 volume 2 chapter 12 of Rob Roy this is the LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org chapter 12 bagpipes not liars the Highland Hills adorn McLean's loud hollow and McGregor's horn John Cooper's reply to Alan Ramsey I stopped in the entrance of the stable if indeed a place be entitled to that name where horses were stowed away along with goats poultry pigs and cows under the same roof but the mansion house although by a degree of refinement unknown to the rest of the Hamlet and which I afterwards heard was imputed to and over-pride on the part of Jenny McAlpine our landlady the apartment was accommodated with an entrance different from that used by her biped customers by the light of my torch I deciphered the following billet written on a wet crumpled and dirty piece of paper and addressed for the honoured hands of Mr. F.O. a Saxon young gentleman these the contents were as follows sir there are night hawks abroad so that I cannot give you and my respected kinsman B.N.J. the meeting at the clachan of upper foil milk was my purpose I pray you to avoid unnecessary communication with those you may find there as it may give future trouble the person who gives you this is faithful and may be trusted and will guide you to a place where God willing I may safely give you the meeting when I trust my kinsman and you will visit my poor house where in despite of my enemies I can still promise sick chair as in Heeland man may give his friends and where we will drink a solemn health to a certain DV and look to certain affairs will I hope to be your heir in sin and I rest as is want among gentlemen your servant to command R.M.C. I was a good deal mortified at the purport of this letter which seemed to adjourn to a more distant place and date the service which I had hoped to receive from this man Campbell still however it was some comfort to know that he continued to be in my interest since without him I could have no hope of recovering my father's papers I resolved therefore to obey his instructions and observing all caution before the guests to take the first good opportunity I could find to procure from the landlady directions how I was to obtain a meeting with this mysterious person my next business was to seek out Andrew fair service whom I called several times by name without receiving any answer surveying the stable all round at the same time not without risk of setting the premises on fire had not the quantity of wet litter and mud so greatly counterbalanced two or three punches of straw and hay at length my repeated cries of Andrew fair service Andrew fall ass where are you produced a doleful here in a groaning tone which might have been that of the brownie itself guided by the sound I advanced to the corner of a shed where ensconced in the angle of the wall behind a barrel full of the feathers of all the fouls which had died in the cause of the public for a month passed I found the man for Andrew and partly by force partly by command and exhortation compelled him forth into the open air the first words he spoke were I am an honest lad Sarah who the devil questions your honesty said I what are we to do with it at present I desire you to come and attend us at supper yes reiterated Andrew without apparently understanding what I said to him I am an honest lad whatever the Bailey may say to the contrary I grant the wild and the world's gear sits over near my heart while as it does to money on a but I am an honest lad and though a specker leaving you in the mirror yet God knows it was far frame my purpose but just like idle things folk says when they're driving a bargain to get it as far as to the inside as they can and I like you are on a wheel for say young a lad and I wouldn't apart with you lately what to the juicer you're driving at now I replied has not everything been settled again and again to your satisfaction and I used to talk of believing me every hour without either rhyme or reason but I was only making fashion before replied Andrew but it's come on me and Sarah anus to know loose or win I don't go now father with your honor and if you'll take my foolish advice you'll buy by a broken trust rather than gang forage yourself I hate a sincere regard for you and I'm sure you'll be a credit to your friends if you leave to soar at your wild dates and get some mirror sense and sturdiness but I can follow you now father even if he stood founder and parish from the way for like a guidance and council the gang into rob Roy's country is a mere tempting a providence rob Roy said I in some surprise I know no such person what do you trick is this Andrew it's hard said Andrew very hard a man cannot be believed when he speaks heavens to Ruth just because he's wilds overcome and tells Lee's a little when there is necessary occasion you need not ask what rob Roy is the reaving lifter that he is God forgive me I hope nobody hears us when he ate a letter from him in your pouch I heard only his killies bid that all the rudest child of a good wife gave you that they thought I didn't understand their gibberish but though I cannot speak it muckl I can get a good guess what I hear them say I never thought to I told you that but in a fright all things commute that should be kept it in or Mr. Frank are your uncle's follies and all your cousins Pliskey's when Nathan to this drink clean capote likes a hildebrandt begin the blessed morning with brandy sops like squire pericy swagger like squire thorncliff but in word among the asses like squire John gamble like Richard win souls to the pop and the devil like lushly rave a runt break the sabbath and do the pop spitting like them all put together but mirror civil providence take care of your young blurt and gang name a grab Roy Andrew's alarm is too sincere to permit me to suppose he can't fit it I contented myself however with telling him that I meant to remain in the ale house that night and desired to have the horses well looked after as to the rest I charged him to observe their strictest silence upon the subject of his alarm and he might rely upon it I would not incur any serious danger without drew precaution he followed me with a detected air into the house observing between his teeth man should be served a for a beast I ain't had a muscle in my mouth but rough legs of that old America is he'll bless it dare the harmony of the company seemed to have suffered some interruption since my departure for I found a mystical breath and my friend the Bailey high in dispute earlier Nessac language said Mr. Javi as I entered respecting the Duke of Isle guy in the name of Campbell he's a wealthy public-spirited nobleman and a credit to the country and a friend and benefactor to the trade of Glasgow I'll say nothing against McCallum more and the slick non-diamond said the lesser Highlander laughing I live on the ringside of Glen Crow to quarrel with in Vera our lock near so the Cornwall lymphants said the bigger Highlander she'll speak her mind and fear anybody she doesn't a valley a formal mirror as a cow in and he may tell McCallum more that Alan in Iraq said say it's a far cry to look oh mr. Galbraith on whom the repeated pledges but she had coiffed had produced some influence slapped his hand on the table with great force and said in a stern voice there's a bloody debt due by that family and they will pay it one day Bains of a loyal and gallant Graham a long ruttled in their coffin for vengeance on the edukes of Gail and Lord's forlorn there never was the reason in Scotland but a coma was at the bottom what and now that the wrong sides up almost oh but the comals for keeping down the right but this world we're in a last leg and it will be time to sharp the meridian for shearing or crags and thruffles I hope to see the old rusty less linking at a bloody haste again for a shame gosh session exclaimed the belly five for shame sir would you say six things before a magistrate and bring yourself into trouble how do you think to maintain your family and satisfy your creditors I sell and others if he gang on in that wild way which cannot but bring you under the law to the prejudice of all that's connected with you dammer my creditors retorted the gallant Galbraith and you if you be any of them I say there will be a new world soon and we shall hey nay comals cocking their bonnets say hey and honing their dogs where they don't come themselves no protecting thieves nor murderers and oppressors to hurry and spoil better men and mere loyal fans than themselves the Bailey had a great mind to have continued the dispute when the savoury vapor of the broiled venison which our landlady now placed before us proved so powerful a mediator that he be took himself to his trencher with great eagerness leaving the strangers to carry on the dispute among themselves under touch three said the taller Highlander whose name I found was Stewart for we should not be plagued and worried here with meetings to pit down a robber or if the commons did not give him a refuge I was one or 30 of my own name part Glen Phyllis and part men that came down from up in we chased the McCraegers as you would chase the radio till we came into Glen Falks country and the commons raise and wouldn't let us pursue any father and say we lost oh lever but how would give time and a pluck to be as near Robb as she was tight day it seemed to happen very unfortunately that in every topic of discourse which these warlike gentlemen introduced my friend the Bailey found some matter of offence you'll forgive me speaking my mind sir but you would maybe again the best ball in your bonnet to have been as far away Robb as you are in it new would my head blue culture would have been nothing to his clean or she had better speak in a mirror about her counter or by good he will go her eat her words and to handfuls of cold steel to drive them all over and with the most inauspicious and