AsRanaldMacEaghwastobeplacedunderMajorDalgetty\'sprotectionandsuperintendence,itwasnecessaryheshouldpresenthimtothosepersonswithwhomhewasmostlikelytoassociate。Thedressoftheoldmanhad,inthemeantime,beenchangedfromthetartanofhisclantoasortofclothingpeculiartothemenofthedistantIsles,resemblingawaistcoatwithsleeves,andapetticoat,allmadeinonepiece。Thisdresswaslacedfromtoptobottominfront,andboresomeresemblancetothatcalledPolonaise,stillwornbychildreninScotlandofthelowerrank。Thetartanhoseandbonnetcompletedthedress,whicholdmenofthelastcenturyrememberedwelltohaveseenwornbythedistantIslesmenwhocametotheEarlofMar\'sstandardintheyear1715。
MajorDalgetty,keepinghiseyeonAllanashespoke,introducedRanaldMacEaghunderthefictitiousnameofRanaldMacGillihuroninBenbecula,whohadescapedwithhimoutofArgyle\'sprison。
Herecommendedhimasapersonskilfulintheartsoftheharperandthesenachie,andbynomeanscontemptibleinthequalityofasecond—sightedpersonorseer。Whilemakingthisexposition,MajorDalgettystammeredandhesitatedinawaysounliketheusualglibforwardnessofhismanner,thathecouldnothavefailedtohavegivensuspiciontoAllanM\'Aulay,hadnotthatperson\'swholeattentionbeenengagedinsteadilyperusingthefeaturesofthepersonthusintroducedtohim。ThissteadygazesomuchembarrassedRanaldMacEagh,thathishandwasbeginningtosinkdowntowardshisdagger,inexpectationofahostileassault,whenAllan,suddenlycrossingthefloorofthehut,extendedhishandtohiminthewayoffriendlygreeting。Theysatdownsidebyside,andconversedinalowmysterioustoneofvoice。MenteithandAngusM\'Aulaywerenotsurprisedatthis,forthereprevailedamongtheHighlanderswhopretendedtothesecond—sight,asortofFreemasonry,whichgenerallyinducedthem,uponmeeting,toholdcommunicationwitheachotheronthenatureandextentoftheirvisionaryexperiences。
\"Doesthesightcomegloomyuponyourspirits？\"saidAllantohisnewacquaintance。
\"Asdarkastheshadowuponthemoon,\"repliedRanald,\"whensheisdarkenedinhermid—courseinheaven,andprophetsforetellofeviltimes。\"
\"Comehither,\"saidAllan,\"comemorethisway,Iwouldconversewithyouapart;formensaythatinyourdistantislandsthesightispouredforthwithmoreclearnessandpowerthanuponus,whodwellneartheSassenach。\"
Whiletheywereplungedintotheirmysticconference,thetwoEnglishcavaliersenteredthecabininthehighestpossiblespirits,andannouncedtoAngusM\'Aulaythatordershadbeenissuedthatallshouldholdthemselvesinreadinessforanimmediatemarchtothewestward。Havingdeliveredthemselvesoftheirnewswithmuchglee,theypaidtheircomplimentstotheiroldacquaintanceMajorDalgetty,whomtheyinstantlyrecognised,andenquiredafterthehealthofhischarger,Gustavus。
\"Ihumblythankyou,gentlemen,\"answeredthesoldier,\"Gustavasiswell,though,likehismaster,somewhatbarerontheribsthanwhenyouofferedtorelievemeofhimatDarnlinvarach;andletmeassureyou,thatbeforeyouhavemadeoneortwoofthosemarcheswhichyouseemtocontemplatewithsomuchsatisfactioninprospect,youwillleave,mygoodknights,someofyourEnglishbeef,andprobablyanEnglishhorseortwo,behindyou。\"
Bothexclaimedthattheycaredverylittlewhattheyfoundorwhattheyleft,providedthescenechangedfromdoggingupanddownAngusandAberdeenshire,inpursuitofanenemywhowouldneitherfightnorrunaway。
