第10章

"ThecursedHighlandsalvages！"mutteredtheCaptain,halfaloud;"whatistobecomeofme,ifGustavus,thenamesakeoftheinvincibleLionoftheProtestantLeague,shouldbelamedamongtheiruntentyhands！"

"Havenofearofthat,"saidthevoiceofSirDuncan,whowasnearertohimthanheimagined;"mymenareaccustomedtohandlehorses,bothinembarkinganddressingthem,andyouwillsoonseeGustavusassafeaswhenyoulastdismountedfromhisback,"

CaptainDalgettyknewtheworldtoowelltoofferanyfartherremonstrance,whateveruneasinesshemightsuppresswithinhisownbosom。Asteportwohigherupthestairshowedlightandadoor,andaniron—gratedwicketledhimoutuponagallerycutintheopenfaceoftherock,extendingaspaceofaboutsixoreightyards,untilhereachedaseconddoor,wherethepathre—enteredtherock,andwhichwasalsodefendedbyanironportcullis。"Anadmirabletraverse,"observedtheCaptain;"andifcommandedbyafield—piece,orevenafewmuskets,quitesufficienttoensuretheplaceagainstastormingparty。"

SirDuncanCampbellmadenoansweratthetime;but,themomentafterwards,whentheyhadenteredthesecondcavern,hestruckwiththestickwhichhehadinhishand,firstontheoneside,andthenontheotherofthewicket,andthesullenringingsoundwhichrepliedtotheblows,madeCaptainDalgettysensiblethattherewasagunplacedoneachside,forthepurposeofrakingthegallerythroughwhichtheyhadpassed,althoughtheembrasures,throughwhichtheymightbefiredonoccasion,weremaskedontheoutsidewithsodsandloosestones。Havingascendedthesecondstaircase,theyfoundthemselvesagainonanopenplatformandgallery,exposedtoafirebothofmusketryandwall—guns,if,beingcomewithhostileintent,theyhadventuredfarther。Athirdflightofsteps,cutintherockliketheformer,butnotcavernedover,ledthemfinallyintothebatteryatthefootofthetower。Thislaststairalsowasnarrowandsteep,and,nottomentionthefirewhichmightbedirectedonitfromabove,oneortworesolutemen,withpikesandbattle—axes,couldhavemadethepassgoodagainsthundreds;forthestaircasewouldnotadmittwopersonsabreast,andwasnotsecuredbyanysortofbalustrade,orrailing,fromthesheerandabruptprecipice,onthefootofwhichthetidenowrolledwithavoiceofthunder。Sothat,underthejealousprecautionsusedtosecurethisancientCelticfortress,apersonofweaknerves,andabrainliabletobecomedizzy,mighthavefounditsomethingdifficulttohaveachievedtheentrancetothecastle,evensupposingnoresistancehadbeenoffered。

CaptainDalgetty,toooldasoldiertofeelsuchtremors,hadnosoonerarrivedinthecourt—yard,thanheprotestedtoGod,thedefencesofSirDuncan"scastleremindedhimmoreofthenotablefortressofSpandau,situatedintheMarchofBrandenburg,thanofanyplacewhilkithadbeenhisfortunetodefendinthecourseofhistravels。Nevertheless,hecriticisedconsiderablythemodeofplacingthegunsonthebatterywehavenoticed,observing,that"wherecannonwereperched,liketoscartsorsea—gullsonthetopofarock,hehadeverobservedthattheyastonishedmorebytheirnoisethantheydismayedbytheskaithordamagewhichtheyoccasioned。"

