第8章

"ThaneofMenteith,"hesaid,"youhavewellspoken;noristhereoneofusinwhosebosomthesamesentimentsdonotburnlikefire。Butitisnotstrengthalonethatwinsthefight;itistheheadofthecommander,aswellasthearmofthesoldier,thatbringsvictory。Iaskofyouwhoistoraiseandsustainthebannerunderwhichweareinvitedtoriseandmusterourselves？Willitbeexpectedthatweshouldriskourchildren,andtheflowerofourkinsmen,ereweknowtowhoseguidancetheyaretobeintrusted？Thiswereleadingthosetoslaughter,whom,bythelawsofGodandman,itisourdutytoprotect。Whereistheroyalcommission,underwhichtheliegesaretobeconvocatedinarms？Simpleandrudeaswemaybedeemed,weknowsomethingoftheestablishedrulesofwar,aswellasofthelawsofourcountry;norwillwearmourselvesagainstthegeneralpeaceofScotland,unlessbytheexpresscommandsoftheKing,andunderaleaderfittocommandsuchmenasarehereassembled。"

"Wherewouldyoufindsuchaleader,"saidanotherChief,startingup,"savingtherepresentativeoftheLordoftheIsles,entitledbybirthandhereditarydescenttoleadforththearrayofeveryclanoftheHighlands;andwhereisthatdignitylodged,saveinthehouseofVichAlisterMore？"

"Iacknowledge,"saidanotherChief,eagerlyinterruptingthespeaker,"thetruthinwhathasbeenfirstsaid,butnottheinference。IfVichAlisterMoredesirestobeheldrepresentativeoftheLordoftheIsles,lethimfirstshowhisbloodisredderthanmine。"

"Thatissoontried,"saidVichAlisterMore,layinghishanduponthebaskethiltofhisclaymore。LordMenteiththrewhimselfbetweenthem,entreatingandimploringeachtorememberthattheinterestsofScotland,thelibertyoftheircountry,andthecauseoftheirKing,oughttobesuperiorintheireyestoanypersonaldisputesrespectingdescent,rank,andprecedence。

SeveraloftheHighlandChiefs,whohadnodesiretoadmittheclaimsofeitherchieftain,interferedtothesamepurpose,andnonewithmoreemphasisthanthecelebratedEvanDhu。

"Ihavecomefrommylakes,"hesaid,"asastreamdescendsfromthehills,nottoturnagain,buttoaccomplishmycourse。ItisnotbylookingbacktoourownpretensionsthatweshallserveScotlandorKingCharles。MyvoiceshallbeforthatgeneralwhomtheKingshallname,whowilldoubtlesspossessthosequalitieswhicharenecessarytocommandmenlikeus。High—bornhemustbe,orweshallloseourrankinobeyinghim——wiseandskilful,orweshallendangerthesafetyofourpeople——bravestamongthebrave,orweshallperilourownhonour——temperate,firm,andmanly,tokeepusunited。Suchisthemanthatmustcommandus。Areyouprepared,ThaneofMenteith,tosaywheresuchageneralistobefound？"

"ThereisbutONE,"saidAllanM"Aulay;"andhere,"hesaid,layinghishandupontheshoulderofAnderson,whostoodbehindLordMenteith,"herehestands！"

Thegeneralsurpriseofthemeetingwasexpressedbyanimpatientmurmur;whenAnderson,throwingbackthecloakinwhichhisfacewasmuffled,andsteppingforward,spokethus:——"Ididnotlongintendtobeasilentspectatorofthisinterestingscene,althoughmyhastyfriendhasobligedmetodisclosemyselfsomewhatsoonerthanwasmyintention。WhetherIdeservethehonourreposedinmebythisparchmentwillbestappearfromwhatIshallbeabletodofortheKing"sservice。Itisacommissionunderthegreatseal,toJamesGraham,EarlofMontrose,tocommandthoseforceswhicharetobeassembledfortheserviceofhisMajestyinthiskingdom。"

