Presently he went over to his father, who was leaning panting upon a stone post, and asked him what were the news.

But Malise thrust him back apparently without recognising him.
"My lady," he gasped, "I would see my lady!" Then through the torches clustered about the steps of the castle came the tall, erect figure of the Earl's mother, the Countess of Douglas.
She stood with her head erect, looking down upon the MacKims and upon the dropped heads and heaving shoulders of their horses.

Above and around the torches flared, and their reek blew thwartwise across the strange scene.
"I am here," she said, speaking clearly and naturally; "what would ye with the Lady of Douglas ?" Thrice Laurence essayed to speak, but his ready tongue availed him not now.

He caught at his horse's bridle to steady him and turned weakly to his father.
"Do you speak to my lady--I cannot!" he gasped.
A terrible figure was Malise MacKim, the strong man of Galloway, as he came forward.

Stained with the black peat of the morasses, his armour cast off piecemeal that he might run the easier, his under-apparel torn almost from his great body, his hair matted with the blood which still oozed from an unwashed wound above his brow.
"My lady," he said hoarsely, his words whistling in his throat, "I have strange things to tell.