SirDuncan,withoutreplying,conductedthesoldierintothetower;thedefencesofwhichwereaportcullisandironclenchedoakendoor,thethicknessofthewallbeingthespacebetweenthem。Hehadnosoonerarrivedinahallhungwithtapestry,thantheCaptainprosecutedhismilitarycriticism。Itwasindeedsuspendedbythesightofanexcellentbreakfast,ofwhichhepartookwithgreatavidity;butnosoonerhadhesecuredthismeal,thanhemadethetouroftheapartment,examiningthegroundaroundtheCastleverycarefullyfromeachwindowintheroom。Hethenreturnedtohischair,andthrowinghimselfbackintoitathislength,stretchedoutonemanlyleg,andtappinghisjack—bootwiththeriding—rodwhichhecarriedinhishand,afterthemannerofahalf—bredmanwhoaffectseaseinthesocietyofhisbetters,hedeliveredhisunaskedopinionasfollows:——"Thishouseofyours,now,SirDuncan,isaveryprettydefensiblesortofatenement,andyetitishardlysuchasacavalieroofhonourwouldexpecttomaintainhiscreditbyholdingoutformanydays。For,SirDuncan,ifitpleasesyoutonotice,yourhouseisovercrowed,andslighted,orcommanded,aswemilitarymensay,byyonderroundhillocktothelandward,whereonanenemymightstellsuchabatteryofcannonaswouldmakeyegladtobeatachamadewithinforty—eighthours,unlessitpleasedtheLordextraordinarilytoshowmercy。"

"Thereisnoroad,"repliedSirDuncan,somewhatshortly,"bywhichcannoncanbebroughtagainstArdenvohr。Theswampsandmorassesaroundmyhousewouldscarcecarryyourhorseandyourself,exceptingbysuchpathsascouldberenderedimpassablewithinafewhours。"

"SirDuncan,"saidtheCaptain,"itisyourpleasuretosupposeso;andyetwemartialmensay,thatwherethereisasea—coastthereisalwaysanakedside,seeingthatcannonandmunition,wheretheycannotbetransportedbyland,mayberighteasilybroughtbyseaneartotheplacewheretheyaretobeputinaction。Neitherisacastle,howeversecureinitssituation,tobeaccountedaltogetherinvincible,or,astheysay,impregnable;

forIprotestt"ye,SirDuncan,thatIhaveknowntwenty—fivemen,bythemeresurpriseandaudacityoftheattack,win,atpointofpike,asstrongaholdasthisofArdenvohr,andputtothesword,captivate,orholdtotheransom,thedefenders,beingtentimestheirownnumber。"

NotwithstandingSirDuncanCampbell"sknowledgeoftheworld,andhispowerofconcealinghisinternalemotion,heappearedpiquedandhurtatthesereflections,whichtheCaptainmadewiththemostunconsciousgravity,havingmerelyselectedthesubjectofconversationasoneuponwhichhethoughthimselfcapableofshining,and,astheysay,oflayingdownthelaw,withoutexactlyrecollectingthatthetopicmightnotbeequallyagreeabletohislandlord。

"Tocutthismattershort,"saidSirDuncan,withanexpressionofvoiceandcountenancesomewhatagitated,"itisunnecessaryforyoutotellme,CaptainDalgetty,thatacastlemaybestormedifitisnotvalorouslydefended,orsurprisedifitisnotheedfullywatched。Itrustthispoorhouseofminewillnotbefoundinanyofthesepredicaments,shouldevenCaptainDalgettyhimselfchoosetobeleaguerit。"

"Forallthat,SirDuncan,"answeredtheperseveringcommander,"Iwouldpremonishyou,asafriend,totraceoutasconceuponthatroundhill,withagoodgraffe,orditch,whilkmaybeeasilyaccomplishedbycompellingthelabouroftheboorsinthevicinity;itbeingthecustomofthevalorousGustavusAdolphustofightasmuchbythespadeandshovel,asbysword,pike,andmusket。Also,Iwouldadviseyoutofortifythesaidsconce,notonlybyafoussie,orgraffe,butalsobycertainstackets,orpalisades。"——（HereSirDuncan,becomingimpatient,lefttheapartment,theCaptainfollowinghimtothedoor,andraisinghisvoiceasheretreated,untilhewasfairlyoutofhearing。）——"Thewhilkstackets,orpalisades,shouldbeartificiallyframedwithre—enteringanglesandloop—holes,orcrenelles,formusketry,whereofitshallarisethatthefoeman——TheHighlandbrute！theoldHighlandbrute！Theyareasproudaspeacocks,andasobstinateastups——andherehehasmissedanopportunityofmakinghishouseasprettyanirregularfortificationasaninvadingarmyeverbroketheirteethupon。——ButIsee,"hecontinued,lookingownfromthewindowuponthebottomoftheprecipice,"theyhavegotGustavussafeashore——Properfellow！I

wouldknowthattossofhisheadamongawholesquadron。Imustgotoseewhattheyaretomakeofhim。"

