\"Atleast,letmenotinterruptyourharmony,Annot,\"saidLordMenteith,\"thoughmyarrivalmaybreeddiscordelsewhere。MycousinAllanneedstheassistanceofyourvoiceandmusic。\"
\"Mypreserver,\"saidAnnotLyle,\"hasarighttomypoorexertions;andyou,too,mylord,——you,too,aremypreserver,andwerethemostactivetosavealifethatisworthlessenough,unlessitcanbenefitmyprotectors。\"
Sosaying,shesatedownatalittledistanceuponthebenchonwhichAllanM\'Aulaywasplaced,andtuningherclairshach,asmallharp,aboutthirtyinchesinheight,sheaccompanieditwithhervoice。TheairwasanancientGaelicmelody,andthewords,whichweresupposedtobeveryold,wereinthesamelanguage;butwesubjoinatranslationofthem,bySecundusMacpherson,Esq。ofGlenforgen,which,althoughsubmittedtothefettersofEnglishrhythm,wetrustwillbefoundnearlyasgenuineastheversionofOssianbyhiscelebratednamesake。
\"Birdsofomendarkandfoul,Night—crow,raven,bat,andowl,Leavethesickmantohisdream——
Allnightlongheheardyourscream——
Hastetocaveandruin\'dtower,Ivy,tod,ordingledbower,Theretowinkandmope,for,hark！
Inthemidairsingsthelark。
\"Hietomoorishgillsandrocks,Prowlingwolfandwilyfox,——
Hieyoufast,norturnyourview,Thoughthelambbleatstotheewe。
Couchyourtrains,andspeedyourflight,Safetypartswithpartingnight;
Andondistantechoborne,Comesthehunter\'searlyhorn。
\"Themoon\'swancrescentscarcelygleams,Ghost—likeshefadesinmorningbeams;
Hiehenceeachpeevishimpandfay,Thatscarethepilgrimonhisway:——
Quench,kelpy！quench,inbogandfen,Thytorchthatcheatsbenightedmen;
Thydanceiso\'er,thyreignisdone,ForBenyieglohathseenthesun。
\"Wildthoughts,that,sinful,dark,anddeep,O\'erpowerthepassivemindinsleep,Passfromtheslumberer\'ssoulaway,Likenight—mistsfromthebrowofday:
Foulhag,whoseblastedvisagegrimSmothersthepulse,unnervesthelimb,Spurthydarkpalfrey,andbegone！
Thoudarestnotfacethegodlikesun。\"
Asthestrainproceeded,AllanM\'Aulaygraduallygavesignsofrecoveringhispresenceofmind,andattentiontotheobjectsaroundhim。Thedeep—knitfurrowsofhisbrowrelaxedandsmoothedthemselves;andtherestofhisfeatures,whichhadseemedcontortedwithinternalagony,relapsedintoamorenaturalstate。Whenheraisedhisheadandsatupright,hiscountenance,thoughstilldeeplymelancholy,wasdivestedofitswildnessandferocity;andinitscomposedstate,althoughbynomeanshandsome,theexpressionofhisfeatureswasstriking,manly,andevennoble。Histhick,browneyebrows,whichhadhithertobeendrawnclosetogether,werenowslightlyseparated,asinthenaturalstate;andhisgreyeyes,whichhadrolledandflashedfromunderthemwithanunnaturalandportentousgleam,nowrecoveredasteadyanddeterminedexpression。
\"ThankGod！\"hesaid,aftersittingsilentforaboutaminute,untiltheverylastsoundsoftheharphadceasedtovibrate,\"mysoulisnolongerdarkened——themisthathpassedfrommyspirit。\"
\"Youowethanks,cousinAllan,\"saidLordMenteith,comingforward,\"toAnnotLyle,aswellastoheaven,forthishappychangeinyourmelancholymood。\"
\"MynoblecousinMenteith,\"saidAllan,risingandgreetinghimveryrespectfully,aswellaskindly,\"hasknownmyunhappycircumstancessolong,thathisgoodnesswillrequirenoexcuseformybeingthuslateinbiddinghimwelcometothecastle。\"
\"Wearetoooldacquaintances,Allan,\"saidLordMenteith,\"andtoogoodfriends,tostandontheceremonialofoutwardgreeting;
buthalftheHighlandswillbehereto—day,andyouknow,withourmountainChiefs,ceremonymustnotbeneglected。WhatwillyougivelittleAnnotformakingyoufitcompanytomeetEvanDhu,andIknownothowmanybonnetsandfeathers？\"
