\"Teilcareantheydid,\"saidDonald,\"anthatwerethewarsto\'t,forwehaveawheencannytrewsmenherethatwadnaletuswantiftherewasahornedbeastatweenthisandPerth。Butthisisawarsejob——it\'snaelessthanawager。\"
\"Awager！\"repeatedLordMenteith,withsomesurprise。
\"Troth,\"continuedDonald,tothefullaseagertotellhisnewsasLordMenteithwascurioustohearthem,\"asyourlordshipisafriendandkinsmano\'thehouse,an\'asye\'llheareneugho\'tinlessthananhour,Imayasweeltellyemysell。Yesallbepleasedthentoknow,thatwhenourLairdwasupinEnglandwherehegangsoftenerthanhisfriendscanwish,hewasbidingatthehouseo\'thisSirMilesMusgrave,an\'therewasputtenonthetablesixcandlesticks,thattheytellmeweretwiceasmuckleasthecandlesticksinDunblanekirk,andneitherairn,brass,nortin,buta\'solidsilver,naeless;——upwi\'theirEnglishpride,hassaemuckle,andkenssaelittlehowtoguideit！SaetheybegantojeertheLaird,thathesawnaesicgraithinhisainpoorcountry;andtheLaird,scorningtohaehiscountryputdownwithoutawordforitscredit,swore,likeagudeScotsman,thathehadmaircandlesticks,andbettercandlesticks,inhisaincastleathame,thanwereeverlightedinahallinCumberland,anCumberlandbethenameo\'thecountry。\"
\"Thatwaspatrioticallysaid,\"observedLordMenteith。
\"Farytrue,\"saidDonald;\"butherhonourhadbetterhaehaudenhertongue:forifyesayonythingamangtheSaxonsthat\'saweebyordinar,theyclinkyedownforawagerasfastasaLowlandsmithwouldhammershoononaHighlandshelty。An\'sotheLairdbehovedeithertogaebacko\'hisword,orwagertwahundermerks;andsahee\'entockthewager,ratherthanbeshamedwi\'thelikeo\'them。Andnowhe\'sliketogetittopay,andI\'mthinkingthat\'swhatmakeshimsaesweartocomehameate\'en。\"
\"Indeed,\"saidLordMenteith,\"frommyideaofyourfamilyplate,Donald,yourmasteriscertaintolosesuchawager。\"
\"Yourhonourmayswearthat;an\'wherehe\'stogetthesillerI
kenna,althoughheborrowedouto\'twentypurses。IadvisedhimtopitthetwaSaxongentlemenandtheirservantscannilyintothepito\'thetowertilltheygaeupthebagaino\'freegude—
will,buttheLairdwinnahearreason。\"
Allanherestartedup,strodeforward,andinterruptedtheconversation,sayingtothedomesticinavoicelikethunder,\"Andhowdaredyoutogivemybrothersuchdishonourableadvice？
orhowdareyoutosayhewilllosethisoranyotherwagerwhichitishispleasuretolay？\"
\"Troth,AllanM\'Aulay,\"answeredtheoldman,\"it\'snoformyfather\'ssontogainsaywhatyourfather\'ssonthinksfittosay,an\'sotheLairdmaynodoubtwinhiswager。A\'thatIkenagainstitis,thattheteilacandlestick,oronythinglikeit,isinthehouse,excepttheauldairnbranchesthathasbeenheresinceLairdKenneth\'stime,andthetinsconcesthatyourfathergardbemadebyauldWillieWinkiethetinkler,mairbetokenthatdeilanunceofsillerplateisaboutthehouseata\',forbythelady\'sauldpossetdish,thatwantsthecoverandaneo\'thelugs。\"
\"Peace,oldman！\"saidAllan,fiercely;\"anddoyou,gentlemen,ifyourrefectionisfinished,leavethisapartmentclear;Imustprepareitforthereceptionofthesesouthernguests。\"
\"Comeaway,\"saidthedomestic,pullingLordMenteithbythesleeve;\"hishourisonhim,\"saidhe,lookingtowardsAllan,\"andhewillnotbecontrolled。\"
