第26章 A LEGEND OF MONTROSE.(19)

"Pooh!pooh!"said Lord Menteith,laughing,yet blushing at the same time;"Allan is not accessible to the passion of love;and for myself,"said he,more gravely;"Annot's unknown birth is a sufficient reason against serious designs,and her unprotected state precludes every other."

"It is spoken like yourself,my lord,"said Anderson.--"But I trust you will proceed with your interesting story."

"It is wellnigh finished,"said Lord Menteith;"I have only to add,that from the great strength and courage of Allan M'Aulay,from his energetic and uncontrollable disposition,and from an opinion generally entertained and encouraged by himself that he holds communion with supernatural beings,and can predict future events,the clan pay a much greater degree of deference to him than even to his brother,who is a bold-hearted rattling Highlander,but with nothing which can possibly rival the extraordinary character of his younger brother."

"Such a character,"said Anderson,"cannot but have the deepest effect on the minds of a Highland host.We must secure Allan,my lord,at all events.What between his bravery and his second sight--"

"Hush!"said Lord Menteith,"that owl is awaking."

"Do you talk of the second sight,or DEUTERO-SCOPIA?"said the soldier;"I remember memorable Major Munro telling me how Murdoch Mackenzie,born in Assint,a private gentleman in a company,and a pretty soldier,foretold the death of Donald Tough,a Lochaber man,and certain other persons,as well as the hurt of the major himself at a sudden onfall at the siege of Trailsund."

"I have often heard of this faculty,"observed Anderson,"but I have always thought those pretending to it were either enthusiasts or impostors."

"I should be loath,"said Lord Menteith,"to apply either character to my kinsman,Allan M'Aulay.He has shown on many occasions too much acuteness and sense,of which you this night had an instance,for the character of an enthusiast;and his high sense of honour,and manliness of disposition,free him from the charge of imposture."

"Your lordship,then,"said Anderson,"is a believer in his supernatural attributes?"

"By no means,"said the young nobleman;"I think that he persuades himself that the predictions which are,in reality,the result of judgment and reflection,are supernatural impressions on his mind,just as fanatics conceive the workings of their own imagination to be divine inspiration--at least,if this will not serve you,Anderson,I have no better explanation to give;and it is time we were all asleep after the toilsome journey of the day."

CHAPTER VI.

Coming events cast their shadows before.CAMPBELL.

At an early hour in the morning the guests of the castle sprung from their repose;and,after a moment's private conversation with his attendants,Lord Menteith addressed the soldier,who was seated in a corner burnishing his corslet with rot-stone and chamois-leather,while he hummed the old song in honour of the victorious Gustavus Adolphus:--

When cannons are roaring,and bullets are flying,The lad that would have honour,boys,must never fear dying.

"Captain Dalgetty,"said Lord Menteith,"the time is come that we must part,or become comrades in service."

"Not before breakfast,I hope?"said Captain Dalgetty.

"I should have thought,"replied his lordship,"that your garrison was victualled for three days at least."

"I have still some stowage left for beef and bannocks,"said the Captain;"and I never miss a favourable opportunity of renewing my supplies."

"But,"said Lord Menteith,"no judicious commander allows either flags of truce or neutrals to remain in his camp longer than is prudent;and therefore we must know your mind exactly,according to which you shall either have a safe-conduct to depart in peace,or be welcome to remain with us."

"Truly,"said the Captain,"that being the case,I will not attempt to protract the capitulation by a counterfeited parley,(a thing excellently practised by Sir James Ramsay at the siege of Hannau,in the year of God 1636,)but I will frankly own,that if I like your pay as well as your provant and your company,I care not how soon I take the oath to your colours."

"Our pay,"said Lord Menteith,"must at present be small,since it is paid out of the common stock raised by the few amongst us who can command some funds--As major and adjutant,I dare not promise Captain Dalgetty more than half a dollar a-day."

"The devil take all halves and quarters!"said the Captain;

"were it in my option,I could no more consent to the halving of that dollar,than the woman in the Judgment of Solomon to the disseverment of the child of her bowels."

"The parallel will scarce hold,Captain Dalgetty,for I think you would rather consent to the dividing of the dollar,than give it up entire to your competitor.However,in the way of arrears,I may promise you the other half-dollar at the end of the campaign."

"Ah!these arrearages!"said Captain Dalgetty,"that are always promised,and always go for nothing!Spain,Austria,and Sweden,all sing one song.Oh!long life to the Hoganmogans!if they were no officers of soldiers,they were good paymasters.--And yet,my lord,if I could but be made certiorate that my natural hereditament of Drumthwacket had fallen into possession of any of these loons of Covenanters,who could be,in the event of our success,conveniently made a traitor of,I have so much value for that fertile and pleasant spot,that I would e'en take on with you for the campaign."

"I can resolve Captain Dalgetty's question,"said Sibbald,Lord Menteith's second attendant;"for if his estate of Drumthwacket be,as I conceive,the long waste moor so called,that lies five miles south of Aberdeen,I can tell him it was lately purchased by Elias Strachan,as rank a rebel as ever swore the Covenant"