登陆注册
5386100000074

第74章 A LEGEND OF MONTROSE.(67)

It was late ere any tidings were received;but when the moon had arisen,a considerable bustle in the camp,and a noise immediately after heard in the castle,announced the arrival of important intelligence.Of the scouts first dispersed by Ardenvohr,some had returned without being able to collect anything,save uncertain rumours concerning movements in the country of the Camerons.It seemed as if the skirts of Ben-Nevis were sending forth those unaccountable and portentous sounds with which they sometimes announce the near approach of a storm.

Others,whose zeal carried them farther upon their mission,were entrapped and slain,or made prisoners,by the inhabitants of the fastnesses into which they endeavoured to penetrate.At length,on the rapid advance of Montrose's army,his advanced guard and the outposts of Argyle became aware of each other's presence,and after exchanging a few musket-shots and arrows,fell back to their respective main bodies,to convey intelligence and receive orders.

Sir Duncan Campbell,and Auchenbreck,instantly threw themselves on horseback,in order to visit the state of the outposts;and Argyle maintained his character of commander-in-chief with reputation,by making a respectable arrangement of his forces in the plain,as it was evident that they might now expect a night alarm,or an attack in the morning at farthest.Montrose had kept his forces so cautiously within the defiles of the mountain,that no effort which Auchenbreck or Ardenvohr thought it prudent to attempt,could ascertain his probable strength.They were aware,however,that,at the utmost computation,it must be inferior to their own,and they returned to Argyle to inform him of the amount of their observations;but that nobleman refused to believe that Montrose could be in presence himself.He said,"It was a madness,of which even James Grahame,in his height of presumptuous frenzy,was incapable;and he doubted not that their march was only impeded by their ancient enemies,Glencoe,Keppoch,and Glengarry;and perhaps M'Vourigh,with his M'Phersons,might have assembled a force,which he knew must be greatly inferior in numbers to his own,and whom,therefore,he doubted not to disperse by force,or by terms of capitulation."

The spirit of Argyle's followers was high,breathing vengeance for the disasters which their country had so lately undergone;

and the night passed in anxious hopes that the morning might dawn upon their vengeance.The outposts of either army kept a careful watch,and the soldiers of Argyle slept in the order of battle which they were next day to occupy.

A pale dawn had scarce begun to tinge the tops of these immense mountains,when the leaders of both armies prepared for the business of the day.It was the second of February,1645-6.The clansmen of Argyle were arranged in two lines,not far from the angle between the river and the lake,and made an appearance equally resolute and formidable.Auchenbreck would willingly have commenced the battle by an attack on the outposts of the enemy,but Argyle,with more cautious policy,preferred receiving to making the onset.Signals were soon heard,that they would not long wait for it in vain.The Campbells could distinguish,in the gorge of the mountains,the war-tunes of various clans as they advanced to the onset.That of the Camerons,which bears the ominous words,addressed to the wolves and ravens,"Come to me,and I will give you flesh,"was loudly re-echoed from their native glens.In the language of the Highland bards,the war voice of Glengarry was not silent;and the gathering tunes of other tribes could be plainly distinguished,as they successively came up to the extremity of the passes from which they were to descend into the plain.

"You see,"said Argyle to his kinsmen,"it is as I said,we have only to deal with our neighbours;James Grahame has not ventured to show us his banner."

At this moment there resounded from the gorge of the pass a lively flourish of trumpets,in that note with which it was the ancient Scottish fashion to salute the royal standard.

"You may hear,my lord,from yonder signal,"said Sir Duncan Campbell,"that he who pretends to be the King's Lieutenant,must be in person among these men."

"And has probably horse with him,"said Auchenbreck,"which I could not have anticipated.But shall we look pale for that,my lord,when we have foes to fight,and wrongs to revenge?"

Argyle was silent,and looked upon his arm,which hung in a sash,owing to a fall which he had sustained in a preceding march.

"It is true,"interrupted Ardenvohr,eagerly,"my Lord of Argyle,you are disabled from using either sword or pistol;you must retire on board the galleys--your life is precious to us as a head--your hand cannot be useful to us as a soldier."

"No,"said Argyle,pride contending with irresolution,"it shall never be said that I fled before Montrose;if I cannot fight,I will at least die in the midst of my children."

