"Teilcareantheydid,"saidDonald,"anthatwerethewarsto't,forwehaveawheencannytrewsmenherethatwadnaletuswantiftherewasahornedbeastatweenthisandPerth。Butthisisawarsejob——it'snaelessthanawager。"
　　"Awager！"repeatedLordMenteith,withsomesurprise。
　　"Troth,"continuedDonald,tothefullaseagertotellhisnewsasLordMenteithwascurioustohearthem,"asyourlordshipisafriendandkinsmano'thehouse,an'asye'llheareneugho'tinlessthananhour,Imayasweeltellyemysell。Yesallbepleasedthentoknow,thatwhenourLairdwasupinEnglandwherehegangsoftenerthanhisfriendscanwish,hewasbidingatthehouseo'thisSirMilesMusgrave,an'therewasputtenonthetablesixcandlesticks,thattheytellmeweretwiceasmuckleasthecandlesticksinDunblanekirk,andneitherairn,brass,nortin,buta'solidsilver,naeless;——upwi'theirEnglishpride,hassaemuckle,andkenssaelittlehowtoguideit！SaetheybegantojeertheLaird,thathesawnaesicgraithinhisainpoorcountry;andtheLaird,scorningtohaehiscountryputdownwithoutawordforitscredit,swore,likeagudeScotsman,thathehadmaircandlesticks,andbettercandlesticks,inhisaincastleathame,thanwereeverlightedinahallinCumberland,anCumberlandbethenameo'thecountry。"
　　"Thatwaspatrioticallysaid,"observedLordMenteith。
　　"Farytrue,"saidDonald;"butherhonourhadbetterhaehaudenhertongue:forifyesayonythingamangtheSaxonsthat'saweebyordinar,theyclinkyedownforawagerasfastasaLowlandsmithwouldhammershoononaHighlandshelty。An'sotheLairdbehovedeithertogaebacko'hisword,orwagertwahundermerks;andsahee'entockthewager,ratherthanbeshamedwi'thelikeo'them。Andnowhe'sliketogetittopay,andI'mthinkingthat'swhatmakeshimsaesweartocomehameate'en。"
　　"Indeed,"saidLordMenteith,"frommyideaofyourfamilyplate,Donald,yourmasteriscertaintolosesuchawager。"
　　"Yourhonourmayswearthat;an'wherehe'stogetthesillerI
　　kenna,althoughheborrowedouto'twentypurses。IadvisedhimtopitthetwaSaxongentlemenandtheirservantscannilyintothepito'thetowertilltheygaeupthebagaino'freegude—
　　will,buttheLairdwinnahearreason。"
　　Allanherestartedup,strodeforward,andinterruptedtheconversation,sayingtothedomesticinavoicelikethunder,"Andhowdaredyoutogivemybrothersuchdishonourableadvice？
　　orhowdareyoutosayhewilllosethisoranyotherwagerwhichitishispleasuretolay？"
　　"Troth,AllanM'Aulay,"answeredtheoldman,"it'snoformyfather'ssontogainsaywhatyourfather'ssonthinksfittosay,an'sotheLairdmaynodoubtwinhiswager。A'thatIkenagainstitis,thattheteilacandlestick,oronythinglikeit,isinthehouse,excepttheauldairnbranchesthathasbeenheresinceLairdKenneth'stime,andthetinsconcesthatyourfathergardbemadebyauldWillieWinkiethetinkler,mairbetokenthatdeilanunceofsillerplateisaboutthehouseata',forbythelady'sauldpossetdish,thatwantsthecoverandaneo'thelugs。"
　　"Peace,oldman！"saidAllan,fiercely;"anddoyou,gentlemen,ifyourrefectionisfinished,leavethisapartmentclear;Imustprepareitforthereceptionofthesesouthernguests。"
　　"Comeaway,"saidthedomestic,pullingLordMenteithbythesleeve;"hishourisonhim,"saidhe,lookingtowardsAllan,"andhewillnotbecontrolled。"
