WhenDalgettymountedhissteed,hefoundhimselfattended,orperhapsguarded,byfiveorsixCampbells,wellarmed,commandedbyone,who,fromthetargetathisshoulder,andtheshortcock\'sfeatherinhisbonnet,aswellasfromthestatewhichhetookuponhimself,claimedtherankofaDunniewassel,orclansmanofsuperiorrank;andindeed,fromhisdignityofdeportment,couldnotstandinamoredistantdegreeofrelationshiptoSirDuncan,thanthatoftenthortwelfthcousinatfarthest。Butitwasimpossibletoextractpositiveinformationonthisoranyothersubject,inasmuchasneitherthiscommandernoranyofhispartyspokeEnglish。TheCaptainrode,andhismilitaryattendantswalked;butsuchwastheiractivity,andsonumeroustheimpedimentswhichthenatureoftheroadpresentedtotheequestrianmodeoftravelling,thatfarfrombeingretardedbytheslownessoftheirpace,hisdifficultywasratherinkeepingupwithhisguides。Heobservedthattheyoccasionallywatchedhimwithasharpeye,asiftheywerejealousofsomeefforttoescape;andonce,ashelingeredbehindatcrossingabrook,oneofthegilliesbegantoblowthematchofhispiece,givinghimtounderstandthathewouldrunsomeriskincaseofanattempttopartcompany。Dalgettydidnotaugurmuchgoodfromtheclosewatchthusmaintaineduponhisperson;buttherewasnoremedy,foranattempttoescapefromhisattendantsinanimperviousandunknowncountry,wouldhavebeenlittleshortofinsanity。Hethereforeploddedpatientlyonthroughawasteandsavagewilderness,treadingpathswhichwereonlyknowntotheshepherdsandcattle—drivers,andpassingwithmuchmoreofdiscomfortthansatisfactionmanyofthosesublimecombinationsofmountainousscenerywhichnowdrawvisitorsfromeverycornerofEngland,tofeasttheireyesuponHighlandgrandeur,andmortifytheirpalatesuponHighlandfare。
AtlengththeyarrivedonthesouthernvergeofthatnoblelakeuponwhichInveraryissituated;andabugle,whichtheDunniewasselwindedtillrockandgreenwoodrang,servedasasignaltoawell—mannedgalley,which,startingfromacreekwhereitlayconcealed,receivedthepartyonboard,includingGustavus;whichsagaciousquadruped,anexperiencedtravellerbothbywaterandland,walkedinandoutoftheboatwiththediscretionofaChristian。
EmbarkedonthebosomofLochFine,CaptainDalgettymighthaveadmiredoneofthegrandestsceneswhichnatureaffords。HemighthavenoticedtherivalriversArayandShiray,whichpaytributetothelake,eachissuingfromitsowndarkandwoodedretreat。Hemighthavemarked,onthesoftandgentleslopethatascendsfromtheshores,thenobleoldGothiccastle,withitsvariedoutline,embattledwalls,towers,andouterandinnercourts,which,sofarasthepicturesqueisconcerned,presentedanaspectmuchmorestrikingthanthepresentmassiveanduniformmansion。Hemighthaveadmiredthosedarkwoodswhichformanyamilesurroundedthisstrongandprincelydwelling,andhiseyemighthavedweltonthepicturesquepeakofDuniquoich,startingabruptlyfromthelake,andraisingitsscathedbrowintothemistsofmiddlesky,whileasolitarywatch—tower,perchedonitstoplikeaneagle\'snest,gavedignitytothescenebyawakeningasenseofpossibledanger。Allthese,andeveryotheraccompanimentofthisnoblescene,CaptainDalgettymighthavemarked,ifhehadbeensominded。But,toconfessthetruth,thegallantCaptain,whohadeatennothingsincedaybreak,waschieflyinterestedbythesmokewhichascendedfromthecastlechimneys,andtheexpectationswhichthisseemedtowarrantofhisencounteringanabundantstockofprovant,ashewaswonttocallsuppliesofthisnature。
