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| author | Roger Frank <rfrank@pglaf.org> | 2025-10-14 19:53:00 -0700 |
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| committer | Roger Frank <rfrank@pglaf.org> | 2025-10-14 19:53:00 -0700 |
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diff --git a/30022-h/30022-h.htm b/30022-h/30022-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..51d9ee7 --- /dev/null +++ b/30022-h/30022-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,9620 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" +"http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> +<head> +<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=UTF-8" /> +<title>The Project Gutenberg eBook of Graham of Claverhouse, by Ian Maclaren.</title> + +<style type="text/css"> + @media screen { + hr.pb {margin:30px 0; width:100%; border:none;border-top:thin dashed silver;} + .pagenum {display: inline; font-size: x-small; text-align: right; position: absolute; right: 2%; padding: 1px 3px; font-style: normal; font-variant:normal; font-weight:normal; text-decoration: none; background-color: inherit; border:1px solid #eee;} + .pncolor {color: silver;} + } + @media print { + hr.pb {border:none;page-break-after: always;} + .pagenum { display:none; } + } + a {text-decoration: none;} + span.indent2 {margin-left: 0; padding-left:0; width: 0.8em; padding-right: 0; margin-right: 0; display: block; float: left;} + body {margin-left: 11%; margin-right: 10%;} + td.chalgn {text-align:right; margin-top:0; padding-right:0;} + .figcenter {margin: 2em auto 2em auto; text-align: center; width: auto;} + .figtag {height: 1px;} + p.lalign {text-align: left !important;} + .chsp {margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 2em; padding-bottom: 1em;} + hr.mini {width: 20%; border:none; border-bottom:1px solid silver; clear:both; margin: 1em auto;} + p {margin-top: 0.5em; text-align: justify; margin-bottom: 0.5em;} + span.rindent2 {margin-left: 0; padding-left:0; width: 0.8em; padding-right: 0; margin-right: 0; display: block; float: right;} + p.ralign {text-align: right !important;} + hr.toprule {width: 65%; margin-top: 2em; margin-bottom: 2em; border:none; border-bottom:1px solid silver; clear:both;} + .caption {font-size:smaller; text-align:center;} + hr.tb {border:none; margin-top:2em;} + table {margin-left:auto; margin-right:auto;} + p.center {text-align: center !important;} + .smcap {font-variant:small-caps;} + .box {border:medium solid black; margin:0 auto; padding: 0.5em; width:400px;} + h3 {font-size:1.2em;} + .trnote {background-color: #EEE; color: inherit; margin: 2em 5% 1em 5%; font-size: 80%; padding: 0.5em 1em 0.5em 1em; border: dotted 1px gray;} + h4 {font-size:1.0em;} + ins.trchange {text-decoration: none; border-bottom: thin dotted gray;} + p.smalltitle {text-align:center; font-size:1.2em; margin-top:1em;} + p.bigtitle {text-align:center; font-size:1.3em; margin-top:1em;} + blockquote {display: block; margin: .75em 10% .75em 5%; font-size:0.9em;} + span.ralign {float:right;} + h1,h2,h3,h4 {font-weight:normal; text-align:center;} + p.center, div.center p{text-align:center;} + h1 {font-size:1.8em;} + hr.double {border:none; border-top:1px solid black; border-bottom:1px solid black; height:2px;} + .smaller {font-size:smaller;} + h2 {font-size:1.5em;} +</style> + +</head> +<body> +<div>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 30022 ***</div> + +<div class='figtag'> +<a name='linki_1' id='linki_1'></a> +</div> +<div class='figcenter'> +<img src='images/illus-cover.jpg' alt='' title='' width='336' height='500' /><br /> +</div> +<div class='figtag'> +<a name='linki_2' id='linki_2'></a> +</div> +<div class='figcenter'> +<img src='images/illus-fpc.jpg' alt='' title='' width='378' height='500' /><br /> +<p class='caption'> +Lady Dundee lifted up the child for him to kiss. <a href='#page_261'><ins class="trchange" title="Was 'Page 265'">Pages 261-2</ins>.</a><br /> +</p> +</div> +<hr class='pb' /> +<div class='box center'> +<h1 style='font-size:2em'>Graham of Claverhouse</h1> +</div> +<div class='box center' style='border-top:none; border-bottom:none;'> +<p>By</p> +<p style='font-size:1.5em;'>IAN MACLAREN</p> +<p>Author of</p> +<p><i>“Beside the Bonnie Brier Bush,”</i><br /> +<i>“Kate Carnegie,” “Young Barbarians,”</i><br /> +<i>“A Doctor of the Old School,”</i><br /> +<i>Etc., Etc.</i></p> +<p style='margin-top:2em;'>Illustrated in Water-Colors by <span class='smcap'>Frank T. Merrill</span></p> +<p style='font-size:0.8em;'>Copyright, 1907, by John Watson</p> +<div class='box center' style='margin:2em auto; width:300px;'> +<p><span style='font-size:0.8em'>The Sale of this book in New York and Philadelphia +is confined to the stores of</span><br /> +JOHN WANAMAKER.</p> +</div> +</div> +<div class='box center'> +<p style='line-height:150%;'><span class='smcap'>New York and London</span><br /> +<span class='smcap'>The Authors and Newspapers Association</span><br /> +1907</p> +</div> +<hr class='pb' /> +<div class='center'> +<p style='font-size:0.8em;'><span class='smcap'>Copyright, 1907, by</span> +JOHN WATSON.</p> +<hr class='mini' /> +<p style='font-size:0.8em;'><i>Entered at Stationers’ Hall.</i><br /> +<i>All rights reserved.</i></p> +</div> +<div class='center' style='position:relative; float:left; width:auto; left:10%; margin-bottom:2em; margin-top:2em'> +<p style='font-size:0.8em;'>Composition and Electrotyping by<br /> +J. J. Little & Co.<br /> +Printing and binding by<br /> +The Plimpton Press, Norwood, Mass., U. S. A.</p> +</div> +<hr class='pb' style='clear:left' /> +<h2>CONTENTS</h2> +<table border='0' cellpadding='2' cellspacing='0' summary='Contents' style='margin:1em auto;'> +<tr> + <td valign='top' colspan='3'><p style='margin:1em auto 0.5em auto; font-size:125%; text-align:center;'>BOOK I.</p></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' class='chalgn'>CHAPTER</td> + <td /> + <td valign='top' align='right'>PAGE</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' class='chalgn'>I.––</td> + <td valign='top' align='left' style='padding-right:4em;'><span class='smcap'>By the Camp Fire</span></td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#CHAPTER_I_BY_THE_CAMPFIRE'>11</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' class='chalgn'>II.––</td> + <td valign='top' align='left' style='padding-right:4em;'><span class='smcap'>The Battle of Sineffe</span></td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#CHAPTER_II_THE_BATTLE_OF_SINEFFE'>31</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' class='chalgn'>III.––</td> + <td valign='top' align='left' style='padding-right:4em;'><span class='smcap'>A Decisive Blow</span></td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#CHAPTER_III_A_DECISIVE_BLOW'>53</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' class='chalgn'>IV.––</td> + <td valign='top' align='left' style='padding-right:4em;'><span class='smcap'>A Change of Masters</span></td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#CHAPTER_IV_A_CHANGE_OF_MASTERS'>72</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' colspan='3'><p style='margin:1em auto 0.5em auto; font-size:125%; text-align:center;'>BOOK II.</p></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' class='chalgn'>I.––</td> + <td valign='top' align='left' style='padding-right:4em;'><span class='smcap'>A Covenanting House</span></td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#CHAPTER_I_A_COVENANTING_HOUSE'>93</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' class='chalgn'>II.––</td> + <td valign='top' align='left' style='padding-right:4em;'><span class='smcap'>The Coming of the Amalekite</span></td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#CHAPTER_II_THE_COMING_OF_THE_AMALEKITE'>114</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' class='chalgn'>III.––</td> + <td valign='top' align='left' style='padding-right:4em;'><span class='smcap'>Between Mother and Lover</span></td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#CHAPTER_III_BETWEEN_MOTHER_AND_LOVER'>133</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' class='chalgn'>IV.––</td> + <td valign='top' align='left' style='padding-right:4em;'><span class='smcap'>Thy People Shall Be My People, Thy God My God</span></td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#CHAPTER_IV_THY_PEOPLE_SHALL_BE_MY_PEOPLE_THY_GOD_MY_GOD'>155</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' colspan='3'><p style='margin:1em auto 0.5em auto; font-size:125%; text-align:center;'>BOOK III.</p></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' class='chalgn'>I.––</td> + <td valign='top' align='left' style='padding-right:4em;'><span class='smcap'>One Fearless Man</span></td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#CHAPTER_I_ONE_FEARLESS_MAN'>175</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' class='chalgn'>II.––</td> + <td valign='top' align='left' style='padding-right:4em;'><span class='smcap'>The Crisis</span></td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#CHAPTER_II_THE_CRISIS'>194</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' class='chalgn'>III.––</td> + <td valign='top' align='left' style='padding-right:4em;'><span class='smcap'>The Last Blow</span></td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#CHAPTER_III_THE_LAST_BLOW'>216</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' class='chalgn'>IV.––</td> + <td valign='top' align='left' style='padding-right:4em;'><span class='smcap'>Thou Also False</span></td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#CHAPTER_IV_THOU_ALSO_FALSE'>237</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' colspan='3'><p style='margin:1em auto 0.5em auto; font-size:125%; text-align:center;'>BOOK IV.</p></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' class='chalgn'>I.––</td> + <td valign='top' align='left' style='padding-right:4em;'><span class='smcap'>Treason in the Camp</span></td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#CHAPTER_I_TREASON_IN_THE_CAMP'>263</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' class='chalgn'>II.––</td> + <td valign='top' align='left' style='padding-right:4em;'><span class='smcap'>Visions of the Night</span></td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#CHAPTER_II_VISIONS_OF_THE_NIGHT'>284</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td valign='top' class='chalgn'>III.––</td> + <td valign='top' align='left' style='padding-right:4em;'><span class='smcap'>Faithful Unto Death</span></td> + <td valign='bottom' align='right'><a href='#CHAPTER_III_FAITHFUL_UNTO_DEATH'>303</a></td> +</tr> +</table> +<hr class='pb' /> +<div class='figtag'> +<a name='linki_3' id='linki_3'></a> +</div> +<div class='figcenter'> +<img src='images/illus-facsimile.png' alt='' title='' width='356' height='500' /><br /> +<p class='caption'> +(<span class='smcap'>Facsimile Page of Manuscript from</span> BESIDE THE BONNIE BRIAR BUSH)<br /> +</p> +</div> +<hr class='pb' /> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_11' name='page_11'></a>11</span></div> +<h1>GRAHAM OF CLAVERHOUSE</h1> +<div class='chsp' style='padding-bottom:0'> +<h2><span class='smcap'>Book</span> I</h2> +</div> +<div class='chsp' style='padding-top:0'> +<a name='CHAPTER_I_BY_THE_CAMPFIRE' id='CHAPTER_I_BY_THE_CAMPFIRE'></a> +<h3>CHAPTER I</h3> +<h4>BY THE CAMP-FIRE</h4> +</div> +<p>That afternoon a strange thing had happened +to the camp of the Prince of Orange, +which was pitched near Nivelle in Brabant, +for the Prince was then challenging Condé, +who stuck behind his trenches at Charleroi and +would not come out to fight. A dusty-colored +cloud came racing along the sky so swiftly––yet +there was no wind to be felt––that +it was above the camp almost as soon as it +was seen. When the fringes of the cloud encompassed +the place, there burst forth as from +its belly a whirlwind and wrought sudden +devastation in a fashion none had ever seen +before or could afterwards forget. With +one long and fierce gust it tore up trees +by the roots, unroofed the barns where the +Prince’s headquarters were, sucked up tents +into the air, and carried soldiers’ caps in +flocks, as if they were flocks of rooks. This +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_12' name='page_12'></a>12</span> +commotion went on for half an hour, then +ceased as instantly as it began; there was +calm again and the evening ended in peace, +while the cloud of fury went on its way into +the west, and afterwards we heard that a very +grand and strong church at Utrecht had suffered +greatly. As the camp was in vast disorder, +both officers and men bivouacked in the +open that night, and as it was inclined to chill +in those autumn evenings, fires had been lit +not only for the cooking of food, but for the +comfort of their heat. Round one fire a group +of English gentlemen had gathered, who had +joined the Prince’s forces, partly because, like +other men of their breed, they had an insatiable +love of fighting, and partly to push their +fortunes, for Englishmen in those days, and +still more Scotsmen were willing to serve on +any side where the pay and the risks together +were certain, and under any commander who +was a man of his head and hands. Europe +swarmed with soldiers of fortune from Great +Britain, hard bitten and fearless men, some +of whom fell far from home, and were buried +in unknown graves, others of whom returned +to take their share in any fighting that turned +up in their own country. So it came to pass +that many of our Islanders had fought impartially +with equal courage and interest for +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_13' name='page_13'></a>13</span> +the French and against them, like those two +Scots who met for the first time at the camp-fire +that night, and whose fortunes were to +the end of the chapter to be so curiously intertwined. +There was Collier, who afterwards +became My Lord Patmore; Rooke, who rose +to be a major-general in the English army; +Hales, for many years Governor of Chelsea +Hospital; Venner, the son of one of Cromwell’s +soldiers, who had strange notions about +a fifth monarchy which was to be held by our +Lord himself, but who was a good fighting +man; and some others who came to nothing +and left no mark. Two young Scots gentlemen +were among the Englishmen, who were +to have a share in making history in their +own country, and both to die as generals upon +the battle-field, the death they chiefly loved. +Both men were to suffer more than falls to +the ordinary lot, and the life of one, some +part of whose story is here to be told, was +nothing else but tragedy. For the gods had +bestowed upon him quick gifts of mind and +matchless beauty of face, and yet he was to +be hated by his nation, till his name has become +a byword, and to be betrayed by his +own friends who were cowards or self-seekers, +and to find even love, like a sword, pierce +his heart.</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_14' name='page_14'></a>14</span></div> +<p>Scotland contains within it two races, and +partly because their blood is different and +partly because the one race has lived in the +open and fertile Lowlands, and the other in +the wild and shadowy Highlands, the Celt +of the North and the Scot of the south are +well-nigh as distant from each other as the +east from the west. But among the Celts +there were two kinds in that time, and even +unto this day the distinction can be found +by those who look for it. There was the +eager and fiery Celt who was guided by his +passions rather than by prudence, who struck +first and reasoned afterwards, who was the +victim of varying moods and the child of +hopeless causes. He was usually a Catholic +in faith, so far as he had any religion, and +devoted to the Stuart dynasty, so far as he +had any policy apart from his chief. There +was also another sort of Celt, who was quiet +and self-contained, determined and persevering. +Men of this type were usually Protestant +in their faith, and when the day of +choice came they threw in their lot with Hanover +against Stuart. Hugh MacKay was the +younger son of an ancient Highland house of +large possessions and much influence in the +distant North of Scotland; his people were +suspicious of the Stuarts because the kings of +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_15' name='page_15'></a>15</span> +that ill-fated line were intoxicated with the +idea of divine right, and were ever clutching +at absolute power; nor had the MacKays any +overwhelming and reverential love for bishops, +because they considered them to be the +instruments of royal tyranny and the oppressors +of the kirk. MacKay has found a place +between Collier and Venner, and as he sits +leaning back against a saddle and to all appearance +half asleep, the firelight falls on his +broad, powerful, but rather awkward figure, +and on a strong, determined face, which in its +severity is well set off by his close-cut sandy +hair. Although one would judge him to be +dozing, or at least absorbed in his own +thoughts, if anything is said which arrests +him, he will cast a quick look on the speaker, +and then one marks that his eyes are steely +gray, cold and penetrating, but also brave and +honest. By and by he rouses himself, and taking +a book out of an inner pocket, and leaning +sideways towards the fire, he begins to +read, and secludes himself from the camp +talk. Venner notices that it is a Bible, and +opens his mouth to ask him whether he can +give him the latest news about the fifth monarchy +which made a windmill in his poor father’s +head, but, catching sight of MacKay’s +grim profile, thinks better and only shrugs +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_16' name='page_16'></a>16</span> +his shoulders. For MacKay was not a man +whose face or manner invited jesting.