"Ahha！yourExcellency,"saidtheCaptain,twistinghishardfeaturesintoaninimitableexpressionofcunningandintelligence,"iftheydonotputmyheadinapoke,whichIhaveknownpractiseduponhonourablesoldadoswhohavebeensuspectedtocomeuponsucherrandsasthepresent,yourExcellencymayrelyonapreceesenarrationofwhateverDugaIdDalgettyshallhearorsee,wereitevenhowmanyturnsoftunethereareinM'CallumMore'spibroch,orhowmanychecksinthesettofhisplaidandtrews。"
"Enough,"answeredMontrose;"farewell,CaptainDalgetty:andastheysaythatalady'smindisalwaysexpressedinherpostscript,soIwouldhaveyouthinkthatthemostimportantpartofyourcommissionliesinwhatIhavelastsaidtoyou。"
Dalgettyoncemoregrinnedintelligence,andwithdrewtovictualhischargerandhimself,forthefatiguesofhisapproachingmission。
Atthedoorofthestable,forGustavusalwaysclaimedhisfirstcare,——hemetAngusM'AulayandSirMilesMusgrave,whohadbeenlookingathishorse;and,afterpraisinghispointsandcarriage,bothunitedinstronglydissuadingtheCaptainfromtakingananimalofsuchvaluewithhimuponhispresentveryfatiguingjourney。
Anguspaintedinthemostalarmingcolourstheroads,orratherwildtracks,bywhichitwouldbenecessaryforhimtotravelintoArgyleshire,andthewretchedhutsorbothieswherehewouldbecondemnedtopassthenight,andwherenoforagecouldbeprocuredforhishorse,unlesshecouldeatthestumpsofoldheather。Inshort,hepronounceditabsolutelyimpossible,that,afterundertakingsuchapilgrimage,theanimalcouldbeinanycaseformilitaryservice。TheEnglishmanstronglyconfirmedallthatAngushadsaid,andgavehimself,bodyandsoul,tothedevil,ifhethoughtitwasnotanactlittleshortofabsolutemurdertocarryahorseworthafarthingintosuchawasteandinhospitabledesert。CaptainDalgettyforaninstantlookedsteadily,firstatoneofthegentlemenandnextattheother,andthenaskedthem,asifinastateofindecision,whattheywouldadvisehimtodowithGustavusundersuchcircumstances。
"Bythehandofmyfather,mydearfriend,"answeredM'Aulay,"ifyouleavethebeastinmykeeping,youmayrelyonhisbeingfedandsortedaccordingtohisworthandquality,andthatuponyourhappyreturn,youwillfindhimassleekasanonionboiledinbutter。"
"Or,"saidSirMilesMusgrave,"ifthisworthycavalierchoosestopartwithhischargerforareasonablesum,Ihavesomepartofthesilvercandlesticksstilldancingtheheysinmypurse,whichIshallbeverywillingtotransfertohis。"
"Inbrief,minehonourablefriends,"saidCaptainDalgetty,againeyeingthembothwithanairofcomicpenetration,"Ifinditwouldnotbealtogetherunacceptabletoeitherofyou,tohavesometokentoremembertheoldsoldierby,incaseitshallpleaseM'CallumMoretohanghimupatthegateofhisowncastle。Anddoubtlessitwouldbenosmallsatisfactiontome,insuchanevent,thatanobleandloyalcavalierlikeSirMilesMusgrave,oraworthyandhospitablechieftainlikeourexcellentlandlord,shouldactasmyexecutor。"
Bothhastenedtoprotestthattheyhadnosuchobject,andinsistedagainupontheimpassablecharacteroftheHighlandpaths。AngusM'AulaymumbledoveranumberofhardGaellicnames,descriptiveofthedifficultpasses,precipices,corries,andbeals,throughwhichhesaidtheroadlaytoInverary,whenoldDonald,whohadnowentered,sanctionedhismaster'saccountofthesedifficulties,byholdinguphishands,andelevatinghiseyes,andshakinghishead,ateverygrutturalwhichM'Aulaypronounced。ButallthisdidnotmovetheinflexibleCaptain。
