Montrosehadnowasplendidcareerinhisview,providedhecouldobtaintheconsentofhisgallant,butdesultorytroops,andtheirindependentchieftains。TheLowlandslayopenbeforehimwithoutanarmyadequatetocheckhiscareer;forArgyle'sfollowershadlefttheCovenanters'hostwhentheirmasterthrewuphiscommission,andmanyothertroops,tiredofthewar,hadtakenthesameopportunitytodisbandthemselves。BydescendingStrath—Tay,therefore,oneofthemostconvenientpassesfromtheHighlands,MontrosehadonlytopresenthimselfintheLowlands,inordertorousetheslumberingspiritofchivalryandofloyaltywhichanimatedthegentlementothenorthoftheForth。
　　Thepossessionofthesedistricts,withorwithoutavictory,wouldgivehimthecommandofawealthyandfertilepartofthekingdom,andwouldenablehim,byregularpay,toplacehisarmyonapermanentfooting,topenetrateasfarasthecapital,perhapsfromthencetotheBorder,wherehedeemeditpossibletocommunicatewiththeyetunsubduedforcesofKingCharles。
　　Suchwastheplanofoperationsbywhichthetruestglorywastobeacquired,andthemostimportantsuccessinsuredfortheroyalcause。AccordinglyitdidnotescapetheambitiousanddaringspiritofhimwhoseserviceshadalreadyacquiredhimthetitleoftheGreatMarquis。Butothermotivesactuatedmanyofhisfollowers,andperhapswerenotwithouttheirsecretandunacknowledgedinfluenceuponhisownfeelings。
　　TheWesternChiefsinMontrose'sarmy,almosttoaman,regardedtheMarquisofArgyleasthemostdirectandproperobjectofhostilities。Almostallofthemhadfelthispower;almostall,inwithdrawingtheirfenciblemenfromtheirownglens,lefttheirfamiliesandpropertyexposedtohisvengeance;all,withoutexception,weredesirousofdiminishinghissovereignty;
　　andmostofthemlaysonearhisterritories,thattheymightreasonablyhopetobegratifiedbyashareofhisspoil。TotheseChiefsthepossessionofInveraryanditscastlewasaneventinfinitelymoreimportantanddesirablethanthecaptureofEdinburgh。Thelattereventcouldonlyaffordtheirclansmenalittletransitorypayorplunder;theformerinsuredtotheChiefsthemselvesindemnityforthepast,andsecurityforthefuture。Besidesthesepersonalreasons,theleaders,whofavouredthisopinion,plausiblyurged,thatthough,athisfirstdescentintotheLowlands,Montrosemightbesuperiortotheenemy,yeteveryday'smarchhemadefromthehillsmustdiminishhisownforces,andexposehimtotheaccumulatedsuperiorityofanyarmywhichtheCovenanterscouldcollectfromtheLowlandleviesandgarrisons。Ontheotherhand,bycrushingArgyleeffectually,hewouldnotonlypermithispresentwesternfriendstobringoutthatproportionoftheirforceswhichtheymustotherwiseleaveathomeforprotectionoftheirfamilies;butfarther,hewoulddrawtohisstandardseveraltribesalreadyfriendlytohiscause,butwhowerepreventedfromjoininghimbyfearofM'CallumMore。
　　Thesearguments,aswehavealreadyhinted,foundsomethingresponsiveinMontrose'sownbosom,notquiteconsonantwiththegeneralheroismofhischaracter。ThehousesofArgyleandMontrosehadbeeninformertimes,repeatedlyopposedtoeachotherinwarandinpolitics,andthesuperioradvantagesacquiredbytheformer,hadmadethemthesubjectofenvyanddisliketotheneighbouringfamily,who,consciousofequaldesert,hadnotbeensorichlyrewarded。Thiswasnotall。Theexistingheadsoftheserivalfamilieshadstoodinthemostmarkedoppositiontoeachothersincethecommencementofthepresenttroubles。