</p> +<p>Upon the other side of the fire, so that the +two men could only catch occasional and uncertain +glimpses of each other through the +smoke, as was to be their lot in after days, +lay the other Scot in careless grace, supporting +his head upon his hand, quite at his ease +and in good fellowship with all his comrades. +If MacKay marked a contrast to the characteristic +Celt of hot blood and wayward impulses, +by his reserve and self-control, John +Graham was quite unlike the average Lowlander +by the spirit of feudal prejudice and +romantic sentiment, of uncalculating devotion +and loyalty to dead ideals, which burned +within his heart, and were to drive him headlong +on his troubled and disastrous career. +A kinsman of the great Montrose and born +of a line which traced its origin to Scottish +kings, the child of a line of fighting cavaliers, +he loathed Presbyterians, their faith and +their habits together, counting them fanatics +by inherent disposition and traitors whenever +opportunity offered. He was devoted to +the Episcopal Church of Scotland, and regarded +a bishop with reverence for the sake +of his office, and he was ready to die, as the +Marquis of Montrose had done before him, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_17' name='page_17'></a>17</span> +for the Stuart line and their rightful place. +One can see as he stretches himself, raising +his arms above his head with a taking gesture, +that he is not more than middle size and +slightly built, though lithe and sinewy as a +young tiger, but what catches one’s eye is the +face, which is lit up by a sudden flash of firelight. +It is that of a woman rather than a +man, and a beautiful woman to boot, and this +girl face he was to keep through all the days of +strife and pain, and also fierce deeds, till they +carried him dead from Killiecrankie field. It +was a full, rich face, with fine complexion +somewhat browned by campaign life, with +large, expressive eyes of hazel hue, whose expression +could change with rapidity from +love to hate, which could be very gentle in a +woman’s wooing, or very hard when dealing +with a Covenanting rebel, but which in repose +were apt to be sad and hopeless. The +lips are rich and flexible, the nose strong and +straight, the eyebrows high and well arched, +and the mouth, with the short upper lip, is +both tender and strong. His abundant and +rich brown hair he wears in long curls falling +over his shoulders, as did the cavaliers, and +he is dressed with great care in the height of +military fashion, evidently a gallant and debonair +gentleman. He has just ceased from +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_18' name='page_18'></a>18</span> +badinage with Rooke, in which that honest +soldier’s somewhat homely army jokes have +been worsted by the graceful play of Graham’s +wit, who was ever gay, but never +coarse, who was no ascetic, and was ever willing +to drink the king’s health, but, as his +worst enemies used grudgingly to admit, cared +neither for wine nor women. Silence falls +for a little on the company. Claverhouse +looking into the fire and seeing things of long +ago and far away, hums a Royalist ballad to +the honor of King Charles, and the confounding +of crop-eared Puritans. Among the company +was that honest gentleman, Captain +George Carlton, who was afterwards to tell +many entertaining anecdotes of the War in +Spain under that brilliant commander Lord +Peterborough. And as Carlton, who was ever +in thirst for adventures, had been serving with +the fleet, and had only left it because he +thought there might be more doing now in +other quarters, Venner demanded whether +he had seen anything whose telling would +make the time pass more gayly by the fire, for +as that liberated Puritan said: “My good +comrade on the right is engaged at his devotions, +and I also would be reading a Bible if +I had one, but my worthy father studied the +Good Book so much that men judged it had +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_19' name='page_19'></a>19</span> +driven him crazy, and I having few wits to +lose have been afraid to open it ever since. +As for Mr. Graham, if I catch the air he is +singing, it is a song of the malignants against +which as a Psalm-singing Puritan I lift my +testimony. So a toothsome story of the sea, +if it please you, Mr. Carlton.”</p> +<p>“Apart from the fighting, gentlemen,” began +Carlton, who was a man of careful speech +and stiff mind, “for I judge you do not +hanker after battle-tales, seeing we shall have +our stomach full ere many days be past, if +the Prince can entice Condé into the open, +there were not many things worth telling. +But this was a remarkable occurrence, the +like of which I will dare say none of you have +seen, though I know there are men here who +have been in battle once and again. Upon the +‘Catherine’ there was a gentleman volunteer, +a man of family and fine estate, by the name +of Hodge Vaughan. Early in the fight, when +the Earl of Sandwich was our admiral and +Van Ghent commanded the Dutch, Vaughan +received a considerable wound, and was carried +down into the hold. Well, it happened +that they had some hogs aboard and, the +worse for poor Hodge Vaughan, the sailor +who had charge of them, like any other proper +Englishman, was fonder of fighting than of +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_20' name='page_20'></a>20</span> +feeding pigs, and so left them to forage for +themselves. As they could get nothing else, +and liked a change in their victuals when it +came within their reach, they made their meal +off Vaughan, and when the fight was over +there was nothing left of that poor gentleman +except his skull, which was monstrous thick +and bade defiance to the hogs. This is not a +common happening,” continued Carlton with +much composure, “and I thank my Maker I +was not carried into that hold to be a hog’s +dinner. Yet I give you my word of honor +that the tale is true.”</p> +<p>“Lord! it was a cruel ending for a gallant +gentleman,” said Collier, “and it makes gruesome +telling. Have you anything else sweeter +for the mouth, for there be enough of hogs on +the land as well as on sea, and some of them go +round the field, where men are lying helpless, +on two legs and not on four, from whom +heaven defend us.”</p> +<p>“Since you ask for more,” replied Carlton, +“a thing took place about which there was +much talk, and on it I should like to have +your judgment. Upon the same ship with +myself, there was a gentleman volunteer, and +he came with the name of a skilful swordsman. +He had been in many duels and thought +no more of standing face to face with another +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_21' name='page_21'></a>21</span> +man, and he cared not who he was, than taking +his breakfast. You would have said that +he of all men would have been the coolest on +the deck and would have given no heed to +danger. Yet the moment the bullets whizzed +he ran into the hold, and for all his land +mettle he was a coward on the sea. When +everyone laughed at him and he was becoming +a thing of scorn, he asked to be tied to the +mainmast, so that he might not be able to +escape. So it comes into my mind,” concluded +Carlton, “to ask this question of you +gallant gentlemen, Is courage what Sir Walter +Raleigh calls it, if I mind me rightly, the +art of the philosophy of quarrel, or must it +not be the issue of principle and rest upon a +steady basis of religion? I should like to ask +those artists in murder, meaning no offence +to any gentleman present who may have been +out in a duel, to tell me this, why one who +has run so many risks at his sword’s point +should be turned into a coward at the whizz +of a cannon ball?”</p> +<p>“There is not much puzzle in it as it seems +to me,” answered Rooke; “every man that +is worth calling such has so much courage, +see you, but there are different kinds. As +Mr. Carlton well called it, there is land mettle, +and that good swordsman was not afraid +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_22' name='page_22'></a>22</span> +when his feet were on the solid ground, then +there is sea mettle, and faith he had not much +of that, a trifle too little, I grant you, for a +gentleman. So it is in measure with us all +I never saw the horse I would not mount or +the wall within reason I would not take, but +I cannot put my foot in a little boat and feel +it rising on the sea without a tremble at the +heart. That is how I read the riddle.”</p> +<p>“What I hold,” burst in Collier, “is that +everything depends on a man’s blood. If it +be pure and he has come of a good stock, he +cannot play the coward any more than a lion +can stalk like a fox. Land or sea, whatever +tremble be at the heart he faces his danger +as a gentleman should, though there be certain +kinds of danger, as has been said, which +are worse for some men than others. But I +take it your gentleman volunteer, though he +might be a good player with the sword, was, +if you knew it, a mongrel.”</p> +<p>“If you mean by mongrel humbly born,” +broke in Venner, “saving your presence, you +are talking nonsense, and I will prove it to +you from days that are not long passed. +When it came to fighting in the days of our +fathers, I say not that the lads who followed +Rupert were not gallant gentlemen and hardy +blades, but unless my poor memory has been +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_23' name='page_23'></a>23</span> +carried off by that infernal whirlwind, I think +Old Noll’s Ironsides held their own pretty +well. And who were they but blacksmiths +and farmer men, from Essex and the Eastern +counties. There does not seem to me much +difference between the man from the castle +and the man behind the plough when their +blood is up and they have a sword in their +hands.”</p> +<p>“I am under obligation to you all for discussing +my humble question, but I see that +we have two Scots gentlemen with us, and I +would crave their opinion. For all men know +that the Scots soldier has gone everywhere +sword in hand, and whether he was in the +body-guard of the King of France, or doing +his duty for the Lion of the North, has never +turned his back to the foe. And I am the +more moved to ask an answer for the settlement +of my mind, because as I have ever +understood, the Scots more than our people +are accustomed to go into the reason of things, +and to argue about principles. It is not always +that the strong sword-arm goes with a +clear head, and I am waiting to hear what +two gallant Scots soldiers will say.” And +the Englishman paid his tribute of courtesy +first across the fire to Claverhouse, who responded +gracefully with a pleasant smile that +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_24' name='page_24'></a>24</span> +showed his white, even teeth beneath his slight +mustache, and then to MacKay, who leaned +forward and bowed stiffly.</p> +<p>“We are vastly indebted to Mr. Carlton for +his good opinion of our nation,” said Claverhouse, +after a slight pause to see whether +MacKay would not answer, and in gentle, +almost caressing tones, “but I fear me his +charity flatters us. Certainly no man can +deny that Scotland is ever ringing with debate. +But much of it had better been left unsaid, +and most of it is carried on by ignorant +brawlers, who should be left ploughing fields +and herding sheep instead of meddling with +matters too high for them. At least such is +my humble mind, but I am only a gentleman +private of the Prince’s guard, and there is +opposite me a commissioned officer of his +army. It is becoming that Captain Hugh +MacKay, who many will say has a better right +to speak for Scotland than a member of my +house, and who has just been getting counsel +from the highest, as I take it, should give his +judgment on this curious point of bravery or +cowardice.”</p> +<p>Although Graham’s manner was perfectly +civil and his accents almost silken, Venner +glanced keenly from one Scot to the other, +and everyone felt that the atmosphere had +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_25' name='page_25'></a>25</span> +grown more intense, and that there was latent +antipathy between the two men. And even +Rooke, a blunt and matter-of-fact Englishman, +who having said his say, had been smoking +diligently, turned round to listen to MacKay, +who had never said a word through all +the talk of the evening.</p> +<p>“Mr. Carlton and gentlemen volunteers,” +MacKay began, with grave formality, “I had +not intended to break in upon your conversation, +which I found very instructive, but as +Claverhouse” (and it was characteristic of +his nation that MacKay should call Graham +by the name of his estate) “has asked me +straightly to speak, I would first apologize +for my presence in this company. I do not +belong, as ye know, to the King’s guard, and +it is true that I have a captain’s commission. +As the tempest of to-day had thrown all +things into confusion, and it happened that I +had nowhere to sit, Mr. Venner was so kind +as to ask me to take my place by this fire for +the night, and I am pleased to find myself +among so many goodly young gentlemen. I +make no doubt,” he added, “that everyone +will so acquit himself as very soon to receive +his commission.”</p> +<p>“The sooner the better,” said Hales, “and +as I have a flask of decent Burgundy here, I +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_26' name='page_26'></a>26</span> +will pass it round that we may drink to our +luck from a loving cup.” And everyone took +his draught except MacKay, who only held +the cup to his lips and inclined his head, being +a severe and temperate man in everything.</p> +<p>“Concerning the duel and the action of that +gentleman,” continued MacKay, “my mind +may not be that of the present honorable company. +It has ever seemed to me that a man +has no right to risk his own life or take that +of his neighbor save in the cause of just war, +when he doubtless is absolved. For two sinful +mortals to settle their poor quarrels by +striking each other dead is nothing else than +black murder. There is no difficulty to my +judgment in understanding the character of +that duellist. When he knew that through +skill in fencing he could kill the other man +and escape himself, he was always ready to +fight; when he found that danger had shifted +to his own side, he was quick to flee. My verdict +on him,” and MacKay’s voice was vibrant, +“is that he was nothing other than a +butcher and a coward.”</p> +<p>“As the Lord liveth,” cried Venner, “I +hear my sainted father laying down the law, +and I do Captain MacKay filial reverence. +May I inquire whether Scotland is raising +many such noble Puritans, for they are +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_27' name='page_27'></a>27</span> +quickly dying out in England. Such savory +and godly conversation have I not heard for +years, and it warms my heart.”</p> +<p>“The sooner the knaves die out in England +the better,” cried Collier; “but I mean no +offence to Venner, who is no more a Puritan +than I am, though he has learned their talk, +and none at all to Captain MacKay, whom I +salute, and of whose good services when he +was fighting on the other side we have all +heard. Nor can I, indeed, believe that he is +a Roundhead, for I was always given to understand +that Highland gentlemen were always +Cavaliers, and high-spirited soldiers.”</p> +<p>“Ye be wrong then, good comrades,” broke +in Claverhouse, “for all Highlanders be not +of the same way of thinking, though I grant +you most of them are what ye judge. But +have you never heard of the godly Marquis +of Argyle, who took such care of himself on +the field of battle, but afterwards happened +to lose his head through a little accident, and +his swarm of Campbells, besides some other +clans that I will not mention? My kinsman +of immortal memory, whom I maintain to be +the finest gentleman and most skilful general +Scotland has yet reared, could have told you +that there were Highland Roundheads; he +knew them, and they knew him, and I hope I +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_28' name='page_28'></a>28</span> +need not be telling this company what happened +when they met.” As Graham spoke, +it may have been the firelight on MacKay’s +face, but it seemed to flush and his expression +to harden. However, he said no word and +made no sign, and Claverhouse, whose voice +was as smooth as ever, but whose eyes were +flashing fire, continued: “If there should be +trouble soon in Scotland, and my advice from +home tells me that the fanatics in the West +will soon be coming to a head and taking to +the field, we shall know that some of the clans +are loyal and some of them are not. And for +my own part, I care not how soon we come to +our duel in Scotland. Please God, I would +dearly love to have the settling of the matter. +With a few thousand Camerons, Macphersons, +MacDonalds, and such like, I will guarantee +that I could teach the Psalm-singing +canters a lesson they would never forget. But +I crave pardon for touching on our national +differences, when we had better be employed +in cracking another flask of that good Burgundy.” +And Graham, as if ashamed of his +heat, stretched his arms above his head.</p> +<p>“May God in His mercy avert so great a +calamity,” said MacKay after a pause. +“When brother turns against brother in the +same nation it is the cruellest of all wars. But +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_29' name='page_29'></a>29</span> +the rulers of Scotland may make themselves +sure that if they drive God-fearing people +mad, they will rise against their oppressors. +Mr. Graham, however, has wisdom on his side––I +wish it had come a minute sooner––when +he said there was no place for our Scots quarrels +in the Prince’s army. Wherefore I say +no more on that matter, but I pray we all may +have the desire of a soldier’s heart, a righteous +cause, a fair battle, and a crowning victory, +and that we all in the hour of peril may +do our part as Christian gentlemen.”</p> +<p>“Amen to that, Captain MacKay of +Scourie, three times Amen!” cried Graham. +“I drink it in this wine, and pledge you all +to brave deeds when a chance comes our way. +The sooner the better and the gladder I shall +be, for our race have never been more content +than when the swords were clashing. I +wish to heaven we were serving under a more +high-spirited commander; I deny not his +courage, else I would not be among his guard, +nor his skill, but I confess that I do not love +a man whose blood runs so slow, and whose +words drop like icicles. But these be hasty +words, and should not be spoken except +among honorable comrades when the wine is +going round by the camp-fire. And here is +Jock Grimond who, because he taught me to +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_30' name='page_30'></a>30</span> +catch a trout and shoot the muir-fowl when I +was a little lad, thinks he ought to rule me all +my days, and has been telling me for the last +ten minutes that he has prepared some kind +of bed with the remains of my tent. So good +night and sound sleep, gentlemen, and may +to-morrow bring the day for which we pray.”</p> +<hr class='toprule' /> +<div class='chsp'> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_31' name='page_31'></a>31</span> +<a name='CHAPTER_II_THE_BATTLE_OF_SINEFFE' id='CHAPTER_II_THE_BATTLE_OF_SINEFFE'></a> +<h3>CHAPTER II</h3> +<h4>THE BATTLE OF SINEFFE</h4> +</div> +<p>It was early in the morning on the first +day of August, and darkness was still heavy +upon the camp, when Grimond stooped over +his master and had to shake him vigorously +before Claverhouse woke.</p> +<p>“It’s time you were up, Maister John; the +Prince’s guards are gatherin’, and sune will +be fallin’ in; that’s their trumpets soundin’. +Ye will need a bite before ye start, and here’s +a small breakfast, pairt of which I saved oot +o’ that stramash yesterday––sall! the blast +threatened to leave neither meat nor lodgin’, +and pairt I happened to light upon this +mornin’ when I was takin’ a bit walk through +the camp with my lantern.”</p> +<p>Grimond spread out a fairly generous +breakfast of half a fowl, a piece of ham, some +excellent cheese, with good white bread and a +bottle of wine, and held the lantern that his +master might eat with some comfort, if it had +to be with more haste.</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_32' name='page_32'></a>32</span></div> +<p>“Do you ken, Jock, where I was when you +wakened me, and flashed the light upon my +face? Away in bonnie Glen Ogilvie, where +everything is at its best to-day. I dreamed +that I was off to Sidlaw Hill, to see what was +doing with the muir-fowl, and I felt the good +Scots air blowing upon my face. This is a +black wakening, Jock, but I’ve slept worse, +and you have done well for breakfast. Ye +never came honestly by it, man. Have ye +been raiding?”</p> +<p>“Providence guided me, Maister John, and +I micht have given a little assistance mysel’. +As I was crossing thro’ a corner of the Dutch +camp, I caught a glimpse of this roast +chuckie, with some other bits o’ things, and +it cam into my mind that that was somebody’s +breakfast. Whether he had taken all he +wanted or whether he was going to be too late +was-na my business, but the Lord delivered +that fowl into my hands, and I considered it +a temptin’ o’ Providence no to tak it, to say +nothin’ o’ the white bread. The wine and the +ham I savit frae yesterday.”