第5章

"Teilcareantheydid,"saidDonald,"anthatwerethewarsto"t,forwehaveawheencannytrewsmenherethatwadnaletuswantiftherewasahornedbeastatweenthisandPerth。Butthisisawarsejob——it"snaelessthanawager。"

"Awager！"repeatedLordMenteith,withsomesurprise。

"Troth,"continuedDonald,tothefullaseagertotellhisnewsasLordMenteithwascurioustohearthem,"asyourlordshipisafriendandkinsmano"thehouse,an"asye"llheareneugho"tinlessthananhour,Imayasweeltellyemysell。Yesallbepleasedthentoknow,thatwhenourLairdwasupinEnglandwherehegangsoftenerthanhisfriendscanwish,hewasbidingatthehouseo"thisSirMilesMusgrave,an"therewasputtenonthetablesixcandlesticks,thattheytellmeweretwiceasmuckleasthecandlesticksinDunblanekirk,andneitherairn,brass,nortin,buta"solidsilver,naeless;——upwi"theirEnglishpride,hassaemuckle,andkenssaelittlehowtoguideit！SaetheybegantojeertheLaird,thathesawnaesicgraithinhisainpoorcountry;andtheLaird,scorningtohaehiscountryputdownwithoutawordforitscredit,swore,likeagudeScotsman,thathehadmaircandlesticks,andbettercandlesticks,inhisaincastleathame,thanwereeverlightedinahallinCumberland,anCumberlandbethenameo"thecountry。"

"Thatwaspatrioticallysaid,"observedLordMenteith。

"Farytrue,"saidDonald;"butherhonourhadbetterhaehaudenhertongue:forifyesayonythingamangtheSaxonsthat"saweebyordinar,theyclinkyedownforawagerasfastasaLowlandsmithwouldhammershoononaHighlandshelty。An"sotheLairdbehovedeithertogaebacko"hisword,orwagertwahundermerks;andsahee"entockthewager,ratherthanbeshamedwi"thelikeo"them。Andnowhe"sliketogetittopay,andI"mthinkingthat"swhatmakeshimsaesweartocomehameate"en。"

"Indeed,"saidLordMenteith,"frommyideaofyourfamilyplate,Donald,yourmasteriscertaintolosesuchawager。"

"Yourhonourmayswearthat;an"wherehe"stogetthesillerI

kenna,althoughheborrowedouto"twentypurses。IadvisedhimtopitthetwaSaxongentlemenandtheirservantscannilyintothepito"thetowertilltheygaeupthebagaino"freegude—

will,buttheLairdwinnahearreason。"

Allanherestartedup,strodeforward,andinterruptedtheconversation,sayingtothedomesticinavoicelikethunder,"Andhowdaredyoutogivemybrothersuchdishonourableadvice？

orhowdareyoutosayhewilllosethisoranyotherwagerwhichitishispleasuretolay？"

"Troth,AllanM"Aulay,"answeredtheoldman,"it"snoformyfather"ssontogainsaywhatyourfather"ssonthinksfittosay,an"sotheLairdmaynodoubtwinhiswager。A"thatIkenagainstitis,thattheteilacandlestick,oronythinglikeit,isinthehouse,excepttheauldairnbranchesthathasbeenheresinceLairdKenneth"stime,andthetinsconcesthatyourfathergardbemadebyauldWillieWinkiethetinkler,mairbetokenthatdeilanunceofsillerplateisaboutthehouseata",forbythelady"sauldpossetdish,thatwantsthecoverandaneo"thelugs。"

"Peace,oldman！"saidAllan,fiercely;"anddoyou,gentlemen,ifyourrefectionisfinished,leavethisapartmentclear;Imustprepareitforthereceptionofthesesouthernguests。"

"Comeaway,"saidthedomestic,pullingLordMenteithbythesleeve;"hishourisonhim,"saidhe,lookingtowardsAllan,"andhewillnotbecontrolled。"