menacing look the mountaineer latest hand on his dagger will I make quarrelling Alan said his shorter companion and if the Glasgow gentleman has only a regard for Robb Roy he'll maybe see him in cold irons the night in praying tricks on a tow the moral for this country has been over laying plagued with him and his race is near him to run and it's time Alan we were ganging to our lads hot hour in vera shallock said Galbraith mind the old sore man it's a bold moon what Benny gas another pint caught Leslie we'll no start for another chapin I had had chapins you know said in Vera shallock I'll drink my coat of uskaba or bandy with any honest fellow but the dealer drop more when I had what to do in the morning and in my poor thinking gosh shatter chin you had better be thinking to bring up your horseman to the clock and before day that we may I start fair but the devil are you in such a hurry for said gosh shatter chin meet and mess never hindered work and it had been my directing deal a bit to me what a fastie to come doing the claims to help us the goddess and our Enhos could have taken Robb Roy easily enough there's the hand he said holding up his own should lay him on the green and never ask a helend man a year all for his help you might elitist by still where we were then said in vera shallock I didn't come 60 miles without being sent for but I knew how my opinion I ready keep you both better stick it if he hopes to speed should fork live laying and say may him he can all the way to catch a Barrett it's not to fling a ballot I hear and also they gentlemen I had some things they said that I had and the brandy and a bit all were bold for your brain made to call breath you need no cocky I had to bully with me man for I will not Barrett I hate it it said Galbraith with a solomere of drunken gravity that I will follow no more this night either with broadcloth or Titan when I am off duty I'll quarrel with you or anyone in the Helens or Lowlands but not on duty nor nor I wish we heard of these red coats if it had been to do anything against King James they would have seen them long sin but when it's to keep the peace of the country they can lie as lunders their neighbors as they spoke we heard the measured footsteps of a body of infantry on the march and an officer followed by two or three files of soldiers entered the apartment he spoke in an English accent which was very pleasant to my ears now so long accustomed to the varying brogue of the Highland and lowland scotch you are I suppose major Galbraith of the squadron of Lenox militia and these are the two Highland gentlemen with whom I was appointed to meet in this place they assented and invited the officer to take some refreshments which he declined I have been too late a gentleman and am desirous to make up time I have orders to search for and arrest two persons guilty of treasonable practices we'll wash our hands or that said Inverasholok I came here with my men to fight against the red McCregor that killed my cousin seven times removed Duncan McCrarran in Inveranente but I will have nothing to do touching honest gentlemen that may be going through the country on their own business nor I neither said Iverak major Galbraith took up the matter more solemnly and premissing his oration with a hiccup spoke to the following purpose I should see nothing against King George captain because as it happens my commission may run in his name but one commission being good sir doesn't make another bad and something that James maybe just as good a name is George there's the king that is and there's the king that sort of right be I'd say an honest man may and should be loyal to them both captain but I am of the Lord Lieutenant's opinion for the time as it becomes a militia officer and a depute Lieutenant and about threeson and all that it's a lost time to speak of it he said is seen as minted I'm sorry to see how you have been employing your time sir replied the English officer as indeed the honest gentleman's reasoning had a strong relish of the liquor he had been drinking and I could wish sir it had been otherwise on an occasion of this consequence I would recommend to you to try to sleep for an hour do these gentlemen belong to your party looking at the Bailey and me who engaged in eating our supper had paid little attention to the officer on his entrance Theravil is sir said Galbraith lawful Theravil is by sea and land as a prep or carpet my instructions said the captain taking a light to survey us closer are to place under a rest an elderly and a young person and I think these gentlemen answer nearly the description take care of what you say sir said mr. Javi it shall not be your red coat nor your least heart shall protect you if you put any grunt on me I still convenient bath in an action of scandal and force imprisonment I am a free bird just under magistrate a glass go Nicole Javi is my name say was my father's a for me I am a Bailey be praised for the owner and my father was a deacon he was a prick Ed Kerr said major Galbraith and fought again the king of both will break he paid what he ought and what he bought mr. Galbraith said the Bailey and was an honest man and ever steered on year shanks I have no time to attend to all this said the officer I must positively detain you gentlemen unless you can produce some respectable security that you are loyal subjects I desire to be carried before some civil magistrate said the Bailey the sheriff or the judge of the bones I'm not obliged to answer every red coat that spears questions at me well sir I shall know how to manage you if you are silent and you sir to me what may your name be Francis is Baldur's don't sir what a son of Sir Hildebrand or Spalderstone of Northumberland no sir interrupted the Bailey a son of the great William or Spalderstone of the hosts of Os Baldurstone and Trisham Crane Alley London I am afraid sir said the officer your name only increases the suspicions against you and lays me under the necessity of requesting that you will give up what papers you have in charge I observed the Highlanders look anxiously at each other when this proposal was made I had none I replied to surrender the officer commanded me to be disarmed and searched to have resisted would have been madness I accordingly gave up my arms and submitted to a search which was conducted as civilly as an operation of the kind well could they found nothing except the note which I had received that night through the hand of the landlady this is different from what I expected said the officer but it reports as good grounds for detaining you here I find you in written communication with the art lord Robert Robert McGregor Campbell who has been so long the plague of this district how do you account for that spies of Robb said inverse Sherlock we would settle them right to strut them up till the next three we are going to see after some gear of our end gentlemen said the baby it's fallen into his hands by accident this need lot again a man looking after his end I hope how did you come by this letter said the officer addressing himself to me I could not think of betraying the poor woman who had given it to me and to remain silent do you know anything of it fellow said the officer looking at Andrew whose jaws were chattering like a pair of castanets at the threats thrown out by the Highlander oh I I can't argue about it it was a heel and loon get the letter to that laying tongue to Joe to the good wife there I'll be swarming my master came to Nathan about it by his willfully gang up the heels and speak with Robb and our sir it would be a charity just to send a queen to see him set back to Glasgow again whether he will or no and she can keep Mr. Javi as long as you like he's responsible enough for any fine he may lay on him and so's my master for that matter for me I'm just a poor gardener lad and not worth your staring I believe said the officer the best thing I can do is to send these persons to the garrison under an escort they seem to be in immediate correspondence with the enemy and I shall be in no way answerable for suffering them to be at liberty gentlemen you will consider yourselves as my prisoners so soon as dawn approaches I will send you to a place of security if you be the persons you describe yourselves it will soon appear and you will sustain no great inconvenience from being detained a day or two I can hear no remonstrances he said turning away from the Bailey his mouth was open to address him the service I am on gives me no time for idle discussions a wheel a wheel sir to the Bailey you're welcome to a tune on your end a fiddle but see a fade in a guy he dance til to four hours den an anxious consultation now took place between the officer and the Highlanders but carried on and so low at own that it wasn't possible to catch the sense so soon as it was concluded they all left the house at their departure the Bailey thus expressed himself the Healand man are of the Western clans and just as light-handed as their neighbors and all tales be true and yet he see they have brought them free the head of our galsha to make war with poor Rob for some old ill will that the high at him and his surname and there's the Graham's and the Buchanan's and the Lenox dentary are mounted in order it's really came to their quarrel and I didn't blame them nobody likes to lose his kai and then there's surges poor things wait out for a the garrison at a body's bitten poor Rob will ha his hands full by the time the sun comes or of the hill well it's a rung for a man just to rate to be wishing anything again the course of justice but they love me and I would break my heart to hear that Rob had keen them are their pakes end of volume 2 chapter 12 recording by Felicity Campbell Longanui, New Zealand volume 2 chapter 13 of Rob Roy this is the LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org chapter 