Itisnottobesupposedthatthesefragmentsaregivenaspossessinganyintrinsicvalueofthemselves；buttheremaybesomecuriosityattachedtothem，astothefirstetchingsofaplate，whichareaccountedinterestingbythosewhohave，inanydegree，beeninterestedinthemorefinishedworksoftheartist。
ThesunwasnearlysetbehindthedistantmountainsofLiddesdale，whenafewofthescatteredandterrifiedinhabitantsofthevillageofHersildoune，whichhadfourdaysbeforebeenburnedbyapredatorybandofEnglishBorderers，werenowbusiedinrepairingtheirruineddwellings。Onehightowerinthecentreofthevillagealoneexhibitednoappearanceofdevastation。
Itwassurroundedwithcourtwalls，andtheoutergatewasbarredandbolted。Thebushesandbrambleswhichgrewaround，andhadeveninsinuatedtheirbranchesbeneaththegate，plainlyshowedthatitmusthavebeenmanyyearssinceithadbeenopened。Whilethecottagesaroundlayinsmokingruins，thispile，desertedanddesolateasitseemedtobe，hadsufferednothingfromtheviolenceoftheinvaders；andthewretchedbeingswhowereendeavouringtorepairtheirmiserablehutsagainstnightfall，seemedtoneglectthepreferableshelterwhichitmighthaveaffordedthem，withoutthenecessityoflabour。
Beforethedayhadquitegonedown，aknight，richlyarmed，andmounteduponanamblinghackney，rodeslowlyintothevillage。Hisattendantswerealady，apparentlyyoungandbeautiful，whorodebyhissideuponadappledpalfrey；hissquire，whocarriedhishelmetandlance，andledhisbattle-horse，anoblesteed，richlycaparisoned。Apageandfouryeomen，bearingbowsandquivers，shortswords，andtargetsofaspanbreadth，completedhisequipage，which，thoughsmall，denotedhimtobeamanofhighrank。
Hestoppedandaddressedseveraloftheinhabitantswhomcuriosityhadwithdrawnfromtheirlabourtogazeathim；butatthesoundofhisvoice，andstillmoreonperceivingtheSt。George’sCrossinthecapsofhisfollowers，theyfled，withaloudcry，thattheSouthronswerereturned。’’
Theknightendeavouredtoexpostulatewiththefugitives，whowerechieflyagedmen，women，andchildren；buttheirdreadoftheEnglishnameacceleratedtheirflight，andinafewminutes，exceptingtheknightandhisattendants，theplacewasdesertedbyall。Hepacedthroughthevillagetoseekashelterforthenight，anddespairingtofindoneeitherintheinaccessibletower，ortheplunderedhutsofthepeasantry，hedirectedhiscoursetothelefthand，wherehespiedasmalldecenthabitation，apparentlytheabodeofamanconsiderablyabovethecommonrank。Aftermuchknocking，theproprietoratlengthshowedhimselfatthewindow，andspeakingintheEnglishdialect，withgreatsignsofapprehension，demandedtheirbusiness。Thewarriorreplied，thathisqualitywasanEnglishknightandbaron，andthathewastravellingtothecourtoftheKingofScotlandonaffairsofconsequencetobothkingdoms。
Pardonmyhesitation，nobleSirKnight，’’saidtheoldman，asheunboltedandunbarredhisdoors-Pardonmyhesitation，butwearehereexposedtotoomanyintrusions，toadmitofourexercisingunlimitedandunsuspicioushospitality。WhatIhaveisyours；andGodsendyourmissionmaybringbackpeaceandthegooddaysofouroldQueenMargaret！’’
Amen，worthyFranklin，’’quoththeKnight-Didyouknowher？’’
Icametothiscountryinhertrain，’’saidtheFranklin；andthecareofsomeofherjointurelands，whichshedevolvedonme，occasionedmysettlinghere。’’
