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necessity of an ambush keeping itself under covert.

The moon gleamed on the broken pathway, and on the projecting



cliffs of rock round which it winded, its light intercepted here

and there by the branches of bushes and dwarf-trees, which,



finding nourishment in the crevices of the rocks, in some places

overshadowed the brow and ledge of the precipice. Below, a thick



copse-wood lay in deep and dark shadow, somewhat resembling the

billows of a half-seen ocean. From the bosom of that darkness,



and close to the bottom of the precipice, the hound was heard at

intervals baying fearfully, sounds which were redoubled by the



echoes of the woods and rocks around. At intervals, these sunk

into deep silence, interrupted only by the plashing noise of a



small runnel of water, which partly fell from the rock, partly

found a more silent passage to the bottom along its projecting



surface. Voices of men were also heard in stifled converse

below; it seemed as if the pursuers had not discovered the narrow



path which led to the top of the rock, or that, having discovered

it, the peril of the ascent, joined to the imperfect light, and



the uncertainty whether it might not be defended, made them

hesitate to attempt it.



At length a shadowy figure was seen, which raised itself up from

the abyss of darkness below, and, emerging into the pale



moonlight, began cautiously and slowly to ascend the rocky path.

The outline was so distinctly marked, that Captain Dalgetty could



discover not only the person of a Highlander, but the long gun

which he carried in his hand, and the plume of feathers which



decorated his bonnet. "TAUSEND TEIFLEN! that I should say so,

and so like to be near my latter end!" ejaculated the Captain,



but under his breath, "what will become of us, now they have

brought musketry to encounter our archers?"



But just as the pursuer had attained a projecting piece of rock

about half way up the ascent, and, pausing, made a signal for



those who were still at the bottom to follow him, an arrow

whistled from the bow of one of the Children of the Mist, and



transfixed him with so fatal a wound, that, without a single

effort to save himself, he lost his balance, and fell headlong



from the cliff on which he stood, into the darkness below. The

crash of the boughs which received him, and the heavy sound of



his fall from thence to the ground, was followed by a cry of

horror and surprise, which burst from his followers. The



Children of the Mist, encouraged in proportion to the alarm this

first success had caused among the pursuers, echoed back the



clamour with a loud and shrill yell of exultation, and, showing

themselves on the brow of the precipice, with wild cries and



vindictive gestures, endeavoured to impress on their enemies a

sense at once of their courage, their numbers, and their state of



defence. Even Captain Dalgetty's military prudence did not

prevent his rising up, and calling out to Ranald, more loud than



prudence warranted, "CAROCCO, comrade, as the Spaniard says! The

long-bow for ever! In my poor apprehension now, were you to



order a file to advance and take position--"

"The Sassenach!" cried a voice from beneath, "mark the Sassenach



sidier! I see the glitter of his breastplate." At the same time

three muskets were discharged; and while one ball rattled against



the corslet of proof, to the strength of which our valiant

Captain had been more than once indebted for his life, another



penetrated the armour which covered the front of his left thigh,

and stretched him on the ground. Ranald instantly seized him in



his arms, and bore him back from the edge of the precipice, while

he dolefully ejaculated, "I always told the immortal Gustavus,



Wallenstein, Tilly, and other men of the sword, that, in my poor

mind, taslets ought to be made musket-proof."



With two or three earnest words in Gaelic, MacEagh commended the

wounded man to the charge of the females, who were in the rear of



his little party, and was then about to return to the contest.

But Dalgetty detained him, grasping a firm hold of his plaid.--"I



know not how this matter may end--but I request you will inform

Montrose, that I died like a follower of the immortal Gustavus



--and I pray you, take heed how you quit your present strength,

even for the purpose of pursuing the enemy, if you gain any






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