"Withtheweaponsandwiththecourageofourfathers,"saidMacEagh;andmadetheCaptainobserve,thatthemenofhispartywerearmedwithbowsandarrows。
　　"Bowsandarrows！"exclaimedDalgetty;"ha！ha！ha！haveweRobinHoodandLittleJohnbackagain？Bowsandarrows！why,thesighthasnotbeenseenincivilizedwarforahundredyears。
　　Bowsandarrows！andwhynotweavers'beams,asinthedaysofGoliah？Ah！thatDugaldDalgetty,ofDrumthwacket,shouldlivetoseemenfightwithbowsandarrows！——TheimmortalGustavuswouldneverhavebelievedit——norWallenstein——norButler——noroldTilly,——Well,Ranald,acatcanhavebutitsclaws——sincebowsandarrowsaretheword,e'enletusmakethebestofit。
　　Only,asIdonotunderstandthescopeandrangeofsuchold—
　　fashionedartillery,youmustmakethebestdispositionyoucanoutofyourownheadforMYtakingthecommand,whilkIwouldhavegladlydonehadyoubeentofightwithanyChristianweapons,isoutofthequestion,whenyouaretocombatlikequiveredNumidians。Iwill,however,playmypartwithmypistolsintheapproachingmelley,inrespectmycarabineunhappilyremainsatGustavus'ssaddle。——Myserviceandthankstoyou,"hecontinued,addressingamountaineerwhoofferedhimabow;"DugaldDalgettymaysayofhimself,ashelearnedatMareschal—College,"NonegetMaurijaculis,nequearcu,Necvenenatisgravidasagittis,Fusce,pharetra;
　　whilkistosay——"
　　RanaldMacEaghasecondtimeimposedsilenceonthetalkativecommanderasbefore,bypullinghissleeve,andpointingdownthepass。Thebayofthebloodhoundwasnowapproachingnearerandnearer,andtheycouldhearthevoicesofseveralpersonswhoaccompaniedtheanimal,andhallooedtoeachotherastheydispersedoccasionally,eitherinthehurryoftheiradvance,orinordertosearchmoreaccuratelythethicketsastheycamealong。Theywereobviouslydrawingnearerandnearereverymoment。MacEagh,inthemeantime,proposedtoCaptainDalgettytodisencumberhimselfofhisarmour,andgavehimtounderstandthatthewomenshouldtransportittoaplaceofsafety。
　　"Icraveyourpardon,sir,"saidDalgetty,"suchisnottheruleofourforeignserviceinrespectIremembertheregimentofFinlandcuirassiersreprimanded,andtheirkettle—drumstakenfromthem,bytheimmortalGustavus,becausetheyhadassumedthepermissiontomarchwithouttheircorslets,andtoleavethemwiththebaggage。Neitherdidtheystrikekettle—drumsagainattheheadofthatfamousregimentuntiltheybehavedthemselvessonotablyatthefieldofLeipsic;alessonwhilkisnottobeforgotten,anymorethanthatexclamationoftheimmortalGustavus,'NowshallIknowifmyofficersloveme,bytheirputtingontheirarmour;since,ifmyofficersareslain,whoshallleadmysoldiersintovictory？'Nevertheless,friendRanald,thisiswithoutprejudicetomybeingridofthesesomewhatheavyboots,providingIcanobtainanyothersuccedaneum;forIpresumenottosaythatmybaresolesarefortifiedsoastoenduretheflintsandthorns,asseemstobethecasewithyourfollowers。"
　　ToridtheCaptainofhiscumbrousgreaves,andcasehisfeetinapairofbroguesmadeoutofdeerskin,whichaHighlanderstrippedoffforhisaccommodation,wastheworkofaminute,andDalgettyfoundhimselfmuchlightenedbytheexchange。HewasintheactofrecommendingtoRanaldMacEagh,tosendtwoorthreeofhisfollowersalittlelowertoreconnoitrethepass,and,atthesametime,somewhattoextendhisfront,placingtwodetachedarchersateachflankbywayofpostsofobservation,whenthenearcryofthehoundapprisedthemthatthepursuerswereatthebottomofthepass。Allwasthendeadsilence;for,loquaciousashewasonotheroccasions,CaptainDalgettyknewwellthenecessityofanambushkeepingitselfundercovert。
