\"ThecursedHighlandsalvages！\"mutteredtheCaptain,halfaloud;\"whatistobecomeofme,ifGustavus,thenamesakeoftheinvincibleLionoftheProtestantLeague,shouldbelamedamongtheiruntentyhands！\"
\"Havenofearofthat,\"saidthevoiceofSirDuncan,whowasnearertohimthanheimagined;\"mymenareaccustomedtohandlehorses,bothinembarkinganddressingthem,andyouwillsoonseeGustavusassafeaswhenyoulastdismountedfromhisback,\"
CaptainDalgettyknewtheworldtoowelltoofferanyfartherremonstrance,whateveruneasinesshemightsuppresswithinhisownbosom。Asteportwohigherupthestairshowedlightandadoor,andaniron—gratedwicketledhimoutuponagallerycutintheopenfaceoftherock,extendingaspaceofaboutsixoreightyards,untilhereachedaseconddoor,wherethepathre—enteredtherock,andwhichwasalsodefendedbyanironportcullis。\"Anadmirabletraverse,\"observedtheCaptain;\"andifcommandedbyafield—piece,orevenafewmuskets,quitesufficienttoensuretheplaceagainstastormingparty。\"
SirDuncanCampbellmadenoansweratthetime;but,themomentafterwards,whentheyhadenteredthesecondcavern,hestruckwiththestickwhichhehadinhishand,firstontheoneside,andthenontheotherofthewicket,andthesullenringingsoundwhichrepliedtotheblows,madeCaptainDalgettysensiblethattherewasagunplacedoneachside,forthepurposeofrakingthegallerythroughwhichtheyhadpassed,althoughtheembrasures,throughwhichtheymightbefiredonoccasion,weremaskedontheoutsidewithsodsandloosestones。Havingascendedthesecondstaircase,theyfoundthemselvesagainonanopenplatformandgallery,exposedtoafirebothofmusketryandwall—guns,if,beingcomewithhostileintent,theyhadventuredfarther。Athirdflightofsteps,cutintherockliketheformer,butnotcavernedover,ledthemfinallyintothebatteryatthefootofthetower。Thislaststairalsowasnarrowandsteep,and,nottomentionthefirewhichmightbedirectedonitfromabove,oneortworesolutemen,withpikesandbattle—axes,couldhavemadethepassgoodagainsthundreds;forthestaircasewouldnotadmittwopersonsabreast,andwasnotsecuredbyanysortofbalustrade,orrailing,fromthesheerandabruptprecipice,onthefootofwhichthetidenowrolledwithavoiceofthunder。Sothat,underthejealousprecautionsusedtosecurethisancientCelticfortress,apersonofweaknerves,andabrainliabletobecomedizzy,mighthavefounditsomethingdifficulttohaveachievedtheentrancetothecastle,evensupposingnoresistancehadbeenoffered。
CaptainDalgetty,toooldasoldiertofeelsuchtremors,hadnosoonerarrivedinthecourt—yard,thanheprotestedtoGod,thedefencesofSirDuncan\'scastleremindedhimmoreofthenotablefortressofSpandau,situatedintheMarchofBrandenburg,thanofanyplacewhilkithadbeenhisfortunetodefendinthecourseofhistravels。Nevertheless,hecriticisedconsiderablythemodeofplacingthegunsonthebatterywehavenoticed,observing,that\"wherecannonwereperched,liketoscartsorsea—gullsonthetopofarock,hehadeverobservedthattheyastonishedmorebytheirnoisethantheydismayedbytheskaithordamagewhichtheyoccasioned。\"
