A Legend of Montrose Page 22

  CHAPTER XX.

  Faint the din of battle bray'd, Distant down the hollow wind; War and terror fled before, Wounds and death remain'd behind.--PENROSE.

  Montrose's splendid success over his powerful rival was not attainedwithout some loss, though not amounting to the tenth of what heinflicted. The obstinate valour of the Campbells cost the lives of manybrave men of the opposite party; and more were wounded, the Chief ofwhom was the brave young Earl of Menteith, who had commanded the centre.He was but slightly touched, however, and made rather a graceful thana terrible appearance when he presented to his general the standard ofArgyle, which he had taken from the standard-bearer with his own hand,and slain him in single combat. Montrose dearly loved his noble kinsman,in whom there was conspicuous a flash of the generous, romantic,disinterested chivalry of the old heroic times, entirely different fromthe sordid, calculating, and selfish character, which the practice ofentertaining mercenary troops had introduced into most parts of Europe,and of which degeneracy Scotland, which furnished soldiers of fortunefor the service of almost every nation, had been contaminated with amore than usual share. Montrose, whose native spirit was congenial,although experience had taught him how to avail himself of the motivesof others, used to Menteith neither the language of praise nor ofpromise, but clasped him to his bosom as he exclaimed, "My gallantkinsman!" And by this burst of heartfelt applause was Menteith thrilledwith a warmer glow of delight, than if his praises had been recorded ina report of the action sent directly to the throne of his sovereign.

  "Nothing," he said, "my lord, now seems to remain in which I can renderany assistance; permit me to look after a duty of humanity--the Knightof Ardenvohr, as I am told, is our prisoner, and severely wounded."

  "And well he deserves to be so," said Sir Dugald Dalgetty, who cameup to them at that moment with a prodigious addition of acquiredimportance, "since he shot my good horse at the time that I was offeringhim honourable quarter, which, I must needs say, was done more like anignorant Highland cateran, who has not sense enough to erect a sconcefor the protection of his old hurley-house of a castle, than like asoldier of worth and quality."

  "Are we to condole with you then," said Lord Menteith, "upon the loss ofthe famed Gustavus?"

  "Even so, my lord," answered the soldier, with a deep sigh, "DIEMCLAUSIT SUPREMUM, as we said at the Mareschal-College of Aberdeen.Better so than be smothered like a cadger's pony in some flow-moss,or snow-wreath, which was like to be his fate if this winter campaignlasted longer. But it has pleased his Excellency" (making an inclinationto Montrose) "to supply his place by the gift of a noble steed, whomI have taken the freedom to name 'LOYALTY'S REWARD,' in memory of thiscelebrated occasion."

  "I hope," said the Marquis, "you'll find Loyalty's Reward, since youcall him so, practised in all the duties of the field,--but I must justhint to you, that at this time, in Scotland, loyalty is more frequentlyrewarded with a halter than with a horse."

  "Ahem! your Excellency is pleased to be facetious. Loyalty's Reward isas perfect as Gustavus in all his exercises, and of a far finer figure.Marry! his social qualities are less cultivated, in respect he has kepttill now inferior company."

  "Not meaning his Excellency the General, I hope," said Lord Menteith."For shame, Sir Dugald!"

  "My lord," answered the knight gravely, "I am incapable to mean anythingso utterly unbecoming. What I asseverate is, that his Excellency, havingthe same intercourse with his horse during his exercise, that he hathwith his soldiers when training them, may form and break either to everyfeat of war which he chooses to practise, and accordingly that thisnoble charger is admirably managed. But as it is the intercourse ofprivate life that formeth the social character, so I do not apprehendthat of the single soldier to be much polished by the conversation ofthe corporal or the sergeant, or that of Loyalty's Reward to have beenmuch dulcified, or ameliorated, by the society of his Excellency'sgrooms, who bestow more oaths, and kicks, and thumps, than kindness orcaresses, upon the animals intrusted to their charge; whereby many agenerous quadruped, rendered as it were misanthropic, manifests duringthe rest of his life a greater desire to kick and bite his master, thanto love and to honour him."