　　Themoongleamedonthebrokenpathway,andontheprojectingcliffsofrockroundwhichitwinded,itslightinterceptedhereandtherebythebranchesofbushesanddwarf—trees,which,findingnourishmentinthecrevicesoftherocks,insomeplacesovershadowedthebrowandledgeoftheprecipice。Below,athickcopse—woodlayindeepanddarkshadow,somewhatresemblingthebillowsofahalf—seenocean。Fromthebosomofthatdarkness,andclosetothebottomoftheprecipice,thehoundwasheardatintervalsbayingfearfully,soundswhichwereredoubledbytheechoesofthewoodsandrocksaround。Atintervals,thesesunkintodeepsilence,interruptedonlybytheplashingnoiseofasmallrunnelofwater,whichpartlyfellfromtherock,partlyfoundamoresilentpassagetothebottomalongitsprojectingsurface。Voicesofmenwerealsoheardinstifledconversebelow;itseemedasifthepursuershadnotdiscoveredthenarrowpathwhichledtothetopoftherock,orthat,havingdiscoveredit,theperiloftheascent,joinedtotheimperfectlight,andtheuncertaintywhetheritmightnotbedefended,madethemhesitatetoattemptit。
　　Atlengthashadowyfigurewasseen,whichraiseditselfupfromtheabyssofdarknessbelow,and,emergingintothepalemoonlight,begancautiouslyandslowlytoascendtherockypath。
　　Theoutlinewassodistinctlymarked,thatCaptainDalgettycoulddiscovernotonlythepersonofaHighlander,butthelonggunwhichhecarriedinhishand,andtheplumeoffeatherswhichdecoratedhisbonnet。"TAUSENDTEIFLEN！thatIshouldsayso,andsoliketobenearmylatterend！"ejaculatedtheCaptain,butunderhisbreath,"whatwillbecomeofus,nowtheyhavebroughtmusketrytoencounterourarchers？"
　　Butjustasthepursuerhadattainedaprojectingpieceofrockabouthalfwayuptheascent,and,pausing,madeasignalforthosewhowerestillatthebottomtofollowhim,anarrowwhistledfromthebowofoneoftheChildrenoftheMist,andtransfixedhimwithsofatalawound,that,withoutasingleefforttosavehimself,helosthisbalance,andfellheadlongfromthecliffonwhichhestood,intothedarknessbelow。Thecrashoftheboughswhichreceivedhim,andtheheavysoundofhisfallfromthencetotheground,wasfollowedbyacryofhorrorandsurprise,whichburstfromhisfollowers。TheChildrenoftheMist,encouragedinproportiontothealarmthisfirstsuccesshadcausedamongthepursuers,echoedbacktheclamourwithaloudandshrillyellofexultation,and,showingthemselvesonthebrowoftheprecipice,withwildcriesandvindictivegestures,endeavouredtoimpressontheirenemiesasenseatonceoftheircourage,theirnumbers,andtheirstateofdefence。EvenCaptainDalgetty'smilitaryprudencedidnotpreventhisrisingup,andcallingouttoRanald,moreloudthanprudencewarranted,"CAROCCO,comrade,astheSpaniardsays！Thelong—bowforever！Inmypoorapprehensionnow,wereyoutoorderafiletoadvanceandtakeposition——"