SirDuncan,withoutreplying,conductedthesoldierintothetower;thedefencesofwhichwereaportcullisandironclenchedoakendoor,thethicknessofthewallbeingthespacebetweenthem。Hehadnosoonerarrivedinahallhungwithtapestry,thantheCaptainprosecutedhismilitarycriticism。Itwasindeedsuspendedbythesightofanexcellentbreakfast,ofwhichhepartookwithgreatavidity;butnosoonerhadhesecuredthismeal,thanhemadethetouroftheapartment,examiningthegroundaroundtheCastleverycarefullyfromeachwindowintheroom。Hethenreturnedtohischair,andthrowinghimselfbackintoitathislength,stretchedoutonemanlyleg,andtappinghisjack—bootwiththeriding—rodwhichhecarriedinhishand,afterthemannerofahalf—bredmanwhoaffectseaseinthesocietyofhisbetters,hedeliveredhisunaskedopinionasfollows:——\"Thishouseofyours,now,SirDuncan,isaveryprettydefensiblesortofatenement,andyetitishardlysuchasacavalieroofhonourwouldexpecttomaintainhiscreditbyholdingoutformanydays。For,SirDuncan,ifitpleasesyoutonotice,yourhouseisovercrowed,andslighted,orcommanded,aswemilitarymensay,byyonderroundhillocktothelandward,whereonanenemymightstellsuchabatteryofcannonaswouldmakeyegladtobeatachamadewithinforty—eighthours,unlessitpleasedtheLordextraordinarilytoshowmercy。\"
\"Thereisnoroad,\"repliedSirDuncan,somewhatshortly,\"bywhichcannoncanbebroughtagainstArdenvohr。Theswampsandmorassesaroundmyhousewouldscarcecarryyourhorseandyourself,exceptingbysuchpathsascouldberenderedimpassablewithinafewhours。\"
\"SirDuncan,\"saidtheCaptain,\"itisyourpleasuretosupposeso;andyetwemartialmensay,thatwherethereisasea—coastthereisalwaysanakedside,seeingthatcannonandmunition,wheretheycannotbetransportedbyland,mayberighteasilybroughtbyseaneartotheplacewheretheyaretobeputinaction。Neitherisacastle,howeversecureinitssituation,tobeaccountedaltogetherinvincible,or,astheysay,impregnable;
forIprotestt\'ye,SirDuncan,thatIhaveknowntwenty—fivemen,bythemeresurpriseandaudacityoftheattack,win,atpointofpike,asstrongaholdasthisofArdenvohr,andputtothesword,captivate,orholdtotheransom,thedefenders,beingtentimestheirownnumber。\"
NotwithstandingSirDuncanCampbell\'sknowledgeoftheworld,andhispowerofconcealinghisinternalemotion,heappearedpiquedandhurtatthesereflections,whichtheCaptainmadewiththemostunconsciousgravity,havingmerelyselectedthesubjectofconversationasoneuponwhichhethoughthimselfcapableofshining,and,astheysay,oflayingdownthelaw,withoutexactlyrecollectingthatthetopicmightnotbeequallyagreeabletohislandlord。
\"Tocutthismattershort,\"saidSirDuncan,withanexpressionofvoiceandcountenancesomewhatagitated,\"itisunnecessaryforyoutotellme,CaptainDalgetty,thatacastlemaybestormedifitisnotvalorouslydefended,orsurprisedifitisnotheedfullywatched。Itrustthispoorhouseofminewillnotbefoundinanyofthesepredicaments,shouldevenCaptainDalgettyhimselfchoosetobeleaguerit。\"
\"Forallthat,SirDuncan,\"answeredtheperseveringcommander,\"Iwouldpremonishyou,asafriend,totraceoutasconceuponthatroundhill,withagoodgraffe,orditch,whilkmaybeeasilyaccomplishedbycompellingthelabouroftheboorsinthevicinity;itbeingthecustomofthevalorousGustavusAdolphustofightasmuchbythespadeandshovel,asbysword,pike,andmusket。Also,Iwouldadviseyoutofortifythesaidsconce,notonlybyafoussie,orgraffe,butalsobycertainstackets,orpalisades。\"——（HereSirDuncan,becomingimpatient,lefttheapartment,theCaptainfollowinghimtothedoor,andraisinghisvoiceasheretreated,untilhewasfairlyoutofhearing。）——\"Thewhilkstackets,orpalisades,shouldbeartificiallyframedwithre—enteringanglesandloop—holes,orcrenelles,formusketry,whereofitshallarisethatthefoeman——TheHighlandbrute！theoldHighlandbrute！Theyareasproudaspeacocks,andasobstinateastups——andherehehasmissedanopportunityofmakinghishouseasprettyanirregularfortificationasaninvadingarmyeverbroketheirteethupon。——ButIsee,\"hecontinued,lookingownfromthewindowuponthebottomoftheprecipice,\"theyhavegotGustavussafeashore——Properfellow！I