</p> +<p>“You auld thief, I might have guessed +where you picked up the breakfast. I only +hope ’twas a heavy-built Dutchman who could +starve for a week without suffering, and not a +lean, hungry Scot who needed some breakfast +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_33' name='page_33'></a>33</span> +to put strength in him for a day’s fighting, if +God be good enough to send it. Isn’t it a regiment +of the Scots brigade which is lying next +to us, Jock?”</p> +<p>“It is,” replied that worthy servitor, “and +I was hopin’ that it was Captain MacKay’s +rations which were given into my hands, so +to say, by the higher power. I was standing +behind you, Maister John, last nicht when +you and him was argling-bargling, and if ever +I saw a cunning twa-faced Covenanter, it’s +that man. They say he has got a good word +with the Prince through his Dutch wife, and +where ye give that kind of man an inch, he +will take an ell. It’s no for me to give advice, +me bein’ in my place and you in yours. +But I promised your honorable mither that I +wouldna see you come to mischief if I could +help it, and I am sair mistaken if yon man +will no be a mercilous and persistent enemy. +May the Almichty forbid it, but if MacKay +of Scourie can hinder it there will be little advancement +for Graham of Claverhouse in this +army.”</p> +<p>“You are a dour and suspicious devil, +Jock, and you’ve always been the same ever +since I remember you. Captain MacKay is +a whig and a Presbyterian, but he is a good +soldier, and I wish I had been more civil to +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_34' name='page_34'></a>34</span> +him last night. We are here to fight for the +Prince of Orange and to beat the French, and +let the best man win; it will be time enough +to quarrel when we get back to Scotland. +Kindly Scots should bury their differences, +and stand shoulder to shoulder in a foreign +land.”</p> +<p>“That is bonnie talk, laird, but dinna forget +there’s been twa kinds of Scot in the land +since the Reformation, and there will be twa +to the end of the chapter, and they’ll never +agree till the day of judgment, and then +they’ll be on opposite sides. There was Queen +Mary and there was John Knox, there was +that false-hearted loon Argyle, that ye gave +a grand nip at the fire last nicht, and there +was the head o’ your hoose, the gallant Marquis––peace +to his soul. Now there’s the Carnegies +and the Gordons and the rest o’ the +royal families in the Northeast, and the sour-blooded +Covenanters down in the West, and +it’s no in the nature o’ things that they should +agree any more than oil and water. As for +me, the very face of a Presbyterian whig +makes me sick. But there’s the trumpet +again,” and Grimond helped his master to +put on his arms.</p> +<p>“I’ve been awfu favored this mornin’, +Maister John, for what div ye think? I’ve +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_35' name='page_35'></a>35</span> +secured nae less than a baggage waggon for +oorsels. The driver was stravagin’ aboot in +the dark and didna know where he was going, +so I asked him if he wasna coming for the +baggage of the English gentlemen, to say +naething of a Scots gentleman. When he was +trying to understand me, and I was trying to +put some sense into him, up comes Mr. Carlton, +and I explained the situation to him. He +told the driver in his own language that I +would guide him to the spot, and me and the +other men are packing the whole of the gentlemen’s +luggage and ane or twa comforts in +the shape of meat and bedding which the fools +round about us didna seem to notice, or were +going to leave. That waggon, Mr. John, is a +crownin’ mercy, and I’m to sit beside the +driver, and it will no be my blame if there’s +no a tent and a supper wherever Providence +sends us this nicht.” And Jock went off in +great feather to look after his acquisition, +while his master joined his comrades of the +Prince’s guard.</p> +<p>As the day rapidly breaks, they find themselves +passing from the level into a broken +country. The ground is rising, and in the distance +they can see defiles through which the +army must make its way. The vanguard, as +they learn from one of the Prince’s aides-de-camp, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_36' name='page_36'></a>36</span> +is composed of the Imperial corps commanded +by Count Souches, and must by this +time be passing through the narrows. In +front are the Dutch troops, who are under +the immediate command of the Commander-in-Chief, +the Prince of Orange. The English +volunteers being the next to the Prince’s regiment +of Guards, followed close upon the main +body of the army, and behind them trailed the +long, cumbrous baggage train. The rear-guard, +together with some details of various +kinds and nations, consisted of the Spanish +division, which was commanded by Prince +Vaudemont. As they came to higher ground +Claverhouse began to see the lie of the country, +and to express his fears to Carlton.</p> +<p>“I don’t know how you judge things,” said +Claverhouse, “but I would not be quite at +my ease if I were his Highness of Orange, in +command of the army, and with more than +one nation’s interest at stake, instead of a +poor devil of a volunteer, with little pay, less +reputation, and no responsibility. If we were +marching across a plain and could see twenty +miles round, or if there were no enemy within +striking reach, well, then this were a pleasant +march from Neville to Binch, for that is +where I’m told we are going. But, faith, I +don’t like the sight of this country in which +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_37' name='page_37'></a>37</span> +we are being entangled. If Condé has any +head, and he is not a fool, he could arrange a +fine ambuscade, and catch those mighty and +vain-glorious Imperialists and that fool +Souches like rats in a trap. Or he might +make a sudden attack on the flank and cut our +army into two, as you divide a caterpillar +crawling along the ground.”</p> +<p>“The General knows what he is about, no +doubt,” replies Carlton with true English +phlegm; “he has made his plan, and I suppose +the cavalry have been scouting. It’s +their business who have got the command to +arrange the march and the attack, and ours to +do the fighting. It will be soon enough for us +to arrange the tactics when we get to be generals. +What say you to that, Mr. Graham? +There’s no sign of the enemy at any rate, and +Souches must be well in through the valley.”</p> +<p>“No,” said Graham, “there are no Frenchmen +to be seen, but they may be there behind +the hill on our right, and quick enough to +show themselves when the time comes. Oh! +I like this bit of country, for it minds me of +the Braes of Angus, and I hate a land where +all is flat and smooth. By heaven! what a +chance there is for any commander who +knows how to use a hill country. See ye here, +comrade, suppose this was Scotland, and this +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_38' name='page_38'></a>38</span> +were an army of black Whigs, making their +way to do some evil work after their heart’s +desire against their King and Church, and I +had the dealing with them. All I would ask +would be a couple of Highland clans and a +regiment of loyal gentlemen, well-mounted +and armed. I would wait concealed behind +yon wood up there near the sky-line till those +Imperialists were fairly up the glen and out +of sight and the Dutch were plodding their +way in. Then I’d launch the Highlanders, +sword in hand, down the slope of that hill, +and cut off the rear-guard, and take the baggage +at a swoop, and in half an hour the army +would be disabled and the third part of it put +out of action.”</p> +<p>“What about the Imperial troops and the +Dutch, my General?” said Carlton, much +interested in Claverhouse’s plan of battle. +“You can’t take an army in detachments +just as you please.”</p> +<p>“You can with Highlanders and cavalry, +and then having struck your blow retire as +quickly as you came. Faith, there would be +no option about the retiring with your Highlanders; +when they got hold of the baggage +they would do nothing more. After every +man had lifted as much as he could carry, he +would make for the hills and leave the other +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_39' name='page_39'></a>39</span> +troops to do as they pleased. An army of +Highlanders is quickly gathered and quickly +dispersed, and the great point of attraction is +the baggage. Condé has no Highlanders, the +worse for him and the better for us, but he +has plenty of light troops––infantry as well as +cavalry––and if he doesn’t take this chance +he ought to be discharged with disgrace. But +see there, what make you of that, Carlton?”</p> +<p>“What and where?” said Carlton, looking +in the direction Claverhouse pointed. “I see +the brushwood, and it may be that there are +troops behind, but my eyes cannot detect +them.”</p> +<p>“Watch a moment that place where the +leaves are darker and thicker, and that tree +stands out; you can catch a glitter, just an +instant, and then it disappears. What do +you say to that?”</p> +<p>“By the Lord!” cried Carlton, who was +standing in his stirrups and shading his eyes +with his hand, “it’s the glitter of a breastplate. +There’s one trooper at any rate in that +wood, and if there is one there may be hundreds. +What think you?”</p> +<p>“What I’ve been expecting for hours. +Those are the videttes of the French army, +and they have been watching us all the time +our vanguard was passing. I’ll stake a year’s +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_40' name='page_40'></a>40</span> +rental of the lands of Claverhouse that if we +could see on the other side of that hill we +would find Condé’s troops making ready for +an attack.”</p> +<p>“I will not say but that you are right, and +I don’t like the situation nor feel as comfortable +as I did half an hour ago. Do you think +that the general in command knows of this +danger, or has heard that the French outposts +are so near?”</p> +<p>“If you ask me, Mr. Carlton, I would say +that those Dutch officers don’t know that +there is a Frenchman within ten miles; they +are good at drill, and steady in battle, but +their minds are as heavy as their bodies. +Their idea of fighting is to deploy according +to a book of drill on a parade ground; you +cannot expect men who live on the flat to understand +hills. That wood,” and Claverhouse +was looking at the hill intently, “is simply +full of men and horses, and within an hour, +and perhaps less, you will see a pretty attack. +Aren’t we at their mercy?” Claverhouse +pointed forward to the crest of a little hill +over which the Dutch brigade were passing +in marching formation, and backward to the +lumbering train of baggage-wagons.</p> +<p>“‘Whom the gods wish to destroy they first +make mad,’ is a Latin proverb I picked up +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_41' name='page_41'></a>41</span> +at St. Andrew’s University, and one of the +few scraps of knowledge I carried away from +the good old place. They might at least have +thrown out some of our cavalry on the right +to draw fire from that wood, and enable us to +find their position. It’s not overly pleasant +to jog quietly along as if one were riding up +the Carse of Gowrie to Perth fair, when it’s +far more likely we are riding into the shambles +like a herd of fat bullocks going to Davie +Saunders, the Dundee butcher.”</p> +<p>“See you here, friend,” cried Carlton, “I +am not in a mind to be taken at a disadvantage +and ridden down by those Frenchmen +when we are not in formation. They have us +at a disadvantage in any case, but, by my life, +we ought at any rate to deploy to the right, +and seize that higher ground, or else they will +send us into that marshland that I see forward +there on the left. If they do, there will +be some throats cut, and it might be yours or +mine. What say you, Mr. Graham, to ride +forward and tell one of the officers in attendance +on his Highness what we have seen, and +then let them do as they please?”</p> +<p>“I have nothing to say against that, but I +know one man who will not go, and that is +John Graham of Claverhouse. It may be +vain pride, or it may not, but I will not +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_42' name='page_42'></a>42</span> +have the shame of telling my tale to one of +those Dutchmen as if you were speaking to a +painted monument, and then have him order +you back to your place as if you were a mutineer; +my hand would be itching for the sword-handle +before all was done, and so I’ll just be +doing. But I will be ready when the cloud +breaks from yon hill, and it’s not far off the +bursting now.” And Graham pointed out +that the glitter was repeated at several points, +as when the sun is reflected from broken +dishes on a hillside.</p> +<p>“You Scots are a proud race,” laughed +Carlton, “and quick to take offence. We +English have a temper, too, but we are nearer +to those Dutchmen in our nature. I’ll not see +the army ambuscaded without a warning. If +they take it we shall make a better fight, and +for the first hour it will be bad enough anyway +till the vanguard are brought back, and +if they won’t take it, why, we have done our +duty, and we will have to look after ourselves.” +And Carlton spurred his horse and +cantered forward to where the headquarters +staff were riding with the troop which was +called the Scots brigade, because it was largely +officered and to some extent manned by Scotsmen, +and in which MacKay had a captain’s +commission.</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_43' name='page_43'></a>43</span></div> +<p>In some fifteen minutes Carlton rejoined +Claverhouse red and annoyed, and on the +sight of him Claverhouse laughed.</p> +<p>“Without offence, good comrade, I take it +you have not been thanked for your trouble +or been promised promotion. Sworn at, I +dare say, if those godly Dutchmen are allowed +to rap out an oath. At any rate you +have been told to attend to your own work +and leave our wise generals to manage theirs, +eh?”</p> +<p>“You are right, Graham. I wish I had +bitten off my tongue rather than reported the +matter. I got hold of an aide-de-camp, and +I pointed out what we had seen, and he spoke +to me as if I was a boy with my heart in my +mouth for fear I would be shot every minute. +For a set of pig-headed fools–––”</p> +<p>“Well, it would not have mattered much, for +the news, as it happened, would have come too +late. See, the attack has begun; whatever be +the issue of the battle before night, it will be +one way or another with us within an hour.” +As he spoke Claverhouse began to put himself +in order, seeing that his pistols were +ready in the holsters, his sword loose in the +scabbard, and the girths of his saddle tight.</p> +<p>“It will be a sharp piece of work for us, +and some good sword play before it is done.”</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_44' name='page_44'></a>44</span></div> +<p>Suddenly from the wood a line of cavalry +emerged, followed by another and still another, +till at least three regiments were on the +side of the hill, and behind them it was evident +there was a large body of troops. By +this time the staff had taken alarm, and an +officer had galloped up with orders that the +English volunteers and Dutch cavalry should +deploy to the right, and orders were also sent +to the Spaniards in the rear to advance rapidly +and cover the baggage. The Dutch troops in +front who had entered the defile were arrested, +and began to march back, and an urgent message +was sent to the Imperialists to follow +the Dutch in case the French should make a +general attack. Before the Dutch troops had +returned to the open, and long before the Imperialists +could be in action, the French, +crossing the hill with immense rapidity and +covered by a screen of cavalry, attacked the +Spanish rear-guard before it was able to take +up a proper form of defence, and though the +Spaniards fought with their accustomed courage, +and no blame could be attached to the +dispositions made in haste by Vaudemont, this +division of the army was absolutely routed, +and one distinguished Spanish general, the +Marquis of Assentar, was killed when cheering +his men to the defence. The defeat of the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_45' name='page_45'></a>45</span> +Spaniards left the baggage train unprotected, +and the French troops fell upon it with great +zest: indeed, Claverhouse that night declared +that the Highlanders themselves could not +have raided more heartily or more swiftly. +Nor did the Spaniards, when once they had +been beaten and scattered, and fighting was +no longer of any use, disdain to help themselves +to the plunder. Grimond was furious +as he saw his wagon in danger, and endeavored +to rally some odds and ends of flying +Spaniards and terrified wagon-drivers to defend +his cherished possessions. But he was +left to do so himself, and after beating off +the two first Frenchmen who came to investigate, +and being wounded in a general fight +with the next lot, he was obliged to leave the +possessions of the English volunteers to their +fate and set off to discover how it fared with +his master.</p> +<p>The Battle of Sineffe was to last all day, +and before evening the two armies would be +generally engaged; eighteen thousand men +were to fall on both sides, and there were to +be many hot encounters, but the sharpest took +place at the centre and early in the day. The +cavalry with the English volunteers were +thrown forward to hinder the advance of the +French cavalry who, while their infantry +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_46' name='page_46'></a>46</span> +were dealing with the Spanish corps, were +being hurled at the centre in order to cut the +army in two and confine the Dutch troops to +the defile, or if they emerged from the defiles, +to crush them before they could deploy +on the broken country.</p> +<p>“Where do you take it is the point of conflict?” +asked Carlton as the regiment of the +guards with which they were serving went +forward at a sharp trot across the level +ground, on which the French cavalry should +soon be appearing. “Where is his Highness +himself, for I can get no sight of the rest of +the Dutch cavalry?”</p> +<p>“To the left, I take it, where the fight has +already begun. Do you not hear the firing? +and I seem to catch some shouts, as if the +Dutch and the French were already meeting. +Mind you, Carlton, his Highness may have +been too confident and laid the army open to +attack, but he can tell where the heart of the +situation is, and his business will be to resist +the French onslaught till the infantry +are in position. Just as I thought, we are to +go to his aid, and in ten minutes, or my name +is not Graham, we shall have as much as we +want.”