Meantime,doasyouseemedo;clapyourhandthusontheweasandofthishighandmightyprince,underhisruff,andifheoffertostruggleorcryout,failnot,myworthyRanald,tosqueezedoughtily;andifitbeADDELIQUIUM,Ranald,thatis,tillheswoon,thereisnogreatmatter,seeinghedesignedyourgulletandminetostillharderusage。\"
\"Ifheofferatspeechorstruggle,\"saidRanald,\"hediesbymyhand。\"
\"Thatisright,Ranald——veryspirited:——Athorough—goingfriendthatunderstandsahintisworthamillion！\"
ThusresigningthechargeoftheMarquistohisnewconfederate,Dalgettypressedthespring,bywhichthesecretdoorflewopen,thoughsowellwereitshingespolishedandoiled,thatitmadenottheslightestnoiseinrevolving。Theoppositesideofthedoorwassecuredbyverystrongboltsandbars,besidewhichhungoneortwokeys,designedapparentlytoundofetterlocks。A
narrowstaircase,ascendingupthroughthethicknessofthecastle—wall,landed,astheMarquishadtrulyinformedhim,behindthetapestryofhisprivateapartment。Suchcommunicationswerefrequentinoldfeudalcastles,astheygavethelordofthefortress,likeasecondDionysius,themeansofhearingtheconversationofhisprisoners,or,ifhepleased,ofvisitingthemindisguise,anexperimentwhichhadterminatedsounpleasantlyonthepresentoccasionforGillespieGrumach。
Havingexaminedpreviouslywhethertherewasanyoneintheapartment,andfindingthecoastclear,theCaptainentered,andhastilypossessinghimselfofablankpassport,severalofwhichlayonthetable,andofwritingmaterials,securing,atthesametime,theMarquis\'sdagger,andasilkcordfromthehangings,heagaindescendedintothecavern,where,listeningamomentatthedoor,hecouldhearthehalf—stifledvoiceoftheMarquismakinggreatprofferstoMacEagh,onconditionhewouldsufferhimtogiveanalarm。
\"Notforaforestofdeer——notforathousandheadofcattle,\"
answeredthefreebooter;\"notforallthelandsthatevercalledasonofDiarmidmaster,willIbreakthetrothIhaveplightedtohimoftheiron—garment！\"
\"Heoftheiron—garment,\"saidDalgetty,entering,\"isboundenuntoyou,MacEagh,andthisnoblelordshallbeboundenalso;butfirsthemustfillupthispassportwiththenamesofMajorDugaldDalgettyandhisguide,orheisliketohaveapassporttoanotherworld。\"
TheMarquissubscribed,andwrote,bythelightofthedarklantern,asthesoldierprescribedtohim。
\"Andnow,Ranald,\"saidDalgetty,\"stripthyuppergarment——thyplaidImean,Ranald,andinitwillImuffletheM\'CallumMore,andmakeofhim,forthetime,aChildoftheMist;——Nay,Imustbringitoveryourhead,mylord,soastosecureusagainstyourmistimedclamour。——So,nowheissufficientlymuffled;——holddownyourhands,or,byHeaven,Iwillstabyoutotheheartwithyourowndagger！——nay,youshallbeboundwithnothinglessthansilk,asyourqualitydeserves。——So,nowheissecuretillsomeonecomestorelievehim。Ifheorderedusalatedinner,Ranald,heisliketobethesufferer;——atwhathour,mygoodRanald,didthejailorusuallyappear？\"
\"Nevertillthesunwasbeneaththewesternwave,\"saidMacEagh。
\"Then,myfriend,weshallhavethreehoursgood,\"saidthecautiousCaptain。\"Inthemeantime,letuslabourforyourliberation。\"
ToexamineRanald\'schainwasthenextoccupation。Itwasundonebymeansofoneofthekeyswhichhungbehindtheprivatedoor,probablydepositedthere,thattheMarquismight,ifhepleased,dismissaprisoner,orremovehimelsewherewithoutthenecessityofsummoningthewarden。Theoutlawstretchedhisbenumbedarms,andboundedfromthefloorofthedungeoninalltheecstasyofrecoveredfreedom。