"Myworthyfriends,"saidhe,"Gustavusisnotnewtothedangersoftravelling,andthemountainsofBohemia;and（nodisparagementtothebealsandcorriesMr。Angusispleasedtomention,andofwhichSirMiles,whoneversawthem,confirmsthehorrors,）thesemountainsmaycompetewiththevilestroadsinEurope。Infact,myhorsehathamostexcellentandsocialquality;foralthoughhecannotpledgeinmycup,yetweshareourloafbetweenus,anditwillbehardifhesuffersfaminewherecakesorbannocksaretobefound。And,tocutthismattershort,Ibeseechyou,mygoodfriends,toobservethestateofSirDuncanCampbell'spalfrey,whichstandsinthatstallbeforeus,fatandfair;and,inreturnforyouranxietyanmyaccount,Igiveyoumyhonestasseveration,thatwhilewetravelthesameroad,boththatpalfreyandhisridershalllackforfoodbeforeeitherGustavusorI。"
Havingsaidthishefilledalargemeasurewithcorn,andwalkedupwithittohischarger,who,byhislowwhinnyingneigh,hisprickedears,andhispawing,showedhowclosethealliancewasbetwixthimandhisrider。Nordidhetastehiscornuntilhehadreturnedhismaster'scaresses,bylickinghishandsandface。Afterthisinterchangeofgreeting,thesteedbegantohisprovenderwithaneagerdispatch,whichshowedoldmilitaryhabits;andthemaster,afterlookingontheanimalwithgreatcomplacencyforaboutfiveminutes,said,——"Muchgoodmayitdoyourhonestheart,Gustavus;——nowmustIgoandlayinprovantmyselfforthecampaign。"
Hethendeparted,havingfirstsalutedtheEnglishmanandAngusM'Aulay,whoremainedlookingateachotherforsometimeinsilence,andthenburstoutintoafitoflaughter。
"Thatfellow,"saidSirMilesMusgrave,"isformedtogothroughtheworld。"
"Ishallthinksotoo,"saidM'Aulay,"ifhecanslipthroughM'CallumMore'sfingersaseasilyashehasdonethroughours。"
"Doyouthink,"saidtheEnglishman,"thattheMarquiswillnotrespect,inCaptainDalgetty'sperson,thelawsofcivilizedwar？"
"NomorethanIwouldrespectaLowlandproclamation,"saidAngusM'Aulay。——"Butcomealong,itistimeIwerereturningtomyguests。"
CHAPTERIX。
——Inarebellion,Whenwhat'snotmeet,butwhatmustbe,waslaw,Thenweretheychosen,inabetterhour,Letwhatismeetbesaiditmustbemeet,Andthrowtheirpoweri'thedust。CORIOLANUS。
Inasmallapartment,remotefromtherestoftheguestsassembledatthecastle,SirDuncanCampbellwaspresentedwitheveryspeciesofrefreshment,andrespectfullyattendedbyLordMenteith,andbyAllanM'Aulay。Hisdiscoursewiththelatterturneduponasortofhuntingcampaign,inwhichtheyhadbeenengagedtogetheragainsttheChildrenoftheMist,withwhomtheKnightofArdenvohr,aswellastheM'Aulays,hadadeadlyandirreconcilablefeud。SirDuncan,however,speedilyendeavouredtoleadbacktheconversationtothesubjectofhispresenterrandtothecastleofDarnlinvarach。
"Itgrievedhimtotheveryheart,"hesaid,"toseethatfriendsandneighbours,whoshouldstandshouldertoshoulder,werelikelytobeengagedhandtohandinacausewhichsolittleconcernedthem。Whatsignifiesit,"hesaid,"totheHighlandChiefs,whetherKingorParliamentgotuppermost？Wereitnotbettertoletthemsettletheirowndifferenceswithoutinterference,whiletheChiefs,inthemeantime,tooktheopportunityofestablishingtheirownauthorityinamannernottobecalledinquestionhereafterbyeitherKingorParliament？"