Several other principal Chiefs of the Campbells,with one voice,conjured and obtested their Chieftain to leave them for that day to the leading of Ardenvohr and Auchenbreck,and to behold the conflict from a distance and in safety.--We dare not stigmatize Argyle with poltroonery;for,though his life was marked by no action of bravery,yet he behaved with so much composure and dignity in the final and closing scene,that his conduct upon the present and similar occasions,should be rather imputed to indecision than to want of courage.But when the small still voice within a man's own breast,which tells him that his life is of consequence to himself,is seconded by that of numbers around him,who assure him that it is of equal advantage to the public,history affords many examples of men more habitually daring than Argyle,who have consulted self-preservation when the temptations to it were so powerfully increased.

同类推荐
  • The Red One

    The Red One

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 灵瑞尼祖揆符禅师妙湛录

    灵瑞尼祖揆符禅师妙湛录

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 万斯同先生传

    万斯同先生传

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 太子和休经

    太子和休经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • Master Humphrey's Clock

    Master Humphrey's Clock

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 俊俏小厨娘

    俊俏小厨娘

    奶奶偏心,大伯奸诈,二伯庸碌,爹娘老实,米小菀表示日子不好过,可是你们当这个御厨的传人是白来的吗?想欺负他们家?两个字,没门!人不犯我我不犯人,人若犯我,双倍还之!发家致富,变废为宝,小小丫头不得了!传闻永恩贝勒爷高冷无敌、貌似潘安,传闻永恩贝勒身后粉蝶三千却是个断袖?
  • 体育器材概论

    体育器材概论

    从体育器材发展、现状和趋势入手,详细的阐述了体育器材的分类;体育器材新品研制与研发的过程和国外成功的设计案例;健身器材的使用功能、各种要素以及应用材料;仿真模拟技术在体育器材中的应用等。最后《体育器材概论》还就体育器材的规格、国家标准中的体育器材的分类进行了系统的论述。
  • 幼学琼林

    幼学琼林

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 烈火与寒冰

    烈火与寒冰

    这是一部反映现代特战军人风采的写实小说,里面没有太多的儿女情长,主角也没有超能力,但是有满满的部队气息:战友情,兄弟情、军旅情,当然,还有对人性的反思和刻画,以及一群80后对国家和部队,责任和忠诚的理解和诠释。在这个故事里你会看到当代特战军人的生活还有他们的内心世界,军人,绝对不是工厂做出来的罐头,每个人都有自己的特点,时代在变化,观念也在改变,装备的发展日新月异,作战理念也在不断更新,但是,决定胜负的关键因素——人,永远不会改变。在面对共同的敌人时候,他们不会畏惧不会退缩,因为,他们是中国军人!中国特种兵!
  • 腹黑王爷独宠穿越王妃

    腹黑王爷独宠穿越王妃

    她,为救新兵,失去生命;却不料借尸还魂,成为二女。伴她此世痴狂;吻子之眸,去尔半世流离。他,悠然淡雅,半世颠沛,原以为是为了那个位置,一种责任;直至那一抹身影,总萦绕在心头,终归是找到了,可倾我心,融我半世风霜。片段一"二哥,你觉得她怎么样?"段天宇凑过去。"什么怎么样?"段廷言嫌弃得推开他的脑袋。"还能有什么,就是当我们的嫂子呗"收回头段天宇嘟囔了一句。"你觉得呢?"段廷言不但没回答反而问起了他。"我觉得她跟别的女人不一样,没那么娇气做作,就说大哥之前那个公主,皇上给指了几次,都被大哥给回绝了,气的皇上又指个郡主,大哥也不要,这才落到了叶家,真没想到会是这样的女子"段天宇眼睛发亮,越说越兴奋。片段二"他当皇上政绩挺好,虽然有些残酷"冷月斜睨了一眼长宫凌,这话让长宫凌很是不悦,"我们要保的是平民百姓的生活安定,不只是他的命,你身后的那人当皇上,我信不着。谁会相信能撑起这个国家?"冷月冷冽的声音,让太后心头一震。一旁的长宫铮听了也非常气恼,不过他的脸色憔悴。"你是什么人?你就不怕死?不怕连累你的家人?"太后厉声道。"我是一个孤独的游魂,早就将生死置之度外,我也没有家人,所以废话少说吧,把他们给我抓起来"冷月的回答,让所有人都犯了迷糊。片段三"你帮我吧"苏子言轻轻说了句,其他三人互相你看我,我看你,最后冷月算是明白了,这句话是对她说的。"我为什么要帮你?而且还是救你的女人!"冷月无语,这个男的是不是急坏了脑子,病急乱投医,她不想管闲事!!!"你这是吃醋了?"男子难得露出调笑的表情。冷月被他盯得气恼,"我是觉得一个男人保护不了他的女人,还要求另外一个女人帮忙,怎么都说不过去吧,堂堂的北辰国三皇子殿下!"冷月伸头挑衅地看着他。
  • 星途是你,余生是你

