\"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。
\"Bythehandofmyfather,mydearfriend,\"answeredM\'Aulay,\"ifyouleavethebeastinmykeeping,youmayrelyonhisbeingfedandsortedaccordingtohisworthandquality,andthatuponyourhappyreturn,youwillfindhimassleekasanonionboiledinbutter。\"
\"Or,\"saidSirMilesMusgrave,\"ifthisworthycavalierchoosestopartwithhischargerforareasonablesum,Ihavesomepartofthesilvercandlesticksstilldancingtheheysinmypurse,whichIshallbeverywillingtotransfertohis。\"
\"Inbrief,minehonourablefriends,\"saidCaptainDalgetty,againeyeingthembothwithanairofcomicpenetration,\"Ifinditwouldnotbealtogetherunacceptabletoeitherofyou,tohavesometokentoremembertheoldsoldierby,incaseitshallpleaseM\'CallumMoretohanghimupatthegateofhisowncastle。Anddoubtlessitwouldbenosmallsatisfactiontome,insuchanevent,thatanobleandloyalcavalierlikeSirMilesMusgrave,oraworthyandhospitablechieftainlikeourexcellentlandlord,shouldactasmyexecutor。\"
Bothhastenedtoprotestthattheyhadnosuchobject,andinsistedagainupontheimpassablecharacteroftheHighlandpaths。AngusM\'AulaymumbledoveranumberofhardGaellicnames,descriptiveofthedifficultpasses,precipices,corries,andbeals,throughwhichhesaidtheroadlaytoInverary,whenoldDonald,whohadnowentered,sanctionedhismaster\'saccountofthesedifficulties,byholdinguphishands,andelevatinghiseyes,andshakinghishead,ateverygrutturalwhichM\'Aulaypronounced。ButallthisdidnotmovetheinflexibleCaptain。
\"Myworthyfriends,\"saidhe,\"Gustavusisnotnewtothedangersoftravelling,andthemountainsofBohemia;and（nodisparagementtothebealsandcorriesMr。Angusispleasedtomention,andofwhichSirMiles,whoneversawthem,confirmsthehorrors,）thesemountainsmaycompetewiththevilestroadsinEurope。Infact,myhorsehathamostexcellentandsocialquality;foralthoughhecannotpledgeinmycup,yetweshareourloafbetweenus,anditwillbehardifhesuffersfaminewherecakesorbannocksaretobefound。And,tocutthismattershort,Ibeseechyou,mygoodfriends,toobservethestateofSirDuncanCampbell\'spalfrey,whichstandsinthatstallbeforeus,fatandfair;and,inreturnforyouranxietyanmyaccount,Igiveyoumyhonestasseveration,thatwhilewetravelthesameroad,boththatpalfreyandhisridershalllackforfoodbeforeeitherGustavusorI。\"
Havingsaidthishefilledalargemeasurewithcorn,andwalkedupwithittohischarger,who,byhislowwhinnyingneigh,hisprickedears,andhispawing,showedhowclosethealliancewasbetwixthimandhisrider。Nordidhetastehiscornuntilhehadreturnedhismaster\'scaresses,bylickinghishandsandface。Afterthisinterchangeofgreeting,thesteedbegantohisprovenderwithaneagerdispatch,whichshowedoldmilitaryhabits;andthemaster,afterlookingontheanimalwithgreatcomplacencyforaboutfiveminutes,said,——\"Muchgoodmayitdoyourhonestheart,Gustavus;——nowmustIgoandlayinprovantmyselfforthecampaign。\"
Hethendeparted,havingfirstsalutedtheEnglishmanandAngusM\'Aulay,whoremainedlookingateachotherforsometimeinsilence,andthenburstoutintoafitoflaughter。
\"Thatfellow,\"saidSirMilesMusgrave,\"isformedtogothroughtheworld。\"
\"Ishallthinksotoo,\"saidM\'Aulay,\"ifhecanslipthroughM\'CallumMore\'sfingersaseasilyashehasdonethroughours。\"