Andhowdoyou，beinganEnglishman，’’saidtheKnight，protectyourlifeandpropertyhere，whenoneofyournationcannotobtainasinglenight’slodging，oradraughtofwater，werehethirsty？’’
Marry，nobleSir，’’answeredtheFranklin，use，astheysay，willmakeamanliveinalion’sden；andasIsettledhereinaquiettime，andhavenevergivencauseofoffence，Iamrespectedbymyneighbours，andeven，asyousee，byour_forayers_fromEngland。’’
Irejoicetohearit，andacceptyourhospitality-Isabella，mylove，ourworthyhostwillprovideyouabed-Mydaughter，goodFranklin，isillatease。WewilloccupyyourhousetilltheScottishkingshallreturnfromhisnorthernexpedition-meanwhilecallmeLordLacyofChester。’’
TheattendantsoftheBaron，assistedbytheFranklin，werenowbusiedindisposingofthehorses，andarrangingthetableforsomerefreshmentforLordLacyandhisfaircompanion。Whiletheysatdowntoit，theywereattendedbytheirhostandhisdaughter，whomcustomdidnotpermittoeatintheirpresence，andwhoafterwardswithdrewtoanouterchamber，wherethesquireandpage(bothyoungmenofnoblebirth)partookofsupper，andwereaccommodatedwithbeds。Theyeomen，afterdoinghonourtotherusticcheerofQueenMargaret’sbailiff，withdrewtothestable，andeach，besidehisfavouritehorse，snoredawaythefatiguesoftheirjourney。
Earlyonthefollowingmorning，thetravellerswerereusedbyathunderingknockingatthedoorofthehouse，accompaniedwithmanydemandsforinstantadmission，intheroughesttone。ThesquireandpageofLordLacy，afterbucklingontheirarms，wereabouttosallyouttochastisetheseintruders，whentheoldhost，afterlookingoutataprivatecasement，contrivedforreconnoitringhisvisitors，entreatedthem，withgreatsignsofterror，tobequiet，iftheydidnotmeanthatallinthehouseshouldbemurdered。
HethenhastenedtotheapartmentofLordLacy，whomhemetdressedinalongfurredgownandtheknightlycapcalleda_mortier，_irritatedatthenoise，anddemandingtoknowthecausewhichhaddisturbedthereposeofthehousehold。
Noblesir，’’saidtheFranklin，oneofthemostformidableandbloodyoftheScottishBorderridersisathand-heisneverseen，’’addedhe，falteringwithterror，sofarfromthehills，butwithsomebadpurpose，andthepowerofaccomplishingit；soholdyourselftoyourguard，for’’
Aloudcrashhereannouncedthatthedoorwasbrokendown，andtheknightjustdescendedthestairintimetopreventbloodshedbetwixthisattendantsandtheintruders。Theywerethreeinnumber。Theirchiefwastall，bony，andathletic；hisspareandmuscularframe，aswellasthehardnessofhisfeatures，markedthecourseofhislifetohavebeenfatiguingandperilous。Theeffectofhisappearancewasaggravatedbyhisdress，whichconsistedofajackorjacket，composedofthickbuffleather，onwhichsmallplatesofironofalozengeformwerestitched，insuchamannerastooverlapeachother，andformacoatofmail，whichswayedwitheverymotionofthewearer’sbody。Thisdefensivearmourcoveredadoubletofcoarsegreycloth，andtheBordererhadafewhalf-rustedplatesofsteelonhisshoulders，atwo-edgedsword，withadaggerhangingbesideit，inabuffbelt；ahelmet，withafewironbars，tocoverthefaceinsteadofavisor，andalanceoftremendousanduncommonlength，completedhisappointments。Thelooksofthemanwereaswildandrudeashisattire-hiskeenblackeyesneverrestedonemomentfixeduponasingleobject，butconstantlytraversedallaround，asiftheyeversoughtsomedangertooppose，someplundertoseize，orsomeinsulttorevenge。
