“I have not brought them to join your ranks, Sir William, although many of them are stout fellows who might do good service at a pinch.  I have brought them to act as messengers and scouts.  They can carry orders whithersoever you may have occasion to send.  They can act as scouts to warn you of the approach of an enemy; or if you need news of the state of any of the enemy’s garrisons, they can go thither and enter without being suspected, when a man might be questioned and stopped.  They are all sons of my father’s vassals at Glen Cairn, and I can answer for their fidelity.  I will take them specially under my own charge, and you will ever have a fleet and active messenger at hand when you desire to send an order.”

“The idea is not a bad one,” Sir William replied; “and in such a way a lad may well do the work of a man.  Very well, Sir Archie, since you seem to have set your mind upon it I will not say nay.  At any rate we can give the matter a trial, understanding that you take the charge of them and are responsible for them in all ways.  Now, lads,” he said turning, “you have heard that your lord, for he is your rightful lord, and will, if Scotland gains the day, be your real lord again, has answered for you.  It is no boys’ play in which you have taken service, for the English, if they conquer us, will show no further mercy to you than to others of my band.  I understand then that you are all prepared, if need be, to die for Scotland.  Is this so?”

“We are, sir,” the lads exclaimed together.

“Then so be it,” Sir William said.  “Now, Sir Archie, do you fix a place for their encampment, and make such other arrangements as you may think fit.  You will, of course, draw rations and other necessaries for them as regular members of the band.”

Archie descended with his troop from the craigs, and chose a spot where they would be apart from the others.  It was a small piece of ground cut off by the stream which wound at the foot of the craigs, so that to reach it it was necessary to wade knee deep through the water.  This was no inconvenience to the lads, all of whom, as was common with their class at the time, were accustomed to go barefoot, although they sometimes wore a sort of sandal.  Bushes were cut down, and arbours made capable of containing them.  The spot was but a little distance from the foot of the path up the craigs, and any one descending the path could be seen from it.

Archie gave orders that one was always to be above in readiness to start instantly with a message; that a sentry was to be placed at the camp, who was to keep his eyes upon the path, and the moment the one on duty above was seen to leave, the next upon the list was to go up and take his place.  None were to wander about the wood, but all were to remain in readiness for any duty which might be required.  The two lieutenants were charged to drill them constantly at their exercises so as to accustom them to the weight