Part 11 (2/2)
”Add, madam,” said I, ”and their benefactor”
”Be it so,” she said; ”for it is the most empty title of them all, since he has uniforratitude--But enough of this I shall cause you to be guided to the enemy's outposts Ask for their coor;--that if they injure a hair of MacGregor's head, and if they do not set him at liberty within the space of twelve hours, there is not a lady in the Lennox but shall before Christmas cry the coronach for them she will be loath to lose,--there is not a far well-a-wa over a burnt barnyard and an empty byre,--there is not a laird nor heritor shall lay his head on the pillow at night with the assurance of being a live in as we are to end, so soon as the terow Bailie, and this Saxon Captain, and all the rest of my prisoners, each bundled in a plaid, and chopped into as many pieces as there are checks in the tartan”
As she paused in her denunciation, Captain Thornton, ithin hearing, added, with great coolness, ”Present my compliments--Captain Thornton's of the Royals, co officer, and tell him to do his duty and secure his prisoner, and not waste a thought upon h to have been led into an ah to kno to die for it without disgracing the service I am only sorry for my poor fellows,” he said, ”that have fallen into such butcherly hands”
”Whist! whist!” exclaiieofficer, Mr Osbaldistone--Bailie Nicol Jarvie's service, a ow, as his father the deacon was before hireat trouble, and like to coood, will be just to let Rob colen, and nae mair about it There's been sohted chiefly on the gauger, it winna bea stir about”
With these very opposite injunctions from the parties chiefly interested in the success of e of the wife of MacGregor to reth suffered to depart; and Andrew Fairservice, chiefly, I believe, to get rid of his clamorous supplications, was perht use uides, or desirous to retain a prize of soiven to understand that I was to perforor, the elder brother, ith two followers, attended, as well to show th and position of the eneal had been at first ordered on this party, but he contrived to elude the service, with the purpose, as we afterwards understood, of watching over Mr Jarvie, who to his wild principles of fidelity, he considered as entitled to his good offices, fro once acted in soreat rapidity about an hour, we arrived at an e prospect down the valley, and a full view of the post which thechiefly cavalry, they had judiciously avoided any attempt to penetrate the pass which had been so unsuccessfully essayed by Captain Thornton They had taken up their situation with soround in the centre of the little valley of Aberfoil, through which the river Forth winds its earliest course, and which is fores of hills, faced with barricades of lie masses of breecia, or pebbles imbedded in some softer substance which has hardened around them like mortar; and surrounded by the es, however, left the valley of breadth enough to secure the cavalry from any sudden surprise by the mountaineers and they had stationed sentinels and outposts at proper distances froht secure full tiet under arms upon the least alarhlanders would attack cavalry in an open plain, though late events have shown that they may do so with success
The affairs of Prestonpans and Falkirk are probably alluded to, whichthe Mehlanders, they had almost a superstitious dread of asoin his appearance than the little shelties of their own hills, and norant ht with his feet and his teeth The appearance of the piequeted horses, feeding in this little vale--the forms of the soldiers, as they sate, stood, or walked, in various groups in the vicinity of the beautiful river, and of the bare yet roe in the landscape on either side,--forround; while far to the eastward the eye caught a glance of the lake of Menteith; and Stirling Castle, di with the blue and distant line of the Ochil Mountains, closed the scene
After gazing on this landscape with great earnestness, young MacGregor intimated to me that I was to descend to the station of theesture, neither to inforuided me to that place, nor where I had parted from my escort Thus tutored, I descended towards thehis breeches and stockings of the English costuues on his feet, which Dougal had given hi a tattered plaid to supply the want of all upper garhland Tom-of-Bedlam We had not proceeded far before we beca towards us, presented his carabine and commanded me to stand I obeyed, and when the soldier ca-officer I was i upon the grass, seemed in attendance upon one of superior rank He wore a cuirass of polished steel, over which were drawn the insignia of the ancient Order of the Thistle My friend Garschattachin, and entlemen, some in uniform, others in their ordinary dress, but all armed and well attended, seemed to receive their orders from this person of distinction Many servants in rich liveries, apparently a part of his household, were also in waiting
Having paid to this nobleman the respect which his rank appeared to demand, I acquainted hi's soldiers having suffered a defeat frohlanders at the pass of Loch-Ard (such I had learned was the name of the place where Mr Thornton was made prisoner), and that the victors threatened every species of extremity to those who had fallen into their power, as well as to the Low Country in general, unless their Chief, who had thatbeen made prisoner, were returned to them uninjured The Duke (for he whoreat composure, and then replied, that he should be extreentlemen who had been made prisoners to the cruelty of the barbarians into whose hands they had fallen, but that it was folly to suppose that he would deliver up the very author of all these disorders and offences, and so encourage his followers in their license ”You may return to those who sent you,” he proceeded, ”and inform them, that I shall certainly cause Rob Roy Caor, to be executed, by break of day, as an outlaw taken in ar death by a thousand acts of violence; that I should be most justly held unworthy of my situation and commission did I act otherwise; that I shall kno to protect the country against their insolent threats of violence; and that if they injure a hair of the head of any of the unfortunate gentlemen whom an unlucky accident has thrown into their power, I will take such a woe for it this hundred years to co the honourable er attending it, when the noble coht send my servant”
”The deil be inrespect to the presence in which he stood, or waiting till I replied--”the deil be in th Do the folk think I hae another thrapple in hland? or that I can dive doun at the tae side of a Highland loch and rise at the tother, like a shell-drake? Na, na--ilk ane for hie o' their ain age, and serve the their ain errands for Andrew Rob Roy never came near the parish of Dreepdaily, to steal either pippin or pear fraemy folloith soer Captain Thornton and Mr Jarvie would certainly be exposed to, and entreated he would ht be thetheir lives I assured hier if I could be of service; but from what I had heard and seen, I had little doubt they would be instantly murdered should the chief of the outlaws suffer death
The Duke was obviously much affected ”It was a hard case,” he said, ”and he felt it as such; but he had a paramount duty to perform to the country--Rob Roy must die!”