Thelatterseemedtobehispresentobject，for，regardlessofthedignifiedpresenceofLordLacy，heutteredthemostincoherentthreatsagainsttheownerofthehouseandhisguests。
Weshallsee-ay，marryshallwe-ifanEnglishhoundistoharbourandresettheSouthronshere。ThanktheAbbotofMelrose，andthegoodKnightofColdingnow，thathavesolongkeptmefromyourskirts。Butthosedaysaregone，bySt。Mary，andyoushallfindit！’’
ItisprobabletheenragedBordererwouldnothavelongcontinuedtoventhisrageinemptymenaces，hadnottheentranceofthefouryeomen，withtheirbowsbent，convincedhimthattheforcewasnotatthismomentonhisownside。
LordLacynowadvancedtowardshim。Youintrudeuponmyprivacy，soldier；withdrawyourselfandyourfollowers-thereispeacebetwixtournations，ormyservantsshouldchastisethypresumption。’’
Suchpeaceasyegive，suchshallyehave，’’answeredthemoss-trooper，firstpointingwithhislancetowardstheburnedvillage，andthenalmostinstantlylevellingitagainstLordLacy。Thesquiredrewhissword，andseveredatoneblowthesteelheadfromthetruncheonofthespear。
ArthurFitzherbert，’’saidtheBaron，thatstrokehasdeferredthyknighthoodforoneyear-nevermustthatsquirewearthespurs，whoseunbridledimpetuositycandrawunbiddenhisswordinthepresenceofhismaster。Gohence，andthinkonwhatIhavesaid。’’
Thesquireleftthechamberabashed。
Itwerevain，’’continuedLordLacy，toexpectthatcourtesyfromamountainchurlwhichevenmyownfollowerscanforget。Yet，beforethoudrawestthybrand(fortheintruderlaidhishanduponthehiltofhissword)，thouwiltdowelltoreflectthatIcamewithasafe-conductfromthyking，andhavenotimetowasteinbrawlswithsuchasthou。’’
From_my_king-frommyking！’’re-echoedthemountaineer。Icarenotthatrottentruncheon(strikingtheshatteredspearfuriouslyontheground)fortheKingofFifeandLothian。ButHabbyofCessfordwillbeherebelive；andweshallsoonknowifhewillpermitanEnglishchurltooccupyhishostelrie。’’
Havingutteredthesewords，accompaniedwithaloweringglancefromunderhisshaggyblackeye-brows，heturnedonhisheel，andleftthehousewithhistwofollowers；-theymountedtheirhorses，whichtheyhadtiedtoanouterfence，andvanishedinaninstant。
Whoisthisdiscourteousruffian？’’saidLordLacytotheFranklin，whohadstoodinthemostviolentagitationduringthiswholescene。
Hisname，noblelord，isAdamKerroftheMoat，butheiscommonlycalledbyhiscompanionstheBlackRiderofCheviot。Ifear，Ifear，hecomeshitherfornogood-butiftheLordofCessfordbenear，hewillnotdareofferanyunprovokedoutrage。’’
Ihaveheardofthatchief，’’saidtheBaron-letmeknowwhenheapproaches，anddothou，Rodulph(totheeldestyeoman)，keepastrictwatch。Adelbert(tothepage)，attendtoarmme。’’Thepagebowed，andtheBaronwithdrewtothechamberoftheLadyIsabella，toexplainthecauseofthedisturbance。
Nomoreoftheproposedtalewaseverwritten；buttheauthor’spurposewas，thatitshouldturnuponafinelegendofsuperstition，whichiscurrentinthepartoftheBorderswherehehadhisresidence；where，inthereignofAlexanderIII。ofScotland，thatrenownedpersonThomasofHersildoune，calledtheRhymer，actuallyflourished。Thispersonage，theMerlinofScotland，andtowhomsomeoftheadventureswhichtheBritishbardsassignedtoMerlinCaledonius，ortheWild，havebeentransferredbytradition，was，asiswellknown，amagician，aswellasapoetandprophet。HeisallegedstilltoliveinthelandofFaery，andisexpectedtoreturnatsomegreatconvulsionofsociety，inwhichheistoactadistinguishedpart-atraditioncommontoallnations，asthebeliefoftheMahomedansrespectingtheirtwelfthImaumdemonstrates。