Theboatsoonapproachedtheruggedpier,whichabuttedintothelochfromthelittletownofInverary,thenarudeassemblageofhuts,withaveryfewstonemansionsinterspersed,stretchingupwardsfromthebanksofLochFinetotheprincipalgateofthecastle,beforewhichascenepresenteditselfthatmighteasilyhavequelledalessstoutheart,andturnedamoredelicatestomach,thanthoseofRitt—masterDugaldDalgetty,titularofDrumthwacket。
CHAPTERXII。
Forclosedesignsandcrookedcounselsfit,Sagacious,bold,andturbulentofwit,Restless,unfix\'dinprincipleandplace,Inpowerunpleased,impatientindisgrace。
ABSALOMANDACHITOPHEL。
ThevillageofInverary,nowaneatcountrytown,thenpartookoftherudenessoftheseventeenthcentury,inthemiserableappearanceofthehouses,andtheirregularityoftheunpavedstreet。Butastrongerandmoreterriblecharacteristicoftheperiodappearedinthemarket—place,whichwasaspaceofirregularwidth,halfwaybetwixttheharbour,orpier,andthefrowningcastle—gate,whichterminatedwithitsgloomyarchway,portcullis,andflankers,theupperendofthevista。Midwaythisspacewaserectedarudegibbet,onwhichhungfivedeadbodies,twoofwhichfromtheirdressseemedtohavebeenLowlanders,andtheotherthreecorpsesweremuffledintheirHighlandplaids。Twoorthreewomensateunderthegallows,whoseemedtobemourning,andsingingthecoronachofthedeceasedinalowvoice。Butthespectaclewasapparentlyoftooordinaryoccurrencetohavemuchinterestfortheinhabitantsatlarge,who,whiletheythrongedtolookatthemilitaryfigure,thehorseofanunusualsize,andtheburnishedpanoplyofCaptainDalgetty,seemedtobestownoattentionwhateveronthepiteousspectaclewhichtheirownmarket—placeafforded。
TheenvoyofMontrosewasnotquitesoindifferent;and,hearingawordortwoofEnglishescapefromaHighlanderofdecentappearance,heimmediatelyhaltedGustavusandaddressedhim,\"TheProvost—Marshalhasbeenbusyhere,myfriend。MayIcraveofyouwhatthesedelinquentshavebeenjustifiedfor？\"
Helookedtowardsthegibbetashespoke;andtheGael,comprehendinghismeaningratherbyhisactionthanhiswords,immediatelyreplied,\"Threegentlemencaterans,——Godsainthem\"
（crossinghimself）——\"twaSassenachbitso\'bodies,thatwadnadosomethingthatM\'CallumMorebadethem;\"andturningfromDalgettywithanairofindifference,awayhewalked,stayingnofartherquestion。
Dalgettyshruggedhisshouldersandproceeded,forSirDuncanCampbell\'stenthortwelfthcousinhadalreadyshownsomesignsofimpatience。
Atthegateofthecastleanotherterriblespectacleoffeudalpowerawaitedhim。Withinastockadeorpalisade,whichseemedlatelytohavebeenaddedtothedefencesofthegate,andwhichwasprotectedbytwopiecesoflightartillery,wasasmallenclosure,wherestoodahugeblock,onwhichlayanaxe。Bothweresmearedwithrecentblood,andaquantityofsaw—duststrewedaround,partlyretainedandpartlyobliteratedthemarksofaverylateexecution。
AsDalgettylookedonthisnewobjectofterror,hisprincipalguidesuddenlytwitchedhimbytheskirtofhisjerkin,andhavingthusattractedhisattention,winkedandpointedwithhisfingertoapolefixedonthestockade,whichsupportedahumanhead,beingthat,doubtless,ofthelatesufferer。TherewasaleerontheHighlander\'sface,ashepointedtothisghastlyspectacle,whichseemedtohisfellow—travellerominousofnothinggood。
Dalgettydismountedfromhishorseatthegateway,andGustavuswastakenfromhimwithouthisbeingpermittedtoattendhimtothestable,accordingtohiscustom。
