CHAPTER II.
THE MEETING AT THE CASTLE.
After having the romantic story of Queen Mary thus repeated for them bythe old professor, the boys felt a deeper interest in Holyrood Castle asthey wandered through its rooms. The guide showed them through theChapel Royal, which is a beautiful fragment of the ancient abbey,conducted them into the picture gallery and the tapestry apartment, gavethem a chance to inspect Lord Darnley's rooms, and finally brought themto Queen Mary's apartments, showing where the queen had supped on thatfatal night and pointing to dark stains on the floor of the narrowcorridor outside, which, in broadest Scotch, he soberly declared "weremade wi' th' blud o' Rizzio himsel'."
Throughout the inspection of the castle Dick was keenly interested, buthe noticed that Brad remained gloomy and downcast in appearance.
"What's the matter, old man?" he finally exclaimed. "Why don't you braceup and chase that thundercloud off your face?"
"I can't," answered the Texan. "I can't help thinking something wronghas happened."
"Something wrong? Why, you're thinking of----"
"Nadia Budthorne and her brother," confessed Brad, flushing somewhat."You know they were to meet us at the hotel in Edinburgh, and they havenot done so."
"Brad, you've been smitten on that girl ever since you first saw her onLondon Bridge. I didn't think it of you, you husky son of the Lone StarState!"
"Now, don't try to kid me, pard!" growled Buckhart. "You can't say much,for if ever a fellow was badly smashed over a girl, you have beensmashed over June Arlington."
"Oh, June and I are just good friends," Dick hastened to say.
"Good friends, indeed!" mocked the Texan. "Right good friends, andthat's no lie! You were such a mighty good friend to her that you gother sneaking brother back into school after he had been fired, with theresult that he put up a low-down job on you that caused you to beexpelled. If you try to guy me any at all about Nadia Budthorne you'llcertain hear a few remarks from yours truly concerning June Arlington."
"Oh, well," laughed Dick, "I admit you have me there, but how do youknow that Nadia cares anything for you?"
"I don't know," acknowledged Brad, "and I sure opine that's what'skeeping me right well fussed up the most of the time. You know you weresurprised yourself when we struck Edinburgh, and failed to find theBudthornes at the hotel where they agreed to meet us."
"They came by rail, and I suppose they have visited Glasgow and otherplaces on their way."
"Pard, you know that any one who comes from London by rail wouldnaturally visit Edinburgh first. I tell you I have a feeling thatsomething is wrong. We lost track of Miguel Bunol, Heck Marsh, and LukeDurbin right away after the Budthornes left London, and I'm some afraidthat onery gang followed Nadia and her brother up here into Scotland. IfBunol could meet Dunbar Budthorne alone, and get a chance to talk withhim a few minutes, I reckon he'd get the fellow in his power again, foryou must allow, partner, that he exercises some sort of baleful powerover Budthorne."
"I thought it possible we broke Bunol's spell over Budthorne the nightwe proved to the latter that Bunol and the others had been fleecing himin a crooked manner at cards."
"Temporarily we did, I judge; but you know Budthorne's will power hasbeen some weakened by drink, and he might cave in to Bunol again if theSpaniard found him."
"I don't think there is any great cause for worry, Brad. I believe Nadiaand her brother will appear in good time."
During this conversation the old professor had been talking with theguide. He now announced that he was ready to go, and soon the three wereleaving by the castle gate.
Just as they passed through the gate they came face to face with twopersons who were on the point of entering. They halted in surprise, forthey were Hector Marsh and a corpulent, vulgar-appearing man known asLuke Durbin.
A growl of rage came from the throat of Brad Buckhart, and he plantedhimself in front of Marsh and Durbin, his fists clinched and his wholeatmosphere breathing fight.
"Whatever are you two sneaking, onery, low-down coyotes doing here?" heroared, his rugged face dark as a storm cloud.
"My goodness! my goodness!" gasped Zenas Gunn, in great alarm. "Stophim, Richard, or he will attack them! We shall be arrested for making adisgraceful disturbance here!"
Dick caught Brad's muscular arm in a grip of iron.
"Go slow, old man!" he said, in a low tone.
Neither Marsh nor Durbin acted as if the encounter had given them greatsurprise. Durbin was smoking a black, rank-smelling cigar, which herolled into the corner of his mouth, thrusting his pudgy hands deep intohis trousers pockets, and surveying the trio before him with an air ofinsolent contempt.
Marsh exposed his teeth in a sneering grin.
