第13章

Meantime,doasyouseemedo;clapyourhandthusontheweasandofthishighandmightyprince,underhisruff,andifheoffertostruggleorcryout,failnot,myworthyRanald,tosqueezedoughtily;andifitbeADDELIQUIUM,Ranald,thatis,tillheswoon,thereisnogreatmatter,seeinghedesignedyourgulletandminetostillharderusage。"

"Ifheofferatspeechorstruggle,"saidRanald,"hediesbymyhand。"

"Thatisright,Ranald——veryspirited:——Athorough—goingfriendthatunderstandsahintisworthamillion！"

ThusresigningthechargeoftheMarquistohisnewconfederate,Dalgettypressedthespring,bywhichthesecretdoorflewopen,thoughsowellwereitshingespolishedandoiled,thatitmadenottheslightestnoiseinrevolving。Theoppositesideofthedoorwassecuredbyverystrongboltsandbars,besidewhichhungoneortwokeys,designedapparentlytoundofetterlocks。A

narrowstaircase,ascendingupthroughthethicknessofthecastle—wall,landed,astheMarquishadtrulyinformedhim,behindthetapestryofhisprivateapartment。Suchcommunicationswerefrequentinoldfeudalcastles,astheygavethelordofthefortress,likeasecondDionysius,themeansofhearingtheconversationofhisprisoners,or,ifhepleased,ofvisitingthemindisguise,anexperimentwhichhadterminatedsounpleasantlyonthepresentoccasionforGillespieGrumach。

Havingexaminedpreviouslywhethertherewasanyoneintheapartment,andfindingthecoastclear,theCaptainentered,andhastilypossessinghimselfofablankpassport,severalofwhichlayonthetable,andofwritingmaterials,securing,atthesametime,theMarquis"sdagger,andasilkcordfromthehangings,heagaindescendedintothecavern,where,listeningamomentatthedoor,hecouldhearthehalf—stifledvoiceoftheMarquismakinggreatprofferstoMacEagh,onconditionhewouldsufferhimtogiveanalarm。

"Notforaforestofdeer——notforathousandheadofcattle,"

answeredthefreebooter;"notforallthelandsthatevercalledasonofDiarmidmaster,willIbreakthetrothIhaveplightedtohimoftheiron—garment！"

"Heoftheiron—garment,"saidDalgetty,entering,"isboundenuntoyou,MacEagh,andthisnoblelordshallbeboundenalso;butfirsthemustfillupthispassportwiththenamesofMajorDugaldDalgettyandhisguide,orheisliketohaveapassporttoanotherworld。"

TheMarquissubscribed,andwrote,bythelightofthedarklantern,asthesoldierprescribedtohim。

"Andnow,Ranald,"saidDalgetty,"stripthyuppergarment——thyplaidImean,Ranald,andinitwillImuffletheM"CallumMore,andmakeofhim,forthetime,aChildoftheMist;——Nay,Imustbringitoveryourhead,mylord,soastosecureusagainstyourmistimedclamour。——So,nowheissufficientlymuffled;——holddownyourhands,or,byHeaven,Iwillstabyoutotheheartwithyourowndagger！——nay,youshallbeboundwithnothinglessthansilk,asyourqualitydeserves。——So,nowheissecuretillsomeonecomestorelievehim。Ifheorderedusalatedinner,Ranald,heisliketobethesufferer;——atwhathour,mygoodRanald,didthejailorusuallyappear？"

"Nevertillthesunwasbeneaththewesternwave,"saidMacEagh。

"Then,myfriend,weshallhavethreehoursgood,"saidthecautiousCaptain。"Inthemeantime,letuslabourforyourliberation。"

ToexamineRanald"schainwasthenextoccupation。Itwasundonebymeansofoneofthekeyswhichhungbehindtheprivatedoor,probablydepositedthere,thattheMarquismight,ifhepleased,dismissaprisoner,orremovehimelsewherewithoutthenecessityofsummoningthewarden。Theoutlawstretchedhisbenumbedarms,andboundedfromthefloorofthedungeoninalltheecstasyofrecoveredfreedom。