　　Montrose,consciousofthesuperiorityofhistalents,andofhavingrenderedgreatservicetotheCovenantersatthebeginningofthewar,hadexpectedfromthatpartythesupereminenceofcouncilandcommand,whichtheyjudgeditsafertointrusttothemorelimitedfaculties,andmoreextensivepower,ofhisrivalArgyle。Thehavingawardedthispreference,wasaninjurywhichMontroseneverforgavetheCovenanters;andhewasstilllesslikelytoextendhispardontoArgyle,towhomhehadbeenpostponed。Hewasthereforestimulatedbyeveryfeelingofhatredwhichcouldanimateafierytemperinafierceage,toseekforrevengeupontheenemyofhishouseandperson;anditisprobablethattheseprivatemotivesoperatednotalittleuponhismind,whenhefoundtheprincipalpartofhisfollowersdeterminedrathertoundertakeanexpeditionagainsttheterritoriesofArgyle,thantotakethefarmoredecisivestepofdescendingatonceintotheLowlands。
　　YetwhatevertemptationMontrosefoundtocarryintoeffecthisattackuponArgyleshire,hecouldnoteasilybringhimselftorenouncethesplendidachievementofadescentupontheLowlands。
　　HeheldmorethanonecouncilwiththeprincipalChiefs,combating,perhaps,hisownsecretinclinationaswellastheirs。
　　HelaidbeforethemtheextremedifficultyofmarchingevenaHighlandarmyfromtheeastwardintoArgyleshire,throughpassesscarcelypracticableforshepherdsanddeer—stalkers,andovermountains,withwhicheventheclanslyingnearesttothemdidnotpretendtobethoroughlyacquainted。Thesedifficultiesweregreatlyenhancedbytheseasonoftheyear,whichwasnowadvancingtowardsDecember,whenthemountain—passes,inthemselvessodifficult,mightbeexpectedtoberenderedutterlyimpassablebysnowstorms。TheseobjectionsneithersatisfiednorsilencedtheChiefs,whoinsistedupontheirancientmodeofmakingwar,bydrivingthecattle,which,accordingtotheGaelicphrase,"feduponthegrassoftheirenemy。"Thecouncilwasdismissedlateatnight,andwithoutcomingtoanydecision,exceptingthattheChiefs,whosupportedtheopinionthatArgyleshouldbeinvaded,promisedtoseekoutamongtheirfollowersthosewhomightbemostcapableofundertakingtheofficeofguidesupontheexpedition。
　　Montrosehadretiredtothecabinwhichservedhimforatent,andstretchedhimselfuponabedofdryfern,theonlyplaceofreposewhichitafforded。Buthecourtedsleepinvain,forthevisionsofambitionexcludedthoseofMorpheus。InonemomentheimaginedhimselfdisplayingtheroyalbannerfromthereconqueredCastleofEdinburgh,detachingassistancetoamonarchwhosecrowndependeduponhissuccess,andreceivinginrequitalalltheadvantagesandprefermentswhichcouldbeheapeduponhimwhomakingdelightethtohonour。Atanothertimethisdream,splendidasitwas,fadedbeforethevisionofgratifiedvengeance,andpersonaltriumphoverapersonalenemy。TosurpriseArgyleinhisstrongholdofInverary——tocrushinhimatoncetherivalofhisownhouseandthechiefsupportofthePresbyterians——toshowtheCovenantersthedifferencebetweenthepreferredArgyleandthepostponedMontrose,wasapicturetooflatteringtofeudalvengeancetobeeasilyrelinquished。
　　Whilehelaythusbusiedwithcontradictorythoughtsandfeelings,thesoldierwhostoodsentineluponhisquartersannouncedtotheMarquisthattwopersonsdesiredtospeakwithhisExcellency。
　　"Theirnames？"answeredMontrose,"andthecauseoftheirurgencyatsuchalatehour？"