Theyleftthehallaccordingly,LordMenteithandtheCaptainbeingusheredonewaybyoldDonald,andthetwoattendantsconductedelsewherebyanotherHighlander。Theformerhadscarcelyreachedasortofwithdrawingapartmenteretheywerejoinedbythelordofthemansion,AngusM"Aulaybyname,andhisEnglishguests。Greatjoywasexpressedbyallparties,forLordMenteithandtheEnglishgentlemenwerewellknowntoeachother;

andonLordMenteith"sintroduction,CaptainDalgettywaswellreceivedbytheLaird。Butafterthefirstburstofhospitablecongratulationwasover,LordMenteithcouldobservethattherewasashadeofsadnessonthebrowofhisHighlandfriend。

"Youmusthaveheard,"saidSirChristopherHall,"thatourfineundertakinginCumberlandisallblownup。ThemilitiawouldnotmarchintoScotland,andyourprick—ear"dCovenantershavebeentoohardforourfriendsinthesouthernshires。Andso,understandingthereissomestirringworkhere,MusgraveandI,ratherthansitidleathome,arecometohaveacampaignamongyourkiltsandplaids。"

"Ihopeyouhavebroughtarms,men,andmoneywithyou,"saidLordMenteith,smiling。

"Onlysomedozenortwooftroopers,whomweleftatthelastLowlandvillage,"saidMusgrave,"andtroubleenoughwehadtogetthemsofar。"

"Asformoney,"saidhiscompanion,"Weexpectasmallsupplyfromourfriendandhosthere。"

TheLairdnow,colouringhighly,tookMenteithalittleapart,andexpressedtohimhisregretthathehadfallenintoafoolishblunder。

"IhearditfromDonald,"saidLordMenteith,scarceabletosuppressasmile。

"Deviltakethatoldman,"saidM"Aulay,"hewouldtelleverything,wereittocostone"slife;butit"snojestingmattertoyouneither,mylord,forIreckononyourfriendlyandfraternalbenevolence,asanearkinsmanofourhouse,tohelpmeoutwiththemoneyduetothesepock—puddings;orelse,tobeplainwi"

ye,thedeilaM"Aulaywilltherebeatthemuster,forcursemeifIdonotturnCovenanterratherthanfacethesefellowswithoutpayingthem;and,atthebest,Ishallbeillenoughoff,gettingboththescaithandthescorn。"

"Youmaysuppose,cousin,"saidLordMenteith,"Iamnottoowellequiptjustnow;butyoumaybeassuredIshallendeavourtohelpyouaswellasIcan,forthesakeofoldkindred,neighbourhood,andalliance。"

"Thankye——thankye——thankye,"reiteratedM"Aulay;"andastheyaretospendthemoneyintheKing"sservice,whatsignifieswhetheryou,they,orIpayit？——wearea"oneman"sbairns,I

hope？Butyoumusthelpmeouttoowithsomereasonableexcuse,orelseIshallbefortakingtoAndrewFerrara;forIlikenottobetreatedlikealiarorabraggartatmyownboard—end,when,Godknows,Ionlymeanttosupportmyhonour,andthatofmyfamilyandcountry。

Donald,astheywerespeaking,entered,withratherablitherfacethanhemighthavebeenexpectedtowear,consideringtheimpendingfateofhismaster"spurseandcredit。"Gentlemens,herdinnerisready,andHERCANDLESARELIGHTEDTOO,"saidDonald,withastronggutturalemphasisonthelastclauseofhisspeech。

"Whatthedevilcanhemean？"saidMusgrave,lookingtohiscountryman。

LordMenteithputthesamequestionwithhiseyestotheLaird,whichM"Aulayansweredbyshakinghishead。

Ashortdisputeaboutprecedencesomewhatdelayedtheirleavingtheapartment。LordMenteithinsisteduponyieldingupthatwhichbelongedtohisrank,onconsiderationofhisbeinginhisowncountry,andofhisnearconnexionwiththefamilyinwhichtheyfoundthemselves。ThetwoEnglishstrangers,therefore,werefirstusheredintothehall,whereanunexpecteddisplayawaitedthem。Thelargeoakentablewasspreadwithsubstantialjointsofmeat,andseatswereplacedinorderfortheguests。

