“’GENTLEMEN,—­I send these two words to inform you, that I will have you to bring-to the French colour in less than a quarter of an hour, or I set the town on fire directly.  Such is the order of my master, the King of France, I am sent by.  Send directly the Mair and chiefs of the town to make some agreement with me, or I’ll make my duty.  It is the will of yours, G. FALL.

“’To MONSIEUR MAIB of the town
called Arbrought, or in his absence
to the chief man after him in Scotland.’

“On reading this the Provost bowed respectfully to the officer, and begged of him to wait a few minutes while he should consult with his chief men.  This was agreed to, and the Provost said to his friends, as he walked to a neighbouring house—­

“‘Ye see, freens, this whipper-snapper o’ a tade-eater has gotten the whup hand o’ us; but we’ll be upsides wi’ him.  The main thing is to get delay, so cut away, Tam Cargill, and tak’ horse to Montrose for the sodgers.  Spare na the spur, lad, an’ gar them to understan’ that the case is urgent.”

“While Tam Cargill started away on his mission, the Provost, whose chief aim was to gain time and cause delay, penned an epistle to the Frenchman, in which he stated that he had neglected to name the terms on which he would consent to spare the town, and that he would consider it extremely obliging if he would, as speedily as possible, return an answer, stating them, in order that they might be laid before the chief men of the place.

“When the Provost, who was a grave, dignified old man, with a strong dash of humour in him, handed this note to the French officer, he did so with a humble obeisance that appeared to afford much gratification to the little man.  As the latter jumped into the boat and ordered the men to push off, the Provost turned slowly to his brother magistrates with a wink and a quiet smile that convulsed them with suppressed laughter, and did more to encourage any of the wavering or timid inhabitants than if he had harangued them heroically for an hour.

“Some time after the boat returned with a reply, which ran thus:—­

“’AT SEA, eight o’clock in the Afternoon,

“’GENTLEMEN,—­I received just now your answer, by which you say I ask no terms.  I thought it was useless, since I asked you to come aboard for agreement.  But here are my terms:—­I will have L30,000 sterling at least, and six of the chiefs men of the town for otage.  Be speedy, or I shot your town away directly, and I set fire to it.  I am, gentlemen, your servant, G. FALL.

“’I sent some of my crew to you, but if some harm happens to them, you’ll be sure we’ll hang up the mainyard all the prisoners we have aboard.

“’To Monsieurs the chiefs men of Arbrought in Scotland.’

“I’m not quite certain,” continued the lieutenant, “what were the exact words of the Provost’s reply to this letter, but they conveyed a distinct and contemptuous refusal to accede to any terms, and, I believe, invited Fall to come ashore, where, if he did not get precisely what he had asked, he would be certain to receive a great deal more than he wanted.