　　Theyleftthehallaccordingly,LordMenteithandtheCaptainbeingusheredonewaybyoldDonald,andthetwoattendantsconductedelsewherebyanotherHighlander。Theformerhadscarcelyreachedasortofwithdrawingapartmenteretheywerejoinedbythelordofthemansion,AngusM'Aulaybyname,andhisEnglishguests。Greatjoywasexpressedbyallparties,forLordMenteithandtheEnglishgentlemenwerewellknowntoeachother;
　　andonLordMenteith'sintroduction,CaptainDalgettywaswellreceivedbytheLaird。Butafterthefirstburstofhospitablecongratulationwasover,LordMenteithcouldobservethattherewasashadeofsadnessonthebrowofhisHighlandfriend。
　　"Youmusthaveheard,"saidSirChristopherHall,"thatourfineundertakinginCumberlandisallblownup。ThemilitiawouldnotmarchintoScotland,andyourprick—ear'dCovenantershavebeentoohardforourfriendsinthesouthernshires。Andso,understandingthereissomestirringworkhere,MusgraveandI,ratherthansitidleathome,arecometohaveacampaignamongyourkiltsandplaids。"
　　"Ihopeyouhavebroughtarms,men,andmoneywithyou,"saidLordMenteith,smiling。
　　"Onlysomedozenortwooftroopers,whomweleftatthelastLowlandvillage,"saidMusgrave,"andtroubleenoughwehadtogetthemsofar。"
　　"Asformoney,"saidhiscompanion,"Weexpectasmallsupplyfromourfriendandhosthere。"
　　TheLairdnow,colouringhighly,tookMenteithalittleapart,andexpressedtohimhisregretthathehadfallenintoafoolishblunder。
　　"IhearditfromDonald,"saidLordMenteith,scarceabletosuppressasmile。
　　"Deviltakethatoldman,"saidM'Aulay,"hewouldtelleverything,wereittocostone'slife;butit'snojestingmattertoyouneither,mylord,forIreckononyourfriendlyandfraternalbenevolence,asanearkinsmanofourhouse,tohelpmeoutwiththemoneyduetothesepock—puddings;orelse,tobeplainwi'
　　ye,thedeilaM'Aulaywilltherebeatthemuster,forcursemeifIdonotturnCovenanterratherthanfacethesefellowswithoutpayingthem;and,atthebest,Ishallbeillenoughoff,gettingboththescaithandthescorn。"
　　"Youmaysuppose,cousin,"saidLordMenteith,"Iamnottoowellequiptjustnow;butyoumaybeassuredIshallendeavourtohelpyouaswellasIcan,forthesakeofoldkindred,neighbourhood,andalliance。"
　　"Thankye——thankye——thankye,"reiteratedM'Aulay;"andastheyaretospendthemoneyintheKing'sservice,whatsignifieswhetheryou,they,orIpayit？——wearea'oneman'sbairns,I
　　hope？Butyoumusthelpmeouttoowithsomereasonableexcuse,orelseIshallbefortakingtoAndrewFerrara;forIlikenottobetreatedlikealiarorabraggartatmyownboard—end,when,Godknows,Ionlymeanttosupportmyhonour,andthatofmyfamilyandcountry。
　　Donald,astheywerespeaking,entered,withratherablitherfacethanhemighthavebeenexpectedtowear,consideringtheimpendingfateofhismaster'spurseandcredit。"Gentlemens,herdinnerisready,andHERCANDLESARELIGHTEDTOO,"saidDonald,withastronggutturalemphasisonthelastclauseofhisspeech。
　　"Whatthedevilcanhemean？"saidMusgrave,lookingtohiscountryman。
　　LordMenteithputthesamequestionwithhiseyestotheLaird,whichM'Aulayansweredbyshakinghishead。
　　Ashortdisputeaboutprecedencesomewhatdelayedtheirleavingtheapartment。LordMenteithinsisteduponyieldingupthatwhichbelongedtohisrank,onconsiderationofhisbeinginhisowncountry,andofhisnearconnexionwiththefamilyinwhichtheyfoundthemselves。ThetwoEnglishstrangers,therefore,werefirstusheredintothehall,whereanunexpecteddisplayawaitedthem。Thelargeoakentablewasspreadwithsubstantialjointsofmeat,andseatswereplacedinorderfortheguests。