Aloudshoutofapprobationburstfromtheassembly。Therewas,infact,nootherpersontowhom,inpointofrank,theseproudmountaineerswouldhavebeendisposedtosubmit。HisinveterateandhereditaryhostilitytotheMarquisofArgyleinsuredhisengaginginthewarwithsufficientenergy,whilehiswell—knownmilitarytalents,andhistriedvalour,affordedeveryhopeofhisbringingittoafavourableconclusion。

CHAPTERVIII。

Ourplotisagoodplotaseverwaslaid;ourfriendstrueandconstant:agoodplot,goodfriends,andfullofexpectation:

anexcellentplot,verygoodfriends。HENRYIVPartI。

Nosoonerhadthegeneralacclamationofjoyfulsurprisesubsided,thansilencewaseagerlydemandedforreadingtheroyalcommission;andthebonnets,whichhithertoeachChiefhadworn,probablybecauseunwillingtobethefirsttouncover,werenowatoncevailedinhonouroftheroyalwarrant。Itwascouchedinthemostfullandampleterms,authorizingtheEarlofMontrosetoassemblethesubjectsinarms,fortheputtingdownthepresentrebellion,whichdiverstraitorsandseditiouspersonshadleviedagainsttheKing,tothemanifestforfaulture,asitstated,oftheirallegiance,andtothebreachofthepacificationbetweenthetwokingdoms。ItenjoinedallsubordinateauthoritiestobeobedientandassistingtoMontroseinhisenterprise;gavehimthepowerofmakingordinancesandproclamations,punishingmisdemeanours,pardoningcriminals,placinganddisplacinggovernorsandcommanders。Infine,itwasaslargeandfullacommissionasanywithwhichaprincecouldintrustasubject。Assoonasitwasfinished,ashoutburstfromtheassembledChiefs,intestimonyoftheirreadysubmissiontothewilloftheirsovereign。Notcontentedwithgenerallythankingthemforareceptionsofavourable,Montrosehastenedtoaddresshimselftoindividuals,ThemostimportantChiefshadalreadybeenlongpersonallyknowntohim,buteventothoseofinferiorconsequencehenowintroducedhimselfandbytheacquaintancehedisplayedwiththeirpeculiardesignations,andthecircumstancesandhistoryoftheirclans,heshowedhowlonghemusthavestudiedthecharacterofthemountaineers,andpreparedhimselfforsuchasituationashenowheld。

Whilehewasengagedintheseactsofcourtesy,hisgracefulmanner,expressivefeatures,anddignityofdeportment,madeasingularcontrastwiththecoarsenessandmeannessofhisdress。

Montrosepossessedthatsortofformandface,inwhichthebeholder,atthefirstglance,seesnothingextraordinary,butofwhichtheinterestbecomesmoreimpressivethelongerwegazeuponthem。Hisstaturewasverylittleabovethemiddlesize,butinpersonhewasuncommonlywell—built,andcapablebothofexertinggreatforce,andenduringmuchfatigue。Infact,heenjoyedaconstitutionofiron,withoutwhichhecouldnothavesustainedthetrialsofhisextraordinarycampaigns,throughallofwhichhesubjectedhimselftothehardshipsofthemeanestsoldier。Hewasperfectinallexercises,whetherpeacefulormartial,andpossessed,ofcourse,thatgracefuleaseofdeportmentpropertothosetowhomhabithasrenderedallpostureseasy。

Hislongbrownhair,accordingtothecustomofmenofqualityamongtheRoyalists,waspartedonthetopofhishead,andtrainedtohangdownoneachsideincurledlocks,oneofwhich,descendingtwoorthreeincheslowerthantheothers,intimatedMontrose"scompliancewiththatfashionagainstwhichitpleasedMr。Prynne,thepuritan,towriteatreatise,entitled,THE