Theyleftthehallaccordingly,LordMenteithandtheCaptainbeingusheredonewaybyoldDonald,andthetwoattendantsconductedelsewherebyanotherHighlander。Theformerhadscarcelyreachedasortofwithdrawingapartmenteretheywerejoinedbythelordofthemansion,AngusM\'Aulaybyname,andhisEnglishguests。Greatjoywasexpressedbyallparties,forLordMenteithandtheEnglishgentlemenwerewellknowntoeachother;
andonLordMenteith\'sintroduction,CaptainDalgettywaswellreceivedbytheLaird。Butafterthefirstburstofhospitablecongratulationwasover,LordMenteithcouldobservethattherewasashadeofsadnessonthebrowofhisHighlandfriend。
\"Youmusthaveheard,\"saidSirChristopherHall,\"thatourfineundertakinginCumberlandisallblownup。ThemilitiawouldnotmarchintoScotland,andyourprick—ear\'dCovenantershavebeentoohardforourfriendsinthesouthernshires。Andso,understandingthereissomestirringworkhere,MusgraveandI,ratherthansitidleathome,arecometohaveacampaignamongyourkiltsandplaids。\"
\"Ihopeyouhavebroughtarms,men,andmoneywithyou,\"saidLordMenteith,smiling。
\"Onlysomedozenortwooftroopers,whomweleftatthelastLowlandvillage,\"saidMusgrave,\"andtroubleenoughwehadtogetthemsofar。\"
\"Asformoney,\"saidhiscompanion,\"Weexpectasmallsupplyfromourfriendandhosthere。\"
TheLairdnow,colouringhighly,tookMenteithalittleapart,andexpressedtohimhisregretthathehadfallenintoafoolishblunder。
\"IhearditfromDonald,\"saidLordMenteith,scarceabletosuppressasmile。
\"Deviltakethatoldman,\"saidM\'Aulay,\"hewouldtelleverything,wereittocostone\'slife;butit\'snojestingmattertoyouneither,mylord,forIreckononyourfriendlyandfraternalbenevolence,asanearkinsmanofourhouse,tohelpmeoutwiththemoneyduetothesepock—puddings;orelse,tobeplainwi\'
ye,thedeilaM\'Aulaywilltherebeatthemuster,forcursemeifIdonotturnCovenanterratherthanfacethesefellowswithoutpayingthem;and,atthebest,Ishallbeillenoughoff,gettingboththescaithandthescorn。\"
\"Youmaysuppose,cousin,\"saidLordMenteith,\"Iamnottoowellequiptjustnow;butyoumaybeassuredIshallendeavourtohelpyouaswellasIcan,forthesakeofoldkindred,neighbourhood,andalliance。\"
\"Thankye——thankye——thankye,\"reiteratedM\'Aulay;\"andastheyaretospendthemoneyintheKing\'sservice,whatsignifieswhetheryou,they,orIpayit？——wearea\'oneman\'sbairns,I
hope？Butyoumusthelpmeouttoowithsomereasonableexcuse,orelseIshallbefortakingtoAndrewFerrara;forIlikenottobetreatedlikealiarorabraggartatmyownboard—end,when,Godknows,Ionlymeanttosupportmyhonour,andthatofmyfamilyandcountry。
Donald,astheywerespeaking,entered,withratherablitherfacethanhemighthavebeenexpectedtowear,consideringtheimpendingfateofhismaster\'spurseandcredit。\"Gentlemens,herdinnerisready,andHERCANDLESARELIGHTEDTOO,\"saidDonald,withastronggutturalemphasisonthelastclauseofhisspeech。
\"Whatthedevilcanhemean？\"saidMusgrave,lookingtohiscountryman。
LordMenteithputthesamequestionwithhiseyestotheLaird,whichM\'Aulayansweredbyshakinghishead。
Ashortdisputeaboutprecedencesomewhatdelayedtheirleavingtheapartment。LordMenteithinsisteduponyieldingupthatwhichbelongedtohisrank,onconsiderationofhisbeinginhisowncountry,andofhisnearconnexionwiththefamilyinwhichtheyfoundthemselves。ThetwoEnglishstrangers,therefore,werefirstusheredintothehall,whereanunexpecteddisplayawaitedthem。Thelargeoakentablewasspreadwithsubstantialjointsofmeat,andseatswereplacedinorderfortheguests。