　　BehindeveryseatstoodagiganticHighlander,completelydressedandarmedafterthefashionofhiscountry,holdinginhisrighthandhisdrawnsword,withthepointturneddownwards,andintheleftablazingtorchmadeofthebog—pine。Thiswood,foundinthemorasses,issofullofturpentine,that,whensplitanddried,itisfrequentlyusedintheHighlandsinsteadofcandles。
　　Theunexpectedandsomewhatstartlingapparitionwasseenbytheredglareofthetorches,whichdisplayedthewildfeatures,unusualdress,andglitteringarmsofthosewhoborethem,whilethesmoke,eddyinguptotheroofofthehall,over—canopiedthemwithavolumeofvapour。Erethestrangershadrecoveredfromtheirsurprise,Allansteptforward,andpointingwithhissheathedbroadswordtothetorch—bearers,said,inadeepandsterntoneofvoice,"Behold,gentlemencavaliers,thechandeliersofmybrother'shouse,theancientfashionofourancientname;notoneofthesemenknowsanylawbuttheirChiefscommand——WouldyoudaretocomparetoTHEMinvaluetherichestorethateverwasdugoutofthemine？Howsayyou,cavaliers？
　　——isyourwagerwonorlost？"
　　"Lost;lost,"saidMusgrave,gaily——"myownsilvercandlesticksareallmeltedandridingonhorsebackbythistime,andIwishthefellowsthatenlistedwerehalfastrustyasthese。——Here,sir,"headdedtotheChief,"isyourmoney;itimpairsHall'sfinancesandminesomewhat,butdebtsofhonourmustbesettled。"
　　"Myfather'scurseuponmyfather'sson,"saidAllan,interruptinghim,"ifhereceivefromyouonepenny！Itisenoughthatyouclaimnorighttoexactfromhimwhatishisown。"
　　LordMenteitheagerlysupportedAllan'sopinion,andtheelderM'Aulayreadilyjoined,declaringthewholetobeafool'sbusiness,andnotworthspeakingmoreabout。TheEnglishmen,aftersomecourteousopposition,werepersuadedtoregardthewholeasajoke。
　　"Andnow,Allan,"saidtheLaird,"pleasetoremoveyourcandles;
　　for,sincetheSaxongentlemenhaveseenthem,theywilleattheirdinnerascomfortablybythelightoftheoldtinsconces,withoutscomfishingthemwithsomuchsmoke。"
　　Accordingly,atasignfromAllan,thelivingchandeliers,recoveringtheirbroadswords,andholdingthepointerect,marchedoutofthehall,andleftthegueststoenjoytheirrefreshment。[SuchabetasthatmentionedinthetextissaidtohavebeentakenbyMacDonaldofKeppoch,whoextricatedhimselfinthemannertherenarrated。]
　　CHAPTERV。
　　Tharebysofearlesseandsofellhegrew,ThathisownsyreandmaisterofhisguiseDidoftentrembleathishorridview;
　　Andiffordreadofhurtwouldhimadvise,Theangrybeastesnotrashlytodespise,Nortoomuchtoprovoke;forhewouldlearneThelionstouptohiminlowlywise,（Alessonhard,）andmakethelibbardsterneLeaveroaring,wheninrageheforrevengedidearne。SPENSER。
　　NotwithstandingtheproverbialepicurismoftheEnglish,——proverbial,thatistosay,inScotlandattheperiod,——theEnglishvisitorsmadenofigurewhateverattheentertainment,comparedwiththeportentousvoracityofCaptainDalgetty,althoughthatgallantsoldierhadalreadydisplayedmuchsteadinessandpertinacityinhisattackuponthelighterrefreshmentsetbeforethemattheirentrance,bywayofforlornhope。Hespoketonooneduringthetimeofhismeal;anditwasnotuntilthevictualswerenearlywithdrawnfromthetable,thathegratifiedtherestofthecompany,whohadwatchedhimwithsomesurprise,withanaccountofthereasonswhyheatesoveryfastandsoverylong。