    星途是你,余生是你

    本文甜宠无虐,苏爽至极,1v1,sc这一个正直小演员的奋斗进阶路!也是一个神秘大佬的护妻宠妻史!作为毕业不久的三无貌美小演员,无背景,无资产,无家人的林悠钰从没有想过,成功这么快就敲响她二十平米租房的门,与之而来的还有一个迷人的男人。曾经站在金字塔顶端的风宿在叱咤风云、唯我独尊的时候也没有想过有一天他会流落到一个小明星的身边,失了记忆,改了名字,给她当保镖。两个本来交集全无的人就这样凑到了一起,火花四溅,发生了奇妙的化学反应。身世之谜、豪门争斗纷至沓来,两人携手度过无数难关,收获的不单单是爱情,还有一枚可爱的小包子。1、初遇林悠钰看着面前一身黑西装的英俊男人,弱弱的问:“请问这位先生,公司给我安排的保镖在哪里?”“我就是,你不信的话,我可以给你展示一下我的八块腹肌,胸肌和肱二头肌还有……”男人注视着她认真的说。…好了,我信,够强!2、工作日常“请大家站到黄线以外,不要与林小姐有过分亲密的接触。”听着风先生义正言辞的话,粉丝纷纷退后。被搂在怀里的悠钰却不淡定了,麻烦保镖先生把你的手从我的腰上松开好么?以身作则好么?3、婚后日常躺在自家大床上刚要进入梦乡的林悠钰突然感觉身上一沉,睁开眼睛发现自家男人把头埋在她的脖颈边上,然后,睡死过去……抬手抚上风先生的脸,摸着下巴上硬硬的胡茬,白日在下属面前凶神恶煞的男人,此刻的神情却柔软下来,“风宿,要是你没有失忆,我们也许不会就在一起了。”风太太喃喃自语,原本熟睡的男人回道:“不会,我也看电视,我会看到你,找到你,并且爱上你。”再说一次1v1,HE没商量求各位看书的小可爱,动动手指点收藏!!!
  • 无限光阴

    无限光阴

    一个刚打完LOL下楼的平凡少年,一次意外的事故,穿越到了无限流的世界一次天赋的激活,让他拥有了无限重生的逆天能力,一个个只存在于游戏影视中的壮丽史诗,页页展开打破宿命,不羁放荡,蝼蚁爬虫也能在无限重生里逆天改命!绝地翻盘,看穿一切,智计阴谋全都于光阴回溯下如同儿戏!世界在我眼中从来没有秘密!
  • 唯有你如此不同

    唯有你如此不同

    当一个人,他存在的证据被家族抹杀,甚至连逃离过去都成了奢求。活着成了最卑微的愿望,却又在深不见底的黑暗中,遇到了此生唯一的温暖。当烈火燃尽时,自会有凤凰涅槃,当爱上一个人,就会为她征服世界。
  • 非十二子

    非十二子

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 重生之全能明星学霸不太易

    重生之全能明星学霸不太易

    有谁有她悲催,别人重生要不是学霸,要不就是绝世美女!怎么自己就那么悲催!莫名其妙一撞,就到了另外一个平行世界也叫许含的身上,脸还是那副大众脸,呜呜,能不能重新重生,人家想成为绝世美女……还好没被嫌弃完,明星养成系统看中了自己,啊!NO!确定不是坑人,大众脸成明星真的要学这么多吗,……这根本不可能完成……系统你出来,保证不打死你!本文是一篇爽门,没狗血没宅斗,就只有简简单单的学!学!学!