"ThaneofMenteith,"hesaid,"youhavewellspoken;noristhereoneofusinwhosebosomthesamesentimentsdonotburnlikefire。Butitisnotstrengthalonethatwinsthefight;itistheheadofthecommander,aswellasthearmofthesoldier,thatbringsvictory。Iaskofyouwhoistoraiseandsustainthebannerunderwhichweareinvitedtoriseandmusterourselves？Willitbeexpectedthatweshouldriskourchildren,andtheflowerofourkinsmen,ereweknowtowhoseguidancetheyaretobeintrusted？Thiswereleadingthosetoslaughter,whom,bythelawsofGodandman,itisourdutytoprotect。Whereistheroyalcommission,underwhichtheliegesaretobeconvocatedinarms？Simpleandrudeaswemaybedeemed,weknowsomethingoftheestablishedrulesofwar,aswellasofthelawsofourcountry;norwillwearmourselvesagainstthegeneralpeaceofScotland,unlessbytheexpresscommandsoftheKing,andunderaleaderfittocommandsuchmenasarehereassembled。"
　　"Wherewouldyoufindsuchaleader,"saidanotherChief,startingup,"savingtherepresentativeoftheLordoftheIsles,entitledbybirthandhereditarydescenttoleadforththearrayofeveryclanoftheHighlands;andwhereisthatdignitylodged,saveinthehouseofVichAlisterMore？"
　　"Iacknowledge,"saidanotherChief,eagerlyinterruptingthespeaker,"thetruthinwhathasbeenfirstsaid,butnottheinference。IfVichAlisterMoredesirestobeheldrepresentativeoftheLordoftheIsles,lethimfirstshowhisbloodisredderthanmine。"
　　"Thatissoontried,"saidVichAlisterMore,layinghishanduponthebaskethiltofhisclaymore。LordMenteiththrewhimselfbetweenthem,entreatingandimploringeachtorememberthattheinterestsofScotland,thelibertyoftheircountry,andthecauseoftheirKing,oughttobesuperiorintheireyestoanypersonaldisputesrespectingdescent,rank,andprecedence。
　　SeveraloftheHighlandChiefs,whohadnodesiretoadmittheclaimsofeitherchieftain,interferedtothesamepurpose,andnonewithmoreemphasisthanthecelebratedEvanDhu。
　　"Ihavecomefrommylakes,"hesaid,"asastreamdescendsfromthehills,nottoturnagain,buttoaccomplishmycourse。ItisnotbylookingbacktoourownpretensionsthatweshallserveScotlandorKingCharles。MyvoiceshallbeforthatgeneralwhomtheKingshallname,whowilldoubtlesspossessthosequalitieswhicharenecessarytocommandmenlikeus。High—bornhemustbe,orweshallloseourrankinobeyinghim——wiseandskilful,orweshallendangerthesafetyofourpeople——bravestamongthebrave,orweshallperilourownhonour——temperate,firm,andmanly,tokeepusunited。Suchisthemanthatmustcommandus。Areyouprepared,ThaneofMenteith,tosaywheresuchageneralistobefound？"
　　"ThereisbutONE,"saidAllanM'Aulay;"andhere,"hesaid,layinghishandupontheshoulderofAnderson,whostoodbehindLordMenteith,"herehestands！"
　　Thegeneralsurpriseofthemeetingwasexpressedbyanimpatientmurmur;whenAnderson,throwingbackthecloakinwhichhisfacewasmuffled,andsteppingforward,spokethus:——"Ididnotlongintendtobeasilentspectatorofthisinterestingscene,althoughmyhastyfriendhasobligedmetodisclosemyselfsomewhatsoonerthanwasmyintention。WhetherIdeservethehonourreposedinmebythisparchmentwillbestappearfromwhatIshallbeabletodofortheKing'sservice。Itisacommissionunderthegreatseal,toJamesGraham,EarlofMontrose,tocommandthoseforceswhicharetobeassembledfortheserviceofhisMajestyinthiskingdom。"
