第15章

Montrosehadnowasplendidcareerinhisview,providedhecouldobtaintheconsentofhisgallant,butdesultorytroops,andtheirindependentchieftains。TheLowlandslayopenbeforehimwithoutanarmyadequatetocheckhiscareer;forArgyle"sfollowershadlefttheCovenanters"hostwhentheirmasterthrewuphiscommission,andmanyothertroops,tiredofthewar,hadtakenthesameopportunitytodisbandthemselves。BydescendingStrath—Tay,therefore,oneofthemostconvenientpassesfromtheHighlands,MontrosehadonlytopresenthimselfintheLowlands,inordertorousetheslumberingspiritofchivalryandofloyaltywhichanimatedthegentlementothenorthoftheForth。

Thepossessionofthesedistricts,withorwithoutavictory,wouldgivehimthecommandofawealthyandfertilepartofthekingdom,andwouldenablehim,byregularpay,toplacehisarmyonapermanentfooting,topenetrateasfarasthecapital,perhapsfromthencetotheBorder,wherehedeemeditpossibletocommunicatewiththeyetunsubduedforcesofKingCharles。

Suchwastheplanofoperationsbywhichthetruestglorywastobeacquired,andthemostimportantsuccessinsuredfortheroyalcause。AccordinglyitdidnotescapetheambitiousanddaringspiritofhimwhoseserviceshadalreadyacquiredhimthetitleoftheGreatMarquis。Butothermotivesactuatedmanyofhisfollowers,andperhapswerenotwithouttheirsecretandunacknowledgedinfluenceuponhisownfeelings。

TheWesternChiefsinMontrose"sarmy,almosttoaman,regardedtheMarquisofArgyleasthemostdirectandproperobjectofhostilities。Almostallofthemhadfelthispower;almostall,inwithdrawingtheirfenciblemenfromtheirownglens,lefttheirfamiliesandpropertyexposedtohisvengeance;all,withoutexception,weredesirousofdiminishinghissovereignty;

andmostofthemlaysonearhisterritories,thattheymightreasonablyhopetobegratifiedbyashareofhisspoil。TotheseChiefsthepossessionofInveraryanditscastlewasaneventinfinitelymoreimportantanddesirablethanthecaptureofEdinburgh。Thelattereventcouldonlyaffordtheirclansmenalittletransitorypayorplunder;theformerinsuredtotheChiefsthemselvesindemnityforthepast,andsecurityforthefuture。Besidesthesepersonalreasons,theleaders,whofavouredthisopinion,plausiblyurged,thatthough,athisfirstdescentintotheLowlands,Montrosemightbesuperiortotheenemy,yeteveryday"smarchhemadefromthehillsmustdiminishhisownforces,andexposehimtotheaccumulatedsuperiorityofanyarmywhichtheCovenanterscouldcollectfromtheLowlandleviesandgarrisons。Ontheotherhand,bycrushingArgyleeffectually,hewouldnotonlypermithispresentwesternfriendstobringoutthatproportionoftheirforceswhichtheymustotherwiseleaveathomeforprotectionoftheirfamilies;butfarther,hewoulddrawtohisstandardseveraltribesalreadyfriendlytohiscause,butwhowerepreventedfromjoininghimbyfearofM"CallumMore。

Thesearguments,aswehavealreadyhinted,foundsomethingresponsiveinMontrose"sownbosom,notquiteconsonantwiththegeneralheroismofhischaracter。ThehousesofArgyleandMontrosehadbeeninformertimes,repeatedlyopposedtoeachotherinwarandinpolitics,andthesuperioradvantagesacquiredbytheformer,hadmadethemthesubjectofenvyanddisliketotheneighbouringfamily,who,consciousofequaldesert,hadnotbeensorichlyrewarded。Thiswasnotall。Theexistingheadsoftheserivalfamilieshadstoodinthemostmarkedoppositiontoeachothersincethecommencementofthepresenttroubles。

