第17章

quarters,andtherewasampleroomforArgyle"sarmytoencamparoundhiminthevalley,wheretheLochyjoinsLoch—Eil。

Severalbargeshadattended,loadedwithprovisions,sothattheywereineveryrespectaswellaccommodatedassuchanarmywishedorexpectedtobe。Argyle,incouncilwithAuchenbreckandArdenvohr,expressedhisfullconfidencethatMontrosewasnowonthebrinkofdestruction;thathistroopsmustgraduallydiminishashemovedeastwardthroughsuchuncouthpaths;thatifhewentwestward,hemustencounterUrrieandBaillie;ifnorthward,fallintothehandsofSeaforth;orshouldhechooseanyhalting—

place,hewouldexposehimselftobeattackedbythreearmiesatonce。

"Icannotrejoiceintheprospect,mylord,"saidAuchebreck,"thatJamesGrahamewillbecrushedwithlittleassistanceofours。HehasleftaheavyaccountinArgyleshireagainsthim,andIlongtoreckonwithhimdropofbloodfordropofblood。I

lovenotthepaymentofsuchdebtsbythirdhands。"

"Youaretooscrupulous,"saidArgyle;"whatsignifiesitbywhosehandsthebloodoftheGrahamesisspilt？ItistimethatofthesonsofDiarmidshouldceasetoflow。——Whatsayyou,Ardenvohr？"

"Isay,mylord,"repliedSirDuncan,"thatIthinkAuchenbreckwillbegratified,andwillhimselfhaveapersonalopportunityofsettlingaccountswithMontroseforhisdepredations。ReportshavereachedouroutpoststhattheCameronsareassemblingtheirfullstrengthontheskirtsofBen—Nevis;thismustbetojointheadvanceofMontrose,andnottocoverhisretreat。"

"Itmustbesomeschemeofharassinganddepredation,"saidArgyle,"devisedbytheinveteratemalignityofM"Ilduy,whichhetermsloyalty。Theycanintendnomorethananattackonouroutposts,orsomeannoyancetoto—morrow"smarch。"

"Ihavesentoutscouts,"saidSirDuncan,"ineverydirection,toprocureintelligence;andwemustsoonhearwhethertheyreallydoassembleanyforce,uponwhatpoint,orwithwhatpurpose。"

Itwaslateereanytidingswerereceived;butwhenthemoonhadarisen,aconsiderablebustleinthecamp,andanoiseimmediatelyafterheardinthecastle,announcedthearrivalofimportantintelligence。OfthescoutsfirstdispersedbyArdenvohr,somehadreturnedwithoutbeingabletocollectanything,saveuncertainrumoursconcerningmovementsinthecountryoftheCamerons。ItseemedasiftheskirtsofBen—Nevisweresendingforththoseunaccountableandportentoussoundswithwhichtheysometimesannouncethenearapproachofastorm。

Others,whosezealcarriedthemfartherupontheirmission,wereentrappedandslain,ormadeprisoners,bytheinhabitantsofthefastnessesintowhichtheyendeavouredtopenetrate。Atlength,ontherapidadvanceofMontrose"sarmy,hisadvancedguardandtheoutpostsofArgylebecameawareofeachother"spresence,andafterexchangingafewmusket—shotsandarrows,fellbacktotheirrespectivemainbodies,toconveyintelligenceandreceiveorders。