　　"Theformerquality,"hesaid,"hehadacquired,whilehefilledaplaceatthebursar'stableattheMareschal—CollegeofAberdeen;when,"saidhe;"ifyoudidnotmoveyourjawsasfastasapairofcastanets,youwereveryunlikelytogetanythingtoputbetweenthem。Andasforthequantityofmyfood,beitknowntothishonourablecompany,"continuedtheCaptain,"thatit'sthedutyofeverycommanderofafortress,onalloccasionswhichoffer,tosecureasmuchmunitionandviversastheirmagazinescanpossiblyhold,notknowingwhentheymayhavetosustainasiegeorablockade。Uponwhichprinciple,gentlemen,"
　　saidhe,"whenacavalierfindsthatprovantisgoodandabundant,hewill,inmyestimation,dowiselytovictualhimselfforatleastthreedays,asthereisnoknowingwhenhemaycomebyanothermeal。"
　　TheLairdexpressedhisacquiescenceintheprudenceofthisprinciple,andrecommendedtotheveterantoaddatassofbrandyandaflagonofclarettothesubstantialprovisionshehadalreadylaidin,towhichproposaltheCaptainreadilyagreed。
　　Whendinnerwasremoved,andtheservantshadwithdrawn,exceptingtheLaird'spage,orhenchman,whoremainedintheapartmenttocallfororbringwhateverwaswanted,or,inaword,toanswerthepurposesofamodernbell—wire,theconversationbegantoturnuponpolitics,andthestateofthecountry;andLordMenteithenquiredanxiouslyandparticularlywhatclanswereexpectedtojointheproposedmusteroftheKing'sfriends。
　　"Thatdependsmuch,mylord,onthepersonwholiftsthebanner,"
　　saidtheLaird;"foryouknowweHighlanders,whenafewclansareassembled,arenoteasilycommandedbyoneofourownChiefs,or,tosaythetruth,byanyotherbody。Wehaveheardarumour,indeed,thatColkitto——thatis,youngColkitto,orAlasterM'Donald,iscomeovertheKylefromIreland,withabodyoftheEarlofAntrim'speople,andthattheyhadgotasfarasArdnamurchan。Theymighthavebeenherebeforenow,but,I
　　suppose,theyloiteredtoplunderthecountryastheycamealong。"
　　"WillColkittonotserveyouforaleader,then？"saidLordMenteith。
　　"Colkitto？"saidAllanM'Aulay,scornfully;"whotalksofColkitto？——Therelivesbutonemanwhomwewillfollow,andthatisMontrose。"
　　"ButMontrose,sir,"saidSirChristopherHall,"hasnotbeenheardofsinceourineffectualattempttoriseinthenorthofEngland。ItisthoughthehasreturnedtotheKingatOxfordforfartherinstructions。"
　　"Returned！"saidAllan,withascornfullaugh;"Icouldtellye,butitisnotworthmywhile;yewillknowsoonenough。"
　　"Bymyhonour,Allan,"saidLordMenteith,"youwillwearyoutyourfriendswiththisintolerable,froward,andsullenhumour——ButIknowthereason,"addedhe,laughing;"youhavenotseenAnnotLyleto—day。"
　　"WhomdidyousayIhadnotseen？"saidAllan,sternly。
　　"AnnotLyle,thefairyqueenofsongandminstrelsy,"saidLordMenteith。
　　"WouldtoGodIwerenevertoseeheragain,"saidAllan,sighing,"Onconditionthesameweirdwerelaidonyou！"
　　"Andwhyonme？"saidLordMenteith,carelessly。
　　"Because,"saidAllan,"itiswrittenonyourforehead,thatyouaretobetheruinofeachother。"Sosaying,heroseupandlefttheroom。
　　"Hashebeenlonginthisway？"askedLordMenteith,addressinghisbrother。