\"Doyouthink,\"saidtheEnglishman,\"thattheMarquiswillnotrespect,inCaptainDalgetty\'sperson,thelawsofcivilizedwar？\"
\"NomorethanIwouldrespectaLowlandproclamation,\"saidAngusM\'Aulay。——\"Butcomealong,itistimeIwerereturningtomyguests。\"
CHAPTERIX。
——Inarebellion,Whenwhat\'snotmeet,butwhatmustbe,waslaw,Thenweretheychosen,inabetterhour,Letwhatismeetbesaiditmustbemeet,Andthrowtheirpoweri\'thedust。CORIOLANUS。
Inasmallapartment,remotefromtherestoftheguestsassembledatthecastle,SirDuncanCampbellwaspresentedwitheveryspeciesofrefreshment,andrespectfullyattendedbyLordMenteith,andbyAllanM\'Aulay。Hisdiscoursewiththelatterturneduponasortofhuntingcampaign,inwhichtheyhadbeenengagedtogetheragainsttheChildrenoftheMist,withwhomtheKnightofArdenvohr,aswellastheM\'Aulays,hadadeadlyandirreconcilablefeud。SirDuncan,however,speedilyendeavouredtoleadbacktheconversationtothesubjectofhispresenterrandtothecastleofDarnlinvarach。
\"Itgrievedhimtotheveryheart,\"hesaid,\"toseethatfriendsandneighbours,whoshouldstandshouldertoshoulder,werelikelytobeengagedhandtohandinacausewhichsolittleconcernedthem。Whatsignifiesit,\"hesaid,\"totheHighlandChiefs,whetherKingorParliamentgotuppermost？Wereitnotbettertoletthemsettletheirowndifferenceswithoutinterference,whiletheChiefs,inthemeantime,tooktheopportunityofestablishingtheirownauthorityinamannernottobecalledinquestionhereafterbyeitherKingorParliament？\"
HeremindedAllanM\'Aulaythatthemeasurestakeninthelastreigntosettlethepeace,aswasalleged,oftheHighlands,wereinfactlevelledatthepatriarchalpoweroftheChieftains;andhementionedthecelebratedsettlementoftheFifeUndertakers,astheywerecalled,intheLewis,aspartofadeliberateplan,formedtointroducestrangersamongtheCeltictribes,todestroybydegreestheirancientcustomsandmodeofgovernment,andtodespoilthemoftheinheritanceoftheirfathers。[InthereignofJamesVI。,anattemptofratheranextraordinarykindwasmadetocivilizetheextremenorthernpartoftheHebrideanArchipelago。ThatmonarchgrantedthepropertyoftheIslandofLewis,asifithadbeenanunknownandsavagecountry,toanumberofLowlandgentlemen,calledundertakers,chieflynativesoftheshireofFife,thattheymightcolonizeandsettlethere。
Theenterprisewasatfirstsuccessful,butthenativesoftheisland,MacLeodsandMacKenzies,roseontheLowlandadventurers,andputmostofthemtothesword。]\"Andyet,\"hecontinued,addressingAllan,\"itisforthepurposeofgivingdespoticauthoritytothemonarchbywhomthesedesignshavebeennursed,thatsomanyHighlandChiefsareuponthepointofquarrellingwith,anddrawingtheswordagainst,theirneighbours,allies,andancientconfederates。\"\"Itistomybrother,\"saidAllan,\"itistotheeldestsonofmyfather\'shouse,thattheKnightofArdenvohrmustaddresstheseremonstrances。Iam,indeed,thebrotherofAngus;butinbeingso,Iamonlythefirstofhisclansmen,andboundtoshowanexampletotheothersbymycheerfulandreadyobediencetohiscommands。\"