　　"TheSassenach！"criedavoicefrombeneath,"marktheSassenachsidier！Iseetheglitterofhisbreastplate。"Atthesametimethreemusketsweredischarged;andwhileoneballrattledagainstthecorsletofproof,tothestrengthofwhichourvaliantCaptainhadbeenmorethanonceindebtedforhislife,anotherpenetratedthearmourwhichcoveredthefrontofhisleftthigh,andstretchedhimontheground。Ranaldinstantlyseizedhiminhisarms,andborehimbackfromtheedgeoftheprecipice,whilehedolefullyejaculated,"IalwaystoldtheimmortalGustavus,Wallenstein,Tilly,andothermenofthesword,that,inmypoormind,tasletsoughttobemademusket—proof。"
　　WithtwoorthreeearnestwordsinGaelic,MacEaghcommendedthewoundedmantothechargeofthefemales,whowereintherearofhislittleparty,andwasthenabouttoreturntothecontest。
　　ButDalgettydetainedhim,graspingafirmholdofhisplaid。——"I
　　knownothowthismattermayend——butIrequestyouwillinformMontrose,thatIdiedlikeafolloweroftheimmortalGustavus——andIprayyou,takeheedhowyouquityourpresentstrength,evenforthepurposeofpursuingtheenemy,ifyougainanyadvantage——and——and——"
　　HereDalgetty'sbreathandeyesightbegantofailhimthroughlossofblood,andMacEagh,availinghimselfofthiscircumstance,extricatedfromhisgrasptheendofhisownmantle,andsubstitutedthatofafemale,bywhichtheCaptainheldstoutly,therebysecuring,asheconceived,theoutlaw'sattentiontothemilitaryinstructionswhichhecontinuedtopourforthwhilehehadanybreathtoutterthem,thoughtheybecamegraduallymoreandmoreincoherent——"And,comrade,youwillbesuretokeepyourmusketeersinadvanceofyourstandofpikes,Lochaber—axes,andtwo—handedswords——Standfast,dragoons,ontheleftflank！——wherewasI？——Ay,and,Ranald,ifyebemindedtoretreat,leavesomelightedmatchesburningonthebranchesofthetrees——itshowsasiftheywerelinedwithshot——ButIforget——yehavenomatch—locksnorhabergeons——onlybowsandarrows——bowsandarrows！ha！ha！ha！"
　　HeretheCaptainsunkbackinanexhaustedcondition,altogetherunabletoresistthesenseoftheludicrouswhich,asamodernman—at—arms,heconnectedwiththeideaoftheseancientweaponsofwar。Itwasalongtimeereherecoveredhissenses;and,inthemeantime,weleavehiminthecareoftheDaughtersoftheMist;nursesaskindandattentive,inreality,astheywerewildanduncouthinoutwardappearance。
　　CHAPTERXV。
　　ButifnofaithlessactionstainThytrueandconstantword,I'llmaketheefamousbymypen,Andgloriousbymysword。
　　I'llservetheeinsuchnoblewaysAsne'erwereknownbefore;
　　I'lldeckandcrownthyheadwithbays,Andlovetheemoreandmore。MONTROSE'SLINES。
　　Wemustnowleave,withwhateverregret,thevaliantCaptainDalgetty,torecoverofhiswoundsorotherwiseasfateshalldetermine,inorderbrieflytotracethemilitaryoperationsofMontrose,worthyastheyareofamoreimportantpage,andabetterhistorian。Bytheassistanceofthechieftainswhomwehavecommemorated,andmoreespeciallybythejunctionoftheMurrays,Stewarts,andotherclansofAthole,whichwerepeculiarlyzealousintheroyalcause,hesoonassembledanarmyoftwoorthreethousandHighlanders,towhomhesuccessfullyunitedtheIrishunderColkitto。Thislastleader,who,tothegreatembarrassmentofMilton'scommentators,iscommemoratedinoneofthatgreatpoet'ssonnets,wasproperlynamedAlister,orAlexanderM'Donnell,bybirthaScottishislesman,andrelatedtotheEarlofAntrim,towhosepatronageheowedthecommandassignedhimintheIrishtroops。Inmanyrespectshemeritedthisdistinction。