</p> +<p>In less than that space of time the regiment, +now galloping, found themselves in the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_47' name='page_47'></a>47</span> +immediate rear of the fighting line, and +opened out and prepared to advance. In +front of them three regiments of Dutch cavalry +were being beaten back by a French +brigade, and just when the English volunteers +arrived the French received a large accession +of strength, and the Dutch, broken +and ridden down by weight of men and +horses, were driven back. It was in vain that +their colonel ordered his men to charge, for +in fifty yards the mass of Dutch cavalry in +front were thrown upon them and broke +their line. It was now a man to man and +hand to hand conflict for a few minutes, and +Claverhouse, when he had disentangled himself +from the hurly-burly, and forced his way +through the mass, was in immediate conflict +with a French officer in front of their line, +whom he disarmed by a clever sword trick +which he had learned from a master of arms +in the French service. A French soldier +missed Claverhouse’s head by a hair’s-breadth, +while he, swerving, struck down another +on his right. Carlton had disappeared, +Hales had been wounded, but in the end +escaped with his life. Collier and Claverhouse +were now in the open space behind the +first line of the French cavalry, and they +could see more than one Dutch officer and +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_48' name='page_48'></a>48</span> +some of the Dutch troopers also in the same +dangerous position. Graham was considering +what to do when he caught sight, a short +distance off on the left, of a figure he seemed +to know: it was an officer riding slowly along +the line as if in command, and taking no heed +of the many incidents happening round him.</p> +<p>“Collier,” cried Graham, “see you who +that is among the French soldiers alone and +at their mercy? As I am a living man it is +the Prince himself. Good God! how did he +get there, and what is he going to do?”</p> +<p>While Graham was speaking the Prince of +Orange, who was now quite close to him, but +gave no sign that he recognized him, suddenly +threw out an order in French to the regiment +behind which he was riding, and which was +hewing its way through a mass of Dutch. He +called on them to halt and reform, and their +officers supposing him to be one of their generals +who had arrived from headquarters, set +to work to extricate their men from the mêlée. +The Prince passed with the utmost coolness +through their line as if to see what was doing +in front, while Claverhouse and Collier followed +him as if they were attached. As soon +as he had got to the open space in front, for +what remained of the Dutch were in rapid +retreat, and were scattering in all directions, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_49' name='page_49'></a>49</span> +he put spurs to his horse, and shouting to +Claverhouse and Collier to follow rapidly, +for his trick had already been detected, he +galloped forward to the place where the +crowd of fugitives was thinnest, that he might +as soon as possible rejoin his staff and resume +command when above all times a general was +needed. A French officer, however, had recognized +him as he passed through the line, +and now with some dozen soldiers was pursuing +at full speed. The Prince’s horse had +been wounded in two places and was also +blown with exertion, and passing over some +marshy ground had not strength to clear it, +but plunged helplessly in the soft soil. In +two minutes, the French would have been +upon them and made the greatest capture of +the war. Claverhouse, leaping off his horse, +asked the Prince to mount, who, instantly and +without more than a nod, sprang into the +saddle and escaped when the Frenchmen were +within a few yards. Claverhouse fired at the +French officer and missed him, but brought +down his horse, which did just as well, and +Collier sent his sword through the shoulder +of the French soldier who followed next. +Claverhouse, seizing this minute of delay, ran +with all his might for a hedge, over which +dismounted stragglers were climbing in hot +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_50' name='page_50'></a>50</span> +haste, and made for the nearest gap. It was +blocked by a tall and heavily-built Dutch dragoon, +who could neither get through nor back, +and was swearing fearfully.</p> +<div class='figtag'> +<a name='linki_4' id='linki_4'></a> +</div> +<div class='figcenter'> +<img src='images/illus-047.jpg' alt='' title='' width='400' height='500' /><br /> +<p class='caption'> +Claverhouse fired at the French officer and missed him, but brought down his horse. Page 49.<br /> +</p> +</div> +<p>“It’s maist awfu’ to see a Christian man +misusing the Lord’s mercies like that,” and +at the sound of that familiar voice Claverhouse +turned to find Grimond by his side, +who had been out in the hope of finding his +master, and had certainly come to his aid at +the right time.</p> +<p>“Would onybody but a blunderin’ fool of +a Dutchman think of blockin’ a passage when +the troops are in retreat? If we canna get +through him, we had better get ower him. +I’ve helped ye across a dyke afore, Maister +John, and there ye go.” Claverhouse, jumping +on Grimond, who made a back for him, +went over the Dutchman’s shoulders. Then +he seized the Dutchman by his arm, while +Grimond acted as a battering-ram behind: so +they pulled what remained of him, like a cork +out of the mouth of a bottle, and Grimond +followed his master. Collier, who had been +covering the retreat, left his horse to its fate, +and ran by the same convenient gap.</p> +<p>“To think o’ the perversity o’ that Dutchman +obstructin’ a right o’ way, especially on +sich a busy day, wi’ his muckle unmannerly +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_51' name='page_51'></a>51</span> +carcase, as if he had been a Highland cattle +beast. Dod! he would make a grand Covenanter +for the cursed thrawnness o’ him.”</p> +<p>That night when the English volunteers, +who had all escaped with some slight wounds +and the loss of their baggage, were going over +the day’s work, an officer attached to the +Prince asked if a Scots gentleman called Mr. +Graham was present. When Claverhouse +rose and saluted him, the officer said, with +the curt brevity of his kind, “His Highness +desires your presence,” and immediately +turned and strode off in the direction of the +headquarters, while Claverhouse, shrugging +his shoulders, followed him in his usual leisurely +fashion. On arriving at the farm-house +where the Prince had gone after the French +had retired, Graham was immediately shown +into his room. The Prince, rising and returning +Claverhouse’s respectful salutation, gave +him one long, searching glance, and then said: +“You did me a great service to-day, and saved +my person from capture, perhaps my life +from death. I do not forget any man who +has done me good, and who is loyal to me. +What you desire at my hands I do not know, +and what it would be best to do for you I do +not yet know. If you determine after some +experience to remain in my service, and if +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_52' name='page_52'></a>52</span> +you show yourself the good soldier I take you +to be, you will not miss promotion. That is +all I will say to-night, for I know not where +your ambitions may lie.” The Prince looked +coldly at Graham’s love-locks and Cavalier +air. “Your cause may not be my cause. I +bid you good-evening, Mr. Graham. We shall +meet again.”</p> +<hr class='toprule' /> +<div class='chsp'> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_53' name='page_53'></a>53</span> +<a name='CHAPTER_III_A_DECISIVE_BLOW' id='CHAPTER_III_A_DECISIVE_BLOW'></a> +<h3>CHAPTER III</h3> +<h4>A DECISIVE BLOW</h4> +</div> +<p>“You have the devil’s luck, Graham,” said +Rooke, who had taken a meal fit for two men, +and now had settled down to smoke and drink +for the evening. “To get the best place in the +attack to-day on the town, and to escape with +nothing more than a cat scratch, which will +not hurt your beauty, is more than any ordinary +man can expect. There will be some +hot work before Grave is taken, and plenty +of good men will get their marching orders,” +for the Prince and his troops were now besieging +Grave keenly, and the English volunteers +were messing together after an assault +which had captured some of the outworks.</p> +<p>“I would lay you what you like, Rooke,” +drawled Venner, “if I were not a Puritan, +and didn’t disapprove of drinking and gambling +and other works of Satan, that Chamilly +will come to terms within fourteen days. He +has no stomach for those mortars that are +playing on the place, and he knows that +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_54' name='page_54'></a>54</span> +Orange, having got his teeth in, will never +take them out. Another assault like to-day +will settle the matter. Graham here used to +say that his Highness was an icicle, but I +judge him a good fighting man. You will get +as much as you want if you follow the Prince. +Ballantine that’s gone to-day always said that +there was no soldier in Europe he would put +before the Prince. Speaking about that, who, +think you, will get the place of lieutenant-colonel +in the Scots Brigade in succession to +Sir William?”</p> +<p>“Don’t know, and don’t care,” said Collier, +stretching himself and yawning. “It +will go to some officer of the Scots Brigade, +and though I am a born Scot, nobody remembers +that, and I pass for an Englishman. +And to tell the truth, I’m happier with you +volunteers than among those canny Scots; +they are as jealous and as bigoted as a Roundhead +Conventicle, and I don’t envy the man +who gets promotion among them. But it +doesn’t concern any of us.”</p> +<p>“There I differ with you, comrade,” broke +in Carlton. “You seem to have forgotten +that one of our good company is not only a +Scot, but has done the Prince priceless service. +I make little doubt that we shall hear +news in twenty-four hours. We are proud to +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_55' name='page_55'></a>55</span> +have Mr. Graham with us, for he is a good +comrade and a good soldier, but I expect to-morrow +to drink a flask of wine to his commission +as lieutenant-colonel. What say you +to my idea?”</p> +<p>“If promotion went by merit, I’m with +you, Carlton; but, faith, it goes by everything +else, and specially back-door influence. A +man gets his step, not because he is a good +soldier, but because he has got a friend at +court, or he is the same religion as the general, +or I have heard cases where it went by +gold.”</p> +<p>“That such things are done, Rooke, I will +not deny, but they say that promotion goes +fairly where his Highness commands; he has +an eye for a good soldier, and you have forgotten +that he would not be in his place to-day +had it not been for our comrade’s help.”</p> +<p>“I remember that quite well, and I wish +to God other people may remember, for Graham +ran a pretty good chance of closing his +life that day and never seeing Scotland again, +but Princes have short memories. If Charles +II. of sainted character had called to his mind +that my grandfather, more fool he, melted all +his plate and lost all his land, to say nothing +of three or four sons, for the Stuart cause, I +would not be a gentleman volunteer in this +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_56' name='page_56'></a>56</span> +army without a spare gold piece in my pocket. +Kings bless you at the time with many pretty +words, and then don’t know your face next +time you meet; but I wish you good luck, +Graham, and I drink your health. What +think you yourself?”</p> +<p>“What I ought to think, gentlemen, is that +I am much honored to have your good opinion +and your friendly wishes.” And Graham +gathered them all with a smile that gave his +delicate and comely features a rare fascination. +“You are true comrades as well as +brave gentlemen. I will not deny, though I +would only say it among my friends, that I +have thought of that vacancy, and have wondered +whether the appointment would come +my way. I received, indeed, a private word +to apply for it this evening, but that I will +not do. The Prince knows what I have done, +though I do not make so much of saving his +life as you may think. If he is pleased to +give me this advance, well, gentlemen, I hope +I shall not bring disgrace upon the Scots +Brigade. But let us change the subject. We +be a barbarous people in the North, but after +all a gentleman does not love to talk about +his own doings, still less of his own glory. To +bed, my comrades, we may have heavy work +to-morrow.”</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_57' name='page_57'></a>57</span></div> +<p>The Prince gave his troops a day’s rest, +and left the artillery to do their work, and +Claverhouse was reading for the sixth time +some letters of his mother’s, when Grimond +came in with the air of a man full of news, +but determined not to tell them until he was +questioned, and even then to give what he had +grudgingly and by way of favor.</p> +<p>“What news, did ye say, Mr. John? Weel, +if ye mean from Scotland, ye have the last +yersel’ in the letters of your honorable mither. +What I am hearing from some Scot that cam +oot o’ the west country is that if the council +does na maister the Covenanters, the dear +carles will maister them, and then Scotland +will be a gey ill place to live in. It will be a +fine sicht when you and me, Claverhouse, has +to sign the Solemn League and Covenant, and +hear Sandy Peden, that they call a prophet, +preachin’ three hours on the sins o’ prelacy +and dancin’. My certes!” And at the +thought thereof Grimond lost the power of +speech.</p> +<p>“Never mind Scotland, Jock, just now; +the auld country will take care of herself till +we go home, and then we’ll give such assistance +as in the power of a good sword. Who +knows, man, but we’ll be riding through the +muirs of Ayrshire after something bigger +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_58' name='page_58'></a>58</span> +than muir-fowl before many years are over? +But the camp, man, what’s going on here this +morning, and what are the folk talking about, +for, as ye know, I’ve been on the broad of my +back after yesterday’s work?”</p> +<p>“If ye mean by news, laird, what wasna +expected, and that, I’m judging, is a correct +definition o’ news, there’s naethin’ worth +mentionin’. A dozen more Scots have come +to get their livin’ or their death, as Providence +wills, in a foreign army, instead of +working their bit o’ land on a brae-side in +bonnie Scotland. But that’s no news, for it +has been goin’ on for centuries, and I’m expectin’ +will last as long as thae foreign bodies +need buirdly men and Scotland has a cold +climate.</p> +<p>“They are saying, I may mention, that +Chamilly is getting sick o’ these mortars, and +didna particularly like the attack yesterday, +and the story is going about that he will soon +ask for terms, and that if he gets the honors +of war the Prince may have the town. It will +be another feather in his cap, and, to my +thinkin’, he has got ower many for his deservin’––an +underhand and evil-hearted loon.” +And Grimond spoke with such vehemence and +a keen dislike that Claverhouse suspected he +had heard something more important than he +had told.</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_59' name='page_59'></a>59</span></div> +<p>“‘Is that all?’ ye ask, Claverhouse, and I +reply no; but I wish to gudeness that it was. +If news be what has happened, even though +some of us expected it, then I have got some, +although I would rather that my tongue was +blistered than tell it. It cam into my mind +that the Prince micht be appointin’ the new +colonel to the Scots Brigade this mornin’, and +so I just happened to give a cry on an Angus +man who is gettin’ his bit livin’ as a servant +to one of the aides-de-camp. He is called a +Dutchman, but has honest Scots blood in his +veins. We havered about this and about that, +and then I threipit (insisted) that he would +never hear onything that was goin’ on, and, +for example, that he wouldna know who was +the new colonel. ‘Div I no?’ said Patrick +Harris. ‘Maybe I do, but maybe I wouldna +be anxious to tell ye, Jock Grimond, for ye +michtna be pleased.’ ‘Pleased or no pleased,’ +I said, ‘let me hear his name.’ ‘Well,’ he +answered, ‘if ye maun have it, it’s no your +maister that folk thought would get it.’ +‘Then,’ said I, ‘Patrick, I jalouse who it +is; it’s MacKay of Scourie.’ ‘It is,’ said +Patrick. ‘I heard it when I was standin’ +close to the door, and I canna say that I’m +pleased.’ Naither was I, ye may depend upon +it, Claverhouse, but I wouldna give onybody +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_60' name='page_60'></a>60</span> +the satisfaction of knowing what I thocht. +So I just contented mysel’ wi’ sayin’, ‘Damn +them baith, the are for an ungrateful scoundrel, +and the other for a plottin’, schemin’ +hypocritical Presbyterian. I cam to tell ye, +but no word would have passed my lips if ye +hadna chanced to ask me.”</p> +<p>“Jock, you’ve been a faithful man to the +house of Graham for many years,” said +Claverhouse, after a silence of some minutes, +during which Grimond busied himself polishing +his master’s arms, “and I will say to you +what I am not going to tell the camp, that +you might have brought better news. Whether +I was right or wrong, man, I had set my heart +upon succeeding Ballantine, and I was imagining +that maybe this very afternoon I could +write home to my mother and tell her that her +son was a lieutenant-colonel in the good Scots +Brigade. But it’s all in the chances of war, +and we must just take things as they come. +Do ye know, Jock, I often think I was born +like the Marquis, under an unlucky star, and +that all my life things will go ill with me, and +with my cause. I dinna think that I’ll ever +see old age, and I doubt whether I’ll leave an +heir to succeed me. I dreamed one nicht that +the wraith of our house stood beside my bed +and said, ‘Ye’ll be cursed in love and cursed +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_61' name='page_61'></a>61</span> +in war, and die a bloody death at the hand of +traitors whom ye trusted.’”</p> +<p>“For God’s sake, Maister John, dinna +speak like that.” And Grimond’s voice, hard +man though he was, was nigh the breaking. +“It’s no chancy, what ye say micht come to +pass if ye believe it. Whatever the evil spirit +said in the veesions o’ the nicht––oh! my laddie, +for laddie ye have been to me since I +learned ye to ride your pony and fire your +first shot, ye mauna give heed or meddle wi’ +Providence. Ye have been awfu’ favored wi’ +the bonniest face ever I saw on a man, so that +there’s no a lass looks on ye but she loves ye, +and the hardiest body ever I kenned. Ye +have the best blood of Scotland in your veins, +and I never saw ye fearful o’ onything; ye +have covered yersel’ wi’ glory in this war, +and I prophesy there will be a great place +waiting you in the North country. There’s +no a noble lady in Scotland that wouldna be +willing to marry you, and I’m expectin’ afore +I die to see you famous as the great Marquis +himsel’, wi’ sons and daughters standin’ round +ye. I ken aboot the wraith o’ the house o’ +Graham, a maleecious and lying jade. If she +ever comes to ye again by nicht or day, bid +her begone to the evil place in the name o’ +the Lord wha redeemed us.”</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_62' name='page_62'></a>62</span></div> +<p>“You’re a trusty friend, Grimond, for +both my mother and myself count you more +friend than servant, and you’ve spoken good +words; but I take it this day’s happenings +are an omen of what is coming. Maybe I am +ower young to take black views o’ hidden +days, but ye’ll mind afterwards, Jock Grimond, +when ye wrap me in a bloody coat for +burial, for there will be no shroud for me, +that I said the shadow began to fall at the +siege of Grave. But there’s no use complaining, +man; our cup is mixed, and we must +drink it, bitter or sweet. Aye, the Grahams +are a doomed house, and we maun dree oor +weird (suffer our destiny).”