Montrose,consciousofthesuperiorityofhistalents,andofhavingrenderedgreatservicetotheCovenantersatthebeginningofthewar,hadexpectedfromthatpartythesupereminenceofcouncilandcommand,whichtheyjudgeditsafertointrusttothemorelimitedfaculties,andmoreextensivepower,ofhisrivalArgyle。Thehavingawardedthispreference,wasaninjurywhichMontroseneverforgavetheCovenanters;andhewasstilllesslikelytoextendhispardontoArgyle,towhomhehadbeenpostponed。Hewasthereforestimulatedbyeveryfeelingofhatredwhichcouldanimateafierytemperinafierceage,toseekforrevengeupontheenemyofhishouseandperson;anditisprobablethattheseprivatemotivesoperatednotalittleuponhismind,whenhefoundtheprincipalpartofhisfollowersdeterminedrathertoundertakeanexpeditionagainsttheterritoriesofArgyle,thantotakethefarmoredecisivestepofdescendingatonceintotheLowlands。

YetwhatevertemptationMontrosefoundtocarryintoeffecthisattackuponArgyleshire,hecouldnoteasilybringhimselftorenouncethesplendidachievementofadescentupontheLowlands。

HeheldmorethanonecouncilwiththeprincipalChiefs,combating,perhaps,hisownsecretinclinationaswellastheirs。

HelaidbeforethemtheextremedifficultyofmarchingevenaHighlandarmyfromtheeastwardintoArgyleshire,throughpassesscarcelypracticableforshepherdsanddeer—stalkers,andovermountains,withwhicheventheclanslyingnearesttothemdidnotpretendtobethoroughlyacquainted。Thesedifficultiesweregreatlyenhancedbytheseasonoftheyear,whichwasnowadvancingtowardsDecember,whenthemountain—passes,inthemselvessodifficult,mightbeexpectedtoberenderedutterlyimpassablebysnowstorms。TheseobjectionsneithersatisfiednorsilencedtheChiefs,whoinsistedupontheirancientmodeofmakingwar,bydrivingthecattle,which,accordingtotheGaelicphrase,"feduponthegrassoftheirenemy。"Thecouncilwasdismissedlateatnight,andwithoutcomingtoanydecision,exceptingthattheChiefs,whosupportedtheopinionthatArgyleshouldbeinvaded,promisedtoseekoutamongtheirfollowersthosewhomightbemostcapableofundertakingtheofficeofguidesupontheexpedition。

Montrosehadretiredtothecabinwhichservedhimforatent,andstretchedhimselfuponabedofdryfern,theonlyplaceofreposewhichitafforded。Buthecourtedsleepinvain,forthevisionsofambitionexcludedthoseofMorpheus。InonemomentheimaginedhimselfdisplayingtheroyalbannerfromthereconqueredCastleofEdinburgh,detachingassistancetoamonarchwhosecrowndependeduponhissuccess,andreceivinginrequitalalltheadvantagesandprefermentswhichcouldbeheapeduponhimwhomakingdelightethtohonour。Atanothertimethisdream,splendidasitwas,fadedbeforethevisionofgratifiedvengeance,andpersonaltriumphoverapersonalenemy。TosurpriseArgyleinhisstrongholdofInverary——tocrushinhimatoncetherivalofhisownhouseandthechiefsupportofthePresbyterians——toshowtheCovenantersthedifferencebetweenthepreferredArgyleandthepostponedMontrose,wasapicturetooflatteringtofeudalvengeancetobeeasilyrelinquished。

Whilehelaythusbusiedwithcontradictorythoughtsandfeelings,thesoldierwhostoodsentineluponhisquartersannouncedtotheMarquisthattwopersonsdesiredtospeakwithhisExcellency。

"Theirnames？"answeredMontrose,"andthecauseoftheirurgencyatsuchalatehour？"

Onthesepoints,thesentinel,whowasoneofColkitto"sIrishmen,couldaffordhisGenerallittleinformation;sothatMontrose,whoatsuchaperioddurstrefuseaccesstonoone,lesthemighthavebeenneglectingsomeimportantintelligence,gavedirections,asanecessaryprecaution,toputtheguardunderarms,andthenpreparedtoreceivehisuntimelyvisitors。