Hehadnosoonerreached,however,thecourttotheseaward,andputhimselfintheactofdescendingthestaircase,thantwoHighlandsentinels,advancingtheirLochaberaxes,gavehimtounderstandthatthiswasaserviceofdanger。

"Diavolo！"saidthesoldier,"andIhavegotnopass—word。I

couldnotspeakasyllableoftheirsalvagegibberish,anitweretosavemefromtheprovost—marshal。"

"Iwillbeyoursurety,CaptainDalgetty,"saidSirDuncan,whohadagainapproachedhimwithouthisobservingfromwhence;"andwewillgotogether,andseehowyourfavouritechargerisaccommodated。"

Heconductedhimaccordinglydownthestaircasetothebeach,andfromthencebyashortturnbehindalargerock,whichconcealedthestablesandotherofficesbelongingtothecastle,CaptainDalgettybecamesensible,atthesametime,thatthesideofthecastletothelandwasrenderedtotallyinaccessiblebyaravine,partlynaturalandpartlyscarpedwithgreatcareandlabour,soastobeonlypassedbyadrawbridge。Still,however,theCaptaininsisted,notwithstandingthetriumphantairwithwhichSirDuncanpointedouthisdefences,thatasconceshouldbeerectedonDrumsnab,theroundeminencetotheeastofthecastle,inrespectthehousemightbeannoyedfromthencebyburningbulletsfulloffire,shotoutofcannon,accordingtothecuriousinventionofStephenBathian,KingofPoland,wherebythatprinceutterlyruinedthegreatMuscovitecityofMoscow。

Thisinvention,CaptainDalgettyowned,hehadnotyetwitnessed,butobserved,"thatitwouldgivehimparticulardelectationtowitnessthesameputtotheproofagainstArdenvohr,oranyothercastleofsimilarstrength;"observing,"thatsocuriousanexperimentcouldnotbutaffordthegreatestdelighttoalladmirersofthemilitaryart。"

SirDuncanCampbelldivertedthisconversationbycarryingthesoldierintohisstables,andsufferinghimtoarrangeGustavusaccordingtohisownwillandpleasure。Afterthisdutyhadbeencarefullyperformed,CaptainDalgettyproposedtoreturntothecastle,observing,itwashisintentiontospendthetimebetwixtthisanddinner,which,hepresumed,wouldcomeupontheparadeaboutnoon,inburnishinghisarmour,whichhavingsustainedsomeinjuryfromthesea—air,might,hewasafraid,seemdiscreditableintheeyesofM"CallumMore。Yet,whiletheywerereturningtothecastle,hefailednottowarnSirDuncanCampbellagainstthegreatinjuryhemightsustainbyanysuddenonfallofanenemy,wherebyhishorses,cattle,andgranaries,mightbecutoffandconsumed,tohisgreatprejudice;whereforeheagainstronglyconjuredhimtoconstructasconceupontheroundhillcalledDrumsnab,andofferedhisownfriendlyservicesinliningoutthesame。TothisdisinterestedadviceSirDuncanonlyrepliedbyusheringhisguesttohisapartment,andinforminghimthatthetollingofthecastlebellwouldmakehimawarewhendinnerwasready。

CHAPTERXI。

Isthisthycastle,Baldwin？MelancholyDisplayshersablebannerfromthedonjon,Darkeningthefoamofthewholesurgebeneath。

WereIahabitant,toseethisgloomPollutethefaceofnature,andtohearTheceaselesssoundofwave,andseabird"sscream,I"dwishmeinthehutthatpoorestpeasantE"erframed,togivehimtemporaryshelter。BROWN。