Thisgavethesoldierapangwhichtheapparatusofdeathhadnotconveyed。——\"PoorGustavus！\"saidhetohimself,\"ifanythingbutgoodhappenstome,IhadbetterhavelefthimatDarnlinvarachthanbroughthimhereamongtheseHighlandsalvages,whoscarceknowtheheadofahorsefromhistail。Butdutymustpartamanfromhisnearestanddearest——
\"Whenthecannonsareroaring,lads,andthecoloursareflying,Theladsthatseekhonourmustneverfeardying;
Then,stoutcavaliers,letustoilourbravetradein,AndfightfortheGospelandtheboldKingofSweden。\"
Thussilencinghisapprehensionswiththebut—endofamilitaryballad,hefollowedhisguideintoasortofguard—roomfilledwitharmedHighlanders。ItwasintimatedtohimthathemustremainhereuntilhisarrivalwascommunicatedtotheMarquis。
Tomakethiscommunicationthemoreintelligible,thedoughtyCaptaingavetotheDunniewasselSirDuncanCampbell\'spacket,desiring,aswellashecould,bysigns,thatitshouldbedeliveredintotheMarquis\'sownhand。Hisguidenodded,andwithdrew。
TheCaptainwasleftabouthalfanhourinthisplace,toendurewithindifference,orreturnwithscorn,theinquisitive,and,atthesametime,theinimicalglancesofthearmedGael,towhomhisexteriorandequipagewereasmuchsubjectofcuriosity,ashispersonandcountryseemedmatterofdislike。Allthisheborewithmilitarynonchalance,until,attheexpirationoftheaboveperiod,apersondressedinblackvelvet,andwearingagoldchainlikeamodernmagistrateofEdinburgh,butwhowas,infact,stewardofthehouseholdtotheMarquisofArgyle,enteredtheapartment,andinvited,withsolemngravity,theCaptaintofollowhimtohismaster\'spresence。
Thesuiteofapartmentsthroughwhichhepassed,werefilledwithattendantsorvisitorsofvariousdescriptions,disposed,perhaps,withsomeostentation,inordertoimpresstheenvoyofMontrosewithanideaofthesuperiorpowerandmagnificencebelongingtotherivalhouseofArgyle。Oneante—roomwasfilledwithlacqueys,arrayedinbrownandyellow,thecoloursofthefamily,who,rangedindoublefile,gazedinsilenceuponCaptainDalgettyashepassedbetwixttheirranks。AnotherwasoccupiedbyHighlandgentlemenandchiefsofsmallbranches,whowereamusingthemselveswithchess,backgammon,andothergames,whichtheyscarceintermittedtogazewithcuriosityuponthestranger。
AthirdwasfilledwithLowlandgentlemenandofficers,whoseemedalsoinattendance;and,lastly,thepresence—chamberoftheMarquishimselfshowedhimattendedbyaleveewhichmarkedhishighimportance。
Thisapartment,thefoldingdoorsofwhichwereopenedforthereceptionofCaptainDalgetty,wasalonggallery,decoratedwithtapestryandfamilyportraits,andhavingavaultedceilingofopenwood—work,theextremeprojectionsofthebeamsbeingrichlycarvedandgilded。ThegallerywaslightedbylonglanceolatedGothiccasements,dividedbyheavyshafts,andfilledwithpaintedglass,wherethesunbeamsglimmereddimlythroughboars\'—
heads,andgalleys,andbatons,andswords,armorialbearingsofthepowerfulhouseofArgyle,andemblemsofthehighhereditaryofficesofJusticiaryofScotland,andMasteroftheRoyalHousehold,whichtheylongenjoyed。AttheupperendofthismagnificentgallerystoodtheMarquishimself,thecentreofasplendidcircleofHighlandandLowlandgentlemen,allrichlydressed,amongwhomweretwoorthreeoftheclergy,calledin,perhaps,tobewitnessesofhislordship\'szealfortheCovenant。