\"Ifsuchbethecase,\"saidAngusM\'Aulay,\"Imustgiveorderstomyfollowers,andmakeprovisiontooforthesafeconveyanceofAnnotLyle;foranadvanceintoM\'CallumMore\'scountrywillbeafartherandfoulerroadthanthesepinksofCumbrianknighthoodareawareof。\"Sosaying,heleftthecabin。
\"AnnotLyle！\"repeatedDalgetty,\"isshefollowingthecampaign？\"
\"Surely,\"repliedSirGilesMusgrave,hiseyeglancingslightlyfromLordMenteithtoAllanM\'Aulay;\"wecouldneithermarchnorfight,advancenorretreat,withouttheinfluenceofthePrincessofHarps。\"
\"ThePrincessofBroadswordsandTargets,Isay,\"answeredhiscompanion;\"fortheLadyofMontroseherselfcouldnotbemorecourteouslywaitedupon;shehasfourHighlandmaidens,andasmanybare—leggedgillies,towaituponherorders。\"
\"Andwhatwouldyouhave,gentlemen？\"saidAllan,turningsuddenlyfromtheHighlanderwithwhomhewasinconversation;
\"wouldyouyourselveshaveleftaninnocentfemale,thecompanionofyourinfancy,todiebyviolence,orperishbyfamine？Thereisnot,bythistime,aroofuponthehabitationofmyfathers——
ourcropshavebeendestroyed,andourcattlehavebeendriven——
andyou,gentlemen,havetoblessGod,that,comingfromamilderandmorecivilizedcountry,youexposeonlyyourownlivesinthisremorselesswar,withoutapprehensionthatyourenemieswillvisitwiththeirvengeancethedefencelesspledgesyoumayhaveleftbehindyou。\"
TheEnglishmencordiallyagreedthattheyhadthesuperiorityinthisrespect;andthecompany,nowdispersing,wenteachtohisseveralchargeoroccupation。
Allanlingeredamomentbehind,stillquestioningthereluctantRanaldMacEaghuponapointinhissupposedvisions,bywhichhewasgreatlyperplexed。\"Repeatedly,\"hesaid,\"haveIhadthesightofaGael,whoseemedtoplungehisweaponintothebodyofMenteith,——ofthatyoungnoblemaninthescarletlacedcloak,whohasjustnowleftthebothy。Butbynoeffort,thoughIhavegazedtillmyeyeswerealmostfixedinthesockets,canI
discoverthefaceofthisHighlander,orevenconjecturewhohemaybe,althoughhispersonandairseemfamiliartome。\"[SeeNoteII。——Wraiths。]
\"Haveyoureversedyourownplaid,\"saidRanald,\"accordingtotheruleoftheexperiencedSeersinsuchcase？\"
\"Ihave,\"answeredAllan,speakinglow,andshudderingasifwithinternalagony。
\"Andinwhatguisedidthephantomthenappeartoyou？\"saidRanald。
\"Withhisplaidalsoreversed,\"answeredAllan,inthesamelowandconvulsedtone。
\"Thenbeassured,\"saidRanald,\"thatyourownhand,andnoneother,willdothedeedofwhichyouhavewitnessedtheshadow。\"
\"Sohasmyanxioussoulahundredtimessurmised,\"repliedAllan。
\"Butitisimpossible！WereItoreadtherecordintheeternalbookoffate,Iwoulddeclareitimpossible——weareboundbythetiesofblood,andbyahundredtiesmoreintimate——wehavestoodsidebysideinbattle,andourswordshavereekedwiththebloodofthesameenemies——itisIMPOSSIBLEIshouldharmhim！\"
\"ThatyouWILLdoso,\"answeredRanald,\"iscertain,thoughthecausebehidinthedarknessoffuturity。Yousay,\"hecontinued,suppressinghisownemotionswithdifficulty,\"thatsidebysideyouhavepursuedyourpreylikebloodhounds——haveyouneverseenbloodhoundsturntheirfangsagainsteachother,andfightoverthebodyofathrottleddeer？\"
\"Itisfalse！\"saidM\'Aulay,startingup,\"thesearenottheforebodingsoffate,butthetemptationofsomeevilspiritfromthebottomlesspit！\"Sosaying,hestrodeoutofthecabin。