BehindeveryseatstoodagiganticHighlander,completelydressedandarmedafterthefashionofhiscountry,holdinginhisrighthandhisdrawnsword,withthepointturneddownwards,andintheleftablazingtorchmadeofthebog—pine。Thiswood,foundinthemorasses,issofullofturpentine,that,whensplitanddried,itisfrequentlyusedintheHighlandsinsteadofcandles。
Theunexpectedandsomewhatstartlingapparitionwasseenbytheredglareofthetorches,whichdisplayedthewildfeatures,unusualdress,andglitteringarmsofthosewhoborethem,whilethesmoke,eddyinguptotheroofofthehall,over—canopiedthemwithavolumeofvapour。Erethestrangershadrecoveredfromtheirsurprise,Allansteptforward,andpointingwithhissheathedbroadswordtothetorch—bearers,said,inadeepandsterntoneofvoice,\"Behold,gentlemencavaliers,thechandeliersofmybrother\'shouse,theancientfashionofourancientname;notoneofthesemenknowsanylawbuttheirChiefscommand——WouldyoudaretocomparetoTHEMinvaluetherichestorethateverwasdugoutofthemine？Howsayyou,cavaliers？
——isyourwagerwonorlost？\"
\"Lost;lost,\"saidMusgrave,gaily——\"myownsilvercandlesticksareallmeltedandridingonhorsebackbythistime,andIwishthefellowsthatenlistedwerehalfastrustyasthese。——Here,sir,\"headdedtotheChief,\"isyourmoney;itimpairsHall\'sfinancesandminesomewhat,butdebtsofhonourmustbesettled。\"
\"Myfather\'scurseuponmyfather\'sson,\"saidAllan,interruptinghim,\"ifhereceivefromyouonepenny！Itisenoughthatyouclaimnorighttoexactfromhimwhatishisown。\"
LordMenteitheagerlysupportedAllan\'sopinion,andtheelderM\'Aulayreadilyjoined,declaringthewholetobeafool\'sbusiness,andnotworthspeakingmoreabout。TheEnglishmen,aftersomecourteousopposition,werepersuadedtoregardthewholeasajoke。
\"Andnow,Allan,\"saidtheLaird,\"pleasetoremoveyourcandles;
for,sincetheSaxongentlemenhaveseenthem,theywilleattheirdinnerascomfortablybythelightoftheoldtinsconces,withoutscomfishingthemwithsomuchsmoke。\"
Accordingly,atasignfromAllan,thelivingchandeliers,recoveringtheirbroadswords,andholdingthepointerect,marchedoutofthehall,andleftthegueststoenjoytheirrefreshment。[SuchabetasthatmentionedinthetextissaidtohavebeentakenbyMacDonaldofKeppoch,whoextricatedhimselfinthemannertherenarrated。]
CHAPTERV。
Tharebysofearlesseandsofellhegrew,ThathisownsyreandmaisterofhisguiseDidoftentrembleathishorridview;
Andiffordreadofhurtwouldhimadvise,Theangrybeastesnotrashlytodespise,Nortoomuchtoprovoke;forhewouldlearneThelionstouptohiminlowlywise,（Alessonhard,）andmakethelibbardsterneLeaveroaring,wheninrageheforrevengedidearne。SPENSER。
NotwithstandingtheproverbialepicurismoftheEnglish,——proverbial,thatistosay,inScotlandattheperiod,——theEnglishvisitorsmadenofigurewhateverattheentertainment,comparedwiththeportentousvoracityofCaptainDalgetty,althoughthatgallantsoldierhadalreadydisplayedmuchsteadinessandpertinacityinhisattackuponthelighterrefreshmentsetbeforethemattheirentrance,bywayofforlornhope。Hespoketonooneduringthetimeofhismeal;anditwasnotuntilthevictualswerenearlywithdrawnfromthetable,thathegratifiedtherestofthecompany,whohadwatchedhimwithsomesurprise,withanaccountofthereasonswhyheatesoveryfastandsoverylong。