\"Thecausealso,\"saidLordMenteith,interposing,\"isfarmoregeneralthanSirDuncanCampbellseemstosupposeit。ItisneitherlimitedtoSaxonnortoGael,tomountainnortostrath,toHighlandsnortoLowlands。Thequestionis,ifwewillcontinuetobegovernedbytheunlimitedauthorityassumedbyasetofpersonsinnorespectsuperiortoourselves,insteadofreturningtothenaturalgovernmentofthePrinceagainstwhomtheyhaverebelled。AndrespectingtheinterestoftheHighlandsinparticular,\"headded,\"IcraveSirDuncanCampbell\'spardonformyplainness;butitseemsverycleartome,thattheonlyeffectproducedbythepresentusurpation,willbetheaggrandisementofoneovergrownclanattheexpenseofeveryindependentChiefintheHighlands。\"
\"Iwillnotreplytoyou,mylord,\"saidSirDuncanCampbell,\"becauseIknowyourprejudices,andfromwhomtheyareborrowed;
yetyouwillpardonmysaying,thatbeingattheheadofarivalbranchoftheHouseofGraham,IhavebothreadofandknownanEarlofMenteith,whowouldhavedisdainedtohavebeentutoredinpolitics,ortohavebeencommandedinwar,byanEarlofMontrose。\"
\"Youwillfinditinvain,SirDuncan,\"saidLordMenteith,haughtily,\"tosetmyvanityinarmsagainstmyprinciples。TheKinggavemyancestorstheirtitleandrank;andtheseshallneverpreventmyacting,intheroyalcause,underanyonewhoisbetterqualifiedthanmyselftobeacommander—in—chief。Leastofall,shallanymiserablejealousypreventmefromplacingmyhandandswordundertheguidanceofthebravest,themostloyal,themostheroicspiritamongourScottishnobility。\"
\"Pity,\"saidSirDuncanCampbell,\"thatyoucannotaddtothispanegyricthefartherepithetsofthemoststeady,andthemostconsistent。ButIhavenopurposeofdebatingthesepointswithyou,mylord,\"wavinghishand,asiftoavoidfartherdiscussion;\"thedieiscastwithyou;allowmeonlytoexpressmysorrowforthedisastrousfatetowhichAngusM\'Aulay\'snaturalrashness,andyourlordship\'sinfluence,aredraggingmygallantfriendAllanhere,withhisfather\'sclan,andmanyabravemanbesides。\"
\"Thedieiscastforusall,SirDuncan,\"repliedAllan,lookinggloomy,andarguingonhisownhypochondriacfeelings;\"theironhandofdestinybrandedourfateuponourforeheadlongerewecouldformawish,orraiseafingerinourownbehalf。Werethisotherwise,bywhatmeansdoestheSeerascertainthefuturefromthoseshadowypresageswhichhaunthiswakingandhissleepingeye？Noughtcanbeforeseenbutthatwhichiscertaintohappen。\"
SirDuncanCampbellwasabouttoreply,andthedarkestandmostcontestedpointofmetaphysicsmighthavebeenbroughtintodiscussionbetwixttwoHighlanddisputants,whenthedooropened,andAnnotLyle,withherclairshachinherhand,enteredtheapartment。ThefreedomofaHighlandmaidenwasinherstepandinhereye;for,bredupintheclosestintimacywiththeLairdofM\'Aulayandhisbrother,withLordMenteith,andotheryoungmenwhofrequentedDarnlinvarach,shepossessednoneofthattimiditywhichafemale,educatedchieflyamongherownsex,wouldeitherhavefelt,orthoughtnecessarytoassume,onanoccasionlikethepresent,Herdresspartookoftheantique,fornewfashionsseldompenetratedintotheHighlands,norwouldtheyeasilyhavefoundtheirwaytoacastleinhabitedchieflybymen,whosesoleoccupationwaswarandthechase。YetAnnot\'sgarmentswerenotonlybecoming,butevenrich。Heropenjacket,withahighcollar,wascomposedofbluecloth,richlyembroidered,andhadsilverclaspstofasten,whenitpleasedthewearer。