noon before
The few remaining retainers of the house of Harden gave way when they found their leader a captive , and they fled , leaving the cattle behind them . Sir Gideon Murray , therefore , recovered all that had been taken from him ; and though he had captured but two prisoners , the one was the chief , and the other his principal adviser and second in command . The old knight , therefore , commanded that they should be bound with cords together , and in such rueful plight led to his castle at Elibank . It was noon before they reached it , and Lady Murray came forth to welcome her husband , and congratulate him upon his success . But when she beheld the heir of Harden a captive , and thought of how little mercy was to be expected from Sir Gideon when once aroused , she remembered that she was a mother , and that one of her children might one day be situated as their prisoner then was . The young laird , with his aged kinsman and dependent , were thrust into a dark room ; and he who locked them up informed them that the next day their bodies would be hung up on the nearest tree . `` My life and lang fasting ! ''