SirDuncanCampbell,andAuchenbreck,instantlythrewthemselvesonhorseback,inordertovisitthestateoftheoutposts;andArgylemaintainedhischaracterofcommander—in—chiefwithreputation,bymakingarespectablearrangementofhisforcesintheplain,asitwasevidentthattheymightnowexpectanightalarm,oranattackinthemorningatfarthest。Montrosehadkepthisforcessocautiouslywithinthedefilesofthemountain,thatnoeffortwhichAuchenbreckorArdenvohrthoughtitprudenttoattempt,couldascertainhisprobablestrength。Theywereaware,however,that,attheutmostcomputation,itmustbeinferiortotheirown,andtheyreturnedtoArgyletoinformhimoftheamountoftheirobservations;butthatnoblemanrefusedtobelievethatMontrosecouldbeinpresencehimself。Hesaid,"Itwasamadness,ofwhichevenJamesGrahame,inhisheightofpresumptuousfrenzy,wasincapable;andhedoubtednotthattheirmarchwasonlyimpededbytheirancientenemies,Glencoe,Keppoch,andGlengarry;andperhapsM"Vourigh,withhisM"Phersons,mighthaveassembledaforce,whichheknewmustbegreatlyinferiorinnumberstohisown,andwhom,therefore,hedoubtednottodispersebyforce,orbytermsofcapitulation。"

ThespiritofArgyle"sfollowerswashigh,breathingvengeanceforthedisasterswhichtheircountryhadsolatelyundergone;

andthenightpassedinanxioushopesthatthemorningmightdawnupontheirvengeance。Theoutpostsofeitherarmykeptacarefulwatch,andthesoldiersofArgylesleptintheorderofbattlewhichtheywerenextdaytooccupy。

Apaledawnhadscarcebeguntotingethetopsoftheseimmensemountains,whentheleadersofbotharmiespreparedforthebusinessoftheday。ItwasthesecondofFebruary,1645—6。TheclansmenofArgylewerearrangedintwolines,notfarfromtheanglebetweentheriverandthelake,andmadeanappearanceequallyresoluteandformidable。Auchenbreckwouldwillinglyhavecommencedthebattlebyanattackontheoutpostsoftheenemy,butArgyle,withmorecautiouspolicy,preferredreceivingtomakingtheonset。Signalsweresoonheard,thattheywouldnotlongwaitforitinvain。TheCampbellscoulddistinguish,inthegorgeofthemountains,thewar—tunesofvariousclansastheyadvancedtotheonset。ThatoftheCamerons,whichbearstheominouswords,addressedtothewolvesandravens,"Cometome,andIwillgiveyouflesh,"wasloudlyre—echoedfromtheirnativeglens。InthelanguageoftheHighlandbards,thewarvoiceofGlengarrywasnotsilent;andthegatheringtunesofothertribescouldbeplainlydistinguished,astheysuccessivelycameuptotheextremityofthepassesfromwhichtheyweretodescendintotheplain。

"Yousee,"saidArgyletohiskinsmen,"itisasIsaid,wehaveonlytodealwithourneighbours;JamesGrahamehasnotventuredtoshowushisbanner。"

Atthismomentthereresoundedfromthegorgeofthepassalivelyflourishoftrumpets,inthatnotewithwhichitwastheancientScottishfashiontosalutetheroyalstandard。

"Youmayhear,mylord,fromyondersignal,"saidSirDuncanCampbell,"thathewhopretendstobetheKing"sLieutenant,mustbeinpersonamongthesemen。"

"Andhasprobablyhorsewithhim,"saidAuchenbreck,"whichI

couldnothaveanticipated。Butshallwelookpaleforthat,mylord,whenwehavefoestofight,andwrongstorevenge？"

Argylewassilent,andlookeduponhisarm,whichhunginasash,owingtoafallwhichhehadsustainedinaprecedingmarch。

"Itistrue,"interruptedArdenvohr,eagerly,"myLordofArgyle,youaredisabledfromusingeitherswordorpistol;youmustretireonboardthegalleys——yourlifeisprecioustousasahead——yourhandcannotbeusefultousasasoldier。"

"No,"saidArgyle,pridecontendingwithirresolution,"itshallneverbesaidthatIfledbeforeMontrose;ifIcannotfight,I

willatleastdieinthemidstofmychildren。"