wouldknowthattossofhisheadamongawholesquadron。Imustgotoseewhattheyaretomakeofhim。\"
Hehadnosoonerreached,however,thecourttotheseaward,andputhimselfintheactofdescendingthestaircase,thantwoHighlandsentinels,advancingtheirLochaberaxes,gavehimtounderstandthatthiswasaserviceofdanger。
\"Diavolo！\"saidthesoldier,\"andIhavegotnopass—word。I
couldnotspeakasyllableoftheirsalvagegibberish,anitweretosavemefromtheprovost—marshal。\"
\"Iwillbeyoursurety,CaptainDalgetty,\"saidSirDuncan,whohadagainapproachedhimwithouthisobservingfromwhence;\"andwewillgotogether,andseehowyourfavouritechargerisaccommodated。\"
Heconductedhimaccordinglydownthestaircasetothebeach,andfromthencebyashortturnbehindalargerock,whichconcealedthestablesandotherofficesbelongingtothecastle,CaptainDalgettybecamesensible,atthesametime,thatthesideofthecastletothelandwasrenderedtotallyinaccessiblebyaravine,partlynaturalandpartlyscarpedwithgreatcareandlabour,soastobeonlypassedbyadrawbridge。Still,however,theCaptaininsisted,notwithstandingthetriumphantairwithwhichSirDuncanpointedouthisdefences,thatasconceshouldbeerectedonDrumsnab,theroundeminencetotheeastofthecastle,inrespectthehousemightbeannoyedfromthencebyburningbulletsfulloffire,shotoutofcannon,accordingtothecuriousinventionofStephenBathian,KingofPoland,wherebythatprinceutterlyruinedthegreatMuscovitecityofMoscow。
Thisinvention,CaptainDalgettyowned,hehadnotyetwitnessed,butobserved,\"thatitwouldgivehimparticulardelectationtowitnessthesameputtotheproofagainstArdenvohr,oranyothercastleofsimilarstrength;\"observing,\"thatsocuriousanexperimentcouldnotbutaffordthegreatestdelighttoalladmirersofthemilitaryart。\"
SirDuncanCampbelldivertedthisconversationbycarryingthesoldierintohisstables,andsufferinghimtoarrangeGustavusaccordingtohisownwillandpleasure。Afterthisdutyhadbeencarefullyperformed,CaptainDalgettyproposedtoreturntothecastle,observing,itwashisintentiontospendthetimebetwixtthisanddinner,which,hepresumed,wouldcomeupontheparadeaboutnoon,inburnishinghisarmour,whichhavingsustainedsomeinjuryfromthesea—air,might,hewasafraid,seemdiscreditableintheeyesofM\'CallumMore。Yet,whiletheywerereturningtothecastle,hefailednottowarnSirDuncanCampbellagainstthegreatinjuryhemightsustainbyanysuddenonfallofanenemy,wherebyhishorses,cattle,andgranaries,mightbecutoffandconsumed,tohisgreatprejudice;whereforeheagainstronglyconjuredhimtoconstructasconceupontheroundhillcalledDrumsnab,andofferedhisownfriendlyservicesinliningoutthesame。TothisdisinterestedadviceSirDuncanonlyrepliedbyusheringhisguesttohisapartment,andinforminghimthatthetollingofthecastlebellwouldmakehimawarewhendinnerwasready。
CHAPTERXI。
Isthisthycastle,Baldwin？MelancholyDisplayshersablebannerfromthedonjon,Darkeningthefoamofthewholesurgebeneath。
WereIahabitant,toseethisgloomPollutethefaceofnature,andtohearTheceaselesssoundofwave,andseabird\'sscream,I\'dwishmeinthehutthatpoorestpeasantE\'erframed,togivehimtemporaryshelter。BROWN。