Hewasbravetointrepidity,andalmosttoinsensibility;verystrongandactiveinperson,completelymasterofhisweapons,andalwaysreadytoshowtheexampleintheextremityofdanger。Tocounterbalancethesegoodqualities,itmustberecorded,thathewasinexperiencedinmilitarytactics,andofajealousandpresumptuousdisposition,whichoftenlosttoMontrosethefruitsofColkitto'sgallantry。Yetsuchisthepredominanceofoutwardpersonalqualitiesintheeyesofamildpeople,thatthefeatsofstrengthandcourageshownbythischampion,seemtohavemadeastrongerimpressionuponthemindsoftheHighlanders,thanthemilitaryskillandchivalrousspiritofthegreatMarquisofMontrose。NumeroustraditionsarestillpreservedintheHighlandglensconcerningAlisterM'Donnell,thoughthenameofMontroseisrarelymentionedamongthem。
　　[Milton'sbook,entitledTETRACHORDON,hadbeenridiculed,itwouldseem,bythedivinesassembledatWestminster,andothers,onaccountofthehardnessofthetitle;
　　andMiltoninhissonnetretaliatesuponthebarbarousScottishnameswhichtheCivilWarhadmadefamiliartoEnglishears:——
　　——whyisitharder,sirs,thanGordon,COLKITTOorM'Donald,orGallasp？
　　Theseruggednamestoourlikemouthsgrowsleek,ThatwouldhavemadeQuintillianstareandgasp。
　　"Wemaysuppose,"saysBishopNewton,"thatthesewerepersonsofnoteamongtheScotchministers,whowereforpressingandenforcingtheCovenant;"whereasMiltononlyintendstoridiculethebarbarismofScottishnamesingeneral,andquotes,indiscriminately,thatofGillespie,oneoftheApostlesoftheCovenant,andthoseofColkittoandM'Donnell（bothbelongingtooneperson）,oneofitsbitterestenemies。]
　　ThepointuponwhichMontrosefinallyassembledhislittlearmy,wasinStrathearn,onthevergeoftheHighlandsofPerthshire,soastomenacetheprincipaltownofthatcounty。
　　Hisenemieswerenotunpreparedforhisreception。Argyle,attheheadofhisHighlanders,wasdoggingthestepsoftheIrishfromthewesttotheeast,andbyforce,fear,orinfluence,hadcollectedanarmynearlysufficienttohavegivenbattletothatunderMontrose。TheLowlandswerealsoprepared,forreasonswhichweassignedatthebeginningofthistale。Abodyofsixthousandinfantry,andsixorseventhousandcavalry,whichprofanelyassumedthetitleofGod'sarmy,hadbeenhastilyassembledfromtheshiresofFife,Angus,Perth,Stirling,andtheneighbouringcounties。Amuchlessforceinformertimes,nay,evenintheprecedingreign,wouldhavebeensufficienttohavesecuredtheLowlandsagainstamoreformidabledescentofHighlanders,thanthoseunitedunderMontrose;buttimeshadchangedstrangelywithinthelasthalfcentury。Beforethatperiod,theLowlanderswereasconstantlyengagedinwarasthemountaineers,andwereincomparablybetterdisciplinedandarmed。
　　ThefavouriteScottishorderofbattlesomewhatresembledtheMacedonianphalanx。Theirinfantryformedacompactbody,armedwithlongspears,impenetrableeventothemen—at—armsoftheage,thoughwellmounted,andarrayedincompleteproof。Itmayeasilybeconceived,therefore,thattheirrankscouldnotbebrokenbythedisorderlychargeofHighlandinfantryarmedforclosecombatonly,withswords,andillfurnishedwithmissileweapons,andhavingnoartillerywhatever。