　　"Aboutthreedays,"answeredAngus;"thefitiswellnighover,hewillbebetterto—morrow。——Butcome,gentlemen,don'tletthetappit—henscraughtobeemptied。TheKing'shealth,KingCharles'shealth！andmaythecovenantingdogthatrefusesit,gotoHeavenbytheroadoftheGrassmarket！"
　　Thehealthwasquicklypledged,andasfastsucceededbyanother,andanother,andanother,allofapartycast,andenforcedinanearnestmanner。CaptainDalgetty,however,thoughtitnecessarytoenteraprotest。
　　"Gentlemencavaliers,"hesaid,"Idrinkthesehealths,PRIMO,bothoutofrespecttothishonourableandhospitableroof—tree,and,SECUNDO,becauseIholditnotgoodtobepreceeseinsuchmatters,INTERPOCULA;butIprotest,agreeabletothewarrandicegrantedbythishonourablelord,thatitshallbefreetome,notwithstandingmypresentcomplaisance,totakeservicewiththeCovenantersto—morrow,providingIshallbesominded。"
　　M'AulayandhisEnglishguestsstaredatthisdeclaration,whichwouldhavecertainlybrednewdisturbance,ifLordMenteithhadnottakenuptheaffair,andexplainedthecircumstancesandconditions。"Itrust,"heconcluded,"weshallbeabletosecureCaptainDalgetty'sassistancetoourownparty。"
　　"Andifnot,"saidtheLaird,"Iprotest,astheCaptainsays,thatnothingthathaspassedthisevening,notevenhishavingeatenmybreadandsalt,andpledgedmeinbrandy,Bourdeaux,orusquebaugh,shallprejudicemycleavinghimtotheneck—bone。"
　　"Youshallbeheartilywelcome,"saidtheCaptain,"providingmyswordcannotkeepmyhead,whichithasdoneinworsedangersthanyourfendislikelytomakeforme。"
　　HereLordMenteithagaininterposed,andtheconcordofthecompanybeingwithnosmalldifficultyrestored,wascementedbysomedeepcarouses。LordMenteith,however,contrivedtobreakupthepartyearlierthanwastheusageoftheCastle,underpretenceoffatigueandindisposition。ThiswassomewhattothedisappointmentofthevaliantCaptain,who,amongotherhabitsacquiredintheLowcountries,hadacquiredbothadispositiontodrink,andacapacitytobear,anexorbitantquantityofstrongliquors。
　　Theirlandlordusheredtheminpersontoasortofsleepinggallery,inwhichtherewasafour—postbed,withtartancurtains,andanumberofcribs,orlonghampers,placedalongthewall,threeofwhich,wellstuffedwithbloomingheather,werepreparedforthereceptionofguests。
　　"Ineednottellyourlordship,"saidM'AulaytoLordMenteith,alittleapart,"ourHighlandmodeofquartering。Onlythat,notlikingyoushouldsleepintheroomalonewiththisGermanland—
　　louper,Ihavecausedyourservants'bedstobemadehereinthegallery。ByG——d,mylord,thesearetimeswhenmengotobedwithathroathaleandsoundaseverswallowedbrandy,andbeforenextmorningitmaybegapinglikeanoyster—shell。"
　　LordMenteiththankedhimsincerely,saying,"Itwasjustthearrangementhewouldhaverequested;for,althoughhehadnottheleastapprehensionofviolencefromCaptainDalgetty,yetAndersonwasabetterkindofperson,asortofgentleman,whomhealwayslikedtohavenearhisperson。"
　　"IhavenotseenthisAnderson,"saidM'Aulay;"didyouhirehiminEngland？"
　　"Ididso,"saidLordMenteith;"youwillseethemanto—morrow;
　　inthemeantimeIwishyougood—night。"
