\"Ahha！yourExcellency,\"saidtheCaptain,twistinghishardfeaturesintoaninimitableexpressionofcunningandintelligence,\"iftheydonotputmyheadinapoke,whichIhaveknownpractiseduponhonourablesoldadoswhohavebeensuspectedtocomeuponsucherrandsasthepresent,yourExcellencymayrelyonapreceesenarrationofwhateverDugaIdDalgettyshallhearorsee,wereitevenhowmanyturnsoftunethereareinM\'CallumMore\'spibroch,orhowmanychecksinthesettofhisplaidandtrews。\"
\"Enough,\"answeredMontrose;\"farewell,CaptainDalgetty:andastheysaythatalady\'smindisalwaysexpressedinherpostscript,soIwouldhaveyouthinkthatthemostimportantpartofyourcommissionliesinwhatIhavelastsaidtoyou。\"
Dalgettyoncemoregrinnedintelligence,andwithdrewtovictualhischargerandhimself,forthefatiguesofhisapproachingmission。
Atthedoorofthestable,forGustavusalwaysclaimedhisfirstcare,——hemetAngusM\'AulayandSirMilesMusgrave,whohadbeenlookingathishorse;and,afterpraisinghispointsandcarriage,bothunitedinstronglydissuadingtheCaptainfromtakingananimalofsuchvaluewithhimuponhispresentveryfatiguingjourney。
Anguspaintedinthemostalarmingcolourstheroads,orratherwildtracks,bywhichitwouldbenecessaryforhimtotravelintoArgyleshire,andthewretchedhutsorbothieswherehewouldbecondemnedtopassthenight,andwherenoforagecouldbeprocuredforhishorse,unlesshecouldeatthestumpsofoldheather。Inshort,hepronounceditabsolutelyimpossible,that,afterundertakingsuchapilgrimage,theanimalcouldbeinanycaseformilitaryservice。TheEnglishmanstronglyconfirmedallthatAngushadsaid,andgavehimself,bodyandsoul,tothedevil,ifhethoughtitwasnotanactlittleshortofabsolutemurdertocarryahorseworthafarthingintosuchawasteandinhospitabledesert。CaptainDalgettyforaninstantlookedsteadily,firstatoneofthegentlemenandnextattheother,andthenaskedthem,asifinastateofindecision,whattheywouldadvisehimtodowithGustavusundersuchcircumstances。