"Atleast,letmenotinterruptyourharmony,Annot,"saidLordMenteith,"thoughmyarrivalmaybreeddiscordelsewhere。MycousinAllanneedstheassistanceofyourvoiceandmusic。"
　　"Mypreserver,"saidAnnotLyle,"hasarighttomypoorexertions;andyou,too,mylord,——you,too,aremypreserver,andwerethemostactivetosavealifethatisworthlessenough,unlessitcanbenefitmyprotectors。"
　　Sosaying,shesatedownatalittledistanceuponthebenchonwhichAllanM'Aulaywasplaced,andtuningherclairshach,asmallharp,aboutthirtyinchesinheight,sheaccompanieditwithhervoice。TheairwasanancientGaelicmelody,andthewords,whichweresupposedtobeveryold,wereinthesamelanguage;butwesubjoinatranslationofthem,bySecundusMacpherson,Esq。ofGlenforgen,which,althoughsubmittedtothefettersofEnglishrhythm,wetrustwillbefoundnearlyasgenuineastheversionofOssianbyhiscelebratednamesake。
　　"Birdsofomendarkandfoul,Night—crow,raven,bat,andowl,Leavethesickmantohisdream——
　　Allnightlongheheardyourscream——
　　Hastetocaveandruin'dtower,Ivy,tod,ordingledbower,Theretowinkandmope,for,hark！
　　Inthemidairsingsthelark。
　　"Hietomoorishgillsandrocks,Prowlingwolfandwilyfox,——
　　Hieyoufast,norturnyourview,Thoughthelambbleatstotheewe。
　　Couchyourtrains,andspeedyourflight,Safetypartswithpartingnight;
　　Andondistantechoborne,Comesthehunter'searlyhorn。
　　"Themoon'swancrescentscarcelygleams,Ghost—likeshefadesinmorningbeams;
　　Hiehenceeachpeevishimpandfay,Thatscarethepilgrimonhisway:——
　　Quench,kelpy！quench,inbogandfen,Thytorchthatcheatsbenightedmen;
　　Thydanceiso'er,thyreignisdone,ForBenyieglohathseenthesun。
　　"Wildthoughts,that,sinful,dark,anddeep,O'erpowerthepassivemindinsleep,Passfromtheslumberer'ssoulaway,Likenight—mistsfromthebrowofday:
　　Foulhag,whoseblastedvisagegrimSmothersthepulse,unnervesthelimb,Spurthydarkpalfrey,andbegone！
　　Thoudarestnotfacethegodlikesun。"
　　Asthestrainproceeded,AllanM'Aulaygraduallygavesignsofrecoveringhispresenceofmind,andattentiontotheobjectsaroundhim。Thedeep—knitfurrowsofhisbrowrelaxedandsmoothedthemselves;andtherestofhisfeatures,whichhadseemedcontortedwithinternalagony,relapsedintoamorenaturalstate。Whenheraisedhisheadandsatupright,hiscountenance,thoughstilldeeplymelancholy,wasdivestedofitswildnessandferocity;andinitscomposedstate,althoughbynomeanshandsome,theexpressionofhisfeatureswasstriking,manly,andevennoble。Histhick,browneyebrows,whichhadhithertobeendrawnclosetogether,werenowslightlyseparated,asinthenaturalstate;andhisgreyeyes,whichhadrolledandflashedfromunderthemwithanunnaturalandportentousgleam,nowrecoveredasteadyanddeterminedexpression。
　　"ThankGod！"hesaid,aftersittingsilentforaboutaminute,untiltheverylastsoundsoftheharphadceasedtovibrate,"mysoulisnolongerdarkened——themisthathpassedfrommyspirit。"
　　"Youowethanks,cousinAllan,"saidLordMenteith,comingforward,"toAnnotLyle,aswellastoheaven,forthishappychangeinyourmelancholymood。"
　　"MynoblecousinMenteith,"saidAllan,risingandgreetinghimveryrespectfully,aswellaskindly,"hasknownmyunhappycircumstancessolong,thathisgoodnesswillrequirenoexcuseformybeingthuslateinbiddinghimwelcometothecastle。"
　　"Wearetoooldacquaintances,Allan,"saidLordMenteith,"andtoogoodfriends,tostandontheceremonialofoutwardgreeting;
　　buthalftheHighlandswillbehereto—day,andyouknow,withourmountainChiefs,ceremonymustnotbeneglected。WhatwillyougivelittleAnnotformakingyoufitcompanytomeetEvanDhu,andIknownothowmanybonnetsandfeathers？"
