He was somewhat out at
elbow, and I looked askance at him at first; but he turned out a blithe
companion, and we got on well together. He could troll a good song, and
my own voice is not wanting in power. It was curious that he also was
from Dunbar, though not immediately; having, it would seem, wandered
for some time, on the lookout for service."
"What was he, a cattle drover?"
"No, he had been a man-at-arms, of George of Dunbar--at least, so I
understood--and when the earl fled, and Douglas took possession of
Dunbar, he lost his living. He told me that he had made his way down
here in hopes of finding employment on the border, where blows were
common, and a good blade was of more use than it was farther north. I
said that he might have found employment under Albany, or under some
other great lord; but he said that he had seen the Earl of March a
fugitive, and that he cared not to enter the service of another noble,
who might, in turn, be ousted from his place and lose his life; but as
for Albany, he thought, from what he heard, that he would rather serve
him than any other master.
"I said, 'Why not Rothesay, who would be King of Scotland?'
"He laughed lightly, and said as Rothesay had managed to get upon ill
friendship, not only with the Earl of March but with Douglas, and, as
he heard, with Albany, he thought that his chances of becoming King of
Scotland were not worth considering.
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