Hisgroomofthechambershadscarcelightedapairoftorches,andMontrosehimselfhadscarcerisenfromhiscouch,whentwomenentered,onewearingaLowlanddress,ofshamoyleatherwornalmosttotatters;theotheratalluprightoldHighlander,ofacomplexionwhichmightbetermediron—grey,wastedandwornbyfrostandtempest。

"Whatmaybeyourcommandswithme,myfriends？"saidtheMarquis,hishandalmostunconsciouslyseekingthebutofoneofhispistols;fortheperiod,aswellasthetimeofnight,warrantedsuspicionswhichthegoodmienofhisvisitorswasnotbyanymeanscalculatedtoremove。

"Iprayleavetocongratulateyou,"saidtheLowlander,"mymostnobleGeneral,andrighthonourablelord,uponthegreatbattleswhichyouhaveachievedsinceIhadthefortunetobedetachedfromyou,ItwasaprettyaffairthattuilzieatTippermuir;

nevertheless,ifImightbepermittedtocounsel——"

"Beforedoingso,"saidtheMarquis,"willyoubepleasedtoletmeknowwhoissokindastofavourmewithhisopinion？"

"Truly,mylord,"repliedtheman,"Ishouldhavehopedthatwasunnecessary,seeingitisnotsolongsinceItookoninyourservice,underpromiseofacommissionasMajor,withhalfadollarofdailypayandhalfadollarofarrears;andIamtotrustyourlordshiphasnutforgottenmypayaswellasmyperson？"

"Mygoodfriend,MajorDalgetty,"saidMontrose,whobythistimeperfectlyrecollectedhisman,"youmustconsiderwhatimportantthingshavehappenedtoputmyfriends"facesoutofmymemory,besidesthisimperfectlight;butallconditionsshallbekept。

——AndwhatnewsfromArgyleshire,mygoodMajor？Wehavelonggivenyouupforlost,andIwasnowpreparingtotakethemostsignalvengeanceupontheoldfoxwhoinfringedthelawofarmsinyourperson。"

"Truly,mynoblelord,"saidDalgetty,"Ihavenodesirethatmyreturnshouldputanystoptosoproperandbecominganintention;verilyitisinnoshapeintheEarlofArgyle"sfavourormercythatInowstandbeforeyou,andIshallbenointercessorforhim。Butmyescapeis,underHeaven,andtheexcellentdexteritywhich,asanoldandaccomplishedcavalier,I

displayedineffectingthesame,——Isay,underthese,itisowingtotheassistanceofthisoldHighlander,whomIventuretorecommendtoyourlordship"sspecialfavour,astheinstrumentofsavingyourlordship"stocommand,DugaldDalgettyofDrumthwacket。"

"Athankworthyservice,"saidtheMarquis,gravely,"whichshallcertainlyberequitedinthemanneritdeserves。"

"Kneeldown,Ranald,"saidMajorDalgetty（aswemustnowcallhim）,"kneeldown,andkisshisExcellency"shand。"

TheprescribedformofacknowledgmentnotbeingaccordingtothecustomofRanald"scountry,hecontentedhimselfwithfoldinghisarmsonhisbosom,andmakingalowinclinationofhishead。

"Thispoorman,mylord,"saidMajorDalgetty,continuinghisspeechwithadignifiedairofprotectiontowardsRanaldM"Eagh,"hasstrainedallhisslendermeanstodefendmypersonfrommineenemies,althoughhavingnobetterweaponsofamissilesortthanbowsandarrows,whilkyourlordshipwillhardlybelieve。"

"Youwillseeagreatmanysuchweaponsinmycamp,"saidMontrose,"andwefindthemserviceable。"[Infact,fortheadmirersofarcheryitmaybestated,notonlythatmanyoftheHighlandersinMontrose"sarmyusedtheseantiquemissiles,buteveninEnglandthebowandquiver,oncethegloryoftheboldyeomenofthatland,wereoccasionallyusedduringthegreatcivilwars。]

