WhenDalgettymountedhissteed,hefoundhimselfattended,orperhapsguarded,byfiveorsixCampbells,wellarmed,commandedbyone,who,fromthetargetathisshoulder,andtheshortcock'sfeatherinhisbonnet,aswellasfromthestatewhichhetookuponhimself,claimedtherankofaDunniewassel,orclansmanofsuperiorrank;andindeed,fromhisdignityofdeportment,couldnotstandinamoredistantdegreeofrelationshiptoSirDuncan,thanthatoftenthortwelfthcousinatfarthest。Butitwasimpossibletoextractpositiveinformationonthisoranyothersubject,inasmuchasneitherthiscommandernoranyofhispartyspokeEnglish。TheCaptainrode,andhismilitaryattendantswalked;butsuchwastheiractivity,andsonumeroustheimpedimentswhichthenatureoftheroadpresentedtotheequestrianmodeoftravelling,thatfarfrombeingretardedbytheslownessoftheirpace,hisdifficultywasratherinkeepingupwithhisguides。Heobservedthattheyoccasionallywatchedhimwithasharpeye,asiftheywerejealousofsomeefforttoescape;andonce,ashelingeredbehindatcrossingabrook,oneofthegilliesbegantoblowthematchofhispiece,givinghimtounderstandthathewouldrunsomeriskincaseofanattempttopartcompany。Dalgettydidnotaugurmuchgoodfromtheclosewatchthusmaintaineduponhisperson;buttherewasnoremedy,foranattempttoescapefromhisattendantsinanimperviousandunknowncountry,wouldhavebeenlittleshortofinsanity。Hethereforeploddedpatientlyonthroughawasteandsavagewilderness,treadingpathswhichwereonlyknowntotheshepherdsandcattle—drivers,andpassingwithmuchmoreofdiscomfortthansatisfactionmanyofthosesublimecombinationsofmountainousscenerywhichnowdrawvisitorsfromeverycornerofEngland,tofeasttheireyesuponHighlandgrandeur,andmortifytheirpalatesuponHighlandfare。
　　AtlengththeyarrivedonthesouthernvergeofthatnoblelakeuponwhichInveraryissituated;andabugle,whichtheDunniewasselwindedtillrockandgreenwoodrang,servedasasignaltoawell—mannedgalley,which,startingfromacreekwhereitlayconcealed,receivedthepartyonboard,includingGustavus;whichsagaciousquadruped,anexperiencedtravellerbothbywaterandland,walkedinandoutoftheboatwiththediscretionofaChristian。
　　EmbarkedonthebosomofLochFine,CaptainDalgettymighthaveadmiredoneofthegrandestsceneswhichnatureaffords。HemighthavenoticedtherivalriversArayandShiray,whichpaytributetothelake,eachissuingfromitsowndarkandwoodedretreat。Hemighthavemarked,onthesoftandgentleslopethatascendsfromtheshores,thenobleoldGothiccastle,withitsvariedoutline,embattledwalls,towers,andouterandinnercourts,which,sofarasthepicturesqueisconcerned,presentedanaspectmuchmorestrikingthanthepresentmassiveanduniformmansion。Hemighthaveadmiredthosedarkwoodswhichformanyamilesurroundedthisstrongandprincelydwelling,andhiseyemighthavedweltonthepicturesquepeakofDuniquoich,startingabruptlyfromthelake,andraisingitsscathedbrowintothemistsofmiddlesky,whileasolitarywatch—tower,perchedonitstoplikeaneagle'snest,gavedignitytothescenebyawakeningasenseofpossibledanger。Allthese,andeveryotheraccompanimentofthisnoblescene,CaptainDalgettymighthavemarked,ifhehadbeensominded。But,toconfessthetruth,thegallantCaptain,whohadeatennothingsincedaybreak,waschieflyinterestedbythesmokewhichascendedfromthecastlechimneys,andtheexpectationswhichthisseemedtowarrantofhisencounteringanabundantstockofprovant,ashewaswonttocallsuppliesofthisnature。
