第9章

"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。