"Takethelivery—coatofthatnobleprisoner,"saidCaptainDalgetty;"putiton,andfollowcloseatmyheels。"

Theoutlawobeyed。Theyascendedtheprivatestair,havingfirstsecuredthedoorbehindthem,andthussafelyreachedtheapartmentoftheMarquis。

[Theprecariousstateofthefeudalnoblesintroducedagreatdealofespionageintotheircastles。SirRobertCareymentionshishavingputonthecloakofoneofhisownwardenstoobtainaconfessionfromthemouthofGeordieBourne,hisprisoner,whombecausedpresentlytobehangedinreturnforthefranknessofhiscommunication。ThefineoldBordercastleofNaworthcontainsaprivatestairfromtheapartmentoftheLordWilliamHoward,bywhichhecouldvisitthedungeon,asisallegedintheprecedingchaptertohavebeenpractisedbytheMarquisofArgyle。]

CHAPTERXIV。

Thiswastheentrythen,thesestairs——butwhitherafter？

Yethethat"ssuretoperishonthelandMayquitthenicetyofcardandcompass,Andtrusttheopenseawithoutapilot。TRAGEDYOFBENNOVALT。

"Lookoutfortheprivatewaythroughthechapel,Ranald,"saidtheCaptain,"whileIgiveahastyregardtothesematters。"

Thusspeaking,heseizedwithonehandabundleofArgyle"smostprivatepapers,andwiththeotherapurseofgold,bothofwhichlayinadrawerofarichcabinet,whichstoodinvitinglyopen。

Neitherdidheneglecttopossesshimselfofaswordandpistols,withpowder—flaskandballs,whichhungintheapartment。

"Intelligenceandbooty,"saidtheveteran,ashepouchedthespoils,"eachhonourablecavaliershouldlookto,theoneonhisgeneral"sbehalf,andtheotheronhisown。ThisswordisanAndrewFerrara,andthepistolsbetterthanmineown。Butafairexchangeisnorobbery。Soldadosarenottobeendangered,andendangeredgratuitously,myLordofArgyle。——Butsoft,soft,Ranald;wiseManoftheMist,whitherartthoubound？"

ItwasindeedfulltimetostopMacEagh"sproceedings;for,notfindingtheprivatepassagereadily,andimpatient,itwouldseem,offartherdelay,hehadcaughtdownaswordandtarget,andwasabouttoenterthegreatgallery,withthepurpose,doubtless,offightinghiswaythroughallopposition。

"Hold,whileyoulive,"whisperedDalgetty,layingholdonhim。

"Wemustbeperdue,ifpossible。Sobarwethisdoor,thatitmaybethoughtM"CallumMorewouldbeprivate——andnowletmemakeareconnaissancefortheprivatepassage。"

Bylookingbehindthetapestryinvariousplaces,theCaptainatlengthdiscoveredaprivatedoor,andbehindthatawindingpassage,terminatedbyanotherdoor,whichdoubtlessenteredthechapel。Butwhatwashisdisagreeablesurprisetohear,ontheothersideofthisseconddoor,thesonorousvoiceofadivineintheactofpreaching。

"Thismadethevillain,"hesaid,"recommendthistousasaprivatepassage。Iamstronglytemptedtoreturnandcuthisthroat。"

Hethenopenedverygentlythedoor,whichledintoalatticedgalleryusedbytheMarquishimself,thecurtainsofwhichweredrawn,perhapswiththepurposeofhavingitsupposedthathewasengagedinattendanceupondivineworship,when,infact,hewasabsentuponhissecularaffairs。Therewasnootherpersonintheseat;forthefamilyoftheMarquis,——suchwasthehighstatemaintainedinthosedays,——sateduringserviceinanothergallery,placedsomewhatlowerthanthatofthegreatmanhimself。Thisbeingthecase,CaptainDalgettyventuredtoensconcehimselfinthegallery,ofwhichhecarefullysecuredthedoor。