\"Thouhastit！\"saidtheSonoftheMist,lookingafterhimwithanairofexultation;\"thebarbedarrowisinthyside！Spiritsoftheslaughtered,rejoice！soonshallyourmurderers\'swordsbedyedineachother\'sblood。\"
Onthesucceedingmorningallwasprepared,andMontroseadvancedbyrapidmarchesuptheriverTay,andpouredhisdesultoryforcesintotheromanticvalearoundthelakeofthesamename,whichliesattheheadofthatriver。TheinhabitantswereCampbells,notindeedthevassalsofArgyle,butofthealliedandkindredhouseofGlenorchy,whichnowbearsthenameofBreadalbane。Beingtakenbysurprise,theyweretotallyunpreparedforresistance,andwerecompelledtobepassivewitnessesoftheravageswhichtookplaceamongtheirflocksandherds。AdvancinginthismannertothevaleofLochDochart,andlayingwastethecountryaroundhim,Montrosereachedthemostdifficultpointofhisenterprise。
Toamodernarmy,evenwiththeassistanceofthegoodmilitaryroadwhichnowleadsupbyTeinedrumtotheheadofLochAwe,thepassageoftheseextensivewildswouldseemataskofsomedifficulty。Butatthisperiod,andforlongafterwards,therewasnoroadorpathwhatsoever;andtoaddtothedifficulty,themountainswerealreadycoveredwithsnow。Itwasasublimescenetolookuptothem,piledingreatmasses,oneuponanother,thefrontrankofdazzlingwhiteness,whilethosewhicharosebehindthemcaughtarosytintfromthesettingofaclearwintrysun。
BenCruachan,superiorinmagnitude,andseemingtheverycitadeloftheGeniusoftheRegion,rosehighabovetheothers,showinghisglimmeringandscathedpeaktothedistanceofmanymiles。
ThefollowersofMontroseweremennottobedauntedbythesublime,yetterribleprospectbeforethem。ManyofthemwereofthatancientraceofHighlanders,whonotonlywillinglymadetheircouchinthesnow,butconsidereditaseffeminateluxurytouseasnowballforapillow。Plunderandrevengelaybeyondthefrozenmountainswhichtheybeheld,andtheydidnotpermitthemselvestobedauntedbythedifficultyoftraversingthem。
Montrosedidnotallowtheirspiritstimetosubside。Heorderedthepipestoplayinthevantheancientpibrochentitled,\"HOGGILNAMBO,\"etc。（thatis,Wecomethroughsnow—drifttodrivetheprey）,theshrillingsoundsofwhichhadoftenstruckthevalesoftheLennoxwithterror。[Itisthefamily—marchoftheM\'Farlanes,awarlikeandpredatoryclan,whoinhabitedthewesternbanksofLoch—Lomond。SeeWAVERLY,NoteXV。]Thetroopsadvancedwiththenimblealacrityofmountaineers,andweresooninvolvedinthedangerouspass,throughwhichRanaldactedastheirguide,goingbeforethemwithaselectparty,totrackouttheway。
Thepowerofmanatnotimeappearsmorecontemptiblethanwhenitisplacedincontrastwithscenesofnaturalterroranddignity。ThevictoriousarmyofMontrose,whoseexploitshadstruckterrorintoallScotland,whenascendingupthisterrificpass,seemedacontemptiblehandfulofstragglers,intheactofbeingdevouredbythejawsofthemountain,whichappearedreadytocloseuponthem。EvenMontrosehalfrepentedtheboldnessofhisattempt,ashelookeddownfromthesummitofthefirsteminencewhichheattained,uponthescatteredconditionofhissmallarmy。Thedifficultyofgettingforwardwassogreat,thatconsiderablegapsbegantooccurinthelineofmarch,andthedistancebetweenthevan,centre,andrear,waseachmomentincreasedinadegreeequallyincommodiousanddangerous。ItwaswithgreatapprehensionthatMontroselookeduponeverypointofadvantagewhichthehillafforded,indreaditmightbefoundoccupiedbyanenemypreparedfordefence;andheoftenafterwardswasheardtoexpresshisconviction,thathadthepassesofStrath—Fillanbeendefendedbytwohundredresolutemen,notonlywouldhisprogresshavebeeneffectuallystopped,buthisarmymusthavebeenindangerofbeingtotallycutoff。