HeremindedAllanM'Aulaythatthemeasurestakeninthelastreigntosettlethepeace,aswasalleged,oftheHighlands,wereinfactlevelledatthepatriarchalpoweroftheChieftains;andhementionedthecelebratedsettlementoftheFifeUndertakers,astheywerecalled,intheLewis,aspartofadeliberateplan,formedtointroducestrangersamongtheCeltictribes,todestroybydegreestheirancientcustomsandmodeofgovernment,andtodespoilthemoftheinheritanceoftheirfathers。[InthereignofJamesVI。,anattemptofratheranextraordinarykindwasmadetocivilizetheextremenorthernpartoftheHebrideanArchipelago。ThatmonarchgrantedthepropertyoftheIslandofLewis,asifithadbeenanunknownandsavagecountry,toanumberofLowlandgentlemen,calledundertakers,chieflynativesoftheshireofFife,thattheymightcolonizeandsettlethere。
Theenterprisewasatfirstsuccessful,butthenativesoftheisland,MacLeodsandMacKenzies,roseontheLowlandadventurers,andputmostofthemtothesword。]"Andyet,"hecontinued,addressingAllan,"itisforthepurposeofgivingdespoticauthoritytothemonarchbywhomthesedesignshavebeennursed,thatsomanyHighlandChiefsareuponthepointofquarrellingwith,anddrawingtheswordagainst,theirneighbours,allies,andancientconfederates。""Itistomybrother,"saidAllan,"itistotheeldestsonofmyfather'shouse,thattheKnightofArdenvohrmustaddresstheseremonstrances。Iam,indeed,thebrotherofAngus;butinbeingso,Iamonlythefirstofhisclansmen,andboundtoshowanexampletotheothersbymycheerfulandreadyobediencetohiscommands。"
"Thecausealso,"saidLordMenteith,interposing,"isfarmoregeneralthanSirDuncanCampbellseemstosupposeit。ItisneitherlimitedtoSaxonnortoGael,tomountainnortostrath,toHighlandsnortoLowlands。Thequestionis,ifwewillcontinuetobegovernedbytheunlimitedauthorityassumedbyasetofpersonsinnorespectsuperiortoourselves,insteadofreturningtothenaturalgovernmentofthePrinceagainstwhomtheyhaverebelled。AndrespectingtheinterestoftheHighlandsinparticular,"headded,"IcraveSirDuncanCampbell'spardonformyplainness;butitseemsverycleartome,thattheonlyeffectproducedbythepresentusurpation,willbetheaggrandisementofoneovergrownclanattheexpenseofeveryindependentChiefintheHighlands。"
"Iwillnotreplytoyou,mylord,"saidSirDuncanCampbell,"becauseIknowyourprejudices,andfromwhomtheyareborrowed;
yetyouwillpardonmysaying,thatbeingattheheadofarivalbranchoftheHouseofGraham,IhavebothreadofandknownanEarlofMenteith,whowouldhavedisdainedtohavebeentutoredinpolitics,ortohavebeencommandedinwar,byanEarlofMontrose。"
"Youwillfinditinvain,SirDuncan,"saidLordMenteith,haughtily,"tosetmyvanityinarmsagainstmyprinciples。TheKinggavemyancestorstheirtitleandrank;andtheseshallneverpreventmyacting,intheroyalcause,underanyonewhoisbetterqualifiedthanmyselftobeacommander—in—chief。Leastofall,shallanymiserablejealousypreventmefromplacingmyhandandswordundertheguidanceofthebravest,themostloyal,themostheroicspiritamongourScottishnobility。"
"Pity,"saidSirDuncanCampbell,"thatyoucannotaddtothispanegyricthefartherepithetsofthemoststeady,andthemostconsistent。ButIhavenopurposeofdebatingthesepointswithyou,mylord,"wavinghishand,asiftoavoidfartherdiscussion;"thedieiscastwithyou;allowmeonlytoexpressmysorrowforthedisastrousfatetowhichAngusM'Aulay'snaturalrashness,andyourlordship'sinfluence,aredraggingmygallantfriendAllanhere,withhisfather'sclan,andmanyabravemanbesides。"
"Thedieiscastforusall,SirDuncan,"repliedAllan,lookinggloomy,andarguingonhisownhypochondriacfeelings;"theironhandofdestinybrandedourfateuponourforeheadlongerewecouldformawish,orraiseafingerinourownbehalf。Werethisotherwise,bywhatmeansdoestheSeerascertainthefuturefromthoseshadowypresageswhichhaunthiswakingandhissleepingeye？Noughtcanbeforeseenbutthatwhichiscertaintohappen。"