BehindeveryseatstoodagiganticHighlander,completelydressedandarmedafterthefashionofhiscountry,holdinginhisrighthandhisdrawnsword,withthepointturneddownwards,andintheleftablazingtorchmadeofthebog—pine。Thiswood,foundinthemorasses,issofullofturpentine,that,whensplitanddried,itisfrequentlyusedintheHighlandsinsteadofcandles。

Theunexpectedandsomewhatstartlingapparitionwasseenbytheredglareofthetorches,whichdisplayedthewildfeatures,unusualdress,andglitteringarmsofthosewhoborethem,whilethesmoke,eddyinguptotheroofofthehall,over—canopiedthemwithavolumeofvapour。Erethestrangershadrecoveredfromtheirsurprise,Allansteptforward,andpointingwithhissheathedbroadswordtothetorch—bearers,said,inadeepandsterntoneofvoice,"Behold,gentlemencavaliers,thechandeliersofmybrother"shouse,theancientfashionofourancientname;notoneofthesemenknowsanylawbuttheirChiefscommand——WouldyoudaretocomparetoTHEMinvaluetherichestorethateverwasdugoutofthemine？Howsayyou,cavaliers？

——isyourwagerwonorlost？"

"Lost;lost,"saidMusgrave,gaily——"myownsilvercandlesticksareallmeltedandridingonhorsebackbythistime,andIwishthefellowsthatenlistedwerehalfastrustyasthese。——Here,sir,"headdedtotheChief,"isyourmoney;itimpairsHall"sfinancesandminesomewhat,butdebtsofhonourmustbesettled。"

"Myfather"scurseuponmyfather"sson,"saidAllan,interruptinghim,"ifhereceivefromyouonepenny！Itisenoughthatyouclaimnorighttoexactfromhimwhatishisown。"

LordMenteitheagerlysupportedAllan"sopinion,andtheelderM"Aulayreadilyjoined,declaringthewholetobeafool"sbusiness,andnotworthspeakingmoreabout。TheEnglishmen,aftersomecourteousopposition,werepersuadedtoregardthewholeasajoke。

"Andnow,Allan,"saidtheLaird,"pleasetoremoveyourcandles;

for,sincetheSaxongentlemenhaveseenthem,theywilleattheirdinnerascomfortablybythelightoftheoldtinsconces,withoutscomfishingthemwithsomuchsmoke。"

Accordingly,atasignfromAllan,thelivingchandeliers,recoveringtheirbroadswords,andholdingthepointerect,marchedoutofthehall,andleftthegueststoenjoytheirrefreshment。[SuchabetasthatmentionedinthetextissaidtohavebeentakenbyMacDonaldofKeppoch,whoextricatedhimselfinthemannertherenarrated。]

CHAPTERV。

Tharebysofearlesseandsofellhegrew,ThathisownsyreandmaisterofhisguiseDidoftentrembleathishorridview;

Andiffordreadofhurtwouldhimadvise,Theangrybeastesnotrashlytodespise,Nortoomuchtoprovoke;forhewouldlearneThelionstouptohiminlowlywise,（Alessonhard,）andmakethelibbardsterneLeaveroaring,wheninrageheforrevengedidearne。SPENSER。

NotwithstandingtheproverbialepicurismoftheEnglish,——proverbial,thatistosay,inScotlandattheperiod,——theEnglishvisitorsmadenofigurewhateverattheentertainment,comparedwiththeportentousvoracityofCaptainDalgetty,althoughthatgallantsoldierhadalreadydisplayedmuchsteadinessandpertinacityinhisattackuponthelighterrefreshmentsetbeforethemattheirentrance,bywayofforlornhope。Hespoketonooneduringthetimeofhismeal;anditwasnotuntilthevictualswerenearlywithdrawnfromthetable,thathegratifiedtherestofthecompany,whohadwatchedhimwithsomesurprise,withanaccountofthereasonswhyheatesoveryfastandsoverylong。

