Meantime,doasyouseemedo;clapyourhandthusontheweasandofthishighandmightyprince,underhisruff,andifheoffertostruggleorcryout,failnot,myworthyRanald,tosqueezedoughtily;andifitbeADDELIQUIUM,Ranald,thatis,tillheswoon,thereisnogreatmatter,seeinghedesignedyourgulletandminetostillharderusage。"
　　"Ifheofferatspeechorstruggle,"saidRanald,"hediesbymyhand。"
　　"Thatisright,Ranald——veryspirited:——Athorough—goingfriendthatunderstandsahintisworthamillion！"
　　ThusresigningthechargeoftheMarquistohisnewconfederate,Dalgettypressedthespring,bywhichthesecretdoorflewopen,thoughsowellwereitshingespolishedandoiled,thatitmadenottheslightestnoiseinrevolving。Theoppositesideofthedoorwassecuredbyverystrongboltsandbars,besidewhichhungoneortwokeys,designedapparentlytoundofetterlocks。A
　　narrowstaircase,ascendingupthroughthethicknessofthecastle—wall,landed,astheMarquishadtrulyinformedhim,behindthetapestryofhisprivateapartment。Suchcommunicationswerefrequentinoldfeudalcastles,astheygavethelordofthefortress,likeasecondDionysius,themeansofhearingtheconversationofhisprisoners,or,ifhepleased,ofvisitingthemindisguise,anexperimentwhichhadterminatedsounpleasantlyonthepresentoccasionforGillespieGrumach。
　　Havingexaminedpreviouslywhethertherewasanyoneintheapartment,andfindingthecoastclear,theCaptainentered,andhastilypossessinghimselfofablankpassport,severalofwhichlayonthetable,andofwritingmaterials,securing,atthesametime,theMarquis'sdagger,andasilkcordfromthehangings,heagaindescendedintothecavern,where,listeningamomentatthedoor,hecouldhearthehalf—stifledvoiceoftheMarquismakinggreatprofferstoMacEagh,onconditionhewouldsufferhimtogiveanalarm。
　　"Notforaforestofdeer——notforathousandheadofcattle,"
　　answeredthefreebooter;"notforallthelandsthatevercalledasonofDiarmidmaster,willIbreakthetrothIhaveplightedtohimoftheiron—garment！"
　　"Heoftheiron—garment,"saidDalgetty,entering,"isboundenuntoyou,MacEagh,andthisnoblelordshallbeboundenalso;butfirsthemustfillupthispassportwiththenamesofMajorDugaldDalgettyandhisguide,orheisliketohaveapassporttoanotherworld。"
　　TheMarquissubscribed,andwrote,bythelightofthedarklantern,asthesoldierprescribedtohim。
　　"Andnow,Ranald,"saidDalgetty,"stripthyuppergarment——thyplaidImean,Ranald,andinitwillImuffletheM'CallumMore,andmakeofhim,forthetime,aChildoftheMist;——Nay,Imustbringitoveryourhead,mylord,soastosecureusagainstyourmistimedclamour。——So,nowheissufficientlymuffled;——holddownyourhands,or,byHeaven,Iwillstabyoutotheheartwithyourowndagger！——nay,youshallbeboundwithnothinglessthansilk,asyourqualitydeserves。——So,nowheissecuretillsomeonecomestorelievehim。Ifheorderedusalatedinner,Ranald,heisliketobethesufferer;——atwhathour,mygoodRanald,didthejailorusuallyappear？"
　　"Nevertillthesunwasbeneaththewesternwave,"saidMacEagh。
　　"Then,myfriend,weshallhavethreehoursgood,"saidthecautiousCaptain。"Inthemeantime,letuslabourforyourliberation。"
　　ToexamineRanald'schainwasthenextoccupation。Itwasundonebymeansofoneofthekeyswhichhungbehindtheprivatedoor,probablydepositedthere,thattheMarquismight,ifhepleased,dismissaprisoner,orremovehimelsewherewithoutthenecessityofsummoningthewarden。Theoutlawstretchedhisbenumbedarms,andboundedfromthefloorofthedungeoninalltheecstasyofrecoveredfreedom。