\"Takethelivery—coatofthatnobleprisoner,\"saidCaptainDalgetty;\"putiton,andfollowcloseatmyheels。\"
Theoutlawobeyed。Theyascendedtheprivatestair,havingfirstsecuredthedoorbehindthem,andthussafelyreachedtheapartmentoftheMarquis。
[Theprecariousstateofthefeudalnoblesintroducedagreatdealofespionageintotheircastles。SirRobertCareymentionshishavingputonthecloakofoneofhisownwardenstoobtainaconfessionfromthemouthofGeordieBourne,hisprisoner,whombecausedpresentlytobehangedinreturnforthefranknessofhiscommunication。ThefineoldBordercastleofNaworthcontainsaprivatestairfromtheapartmentoftheLordWilliamHoward,bywhichhecouldvisitthedungeon,asisallegedintheprecedingchaptertohavebeenpractisedbytheMarquisofArgyle。]
CHAPTERXIV。
Thiswastheentrythen,thesestairs——butwhitherafter？
Yethethat\'ssuretoperishonthelandMayquitthenicetyofcardandcompass,Andtrusttheopenseawithoutapilot。TRAGEDYOFBENNOVALT。
\"Lookoutfortheprivatewaythroughthechapel,Ranald,\"saidtheCaptain,\"whileIgiveahastyregardtothesematters。\"
Thusspeaking,heseizedwithonehandabundleofArgyle\'smostprivatepapers,andwiththeotherapurseofgold,bothofwhichlayinadrawerofarichcabinet,whichstoodinvitinglyopen。
Neitherdidheneglecttopossesshimselfofaswordandpistols,withpowder—flaskandballs,whichhungintheapartment。
\"Intelligenceandbooty,\"saidtheveteran,ashepouchedthespoils,\"eachhonourablecavaliershouldlookto,theoneonhisgeneral\'sbehalf,andtheotheronhisown。ThisswordisanAndrewFerrara,andthepistolsbetterthanmineown。Butafairexchangeisnorobbery。Soldadosarenottobeendangered,andendangeredgratuitously,myLordofArgyle。——Butsoft,soft,Ranald;wiseManoftheMist,whitherartthoubound？\"
ItwasindeedfulltimetostopMacEagh\'sproceedings;for,notfindingtheprivatepassagereadily,andimpatient,itwouldseem,offartherdelay,hehadcaughtdownaswordandtarget,andwasabouttoenterthegreatgallery,withthepurpose,doubtless,offightinghiswaythroughallopposition。
\"Hold,whileyoulive,\"whisperedDalgetty,layingholdonhim。
\"Wemustbeperdue,ifpossible。Sobarwethisdoor,thatitmaybethoughtM\'CallumMorewouldbeprivate——andnowletmemakeareconnaissancefortheprivatepassage。\"
Bylookingbehindthetapestryinvariousplaces,theCaptainatlengthdiscoveredaprivatedoor,andbehindthatawindingpassage,terminatedbyanotherdoor,whichdoubtlessenteredthechapel。Butwhatwashisdisagreeablesurprisetohear,ontheothersideofthisseconddoor,thesonorousvoiceofadivineintheactofpreaching。
\"Thismadethevillain,\"hesaid,\"recommendthistousasaprivatepassage。Iamstronglytemptedtoreturnandcuthisthroat。\"
Hethenopenedverygentlythedoor,whichledintoalatticedgalleryusedbytheMarquishimself,thecurtainsofwhichweredrawn,perhapswiththepurposeofhavingitsupposedthathewasengagedinattendanceupondivineworship,when,infact,hewasabsentuponhissecularaffairs。Therewasnootherpersonintheseat;forthefamilyoftheMarquis,——suchwasthehighstatemaintainedinthosedays,——sateduringserviceinanothergallery,placedsomewhatlowerthanthatofthegreatmanhimself。Thisbeingthecase,CaptainDalgettyventuredtoensconcehimselfinthegallery,ofwhichhecarefullysecuredthedoor。