"Why, hello!" he said, in a voice like the croaking of a bullfrog. "Soyou people are here, eh? What are we doing? Well, I rather guess we havejust as good right to visit this old castle as you have."
"Right," said Durbin. "And he wants ter be careful about callin' folksnames, or he'll git his block knocked off. See!"
Dick felt Brad's arm quiver and the muscles tighten.
"I'd certain enjoy it a heap if either of you varmints would try toknock my block off!" exclaimed the Texan. "I'd enjoy it if you bothtried the trick! Just break loose and sail right into me. I'll stampedeover you red-hot and a-whooping, as sure as I'm the Unbranded Maverickof the Rio Pecos!"
"You're just as big a blower as ever," said Marsh. "Why don't you cutout that hot air and learn decency in your talk."
"Learn decency! Whoop! Would I learn it any of you? Why, you crawlingcur, you haven't one decent bone in your body!"
"Stop him--Dick, do stop him!" gasped the professor. "He'll get us into abroil!"
Dick's good judgment told him that it was better to avoid an encounterat that time and place, and, therefore, he spoke a few words toBuckhart, seeking to quiet him.
"That's right!" cried Marsh. "Better pull him away if you don't want himhurt."
"You'll never harm any one," said Dick, remembering Hector's naturalcowardice. "I don't wish him to soil his hands on you, that's all."
"If the hot-air merchant wants ter fight," said Durbin, "why don't yougive him all he's lookin' fer, Heck? We'll jest step aside somewhere an'you can knock the stuffin' outer him. I'll see that his frien's don'tinterfere."
Marsh turned pale at the thought. He had not the slightest desire tomeet Bradley Buckhart in a square fight, man to man.
"Oh, no!" he quickly said. "The fellow talks fight, but it's all talk."
"It is, eh?" cried Buckhart, attempting to free himself from Dick'sclutch and stride forward, a furious gleam in his eyes.
Suddenly the bold front Marsh had assumed disappeared. KnowingMerriwell's disinclination to engage in a personal encounter unlessforced to do so, and counting on the pacifying influence of ProfessorGunn, the fellow had assumed an air of bravery that was entirelyfictitious. Thinking the Texan might get free and come at him, he nowdodged behind Durbin, crying:
"Keep your distance! I'll have the law on you if you touch me! I canprove that we were going about our business when you stopped us."
Buckhart paused in disgust, muttering:
"I might have known it! I didn't stop to think what a coward he was atschool."
Durbin showed disappointment.
"Here, what are you dodging for?" he snapped. "You've tol' me fiftytimes that that fellow was nuttin' but a bag of wind, and that you couldknock the tar outer him in a minute."
"So I can--if I want to," said Heck. "But I don't want--at least, nothere. There's plenty of time. I'll see him again. I'll fix him allright."
"Come along, Brad," urged Dick. "Here come some other visitors from thecastle. Don't let them see you wasting words on such a worthless andcowardly scamp."
Professor Gunn also took hold of the Texan and urged him to move away.
"It is the regret of my life," said the old pedagogue, "that while thefellow was in school I did not sooner learn his true chara
cter. I amsorry he was permitted to remain there so long to contaminate otherboys."
"Bah, you old fossil!" croaked Marsh. "You're an old back-number anyhow,and you're not fit to teach a monkey school. Why don't you go die andget yourself buried out of the way! You'd never be missed."
"Outrageous--outrageous!" gasped Zenas, shaking his cane at the insultingchap. "I'd like to break this stick over your back, you scamp!"
"You never will, old lobster. If you should try it I'd give you a punchin the bread basket that would unhinge you."
"Are you going to remain here longer and give him further opportunity toinsult me, Bradley!" demanded Gunn.
"I'll go," said Buckhart, cooling down a little. "Dick is right abouthim. He is a pitiful coward, and any one who touches him will simplysoil his hands."
As they walked away Marsh continued to shout taunts and insults untilthey were quite out of hearing.
"Now what do you think about it, partner?" asked Buckhart, as theyretraced their way into the city.
"About what?" asked Dick.
"About the possibility that there is something wrong, and that is whyNadia and her brother failed to meet us here. Marsh and Durbin are here,and you can bet your sweet life Bunol is not far away. They followed theBudthornes."
"It may be that you are right."
