A Legend of Montrose Page 6

  CHAPTER IV.

  Once on a time, no matter when, Some Glunimies met in a glen; As deft and tight as ever wore A durk, a targe, and a claymore, Short hose, and belted plaid or trews, In Uist, Lochaber, Skye, or Lewes, Or cover'd hard head with his bonnet; Had you but known them, you would own it.--MESTON.

  A hill was now before the travellers, covered with an ancient forestof Scottish firs, the topmost of which, flinging their scathed branchesacross the western horizon, gleamed ruddy in the setting sun. In thecentre of this wood rose the towers, or rather the chimneys, of thehouse, or castle, as it was called, destined for the end of theirjourney.

  As usual at that period, one or two high-ridged narrow buildings,intersecting and crossing each other, formed the CORPS DE LOGIS. Aprotecting bartizan or two, with the addition of small turrets at theangles, much resembling pepper-boxes, had procured for Darnlinvarach thedignified appellation of a castle. It was surrounded by a low court-yardwall, within which were the usual offices.

  As the travellers approached more nearly, they discovered marks ofrecent additions to the defences of the place, which had been suggested,doubtless, by the insecurity of those troublesome times. Additionalloop-holes for musketry were struck out in different parts of thebuilding, and of its surrounding wall. The windows had just beencarefully secured by stancheons of iron, crossing each other athwart andend-long, like the grates of a prison. The door of the court-yard wasshut; and it was only after cautious challenge that one of its leaveswas opened by two domestics, both strong Highlanders, and both underarms, like Bitias and Pandarus in the AEneid, ready to defend theentrance if aught hostile had ventured an intrusion.

  When the travellers were admitted into the court, they found additionalpreparations for defence. The walls were scaffolded for the use offire-arms, and one or two of the small guns, called sackers, or falcons,were mounted at the angles and flanking turrets.

  More domestics, both in the Highland and Lowland dress, instantly rushedfrom the anterior of the mansion, and some hastened to take the horsesof the strangers, while others waited to marshal them a way into thedwelling-house. But Captain Dalgetty refused the proffered assistanceof those who wished to relieve him of the charge of his horse. "It is mycustom, my friends, to see Gustavus (for so I have called him, aftermy invincible master) accommodated myself; we are old friends andfellow-travellers, and as I often need the use of his legs, I alwayslend him in my turn the service of my tongue, to call for whatever hehas occasion for;" and accordingly he strode into the stable after hissteed without farther apology.

  Neither Lord Menteith nor his attendants paid the same attention totheir horses, but, leaving them to the proffered care of the servants ofthe place, walked forward into the house, where a sort of dark vaultedvestibule displayed, among other miscellaneous articles, a huge barrelof two-penny ale, beside which were ranged two or three wooden queichs,or bickers, ready, it would appear, for the service of whoever thoughtproper to employ them. Lord Menteith applied himself to the spigot,drank without ceremony, and then handed the stoup to Anderson, whofollowed his master's example, but not until he had flung out the dropof ale which remained, and slightly rinsed the wooden cup.

  "What the deil, man," said an old Highland servant belonging to thefamily, "can she no drink after her ain master without washing the cupand spilling the ale, and be tamned to her!"

  "I was bred in France," answered Anderson, "where nobody drinks afteranother out of the same cup, unless it be after a young lady."

  "The teil's in their nicety!" said Donald; "and if the ale be gude, fatthe waur is't that another man's beard's been in the queich before ye?"

  Anderson's companion drank without observing the ceremony which hadgiven Donald so much offence, and both of them followed their masterinto the low-arched stone hall, which was the common rendezvous of aHighland family. A large fire of peats in the huge chimney at the upperend shed a dim light through the apartment, and was rendered necessaryby the damp, by which, even during the summer, the apartment wasrendered uncomfortable. Twenty or thirty targets, as many claymores,with dirks, and plaids, and guns, both match-lock and fire-lock, andlong-bows, and cross-bows, and Lochaber axes, and coats of plate armour,and steel bonnets, and headpieces, and the more ancient haborgeons, orshirts of reticulated mail, with hood and sleeves corresponding to it,all hung in confusion about the walls, and would have formed a month'samusement to a member of a modern antiquarian society. But such thingswere too familiar, to attract much observation on the part of thepresent spectators.

