It chanced that as the youth rode southward along the banks of the Dee, glancing this way and that for traces of the missing maids, but seeing only the grass trampled by hundreds of feet and the boats in the stream dragging every pool with grapnels and ropes, two horsemen on rough ponies ambled along some distance in front of him.  By their robes of decent brown they seemed merchants on a journey, portly of figure, and consequential of bearing.

As Sholto rapidly made up to them, with his better horse and lighter weight, he perceived that the travellers were those two admirable and noteworthy magistrates of Dumfries, Robert Semple and his own uncle Ninian Halliburton of the Vennel.

Hearing the clatter of the jennet’s hoofs, they turned about suddenly with mighty serious countenances.  For in such times when the wayfarer heard steps behind him, whether of man or beast, it repaid him to give immediate attention thereto.

So at the sound of hoofs Ninian and his friend set their hands to their thighs and looked over their shoulders more quickly than seemed possible to men of their build.

“Ha, nephew Sholto,” cried Ninian, exceedingly relieved, “blithe am I to see you, lad.  You will tell us the truth of this ill news that has upturned the auld province.  By your gloomy face I see that the major part is overtrue.  The Earl is dead, and he awes me for twenty-four peck of wheaten meal, forbye ten firlots of malt and other sundries, whilk siller, if these hungry Avondale Douglases come into possession, I am little likely ever to see.  Surely I have more cause to mourn him—­a fine lad and free with his having.  If ye gat not settlement this day, why then ye gat it the neist, with never a word of drawback nor craving for batement.”

Sholto told them briefly concerning the tragedy of Edinburgh.  He had no will for any waste of words, and as briefly thereafter of the loss of the little maid and her companion.

The Bailie of Dumfries lifted up his hands in consternation.

“‘Tis surely a plot o’ thae Avondales.  Stra’ven folk are never to lippen to.  And they hae made a clean sweep.  No a Gallowa’ Douglas left, if they hae speerited awa’ the bonny bit lass.  Man, Robert, she was heir general to the province, baith the Lordship o’ Gallowa’ and the Earldom o’ Wigton, for thae twa can gang to a lassie.  But as soon as the twa laddies were oot o’ the road, Fat Jamie o’ Avondale cam’ into the Yerldom o’ Douglas and a’ the Douglasdale estates, forbye the Borders and the land in the Hielands.  Wae’s me for Ninian Halliburton, merchant and indweller in Dumfries, he’ll never see hilt or hair o’ his guid siller gin that wee lassie be lost.  Man, Sholto, is’t no an awfu’ peety?”

During this lamentation, to which his nephew paid little attention, looking only from side to side as they three rode among the willows by the waterside, the other merchant, Robert Semple, had been pondering deeply.