Security,however,thebaneofmanyastrongcountryandmanyafortress,betrayed,onthisoccasion,thedistrictofArgyletohisenemies。Theinvadershadonlytocontendwiththenaturaldifficultiesofthepath,andwiththesnow,which,fortunately,hadnotfalleninanygreatquantity。ThearmynosoonerreachedthesummitoftheridgeofhillsdividingArgyleshirefromthedistrictofBreadalbane,thantheyrusheddownuponthedevotedvalesbeneaththemwithafurysufficientlyexpressiveofthemotiveswhichhaddictatedamovementsodifficultandhazardous。
Montrosedividedhisarmyintothreebodies,inordertoproduceawiderandmoreextensiveterror,oneofwhichwascommandedbytheCaptainofClanRanald,oneintrustedtotheleadingofColkitto,andthethirdremainedunderhisowndirection。HewasthusenabledtopenetratethecountryofArgyleatthreedifferentpoints。Resistancetherewasnone。Theflightoftheshepherdsfromthehillshadfirstannouncedinthepeopleddistrictsthisformidableirruption,andwherevertheclansmenweresummonedout,theywerekilled,disarmed,anddispersed,byanenemywhohadanticipatedtheirmotions。MajorDalgetty,whohadbeensentforwardagainstInverarywiththefewhorseofthearmythatwerefitforservice,managedhismatterssowell,thathehadverynearlysurprisedArgyle,asheexpressedit,INTER
POCULA;anditwasonlyarapidflightbywaterwhichsavedthatchieffromdeathorcaptivity。ButthepunishmentwhichArgylehimselfescapedfellheavilyuponhiscountryandclan,andtheravagescommittedbyMontroseonthatdevotedland,althoughtooconsistentwiththegeniusofthecountryandtimes,havebeenrepeatedlyandjustlyquotedasablotonhisactionsandcharacter。
ArgyleinthemeantimehadfledtoEdinburgh,tolayhiscomplaintsbeforetheConventionofEstates。Tomeettheexigenceofthemoment,aconsiderablearmywasraisedunderGeneralBaillie,aPresbyterianofficerofskillandfidelity,withwhomwasjoinedincommandthecelebratedSirJohnUrrie,asoldieroffortunelikeDalgetty,whohadalreadychangedsidestwiceduringtheCivilWar,andwasdestinedtoturnhiscoatathirdtimebeforeitwasended。Argylealso,burningwithindignation,proceededtolevyhisownnumerousforces,inordertoavengehimselfofhisfeudalenemy。Heestablishedhishead—
quartersatDunbarton,wherehewassoonjoinedbyaconsiderableforce,consistingchieflyofhisownclansmenanddependants。
BeingtherejoinedbyBaillieandUrrie,withaveryconsiderablearmyofregularforces,hepreparedtomarchintoArgyleshire,andchastisetheinvaderofhispaternalterritories。
ButMontrose,whilethesetwoformidablearmieswereformingajunction,hadbeenrecalledfromthatravagedcountrybytheapproachofathird,collectedinthenorthundertheEarlofSeaforth,who,aftersomehesitation,havingembracedthesideoftheCovenanters,hadnow,withtheassistanceoftheveterangarrisonofInverness,formedaconsiderablearmy,withwhichhethreatenedMontrosefromInverness—shire。Enclosedinawastedandunfriendlycountry,andmenacedoneachsidebyadvancingenemiesofsuperiorforce,itmighthavebeensupposedthatMontrose\'sdestructionwascertain。ButthesewerepreciselythecircumstancesunderwhichtheactiveandenterprisinggeniusoftheGreatMarquiswascalculatedtoexcitethewonderandadmirationofhisfriends,theastonishmentandterrorofhisenemies。Asifbymagic,hecollectedhisscatteredforcesfromthewastefuloccupationinwhichtheyhadbeenengaged;andscarceweretheyagainunited,ereArgyleandhisassociategeneralswereinformed,thattheroyalists,havingsuddenlydisappearedfromArgyleshire,hadretreatednorthwardsamongtheduskyandimpenetrablemountainsofLochaber。