　　"Whatwillhegiveme？"saidAnnot,smiling;"nothingless,I
　　hope,thanthebestribbonattheFairofDoune。"
　　"TheFairofDoune,Annot？"saidAllansadly;"therewillbebloodyworkbeforethatday,andImayneverseeit;butyouhavewellremindedmeofwhatIhavelongintendedtodo。"
　　Havingsaidthis,helefttheroom。
　　"Shouldhetalklonginthismanner,"saidLordMenteith,"youmustkeepyourharpintune,mydearAnnot。"
　　"Ihopenot,"saidAnnot,anxiously;"thisfithasbeenalongone,andprobablywillnotsoonreturn。Itisfearfultoseeamind,naturallygenerousandaffectionate,afflictedbythisconstitutionalmalady。"
　　Asshespokeinalowandconfidentialtone,LordMenteithnaturallydrewclose,andstoopedforward,thathemightthebettercatchthesenseofwhatshesaid。WhenAllansuddenlyenteredtheapartment,theyasnaturallydrewbackfromeachotherwithamannerexpressiveofconsciousness,asifsurprisedinaconversationwhichtheywishedtokeepsecretfromhim。
　　ThisdidnotescapeAllan'sobservation;hestoptshortatthedooroftheapartment——hisbrowswerecontracted——hiseyesrolled;butitwasonlytheparoxysmofamoment。Hepassedhisbroadsinewyhandacrosshisbrow,asiftoobliteratethesesignsofemotion,andadvancedtowardsAnnot,holdinginhishandaverysmallboxmadeofoakwood,curiouslyinlaid。"Itakeyoutowitness,"hesaid,"cousinMenteith,thatIgivethisboxanditscontentstoAnnotLyle。Itcontainsafewornamentsthatbelongedtomypoormother——oftriflingvalue,youmayguess,forthewifeofaHighlandlairdhasseldomarichjewel—casket。"
　　"Buttheseornaments,"saidAnnotLyle,gentlyandtimidlyrefusingthebox,"belongtothefamily——Icannotaccept——"
　　"Theybelongtomealone,Annot,"saidAllan,interruptingher;
　　"theyweremymother'sdyingbequest。TheyareallIcancallmyown,exceptmyplaidandmyclaymore。Takethem,therefore——theyaretomevaluelesstrinkets——andkeepthemformysake——shouldI
　　neverreturnfromthesewars。"
　　Sosaying,heopenedthecase,andpresentedittoAnnot。"If,"
　　saidhe,"theyareofanyvalue,disposeofthemforyourownsupport,whenthishousehasbeenconsumedwithhostilefire,andcannolongeraffordyouprotection。ButkeeponeringinmemoryofAllan,whohasdone,torequiteyourkindness,ifnotallhewished,atleastallhecould。"
　　AnnotLyleendeavouredinvaintorestrainthegatheringtears,whenshesaid,"ONEring,Allan,Iwillacceptfromyouasamemorialofyourgoodnesstoapoororphan,butdonotpressmetotakemore;forIcannot,andwillnot,acceptagiftofsuchdisproportionedvalue。"
　　"Makeyourchoice,then,"saidAllan;"yourdelicacymaybewellfounded;theotherswillassumeashapeinwhichtheymaybemoreusefultoyou。"
　　"Thinknotofit,"saidAnnot,choosingfromthecontentsofthecasketaring,apparentlythemosttriflinginvaluewhichitcontained;"keepthemforyourown,oryourbrother'sbride。
　　——But,goodheavens！"shesaid,interruptingherself,andlookingatthering,"whatisthisthatIhavechosen？"
　　Allanhastenedtolookuponit,witheyesofgloomyapprehension;
　　itbore,inenamel,adeath'sheadabovetwocrosseddaggers。
　　WhenAllanrecognisedthedevice,heutteredasighsodeep,thatshedroppedtheringfromherhand,whichrolleduponthefloor。
　　LordMenteithpickeditup,andreturnedittotheterrifiedAnnot。
　　"ItakeGodtowitness,"saidAllan,inasolemntone,"thatyourhand,younglord,andnotmine,hasagaindeliveredtoherthisill—omenedgift。Itwasthemourningringwornbymymotherinmemorialofhermurderedbrother。"
　　"Ifearnoomens,"saidAnnot,smilingthroughhertears;"andnothingcomingthroughthehandsofmytwopatrons,"soshewaswonttocallLordMenteithandAllan,"canbringbadlucktothepoororphan。"