TheMarquishimselfwasdressedinthefashionoftheperiod,whichVandykehassooftenpainted,buthishabitwassoberanduniformincolour,andratherrichthangay。Hisdarkcomplexion,furrowedforehead,anddowncastlook,gavehimtheappearanceofonefrequentlyengagedintheconsiderationofimportantaffairs,andwhohasacquired,bylonghabit,anairofgravityandmystery,whichhecannotshakeoffevenwherethereisnothingtobeconcealed。Thecastwithhiseyes,whichhadprocuredhimintheHighlandsthenicknameofGillespieGrumach（orthegrim）,waslessperceptiblewhenhelookeddownward,whichperhapswasonecauseofhishavingadoptedthathabit。
Inperson,hewastallandthin,butnotwithoutthatdignityofdeportmentandmanners,whichbecamehishighrank。Somethingtherewascoldinhisaddress,andsinisterinhislook,althoughhespokeandbehavedwiththeusualgraceofamanofsuchquality。Hewasadoredbyhisownclan,whoseadvancementhehadgreatlystudied,althoughhewasinproportiondislikedbytheHighlandersofothersepts,someofwhomhehadalreadystrippedoftheirpossessions,whileothersconceivedthemselvesindangerfromhisfutureschemes,andalldreadedtheheighttowhichhewaselevated。
Wehavealreadynoticed,thatindisplayinghimselfamidsthiscouncillors,hisofficersofthehousehold,andhistrainofvassals,allies,anddependents,theMarquisofArgyleprobablywishedtomakeanimpressiononthenervoussystemofCaptainDugaldDalgetty。Butthatdoughtypersonhadfoughthisway,inonedepartmentoranother,throughthegreaterpartoftheThirtyYears\'WarinGermany,aperiodwhenabraveandsuccessfulsoldierwasacompanionforprinces。TheKingofSweden,and,afterhisexample,eventhehaughtyPrincesoftheEmpire,hadfoundthemselvesfain,frequentlytocompoundwiththeirdignity,andsilence,whentheycouldnotsatisfythepecuniaryclaimsoftheirsoldiers,byadmittingthemtounusualprivilegesandfamiliarity。CaptainDugaldDalgettyhadittoboast,thathehadsatewithprincesatfeastsmadeformonarchs,andthereforewasnotapersontobebrow—beatevenbythedignitywhichsurroundedM\'CallumMore。Indeed,hewasnaturallybynomeansthemostmodestmanintheworld,but,onthecontrary,hadsogoodanopinionofhimself,thatintowhatevercompanyhechancedtobethrown,hewasalwaysproportionallyelevatedinhisownconceit;sothathefeltasmuchateaseinthemostexaltedsocietyasamonghisownordinarycompanions。Inthishighopinionofhisownrank,hewasgreatlyfortifiedbyhisideasofthemilitaryprofession,which,inhisphrase,madeavaliantcavalieracamaradetoanemperor。
Whenintroduced,therefore,intotheMarquis\'spresence—chamber,headvancedtotheupperendwithanairofmoreconfidencethangrace,andwouldhavegonecloseuptoArgyle\'spersonbeforespeaking,hadnotthelatterwavedhishand,asasignaltohimtostopshort。CaptainDalgettydidsoaccordingly,andhavingmadehismilitarycongeewitheasyconfidence,hethusaccostedtheMarquis:\"Giveyougoodmorrow,mylord——orratherIshouldsay,goodeven;BESOAUSTEDLOSMANOS,astheSpaniardsays。\"
\"Whoareyou,sir,andwhatisyourbusiness？\"demandedtheMarquis,inatonewhichwasintendedtointerrupttheoffensivefamiliarityofthesoldier。
\"Thatisafairinterrogative,mylord,\"answeredDalgetty,\"whichIshallforthwithanswerasbecomesacavalier,andthatPEREMPTORIE,asweusedtosayatMareschal—College。\"
\"Seewhoorwhatheis,Neal,\"saidtheMarquissternly,toagentlemanwhostoodnearhim。