ThegallantRitt—masterwouldwillinglyhaveemployedhisleisureinstudyingtheexteriorofSirDuncan"scastle,andverifyinghisownmilitaryideasuponthenatureofitsdefences。Butastoutsentinel,whomountedguardwithaLochaber—axeatthedoorofhisapartment,gavehimtounderstand,byverysignificantsigns,thathewasinasortofhonourablecaptivity。

Itisstrange,thoughttheRitt—mastertohimself,howwellthesesalvagesunderstandtherulesandpractiqueofwar。Whoshouldhavepre—supposedtheiracquaintancewiththemaximofthegreatandgodlikeGustavusAdolphus,thataflagoftruceshouldbehalfamessengerhalfaspy？——And,havingfinishedburnishinghisarms,hesatedownpatientlytocomputehowmuchhalfadollarperdiemwouldamounttoattheendofasix—months"campaign;

and,whenhehadsettledthatproblem,proceededtothemoreabstrusecalculationsnecessaryfordrawingupabrigadeoftwothousandmenontheprincipleofextractingthesquareroot。

Fromhismusings,hewasrousedbythejoyfulsoundofthedinnerbell,onwhichtheHighlander,latelyhisguard,becamehisgentleman—usher,andmarshalledhimtothehall,whereatablewithfourcoversboreampleproofsofHighlandhospitality。SirDuncanentered,conductinghislady,atall,faded,melancholyfemale,dressedindeepmourning。TheywerefollowedbyaPresbyterianclergyman,inhisGenevacloak,andwearingablacksilkskull—cap,coveringhisshorthairsoclosely,thatitcouldscarcebeseenatall,sothattheunrestrictedearshadanunduepredominanceinthegeneralaspect。Thisungracefulfashionwasuniversalatthetime,andpartlyledtothenicknamesofroundheads,prick—earedcurs,andsoforth,whichtheinsolenceofthecavaliersliberallybestowedontheirpoliticalenemies。

SirDuncanpresentedhismilitaryguesttohislady,whoreceivedhistechnicalsalutationwithastiffandsilentreverence,inwhichitcouldscarcebejudgedwhetherprideormelancholyhadthegreatershare。Thechurchman,towhomhewasnextpresented,eyedhimwithaglanceofmingleddislikeandcuriosity。

TheCaptain,wellaccustomedtoworselooksfrommoredangerouspersons,caredverylittleeitherforthoseoftheladyorofthedivine,butbenthiswholesouluponassaultingahugepieceofbeef,whichsmokedatthenetherendofthetable。Buttheonslaught,ashewouldhavetermedit,wasdelayed,untiltheconclusionofaverylonggrace,betwixteverysectionofwhichDalgettyhandledhisknifeandfork,ashemighthavedonehismusketorpikewhengoinguponaction,andasoftenresignedthemunwillinglywhentheprolixchaplaincommencedanotherclauseofhisbenediction。SirDuncanlistenedwithdecency,thoughhewassupposedrathertohavejoinedtheCovenantersoutofdevotiontohischief,thanrealrespectforthecauseeitheroflibertyorofPresbytery。Hisladyaloneattendedtotheblessing,withsymptomsofdeepacquiescence。

ThemealwasperformedalmostinCarthusiansilence;foritwasnoneofCaptainDalgetty"shabitstoemployhismouthintalking,whileitcouldbemoreprofitablyoccupied。SirDuncanwasabsolutelysilent,andtheladyandchurchmanonlyoccasionallyexchangedafewwords,spokenlow,andindistinctly。

But,whenthedisheswereremoved,andtheirplacesuppliedbyliquorsofvarioussorts,CaptainDalgettynolongerhad,himself,thesameweightyreasonsforsilence,andbegantotireofthatoftherestofthecompany。Hecommencedanewattackuponhislandlord,upontheformerground。

"Touchingthatroundmonticle,orhill,oreminence,termedDrumsnab,Iwouldbeproudtoholdsomedialoguewithyou,SirDuncan,onthenatureofthesconcetobethereconstructed;andwhethertheanglesthereofshouldbeacuteorobtuse——anentwhilkIhaveheardthegreatVelt—MareschalBannierholdalearnedargumentwithGeneralTiefenbachduringastill—standofarms。"