Never（althoughtheexpressionbeaboldone）wasasermonlistenedtowithmoreimpatience,andlessedification,onthepartofone,atleast,oftheaudience。TheCaptainheardSIXTEENTHLY—SEVENTEENTHLY—EIGHTEENTHLYandTOCONCLUDE,withasortoffeelinglikeprotracteddespair。Butnomancanlecture（fortheservicewascalledalecture）forever;andthediscoursewasatlengthclosed,theclergymannotfailingtomakeaprofoundbowtowardsthelatticedgallery,littlesuspectingwhomhehonouredbythatreverence。Tojudgefromthehastewithwhichtheydispersed,thedomesticsoftheMarquiswerescarcemorepleasedwiththeirlateoccupationthantheanxiousCaptainDalgetty;indeed,manyofthembeingHighlandmen,hadtheexcuseofnotunderstandingasinglewordwhichtheclergymanspoke,althoughtheygavetheirattendanceonhisdoctrinebythespecialorderofM\'CallumMore,andwouldhavedonesohadthepreacherbeenaTurkishImaum。
Butalthoughthecongregationdispersedthusrapidly,thedivineremainedbehindinthechapel,and,walkingupanddownitsGothicprecincts,seemedeithertobemeditatingonwhathehadjustbeendelivering,orpreparingafreshdiscourseforthenextopportunity。Boldashewas,Dalgettyhesitatedwhatheoughttodo。Time,however,pressed,andeverymomentincreasedthechanceoftheirescapebeingdiscoveredbythejailorvisitingthedungeonperhapsbeforehiswontedtime,anddiscoveringtheexchangewhichhadbeenmadethere。Atlength,whisperingRanald,whowatchedallhismotions,tofollowhimandpreservehiscountenance,CaptainDalgetty,withaverycomposedair,descendedaflightofstepswhichledfromthegalleryintothebodyofthechapel。Alessexperiencedadventurerwouldhaveendeavouredtopasstheworthyclergymanrapidly,inhopestoescapeunnoticed。ButtheCaptain,whoforesawthemanifestdangeroffailinginsuchanattempt,walkedgravelytomeetthedivineuponhiswalkinthemidstofthechancel,and,pullingoffhiscap,wasabouttopasshimafteraformalreverence。ButwhatwashissurprisetoviewinthepreachertheverysamepersonwithwhomhehaddinedinthecastleofArdenvohr！Yethespeedilyrecoveredhiscomposure;anderetheclergymancouldspeak,wasthefirsttoaddresshim。\"Icouldnot,\"hesaid,\"leavethismansionwithoutbequeathingtoyou,myveryreverendsir,myhumblethanksforthehomilywithwhichyouhavethiseveningfavouredus。\"
\"Ididnotobserve,sir,\"saidtheclergyman,\"thatyouwereinthechapel。\"
\"ItpleasedthehonourableMarquis,\"saidDalgetty,modestly,\"togracemewithaseatinhisowngallery。\"Thedivinebowedlowatthisintimation,knowingthatsuchanhonourwasonlyvouchsafedtopersonsofveryhighrank。\"Ithasbeenmyfate,sir,\"saidtheCaptain,\"inthesortofwanderinglifewhichI
haveled,tohavehearddifferentpreachersofdifferentreligions——asforexample,Lutheran,Evangelical,Reformed,Calvinistical,andsoforth,butneverhaveIlistenedtosuchahomilyasyours。\"
\"Callitalecture,worthysir,\"saidthedivine,\"suchisthephraseofourchurch。\"
\"Lectureorhomily,\"saidDalgetty,\"itwas,astheHighGermanssay,GANZFORTREFLICH;andIcouldnotleavethisplacewithouttestifyinguntoyouwhatinwardemotionsIhaveundergoneduringyouredifyingprelection;andhowIamtouchedtothequick,thatIshouldyesterday,duringtherefection,haveseemedtoinfringeontherespectduetosuchapersonasyourself。\"