　　Aloudshoutofapprobationburstfromtheassembly。Therewas,infact,nootherpersontowhom,inpointofrank,theseproudmountaineerswouldhavebeendisposedtosubmit。HisinveterateandhereditaryhostilitytotheMarquisofArgyleinsuredhisengaginginthewarwithsufficientenergy,whilehiswell—knownmilitarytalents,andhistriedvalour,affordedeveryhopeofhisbringingittoafavourableconclusion。
　　CHAPTERVIII。
　　Ourplotisagoodplotaseverwaslaid;ourfriendstrueandconstant:agoodplot,goodfriends,andfullofexpectation:
　　anexcellentplot,verygoodfriends。HENRYIVPartI。
　　Nosoonerhadthegeneralacclamationofjoyfulsurprisesubsided,thansilencewaseagerlydemandedforreadingtheroyalcommission;andthebonnets,whichhithertoeachChiefhadworn,probablybecauseunwillingtobethefirsttouncover,werenowatoncevailedinhonouroftheroyalwarrant。Itwascouchedinthemostfullandampleterms,authorizingtheEarlofMontrosetoassemblethesubjectsinarms,fortheputtingdownthepresentrebellion,whichdiverstraitorsandseditiouspersonshadleviedagainsttheKing,tothemanifestforfaulture,asitstated,oftheirallegiance,andtothebreachofthepacificationbetweenthetwokingdoms。ItenjoinedallsubordinateauthoritiestobeobedientandassistingtoMontroseinhisenterprise;gavehimthepowerofmakingordinancesandproclamations,punishingmisdemeanours,pardoningcriminals,placinganddisplacinggovernorsandcommanders。Infine,itwasaslargeandfullacommissionasanywithwhichaprincecouldintrustasubject。Assoonasitwasfinished,ashoutburstfromtheassembledChiefs,intestimonyoftheirreadysubmissiontothewilloftheirsovereign。Notcontentedwithgenerallythankingthemforareceptionsofavourable,Montrosehastenedtoaddresshimselftoindividuals,ThemostimportantChiefshadalreadybeenlongpersonallyknowntohim,buteventothoseofinferiorconsequencehenowintroducedhimselfandbytheacquaintancehedisplayedwiththeirpeculiardesignations,andthecircumstancesandhistoryoftheirclans,heshowedhowlonghemusthavestudiedthecharacterofthemountaineers,andpreparedhimselfforsuchasituationashenowheld。
　　Whilehewasengagedintheseactsofcourtesy,hisgracefulmanner,expressivefeatures,anddignityofdeportment,madeasingularcontrastwiththecoarsenessandmeannessofhisdress。
　　Montrosepossessedthatsortofformandface,inwhichthebeholder,atthefirstglance,seesnothingextraordinary,butofwhichtheinterestbecomesmoreimpressivethelongerwegazeuponthem。Hisstaturewasverylittleabovethemiddlesize,butinpersonhewasuncommonlywell—built,andcapablebothofexertinggreatforce,andenduringmuchfatigue。Infact,heenjoyedaconstitutionofiron,withoutwhichhecouldnothavesustainedthetrialsofhisextraordinarycampaigns,throughallofwhichhesubjectedhimselftothehardshipsofthemeanestsoldier。Hewasperfectinallexercises,whetherpeacefulormartial,andpossessed,ofcourse,thatgracefuleaseofdeportmentpropertothosetowhomhabithasrenderedallpostureseasy。
　　Hislongbrownhair,accordingtothecustomofmenofqualityamongtheRoyalists,waspartedonthetopofhishead,andtrainedtohangdownoneachsideincurledlocks,oneofwhich,descendingtwoorthreeincheslowerthantheothers,intimatedMontrose'scompliancewiththatfashionagainstwhichitpleasedMr。Prynne,thepuritan,towriteatreatise,entitled,THE