　　Theboatsoonapproachedtheruggedpier,whichabuttedintothelochfromthelittletownofInverary,thenarudeassemblageofhuts,withaveryfewstonemansionsinterspersed,stretchingupwardsfromthebanksofLochFinetotheprincipalgateofthecastle,beforewhichascenepresenteditselfthatmighteasilyhavequelledalessstoutheart,andturnedamoredelicatestomach,thanthoseofRitt—masterDugaldDalgetty,titularofDrumthwacket。
　　CHAPTERXII。
　　Forclosedesignsandcrookedcounselsfit,Sagacious,bold,andturbulentofwit,Restless,unfix'dinprincipleandplace,Inpowerunpleased,impatientindisgrace。
　　ABSALOMANDACHITOPHEL。
　　ThevillageofInverary,nowaneatcountrytown,thenpartookoftherudenessoftheseventeenthcentury,inthemiserableappearanceofthehouses,andtheirregularityoftheunpavedstreet。Butastrongerandmoreterriblecharacteristicoftheperiodappearedinthemarket—place,whichwasaspaceofirregularwidth,halfwaybetwixttheharbour,orpier,andthefrowningcastle—gate,whichterminatedwithitsgloomyarchway,portcullis,andflankers,theupperendofthevista。Midwaythisspacewaserectedarudegibbet,onwhichhungfivedeadbodies,twoofwhichfromtheirdressseemedtohavebeenLowlanders,andtheotherthreecorpsesweremuffledintheirHighlandplaids。Twoorthreewomensateunderthegallows,whoseemedtobemourning,andsingingthecoronachofthedeceasedinalowvoice。Butthespectaclewasapparentlyoftooordinaryoccurrencetohavemuchinterestfortheinhabitantsatlarge,who,whiletheythrongedtolookatthemilitaryfigure,thehorseofanunusualsize,andtheburnishedpanoplyofCaptainDalgetty,seemedtobestownoattentionwhateveronthepiteousspectaclewhichtheirownmarket—placeafforded。
　　TheenvoyofMontrosewasnotquitesoindifferent;and,hearingawordortwoofEnglishescapefromaHighlanderofdecentappearance,heimmediatelyhaltedGustavusandaddressedhim,"TheProvost—Marshalhasbeenbusyhere,myfriend。MayIcraveofyouwhatthesedelinquentshavebeenjustifiedfor？"
　　Helookedtowardsthegibbetashespoke;andtheGael,comprehendinghismeaningratherbyhisactionthanhiswords,immediatelyreplied,"Threegentlemencaterans,——Godsainthem"
　　（crossinghimself）——"twaSassenachbitso'bodies,thatwadnadosomethingthatM'CallumMorebadethem;"andturningfromDalgettywithanairofindifference,awayhewalked,stayingnofartherquestion。
　　Dalgettyshruggedhisshouldersandproceeded,forSirDuncanCampbell'stenthortwelfthcousinhadalreadyshownsomesignsofimpatience。
　　Atthegateofthecastleanotherterriblespectacleoffeudalpowerawaitedhim。Withinastockadeorpalisade,whichseemedlatelytohavebeenaddedtothedefencesofthegate,andwhichwasprotectedbytwopiecesoflightartillery,wasasmallenclosure,wherestoodahugeblock,onwhichlayanaxe。Bothweresmearedwithrecentblood,andaquantityofsaw—duststrewedaround,partlyretainedandpartlyobliteratedthemarksofaverylateexecution。
　　AsDalgettylookedonthisnewobjectofterror,hisprincipalguidesuddenlytwitchedhimbytheskirtofhisjerkin,andhavingthusattractedhisattention,winkedandpointedwithhisfingertoapolefixedonthestockade,whichsupportedahumanhead,beingthat,doubtless,ofthelatesufferer。TherewasaleerontheHighlander'sface,ashepointedtothisghastlyspectacle,whichseemedtohisfellow—travellerominousofnothinggood。
　　Dalgettydismountedfromhishorseatthegateway,andGustavuswastakenfromhimwithouthisbeingpermittedtoattendhimtothestable,accordingtohiscustom。