\"Alas！myworthysir,\"saidtheclergyman,\"wemeetinthisworldasintheValleyoftheShadowofDeath,notknowingagainstwhomwemaychancetoencounter。Intruth,itisnomatterofmarvel,ifwesometimesjostlethose,towhom,ifknown,wewouldyieldallrespect。Surely,sir,Iwouldratherhavetakenyouforaprofanemalignantthanforsuchadevoutpersonasyouprove,whoreverencesthegreatMastereveninthemeanestofhisservants。\"
\"Itisalwaysmycustomtodoso,learnedsir,\"answeredDalgetty;\"forintheserviceoftheimmortalGustavus——butI
detainyoufromyourmeditations,\"——hisdesiretospeakoftheKingofSwedenbeingforonceoverpoweredbythenecessityofhiscircumstances。
\"Bynomeans,myworthysir,\"saidtheclergyman。\"Whatwas,I
prayyou,theorderofthatgreatPrince,whosememoryissodeartoeveryProtestantbosom？\"
\"Sir,thedrumsbeattoprayersmorningandevening,asregularlyasforparade;andifasoldierpassedwithoutsalutingthechaplain,hehadanhour\'srideonthewoodenmareforhispains。
Sir,Iwishyouaverygoodevening——IamobligedtodepartthecastleunderM\'CallumMore\'spassport。\"
\"Stayoneinstant,sir,\"saidthepreacher;\"istherenothingI
candototestifymyrespectforthepupilofthegreatGustavus,andsoadmirableajudgeofpreaching？\"
\"Nothing,sir,\"saidtheCaptain,\"buttoshewmethenearestwaytothegate——andifyouwouldhavethekindness,\"headded,withgreateffrontery,\"toletaservantbringmyhorsewithhim,thedarkgreygelding——callhimGustavus,andhewillprickuphisears——forIknownotwherethecastle—stablesaresituated,andmyguide,\"headded,lookingatRanald,\"speaksnoEnglish。\"
\"Ihastentoaccommodateyou,\"saidtheclergyman;\"yourwayliesthroughthatcloisteredpassage。\"
\"Now,Heaven\'sblessinguponyourvanity！\"saidtheCaptaintohimself。\"IwasafraidIwouldhavehadtomarchoffwithoutGustavus。\"
Infact,soeffectuallydidthechaplainexerthimselfinbehalfofsoexcellentajudgeofcomposition,thatwhileDalgettywasparleyingwiththesentinelsatthedrawbridge,showinghispassport,andgivingthewatchword,aservantbroughthimhishorse,readysaddledforthejourney。Inanotherplace,theCaptain\'ssuddenappearanceatlargeafterhavingbeenpubliclysenttoprison,mighthaveexcitedsuspicionandenquiry;buttheofficersanddomesticsoftheMarquiswereaccustomedtothemysteriouspolicyoftheirmaster,andneversupposedaughtelsethanthathehadbeenliberatedandintrustedwithsomeprivatecommissionbytheirmaster。Inthisbelief,andhavingreceivedtheparole,theygavehimfreepassage。
DalgettyrodeslowlythroughthetownofInverary,theoutlawattendinguponhimlikeafoot—pageathishorse\'sshoulder。Astheypassedthegibbet,theoldmanlookedonthebodiesandwrunghishands。Thelookandgesturewasmomentary,butexpressiveofindescribableanguish。Instantlyrecoveringhimself,Ranald,inpassing,whisperedsomewhattooneofthefemales,who,likeRizpahthedaughterofAiah,seemedengagedinwatchingandmourningthevictimsoffeudalinjusticeandcruelty。Thewomanstartedathisvoice,butimmediatelycollectedherselfandreturnedforansweraslightinclinationofthehead。