\"Whatwillhegiveme？\"saidAnnot,smiling;\"nothingless,I
hope,thanthebestribbonattheFairofDoune。\"
\"TheFairofDoune,Annot？\"saidAllansadly;\"therewillbebloodyworkbeforethatday,andImayneverseeit;butyouhavewellremindedmeofwhatIhavelongintendedtodo。\"
Havingsaidthis,helefttheroom。
\"Shouldhetalklonginthismanner,\"saidLordMenteith,\"youmustkeepyourharpintune,mydearAnnot。\"
\"Ihopenot,\"saidAnnot,anxiously;\"thisfithasbeenalongone,andprobablywillnotsoonreturn。Itisfearfultoseeamind,naturallygenerousandaffectionate,afflictedbythisconstitutionalmalady。\"
Asshespokeinalowandconfidentialtone,LordMenteithnaturallydrewclose,andstoopedforward,thathemightthebettercatchthesenseofwhatshesaid。WhenAllansuddenlyenteredtheapartment,theyasnaturallydrewbackfromeachotherwithamannerexpressiveofconsciousness,asifsurprisedinaconversationwhichtheywishedtokeepsecretfromhim。
ThisdidnotescapeAllan\'sobservation;hestoptshortatthedooroftheapartment——hisbrowswerecontracted——hiseyesrolled;butitwasonlytheparoxysmofamoment。Hepassedhisbroadsinewyhandacrosshisbrow,asiftoobliteratethesesignsofemotion,andadvancedtowardsAnnot,holdinginhishandaverysmallboxmadeofoakwood,curiouslyinlaid。\"Itakeyoutowitness,\"hesaid,\"cousinMenteith,thatIgivethisboxanditscontentstoAnnotLyle。Itcontainsafewornamentsthatbelongedtomypoormother——oftriflingvalue,youmayguess,forthewifeofaHighlandlairdhasseldomarichjewel—casket。\"
\"Buttheseornaments,\"saidAnnotLyle,gentlyandtimidlyrefusingthebox,\"belongtothefamily——Icannotaccept——\"
\"Theybelongtomealone,Annot,\"saidAllan,interruptingher;
\"theyweremymother\'sdyingbequest。TheyareallIcancallmyown,exceptmyplaidandmyclaymore。Takethem,therefore——theyaretomevaluelesstrinkets——andkeepthemformysake——shouldI
neverreturnfromthesewars。\"
Sosaying,heopenedthecase,andpresentedittoAnnot。\"If,\"
saidhe,\"theyareofanyvalue,disposeofthemforyourownsupport,whenthishousehasbeenconsumedwithhostilefire,andcannolongeraffordyouprotection。ButkeeponeringinmemoryofAllan,whohasdone,torequiteyourkindness,ifnotallhewished,atleastallhecould。\"
AnnotLyleendeavouredinvaintorestrainthegatheringtears,whenshesaid,\"ONEring,Allan,Iwillacceptfromyouasamemorialofyourgoodnesstoapoororphan,butdonotpressmetotakemore;forIcannot,andwillnot,acceptagiftofsuchdisproportionedvalue。\"
\"Makeyourchoice,then,\"saidAllan;\"yourdelicacymaybewellfounded;theotherswillassumeashapeinwhichtheymaybemoreusefultoyou。\"
\"Thinknotofit,\"saidAnnot,choosingfromthecontentsofthecasketaring,apparentlythemosttriflinginvaluewhichitcontained;\"keepthemforyourown,oryourbrother\'sbride。
——But,goodheavens！\"shesaid,interruptingherself,andlookingatthering,\"whatisthisthatIhavechosen？\"
Allanhastenedtolookuponit,witheyesofgloomyapprehension;
itbore,inenamel,adeath\'sheadabovetwocrosseddaggers。
WhenAllanrecognisedthedevice,heutteredasighsodeep,thatshedroppedtheringfromherhand,whichrolleduponthefloor。
LordMenteithpickeditup,andreturnedittotheterrifiedAnnot。
\"ItakeGodtowitness,\"saidAllan,inasolemntone,\"thatyourhand,younglord,andnotmine,hasagaindeliveredtoherthisill—omenedgift。Itwasthemourningringwornbymymotherinmemorialofhermurderedbrother。\"
\"Ifearnoomens,\"saidAnnot,smilingthroughhertears;\"andnothingcomingthroughthehandsofmytwopatrons,\"soshewaswonttocallLordMenteithandAllan,\"canbringbadlucktothepoororphan。\"