UNLOVELINESSOFLOVE—LOCKS。Thefeatureswhichthesetressesenclosed,wereofthatkindwhichderivetheirinterestfromthecharacteroftheman,ratherthanfromtheregularityoftheirform。Butahighnose,afull,decided,well—opened,quickgreyeye,andasanguinecomplexion,madeamendsforsomecoarsenessandirregularityinthesubordinatepartsoftheface;sothat,altogether,Montrosemightbetermedratherahandsome,thanahard—featuredman。Butthosewhosawhimwhenhissoullookedthroughthoseeyeswithalltheenergyandfireofgenius——thosewhoheardhimspeakwiththeauthorityoftalent,andtheeloquenceofnature,wereimpressedwithanopinionevenofhisexternalform,moreenthusiasticallyfavourablethantheportraitswhichstillsurvivewouldentitleustoascribetoit。

Such,atleast,wastheimpressionhemadeupontheassembledChiefsofthemountaineers,overwhom,asuponallpersonsintheirstateofsociety,personalappearancehasnosmallinfluence。

Inthediscussionswhichfollowedhisdiscoveringhimself,Montroseexplainedthevariousriskswhichhehadruninhispresentundertaking。HisfirstattempthadbeentoassembleabodyofloyalistsinthenorthofEngland,who,inobediencetotheordersoftheMarquisofNewcastle,heexpectedwouldhavemarchedintoScotland;butthedisinclinationoftheEnglishtocrosstheBorder,andthedelayoftheEarlofAntrim,whowastohavelandedintheSolwayFrithwithhisIrisharmy,preventedhisexecutingthisdesign。Otherplanshavinginlikemannerfailed,hestatedthathefoundhimselfunderthenecessityofassumingadisguisetorenderhispassagesecurethroughtheLowlands,inwhichhehadbeenkindlyassistedbyhiskinsmanofMenteith。BywhatmeansAllanM"Aulayhadcometoknowhim,hecouldnotpretendtoexplain。ThosewhoknewAllan"spropheticpretensions,smiledmysteriously;buthehimselfonlyreplied,that"theEarlofMontroseneednotbesurprisedifhewasknowntothousands,ofwhomhehimselfcouldretainnomemory。"

"Bythehonourofacavalier,"saidCaptainDalgetty,findingatlengthanopportunitytothrustinhisword,"Iamproudandhappyinhavinganopportunityofdrawingaswordunderyourlordship"scommand;andIdoforgiveallgrudge,malecontent,andmaliceofmyheart,toMr。AllanM"Aulay,forhavingthrustmedowntothelowestseatoftheboardyestreen。Certes,hehaththisdayspokensolikeamanhavingfullcommandofhissenses,thatIhadresolvedinmysecretpurposethathewasnowayentitledtoclaimtheprivilegeofinsanity。ButsinceIwasonlypostponedtoanobleearl,myfuturecommander—in—chief,I

do,beforeyouall,recognisethejusticeofthepreference,andheartilysaluteAllanasonewhoistobehisBON—CAMARADO。"

Havingmadethisspeech,whichwaslittleunderstoodorattendedto,withoutputtingoffhismilitaryglove,heseizedonAllan"shand,andbegantoshakeitwithviolence,whichAllan,withagripelikeasmith"svice,returnedwithsuchforce,astodrivetheironsplentsofthegauntletintothehandofthewearer。

CaptainDalgettymighthaveconstruedthisintoanewaffront,hadnothisattention,ashestoodblowingandshakingtheinjuredmember,beensuddenlycalledbyMontrosehimself。

"Hearthisnews,"hesaid,"CaptainDalgetty——IshouldsayMajorDalgetty,——theIrish,whoaretoprofitbyyourmilitaryexperience,arenowwithinafewleaguesofus。"