ThegallantRitt—masterwouldwillinglyhaveemployedhisleisureinstudyingtheexteriorofSirDuncan\'scastle,andverifyinghisownmilitaryideasuponthenatureofitsdefences。Butastoutsentinel,whomountedguardwithaLochaber—axeatthedoorofhisapartment,gavehimtounderstand,byverysignificantsigns,thathewasinasortofhonourablecaptivity。
Itisstrange,thoughttheRitt—mastertohimself,howwellthesesalvagesunderstandtherulesandpractiqueofwar。Whoshouldhavepre—supposedtheiracquaintancewiththemaximofthegreatandgodlikeGustavusAdolphus,thataflagoftruceshouldbehalfamessengerhalfaspy？——And,havingfinishedburnishinghisarms,hesatedownpatientlytocomputehowmuchhalfadollarperdiemwouldamounttoattheendofasix—months\'campaign;
and,whenhehadsettledthatproblem,proceededtothemoreabstrusecalculationsnecessaryfordrawingupabrigadeoftwothousandmenontheprincipleofextractingthesquareroot。
Fromhismusings,hewasrousedbythejoyfulsoundofthedinnerbell,onwhichtheHighlander,latelyhisguard,becamehisgentleman—usher,andmarshalledhimtothehall,whereatablewithfourcoversboreampleproofsofHighlandhospitality。SirDuncanentered,conductinghislady,atall,faded,melancholyfemale,dressedindeepmourning。TheywerefollowedbyaPresbyterianclergyman,inhisGenevacloak,andwearingablacksilkskull—cap,coveringhisshorthairsoclosely,thatitcouldscarcebeseenatall,sothattheunrestrictedearshadanunduepredominanceinthegeneralaspect。Thisungracefulfashionwasuniversalatthetime,andpartlyledtothenicknamesofroundheads,prick—earedcurs,andsoforth,whichtheinsolenceofthecavaliersliberallybestowedontheirpoliticalenemies。
SirDuncanpresentedhismilitaryguesttohislady,whoreceivedhistechnicalsalutationwithastiffandsilentreverence,inwhichitcouldscarcebejudgedwhetherprideormelancholyhadthegreatershare。Thechurchman,towhomhewasnextpresented,eyedhimwithaglanceofmingleddislikeandcuriosity。
TheCaptain,wellaccustomedtoworselooksfrommoredangerouspersons,caredverylittleeitherforthoseoftheladyorofthedivine,butbenthiswholesouluponassaultingahugepieceofbeef,whichsmokedatthenetherendofthetable。Buttheonslaught,ashewouldhavetermedit,wasdelayed,untiltheconclusionofaverylonggrace,betwixteverysectionofwhichDalgettyhandledhisknifeandfork,ashemighthavedonehismusketorpikewhengoinguponaction,andasoftenresignedthemunwillinglywhentheprolixchaplaincommencedanotherclauseofhisbenediction。SirDuncanlistenedwithdecency,thoughhewassupposedrathertohavejoinedtheCovenantersoutofdevotiontohischief,thanrealrespectforthecauseeitheroflibertyorofPresbytery。Hisladyaloneattendedtotheblessing,withsymptomsofdeepacquiescence。
ThemealwasperformedalmostinCarthusiansilence;foritwasnoneofCaptainDalgetty\'shabitstoemployhismouthintalking,whileitcouldbemoreprofitablyoccupied。SirDuncanwasabsolutelysilent,andtheladyandchurchmanonlyoccasionallyexchangedafewwords,spokenlow,andindistinctly。
But,whenthedisheswereremoved,andtheirplacesuppliedbyliquorsofvarioussorts,CaptainDalgettynolongerhad,himself,thesameweightyreasonsforsilence,andbegantotireofthatoftherestofthecompany。Hecommencedanewattackuponhislandlord,upontheformerground。
\"Touchingthatroundmonticle,orhill,oreminence,termedDrumsnab,Iwouldbeproudtoholdsomedialoguewithyou,SirDuncan,onthenatureofthesconcetobethereconstructed;andwhethertheanglesthereofshouldbeacuteorobtuse——anentwhilkIhaveheardthegreatVelt—MareschalBannierholdalearnedargumentwithGeneralTiefenbachduringastill—standofarms。\"