</p> +<p>“Weird,” broke out Grimond, with a revulsion +from pathos to anger. “Ye speak +as if it were the will o’ the Almichty, but I +am thinkin’ the thing was worked from another +quarter. Providence had very little +hand in it, unless ye call Captain Hugh MacKay +Providence, and in that case it’ll be true +what some folks say, that the devil rules the +world. From all I can gather, and I keep my +ears open when you are concerned, laird, I +am as sure as you are Laird of Claverhouse +that Scourie, confoond his smooth face, has +been plottin’ aginst ye ever since ye sat that +nicht afore the Battle of Sineffe roond the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_63' name='page_63'></a>63</span> +camp-fire. I saw how he looked, and I said +to mysel’, ‘You’re up to some mischief.’ His +party hangit the noble Marquis and plagued +him wi’ their prayers on the scaffold, and it +is as natural for a Covenanter to hate a Graham +as to eat his breakfast. MacKay saw +we were dangerous, and ye’ll be more dangerous +yet, Claverhouse, to the black crew. He +has been up the back stairs tellin’ lies aboot +ye, and sayin’ that though many trust ye, for +a’ that ye are an enemy to Presbytery. Ye’ll +have your chance yet, laird, and avenge the +murder o’ the Marquis, but there’ll be no +place for ye here so long as MacKay is pourin’ +the poison o’ asps, as auld David has it, into +the Prince’s ear.”</p> +<p>“Na, na, Mr. John,” concluded Grimond +when his master had remonstrated with him +for speaking against the Prince and an officer +of the army, and warned him to be careful of +his tongue, “ye needna be feart that a word +o’ this will be heard ootside. I mind the word +in the Good Book, ‘Speak not against the +King, lest a bird of the air carry the matter.’ +There’s plenty o’ birds in this camp that +would be glad enough to work us wrang. Gin +onybody speaks to me aboot Captain MacKay +being made a colonel, I’ll give him to +understand that my master was offered the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_64' name='page_64'></a>64</span> +post and declined to take it for special reasons +o’ his own; maybe because ye wanted to +stay wi’ the gentlemen volunteers, and maybe +because there was a grand position waitin’ +for ye in Scotland. Let me alone, laird, for +makin’ the most o’ the situation: but dinna +forget MacKay.”</p> +<p>Claverhouse was of another breed from +Grimond, and had the chivalrous instincts of +his house, but as the time wore on and Graham +went with the Prince’s guards after the +surrender of Grave to The Hague, where +Colonel MacKay and the Scots Brigade were +also stationed, the constant spray of insinuations +of MacKay’s cunning and the Prince’s +prejudice began to tell upon his mind. He +was conscious of a growing dislike towards +MacKay, beyond that coolness which must always +exist between men of such different religious +and political creeds. It was a tradition +among the Scots Royalists from the days +of Montrose that the Whig Highlanders, such +as the Campbells, were cunning and treacherous, +and then it was right to admit that MacKay +might think himself justified in warning +the Prince of Orange, who was surrounded +by Presbyterians, and already coming under +the masterful influence of Carstairs, the minister +of the Presbyterian Church, and afterwards +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_65' name='page_65'></a>65</span> +William’s most trusted councillor, that +Graham belonged to a thoroughgoing and +dangerous Cavalier house, and that it would +not be wise to show him too much favor. Although +they were fellow-soldiers, and had +met in camp life from time to time, they had +never been anything more than distant acquaintances. +Now it seemed to Claverhouse +that MacKay looked at him more coldly than +ever, and that he had caught a triumphant +expression in his eye. MacKay was getting +upon his nerves, and he had come to hate the +sight of him. As a matter of fact, and as +Claverhouse granted to himself afterwards, +while MacKay was not his friend and could +not be, he had never said a word against him +to the Prince, and if he had used no influence +for him, had never tried to hinder his promotion. +The day was coming when Claverhouse +would acknowledge that though MacKay was +on the wrong side, he had conducted himself +as became a man of blood and a brave soldier. +In those days at The Hague, disappointed +about promotion, and with evil news from +Scotland, to say nothing of Grimond ever at +his elbow goading and inflaming him through +his very loyalty, Claverhouse allowed himself +to fall into an unworthy and inflammatory +temper. When one is in this morbid state of +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_66' name='page_66'></a>66</span> +mind, he may at any moment lose self-control, +and it was unfortunate that, after a long +tirade one morning from Grimond, who professed +to have new evidence of MacKay’s +underhand dealing, Claverhouse should have +met his supposed enemy in the precincts +of the Prince’s house. MacKay was going +to wait upon the Prince, and was passing +hurriedly with a formal salutation, when +Claverhouse, who in this very haste found +ground of offence, stood in the way.</p> +<p>“May I have the honor, if you be called +not immediately to the Prince’s presence, to +wish you good-morning, Colonel MacKay, +and to say, for it is better to give to a man’s +face what one is thinking behind his back, +that, although I have not the satisfaction of +speaking much with you, I hear you are busy +enough speaking about me.”</p> +<p>“If we do not meet much, Claverhouse,” +replied MacKay, with a look of surprise on +his calm and composed face, “this is not my +blame, and doubtless it may be counted my +loss. It is only that our duties lie apart and +we keep different company. I know not +what you mean by your charge against me, +which, I take it, comes to this, that I have +said evil of you to some one, I know not +whom, and in some place I know not where. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_67' name='page_67'></a>67</span> +Is that why you have been avoiding me, and +even looking at me as if I were your enemy? +My time is short, but this misunderstanding +between gentlemen can surely be quickly +cleared. I pray you of your courtesy, explain +yourself and give your evidence.”</p> +<p>“No doubt you have little time, and no +doubt you will soon be busy with the same +work. You were born of a good house, though +it has taken an evil road in these days; you +know the rules by which a man of blood +should guide his life, and the things it were a +shame for him to do, even to the man he may +have to meet on the battle ground. Is it fitting, +Scourie, to slander a fellow-officer to his +commander, and so to pollute his fountain of +influence that he shall not receive his just +place? You have asked what I have against +you; now I tell you, and I am ashamed to +bring so foul an accusation against a Scots +gentleman.”</p> +<p>“Is that the cause of your black looks and +secret ill-will?” And MacKay was as cold +as ever, and gave no sign that he had been +stirred by this sudden attack. “In that case +I can remove your suspicion, and prevent any +breach between two Scots officers who may +not be on the same side in their own country, +but who serve the same Prince in this land. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_68' name='page_68'></a>68</span> +Never have I once, save in some careless and +passing reference, spoken about you with the +Prince, and never have I, and I say it on the +honor of a Highland gentleman, said one +word against you as a man or as a soldier. +You spoke of evidence. What is your evidence? +Who has told you this thing, which +is not true? Who has tried to set you on fire +against me?”</p> +<p>“It is not necessary, Colonel MacKay, to +produce any witness or to quote any saying +of yours. The facts are known to all the +army; they have seen how it has fared with +you and with me. I will not say whether I +had not some claim to succeed Ballantine as +lieutenant-colonel in the Scots Brigade, and +I will not argue whether you or I had done +most for his Highness. I have not heard that +you saved his life, or that he promised to show +his gratitude. I will not touch further on that +point, but how is it, I ask you, that since that +day, though I had my share of fighting at the +siege of Grave and elsewhere as ye know, +there is no word of advance for me? If you +can read this riddle to me and keep yourself +out of it, why then I shall be willing to take +your hand and count you, Presbyterian +though you be, an honest man.”</p> +<p>“Why ask those questions of me, especially +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_69' name='page_69'></a>69</span> +as ye seem to doubt my word, Captain Graham?” +And for the first time MacKay +seemed stung by the insinuation of dishonorable +conduct. “If you will pardon my advice, +would it not be better that you go yourself +to the Prince and ask him if any man has +injured you with him, and how it is you have +not received what you consider your just reward?”</p> +<p>“That is cheap counsel, Hugh MacKay, +and mayhap you gave it because you knew it +would not be taken. Never will I humble myself +before that wooden image, never will I +ask as a favor what should be given as my +right. It were fine telling in Scotland that +John Graham of Claverhouse was waiting +like a beggar upon a Dutch Prince. I would +rather that the liars and the plotters whom +he makes his friends should have the will of +me.”</p> +<p>MacKay’s face flushes for an instant to a +fiery red, and then turns ghastly pale, and +without a word he is going on his way, but +Claverhouse will not let him.</p> +<p>“Will nothing rouse your blood and touch +your honor? Must I do this also?” And +lifting his cane he struck MacKay lightly +upon the breast. “That, I take it, will give +a reason for settling things between us. Mr. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_70' name='page_70'></a>70</span> +Collier will, I make no doubt, receive any officer +you are pleased to send within an hour, +and I will give you the satisfaction one gentleman +desires of another before the sun +sets.”</p> +<p>“You have done me bitter wrong, Captain +Graham.” And MacKay was trembling with +passion, and putting the severest restraint +upon his temper, which had now been fairly +roused. “But I shall not do wrong against +my own conscience. When I took up the +honorable service of arms, I made a vow unto +myself and sealed it in covenant with God +that I would accept no challenge nor fight any +duel. It is enough that the blood of our enemies +be on our souls. I will not have the guilt +of a fellow-officer’s death, or risk my own life +in a private quarrel. I pray you let me pass.”</p> +<p>“It is your own life you are concerned +about, Colonel MacKay,” answered Claverhouse, +with an evil smile full of contempt, +and in the quietest of accents, for he had resumed +his characteristic composure, “your +own precious life, which you desire to keep +in safeguard.” Then, turning with a graceful +gesture to some officers who had been +passing and been arrested by the altercation, +Claverhouse said with an air of careless languor: +“May I have the strange privilege +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_71' name='page_71'></a>71</span> +never given me before, and perhaps never to +be mine again, of introducing you, by his +leave or without it, to a Scot whom no one +can deny is by birth a gentleman, and whom +no one can deny now is also a coward––Lieutenant-Colonel +MacKay, of the Prince’s +Scots Brigade.”</p> +<hr class='toprule' /> +<div class='chsp'> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_72' name='page_72'></a>72</span> +<a name='CHAPTER_IV_A_CHANGE_OF_MASTERS' id='CHAPTER_IV_A_CHANGE_OF_MASTERS'></a> +<h3>CHAPTER IV</h3> +<h4>A CHANGE OF MASTERS</h4> +</div> +<p>When his first fierce heat cooled, and +Claverhouse had time for reflection, he was +by no means so well satisfied with himself as +he had imagined he would be in the foresight +of such a scene. For one thing he had +shown the soreness of his heart in not getting +promotion, and had betrayed a watchful suspiciousness, +which was hardly included in a +chivalrous character. He had gone out of +his way to insult a fellow-Scot, and a fellow-officer +who had never pretended to be his +friend, and who was in no way bound to advance +his interest, because, to put it the worst, +MacKay had secured his own promotion and +not that of Claverhouse. As regards MacKay’s +courage, it had been proved on many +occasions, and to call him a coward was only +a childish offence, as if one flung mud upon +a passer-by. When Claverhouse reviewed +his conduct, and no man was more candid in +self-judgment, he confessed to himself that +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_73' name='page_73'></a>73</span> +he had played an undignified part, and was +bitterly chagrined. The encounter, of course, +buzzed through the camp, and every man +gave his judgment, many justifying Captain +Graham, and declaring that he had shown +himself a man of mettle––they were the +younger and cruder minds––many censuring +him for his insolent ambition and speaking +of him as a brawling bravo––they were some +of the staid and stronger minds. His friends, +he noticed, avoided the subject and left him +to open it if he pleased, but he gathered beforehand +that he would not receive much +sympathy from that figure of common-sense +Carlton, nor that matter-of-fact soldier +Rooke, and that the ex-Puritan Venner +would only make the incident a subject of +satirical moralizing. With another disposition +than that which Providence had been +pleased to give John Graham, the condemnation +of his better judgment, confirmed by the +judgment of sound men, would have led him +to the manly step of an apology which would +have been humiliating to his pride, but certainly +was deserved at his hands. Under the +domination of his masterful pride, which was +both the strength and the weakness of Graham’s +character, making him capable of the +most absolute loyalty, and capable of the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_74' name='page_74'></a>74</span> +most inexcusable deeds, a pride no friend +could guide, and no adversity could break, +Claverhouse fell into a fit of silent anger with +himself, with MacKay, with his absent critics, +with the Prince. It was also in keeping with +his nature to be that afternoon gayer than +usual––recalling the humorous events of +early days with Grimond, who could hardly +conceal the satisfaction he dared not express, +treating every man he met with the most +gracious courtesy, smiling approval of the +poorest jest, and proposing healths and +drinking national toasts that evening with +his friends as if nothing had happened, and +no care heavier than thistledown lay upon +his mind. But Claverhouse knew that the incident +was not closed, and he was not surprised +when an officer attached to the Prince’s +person called at his lodging and commanded +his presence at the Prince’s house next morning. +He was aware that in striking MacKay +and challenging him to a duel he had infringed +a strict law, which forbade such +deeds within the Royal grounds.</p> +<p>William of Orange was a younger man +than when England knew him, and he came +as king to reign over what was ever to him +a foreign people, as he was to them an unattractive +monarch. He was a man of slight +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_75' name='page_75'></a>75</span> +and frail body; of calm and passionless nature, +capable as few men have been of silence +and reserve. His mind worked, as it were, +in vacuo, secluded from the atmosphere of +tradition, prejudice, emotions, jealousies. It +was free from moods and changes, clear, +penetrating, determined, masterful. Against +no man did he bear a personal grudge, for +that would have only deflected his judgment +and embarrassed his action. For only two or +three men had he any personal affection; +that also might have affected the balance of +his judgment and the freedom of his action. +His courage was undeniable, his spirit of +endurance magnificent, his military talents +and his gift of statesmanship brilliant. Perhaps, +on the whole, his most valuable characteristic +qualities were self-control and a +spirit of moderation, which enabled him to +warm his hands at other men’s fires and to +avoid the perils of extremes. His weakness +was the gravity of his character, which did +not attract the eye or inspire devotion in the +ordinary man, and an inevitable want of imagination, +which prevented him entering into +the feelings of men of a different caste. It +would, indeed, have been difficult to find a +more vivid contrast between the two men +who faced each other in the Prince’s room, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_76' name='page_76'></a>76</span> +and who represented those two schools of +thought which have ever been in conflict in +religion––reason and authority, and those two +types of character which have ever collided +in life––the phlegmatic and the empassioned.</p> +<p>“What, I pray you, is the reason of your +conduct yesterday in the precincts?” asked +the Prince at once after formally acknowledging +Claverhouse’s reverence. “I am informed +upon good evidence that you wantonly +insulted Lieutenant-Colonel MacKay +of the Scots Brigade, and that you invited +him to a duel, and that when he, as became +an officer of judgment and piety, as well as +of high courage, declined to join with you in +a foolish and illegal act, that you called him +a coward. Have I been rightly informed?</p> +<p>“Then that point is settled as I expected, +and in order that you may not make any mistake +on this matter I will add, though I am +not obliged to do so, that Colonel MacKay +did not condescend to inform against you. +The scandal was public enough to come from +various quarters, and now to my chief question, +have you anything to say in your defence?”</p> +<p>“Nothing, sir,” replied Claverhouse. “I +judged that Colonel MacKay had done me a +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_77' name='page_77'></a>77</span> +personal injury for which I desired satisfaction +in the way that gentlemen give. He has +a prudent dislike to risk his life, although I +endeavored to quicken his spirit. And so I +allowed him to know what I thought of him, +and some officers who overheard our conversation +seemed to have been so much pleased +with my judgment that they carried it round +the army. In this way I presume it came to +your Highness’s ears. That is all,” concluded +Graham with much sweetness of manner, +“that I have to say.”</p> +<p>“It is what you ought to be ashamed to +say, Mr. Graham,” said William severely. +“Neither of us are old men, but I take it you +are older than I am–––”</p> +<p>“I am twenty-six years of age, may it +please your Highness,” interpolated Claverhouse, +“and have served in two armies.”</p> +<p>“We are, at any rate, old enough not to +play the fool or carry ourselves like headstrong +boys. As regards your quarrel, I am +given to understand that the cause lies not +so much with your fellow-officer as with your +general. You are one of that large company +who can be found in all armies, who are disappointed +because, in their judgment, promotion +has not corresponded with their merits. +Be good enough to say if I do you an +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_78' name='page_78'></a>78</span> +injustice? You are silent, then I am right. +And so, because another officer was promoted +before you, you choose to take offence and +try to put shame upon a gallant gentleman. +Is this”––the Prince inquired with a flavor +of contempt––“how well-born Scots carry +themselves in their own country?”