Two days later, Oswald started for his promised visit to the
Armstrongs. It was not considered necessary that he should be
accompanied by any of the troopers, for Hiniltie lay but a few miles
across the frontier. In high spirits he galloped away and, riding
through Yardhope, was soon at Alwinton; and thence took the track
through Kidland Lee, passed round the head of the Usmay brook, along
the foot of Maiden Cross Hill, and crossed the frontier at Windy Guile.
Here he stood on the crest of the Cheviots and, descending, passed
along at the foot of Windburgh Hill; and by noon entered the tiny
hamlet of Hiniltie, above which, perched on one of the spurs of the
hill, stood the Armstrongs' hold. It was smaller than that of Yardhope,
and had no surrounding wall; but, like it, was built for defence
against a sudden attack.
Adam Armstrong was on good terms with his neighbours across the border.
Although other members of his family were frequently engaged in forays,
it was seldom, indeed, that he buckled on armour, and only when there
was a general call to arms. He was, however, on bad terms with the
Bairds, partly because his wife was a sister of Forster's, partly
because of frays that had arisen between his herdsmen and those of the
Bairds, for his cattle wandered far and wide on the mountain slopes to
the south, and sometimes passed the ill-defined line, beyond which the
Bairds regarded the country as their own.
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