　　ThishabitoffightwasinagreatmeasurechangedbytheintroductionofmusketsintotheScottishLowlandservice,which,notbeingasyetcombinedwiththebayonet,wasaformidableweaponatadistance,butgavenoassuranceagainsttheenemywhorushedontoclosequarters。Thepike,indeed,wasnotwhollydisusedintheScottisharmy;butitwasnolongerthefavouriteweapon,norwasitrelieduponasformerlybythoseinwhosehandsitwasplaced;insomuchthatDanielLupton,atacticianoftheday,haswrittenabookexpresslyuponthesuperiorityofthemusket。ThischangecommencedasearlyasthewarsofGustavusAdolphus,whosemarchesweremadewithsuchrapidity,thatthepikewasverysoonthrownasideinhisarmy,andexchangedforfire—arms。Acircumstancewhichnecessarilyaccompaniedthischange,aswellastheestablishmentofstandingarmies,wherebywarbecameatrade,wastheintroductionofalaboriousandcomplicatedsystemofdiscipline,combiningavarietyofwordsofcommandwithcorrespondingoperationsandmanoeuvres,theneglectofanyoneofwhichwassuretothrowthewholeintoconfusion。
　　Wartherefore,aspractisedamongmostnationsofEurope,hadassumedmuchmorethanformerlythecharacterofaprofessionormystery,towhichpreviouspracticeandexperiencewereindispensablerequisites。Suchwasthenaturalconsequenceofstandingarmies,whichhadalmosteverywhere,andparticularlyinthelongGermanwars,supersededwhatmaybecalledthenaturaldisciplineofthefeudalmilitia。
　　TheScottishLowlandmilitia,therefore,labouredunderadoubledisadvantagewhenopposedtoHighlanders。Theyweredivestedofthespear,aweaponwhich,inthehandsoftheirancestors,hadsooftenrepelledtheimpetuousassaultsofthemountaineer;andtheyweresubjectedtoanewandcomplicatedspeciesofdiscipline,welladapted,perhaps,totheuseofregulartroops,whocouldberenderedcompletelymastersofit,buttendingonlytoconfusetheranksofcitizensoldiers,bywhomitwasrarelypractised,andimperfectlyunderstood。Somuchhasbeendoneinourowntimeinbringingbacktacticstotheirfirstprinciples,andingettingridofthepedantryofwar,thatitiseasyforustoestimatethedisadvantagesunderwhichahalf—trainedmilitialaboured,whoweretaughttoconsidersuccessasdependingupontheirexercisingwithprecisionasystemoftactics,whichtheyprobablyonlysofarcomprehendedastofindoutwhentheywerewrong,butwithoutthepowerofgettingrightagain。Neithercanitbedenied,that,inthematerialpointsofmilitaryhabitsandwarlikespirit,theLowlandersoftheseventeenthcenturyhadsunkfarbeneaththeirHighlandcountrymen。
　　Fromtheearliestperioddowntotheunionofthecrowns,thewholekingdomofScotland,LowlandsaswellasHighlands,hadbeentheconstantsceneofwar,foreignanddomestic;andtherewasprobablyscarceoneofitshardyinhabitants,betweentheageofsixteenandsixty,whowasnotaswillinginpointoffactashewasliterallyboundinlaw,toassumearmsatthefirstcallofhisliegelord,orofaroyalproclamation。Thelawremainedthesameinsixteenhundredandforty—fiveasahundredyearsbefore,buttheraceofthosesubjectedtoithadbeenbredupunderverydifferentfeelings。Theyhadsatinquietundertheirvineandundertheirfig—tree,andacalltobattleinvolvedachangeoflifeasnewasitwasdisagreeable。Suchofthem,also,wholivednearuntotheHighlands,wereincontinualanddisadvantageouscontactwiththerestlessinhabitantsofthosemountains,bywhomtheircattleweredrivenoff,theirdwellingsplundered,andtheirpersonsinsulted,andwhohadacquiredoverthemthatsortofsuperiorityarisingfromaconstantsystemofaggression。