"I know, Father," he said, "that it needed not to warn you; but as it
was but a short distance out of my way to come round here, I thought
that I would pay you a day's visit."
"No, lad; directly I heard of the victory of Dunbar, I said to myself,
this will bring the Scots upon us in force. Douglas will never put up
with the defeat, and will make every effort to turn the tables. I shall
send all there is worth taking away, to a shepherd's hut among the
fells; and shall, as soon as I hear that Douglas's preparations are
well-nigh complete, journey with your mother to Alnwick, and leave her
there. I shall return, and with my men will drive the cattle and horses
to places where there is little chance of the Scots finding them; and
will then, after leaving three or four men to look after them, come
back to Alnwick.
"What do you propose to do?"
"I shall do much the same, Father. Stoubes is strong enough to hold out
against any ordinary raid, but not against an army led by Douglas. I
shall remove the furnishing and tapestry, and shall send the most
valuable into Alnwick, and have the rest of them hidden in the woods.
These are the orders that have been sent, all along the border.
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