"Serviceable,mylord！"saidDalgetty;"Itrustyourlordshipwillpermitmetobesurprised——bowsandarrows！——Itrustyouwillforgivemyrecommendingthesubstitutionofmuskets,thefirstconvenientopportunity。Butbesidesdefendingme,thishonestHighlanderalsowasatthepainsofcuringme,inrespectthatIhadgotatouchofthewarsinmyretreat,whichmeritsmybestrequitalinthisspecialintroductionofhimtoyourlordship"snoticeandprotection。"

"Whatisyourname,myfriend？"saidMontrose,turningtotheHighlander。

"Itmaynotbespoken,"answeredthemountaineer。

"Thatistosay,"interpretedMajorDalgetty,"hedesirestohavehisnameconcealed,inrespecthehathinformerdaystakenacastle,slaincertainchildren,anddoneotherthings,whilk,asyourgoodlordshipknows,areoftenpractisedinwartime,butexcitenobenevolencetowardstheperpetratorinthefriendsofthosewhosustaininjury。Ihaveknown,inmymilitaryexperience,manybravecavaliersputtodeathbytheboors,simplyforhavingusedmilitarylicenseuponthecountry。"

"Iunderstand,"saidMontrose:"Thispersonisatfeudwithsomeofourfollowers。Lethimretiretothecourtofguard,andwewillthinkofthebestmodeofprotectinghim。"

"Youhear,Ranald,"saidMajorDalgetty,withanairofsuperiority,"hisExcellencywishestoholdprivycouncilwithme,youmustgotothecourtofguard。——Hedoesnotknowwherethatis,poorfellow！——heisayoungsoldierforsooldaman;I

willputhimunderthechargeofasentinel,andreturntoyourlordshipincontinent。"Hedidso,andreturnedaccordingly。

Montrose"sfirstenquiryrespectedtheembassytoInverary;andhelistenedwithattentiontoDalgetty"sreply,notwithstandingtheprolixityoftheMajor"snarrative。ItrequiredaneffortfromtheMarquistomaintainhisattention;butnoonebetterknew,thatwhereinformationistobederivedfromthereportofsuchagentsasDalgetty,itcanonlybeobtainedbysufferingthemtotelltheirstoryintheirownway。AccordinglytheMarquis"spatiencewasatlengthrewarded。AmongotherspoilswhichtheCaptainthoughthimselfatlibertytotake,wasapacketofArgyle"sprivatepapers。TheseheconsignedtothehandsofhisGeneral;ahumourofaccounting,however,whichwentnofarther,forIdonotunderstandthathemadeanymentionofthepurseofgoldwhichhehadappropriatedatthesametimethathemadeseizureofthepapersaforesaid。Snatchingatorchfromthewall,Montrosewasinaninstantdeeplyengagedintheperusalofthesedocuments,inwhichitisprobablehefoundsomethingtoanimatehispersonalresentmentagainsthisrivalArgyle。

"Doeshenotfearme？"saidhe;"thenheshallfeelme。WillhefiremycastleofMurdoch？——Inveraryshallraisethefirstsmoke。——OforaguidethroughtheskirtsofStrath—Fillan！"

WhatevermightbeDalgetty"spersonalconceit,heunderstoodhisbusinesssufficientlytoguessatMontrose"smeaning。Heinstantlyinterruptedhisownprolixnarrationoftheskirmishwhichhadtakenplace,andthewoundhehadreceivedinhisretreat,andbegantospeaktothepointwhichhesawinterestedhisGeneral。

"If,"saidhe,"yourExcellencywishestomakeaninfallintoArgyleshire,thispoorman,Ranald,ofwhomItoldyou,togetherwithhischildrenandcompanions,knoweverypassintothatland,bothleadingfromtheeastandfromthenorth。"

"Indeed！"saidMontrose;"whatreasonhaveyoutobelievetheirknowledgesoextensive？"