TheLowlanders,wholaymoreremote,andoutofreachofthesedepredations,wereinfluencedbytheexaggeratedreportscirculatedconcerningtheHighlanders,whom,astotallydifferinginlaws,language,anddress,theywereinducedtoregardasanationofsavages,equallyvoidoffearandofhumanity。Thesevariousprepossessions,joinedtothelesswarlikehabitsoftheLowlanders,andtheirimperfectknowledgeofthenewandcomplicatedsystemofdisciplineforwhichtheyhadexchangedtheirnaturalmodeoffighting,placedthematgreatdisadvantagewhenopposedtotheHighlanderinthefieldofbattle。Themountaineers,onthecontrary,withthearmsandcourageoftheirfathers,possessedalsotheirsimpleandnaturalsystemoftactics,andboredownwiththefullestconfidenceuponanenemy,towhomanythingtheyhadbeentaughtofdisciplinewas,likeSaul'sarmouruponDavid,ahinderanceratherthanahelp,"becausetheyhadnotprovedit。"
　　Itwaswithsuchdisadvantagesontheoneside,andsuchadvantagesontheother,tocounterbalancethedifferenceofsuperiornumbersandthepresenceofartilleryandcavalry,thatMontroseencounteredthearmyofLordElchouponthefieldofTippermuir。ThePresbyterianclergyhadnotbeenwantingintheireffortstorousethespiritoftheirfollowers,andoneofthem,whoharanguedthetroopsontheverydayofbattle,hesitatednottosay,thatifeverGodspokebyhismouth,hepromisedthem,inHisname,thatday,agreatandassuredvictory。Thecavalryandartillerywerealsoreckonedsurewarrantsofsuccess,asthenoveltyoftheirattackhaduponformeroccasionsbeenverydiscouragingtotheHighlanders。Theplaceofmeetingwasanopenheath,andthegroundaffordedlittleadvantagetoeitherparty,exceptthatitallowedthehorseoftheCovenanterstoactwitheffect。
　　Abattleuponwhichsomuchdepended,wasnevermoreeasilydecided。TheLowlandcavalrymadeashowofcharging;but,whetherthrownintodisorderbythefireofmusketry,ordeterredbyadisaffectiontotheservicesaidtohaveprevailedamongthegentlemen,theymadenoimpressionontheHighlanderswhatever,andrecoiledindisorderfromrankswhichhadneitherbayonetsnorpikestoprotectthem。Montrosesaw,andinstantlyavailedhimselfofthisadvantage。Heorderedhiswholearmytocharge,whichtheyperformedwiththewildanddesperatevalourpeculiartomountaineers。OneofficeroftheCovenantersalone,trainedintheItalianwars,madeadesperatedefenceupontherightwing。Ineveryotherpointtheirlinewaspenetratedatthefirstonset;andthisadvantageonceobtained,theLowlanderswereutterlyunabletocontendatclosequarterswiththeirmoreagileandathleticenemies。Manywereslainontheheld,andsuchanumberinthepursuit,thataboveone—thirdoftheCovenanterswerereportedtohavefallen;inwhichnumber,however,mustbecomputedagreatmanyfatburgesseswhobroketheirwindintheflight,andthusdiedwithoutstrokeofsword。
　　[Wechoosetoquoteourauthorityforafactsosingular:——"A
　　greatmanyburgesseswerekilled——twenty—fivehouseholdersinSt。
　　Andrews——manywereburstenintheflight,anddiedwithoutstroke。"——SeeBaillie'sLetters,vol。ii。page92。]
