“Ony ane or twa o’ ye come forward,” said the outlaw, “and take her frae my hand haill and sound.”

Hobbie advanced eagerly, to meet his betrothed bride.  Earnscliff followed more slowly, to guard against treachery.  Suddenly Hobbie slackened his pace in the deepest mortification, while that of Earnscliff was hastened by impatient surprise.  It was not Grace Armstrong, but Miss Isabella Vere, whose liberation had been effected by their appearance before the tower.

“Where is Grace? where is Grace Armstrong?” exclaimed Hobbie, in the extremity of wrath and indignation.

“Not in my hands,” answered Westburnflat; “ye may search the tower, if ye misdoubt me.”

“You false villain, you shall account for her, or die on the spot,” said Elliot, presenting his gun.

But his companions, who now came up, instantly disarmed him of his weapon, exclaiming, all at once, “Hand and glove! faith and troth!  Haud a care, Hobbie we maun keep our faith wi’ Westburnflat, were he the greatest rogue ever rode.”

Thus protected, the outlaw recovered his audacity, which had been somewhat daunted by the menacing gesture of Elliot.

“I have kept my word, sirs,” he said, “and I look to have nae wrang amang ye.  If this is no the prisoner ye sought,” he said, addressing Earnscliff, “ye’ll render her back to me again.  I am answerable for her to those that aught her.”

“For God’s sake, Mr. Earnscliff, protect me!” said Miss Vere, clinging to her deliverer; “do not you abandon one whom the whole world seems to have abandoned.”

“Fear nothing,” whispered Earnscliff, “I will protect you with my life.”  Then turning to Westburnflat, “Villain!” he said, “how dared you to insult this lady?”

“For that matter, Earnscliff,” answered the freebooter, “I can answer to them that has better right to ask me than you have; but if you come with an armed force, and take her awa’ from them that her friends lodged her wi’, how will you answer that—­But it’s your ain affair—­Nae single man can keep a tower against twenty—­A’ the men o’ the Mearns downa do mair than they dow.”

“He lies most falsely,” said Isabella; “he carried me off by violence from my father.”

“Maybe he only wanted ye to think sae, hinny,” replied the robber; “but it’s nae business o’ mine, let it be as it may.—­So ye winna resign her back to me?”

“Back to you, fellow?  Surely no,” answered Earnscliff; “I will protect Miss Vere, and escort her safely wherever she is pleased to be conveyed.”

“Ay, ay, maybe you and her hae settled that already,” said Willie of Westburnflat.

“And Grace?” interrupted Hobbie, shaking himself loose from the friends who had been preaching to him the sanctity of the safe-conduct, upon the faith of which the freebooter had ventured from his tower,—­“Where’s Grace?” and he rushed on the marauder, sword in hand.