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。