　　UNLOVELINESSOFLOVE—LOCKS。Thefeatureswhichthesetressesenclosed,wereofthatkindwhichderivetheirinterestfromthecharacteroftheman,ratherthanfromtheregularityoftheirform。Butahighnose,afull,decided,well—opened,quickgreyeye,andasanguinecomplexion,madeamendsforsomecoarsenessandirregularityinthesubordinatepartsoftheface;sothat,altogether,Montrosemightbetermedratherahandsome,thanahard—featuredman。Butthosewhosawhimwhenhissoullookedthroughthoseeyeswithalltheenergyandfireofgenius——thosewhoheardhimspeakwiththeauthorityoftalent,andtheeloquenceofnature,wereimpressedwithanopinionevenofhisexternalform,moreenthusiasticallyfavourablethantheportraitswhichstillsurvivewouldentitleustoascribetoit。
　　Such,atleast,wastheimpressionhemadeupontheassembledChiefsofthemountaineers,overwhom,asuponallpersonsintheirstateofsociety,personalappearancehasnosmallinfluence。
　　Inthediscussionswhichfollowedhisdiscoveringhimself,Montroseexplainedthevariousriskswhichhehadruninhispresentundertaking。HisfirstattempthadbeentoassembleabodyofloyalistsinthenorthofEngland,who,inobediencetotheordersoftheMarquisofNewcastle,heexpectedwouldhavemarchedintoScotland;butthedisinclinationoftheEnglishtocrosstheBorder,andthedelayoftheEarlofAntrim,whowastohavelandedintheSolwayFrithwithhisIrisharmy,preventedhisexecutingthisdesign。Otherplanshavinginlikemannerfailed,hestatedthathefoundhimselfunderthenecessityofassumingadisguisetorenderhispassagesecurethroughtheLowlands,inwhichhehadbeenkindlyassistedbyhiskinsmanofMenteith。BywhatmeansAllanM'Aulayhadcometoknowhim,hecouldnotpretendtoexplain。ThosewhoknewAllan'spropheticpretensions,smiledmysteriously;buthehimselfonlyreplied,that"theEarlofMontroseneednotbesurprisedifhewasknowntothousands,ofwhomhehimselfcouldretainnomemory。"
　　"Bythehonourofacavalier,"saidCaptainDalgetty,findingatlengthanopportunitytothrustinhisword,"Iamproudandhappyinhavinganopportunityofdrawingaswordunderyourlordship'scommand;andIdoforgiveallgrudge,malecontent,andmaliceofmyheart,toMr。AllanM'Aulay,forhavingthrustmedowntothelowestseatoftheboardyestreen。Certes,hehaththisdayspokensolikeamanhavingfullcommandofhissenses,thatIhadresolvedinmysecretpurposethathewasnowayentitledtoclaimtheprivilegeofinsanity。ButsinceIwasonlypostponedtoanobleearl,myfuturecommander—in—chief,I
　　do,beforeyouall,recognisethejusticeofthepreference,andheartilysaluteAllanasonewhoistobehisBON—CAMARADO。"
　　Havingmadethisspeech,whichwaslittleunderstoodorattendedto,withoutputtingoffhismilitaryglove,heseizedonAllan'shand,andbegantoshakeitwithviolence,whichAllan,withagripelikeasmith'svice,returnedwithsuchforce,astodrivetheironsplentsofthegauntletintothehandofthewearer。
　　CaptainDalgettymighthaveconstruedthisintoanewaffront,hadnothisattention,ashestoodblowingandshakingtheinjuredmember,beensuddenlycalledbyMontrosehimself。
　　"Hearthisnews,"hesaid,"CaptainDalgetty——IshouldsayMajorDalgetty,——theIrish,whoaretoprofitbyyourmilitaryexperience,arenowwithinafewleaguesofus。"