Itssleeves,whichwerewide,camenolowerthantheelbow,andterminatedinagoldenfringe;underthisuppercoat,ifitcanbesotermed,sheworeanunderdressofbluesatin,alsorichlyembroidered,butwhichwasseveralshadeslighterincolourthantheuppergarment。Thepetticoatwasformedoftartansilk,inthesett,orpattern,ofwhichthecolourofbluegreatlypredominated,soastoremovethetawdryeffecttoofrequentlyproducedintartan,bythemixtureandstrongoppositionofcolours。Anantiquesilverchainhungroundherneck,andsupportedtheWREST,orkey,withwhichsheturnedherinstrument。Asmallruffroseabovehercollar,andwassecuredbyabroochofsomevalue,anoldkeepsakefromLordMenteith。
Herprofusionoflighthairalmosthidherlaughingeyes,while,withasmileandablush,shementionedthatshehadM\'Aulay\'sdirectionstoaskthemiftheychosemusic。SirDuncanCampbellgazedwithconsiderablesurpriseandinterestatthelovelyapparition,whichthusinterruptedhisdebatewithAllanM\'Aulay。
\"Canthis,\"hesaidtohiminawhisper,\"acreaturesobeautifulandsoelegant,beadomesticmusicianofyourbrother\'sestablishment？\"
\"Bynomeans,\"answeredAllan,hastily,yetwithsomehesitation;
\"sheisa——a——nearrelationofourfamily——andtreated,\"headded,morefirmly,\"asanadopteddaughterofourfather\'shouse。\"
Ashespokethus,hearosefromhisseat,andwiththatairofcourtesywhicheveryHighlandercanassumewhenitsuitshimtopractiseit,heresignedittoAnnot,andofferedtoher,atthesametime,whateverrefreshmentsthetableafforded,withanassiduitywhichwasprobablydesignedtogiveSirDuncananimpressionofherrankandconsequence。IfsuchwasAllan\'spurpose,however,itwasunnecessary。SirDuncankepthiseyesfixeduponAnnotwithanexpressionofmuchdeeperinterestthancouldhavearisenfromanyimpressionthatshewasapersonofconsequence。Annotevenfeltembarrassedundertheoldknight\'ssteadygaze;anditwasnotwithoutconsiderablehesitation,that,tuningherinstrument,andreceivinganassentinglookfromLordMenteithandAllan,sheexecutedthefollowingballad,whichourfriend,Mr。SecundusM\'Pherson,whosegoodnesswehadbeforetoacknowledge,hasthustranslatedintotheEnglishtongue:
THEORPHANMAID。
November\'shail—clouddriftsaway,November\'ssunbeamwanLookscoldlyonthecastlegrey,WhenforthcomesLadyAnne。
Theorphanbytheoakwasset,Herarms,herfeet,werebare,Thehail—dropshadnotmeltedyet,Amidherravenhair。
\"And,Dame,\"shesaid,\"byallthetiesThatchildandmotherknow,Aidonewhoneverknewthesejoys,Relieveanorphan\'swoe。\"
TheLadysaid,\"Anorphan\'sstateIshardandsadtobear;
Yetworsethewidow\'dmother\'sfate,Whomournsbothlordandheir。
\"Twelvetimestherollingyearhassped,Since,whenfromvengeancewildOffierceStrathallan\'sChiefIfled,Forth\'seddieswhelm\'dmychild。\"
\"Twelvetimestheyearitscoursehasborn,\"
Thewanderingmaidreplied,\"SincefishersonSt。Bridget\'smornDrewnetsonCampsieside。
\"St。Bridgetsentnoscalyspoil;——
Aninfant,wellnighdead,Theysaved,andrear\'dinwantandtoil,Tobegfromyouherbread。\"
Thatorphanmaidtheladykiss\'d——
\"Myhusband\'slooksyoubear;
St。Bridgetandhermornbebless\'d！
Youarehiswidow\'sheir。\"
They\'verobedthatmaid,sopoorandpale,Insilkandsandalsrare;
Andpearls,fordropsoffrozenhail,Areglisteninginherhair。