  "Spoken like an oracle," said Montrose. "Were there an academy for theeducation of horses to be annexed to the Mareschal-College of Aberdeen,Sir Dugald Dalgetty alone should fill the chair."

  "Because, being an ass," said Menteith, aside to the General, "therewould be some distant relation between the professor and the students."

  "And now, with your Excellency's permission," said the new-made knight,"I am going to pay my last visit to the remains of my old companion inarms."

  "Not with the purpose of going through the ceremonial of interment?"said the Marquis, who did not know how far Sir Dugald's enthusiasm mightlead him; "consider our brave fellows themselves will have but a hastyburial."

  "Your Excellency will pardon me," said Dalgetty; "my purpose is lessromantic. I go to divide poor Gustavus's legacy with the fowls ofheaven, leaving the flesh to them, and reserving to myself his hide;which, in token of affectionate remembrance, I purpose to form intoa cassock and trowsers, after the Tartar fashion, to be worn under myarmour, in respect my nether garments are at present shamefully theworse of the wear.--Alas! poor Gustavus, why didst thou not live atleast one hour more, to have borne the honoured weight of knighthoodupon thy loins!"

  He was now turning away, when the Marquis called after him,--"As youare not likely to be anticipated in this act of kindness, Sir Dugald,to your old friend and companion, I trust," said the Marquis, "you willfirst assist me, and our principal friends, to discuss some of Argyle'sgood cheer, of which we have found abundance in the Castle."

  "Most willingly, please your Excellency," said Sir Dugald; "as meatand mass never hinder work. Nor, indeed, am I afraid that the wolves oreagles will begin an onslaught on Gustavus to-night, in regard there isso much better cheer lying all around. But," added he, "as I am to meettwo honourable knights of England, with others of the knightly degree inyour lordship's army, I pray it may be explained to them, that now, andin future, I claim precedence over them all, in respect of my rank as aBanneret, dubbed in a field of stricken battle."

  "The devil confound him!" said Montrose, speaking aside; "he hascontrived to set the kiln on fire as fast as I put it out.--'This isa point, Sir Dugald," said he, gravely addressing him, "which I shallreserve for his Majesty's express consideration; in my camp, all mustbe upon equality, like the Knights of the Round Table; and take theirplaces as soldiers should, upon the principle of,--first come, firstserved."

  "Then I shall take care," said Menteith, apart to the Marquis, "that DonDugald is not first in place to-day.--Sir Dugald," added he, raising hisvoice, "as you say your wardrobe is out of repair, had you not better goto the enemy's baggage yonder, over which there is a guard placed? I sawthem take out an excellent buff suit, embroidered in front in silk andsilver."

  "VOTO A DIOS! as the Spaniard says," exclaimed the Major, "and somebeggarly gilly may get it while I stand prating here!"

  The prospect of booty having at once driven out of his head bothGustavus and the provant, he set spurs to Loyalty's Reward, and rode offthrough the field of battle.

  "There goes the hound," said Menteith, "breaking the face, and tramplingon the body, of many a better man than himself; and as eager on hissordid spoil as a vulture that stoops upon carrion. Yet this man theworld calls a soldier--and you, my lord, select him as worthy of thehonours of chivalry, if such they can at this day be termed. You havemade the collar of knighthood the decoration of a mere bloodhound."

  "What could I do?" said Montrose. "I had no half-picked bones to givehim, and bribed in some manner he must be,--I cannot follow the chasealone. Besides, the dog has good qualities."

  "If nature has given him such," said Menteith, "habit has converted theminto feelings of intense selfishness. He may be punctilious concerninghis reputation, and brave in the execution of his duty, but it is onlybecau
se without these qualities he cannot rise in the service;--nay, hisvery benevolence is selfish; he may defend his companion while he cankeep his feet, but the instant he is down, Sir Dugald will be as readyto ease him of his purse, as he is to convert the skin of Gustavus intoa buff jerkin."