"SopleaseyourExcellency,"answeredDalgetty,"duringtheweeksthatIremainedwiththemforcureofmywound,theywererepeatedlyobligedtoshifttheirquarters,inrespectofArgyle"srepeatedattemptstorepossesshimselfofthepersonofanofficerwhowashonouredwithYourExcellency"sconfidence;sothatIhadoccasiontoadmirethesingulardexterityandknowledgeofthefaceofthecountrywithwhichtheyalternatelyachievedtheirretreatandtheiradvance;andwhen,atlength,I

wasabletorepairtoyourExcellency"sstandard,thishonestsimplecreature,RanaldMacEagh,guidedmebypathswhichmysteedGustavus（whichyourlordshipmayremember）trodewithperfectsafety,sothatIsaidtomyself,thatwhereguides,spies,orintelligencers,wererequiredinaHighlandcampaigninthatwesterncountry,moreexpertpersonsthanheandhisattendantscouldnotpossiblybedesired。"

"Andcanyouanswerforthisman"sfidelity？"saidMontrose;

"whatishisnameandcondition？"

"Heisanoutlawandrobberbyprofession,somethingalsoofahomicideormurderer,"answeredDalgetty;"andbyname,calledRanaldMacEagh;whilksignifies,Ranald,theSonoftheMist。"

"Ishouldremembersomethingofthatname,"saidMontrose,pausing:"DidnottheseChildrenoftheMistperpetratesomeactofcrueltyupontheM"Aulays？"

MajorDalgettymentionedthecircumstanceofthemurderoftheforester,andMontrose"sactivememoryatoncerecalledallthecircumstancesofthefeud。

"Itismostunlucky,"saidMontrose,"thisinexpiablequarrelbetweenthesemenandtheM"Aulays。Allanhasbornehimselfbravelyinthesewars,andpossesses,bythewildmysteryofhisbehaviourandlanguage,somuchinfluenceoverthemindsofhiscountrymen,thattheconsequencesofdisobliginghimmightbeserious。Atthesametime,thesemenbeingsocapableofrenderingusefulservice,andbeingasyousay,MajorDalgetty,perfectlytrustworthy——"

"Iwillpledgemypayandarrears,myhorseandarms,myheadandneck,upontheirfidelity,"saidtheMajor;"andyourExcellencyknows,thatasoldadocouldsaynomoreforhisownfather。"

"True,"saidMontrose;"butasthisisamatterofparticularmoment,Iwouldwillinglyknowthegroundsofsopositiveanassurance。"

"Conciselythen,mylord,"saidtheMajor,"notonlydidtheydisdaintoprofitbyahandsomerewardwhichArgyledidmethehonourtoplaceuponthispoorheadofmine,andnotonlydidtheyabstainfrompillagingmypersonalproperty,whilkwastoanamountthatwouldhavetemptedregularsoldiersinanyserviceofEurope;andnotonlydidtheyrestorememyhorse,whilkyourExcellencyknowstobeofvalue,butIcouldnotprevailonthemtoacceptonestiver,doit,ormaravedi,forthetroubleandexpensesofmysickbed。Theyactuallyrefusedmycoinedmoneywhenfreelyoffered,——ataleseldomtobetoldinaChristianland。"

"Iadmit,"saidMontrose,afteramoment"sreflection,"thattheirconducttowardsyouisgoodevidenceoftheirfidelity;buthowtosecureagainstthebreakingoutofthisfeud？"Hepaused,andthensuddenlyadded,"IhadforgotIhavesupped,whileyou,Major,havebeentravellingbymoonlight。"

Hecalledtohisattendantstofetchastoupofwineandsomerefreshments。MajorDalgetty,whohadtheappetiteofaconvalescentreturnedfromHighlandquarters,needednotanypressingtopartakeofwhatwassetbeforehim,butproceededtodispatchhisfoodwithsuchalacrity,thattheMarquis,fillingacupofwine,anddrinkingtohishealth,couldnothelpremarking,thatcoarseastheprovisionsofhiscampwere,hewasafraidMajorDalgettyhadfaredmuchworseduringhisexcursionintoArgyleshire。