　　Onthesepoints,thesentinel,whowasoneofColkitto'sIrishmen,couldaffordhisGenerallittleinformation;sothatMontrose,whoatsuchaperioddurstrefuseaccesstonoone,lesthemighthavebeenneglectingsomeimportantintelligence,gavedirections,asanecessaryprecaution,toputtheguardunderarms,andthenpreparedtoreceivehisuntimelyvisitors。
　　Hisgroomofthechambershadscarcelightedapairoftorches,andMontrosehimselfhadscarcerisenfromhiscouch,whentwomenentered,onewearingaLowlanddress,ofshamoyleatherwornalmosttotatters;theotheratalluprightoldHighlander,ofacomplexionwhichmightbetermediron—grey,wastedandwornbyfrostandtempest。
　　"Whatmaybeyourcommandswithme,myfriends？"saidtheMarquis,hishandalmostunconsciouslyseekingthebutofoneofhispistols;fortheperiod,aswellasthetimeofnight,warrantedsuspicionswhichthegoodmienofhisvisitorswasnotbyanymeanscalculatedtoremove。
　　"Iprayleavetocongratulateyou,"saidtheLowlander,"mymostnobleGeneral,andrighthonourablelord,uponthegreatbattleswhichyouhaveachievedsinceIhadthefortunetobedetachedfromyou,ItwasaprettyaffairthattuilzieatTippermuir;
　　nevertheless,ifImightbepermittedtocounsel——"
　　"Beforedoingso,"saidtheMarquis,"willyoubepleasedtoletmeknowwhoissokindastofavourmewithhisopinion？"
　　"Truly,mylord,"repliedtheman,"Ishouldhavehopedthatwasunnecessary,seeingitisnotsolongsinceItookoninyourservice,underpromiseofacommissionasMajor,withhalfadollarofdailypayandhalfadollarofarrears;andIamtotrustyourlordshiphasnutforgottenmypayaswellasmyperson？"
　　"Mygoodfriend,MajorDalgetty,"saidMontrose,whobythistimeperfectlyrecollectedhisman,"youmustconsiderwhatimportantthingshavehappenedtoputmyfriends'facesoutofmymemory,besidesthisimperfectlight;butallconditionsshallbekept。
　　——AndwhatnewsfromArgyleshire,mygoodMajor？Wehavelonggivenyouupforlost,andIwasnowpreparingtotakethemostsignalvengeanceupontheoldfoxwhoinfringedthelawofarmsinyourperson。"
　　"Truly,mynoblelord,"saidDalgetty,"Ihavenodesirethatmyreturnshouldputanystoptosoproperandbecominganintention;verilyitisinnoshapeintheEarlofArgyle'sfavourormercythatInowstandbeforeyou,andIshallbenointercessorforhim。Butmyescapeis,underHeaven,andtheexcellentdexteritywhich,asanoldandaccomplishedcavalier,I
　　displayedineffectingthesame,——Isay,underthese,itisowingtotheassistanceofthisoldHighlander,whomIventuretorecommendtoyourlordship'sspecialfavour,astheinstrumentofsavingyourlordship'stocommand,DugaldDalgettyofDrumthwacket。"
　　"Athankworthyservice,"saidtheMarquis,gravely,"whichshallcertainlyberequitedinthemanneritdeserves。"
　　"Kneeldown,Ranald,"saidMajorDalgetty（aswemustnowcallhim）,"kneeldown,andkisshisExcellency'shand。"
　　TheprescribedformofacknowledgmentnotbeingaccordingtothecustomofRanald'scountry,hecontentedhimselfwithfoldinghisarmsonhisbosom,andmakingalowinclinationofhishead。
　　"Thispoorman,mylord,"saidMajorDalgetty,continuinghisspeechwithadignifiedairofprotectiontowardsRanaldM'Eagh,"hasstrainedallhisslendermeanstodefendmypersonfrommineenemies,althoughhavingnobetterweaponsofamissilesortthanbowsandarrows,whilkyourlordshipwillhardlybelieve。"
　　"Youwillseeagreatmanysuchweaponsinmycamp,"saidMontrose,"andwefindthemserviceable。"[Infact,fortheadmirersofarcheryitmaybestated,notonlythatmanyoftheHighlandersinMontrose'sarmyusedtheseantiquemissiles,buteveninEnglandthebowandquiver,oncethegloryoftheboldyeomenofthatland,wereoccasionallyusedduringthegreatcivilwars。]