\"CaptainDalgetty,\"answeredSirDuncanverydryly,\"itisnotourHighlandusagetodebatemilitarypointswithstrangers。
ThiscastleisliketoholdoutagainstastrongerenemythananyforcewhichtheunfortunategentlemenweleftatDarnlinvarachareabletobringagainstit。\"
Adeepsighfromtheladyaccompaniedtheconclusionofherhusband\'sspeech,whichseemedtoremindherofsomepainfulcircumstance。
\"Hewhogave,\"saidtheclergyman,addressingherinasolemntone,\"hathtakenaway。Mayyou,honourablelady,belongenabledtosay,Blessedbehisname！\"
Tothisexhortation,whichseemedintendedforhersolebehoof,theladyansweredbyaninclinationofherhead,morehumblethanCaptainDalgettyhadyetobservedhermake。Supposingheshouldnowfindherinamoreconversiblehumour,heproceededtoaccosther。
\"Itisindubitablyverynaturalthatyourladyshipshouldbedowncastatthementionofmilitarypreparations,whilkIhaveobservedtospreadperturbationamongwomenofallnations,andalmostallconditions。Nevertheless,Penthesilea,inancienttimes,andalsoJoanofArc,andothers,wereofadifferentkidney。And,asIhavelearnedwhileIservedtheSpaniard,theDukeofAlvainformertimeshadtheleaguer—lasseswhofollowedhiscampmarshalledintoTERTIAS（whilkmecallregiments）,andofficeredandcommandedbythoseoftheirownfemininegender,andregulatedbyacommander—inchief,calledinGermanHureweibler,or,aswewouldsayvernacularly,CaptainoftheQueans。Trueitis,theywerepersonsnottobenamedasparalleltoyourladyship,beingsuchQUAEQUAESTUMCORPORIBUS
FACIEBANT,aswesaidofJeanDrochielsatMareschal—College;thesamewhomtheFrenchtermCURTISANNES,andweinScottish——\"
\"Theladywillspareyouthetroubleoffurtherexposition,CaptainDalgetty,\"saidhishost,somewhatsternly;towhichtheclergymanadded,\"thatsuchdiscoursebetterbefittedawatch—
towerguardedbyprofanesoldierythantheboardofanhonourableperson,andthepresenceofaladyofquality。\"
\"Cravingyourpardon,Dominie,orDoctor,AUTQUOCUNQUEALIO
NOMINEGAUDES,forIwouldhaveyoutoknowIhavestudiedpoliteletters,\"saidtheunabashedenvoy,fillingagreatcupofwine,\"Iseenogroundforyourreproof,seeingIdidnotspeakofthoseTURPESPERSONAE,asiftheiroccupationorcharacterwasapropersubjectofconversationforthislady\'spresence,butsimplyPARACCIDENS,asillustratingthematterinhand,namely,theirnaturalcourageandaudacity,muchenhanced,doubtless,bythedesperatecircumstancesoftheircondition。\"
\"CaptainDalgetty,\"saidSirDuncanCampbell,\"tobreakshortthisdiscourse,Imustacquaintyou,thatIhavesomebusinesstodispatchto—night,inordertoenablemetoridewithyouto—
morrowtowardsInverary;andtherefore——\"
\"Toridewiththispersonto—morrow！\"exclaimedhislady;\"suchcannotbeyourpurpose,SirDuncan,unlessyouhaveforgottenthatthemorrowisasadanniversary,anddedicatedtoassadasolemnity。\"
\"Ihadnotforgotten,\"answeredSirDuncan;\"howisitpossibleI
caneverforget？butthenecessityofthetimesrequiresI
shouldsendthisofficeronwardtoInverary,withoutlossoftime。\"
\"Yet,surely,notthatyoushouldaccompanyhiminperson？\"
enquiredthelady。
\"ItwerebetterIdid,\"saidSirDuncan;\"yetIcanwritetotheMarquis,andfollowonthesubsequentday。——CaptainDalgetty,I