　　Hishostlefttheapartmentaftertheeveningsalutation,andwasabouttopaythesamecomplimenttoCaptainDalgetty,butobservinghimdeeplyengagedinthediscussionofahugepitcherfilledwithbrandyposset,hethoughtitapitytodisturbhiminsolaudableanemployment,andtookhisleavewithoutfartherceremony。
　　LordMenteith'stwoattendantsenteredtheapartmentalmostimmediatelyafterhisdeparture。ThegoodCaptain,whowasnowsomewhatencumberedwithhisgoodcheer,begantofindtheundoingoftheclaspsofhisarmouratasksomewhatdifficult,andaddressedAndersoninthesewords,interruptedbyaslighthiccup,——"Anderson,mygoodfriend,youmayreadinScripture,thathethatputtethoffhisarmourshouldnotboasthimselflikehethatputtethiton——Ibelievethatisnottherightwordofcommand;buttheplaintruthofitis,Iamliketosleepinmycorslet,likemanyanhonestfellowthatneverwakedagain,unlessyouunloosethisbuckle。"
　　"Undohisarmour,Sibbald,"saidAndersontotheotherservant。
　　"BySt。Andrew！"exclaimedtheCaptain,turningroundingreatastonishment,"here'sacommonfellow——astipendiarywithfourpoundsa—yearandaliverycloak,thinkshimselftoogoodtoserveRitt—masterDugaldDalgettyofDrumthwacket,whohasstudiedhumanityattheMareschal—CollegeofAberdeen,andservedhalftheprincesofEurope！"
　　"CaptainDalgetty,"saidLordMenteith,whoselotitwastostandpeacemakerthroughouttheevening,"pleasetounderstandthatAndersonwaitsuponnoonebutmyself;butIwillhelpSibbaldtoundoyourcorsletwithmuchpleasure。"
　　"Toomuchtroubleforyou,mylord,"saidDalgetty;"andyetitwoulddoyounoharmtopractisehowahandsomeharnessisputonandputoff。Icanstepinandoutofminelikeaglove;onlyto—night,althoughnotEBRIUS,Iam,intheclassicphrase,VINO
　　CIBOQUEGRAVATUS。"
　　Bythistimehewasunshelled,andstoodbeforethefiremusingwithafaceofdrunkenwisdomontheeventsoftheevening。Whatseemedchieflytointeresthim,wasthecharacterofAllanM'Aulay。"TocomeovertheEnglishmensocleverlywithhisHighlandtorch—bearers——eightbare—breechedRoriesforsixsilvercandlesticks！——itwasamaster—piece——aTOURDEPASSE——itwasperfectlegerdemain——andtobeamadmanafterall！——Idoubtgreatly,mylord"（shakinghishead）,"thatImustallowhim,notwithstandinghisrelationshiptoyourlordship,theprivilegesofarationalperson,andeitherbatoonhimsufficientlytoexpiatetheviolenceofferedtomyperson,orelsebringittoamatterofmortalarbitrement,asbecomethaninsultedcavalier。"
　　"Ifyoucaretohearalongstory,"saidLordMenteith,atthistimeofnight,IcantellyouhowthecircumstancesofAllan'sbirthaccountsowellforhissingularcharacter,astoputsuchsatisfactionentirelyoutofthequestion。"
　　"Alongstory,mylord,"saidCaptainDalgetty,"is,nexttoagoodeveningdraughtandawarmnightcap,thebestshoeinghornfordrawingonasoundsleep。Andsinceyourlordshipispleasedtotakethetroubletotellit,Ishallrestyourpatientandobligedauditor。"
　　"Anderson,"saidLordMenteith,"andyou,Sibbald,aredyingtohear,Isuppose,ofthisstrangemantoo！andIbelieveImustindulgeyourcuriosity,thatyoumayknowhowtobehavetohimintimeofneed。Youhadbettersteptothefirethen。"
　　Havingthusassembledanaudienceabouthim,LordMenteithsatdownupontheedgeofthefour—postbed,whileCaptainDalgetty,wipingtherelicsofthepossetfromhisbeardandmustachoes,andrepeatingthefirstverseoftheLutheranpsalm,ALLEGUTER