　　Thisgavethesoldierapangwhichtheapparatusofdeathhadnotconveyed。——"PoorGustavus！"saidhetohimself,"ifanythingbutgoodhappenstome,IhadbetterhavelefthimatDarnlinvarachthanbroughthimhereamongtheseHighlandsalvages,whoscarceknowtheheadofahorsefromhistail。Butdutymustpartamanfromhisnearestanddearest——
　　"Whenthecannonsareroaring,lads,andthecoloursareflying,Theladsthatseekhonourmustneverfeardying;
　　Then,stoutcavaliers,letustoilourbravetradein,AndfightfortheGospelandtheboldKingofSweden。"
　　Thussilencinghisapprehensionswiththebut—endofamilitaryballad,hefollowedhisguideintoasortofguard—roomfilledwitharmedHighlanders。ItwasintimatedtohimthathemustremainhereuntilhisarrivalwascommunicatedtotheMarquis。
　　Tomakethiscommunicationthemoreintelligible,thedoughtyCaptaingavetotheDunniewasselSirDuncanCampbell'spacket,desiring,aswellashecould,bysigns,thatitshouldbedeliveredintotheMarquis'sownhand。Hisguidenodded,andwithdrew。
　　TheCaptainwasleftabouthalfanhourinthisplace,toendurewithindifference,orreturnwithscorn,theinquisitive,and,atthesametime,theinimicalglancesofthearmedGael,towhomhisexteriorandequipagewereasmuchsubjectofcuriosity,ashispersonandcountryseemedmatterofdislike。Allthisheborewithmilitarynonchalance,until,attheexpirationoftheaboveperiod,apersondressedinblackvelvet,andwearingagoldchainlikeamodernmagistrateofEdinburgh,butwhowas,infact,stewardofthehouseholdtotheMarquisofArgyle,enteredtheapartment,andinvited,withsolemngravity,theCaptaintofollowhimtohismaster'spresence。
　　Thesuiteofapartmentsthroughwhichhepassed,werefilledwithattendantsorvisitorsofvariousdescriptions,disposed,perhaps,withsomeostentation,inordertoimpresstheenvoyofMontrosewithanideaofthesuperiorpowerandmagnificencebelongingtotherivalhouseofArgyle。Oneante—roomwasfilledwithlacqueys,arrayedinbrownandyellow,thecoloursofthefamily,who,rangedindoublefile,gazedinsilenceuponCaptainDalgettyashepassedbetwixttheirranks。AnotherwasoccupiedbyHighlandgentlemenandchiefsofsmallbranches,whowereamusingthemselveswithchess,backgammon,andothergames,whichtheyscarceintermittedtogazewithcuriosityuponthestranger。
　　AthirdwasfilledwithLowlandgentlemenandofficers,whoseemedalsoinattendance;and,lastly,thepresence—chamberoftheMarquishimselfshowedhimattendedbyaleveewhichmarkedhishighimportance。
　　Thisapartment,thefoldingdoorsofwhichwereopenedforthereceptionofCaptainDalgetty,wasalonggallery,decoratedwithtapestryandfamilyportraits,andhavingavaultedceilingofopenwood—work,theextremeprojectionsofthebeamsbeingrichlycarvedandgilded。ThegallerywaslightedbylonglanceolatedGothiccasements,dividedbyheavyshafts,andfilledwithpaintedglass,wherethesunbeamsglimmereddimlythroughboars'—
　　heads,andgalleys,andbatons,andswords,armorialbearingsofthepowerfulhouseofArgyle,andemblemsofthehighhereditaryofficesofJusticiaryofScotland,andMasteroftheRoyalHousehold,whichtheylongenjoyed。AttheupperendofthismagnificentgallerystoodtheMarquishimself,thecentreofasplendidcircleofHighlandandLowlandgentlemen,allrichlydressed,amongwhomweretwoorthreeoftheclergy,calledin,perhaps,tobewitnessesofhislordship'szealfortheCovenant。