"YourExcellencymaytakeyourcorporaloathuponthat,"saidtheworthyMajor,speakingwithhismouthfull;"forArgyle"sbreadandwaterareyetstaleandmouldyinmyrecollection,andthoughtheydidtheirbest,yettheviandsthattheChildrenoftheMistprocuredforme,poorhelplesscreaturesastheywere,weresounrefreshfultomybody,thatwhenenclosedinmyarmour,whilkI

wasfaintoleavebehindmeforexpedition"ssake,IrattledthereinliketheshrivelledkernelinanutthathathbeenkeptontoasecondHallowe"en。"

"Youmusttaketheduemeanstorepairtheselosses,MajorDalgetty。"

"Introth,"answeredthesoldier,"Ishallhardlybeabletocompassthat,unlessmyarrearsaretobeexchangedforpresentpay;forIprotesttoyourExcellency,thatthethreestoneweightwhichIhavelostweresimplyraisedupontheregularaccountingsoftheStatesofHolland。"

"Inthatcase,"saidtheMarquis,"youareonlyreducedtogoodmarchingorder。Asforthepay,letusoncehavevictory——

victory,Major,andyourwishes,andallourwishes,shallbeamplyfulfilled。Meantime,helpyourselftoanothercupofwine。"

"ToyourExcellency"shealth,"saidtheMajor,fillingacuptothebrim,toshowthezealwithwhichhedrankthetoast,"andvictoryoverallourenemies,andparticularlyoverArgyle！I

hopetotwitchanotherhandfulfromhisboardmyself——Ihavehadonepluckatitalready。"

"Verytrue,"answeredMontrose;"buttoreturntothosemenoftheMist。Youunderstand,Dalgetty,thattheirpresencehere,andthepurposeforwhichweemploythem,isasecretbetweenyouandme？"

Delighted,asMontrosehadanticipated,withthismarkofhisGeneral"sconfidence,theMajorlaidhishanduponhisnose,andnoddedintelligence。

"HowmanymaytherebeofRanald"sfollowers？"continuedtheMarquis。

"Theyarereduced,sofarasIknow,tosomeeightortenmen,"

answeredMajorDalgetty,"andafewwomenandchildren。"

"Wherearetheynow？"demandedMontrose。

"Inavalley,atthreemiles"distance,"answeredthesoldier,"awaitingyourExcellency"scommand;IjudgeditnotfittobringthemtoyourleaguerwithoutyourExcellency"sorders。"

"Youjudgedverywell,"saidMontrose;"itwouldbeproperthattheyremainwheretheyare,orseeksomemoredistantplaceofrefuge。Iwillsendthemmoney,thoughitisascarcearticlewithmeatpresent。"

"Itisquiteunnecessary,"saidMajorDalgetty;"yourExcellencyhasonlytohintthattheM"Aulaysaregoinginthatdirection,andmyfriendsoftheMistwillinstantlymakevolte—face,andgototherightabout。"

"Thatwerescarcecourteous,"saidtheMarquis。"Bettersendthemafewdollarstopurchasethemsomecattleforthesupportofthewomenandchildren。"

"Theyknowhowtocomebytheircattleatafarcheaperrate,"

saidtheMajor;"butletitbeasyourExcellencywills。"

"LetRanaldMacEagh,"saidMontrose,"selectoneortwoofhisfollowers,menwhomhecantrust,andwhoarecapableofkeepingtheirownsecretandours;these,withtheirchiefforscout—

master—general,shallserveforourguides。Letthembeatmytentto—morrowatdaybreak,andsee,ifpossible,thattheyneitherguessmypurpose,norholdanycommunicationwitheachotherinprivate。——Thisoldman,hasheanychildren？"

"Theyhavebeenkilledorhanged,"answeredtheMajor,"tothenumberofarounddozen,asIbelieve——buthehathleftonegrand—child,asmartandhopefulyouth,whomIhavenotedtobeneverwithoutapebbleinhisplaid—nook,toflingatwhatsoevermightcomeinhisway;beingasymbol,that,likeDavid,whowasaccustomedtoslingsmoothstonestakenfromthebrook,hemayafterwardsproveanadventurouswarrior。"

