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'Never fear； friends；' said James； kindly； 'to you this can only be matter of ransom。'
'I fear nothing；' sharply answered Ralf。
'We'll stand by you； Sir；' said Kitson to Ralf； 'but if ever there were foul treason'
'Pshaw！ you ass；' were all Percy's thanks； for at that moment a horseman came forward from among the enemy； a gigantic form on a tall white horse； altogether a 'dark gray man；' the open visor revealing an elderly face； hard…featured and grim； and the shield on his arm so dinted； faded； and battered； as scarce to show the blue chief and the bleeding crowned heart； but it was no unfamiliar sight to Malcolm's eyes； and with a slight shudder he bent his head in answer to the fierce whisper； 'Old Douglas himself！' with which Hotspur's son certified himself that he had the foe of his house before him。 King James； resting the point of his sword on his mailed foot； stood erect and gravely expectant； and the Scot； springing to the ground； advanced with the words； 'We greet you well； my liege； and hereby' he was bending his knee as he spoke； and removing his gauntlet in preparation for the act of homage。
'Hold； Earl Douglas；' said James； 'homage is vain to a captive。'
'You are captive no longer； Sir King；' said Earl Archibald。 'We have long awaited this occasion； and will at once return to Scotland with you； with the arms and treasure we have gained here； and will bear down the craven Albany。'
Kitson and Trenton looked at one another and grasped their swords； as though doubting whether they ought not to cut down their king's prisoner rather than let him be rescued； and meanwhile the cry； 'Save King James！' broke out on all sides； knights leapt down to tender their homage； and among the foremost Malcolm knew Sir Patrick Drummond； crying aloud； 'My lord； my lord； we have waited long for you。 Be a free king in free Scotland！ Trust us； my liege。'
'Trust you； my friends！' said James； deeply touched； 'I trust you with all my heart； but how could you trust me if I began with a breach of faith to the King of England？'
Ralf Percy held up his finger and nodded his head to the Yorkshire squires； who stood open…mouthed； still believing that a Scot must be false。 There was an angry murmur among the Scots； but James gazed at them undauntedly； as though to look it down。
'Yes； to King Harry！' he said； in his trumpet voice。 'I belong to him； and he has trusted me as never prisoner was trusted before； nor will I betray that trust。'
'The foul fiend take such niceties；' muttered old Douglas； but； checking himself； he said； 'Then； Sir； give me your sword； and we'll have you home as my prisoner； to save this your honour！'
'Yea；' said James； 'that is mine own； though my body be yours； and till England put me to ransom you would have but a useless captive。'
'Sir；' said Sir John Swinton； pressing forward； 'if my Lord of Douglas be plain…spoken； bethink you that it is no cause for casting aside this one hope of freedom that we have sought so long。 If you have the heart to strike for Scotland； this is the time。'
'It is not the time；' said James； 'nor will I do Scotland the wrong of striking for her with a dishonoured hand。'
'That will we see when we have him at Hermitage Castle；' quoth Douglas to his followers。 'Now； Sir King； best give your sword without more grimace。 Living or dead you are ours。'
'I yield not；' said James。 'Dead you may take mealive； never。' Then turning his eyes to the faces that gazed on him so earnestly in disappointment； in affection； or in scorn； he spoke： 'Brave friends； who may perchance love me the better that I have been a captive half my life and all my reign； you can believe how sair my heart burns for my bonnie land's sake； and how little I'd reck of my life for her weal。 But broken oaths are ill beginnings。 For me； so notably trusted by King Henry； to break my bonds； would shame both Scots and kings； and it were yet more paltry to feign to yield to my Lord of Douglas。 Rescue or no rescue； I am England's captive。 Gentles； kindly brother Scots； in one way alone can you free me。 Give up this wretched land of France； whose troubles are but lengthened by your valour。 Let me gang to King Harry and tell him your swords are at his service； so soon as I am free。 Then am I your King indeed； we return together； staunch hearts and strong hands； and the key shall keep the castle； and the bracken bush keep the cow； though I lead the life of a dog to bring it about。'
His tawny eye flashed with falcon light； and as he stood towering above all the tall men around； there were few who did not in heart own him indeed their king。 But his picture of royal power accorded ill with the notions of a Black Douglas； in the most masterful days of that family； and Earl Archibald； who had come to regard kings as beings meant to be hectored by Douglases； resentfully exclaimed； 'Hear him； comrades； he has avouched himself a Southron at heart。 Has he reckoned how little it would cost to give a thrust to the caitiff who has lost heart in his prison； and clear the way for Albany； who is at least a true Scot？'
'Do so； Lord Earl；' said James； 'and end a long captivity。 But let these go scatheless。'
With one voice； Percy； Kitson； Trenton； and Brewster； shouted their resolve to defend him to the last； and Malcolm； flinging himself on Patrick Drummond； adjured him to save the King。
'Thou here； laddie！' said Patrick； amazed； and while several more knights exclaimed； 'Sir； Sir； we'll see no hand laid on you！' he thrust forward； 'Take my horse； Sir； ride on； and I'll see no scathe befall you。'
'Thanks；' said James； 'but my feet will serve me best； we will keep together。'
The Scottish force seemed dividing into two： Douglas and his friends and retainers； mounted and holding together； as though still undecided whether to grapple with the King and his half…dozen companions； while Drummond and about ten more lances were disposed to guard him at all risks。
'Now；' said James to his English friends； and therewith； sword in hand； he moved with a steady but swift stride towards the camp； nor did Douglas attempt pursuit； some of the other horsemen hovered between； and Patrick Drummond； with a puzzled face； kept near on foot。 So they proceeded till they reached a bank and willow hedge； through which horses could hardly have pursued them。
On the other side of this； James turned round and said； 'Thanks； Sir Knight； I suppose I may not hope that you will become a follower of the knight adventurer。'
'I cannot fight under the English banner； my liege。 Elsewhere I would fellow you to the death。'
'This is no time to show your error；' said James； 'and I therefore counsel you to come no farther。 The English will be pricking forth in search of us： so I will but thank you for your loyal aid。'
'I entreat you； Sir；' cried Patrick； 'not to believe that we meant this matter to go as it has done！ It had long been our desireof all of us； that is； save my Lord Buchan's retainersto find you and release you； but never did we deem that Lord Douglas would have dared to conduct matters thus。'
'You would be little the better for me did Lord Douglas bring me back on his own terms；' said James； smi