Never（althoughtheexpressionbeaboldone）wasasermonlistenedtowithmoreimpatience,andlessedification,onthepartofone,atleast,oftheaudience。TheCaptainheardSIXTEENTHLY—SEVENTEENTHLY—EIGHTEENTHLYandTOCONCLUDE,withasortoffeelinglikeprotracteddespair。Butnomancanlecture（fortheservicewascalledalecture）forever;andthediscoursewasatlengthclosed,theclergymannotfailingtomakeaprofoundbowtowardsthelatticedgallery,littlesuspectingwhomhehonouredbythatreverence。Tojudgefromthehastewithwhichtheydispersed,thedomesticsoftheMarquiswerescarcemorepleasedwiththeirlateoccupationthantheanxiousCaptainDalgetty;indeed,manyofthembeingHighlandmen,hadtheexcuseofnotunderstandingasinglewordwhichtheclergymanspoke,althoughtheygavetheirattendanceonhisdoctrinebythespecialorderofM"CallumMore,andwouldhavedonesohadthepreacherbeenaTurkishImaum。

Butalthoughthecongregationdispersedthusrapidly,thedivineremainedbehindinthechapel,and,walkingupanddownitsGothicprecincts,seemedeithertobemeditatingonwhathehadjustbeendelivering,orpreparingafreshdiscourseforthenextopportunity。Boldashewas,Dalgettyhesitatedwhatheoughttodo。Time,however,pressed,andeverymomentincreasedthechanceoftheirescapebeingdiscoveredbythejailorvisitingthedungeonperhapsbeforehiswontedtime,anddiscoveringtheexchangewhichhadbeenmadethere。Atlength,whisperingRanald,whowatchedallhismotions,tofollowhimandpreservehiscountenance,CaptainDalgetty,withaverycomposedair,descendedaflightofstepswhichledfromthegalleryintothebodyofthechapel。Alessexperiencedadventurerwouldhaveendeavouredtopasstheworthyclergymanrapidly,inhopestoescapeunnoticed。ButtheCaptain,whoforesawthemanifestdangeroffailinginsuchanattempt,walkedgravelytomeetthedivineuponhiswalkinthemidstofthechancel,and,pullingoffhiscap,wasabouttopasshimafteraformalreverence。ButwhatwashissurprisetoviewinthepreachertheverysamepersonwithwhomhehaddinedinthecastleofArdenvohr！Yethespeedilyrecoveredhiscomposure;anderetheclergymancouldspeak,wasthefirsttoaddresshim。"Icouldnot,"hesaid,"leavethismansionwithoutbequeathingtoyou,myveryreverendsir,myhumblethanksforthehomilywithwhichyouhavethiseveningfavouredus。"

"Ididnotobserve,sir,"saidtheclergyman,"thatyouwereinthechapel。"

"ItpleasedthehonourableMarquis,"saidDalgetty,modestly,"togracemewithaseatinhisowngallery。"Thedivinebowedlowatthisintimation,knowingthatsuchanhonourwasonlyvouchsafedtopersonsofveryhighrank。"Ithasbeenmyfate,sir,"saidtheCaptain,"inthesortofwanderinglifewhichI

haveled,tohavehearddifferentpreachersofdifferentreligions——asforexample,Lutheran,Evangelical,Reformed,Calvinistical,andsoforth,butneverhaveIlistenedtosuchahomilyasyours。"

"Callitalecture,worthysir,"saidthedivine,"suchisthephraseofourchurch。"

"Lectureorhomily,"saidDalgetty,"itwas,astheHighGermanssay,GANZFORTREFLICH;andIcouldnotleavethisplacewithouttestifyinguntoyouwhatinwardemotionsIhaveundergoneduringyouredifyingprelection;andhowIamtouchedtothequick,thatIshouldyesterday,duringtherefection,haveseemedtoinfringeontherespectduetosuchapersonasyourself。"