13 general hear me and mark me well and look upon me directly in my face my woman's face see if one fear one shadow of a terror one pale stare appear a butt from my anger to lay hold on your mercies bonduka we were permitted to slumber out the remainder of the night in the best manner that the miserable accommodations of the alehouse permitted the Bailey fatigued with his journey and the subsequent scenes less interested also in the event of our arrest which to him could only be a matter of temporary inconvenience perhaps less nice than habit had rendered me about the cleanliness or decency of his couch tumbled himself into one of the cribs which I have already described and soon was heard to snore soundly a broken sleep snatched by intervals while I rested my head upon the table was my only refreshment in the course of the night I had occasion to observe that there seemed to be some doubt and hesitation in the motions of the sultry men were sent out as if to obtain intelligence and returned apparently without bringing any satisfactory information to their commanding officer he was obviously eager and anxious and again dispatched small parties of two or three men that summer firm as I could understand from what the others whispered to each other did not return again to the clutching the morning had broken when a corporal and two men rushed into the hut dragging after them in a sort of triumph a Highlander who my immediately recognized as my acquaintance the ex turnkey the baby who started up at the noise with which they ended immediately made the same discovery and exclaimed melissi on us they have reputed the poor a creature doodle captain I will put in bail sufficient bail for that to do go creature to this offer dictated undoubtedly by a grateful recollection of the late interference of the Highlander in his behalf the captain only answered by requesting mr. Javi to mind his own affairs and remember that he was himself for the present a prisoner a tech year to witness mr. Spauldestorn said the Bailey who was probably better acquainted with the process in the civil than in military cases that he has refused sufficient bail it's my opinion that the creature doodle would have a good action or wrongest imprisonment and damages again him under the act 1701 and I see the creature rated the officer whose name I understood was Thornton paying no attention to the Bailey's threats or expostulations instituted a very close inquiry into doodles life and conversation and to compel them to admit though with apparent reluctance the success of facts that he knew Rob Roy McGregor and that he had seen him within these 12 months within these six months north in this month within this week in Fene that he had parted from him only an hour ago all this detail came like drops of blood from the prisoner and was to all appearance only extorted by the threat of a halter and the next tree which captain Thornton assured him should be his doom if he did not give direct and special information and now my friend said the officer you will please inform me how many men your master has with him at present doogle looked in every direction except at the queerest and began to answer she kind of just be shared about that look at me you highland dog said the officer and remember your life depends on your answer how many rogues had that outlawed scum drill with him when you left him oh not the burn sucks a rogues when I was gain and where are the rest of his bandit II gain with the lieutenant again tell Western cars against the Western clans said the captain mmm that is likely enough and what rogues errant were you dispatched upon just to see what your honor and our gentlemen our red courts were doing down here at the clock and the creature would approve face hearted after I said the Bailey who by this time had planted himself close behind me it's lucky I didn't have to myself to expenses and ninting and now my friend said the captain let us understand each other you have confessed yourself a spy and should string up to the next tree but come if you will do me one good turn I will do you another you Donald you shall just in the way of kindness carry me and a small party to the place where you left your master as I wish to speak a few words with him on serious affairs and I'll let you go about your business and give you five guineas to boot oh exclaimed doogle an extremity of distress and perplexity she kinda to touch she kinda to touch she rather be hunged hanged then you shall be my friend said the officer and your blood be upon your own head corporal cramp do you play provost Marshall away with him the corporal had confronted poor doogle for some time ostentatiously twisting a piece of cord which he had found in the house into the form of a halter he now threw it about the culprits neck and with the assistance of two soldiers had dragged doogle as far as the door when overcome with a terror of immediate death he exclaimed shantyman's stops stops she'll do his on his bidding stops a wall with a creature said the Bailey he deserves hanging mirror now than ever a wall with him corporal when didn't you take him away it's my belief an opinion honest gentleman said the corporal that if you were going to be hanged yourself you would be in no such damned hurry this by dialogue prevented my hearing what passed between the prisoner and captain Thornton but I heard the former snibble out in a very subdued tone and you last get it again a father then just to show you where the buck rega is a horn a horn silence you're howling you rascal no I give you my word I will ask you to go no father corporal make the men fall in in front of the houses get out these gentlemen's horses we must carry them with us I cannot spare any men to guard them here come my lads get under arms the soldiers bustled about and we're ready to move we were led out along with doogle in the capacity of prisoners as we left the hut I heard our companion in captivity remind the captain of to fove Kenny's here they are for you it said the officer putting gold into his hand but observe that if you attempt to mislead me I will blow your brains out with my own hand the creature said the belly is more than I judged him it is a wild day I'm a fiddiest creature oh the filthy look again the man geesers up to me father the deacon used to say the penny silly see marriage sales done the naked solid slew birdies the landlady now approached and demanded payment of her reckoning including all that had been co-opped by major Calbraith and his island friends the English officer remonstrated but Mrs. Macalpine declared if she had not trusted to his owner's name being used in the company she would never had drawn a Mr. Bollinger for Mr. Galbraith she might see him again or she might know but we'll did she watch she had a small chance of seeing her still and she was a pair of widow I didn't anything but her custom to rely on captain Thornton put a stop to her remonstrances by paying the charge which was only a few English shillings though the amount sounded very formidable in Scottish denominations the generous officer would have included Mr. Javi and me in this general acquittance but the Bailey disregarding an intimation from the landlady to make his mockal of the English us as we could father he was sure to get his plague in you went into a formal accounting respecting our share of the reckoning and paid it accordingly the captain took the opportunity to make us some slight apology for detaining us if we were loyal and peaceable subjects he said we would not regret being stopped for a day when it was essential to the king's service if otherwise he was acting according to his duty we were compelled to accept an apology which it would have served no purpose to refuse and we salad out to attend him on his March I shall never forget the delightful sensation with which I exchanged the dark smoky smothering atmosphere of the Highland hut in which we had passed the night so uncomfortably for the refreshing fragrance of the morning air and the glorious beams of the rising Sun which from a tabernacle of purple and golden clouds were darted full on such a scene of natural romance and beauty has had never before greeted my eyes to the left lay the valley down which the fourth wandered on its easterly course surrounding the beautiful detached hill with all its garland of woods on the right amid a perfusion of thickets knolls and crags lay the bed of a broad mountain lake lightly curled into tiny waves by the breath of the morning breeze each glittering in its course under the influence of the sunbeams high hills rocks and banks waving with natural forests of birch and oak formed the borders of this enchanting sheet of water and as their leaves rustled to the wind and twinkled in the Sun gave to the depth of solitude a sort of life and vivacity man alone seemed to be placed in a state of inferiority in a scene where all the ordinary features of nature were raised and exalted the miserable little borax as the Bailey termed them of which about a dozen formed the village called the clacken of abafoil were composed of loose stones cemented by clay instead of mortar and thatched by turf's laid rudely upon rafters formed of native and unhewn birches and oaks in the woods around the roofs approach the ground so nearly that Andrew fair service observed we might have ridden over the village the night before and never found out we were near it and as our horses feet had gan three that again from all we could see mrs. Mcalpine's house miserable as where the quarters it afforded was still by far the best in the Hamlet and I dare say if my description gives you any curiosity to see it you would hardly find it much improved at the present day for the Scotch are not a people who speedily admit innovation even when it comes in the shape of improvement the inhabitants of