SirDuncanCampbellwasabouttoreply,andthedarkestandmostcontestedpointofmetaphysicsmighthavebeenbroughtintodiscussionbetwixttwoHighlanddisputants,whenthedooropened,andAnnotLyle,withherclairshachinherhand,enteredtheapartment。ThefreedomofaHighlandmaidenwasinherstepandinhereye;for,bredupintheclosestintimacywiththeLairdofM'Aulayandhisbrother,withLordMenteith,andotheryoungmenwhofrequentedDarnlinvarach,shepossessednoneofthattimiditywhichafemale,educatedchieflyamongherownsex,wouldeitherhavefelt,orthoughtnecessarytoassume,onanoccasionlikethepresent,Herdresspartookoftheantique,fornewfashionsseldompenetratedintotheHighlands,norwouldtheyeasilyhavefoundtheirwaytoacastleinhabitedchieflybymen,whosesoleoccupationwaswarandthechase。YetAnnot'sgarmentswerenotonlybecoming,butevenrich。Heropenjacket,withahighcollar,wascomposedofbluecloth,richlyembroidered,andhadsilverclaspstofasten,whenitpleasedthewearer。Itssleeves,whichwerewide,camenolowerthantheelbow,andterminatedinagoldenfringe;underthisuppercoat,ifitcanbesotermed,sheworeanunderdressofbluesatin,alsorichlyembroidered,butwhichwasseveralshadeslighterincolourthantheuppergarment。Thepetticoatwasformedoftartansilk,inthesett,orpattern,ofwhichthecolourofbluegreatlypredominated,soastoremovethetawdryeffecttoofrequentlyproducedintartan,bythemixtureandstrongoppositionofcolours。Anantiquesilverchainhungroundherneck,andsupportedtheWREST,orkey,withwhichsheturnedherinstrument。Asmallruffroseabovehercollar,andwassecuredbyabroochofsomevalue,anoldkeepsakefromLordMenteith。
Herprofusionoflighthairalmosthidherlaughingeyes,while,withasmileandablush,shementionedthatshehadM'Aulay'sdirectionstoaskthemiftheychosemusic。SirDuncanCampbellgazedwithconsiderablesurpriseandinterestatthelovelyapparition,whichthusinterruptedhisdebatewithAllanM'Aulay。
"Canthis,"hesaidtohiminawhisper,"acreaturesobeautifulandsoelegant,beadomesticmusicianofyourbrother'sestablishment？"
"Bynomeans,"answeredAllan,hastily,yetwithsomehesitation;
"sheisa——a——nearrelationofourfamily——andtreated,"headded,morefirmly,"asanadopteddaughterofourfather'shouse。"
Ashespokethus,hearosefromhisseat,andwiththatairofcourtesywhicheveryHighlandercanassumewhenitsuitshimtopractiseit,heresignedittoAnnot,andofferedtoher,atthesametime,whateverrefreshmentsthetableafforded,withanassiduitywhichwasprobablydesignedtogiveSirDuncananimpressionofherrankandconsequence。IfsuchwasAllan'spurpose,however,itwasunnecessary。SirDuncankepthiseyesfixeduponAnnotwithanexpressionofmuchdeeperinterestthancouldhavearisenfromanyimpressionthatshewasapersonofconsequence。Annotevenfeltembarrassedundertheoldknight'ssteadygaze;anditwasnotwithoutconsiderablehesitation,that,tuningherinstrument,andreceivinganassentinglookfromLordMenteithandAllan,sheexecutedthefollowingballad,whichourfriend,Mr。SecundusM'Pherson,whosegoodnesswehadbeforetoacknowledge,hasthustranslatedintotheEnglishtongue:
THEORPHANMAID。
November'shail—clouddriftsaway,November'ssunbeamwanLookscoldlyonthecastlegrey,WhenforthcomesLadyAnne。
Theorphanbytheoakwasset,Herarms,herfeet,werebare,Thehail—dropshadnotmeltedyet,Amidherravenhair。
"And,Dame,"shesaid,"byallthetiesThatchildandmotherknow,Aidonewhoneverknewthesejoys,Relieveanorphan'swoe。"