  "And yet, if all this were true, cousin," answered Montrose, "there issomething convenient in commanding a soldier, upon whose motives andsprings of action you can calculate to a mathematical certainty. A finespirit like yours, my cousin, alive to a thousand sensations to whichthis man's is as impervious as his corslet,--it is for such that thyfriend must feel, while he gives his advice." Then, suddenly changinghis tone, he asked Menteith when he had seen Annot Lyle.

  The young Earl coloured deeply, and answered, "Not since lastevening,--excepting," he added, with hesitation, "for one moment, abouthalf an hour before the battle began."

  "My dear Menteith," said Montrose, very kindly, "were you one of the gaycavaliers of Whitehall, who are, in their way, as great self-seekersas our friend Dalgetty, should I need to plague you with enquiring intosuch an amourette as this? it would be an intrigue only to be laughedat. But this is the land of enchantment, where nets strong as steel arewrought out of ladies' tresses, and you are exactly the destined knightto be so fettered. This poor girl is exquisitely beautiful, and hastalents formed to captivate your romantic temper. You cannot think ofinjuring her--you cannot think of marrying her?"

  "My lord," replied Menteith, "you have repeatedly urged this jest, forso I trust it is meant, somewhat beyond bounds. Annot Lyle is of unknownbirth,--a captive,--the daughter, probably, of some obscure outlaw; adependant on the hospitality of the M'Aulays."

  "Do not be angry, Menteith," said the Marquis, interrupting him; "youlove the classics, though not educated at Mareschal-College; and you mayremember how many gallant hearts captive beauty has subdued:--

  Movit Ajacem, Telamone natum, Forma captivae dominum Tecmessae.

  In a word, I am seriously anxious about this--I should not have time,perhaps," he added very gravely, "to trouble you with my lectures on thesubject, were your feelings, and those of Annot, alone interested; butyou have a dangerous rival in Allan M'Aulay; and there is no knowing towhat extent he may carry his resentment. It is my duty to tell you thatthe King's service may be much prejudiced by dissensions betwixt you."

  "My lord," said Menteith, "I know what you mean is kind and friendly; Ihope you will be satisfied when I assure you, that Allan M'Aulay and Ihave discussed this circumstance; and that I have explained to him, thatit is utterly remote from my character to entertain dishonourable viewsconcerning this unprotected female; so, on the other hand, the obscurityof her birth prevents my thinking of her upon other terms. I willnot disguise from your lordship, what I have not disguised fromM'Aulay,--that if Annot Lyle were born a lady, she should share my nameand rank; as matters stand, it is impossible. This explanation, Itrust, will satisfy your lordship, as it has satisfied a less reasonableperson."

  Montrose shrugged his shoulders. "And, like true champions in romance,"he said, "you have agreed, that you are both to worship the samemistress, as idolaters do the same image, and that neither shall extendhis pretensions farther?"

  "I did not go so far, my lord," answered Menteith--"I only said inthe present circumstances--and there is no prospect of their beingchanged,--I could, in duty to myself and family, stand in no relationto Annot Lyle, but as that of friend or brother--But your lordship mustexcuse me; I have," said he, looking at his arm, round which he had tiedhis handkerchief, "a slight hurt to attend to."

  "A wound?" said Montrose, anxiously; "let me see it.--Alas!" he said, "Ishould have heard nothing of this, had I not ventured to tent and soundanother more secret and more rankling one, Menteith; I am sorry foryou--I too have known--But what avails it to awake sorrows which havelong slumbered!"