"Alas！myworthysir,"saidtheclergyman,"wemeetinthisworldasintheValleyoftheShadowofDeath,notknowingagainstwhomwemaychancetoencounter。Intruth,itisnomatterofmarvel,ifwesometimesjostlethose,towhom,ifknown,wewouldyieldallrespect。Surely,sir,Iwouldratherhavetakenyouforaprofanemalignantthanforsuchadevoutpersonasyouprove,whoreverencesthegreatMastereveninthemeanestofhisservants。"

"Itisalwaysmycustomtodoso,learnedsir,"answeredDalgetty;"forintheserviceoftheimmortalGustavus——butI

detainyoufromyourmeditations,"——hisdesiretospeakoftheKingofSwedenbeingforonceoverpoweredbythenecessityofhiscircumstances。

"Bynomeans,myworthysir,"saidtheclergyman。"Whatwas,I

prayyou,theorderofthatgreatPrince,whosememoryissodeartoeveryProtestantbosom？"

"Sir,thedrumsbeattoprayersmorningandevening,asregularlyasforparade;andifasoldierpassedwithoutsalutingthechaplain,hehadanhour"srideonthewoodenmareforhispains。

Sir,Iwishyouaverygoodevening——IamobligedtodepartthecastleunderM"CallumMore"spassport。"

"Stayoneinstant,sir,"saidthepreacher;"istherenothingI

candototestifymyrespectforthepupilofthegreatGustavus,andsoadmirableajudgeofpreaching？"

"Nothing,sir,"saidtheCaptain,"buttoshewmethenearestwaytothegate——andifyouwouldhavethekindness,"headded,withgreateffrontery,"toletaservantbringmyhorsewithhim,thedarkgreygelding——callhimGustavus,andhewillprickuphisears——forIknownotwherethecastle—stablesaresituated,andmyguide,"headded,lookingatRanald,"speaksnoEnglish。"

"Ihastentoaccommodateyou,"saidtheclergyman;"yourwayliesthroughthatcloisteredpassage。"

"Now,Heaven"sblessinguponyourvanity！"saidtheCaptaintohimself。"IwasafraidIwouldhavehadtomarchoffwithoutGustavus。"

Infact,soeffectuallydidthechaplainexerthimselfinbehalfofsoexcellentajudgeofcomposition,thatwhileDalgettywasparleyingwiththesentinelsatthedrawbridge,showinghispassport,andgivingthewatchword,aservantbroughthimhishorse,readysaddledforthejourney。Inanotherplace,theCaptain"ssuddenappearanceatlargeafterhavingbeenpubliclysenttoprison,mighthaveexcitedsuspicionandenquiry;buttheofficersanddomesticsoftheMarquiswereaccustomedtothemysteriouspolicyoftheirmaster,andneversupposedaughtelsethanthathehadbeenliberatedandintrustedwithsomeprivatecommissionbytheirmaster。Inthisbelief,andhavingreceivedtheparole,theygavehimfreepassage。

DalgettyrodeslowlythroughthetownofInverary,theoutlawattendinguponhimlikeafoot—pageathishorse"sshoulder。Astheypassedthegibbet,theoldmanlookedonthebodiesandwrunghishands。Thelookandgesturewasmomentary,butexpressiveofindescribableanguish。Instantlyrecoveringhimself,Ranald,inpassing,whisperedsomewhattooneofthefemales,who,likeRizpahthedaughterofAiah,seemedengagedinwatchingandmourningthevictimsoffeudalinjusticeandcruelty。Thewomanstartedathisvoice,butimmediatelycollectedherselfandreturnedforansweraslightinclinationofthehead。