willdispatchaletterforyou,explainingtotheMarquisofArgyleyourcharacterandcommission,withwhichyouwillpleasetopreparetotraveltoInveraryearlyto—morrowmorning。\"
\"SirDuncanCampbell,\"saidDalgetty,\"Iamdoubtlessatyourdiscretionarydisposalinthismatter;nottheless,Iprayyoutoremembertheblotwhichwillfalluponyourownescutcheon,ifyoudoinanywaysufferme,beingacommissionateflagoftruce,tobecircumventedinthismatter,whetherCLAM,VI,VEL
PRECARIO;Idonotsaybyyourassenttoanywrongdonetome,buteventhroughabsenceofanyduecareonyourparttopreventthesame。\"
\"Youareunderthesafeguardofmyhonour,sir,\"answeredSirDuncanCampbell,\"andthatismorethanasufficientsecurity。
Andnow,\"continuedhe,rising,\"Imustsettheexampleofretiring。\"
Dalgettysawhimselfunderthenecessityoffollowingthehint,thoughthehourwasearly;but,likeaskilfulgeneral,heavailedhimselfofeveryinstantofdelaywhichcircumstancespermitted。\"Trustingtoyourhonourableparole,\"saidhe,fillinghiscup,\"Idrinktoyou,SirDuncan,andtothecontinuanceofyourhonourable—house。\"AsighfromSirDuncanwastheonlyreply。\"Also,madam,\"saidthesoldier,replenishingthequaighwithallpossibledispatch,\"Idrinktoyourhonourablehealth,andfulfilmentofallyourvirtuousdesires——and,reverendsir\"（notforgettingtofittheactiontothewords）,\"IfillthiscuptothedrowningofallunkindnessbetwixtyouandCaptainDalgetty——IshouldsayMajor——and,inrespecttheflagoncontainsbutonecupmore,Idrinktothehealthofallhonourablecavaliersandbravesoldados——and,theflaskbeingempty,Iamready,SirDuncan,toattendyourfunctionaryorsentineltomyplaceofprivaterepose。\"
Hereceivedaformalpermissiontoretire,andanassurance,thatasthewineseemedtobetohistaste,anothermeasureofthesamevintageshouldattendhimpresently,inordertosoothethehoursofhissolitude。
NosoonerhadtheCaptainreachedtheapartmentthanthispromisewasfulfilled;and,inashorttimeafterwards,theaddedcomfortsofapastyofred—deervenisonrenderedhimverytolerantbothofconfinementandwantofsociety。Thesamedomestic,asortofchamberlain,whoplacedthisgoodcheerinhisapartment,deliveredtoDalgettyapacket,sealedandtiedupwithasilkenthread,accordingtothecustomofthetime,addressedwithmanyformsofrespecttotheHighandMightyPrince,Archibald,MarquisofArgyle,LordofLorne,andsoforth。ThechamberlainatthesametimeapprizedtheRitt—
master,thathemusttakehorseatanearlyhourforInverary,wherethepacketofSirDuncanwouldbeatoncehisintroductionandhispassport。Notforgettingthatitwashisobjecttocollectinformationaswellastoactasanenvoy,anddesirous,forhisownsake,toascertainSirDuncan\'sreasonsforsendinghimonwardwithouthispersonalattendance,theRitt—masterenquiredthedomestic,withalltheprecautionthathisexperiencesuggested,whatwerethereasonswhichdetainedSirDuncanathomeonthesucceedingday。Theman,whowasfromtheLowlands,replied,\"thatitwasthehabitofSirDuncanandhisladytoobserveasadayofsolemnfastandhumiliationtheanniversaryonwhichtheircastlehadbeentakenbysurprise,andtheirchildren,tothenumberoffour,destroyedcruellybyabandofHighlandfreebootersduringSirDuncan\'sabsenceuponanexpeditionwhichtheMarquisofArgylehadundertakenagainsttheMacleansoftheIsleofMull。\"
\"Truly,\"saidthesoldier,\"yourlordandladyhavesomecauseforfastandhumiliation。Nevertheless,Iwillventuretopronounce,thatifhehadtakentheadviceofanyexperiencedsoldier,havingskillinthepractiquesofdefendingplacesofadvantage,hewouldhavebuiltasconceuponthesmallhillwhichistotheleftofthedraw—brigg。AndthisIcaneasilyprovetoyou,minehonestfriend;for,holdingthatpastytobethecastle——What\'syourname,friend？\"