　　Sheputtheringonherfinger,and,turningtoherharp,sung,toalivelyair,thefollowingversesofoneofthefashionablesongsoftheperiod,whichhadfounditsway,markedasitwaswiththequainthyperbolicaltasteofKingCharles'stime,fromsomecourtmasquetothewildsofPerthshire:——
　　"Gazenotuponthestars,fondsage,Inthemnoinfluencelies;
　　Toreadthefateofyouthorage,LookonmyHelen'seyes。
　　"Yet,rashastrologer,refrain！
　　ToodearlywouldbewonTheprescienceofanother'spain,Ifpurchasedbythineown。"
　　"Sheisright,Allan,"saidLordMenteith;"andthisendofanoldsongisworthallweshallgainbyourattempttolookintofuturity。"
　　"SheisWRONG,mylord,"saidAllan,sternly,"thoughyou,whotreatwithlightnessthewarningsIhavegivenyou,maynotlivetoseetheeventoftheomen。——laughnotsoscornfully,"headded,interruptinghimself"orratherlaughonasloudandaslongasyouwill;yourtermoflaughterwillfindapauseerelong。"
　　"Icarenotforyourvisions,Allan,"saidLordMenteith;howevershortmyspanoflife,theeyeofnoHighlandseercanseeitstermination。"
　　"Forheaven'ssake,"saidAnnotLyle,interruptinghim,"youknowhisnature,andhowlittlehecanendure——"
　　"Fearmenot,"saidAllan,interruptingher,——"mymindisnowconstantandcalm。——Butforyou,younglord,"saidhe,turningtoLordMenteith,"myeyehassoughtyouthroughfieldsofbattle,whereHighlandersandLowlanderslaystrewedasthickasevertherookssatonthoseancienttrees,"pointingtoarookerywhichwasseenfromthewindow——"myeyesoughtyou,butyourcorpsewasnotthere——myeyesoughtyouamongatrainofunresistinganddisarmedcaptives,drawnupwithintheboundingwallsofanancientandruggedfortress;——flashafterflash——platoonafterplatoon——thehostileshotfellamongstthem,Theydroppedlikethedryleavesinautumn,butyouwerenotamongtheirranks;
　　——scaffoldswereprepared——blockswerearranged,saw—dustwasspread——thepriestwasreadywithhisbook,theheadsmanwithhisaxe——butthere,too,mineeyefoundyounot。"
　　"Thegibbet,then,Isuppose,mustbemydoom？"saidLordMenteith。"YetIwishtheyhadsparedmethehalter,wereitbutforthedignityofthepeerage。"
　　Hespokethisscornfully,yetnotwithoutasortofcuriosity,andawishtoreceiveananswer;forthedesireofpryingintofuturityfrequentlyhassomeinfluenceevenonthemindsofthosewhodisavowallbeliefinthepossibilityofsuchpredictions。
　　"Yourrank,mylord,willsuffernodishonourinyourperson,orbythemannerofyourdeath。ThreetimeshaveIseenaHighlanderplanthisdirkinyourbosom——andsuchwillbeyourfate。"
　　"Iwishyouwoulddescribehimtome,"saidLordMenteith,"andI
　　shallsavehimthetroubleoffulfillingyourprophecy,ifhisplaidbepassibletoswordorpistol。"
　　"Yourweapons,"saidAllan,"wouldavailyoulittle;norcanI
　　giveyoutheinformationyoudesire。Thefaceofthevisionhasbeeneveravertedfromme。"
　　"Sobeitthen,"saidLordMenteith,"andletitrestintheuncertaintyinwhichyourauguryhasplacedit。Ishalldinenotthelessmerrilyamongplaids,anddirks,andkiltsto—day。"
　　"Itmaybeso,"saidAllan;"and,itmaybe,youdowelltoenjoythesemoments,whichtomearepoisonedbyauguriesoffutureevil。ButI,"hecontinued——"Irepeattoyou,thatthisweapon——thatis,suchaweaponasthis,"touchingthehiltofthedirkwhichhewore,"carriesyourfate。""Inthemeanwhile,"saidLordMenteith,"you,Allan,havefrightenedthebloodfromthecheeksofAnnotLyle——letusleavethisdiscourse,myfriend,andgotoseewhatwebothunderstand,——theprogressofourmilitarypreparations。"