Dalgettycontinuedhiswayoutofthetown,uncertainwhetherheshouldtrytoseizeorhireaboatandcrossthelake,orplungeintothewoods,andthereconcealhimselffrompursuit。IntheformereventhewasliabletobeinstantlypursuedbythegalleysoftheMarquis,whichlayreadyforsailing,theirlongyard—armspointingtothewind,andwhathopecouldhehaveinanordinaryHighlandfishing—boattoescapefromthem？Ifhemadethelatterchoice,hischanceeitherofsupportingorconcealinghimselfinthosewasteandunknownwildernesses,wasinthehighestdegreeprecarious。Thetownlaynowbehindhim,yetwhathandtoturntoforsafetyhewasunabletodetermine,andbegantobesensible,thatinescapingfromthedungeonatInverary,desperateasthematterseemed,hehadonlyaccomplishedtheeasiestpartofadifficulttask。Ifretaken,hisfatewasnowcertain;forthepersonalinjuryhehadofferedtoamansopowerfulandsovindictive,couldbeatonedforonlybyinstantdeath。Whileheponderedthesedistressingreflections,andlookedaroundwithacountenancewhichplainlyexpressedindecision,RanaldMacEaghsuddenlyaskedhim,"whichwayheintendedtojourney？"

"Andthat,honestcomrade,"answeredDalgetty,"ispreciselythequestionwhichIcannotansweryou。TrulyIbegintoholdtheopinion,Ranald,thatwehadbetterhavestuckbythebrownloafandwater—pitcheruntilSirDuncanarrived,who,forhisownhonour,musthavemadesomefightforme。"

"Saxon,"answeredMacEagh,"donotregrethavingexchangedthefoulbreathofyonderdungeonforthefreeairofheaven。Aboveall,repentnotthatyouhaveservedaSonoftheMist。Putyourselfundermyguidance,andIwillwarrantyoursafetywithmyhead。"

"Canyouguidemesafethroughthesemountains,andbacktothearmyofMontrose？"saidDalgetty。

"Ican,"answeredMacEagh;"therelivesnotamantowhomthemountainpasses,thecaverns,theglens,thethickets,andthecorriesareknown,astheyaretotheChildrenoftheMist。

Whileotherscrawlonthelevelground,bythesidesoflakesandstreams,oursarethesteephollowsoftheinaccessiblemountains,thebirth—placeofthedesertsprings。NotallthebloodhoundsofArgylecantracethefastnessesthroughwhichI

canguideyou。"

"Say"stthouso,honestRanald？"repliedDalgetty;"thenhaveonwiththee;forofasuretyIshallneversavetheshipbymyownpilotage。"

Theoutlawaccordinglyledthewayintothewood,bywhichthecastleissurroundedforseveralmiles,walkingwithsomuchdispatchaskeptGustavusataroundtrot,andtakingsuchanumberofcrosscutsandturns,thatCaptainDalgettyspeedilylostallideawherehemightbe,andallknowledgeofthepointsofthecompass。Atlength,thepath,whichhadgraduallybecomemoredifficult,altogetherendedamongthicketsandunderwood。

Theroaringofatorrentwasheardintheneighbourhood,thegroundbecameinsomeplacesbroken,inothersboggy,andeverywhereunfitforriding。

"Whatthefoulfiend,"saidDalgetty,"istobedonehere？ImustpartwithGustavus,Ifear。"

"Takenocareforyourhorse,"saidtheoutlaw;"heshallsoonberestoredtoyou。"

Ashespoke,hewhistledinalowtune,andalad,half—dressedintartan,halfnaked,havingonlyhisownshaggyhair,tiedwithathongofleather,toprotecthisheadandfacefromsunandweather,lean,andhalf—starvedinaspect,hiswildgreyeyesappearingtofilluptentimestheproportionusuallyallottedtotheminthehumanface,creptout,asawildbeastmighthavedone,fromathicketofbramblesandbriars。

"Giveyourhorsetothegillie,"saidRanaldMacEagh;"yourlifedependsuponit。"

"Och！och！"exclaimedthedespairingveteran;"Eheu！asweusedtosayatMareschal—College,mustIleaveGustavusinsuchgrooming！"

"Areyoufrantic,tolosetimethus！"saidhisguide;"dowestandonfriends"ground,thatyoushouldpartwithyourhorseasifhewereyourbrother？Itellyou,youshallhavehimagain;

butifyouneversawtheanimal,isnotlifebetterthanthebestcoltevermarefoaled？"