\"Lorimer,sir,\"repliedtheman。
\"Hereistoyourhealth,honestLorimer。——Isay,Lorimer——holdingthatpastytobethemainbodyorcitadeloftheplacetobedefended,andtakingthemarrow—boneforthesconcetobeerected——\"
\"Iamsorry,sir,\"saidLorimer,interruptinghim,\"thatIcannotstaytoheartherestofyourdemonstration;butthebellwillpresentlyring。AsworthyMr。Graneangowl,theMarquis\'sownchaplain,doesfamilyworship,andonlysevenofourhouseholdoutofsixtypersonsunderstandtheScottishtongue,itwouldmisbecomeanyoneofthemtobeabsent,andgreatlyprejudicemeintheopinionofmylady。Therearepipesandtobacco,sir,ifyoupleasetodrinkawhiffofsmoke,andifyouwantanythingelse,itshallbeforthcomingtwohourshence,whenprayersareover。\"Sosaying,helefttheapartment。
Nosoonerwashegone,thantheheavytollofthecastle—bellsummoneditsinhabitantstogether;andwasansweredbytheshrillclamourofthefemales,mixedwiththedeepertonesofthemen,as,talkingEarseatthetopoftheirthroats,theyhurriedfromdifferentquartersbyalongbutnarrowgallery,whichservedasacommunicationtomanyrooms,and,amongothers,tothatinwhichCaptainDalgettywasstationed。Theretheygoasiftheywerebeatingtotheroll—call,thoughtthesoldiertohimself;iftheyallattendtheparade,Iwilllookout,takeamouthfuloffreshair,andmakemineownobservationsonthepracticabilitiesofthisplace。
Accordingly,whenallwasquiet,heopenedhischamberdoor,andpreparedtoleaveit,whenhesawhisfriendwiththeaxeadvancingtowardshimfromthedistantendofthegallery,halfwhistling,aGaelictune。Tohaveshownanywantofconfidence,wouldhavebeenatonceimpolitic,andunbecominghismilitarycharacter;sotheCaptain,puttingthebestfaceuponhissituationhecould,whistledaSwedishretreat,inatonestilllouderthanthenotesofhissentinel;andretreatingpacebypace,withanairofindifference,asifhisonlypurposehadbeentobreathealittlefreshair,heshutthedoorinthefaceofhisguard,whenthefellowhadapproachedwithinafewpacesofhim。
Itisverywell,thoughttheRitt—mastertohimself;heannulsmyparolebyputtingguardsuponme,for,asweusedtosayatMareschal—College,FIDESETFIDUCIASUNTRELATIVA[SeeNoteI];
andifhedoesnottrustmyword,IdonotseehowIamboundtokeepit,ifanymotiveshouldoccurformydesiringtodepartfromit。Surelythemoralobligationoftheparoleisrelaxed,inasfarasphysicalforceissubstitutedinsteadthereof。
Thuscomfortinghimselfinthemetaphysicalimmunitieswhichhededucedfromthevigilanceofhissentinel,Ritt—masterDalgettyretiredtohisapartment,where,amidthetheoreticalcalculationsoftactics,andtheoccasionalmorepracticalattacksontheflaskandpasty,heconsumedtheeveninguntilitwastimetogotorepose。HewassummonedbyLorimeratbreakofday,whogavehimtounderstand,that,whenhehadbrokenhisfast,forwhichheproducedamplematerials,hisguideandhorsewereinattendanceforhisjourneytoInverary。Aftercomplyingwiththehospitablehintofthechamberlain,thesoldierproceededtotakehorse。Inpassingthroughtheapartments,heobservedthatdomesticswerebusilyemployedinhangingthegreathallwithblackcloth,aceremonywhich,hesaid,hehadseenpractisedwhentheimmortalGustavusAdolphuslayinstateintheCastleofWolgast,andwhich,therefore,heopined,wasatestimonialofthestrictestanddeepestmourning。