"CaptainDalgetty,"answeredSirDuncanverydryly,"itisnotourHighlandusagetodebatemilitarypointswithstrangers。

ThiscastleisliketoholdoutagainstastrongerenemythananyforcewhichtheunfortunategentlemenweleftatDarnlinvarachareabletobringagainstit。"

Adeepsighfromtheladyaccompaniedtheconclusionofherhusband"sspeech,whichseemedtoremindherofsomepainfulcircumstance。

"Hewhogave,"saidtheclergyman,addressingherinasolemntone,"hathtakenaway。Mayyou,honourablelady,belongenabledtosay,Blessedbehisname！"

Tothisexhortation,whichseemedintendedforhersolebehoof,theladyansweredbyaninclinationofherhead,morehumblethanCaptainDalgettyhadyetobservedhermake。Supposingheshouldnowfindherinamoreconversiblehumour,heproceededtoaccosther。

"Itisindubitablyverynaturalthatyourladyshipshouldbedowncastatthementionofmilitarypreparations,whilkIhaveobservedtospreadperturbationamongwomenofallnations,andalmostallconditions。Nevertheless,Penthesilea,inancienttimes,andalsoJoanofArc,andothers,wereofadifferentkidney。And,asIhavelearnedwhileIservedtheSpaniard,theDukeofAlvainformertimeshadtheleaguer—lasseswhofollowedhiscampmarshalledintoTERTIAS（whilkmecallregiments）,andofficeredandcommandedbythoseoftheirownfemininegender,andregulatedbyacommander—inchief,calledinGermanHureweibler,or,aswewouldsayvernacularly,CaptainoftheQueans。Trueitis,theywerepersonsnottobenamedasparalleltoyourladyship,beingsuchQUAEQUAESTUMCORPORIBUS

FACIEBANT,aswesaidofJeanDrochielsatMareschal—College;thesamewhomtheFrenchtermCURTISANNES,andweinScottish——"

"Theladywillspareyouthetroubleoffurtherexposition,CaptainDalgetty,"saidhishost,somewhatsternly;towhichtheclergymanadded,"thatsuchdiscoursebetterbefittedawatch—

towerguardedbyprofanesoldierythantheboardofanhonourableperson,andthepresenceofaladyofquality。"

"Cravingyourpardon,Dominie,orDoctor,AUTQUOCUNQUEALIO

NOMINEGAUDES,forIwouldhaveyoutoknowIhavestudiedpoliteletters,"saidtheunabashedenvoy,fillingagreatcupofwine,"Iseenogroundforyourreproof,seeingIdidnotspeakofthoseTURPESPERSONAE,asiftheiroccupationorcharacterwasapropersubjectofconversationforthislady"spresence,butsimplyPARACCIDENS,asillustratingthematterinhand,namely,theirnaturalcourageandaudacity,muchenhanced,doubtless,bythedesperatecircumstancesoftheircondition。"

"CaptainDalgetty,"saidSirDuncanCampbell,"tobreakshortthisdiscourse,Imustacquaintyou,thatIhavesomebusinesstodispatchto—night,inordertoenablemetoridewithyouto—

morrowtowardsInverary;andtherefore——"

"Toridewiththispersonto—morrow！"exclaimedhislady;"suchcannotbeyourpurpose,SirDuncan,unlessyouhaveforgottenthatthemorrowisasadanniversary,anddedicatedtoassadasolemnity。"

"Ihadnotforgotten,"answeredSirDuncan;"howisitpossibleI

caneverforget？butthenecessityofthetimesrequiresI

shouldsendthisofficeronwardtoInverary,withoutlossoftime。"

"Yet,surely,notthatyoushouldaccompanyhiminperson？"

enquiredthelady。

"ItwerebetterIdid,"saidSirDuncan;"yetIcanwritetotheMarquis,andfollowonthesubsequentday。——CaptainDalgetty,I

willdispatchaletterforyou,explainingtotheMarquisofArgyleyourcharacterandcommission,withwhichyouwillpleasetopreparetotraveltoInveraryearlyto—morrowmorning。"