"I'm plumb certain of it. That gang has not given up the hope of againgetting hold of Dunbar Budthorne and squeezing money out of him. Butwhat worries me most is the fact that Bunol has an infamous scheme toforce Nadia into marriage with him. Just think of it! That sweetest ofgirls married to a snake like Mig Bunol! It's enough to make a chapcrazy!"
"He'll never succeed in that, don't worry, Brad. She knows him, and shedespises him quite as much as we do."
"But they may make her a right good lot of trouble."
"The fact that those fellows are here in Edinburgh would seem toindicate that the Budthornes must be in the city. Perhaps there was somemistake about the hotel where we are to meet them. We must search forthem, Brad."
"That's the stuff, pard; we'll turn this old city over, but we'll findthem."
"Dear me!" said Professor Gunn. "I hope there will be no serioustrouble. I do hope we'll not get into a fight of any sort with thoseruffians."
"But, professor," smiled Dick, "a short time ago, as you were recallingthe fact that we are in the land of Wallace and Bruce, you said you knewthere was good fighting stuff in you and you lamented greatly becauseyou had never been given an opportunity to demonstrate what a hero youreally are. It is possible you may have an opportunity while we are inScotland. Who knows? I seem to scent fighting in the crisp air here."
"Goodness knows that's not the sort of fighting I meant! I could shed myblood joyfully for my country, or something like that; but fighting ofany other sort is low and degrading and I abhor it--I abhor it."
Upon arriving at their hotel they found a letter there, addressed toDick.
"A lady's writing," said Merriwell, in surprise. "Who can it be?"
He tore the envelope open. A moment later he uttered an exclamation,calling Brad and the professor to read it. This was all the lettercontained:
"Dear Mr. Merriwell: We--my brother and myself--are stopping at Ben Cleuch Inn, which is near Kinross on Lochleven. Left Edinburgh suddenly because I saw Miguel Bunol there, and I believe he had followed us. This will explain why we failed to meet you as agreed. Hope you and your friends may be able to join us at Lochleven. We desire very much to see you again, if only to thank you for all your kindnesses to us. My brother is pretty well, although quite nervous. Your grateful friend,
"Nadia Budthorne."
On first reading this brief communication Buckhart looked relieved anddelighted, but in a few minutes the shadow returned to his face, and itseemed deeper than ever. Dick noted this and questioned him as to thecause of it.
"Oh, nothing," answered the Texan somewhat gruffly.
"But it _is_ something. I thought you would be pleased to hear fromNadia?"
"I am."
"You look it!" said Merriwell sarcastically. "Here you have beenworrying because she did not meet us, and now that you know where she isyou put on a face like a funeral."
"It's all right," muttered Brad, failing to meet his companion's eye."It's all right! I don't care!"
"What's all right? What is it you don't care about?"
"She didn't have to write to me! She had a right to address the letterto you if she wished."
Suddenly the truth dawned on Dick; Brad was hurt because Nadia had notaddressed the letter to him.
"Well, you're the limit for silliness!" Dick exclaimed.
"Perhaps I am," grated Brad. "I can't help it. I know I'm no prizebeauty. I know that beside you I'm a half-finished shine. It's allright! Of course, all the girls are bound to get struck on you. Theycan't help it. But you've got girls enough!" he added, in resentfulrebellion. "To say nothing of June Arlington, there is Doris Templetonand----"
Dick put an arm round his friend and laughingly checked him.
"Don't be such an ass, old man!" he entreated. "Nadia Budthorne is abeautiful girl, but I'm not struck on her, and----"
"She is on you!"
"I don't believe it."
"Then explain some why she sent that letter to you. Why didn't sheaddress it to me or to the professor?"
"It just happened that way. You know I disguised myself as old Mr.Allsquint and in that manner exposed Bunol and his gang, and I supposethat is why----"
"Perhaps so," admitted the Texan suddenly. "I reckon I am an ass, pard!I always was, and it's becoming more and more natural for me. Of courseyou can't be to blame if Nadia took a liking to you. Why shouldn't shelike you more than me? You're the best chap in the world, and I'm just avery common and a very ordinary chump, without any particular polish andwithout any pretense to good looks."
"Brad," said Dick earnestly, "you are one of the truest, finest, noblestfellows alive. Any one who comes to know you well can't help liking you;and as for good looks--well, you bear the stamp of a man on your face,and therefore in the very best sense you are handsome. Stop runningyourself down. What shall we do? Shall we light out of Edinburgh andmake for Kinross and Lochleven to-day?"
"Instanter!" exclaimed the Texan eagerly. "Let's not lose an hour,pard!"