TheadmirersofpureCelticantiquity,notwithstandingtheeleganceoftheabovetranslation,maybedesiroustoseealiteralversionfromtheoriginalGaelic,whichwethereforesubjoin;andhaveonlytoadd,thattheoriginalisdepositedwithMr。JedediahCleishbotham。
LITERALTRANSLATION。
Thehail—blasthaddriftedawayuponthewingsofthegaleofautumn。Thesunlookedfrombetweentheclouds,paleasthewoundedherowhorearshisheadfeeblyontheheathwhentheroarofbattlehathpassedoverhim。
Finele,theLadyoftheCastle,cameforthtoseehermaidenspasstotheherdswiththeirleglins[Milk—pails]。
Theresatanorphanmaidenbeneaththeoldoak—treeofappointment。Thewitheredleavesfellaroundher,andherheartwasmorewitheredthanthey。
Theparentoftheice[poeticallytakenfromthefrost]stillcongealedthehail—dropsinherhair;theywerelikethespecksofwhiteashesonthetwistedboughsoftheblackenedandhalf—
consumedoakthatblazesinthehall。
Andthemaidensaid,\"Givemecomfort,Lady,Iamanorphanchild。\"AndtheLadyreplied,\"HowcanIgivethatwhichIhavenot？Iamthewidowofaslainlord,——themotherofaperishedchild。WhenIfledinmyfearfromthevengeanceofmyhusband\'sfoes,ourbarkwasoverwhelmedinthetide,andmyinfantperished。ThiswasonSt。Bridget\'smorn,nearthestrongLynsofCampsie。Mayilllucklightupontheday。\"Andthemaidenanswered,\"ItwasonSt。Bridget\'smorn,andtwelveharvestsbeforethistime,thatthefishermenofCampsiedrewintheirnetsneithergrilsenorsalmon,butaninfanthalfdead,whohathsincelivedinmisery,andmustdie,unlesssheisnowaided。\"
AndtheLadyanswered,\"BlessedbeSaintBridgetandhermorn,forthesearethedarkeyesandthefalconlookofmyslainlord;
andthineshallbetheinheritanceofhiswidow。\"Andshecalledforherwaitingattendants,andshebadethemclothethatmaideninsilk,andinsamite;andthepearlswhichtheywoveamongherblacktresses,werewhiterthanthefrozenhail—drops。
Whilethesongproceeded,LordMenteithobserved,withsomesurprise,thatitappearedtoproduceamuchdeepereffectuponthemindofSirDuncanCampbell,thanhecouldpossiblyhaveanticipatedfromhisageandcharacter。HewellknewthattheHighlandersofthatperiodpossessedamuchgreatersensibilitybothfortaleandsongthanwasfoundamongtheirLowlandneighbours;buteventhis,hethought,hardlyaccountedfortheembarrassmentwithwhichtheoldmanwithdrewhiseyesfromthesongstress,asifunwillingtosufferthemtorestonanobjectsointeresting。Stilllesswasittobeexpected,thatfeatureswhichexpressedpride,sterncommonsense,andtheausterehabitofauthority,shouldhavebeensomuchagitatedbysotrivialacircumstance。AstheChief\'sbrowbecameclouded,hedroopedhislargeshaggygreyeyebrowsuntiltheyalmostconcealedhiseyes,onthelidsofwhichsomethinglikeatearmightbeseentoglisten。Heremainedsilentandfixedinthesamepostureforaminuteortwo,afterthelastnotehadceasedtovibrate。Hethenraisedhishead,andhavinglookedatAnnotLyle,asifpurposingtospeaktoher,heassuddenlychangedthatpurpose,andwasabouttoaddressAllan,whenthedooropened,andtheLordoftheCastlemadehisappearance。
CHAPTERX。
Darkontheirjourneylour\'dthegloomyday,Wildwerethehills,anddoubtfulgrewtheway;
Moredark,moregloomy,andmoredoubtful,show\'dThemansion,whichreceivedthemfromtheroad。