these miserable dwellings we're disturbed by the noise of our departure and as our party of about 20 soldiers drew up in rank before marching off we were reconnoitred by many a Belgium from the half-opened door of her cottage as these symbols thrust forth their gray heads and perfectly covered with close caps of flannel and showed their shriveled brows and long skinny arms with various gestures shrugs and muttered expressions in garlic addressed to each other my imagination recruited to the witches of Macbeth and I imagined I read in the features of these crones the malevolence of the weird sisters the little children also who began to crawl forth some quite naked and others very imperfectly covered with tatters of tartan stuff clapped their tiny hands and grinned at the English soldiers with an expression of national hate and malignity which seemed to be on the years I remarked particularly that there were no men nor so much as a boy of 10 or 12 years old to be seen among the inhabitants of a village which seemed populous in proportion to its extent and the idea certainly occurred to me that we were likely to receive from them in the course of our journey more effectual tokens of ill will than those which lowered on the visages and dictated the moments of the women and children it was not until we commenced our much that the malignity of the elder persons of the community broke forth into expressions the last file of men had left the village to pursue a small broken track formed by the sledges in which the natives transported their peats and turfs and which led through the woods that fringe the lower end of the lake when a shrilly sound of female exclamation broke forth mixed with the screams of children the hooping of boys and the clapping of hands with which the Highland Dames enforced their notes whether of rage or lamentation I asked Andrew who looked as pale as death what all this meant a deutable can that over soon city men's it means that the Heland waves are cursing and banning the red courts into wishing ill look to them and ill go on that ever spoke the Saxon tongue I have heard why he's flight in England and Scotland it's no marvel to hear them flight on a gate but sick inscripted tongues of the Heland car lines and sick gruesome wishes that meant you to be slaughtered at Lake sheep and that they may lappa their hands to the ill boys in the hearts blue and that they should be the death of Walter coming of Gio who had not his muckle on him left together as what's to a missing dog sick awesome languages that I never heard out of a human couple and unless they'll arise among them to give them a lesson I think now that the talented cursing could be amended the worst odd is they bet as I gang up the lock and see what we're London adding Andrew's information to what I had myself observed I could scare start that some attack was meditated upon our party the road is where advanced to seem to afford every facility for such an unpleasant interruption at first it winded apart from the lake through marshy meadow ground overgrown with cops would not reversing dark and close thickets which would have admitted an ambush gay to be sheltered within a few yards of our line of March and frequently crossing rough mountain torrents some of which took the soldiers up to the knees and ran with such violence that their force could only be stemmed by the strength of two or three men holding fast by each other's arms it certainly appeared to me though all together unacquainted with military affairs that a sort of half savage warriors as I had heard the Highlanders asserted to be might in such passes as these attack a party of regular forces with great advantage the Bailey's good sense and shrewd observation had led him to the same conclusion as I understood from his requesting to speak with the captain whom he addressed nearly in the following terms captain it's not a fleet any favor I tell you for a scar on it and it's under protest that I reserve my action and please of oppression and the wrongest imprisonment board being a friend to King George and his army and to take the liberty to spear didn't you think you might take a better time to come up this glane if you are seeking a rubber boy he's going to be better than hope a hundred men strong when he's at the fewest and if he brings in the glane guile folk and the glane fitness and bulk-warded lads he may come to through the reek and it's my sincere advice as a king's friend you had better talk back again to the clock and for the women at Aberfoil like the Scots and Seymour's at the companies there's a fellow weather fellas they're skirting make yourself easy sir replied captain Thornton I am in the execution of my orders and as you say you are a friend to King George you will be glad to learn that it is impossible that this gang of ruffians whose license has disturbed the country so long can escape the measures now taken to suppress them the horse squadron of militia commanded by Major Galbraith is already joined by two or more troops of cavalry which will occupy all the lower passes of this wild country three hundred Highlanders under the two gentlemen you saw at the Inn are in possession of the upper part and various strong parties from the garrison are securing the hills and glens in different directions our last accounts of Rob Roy correspond with what this fellow has confessed that finding himself surrounded on all sides he had dismissed the greater part of his followers with the purpose either of lying concealed or of making his escape through his superior knowledge of the passes I didn't care and said the Bailey this mayor brandy them brains and got shattered and said this morning and I wouldn't know if a we here captain rest my main dependence on the Heal and Man Hawks will not pike out Hawks in they may quarrel among themselves and give you the ill names and maybe a slush with a claim or but they are sure that to join in the longer run against a civilized folk that way breaks on the Hindi ends and he passes in their pouches apparently these admonitions were not altogether thrown away on Captain Thornton he reformed his line of March commanded his soldiers to un-sling their fire locks and fix their bayonets and formed an advanced and rear guard each consisting of a non-commissioned officer and two soldiers who received strict orders to keep an alert lookout doogle underwent another and very close examination in which he steadfastly asserted the truth of what he had before affirmed and being rebuked on account of the suspicious and dangerous appearance of the route by which he was guiding them he answered with a sort of testiness that seemed very natural her at Nancelle did not make the road on a gentleman's lick at a grandeur rolls she sit up here at Glasgow all this passed off well enough and be resumed our progress our route though leading towards the lake had the two been so much shaded by wood that we only from time to time obtained a glimpse of that beautiful sheet of water but the road now suddenly emerged from the forest ground and winding close by the margin of the lock afforded us a full view of its spacious mirror which now the breeze having totally subsided reflected in still magnificence the high dark heathy mountains huge gray rocks and its shaggy banks by which it is in circled the hills now sunk on its margins so closely and were so broken and precipitous as to afford no passage excepted just upon the narrow line of the track which we occupied and which was overhung with rocks from which we might have been destroyed merely by rolling down stones without much possibility of offering resistance add to this that as the road winded around every promontory in bay which indented the lake there was really a possibility of seeing a hundred yards before us our commander appeared to take some alarm at the nature of the pass in which he was engaged which displayed itself and repeated orders to his soldiers to be on the alert and in many threats of instant death to do go if he should be found to have led them into danger do go received these threats with an air of stupid and penetrability which might arise either from conscious innocence or from dogged resolution if gentlemen's we're seeking to read Greg Arak he said to be sure that they could not expect to find her without some the danger just as the Highlander uttered these words a halt was made by the corporal commanding the advance who sent back one of the file who formed it to tell the captain that the path in front was occupied by Highlanders stationed on a commanding point of particular difficulty almost at the same instant a soldier from the rear came to say that they heard the sound of a bagpipe in the woods through which we had just passed Captain Thornton a man of conduct as well as courage instantly resolved to force the pass in front without waiting till he was assailed from the rear and assuring his soldiers that the bagpipes which they heard with those of the friendly Highlanders who were advancing to their assistance he stated to them the importance of advancing and securing Rob Roy if possible before these auxiliaries should come up to divide with them the honor as well as the reward which was placed on the head of the celebrated freebooter he therefore ordered the rear guard to join the center and both to close up to the advance doubling his file so as to occupy with his column the whole practical ball part of the road and to present a such a front as its breadth admitted do go to whom he said in a whisper hey dog if you have deceived me you shall die for it was placed in the center between two grenadiers with positive orders to shoot him if he attempted to and escape the same situation was assigned to us as being the safest and captain Thornton taking his half pipe from the soldier who carried it placed himself at the head of his