"Thatboy,MajorDalgetty,"saidtheMarquis,"Iwillhavetoattenduponmyownperson。Ipresumehewillhavesenseenoughtokeephisnamesecret？"

"YourExcellencyneednotfearthat,"answeredDalgetty;"theseHighlandimps,fromthemomenttheychiptheshell——"

"Well,"interruptedMontrose,"thatboyshallbepledgeforthefidelityofhisparent,andifheprovefaithful,thechild"sprefermentshallbehisreward。——Andnow,MajorDalgetty,Iwilllicenseyourdepartureforthenight;tomorrowyouwillintroducethisMacEagh,underanynameorcharacterhemaypleasetoassume。Ipresumehisprofessionhasrenderedhimsufficientlyexpertinallsortofdisguises;orwemayadmitJohnofMoidartintoourschemes,whohassense,practicability,andintelligence,andwillprobablyallowthismanforatimetobedisguisedasoneofhisfollowers。Foryou,Major,mygroomofthechamberswillbeyourquarter—masterforthisevening。"

MajorDalgettytookhisleavewithajoyfulheartgreatlyelatedwiththereceptionhehadmetwith,andmuchpleasedwiththepersonalmannersofhisnewGeneral,which,asheexplainedatgreatlengthtoRanaldMacEagh,remindedhiminmanyrespectsofthedemeanouroftheimmortalGustavusAdolphus,theLionoftheNorth,andBulwarkoftheProtestantFaith。

CHAPTERXVII。

Themarchbeginsinmilitarystate,Andnationsonhiseyessuspendedwait;

Sternfamineguardsthesolitarycoast,Andwinterbarricadestherealmsoffrost。

Hecomes,——norwant,norcold,hiscoursedelay。

VANITYOFHUMANWISHES。

BybreakofdayMontrosereceivedinhiscabinoldMacEagh,andquestionedhimlongandparticularlyastothemeansofapproachingthecountryofArgyle。Hemadeanoteofhisanswers,whichhecomparedwiththoseoftwoofhisfollowers,whomheintroducedasthemostprudentandexperienced。Hefoundthemtocorrespondinallrespects;but,stillunsatisfiedwhereprecautionwassonecessary,theMarquiscomparedtheinformationhehadreceivedwiththathewasabletocollectfromtheChiefswholaymostneartothedestinedsceneofinvasion,andbeinginallrespectssatisfiedofitsaccuracy,heresolvedtoproceedinfullrelianceuponit。

InonepointMontrosechangedhismind。HavingjudgeditunfittotaketheboyKennethintohisownservice,lest,incaseofhisbirthbeingdiscovered,itshouldberesentedasanoffencebythenumerousclanswhoentertainedafeudalenmitytothisdevotedfamily,herequestedtheMajortotakehiminattendanceuponhimself;andasheaccompaniedthisrequestwithahandsomeDOUCEUR,underpretenceofclothingandequippingthelad,thischangewasagreeabletoallparties。

Itwasaboutbreakfast—time,whenMajorDalgetty,beingdismissedbyMontrose,wentinquestofhisoldacquaintances,LordMenteithandtheM"Aulays,towhomhelongedtocommunicatehisownadventures,aswellastolearnfromthemtheparticularsofthecampaign。Itmaybeimaginedhewasreceivedwithgreatgleebymentowhomthelateuniformityoftheirmilitarylifehadrenderedanychangeofsocietyaninterestingnovelty。AllanM"Aulayaloneseemedtorecoilfromhisformeracquaintance,although,whenchallengedbyhisbrother,hecouldrendernootherreasonthanareluctancetobefamiliarwithonewhohadbeensolatelyinthecompanyofArgyle,andotherenemies。

MajorDalgettywasalittlealarmedbythissortofinstinctiveconsciousnesswhichAllanseemedtoentertainrespectingthesocietyhehadbeenlatelykeeping;hewassoonsatisfied,however,thattheperceptionsoftheseerinthisparticularwerenotinfallible。