　　"Serviceable,mylord！"saidDalgetty;"Itrustyourlordshipwillpermitmetobesurprised——bowsandarrows！——Itrustyouwillforgivemyrecommendingthesubstitutionofmuskets,thefirstconvenientopportunity。Butbesidesdefendingme,thishonestHighlanderalsowasatthepainsofcuringme,inrespectthatIhadgotatouchofthewarsinmyretreat,whichmeritsmybestrequitalinthisspecialintroductionofhimtoyourlordship'snoticeandprotection。"
　　"Whatisyourname,myfriend？"saidMontrose,turningtotheHighlander。
　　"Itmaynotbespoken,"answeredthemountaineer。
　　"Thatistosay,"interpretedMajorDalgetty,"hedesirestohavehisnameconcealed,inrespecthehathinformerdaystakenacastle,slaincertainchildren,anddoneotherthings,whilk,asyourgoodlordshipknows,areoftenpractisedinwartime,butexcitenobenevolencetowardstheperpetratorinthefriendsofthosewhosustaininjury。Ihaveknown,inmymilitaryexperience,manybravecavaliersputtodeathbytheboors,simplyforhavingusedmilitarylicenseuponthecountry。"
　　"Iunderstand,"saidMontrose:"Thispersonisatfeudwithsomeofourfollowers。Lethimretiretothecourtofguard,andwewillthinkofthebestmodeofprotectinghim。"
　　"Youhear,Ranald,"saidMajorDalgetty,withanairofsuperiority,"hisExcellencywishestoholdprivycouncilwithme,youmustgotothecourtofguard。——Hedoesnotknowwherethatis,poorfellow！——heisayoungsoldierforsooldaman;I
　　willputhimunderthechargeofasentinel,andreturntoyourlordshipincontinent。"Hedidso,andreturnedaccordingly。
　　Montrose'sfirstenquiryrespectedtheembassytoInverary;andhelistenedwithattentiontoDalgetty'sreply,notwithstandingtheprolixityoftheMajor'snarrative。ItrequiredaneffortfromtheMarquistomaintainhisattention;butnoonebetterknew,thatwhereinformationistobederivedfromthereportofsuchagentsasDalgetty,itcanonlybeobtainedbysufferingthemtotelltheirstoryintheirownway。AccordinglytheMarquis'spatiencewasatlengthrewarded。AmongotherspoilswhichtheCaptainthoughthimselfatlibertytotake,wasapacketofArgyle'sprivatepapers。TheseheconsignedtothehandsofhisGeneral;ahumourofaccounting,however,whichwentnofarther,forIdonotunderstandthathemadeanymentionofthepurseofgoldwhichhehadappropriatedatthesametimethathemadeseizureofthepapersaforesaid。Snatchingatorchfromthewall,Montrosewasinaninstantdeeplyengagedintheperusalofthesedocuments,inwhichitisprobablehefoundsomethingtoanimatehispersonalresentmentagainsthisrivalArgyle。
　　"Doeshenotfearme？"saidhe;"thenheshallfeelme。WillhefiremycastleofMurdoch？——Inveraryshallraisethefirstsmoke。——OforaguidethroughtheskirtsofStrath—Fillan！"
　　WhatevermightbeDalgetty'spersonalconceit,heunderstoodhisbusinesssufficientlytoguessatMontrose'smeaning。Heinstantlyinterruptedhisownprolixnarrationoftheskirmishwhichhadtakenplace,andthewoundhehadreceivedinhisretreat,andbegantospeaktothepointwhichhesawinterestedhisGeneral。
　　"If,"saidhe,"yourExcellencywishestomakeaninfallintoArgyleshire,thispoorman,Ranald,ofwhomItoldyou,togetherwithhischildrenandcompanions,knoweverypassintothatland,bothleadingfromtheeastandfromthenorth。"
　　"Indeed！"saidMontrose;"whatreasonhaveyoutobelievetheirknowledgesoextensive？"