\"Theformerquality,\"hesaid,\"hehadacquired,whilehefilledaplaceatthebursar\'stableattheMareschal—CollegeofAberdeen;when,\"saidhe;\"ifyoudidnotmoveyourjawsasfastasapairofcastanets,youwereveryunlikelytogetanythingtoputbetweenthem。Andasforthequantityofmyfood,beitknowntothishonourablecompany,\"continuedtheCaptain,\"thatit\'sthedutyofeverycommanderofafortress,onalloccasionswhichoffer,tosecureasmuchmunitionandviversastheirmagazinescanpossiblyhold,notknowingwhentheymayhavetosustainasiegeorablockade。Uponwhichprinciple,gentlemen,\"
saidhe,\"whenacavalierfindsthatprovantisgoodandabundant,hewill,inmyestimation,dowiselytovictualhimselfforatleastthreedays,asthereisnoknowingwhenhemaycomebyanothermeal。\"
TheLairdexpressedhisacquiescenceintheprudenceofthisprinciple,andrecommendedtotheveterantoaddatassofbrandyandaflagonofclarettothesubstantialprovisionshehadalreadylaidin,towhichproposaltheCaptainreadilyagreed。
Whendinnerwasremoved,andtheservantshadwithdrawn,exceptingtheLaird\'spage,orhenchman,whoremainedintheapartmenttocallfororbringwhateverwaswanted,or,inaword,toanswerthepurposesofamodernbell—wire,theconversationbegantoturnuponpolitics,andthestateofthecountry;andLordMenteithenquiredanxiouslyandparticularlywhatclanswereexpectedtojointheproposedmusteroftheKing\'sfriends。
\"Thatdependsmuch,mylord,onthepersonwholiftsthebanner,\"
saidtheLaird;\"foryouknowweHighlanders,whenafewclansareassembled,arenoteasilycommandedbyoneofourownChiefs,or,tosaythetruth,byanyotherbody。Wehaveheardarumour,indeed,thatColkitto——thatis,youngColkitto,orAlasterM\'Donald,iscomeovertheKylefromIreland,withabodyoftheEarlofAntrim\'speople,andthattheyhadgotasfarasArdnamurchan。Theymighthavebeenherebeforenow,but,I
suppose,theyloiteredtoplunderthecountryastheycamealong。\"
\"WillColkittonotserveyouforaleader,then？\"saidLordMenteith。
\"Colkitto？\"saidAllanM\'Aulay,scornfully;\"whotalksofColkitto？——Therelivesbutonemanwhomwewillfollow,andthatisMontrose。\"
\"ButMontrose,sir,\"saidSirChristopherHall,\"hasnotbeenheardofsinceourineffectualattempttoriseinthenorthofEngland。ItisthoughthehasreturnedtotheKingatOxfordforfartherinstructions。\"
\"Returned！\"saidAllan,withascornfullaugh;\"Icouldtellye,butitisnotworthmywhile;yewillknowsoonenough。\"
\"Bymyhonour,Allan,\"saidLordMenteith,\"youwillwearyoutyourfriendswiththisintolerable,froward,andsullenhumour——ButIknowthereason,\"addedhe,laughing;\"youhavenotseenAnnotLyleto—day。\"
\"WhomdidyousayIhadnotseen？\"saidAllan,sternly。
\"AnnotLyle,thefairyqueenofsongandminstrelsy,\"saidLordMenteith。
\"WouldtoGodIwerenevertoseeheragain,\"saidAllan,sighing,\"Onconditionthesameweirdwerelaidonyou！\"
\"Andwhyonme？\"saidLordMenteith,carelessly。
\"Because,\"saidAllan,\"itiswrittenonyourforehead,thatyouaretobetheruinofeachother。\"Sosaying,heroseupandlefttheroom。
\"Hashebeenlonginthisway？\"askedLordMenteith,addressinghisbrother。