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

  Annot Lyle, as was not unusual for females in the Highlands, waspossessed of a slight degree of medical and even surgical skill. It mayreadily be believed, that the profession of surgery, or medicine, as aseparate art, was unknown; and the few rude rules which they observedwere intrusted to women, or to the aged, whom constant casualtiesafforded too much opportunity of acquiring experience. The care andattention, accordingly, of Annot Lyle, her attendants, and others actingunder her direction, had made her services extremely useful during thiswild campaign. And most readily had these services been rendered tofriend and foe, wherever they could be most useful. She was now in anapartment of the castle, anxiously superintending the preparation ofvulnerary herbs, to be applied to the wounded; receiving reports fromdifferent females respecting those under their separate charge, anddistributing what means she had for their relief, when Allan M'Aulaysuddenly entered the apartment. She started, for she had heard that hehad left the camp upon a distant mission; and, however accustomed shewas to the gloom of his countenance, it seemed at present to have evena darker shade than usual. He stood before her perfectly silent, and shefelt 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 hestood before her, and held her by the arm, with a pressure which, thoughinsufficient to give her pain, made her sensible of his great personalstrength, 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 shadowfalling upon you?"

  Instead of replying, he led her to the window of the apartment, whichcommanded a view of the field of the slain, with all its horrors. It wasthick spread with dead and wounded, and the spoilers were busy tearingthe clothes from the victims of war and feudal ambition, with as muchindifference as if they had not been of the same species, and themselvesexposed, perhaps to-morrow, to the same fate.

  "Does the sight please you?" said M'Aulay.

  "It is hideous!" said Annot, covering her eyes with her hands; "how canyou bid me look upon it?"

  "You must be inured to it," said he, "if you remain with this destinedhost--you will soon have to search such a field for my brother'scorpse--for Menteith's--for mine---but that will be a more indifferenttask--You do not love me!"

  "This is the first time you have taxed me with unkindness," said Annot,weeping. "You are my brother--my preserver--my protector--and can I thenBUT love you?--But your hour of darkness is approaching, let me fetch myharp--"

  "Remain," said Allan, still holding her fast; "be my visions from heavenor hell, or from the middle sphere of disembodied spirits--or be they,as the Saxons hold, but the delusions of an over-heated fancy, theydo not now influence me; I speak the language of the natural, of thevisible world.--You love not me, Annot--you love Menteith--by him youare beloved again, and Allan is no more to you than one of the corpseswhich encumber yonder heath."

  It cannot be supposed that this strange speech conveyed any newinformation to her who was thus addressed. No woman ever lived who couldnot, in the same circumstances, have discerned long since the state ofher lover's mind. But by thus suddenly tearing off the veil, thin as itwas, Allan prepared her to expect consequences violent in proportion tothe enthusiasm of his character. She made an effort to repel the chargehe had stated.

  "You forget," she said, "your own worth and nobleness when you insult sovery helpless a being, and one whom fate has thrown so totally intoyour power. You know who and what I am, and how impossible it is thatMenteith or you can use language of affection to me, beyond that offriendship. You know from what unhappy race I have too probably derivedmy existence."

  "I will not believe it," said Allan, impetuously; "never flowed crystaldrop from a polluted spring."

  "Yet the very doubt," pleaded Annot, "should make you forbear to usethis language to me."

  "I know," said M'Aulay, "it places a bar between us--but I know alsothat it divides you not so inseparably from Menteith.--Hear me, mybeloved Annot
!--leave this scene of terrors and danger--go with me toKintail--I will place you in the house of the noble Lady of Seaforth--oryou shall be removed in safety to Icolmkill, where some women yet devotethemselves to the worship of God, after the custom of our ancestors."

  "You consider not what you ask of me," replied Annot; "to undertake sucha journey under your sole guardianship, were to show me less scrupulousthan maiden ought. I will remain here, Allan--here under the protectionof the noble Montrose; and when his motions next approach the Lowlands,I will contrive some proper means to relieve you of one, who has, sheknows not how, become an object of dislike to you."

  Allan stood as if uncertain whether to give way to sympathy with herdistress, or to anger at her resistance.

  "Annot," he said, "you know too well how little your words apply tomy feelings towards you--but you avail yourself of your power, and yourejoice in my departure, as removing a spy upon your intercourse withMenteith. But beware both of you," he added, in a stern tone; "for whenwas it ever heard that an injury was offered to Allan M'Aulay, for whichhe exacted not tenfold vengeance?"

  So saying, he pressed her arm forcibly, pulled the bonnet over hisbrows, and strode out of the apartment.