　　ThevictorsobtainedpossessionofPerth,andobtainedconsiderablesumsofmoney,aswellasamplesuppliesofarmsandammunition。ButthoseadvantagesweretobebalancedagainstanalmostinsurmountableinconveniencethatuniformlyattendedaHighlandarmy。Theclanscouldbeinnorespectinducedtoconsiderthemselvesasregularsoldiers,ortoactassuch。Evensolateastheyear1745—6,whentheChevalierCharlesEdward,bywayofmakinganexample,causedasoldiertobeshotfordesertion,theHighlanders,whocomposedhisarmy,wereaffectedasmuchbyindignationasbyfear。Theycouldnotconceiveanyprincipleofjusticeuponwhichaman'slifecouldbetaken,formerelygoinghomewhenitdidnotsuithimtoremainlongerwiththearmy。Suchhadbeentheuniformpracticeoftheirfathers。
　　Whenabattlewasover,thecampaignwas,intheiropinion,ended;ifitwaslost,theysoughtsafetyintheirmountains——ifwon,theyreturnedtheretosecuretheirbooty。Atothertimestheyhadtheircattletolookafter,andtheirharveststosoworreap,withoutwhichtheirfamilieswouldhaveperishedforwant。
　　Ineithercase,therewasanendoftheirservicesforthetime;
　　andthoughtheywereeasilyenoughrecalledbytheprospectoffreshadventuresandmoreplunder,yettheopportunityofsuccesswas,inthemeantime,lost,andcouldnotafterwardsberecovered。Thiscircumstanceservestoshow,evenifhistoryhadnotmadeusacquaintedwiththesamefact,thattheHighlandershadneverbeenaccustomedtomakewarwiththeviewofpermanentconquest,butonlywiththehopeofderivingtemporaryadvantage,ordecidingsomeimmediatequarrel。ItalsoexplainsthereasonwhyMontrose,withallhissplendidsuccesses,neverobtainedanysecureorpermanentfootingintheLowlands,andwhyeventhoseLowlandnoblemenandgentlemen,whowereinclinedtotheroyalcause,showeddiffidenceandreluctancetojoinanarmyofacharactersodesultoryandirregular,asmightleadthematalltimestoapprehendthattheHighlanderssecuringthemselvesbyaretreattotheirmountains,wouldleavewhateverLowlandersmighthavejoinedthemtothemercyofanoffendedandpredominantenemy。ThesameconsiderationwillalsoservetoaccountforthesuddenmarcheswhichMontrosewasobligedtoundertake,inordertorecruithisarmyinthemountains,andfortherapidchangesoffortune,bywhichweoftenfindhimobligedtoretreatfrombeforethoseenemiesoverwhomhehadrecentlybeenvictorious。
　　Ifthereshouldbeanywhoreadthesetalesforanyfurtherpurposethanthatofimmediateamusement,theywillfindtheseremarksnotunworthyoftheirrecollection。
　　Itwasowingtosuchcauses,theslacknessoftheLowlandloyalistsandthetemporarydesertionofhisHighlandfollowers,thatMontrosefoundhimself,evenafterthedecisivevictoryofTippermuir,innoconditiontofacethesecondarmywithwhichArgyleadvanceduponhimfromthewestward。Inthisemergency,supplyingbyvelocitythewantofstrength,hemovedsuddenlyfromPerthtoDundee,andbeingrefusedadmissionintothattown,fellnorthwarduponAberdeen,whereheexpectedtobejoinedbytheGordonsandotherloyalists。Butthezealofthesegentlemenwas,forthetime,effectuallybridledbyalargebodyofCovenanters,commandedbytheLordBurleigh,andsupposedtoamounttothreethousandmen。TheseMontroseboldlyattackedwithhalftheirnumber。ThebattlewasfoughtunderthewallsOfthecity,andtheresolutevalourofMontrose'sfollowerswasagainsuccessfulagainsteverydisadvantage。