  There was a large clumsy oaken table, which the hasty hospitality of thedomestic who had before spoken, immediately spread with milk, butter,goat-milk cheese, a flagon of beer, and a flask of usquebae, designedfor the refreshment of Lord Menteith; while an inferior servant madesimilar preparations at the bottom of the table for the benefit of hisattendants. The space which intervened between them was, according tothe manners of the times, sufficient distinction between master andservant, even though the former was, as in the present instance, of highrank. Meanwhile the guests stood by the fire--the young nobleman underthe chimney, and his servants at some little distance.

  "What do you think, Anderson," said the former, "of ourfellow-traveller?"

  "A stout fellow," replied Anderson, "if all be good that is upcome.I wish we had twenty such, to put our Teagues into some sort ofdiscipline."

  "I differ from you, Anderson," said Lord Menteith; "I think this fellowDalgetty is one of those horse-leeches, whose appetite for blood beingonly sharpened by what he has sucked in foreign countries, he is nowreturned to batten upon that of his own. Shame on the pack of thesemercenary swordmen! they have made the name of Scot through all Europeequivalent to that of a pitiful mercenary, who knows neither honournor principle but his month's pay, who transfers his allegiance fromstandard to standard, at the pleasure of fortune or the highest bidder;and to whose insatiable thirst for plunder and warm quarters we owe muchof that civil dissension which is now turning our swords against our ownbowels. I had scarce patience with the hired gladiator, and yet couldhardly help laughing at the extremity of his impudence."

  "Your lordship will forgive me," said Anderson, "if I recommend toyou, in the present circumstances, to conceal at least a part of thisgenerous indignation; we cannot, unfortunately, do our work without theassistance of those who act on baser motives than our own. We cannotspare the assistance of such fellows as our friend the soldado. To usethe canting phrase of the saints in the English Parliament, the sons ofZeruiah are still too many for us."

  "I must dissemble, then, as well as I can," said Lord Menteith, "as Ihave hitherto done, upon your hint. But I wish the fellow at the devilwith all my heart."

  "Ay, but still you must remember, my lord," resumed Anderson, "thatto cure the bite of a scorpion, you must crush another scorpion on thewound--But stop, we shall be overheard."

  From a side-door in the hall glided a Highlander into the apartment,whose lofty stature and complete equipment, as well as the eagle'sfeather in his bonnet, and the confidence of his demeanour, announced tobe a person of superior rank. He walked slowly up to the table, and madeno answer to Lord Menteith, who, addressing him by the name of Allan,asked him how he did.

  "Ye manna speak to her e'en now," whispered the old attendant.

  The tall Highlander, sinking down upon the empty settle next the fire,fixed his eyes upon the red embers and the huge heap of turf, and seemedburied in profound abstraction. His dark eyes, and wild and enthusiasticfeatures, bore the air of one who, deeply impressed with his ownsubjects of meditation, pays little attention to exterior objects.An air of gloomy severity, the fruit perhaps of ascetic and solitaryhabits, might, in a Lowlander, have been ascribed to religiousfanaticism; but by that disease of the mind, then so common both inEngland and the Lowlands of Scotland, the Highlanders of thisperiod were rarely infected. They had, however, their own peculiarsuperstitions, which overclouded the mind with thick-coming fancies, ascom
pletely as the puritanism of their neighbours.

  "His lordship's honour," said the Highland servant sideling up to LordMenteith, and speaking in a very low tone, "his lordship manna speak toAllan even now, for the cloud is upon his mind."

  Lord Menteith nodded, and took no farther notice of the reservedmountaineer.

  "Said I not," asked the latter, suddenly raising his stately personupright, and looking at the domestic--"said I not that four were tocome, and here stand but three on the hall floor?"

  "In troth did ye say sae, Allan," said the old Highlander, "and here'sthe fourth man coming clinking in at the yett e'en now from the stable,for he's shelled like a partan, wi' airn on back and breast, haunch andshanks. And am I to set her chair up near the Menteith's, or down wi'the honest gentlemen at the foot of the table?"

  Lord Menteith himself answered the enquiry, by pointing to a seat besidehis own.

  "And here she comes," said Donald, as Captain Dalgetty entered the hall;"and I hope gentlemens will all take bread and cheese, as we say in theglens, until better meat be ready, until the Tiernach comes back fraethe hill wi' the southern gentlefolk, and then Dugald Cook will showhimself wi' his kid and hill venison."