\"Iwillsavethehonourablegentlemanthelabourofinvestigation,\"continuedtheCaptain。\"IamDugaldDalgetty,ofDrumthwacket,thatshouldbe,lateRitt—masterinvariousservices,andnowMajorofIknownotwhatorwhoseregimentofIrishes;andIamcomewithaflagoftrucefromahighandpowerfullord,JamesEarlofMontrose,andothernoblepersonsnowinarmsforhisMajesty。Andso,GodsaveKingCharles！\"
\"Doyouknowwhereyouare,andthedangerofdallyingwithus,sir,\"againdemandedtheMarquis,\"thatyoureplytomeasifI
wereachildorafool？TheEarlofMontroseiswiththeEnglishmalignants;andIsuspectyouareoneofthoseIrishrunagates,whoarecomeintothiscountrytoburnandslay,astheydidunderSirPhelimO\'Neale。\"
\"Mylord,\"repliedCaptainDalgetty,\"Iamnorenegade,thoughaMajorofIrishes,forwhichImightreferyourlordshiptotheinvincibleGustavusAdolphustheLionoftheNorth,toBannier,toOxenstiern,tothewarlikeDukeofSaxe—Weimar,Tilly,Wallenstein,Piccolomini,andothergreatcaptains,bothdeadandliving;andtouchingthenobleEarlofMontrose,Iprayyourlordshiptoperusethesemyfullpowersfortreatingwithyouinthenameofthatrighthonourablecommander。\"
TheMarquislookedslightinglyatthesignedandsealedpaperwhichCaptainDalgettyhandedtohim,and,throwingitwithcontemptuponatable,askedthosearoundhimwhathedeservedwhocameastheavowedenvoyandagentofmalignanttraitors,inarmsagainstthestate？
\"Ahighgallowsandashortshrift,\"wasthereadyanswerofoneofthebystanders。
\"Iwillcraveofthathonourablecavalierwhohathlastspoken,\"
saidDalgetty,\"tobelesshastyinforminghisconclusions,andalsoofyourlordshiptobecautelousinadoptingthesame,inrespectsuchthreatsaretobeheldoutonlytobasebisognos,andnottomenofspiritandaction,whoareboundtoperilthemselvesasfreelyinservicesofthisnature,asuponsieges,battles,oronslaughtsofanysort。AndalbeitIhavenotwithmeatrumpet,orawhiteflag,inrespectourarmyisnotyetequippedwithitsfullappointments,yetthehonourablecavaliersandyourlordshipmustconcedeuntome,thatthesanctityofanenvoywhocomethonmatteroftruthorparle,consistethnotinthefanfareofatrumpet,whilkisbutasound,orintheflapofawhiteflag,whilkisbutanoldraginitself,butintheconfidencereposedbythepartysending,andthepartysent,inthehonourofthosetowhomthemessageistobecarried,andtheirfullreliancethattheywillrespecttheJUSGENTIUM,asweelasthelawofarms,inthepersonofthecommissionate。\"
\"Youarenotcomehithertolectureusuponthelawofarms,sir,\"saidtheMarquis,\"whichneitherdoesnorcanapplytorebelsandinsurgents;buttosufferthepenaltyofyourinsolenceandfollyforbringingatraitorousmessagetotheLordJusticeGeneralofScotland,whosedutycallsuponhimtopunishsuchanoffencewithdeath。\"
\"Gentlemen,\"saidtheCaptain,whobeganmuchtodisliketheturnwhichhismissionseemedabouttotake,\"Iprayyoutoremember,thattheEarlofMontrosewillholdyouandyourpossessionsliableforwhateverinjurymyperson,ormyhorse,shallsustainbytheseunseemlyproceedings,andthathewillbejustifiedinexecutingretributivevengeanceonyourpersonsandpossessions。\"
Thismenacewasreceivedwithascornfullaugh,whileoneoftheCampbellsreplied,\"ItisafarcrytoLochow;\"proverbialexpressionofthetribe,meaningthattheirancienthereditarydomainslaybeyondthereachofaninvadingenemy。\"But,gentlemen,\"furtherurgedtheunfortunateCaptain,whowasunwillingtobecondemned,withoutatleastthebenefitofafullhearing,\"althoughitisnotformetosayhowfaritmaybetoLochow,inrespectIamastrangertotheseparts,yet,whatismoretothepurpose,ItrustyouwilladmitthatIhavetheguaranteeofanhonourablegentlemanofyourownname,SirDuncanCampbellofArdenvohr,formysafetyonthismission;andIprayyoutoobserve,thatinbreakingthetrucetowardsme,youwillhighlyprejudicatehishonourandfairfame。\"