"Theformerquality,"hesaid,"hehadacquired,whilehefilledaplaceatthebursar"stableattheMareschal—CollegeofAberdeen;when,"saidhe;"ifyoudidnotmoveyourjawsasfastasapairofcastanets,youwereveryunlikelytogetanythingtoputbetweenthem。Andasforthequantityofmyfood,beitknowntothishonourablecompany,"continuedtheCaptain,"thatit"sthedutyofeverycommanderofafortress,onalloccasionswhichoffer,tosecureasmuchmunitionandviversastheirmagazinescanpossiblyhold,notknowingwhentheymayhavetosustainasiegeorablockade。Uponwhichprinciple,gentlemen,"

saidhe,"whenacavalierfindsthatprovantisgoodandabundant,hewill,inmyestimation,dowiselytovictualhimselfforatleastthreedays,asthereisnoknowingwhenhemaycomebyanothermeal。"

TheLairdexpressedhisacquiescenceintheprudenceofthisprinciple,andrecommendedtotheveterantoaddatassofbrandyandaflagonofclarettothesubstantialprovisionshehadalreadylaidin,towhichproposaltheCaptainreadilyagreed。

Whendinnerwasremoved,andtheservantshadwithdrawn,exceptingtheLaird"spage,orhenchman,whoremainedintheapartmenttocallfororbringwhateverwaswanted,or,inaword,toanswerthepurposesofamodernbell—wire,theconversationbegantoturnuponpolitics,andthestateofthecountry;andLordMenteithenquiredanxiouslyandparticularlywhatclanswereexpectedtojointheproposedmusteroftheKing"sfriends。

"Thatdependsmuch,mylord,onthepersonwholiftsthebanner,"

saidtheLaird;"foryouknowweHighlanders,whenafewclansareassembled,arenoteasilycommandedbyoneofourownChiefs,or,tosaythetruth,byanyotherbody。Wehaveheardarumour,indeed,thatColkitto——thatis,youngColkitto,orAlasterM"Donald,iscomeovertheKylefromIreland,withabodyoftheEarlofAntrim"speople,andthattheyhadgotasfarasArdnamurchan。Theymighthavebeenherebeforenow,but,I

suppose,theyloiteredtoplunderthecountryastheycamealong。"

"WillColkittonotserveyouforaleader,then？"saidLordMenteith。

"Colkitto？"saidAllanM"Aulay,scornfully;"whotalksofColkitto？——Therelivesbutonemanwhomwewillfollow,andthatisMontrose。"

"ButMontrose,sir,"saidSirChristopherHall,"hasnotbeenheardofsinceourineffectualattempttoriseinthenorthofEngland。ItisthoughthehasreturnedtotheKingatOxfordforfartherinstructions。"

"Returned！"saidAllan,withascornfullaugh;"Icouldtellye,butitisnotworthmywhile;yewillknowsoonenough。"

"Bymyhonour,Allan,"saidLordMenteith,"youwillwearyoutyourfriendswiththisintolerable,froward,andsullenhumour——ButIknowthereason,"addedhe,laughing;"youhavenotseenAnnotLyleto—day。"

"WhomdidyousayIhadnotseen？"saidAllan,sternly。

"AnnotLyle,thefairyqueenofsongandminstrelsy,"saidLordMenteith。

"WouldtoGodIwerenevertoseeheragain,"saidAllan,sighing,"Onconditionthesameweirdwerelaidonyou！"

"Andwhyonme？"saidLordMenteith,carelessly。

"Because,"saidAllan,"itiswrittenonyourforehead,thatyouaretobetheruinofeachother。"Sosaying,heroseupandlefttheroom。

