"Sayest thou so?" exclaimed the admiral, leaping lightly ashore, despite his years and rotundity, "and we are loitering here like so many hag-ridden lubbers! Barton, do thou keep the boats here for us; and, Falconer, take twenty of thine arquebusses and come with me; we'll bear up towards the battlefield a little way, and see if aught may be descried of the king; come on shore with your flasks, forks, and arquebusses, heave a-head my men, and quickly." The soldiers hastened up the bank, and Falconer would have resigned his horse to the admiral, but the latter declined, saying "that he always lost some of his outer-sheathing when perched on horseback." So Sir David drew his sword, and led the way back to the field of battle. They marched three or four miles without finding any trace of him they sought. At last the sound of hoofs was heard near the milltown of Bannock. "Hist--tarry a bit," said the admiral. "Lie to, sirs." "Halt!" cried Falconer, in a soldierly tone; "plant your forks and wind up your spanners! Be ready to fire at a moment's notice!" Four heavily-armed horsemen, all riding furiously, the last however, a long way behind his companions, dashed along the road, and though repeatedly required to stop, they rode recklessly on, with their armour flashing, the horsehoofs striking fire, and disappeared among the Torwood oaks. "Fire on the sternmost, and make him bring to," cried the admiral, angrily; "throw a shot across his forefoot." An arquebussier fired: the bullet whistled close to the horseman's casque, and panting and breathless he reined up, while his horse plunged and reared fearfully. "Hallo! haul taut your reins or braces! don't miss stays," said the admiral. "From whence come you, sir?" asked Falconer, confronting him. "From the field, as you may see," he replied, showing a drawn dagger in his right hand. "Know you aught of the king?" The other gave a diabolical laugh. "Elsewhere I have heard that laugh!" said the admiral, advancing a step with his Jedwood axe in his hand. "Are you not the Admiral Wood?" "Yes; and thou----" "Sir Hew Borthwick, at your service." "Villain!" began Falconer; but the admiral stayed him. "Saw ye the king to-day?" "Yes--and moreover I saw him not a minute since." "Where--where?" "In yonder mill." "And is he there now?" "No," replied the subtle assassin; "he is one of yonder horsemen before me, and now rides hard to reach the _Yellow Frigate_." "Say ye so;--about ship, my lads, and after him," said the admiral, as they hastily began to retrace their steps; while Borthwick, driving spurs into his horse, with a shout--but whether of fear or triumph it is impossible to say--dashed along the road after his three comrades. _The dagger in his hand was wet with James's blood!_ On regaining the Craigward, the admiral and his companions found that they had been deceived, for neither the king nor any one else had approached the ferry since they had left it.