Thisseemedtobenewinformationtomanyofthegentlemen,fortheyspokeasidewitheachother,andtheMarquis\'sface,notwithstandinghispowerofsuppressingallexternalsignsofhispassions,showedimpatienceandvexation。
\"DoesSirDuncanofArdenvohrpledgehishonourforthisperson\'ssafety,mylord？\"saidoneofthecompany,addressingtheMarquis。
\"Idonotbelieveit,\"answeredtheMarquis;\"butIhavenotyethadtimetoreadhisletter。\"
\"Wewillprayyourlordshiptodoso,\"saidanotheroftheCampbells;\"ournamemustnotsufferdiscreditthroughthemeansofsuchafellowasthis。\"
\"Adeadfly,\"saidaclergyman,\"makeththeointmentoftheapothecarytostink。\"
\"Reverendsir,\"saidCaptainDalgetty,\"inrespectoftheusetobederived,Iforgiveyoutheunsavourinessofyourcomparison;
andalsoremittothegentlemanintheredbonnet,thedisparagingepithetofFELLOW,whichhehasdiscourteouslyappliedtome,whoamnowaytobedistinguishedbythesame,unlessinsofarasIhavebeencalledfellow—soldierbythegreatGustavusAdolphus,theLionoftheNorth,andotherchoicecommanders,bothinGermanyandtheLowCountries。But,touchingSirDuncanCampbell\'sguaranteeofmysafety,Iwillgagemylifeuponhismakingmywordsgoodthereanent,whenhecomeshitherto—morrow。\"
\"IfSirDuncanbesoonexpected,myLord,\"saidoneoftheintercessors,\"itwouldbeapitytoanticipatematterswiththispoorman。\"
\"Besidesthat,\"saidanother,\"yourlordship——Ispeakwithreverence——should,atleast,consulttheKnightofArdenvohr\'sletter,andlearnthetermsonwhichthisMajorDalgetty,ashecallshimself,hasbeensenthitherbyhim。\"
TheyclosedaroundtheMarquis,andconversedtogetherinalowtone,bothinGaelicandEnglish。ThepatriarchalpoweroftheChiefswasverygreat,andthatoftheMarquisofArgyle,armedwithallhisgrantsofhereditaryjurisdiction,wasparticularlyabsolute。Butthereinterferessomecheckofonekindorothereveninthemostdespoticgovernment。ThatwhichmitigatedthepoweroftheCelticChiefs,wasthenecessitywhichtheylayunderofconciliatingthekinsmenwho,underthem,ledoutthelowerorderstobattle,andwhoformedasortofcouncilofthetribeintimeofpeace。TheMarquisonthisoccasionthoughthimselfunderthenecessityofattendingtotheremonstrancesofthissenate,ormoreproperlyCOUROULTAI,ofthenameofCampbell,and,slippingoutofthecircle,gaveordersfortheprisonertoberemovedtoaplaceofsecurity。
\"Prisoner！\"exclaimedDalgetty,exertinghimselfwithsuchforceaswellnightoshakeofftwoHighlanders,whoforsomeminutespasthadwaitedthesignaltoseizehim,andkeptforthatpurposecloseathisback。Indeedthesoldierhadsonearlyattainedhisliberty,thattheMarquisofArgylechangedcolour,andsteppedbacktwopaces,laying,however,hishandonhissword,whileseveralofhisclan,withreadydevotion,threwthemselvesbetwixthimandtheapprehendedvengeanceoftheprisoner。ButtheHighlandguardsweretoostrongtobeshakenoff,andtheunluckyCaptain,afterhavinghadhisoffensiveweaponstakenfromhim,wasdraggedoffandconductedthroughseveralgloomypassagestoasmallside—doorgratedwithiron,withinwhichwasanotherofwood。ThesewereopenedbyagrimoldHighlanderwithalongwhitebeard,anddisplayedaverysteepandnarrowflightofstepsleadingdownward。TheCaptain\'sguardspushedhimdowntwoorthreesteps,then,unloosinghisarms,lefthimtogropehiswaytothebottomashecould;ataskwhichbecamedifficultandevendangerous,whenthetwodoorsbeingsuccessivelylockedlefttheprisonerintotaldarkness。