　　TheMarquishimselfwasdressedinthefashionoftheperiod,whichVandykehassooftenpainted,buthishabitwassoberanduniformincolour,andratherrichthangay。Hisdarkcomplexion,furrowedforehead,anddowncastlook,gavehimtheappearanceofonefrequentlyengagedintheconsiderationofimportantaffairs,andwhohasacquired,bylonghabit,anairofgravityandmystery,whichhecannotshakeoffevenwherethereisnothingtobeconcealed。Thecastwithhiseyes,whichhadprocuredhimintheHighlandsthenicknameofGillespieGrumach（orthegrim）,waslessperceptiblewhenhelookeddownward,whichperhapswasonecauseofhishavingadoptedthathabit。
　　Inperson,hewastallandthin,butnotwithoutthatdignityofdeportmentandmanners,whichbecamehishighrank。Somethingtherewascoldinhisaddress,andsinisterinhislook,althoughhespokeandbehavedwiththeusualgraceofamanofsuchquality。Hewasadoredbyhisownclan,whoseadvancementhehadgreatlystudied,althoughhewasinproportiondislikedbytheHighlandersofothersepts,someofwhomhehadalreadystrippedoftheirpossessions,whileothersconceivedthemselvesindangerfromhisfutureschemes,andalldreadedtheheighttowhichhewaselevated。
　　Wehavealreadynoticed,thatindisplayinghimselfamidsthiscouncillors,hisofficersofthehousehold,andhistrainofvassals,allies,anddependents,theMarquisofArgyleprobablywishedtomakeanimpressiononthenervoussystemofCaptainDugaldDalgetty。Butthatdoughtypersonhadfoughthisway,inonedepartmentoranother,throughthegreaterpartoftheThirtyYears'WarinGermany,aperiodwhenabraveandsuccessfulsoldierwasacompanionforprinces。TheKingofSweden,and,afterhisexample,eventhehaughtyPrincesoftheEmpire,hadfoundthemselvesfain,frequentlytocompoundwiththeirdignity,andsilence,whentheycouldnotsatisfythepecuniaryclaimsoftheirsoldiers,byadmittingthemtounusualprivilegesandfamiliarity。CaptainDugaldDalgettyhadittoboast,thathehadsatewithprincesatfeastsmadeformonarchs,andthereforewasnotapersontobebrow—beatevenbythedignitywhichsurroundedM'CallumMore。Indeed,hewasnaturallybynomeansthemostmodestmanintheworld,but,onthecontrary,hadsogoodanopinionofhimself,thatintowhatevercompanyhechancedtobethrown,hewasalwaysproportionallyelevatedinhisownconceit;sothathefeltasmuchateaseinthemostexaltedsocietyasamonghisownordinarycompanions。Inthishighopinionofhisownrank,hewasgreatlyfortifiedbyhisideasofthemilitaryprofession,which,inhisphrase,madeavaliantcavalieracamaradetoanemperor。
　　Whenintroduced,therefore,intotheMarquis'spresence—chamber,headvancedtotheupperendwithanairofmoreconfidencethangrace,andwouldhavegonecloseuptoArgyle'spersonbeforespeaking,hadnotthelatterwavedhishand,asasignaltohimtostopshort。CaptainDalgettydidsoaccordingly,andhavingmadehismilitarycongeewitheasyconfidence,hethusaccostedtheMarquis:"Giveyougoodmorrow,mylord——orratherIshouldsay,goodeven;BESOAUSTEDLOSMANOS,astheSpaniardsays。"
　　"Whoareyou,sir,andwhatisyourbusiness？"demandedtheMarquis,inatonewhichwasintendedtointerrupttheoffensivefamiliarityofthesoldier。
　　"Thatisafairinterrogative,mylord,"answeredDalgetty,"whichIshallforthwithanswerasbecomesacavalier,andthatPEREMPTORIE,asweusedtosayatMareschal—College。"
　　"Seewhoorwhatheis,Neal,"saidtheMarquissternly,toagentlemanwhostoodnearhim。