"Ourdeer—stalkers,"saidAngusM"Aulay,"whowereabroadtobringinvenisonforthishonourableparty,haveheardofabandofstrangers,speakingneitherSaxonnorpureGaelic,andwithdifficultymakingthemselvesunderstoodbythepeopleofthecountry,whoaremarchingthiswayinarms,undertheleading,itissaid,ofAlasterM"Donald,whoiscommonlycalledYoungColkitto。"

"Thesemustbeourmen,"saidMontrose;"wemusthastentosendmessengersforward,bothtoactasguidesandtorelievetheirwants。"

"Thelast,"saidAngusM"Aulay,"willbenoeasymatter;forIaminformed,that,exceptingmusketsandaverylittleammunition,theywanteverythingthatsoldiersshouldhave;andtheyareparticularlydeficientinmoney,inshoes,andinraiment。"

"Thereisatleastnouseinsayingso,"saidMontrose,"insoloudatone。ThepuritanweaversofGlasgowshallprovidethemplentyofbroad—cloth,whenwemakeadescentfromtheHighlands;

andiftheministerscouldformerlypreachtheoldwomenoftheScottishboroughsoutoftheirwebsofnapery,tomaketentstothefellowsonDunseLaw,[TheCovenantersencampedonDunseLaw,duringthetroublesof1639。]IwilltrywhetherIhavenotalittleinterestbothtomakethesegodlydamesrenewtheirpatrioticgift,andtheprick—earedknaves,theirhusbands,opentheirpurses。"

"Andrespectingarms,"saidCaptainDalgetty,"ifyourlordshipwillpermitanoldcavaliertospeakhismind,sothattheone—

thirdhavemuskets,mydarlingweaponwouldbethepikefortheremainder,whetherforresistingachargeofhorse,orforbreakingtheinfantry。Acommonsmithwillmakeahundredpike—

headsinaday;hereisplentyofwoodforshafts;andIwilluphold,that,accordingtothebestusagesofwar,astrongbattalionofpikes,drawnupinthefashionoftheLionoftheNorth,theimmortalGustavus,wouldbeattheMacedonianphalanx,ofwhichIusedtoreadintheMareschal—College,whenIstudiedintheancienttownofBon—accord;andfurther,Iwillventuretopredicate——"

TheCaptain"slectureupontacticswasheresuddenlyinterruptedbyAllanM"Aulay,whosaid,hastily,——"Roomforanunexpectedandunwelcomeguest！"

Atthesamemoment,thedoorofthehallopened,andagrey—

hairedman,ofaverystatelyappearance,presentedhimselftotheassembly。Therewasmuchdignity,andevenauthority,inhismanner。Hisstaturewasabovethecommonsize,andhislookssuchaswereusedtocommand。Hecastasevere,andalmoststernglanceupontheassemblyofChiefs。Thoseofthehigherrankamongthemreturneditwithscornfulindifference;butsomeofthewesterngentlemenofinferiorpower,lookedasiftheywishedthemselveselsewhere。

"Towhichofthisassembly,"saidthestranger,"amItoaddressmyselfasleader？orhaveyounotfixeduponthepersonwhoistoholdanofficeatleastasperilousasitishonourable？"

"Addressyourselftome,SirDuncanCampbell,"saidMontrose,steppingforward。

"Toyou！"saidSirDuncanCampbell,withsomescorn。

"Yes,——tome,"repeatedMontrose,——"totheEarlofMontrose,ifyouhaveforgothim。"

"Ishouldnow,atleast,"saidSirDuncanCampbell,"havehadsomedifficultyinrecognisinghiminthedisguiseofagroom。

——andyetImighthaveguessedthatnoevilinfluenceinferiortoyourlordship"s,distinguishedasonewhotroublesIsrael,couldhavecollectedtogetherthisrashassemblyofmisguidedpersons。"