  In the meantime, Captain Dalgetty had entered the apartment, and walkingup to the seat placed next Lord Menteith, was leaning on the back of itwith his arms folded. Anderson and his companion waited at the bottomof the table, in a respectful attitude, until they should receivepermission to seat themselves; while three or four Highlanders, underthe direction of old Donald, ran hither and thither to bring additionalarticles of food, or stood still to give attendance upon the guests.

  In the midst of these preparations, Allan suddenly started up, andsnatching a lamp from the hand of an attendant, held it close toDalgetty's face, while he perused his features with the most heedful andgrave attention.

  "By my honour," said Dalgetty, half displeased, as, mysteriously shakinghis head, Allan gave up the scrutiny--"I trow that lad and I will keneach other when we meet again."

  Meanwhile Allan strode to the bottom of the table, and having, bythe aid of his lamp, subjected Anderson and his companion to the sameinvestigation, stood a moment as if in deep reflection; then, touchinghis forehead, suddenly seized Anderson by the arm, and before he couldoffer any effectual resistance, half led and half dragged him to thevacant seat at the upper end, and having made a mute intimation thathe should there place himself, he hurried the soldado with the sameunceremonious precipitation to the bottom of the table. The Captain,exceedingly incensed at this freedom, endeavoured to shake Allan fromhim with violence; but, powerful as he was, he proved in the struggleinferior to the gigantic mountaineer, who threw him off with suchviolence, that after reeling a few paces, he fell at full length, andthe vaulted hall rang with the clash of his armour. When he arose, hisfirst action was to draw his sword and to fly at Allan, who, with foldedarms, seemed to await his onset with the most scornful indifference.Lord Menteith and his attendants interposed to preserve peace, while theHighlanders, snatching weapons from the wall, seemed prompt to increasethe broil.

  "He is mad," whispered Lord Menteith, "he is perfectly mad; there is nopurpose in quarrelling with him."

  "If your lordship is assured that he is NON COMPOS MENTIS," said CaptainDalgetty, "the whilk his breeding and behaviour seem to testify, thematter must end here, seeing that a madman can neither give an affront,nor render honourable satisfaction. But, by my saul, if I had myprovstnt and a bottle of Rhenish under my belt, I should hive stoodotherways up to him. And yet it's a pity he should be sae weak in theintellectuals, being a strong proper man of body, fit to handle pike,morgenstern, or any other military implement whatsoever." [This wasa sort of club or mace, used in the earlier part of the seventeenthcentury in the defence of breaches and walls. When the Germans insulteda Scotch regiment then besieged in Trailsund, saying they heard therewas a ship come from Denmark to them laden with tobacco pipes, "One ofour soldiers," says Colonel Robert Munro, "showing them over the work amorgenstern, made of a large stock banded with iron, like the shaft ofa halberd, with a round globe at the end with cross iron pikes, saith,'Here is one of the tobacco pipes, wherewith we will beat out yourbrains when you intend to storm us.'"]

  Peace was thus restored, and the party seated themselves agreeably totheir former arrangement, with which Allan, who had now returned to hissettle by the fire, and seemed once more immersed in meditation, didnot again interfere. Lord Menteith, addressing the principal domestic,hastened to start some theme of conversation which might obliterate allrecollection of the fray that had taken place. "The laird is at the hillthen, Donald, I understand, and some English strangers with him?"

  "At the hill he is, an it like your honour, and two Saxon calabalerosare with him sure eneugh; and that is Sir Miles Musgrave and ChristopherHall, both from the Cumraik, as I think they call their country."

  "Hall and Musgrave?" said Lord Menteith, looking at his attendants, "thevery men that we wished to see."

  "Troth," said Donald, "an' I wish I had never seen them between the een,for they're come to herry us out o' house and ha'."

  "Why, Donald," said Lord Menteith, "you did not use to be so churlish ofyour beef and ale; southland though they be, they'll scarce eat up allthe cattle that's going on the castle mains."

  "Teil care an they did," said Donald, "an that were the warst o't, forwe have a wheen canny trewsmen here that wadna let us want if there wasa horned beast atween this and Perth. But this is a warse job--it's naeless than a wager."

  "A wager!" repeated Lord Menteith, with some surprise.

