"which I shall reserve for his Majesty's express consideration;

in my camp, all must be upon equality, like the Knights of the
Round Table; and take their places as soldiers should, upon the

principle of,--first come, first served."
"Then I shall take care," said Menteith, apart to the Marquis,

"that Don Dugald is not first in place to-day.--Sir Dugald,"
added he, raising his voice, "as you say your wardrobe is out of

repair, had you not better go to the enemy's baggage yonder, over
which there is a guard placed? I saw them take out an excellent

buff suit, embroidered in front in silk and silver."
"VOTO A DIOS! as the Spaniard says," exclaimed the Major, "and

some beggarly gilly may get it while I stand prating here!"
The prospect of booty having at once driven out of his head both

Gustavus and the provant, he set spurs to Loyalty's Reward, and
rode off through the field of battle.

"There goes the hound," said Menteith, "breaking the face, and
trampling on the body, of many a better man than himself; and as

eager on his sordid spoil as a vulture that stoops upon carrion.
Yet this man the world calls a soldier--and you, my lord, select

him as worthy of the honours of chivalry, if such they can at
this day be termed. You have made the collar of knighthood" target="_blank" title="n.骑士的地位(资格)">knighthood the

decoration of a mere bloodhound."
"What could I do?" said Montrose. "I had no half-picked bones

to give him, and bribed in some manner he must be,--I cannot
follow the chase alone. Besides, the dog has good qualities."

"If nature has given him such," said Menteith, "habit has
converted them into feelings of intenseselfishness. He may be

punctilious concerning his reputation, and brave in the execution
of his duty, but it is only because without these qualities he

cannot rise in the service;--nay, his very benevolence is
selfish; he may defend his companion while he can keep his feet,

but the instant he is down, Sir Dugald will be as ready to ease
him of his purse, as he is to convert the skin of Gustavus into a

buff jerkin."
"And yet, if all this were true, cousin," answered Montrose,

"there is something convenient in commanding a soldier, upon
whose motives and springs of action you can calculate to a

mathematical certainty. A fine spirit like yours, my cousin,
alive to a thousand sensations to which this man's is as

impervious as his corslet,--it is for such that thy friend must
feel, while he gives his advice." Then, suddenly changing his

tone, he asked Menteith when he had seen Annot Lyle.
The young Earl coloured deeply, and answered, "Not since last

evening,--excepting," he added, with hesitation, "for one moment,
about half an hour before the battle began."

"My dear Menteith," said Montrose, very kindly, "were you one of
the gay cavaliers of Whitehall, who are, in their way, as great

self-seekers as our friend Dalgetty, should I need to plague you
with enquiring into such an amourette as this? it would be an

intrigue only to be laughed at. But this is the land of
enchantment, where nets strong as steel are wrought out of

ladies' tresses, and you are exactly the destined knight to be so
fettered. This poor girl is exquisitely beautiful, and has

talents formed to captivate your romantictemper. You cannot
think of injuring her--you cannot think of marrying her?"

"My lord," replied Menteith, "you have repeatedly urged this
jest, for so I trust it is meant, somewhat beyond bounds. Annot

Lyle is of unknown birth,--a captive,--the daughter, probably, of
some obscure outlaw; a dependant on the hospitality of the

M'Aulays."
"Do not be angry, Menteith," said the Marquis, interrupting him;

"you love the classics, though not educated at Mareschal-College;
and you may remember how many gallant hearts captive beauty has

subdued:--
Movit Ajacem, Telamone natum,

Forma captivae dominum Tecmessae.
In a word, I am seriouslyanxious about this--I should not have

time, perhaps," he added very gravely, "to trouble you with my
lectures on the subject, were your feelings, and those of Annot,

alone interested; but you have a dangerous rival in Allan
M'Aulay; and there is no knowing to what extent he may carry his

resentment. It is my duty to tell you that the King's service
may be much prejudiced by dissensions betwixt you."

"My lord," said Menteith, "I know what you mean is kind and
friendly; I hope you will be satisfied when I assure you, that

Allan M'Aulay and I have discussed this circumstance; and that I
have explained to him, that it is utterly remote from my

character to entertain dishonourable views concerning this
unprotected female; so, on the other hand, the obscurity of her

birth prevents my thinking of her upon other terms. I will not
disguise from your lordship, what I have not disguised from

M'Aulay,--that if Annot Lyle were born a lady, she should share
my name and rank; as matters stand, it is impossible. This

explanation, I trust, will satisfy your lordship, as it has
satisfied a less reasonable person."

Montrose shrugged his shoulders. "And, like true champions in
romance," he said, "you have agreed, that you are both to worship

the same mistress, as idolaters do the same image, and that
neither shall extend his pretensions farther?"

"I did not go so far, my lord," answered Menteith--"I only said
in the present circumstances--and there is no prospect of their

being changed,--I could, in duty to myself and family, stand in
no relation to Annot Lyle, but as that of friend or brother--But

your lordship must excuse me; I have," said he, looking at his
arm, round which he had tied his handkerchief, "a slight hurt to

attend to."
"A wound?" said Montrose, anxiously; "let me see it.--Alas!" he

said, "I should have heard nothing of this, had I not ventured to
tent and sound another more secret and more rankling one,

Menteith; I am sorry for you--I too have known--But what avails
it to awake sorrows which have long slumbered!"

So saying, he shook hands with his noble kinsman, and walked into
the castle.

Annot Lyle, as was not unusual for females in the Highlands, was
possessed of a slight degree of medical and even surgical skill.

It may readily be believed, that the profession of surgery, or
medicine, as a separate art, was unknown; and the few rude rules

which they observed were intrusted to women, or to the aged, whom
constant casualties afforded too much opportunity of acquiring

experience. The care and attention, accordingly, of Annot Lyle,
her attendants, and others acting under her direction, had made

her services extremely useful during this wild campaign. And
most readily had these services been rendered to friend and foe,

wherever they could be most useful. She was now in an apartment
of the castle, anxiously superintending the preparation of

vulnerary herbs, to be applied to the wounded; receiving reports
from different females respecting those under their separate

charge, and distributing what means she had for their relief,
when Allan M'Aulay suddenly entered the apartment. She started,

for she had heard that he had left the camp upon a distant
mission; and, however accustomed she was to the gloom of his

countenance, it seemed at present to have even a darker shade
than usual. He stood before her perfectly silent, and she felt

the necessity of being the first to speak.
"I thought," she said, with some effort, "you had already set

out."
"My companion awaits me," said Allan; "I go instantly."

Yet still he stood before her, and held her by the arm, with a
pressure which, though insufficient to give her pain, made her

sensible of his great personal strength, his hand closing on her
like the gripe of a manacle.

"Shall I take the harp?" she said, in a timid voice; "is--is
the shadow falling upon you?"

Instead of replying, he led her to the window of the apartment,
which commanded a view of the field of the slain, with all its