　　"Takethelivery—coatofthatnobleprisoner,"saidCaptainDalgetty;"putiton,andfollowcloseatmyheels。"
　　Theoutlawobeyed。Theyascendedtheprivatestair,havingfirstsecuredthedoorbehindthem,andthussafelyreachedtheapartmentoftheMarquis。
　　[Theprecariousstateofthefeudalnoblesintroducedagreatdealofespionageintotheircastles。SirRobertCareymentionshishavingputonthecloakofoneofhisownwardenstoobtainaconfessionfromthemouthofGeordieBourne,hisprisoner,whombecausedpresentlytobehangedinreturnforthefranknessofhiscommunication。ThefineoldBordercastleofNaworthcontainsaprivatestairfromtheapartmentoftheLordWilliamHoward,bywhichhecouldvisitthedungeon,asisallegedintheprecedingchaptertohavebeenpractisedbytheMarquisofArgyle。]
　　CHAPTERXIV。
　　Thiswastheentrythen,thesestairs——butwhitherafter？
　　Yethethat'ssuretoperishonthelandMayquitthenicetyofcardandcompass,Andtrusttheopenseawithoutapilot。TRAGEDYOFBENNOVALT。
　　"Lookoutfortheprivatewaythroughthechapel,Ranald,"saidtheCaptain,"whileIgiveahastyregardtothesematters。"
　　Thusspeaking,heseizedwithonehandabundleofArgyle'smostprivatepapers,andwiththeotherapurseofgold,bothofwhichlayinadrawerofarichcabinet,whichstoodinvitinglyopen。
　　Neitherdidheneglecttopossesshimselfofaswordandpistols,withpowder—flaskandballs,whichhungintheapartment。
　　"Intelligenceandbooty,"saidtheveteran,ashepouchedthespoils,"eachhonourablecavaliershouldlookto,theoneonhisgeneral'sbehalf,andtheotheronhisown。ThisswordisanAndrewFerrara,andthepistolsbetterthanmineown。Butafairexchangeisnorobbery。Soldadosarenottobeendangered,andendangeredgratuitously,myLordofArgyle。——Butsoft,soft,Ranald;wiseManoftheMist,whitherartthoubound？"
　　ItwasindeedfulltimetostopMacEagh'sproceedings;for,notfindingtheprivatepassagereadily,andimpatient,itwouldseem,offartherdelay,hehadcaughtdownaswordandtarget,andwasabouttoenterthegreatgallery,withthepurpose,doubtless,offightinghiswaythroughallopposition。
　　"Hold,whileyoulive,"whisperedDalgetty,layingholdonhim。
　　"Wemustbeperdue,ifpossible。Sobarwethisdoor,thatitmaybethoughtM'CallumMorewouldbeprivate——andnowletmemakeareconnaissancefortheprivatepassage。"
　　Bylookingbehindthetapestryinvariousplaces,theCaptainatlengthdiscoveredaprivatedoor,andbehindthatawindingpassage,terminatedbyanotherdoor,whichdoubtlessenteredthechapel。Butwhatwashisdisagreeablesurprisetohear,ontheothersideofthisseconddoor,thesonorousvoiceofadivineintheactofpreaching。
　　"Thismadethevillain,"hesaid,"recommendthistousasaprivatepassage。Iamstronglytemptedtoreturnandcuthisthroat。"
　　Hethenopenedverygentlythedoor,whichledintoalatticedgalleryusedbytheMarquishimself,thecurtainsofwhichweredrawn,perhapswiththepurposeofhavingitsupposedthathewasengagedinattendanceupondivineworship,when,infact,hewasabsentuponhissecularaffairs。Therewasnootherpersonintheseat;forthefamilyoftheMarquis,——suchwasthehighstatemaintainedinthosedays,——sateduringserviceinanothergallery,placedsomewhatlowerthanthatofthegreatmanhimself。Thisbeingthecase,CaptainDalgettyventuredtoensconcehimselfinthegallery,ofwhichhecarefullysecuredthedoor。