　　"Ourdeer—stalkers,"saidAngusM'Aulay,"whowereabroadtobringinvenisonforthishonourableparty,haveheardofabandofstrangers,speakingneitherSaxonnorpureGaelic,andwithdifficultymakingthemselvesunderstoodbythepeopleofthecountry,whoaremarchingthiswayinarms,undertheleading,itissaid,ofAlasterM'Donald,whoiscommonlycalledYoungColkitto。"
　　"Thesemustbeourmen,"saidMontrose;"wemusthastentosendmessengersforward,bothtoactasguidesandtorelievetheirwants。"
　　"Thelast,"saidAngusM'Aulay,"willbenoeasymatter;forIaminformed,that,exceptingmusketsandaverylittleammunition,theywanteverythingthatsoldiersshouldhave;andtheyareparticularlydeficientinmoney,inshoes,andinraiment。"
　　"Thereisatleastnouseinsayingso,"saidMontrose,"insoloudatone。ThepuritanweaversofGlasgowshallprovidethemplentyofbroad—cloth,whenwemakeadescentfromtheHighlands;
　　andiftheministerscouldformerlypreachtheoldwomenoftheScottishboroughsoutoftheirwebsofnapery,tomaketentstothefellowsonDunseLaw,[TheCovenantersencampedonDunseLaw,duringthetroublesof1639。]IwilltrywhetherIhavenotalittleinterestbothtomakethesegodlydamesrenewtheirpatrioticgift,andtheprick—earedknaves,theirhusbands,opentheirpurses。"
　　"Andrespectingarms,"saidCaptainDalgetty,"ifyourlordshipwillpermitanoldcavaliertospeakhismind,sothattheone—
　　thirdhavemuskets,mydarlingweaponwouldbethepikefortheremainder,whetherforresistingachargeofhorse,orforbreakingtheinfantry。Acommonsmithwillmakeahundredpike—
　　headsinaday;hereisplentyofwoodforshafts;andIwilluphold,that,accordingtothebestusagesofwar,astrongbattalionofpikes,drawnupinthefashionoftheLionoftheNorth,theimmortalGustavus,wouldbeattheMacedonianphalanx,ofwhichIusedtoreadintheMareschal—College,whenIstudiedintheancienttownofBon—accord;andfurther,Iwillventuretopredicate——"
　　TheCaptain'slectureupontacticswasheresuddenlyinterruptedbyAllanM'Aulay,whosaid,hastily,——"Roomforanunexpectedandunwelcomeguest！"
　　Atthesamemoment,thedoorofthehallopened,andagrey—
　　hairedman,ofaverystatelyappearance,presentedhimselftotheassembly。Therewasmuchdignity,andevenauthority,inhismanner。Hisstaturewasabovethecommonsize,andhislookssuchaswereusedtocommand。Hecastasevere,andalmoststernglanceupontheassemblyofChiefs。Thoseofthehigherrankamongthemreturneditwithscornfulindifference;butsomeofthewesterngentlemenofinferiorpower,lookedasiftheywishedthemselveselsewhere。
　　"Towhichofthisassembly,"saidthestranger,"amItoaddressmyselfasleader？orhaveyounotfixeduponthepersonwhoistoholdanofficeatleastasperilousasitishonourable？"
　　"Addressyourselftome,SirDuncanCampbell,"saidMontrose,steppingforward。
　　"Toyou！"saidSirDuncanCampbell,withsomescorn。
　　"Yes,——tome,"repeatedMontrose,——"totheEarlofMontrose,ifyouhaveforgothim。"
　　"Ishouldnow,atleast,"saidSirDuncanCampbell,"havehadsomedifficultyinrecognisinghiminthedisguiseofagroom。
　　——andyetImighthaveguessedthatnoevilinfluenceinferiortoyourlordship's,distinguishedasonewhotroublesIsrael,couldhavecollectedtogetherthisrashassemblyofmisguidedpersons。"
