"
"Who is the man that so cruelly slew your dog?" asked Kenric.
"It was young Allan Redmain of Kilmory, and him do I charge," said the
farmer.
"Allan Redmain!" exclaimed Kenric, in alarm at the thought of sitting in
judgment upon his own friend.
Then he stirred uneasily in his seat, and bit his lips in trying to see
a way of escape out of his difficulty. He had sworn lasting friendship
for Allan, and remembering the adventure of the day before, when Allan
had risked his life for him, he could not bear the thought of giving
sentence of punishment if it should be proved that Allan was guilty.
Thrown thus betwixt friendship and duty, he sat for many moments in
silent thought, wishing that he was no longer a king who had bound
himself to do justice to all men. But at last he called aloud for Allan
Redmain, and Allan promptly appeared, albeit with lowered head and
guilty looks.
"Now, David Blair," said Kenric with tremulous voice, "repeat your
accusation, and woe betide you if in malice you say aught but the holy
truth."
"My lord!" said the farmer in surprise. "Am I then to be doubted? And is
my word less to be trusted than that of any other honest man of Bute? I
repeat that it was Allan Redmain who slew my dog out of mere boyish sport."
Allan looked at his accuser with frowning brows.
"Allan Redmain, are you guilty or innocent of this offence?" asked the
young judge.
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