　　Never（althoughtheexpressionbeaboldone）wasasermonlistenedtowithmoreimpatience,andlessedification,onthepartofone,atleast,oftheaudience。TheCaptainheardSIXTEENTHLY—SEVENTEENTHLY—EIGHTEENTHLYandTOCONCLUDE,withasortoffeelinglikeprotracteddespair。Butnomancanlecture（fortheservicewascalledalecture）forever;andthediscoursewasatlengthclosed,theclergymannotfailingtomakeaprofoundbowtowardsthelatticedgallery,littlesuspectingwhomhehonouredbythatreverence。Tojudgefromthehastewithwhichtheydispersed,thedomesticsoftheMarquiswerescarcemorepleasedwiththeirlateoccupationthantheanxiousCaptainDalgetty;indeed,manyofthembeingHighlandmen,hadtheexcuseofnotunderstandingasinglewordwhichtheclergymanspoke,althoughtheygavetheirattendanceonhisdoctrinebythespecialorderofM'CallumMore,andwouldhavedonesohadthepreacherbeenaTurkishImaum。
　　Butalthoughthecongregationdispersedthusrapidly,thedivineremainedbehindinthechapel,and,walkingupanddownitsGothicprecincts,seemedeithertobemeditatingonwhathehadjustbeendelivering,orpreparingafreshdiscourseforthenextopportunity。Boldashewas,Dalgettyhesitatedwhatheoughttodo。Time,however,pressed,andeverymomentincreasedthechanceoftheirescapebeingdiscoveredbythejailorvisitingthedungeonperhapsbeforehiswontedtime,anddiscoveringtheexchangewhichhadbeenmadethere。Atlength,whisperingRanald,whowatchedallhismotions,tofollowhimandpreservehiscountenance,CaptainDalgetty,withaverycomposedair,descendedaflightofstepswhichledfromthegalleryintothebodyofthechapel。Alessexperiencedadventurerwouldhaveendeavouredtopasstheworthyclergymanrapidly,inhopestoescapeunnoticed。ButtheCaptain,whoforesawthemanifestdangeroffailinginsuchanattempt,walkedgravelytomeetthedivineuponhiswalkinthemidstofthechancel,and,pullingoffhiscap,wasabouttopasshimafteraformalreverence。ButwhatwashissurprisetoviewinthepreachertheverysamepersonwithwhomhehaddinedinthecastleofArdenvohr！Yethespeedilyrecoveredhiscomposure;anderetheclergymancouldspeak,wasthefirsttoaddresshim。"Icouldnot,"hesaid,"leavethismansionwithoutbequeathingtoyou,myveryreverendsir,myhumblethanksforthehomilywithwhichyouhavethiseveningfavouredus。"
　　"Ididnotobserve,sir,"saidtheclergyman,"thatyouwereinthechapel。"
　　"ItpleasedthehonourableMarquis,"saidDalgetty,modestly,"togracemewithaseatinhisowngallery。"Thedivinebowedlowatthisintimation,knowingthatsuchanhonourwasonlyvouchsafedtopersonsofveryhighrank。"Ithasbeenmyfate,sir,"saidtheCaptain,"inthesortofwanderinglifewhichI
　　haveled,tohavehearddifferentpreachersofdifferentreligions——asforexample,Lutheran,Evangelical,Reformed,Calvinistical,andsoforth,butneverhaveIlistenedtosuchahomilyasyours。"
　　"Callitalecture,worthysir,"saidthedivine,"suchisthephraseofourchurch。"
　　"Lectureorhomily,"saidDalgetty,"itwas,astheHighGermanssay,GANZFORTREFLICH;andIcouldnotleavethisplacewithouttestifyinguntoyouwhatinwardemotionsIhaveundergoneduringyouredifyingprelection;andhowIamtouchedtothequick,thatIshouldyesterday,duringtherefection,haveseemedtoinfringeontherespectduetosuchapersonasyourself。"