　　"Iwillsavethehonourablegentlemanthelabourofinvestigation,"continuedtheCaptain。"IamDugaldDalgetty,ofDrumthwacket,thatshouldbe,lateRitt—masterinvariousservices,andnowMajorofIknownotwhatorwhoseregimentofIrishes;andIamcomewithaflagoftrucefromahighandpowerfullord,JamesEarlofMontrose,andothernoblepersonsnowinarmsforhisMajesty。Andso,GodsaveKingCharles！"
　　"Doyouknowwhereyouare,andthedangerofdallyingwithus,sir,"againdemandedtheMarquis,"thatyoureplytomeasifI
　　wereachildorafool？TheEarlofMontroseiswiththeEnglishmalignants;andIsuspectyouareoneofthoseIrishrunagates,whoarecomeintothiscountrytoburnandslay,astheydidunderSirPhelimO'Neale。"
　　"Mylord,"repliedCaptainDalgetty,"Iamnorenegade,thoughaMajorofIrishes,forwhichImightreferyourlordshiptotheinvincibleGustavusAdolphustheLionoftheNorth,toBannier,toOxenstiern,tothewarlikeDukeofSaxe—Weimar,Tilly,Wallenstein,Piccolomini,andothergreatcaptains,bothdeadandliving;andtouchingthenobleEarlofMontrose,Iprayyourlordshiptoperusethesemyfullpowersfortreatingwithyouinthenameofthatrighthonourablecommander。"
　　TheMarquislookedslightinglyatthesignedandsealedpaperwhichCaptainDalgettyhandedtohim,and,throwingitwithcontemptuponatable,askedthosearoundhimwhathedeservedwhocameastheavowedenvoyandagentofmalignanttraitors,inarmsagainstthestate？
　　"Ahighgallowsandashortshrift,"wasthereadyanswerofoneofthebystanders。
　　"Iwillcraveofthathonourablecavalierwhohathlastspoken,"
　　saidDalgetty,"tobelesshastyinforminghisconclusions,andalsoofyourlordshiptobecautelousinadoptingthesame,inrespectsuchthreatsaretobeheldoutonlytobasebisognos,andnottomenofspiritandaction,whoareboundtoperilthemselvesasfreelyinservicesofthisnature,asuponsieges,battles,oronslaughtsofanysort。AndalbeitIhavenotwithmeatrumpet,orawhiteflag,inrespectourarmyisnotyetequippedwithitsfullappointments,yetthehonourablecavaliersandyourlordshipmustconcedeuntome,thatthesanctityofanenvoywhocomethonmatteroftruthorparle,consistethnotinthefanfareofatrumpet,whilkisbutasound,orintheflapofawhiteflag,whilkisbutanoldraginitself,butintheconfidencereposedbythepartysending,andthepartysent,inthehonourofthosetowhomthemessageistobecarried,andtheirfullreliancethattheywillrespecttheJUSGENTIUM,asweelasthelawofarms,inthepersonofthecommissionate。"
　　"Youarenotcomehithertolectureusuponthelawofarms,sir,"saidtheMarquis,"whichneitherdoesnorcanapplytorebelsandinsurgents;buttosufferthepenaltyofyourinsolenceandfollyforbringingatraitorousmessagetotheLordJusticeGeneralofScotland,whosedutycallsuponhimtopunishsuchanoffencewithdeath。"
　　"Gentlemen,"saidtheCaptain,whobeganmuchtodisliketheturnwhichhismissionseemedabouttotake,"Iprayyoutoremember,thattheEarlofMontrosewillholdyouandyourpossessionsliableforwhateverinjurymyperson,ormyhorse,shallsustainbytheseunseemlyproceedings,andthathewillbejustifiedinexecutingretributivevengeanceonyourpersonsandpossessions。"
　　Thismenacewasreceivedwithascornfullaugh,whileoneoftheCampbellsreplied,"ItisafarcrytoLochow;"proverbialexpressionofthetribe,meaningthattheirancienthereditarydomainslaybeyondthereachofaninvadingenemy。"But,gentlemen,"furtherurgedtheunfortunateCaptain,whowasunwillingtobecondemned,withoutatleastthebenefitofafullhearing,"althoughitisnotformetosayhowfaritmaybetoLochow,inrespectIamastrangertotheseparts,yet,whatismoretothepurpose,ItrustyouwilladmitthatIhavetheguaranteeofanhonourablegentlemanofyourownname,SirDuncanCampbellofArdenvohr,formysafetyonthismission;andIprayyoutoobserve,thatinbreakingthetrucetowardsme,youwillhighlyprejudicatehishonourandfairfame。"