　　"SopleaseyourExcellency,"answeredDalgetty,"duringtheweeksthatIremainedwiththemforcureofmywound,theywererepeatedlyobligedtoshifttheirquarters,inrespectofArgyle'srepeatedattemptstorepossesshimselfofthepersonofanofficerwhowashonouredwithYourExcellency'sconfidence;sothatIhadoccasiontoadmirethesingulardexterityandknowledgeofthefaceofthecountrywithwhichtheyalternatelyachievedtheirretreatandtheiradvance;andwhen,atlength,I
　　wasabletorepairtoyourExcellency'sstandard,thishonestsimplecreature,RanaldMacEagh,guidedmebypathswhichmysteedGustavus（whichyourlordshipmayremember）trodewithperfectsafety,sothatIsaidtomyself,thatwhereguides,spies,orintelligencers,wererequiredinaHighlandcampaigninthatwesterncountry,moreexpertpersonsthanheandhisattendantscouldnotpossiblybedesired。"
　　"Andcanyouanswerforthisman'sfidelity？"saidMontrose;
　　"whatishisnameandcondition？"
　　"Heisanoutlawandrobberbyprofession,somethingalsoofahomicideormurderer,"answeredDalgetty;"andbyname,calledRanaldMacEagh;whilksignifies,Ranald,theSonoftheMist。"
　　"Ishouldremembersomethingofthatname,"saidMontrose,pausing:"DidnottheseChildrenoftheMistperpetratesomeactofcrueltyupontheM'Aulays？"
　　MajorDalgettymentionedthecircumstanceofthemurderoftheforester,andMontrose'sactivememoryatoncerecalledallthecircumstancesofthefeud。
　　"Itismostunlucky,"saidMontrose,"thisinexpiablequarrelbetweenthesemenandtheM'Aulays。Allanhasbornehimselfbravelyinthesewars,andpossesses,bythewildmysteryofhisbehaviourandlanguage,somuchinfluenceoverthemindsofhiscountrymen,thattheconsequencesofdisobliginghimmightbeserious。Atthesametime,thesemenbeingsocapableofrenderingusefulservice,andbeingasyousay,MajorDalgetty,perfectlytrustworthy——"
　　"Iwillpledgemypayandarrears,myhorseandarms,myheadandneck,upontheirfidelity,"saidtheMajor;"andyourExcellencyknows,thatasoldadocouldsaynomoreforhisownfather。"
　　"True,"saidMontrose;"butasthisisamatterofparticularmoment,Iwouldwillinglyknowthegroundsofsopositiveanassurance。"
　　"Conciselythen,mylord,"saidtheMajor,"notonlydidtheydisdaintoprofitbyahandsomerewardwhichArgyledidmethehonourtoplaceuponthispoorheadofmine,andnotonlydidtheyabstainfrompillagingmypersonalproperty,whilkwastoanamountthatwouldhavetemptedregularsoldiersinanyserviceofEurope;andnotonlydidtheyrestorememyhorse,whilkyourExcellencyknowstobeofvalue,butIcouldnotprevailonthemtoacceptonestiver,doit,ormaravedi,forthetroubleandexpensesofmysickbed。Theyactuallyrefusedmycoinedmoneywhenfreelyoffered,——ataleseldomtobetoldinaChristianland。"
　　"Iadmit,"saidMontrose,afteramoment'sreflection,"thattheirconducttowardsyouisgoodevidenceoftheirfidelity;buthowtosecureagainstthebreakingoutofthisfeud？"Hepaused,andthensuddenlyadded,"IhadforgotIhavesupped,whileyou,Major,havebeentravellingbymoonlight。"
　　Hecalledtohisattendantstofetchastoupofwineandsomerefreshments。MajorDalgetty,whohadtheappetiteofaconvalescentreturnedfromHighlandquarters,needednotanypressingtopartakeofwhatwassetbeforehim,butproceededtodispatchhisfoodwithsuchalacrity,thattheMarquis,fillingacupofwine,anddrinkingtohishealth,couldnothelpremarking,thatcoarseastheprovisionsofhiscampwere,hewasafraidMajorDalgettyhadfaredmuchworseduringhisexcursionintoArgyleshire。