little detachment and gave the word to march forward the party advanced with the firmness of the English soldiers not so and you fair service who was frightened out of his wits and not so if truth must be told either the Bailey or I myself who without feeling the same degree of trepidation could not with stoical indifference see our lives exposed to hazard and a quarrel with which we had no concern but there was neither time for a monstrance nor remedy we approached within about 20 yards of the spot where the advanced guard had seen some appearance of an enemy it was one of those promontories which run into the lake and run the base of which the road had hit the two winded in the manner I have described in the present case however the path instead of keeping the waters edge sealed the promontory by one or two rapid zigzags carried in a broken track along the precipitous face of a slatey gray rock which would otherwise have been absolutely inaccessible on the top of this rock only to be approached by a road so broken so narrow and so precarious the corporal declared he had seen the bonnets and long barreled guns of several mountaineers apparently couched among the long heath and brushwood which quested the eminence captain Thornton ordered him to move forward with three files to dislodge this supposed ambush gate while at a more slow but steady pace he advanced to his support with the rest of his party the attack which he meditated was prevented by the unexpected apparition of a female upon the summit of the rock stand she said with a commanding tone and tell me what you seek in McGregor's contrary I have seldom seen a finer or more commanding form than this woman she might be between the term of 40 and 50 years and had a countenance which must once have been of a masculine cast of beauty though now imprinted with deep lines by exposure to rough weather and perhaps by the wasting influence of grief and passion its features were only strong harsh and expressive she wore her plate not drawn around her head and shoulders as is the fashion of the women in Scotland but disposed around her body as the Highland soldiers wear theirs she had a man's bonnet with a feather in it an unsheathed sword in her hand and a pair of pistols at her guru it's Helen Campbell Robb's wife said the belly in a whisper of considerable alarm and there will be broken heads among us or its long what is the key here she asked again of captain Thornton who had himself advanced to reconnoiter we seek the art law Robb Roy McGregor Campbell answered the officer and make no war on women therefore offer no vain opposition to the King's troops and assure yourself of civil treatment I retorted the Amazon I am no stranger to your tender remaces you have left me neither name nor fame my mother's bonds were shrink aside and they grave when my need beside them you have left me neither house nor hold blanket nor bedding cuttle to feed us or flocks to clothe us you have taken from us all all the very name of our ancestors have you taken away and no you come for our lives I seek no man's life replied the captain I only execute my orders if you are alone good woman you have not to fear if there are any with you so rash as to offer useless resistance their own blood be on their own heads move forward sergeant forward March said the non-commissioned officer has a my boys for Robb Roy's head and a purse of gold he quickened his pace into a run followed by the six soldiers but as they attained the first traverse of the ascent the flash of a dozen of fire locks from various parts of the pass parted in quick succession and deliberate aim the sergeant shot through the body still struggled to gain the ascent raised himself by his hands to clamber up the face of the rock but relaxed his grasp after a desperate effort and falling rolled from the face of the cliff into the deep lake where he perished of the soldiers three fell slain or disabled the others retreated on their main body all more or less wounded grenadiers to the front said captain Thornton you are to recollect that in those days this description of soldiers actually carried that destructive species of firework from which they derived their name the four grenadiers moved to the front accordingly the officer commanded the rest of the party to be ready to support them and only saying to us look to your safety gentlemen gave in rapid succession the word to the grenadiers open your pouches handle your grenades blow your matches fall on the whole advanced with a shot headed by captain Thornton the grenadiers preparing to throw their grenades among the bushes where the ambush could lay and the musketeers to support them by an instant in close assault doogle forgotten in the scuffle wisely crept into the thicket which overhung that part of the road where we had first halted which he ascended with the activity of a wild cat I followed his example instinctively recollecting that the fire of the Highlanders would sweep the open track I claim that until out of breath for a continued spattering fire in which every shot was multiplied by a thousand echoes the hissing of the kindled fuses of the grenades and the successive explosion of those missiles mingled with the hazards of the soldiers and the yells and cries of the Highlander antagonists formed a contrast which added I do not shame to own it wings to my desire to reach a place of safety the difficulties of the ascent soon increased so much that I disappeared of reaching doogle who seemed to swing himself from rock to rock and stump to stump with the facility of a squirrel and I turned down my eyes to see what had become of my other companions both were brought to a very awkward standstill the Bailey to whom I suppose fear had given a temporary share of agility had ascended about 20 feet from the path when his foot slipping as he straddled from one huge fragment of rock to another he would have slumbered with his father the deacon whose acts and words he was so fond of quoting but for a projecting brunt of a ragged thorn which catching hold of the skirts of his writing coat supported him in midair where he dangled not unlike to the sign of the golden fleece over the door of a Mercer in the Trongate of his native city as for Andrew fair service he had advanced with beta success until he had attained at the top of a bear cliff which rising above the wood exposed him at least in his own opinion to all the dangers of the neighbouring skirmish while at the same time it was of such a precipitous and impracticable nature that he dared it neither to advance nor retreat putting it up and down upon the narrow space which the top of the cliff afforded very like a fellow at a country fair dancing upon a trencher he roared for mercy and gala and English alternately according to the site on which the scale of victory seemed to be dominate while his exclamations were only answered by the Crohn's of the Bailey who suffered much not only from apprehension but from the pendulous posture in which he hung suspended by the loins on perceiving the Bailey's precarious situation my first idea was to attempt to render him assistance but this was impossible without the concurrence of Andrew whom neither sign nor entreaty nor command nor expostulation could inspire with courage to adventure the descent from his painful elevation where like an unskillful and obnoxious minister of state unable to escape from the eminence to which he had presumptuously ascended he continued to pour forth piteous prayers for mercy which no one heard and to skip to and fro writhing his body into all possible antique shapes to avoid the balls which he conceived to be whistling around him in a few minutes this cause of terror ceased for the fire at first so well sustained now sunk at once a sure sign that the conflict was concluded to gain some spot from which I could see how the day had gone was now my object in order to appeal to the mercy of the victors who I trusted whichever side might be gainers would not suffer the honest Bailey to remain suspended like the coffin of Muhammad between heaven and earth without lending a hand to disengage him at length by dint of scrambling I found a spot which commanded a view of the field of battle it was indeed ended and as my mind already augured from the place in circumstances attending the contest it had terminated in the defeat of captain Thornton I saw a party of Highlanders in the act of disarming that officer and the scanty remained of his party they consisted of about 12 men most of whom were wounded who surrounded by treble the number and without the power either to advance a retreat exposed to a murderous and well-aimed fire which they had no means of returning with the effect had it length laid it down their arms by the order of the officer when he saw that the road in his rear was occupied and that protracted resistance would be only wasting the lives of his brave followers by the Highlanders who fought undercover the victory was cheaply bought at the expense of one man slain and two wounded by the grenades all this I learned afterwards at present I only comprehended the general result of the day from seeing the English officer whose face was covered with blood stripped of his hat and arms and his men with sullen and dejected countenances which marked their deep regret enduring from the wild and martial figures who surrounded them the severe measures to which the laws of war subject the vanquished for security of the victors end of volume 2 chapter 13 recording by Felicity Campbell, Whanganui, New Zealand volume 2 chapter 14 of Rob Roy this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org chapter 14 woe to the vanquished was Sternbreno's word when sunk proud row beneath the galaxy sword woe to the vanquished when his massive blade bore down the scale against her ransom wade and on the field of