  "Troth," continued Donald, to the full as eager to tell his news as LordMenteith was curious to hear them, "as your lordship is a friend andkinsman o' the house, an' as ye'll hear eneugh o't in less than an hour,I may as weel tell ye mysell. Ye sall be pleased then to know, that whenour Laird was up in England where he gangs oftener than his friends canwish, he was biding at the house o' this Sir Miles Musgrave, an' therewas putten on the table six candlesticks, that they tell me were twiceas muckle as the candlesticks in Dunblane kirk, and neither airn, brass,nor tin, but a' solid silver, nae less;--up wi' their English pride, hassae muckle, and kens sae little how to guide it! Sae they began to jeerthe Laird, that he saw nae sic graith in his ain poor country; andthe Laird, scorning to hae his country put down without a word for itscredit, swore, like a gude Scotsman, that he had mair candlesticks, andbetter candlesticks, in his ain castle at hame, than were ever lightedin a hall in Cumberland, an Cumberland be the name o' the country."

  "That was patriotically said," observed Lord Menteith.

  "Fary true," said Donald; "but her honour had better hae hauden hertongue: for if ye say ony thing amang the Saxons that's a wee byordinar, they clink ye down for a wager as fast as a Lowland smith wouldhammer shoon on a Highland shelty. An' so the Laird behoved either togae back o' his word, or wager twa hunder merks; and sa he e'en tock thewager, rather than be shamed wi' the like o' them. And now he's like toget it to pay, and I'm thinking that's what makes him sae swear to comehame at e'en."

  "Indeed," said Lord Menteith, "from my idea of your family plate,Donald, your master is certain to lose such a wager."

  "Your honour may swear that; an' where he's to get the siller I kenna,although he borrowed out o' twenty purses. I advised him to pit the twaSaxon gentlemen and their servants cannily into the pit o' the towertill they gae up the bagain o' free gude-will, but the Laird winna hearreason."

  Allan here started up, strode forward, and interrupted the conversation,saying to the domestic in a voice like thunder, "And how dared you togive my brother such dishonourable advice? or how dare you to say hewill lose this or any other wager which it is his pleasure to lay?"

  "Troth, Allan M'Aulay," answered the old man, "it's no for my father'sson to gainsay what your father's son thinks fit to say, an' so theLaird may no doubt win his wager. A' that I ken against it is, that theteil a candlestick, or ony thing like it, is in the house, except theaul
d airn branches that has been here since Laird Kenneth's time, andthe tin sconces that your father gard be made by auld Willie Winkie thetinkler, mair be token that deil an unce of siller plate is about thehouse at a', forby the lady's auld posset dish, that wants the cover andane o' the lugs."

  "Peace, old man!" said Allan, fiercely; "and do you, gentlemen, if yourrefection is finished, leave this apartment clear; I must prepare it forthe reception of these southern guests."

  "Come away," said the domestic, pulling Lord Menteith by the sleeve;"his hour is on him," said he, looking towards Allan, "and he will notbe controlled."

  They left the hall accordingly, Lord Menteith and the Captain beingushered one way by old Donald, and the two attendants conductedelsewhere by another Highlander. The former had scarcely reached asort of withdrawing apartment ere they were joined by the lord of themansion, Angus M'Aulay by name, and his English guests. Great joy wasexpressed by all parties, for Lord Menteith and the English gentlemenwere well known to each other; and on Lord Menteith's introduction,Captain Dalgetty was well received by the Laird. But after the firstburst of hospitable congratulation was over, Lord Menteith could observethat there was a shade of sadness on the brow of his Highland friend.

  "You must have heard," said Sir Christopher Hall, "that our fineundertaking in Cumberland is all blown up. The militia would not marchinto Scotland, and your prick-ear'd Covenanters have been too hard forour friends in the southern shires. And so, understanding there is somestirring work here, Musgrave and I, rather than sit idle at home, arecome to have a campaign among your kilts and plaids."

  "I hope you have brought arms, men, and money with you," said LordMenteith, smiling.

  "Only some dozen or two of troopers, whom we left at the last Lowlandvillage," said Musgrave, "and trouble enough we had to get them so far."

  "As for money," said his companion, "We expect a small supply from ourfriend and host here."

  The Laird now, colouring highly, took Menteith a little apart, andexpressed to him his regret that he had fallen into a foolish blunder.