TheLadysaid,"Anorphan'sstateIshardandsadtobear;
Yetworsethewidow'dmother'sfate,Whomournsbothlordandheir。
"Twelvetimestherollingyearhassped,Since,whenfromvengeancewildOffierceStrathallan'sChiefIfled,Forth'seddieswhelm'dmychild。"
"Twelvetimestheyearitscoursehasborn,"
Thewanderingmaidreplied,"SincefishersonSt。Bridget'smornDrewnetsonCampsieside。
"St。Bridgetsentnoscalyspoil;——
Aninfant,wellnighdead,Theysaved,andrear'dinwantandtoil,Tobegfromyouherbread。"
Thatorphanmaidtheladykiss'd——
"Myhusband'slooksyoubear;
St。Bridgetandhermornbebless'd！
Youarehiswidow'sheir。"
They'verobedthatmaid,sopoorandpale,Insilkandsandalsrare;
Andpearls,fordropsoffrozenhail,Areglisteninginherhair。
TheadmirersofpureCelticantiquity,notwithstandingtheeleganceoftheabovetranslation,maybedesiroustoseealiteralversionfromtheoriginalGaelic,whichwethereforesubjoin;andhaveonlytoadd,thattheoriginalisdepositedwithMr。JedediahCleishbotham。
LITERALTRANSLATION。
Thehail—blasthaddriftedawayuponthewingsofthegaleofautumn。Thesunlookedfrombetweentheclouds,paleasthewoundedherowhorearshisheadfeeblyontheheathwhentheroarofbattlehathpassedoverhim。
Finele,theLadyoftheCastle,cameforthtoseehermaidenspasstotheherdswiththeirleglins[Milk—pails]。
Theresatanorphanmaidenbeneaththeoldoak—treeofappointment。Thewitheredleavesfellaroundher,andherheartwasmorewitheredthanthey。
Theparentoftheice[poeticallytakenfromthefrost]stillcongealedthehail—dropsinherhair;theywerelikethespecksofwhiteashesonthetwistedboughsoftheblackenedandhalf—
consumedoakthatblazesinthehall。
Andthemaidensaid,"Givemecomfort,Lady,Iamanorphanchild。"AndtheLadyreplied,"HowcanIgivethatwhichIhavenot？Iamthewidowofaslainlord,——themotherofaperishedchild。WhenIfledinmyfearfromthevengeanceofmyhusband'sfoes,ourbarkwasoverwhelmedinthetide,andmyinfantperished。ThiswasonSt。Bridget'smorn,nearthestrongLynsofCampsie。Mayilllucklightupontheday。"Andthemaidenanswered,"ItwasonSt。Bridget'smorn,andtwelveharvestsbeforethistime,thatthefishermenofCampsiedrewintheirnetsneithergrilsenorsalmon,butaninfanthalfdead,whohathsincelivedinmisery,andmustdie,unlesssheisnowaided。"
AndtheLadyanswered,"BlessedbeSaintBridgetandhermorn,forthesearethedarkeyesandthefalconlookofmyslainlord;
andthineshallbetheinheritanceofhiswidow。"Andshecalledforherwaitingattendants,andshebadethemclothethatmaideninsilk,andinsamite;andthepearlswhichtheywoveamongherblacktresses,werewhiterthanthefrozenhail—drops。
Whilethesongproceeded,LordMenteithobserved,withsomesurprise,thatitappearedtoproduceamuchdeepereffectuponthemindofSirDuncanCampbell,thanhecouldpossiblyhaveanticipatedfromhisageandcharacter。HewellknewthattheHighlandersofthatperiodpossessedamuchgreatersensibilitybothfortaleandsongthanwasfoundamongtheirLowlandneighbours;buteventhis,hethought,hardlyaccountedfortheembarrassmentwithwhichtheoldmanwithdrewhiseyesfromthesongstress,asifunwillingtosufferthemtorestonanobjectsointeresting。Stilllesswasittobeexpected,thatfeatureswhichexpressedpride,sterncommonsense,andtheausterehabitofauthority,shouldhavebeensomuchagitatedbysotrivialacircumstance。AstheChief'sbrowbecameclouded,hedroopedhislargeshaggygreyeyebrowsuntiltheyalmostconcealedhiseyes,onthelidsofwhichsomethinglikeatearmightbeseentoglisten。Heremainedsilentandfixedinthesamepostureforaminuteortwo,afterthelastnotehadceasedtovibrate。Hethenraisedhishead,andhavinglookedatAnnotLyle,asifpurposingtospeaktoher,heassuddenlychangedthatpurpose,andwasabouttoaddressAllan,whenthedooropened,andtheLordoftheCastlemadehisappearance。