Sheputtheringonherfinger,and,turningtoherharp,sung,toalivelyair,thefollowingversesofoneofthefashionablesongsoftheperiod,whichhadfounditsway,markedasitwaswiththequainthyperbolicaltasteofKingCharles\'stime,fromsomecourtmasquetothewildsofPerthshire:——
\"Gazenotuponthestars,fondsage,Inthemnoinfluencelies;
Toreadthefateofyouthorage,LookonmyHelen\'seyes。
\"Yet,rashastrologer,refrain！
ToodearlywouldbewonTheprescienceofanother\'spain,Ifpurchasedbythineown。\"
\"Sheisright,Allan,\"saidLordMenteith;\"andthisendofanoldsongisworthallweshallgainbyourattempttolookintofuturity。\"
\"SheisWRONG,mylord,\"saidAllan,sternly,\"thoughyou,whotreatwithlightnessthewarningsIhavegivenyou,maynotlivetoseetheeventoftheomen。——laughnotsoscornfully,\"headded,interruptinghimself\"orratherlaughonasloudandaslongasyouwill;yourtermoflaughterwillfindapauseerelong。\"
\"Icarenotforyourvisions,Allan,\"saidLordMenteith;howevershortmyspanoflife,theeyeofnoHighlandseercanseeitstermination。\"
\"Forheaven\'ssake,\"saidAnnotLyle,interruptinghim,\"youknowhisnature,andhowlittlehecanendure——\"
\"Fearmenot,\"saidAllan,interruptingher,——\"mymindisnowconstantandcalm。——Butforyou,younglord,\"saidhe,turningtoLordMenteith,\"myeyehassoughtyouthroughfieldsofbattle,whereHighlandersandLowlanderslaystrewedasthickasevertherookssatonthoseancienttrees,\"pointingtoarookerywhichwasseenfromthewindow——\"myeyesoughtyou,butyourcorpsewasnotthere——myeyesoughtyouamongatrainofunresistinganddisarmedcaptives,drawnupwithintheboundingwallsofanancientandruggedfortress;——flashafterflash——platoonafterplatoon——thehostileshotfellamongstthem,Theydroppedlikethedryleavesinautumn,butyouwerenotamongtheirranks;
——scaffoldswereprepared——blockswerearranged,saw—dustwasspread——thepriestwasreadywithhisbook,theheadsmanwithhisaxe——butthere,too,mineeyefoundyounot。\"
\"Thegibbet,then,Isuppose,mustbemydoom？\"saidLordMenteith。\"YetIwishtheyhadsparedmethehalter,wereitbutforthedignityofthepeerage。\"
Hespokethisscornfully,yetnotwithoutasortofcuriosity,andawishtoreceiveananswer;forthedesireofpryingintofuturityfrequentlyhassomeinfluenceevenonthemindsofthosewhodisavowallbeliefinthepossibilityofsuchpredictions。
\"Yourrank,mylord,willsuffernodishonourinyourperson,orbythemannerofyourdeath。ThreetimeshaveIseenaHighlanderplanthisdirkinyourbosom——andsuchwillbeyourfate。\"
\"Iwishyouwoulddescribehimtome,\"saidLordMenteith,\"andI
shallsavehimthetroubleoffulfillingyourprophecy,ifhisplaidbepassibletoswordorpistol。\"
\"Yourweapons,\"saidAllan,\"wouldavailyoulittle;norcanI
giveyoutheinformationyoudesire。Thefaceofthevisionhasbeeneveravertedfromme。\"
\"Sobeitthen,\"saidLordMenteith,\"andletitrestintheuncertaintyinwhichyourauguryhasplacedit。Ishalldinenotthelessmerrilyamongplaids,anddirks,andkiltsto—day。\"
\"Itmaybeso,\"saidAllan;\"and,itmaybe,youdowelltoenjoythesemoments,whichtomearepoisonedbyauguriesoffutureevil。ButI,\"hecontinued——\"Irepeattoyou,thatthisweapon——thatis,suchaweaponasthis,\"touchingthehiltofthedirkwhichhewore,\"carriesyourfate。\"\"Inthemeanwhile,\"saidLordMenteith,\"you,Allan,havefrightenedthebloodfromthecheeksofAnnotLyle——letusleavethisdiscourse,myfriend,andgotoseewhatwebothunderstand,——theprogressofourmilitarypreparations。\"
