Under the third sleeps the youngest--she who perhaps was the fairest--the wife (but not the queen) of one who in his time was the most gallant and magnificent monarch that ever wore the Scottish diadem. These three ladies were sisters; and their story is a strange and a dark one. History, tradition, and an old manuscript, that was found (no matter when) among the Records of the Scottish Court of Admiralty, have enabled me to lay their lives and narrative before the reader in the following pages. CONTENTS. I. ON BOARD II. THE SWASHBUCKLER III. BONNY DUNDEE IV. THE SISTERS V. JAMES III VI. PALACE OF SAINT MARGARET VII. MARGARET DRUMMOND VIII. THE FISHERMAN OF BROUGHTY IX. THE BANE OF SCOTLAND X. THE BOATSWAIN'S YARN XI. CHAINING THE UNICORN XII. EMBASSY OF THE SIEUR DE MONIPENNIE XIII. TO SEA! XIV. THE OGRE OF ANGUS XV. CONCLAVE OF MALCONTENTS XVI. ANOTHER SON-IN-LAW XVII. THE WARLOCK OF BALWEARIE XVIII. FATHER AND SON XIX. HOW BORTHWICK FULFILLED HIS PROMISE XX. WOOD MEETS HOWARD XXI. THE PRICE OF THREE TENEMENTS XXII. THE SILKEN CORD XXIII. LORD DRUMMOND AND ROBERT BARTON XXIV. DAVID FALCONER XXV. HOWARD AND MARGARET XXVI. THE CHAPLAIN'S CABIN XXVII. THE ISLES OF THE FORTH XXVIII. THE FIRST SCOTTISH REVOLUTION XXIX. THE MARCH TO STIRLING XXX. THE GOOD SHIP HARRY XXXI. THE TORWOOD XXXII. THE DOUBLE BRIBE XXXIII. THE GREY HORSE XXXIV. THE BATTLE OF SAUCHIEBURN XXXV. THE FOUR HORSEMEN XXXVI. THE MILL ON THE BANNOCK XXXVII. THE REGICIDES XXXVIII. THE HOUSE OF THE BARTONS XXXIX. THE PRINCE AND THE ADMIRAL XL. CLEARED FOR ACTION XLI. THE ENGLISH BOAT XLII. THE LOVER AND THE SPY XLIII. THE BATTLE OF THE MAY XLIV. LARGO XLV. ST. ANTHONY'S BELL XLVI. THE GUNNER XLVII. BORTHWICK'S NEW MISSION XLVIII. TIB'S HOWFF XLIX. THE KING'S WARK L. THE SUMMER SPEAT LI. LADY EFFIE'S LETTER LII. THE HERMIT OF LORETTO LIII. THE TRYSTE AT LORETTO LIV. THE WEIRDWOMAN'S TREE LV. THE ESCAPE LVI. THE UNICORN LOOSE LVII. CAMBUSKENNETH LVIII. DOUBT, FEAR, AND SECRECY LIX. REUNITED LX. LONDON IN 1488 LXI. THE ADMIRAL'S STORY--THE LEGEND OF CORA LYNN LXII. STORY CONTINUED--"ERIS-SKENE!" LXIII. THE BROKEN WEDDING-RING LXIV. THE BATTLE OFF FIFENESS LXV. THE ENGLISH PRISONERS LXVI. THE STANE BICKER LXVII. THE MAUCHLINE TOWER LXVIII. DUNBLANE LXIX. THE MIDNIGHT TRYSTE LXX. THE IRON BELT CONCLUSION NOTES THE YELLOW FRIGATE OR, THE THREE SISTERS CHAPTER I. ON BOARD. "There was a ship at morning prime The Scottish shore forsook, And southward with a favouring gab Her rapid course she took: Her mast St. Andrew's banner bears, And heaven be now her speed! For with her goes the bravest knight That Scotland hath in need." BALLADS AND LAYS.