　　TheyjoinedAngusM'AulayandhisEnglishguests,and,inthemilitarydiscussionswhichimmediatelytookplace,Allanshowedaclearnessofmind,strengthofjudgment,andprecisionofthought,totallyinconsistentwiththemysticallightinwhichhischaracterhasbeenhithertoexhibited。
　　CHAPTERVII。
　　WhenAlbinherclaymoreindignantlydraws,Whenherbonnetedchieftainsaroundhershallcrowd,Clan—Ranaldthedauntless,andMoraytheproud,Allplaidedandplumedintheirtartanarray——
　　LOCHEIL'SWARNING。
　　Whoeversawthatmorning,theCastleofDarnlinvarach,beheldabusyandagallantsight。
　　ThevariousChiefs,arrivingwiththeirdifferentretinues,which,notwithstandingtheirnumbers,formednomorethantheirusualequipageandbody—guarduponoccasionsofsolemnity,salutedthelordofthecastleandeachotherwithoverflowingkindness,orwithhaughtyanddistantpoliteness,accordingtothecircumstancesoffriendshiporhostilityinwhichtheirclanshadrecentlystoodtoeachother。EachChief,howeversmallhiscomparativeimportance,showedthefulldispositiontoexactfromtherestthedeferenceduetoaseparateandindependentprince;
　　whilethestrongerandmorepowerful,dividedamongthemselvesbyrecentcontentionsorancientfeuds,wereconstrainedinpolicytousegreatdeferencetothefeelingsoftheirlesspowerfulbrethren,inorder,incaseofneed,toattachasmanywell—
　　wishersasmightbetotheirowninterestandstandard。ThusthemeetingofChiefsresemblednotalittlethoseancientDietsoftheEmpire,wherethesmallestFREY—GRAF,whopossessedacastlepercheduponabarrencrag,withafewhundredacresaroundit,claimedthestateandhonoursofasovereignprince,andaseataccordingtohisrankamongthedignitariesoftheEmpire。
　　Thefollowersofthedifferentleaderswereseparatelyarrangedandaccommodated,asroomandcircumstancesbestpermitted,eachretaininghoweverhishenchman,whowaited,closeastheshadow,uponhisperson,toexecutewhatevermightberequiredbyhispatron。
　　Theexteriorofthecastleaffordedasingularscene。TheHighlanders,fromdifferentislands,glens,andstraths,eyedeachotheratadistancewithlooksofemulation,inquisitivecuriosity,orhostilemalevolence;butthemostastoundingpartoftheassembly,atleasttoaLowlandear,wastherivalperformanceofthebagpipers。Thesewarlikeminstrels,whohadthehighestopinion,each,ofthesuperiorityofhisowntribe,joinedtothemostoverweeningideaoftheimportanceconnectedwithhisprofession,atfirst,performedtheirvariouspibrochsinfronteachofhisownclan。Atlength,however,astheblack—
　　cockstowardstheendoftheseason,when,insportsman'slanguage,theyaresaidtoflockorcrowd,attractedtogetherbythesoundofeachothers'triumphantcrow,evensodidthepipers,swellingtheirplaidsandtartansinthesametriumphantmannerinwhichthebirdsruffleuptheirfeathers,begintoapproacheachotherwithinsuchdistanceasmightgivetotheirbrethrenasampleoftheirskill。Walkingwithinashortinterval,andeyeingeachotherwithlooksinwhichself—
　　importanceanddefiancemightbetraced,theystrutted,puffed,andpliedtheirscreaminginstruments,eachplayinghisownfavouritetunewithsuchadin,thatifanItalianmusicianhadlainburiedwithintenmilesofthem,hemusthaverisenfromthedeadtorunoutofhearing。
　　TheChieftainsmeanwhilehadassembledincloseconclaveinthegreathallofthecastle。AmongthemwerethepersonsofthegreatestconsequenceintheHighlands,someofthemattractedbyzealfortheroyalcause,andmanybyaversiontothatsevereandgeneraldominationwhichtheMarquisofArgyle,sincehisrisingtosuchinfluenceinthestate,hadexercisedoverhisHighlandneighbours。Thatstatesman,indeed,thoughpossessedofconsiderableabilities,andgreatpower,hadfailings,whichrenderedhimunpopularamongtheHighlandchiefs。Thedevotionwhichheprofessedwasofamoroseandfanaticalcharacter;hisambitionappearedtobeinsatiable,andinferiorchiefscomplainedofhiswantofbountyandliberality。Addtothis,thatalthoughaHighlander,andofafamilydistinguishedforvalourbeforeandsince,GillespieGrumach[GRUMACH——ill—
