"
"Aye, I have heard that they are stronger than ordinary; and so they
need be, seeing that you have a blood feud with the Bairds. Well, they
are not like to have much time to waste over it, for our sheriff has
already sent word here, as to the places where we are to gather when
the beacon fires are lighted; and you may be sure that the Percys will
lose no time in marching against them, with all their array; and the
Scots are like to find, as they have found before, that it is an easier
thing to cross the border than it is to get back."
Late that evening, Oswald returned home. After the first greetings, his
father said:
"It is high time that you were back, Oswald. Rumour is busy, all along
the border; but for myself, though I doubt not that their moss troopers
will be on the move, as soon as the truce ends, I think there will not
be any invasion in force, for some little time. The great lords of the
Scotch marches are ill friends with each other; and, until the quarrel
between Douglas and Dunbar is patched up, neither will venture to march
his forces into England. It may be months, yet, before we see their
pennons flying on English soil.
"My brother Alwyn has been over here, for a day or two, since you were
away.
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