"Andthatistruetoo,minehonestfriend,"sighedDalgetty;"yetifyouknewbutthevalueofGustavus,andthethingswetwohavedoneandsufferedtogether——See,heturnsbacktolookatme！——Bekindtohim,mygoodbreechlessfriend,andIwillrequiteyouwell。"Sosaying,andwithalsnifflingalittletoswallowhisgrief,heturnedfromtheheart—rendingspectacleinordertofollowhisguide。

Tofollowhisguidewasnoeasymatter,andsoonrequiredmoreagilitythanCaptainDalgettycouldmaster。Theveryfirstplungeafterhehadpartedfromhischarger,carriedhim,withlittleassistancefromafewoverhangingboughs,orprojectingrootsoftrees,eightfootsheerdownintothecourseofatorrent,upwhichtheSonoftheMistledtheway。Hugestones,overwhichtheyscrambled,——thicketsofthemandbrambles,throughwhichtheyhadtodragthemselves,——rockswhichweretobeclimbedontheonesidewithmuchlabourandpain,forthepurposeofanequallyprecariousdescentupontheother;allthese,andmanysuchinterruptions,weresurmountedbythelight—

footedandhalf—nakedmountaineerwithaneaseandvelocitywhichexcitedthesurpriseandenvyofCaptainDalgetty,who,encumberedbyhishead—piece,corslet,andotherarmour,nottomentionhisponderousjack—boots,foundhimselfatlengthsomuchexhaustedbyfatigue,andthedifficultiesoftheroad,thathesatedownuponastoneinordertorecoverhisbreath,whileheexplainedtoRanaldMacEaghthedifferencebetwixttravellingEXPEDITUSandIMPEDITUS,asthesetwomilitaryphraseswereunderstoodatMareschal—College,Aberdeen。Thesoleanswerofthemountaineerwastolayhishandonthesoldier"sarm,andpointbackwardinthedirectionofthewind。Dalgettycouldspynothing,foreveningwasclosingfast,andtheywereatthebottomofadarkravine。Butatlengthhecoulddistinctlyhearatadistancethesullentollofalargebell。

"That,"saidhe,"mustbethealarm——thestorm—clock,astheGermanscallit。"

"Itstrikesthehourofyourdeath,"answeredRanald,"unlessyoucanaccompanymealittlefarther。Foreverytollofthatbellabravemanhasyieldeduphissoul。"

"Truly,Ranald,mytrustyfriend,"saidDalgetty,"Iwillnotdenythatthecasemaybesoonmyown;forIamsoforfoughen（being,asIexplainedtoyou,IMPEDITUS,forhadIbeenEXPEDITUS,Imindnotpedestrianexercisetheflourishofafife）,thatIthinkIhadbetterensconcemyselfinoneofthesebushes,andevenliequiettheretoabidewhatfortuneGodshallsendme。Ientreatyou,minehonestfriendRanald,toshiftforyourself,andleavemetomyfortune,astheLionoftheNorth,theimmortalGustavusAdolphus,mynever—to—be—forgottenmaster（whomyoumustsurelyhaveheardof,Ranald,thoughyoumayhaveheardofnooneelse）,saidtoFrancisAlbert,DukeofSaxe—

Lauenburgh,whenhewasmortallywoundedontheplainsofLutzen。

Neitherdespairaltogetherofmysafety,Ranald,seeingIhavebeeninasgreatpinchesasthisinGermany——moreespecially,I

rememberme,thatatthefatalbattleofNerlingen——afterwhichI

changedservice——"

"Ifyouwouldsaveyourfather"sson"sbreathtohelphischildoutoftrouble,insteadofwastingituponthetalesofSeannachies,"saidRanald,whonowgrewimpatientoftheCaptain"sloquacity,"orifyourfeetcouldtravelasfastasyourtongue,youmightyetlayyourheadonanunbloodypillowto—night。"