ThesagacityofthegeneralsopposedtoMontroseimmediatelyconjectured,thatitwasthepurposeoftheiractiveantagonisttofightwith,and,ifpossible,todestroySeaforth,eretheycouldcometohisassistance。Thisoccasionedacorrespondingchangeintheiroperations。Leavingthischieftaintomakethebestdefencehecould,UrrieandBaillieagainseparatedtheirforcesfromthoseofArgyle;and,havingchieflyhorseandLowlandtroopsundertheircommand,theykeptthesouthernsideoftheGrampianridge,movingalongeastwardintothecountyofAngus,resolvingfromthencetoproceedintoAberdeenshire,inordertointerceptMontrose,ifheshouldattempttoescapeinthatdirection。
Argyle,withhisownleviesandothertroops,undertooktofollowMontrose\'smarch;sothat,incaseheshouldcometoactioneitherwithSeaforth,orwithBaillieandUrrie,hemightbeplacedbetweentwofiresbythisthirdarmy,which,atasecuredistance,wastohanguponhisrear。
Forthispurpose,ArgyleoncemoremovedtowardsInverary,havinganopportunity,ateverystep,todeploretheseveritieswhichthehostileclanshadexercisedonhisdependantsandcountry。
WhatevernoblequalitiestheHighlanderspossessed,andtheyhadmany,clemencyintreatingahostilecountrywasnotofthenumber;buteventheravagesofhostiletroopscombinedtoswellthenumberofArgyle\'sfollowers。ItisstillaHighlandproverb,Hewhosehouseisburntmustbecomeasoldier;andhundredsoftheinhabitantsoftheseunfortunatevalleyshadnownomeansofmaintenance,savebyexercisinguponotherstheseveritiestheyhadthemselvessustained,andnofutureprospectofhappiness,exceptinginthegratificationofrevenge。Hisbandswere,therefore,augmentedbytheverycircumstanceswhichhaddesolatedhiscountry,andArgylesoonfoundhimselfattheheadofthreethousanddeterminedmen,distinguishedforactivityandcourage,andcommandedbygentlemenofhisownname,whoyieldedtononeinthosequalities。Underhimself,heconferredtheprincipalcommanduponSirDuncanCampbellofArdenvohr,andanotherSirDuncanCampbellofAuchenbreck,[Thislastcharacterishistorical]anexperiencedandveteransoldier,whomhehadrecalledfromthewarsofIrelandforthispurpose。ThecoldspiritofArgylehimself,however,cloggedthemilitarycouncilsofhismoreintrepidassistants;anditwasresolved,notwithstandingtheirincreasedforce,toobservethesameplanofoperations,andtofollowMontrosecautiously,inwhateverdirectionheshouldmarch,avoidinganengagementuntilanopportunityshouldoccuroffallinguponhisrear,whileheshouldbeengagedwithanotherenemyinfront。
CHAPTERXVIII。
PiobrachtauDonuil—dhu,PiobrachetauDonuil,PiobrachetagusS\'breittachFeachtanInnerlochy。
Thewar—tuneofDonaldtheBlack,Thewar—tuneofBlackDonald,ThepipesandthebannerAreupintherendezvousofInverlochy。