fought and battle still woe knows no limits save the victors will the Gordyart I anxiously endeavored to distinguish doogle among the victors I had little doubt that the party had played was assumed on purpose to lead the English officer into the defile and I could not help admiring the address with which the ignorant and apparently half brutal savage had veiled his purpose and the affected reluctance with which he had suffered to be extracted from him the false information which it must have been his purpose from the beginning to communicate I foresaw we should incur some danger on approaching the victors in the first flash of their success which was not unstained with cruelty for one or two of the soldiers whose wounds prevented them from rising were pognited by the victors or rather by some ragged Highland boys who had mingled with them I concluded therefore it would be unsafe to present ourselves without some mediator and as Campbell whom I now could not but identify with the celebrated freebooter roguoi was nowhere to be seen I resolved to claim the protection of his emiracy doogle after gazing everywhere in vain I had length retraced my steps to see what assistance I could individually render to my unlucky friend when to my great joy I saw Mr. Javi delivered from his state of suspense and though very black in the face and much deranged in the garments safely seated beneath the rock in front of which he had been so lately suspended I hastened to join him and offer my congratulations which he was at first far from receiving in the spirit of cordiality with which they were offered a heavy fit of coughing scarce permitted him breathe enough to express the broken hints which he threw out against my sincerity he said a friend a friend stickered closer than a brother when I came up here Mr. Osbold is gone to this country cursed of God and man and if you get me for swearing when you name man's errand to bet your ears do you think it was fair to leave me first to be shot with drowned between a red-walled Highlanders and a red-golds and next to be hung up between heaven and athlete an old potato boggle without say muckalus trying to relieve me I made a thousand apologies and labored so hard to represent the impossibility of my affording him relief by my own unassisted exertions that at length I succeeded and the Bailey who was as placable as hasty in his temper extended his favor to me once more I next took the liberty of asking him how he had contrived to extricate himself me extricate I made a hung there till the day of judgment or I could he helped myself we might had hanging doing on the test seat and my heels on the toilet like the young scales in the way house it was the creature do go that extricated me as he did yesterday he cut it off the tails of my coat with his dark under nearly gilly on him set me on my legs as cleverly as if I had never been effed bought to see what a thing good breadglet is had I been in only your rotten French comnates knew where you had grabbed the berries it would have grated like an older rug the secret is mine but very far the way for that rot the weft out I swung and bobbed you under as safe as a goblet that's mirrored by a three-play cable at the Broomie law I now inquired what had become of his preserver the creature so he continued to call the Highland man contrived to let me came there would be danger in going near the lady till he came back and made me stay here I am over the mind he continued that he's seeking after you it's a considerate creature and trough I was where he was right about the lady as he calls her tea in Campbell where's none of the most deduce meron's nor weakest waves neither on folksy the crop himself stands in order her I don't she when it came me for its money as since we met I'm clear for a wetting for the doogal creature are we going near her I signified my acquiescence in this reasoning but it was not the will of fate that day that the Bailey's prudence should profit himself or anyone else Andrew fair service though he had ceased to caper on the pinnacle upon the cessation of the firing which had given occasion for his whimsical exercise continued as perched on the top of an exposed cliff to conspicuous an object to escape at the sharp eyes of the Highlanders when they had time to look a little around to them we were apprised he was discovered by a wild law set up among the assembled victors three or four of whom instantly plunged into the cops would and ascended the rocky side of the hill in different directions towards the place where they had discovered this whimsical apparition those who arrived first within gunshot of poor Andrew did not trouble themselves to offer him any assistance in the tickless posture of his affairs but levelling their long Spanish barreled guns gave him to understand by signs which admitted of no misconstruction that he must contrive to come down and submit himself to the MSE or to be marked at from beneath like a regimental target set up for ball practice with such a formidable hint for venturous exertion Andrew fair service could no longer hesitate the more imminent peril overcame his sense of that which seemed less inevitable and to begin to descend the cliff at all risks clutching to the ivy and oak stumps and projecting fragments of rock with an almost feverish anxiety and never failing as circumstances left him a hand at liberty to extend it to the platted gentry below in an attitude of supplication as if to deprecate the discharge of their levelled firearms in a word the fellow under the influence of a counteracting motive for terror achieved a safe descent from his perilous eminence which I verily believe nothing but the fear of instant death could have moved him to attempt the awkward mode of Andrew's descent greatly amused the Highlanders below who fired a shot or two while he was engaged in it without the purpose of injuring him as I believe but merely to enhance the amusement they derived from his extreme terror and the superlative exertions of agility to which it excited him at length he attained firm and comparatively level ground or rather to speak more correctly his foot slipping at the last point of descent he fell on the earth at his full length and was raised by the assistants of the Highlanders who stood to receive him and who air he gained his legs stripped him not only of the whole contents of his pockets but of periwig hat coat doublet stockings and shoes performing the feet with such admirable celerity that although he fell on his back a well clothed and decent burger seeming serving man he arose a forked uncased bald painted vaguely looking scarecrow without respect to the pain which is undefended toes experienced from the sharpened counter of the rocks over which they hurried in those who had detected Andrew proceeded to drag him downward towards the road through all the intervening obstacles in the course of their descent Mr. Javi and I became exposed to their links-eyed observation and instantly half a dozen of armed Highlanders thronged around us with drawn dirks and swords pointed at our faces and throats and cocked pistols presented against our bodies to have offered resistance would have been madness especially as we had no weapons capable of supporting such a demonstration we therefore submitted to our fate and with great roughness on the part of those who assisted at our twilight we're in the act of being reduced to as unsophisticated estate to use King Leah's phrase as the plumbest biped Andrew fair service who stood shivering between fear and cold at a few yards distance good chance however saved us from this extremity of wretchedness for just as I had yielded up my pervade a smart steincook by the way and richly laced and the Bailey had been disrobed of the fragments of his writing coat and a doogle and the scene was changed by a high tone of expostulation mixed with oaths and threats as far as I could conjecture the tenor of his language from the violence of his gestures he compelled the plunderers however reluctant not only to give up their further depredations on our property but to restore the spoil they had already appropriated he snatched my cravat from the fellow who had seized it and twisted it in the zeal of his restitution around my neck with such suffocating energy it made me think that he had not only been during his residence at Glasgow a substitute of the jailer but must moreover have taken lessons as an apprentice of the hangman he flung the tattered remnants of Mr. Javi's coat around his shoulders and as more Highlanders began to flock towards us from the high road he led the way downwinds directing and commanding the others to afford us but particularly the Bailey the assistance necessary to our descending with comparative ease and safety it was however in vain that Andrew fair service employed his lungs and obsecrating a share of doogles protection or at least his interference to procure a restoration of his shoes nah nah said doogle and reply she's no gentle body a tree here bet this a gong to bear a fit or she's mucklum is tan and leaving Andrew to follow at his leisure or rather at such leisure as a surrounding crowd we're pleased to indulge him with he hurried us down to the pathway in which the skirmish had been fought and hastened to present us as additional captives to the female leader of his band we were dragged before her accordingly doogle fighting struggling screaming as if he were the party most apprehensive of hurt and repulsing by threats and efforts all those who attempted to take a near interest in our capture then he seemed to do himself at length we were placed before the heroine of the day whose appearance as well as those of the savage uncouth yet marshal figures who surrounded us struck me to own the truth with considerable apprehension I do not know if Helen McGregor had personally