SeveralotherprincipalChiefsoftheCampbells,withonevoice,conjuredandobtestedtheirChieftaintoleavethemforthatdaytotheleadingofArdenvohrandAuchenbreck,andtobeholdtheconflictfromadistanceandinsafety。——WedarenotstigmatizeArgylewithpoltroonery;for,thoughhislifewasmarkedbynoactionofbravery,yethebehavedwithsomuchcomposureanddignityinthefinalandclosingscene,thathisconductuponthepresentandsimilaroccasions,shouldberatherimputedtoindecisionthantowantofcourage。Butwhenthesmallstillvoicewithinaman"sownbreast,whichtellshimthathislifeisofconsequencetohimself,issecondedbythatofnumbersaroundhim,whoassurehimthatitisofequaladvantagetothepublic,historyaffordsmanyexamplesofmenmorehabituallydaringthanArgyle,whohaveconsultedself—preservationwhenthetemptationstoitweresopowerfullyincreased。

"Seehimonboard,ifyouwill,SirDuncan,"saidAuchenbrecktohiskinsman;"Itmustbemydutytopreventthisspiritfromspreadingfartheramongus。"

Sosaying,hethrewhimselfamongtheranks,entreating,commanding,andconjuringthesoldiers,toremembertheirancientfameandtheirpresentsuperiority;thewrongstheyhadtorevenge,ifsuccessful,andthefatetheyhadtodread,ifvanquished;andimpartingtoeverybosomaportionofthefirewhichglowedinhisown。Slowly,meanwhile,andapparentlywithreluctance,Argylesufferedhimselftobeforcedbyhisofficiouskinsmentothevergeofthelake,andwastransportedonboardofagalley,fromthedeckofwhichhesurveyedwithmoresafetythancreditthescenewhichensued。

SirDuncanCampbellofArdenvohr,notwithstandingtheurgencyoftheoccasion,stoodwithhiseyesrivetedontheboatwhichborehisChieftainfromthefieldofbattle。Therewerefeelingsinhisbosomwhichcouldnotbeexpressed;forthecharacterofaChiefwasthatofafather,andtheheartofaclansmandurstnotdwelluponhisfailingswithcriticalseverityasuponthoseofothermen。Argyle,too,harshandseveretoothers,wasgenerousandliberalamonghiskinsmen,andthenobleheartof,Ardenvohrwaswrungwithbitteranguish,whenhereflectedtowhatinterpretationhispresentconductmightsubjecthim。

"Itisbetteritshouldbeso,"saidhetohimself,devouringhisownemotion;"but——ofhislineofahundredsires,IknownotonewhowouldhaveretiredwhilethebannerofDiarmidwavedinthewind,inthefaceofitsmostinveteratefoes！"

Aloudshoutnowcompelledhimtoturn,andtohastenwithalldispatchtohispost,whichwasontherightflankofArgyle"slittlearmy。

TheretreatofArgylehadnotpassedunobservedbyhiswatchfulenemy,who,occupyingthesuperiorground,couldmarkeverycircumstancewhichpassedbelow。Themovementofthreeorfourhorsementotherearshowedthatthosewhoretreatedweremenofrank。

"Theyaregoing,"saidDalgetty,"toputtheirhorsesoutofdanger,likeprudentcavaliers。YondergoesSirDuncanCampbell,ridingabrownbaygelding,whichIhadmarkedformyownsecondcharger。"

Youarewrong,Major,"saidMontrose,withabittersmile,"theyaresavingtheirpreciousChief——Givethesignalforassaultinstantly——sendthewordthroughtheranks。——Gentlemen,nobleChiefs,Glengarry,Keppoch,M"Vourigh,upontheminstantly！——RidetoM"Ilduy,MajorDalgetty,andtellhimtochargeashelovesLochaber——returnandbringourhandfulofhorsetomystandard。

TheyshallbeplacedwiththeIrishasareserve。"

CHAPTERXIX。

Asmeetsarockathousandwaves,soInisfailmetLochlin。

OSSIAN。

Thetrumpetsandbagpipes,thoseclamorousharbingersofbloodanddeath,atonceunitedinthesignalforonset,whichwasrepliedtobythecryofmorethantwothousandwarriors,andtheechoesofthemountainglensbehindthem。Dividedintothreebodies,orcolumns,theHighlandfollowersofMontrosepouredfromthedefileswhichhadhithertoconcealedthemfromtheirenemies,andrushedwiththeutmostdeterminationupontheCampbells,whowaitedtheirchargewiththegreatestfirmness。