"Iwillansweruntoyou,"saidMontrose,"inthemannerofyourownPuritans。IhavenottroubledIsrael,butthouandthyfather"shouse。Butletusleaveanaltercation,whichisoflittleconsequencebuttoourselves,andhearthetidingsyouhavebroughtfromyourChiefofArgyle;forImustconcludethatitisinhisnamethatyouhavecometothismeeting。"

"ItisinthenameoftheMarquisofArgyle,"saidSirDuncanCampbell,——"inthenameoftheScottishConventionofEstates,thatIdemandtoknowthemeaningofthissingularconvocation。

Ifitisdesignedtodisturbthepeaceofthecountry,itwerebutactinglikeneighbours,andmenofhonour,togiveussomeintimationtostanduponourguard。"

"Itisasingular,andnewstateofaffairsinScotland,"saidMontrose,turningfromSirDuncanCampbelltotheassembly,"whenScottishmenofrankandfamilycannotmeetinthehouseofacommonfriendwithoutaninquisitorialvisitanddemand,onthepartofourrulers,toknowthesubjectofourconference。

MethinksourancestorswereaccustomedtoholdHighlandhuntings,orotherpurposesofmeeting,withoutaskingtheleaveeitherofthegreatM"CallumMorehimself,oranyofhisemissariesordependents。"

"ThetimeshavebeensuchinScotland,"answeredoneoftheWesternChiefs,"andsuchtheywillagainbe,whentheintrudersonourancientpossessionsareagainreducedtobeLairdsofLochowinsteadofoverspreadinguslikeabandofdevouringlocusts。"

"AmItounderstand,then,"saidSirDuncan,thatitisagainstmynamealonethatthesepreparationsaredirected？oraretheraceofDiarmidonlytobesufferersincommonwiththewholeofthepeacefulandorderlyinhabitantsofScotland？"

"Iwouldask,"saidawild—lookingChief,startinghastilyup,"onequestionoftheKnightofArdenvohr,ereheproceedsfartherinhisdaringcatechism。——Hashebroughtmorethanonelifetothiscastle,thatheventurestointrudeamongusforthepurposesofinsult？"

"Gentlemen,"saidMontrose,"letmeimploreyourpatience;amessengerwhocomesamongusforthepurposeofembassy,isentitledtofreedomofspeechandsafe—conduct。AndsinceSirDuncanCampbellissopressing,IcarenotifIinformhim,forhisguidance,thatheisinanassemblyoftheKing"sloyalsubjects,convokedbyme,inhisMajesty"snameandauthority,andasempoweredbyhisMajesty"sroyalcommission。"

"Wearetohave,then,Ipresume,"saidSirDuncanCampbell,"acivilwarinallitsforms？Ihavebeentoolongasoldiertoviewitsapproachwithanxiety;butitwouldhavebeenformyLordofMontrose"shonour,if,inthismatter,hehadconsultedhisownambitionless,andthepeaceofthecountrymore。"

"Thoseconsultedtheirownambitionandself—interest,SirDuncan,"answeredMontrose,"whobroughtthecountrytothepassinwhichitnowstands,andrenderednecessarythesharpremedieswhichwearenowreluctantlyabouttouse。"

"Andwhatrankamongtheseself—seekers,"saidSirDuncanCampbell,"weshallassigntoanobleEarl,soviolentlyattachedtotheCovenant,thathewasthefirst,in1639,tocrosstheTyne,wadingmiddledeepattheheadofhisregiment,tochargetheroyalforces？Itwasthesame,Ithink,whoimposedtheCovenantupontheburgessesandcollegesofAberdeen,atthepointofswordandpike。"

"Iunderstandyoursneer,SirDuncan,"saidMontrose,temperately;"andIcanonlyadd,thatifsincererepentancecanmakeamendsforyouthfulerror,andforyieldingtotheartfulrepresentationofambitioushypocrites,Ishallbepardonedforthecrimeswithwhichyoutauntme。Iwillatleastendeavourtodeserveforgiveness,forIamhere,withmyswordinmyhand,willingtospendthebestbloodofmybodytomakeamendsformyerror;andmortalmancandonomore。"