　　"Iwillansweruntoyou,"saidMontrose,"inthemannerofyourownPuritans。IhavenottroubledIsrael,butthouandthyfather'shouse。Butletusleaveanaltercation,whichisoflittleconsequencebuttoourselves,andhearthetidingsyouhavebroughtfromyourChiefofArgyle;forImustconcludethatitisinhisnamethatyouhavecometothismeeting。"
　　"ItisinthenameoftheMarquisofArgyle,"saidSirDuncanCampbell,——"inthenameoftheScottishConventionofEstates,thatIdemandtoknowthemeaningofthissingularconvocation。
　　Ifitisdesignedtodisturbthepeaceofthecountry,itwerebutactinglikeneighbours,andmenofhonour,togiveussomeintimationtostanduponourguard。"
　　"Itisasingular,andnewstateofaffairsinScotland,"saidMontrose,turningfromSirDuncanCampbelltotheassembly,"whenScottishmenofrankandfamilycannotmeetinthehouseofacommonfriendwithoutaninquisitorialvisitanddemand,onthepartofourrulers,toknowthesubjectofourconference。
　　MethinksourancestorswereaccustomedtoholdHighlandhuntings,orotherpurposesofmeeting,withoutaskingtheleaveeitherofthegreatM'CallumMorehimself,oranyofhisemissariesordependents。"
　　"ThetimeshavebeensuchinScotland,"answeredoneoftheWesternChiefs,"andsuchtheywillagainbe,whentheintrudersonourancientpossessionsareagainreducedtobeLairdsofLochowinsteadofoverspreadinguslikeabandofdevouringlocusts。"
　　"AmItounderstand,then,"saidSirDuncan,thatitisagainstmynamealonethatthesepreparationsaredirected？oraretheraceofDiarmidonlytobesufferersincommonwiththewholeofthepeacefulandorderlyinhabitantsofScotland？"
　　"Iwouldask,"saidawild—lookingChief,startinghastilyup,"onequestionoftheKnightofArdenvohr,ereheproceedsfartherinhisdaringcatechism。——Hashebroughtmorethanonelifetothiscastle,thatheventurestointrudeamongusforthepurposesofinsult？"
　　"Gentlemen,"saidMontrose,"letmeimploreyourpatience;amessengerwhocomesamongusforthepurposeofembassy,isentitledtofreedomofspeechandsafe—conduct。AndsinceSirDuncanCampbellissopressing,IcarenotifIinformhim,forhisguidance,thatheisinanassemblyoftheKing'sloyalsubjects,convokedbyme,inhisMajesty'snameandauthority,andasempoweredbyhisMajesty'sroyalcommission。"
　　"Wearetohave,then,Ipresume,"saidSirDuncanCampbell,"acivilwarinallitsforms？Ihavebeentoolongasoldiertoviewitsapproachwithanxiety;butitwouldhavebeenformyLordofMontrose'shonour,if,inthismatter,hehadconsultedhisownambitionless,andthepeaceofthecountrymore。"
　　"Thoseconsultedtheirownambitionandself—interest,SirDuncan,"answeredMontrose,"whobroughtthecountrytothepassinwhichitnowstands,andrenderednecessarythesharpremedieswhichwearenowreluctantlyabouttouse。"
　　"Andwhatrankamongtheseself—seekers,"saidSirDuncanCampbell,"weshallassigntoanobleEarl,soviolentlyattachedtotheCovenant,thathewasthefirst,in1639,tocrosstheTyne,wadingmiddledeepattheheadofhisregiment,tochargetheroyalforces？Itwasthesame,Ithink,whoimposedtheCovenantupontheburgessesandcollegesofAberdeen,atthepointofswordandpike。"
　　"Iunderstandyoursneer,SirDuncan,"saidMontrose,temperately;"andIcanonlyadd,thatifsincererepentancecanmakeamendsforyouthfulerror,andforyieldingtotheartfulrepresentationofambitioushypocrites,Ishallbepardonedforthecrimeswithwhichyoutauntme。Iwillatleastendeavourtodeserveforgiveness,forIamhere,withmyswordinmyhand,willingtospendthebestbloodofmybodytomakeamendsformyerror;andmortalmancandonomore。"