Now，itchancedmanyyearssince，thattherelivedontheBordersajolly，rattlinghorse-cowper，whowasremarkableforarecklessandfearlesstemper，whichmadehimmuchadmired，andalittledreaded，amongsthisneighbours。Onemoonlightnight，asherodeoverBowdenMoor，onthewestsideoftheEildonHills，thesceneofThomastheRhymer’sprophecies，andoftenmentionedinhisstory，havingabraceofhorsesalongwithhimwhichhehadnotbeenabletodisposeof，hemetamanofvenerableappearance，andsingularlyantiquedress，who，tohisgreatsurprise，askedthepriceofhishorses，andbegantochafferwithhimonthesubject。ToCanobieDick，forsoshallwecallourBorderdealer，achapwasachap，andhewouldhavesoldahorsetothedevilhimself，withoutmindinghisclovenhoof，andwouldhaveprobablycheatedOldNickintothebargain。
Thestrangerpaidthepricetheyagreedon，andallthatpuzzledDickinthetransactionwas，thatthegoldwhichhereceivedwasinunicorns，bonnet-pieces，andotherancientcoins，whichwouldhavebeeninvaluabletocollectors，butwererathertroublesomeinmoderncurrency。Itwasgold，however，andthereforeDickcontrivedtogetbettervalueforthecoin，thanheperhapsgavetohiscustomer。Bythecommandofsogoodamerchant，hebroughthorsestothesamespotmorethanonce；thepurchaseronlystipulatingthatheshouldalwayscomebynight，andalone。
Idonotknowwhetheritwasfrommerecuriosity，orwhethersomehopeofgainmixedwithit，butafterDickhadsoldseveralhorsesinthisway，hebegantocomplainthatdrybargainswereunlucky，andtohint，thatsincehischapmustliveintheneighbourhood，heought，inthecourtesyofdealing，totreathimtohalf-a-mutchkin。
Youmayseemydwellingifyouwill，’’saidthestranger；butifyoulosecourageatwhatyouseethere，youwillrueitallyourlife。’’
Dicken，however，laughedthewarningtoscorn，andhavingalightedtosecurehishorse，hefollowedthestrangerupanarrowfoot-path，whichledthemupthehillstothesingulareminencestuckbetwixtthemostsouthernandthecentrepeaks，andcalledfromitsresemblancetosuchananimalinitsform，theLuckenHare。Atthefootofthiseminence，whichisalmostasfamousforwitchmeetingsastheneighbouringwindmillofKippilaw，Dickwassomewhatstartledtoobservethathisconductorenteredthehillsidebyapassageorcavern，ofwhichhehimself，thoughwellacquaintedwiththespot，hadneverseenorheard。
Youmaystillreturn，’’saidhisguide，lookingominouslybackuponhim；-butDickscornedtoshowthewhitefeather，andontheywent。
Theyenteredaverylongrangeofstables；ineverystallstoodacoal-blackhorse；byeveryhorselayaknightincoal-blackarmour，withadrawnswordinhishand；butallwereassilent，hoofandlimb，asiftheyhadbeencutoutofmarble。Agreatnumberoftorcheslentagloomylustretothehall，which，likethoseoftheCaliphVathek，wasoflargedimensions。
Attheupperend，however，theyatlengtharrived，whereaswordandhornlayonanantiquetable。
Hethatshallsoundthathornanddrawthatsword，’’saidthestranger，whonowintimatedthathewasthefamousThomasofHersildoune，shall，ifhisheartfailhimnot，bekingoverallbroadBritain。Sospeaksthetonguethatcannotlie。Butalldependsoncourage，andmuchonyourtakingtheswordorthehornfirst。’’