I own it was not without emotion that I heard this threat of instant death to ood-will towards , for many of those around the Duke ventured to express themselves in his favour ”It would beCastle, and there detain hie for the subreat pity to expose the country to be plundered, which, now that the long nights approached, it would be found very difficult to prevent, since it was ihlanders were sure to select those that were left exposed” They added, that there was great hardshi+p in leaving the unfortunate prisoners to the alainst them, which no one doubted would be executed in the first burst of revenge
Garschattachin ventured yet farther, confiding in the honour of the nobleh he knew he had particular reasons for disliking their prisoner ”Rob Roy,” he said, ”though a kittle neighbour to the Low Country, and particularly obnoxious to his Grace, and though he maybe carried the catheran trade farther than ony ht be so him hear reason; whereas his wife and sons were reckless fiends, without either fear or mercy about them, and, at the head of a' his liue to the country than ever he had been”
”Pooh! pooh!” replied his Grace, ”it is the very sense and cunning of this fellohich has so long hland robber would have been put down in as , without him, is no er exist--than a ithout its head, whichonce perhaps, but is instantly crushed into annihilation”
Garschattachin was not so easily silenced ”I am sure, my Lord Duke,” he replied, ”I have no favour for Rob, and he as little forhe has twice cleaned outmy tenants; but, however”-- ”But, however, Garschattachin,” said the Duke, with a smile of peculiar expression, ”I fancy you think such a freedom may be pardoned in a friend's friend, and Rob's supposed to be no enemy to Major Galbraith's friends over the water”
”If it be so, my lord,” said Garschattachin, in the sa I have heard of him But I e heard so I vow to God they'll keep a Hieland boots upon trews”
”I cannot believe it,” said the Duke ”These gentlemen are known to be men of honour, and I must necessarily suppose they are to keep their appointment Send out two more horse-men to look for our friends We cannot, till their arrival, pretend to attack the pass where Captain Thornton has suffered hie, ten iment of the best horse in Europe--Meanwhile let refreshiven to the men”
I had the benefit of this last order, thesince our hastybefore The videttes who had been despatched returned without tidings of the expected auxiliaries, and sunset was approaching, when a Highlander belonging to the clans whose co-operation was expected, appeared as the bearer of a letter, which he delivered to the Duke with a shead of claret,” said Garschattachin, ”that this is a hlandue and vexation, are going to draw off, and leave us to do our own business if we can”
”It is even so, gentle perused the letter, which ritten upon a very dirty scrap of paper, but most punctiliously addressed, ”For the hty Prince, the Duke,” &c &c &c ”Our allies,” continued the Duke, ”have deserted us, gentlemen, and have made a separate peace with the enemy”
”It's just the fate of all alliances,” said Garschattachin, ”the Dutch were gaun to serve us the saot the start of them at Utrecht”
”You are facetious, air,” said the Duke, with a frohich showed how little he liked the pleasantry; ”but our business is rather of a grave cut just now--I suppose no gentle to penetrate farther into the country, unsupported either by friendly Highlanders, or by infantry froeneral answer announced that the attereat wisdoht-attack in this place I therefore propose that we should retreat to the house of Duchray and that of Gartartan, and keep safe and sure watch and ward untilBut before we separate, I will examine Rob Roy before you all, and make you sensible, by your own eyes and ears, of the extree” He gave orders accordingly, and the prisoner was brought before him, his arms belted down above the elbow, and secured to his body by a horse-girth buckled tight behind him Two non-commissioned officers had hold of him, one on each side, and two file of men with carabines and fixed bayonets attended for additional security
I had never seen thispoint of view the peculiarities of his for of the Lowland costuhland bonnet, and verified the epithet of Roy, or Red, by which he was much better known in the Low Country than by any other, and is still, I suppose, best remembered The justice of the appellation was also vindicated by the appearance of that part of his limbs, from the bottom of his kilt to the top of his short hose, which the fashi+on of his country dress left bare, and which was covered with a fell of thick, short, red hair, especially around his knees, which resembled in this respect, as well as froth, the lihland bull Upon the whole, betwixt the effect produced by the change of dress, and bybecome acquainted with his real and formidable character, his appearance had acquired tothan it before presented, that I could scarce recognise him to be the same person