"Well,mylord,"saidSirDuncan,"IshallbesorrytocarrybackthislanguagetotheMarquisofArgyle。IhaditinfartherchargefromtheMarquis,that,topreventthebloodyfeudswhichmustnecessarilyfollowaHighlandwar,hislordshipwillbecontentediftermsoftrucecouldbearrangedtothenorthoftheHighlandline,asthereisgroundenoughinScotlandtofightupon,withoutneighboursdestroyingeachother"sfamiliesandinheritances。"

"Itisapeacefulproposal,"saidMontrose,smiling,"suchasitshouldbe,comingfromonewhosepersonalactionshavealwaysbeenmorepeacefulthanhismeasures。Yet,ifthetermsofsuchatrucecouldbeequallyfixed,andifwecanobtainsecurity,forthat,SirDuncan,isindispensable,——thatyourMarquiswillobservethesetermswithstrictfidelity,I,formypart,shouldbecontenttoleavepeacebehindus,sincewemustneedscarrywarbeforeus。But,SirDuncan,youaretoooldandexperiencedasoldierforustopermityoutoremaininourleaguer,andwitnessourproceedings;weshalltherefore,whenyouhaverefreshedyourself,recommendyourspeedyreturntoInverary,andweshallsendwithyouagentlemanonourparttoadjustthetermsoftheHighlandarmistice,incasetheMarquisshallbefoundseriousinproposingsuchameasure。"SirDuncanCampbellassentedbyabow。

"MyLordofMenteith,"continuedMontrose,"willyouhavethegoodnesstoattendSirDuncanCampbellofArdenvohr,whilewedeterminewhoshallreturnwithhimtohisChief？M"Aulaywillpermitustorequestthathebeentertainedwithsuitablehospitality。"

"Iwillgiveordersforthat,"saidAllanM"Aulay,risingandcomingforward。"IloveSirDuncanCampbell;wehavebeenjointsufferersinformerdays,andIdonotforgetitnow。"

"MyLordofMenteith,"saidSirDuncanCampbell,"Iamgrievedtoseeyou,atyourearlyage,engagedinsuchdesperateandrebelliouscourses。"

"Iamyoung,"answeredMenteith,"yetoldenoughtodistinguishbetweenrightandwrong,betweenloyaltyandrebellion;andthesooneragoodcourseisbegun,thelongerandthebetterhaveIachanceofrunningit。"

"Andyoutoo,myfriend,AllanM"Aulay,"saidSirDuncan,takinghishand,"mustwealsocalleachotherenemies,thathavebeensooftenalliedagainstacommonfoe？"Thenturningroundtothemeeting,hesaid,"Farewell,gentlemen;therearesomanyofyoutowhomIwishwell,thatyourrejectionofalltermsofmediationgivesmedeepaffliction。MayHeaven,"hesaid,lookingupwards,"judgebetweenourmotives,andthoseofthemoversofthiscivilcommotion！"

"Amen,"saidMontrose;"tothattribunalweallsubmitus。"

SirDuncanCampbellleftthehall,accompaniedbyAllanM"AulayandLordMenteith。"Theregoesatrue—bredCampbell,"saidMontrose,astheenvoydeparted,"fortheyareeverfairandfalse。"

"Pardonme,mylord,"saidEvanDhu;"hereditaryenemyasIamtotheirname,IhaveeverfoundtheKnightofArdenvohrbraveinwar,honestinpeace,andtrueincouncil。"

"Ofhisowndisposition,"saidMontrose,"suchheisundoubtedly;

buthenowactsastheorganormouth—pieceofhisChief,theMarquis,thefalsestmanthateverdrewbreath。And,M"Aulay,"

hecontinuedinawhispertohishost,"lestheshouldmakesomeimpressionupontheinexperienceofMenteith,orthesingulardispositionofyourbrother,youhadbettersendmusicintotheirchamber,topreventhisinveiglingthemintoanyprivateconference。"