　　"Alas！myworthysir,"saidtheclergyman,"wemeetinthisworldasintheValleyoftheShadowofDeath,notknowingagainstwhomwemaychancetoencounter。Intruth,itisnomatterofmarvel,ifwesometimesjostlethose,towhom,ifknown,wewouldyieldallrespect。Surely,sir,Iwouldratherhavetakenyouforaprofanemalignantthanforsuchadevoutpersonasyouprove,whoreverencesthegreatMastereveninthemeanestofhisservants。"
　　"Itisalwaysmycustomtodoso,learnedsir,"answeredDalgetty;"forintheserviceoftheimmortalGustavus——butI
　　detainyoufromyourmeditations,"——hisdesiretospeakoftheKingofSwedenbeingforonceoverpoweredbythenecessityofhiscircumstances。
　　"Bynomeans,myworthysir,"saidtheclergyman。"Whatwas,I
　　prayyou,theorderofthatgreatPrince,whosememoryissodeartoeveryProtestantbosom？"
　　"Sir,thedrumsbeattoprayersmorningandevening,asregularlyasforparade;andifasoldierpassedwithoutsalutingthechaplain,hehadanhour'srideonthewoodenmareforhispains。
　　Sir,Iwishyouaverygoodevening——IamobligedtodepartthecastleunderM'CallumMore'spassport。"
　　"Stayoneinstant,sir,"saidthepreacher;"istherenothingI
　　candototestifymyrespectforthepupilofthegreatGustavus,andsoadmirableajudgeofpreaching？"
　　"Nothing,sir,"saidtheCaptain,"buttoshewmethenearestwaytothegate——andifyouwouldhavethekindness,"headded,withgreateffrontery,"toletaservantbringmyhorsewithhim,thedarkgreygelding——callhimGustavus,andhewillprickuphisears——forIknownotwherethecastle—stablesaresituated,andmyguide,"headded,lookingatRanald,"speaksnoEnglish。"
　　"Ihastentoaccommodateyou,"saidtheclergyman;"yourwayliesthroughthatcloisteredpassage。"
　　"Now,Heaven'sblessinguponyourvanity！"saidtheCaptaintohimself。"IwasafraidIwouldhavehadtomarchoffwithoutGustavus。"
　　Infact,soeffectuallydidthechaplainexerthimselfinbehalfofsoexcellentajudgeofcomposition,thatwhileDalgettywasparleyingwiththesentinelsatthedrawbridge,showinghispassport,andgivingthewatchword,aservantbroughthimhishorse,readysaddledforthejourney。Inanotherplace,theCaptain'ssuddenappearanceatlargeafterhavingbeenpubliclysenttoprison,mighthaveexcitedsuspicionandenquiry;buttheofficersanddomesticsoftheMarquiswereaccustomedtothemysteriouspolicyoftheirmaster,andneversupposedaughtelsethanthathehadbeenliberatedandintrustedwithsomeprivatecommissionbytheirmaster。Inthisbelief,andhavingreceivedtheparole,theygavehimfreepassage。
　　DalgettyrodeslowlythroughthetownofInverary,theoutlawattendinguponhimlikeafoot—pageathishorse'sshoulder。Astheypassedthegibbet,theoldmanlookedonthebodiesandwrunghishands。Thelookandgesturewasmomentary,butexpressiveofindescribableanguish。Instantlyrecoveringhimself,Ranald,inpassing,whisperedsomewhattooneofthefemales,who,likeRizpahthedaughterofAiah,seemedengagedinwatchingandmourningthevictimsoffeudalinjusticeandcruelty。Thewomanstartedathisvoice,butimmediatelycollectedherselfandreturnedforansweraslightinclinationofthehead。