　　favored。]（which,fromanobliquityinhiseyes,wasthepersonaldistinctionheboreintheHighlands,wheretitlesofrankareunknown）wassuspectedofbeingabettermaninthecabinetthaninthefield。HeandhistribewereparticularlyobnoxioustotheM'DonaldsandtheM'Leans,twonumeroussepts,who,thoughdisunitedbyancientfeuds,agreedinanintensedisliketotheCampbells,or,astheywerecalled,theChildrenofDiarmid。
　　ForsometimetheassembledChiefsremainedsilent,untilsomeoneshouldopenthebusinessofthemeeting。Atlengthoneofthemostpowerfulofthemcommencedthedietbysaying,——"Wehavebeensummonedhither,M'Aulay,toconsultofweightymattersconcerningtheKing'saffairs,andthoseofthestate;andwecravetoknowbywhomtheyaretobeexplainedtous？"
　　M'Aulay,whosestrengthdidnotlieinoratory,intimatedhiswishthatLordMenteithshouldopenthebusinessofthecouncil。
　　Withgreatmodesty,andatthesametimewithspirit,thatyounglordsaid,"hewishedwhathewasabouttoproposehadcomefromsomepersonofbetterknownandmoreestablishedcharacter。
　　Since,however,itlaywithhimtobespokesman,hehadtostatetotheChiefsassembled,thatthosewhowishedtothrowoffthebaseyokewhichfanaticismhadendeavouredtowreathroundtheirnecks,hadnotamomenttolose。"TheCovenanters,"hesaid,"afterhavingtwicemadewarupontheirsovereign,andhavingextortedfromhimeveryrequest,reasonableorunreasonable,whichtheythoughtpropertodemand——aftertheirChiefshadbeenloadedwithdignitiesandfavours——afterhavingpubliclydeclared,whenhisMajesty,afteragraciousvisittothelandofhisnativity,wasuponhisreturntoEngland,thathereturnedacontentedkingfromacontentedpeople,——afterallthis,andwithouteventhepretextforanationalgrievance,thesamemenhave,upondoubtsandsuspicions,equallydishonourabletotheKing,andgroundlessinthemselves,detachedastrongarmytoassisthisrebelsinEngland,inaquarrelwithwhichScotlandhadnomoretodothanshehaswiththewarsinGermany。Itwaswell,"hesaid,"thattheeagernesswithwhichthistreasonablepurposewaspursued,hadblindedthejuntawhonowusurpedthegovernmentofScotlandtotheriskwhichtheywereabouttoincur。ThearmywhichtheyhaddispatchedtoEnglandunderoldLevencomprehendedtheirveteransoldiers,thestrengthofthosearmieswhichhadbeenleviedinScotlandduringthetwoformerwars——"
　　HereCaptainDalgettyendeavouredtorise,forthepurposeofexplaininghowmanyveteranofficers,trainedintheGermanwars,were,tohiscertainknowledge,inthearmyoftheEarlofLeven。
　　ButAllanM'Aulayholdinghimdowninhisseatwithonehand,pressedthefore—fingeroftheotheruponhisownlips,and,thoughwithsomedifficulty,preventedhisinterference。CaptainDalgettylookeduponhimwithaveryscornfulandindignantair,bywhichtheother'sgravitywasinnowaymoved,andLordMenteithproceededwithoutfartherinterruption。
