their purses."

"And respecting arms," said Captain Dalgetty, "if your lordship
will permit an old cavalier to speak his mind, so that the one-

third have muskets, my darlingweapon would be the pike for the
remainder, whether for resisting a charge of horse, or for

breaking the infantry. A common smith will make a hundred pike-
heads in a day; here is plenty of wood for shafts; and I will

uphold, that, according to the best usages of war, a strong
battalion of pikes, drawn up in the fashion of the Lion of the

North, the mortal" target="_blank" title="a.不死的n.不朽的人物">immortal Gustavus, would beat the Macedonian phalanx,
of which I used to read in the Mareschal-College, when I studied

in the ancient town of Bon-accord; and further, I will venture to
predicate--"

The Captain's lecture upon tactics was here suddenly interrupted
by Allan M'Aulay, who said, hastily,--"Room for an unexpected and

unwelcome guest!"
At the same moment, the door of the hall opened, and a grey-

haired man, of a very stately appearance, presented himself to
the assembly. There was much dignity, and even authority, in his

manner. His stature was above the common size, and his looks
such as were used to command. He cast a severe, and almost stern

glance upon the assembly of Chiefs. Those of the higher rank
among them returned it with scornfulindifference; but some of

the western gentlemen of inferior power, looked as if they wished
themselves elsewhere.

"To which of this assembly," said the stranger, "am I to address
myself as leader? or have you not fixed upon the person who is

to hold an office at least as perilous as it is honourable?"
"Address yourself to me, Sir Duncan Campbell," said Montrose,

stepping forward.
"To you!" said Sir Duncan Campbell, with some scorn.

"Yes,--to me," repeated Montrose,--"to the Earl of Montrose, if
you have forgot him."

"I should now, at least," said Sir Duncan Campbell, "have had
some difficulty in recognising him in the disguise of a groom.

--and yet I might have guessed that no evil influence inferior to
your lordship's, distinguished as one who troubles Israel, could

have collected together this rash assembly of misguided persons."
"I will answer unto you," said Montrose, "in the manner of your

own Puritans. I have not troubled Israel, but thou and thy
father's house. But let us leave an altercation, which is of

little consequence but to ourselves, and hear the tidings you
have brought from your Chief of Argyle; for I must conclude that

it is in his name that you have come to this meeting."
"It is in the name of the Marquis of Argyle," said Sir Duncan

Campbell,--" in the name of the Scottish Convention of Estates,
that I demand to know the meaning of this singular convocation.

If it is designed to disturb the peace of the country, it were
but acting like neighbours, and men of honour, to give us some

intimation to stand upon our guard."
"It is a singular, and new state of affairs in Scotland," said

Montrose, turning from Sir Duncan Campbell to the assembly, "when
Scottish men of rank and family cannot meet in the house of a

common friend without an inquisitorial visit and demand, on the
part of our rulers, to know the subject of our conference.

Methinks our ancestors were accustomed to hold Highland huntings,
or other purposes of meeting, without asking the leave either of

the great M'Callum More himself, or any of his emissaries or
dependents."

"The times have been such in Scotland," answered one of the
Western Chiefs, "and such they will again be, when the intruders

on our ancient possessions are again reduced to be Lairds of
Lochow instead of overspreading us like a band of devouring

locusts."
"Am I to understand, then," said Sir Duncan, that it is against

my name alone that these preparations are directed? or are the
race of Diarmid only to be sufferers in common with the whole of

the peaceful and orderly inhabitants of Scotland?"
"I would ask," said a wild-looking Chief, starting hastily up,

"one question of the Knight of Ardenvohr, ere he proceeds farther
in his daring catechism.--Has he brought more than one life to

this castle, that he ventures to intrude among us for the
purposes of insult?"

"Gentlemen," said Montrose, "let me implore your patience; a
messenger who comes among us for the purpose of embassy, is

entitled to freedom of speech and safe-conduct. And since Sir
Duncan Campbell is so pressing, I care not if I inform him, for

his guidance, that he is in an assembly of the King's loyal
subjects, convoked by me, in his Majesty's name and authority,

and as empowered by his Majesty's royal commission."
"We are to have, then, I presume," said Sir Duncan Campbell, "a

civil war in all its forms? I have been too long a soldier to
view its approach with anxiety; but it would have been for my

Lord of Montrose's honour, if, in this matter, he had consulted
his own ambition less, and the peace of the country more."

"Those consulted their own ambition and self-interest, Sir
Duncan," answered Montrose, "who brought the country to the pass

in which it now stands, and rendered necessary the sharp remedies
which we are now reluctantly about to use."

"And what rank among these self-seekers," said Sir Duncan
Campbell, "we shall assign to a noble Earl, so violently attached

to the Covenant, that he was the first, in 1639, to cross the
Tyne, wading middle deep at the head of his regiment, to charge

the royal forces? It was the same, I think, who imposed the
Covenant upon the burgesses and colleges of Aberdeen, at the

point of sword and pike."
"I understand your sneer, Sir Duncan," said Montrose,

temperately; "and I can only add, that if sincererepentance" target="_blank" title="n.悔悟，悔改；忏悔">repentance can
make amends for youthful error, and for yielding to the artful

representation of ambitious hypocrites, I shall be pardoned for
the crimes with which you taunt me. I will at least endeavour to

deserve forgiveness, for I am here, with my sword in my hand,
willing to spend the best blood of my body to make amends for my

error; and mortal man can do no more."
"Well, my lord," said Sir Duncan, "I shall be sorry to carry back

this language to the Marquis of Argyle. I had it in farther
charge from the Marquis, that, to prevent the bloody feuds which

must necessarily follow a Highland war, his lordship will be
contented if terms of truce could be arranged to the north of the

Highland line, as there is ground enough in Scotland to fight
upon, without neighbours destroying each other's families and

inheritances."
"It is a peaceful proposal," said Montrose, smiling," such as it

should be, coming from one whose personal actions have always
been more peaceful than his measures. Yet, if the terms of such

a truce could be equally fixed, and if we can obtain security,
for that, Sir Duncan, is indispensable,--that your Marquis will

observe these terms with strictfidelity, I, for my part, should
be content to leave peace behind us, since we must needs carry

war before us. But, Sir Duncan, you are too old and experienced
a soldier for us to permit you to remain in our leaguer, and

witness our proceedings; we shall therefore, when you have
refreshed yourself, recommend your speedy return to Inverary, and

we shall send with you a gentleman on our part to adjust the
terms of the Highland armistice, in case the Marquis shall be

found serious in proposing such a measure." Sir Duncan Campbell
assented by a bow.

"My Lord of Menteith," continued Montrose, "will you have the
goodness to attend Sir Duncan Campbell of Ardenvohr, while we

determine who shall return with him to his Chief? M'Aulay will
permit us to request that he be entertained with suitable

hospitality."
"I will give orders for that," said Allan M'Aulay, rising and

coming forward. "I love Sir Duncan Campbell; we have been joint
sufferers in former days, and I do not forget it now."

"My Lord of Menteith," said Sir Duncan Campbell, "I am grieved to
see you, at your early age, engaged in such desperate and