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。