"SirDuncanCampbell,"saidDalgetty,"Iamdoubtlessatyourdiscretionarydisposalinthismatter;nottheless,Iprayyoutoremembertheblotwhichwillfalluponyourownescutcheon,ifyoudoinanywaysufferme,beingacommissionateflagoftruce,tobecircumventedinthismatter,whetherCLAM,VI,VEL

PRECARIO;Idonotsaybyyourassenttoanywrongdonetome,buteventhroughabsenceofanyduecareonyourparttopreventthesame。"

"Youareunderthesafeguardofmyhonour,sir,"answeredSirDuncanCampbell,"andthatismorethanasufficientsecurity。

Andnow,"continuedhe,rising,"Imustsettheexampleofretiring。"

Dalgettysawhimselfunderthenecessityoffollowingthehint,thoughthehourwasearly;but,likeaskilfulgeneral,heavailedhimselfofeveryinstantofdelaywhichcircumstancespermitted。"Trustingtoyourhonourableparole,"saidhe,fillinghiscup,"Idrinktoyou,SirDuncan,andtothecontinuanceofyourhonourable—house。"AsighfromSirDuncanwastheonlyreply。"Also,madam,"saidthesoldier,replenishingthequaighwithallpossibledispatch,"Idrinktoyourhonourablehealth,andfulfilmentofallyourvirtuousdesires——and,reverendsir"（notforgettingtofittheactiontothewords）,"IfillthiscuptothedrowningofallunkindnessbetwixtyouandCaptainDalgetty——IshouldsayMajor——and,inrespecttheflagoncontainsbutonecupmore,Idrinktothehealthofallhonourablecavaliersandbravesoldados——and,theflaskbeingempty,Iamready,SirDuncan,toattendyourfunctionaryorsentineltomyplaceofprivaterepose。"

Hereceivedaformalpermissiontoretire,andanassurance,thatasthewineseemedtobetohistaste,anothermeasureofthesamevintageshouldattendhimpresently,inordertosoothethehoursofhissolitude。

NosoonerhadtheCaptainreachedtheapartmentthanthispromisewasfulfilled;and,inashorttimeafterwards,theaddedcomfortsofapastyofred—deervenisonrenderedhimverytolerantbothofconfinementandwantofsociety。Thesamedomestic,asortofchamberlain,whoplacedthisgoodcheerinhisapartment,deliveredtoDalgettyapacket,sealedandtiedupwithasilkenthread,accordingtothecustomofthetime,addressedwithmanyformsofrespecttotheHighandMightyPrince,Archibald,MarquisofArgyle,LordofLorne,andsoforth。ThechamberlainatthesametimeapprizedtheRitt—

master,thathemusttakehorseatanearlyhourforInverary,wherethepacketofSirDuncanwouldbeatoncehisintroductionandhispassport。Notforgettingthatitwashisobjecttocollectinformationaswellastoactasanenvoy,anddesirous,forhisownsake,toascertainSirDuncan"sreasonsforsendinghimonwardwithouthispersonalattendance,theRitt—masterenquiredthedomestic,withalltheprecautionthathisexperiencesuggested,whatwerethereasonswhichdetainedSirDuncanathomeonthesucceedingday。Theman,whowasfromtheLowlands,replied,"thatitwasthehabitofSirDuncanandhisladytoobserveasadayofsolemnfastandhumiliationtheanniversaryonwhichtheircastlehadbeentakenbysurprise,andtheirchildren,tothenumberoffour,destroyedcruellybyabandofHighlandfreebootersduringSirDuncan"sabsenceuponanexpeditionwhichtheMarquisofArgylehadundertakenagainsttheMacleansoftheIsleofMull。"

"Truly,"saidthesoldier,"yourlordandladyhavesomecauseforfastandhumiliation。Nevertheless,Iwillventuretopronounce,thatifhehadtakentheadviceofanyexperiencedsoldier,havingskillinthepractiquesofdefendingplacesofadvantage,hewouldhavebuiltasconceuponthesmallhillwhichistotheleftofthedraw—brigg。AndthisIcaneasilyprovetoyou,minehonestfriend;for,holdingthatpastytobethecastle——What"syourname,friend？"