　　"Well,mylord,"saidSirDuncan,"IshallbesorrytocarrybackthislanguagetotheMarquisofArgyle。IhaditinfartherchargefromtheMarquis,that,topreventthebloodyfeudswhichmustnecessarilyfollowaHighlandwar,hislordshipwillbecontentediftermsoftrucecouldbearrangedtothenorthoftheHighlandline,asthereisgroundenoughinScotlandtofightupon,withoutneighboursdestroyingeachother'sfamiliesandinheritances。"
　　"Itisapeacefulproposal,"saidMontrose,smiling,"suchasitshouldbe,comingfromonewhosepersonalactionshavealwaysbeenmorepeacefulthanhismeasures。Yet,ifthetermsofsuchatrucecouldbeequallyfixed,andifwecanobtainsecurity,forthat,SirDuncan,isindispensable,——thatyourMarquiswillobservethesetermswithstrictfidelity,I,formypart,shouldbecontenttoleavepeacebehindus,sincewemustneedscarrywarbeforeus。But,SirDuncan,youaretoooldandexperiencedasoldierforustopermityoutoremaininourleaguer,andwitnessourproceedings;weshalltherefore,whenyouhaverefreshedyourself,recommendyourspeedyreturntoInverary,andweshallsendwithyouagentlemanonourparttoadjustthetermsoftheHighlandarmistice,incasetheMarquisshallbefoundseriousinproposingsuchameasure。"SirDuncanCampbellassentedbyabow。
　　"MyLordofMenteith,"continuedMontrose,"willyouhavethegoodnesstoattendSirDuncanCampbellofArdenvohr,whilewedeterminewhoshallreturnwithhimtohisChief？M'Aulaywillpermitustorequestthathebeentertainedwithsuitablehospitality。"
　　"Iwillgiveordersforthat,"saidAllanM'Aulay,risingandcomingforward。"IloveSirDuncanCampbell;wehavebeenjointsufferersinformerdays,andIdonotforgetitnow。"
　　"MyLordofMenteith,"saidSirDuncanCampbell,"Iamgrievedtoseeyou,atyourearlyage,engagedinsuchdesperateandrebelliouscourses。"
　　"Iamyoung,"answeredMenteith,"yetoldenoughtodistinguishbetweenrightandwrong,betweenloyaltyandrebellion;andthesooneragoodcourseisbegun,thelongerandthebetterhaveIachanceofrunningit。"
　　"Andyoutoo,myfriend,AllanM'Aulay,"saidSirDuncan,takinghishand,"mustwealsocalleachotherenemies,thathavebeensooftenalliedagainstacommonfoe？"Thenturningroundtothemeeting,hesaid,"Farewell,gentlemen;therearesomanyofyoutowhomIwishwell,thatyourrejectionofalltermsofmediationgivesmedeepaffliction。MayHeaven,"hesaid,lookingupwards,"judgebetweenourmotives,andthoseofthemoversofthiscivilcommotion！"
　　"Amen,"saidMontrose;"tothattribunalweallsubmitus。"
　　SirDuncanCampbellleftthehall,accompaniedbyAllanM'AulayandLordMenteith。"Theregoesatrue—bredCampbell,"saidMontrose,astheenvoydeparted,"fortheyareeverfairandfalse。"
　　"Pardonme,mylord,"saidEvanDhu;"hereditaryenemyasIamtotheirname,IhaveeverfoundtheKnightofArdenvohrbraveinwar,honestinpeace,andtrueincouncil。"
　　"Ofhisowndisposition,"saidMontrose,"suchheisundoubtedly;
　　buthenowactsastheorganormouth—pieceofhisChief,theMarquis,thefalsestmanthateverdrewbreath。And,M'Aulay,"