</p> +<p>“Your Highness’s reasoning,” replied +Graham with elaborate deliberation, “has +convinced me of my error, but I should like +to make this plea, that if I had not been carried +by a gust of passion in the park yester-morning, +I had not disputed with Colonel +MacKay. It still seems to me that he has +been treated with over much kindness in this +matter of promotion, in which––it may be +their foolishness––soldiers are apt to be jealous, +and I have been in some degree neglected. +But I most frankly confess that I have been +in the wrong in doing what I did, since it was +more your Highness’s business than mine to +have resented this quarrel.”</p> +<p>“What mean you by this word, for it has +an evil sound?” But there was not a flush +on William’s pale, immovable face, and it +was marvellous to see so young a Prince +carry himself so quietly under the polite +scorn of Claverhouse’s manner and the rising +insolence of his speech.</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_79' name='page_79'></a>79</span></div> +<p>“As your Highness insists, it is my pleasure +to make my poor meaning plain in your +Highness’s ears. If I know what happened, +Colonel MacKay, reaching the highest quarter +by the back stair, persuaded your Highness +to give him the colonelcy, although it in +honor belonged to another officer, and I submit +to your Highness’s judgment that it was +you who should have flicked him with your +cane. Colonel MacKay has done John Graham +of Claverhouse less injury in disappointing +him of his regiment, though it has +been a grievous dash, than in inducing your +Highness to break your promise.” And +Claverhouse, whose last word had fallen in +smoothness like honey from the comb, and +in venom like the poison of a serpent, looked +the Prince straight in the face and then bowed +most lowly.</p> +<p>“You are, I judge, Captain Graham, recalling +a certain happening at the Battle of +Sineffe, when you rendered important service +to me, and it may be saved my life. If +you conclude that this has been forgotten, or +that a Prince has no gratitude, because you +did not obtain the place you coveted, then +understand that you are wrong, and that +with all your twenty-six years and your service +in two armies, you are ignorant of the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_80' name='page_80'></a>80</span> +principle on which an army should be regulated. +Upon your way of it, if any young +officer, more raw in character than in years, +and not yet able to rule his own spirit, or to +keep himself from quarrelling like a common +soldier, should happen to be of use in a strait––I +acknowledge the strait––to a king, his +foolishness should be placed in command of +veteran officers and men. It were right to +recompense him at the cost of the Prince, +mayhap, but not at the cost of gallant soldiers +whom he was unfit to govern, because he +could not govern himself.”</p> +<p>Whether William was angry at Claverhouse’s +impertinence, or was no more touched +than the cliff by the spray from a wave, only +his intimates could have told, but in this conflict +between the two temperaments, the +Prince was in the end an easy victor. If +William had no boiling point, Claverhouse, +though as composed in manner as he was +afterwards to be cruel in action, had limits +to his self-restraint. As the Prince suggested +that, though two years older than himself, +he was a shallow-pated and self-conceited +boy, who was ever looking after his +own ends, and when he was disappointed, +kicked and struggled like a child fighting +with its nurse; that, in fact, in spite of thinking +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_81' name='page_81'></a>81</span> +himself a fine gentleman, he ought to +know that he had neither sense nor manners, +and was as yet unfit for any high place, +Claverhouse’s temper gave way, and he +struck with cutting words at the Prince.</p> +<p>“What I intended to have said, but my +blundering speech may not have reached +your Highness’s mind, is that if a Prince +makes a promise of reward to another man +who has saved his life at the risk of his own, +that Prince is bound to keep his word or to +make some reparation. And there is a debt +due by your Highness to a certain Scots officer +which has not been paid. Is a Prince +alone privileged to break his word?”</p> +<p>“You desire reparation,” answered the +Prince more swiftly than usual, and with a +certain haughty gesture, “and you shall +have it before you leave my presence. For +brawling and striking within our grounds, +you are in danger of losing your right arm, +and other men have been so punished for +more excusable doings. You have been complaining +in a public place that you have not obtained +a regiment, as if it were your due, and +you have charged your general with the worst +of military sins after cowardice, of being a +favorer. I bestow upon you what will be +more valuable to you than a regiment which +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_82' name='page_82'></a>82</span> +you have not the capacity to command. I +give you back your right arm, and I release +you from the service of my army.”</p> +<p>“May I ask your Highness to accept my +most humble and profound gratitude for +sparing my arm, which has fought for your +Highness, and if it be possible, yet deeper +gratitude for releasing me from the service +of a Prince who does not know how to keep +his word. Have I your Highness’s permission +to leave your presence, and to make +arrangements for my departure from The +Hague?”</p> +<p>Claverhouse spoke with an exaggerated +accent of respect, but the words were so +stinging that William’s eyes, for an instant +only, flashed fire, and the aide-de-camp in +the room made a step forward as if to arrest +the Scots officer. There was a pause, say, of +fifteen seconds, which seemed an hour, and +then the Prince ordered his aide-de-camp to +leave the chamber, and William and Claverhouse +stood alone.</p> +<p>“You are a bold man, Mr. Graham,” said +the Prince icily, “and I should not judge you +to be a wise one. It is not likely that you will +ever be as prudent as you are daring, and I +foresee a troubled career, whether it be long +or short, for you.</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_83' name='page_83'></a>83</span></div> +<p>“No man, royal or otherwise, has ever +spoken to me as you have done; mayhap in +the years before me, whether they be few or +many, no one will ever do so. As you know, +for what you have said any other Prince in +my place would have you punished for the +gravest of crimes on the part of an officer +against his commander.”</p> +<p>Claverhouse bowed, and looked curiously +at the Prince, wondering within himself what +would follow. Was it possible that his Highness +would lay aside for an hour the privilege +of royalty and give him satisfaction? Or was +he merely to lecture him like the Calvinistic +preachers to whom his Highness listened, +and then let him go with contempt? Claverhouse’s +indignation had now given way to intellectual +interest, and he waited for the decision +of this strong, calm man, who, though +only a little more than a lad, had already the +coolness and dignity of old age.</p> +<p>“Were I not a Prince, and if my creed of +honor were different from what it is, I should +lay aside my Princedom, and meet you sword +in hand, for I also, though you may not believe +it, have the pride of a soldier, and it +has been outraged by your deliberate insolence. +Whether it was worthy of your courtesy +to offer an insult to one who cannot +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_84' name='page_84'></a>84</span> +defend himself, I shall leave to your own +arbitrament, when you bethink yourself in +other hours of this situation. I pray you +be silent, I have not finished. My intention +is to treat your words as if they had never +been spoken. The officer in attendance has +learned better than to blaze abroad anything +that happens in this place, and you will do as +it pleases yourself, and is becoming to your +honor as a gentleman. I have no fear of you. +You are a brave man whatever else you be; +you will do me the justice of believing I am +another.” Claverhouse remembered this +was the first moment that he had felt any +kindness to the Prince of Orange.</p> +<p>“My reason for dealing with you after +this fashion is that you have some cause to +complain of injustice, and to think that the +good help you gave has been forgotten, because +I have not said anything nor done anything. +This is not so, for I have not been +certain how I could best recompense you. +When a moment ago I spoke of you as not fit +for promotion, I did you injustice, for, +though there be some heat in you, there is +far more capacity, and I take it you will have +high command some day.” The last few +words were spoken with a slight effort, and +Graham, when in his better mood the most +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_85' name='page_85'></a>85</span> +magnanimous of men, was suddenly touched +by the remembrance of the Prince’s station +and ability, his courage and severity, and his +grace in making this amend to one who had +spoken rudely to him. Claverhouse would +have responded, but was again silent in obedience +to a sign from the Prince.</p> +<p>“Let me say plainly, Mr. Graham, that +you are a soldier whom any commander will +be glad to enroll for life service in his army, +but”––and here his Highness looked searchingly +at Graham as he had once done before––“I +doubt whether your calling be in the +Dutch army or in any army that is of our +mind or is likely to fight for our cause.</p> +<p>“It is not given to man to lift the veil that +hides the future, but we can reason with ourselves +as to what is likely, and guide our +course by this faint light. I have advices +from Scotland, and I know that the day will +come, though it may not be yet, when there +will be a great division in that land and the +shedding of blood. Were you and I both in +your country when that day comes, you, Mr. +Graham, would draw your sword on one side +and I on the other.</p> +<p>“We may never cross one another in the +unknown days, but each man must be true to +the light which God has given him. Colonel +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_86' name='page_86'></a>86</span> +MacKay will fulfil his calling in our army +and on our side; in some other army and for +another side you will follow your destiny. It +is seldom I speak at such length; now I have +only one other word to say before I give you +for the day farewell.</p> +<p>“Mr. Graham, I know what you think of +me as clearly as if you had spoken. Let me +say what I think of you. You are a gallant +gentleman, full of the ideas of the past, and +incapable of changing; you will be a loyal +servant to your own cause, and it will be +beaten. To you I owe my life. Possibly it +might have been better for you to have let +me fall by the sword of one of Condé’s dragoons, +but we are all in the hands of the Eternal, +Who doeth what He wills with each man. +You will receive to-day a captain’s commission +in the cavalry, and in some day to come, +I do not know how soon, and in a way I may +not at present reveal to you, I will, if God +please, do a kindness to you which will be +after your own heart, and enable you to rise +to your own height in the great affair of life. +I bid you good-morning.”</p> +<p>Few men were ever to hear the Prince of +Orange use as many words or give as much +of his mind. As Claverhouse realized his +fairness and understood, although only a +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_87' name='page_87'></a>87</span> +little, then, of his foresight, and as he came +to appreciate the fact that the Prince was +trying to do something more lasting for him +than merely conferring a commission, he was +overwhelmed with a sense of the injustice he +had done his Highness. He also realized his +own petulance with intense shame.</p> +<p>“Will your Highness forgive my wild +words, for which I might have been justly +punished”––Graham, with an impulse of +emotion, stepped forward, knelt down, and +kissed the Prince’s hand––“and the shame +I put upon a Scots gentleman, for which I +shall apologize this very day. My sword is at +your Highness’s disposal while I am in your +service and this arm is able to use it. If in +any day to come it be my fate to stand on +some other side, I shall not forget I once +served under a great commander and a most +honorable gentleman, who dealt graciously +with me.”</p> +<p>Two years passed during which Captain +Graham saw much fighting and many of his +fellow-officers fall, and it was in keeping +with the character of the Prince that during +all that time he took no special notice of +Claverhouse, and gave no indication that he +had that interview in mind. Claverhouse +had learned one lesson, however––patience––and +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_88' name='page_88'></a>88</span> +he would have many more to learn; he +had also been taught not to take hasty views, +but to wait for the long result. And his +heart lifted when, after the abortive siege of +Charleroi, he was summoned for a second +time to the Prince’s presence. On this occasion +the Prince said little, but it was to the +point; it was the crisis in Claverhouse’s life.</p> +<p>“Within a few days, Captain Graham,” +said the Prince, with the same frozen face, +“I leave for London. I may not speak about +my errand nor other things which may happen, +but if it be your will, I shall take you in +attendance upon me. At the English court +I may be able to give you an introduction +which will place you in the way of service +such as you desire, and if it be the will of +God, high honor. For this opportunity, +which I thought might come some day, I have +been waiting, and if it be as I expect, you +will have some poor reward for saving the +life of the Prince of Orange.”</p> +<p>It was known by this time in the army, +and, indeed, throughout Europe, that William +of Orange was going to wed the Princess +Mary, who was the daughter of the Duke +of York, the King of England’s brother, and +likely to be herself the daughter of an English +sovereign. For certain reasons it seemed +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_89' name='page_89'></a>89</span> +an unlikely and incongruous alliance, for +even in the end of 1677, when the marriage +took place, anyone with prescience could foresee +that there would be a wide rift between the +politics of the Duke of York when he became +King and those of William, and even then +there must have been some who saw afar off +the conflict which ended in William and Mary +succeeding James upon the throne of England. +There were many envied Claverhouse +when it came out that he was to be a member +of the Prince’s suite, and be associated with +the Prince’s most distinguished courtiers. +But he carried himself, upon the whole, with +such graciousness and gallantry that his +brother officers congratulated him on every +hand, and feasted him so lavishly before he +left that certain of his own comrades of the +Prince’s guard were laid aside from duty for +several days. It was to the credit of both +men that on the morning of his departure one +of his last visitors was Colonel MacKay, who +wished him success, and prophesied that they +would hear great things of him in days to +come, since it was understood that Claverhouse +would not return to the Dutch service.</p> +<p>For some time after the arrival of the +Prince and his staff in London, William gave +no sign of the good he was going to do Claverhouse. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_90' name='page_90'></a>90</span> +Indeed, he was busy with the work of +his wooing and the arrangements for his marriage. +Claverhouse by this time had learned, +however, that William forgot nothing and +never failed to carry out his plans, and his +pulse beat quicker when the Prince requested +him to be in attendance one afternoon, and +to accompany him alone to Whitehall, where +the Duke of York was in residence. There +was a certain superficial likeness in character +between the Prince and his father-in-law, for +both appeared unfeeling and unsympathetic +men, but what in James was obstinacy, in +William was power, and what in James was +superstitious, in William was religion, and +what in James was pride, in William was dignity. +His friends could trust William, but +no one could trust James; while William +could make immense sacrifices for his cause, +James could wreck his cause by an amazing +blindness and a foolish grasping at the shadow +of power. If anyone desired a master under +whom he would be led to victory, and by +whom he would never be put to shame, a +master who might not praise him effusively +but would never betray him, then let him, as +he valued his life and his career, refuse James +and cleave to William. But it is not given +to a man to choose his creed, far less his destiny, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_91' name='page_91'></a>91</span> +and Claverhouse was never to have fortune +on his side. It was to be his lot rather +to be hindered at every turn where he should +have been helped, and to run his race alone +with many weights and over the roughest +ground.</p> +<p>“Your Highness has of your courtesy +allowed me to present in public audience the +officers who have come with me from The +Hague,” said the Prince of Orange to James, +“and now I have the pleasure to specially introduce +this gentleman who was lately a captain +in my cavalry, and who some while ago +rendered me the last service one man can do +for another. Had it not been for his presence +of mind and bravery of action, I had +not the supreme honor of waiting to-day +upon your Highness, and the prospect of +felicity before me. May I, with the utmost +zeal towards him and the most profound respect +towards your Highness, recommend to +your service Mr. Graham of Claverhouse, +who distinguished himself on many fields of +battle, and who is a fine gentleman and a +brave officer fit for any post, civil or military. +I will only say one thing more: he belongs +to the same house as the Marquis of +Montrose, and has in him the same spirit of +loyalty.”</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_92' name='page_92'></a>92</span></div> +<p>Claverhouse, overcome by the remembrance +of the past, is stirred to the heart, and can +hardly make his reverence for emotion. As +he kisses James’s hand he registers a vow +which he was to keep with his life. And +when he has left the presence of the Duke, +the Prince of Orange said to Claverhouse’s +new master: “You have, sir, obtained a servant +who will be faithful unto death; I make +him over to you with confidence and with regret. +This day, I believe, he will begin the +work to which he has been called, and so far +as a man can, he will finish it.”