BehindthesechargingcolumnsmarchedinlinetheIrish,underColkitto,intendedtoformthereserve。Withthemwastheroyalstandard,andMontrosehimself;andontheflankswereaboutfiftyhorse,underDalgetty,whichbywonderfulexertionshadbeenkeptinsomesortfitforservice。

TherightcolumnofRoyalistswasledbyGlengarry,theleftbyLochiel,andthecentrebytheEarlofMenteith,whopreferredfightingonfootinaHighlanddresstoremainingwiththecavalry。

TheHighlanderspouredonwiththeproverbialfuryoftheircountry,firingtheirguns,anddischargingtheirarrows,atalittledistancefromtheenemy,whoreceivedtheassaultwiththemostdeterminedgallantry。Betterprovidedwithmusketrythantheirenemies,stationaryalso,andthereforetakingthemoredecisiveaim,thefireofArgyle"sfollowerswasmoredestructivethanthatwhichtheysustained。Theroyalclans,perceivingthis,rushedtoclosequarters,andsucceededontwopointsinthrowingtheirenemiesintodisorder。Withregulartroopsthismusthaveachievedavictory;buthereHighlanderswereopposedtoHighlanders,andthenatureoftheweapons,aswellastheagilityofthosewhowieldedthem,wasequalonbothsides。

Theirstrifewasaccordinglydesperate;andtheclashoftheswordsandaxes,astheyencounteredeachother,orrunguponthetargets,wasmingledwiththeshort,wild,animatingshriekswithwhichHighlandersaccompanythebattle,thedance,orindeedviolentexertionofanykind。Manyofthefoesopposedwerepersonallyacquainted,andsoughttomatchthemselveswitheachotherfrommotivesofhatred,oramoregenerousemulationofvalour。Neitherpartywouldretreataninch,whiletheplaceofthosewhofell（andtheyfellfastonbothsides）waseagerlysuppliedbyothers,whothrongedtothefrontofdanger。A

steam,likethatwhicharisesfromaseethingcauldron,roseintothethin,cold,frostyair,andhoveredabovethecombatants。

Sostoodthefightontherightandthecentre,withnoimmediateconsequence,exceptmutualwoundsanddeath。

OntherightoftheCampbells,theKnightofArdenvohrobtainedsomeadvantage,throughhismilitaryskillandbystrengthofnumbers。HehadmovedforwardobliquelytheextremeflankofhislineattheinstanttheRoyalistswereabouttoclose,sothattheysustainedafireatonceonfrontandinflank,and,despitetheutmosteffortsoftheirleader,werethrownintosomeconfusion。Atthisinstant,SirDuncanCampbellgavethewordtocharge,andthusunexpectedlymadetheattackattheverymomentheseemedabouttoreceiveit。Suchachangeofcircumstancesisalwaysdiscouraging,andoftenfatal。ButthedisorderwasremediedbytheadvanceoftheIrishreserve,whoseheavyandsustainedfirecompelledtheKnightofArdenvohrtoforegohisadvantage,andcontenthimselfwithrepulsingtheenemy。TheMarquisofMontrose,inthemeanwhile,availinghimselfofsomescatteredbirchtrees,aswellasofthesmokeproducedbytheclosefireoftheIrishmusketry,whichconcealedtheoperation,calleduponDalgettytofollowhimwiththehorse,andwheelingroundsoastogaintherightflankandeventherearoftheenemy,hecommandedhissixtrumpetstosoundthecharge。Theclangofthecavalrytrumpets,andthenoiseofthegallopingofthehorse,producedaneffectuponArgyle"srightwingwhichnoothersoundscouldhaveimpressedthemwith。Themountaineersofthatperiodhadasuperstitiousdreadofthewar—horse,likethatentertainedbythePeruvians,andhadmanystrangeideasrespectingthemannerinwhichthatanimalwastrainedtocombat。