"Somethingthereislikemilitaryskillinthat,"repliedtheCaptain,"althoughwantonlyandirreverentlyspokentoanofficerofrank。ButIholditgoodtopardonsuchfreedomsonamarch,inrespectoftheSaturnalianlicenseindulgedinsuchcasestothetroopsofallnations。Andnow,resumethineoffice,friendRanald,inrespectIamwell—breathed;or,tobemoreplain,I

PRAE,SEQUAR,asweusedtosayatMareschal—College。"

Comprehendinghismeaningratherfromhismotionsthanhislanguage,theSonoftheMistagainledtheway,withanunerringprecisionthatlookedlikeinstinct,throughavarietyofgroundthemostdifficultandbrokenthatcouldwellbeimagined。

Draggingalonghisponderousboots,encumberedwiththigh—pieces,gauntlets,corslet,andback—piece,nottomentionthebuffjerkinwhichheworeunderallthesearms,talkingofhisformerexploitsthewholeway,thoughRanaldpaidnottheslightestattentiontohim,CaptainDalgettycontrivedtofollowhisguideaconsiderablespacefarther,whenthedeep—mouthedbayingofahoundwasheardcomingdownthewind,asifopeningonthescentofitsprey。

"Blackhound,"saidRanald,"whosethroatneverbodedgoodtoaChildoftheMist,illfortunetoherwholitteredthee！hastthoualreadyfoundourtrace？Butthouarttoolate,swarthoundofdarkness,andthedeerhasgainedtheherd。"

Sosaying,hewhistledverysoftly,andwasansweredinatoneequallylowfromthetopofapass,upwhichtheyhadforsometimebeenascending。Mendingtheirpace,theyreachedthetop,wherethemoon,whichhadnowrisenbrightandclear,showedtoDalgettyapartyoftenortwelveHighlanders,andaboutasmanywomenandchildren,bywhomRanaldMacEaghwasreceivedwithsuchtransportsofjoy,asmadehiscompanioneasilysensiblethatthosebywhomhewassurrounded,mustofcoursebeChildrenoftheMist。Theplacewhichtheyoccupiedwellsuitedtheirnameandhabits。Itwasabeetlingcrag,roundwhichwindedaverynarrowandbrokenfootpath,commandedinvariousplacesbythepositionwhichtheyheld。

Ranaldspokeanxiouslyandhastilytothechildrenofhistribe,andthemencameonebyonetoshakehandswithDalgetty,whilethewomen,clamorousintheirgratitude,pressedroundtokisseventhehemofhisgarment。"Theyplighttheirfaithtoyou,"

saidRanaldMacEagh,"forrequitalofthegooddeedyouhavedonetothetribethisday。"

"Enoughsaid,Ranald,"answeredthesoldier,"enoughsaid——tellthemIlovenotthisshakingofhands——itconfusesranksanddegreesinmilitaryservice;andastokissingofgauntlets,puldrons,andthelike,IrememberthattheimmortalGustavus,asherodethroughthestreetsofNuremberg,beingthusworshippedbythepoulace（beingdoubtlessfarmoreworthyofitthanapoorthoughhonourablecavalierlikemyself）,didsayuntothem,inthewayofrebuke,"Ifyouidolizemethuslikeagod,whoshallassureyouthatthevengeanceofHeavenwillnotsoonprovemetobeamortal？"——Andsohere,Isupposeyouintendtomakeastandagainstyourfollowers,Ranald——VOTOADIOS,astheSpaniardsays？——averyprettyposition——asprettyapositionforasmallpelotonofmenasIhaveseeninmyservice——noenemycancometowardsitbytheroadwithoutbeingatthemercyofcannonandmusket。——Butthen,Ranald,mytrustycomrade,youhavenocannon,Idaretoaver,andIdonotseethatanyofthesefellowshavemusketseither。Sowithwhatartilleryyouproposemakinggoodthepass,beforeyoucometohandblows,truly,Ranald,itpassethmyapprehension。"