Themilitaryroadconnectingthechainsofforts,asitiscalled,andrunninginthegenerallineofthepresentCaledonianCanal,hasnowcompletelyopenedthegreatglen,orchasm,extendingalmostacrossthewholeisland,oncedoubtlessfilledbythesea,andstillaffordingbasinsforthatlonglineoflakes,bymeansofwhichmodernarthasunitedtheGermanandAtlanticOceans。Thepathsortracksbywhichthenativestraversedthisextensivevalley,were,in1645—6,inthesamesituationaswhentheyawakedthestrainofanIrishengineerofficer,whohadbeenemployedinconvertingthemintopracticablemilitaryroads,andwhoseeulogiumbegins,and,foraughtIknow,ends,asfollows:
Hadyouseenbuttheseroadsbeforetheyweremade,Youwouldhaveheldupyourhandsandbless\'dGeneralWade。
But,badastheordinarypathswere,Montroseavoidedthem,andledhisarmy,likeaherdofwilddeer,frommountaintomountain,andfromforesttoforest,wherehisenemiescouldlearnnothingofhismotions,whileheacquiredthemostperfectknowledgerespectingtheirsfromthefriendlyclansofCameronandM\'Donnell,whosemountainousdistrictshenowtraversed。
StrictordershadbeengiventhatArgyle\'sadvanceshouldbewatched,andthatallintelligencerespectinghismotionsshouldbecommunicatedinstantlytotheGeneralhimself。
Itwasamoonlightnight,andMontrose,wornoutbythefatiguesoftheday,waslaiddowntosleepinamiserableshieling。Hehadonlyslumberedtwohours,whensomeonetouchedhisshoulder。
Helookedup,and,bythestatelyformanddeepvoice,easilyrecognisedtheChiefoftheCamerons。
\"Ihavenewsforyou,\"saidthatleader,\"whichisworthwhiletoariseandlistento。\"
\"M\'Ilduy[Mhich—ConnelDhu,thedescendantofBlackDonald。]canbringnoother,\"saidMontrose,addressingtheChiefbyhispatronymictitle——\"aretheygoodorbad？\"
\"Asyoumaytakethem,\"saidtheChieftain。
\"Aretheycertain？\"demandedMontrose。
\"Yes,\"answeredM\'Ilduy,\"oranothermessengershouldhavebroughtthem。Knowthat,tiredwiththetaskimposeduponmeofaccompanyingthatunhappyDalgettyandhishandfulofhorse,whodetainedmeforhoursonthemarchatthepaceofacrippledbadger,ImadeastretchoffourmileswithsixofmypeopleinthedirectionofInverlochy,andtheremetwithIanofGlenroy,whohadbeenoutforintelligence。ArgyleismovinguponInverlochywiththreethousandchosenmen,commandedbytheflowerofthesonsofDiarmid。——Thesearemynews——theyarecertain——itisforyoutoconstruetheirpurport。\"
\"Theirpurportmustbegood,\"answeredMontrose,readilyandcheerfully;\"thevoiceofM\'IlduyiseverpleasantintheearsofMontrose,andmostpleasantwhenitspeaksofsomebraveenterpriseathand——Whatareourmusters？\"
Hethencalledforlight,andeasilyascertainedthatagreatpartofhisfollowershaving,asusual,dispersedtosecuretheirbooty,hehadnotwithhimabovetwelveorfourteenhundredmen。
\"Notmuchaboveathird,\"saidMontrose,pausing,\"ofArgyle\'sforce,andHighlandersopposedtoHighlanders。——WiththeblessingofGodupontheroyalcause,Iwouldnothesitateweretheoddsbutonetotwo。\"
\"Thendonothesitate,\"saidCameron;\"forwhenyourtrumpetsshallsoundtoattackM\'CallumMore,notamanoftheseglenswillremaindeaftothesummons。Glengarry——Keppoch——Imyself——
woulddestroy,withfireandsword,thewretchwhoshouldremainbehindunderanypretencewhatsoever。To—morrow,orthenextday,shallbeadayofbattletoallwhobearthenameofM\'DonnellorCameron,whateverbetheevent。\"