mingled in the fray and indeed I was afterwards given to understand the contrary but this speaks of blood on her brow her hands and naked arms as well as on the blade of his sword which he continued to hold in her hand her flushed countenance and the disordered state of the raven locks which escaped from under the red bonnet and plume that formed her headdress seemed all to intimate that she had taken an immediate share in the conflict her keen black eyes and features expressed an imagination inflamed by the pride of gratified revenge and the triumph of victory yet there was nothing positively sanguinary or cruel in her deportment and she reminded me when the immediate alarm of the interview was over of some of the paintings I had seen of the inspired heroines in the catholic churches of France she was not indeed sufficiently beautiful for a Judith nor had she the inspired expression of features which painters have given to Deborah or to the wife of Heber the Kennite at whose feet the strong oppressor of Israel who dwelled in Harris sheath of the Gentiles bowed down fell and lay a dead man nevertheless the enthusiasm by which she was agitated gave her countenance and deportment wildly dignified in themselves an air which made her approach nearly to the ideas of those wonderful artists who gave to the eye the heroines of scripture history I was unsuited in what terms to accost a person it's so uncommon when Mr. Javi breaking the ice with a preparatory cough for the speed with which he had been brought into her presence had again impeded his respiration addressed her as follows I am very happy to have this joyful opportunity a quaver in his voice strongly belied the emphasis which he studiously laid on the word joyful this joyful occasion he resumed trying to give the adjective a more suitable accentuation to wish me kinsman robins wave a very good morning oh so we hear by this time he had talked himself into his usual job at Trot Manor which exhibited a mixture of familiarity and self-importance who's a wee yay this laying team he'll he forgotten me Mrs. Macarena come bless your cousin but he remained my father Deagle Neagle Javi in the South Margaret of Glasgow an honest man he was and is responsible and a respect here and yours say as I said before I'm very glad to see a Mrs. Macarena Campbell as my kinsman's wife he would create the liberty of the kinsman to salute you but that your goodies keep such a thoughtful fast hold on my arms and to speak heaven's truth and a magistrate you wouldn't be there with a cook for the water before you're welcome and your friends there was something in the familiarity of this introduction which ill-suited the exalted state of temper of the person to whom it was addressed then busied with distributing dooms of death and warm from conquest in a perilous encounter what fellow are you she said that dare to claim kindred with Macarena and neither where his dress nor speakers language what are you they have the tongue and the habit of the hand and yet seek to lay down with the deer I didn't get it said at the end haunted belly if the kindred was ever been will read it to you yet kinsman but it's kind and can be proved may mother elspeth McFarlane was the wife of my father deacon neckel javie peace be with him beth and elspeth was the daughter of Pauline McFarlane at the chilling of law slowie this Pauline McFarlane as a surviving daughter Maggie McFarlane alias mcknob her marie Duncan mcknob of us to cover the con contest if I state as nearer to your good man rubbish Macarena as in the fourth degree of kindred for the Virago lot the genealogical tree by demanding orderly if a stream of rushing water acknowledge any a relation with the portion with drawn from it for the mean domestic uses of those who dwelt on its banks very three kings woman said Bailey bought for other the barren would be glad to have a mild arm back again in summer took a stains a fight in the sun I can wheeling off ye highland folk who does Glasgow people late and cheap fair our language and our clays but everybody speaks their net of tongue that they learned in infancy and it would be a tough like thing to see me with my fat women in a short heel and coat and my short horse guarded below the knee like I know your long legged killies made it by talking kids woman he continued in defiance of various intimations by which do will seem to recommend silence as well as of the marksman patients which the Amazon even status locustity I would have you do mind that the king's errand to pose commons in the car just gate and that for as high as you may think of the good man as it's a great every wave should honor her a husband the scripture warrant there yet this high as you hate him as he was saying I have been serviceable to rob a new for a bay I set the pearlings I sent yourself when you was going to be married and when a rob was an honest wheel doing drover and name of this unlawful walk we fighting in flashes and rough gives the starving the Kings Bees and disarming his soldiers he had apparently touched on a key which his kids woman could not broke she drew herself up to her full height and betrayed the acuteness of her feelings by a laugh of mingled scorn and bitterness he yes she said yeah and such as you may claim our relation to us when we stooped to be the poultry riches which do exist under your dominion as your heels of wood and the drawers of water to find cattle for your bunkers and subjects for your nose to oppress and trample on but new we are free free by the very act which left us neither house nor half food no covering which bereaved me of all of only and makes me groan when I think I must still combo the earth for other purposes and that's our vengeance and I will carry on the work this day has so well convinced by a deed that shall break all bonds between a buck rega and the lowland shelf here Alan do you go being to be session acts naked he'll together and throw them into the hell and lock to seek for their highland kinsfolk the Bailey a land this mandate was commencing an expost elation which probably would have only inflamed the violent passions of the person whom he addressed when do go through himself between them and in his own language which he spoke with a fluency and rapidity strongly contrasted by the slow and perfect and idiot like manner in which he expressed himself in English poured forth what I doubt not was a very animated pleading in our behalf his mistress replied to him or rather cut short as a ring by exclaiming in English as if determined to make us taste in anticipation the full bitterness of death best dog and son of a dog do you dispute my commands she did tell you to cut out their tongs and put them in each other sorrows to try which would their best can up sooth run the letter to tear out their hearts and put them into each other's breasts to see which would do their best plot the reason against the mackerega on such things have been done of all in the day of revenge when our fathers had a wrongs to redress should I command you to do this would it be your appart to dispute my orders to be sure to be sure doogle replied with accents of profound submission her pleasure should be gone that's but a reason but on it where thought is on it could be thought the same to her to cook the ill for lean at a red coat captain onions carpal cramp and tastery or the red coats into the lock itself would doot me mackerega read satisfaction done to head to honor civil gentlemen's as were friends to the glee karak and came up on the chief's assurance and nor to do nor to reason as herself could testify the lady was about to reply when a few wild strains of a peep rock were heard advancing up the road from Aberfoil the same probably which had reached the ears of captain Thornton's rear guard and determined him to force his way onward rather than return to the village on finding the pass occupied the skirmish being a very short duration the armed men who followed to this martial melody had not or quickening their march when they heard of the firing been able to arrive in time sufficient to take any share in their encounter the victory therefore was complete without them and they now arrived only to share in the triumph of their countrymen there was a marked difference betwixt the appearance of these newcomers and that of the party by which our escort had been defeated and it was greatly in favor of the former among the Highlanders who surrounded the chieftain s if I may presume to call her so without offense to grammar were men in the extremity of age boys scarce able to bear a sword and even women all in short whom the last necessity urges to take up arms and it added a shade of bitter shame to the detection which clouded Thornton's manly countenance when he found that the numbers and position of a foe otherwise so despicable had enabled them to conquer his brave veterans but the 30 or 40 Highlanders who now adjoined to the others or all men in the prime of youth or manhood active clean-made fellows whose short hoes and belted plaids set out their sinewy limbs to the best advantage their arms were as superior to those of the first party as their dress and appearance the followers of the female chief had axes sides and other antique weapons and aid of their guns and some had only clubs daggers and long nights but of the second party most had pistols at the belt and almost all had dirks hanging at the pouches which they were in front each had a good gun in his hand and a broadsword by his side besides a stout round target made of light wood covered with leather and curiously started with brass and having a steel spike screwed into the center these hung on their left shoulder during a march or while they were engaged in exchanging fire with the enemy and were worn on their left arm when they charged with sword in hand but it was easy to