CHAPTERX。
Darkontheirjourneylour'dthegloomyday,Wildwerethehills,anddoubtfulgrewtheway;
Moredark,moregloomy,andmoredoubtful,show'dThemansion,whichreceivedthemfromtheroad。
THETRAVELLERS,AROMANCE。
AngusM'Aulaywaschargedwithamessagewhichheseemedtofindsomedifficultyincommunicating;foritwasnottillafterhehadframedhisspeechseveraldifferentways,andblunderedthemall,thathesucceededinlettingSirDuncanCampbellknow,thatthecavalierwhowastoaccompanyhimwaswaitinginreadiness,andthatallwaspreparedforhisreturntoInverary。SirDuncanCampbellroseupveryindignantly;theaffrontwhichthismessageimpliedimmediatelydrivingoutofhisrecollectionthesensibilitywhichhadbeenawakenedbythemusic。
"Ilittleexpectedthis,"hesaid,lookingindignantlyatAngusM'Aulay。"IlittlethoughtthattherewasaChiefintheWestHighlands,who,atthepleasureofaSaxon,wouldhavebidtheKnightofArdenvohrleavehiscastle,whenthesunwasdecliningfromthemeridian,anderethesecondcuphadbeenfilled。Butfarewell,sir,thefoodofachurldoesnotsatisfytheappetite;
whenInextrevisitDarnlinvarach,itshallbewithanakedswordinonehand,andafirebrandintheother。"
"Andifyousocome,"saidAngus,"Ipledgemyselftomeetyoufairly,thoughyoubroughtfivehundredCampbellsatyourback,andtoaffordyouandthemsuchentertainment,thatyoushallnotagaincomplainofthehospitalityofDarnlinvarach。"
"Threatenedmen,"saidSirDuncan,"livelong。Yourturnforgasconading,LairdofM'Aulay,istoowellknown,thatmenofhonourshouldregardyourvaunts。Toyou,mylord,andtoAllan,whohavesuppliedtheplaceofmychurlishhost,Ileavemythanks。——Andtoyou,prettymistress,"hesaid,addressingAnnotLyle,"thislittletoken,forhavingopenedafountainwhichhathbeendryformanyayear。"Sosaying,helefttheapartment,andcommandedhisattendantstobesummoned。AngusM'Aulay,equallyembarrassedandincensedatthechargeofinhospitality,whichwasthegreatestpossibleaffronttoaHighlander,didnotfollowSirDuncantothecourt—yard,where,mountinghispalfrey,whichwasinreadiness,followedbysixmountedattendants,andaccompaniedbythenobleCaptainDalgetty,whohadalsoawaitedhim,holdingGustavusreadyforaction,thoughhedidnotdrawhisgirthsandmounttillSirDuncanappeared,thewholecavalcadeleftthecastle。
Thejourneywaslongandtoilsome,butwithoutanyoftheextremeprivationswhichtheLairdofM'Aulayhadprophesied。Intruth,SirDuncanwasverycautioustoavoidthosenearerandmoresecretpaths,bymeansofwhichthecountyofArgylewasaccessiblefromtheeastward;forhisrelationandchief,theMarquis,wasusedtoboast,thathewouldnotforahundredthousandcrownsanymortalshouldknowthepassesbywhichanarmedforcecouldpenetrateintohiscountry。
SirDuncanCampbell,therefore,rathershunnedtheHighlands,andfallingintotheLow—country,madeforthenearestseaportinthevicinity,wherehehadseveralhalf—deckedgalleys,orbirlings,astheywerecalled,athiscommand。Inoneofthesetheyembarked,withGustavusincompany,whowassoseasonedtoadventure,thatlandandseaseemedasindifferenttohimastohismaster。