　　Thisseemedtobenewinformationtomanyofthegentlemen,fortheyspokeasidewitheachother,andtheMarquis'sface,notwithstandinghispowerofsuppressingallexternalsignsofhispassions,showedimpatienceandvexation。
　　"DoesSirDuncanofArdenvohrpledgehishonourforthisperson'ssafety,mylord？"saidoneofthecompany,addressingtheMarquis。
　　"Idonotbelieveit,"answeredtheMarquis;"butIhavenotyethadtimetoreadhisletter。"
　　"Wewillprayyourlordshiptodoso,"saidanotheroftheCampbells;"ournamemustnotsufferdiscreditthroughthemeansofsuchafellowasthis。"
　　"Adeadfly,"saidaclergyman,"makeththeointmentoftheapothecarytostink。"
　　"Reverendsir,"saidCaptainDalgetty,"inrespectoftheusetobederived,Iforgiveyoutheunsavourinessofyourcomparison;
　　andalsoremittothegentlemanintheredbonnet,thedisparagingepithetofFELLOW,whichhehasdiscourteouslyappliedtome,whoamnowaytobedistinguishedbythesame,unlessinsofarasIhavebeencalledfellow—soldierbythegreatGustavusAdolphus,theLionoftheNorth,andotherchoicecommanders,bothinGermanyandtheLowCountries。But,touchingSirDuncanCampbell'sguaranteeofmysafety,Iwillgagemylifeuponhismakingmywordsgoodthereanent,whenhecomeshitherto—morrow。"
　　"IfSirDuncanbesoonexpected,myLord,"saidoneoftheintercessors,"itwouldbeapitytoanticipatematterswiththispoorman。"
　　"Besidesthat,"saidanother,"yourlordship——Ispeakwithreverence——should,atleast,consulttheKnightofArdenvohr'sletter,andlearnthetermsonwhichthisMajorDalgetty,ashecallshimself,hasbeensenthitherbyhim。"
　　TheyclosedaroundtheMarquis,andconversedtogetherinalowtone,bothinGaelicandEnglish。ThepatriarchalpoweroftheChiefswasverygreat,andthatoftheMarquisofArgyle,armedwithallhisgrantsofhereditaryjurisdiction,wasparticularlyabsolute。Butthereinterferessomecheckofonekindorothereveninthemostdespoticgovernment。ThatwhichmitigatedthepoweroftheCelticChiefs,wasthenecessitywhichtheylayunderofconciliatingthekinsmenwho,underthem,ledoutthelowerorderstobattle,andwhoformedasortofcouncilofthetribeintimeofpeace。TheMarquisonthisoccasionthoughthimselfunderthenecessityofattendingtotheremonstrancesofthissenate,ormoreproperlyCOUROULTAI,ofthenameofCampbell,and,slippingoutofthecircle,gaveordersfortheprisonertoberemovedtoaplaceofsecurity。
　　"Prisoner！"exclaimedDalgetty,exertinghimselfwithsuchforceaswellnightoshakeofftwoHighlanders,whoforsomeminutespasthadwaitedthesignaltoseizehim,andkeptforthatpurposecloseathisback。Indeedthesoldierhadsonearlyattainedhisliberty,thattheMarquisofArgylechangedcolour,andsteppedbacktwopaces,laying,however,hishandonhissword,whileseveralofhisclan,withreadydevotion,threwthemselvesbetwixthimandtheapprehendedvengeanceoftheprisoner。ButtheHighlandguardsweretoostrongtobeshakenoff,andtheunluckyCaptain,afterhavinghadhisoffensiveweaponstakenfromhim,wasdraggedoffandconductedthroughseveralgloomypassagestoasmallside—doorgratedwithiron,withinwhichwasanotherofwood。ThesewereopenedbyagrimoldHighlanderwithalongwhitebeard,anddisplayedaverysteepandnarrowflightofstepsleadingdownward。TheCaptain'sguardspushedhimdowntwoorthreesteps,then,unloosinghisarms,lefthimtogropehiswaytothebottomashecould;ataskwhichbecamedifficultandevendangerous,whenthetwodoorsbeingsuccessivelylockedlefttheprisonerintotaldarkness。