\"Aboutthreedays,\"answeredAngus;\"thefitiswellnighover,hewillbebetterto—morrow。——Butcome,gentlemen,don\'tletthetappit—henscraughtobeemptied。TheKing\'shealth,KingCharles\'shealth！andmaythecovenantingdogthatrefusesit,gotoHeavenbytheroadoftheGrassmarket！\"
Thehealthwasquicklypledged,andasfastsucceededbyanother,andanother,andanother,allofapartycast,andenforcedinanearnestmanner。CaptainDalgetty,however,thoughtitnecessarytoenteraprotest。
\"Gentlemencavaliers,\"hesaid,\"Idrinkthesehealths,PRIMO,bothoutofrespecttothishonourableandhospitableroof—tree,and,SECUNDO,becauseIholditnotgoodtobepreceeseinsuchmatters,INTERPOCULA;butIprotest,agreeabletothewarrandicegrantedbythishonourablelord,thatitshallbefreetome,notwithstandingmypresentcomplaisance,totakeservicewiththeCovenantersto—morrow,providingIshallbesominded。\"
M\'AulayandhisEnglishguestsstaredatthisdeclaration,whichwouldhavecertainlybrednewdisturbance,ifLordMenteithhadnottakenuptheaffair,andexplainedthecircumstancesandconditions。\"Itrust,\"heconcluded,\"weshallbeabletosecureCaptainDalgetty\'sassistancetoourownparty。\"
\"Andifnot,\"saidtheLaird,\"Iprotest,astheCaptainsays,thatnothingthathaspassedthisevening,notevenhishavingeatenmybreadandsalt,andpledgedmeinbrandy,Bourdeaux,orusquebaugh,shallprejudicemycleavinghimtotheneck—bone。\"
\"Youshallbeheartilywelcome,\"saidtheCaptain,\"providingmyswordcannotkeepmyhead,whichithasdoneinworsedangersthanyourfendislikelytomakeforme。\"
HereLordMenteithagaininterposed,andtheconcordofthecompanybeingwithnosmalldifficultyrestored,wascementedbysomedeepcarouses。LordMenteith,however,contrivedtobreakupthepartyearlierthanwastheusageoftheCastle,underpretenceoffatigueandindisposition。ThiswassomewhattothedisappointmentofthevaliantCaptain,who,amongotherhabitsacquiredintheLowcountries,hadacquiredbothadispositiontodrink,andacapacitytobear,anexorbitantquantityofstrongliquors。
Theirlandlordusheredtheminpersontoasortofsleepinggallery,inwhichtherewasafour—postbed,withtartancurtains,andanumberofcribs,orlonghampers,placedalongthewall,threeofwhich,wellstuffedwithbloomingheather,werepreparedforthereceptionofguests。
\"Ineednottellyourlordship,\"saidM\'AulaytoLordMenteith,alittleapart,\"ourHighlandmodeofquartering。Onlythat,notlikingyoushouldsleepintheroomalonewiththisGermanland—
louper,Ihavecausedyourservants\'bedstobemadehereinthegallery。ByG——d,mylord,thesearetimeswhenmengotobedwithathroathaleandsoundaseverswallowedbrandy,andbeforenextmorningitmaybegapinglikeanoyster—shell。\"
LordMenteiththankedhimsincerely,saying,\"Itwasjustthearrangementhewouldhaverequested;for,althoughhehadnottheleastapprehensionofviolencefromCaptainDalgetty,yetAndersonwasabetterkindofperson,asortofgentleman,whomhealwayslikedtohavenearhisperson。\"
\"IhavenotseenthisAnderson,\"saidM\'Aulay;\"didyouhirehiminEngland？\"
\"Ididso,\"saidLordMenteith;\"youwillseethemanto—morrow;
inthemeantimeIwishyougood—night。\"
