell your lady that we lack her counsel, and expect that she will lend us it for a short space." The boy did as he was ordered, but returned with an answer, that unless Dickie was dismissed she did not choose to be of the party. "I am sorry for it," said Sir Ringan; "but you may tell her that she may then remain where she is, for I can't spare my cousin Dickie now, nor any day these five months." And with that he began and discussed the merits of the case _pro_ and _con_ with his kinsmen, as if nothing had happened; and in the end it was resolved, that, with a thousand horsemen, they would scour the east border to intercept all the supplies that should be sent out of England, and thus enrich themselves, while, at at the same time, they would appear to countenance the mad undertaking of Douglas. CHAPTER III. "Come, come, my hearts of flint; modestly; decently; soberly; and handsomely.--No man afore his leader.--Ding down the enemy to-morrow,--ye shall not come into the field like beggars.--Lord have mercy upon me, what a world this is!--Well, I'll give an hundred pence for as many good feathers, and a hundred more for as many scarts:--wounds, dogs, to set you out withal! Frost and snow, a man cannot fight till he be brave! I say down with the enemy to morrow!" _Sir John Oldcastle._ The castle of Roxburgh was beleaguered by seven thousand men in armour, but never before had it been so well manned, or rendered so formidable in its butresses; and to endeavour to scale it, appeared as vain an attempt as that of scaling the moon.