</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_93' name='page_93'></a>93</span></div> +<hr class='toprule' /> +<div class='chsp'> +<h2 style='margin-bottom:0.5em'><span class='smcap'>BOOK</span> II</h2> +</div> +<div class='chsp' style='padding-top:0'> +<a name='CHAPTER_I_A_COVENANTING_HOUSE' id='CHAPTER_I_A_COVENANTING_HOUSE'></a> +<h3>CHAPTER I</h3> +<h4>A COVENANTING HOUSE</h4> +</div> +<p>The glory of Paisley Castle has long departed, +but it was a brave and well-furnished +house in the late spring of 1684, to which this +story now moves. The primroses were blooming +in sheltered nooks, where the keen east +wind––the curse and the strength of Scotland––could +not blight them, and the sun had +them for his wooing; there were signs of +foliage on the trees as the buds began to +burgeon, and send a shimmer of green along +the branches; the grass, reviving after winter, +was showing its first freshness, and the +bare earth took a softer color in the caressing +sunlight. The birds had taken heart +again and were seeking for their mates, some +were already building their summer homes. +Life is one throughout the world, and the +stirring of spring in the roots of the grass +and in the trunks of the trees touches also +human hearts and wakes them from their +winter. The season of hope, which was softening +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_94' name='page_94'></a>94</span> +the clods of the field, and gentling the +rough massive walls of the castle, were also +making tender the austere face of a Covenanting +minister standing in one of the deep +window recesses of what was called in Scots +houses of that day the gallery, and what +was a long and magnificent upper hall, +adorned with arms and tapestry. He was +looking out upon the woods that stretched to +the silver water of the Clyde, then a narrow +and undeveloped river, and to the far-away +hills of Argyleshire, within which lay the +mystery of the Highlands. Henry Pollock +had been born of a Cavalier and Episcopalian +family, with blood as loyal as that of Claverhouse; +he had been brought up amid what +the Covenanters called malignant surroundings, +and had been taught to regard the Marquis +of Montrose as the first of Scotsmen and +the most heroic of martyrs. Although the +senior of Claverhouse by two years, he had +been with him at St. Andrew’s University, +and knew him well, but in spite of his heredity +Pollock had ever carried a more open +mind than Graham. During his university +days he had heard the saint and scholar of +the Covenant, Samuel Rutherford, who was +principal and professor in the university and +a most distinguished preacher of his day in +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_95' name='page_95'></a>95</span> +Scotland. No doubt Rutherford raged furiously +against prelacy as a work of the devil, +and the enemy of Scots freedom; no doubt +he also wrote books which struck hard at the +authority of the King, and made for the +cause of the people. His name was a reproach +among Pollock’s friends, and Pollock +began with no sympathy towards Rutherford’s +opinions, but the lad’s soul was stirred +when, in the college chapel of St. Andrew’s +and also in the parish kirk where Rutherford +was colleague with that servant of the +Lord Mr. Blair, he listened to Rutherford +upon the love of God and the loveliness of +Christ. One day he was present, standing +obscure among a mass of townsfolk, when +Rutherford, after making a tedious argument +on the controversies of the day which +had almost driven Pollock from the Kirk, +came across the name of Christ and then, +carried away out of his course as by a magnet, +began to rehearse the titles of the Lord +Jesus till a Scots noble seated in the kirk +cried out, “Hold you there, Rutherford.” +And Pollock was tempted to say “Amen.” +With his side he resented the Covenanting +regime, because it frowned on gayety and +enforced the hateful Covenant, but even then +the lad wished that his side had preachers to +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_96' name='page_96'></a>96</span> +be compared with Rutherford and Blair, +and the words of Rutherford lay hidden in +his heart. When the Restoration came he +flung up his cap with the rest of them, and +drank only too many healths to King Charles. +For a while he was intoxicated with the triumph +of the Restoration, but there was a +vein of seriousness in him as well as candor, +and as the years passed and the people were +still drinking, and as the tyranny of Cromwell +gave place to the brutality of the infamous +crew, Lauderdale, the renegade, and +others, who misruled Scotland in the name +of the King, Pollock was much shaken, and +began to wonder within himself whether the +Presbyterians, with all their bigotry, may not +have had the right of it. If they did not +dance and drink they prayed and led God-fearing +lives, and if they would not be driven +to hear the curates preach, there was not too +much to hear if they had gone. When the +Covenant was the symbol of oppression, Pollock +hated it, when it became the symbol for +suffering he was drawn to it, till at last, to +the horror of his family, he threw in his lot +with the Covenanters of the west of Scotland. +Being a lad of parts with competent scholarship, +and having given every pledge of sincerity, +he was studying theology in Holland, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_97' name='page_97'></a>97</span> +while Claverhouse was fighting in the army +of the Prince, and he was there ordained to +the ministry of the kirk. When one has +passed through so thorough a change, and +sacrificed everything which is most dear for +his convictions, he is certain to be a root and +branch man, and to fling himself without reserve, +perhaps also, alas, without moderation, +into the service of his new cause. Pollock +was not of that party in the kirk which +was willing to take an indulgence at the +hands of the government and minister +quietly in their parishes, on condition that +they gave no trouble to the bishops. He +would take no oaths and sign no agreements, +nor make any compromise, nor bow down to +any persecutor. He threw in his lot with the +wild hillmen, who were being hunted like +wild birds upon the mountains by Claverhouse’s +cavalry, and as he wandered from +one hiding place to another, he preached to +them in picturesque conventicles, which +gathered in the cathedral of the Ayrshire +hills, and built them up in the faith of God +and of the Covenant. Like Rutherford, who +had been to him what St. Stephen was to St. +Paul, he was that strange mixture of fierceness +and of tenderness which Scots piety has +often bred and chiefly in its dark days. He +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_98' name='page_98'></a>98</span> +was not afraid to pursue the doctrine of Calvin +to its furthest extreme, and would glorify +God in the death of sinners till even the stern +souls of his congregation trembled. Nor was +he afraid to defend resistance to an unjust +and ungodly government, and he was willing +to fight himself almost as much, though not +quite, as to pray.</p> +<p>But even the gloomiest and bitterest bigots +that heard him, huddled in some deep morass +and encircled by the cold mist, testified that +Henry Pollock was greatest when he declared +the evangel of Jesus, and besought his hearers, +who might before nightfall be sent by +a bloody death into eternity, to accept Christ +as their Saviour. When he celebrated the +sacrament amid the hills, and lifted up the +emblems of the Lord’s body and blood, his +voice broken with passion, and the tears +rolling down his cheeks, they said that his +face was like that of an angel. Times without +number he had been chased on the moors; +often he had been hidden cunningly in shepherd’s +cottages, twice he had eluded the dragoons +by immersing himself in peat-bogs, +and once he had been wounded. His face +could never at any time have been otherwise +than refined and spiritual, but now it was +that of an ascetic, worn by prayer and fasting, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_99' name='page_99'></a>99</span> +while his dark blue eyes glowed when he +was moved like coals of fire, and the golden +hair upon his head, as the sun touched it, was +like unto an aureole. Standing in the embrasure +of that gallery, which had so many +signs of the world which is, in the pictures +of sport upon the walls and the stands of +arms, he seemed to be rather the messenger +and forerunner of the world which is to +come. As he looks out upon the fair spring +view, he is settling something with his conscience, +and is half praying, half meditating, +for, in his lonely vigils, with no company but +the curlew and the sheep, he has fallen upon +the way of speaking aloud.</p> +<p>“There be those who are called to live +alone and to serve the Lord night and day +in the high places of the field, like Elijah, +who was that prophet, and John the Baptist, +who ran before the face of the Lord. If this +be Thy will for me, oh, God, I am also willing, +and Thou knowest that mine is a lonely life, +and that I bear in my body the marks of the +Lord Jesus. If this be my calling, make +Thy way plain before Thy servant, and give +me grace to walk therein with a steadfast +heart. He that forsaketh not father and +mother ... and wife for His name’s sake, +is not worthy.” And then a change came +over his mood.</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_100' name='page_100'></a>100</span></div> +<p>“But the Master came not like the Baptist; +He came eating and drinking; yea, He +went unto the marriage of Cana in Galilee, +and He blessed little children and said, ‘For +of such is the Kingdom of God.’ Thou +knowest, Lord, that I have loved Thy children, +and when a bairn has smiled in my face +as I baptized it into Thy name, that I have +longed for one that would call me father. +When I have seen a man and his wife together +by the fireside, and I have gone out to +my hiding-place on the moor, like a wild +beast to its den, I confess, oh, Lord, I have +watched that square of light so long as I +could see it, and have wondered whether +there would ever be a home for me, and any +woman would call me husband. Is this the +weakness of the flesh; is this the longing of +the creature for comfort; is this the refusing +of the cross; is this my sin? Search me, +oh, God, and try me.” And again the gentler +mood returned. “Didst Thou not set the +woman beside the man in the Garden? Has +not the love of Jacob for Rachel been glorified +in Thy word? Art not Thou Thyself the +bridegroom, and is not the kirk Thy bride? +Are we not called to the marriage supper of +the Lamb? Is not marriage Thine own ordinance, +and shall I count that unclean, as +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_101' name='page_101'></a>101</span> +certain vain persons have imagined, which +Thou hast established? Oh, my Saviour, +wast Thou not born of a woman? My soul +is torn within me, and unto Thee, therefore, +do I look for light; give me this day a sign +that I may know what Thou wouldst have me +to do, that it may be well for Thy cause in +the land, and the souls of Thy servants committed +to my charge.”</p> +<p>He is unconscious of everything except the +agony of duty through which he is passing, +and his words, though spoken low, have a +sweet and penetrating note, which arrest the +attention of one who has come down the gallery, +and is now standing at the opening of +the alcove where Pollock is hidden. It is his +hostess, the widow of Lord Cochrane, the +eldest son of the Earl of Dundonald, who was +still living, though old and feeble, and who +left the management of affairs very much to +Lady Cochrane. Like many other families +in the days of the “Troubles,” the Cochranes +was a house divided against itself, although +till now the strength had been all on one side. +Lord Dundonald had been a loyal adherent +of the Stuarts, and had rendered them service +in earlier days, for which it was understood +he had received his earldom; but he was a +broken man now, and had no strength in him +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_102' name='page_102'></a>102</span> +to resist his masterful daughter-in-law. She +was a child of the Earl of Cassillis, one of +the stoutest and most thoroughgoing of Covenanters; +her husband had died in the year +when the Battle of Bothwell-Brig had been +fought, and his last prayers were for the success +of the Covenanters. His younger brother +had been one of the Rye House Plot men, and +was now an exile for the safety of his life in +Holland. By her blood and by her sympathy, +by everything she thought and felt, +Lady Cochrane was a Covenanter, and in her +face and figure, as she stands with the light +from the window falling upon her, she symbolizes +her cause and party. Tall and strong-boned, +with a lean, powerful face, and clear, +unrelenting eyes, yet with a latent suggestion +of enthusiasm which would move her to any +sacrifice for what she judged to be righteousness, +and with an honest belief in her religious +creed, Lady Cochrane was one of the godly +women of the Covenant. The old Earl had +no chance against her resolute will, and contented +himself with a quavering protest +against her ideas, and bleating disapproval of +her actions. When she denounced the Council +as a set of Herods, and filled the house +with Covenanting ministers and outlawed +persons, his only comfort and sympathizer +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_103' name='page_103'></a>103</span> +was Lady Cochrane’s daughter Jean. This +young woman had of late taken on herself +the office of protector, and had shown a tendency +to criticise both her mother’s words and +ways, which led to one or two domestic scenes. +For though her ladyship was loud against the +tyranny of the government, she was an absolute +ruler in her own home. And that day she +was going to assert herself and put down an +incipient rebellion.</p> +<p>“I give you good-morning, Mr. Pollock,” +said Lady Cochrane, “and I crave your pardon +if I have done amiss, but since you were, +as I take it, wrestling in prayer I had not the +mind to break in upon you; I have therefore +heard some portion of your petitions. It +seems to me, though in such matters I am but +blind of eye and dull of hearing, that God indeed +is giving a sign of approval when He +seems to have been turning your heart unto +the thought of the marriage between the bridegroom +and the bride in the Holy Scriptures, +of which other marriages are, I take it, a +shadow and a foretaste.”</p> +<p>“It may be your ladyship is right,” said +Pollock after he had returned his hostess’s +greeting, “but we shall soon know, for God +hath promised that light shall arise unto the +righteous. For myself, I declare that as it +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_104' name='page_104'></a>104</span> +has happened on the hills when I was fleeing +from Claverhouse, so it is now in my affairs. +I am moving in a mist which folds me round +like a thin garment; here and there I see the +light struggling through, and it seems to me +most beautiful even in its dimness; by and +by the mist shall altogether pass, and I shall +stand in the light, which is the shining of His +face. But whether I shall then find myself +at Cana of Galilee or in the Garden of Gethsemane, +I know not.”</p> +<p>“If it were in my handling,” said Lady +Cochrane, regarding her guest with a mixed +expression of admiration and pity, “ye would +find yourself, and that without overmuch delay, +at a marriage feast. The dispensation +of John Baptist is done with in my humble +judgment, and I count the refusing to marry +to be pure will-worship and a soul-destroying +snare of the Papists. Ye are a good man, +Mr. Henry, and a faithful minister of the +Word, but ye would be a better, with fewer +dreams and more sense for daily duty, besides +being more comfortable, if you had a +wife. Doubtless the days are evil, and there +be those who would say that this is not a time +to marry, but if you had the right wife it is +no unlikely ye might be safer than ye are to-day. +For there would be a big house to hide +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_105' name='page_105'></a>105</span> +you, and, at the worst, you and she could make +your ways to Holland, and get shelter from +the Prince till those calamities be overpast.”</p> +<p>“My fear,” continued her ladyship, “is +not that ye will do wrong in marrying, but +that ye may fail to win the wife ye told me +yesterday was your desire. No, Mr. Henry, +it is not that I am not with you, for I am a +favorer of your suit. In those days when the +call is for everyone to say whether he be for +God or Baal, I would rather see my daughter +married to a faithful minister of the kirk, +than to the proudest noble in Scotland, who +was a persecutor of the Lord’s people. As +regards blood, I mind me also that ye belong +to an ancient house, and as regards titles, it +was from King Charles the earldom came to +the Cochranes, and the most of the nobles he +has made have been the sons of his mistresses. +There will soon be more disgrace than honor +in being called a lord in the land of England.”</p> +<p>“It may be,” hazarded Pollock anxiously, +“that the Earl then does not look on me with +pleasure, and as the head of the house–––”</p> +<p>“As what?” said Lady Cochrane. “It is +not much his lordship has to say on anything, +for his mind is failing fast, and it never, to +my seeing, was very strong. He says little, +and it’s a mercy he has less power, or rather, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_106' name='page_106'></a>106</span> +I should say, a dispensation of Providence, +for if the misguided man had his way of it, +Jean would be married to-morrow to some +drinking, swearing officer in Claverhouse’s +Horse, or, for that matter, to that son of +Satan, Claverhouse himself.”</p> +<p>“While I am here,” continued this Covenanting +heroine, “you need not trouble yourself +about the Earl of Dundonald, but I cannot +speak so surely for my daughter. Jean’s +name was inserted in the Covenant, and she +has been taught the truth by my own lips, besides +hearing many godly ministers, but I +sorely doubt whether she be steadfast and +single-hearted. It was only two days ago she +lent her aid to her grandfather when he was +havering about toleration, and before all was +done she spoke lightly of the contendings of +God’s remnant in this land, and said that if +they had the upper hand Scotland would not +be fit to live in. So far as I can see she has +no ill-will to you, Mr. Henry, and has never +said aught against you. Nay, more, I recall +her speaking well of your goodness, but +whether she will consent unto your plea I +cannot prophesy. Where she got her proud +temper and her stubborn self-will passes my +mind, for her father was an exercised Christian +and a douce man, and there never was a +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_107' name='page_107'></a>107</span> +word of contradiction from him all the days +of our married life. It may be the judgment +of the Lord for the sins of the land, that the +children are raising themselves against their +parents. Be that as it may, I have done my +best for you, and now I will send her to the +gallery and ye must make your own suit. I +pray God her heart may be turned unto you.”