When,therefore,theyfoundtheirranksunexpectedlybroken,andthattheobjectsoftheirgreatestterrorweresuddenlyinthemidstofthem,thepanic,inspiteofSirDuncan"sattemptstostopit,becameuniversal。Indeed,thefigureofMajorDalgettyalone,sheathedinimpenetrablearmour,andmakinghishorsecaracoleandbound,soastogiveweighttoeveryblowwhichhestruck,wouldhavebeenanoveltyinitselfsufficienttoterrifythosewhohadneverseenanythingmorenearlyresemblingsuchacavalier,thanaSHELTYwaddlingunderaHighlanderfarbiggerthanitself。TherepulsedRoyalistsreturnedtothecharge;theIrish,keepingtheirranks,maintainedafireequallycloseanddestructive。Therewasnosustainingthefightlonger。Argyle"sfollowersbegantobreakandfly,mosttowardsthelake,theremainderindifferentdirections。Thedefeatoftherightwing,ofitselfdecisive,wasrenderedirreparablebythedeathofAuchenbreck,whofellwhileendeavouringtorestoreorder。

TheKnightofArdenvohr,withtwoorthreehundredmen,allgentlemenofdescentanddistinguishedgallantry,——fortheCampbellsaresupposedtohavehadmoregentlemenintheirranksthananyoftheHighlandclans,endeavoured,withunavailingheroism,tocoverthetumultuaryretreatofthecommonfile。

Theirresolutiononlyprovedfataltothemselves,astheywerechargedagainandagainbyfreshadversaries,andforcedtoseparatefromeachother,untilatlengththeiraimseemedonlytobetopurchaseanhonourabledeathbyresistingtotheverylast。

"Goodquarter,SirDuncan,"calledoutMajorDalgetty,whenhediscoveredhislatehost,withoneortwoothers,defendinghimselfagainstseveralHighlanders;and,toenforcehisoffer,,herodeuptohimwithhissworduplifted。SirDuncan"sreplywasthedischargeofareservedpistol,whichtookeffectnotonthepersonoftherider,butonthatofhisgallanthorse,which,shotthroughtheheart,felldeadunderhim。RanaldMacEagh,whowasoneofthosewhohadbeenpressingSirDuncanhard,tooktheopportunitytocuthimdownwithhisbroadsword,asheturnedfromhimintheactoffiringthepistol。

AllanM"Aulaycameupatthismoment。Theywere,exceptingRanald,followersofhisbrotherwhowereengagedonthatpartofthefield,"Villains！"hesaid,"whichofyouhasdaredtodothis,whenitwasmypositiveorderthattheKnightofArdenvohrshouldbetakenalive？"

Half—a—dozenofbusyhands,whichwereemulouslyemployedinplunderingthefallenknight,whosearmsandaccoutrementswereofamagnificencebefittinghisquality,instantlyforboretheoccupation,andhalfthenumberofvoicesexculpatedthemselves,bylayingtheblameontheSkyeman,astheycalledRanaldMacEagh。

"DogofanIslander！"saidAllan,forgetting,inhiswrath,theirpropheticbrotherhood,"followthechase,andharmhimnofarther,unlessyoumeantodiebymyhand。"Theywereatthismomentleftalmostalone;forAllan"sthreatshadforcedhisownclanfromthespot,andallaroundhadpressedonwardstowardthelake,carryingbeforethemnoise,terror,andconfusion,andleavingbehindonlythedeadanddying。ThemomentwastemptingtoMacEagh"svengefulspirit。——"ThatIshoulddiebyyourhand,redasitiswiththebloodofmykindred,"saidhe,answeringthethreatofAllaninatoneasmenacingashisown,"isnotmorelikelythanthatyoushouldfallbymine。"Withthat,hestruckatM"Aulaywithsuchunexpectedreadiness,thathehadscarcetimetointercepttheblowwithhistarget。

"Villain！"saidAllan,inastonishment,"whatmeansthis？"