Dalgettycontinuedhiswayoutofthetown,uncertainwhetherheshouldtrytoseizeorhireaboatandcrossthelake,orplungeintothewoods,andthereconcealhimselffrompursuit。IntheformereventhewasliabletobeinstantlypursuedbythegalleysoftheMarquis,whichlayreadyforsailing,theirlongyard—armspointingtothewind,andwhathopecouldhehaveinanordinaryHighlandfishing—boattoescapefromthem？Ifhemadethelatterchoice,hischanceeitherofsupportingorconcealinghimselfinthosewasteandunknownwildernesses,wasinthehighestdegreeprecarious。Thetownlaynowbehindhim,yetwhathandtoturntoforsafetyhewasunabletodetermine,andbegantobesensible,thatinescapingfromthedungeonatInverary,desperateasthematterseemed,hehadonlyaccomplishedtheeasiestpartofadifficulttask。Ifretaken,hisfatewasnowcertain;forthepersonalinjuryhehadofferedtoamansopowerfulandsovindictive,couldbeatonedforonlybyinstantdeath。Whileheponderedthesedistressingreflections,andlookedaroundwithacountenancewhichplainlyexpressedindecision,RanaldMacEaghsuddenlyaskedhim,\"whichwayheintendedtojourney？\"
\"Andthat,honestcomrade,\"answeredDalgetty,\"ispreciselythequestionwhichIcannotansweryou。TrulyIbegintoholdtheopinion,Ranald,thatwehadbetterhavestuckbythebrownloafandwater—pitcheruntilSirDuncanarrived,who,forhisownhonour,musthavemadesomefightforme。\"
\"Saxon,\"answeredMacEagh,\"donotregrethavingexchangedthefoulbreathofyonderdungeonforthefreeairofheaven。Aboveall,repentnotthatyouhaveservedaSonoftheMist。Putyourselfundermyguidance,andIwillwarrantyoursafetywithmyhead。\"
\"Canyouguidemesafethroughthesemountains,andbacktothearmyofMontrose？\"saidDalgetty。
\"Ican,\"answeredMacEagh;\"therelivesnotamantowhomthemountainpasses,thecaverns,theglens,thethickets,andthecorriesareknown,astheyaretotheChildrenoftheMist。
Whileotherscrawlonthelevelground,bythesidesoflakesandstreams,oursarethesteephollowsoftheinaccessiblemountains,thebirth—placeofthedesertsprings。NotallthebloodhoundsofArgylecantracethefastnessesthroughwhichI
canguideyou。\"
\"Say\'stthouso,honestRanald？\"repliedDalgetty;\"thenhaveonwiththee;forofasuretyIshallneversavetheshipbymyownpilotage。\"
Theoutlawaccordinglyledthewayintothewood,bywhichthecastleissurroundedforseveralmiles,walkingwithsomuchdispatchaskeptGustavusataroundtrot,andtakingsuchanumberofcrosscutsandturns,thatCaptainDalgettyspeedilylostallideawherehemightbe,andallknowledgeofthepointsofthecompass。Atlength,thepath,whichhadgraduallybecomemoredifficult,altogetherendedamongthicketsandunderwood。
Theroaringofatorrentwasheardintheneighbourhood,thegroundbecameinsomeplacesbroken,inothersboggy,andeverywhereunfitforriding。
\"Whatthefoulfiend,\"saidDalgetty,\"istobedonehere？ImustpartwithGustavus,Ifear。\"
\"Takenocareforyourhorse,\"saidtheoutlaw;\"heshallsoonberestoredtoyou。\"
Ashespoke,hewhistledinalowtune,andalad,half—dressedintartan,halfnaked,havingonlyhisownshaggyhair,tiedwithathongofleather,toprotecthisheadandfacefromsunandweather,lean,andhalf—starvedinaspect,hiswildgreyeyesappearingtofilluptentimestheproportionusuallyallottedtotheminthehumanface,creptout,asawildbeastmighthavedone,fromathicketofbramblesandbriars。
\"Giveyourhorsetothegillie,\"saidRanaldMacEagh;\"yourlifedependsuponit。\"
\"Och！och！\"exclaimedthedespairingveteran;\"Eheu！asweusedtosayatMareschal—College,mustIleaveGustavusinsuchgrooming！\"