　　GEISTERLOBENDENHERRN,etc。rolledhimselfintooneoftheplacesofrepose,andthrustinghisshockpatefrombetweentheblankets,listenedtoLordMenteith'srelationinamostluxuriousstate,betweensleepingandwaking。
　　"Thefather,"saidLordMenteith,"ofthetwobrothers,AngusandAllanM'Aulay,wasagentlemanofconsiderationandfamily,beingthechiefofaHighlandclan,ofgoodaccount,thoughnotnumerous;hislady,themotheroftheseyoungmen,wasagentlewomanofgoodfamily,ifImaybepermittedtosaysoofonenearlyconnectedwithmyown。Herbrother,anhonourableandspiritedyoungman,obtainedfromJamestheSixthagrantofforestry,andotherprivileges,overaroyalchaseadjacenttothiscastle;and,inexercisinganddefendingtheserights,hewassounfortunateastoinvolvehimselfinaquarrelwithsomeofourHighlandfreebootersorcaterans,ofwhomIthink,CaptainDalgetty,youmusthaveheard。"
　　"AndthatIhave,"saidtheCaptain,exertinghimselftoanswertheappeal。"BeforeIlefttheMareschal—CollegeofAberdeen,DugaldGarrwasplayingthedevilintheGarioch,andtheFarquharsonsonDee—side,andtheClanChattanontheGordons'
　　lands,andtheGrantsandCameronsinMoray—land。Andsincethat,IhaveseentheCravatsandPandoursinPannoniaandTransylvania,andtheCossacksfromthePolishfrontier,androbbers,banditti,andbarbariansofallcountriesbesides,sothatIhaveadistinctideaofyourbrokenHighlandmen。"
　　"Theclan,"saidLordMenteith,"withwhomthematernaluncleoftheM'Aulayshadbeenplacedinfeud,wasasmallseptofbanditti,called,fromtheirhouselessstate,andtheirincessantlywanderingamongthemountainsandglens,theChildrenoftheMist。Theyareafierceandhardypeople,withalltheirritability,andwildandvengefulpassions,propertomenwhohaveneverknowntherestraintofcivilizedsociety。ApartyofthemlayinwaitfortheunfortunateWardenoftheForest,surprisedhimwhilehuntingaloneandunattended,andslewhimwitheverycircumstanceofinventivecruelty。Theycutoffhishead,andresolved,inabravado,toexhibititatthecastleofhisbrother—in—law。Thelairdwasabsent,andtheladyreluctantlyreceivedasguests,menagainstwhom,perhaps,shewasafraidtoshuthergates。RefreshmentswereplacedbeforetheChildrenoftheMist,whotookanopportunitytotaketheheadoftheirvictimfromtheplaidinwhichitwaswrapt,placeditonthetable,putapieceofbreadbetweenthelifelessjaws,biddingthemdotheirofficenow,sincemanyagoodmealtheyhadeatenatthattable。Thelady,whohadbeenabsentforsomehouseholdpurpose,enteredatthismoment,and,uponbeholdingherbrother'shead,fledlikeanarrowoutofthehouseintothewoods,utteringshriekuponshriek。Theruffians,satisfiedwiththissavagetriumph,withdrew。Theterrifiedmenials,afterovercomingthealarmtowhichtheyhadbeensubjected,soughttheirunfortunatemistressineverydirection,butshewasnowheretobefound。Themiserablehusbandreturnednextday,and,withtheassistanceofhispeople,undertookamoreanxiousanddistantsearch,buttoequallylittlepurpose。Itwasbelieveduniversally,that,intheecstasyofherterror,shemusteitherhavethrownherselfoveroneofthenumerousprecipiceswhichoverhangtheriver,orintoadeeplakeaboutamilefromthecastle。Herlosswasthemorelamented,asshewassixmonthsadvancedinherpregnancy;AngusM'Aulay,hereldestson,havingbeenbornabouteighteenmonthsbefore。——ButItireyou,CaptainDalgetty,andyouseeminclinedtosleep。"