Hishostlefttheapartmentaftertheeveningsalutation,andwasabouttopaythesamecomplimenttoCaptainDalgetty,butobservinghimdeeplyengagedinthediscussionofahugepitcherfilledwithbrandyposset,hethoughtitapitytodisturbhiminsolaudableanemployment,andtookhisleavewithoutfartherceremony。
LordMenteith\'stwoattendantsenteredtheapartmentalmostimmediatelyafterhisdeparture。ThegoodCaptain,whowasnowsomewhatencumberedwithhisgoodcheer,begantofindtheundoingoftheclaspsofhisarmouratasksomewhatdifficult,andaddressedAndersoninthesewords,interruptedbyaslighthiccup,——\"Anderson,mygoodfriend,youmayreadinScripture,thathethatputtethoffhisarmourshouldnotboasthimselflikehethatputtethiton——Ibelievethatisnottherightwordofcommand;buttheplaintruthofitis,Iamliketosleepinmycorslet,likemanyanhonestfellowthatneverwakedagain,unlessyouunloosethisbuckle。\"
\"Undohisarmour,Sibbald,\"saidAndersontotheotherservant。
\"BySt。Andrew！\"exclaimedtheCaptain,turningroundingreatastonishment,\"here\'sacommonfellow——astipendiarywithfourpoundsa—yearandaliverycloak,thinkshimselftoogoodtoserveRitt—masterDugaldDalgettyofDrumthwacket,whohasstudiedhumanityattheMareschal—CollegeofAberdeen,andservedhalftheprincesofEurope！\"
\"CaptainDalgetty,\"saidLordMenteith,whoselotitwastostandpeacemakerthroughouttheevening,\"pleasetounderstandthatAndersonwaitsuponnoonebutmyself;butIwillhelpSibbaldtoundoyourcorsletwithmuchpleasure。\"
\"Toomuchtroubleforyou,mylord,\"saidDalgetty;\"andyetitwoulddoyounoharmtopractisehowahandsomeharnessisputonandputoff。Icanstepinandoutofminelikeaglove;onlyto—night,althoughnotEBRIUS,Iam,intheclassicphrase,VINO
CIBOQUEGRAVATUS。\"
Bythistimehewasunshelled,andstoodbeforethefiremusingwithafaceofdrunkenwisdomontheeventsoftheevening。Whatseemedchieflytointeresthim,wasthecharacterofAllanM\'Aulay。\"TocomeovertheEnglishmensocleverlywithhisHighlandtorch—bearers——eightbare—breechedRoriesforsixsilvercandlesticks！——itwasamaster—piece——aTOURDEPASSE——itwasperfectlegerdemain——andtobeamadmanafterall！——Idoubtgreatly,mylord\"（shakinghishead）,\"thatImustallowhim,notwithstandinghisrelationshiptoyourlordship,theprivilegesofarationalperson,andeitherbatoonhimsufficientlytoexpiatetheviolenceofferedtomyperson,orelsebringittoamatterofmortalarbitrement,asbecomethaninsultedcavalier。\"
\"Ifyoucaretohearalongstory,\"saidLordMenteith,atthistimeofnight,IcantellyouhowthecircumstancesofAllan\'sbirthaccountsowellforhissingularcharacter,astoputsuchsatisfactionentirelyoutofthequestion。\"
\"Alongstory,mylord,\"saidCaptainDalgetty,\"is,nexttoagoodeveningdraughtandawarmnightcap,thebestshoeinghornfordrawingonasoundsleep。Andsinceyourlordshipispleasedtotakethetroubletotellit,Ishallrestyourpatientandobligedauditor。\"
\"Anderson,\"saidLordMenteith,\"andyou,Sibbald,aredyingtohear,Isuppose,ofthisstrangemantoo！andIbelieveImustindulgeyourcuriosity,thatyoumayknowhowtobehavetohimintimeofneed。Youhadbettersteptothefirethen。\"
Havingthusassembledanaudienceabouthim,LordMenteithsatdownupontheedgeofthefour—postbed,whileCaptainDalgetty,wipingtherelicsofthepossetfromhisbeardandmustachoes,andrepeatingthefirstverseoftheLutheranpsalm,ALLEGUTER