\"Areyoufrantic,tolosetimethus！\"saidhisguide;\"dowestandonfriends\'ground,thatyoushouldpartwithyourhorseasifhewereyourbrother？Itellyou,youshallhavehimagain;
butifyouneversawtheanimal,isnotlifebetterthanthebestcoltevermarefoaled？\"
\"Andthatistruetoo,minehonestfriend,\"sighedDalgetty;\"yetifyouknewbutthevalueofGustavus,andthethingswetwohavedoneandsufferedtogether——See,heturnsbacktolookatme！——Bekindtohim,mygoodbreechlessfriend,andIwillrequiteyouwell。\"Sosaying,andwithalsnifflingalittletoswallowhisgrief,heturnedfromtheheart—rendingspectacleinordertofollowhisguide。
Tofollowhisguidewasnoeasymatter,andsoonrequiredmoreagilitythanCaptainDalgettycouldmaster。Theveryfirstplungeafterhehadpartedfromhischarger,carriedhim,withlittleassistancefromafewoverhangingboughs,orprojectingrootsoftrees,eightfootsheerdownintothecourseofatorrent,upwhichtheSonoftheMistledtheway。Hugestones,overwhichtheyscrambled,——thicketsofthemandbrambles,throughwhichtheyhadtodragthemselves,——rockswhichweretobeclimbedontheonesidewithmuchlabourandpain,forthepurposeofanequallyprecariousdescentupontheother;allthese,andmanysuchinterruptions,weresurmountedbythelight—
footedandhalf—nakedmountaineerwithaneaseandvelocitywhichexcitedthesurpriseandenvyofCaptainDalgetty,who,encumberedbyhishead—piece,corslet,andotherarmour,nottomentionhisponderousjack—boots,foundhimselfatlengthsomuchexhaustedbyfatigue,andthedifficultiesoftheroad,thathesatedownuponastoneinordertorecoverhisbreath,whileheexplainedtoRanaldMacEaghthedifferencebetwixttravellingEXPEDITUSandIMPEDITUS,asthesetwomilitaryphraseswereunderstoodatMareschal—College,Aberdeen。Thesoleanswerofthemountaineerwastolayhishandonthesoldier\'sarm,andpointbackwardinthedirectionofthewind。Dalgettycouldspynothing,foreveningwasclosingfast,andtheywereatthebottomofadarkravine。Butatlengthhecoulddistinctlyhearatadistancethesullentollofalargebell。
\"That,\"saidhe,\"mustbethealarm——thestorm—clock,astheGermanscallit。\"
\"Itstrikesthehourofyourdeath,\"answeredRanald,\"unlessyoucanaccompanymealittlefarther。Foreverytollofthatbellabravemanhasyieldeduphissoul。\"
\"Truly,Ranald,mytrustyfriend,\"saidDalgetty,\"Iwillnotdenythatthecasemaybesoonmyown;forIamsoforfoughen（being,asIexplainedtoyou,IMPEDITUS,forhadIbeenEXPEDITUS,Imindnotpedestrianexercisetheflourishofafife）,thatIthinkIhadbetterensconcemyselfinoneofthesebushes,andevenliequiettheretoabidewhatfortuneGodshallsendme。Ientreatyou,minehonestfriendRanald,toshiftforyourself,andleavemetomyfortune,astheLionoftheNorth,theimmortalGustavusAdolphus,mynever—to—be—forgottenmaster（whomyoumustsurelyhaveheardof,Ranald,thoughyoumayhaveheardofnooneelse）,saidtoFrancisAlbert,DukeofSaxe—
Lauenburgh,whenhewasmortallywoundedontheplainsofLutzen。
Neitherdespairaltogetherofmysafety,Ranald,seeingIhavebeeninasgreatpinchesasthisinGermany——moreespecially,I
rememberme,thatatthefatalbattleofNerlingen——afterwhichI
changedservice——\"
\"Ifyouwouldsaveyourfather\'sson\'sbreathtohelphischildoutoftrouble,insteadofwastingituponthetalesofSeannachies,\"saidRanald,whonowgrewimpatientoftheCaptain\'sloquacity,\"orifyourfeetcouldtravelasfastasyourtongue,youmightyetlayyourheadonanunbloodypillowto—night。\"