TheyjoinedAngusM\'AulayandhisEnglishguests,and,inthemilitarydiscussionswhichimmediatelytookplace,Allanshowedaclearnessofmind,strengthofjudgment,andprecisionofthought,totallyinconsistentwiththemysticallightinwhichhischaracterhasbeenhithertoexhibited。
CHAPTERVII。
WhenAlbinherclaymoreindignantlydraws,Whenherbonnetedchieftainsaroundhershallcrowd,Clan—Ranaldthedauntless,andMoraytheproud,Allplaidedandplumedintheirtartanarray——
LOCHEIL\'SWARNING。
Whoeversawthatmorning,theCastleofDarnlinvarach,beheldabusyandagallantsight。
ThevariousChiefs,arrivingwiththeirdifferentretinues,which,notwithstandingtheirnumbers,formednomorethantheirusualequipageandbody—guarduponoccasionsofsolemnity,salutedthelordofthecastleandeachotherwithoverflowingkindness,orwithhaughtyanddistantpoliteness,accordingtothecircumstancesoffriendshiporhostilityinwhichtheirclanshadrecentlystoodtoeachother。EachChief,howeversmallhiscomparativeimportance,showedthefulldispositiontoexactfromtherestthedeferenceduetoaseparateandindependentprince;
whilethestrongerandmorepowerful,dividedamongthemselvesbyrecentcontentionsorancientfeuds,wereconstrainedinpolicytousegreatdeferencetothefeelingsoftheirlesspowerfulbrethren,inorder,incaseofneed,toattachasmanywell—
wishersasmightbetotheirowninterestandstandard。ThusthemeetingofChiefsresemblednotalittlethoseancientDietsoftheEmpire,wherethesmallestFREY—GRAF,whopossessedacastlepercheduponabarrencrag,withafewhundredacresaroundit,claimedthestateandhonoursofasovereignprince,andaseataccordingtohisrankamongthedignitariesoftheEmpire。
Thefollowersofthedifferentleaderswereseparatelyarrangedandaccommodated,asroomandcircumstancesbestpermitted,eachretaininghoweverhishenchman,whowaited,closeastheshadow,uponhisperson,toexecutewhatevermightberequiredbyhispatron。
Theexteriorofthecastleaffordedasingularscene。TheHighlanders,fromdifferentislands,glens,andstraths,eyedeachotheratadistancewithlooksofemulation,inquisitivecuriosity,orhostilemalevolence;butthemostastoundingpartoftheassembly,atleasttoaLowlandear,wastherivalperformanceofthebagpipers。Thesewarlikeminstrels,whohadthehighestopinion,each,ofthesuperiorityofhisowntribe,joinedtothemostoverweeningideaoftheimportanceconnectedwithhisprofession,atfirst,performedtheirvariouspibrochsinfronteachofhisownclan。Atlength,however,astheblack—
cockstowardstheendoftheseason,when,insportsman\'slanguage,theyaresaidtoflockorcrowd,attractedtogetherbythesoundofeachothers\'triumphantcrow,evensodidthepipers,swellingtheirplaidsandtartansinthesametriumphantmannerinwhichthebirdsruffleuptheirfeathers,begintoapproacheachotherwithinsuchdistanceasmightgivetotheirbrethrenasampleoftheirskill。Walkingwithinashortinterval,andeyeingeachotherwithlooksinwhichself—
importanceanddefiancemightbetraced,theystrutted,puffed,andpliedtheirscreaminginstruments,eachplayinghisownfavouritetunewithsuchadin,thatifanItalianmusicianhadlainburiedwithintenmilesofthem,hemusthaverisenfromthedeadtorunoutofhearing。
TheChieftainsmeanwhilehadassembledincloseconclaveinthegreathallofthecastle。AmongthemwerethepersonsofthegreatestconsequenceintheHighlands,someofthemattractedbyzealfortheroyalcause,andmanybyaversiontothatsevereandgeneraldominationwhichtheMarquisofArgyle,sincehisrisingtosuchinfluenceinthestate,hadexercisedoverhisHighlandneighbours。Thatstatesman,indeed,thoughpossessedofconsiderableabilities,andgreatpower,hadfailings,whichrenderedhimunpopularamongtheHighlandchiefs。Thedevotionwhichheprofessedwasofamoroseandfanaticalcharacter;hisambitionappearedtobeinsatiable,andinferiorchiefscomplainedofhiswantofbountyandliberality。Addtothis,thatalthoughaHighlander,andofafamilydistinguishedforvalourbeforeandsince,GillespieGrumach[GRUMACH——ill—