　　Butitwasthefateofthisgreatcommander,alwaystogaintheglory,butseldomtoreapthefruitsofvictory。HehadscarcelytimetoreposehissmallarmyinAberdeen,erehefound,ontheonehand,thattheGordonswerelikelytobedeterredfromjoininghim,bythereasonswehavementioned,withsomeotherspeculiartotheirchief,theMarquisofHuntly;ontheotherhand,Argyle,whoseforceshadbeenaugmentedbythoseofseveralLowlandnoblemen,advancedtowardsMontroseattheheadofanarmymuchlargerthanhehadyethadtocopewith。Thesetroopsmoved,indeed,withslowness,correspondingtothecautiouscharacteroftheircommander;buteventhatcautionrenderedArgyle'sapproachformidable,sincehisveryadvanceimplied,thathewasattheheadofanarmyirresistiblysuperiorThereremainedonemodeofretreatopentoMontrose,andheadoptedit。HethrewhimselfintotheHighlands,wherehecouldsetpursuitatdefiance,andwherehewassure,ineveryglen,torecoverthoserecruitswhohadlefthisstandardtodeposittheirbootyintheirnativefastnesses。ItwasthusthatthesingularcharacterofthearmywhichMontrosecommanded,while,ontheonehand,itrenderedhisvictoryinsomedegreenugatory,enabledhim,ontheother,underthemostdisadvantageouscircumstances,tosecurehisretreat,recruithisforces,andrenderhimselfmoreformidablethanevertotheenemy,beforewhomhehadlatelybeenunabletomakeastand。
　　OnthepresentoccasionhethrewhimselfintoBadenoch,andrapidlytraversingthatdistrict,aswellastheneighbouringcountryofAthole,healarmedtheCovenantersbysuccessiveattacksuponvariousunexpectedpoints,andspreadsuchgeneraldismay,thatrepeatedordersweredispatchedbytheParliamenttoArgyle,theircommander,toengage,anddisperseMontroseatallrates。
　　Thesecommandsfromhissuperiorsneithersuitedthehaughtyspirit,northetemporizingandcautiouspolicy,ofthenoblemantowhomtheywereaddressed。Hepaid,accordingly,noregardtothem,butlimitedhiseffortstointriguesamongMontrose'sfewLowlandfollowers,manyofwhomhadbecomedisgustedwiththeprospectofaHighlandcampaign,whichexposedtheirpersonstointolerablefatigue,andlefttheirestatesattheCovenanters'
　　mercy。Accordingly,severalofthemleftMontrose'scampatthisperiod。Hewasjoined,however,byabodyofforcesofmorecongenialspirit,andfarbetteradaptedtothesituationinwhichhefoundhimself。ThisreinforcementconsistedofalargebodyofHighlanders,whomColkitto,dispatchedforthatpurpose,hadleviedinArgyleshire。AmongthemostdistinguishedwasJohnofMoidart,calledtheCaptainofClanRanald,withtheStewartsofAppin,theClanGregor,theClanM'Nab,andothertribesofinferiordistinction。Bythesemeans,Montrose'sarmywassoformidablyincreased,thatArgylecarednolongertoremaininthecommandofthatopposedtohim,butreturnedtoEdinburgh,andtherethrewuphiscommission,underpretencethathisarmywasnotsuppliedwithreinforcementsandprovisionsinthemannerinwhichtheyoughttohavebeen。FromthencetheMarquisreturnedtoInverary,there,infullsecurity,togovernhisfeudalvassals,andpatriarchalfollowers,andtoreposehimselfinsafetyonthefaithoftheClanproverbalreadyquoted——"ItisafarcrytoLochow。"
　　CHAPTERXVI。
　　Suchmountainssteep,suchcraggyhills,Hisarmyononesideenclose:
　　Theotherside,greatgrieslygillsDidfencewithfennymireandmoss。
　　WhichwhentheEarlunderstood,Hecouncilcravedofcaptainsall,Whobadesetforthwithmournfulmood,Andtakesuchfortuneaswouldfall。
　　FLODDENFIELD,ANANCIENTPOEM。