They had opent the door o' the transe to hearken closer,
an' what sud they see there but the fiery een an' the white teeth
o' the prence's horse, lyin' athort the door o' the king's room,
wi' 's hied atween 's fore feet, an keepin' watch like a tyke (dog)!
"Er' lang they bethoucht themsels, an twa o' them set oot an aff
thegither for the priory--that's whaur yer ain hoose o' Lossie
noo stan's, my lord, to fess a priest. It wad be a guid twa hoor
or they wan back, an' a' that time, ilka noo an' than, the moaning
an' the beggin' an' the cryin' wad come again. An' the warder
upo' the heich tooer declared 'at ever sin' midnicht the prence's
menyie, the haill twal o' them, was careerin' aboot the castel, noon'
an noon', wi' the een o' their beasts lowin', and their heids oot,
an' their manes up, an their tails fleein' ahint them. He aye lost
sicht o' them whan they wan to the edge o' the scaur, but roon'
they aye cam again upo' the ither side, as gien there had been a
ro'd whaur there wasna even a ledge.
"The moment the priest's horse set fut upo' the drawbrig, the puir
leddy gae anither ougsome cry, a hantle waur nor the first, an'
up gat a suddent roar an' a blast o' win' that maist cairried the
castel there aff o' the cliff intill the watter, an' syne cam a
flash o' blue licht an' a rum'lin'. Efter that, a' was quaiet: it
was a' ower afore the priest wan athort the coortyaird an' up the
stair. For he crossed himsel' an' gaed straucht for the bridal
chaumer.
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