\"Itisgallantlysaid,mynoblefriend,\"saidMontrose,graspinghishand,\"andIwereworsethanacowarddidInotdojusticetosuchfollowers,byentertainingthemostindubitablehopesofsuccess。WewillturnbackonthisM\'CallumMore,whofollowsuslikearaventodevourtherelicsofourarmy,shouldwemeetbravermenwhomaybeabletobreakitsstrength！LettheChiefsandleadersbecalledtogetherasquicklyaspossible;andyou,whohavebroughtusthefirstnewsofthisjoyfulevent,——forsuchitshallbe,——you,M\'Ilduy,shallbringittoajoyfulissue,byguidingusthebestandnearestroadagainstourenemy。\"
\"ThatwillIwillinglydo,\"saidM\'Ilduy;\"ifIhaveshownyoupathsbywhichtoretreatthroughtheseduskywilds,withfarmorereadinesswillIteachyouhowtoadvanceagainstyourfoe。\"
Ageneralbustlenowprevailed,andtheleaderswereeverywherestartledfromtherudecouchesonwhichtheyhadsoughttemporaryrepose。
\"Ineverthought,\"saidMajorDalgetty,whensummonedupfromahandfulofruggedheatherroots,\"tohavepartedfromabedashardasastable—broomwithsuchbadwill;but,indubitably,havingbutonemanofmilitaryexperienceinhisarmy,hisExcellencytheMarquismaybevindicatedinputtinghimuponhardduty。\"
Sosaying,herepairedtothecouncil,where,notwithstandinghispedantry,Montroseseemedalwaystolistentohimwithconsiderableattention;partlybecausetheMajorreallypossessedmilitaryknowledgeandexperience,andoftenmadesuggestionswhichwerefoundofadvantage,andpartlybecauseitrelievedtheGeneralfromthenecessityofdeferringentirelytotheopinionoftheHighlandChiefs,andgavehimadditionalgroundfordisputingitwhenitwasnotagreeabletohisown。Onthepresentoccasion,DalgettyjoyfullyacquiescedintheproposalofmarchingbackandconfrontingArgyle,whichhecomparedtothevaliantresolutionofthegreatGustavus,whomovedagainsttheDukeofBavaria,andenrichedhistroopsbytheplunderofthatfertilecountry,althoughmenacedfromthenorthwardbythelargearmywhichWallensteinhadassembledinBohemia。
TheChiefsofGlengarry,Keppoch,andLochiel,whoseclans,equalincourageandmilitaryfametoanyintheHighlands,laywithintheneighbourhoodofthesceneofaction,dispatchedthefierycrossthroughtheirvassals,tosummoneveryonewhocouldbeararmstomeettheKing\'slieutenant,andtojointhestandardsoftheirrespectiveChiefs,astheymarchedtowardsInverlochy。Astheorderwasemphaticallygiven,itwasspeedilyandwillinglyobeyed。Theirnaturalloveofwar,theirzealfortheroyalcause,——fortheyviewedtheKinginthelightofachiefwhomhisclansmenhaddeserted,——aswellastheirimplicitobediencetotheirownpatriarch,drewintoMontrose\'sarmynotonlyallintheneighbourhoodwhowereabletobeararms,butsomewho,inageatleast,mighthavebeenesteemedpasttheuseofthem。
Duringthenextday\'smarch,which,beingdirectedstraightthroughthemountainsofLochaber,wasunsuspectedbytheenemy,hisforceswereaugmentedbyhandfulsofmenissuingfromeachglen,andrangingthemselvesunderthebannersoftheirrespectiveChiefs。Thiswasacircumstancehighlyinspiritingtotherestofthearmy,who,bythetimetheyapproachedtheenemy,foundtheirstrengthincreasedconsiderablymorethanone—fourth,ashadbeenprophesiedbythevaliantleaderoftheCamerons。
WhileMontroseexecutedthiscounter—march,Argylehad,attheheadofhisgallantarmy,advancedupthesouthernsideofLoch—
Eil,andreachedtheriverLochy,whichcombinesthatlakewithLoch—Lochy。TheancientCastleofInverlochy,once,asitissaid,aroyalfortress,andstill,althoughdismantled,aplaceofsomestrengthandconsideration,offeredconvenienthead—