GEISTERLOBENDENHERRN,etc。rolledhimselfintooneoftheplacesofrepose,andthrustinghisshockpatefrombetweentheblankets,listenedtoLordMenteith\'srelationinamostluxuriousstate,betweensleepingandwaking。
\"Thefather,\"saidLordMenteith,\"ofthetwobrothers,AngusandAllanM\'Aulay,wasagentlemanofconsiderationandfamily,beingthechiefofaHighlandclan,ofgoodaccount,thoughnotnumerous;hislady,themotheroftheseyoungmen,wasagentlewomanofgoodfamily,ifImaybepermittedtosaysoofonenearlyconnectedwithmyown。Herbrother,anhonourableandspiritedyoungman,obtainedfromJamestheSixthagrantofforestry,andotherprivileges,overaroyalchaseadjacenttothiscastle;and,inexercisinganddefendingtheserights,hewassounfortunateastoinvolvehimselfinaquarrelwithsomeofourHighlandfreebootersorcaterans,ofwhomIthink,CaptainDalgetty,youmusthaveheard。\"
\"AndthatIhave,\"saidtheCaptain,exertinghimselftoanswertheappeal。\"BeforeIlefttheMareschal—CollegeofAberdeen,DugaldGarrwasplayingthedevilintheGarioch,andtheFarquharsonsonDee—side,andtheClanChattanontheGordons\'
lands,andtheGrantsandCameronsinMoray—land。Andsincethat,IhaveseentheCravatsandPandoursinPannoniaandTransylvania,andtheCossacksfromthePolishfrontier,androbbers,banditti,andbarbariansofallcountriesbesides,sothatIhaveadistinctideaofyourbrokenHighlandmen。\"
\"Theclan,\"saidLordMenteith,\"withwhomthematernaluncleoftheM\'Aulayshadbeenplacedinfeud,wasasmallseptofbanditti,called,fromtheirhouselessstate,andtheirincessantlywanderingamongthemountainsandglens,theChildrenoftheMist。Theyareafierceandhardypeople,withalltheirritability,andwildandvengefulpassions,propertomenwhohaveneverknowntherestraintofcivilizedsociety。ApartyofthemlayinwaitfortheunfortunateWardenoftheForest,surprisedhimwhilehuntingaloneandunattended,andslewhimwitheverycircumstanceofinventivecruelty。Theycutoffhishead,andresolved,inabravado,toexhibititatthecastleofhisbrother—in—law。Thelairdwasabsent,andtheladyreluctantlyreceivedasguests,menagainstwhom,perhaps,shewasafraidtoshuthergates。RefreshmentswereplacedbeforetheChildrenoftheMist,whotookanopportunitytotaketheheadoftheirvictimfromtheplaidinwhichitwaswrapt,placeditonthetable,putapieceofbreadbetweenthelifelessjaws,biddingthemdotheirofficenow,sincemanyagoodmealtheyhadeatenatthattable。Thelady,whohadbeenabsentforsomehouseholdpurpose,enteredatthismoment,and,uponbeholdingherbrother\'shead,fledlikeanarrowoutofthehouseintothewoods,utteringshriekuponshriek。Theruffians,satisfiedwiththissavagetriumph,withdrew。Theterrifiedmenials,afterovercomingthealarmtowhichtheyhadbeensubjected,soughttheirunfortunatemistressineverydirection,butshewasnowheretobefound。Themiserablehusbandreturnednextday,and,withtheassistanceofhispeople,undertookamoreanxiousanddistantsearch,buttoequallylittlepurpose。Itwasbelieveduniversally,that,intheecstasyofherterror,shemusteitherhavethrownherselfoveroneofthenumerousprecipiceswhichoverhangtheriver,orintoadeeplakeaboutamilefromthecastle。Herlosswasthemorelamented,asshewassixmonthsadvancedinherpregnancy;AngusM\'Aulay,hereldestson,havingbeenbornabouteighteenmonthsbefore。——ButItireyou,CaptainDalgetty,andyouseeminclinedtosleep。\"