Thewindbeingfavourable,theypursuedtheirwayrapidlywithsailsandoars;andearlythenextmorningitwasannouncedtoCaptainDalgetty,theninasmallcabinbeneaththehall—deck,thatthegalleywasunderthewallsofSirDuncanCampbell'scastle。
Ardenvohr,accordingly,rosehighabovehim,whenhecameuponthedeckofthegalley。Itwasagloomysquaretower,ofconsiderablesizeandgreatheight,situateduponaheadlandprojectingintothesalt—waterlake,orarmofthesea,whichtheyhadenteredontheprecedingevening。Awall,withflankingtowersateachangle,surroundedthecastletolandward;but,towardsthelake,itwasbuiltsonearthebrinkoftheprecipiceasonlytoleaveroomforabatteryofsevenguns,designedtoprotectthefortressfromanyinsultfromthatside,althoughsituatedtoohightobeofanyeffectualuseaccordingtothemodernsystemofwarfare。
Theeasternsun,risingbehindtheoldtower,flungitsshadowfaronthelake,darkeningthedeckofthegalley,onwhichCaptainDalgettynowwalked,waitingwithsomeimpatiencethesignaltoland。SirDuncanCampbell,ashewasinformedbyhisattendants,wasalreadywithinthewallsofthecastle;butnooneencouragedtheCaptain'sproposaloffollowinghimashore,until,astheystated,theyshouldreceivethedirectpermissionororderoftheKnightofArdenvohr。
Inashorttimeafterwardsthemandatearrived,whileaboat,withapiperinthebow,bearingtheKnightofArdenvohr'screstinsilveruponhisleftarm,andplayingwithallhismightthefamilymarch,entitled"TheCampbellsarecoming,"approachedtoconducttheenvoyofMontrosetothecastleofArdenvohr。Thedistancebetweenthegalleyandthebeachwassoshortasscarcetorequiretheassistanceoftheeightsturdyrowers,inbonnets,shortcoats,andtrews,whoseeffortssenttheboattothelittlecreekinwhichtheyusuallylanded,beforeonecouldhaveconceivedthatithadleftthesideofthebirling。Twooftheboatmen,inspiteofDalgetty'sresistance,horsedtheCaptainonthebackofathirdHighlander,and,wadingthroughthesurfwithhim,landedhimhighanddryuponthebeachbeneaththecastlerock。Inthefaceofthisrockthereappearedsomethingliketheentranceofalow—browedcavern,towardswhichtheassistantswerepreparingtohurryourfriendDalgetty,when,shakinghimselfloosefromthemwithsomedifficulty,heinsisteduponseeingGustavussafelylandedbeforeheproceededonestepfarther。TheHighlanderscouldnotcomprehendwhathemeant,untilonewhohadpickedupalittleEnglish,orratherLowlandScotch,exclaimed,"Houts！it'sa'aboutherhorse,tauselessbaste。"FartherremonstranceonthepartofCaptainDalgettywasinterruptedbytheappearanceofSirDuncanCampbellhimself,fromthemouthofthecavernwhichwehavedescribed,forthepurposeofinvitingCaptainDalgettytoacceptofthehospitalityofArdenvohr,pledginghishonour,atthesametime,thatGustavusshouldbetreatedasbecametheherofromwhomhederivedhisname,nottomentiontheimportantpersontowhomhenowbelonged。Notwithstandingthissatisfactoryguarantee,CaptainDalgettywouldstillhavehesitated,suchwashisanxietytowitnessthefateofhiscompanionGustavus,hadnottwoHighlandersseizedhimbythearms,twomorepushedhimonbehind,whileafifthexclaimed,"Houtawawi'thedaftSassenach！doesshenoheartheLairdbiddingheruptoheraincastle,wi'herspecialvoice,andisnathatverymicklehonourforthelikeo'her？"
Thusimpelled,CaptainDalgettycouldonlyforashortspacekeeparevertedeyetowardsthegalleyinwhichhehadleftthepartnerofhismilitarytoils。Inafewminutesafterwardshefoundhimselfinvolvedinthetotaldarknessofastaircase,which,enteringfromthelow—browedcavernwehavementioned,windedupwardsthroughtheentrailsofthelivingrock。