"Lorimer,sir,"repliedtheman。

"Hereistoyourhealth,honestLorimer。——Isay,Lorimer——holdingthatpastytobethemainbodyorcitadeloftheplacetobedefended,andtakingthemarrow—boneforthesconcetobeerected——"

"Iamsorry,sir,"saidLorimer,interruptinghim,"thatIcannotstaytoheartherestofyourdemonstration;butthebellwillpresentlyring。AsworthyMr。Graneangowl,theMarquis"sownchaplain,doesfamilyworship,andonlysevenofourhouseholdoutofsixtypersonsunderstandtheScottishtongue,itwouldmisbecomeanyoneofthemtobeabsent,andgreatlyprejudicemeintheopinionofmylady。Therearepipesandtobacco,sir,ifyoupleasetodrinkawhiffofsmoke,andifyouwantanythingelse,itshallbeforthcomingtwohourshence,whenprayersareover。"Sosaying,helefttheapartment。

Nosoonerwashegone,thantheheavytollofthecastle—bellsummoneditsinhabitantstogether;andwasansweredbytheshrillclamourofthefemales,mixedwiththedeepertonesofthemen,as,talkingEarseatthetopoftheirthroats,theyhurriedfromdifferentquartersbyalongbutnarrowgallery,whichservedasacommunicationtomanyrooms,and,amongothers,tothatinwhichCaptainDalgettywasstationed。Theretheygoasiftheywerebeatingtotheroll—call,thoughtthesoldiertohimself;iftheyallattendtheparade,Iwilllookout,takeamouthfuloffreshair,andmakemineownobservationsonthepracticabilitiesofthisplace。

Accordingly,whenallwasquiet,heopenedhischamberdoor,andpreparedtoleaveit,whenhesawhisfriendwiththeaxeadvancingtowardshimfromthedistantendofthegallery,halfwhistling,aGaelictune。Tohaveshownanywantofconfidence,wouldhavebeenatonceimpolitic,andunbecominghismilitarycharacter;sotheCaptain,puttingthebestfaceuponhissituationhecould,whistledaSwedishretreat,inatonestilllouderthanthenotesofhissentinel;andretreatingpacebypace,withanairofindifference,asifhisonlypurposehadbeentobreathealittlefreshair,heshutthedoorinthefaceofhisguard,whenthefellowhadapproachedwithinafewpacesofhim。

Itisverywell,thoughttheRitt—mastertohimself;heannulsmyparolebyputtingguardsuponme,for,asweusedtosayatMareschal—College,FIDESETFIDUCIASUNTRELATIVA[SeeNoteI];

andifhedoesnottrustmyword,IdonotseehowIamboundtokeepit,ifanymotiveshouldoccurformydesiringtodepartfromit。Surelythemoralobligationoftheparoleisrelaxed,inasfarasphysicalforceissubstitutedinsteadthereof。

Thuscomfortinghimselfinthemetaphysicalimmunitieswhichhededucedfromthevigilanceofhissentinel,Ritt—masterDalgettyretiredtohisapartment,where,amidthetheoreticalcalculationsoftactics,andtheoccasionalmorepracticalattacksontheflaskandpasty,heconsumedtheeveninguntilitwastimetogotorepose。HewassummonedbyLorimeratbreakofday,whogavehimtounderstand,that,whenhehadbrokenhisfast,forwhichheproducedamplematerials,hisguideandhorsewereinattendanceforhisjourneytoInverary。Aftercomplyingwiththehospitablehintofthechamberlain,thesoldierproceededtotakehorse。Inpassingthroughtheapartments,heobservedthatdomesticswerebusilyemployedinhangingthegreathallwithblackcloth,aceremonywhich,hesaid,hehadseenpractisedwhentheimmortalGustavusAdolphuslayinstateintheCastleofWolgast,andwhich,therefore,heopined,wasatestimonialofthestrictestanddeepestmourning。