　　CHAPTERXIII。
　　Whateverstrangervisitshere,Wepityhissadcase,UnlesstoworshiphedrawnearTheKingofKings——hisGrace。
　　BURNS'SEPIGRAMONAVISITTOINVERARY。
　　TheCaptain,findinghimselfdeprivedoflightinthemannerwehavedescribed,andplacedinaveryuncertainsituation,proceededtodescendthenarrowandbrokenstairwithallthecautioninhispower,hopingthathemightfindatthebottomsomeplacetoreposehimself。Butwithallhiscarehecouldnotfinallyavoidmakingafalsestep,whichbroughthimdownthefourorfivelaststepstoohastilytopreservehisequilibrium。
　　Atthebottomhestumbledoverabundleofsomethingsoft,whichstirredandutteredagroan,soderangingtheCaptain'sdescent,thatheflounderedforward,andfinallyfelluponhishandsandkneesonthefloorofadampandstone—paveddungeon。
　　WhenDalgettyhadrecovered,hisfirstdemandwastoknowoverwhomhehadstumbled。
　　"Hewasamanamonthsince,"answeredahollowandbrokenvoice。
　　"Andwhatishenow,then,"saidDalgetty,"thathethinksitfittingtolieupontheloweststepofthestairs,andclew'duplikeahurchin,thathonourablecavaliers,whochancetobeintrouble,maybreaktheirnosesoverhim？"
　　"Whatishenow？"repliedthesamevoice;"heisawretchedtrunk,fromwhichtheboughshaveonebyonebeenloppedaway,andwhichcareslittlehowsoonitistornupandhewedintobilletsforthefurnace。"
　　"Friend,"saidDalgetty,"Iamsorryforyou;butPATIENZA,astheSpaniardsays。Ifyouhadbutbeenasquietasalog,asyoucallyourself,Ishouldhavesavedsomeexcoriationsonmyhandsandknees。"
　　"Youareasoldier,"repliedhisfellow—prisoner;"doyoucomplainonaccountofafallforwhichaboywouldnotbemoanhimself？"
　　"Asoldier？"saidtheCaptain;"andhowdoyouknow,inthiscurseddarkcavern,thatIamasoldier？"
　　"Iheardyourarmourclashasyoufell,"repliedtheprisoner,"andnowIseeitglimmer。WhenyouhaveremainedaslongasI
　　inthisdarkness,youreyeswilldistinguishthesmallesteftthatcrawlsonthefloor。"
　　"Ihadratherthedevilpickedthemout！"saidDalgetty;"ifthisbethecase,Ishallwishforashortturnoftherope,asoldier'sprayer,andaleapfromaladder。Butwhatsortofprovanthaveyougothere——whatfood,Imean,brotherinaffliction？"
　　"Breadandwateronceaday,"repliedthevoice。
　　"Prithee,friend,letmetasteyourloaf,"saidDalgetty;"Ihopeweshallplaygoodcomradeswhilewedwelltogetherinthisabominablepit。"
　　"Theloafandjarofwater,"answeredtheotherprisoner,"standinthecorner,twostepstoyourrighthand。Takethem,andwelcome。WithearthlyfoodIhavewellnighdone。"
　　Dalgettydidnotwaitforasecondinvitation,but,gropingouttheprovisions,begantomunchatthestaleblackoatenloafwithasmuchheartinessaswehaveseenhimplayhispartatbetterviands。
　　"Thisbread,"hesaid,muttering（withhismouthfullatthesametime）,"isnotverysavoury;nevertheless,itisnotmuchworsethanthatwhichweateatthefamousleagueratWerben,wherethevalorousGustavusfoiledalltheeffortsofthecelebratedTilly,thatterribleoldhero,whohaddriventwokingsoutofthefield——namely,FerdinandofBohemiaandChristianofDenmark。
　　Andanentthiswater,whichisnoneofthemostsweet,Idrinkinthesametoyourspeedydeliverance,comrade,notforgettingmineown,anddevoutlywishingitwereRhenishwine,orhummingLubeckbeer,attheleast,wereitbutinhonourofthepledge。"