"Hashebeenlonginthisway？"askedLordMenteith,addressinghisbrother。

"Aboutthreedays,"answeredAngus;"thefitiswellnighover,hewillbebetterto—morrow。——Butcome,gentlemen,don"tletthetappit—henscraughtobeemptied。TheKing"shealth,KingCharles"shealth！andmaythecovenantingdogthatrefusesit,gotoHeavenbytheroadoftheGrassmarket！"

Thehealthwasquicklypledged,andasfastsucceededbyanother,andanother,andanother,allofapartycast,andenforcedinanearnestmanner。CaptainDalgetty,however,thoughtitnecessarytoenteraprotest。

"Gentlemencavaliers,"hesaid,"Idrinkthesehealths,PRIMO,bothoutofrespecttothishonourableandhospitableroof—tree,and,SECUNDO,becauseIholditnotgoodtobepreceeseinsuchmatters,INTERPOCULA;butIprotest,agreeabletothewarrandicegrantedbythishonourablelord,thatitshallbefreetome,notwithstandingmypresentcomplaisance,totakeservicewiththeCovenantersto—morrow,providingIshallbesominded。"

M"AulayandhisEnglishguestsstaredatthisdeclaration,whichwouldhavecertainlybrednewdisturbance,ifLordMenteithhadnottakenuptheaffair,andexplainedthecircumstancesandconditions。"Itrust,"heconcluded,"weshallbeabletosecureCaptainDalgetty"sassistancetoourownparty。"

"Andifnot,"saidtheLaird,"Iprotest,astheCaptainsays,thatnothingthathaspassedthisevening,notevenhishavingeatenmybreadandsalt,andpledgedmeinbrandy,Bourdeaux,orusquebaugh,shallprejudicemycleavinghimtotheneck—bone。"

"Youshallbeheartilywelcome,"saidtheCaptain,"providingmyswordcannotkeepmyhead,whichithasdoneinworsedangersthanyourfendislikelytomakeforme。"

HereLordMenteithagaininterposed,andtheconcordofthecompanybeingwithnosmalldifficultyrestored,wascementedbysomedeepcarouses。LordMenteith,however,contrivedtobreakupthepartyearlierthanwastheusageoftheCastle,underpretenceoffatigueandindisposition。ThiswassomewhattothedisappointmentofthevaliantCaptain,who,amongotherhabitsacquiredintheLowcountries,hadacquiredbothadispositiontodrink,andacapacitytobear,anexorbitantquantityofstrongliquors。

Theirlandlordusheredtheminpersontoasortofsleepinggallery,inwhichtherewasafour—postbed,withtartancurtains,andanumberofcribs,orlonghampers,placedalongthewall,threeofwhich,wellstuffedwithbloomingheather,werepreparedforthereceptionofguests。

"Ineednottellyourlordship,"saidM"AulaytoLordMenteith,alittleapart,"ourHighlandmodeofquartering。Onlythat,notlikingyoushouldsleepintheroomalonewiththisGermanland—

louper,Ihavecausedyourservants"bedstobemadehereinthegallery。ByG——d,mylord,thesearetimeswhenmengotobedwithathroathaleandsoundaseverswallowedbrandy,andbeforenextmorningitmaybegapinglikeanoyster—shell。"

LordMenteiththankedhimsincerely,saying,"Itwasjustthearrangementhewouldhaverequested;for,althoughhehadnottheleastapprehensionofviolencefromCaptainDalgetty,yetAndersonwasabetterkindofperson,asortofgentleman,whomhealwayslikedtohavenearhisperson。"

"IhavenotseenthisAnderson,"saidM"Aulay;"didyouhirehiminEngland？"

"Ididso,"saidLordMenteith;"youwillseethemanto—morrow;

inthemeantimeIwishyougood—night。"

Hishostlefttheapartmentaftertheeveningsalutation,andwasabouttopaythesamecomplimenttoCaptainDalgetty,butobservinghimdeeplyengagedinthediscussionofahugepitcherfilledwithbrandyposset,hethoughtitapitytodisturbhiminsolaudableanemployment,andtookhisleavewithoutfartherceremony。