　　"YourExcellencymaytakeyourcorporaloathuponthat,"saidtheworthyMajor,speakingwithhismouthfull;"forArgyle'sbreadandwaterareyetstaleandmouldyinmyrecollection,andthoughtheydidtheirbest,yettheviandsthattheChildrenoftheMistprocuredforme,poorhelplesscreaturesastheywere,weresounrefreshfultomybody,thatwhenenclosedinmyarmour,whilkI
　　wasfaintoleavebehindmeforexpedition'ssake,IrattledthereinliketheshrivelledkernelinanutthathathbeenkeptontoasecondHallowe'en。"
　　"Youmusttaketheduemeanstorepairtheselosses,MajorDalgetty。"
　　"Introth,"answeredthesoldier,"Ishallhardlybeabletocompassthat,unlessmyarrearsaretobeexchangedforpresentpay;forIprotesttoyourExcellency,thatthethreestoneweightwhichIhavelostweresimplyraisedupontheregularaccountingsoftheStatesofHolland。"
　　"Inthatcase,"saidtheMarquis,"youareonlyreducedtogoodmarchingorder。Asforthepay,letusoncehavevictory——
　　victory,Major,andyourwishes,andallourwishes,shallbeamplyfulfilled。Meantime,helpyourselftoanothercupofwine。"
　　"ToyourExcellency'shealth,"saidtheMajor,fillingacuptothebrim,toshowthezealwithwhichhedrankthetoast,"andvictoryoverallourenemies,andparticularlyoverArgyle！I
　　hopetotwitchanotherhandfulfromhisboardmyself——Ihavehadonepluckatitalready。"
　　"Verytrue,"answeredMontrose;"buttoreturntothosemenoftheMist。Youunderstand,Dalgetty,thattheirpresencehere,andthepurposeforwhichweemploythem,isasecretbetweenyouandme？"
　　Delighted,asMontrosehadanticipated,withthismarkofhisGeneral'sconfidence,theMajorlaidhishanduponhisnose,andnoddedintelligence。
　　"HowmanymaytherebeofRanald'sfollowers？"continuedtheMarquis。
　　"Theyarereduced,sofarasIknow,tosomeeightortenmen,"
　　answeredMajorDalgetty,"andafewwomenandchildren。"
　　"Wherearetheynow？"demandedMontrose。
　　"Inavalley,atthreemiles'distance,"answeredthesoldier,"awaitingyourExcellency'scommand;IjudgeditnotfittobringthemtoyourleaguerwithoutyourExcellency'sorders。"
　　"Youjudgedverywell,"saidMontrose;"itwouldbeproperthattheyremainwheretheyare,orseeksomemoredistantplaceofrefuge。Iwillsendthemmoney,thoughitisascarcearticlewithmeatpresent。"
　　"Itisquiteunnecessary,"saidMajorDalgetty;"yourExcellencyhasonlytohintthattheM'Aulaysaregoinginthatdirection,andmyfriendsoftheMistwillinstantlymakevolte—face,andgototherightabout。"
　　"Thatwerescarcecourteous,"saidtheMarquis。"Bettersendthemafewdollarstopurchasethemsomecattleforthesupportofthewomenandchildren。"
　　"Theyknowhowtocomebytheircattleatafarcheaperrate,"
　　saidtheMajor;"butletitbeasyourExcellencywills。"
　　"LetRanaldMacEagh,"saidMontrose,"selectoneortwoofhisfollowers,menwhomhecantrust,andwhoarecapableofkeepingtheirownsecretandours;these,withtheirchiefforscout—
　　master—general,shallserveforourguides。Letthembeatmytentto—morrowatdaybreak,andsee,ifpossible,thattheyneitherguessmypurpose,norholdanycommunicationwitheachotherinprivate。——Thisoldman,hasheanychildren？"
　　"Theyhavebeenkilledorhanged,"answeredtheMajor,"tothenumberofarounddozen,asIbelieve——buthehathleftonegrand—child,asmartandhopefulyouth,whomIhavenotedtobeneverwithoutapebbleinhisplaid—nook,toflingatwhatsoevermightcomeinhisway;beingasymbol,that,likeDavid,whowasaccustomedtoslingsmoothstonestakenfromthebrook,hemayafterwardsproveanadventurouswarrior。"
