The book Arran; - Cook Clan

32 THE BOOK OF ARRAN
strangers, and three blasts upon the king's horn carried to
Douglas and Boyd the welcome news of his arrival. There
was a joyful reunion, with success to tell of, and then all
returned to the place occupied by the king.
Next day King Robert made the proposal that a Carrick
man in his following, Cuthbert his name, should be sent
across to that district to find out how things were going
there, and whether circumstances were favourable for a
fresh start in hostilities. Should he find the prospects good,
he was to intimate the fact by lighting a fire on Turnberry
Point. Cuthbert duly went over, took stock of the situa-
tion, and found nothing but discouragement. Few of the
country folk had any good to say of his master, others were
fairly cowed, some frankly enemies ;
Englishmen were every-
where. Percy occupied Bruce's own castle of Turnberry with
full three hundred men. Rich and poor, under the heavy hand
of the castle garrison all were become English in sympathy.
With these doleful tidings Cuthbert prepared to return.
It was a critical moment in Scottish history. Cuthbert's
time was up, and from the Arran shore the king, on the
appointed night, looked anxiously for the signal. The moon
sank, and through the darkness came the summoning beam
from Turnberry. The king drew the attention ot his men to
what he saw ; then all professed they too saw a light ; and
joyfully the galleys were run down to the water, and the
embarkation was begun.^ As the king paced up and down,
' ' The Kyng, that in-to Arane lay,
Quhen that cumin wes the day
That he set till his messyngere.
As I devisit yhow lang ere,
Eftir the fyre he lukit fast
And, als soyn as the moyn wes past,
Hym thoucht weill that he saw a fyre.
By Turnbery byrnand weill schyre (clear)
And till his menyhe can it schaw :
Ilk man thoucht weill that he it saw.'
;
;
The Bruce, bk. iv. 11. 612-21.