His manner was bold, unconstrained unless by the actual bonds, haughty, and even dignified He bowed to the Duke, nodded to Garschattachin and others, and showed so since we have met, Mr Campbell,” said the Duke
”It is so,at the fastening on his arms) ”when I could have better paid the co”
”No time like the time present, Mr Ca that must settle your last account with all mortal affairs I do not say this to insult your distress; but you must be aware yourself that you draw near the end of your career I do not deny that you may sometimes have done less harm than others of your unhappy trade, and that you may occasionally have exhibited marks of talent, and even of a disposition which pro you have been the terror and the oppressor of a peaceful neighbourhood, and by what acts of violence you have maintained and extended your usurped authority You know, in short, that you have deserved death, and that you h I may well lay my misfortunes at your Grace's door, yet I will never say that you yourself have been the wilful and witting author of theht sae, your Grace would not this day have been sitting in judgood rifle distance ofbut of the red deer, and few people have ken'd me miss my aim But as for theainst a man that was ance as peacefu' a man as ony in the land, andme to utter extremity,--I have had some amends of them, and, for a' that your Grace now says, I expect to live to hae er, ”that you are a determined and impudent villain, ill keep his oath if he swears to mischief; but it shall be my care to prevent you You have no enemies but your oicked actions”
”Had I called ht have heard less about theed resolution
”You will do well, sir,” said the Duke, ”to warn your wife and faentlemen now in their hands, as I will requite tenfold on thehtest injury done to any of his Majesty's liege subjects”
”My Lord,” said Roy in answer, ”none of e that I have been a bloodthirsty man, and were I noi' my folk, I could rule four or five hundred wild Hielanders as easy as your Grace those eight or ten lackeys and foot-boys--But if your Grace is bent to take the head away fro the members--However, come o't what like, there's an honest man, a kinsman o' my ain, ude deed for MacGregor?--he hlander who had delivered the letter to the Duke replied, ”I'll do your will for you, MacGregor; and I'll gang back up the glen on purpose”
He advanced, and received fro in Gaelic, I did not understand, but I had little doubt it related to some measures to be taken for the safety of Mr Jarvie
”Do you hear the fellow's impudence?” said the Duke; ”he confides in his character of a er His conduct is of a piece with his ainst these freebooters, and have deserted us so soon as the MacGregors have agreed to surrender the Balquhidder lands they were squabbling about
No truth in plaids, no faith in tartan trews! Chareat ancestor never said so, my Lord,” answered Major Galbraith;--”and, with submission, neither would your Grace have occasion to say it, wad ye but be for beginning justice at the well-head--Gie the honest ain--Let every head wear it's ane bannet, and the distractions o' the Lennox wad be mended wi' them o'the land”
”Hush!+ hush!+ Garschattachin,” said the Duke; ”this is language dangerous for you to talk to any one, and especially to ed person Please to draw off your party towards Gartartan; I shall myself see the prisoner escorted to Duchray, and send you orders torant no leave of absence to any of your troopers”
”Here's auld ordering and counter-ordering,” muttered Garschattachin between his teeth ”But patience! patience!--we ”
The two troops of cavalry now forht avail the quarters I received an intimation, rather than an invitation, to attend the party; and I perceived, that, though no longer considered as a prisoner, I was yet under soerous,--the great party questions of Jacobite and Hanoverian divided the country so effectually,--and the constant disputes and jealousies between the Highlanders and Lowlanders, besides a nureat leading faeneral suspicion, that a solitary and unprotected stranger was alreeable in the course of his travels
I acquiesced, however, inht obtain froh and his machinations I should do myself injustice did I not add, that my vieere not ular acquaintance not to be desirous of rendering hiht de
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
And when he ca, He bent his bow and swa, Set down his feet and ran Gil Morrice
The echoes of the rocks and ravines, on either side, now rang to the tru thean to move down the valley at a slow trot That coht hand, and crossed the Forth, for the purpose of taking up the quarters assigned theht, when they were to occupy, as I understood, an old castle in the vicinity They for the strea up the bank on the opposite side, which was clothed ood