　　Dalgettycontinuedhiswayoutofthetown,uncertainwhetherheshouldtrytoseizeorhireaboatandcrossthelake,orplungeintothewoods,andthereconcealhimselffrompursuit。IntheformereventhewasliabletobeinstantlypursuedbythegalleysoftheMarquis,whichlayreadyforsailing,theirlongyard—armspointingtothewind,andwhathopecouldhehaveinanordinaryHighlandfishing—boattoescapefromthem？Ifhemadethelatterchoice,hischanceeitherofsupportingorconcealinghimselfinthosewasteandunknownwildernesses,wasinthehighestdegreeprecarious。Thetownlaynowbehindhim,yetwhathandtoturntoforsafetyhewasunabletodetermine,andbegantobesensible,thatinescapingfromthedungeonatInverary,desperateasthematterseemed,hehadonlyaccomplishedtheeasiestpartofadifficulttask。Ifretaken,hisfatewasnowcertain;forthepersonalinjuryhehadofferedtoamansopowerfulandsovindictive,couldbeatonedforonlybyinstantdeath。Whileheponderedthesedistressingreflections,andlookedaroundwithacountenancewhichplainlyexpressedindecision,RanaldMacEaghsuddenlyaskedhim,"whichwayheintendedtojourney？"
　　"Andthat,honestcomrade,"answeredDalgetty,"ispreciselythequestionwhichIcannotansweryou。TrulyIbegintoholdtheopinion,Ranald,thatwehadbetterhavestuckbythebrownloafandwater—pitcheruntilSirDuncanarrived,who,forhisownhonour,musthavemadesomefightforme。"
　　"Saxon,"answeredMacEagh,"donotregrethavingexchangedthefoulbreathofyonderdungeonforthefreeairofheaven。Aboveall,repentnotthatyouhaveservedaSonoftheMist。Putyourselfundermyguidance,andIwillwarrantyoursafetywithmyhead。"
　　"Canyouguidemesafethroughthesemountains,andbacktothearmyofMontrose？"saidDalgetty。
　　"Ican,"answeredMacEagh;"therelivesnotamantowhomthemountainpasses,thecaverns,theglens,thethickets,andthecorriesareknown,astheyaretotheChildrenoftheMist。
　　Whileotherscrawlonthelevelground,bythesidesoflakesandstreams,oursarethesteephollowsoftheinaccessiblemountains,thebirth—placeofthedesertsprings。NotallthebloodhoundsofArgylecantracethefastnessesthroughwhichI
　　canguideyou。"
　　"Say'stthouso,honestRanald？"repliedDalgetty;"thenhaveonwiththee;forofasuretyIshallneversavetheshipbymyownpilotage。"
　　Theoutlawaccordinglyledthewayintothewood,bywhichthecastleissurroundedforseveralmiles,walkingwithsomuchdispatchaskeptGustavusataroundtrot,andtakingsuchanumberofcrosscutsandturns,thatCaptainDalgettyspeedilylostallideawherehemightbe,andallknowledgeofthepointsofthecompass。Atlength,thepath,whichhadgraduallybecomemoredifficult,altogetherendedamongthicketsandunderwood。
　　Theroaringofatorrentwasheardintheneighbourhood,thegroundbecameinsomeplacesbroken,inothersboggy,andeverywhereunfitforriding。
　　"Whatthefoulfiend,"saidDalgetty,"istobedonehere？ImustpartwithGustavus,Ifear。"
　　"Takenocareforyourhorse,"saidtheoutlaw;"heshallsoonberestoredtoyou。"
　　Ashespoke,hewhistledinalowtune,andalad,half—dressedintartan,halfnaked,havingonlyhisownshaggyhair,tiedwithathongofleather,toprotecthisheadandfacefromsunandweather,lean,andhalf—starvedinaspect,hiswildgreyeyesappearingtofilluptentimestheproportionusuallyallottedtotheminthehumanface,creptout,asawildbeastmighthavedone,fromathicketofbramblesandbriars。
　　"Giveyourhorsetothegillie,"saidRanaldMacEagh;"yourlifedependsuponit。"
　　"Och！och！"exclaimedthedespairingveteran;"Eheu！asweusedtosayatMareschal—College,mustIleaveGustavusinsuchgrooming！"