"IamRanaldoftheMist！"answeredtheIslesman,repeatingtheblow;andwiththatword,theyengagedincloseandfuriousconflict。Itseemedtobedecreed,thatinAllanM"Aulayhadarisentheavengerofhismother"swrongsuponthiswildtribe,aswasprovedbytheissueofthepresent,aswellasofformercombats。Afterexchangingafewblows,RanaldMacEaghwasprostratedbyadeepwoundontheskull;andM"Aulay,settinghisfootonhim,wasabouttopassthebroadswordthroughhisbody,whenthepointoftheweaponwasstruckupbyathirdparty,whosuddenlyinterposed。ThiswasnootherthanMajorDalgetty,who,stunned。bythefall,andencumberedbythedeadbodyofhishorse,hadnowrecoveredhislegsandhisunderstanding。"Holdupyoursword,"saidhetoM"Aulay,"andprejudicethispersonnofarther,inrespectthatheishereinmysafeconduct,andinhisExcellency"sservice;andinregardthatnohonourablecavalierisatliberty,bythelawmartial,toavengehisownprivateinjuries,FLAGRANTEBELLO,MULTOMAJUSFLAGRANTEPRAELIO。"

"Fool！"saidAllan,"standaside,anddarenottocomebetweenthetigerandhisprey！"

But,farfromquittinghispoint,DalgettysteptacrossthefallenbodyofMacEagh,andgaveAllantounderstand,thatifhecalledhimselfatiger,hewaslikely,atpresent,tofindalioninhispath。ThererequirednomorethanthegestureandtoneofdefiancetoturnthewholerageofthemilitarySeeragainstthepersonwhowasopposingthecourseofhisvengeance,andblowswereinstantlyexchangedwithoutfartherceremony。

ThestrifebetwixtAllanandMacEaghhadbeenunnoticedbythestragglersaround,forthepersonofthelatterwasknowntofewofMontrose"sfollowers;butthescufflebetwixtDalgettyandhim,bothsowellknown,attractedinstantattention;andfortunately,amongothers,thatofMontrosehimself,whohadcomeforthepurposeofgatheringtogetherhissmallbodyofhorse,andfollowingthepursuitdownLoch—Eil。Awareofthefatalconsequencesofdissensioninhislittlearmy,hepushedhishorseuptothespot,andseeingMacEaghontheground,andDalgettyintheattitudeofprotectinghimagainstM"Aulay,hisquickapprehensioninstantlycaughtthecauseofquarrel,andasinstantlydevisedmeanstostopit。"Forshame,"hesaid,"gentlemencavaliers,brawlingtogetherinsogloriousafieldofvictory！——Areyoumad？Orareyouintoxicatedwiththeglorywhichyouhaveboththisdaygained？"

"Itisnotmyfault,sopleaseyourExcellency,"saidDalgetty。

"IhavebeenknownaBONUSSOCIUS,ABONCAMARADO,inalltheservicesofEurope;buthethattouchesamanundermysafeguard——"

"Andhe,"saidAllan,speakingatthesametime,"whodarestobarthecourseofmyjustvengeance——"

"Forshame,gentlemen！"againrepeatedMontrose;"Ihaveotherbusinessforyouboth,——businessofdeeperimportancethananyprivatequarrel,whichyoumayeasilyfindamorefittingtimetosettle。Foryou,MajorDalgetty,kneeldown。"

"Kneel！"saidDalgetty;"Ihavenotlearnedtoobeythatwordofcommand,savingwhenitisgivenfromthepulpit。IntheSwedishdiscipline,thefrontrankdoindeedkneel,butonlywhentheregimentisdrawnupsixfiledeep。"

"Nevertheless,"repeatedMontrose,——"kneeldown,inthenameofKingCharlesandofhisrepresentative。"

