The green hills and the fair valleys of the Borderland have produced many an exciting story in their day, many a challenge, many a conflict.
In Cheviot Chase, Nigel Tranter lights the bale-fires again, sounds the drumming of urgent hooves on common and cobbles, and draws the blade from a far from rusty sheath.
But this is no period piece, no tale of long ago, but an up-to-the-minute novel of the Border today, with action enough and to spare.
It all starts at the Hawick Common Riding, where things have been starting for a long time, and if Hexam, in Northumberland, gets the heavy end of the stick, Hexam had rather asked for it-- even if a long time ago. There are long memories on the Border, long stirrups still, and long arms too.
Read in this high-spirited saga how a debt of four hundred year's standing was paid, how sundry more were promptly incurred, and how the Honours of Douglas and Dacre resumed an ancient argument. If Dorothy Dacre lost in the short run, she won in the long.