see that this chosen band had not arrived from a victory such as they found their ill-appointed companions possessed of the pep rock sent for the occasionally a few wailing notes expressive of a very different sentiment from triumph and when they appeared before the wife of their chieftain it was in silence and with downcast and melancholy looks they paused when they approached her and the pipes again sent forth the same wild and melancholy strain Helen rushed towards them with the countenance in which Anglop is mingled with apprehension what means this Alistair she said to the minstrel way a lament in the moment of victory Robert hush where's the McGregor where's your father her sons who led the band advanced with slow and a resolute steps towards her and murmured a few words in Gaelic at hearing which she set up a shriek that made the rocks ring again in which all the women and boys joined clapping their hands and yelling as if their lives had been expiring in the sound the mountain echoes silent since the military sounds of battle had ceased had now to answer these frantic and discordant shrieks of sorrow which drove the very night birds from their haunts in the rocks as if they were startled to hear Orgy's more hideous and ill omen to their their own performed in the face of open day taken replied Helen when the clemer had subsided taken captive and you live to say so carried dogs to a nurse here for this that you should spare your blood on your father's enemies or see him prisoner and come back to tell it the sons of McGregor to whom this expostulation was addressed were youths of whom the eldest had hardly attained his 20th year Hamish or James the elder of these youths was the tallest by a head and much handsomer than his brother his light blue eyes with the profusion of fair hair which streamed from under his smart blue bonnet made his whole appearance a most favorable specimen of the Highland youth the younger was called Robert but to distinguish him from his father the Highlanders added the epithet Oeg or the young dark hair and dark features with a ruddy glow of health and animation in a form strong and well set beyond his ears completed the sketch of the young mountaineer both now stood before their mother with countenances clouded with grief and shame and listened with the most respectful submission to the reproaches with which she loaded them at length when her resentment appeared in some degree to subside the eldest speaking in English probably that he might not be understood by their followers endeavoured respectfully to vindicate himself and his brother from his mother's reproaches I was so near him as to comprehend much of what he said and as it was of great consequence to me to be possessed of information in the strange crisis I failed not to listen as attentively as I could the McGregor his son stated I'd been called out upon a thrusting with the lawland Halion who came with it talking from him out of the name very low but I thought it sounded like my own the McGregor he said accepted of the invitation but commander Saxon who brought the message to be detained as a hostage that good faith should be observed to him accordingly he went to the place of appointment which had some wild highland rain that I cannot remember attended only by Angus Breck and little commanding no one to follow him within half an hour Angus Breck came back with the duel the tidings that the McGregor had been surprised and made prisoner by a party of Lenox militia under Galbraith of Garshatachin he added that Galbraith on being threatened by McGregor upon his capture minister with retaliation on the person of the hostage had treated the threat with great content replying let each side hang his man we'll hang in the thief and your cut the rounds may hang the gauge a rob and the country will be rid of two damned things at once a whale heal and a and a revenu officer Angus Breck let's carefully looked either in his master can try to escape from the hands of the captors after hurrying being in their custody long enough to hear this discussion and tippering off the news and did you learn this yes false hearted traitor said the wife of McGregor and not instantly rushed to your father's rescue to bring him off I'd leave your body on the place the young McGregor modestly replied by representing the various the theory of force of the enemy and stated that as they made no preparation for leaving the country he had fallen back up the Glen with the purpose of collecting a band sufficient to attempt to rescue with some tolerable chance of success at length he said the militiamen would quarter he understood in the neighboring house of Garthothin or the old castle in the port of Monteith or some other stronghold which although strong and defensible was nevertheless capable of being surprised could they but get enough of men assembled for the purpose I understood afterwards that the rest of the free booters followers were divided into two strong bands one destined to watch the remaining garrison of Inves Ned a party of which and a captain Thornton had been defeated and another to show front to the Highland clans who had united with the regular troops and lowlanders in this hostile and combined invasion of that mountainous and desolate territory which lying between the legs of Locke Lamont Locke Catrine and Locke Ard was at this time currently called Rob Roy's or the McGregor country messengers were dispatched and great haste to concentrate as I supposed their forces with a view to the proposed attack on the lowlanders and the detection and despair at first visible on each countenance gave place to the hope of rescuing the leader and to the thirst of vengeance it was under the burning influence of the latter passion that the wife of McGregor commanded that the hostage exchanged for his safety should be brought into her presence I believe her sons had kept this unfortunate reach out of his sight for fear of the consequences but if it was so their humane precaution only postponed this fate they dragged forward at her summons a rich already half-dead with terror in whose agonized features I recognized to my horror and astonishment my old acquaintance Morris he fell prostrate before the female chief with an effort to clasp her knees from which she drew back as if his touch had been pollution so that all he could do in token of the extremity of his humiliation was to kiss the hem of her plaid I never heard in treaties for life poured forth with such agony of spirit the ecstasy of fear was such that instead of paralyzing his tongue as on ordinary occasions it even rendered him eloquent and with cheeks pale as ashes and compressed in agony eyes that seemed to be taking their last look of all mortal objects he protested with the deepest oath his total ignorance of any design on the person of Rob Roy whom he swore he loved and honored as his own soul in the inconsistency of his terror he said he was but the agent of others and he muttered the name of rashly he prayed but for life for life he would give all he had in the world it was but life he asked life if it were to be prolonged under torches and privations he asked only breath though it should be drawn in the depths of the lowest caverns of their hills it is impossible to describe the scorn the loathing intercontempt with which the wife of McGregor regarded this wretched petitioner for the poor boon of existence it could have been you live she said had life been to you the same weary underwesting burden that it is to me that it is to every noble and generous mind but yeah rich you could creep through the world and affected by its various disgraces its inevitable miseries it's constantly accumulating masses of cream and sorrow you could live in a jury yourself where the noble minded up a trade when nameless and the bartheless villains thread on the neck of the brave and the long-descended you could enjoy yourself like a bitch's dog in the shambles battening on garbage when the slaughter of the oldest investment on a reindeer this enjoyment you shall not live to partake of you shall be best dog and that big body on cloud has passed over the Sun she gave a brief command in Gaelic to her attendants two of whom is seized upon the prostrate supplient and hurried him to the brink of a cliff which overhung the flood he set up the most piercing and dreadful cries that fear ever uttered I may well term them dreadful for they haunted my sleep for years afterwards as the murderers or executioners called them as you will dragged him along he recognized me even in that moment of horror and exclaimed in the last articulate words I ever heard him utter oh mr. Osport is done save me save me I was so much moved by this horrid spectacle that although in momentary expectation of sharing his fate I did attempt to speak in his behalf but as might have been expected my interference was certainly disregarded the victim was held fast by some while others binding a large heavy stone in a plaid tied it around his neck and others again eagerly stripped him of some part of his dress half-naked and thus manacled they hurled him into the lake there about 12 feet deep with a loud hello of vindictive triumph above which however his last death shriek the yell of mortal agony was distinctly heard the heavy burden splashed in the dark blue waters and the Highlanders with their pole axes and swords watched an instant to guard vest extricating himself from the load to which he was attached the victim might have struggled to regain the shore but the knot had been securely bound the Richard man sunk without effort the waters which his fall had disturbed settled calmly over him and the unit of that life for which he had pleaded so strongly was forever withdrawn from the sum of human existence end of volume 2 chapter 14 recording by Felicity Campbell Wonganui, New Zealand