　　"Areyoufrantic,tolosetimethus！"saidhisguide;"dowestandonfriends'ground,thatyoushouldpartwithyourhorseasifhewereyourbrother？Itellyou,youshallhavehimagain;
　　butifyouneversawtheanimal,isnotlifebetterthanthebestcoltevermarefoaled？"
　　"Andthatistruetoo,minehonestfriend,"sighedDalgetty;"yetifyouknewbutthevalueofGustavus,andthethingswetwohavedoneandsufferedtogether——See,heturnsbacktolookatme！——Bekindtohim,mygoodbreechlessfriend,andIwillrequiteyouwell。"Sosaying,andwithalsnifflingalittletoswallowhisgrief,heturnedfromtheheart—rendingspectacleinordertofollowhisguide。
　　Tofollowhisguidewasnoeasymatter,andsoonrequiredmoreagilitythanCaptainDalgettycouldmaster。Theveryfirstplungeafterhehadpartedfromhischarger,carriedhim,withlittleassistancefromafewoverhangingboughs,orprojectingrootsoftrees,eightfootsheerdownintothecourseofatorrent,upwhichtheSonoftheMistledtheway。Hugestones,overwhichtheyscrambled,——thicketsofthemandbrambles,throughwhichtheyhadtodragthemselves,——rockswhichweretobeclimbedontheonesidewithmuchlabourandpain,forthepurposeofanequallyprecariousdescentupontheother;allthese,andmanysuchinterruptions,weresurmountedbythelight—
　　footedandhalf—nakedmountaineerwithaneaseandvelocitywhichexcitedthesurpriseandenvyofCaptainDalgetty,who,encumberedbyhishead—piece,corslet,andotherarmour,nottomentionhisponderousjack—boots,foundhimselfatlengthsomuchexhaustedbyfatigue,andthedifficultiesoftheroad,thathesatedownuponastoneinordertorecoverhisbreath,whileheexplainedtoRanaldMacEaghthedifferencebetwixttravellingEXPEDITUSandIMPEDITUS,asthesetwomilitaryphraseswereunderstoodatMareschal—College,Aberdeen。Thesoleanswerofthemountaineerwastolayhishandonthesoldier'sarm,andpointbackwardinthedirectionofthewind。Dalgettycouldspynothing,foreveningwasclosingfast,andtheywereatthebottomofadarkravine。Butatlengthhecoulddistinctlyhearatadistancethesullentollofalargebell。
　　"That,"saidhe,"mustbethealarm——thestorm—clock,astheGermanscallit。"
　　"Itstrikesthehourofyourdeath,"answeredRanald,"unlessyoucanaccompanymealittlefarther。Foreverytollofthatbellabravemanhasyieldeduphissoul。"
　　"Truly,Ranald,mytrustyfriend,"saidDalgetty,"Iwillnotdenythatthecasemaybesoonmyown;forIamsoforfoughen（being,asIexplainedtoyou,IMPEDITUS,forhadIbeenEXPEDITUS,Imindnotpedestrianexercisetheflourishofafife）,thatIthinkIhadbetterensconcemyselfinoneofthesebushes,andevenliequiettheretoabidewhatfortuneGodshallsendme。Ientreatyou,minehonestfriendRanald,toshiftforyourself,andleavemetomyfortune,astheLionoftheNorth,theimmortalGustavusAdolphus,mynever—to—be—forgottenmaster（whomyoumustsurelyhaveheardof,Ranald,thoughyoumayhaveheardofnooneelse）,saidtoFrancisAlbert,DukeofSaxe—
　　Lauenburgh,whenhewasmortallywoundedontheplainsofLutzen。
　　Neitherdespairaltogetherofmysafety,Ranald,seeingIhavebeeninasgreatpinchesasthisinGermany——moreespecially,I
　　rememberme,thatatthefatalbattleofNerlingen——afterwhichI
　　changedservice——"
　　"Ifyouwouldsaveyourfather'sson'sbreathtohelphischildoutoftrouble,insteadofwastingituponthetalesofSeannachies,"saidRanald,whonowgrewimpatientoftheCaptain'sloquacity,"orifyourfeetcouldtravelasfastasyourtongue,youmightyetlayyourheadonanunbloodypillowto—night。"