CHAPTERXIII。
Whateverstrangervisitshere,Wepityhissadcase,UnlesstoworshiphedrawnearTheKingofKings——hisGrace。
BURNS\'SEPIGRAMONAVISITTOINVERARY。
TheCaptain,findinghimselfdeprivedoflightinthemannerwehavedescribed,andplacedinaveryuncertainsituation,proceededtodescendthenarrowandbrokenstairwithallthecautioninhispower,hopingthathemightfindatthebottomsomeplacetoreposehimself。Butwithallhiscarehecouldnotfinallyavoidmakingafalsestep,whichbroughthimdownthefourorfivelaststepstoohastilytopreservehisequilibrium。
Atthebottomhestumbledoverabundleofsomethingsoft,whichstirredandutteredagroan,soderangingtheCaptain\'sdescent,thatheflounderedforward,andfinallyfelluponhishandsandkneesonthefloorofadampandstone—paveddungeon。
WhenDalgettyhadrecovered,hisfirstdemandwastoknowoverwhomhehadstumbled。
\"Hewasamanamonthsince,\"answeredahollowandbrokenvoice。
\"Andwhatishenow,then,\"saidDalgetty,\"thathethinksitfittingtolieupontheloweststepofthestairs,andclew\'duplikeahurchin,thathonourablecavaliers,whochancetobeintrouble,maybreaktheirnosesoverhim？\"
\"Whatishenow？\"repliedthesamevoice;\"heisawretchedtrunk,fromwhichtheboughshaveonebyonebeenloppedaway,andwhichcareslittlehowsoonitistornupandhewedintobilletsforthefurnace。\"
\"Friend,\"saidDalgetty,\"Iamsorryforyou;butPATIENZA,astheSpaniardsays。Ifyouhadbutbeenasquietasalog,asyoucallyourself,Ishouldhavesavedsomeexcoriationsonmyhandsandknees。\"
\"Youareasoldier,\"repliedhisfellow—prisoner;\"doyoucomplainonaccountofafallforwhichaboywouldnotbemoanhimself？\"
\"Asoldier？\"saidtheCaptain;\"andhowdoyouknow,inthiscurseddarkcavern,thatIamasoldier？\"
\"Iheardyourarmourclashasyoufell,\"repliedtheprisoner,\"andnowIseeitglimmer。WhenyouhaveremainedaslongasI
inthisdarkness,youreyeswilldistinguishthesmallesteftthatcrawlsonthefloor。\"
\"Ihadratherthedevilpickedthemout！\"saidDalgetty;\"ifthisbethecase,Ishallwishforashortturnoftherope,asoldier\'sprayer,andaleapfromaladder。Butwhatsortofprovanthaveyougothere——whatfood,Imean,brotherinaffliction？\"
\"Breadandwateronceaday,\"repliedthevoice。
\"Prithee,friend,letmetasteyourloaf,\"saidDalgetty;\"Ihopeweshallplaygoodcomradeswhilewedwelltogetherinthisabominablepit。\"
\"Theloafandjarofwater,\"answeredtheotherprisoner,\"standinthecorner,twostepstoyourrighthand。Takethem,andwelcome。WithearthlyfoodIhavewellnighdone。\"
Dalgettydidnotwaitforasecondinvitation,but,gropingouttheprovisions,begantomunchatthestaleblackoatenloafwithasmuchheartinessaswehaveseenhimplayhispartatbetterviands。
\"Thisbread,\"hesaid,muttering（withhismouthfullatthesametime）,\"isnotverysavoury;nevertheless,itisnotmuchworsethanthatwhichweateatthefamousleagueratWerben,wherethevalorousGustavusfoiledalltheeffortsofthecelebratedTilly,thatterribleoldhero,whohaddriventwokingsoutofthefield——namely,FerdinandofBohemiaandChristianofDenmark。
Andanentthiswater,whichisnoneofthemostsweet,Idrinkinthesametoyourspeedydeliverance,comrade,notforgettingmineown,anddevoutlywishingitwereRhenishwine,orhummingLubeckbeer,attheleast,wereitbutinhonourofthepledge。\"