　　"Themoment,"hesaid,"wasmostfavourableforalltrue—heartedandloyalScotchmentoshow,thatthereproachtheircountryhadlatelyundergonearosefromtheselfishambitionofafewturbulentandseditiousmen,joinedtotheabsurdfanaticismwhich,disseminatedfromfivehundredpulpits,hadspreadlikealand—floodovertheLowlandsofScotland。HehadlettersfromtheMarquisofHuntlyinthenorth,whichheshouldshowtotheChiefsseparately。Thatnobleman,equallyloyalandpowerfulwasdeterminedtoexerthisutmostenergyinthecommoncause,andthepowerfulEarlofSeaforthwaspreparedtojointhesamestandard。FromtheEarlofAirly,andtheOgilviesinAngusshire,hehadhadcommunicationsequallydecided;andtherewasnodoubtthatthese,who,withtheHays,Leiths,Burnets,andotherloyalgentlemen,wouldbesoononhorseback,wouldformabodyfarmorethansufficienttooverawethenorthernCovenanters,whohadalreadyexperiencedtheirvalourinthewell—knownroutwhichwaspopularlytermedtheTrotofTuriff。
　　SouthofForthandTay,"hesaid,"theKinghadmanyfriends,who,oppressedbyenforcedoaths,compulsatorylevies,heavytaxes,unjustlyimposedandunequallylevied,bythetyrannyoftheCommitteeofEstates,andtheinquisitorialinsolenceofthePresbyteriandivines,waitedbutthewavingoftheroyalbannertotakeuparms。Douglas,Traquair,Roxburgh,Hume,allfriendlytotheroyalcause,wouldcounterbalance,"hesaid,"thecovenantinginterestinthesouth;andtwogentlemen,ofnameandquality,herepresent,fromthenorthofEngland,wouldanswerforthezealofCumberland,Westmoreland,andNorthumberland。
　　AgainstsomanygallantgentlementhesouthernCovenanterscouldbutarmrawlevies;theWhigamoresofthewesternshires,andtheploughmenandmechanicsoftheLow—country。FortheWestHighlands,heknewnointerestwhichtheCovenanterspossessedthere,exceptthatofoneindividual,aswellknownashewasodious。Butwasthereasingleman,who,oncastinghiseyeroundthishall,andrecognisingthepower,thegallantry,andthedignityofthechiefsassembled,couldentertainamoment'sdoubtoftheirsuccessagainsttheutmostforcewhichGillespieGrumachcouldcollectagainstthem？Hehadonlyfarthertoadd,thatconsiderablefunds,bothofmoneyandammunition,hadbeenprovidedforthearmy"——（HereDalgettyprickeduphisears）——
　　"thatofficersofabilityandexperienceintheforeignwars,oneofwhomwasnowpresent,"（theCaptaindrewhimselfup,andlookedround,）"hadengagedtotrainsuchleviesasmightrequiretobedisciplined;——andthatanumerousbodyofauxiliaryforcesfromIreland,havingbeendetachedfromtheEarlofAntrim,fromUlster,hadsuccessfullyaccomplishedtheirdescentuponthemainland,and,withtheassistanceofClanranald'speople,havingtakenandfortifiedtheCastleofMingarry,inspiteofArgyle'sattemptstointerceptthem,wereinfullmarchtothisplaceofrendezvous。Itonlyremained,"hesaid,"thatthenobleChiefsassembled,layingasideeverylesserconsideration,shouldunite,heartandhand,inthecommoncause;sendthefierycrossthroughtheirclans,inordertocollecttheirutmostforce,andformtheirjunctionwithsuchcelerityastoleavetheenemynotime,eitherforpreparation,orrecoveryfromthepanicwhichwouldspreadatthefirstsoundoftheirpibroch。Hehimself,"hesaid,"thoughneitheramongtherichestnorthemostpowerfuloftheScottishnobility,feltthathehadtosupportthedignityofanancientandhonourablehouse,theindependenceofanancientandhonourablenation,andtothatcausehewasdeterminedtodevotebothlifeandfortune。Ifthosewhoweremorepowerfulwereequallyprompt,hetrustedtheywoulddeservethethanksoftheirKing,andthegratitudeofposterity。"
　　LoudapplausefollowedthisspeechofLordMenteith,andtestifiedthegeneralacquiescenceofallpresentinthesentimentswhichhehadexpressed;butwhentheshouthaddiedaway,theassembledChiefscontinuedtogazeuponeachotherasifsomethingyetremainedtobesettled。Aftersomewhispersamongthemselves,anagedman,whomhisgreyhairsrenderedrespectable,althoughhewasnotofthehighestorderofChiefs,repliedtowhathadbeensaid。