favored。]（which,fromanobliquityinhiseyes,wasthepersonaldistinctionheboreintheHighlands,wheretitlesofrankareunknown）wassuspectedofbeingabettermaninthecabinetthaninthefield。HeandhistribewereparticularlyobnoxioustotheM\'DonaldsandtheM\'Leans,twonumeroussepts,who,thoughdisunitedbyancientfeuds,agreedinanintensedisliketotheCampbells,or,astheywerecalled,theChildrenofDiarmid。
ForsometimetheassembledChiefsremainedsilent,untilsomeoneshouldopenthebusinessofthemeeting。Atlengthoneofthemostpowerfulofthemcommencedthedietbysaying,——\"Wehavebeensummonedhither,M\'Aulay,toconsultofweightymattersconcerningtheKing\'saffairs,andthoseofthestate;andwecravetoknowbywhomtheyaretobeexplainedtous？\"
M\'Aulay,whosestrengthdidnotlieinoratory,intimatedhiswishthatLordMenteithshouldopenthebusinessofthecouncil。
Withgreatmodesty,andatthesametimewithspirit,thatyounglordsaid,\"hewishedwhathewasabouttoproposehadcomefromsomepersonofbetterknownandmoreestablishedcharacter。
Since,however,itlaywithhimtobespokesman,hehadtostatetotheChiefsassembled,thatthosewhowishedtothrowoffthebaseyokewhichfanaticismhadendeavouredtowreathroundtheirnecks,hadnotamomenttolose。\"TheCovenanters,\"hesaid,\"afterhavingtwicemadewarupontheirsovereign,andhavingextortedfromhimeveryrequest,reasonableorunreasonable,whichtheythoughtpropertodemand——aftertheirChiefshadbeenloadedwithdignitiesandfavours——afterhavingpubliclydeclared,whenhisMajesty,afteragraciousvisittothelandofhisnativity,wasuponhisreturntoEngland,thathereturnedacontentedkingfromacontentedpeople,——afterallthis,andwithouteventhepretextforanationalgrievance,thesamemenhave,upondoubtsandsuspicions,equallydishonourabletotheKing,andgroundlessinthemselves,detachedastrongarmytoassisthisrebelsinEngland,inaquarrelwithwhichScotlandhadnomoretodothanshehaswiththewarsinGermany。Itwaswell,\"hesaid,\"thattheeagernesswithwhichthistreasonablepurposewaspursued,hadblindedthejuntawhonowusurpedthegovernmentofScotlandtotheriskwhichtheywereabouttoincur。ThearmywhichtheyhaddispatchedtoEnglandunderoldLevencomprehendedtheirveteransoldiers,thestrengthofthosearmieswhichhadbeenleviedinScotlandduringthetwoformerwars——\"
HereCaptainDalgettyendeavouredtorise,forthepurposeofexplaininghowmanyveteranofficers,trainedintheGermanwars,were,tohiscertainknowledge,inthearmyoftheEarlofLeven。
ButAllanM\'Aulayholdinghimdowninhisseatwithonehand,pressedthefore—fingeroftheotheruponhisownlips,and,thoughwithsomedifficulty,preventedhisinterference。CaptainDalgettylookeduponhimwithaveryscornfulandindignantair,bywhichtheother\'sgravitywasinnowaymoved,andLordMenteithproceededwithoutfartherinterruption。