LordMenteith"stwoattendantsenteredtheapartmentalmostimmediatelyafterhisdeparture。ThegoodCaptain,whowasnowsomewhatencumberedwithhisgoodcheer,begantofindtheundoingoftheclaspsofhisarmouratasksomewhatdifficult,andaddressedAndersoninthesewords,interruptedbyaslighthiccup,——"Anderson,mygoodfriend,youmayreadinScripture,thathethatputtethoffhisarmourshouldnotboasthimselflikehethatputtethiton——Ibelievethatisnottherightwordofcommand;buttheplaintruthofitis,Iamliketosleepinmycorslet,likemanyanhonestfellowthatneverwakedagain,unlessyouunloosethisbuckle。"

"Undohisarmour,Sibbald,"saidAndersontotheotherservant。

"BySt。Andrew！"exclaimedtheCaptain,turningroundingreatastonishment,"here"sacommonfellow——astipendiarywithfourpoundsa—yearandaliverycloak,thinkshimselftoogoodtoserveRitt—masterDugaldDalgettyofDrumthwacket,whohasstudiedhumanityattheMareschal—CollegeofAberdeen,andservedhalftheprincesofEurope！"

"CaptainDalgetty,"saidLordMenteith,whoselotitwastostandpeacemakerthroughouttheevening,"pleasetounderstandthatAndersonwaitsuponnoonebutmyself;butIwillhelpSibbaldtoundoyourcorsletwithmuchpleasure。"

"Toomuchtroubleforyou,mylord,"saidDalgetty;"andyetitwoulddoyounoharmtopractisehowahandsomeharnessisputonandputoff。Icanstepinandoutofminelikeaglove;onlyto—night,althoughnotEBRIUS,Iam,intheclassicphrase,VINO

CIBOQUEGRAVATUS。"

Bythistimehewasunshelled,andstoodbeforethefiremusingwithafaceofdrunkenwisdomontheeventsoftheevening。Whatseemedchieflytointeresthim,wasthecharacterofAllanM"Aulay。"TocomeovertheEnglishmensocleverlywithhisHighlandtorch—bearers——eightbare—breechedRoriesforsixsilvercandlesticks！——itwasamaster—piece——aTOURDEPASSE——itwasperfectlegerdemain——andtobeamadmanafterall！——Idoubtgreatly,mylord"（shakinghishead）,"thatImustallowhim,notwithstandinghisrelationshiptoyourlordship,theprivilegesofarationalperson,andeitherbatoonhimsufficientlytoexpiatetheviolenceofferedtomyperson,orelsebringittoamatterofmortalarbitrement,asbecomethaninsultedcavalier。"

"Ifyoucaretohearalongstory,"saidLordMenteith,atthistimeofnight,IcantellyouhowthecircumstancesofAllan"sbirthaccountsowellforhissingularcharacter,astoputsuchsatisfactionentirelyoutofthequestion。"

"Alongstory,mylord,"saidCaptainDalgetty,"is,nexttoagoodeveningdraughtandawarmnightcap,thebestshoeinghornfordrawingonasoundsleep。Andsinceyourlordshipispleasedtotakethetroubletotellit,Ishallrestyourpatientandobligedauditor。"

"Anderson,"saidLordMenteith,"andyou,Sibbald,aredyingtohear,Isuppose,ofthisstrangemantoo！andIbelieveImustindulgeyourcuriosity,thatyoumayknowhowtobehavetohimintimeofneed。Youhadbettersteptothefirethen。"

Havingthusassembledanaudienceabouthim,LordMenteithsatdownupontheedgeofthefour—postbed,whileCaptainDalgetty,wipingtherelicsofthepossetfromhisbeardandmustachoes,andrepeatingthefirstverseoftheLutheranpsalm,ALLEGUTER