　　hecontinuedinawhispertohishost,"lestheshouldmakesomeimpressionupontheinexperienceofMenteith,orthesingulardispositionofyourbrother,youhadbettersendmusicintotheirchamber,topreventhisinveiglingthemintoanyprivateconference。"
　　"ThedevilamusicianhaveI,"answeredM'Aulay,"exceptingthepiper,whohasnearlybrokehiswindbyanambitiouscontentionforsuperioritywiththreeofhisowncraft;butIcansendAnnotLyleandherharp。"Andhelefttheapartmenttogiveordersaccordingly。
　　Meanwhileawarmdiscussiontookplace,whoshouldundertaketheperiloustaskofreturningwithSirDuncantoInverary。Tothehigherdignitaries,accustomedtoconsiderthemselvesuponanequalityevenwithM'CallumMore,thiswasanofficenottobeproposed;untootherswhocouldnotpleadthesameexcuse,itwasaltogetherunacceptable。OnewouldhavethoughtInveraryhadbeentheValleyoftheShadowofDeath,theinferiorchiefsshowedsuchreluctancetoapproachit。Afteraconsiderablehesitation,theplainreasonwasatlengthspokenout,namely,thatwhateverHighlandershouldundertakeanofficesodistastefultoM'CallumMore,hewouldbesuretotreasuretheoffenceinhisremembrance,andonedayorothertomakehimbitterlyrepentofit。
　　Inthisdilemma,Montrose,whoconsideredtheproposedarmisticeasamerestratagemonthepartofArgyle,althoughhehadnotventuredbluntlytorejectitinpresenceofthosewhomitconcernedsonearly,resolvedtoimposethedangeranddignityuponCaptainDalgetty,whohadneitherclannorestateintheHighlandsuponwhichthewrathofArgylecouldwreakitself。
　　"ButIhaveaneckthough,"saidDalgetty,bluntly;"andwhatifhechoosestoavengehimselfuponthat？Ihaveknownacasewhereanhonourableambassadorhasbeenhangedasaspybeforenow。NeitherdidtheRomansuseambassadorsmuchmoremercifullyatthesiegeofCapua,althoughIreadthattheyonlycutofftheirhandsandnoses,putouttheireyes,andsufferedthemtodepartinpeace。"
　　"BymyhonourCaptainDalgetty,"saidMontrose,"shouldtheMarquis,contrarytotherulesofwar,daretopractiseanyatrocityagainstyou,youmaydependuponmytakingsuchsignalvengeancethatallScotlandshallringofit。"
　　"ThatwilldobutlittleforDalgetty,"returnedtheCaptain;
　　"butcorragio！astheSpaniardsays。WiththeLandofPromisefullinview,theMoorofDrumthwacket,MEAPAUPERAREGNA,aswesaidatMareschal—College,IwillnotrefuseyourExcellency'scommission,beingconsciousitbecomesacavalierofhonourtoobeyhiscommander'sorders,indefiancebothofgibbetandsword。"
　　"Gallantlyresolved,"saidMontrose;"andifyouwillcomeapartwithme,IwillfurnishyouwiththeconditionstobelaidbeforeM'CallumMore,uponwhichwearewillingtogranthimatruceforhisHighlanddominions。"
　　Withtheseweneednottroubleourreaders。Theywereofanevasivenature,calculatedtomeetaproposalwhichMontroseconsideredtohavebeenmadeonlyforthepurposeofgainingtime。WhenhehadputCaptainDalgettyincompletepossessionofhisinstructions,andwhenthatworthy,makinghismilitaryobeisance,wasnearthedoorofhisapartment,Montrosemadehimasigntoreturn。
　　"Ipresume,"saidhe,"IneednotremindanofficerwhohasservedunderthegreatGustavus,thatalittlemoreisrequiredofapersonsentwithaflagoftrucethanmeredischargeofhisinstructions,andthathisgeneralwillexpectfromhim,onhisreturn,someaccountofthestateoftheenemy'saffairs,asfarastheycomeunderhisobservation。Inshort,CaptainDalgetty,youmustbeUNPEUCLAIR—VOYANT。"