\"Themoment,\"hesaid,\"wasmostfavourableforalltrue—heartedandloyalScotchmentoshow,thatthereproachtheircountryhadlatelyundergonearosefromtheselfishambitionofafewturbulentandseditiousmen,joinedtotheabsurdfanaticismwhich,disseminatedfromfivehundredpulpits,hadspreadlikealand—floodovertheLowlandsofScotland。HehadlettersfromtheMarquisofHuntlyinthenorth,whichheshouldshowtotheChiefsseparately。Thatnobleman,equallyloyalandpowerfulwasdeterminedtoexerthisutmostenergyinthecommoncause,andthepowerfulEarlofSeaforthwaspreparedtojointhesamestandard。FromtheEarlofAirly,andtheOgilviesinAngusshire,hehadhadcommunicationsequallydecided;andtherewasnodoubtthatthese,who,withtheHays,Leiths,Burnets,andotherloyalgentlemen,wouldbesoononhorseback,wouldformabodyfarmorethansufficienttooverawethenorthernCovenanters,whohadalreadyexperiencedtheirvalourinthewell—knownroutwhichwaspopularlytermedtheTrotofTuriff。
SouthofForthandTay,\"hesaid,\"theKinghadmanyfriends,who,oppressedbyenforcedoaths,compulsatorylevies,heavytaxes,unjustlyimposedandunequallylevied,bythetyrannyoftheCommitteeofEstates,andtheinquisitorialinsolenceofthePresbyteriandivines,waitedbutthewavingoftheroyalbannertotakeuparms。Douglas,Traquair,Roxburgh,Hume,allfriendlytotheroyalcause,wouldcounterbalance,\"hesaid,\"thecovenantinginterestinthesouth;andtwogentlemen,ofnameandquality,herepresent,fromthenorthofEngland,wouldanswerforthezealofCumberland,Westmoreland,andNorthumberland。
AgainstsomanygallantgentlementhesouthernCovenanterscouldbutarmrawlevies;theWhigamoresofthewesternshires,andtheploughmenandmechanicsoftheLow—country。FortheWestHighlands,heknewnointerestwhichtheCovenanterspossessedthere,exceptthatofoneindividual,aswellknownashewasodious。Butwasthereasingleman,who,oncastinghiseyeroundthishall,andrecognisingthepower,thegallantry,andthedignityofthechiefsassembled,couldentertainamoment\'sdoubtoftheirsuccessagainsttheutmostforcewhichGillespieGrumachcouldcollectagainstthem？Hehadonlyfarthertoadd,thatconsiderablefunds,bothofmoneyandammunition,hadbeenprovidedforthearmy\"——（HereDalgettyprickeduphisears）——
\"thatofficersofabilityandexperienceintheforeignwars,oneofwhomwasnowpresent,\"（theCaptaindrewhimselfup,andlookedround,）\"hadengagedtotrainsuchleviesasmightrequiretobedisciplined;——andthatanumerousbodyofauxiliaryforcesfromIreland,havingbeendetachedfromtheEarlofAntrim,fromUlster,hadsuccessfullyaccomplishedtheirdescentuponthemainland,and,withtheassistanceofClanranald\'speople,havingtakenandfortifiedtheCastleofMingarry,inspiteofArgyle\'sattemptstointerceptthem,wereinfullmarchtothisplaceofrendezvous。Itonlyremained,\"hesaid,\"thatthenobleChiefsassembled,layingasideeverylesserconsideration,shouldunite,heartandhand,inthecommoncause;sendthefierycrossthroughtheirclans,inordertocollecttheirutmostforce,andformtheirjunctionwithsuchcelerityastoleavetheenemynotime,eitherforpreparation,orrecoveryfromthepanicwhichwouldspreadatthefirstsoundoftheirpibroch。Hehimself,\"hesaid,\"thoughneitheramongtherichestnorthemostpowerfuloftheScottishnobility,feltthathehadtosupportthedignityofanancientandhonourablehouse,theindependenceofanancientandhonourablenation,andtothatcausehewasdeterminedtodevotebothlifeandfortune。Ifthosewhoweremorepowerfulwereequallyprompt,hetrustedtheywoulddeservethethanksoftheirKing,andthegratitudeofposterity。\"
LoudapplausefollowedthisspeechofLordMenteith,andtestifiedthegeneralacquiescenceofallpresentinthesentimentswhichhehadexpressed;butwhentheshouthaddiedaway,theassembledChiefscontinuedtogazeuponeachotherasifsomethingyetremainedtobesettled。Aftersomewhispersamongthemselves,anagedman,whomhisgreyhairsrenderedrespectable,althoughhewasnotofthehighestorderofChiefs,repliedtowhathadbeensaid。