"It occasionally was Grace's hand and arm," he exclaimed; "I can swear to it amanga thousand. There is not the like of it on this side of theLowdens--We'll have her out, lads, if we should carry off theTower of Westburnflat stane by stane."

Earnscliff, though he doubted the possibility of recognising afair maiden's arm at such a distance from the eye of the lover,would say nothing to damp his friend's animated hopes, and it wasresolved to summon the garrison.

The shouts of the party, and the winding of one or two horns, atlength brought to a loophole, which flanked the entrance, thehaggard face of an aged woman.

"That's the Reiver's mother," exclaimed one of the Elliots; "she's tentimes waur than himsell, and is wyted for muckle of the ill hedoes about the country."

"Wha are ye? what d'ye want here?" were the queries of therespectable progenitor.