THETRAVELLERS,AROMANCE。
AngusM\'Aulaywaschargedwithamessagewhichheseemedtofindsomedifficultyincommunicating;foritwasnottillafterhehadframedhisspeechseveraldifferentways,andblunderedthemall,thathesucceededinlettingSirDuncanCampbellknow,thatthecavalierwhowastoaccompanyhimwaswaitinginreadiness,andthatallwaspreparedforhisreturntoInverary。SirDuncanCampbellroseupveryindignantly;theaffrontwhichthismessageimpliedimmediatelydrivingoutofhisrecollectionthesensibilitywhichhadbeenawakenedbythemusic。
\"Ilittleexpectedthis,\"hesaid,lookingindignantlyatAngusM\'Aulay。\"IlittlethoughtthattherewasaChiefintheWestHighlands,who,atthepleasureofaSaxon,wouldhavebidtheKnightofArdenvohrleavehiscastle,whenthesunwasdecliningfromthemeridian,anderethesecondcuphadbeenfilled。Butfarewell,sir,thefoodofachurldoesnotsatisfytheappetite;
whenInextrevisitDarnlinvarach,itshallbewithanakedswordinonehand,andafirebrandintheother。\"
\"Andifyousocome,\"saidAngus,\"Ipledgemyselftomeetyoufairly,thoughyoubroughtfivehundredCampbellsatyourback,andtoaffordyouandthemsuchentertainment,thatyoushallnotagaincomplainofthehospitalityofDarnlinvarach。\"
\"Threatenedmen,\"saidSirDuncan,\"livelong。Yourturnforgasconading,LairdofM\'Aulay,istoowellknown,thatmenofhonourshouldregardyourvaunts。Toyou,mylord,andtoAllan,whohavesuppliedtheplaceofmychurlishhost,Ileavemythanks。——Andtoyou,prettymistress,\"hesaid,addressingAnnotLyle,\"thislittletoken,forhavingopenedafountainwhichhathbeendryformanyayear。\"Sosaying,helefttheapartment,andcommandedhisattendantstobesummoned。AngusM\'Aulay,equallyembarrassedandincensedatthechargeofinhospitality,whichwasthegreatestpossibleaffronttoaHighlander,didnotfollowSirDuncantothecourt—yard,where,mountinghispalfrey,whichwasinreadiness,followedbysixmountedattendants,andaccompaniedbythenobleCaptainDalgetty,whohadalsoawaitedhim,holdingGustavusreadyforaction,thoughhedidnotdrawhisgirthsandmounttillSirDuncanappeared,thewholecavalcadeleftthecastle。
Thejourneywaslongandtoilsome,butwithoutanyoftheextremeprivationswhichtheLairdofM\'Aulayhadprophesied。Intruth,SirDuncanwasverycautioustoavoidthosenearerandmoresecretpaths,bymeansofwhichthecountyofArgylewasaccessiblefromtheeastward;forhisrelationandchief,theMarquis,wasusedtoboast,thathewouldnotforahundredthousandcrownsanymortalshouldknowthepassesbywhichanarmedforcecouldpenetrateintohiscountry。
SirDuncanCampbell,therefore,rathershunnedtheHighlands,andfallingintotheLow—country,madeforthenearestseaportinthevicinity,wherehehadseveralhalf—deckedgalleys,orbirlings,astheywerecalled,athiscommand。Inoneofthesetheyembarked,withGustavusincompany,whowassoseasonedtoadventure,thatlandandseaseemedasindifferenttohimastohismaster。
Thewindbeingfavourable,theypursuedtheirwayrapidlywithsailsandoars;andearlythenextmorningitwasannouncedtoCaptainDalgetty,theninasmallcabinbeneaththehall—deck,thatthegalleywasunderthewallsofSirDuncanCampbell\'scastle。