\"Somethingthereislikemilitaryskillinthat,\"repliedtheCaptain,\"althoughwantonlyandirreverentlyspokentoanofficerofrank。ButIholditgoodtopardonsuchfreedomsonamarch,inrespectoftheSaturnalianlicenseindulgedinsuchcasestothetroopsofallnations。Andnow,resumethineoffice,friendRanald,inrespectIamwell—breathed;or,tobemoreplain,I
PRAE,SEQUAR,asweusedtosayatMareschal—College。\"
Comprehendinghismeaningratherfromhismotionsthanhislanguage,theSonoftheMistagainledtheway,withanunerringprecisionthatlookedlikeinstinct,throughavarietyofgroundthemostdifficultandbrokenthatcouldwellbeimagined。
Draggingalonghisponderousboots,encumberedwiththigh—pieces,gauntlets,corslet,andback—piece,nottomentionthebuffjerkinwhichheworeunderallthesearms,talkingofhisformerexploitsthewholeway,thoughRanaldpaidnottheslightestattentiontohim,CaptainDalgettycontrivedtofollowhisguideaconsiderablespacefarther,whenthedeep—mouthedbayingofahoundwasheardcomingdownthewind,asifopeningonthescentofitsprey。
\"Blackhound,\"saidRanald,\"whosethroatneverbodedgoodtoaChildoftheMist,illfortunetoherwholitteredthee！hastthoualreadyfoundourtrace？Butthouarttoolate,swarthoundofdarkness,andthedeerhasgainedtheherd。\"
Sosaying,hewhistledverysoftly,andwasansweredinatoneequallylowfromthetopofapass,upwhichtheyhadforsometimebeenascending。Mendingtheirpace,theyreachedthetop,wherethemoon,whichhadnowrisenbrightandclear,showedtoDalgettyapartyoftenortwelveHighlanders,andaboutasmanywomenandchildren,bywhomRanaldMacEaghwasreceivedwithsuchtransportsofjoy,asmadehiscompanioneasilysensiblethatthosebywhomhewassurrounded,mustofcoursebeChildrenoftheMist。Theplacewhichtheyoccupiedwellsuitedtheirnameandhabits。Itwasabeetlingcrag,roundwhichwindedaverynarrowandbrokenfootpath,commandedinvariousplacesbythepositionwhichtheyheld。
Ranaldspokeanxiouslyandhastilytothechildrenofhistribe,andthemencameonebyonetoshakehandswithDalgetty,whilethewomen,clamorousintheirgratitude,pressedroundtokisseventhehemofhisgarment。\"Theyplighttheirfaithtoyou,\"
saidRanaldMacEagh,\"forrequitalofthegooddeedyouhavedonetothetribethisday。\"
\"Enoughsaid,Ranald,\"answeredthesoldier,\"enoughsaid——tellthemIlovenotthisshakingofhands——itconfusesranksanddegreesinmilitaryservice;andastokissingofgauntlets,puldrons,andthelike,IrememberthattheimmortalGustavus,asherodethroughthestreetsofNuremberg,beingthusworshippedbythepoulace（beingdoubtlessfarmoreworthyofitthanapoorthoughhonourablecavalierlikemyself）,didsayuntothem,inthewayofrebuke,\'Ifyouidolizemethuslikeagod,whoshallassureyouthatthevengeanceofHeavenwillnotsoonprovemetobeamortal？\'——Andsohere,Isupposeyouintendtomakeastandagainstyourfollowers,Ranald——VOTOADIOS,astheSpaniardsays？——averyprettyposition——asprettyapositionforasmallpelotonofmenasIhaveseeninmyservice——noenemycancometowardsitbytheroadwithoutbeingatthemercyofcannonandmusket。——Butthen,Ranald,mytrustycomrade,youhavenocannon,Idaretoaver,andIdonotseethatanyofthesefellowshavemusketseither。Sowithwhatartilleryyouproposemakinggoodthepass,beforeyoucometohandblows,truly,Ranald,itpassethmyapprehension。\"