　　"Somethingthereislikemilitaryskillinthat,"repliedtheCaptain,"althoughwantonlyandirreverentlyspokentoanofficerofrank。ButIholditgoodtopardonsuchfreedomsonamarch,inrespectoftheSaturnalianlicenseindulgedinsuchcasestothetroopsofallnations。Andnow,resumethineoffice,friendRanald,inrespectIamwell—breathed;or,tobemoreplain,I
　　PRAE,SEQUAR,asweusedtosayatMareschal—College。"
　　Comprehendinghismeaningratherfromhismotionsthanhislanguage,theSonoftheMistagainledtheway,withanunerringprecisionthatlookedlikeinstinct,throughavarietyofgroundthemostdifficultandbrokenthatcouldwellbeimagined。
　　Draggingalonghisponderousboots,encumberedwiththigh—pieces,gauntlets,corslet,andback—piece,nottomentionthebuffjerkinwhichheworeunderallthesearms,talkingofhisformerexploitsthewholeway,thoughRanaldpaidnottheslightestattentiontohim,CaptainDalgettycontrivedtofollowhisguideaconsiderablespacefarther,whenthedeep—mouthedbayingofahoundwasheardcomingdownthewind,asifopeningonthescentofitsprey。
　　"Blackhound,"saidRanald,"whosethroatneverbodedgoodtoaChildoftheMist,illfortunetoherwholitteredthee！hastthoualreadyfoundourtrace？Butthouarttoolate,swarthoundofdarkness,andthedeerhasgainedtheherd。"
　　Sosaying,hewhistledverysoftly,andwasansweredinatoneequallylowfromthetopofapass,upwhichtheyhadforsometimebeenascending。Mendingtheirpace,theyreachedthetop,wherethemoon,whichhadnowrisenbrightandclear,showedtoDalgettyapartyoftenortwelveHighlanders,andaboutasmanywomenandchildren,bywhomRanaldMacEaghwasreceivedwithsuchtransportsofjoy,asmadehiscompanioneasilysensiblethatthosebywhomhewassurrounded,mustofcoursebeChildrenoftheMist。Theplacewhichtheyoccupiedwellsuitedtheirnameandhabits。Itwasabeetlingcrag,roundwhichwindedaverynarrowandbrokenfootpath,commandedinvariousplacesbythepositionwhichtheyheld。
　　Ranaldspokeanxiouslyandhastilytothechildrenofhistribe,andthemencameonebyonetoshakehandswithDalgetty,whilethewomen,clamorousintheirgratitude,pressedroundtokisseventhehemofhisgarment。"Theyplighttheirfaithtoyou,"
　　saidRanaldMacEagh,"forrequitalofthegooddeedyouhavedonetothetribethisday。"
　　"Enoughsaid,Ranald,"answeredthesoldier,"enoughsaid——tellthemIlovenotthisshakingofhands——itconfusesranksanddegreesinmilitaryservice;andastokissingofgauntlets,puldrons,andthelike,IrememberthattheimmortalGustavus,asherodethroughthestreetsofNuremberg,beingthusworshippedbythepoulace（beingdoubtlessfarmoreworthyofitthanapoorthoughhonourablecavalierlikemyself）,didsayuntothem,inthewayofrebuke,'Ifyouidolizemethuslikeagod,whoshallassureyouthatthevengeanceofHeavenwillnotsoonprovemetobeamortal？'——Andsohere,Isupposeyouintendtomakeastandagainstyourfollowers,Ranald——VOTOADIOS,astheSpaniardsays？——averyprettyposition——asprettyapositionforasmallpelotonofmenasIhaveseeninmyservice——noenemycancometowardsitbytheroadwithoutbeingatthemercyofcannonandmusket。——Butthen,Ranald,mytrustycomrade,youhavenocannon,Idaretoaver,andIdonotseethatanyofthesefellowshavemusketseither。Sowithwhatartilleryyouproposemakinggoodthepass,beforeyoucometohandblows,truly,Ranald,itpassethmyapprehension。"