GEISTERLOBENDENHERRN,etc。rolledhimselfintooneoftheplacesofrepose,andthrustinghisshockpatefrombetweentheblankets,listenedtoLordMenteith"srelationinamostluxuriousstate,betweensleepingandwaking。

"Thefather,"saidLordMenteith,"ofthetwobrothers,AngusandAllanM"Aulay,wasagentlemanofconsiderationandfamily,beingthechiefofaHighlandclan,ofgoodaccount,thoughnotnumerous;hislady,themotheroftheseyoungmen,wasagentlewomanofgoodfamily,ifImaybepermittedtosaysoofonenearlyconnectedwithmyown。Herbrother,anhonourableandspiritedyoungman,obtainedfromJamestheSixthagrantofforestry,andotherprivileges,overaroyalchaseadjacenttothiscastle;and,inexercisinganddefendingtheserights,hewassounfortunateastoinvolvehimselfinaquarrelwithsomeofourHighlandfreebootersorcaterans,ofwhomIthink,CaptainDalgetty,youmusthaveheard。"

"AndthatIhave,"saidtheCaptain,exertinghimselftoanswertheappeal。"BeforeIlefttheMareschal—CollegeofAberdeen,DugaldGarrwasplayingthedevilintheGarioch,andtheFarquharsonsonDee—side,andtheClanChattanontheGordons"

lands,andtheGrantsandCameronsinMoray—land。Andsincethat,IhaveseentheCravatsandPandoursinPannoniaandTransylvania,andtheCossacksfromthePolishfrontier,androbbers,banditti,andbarbariansofallcountriesbesides,sothatIhaveadistinctideaofyourbrokenHighlandmen。"

"Theclan,"saidLordMenteith,"withwhomthematernaluncleoftheM"Aulayshadbeenplacedinfeud,wasasmallseptofbanditti,called,fromtheirhouselessstate,andtheirincessantlywanderingamongthemountainsandglens,theChildrenoftheMist。Theyareafierceandhardypeople,withalltheirritability,andwildandvengefulpassions,propertomenwhohaveneverknowntherestraintofcivilizedsociety。ApartyofthemlayinwaitfortheunfortunateWardenoftheForest,surprisedhimwhilehuntingaloneandunattended,andslewhimwitheverycircumstanceofinventivecruelty。Theycutoffhishead,andresolved,inabravado,toexhibititatthecastleofhisbrother—in—law。Thelairdwasabsent,andtheladyreluctantlyreceivedasguests,menagainstwhom,perhaps,shewasafraidtoshuthergates。RefreshmentswereplacedbeforetheChildrenoftheMist,whotookanopportunitytotaketheheadoftheirvictimfromtheplaidinwhichitwaswrapt,placeditonthetable,putapieceofbreadbetweenthelifelessjaws,biddingthemdotheirofficenow,sincemanyagoodmealtheyhadeatenatthattable。Thelady,whohadbeenabsentforsomehouseholdpurpose,enteredatthismoment,and,uponbeholdingherbrother"shead,fledlikeanarrowoutofthehouseintothewoods,utteringshriekuponshriek。Theruffians,satisfiedwiththissavagetriumph,withdrew。Theterrifiedmenials,afterovercomingthealarmtowhichtheyhadbeensubjected,soughttheirunfortunatemistressineverydirection,butshewasnowheretobefound。Themiserablehusbandreturnednextday,and,withtheassistanceofhispeople,undertookamoreanxiousanddistantsearch,buttoequallylittlepurpose。Itwasbelieveduniversally,that,intheecstasyofherterror,shemusteitherhavethrownherselfoveroneofthenumerousprecipiceswhichoverhangtheriver,orintoadeeplakeaboutamilefromthecastle。Herlosswasthemorelamented,asshewassixmonthsadvancedinherpregnancy;AngusM"Aulay,hereldestson,havingbeenbornabouteighteenmonthsbefore。——ButItireyou,CaptainDalgetty,andyouseeminclinedtosleep。"