WhenDalgettyreluctantlyobeyed,Montrosestruckhimlightlyontheneckwiththeflatofhissword,saying,——"Inrewardofthegallantserviceofthisday,andinthenameandauthorityofourSovereign,KingCharles,Idubtheeknight;bebrave,loyal,andfortunate。Andnow,SirDugaldDalgetty,toyourduty。Collectwhathorsemenyoucan,andpursuesuchoftheenemyasareflyingdownthesideofthelake。Donotdisperseyourforce,norventuretoofar;buttakeheedtopreventtheirrallying,whichverylittleexertionmaydo。Mount,then,SirDugald,anddoyourduty。"

"ButwhatshallImount？"saidthenew—madechevalier。"PoorGustavussleepsinthebedofhonour,likehisimmortalnamesake！

andIammadeaknight,arider,astheHighDutchhaveit,justwhenIhavenotahorselefttorideupon。"[InGerman,asinLatin,theoriginalmeaningofthewordRitter,correspondingtoEques,ismerelyahorseman。]

"Thatshallnotbesaid,"answeredMontrose,dismounting;"Imakeyouapresentofmyown,whichhasbeenthoughtagoodone;only,Iprayyou,resumethedutyyoudischargesowell。"

Withmanyacknowledgments,SirDugaldmountedthesteedsoliberallybestoweduponhim;andonlybeseechinghisExcellencytorememberthatMacEaghwasunderhissafe—conduct,immediatelybegantoexecutetheordersassignedtohim,withgreatzealandalacrity。

"Andyou,AllanM"Aulay,"saidMontrose,addressingtheHighlander,who,leaninghissword—pointontheground,hadregardedtheceremonyofhisantagonist"sknighthoodwithasneerofsullenscorn,——"you,whoaresuperiortotheordinarymenledbythepaltrymotivesofplunder,andpay,andpersonaldistinction,——you,whosedeepknowledgerendersyousovaluableacounsellor,——isitYOUwhomIfindstrivingwithamanlikeDalgetty,fortheprivilegeoftramplingtheremainsoflifeoutofsocontemptibleanenemyasliesthere？Come,myfriend,I

haveotherworkforyou。Thisvictory,skilfullyimproved,shallwinSeaforthtoourparty。Itisnotdisloyalty,butdespairofthegoodcause,thathasinducedhimtotakearmsagainstus。

Thesearms,inthismomentofbetteraugury,hemaybebroughttounitewithours。Ishallsendmygallantfriend,ColonelHay,tohim,fromthisveryfieldofbattle,buthemustbeunitedincommissionwithaHighlandgentlemanofrank,befittingthatofSeaforth,andoftalentsandofinfluencesuchasmaymakeanimpressionuponhim。Youarenotonlyineveryrespectthefittestforthismostimportantmission,but,havingnoimmediatecommand,yourpresencemaybemoreeasilysparedthanthatofaChiefwhosefollowingisinthefield。YouknoweverypassandglenintheHighlands,aswellasthemannersandcustomsofeverytribe。GothereforetoHay,ontherightwing;hehasinstructions,andexpectsyou。YouwillfindhimwithGlenmorrison"smen;behisguide,hisinterpreter,andhiscolleague。"

AllanM"AulaybentontheMarquisadarkandpenetratingglance,asiftoascertainwhetherthissuddenmissionwasnotconferredforsomelatentandunexplainedpurpose。ButMontrose,skilfulinsearchingthemotivesofothers,wasanequaladeptinconcealinghisown。Heconsidereditasofthelastconsequence,inthismomentofenthusiasmandexaltedpassion,toremoveAllanfromthecampforafewdays,thathemightprovide,ashishonourrequired,forthesafetyofthosewhohadactedashisguides,whenhetrustedtheSeer"squarrelwithDalgettymightbeeasilymadeup。Allan,atparting,onlyrecommendedtotheMarquisthecareofSirDuncanCampbell,whomMontroseinstantlydirectedtobeconveyedtoaplaceofsafety。HetookthesameprecautionforMacEagh,committingthelatter,however,toapartyoftheIrish,withdirectionsthatheshouldbetakencareof,butthatnoHighlander,ofanyclan,shouldhaveaccesstohim。