Ardenvohr,accordingly,rosehighabovehim,whenhecameuponthedeckofthegalley。Itwasagloomysquaretower,ofconsiderablesizeandgreatheight,situateduponaheadlandprojectingintothesalt—waterlake,orarmofthesea,whichtheyhadenteredontheprecedingevening。Awall,withflankingtowersateachangle,surroundedthecastletolandward;but,towardsthelake,itwasbuiltsonearthebrinkoftheprecipiceasonlytoleaveroomforabatteryofsevenguns,designedtoprotectthefortressfromanyinsultfromthatside,althoughsituatedtoohightobeofanyeffectualuseaccordingtothemodernsystemofwarfare。
Theeasternsun,risingbehindtheoldtower,flungitsshadowfaronthelake,darkeningthedeckofthegalley,onwhichCaptainDalgettynowwalked,waitingwithsomeimpatiencethesignaltoland。SirDuncanCampbell,ashewasinformedbyhisattendants,wasalreadywithinthewallsofthecastle;butnooneencouragedtheCaptain\'sproposaloffollowinghimashore,until,astheystated,theyshouldreceivethedirectpermissionororderoftheKnightofArdenvohr。
Inashorttimeafterwardsthemandatearrived,whileaboat,withapiperinthebow,bearingtheKnightofArdenvohr\'screstinsilveruponhisleftarm,andplayingwithallhismightthefamilymarch,entitled\"TheCampbellsarecoming,\"approachedtoconducttheenvoyofMontrosetothecastleofArdenvohr。Thedistancebetweenthegalleyandthebeachwassoshortasscarcetorequiretheassistanceoftheeightsturdyrowers,inbonnets,shortcoats,andtrews,whoseeffortssenttheboattothelittlecreekinwhichtheyusuallylanded,beforeonecouldhaveconceivedthatithadleftthesideofthebirling。Twooftheboatmen,inspiteofDalgetty\'sresistance,horsedtheCaptainonthebackofathirdHighlander,and,wadingthroughthesurfwithhim,landedhimhighanddryuponthebeachbeneaththecastlerock。Inthefaceofthisrockthereappearedsomethingliketheentranceofalow—browedcavern,towardswhichtheassistantswerepreparingtohurryourfriendDalgetty,when,shakinghimselfloosefromthemwithsomedifficulty,heinsisteduponseeingGustavussafelylandedbeforeheproceededonestepfarther。TheHighlanderscouldnotcomprehendwhathemeant,untilonewhohadpickedupalittleEnglish,orratherLowlandScotch,exclaimed,\"Houts！it\'sa\'aboutherhorse,tauselessbaste。\"FartherremonstranceonthepartofCaptainDalgettywasinterruptedbytheappearanceofSirDuncanCampbellhimself,fromthemouthofthecavernwhichwehavedescribed,forthepurposeofinvitingCaptainDalgettytoacceptofthehospitalityofArdenvohr,pledginghishonour,atthesametime,thatGustavusshouldbetreatedasbecametheherofromwhomhederivedhisname,nottomentiontheimportantpersontowhomhenowbelonged。Notwithstandingthissatisfactoryguarantee,CaptainDalgettywouldstillhavehesitated,suchwashisanxietytowitnessthefateofhiscompanionGustavus,hadnottwoHighlandersseizedhimbythearms,twomorepushedhimonbehind,whileafifthexclaimed,\"Houtawawi\'thedaftSassenach！doesshenoheartheLairdbiddingheruptoheraincastle,wi\'herspecialvoice,andisnathatverymicklehonourforthelikeo\'her？\"
Thusimpelled,CaptainDalgettycouldonlyforashortspacekeeparevertedeyetowardsthegalleyinwhichhehadleftthepartnerofhismilitarytoils。Inafewminutesafterwardshefoundhimselfinvolvedinthetotaldarknessofastaircase,which,enteringfromthelow—browedcavernwehavementioned,windedupwardsthroughtheentrailsofthelivingrock。