he fed with bread and cheese, tempered by his own royal hands with the warm blood of the deer, which mixture he laid on its skin, to be licked off by his best beloved hounds, while the huntsmen distributed among the less favoured, the head, neck, and brain; the heart of the deer being reserved, according to general use, as the perquisite of the blood hound who led the way to its lair, these dogs being used for that purpose, because they do not give tongue.

No sooner was his Majesty at leisure, than turning to Ruthven, he said, somewhat sharply, "Ken ye whae that striplin is, that sae irreverently pressed in before his Sovereign Prince, and took the tout out o' our horn, whan we ware just at his side ?"

Although Ruthven was, as he imagined, so lately delivered from the King's displeasure himself, yet he could not avoid saying somewhat in vindication of his young friend.

"He is the son of the Laird of Restalrig, may it please your Majesty," replied his

advocate; " and I am certain did not perceive the approach of your Majesty, in the joy of being first in the chase. He is very young and inexperienced; but I am sure would not have done aught he considered displeasing to your Majesty."

"What!" said the King, with increased pettishness; "he is the son, then, o' that rudas auld carle, Robert Logan, whae harboured the villain Bothwell in his nest o' treason on the sea rock, and refused to gie him up to our council! By my saul, crossing our royal pleasure comes natural, it is like, to the whalp o' sic a kennel."

The Master was vexed to perceive the unfortunate effect this circumstance appeared to be taking on the King. For he was evidently struggling with his wrath, and had every symptom of bursting into one of those ungovernable fits of passion to which he so frequently gave way, when the dogs either failed to kill the buck, or, as was now the case, when he was offended by not being allowed to put the finishing stroke to

the animal himself. Ruthven, therefore, withdrew himself from his Majesty's sight, giving way to some of his other attendants, who pressed forward to assist him to mount.

James had no sooner seated himself in his saddle, than he announced his intention of proceeding to St Johnstoun; and dismissed all his retinue, except the Duke of Lennox, the Earl of Mar, Sir Thomas Erskine the Earl's brother, with Rathsay and Herbal; being, on all occasions, in the practice of retaining the two latter near his person. These, followed by the Jesuit with the hawk, and the attendants of those who were with the King, took the road to St Johnstoun; while all the others, who had been present at the day's hunt, dispersed on their different ways; and Ruthven, seeking out the young heir of Restalrig, informed him, much to his consternation, of the displeasure James had manifested against him, advising him not to present himself again at that time in the King's sight.

"But," continued he, " do not make yourself too uneasy on account of this accident, for his Majesty will entirely forget it himself, after he hath killed another buck; for I verily believe, that no man easier forgets an offence, provided he is not kept in remembrance of it by the evil offices of designing people. But let me advise you, my friend, on another occasion, to beware of being first in at the death, when his Majesty is in the field."

"I shall take your advice," said the young man," of not remaining to augment his displeasure in the first place, and set forward to St Johnstoun, unlucky wight that I am, and endeavour to see the Earl before his Majesty arrives."

"Strike off," said the Master, "from the high road for a short distance, and I will presently follow you, after I have asked permission of his Majesty to go on, that I may aid my brother in his fitting reception."

The young gentleman accordingly set

spurs to his horse, and quitting the direct road, was quickly out of sight; but was shortly after overtaken by Ruthven, who had obtained the leave which he requested of his Majesty, whom he perceived still to be in a moody humour. As soon as the King lost sight of Ruthven, he signified to the Duke of Lennox, that he wished to have some private conversation with him, and quitting those who rode with them, he said, "Hae ye, my Lord Duke, noticed ony thing strange the day anent the bearing o' the Master o' Ruthven ?”

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Nothing," said the Duke, " except that he appeared to me in unusual high spirits." Ay, ay, man," returned his Majesty, "that's just what I mean. I thought he had gaen daft athegether; and then he spak about sic queer stories. He tells me that he found a man slinking about St Johnstoun, with a muckle pot o' broad-pieces o' goud hidden aneth his cloak, and he hath keepit him till I come to redd out the matter; and I'm gaun to find out whare he came