　　"Thatboy,MajorDalgetty,"saidtheMarquis,"Iwillhavetoattenduponmyownperson。Ipresumehewillhavesenseenoughtokeephisnamesecret？"
　　"YourExcellencyneednotfearthat,"answeredDalgetty;"theseHighlandimps,fromthemomenttheychiptheshell——"
　　"Well,"interruptedMontrose,"thatboyshallbepledgeforthefidelityofhisparent,andifheprovefaithful,thechild'sprefermentshallbehisreward。——Andnow,MajorDalgetty,Iwilllicenseyourdepartureforthenight;tomorrowyouwillintroducethisMacEagh,underanynameorcharacterhemaypleasetoassume。Ipresumehisprofessionhasrenderedhimsufficientlyexpertinallsortofdisguises;orwemayadmitJohnofMoidartintoourschemes,whohassense,practicability,andintelligence,andwillprobablyallowthismanforatimetobedisguisedasoneofhisfollowers。Foryou,Major,mygroomofthechamberswillbeyourquarter—masterforthisevening。"
　　MajorDalgettytookhisleavewithajoyfulheartgreatlyelatedwiththereceptionhehadmetwith,andmuchpleasedwiththepersonalmannersofhisnewGeneral,which,asheexplainedatgreatlengthtoRanaldMacEagh,remindedhiminmanyrespectsofthedemeanouroftheimmortalGustavusAdolphus,theLionoftheNorth,andBulwarkoftheProtestantFaith。
　　CHAPTERXVII。
　　Themarchbeginsinmilitarystate,Andnationsonhiseyessuspendedwait;
　　Sternfamineguardsthesolitarycoast,Andwinterbarricadestherealmsoffrost。
　　Hecomes,——norwant,norcold,hiscoursedelay。
　　VANITYOFHUMANWISHES。
　　BybreakofdayMontrosereceivedinhiscabinoldMacEagh,andquestionedhimlongandparticularlyastothemeansofapproachingthecountryofArgyle。Hemadeanoteofhisanswers,whichhecomparedwiththoseoftwoofhisfollowers,whomheintroducedasthemostprudentandexperienced。Hefoundthemtocorrespondinallrespects;but,stillunsatisfiedwhereprecautionwassonecessary,theMarquiscomparedtheinformationhehadreceivedwiththathewasabletocollectfromtheChiefswholaymostneartothedestinedsceneofinvasion,andbeinginallrespectssatisfiedofitsaccuracy,heresolvedtoproceedinfullrelianceuponit。
　　InonepointMontrosechangedhismind。HavingjudgeditunfittotaketheboyKennethintohisownservice,lest,incaseofhisbirthbeingdiscovered,itshouldberesentedasanoffencebythenumerousclanswhoentertainedafeudalenmitytothisdevotedfamily,herequestedtheMajortotakehiminattendanceuponhimself;andasheaccompaniedthisrequestwithahandsomeDOUCEUR,underpretenceofclothingandequippingthelad,thischangewasagreeabletoallparties。
　　Itwasaboutbreakfast—time,whenMajorDalgetty,beingdismissedbyMontrose,wentinquestofhisoldacquaintances,LordMenteithandtheM'Aulays,towhomhelongedtocommunicatehisownadventures,aswellastolearnfromthemtheparticularsofthecampaign。Itmaybeimaginedhewasreceivedwithgreatgleebymentowhomthelateuniformityoftheirmilitarylifehadrenderedanychangeofsocietyaninterestingnovelty。AllanM'Aulayaloneseemedtorecoilfromhisformeracquaintance,although,whenchallengedbyhisbrother,hecouldrendernootherreasonthanareluctancetobefamiliarwithonewhohadbeensolatelyinthecompanyofArgyle,andotherenemies。
　　MajorDalgettywasalittlealarmedbythissortofinstinctiveconsciousnesswhichAllanseemedtoentertainrespectingthesocietyhehadbeenlatelykeeping;hewassoonsatisfied,however,thattheperceptionsoftheseerinthisparticularwerenotinfallible。