"ThedevilamusicianhaveI,"answeredM"Aulay,"exceptingthepiper,whohasnearlybrokehiswindbyanambitiouscontentionforsuperioritywiththreeofhisowncraft;butIcansendAnnotLyleandherharp。"Andhelefttheapartmenttogiveordersaccordingly。

Meanwhileawarmdiscussiontookplace,whoshouldundertaketheperiloustaskofreturningwithSirDuncantoInverary。Tothehigherdignitaries,accustomedtoconsiderthemselvesuponanequalityevenwithM"CallumMore,thiswasanofficenottobeproposed;untootherswhocouldnotpleadthesameexcuse,itwasaltogetherunacceptable。OnewouldhavethoughtInveraryhadbeentheValleyoftheShadowofDeath,theinferiorchiefsshowedsuchreluctancetoapproachit。Afteraconsiderablehesitation,theplainreasonwasatlengthspokenout,namely,thatwhateverHighlandershouldundertakeanofficesodistastefultoM"CallumMore,hewouldbesuretotreasuretheoffenceinhisremembrance,andonedayorothertomakehimbitterlyrepentofit。

Inthisdilemma,Montrose,whoconsideredtheproposedarmisticeasamerestratagemonthepartofArgyle,althoughhehadnotventuredbluntlytorejectitinpresenceofthosewhomitconcernedsonearly,resolvedtoimposethedangeranddignityuponCaptainDalgetty,whohadneitherclannorestateintheHighlandsuponwhichthewrathofArgylecouldwreakitself。

"ButIhaveaneckthough,"saidDalgetty,bluntly;"andwhatifhechoosestoavengehimselfuponthat？Ihaveknownacasewhereanhonourableambassadorhasbeenhangedasaspybeforenow。NeitherdidtheRomansuseambassadorsmuchmoremercifullyatthesiegeofCapua,althoughIreadthattheyonlycutofftheirhandsandnoses,putouttheireyes,andsufferedthemtodepartinpeace。"

"BymyhonourCaptainDalgetty,"saidMontrose,"shouldtheMarquis,contrarytotherulesofwar,daretopractiseanyatrocityagainstyou,youmaydependuponmytakingsuchsignalvengeancethatallScotlandshallringofit。"

"ThatwilldobutlittleforDalgetty,"returnedtheCaptain;

"butcorragio！astheSpaniardsays。WiththeLandofPromisefullinview,theMoorofDrumthwacket,MEAPAUPERAREGNA,aswesaidatMareschal—College,IwillnotrefuseyourExcellency"scommission,beingconsciousitbecomesacavalierofhonourtoobeyhiscommander"sorders,indefiancebothofgibbetandsword。"

"Gallantlyresolved,"saidMontrose;"andifyouwillcomeapartwithme,IwillfurnishyouwiththeconditionstobelaidbeforeM"CallumMore,uponwhichwearewillingtogranthimatruceforhisHighlanddominions。"

Withtheseweneednottroubleourreaders。Theywereofanevasivenature,calculatedtomeetaproposalwhichMontroseconsideredtohavebeenmadeonlyforthepurposeofgainingtime。WhenhehadputCaptainDalgettyincompletepossessionofhisinstructions,andwhenthatworthy,makinghismilitaryobeisance,wasnearthedoorofhisapartment,Montrosemadehimasigntoreturn。

"Ipresume,"saidhe,"IneednotremindanofficerwhohasservedunderthegreatGustavus,thatalittlemoreisrequiredofapersonsentwithaflagoftrucethanmeredischargeofhisinstructions,andthathisgeneralwillexpectfromhim,onhisreturn,someaccountofthestateoftheenemy"saffairs,asfarastheycomeunderhisobservation。Inshort,CaptainDalgetty,youmustbeUNPEUCLAIR—VOYANT。"