  "I heard it from Donald," said Lord Menteith, scarce able to suppress asmile.

  "Devil take that old man," said M'Aulay, "he would tell every thing,were it to cost one's life; but it's no jesting matter to you neither,my lord, for I reckon on your friendly and fraternal benevolence, as anear kinsman of our house, to help me out with the money due to thesepock-puddings; or else, to be plain wi' ye, the deil a M'Aulay willthere be at the muster, for curse me if I do not turn Covenanter ratherthan face these fellows without paying them; and, at the best, I shallbe ill enough off, getting both the scaith and the scorn."

  "You may suppose, cousin," said Lord Menteith, "I am not too well equiptjust now; but you may be assured I shall endeavour to help you as wellas I can, for the sake of old kindred, neighbourhood, and alliance."

  "Thank ye--thank ye--thank ye," reiterated M'Aulay; "and as they are tospend the money in the King's service, what signifies whether you, they,or I pay it?--we are a' one man's bairns, I hope? But you must help meout too with some reasonable excuse, or else I shall be for taking toAndrew Ferrara; for I like not to be treated like a liar or a braggartat my own board-end, when, God knows, I only meant to support my honour,and that of my family and country."

  Donald, as they were speaking, entered, with rather a blither face thanhe might have been expected to wear, considering the impending fate ofhis master's purse and credit. "Gentlemens, her dinner is ready, and HERCANDLES ARE LIGHTED TOO," said Donald, with a strong guttural emphasison the last clause of his speech.

  "What the devil can he mean?" said Musgrave, looking to his countryman.

  Lord Menteith put the same question with his eyes to the Laird, whichM'Aulay answered by shaking his head.

  A short dispute about precedence somewhat delayed their leaving theapartment. Lord Menteith insisted upon yielding up that which belongedto his rank, on consideration of his being in his own country, and ofhis near connexion with the family in which they found themselves. Thetwo English strangers, therefore, were first ushered into the hall,where an unexpected display awaited them. The large oaken table wasspread with substantial joints of meat, and seats were placed inorder for the guests. Behind every seat stood a gigantic Highlander,completely dressed and armed after the fashion of his country, holdingin his right hand his drawn sword, with the point turned downwards, andin the left a blazing torch made of the bog-pine. This wood, found inthe morasses, is so full of turpentine, that, when split and dried, itis frequently used in the Highlands instead of candles. The unexpectedand somewhat startling apparition was seen by the red glare ofthe torches, which displayed the wild features, unusual dress, andglittering arms of those who bore them, while the smoke, eddying up tothe roof of the hall, over-canopied them with a volume of vapour. Erethe strangers had recovered from their surprise, Allan stept forward,and pointing with his sheathed broadsword to the torch-bearers, said,in a deep and stern tone of voice, "Behold, gentlemen cavaliers, thechandeliers of my brother's house, the ancient fashion of our ancientname; not one of these men knows any law but their Chiefs command--Wouldyou dare to compare to THEM in value the richest ore that ever was dugout of the mine? How say you, cavaliers?--is your wager won or lost?"

  "Lost; lost," said Musgrave, gaily--"my own silver candlesticks are allmelted and riding on horseback by this time, and I wish the fellowsthat enlisted were half as trusty as these.--Here, sir," he added to theChief, "is your money; it impairs Hall's finances and mine somewhat, butdebts of honour must be settled."

  "My father's curse upon my father's son," said Allan, interrupting him,"if he receive from you one penny! It is enough that you claim no rightto exact from him what is his own."

  Lord Menteith eagerly supported Allan's opinion, and the elder M'Aulayreadily joined, declaring the whole to be a fool's business, andnot worth speaking more about. The Englishmen, after some courteousopposition, were persuaded to regard the whole as a joke.

  "And now, Allan," said the Laird, "please to remove your candles; for,since the Saxon gentlemen have seen them, they will eat their dinneras comfortably by the light of the old tin sconces, without scomfishingthem with so much smoke."

  Accordingly, at a sign from Allan, the living chandeliers, recoveringtheir broadswords, and holding the point erect, marched out of the hall,and left the guests to enjoy their refreshment. [Such a bet as thatmentioned in the text is said to have been taken by MacDonald ofKeppoch, who extricated himself in the manner there narrated.]