</p> +<p>When the daughter came down the middle +of the gallery, with an easy and graceful carriage, +for she was a good goer, it would seem +as if the mother had returned, more beautiful +and more gentle, yet quite as strong and +determined. Jean Cochrane––whose proper +style as a lord’s daughter would be the Honorable +Jean, but who, partly because she was +an earl’s granddaughter, partly in keeping +with the usage of the day, was known as +Lady Jean––was like her mother, tall and well +built, straight as a young tree, with her head +set on a long, slender neck, and in conversation +thrown back. Her complexion was perfect +in its healthy tone and fine coloring; she +had a wealth of the most rich and radiant auburn +hair, somewhat like that of Pollock, but +redder and more commanding to the eye; her +eyes were sometimes gray and sometimes blue, +according to their expression, which was ever +changing with her varying moods. This is no +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_108' name='page_108'></a>108</span> +girl of timid or yielding nature who can be +coaxed or driven, or of clinging and meek +affection. This is a woman full grown, not +in stature only, but in character, of high ambition, +of warm passion, of resolute will and +clear mind, who is fit to be the mate for a +patriot, in which case she would be ready to +accompany him to the scaffold, or for a soldier, +in which case she would send him to his +death with a proud heart. Her mobile face, +as flexible as that of a supreme actress, is set +and hard when she enters the gallery, for she +and her mother had just crossed swords, and +Lady Jean knew for what end she had been +asked to meet the Covenanter. Lady Cochrane +was an unhappy advocate for such a +plea, and with such a daughter, although she +might have been successful with a helpless +and submissive girl. With that look in her +eyes, which are as cold as steel and have its +glitter, one could not augur success for any +wooer. It was a tribute not so much to the +appearance of Pollock as to the soul of the +man shining through his face in most persuasive +purity and sincerity, that when they met +and turned aside into that window space and +stood in the spring sunlight, her face softened +towards him. The pride of her carriage +seemed to relax, and the offence went out of +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_109' name='page_109'></a>109</span> +her eyes, and she gave him a gracious greeting, +and no woman, if she had a mind, could +be more ingratiating. Then, still standing, +which suited her best, and looking at him +with not unfriendly gravity, she waited for +what he had to say.</p> +<p>“Lady Jean,” he began, “your honorable +mother has told you for what end I desired +speech with you this day, and I ask you to +give me a fair hearing of your kindness, for +though I have been called of God to declare +His word before many people, I have no skill +in the business to which I now address myself. +In this matter of love between a man +and a maid I have never before spoken, and +if I succeed not to-day, shall never speak +again. Bear with me when I explain for +your better understanding of my case, that I +began my life in the faith of my family, and +that I came into the Covenant after I was a +man. I was called, as I trust of God, unto +the ministry of the Evangel, and I have exercised +it not in quiet places, but in the service +of God’s people who are scattered and +peeled among the hills. It seemed therefore +of my calling that I should live as a Nazarite +and die alone, having known neither wife nor +child, and indeed this may be my lot.” Having +said so much, as he looked not at the girl +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_110' name='page_110'></a>110</span> +but out of the window, he now turned his face +upon her, which, always pale, began now to +be ashen white, through rising emotion and +intensity of heart.</p> +<p>“Two years ago I first came to this castle +and saw you; from time to time upon the errands +of my master or sheltering from my +pursuers I have lived here, and before I knew +it I found my heart go out to you, Lady Jean, +so that on the moors I heard your voice in the +singing of the mountain birds, and saw your +face with your burning hair in the glory of +the setting sun. The thought of you was +never far from me, and the turn of your head +and your step as you have walked before me +came ever to my sight. Was not this, I said +to myself, the guidance of the Lord in Whose +hands are the hearts of men, and Who did +cause Isaac to cleave to Rebecca? But, again, +might it not be that I was turning from the +way of the cross and following the desires of +my own heart? I prayed for some token, and +fourteen days ago this word in the Song of +Solomon came unto me, and was laid upon +my heart. ‘Behold thou art fair, my love, +behold thou art fair, thou hast dove’s eyes +within thy locks, thy hair is as a flock of goats +that appear from Mount Gilead.’ Wherefore +I make bold to speak to you to-day, and +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_111' name='page_111'></a>111</span> +on your reply will hang the issue of my after +life.” His eyes had begun to shine with mystic +tenderness and yearning appeal, so that +she, who had been looking away from him, +could not now withdraw her gaze.</p> +<p>“Is there in your heart any kindness and +confidence towards me, and have you been +moved to think of me as one whom you could +wed and whose life you could share? It is not +to wealth nor to honor, it is not to ease and +safety that I invite you, Lady Jean; you must +be prepared to see me suffer, and you must +be willing that I should die. What I could +do to protect and cherish you, if God gave +you to me, I should, and next to the Lord who +redeemed me, you would be the love of my +heart in time and also in eternity, where we +should follow the Lord together, unto living +fountains of waters.”</p> +<p>It was not the wooing of quieter days or +gentler lives; it was not after this fashion +that a Cavalier would have spoken to his +ladylove, but his words were in keeping with +the man, and streamed from the light of his +eyes rather than from his lips. And the girl, +who had come to say no as briefly and firmly +as might be consistent with courtesy, was +touched in the deepest part of her being, and +for the moment almost hesitated.</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_112' name='page_112'></a>112</span></div> +<p>“Ye have done me the chief honor a man +can offer to a woman, Mr. Pollock, and Jean +Cochrane will never forget that ye asked her +in marriage. It cannot be, and it is better +that I should say this without delay or uncertain +speech, but I pray you, Mr. Henry, +understand why, and think me not a proud +or foolish girl. It is not that I do not know +that you are a holy and a brave man, whom +the folk rightly consider to be a saint, and +whom others say would have made a gallant +soldier. It is not that I doubt the woman ye +wedded would be well and tenderly loved, for, +I confess to you, ye seem to me to have the +making of a perfect husband. And it is not +that I”––and here she straightened herself––“would +be afraid of any danger, or any suffering +either, for myself or you. I should +bid it welcome, and if I saw you laid dead for +the cause ye love, I should take you in my +arms and kiss you on the mouth, though you +were red with blood, as I never kissed you +living on our marriage day.” And she carried +her head as a queen at the moment of her +coronation.</p> +<p>“No,” she went on, while the glow faded +and her voice grew gentle; “it is for two reasons, +but one of them I tell you only to yourself, +in the secrecy of your honor. I admire +and I––reverence you as one lifted above +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_113' name='page_113'></a>113</span> +me like a saint, but this is not the feeling of +a woman for the man that is to be her husband. +I do not love you as I know I shall in +an instant love the man who is to be my man +when I first see him, and for whom I shall +forsake without any pang my father’s house, +or else, if he appear not, I shall never wed. +That mayhap is reason enough, but I am dealing +with you as a friend this day. Though my +name be in the Covenant, I am not sure––oh, +those are dark times––whether I would write +it to-day with my own hand. I might be able +to do so when I was your wife, but that I may +not be. Yet it is left to me, Mr. Henry, to +have your name in my prayers, that God may +keep you in the hard road ye have chosen, and +give you in the end a glorious crown. And I +will ask of you to mention at a time Jean +Cochrane before the throne of grace. For +surely ye will be heard, and blessed shall she +be for whom ye pray.”</p> +<p>For an instant there was silence, and then, +before she left, Lady Jean, as Pollock stood +with head sunk on his breast and lips moving +in prayer, bent forward and kissed him on +the forehead. When an hour later the minister +descended to Lady Cochrane’s room, he +told her that his suit was hopeless, but that +he was thankful unto God that he had spoken +with Lady Jean.</p> +<hr class='toprule' /> +<div class='chsp'> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_114' name='page_114'></a>114</span> +<a name='CHAPTER_II_THE_COMING_OF_THE_AMALEKITE' id='CHAPTER_II_THE_COMING_OF_THE_AMALEKITE'></a> +<h3>CHAPTER II</h3> +<h4>THE COMING OF THE AMALEKITE</h4> +</div> +<p>It would have been hard to find within the +civilized world a more miserable and distracted +country than Scotland at the date of +our history, and the West Country was worst +of all. The Covenanters, who were never +averse to fighting, had turned upon Claverhouse +and his dragoons when they came to +disperse a field-meeting at Drumclog, and +had soundly beaten the King’s Horse. Then, +gathering themselves to a head and meeting +the royal forces under the Duke of Monmouth +at Bothwell Bridge, they had in turn +been hopelessly crushed. What remained of +their army was scattered by the cavalry, and +since that day, with some interludes, Claverhouse +had been engaged in the inglorious +work of dispersing Presbyterian Conventicles +gathered in remote places among the hills, or +searching the moss-hags for outlawed preachers. +It was a poor business for one who had +seen war on the grand scale under the Prince +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_115' name='page_115'></a>115</span> +of Orange, and had fought in battles where +eighteen thousand men were left on the field. +War was not the name for those operations, +they were simply police work of an irksome +and degrading kind. There were some who +said that Claverhouse gloried in it, and that +the inherent cruelty of his nature was gratified +in causing obstinate Covenanters, who +had not taken the oath, to be shot on the spot, +and haling others to prison, where they were +treated with extreme barbarity. Others believed +that being a man of broad mind and +chivalrous temper, he absolutely disapproved +of the government policy and loathed the +butcher work to which he and his troopers +were set.</p> +<p>Upon one way of it he was a bloodthirsty +tyrant, and upon the other he was an obedient +soldier, but the truth was with neither +view. There is no doubt that, like any other +ambitious commander, he would much rather +have been engaged in a proper campaign, and +it may be granted that as a brave man he did +not hanker to be the executioner of peasants; +but he absolutely approved of the policy of +his rulers, and had no scruple in carrying it +out. It was the only thing that could be done, +and it had better be done thoroughly; the +sooner the turbulent and irreconcilable Covenanters +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_116' name='page_116'></a>116</span> +were crushed and the country reduced +to peace the better for Scotland. And +it must be remembered that, though they were +only a fraction of the nation, the hillmen +were a very resolute and harassing fraction, +and kept the western counties in a state of +turmoil. No week passed without some picturesque +incident being added to the annals +of this lamentable religious war, and whether +it was an escape or an arrest, an attack or a +defeat, the name of Claverhouse was always +in the story. The air was thick with rumors +of his doings, and in every cottage enraged +Covenanters spoke of his atrocities. No +doubt the king had other officers quite as merciless +and almost as active, and the names of +men like Grierson of Lag and Bruce of +Earleshall and that fierce old Muscovite +fighter, General Dalziel, were engraved for +everlasting reprobation upon the memory of +the Scots people. But there was no superstition +so mad that it was not credited to +Claverhouse, and no act so wicked that it was +not believed of him. During the hours of +day he ranged the country, a monster thirsting +for the blood of innocent men, and the +hours of the evening he spent with his associates +in orgies worthy of hell. His horse, +famous for its fleetness and beauty, was supposed +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_117' name='page_117'></a>117</span> +to be an evil spirit, and as for himself, +everyone knew that Claverhouse could not be +shot except by a silver bullet, because he was +under the protection of the devil. Perhaps +it is not too much to say that during those +black years––black for both sides, and very +much so for Claverhouse––he was, in the imagination +of the country folk, little else than +a devil himself, and it was then he earned the +title which has clung to him unto this day +and been the sentence of his infamy, “Bloody +Claverse.”</p> +<p>Although there were not many houses of +importance in the west which Graham had +not visited during those years, it happened +that he had never been within Paisley Castle, +and that he had never met any of the family +except the earl and his aged countess. Lady +Cochrane and the Covenanting servants could +have given a thumb-nail sketch of him which +would have done for a mediæval picture of +Satan, and an accompanying letter-press of +his character which would have been a slander +upon Judas Iscariot. Her heroic ladyship +had, however, never met Claverhouse, +and she prayed God she never would, not because +she was afraid of him or of the devil +himself, but because she knew it would not be +a pleasant interview on either side. But it +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_118' name='page_118'></a>118</span> +was not likely in those times that the Dundonalds +should altogether escape the notice +of the government, or that Graham, ranging +through the country seeking whom he might +devour, as the Covenanters said, should not +find himself some day under their roof. The +earl himself was known to be well affected, +and in any case did not count, but Lady +Cochrane was a dangerous woman, and her +brother-in-law, Sir John, had been plotting +against the government and was an exile. +No one was much surprised when tidings +came to the castle early one morning that +Claverhouse with two troops of his regiment, +his own and the one commanded by Lord +Ross, Jean Cochrane’s cousin, was near +Paisley, and that Claverhouse with Lord +Ross craved the hospitality of the castle. It +was natural that he should stay in the chief +house of the neighborhood, and all the more +as Lord Dundonald was himself notoriously +loyal, but it was suspected that he came to +gather what information he could about Sir +John Cochrane, and to warn Lady Cochrane, +the real ruler of the castle, to give heed to +her ways.</p> +<p>“The day of trial which separates the +wheat from the chaff has come at last, as I +expected it would,” said Lady Cochrane, with +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_119' name='page_119'></a>119</span> +pride triumphing over concern; “it would +have been strange and a cause for searching +of hearts if the enemy had visited so many +of God’s people and had passed us by as if +we were a thing of naught, or indeed were +like unto Judas, who had made his peace with +the persecutors. Have ye considered what ye +will do, my lord?” she said to the earl, who +was wandering helplessly up and down the +dining-hall.</p> +<p>“Do, my lady?” It was curious to notice +how they all called her my lady. “I judge that +Claverhouse and any servants he brings must +be our guests, and of course Ross. But you +know more about what we can do than I. Do +you think we could invite the other officers +of his troop? There will be Bruce of Earleshall +and––” Then, catching Lady Cochrane’s +eye, he brought his maundering plans of hospitality +to a close. “Doubtless you will send +a letter and invite such as the castle may accommodate. +I leave everything, Margaret, in +your hands.”</p> +<p>“<i>I</i> invite John Graham of Claverhouse +and his bloody crew, officers or men it matters +not, to cross our threshold and break +bread within our walls––I, a daughter of the +house of Cassillis and the widow of your +faithful son? May my hand be smitten helpless +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_120' name='page_120'></a>120</span> +forever if I write such a word, and my +tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth if +I welcome this slayer of the saints to my +home!” And Lady Cochrane rose from her +place and stood like a lioness at bay. “Receive +that servant of the Evil One into Paisley +Castle? Yea, I would receive him if I +could. If early word had been sent of his +approach and it were in my power, I would +call together every man in this region who +is true unto God and the Covenant, and I +would close the gates of the castle and bid +the persecutor take it by force. I should +count it an honor before the Lord to shed my +own blood in its defence. But I doubt that +may not be.”</p> +<p>“What shall I do, then?” in answer to a +quavering question from the earl, who was +now huddled in a chair before the huge open +fireplace. “I would leave the castle if it +were not too late, and seek some lodging till +Claverhouse be gone, for I fear to dwell beneath +the same roof with this man of blood +lest the Lord smite us with a common destruction. +See him or speak with him I will +not; I will to my own rooms, and there I +will seclude myself, praying that God may +speedily judge this man, and cast him from +his place. Lord Dundonald, I will leave it +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_121' name='page_121'></a>121</span> +to you to play the host: very likely ye will +not have much sorrow over it, for ye have +more than a friendly heart to the Malignants.”</p> +<p>“It seems to me, if I be not too bold in +saying it, that ye are taking a wise course, +my lady, for there might arise some slight +debate between you and Claverhouse, and +that in the present circumstances would not +be convenient. Not quite, as I said, convenient. +You are a brave woman, Margaret, +and worthy of your honorable house, but +Claverhouse is the king’s officer, and I forget––my +memory is not what it was––the +number of men in a troop, but he has two +troops with him. Apart from that,” rambled +on the earl, “we must remember John, who +is in danger, and we may not give offence if +we can speak a canny word which will get the +right side of Claverhouse.”</p> +<p>“Ye have learned your lesson well, my +lord, and ye will do your part in this day of +expediency when men are more concerned +about their safety and that of their children +than that of the kirk of God and the cause +of righteousness. I make sure that there will +be much fair talk between you and your +guests, but I cannot breathe this air, and so +you will excuse me from your company. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_122' name='page_122'></a>122</span> +Jean, you will come with your mother and +stay with me till this plague has left the +house, for I count a visit of Claverhouse +worse than leprosy or the black death.”</p> +<p>“Craving your pardon, mother,” said +Jean, who had been listening to this conversation +with intense sympathy, and entering +keenly into the contrast between the earl +and Lady Cochrane, “I will not go with you +and hide myself till Colonel Graham be gone. +There should, it seems to me, be some woman +by the side of the head of the house, especially +when he is no longer young, to receive +Claverhouse, for whether we hate or love him +he is our guest while underneath this roof. +I am not afraid of him, and I will make free +to confess that I desire to see this man of +whom we have heard so much ill. It may be, +after all, that he is not what those foolish +people think. At any rate, by your leave, I +shall stand by the earl’s side if he will have +me.”</p> +<p>“Ye speak boldly, girl. Though you have +often debated with me more than was becoming, +I do not recall till this day that ye +have disobeyed me. But be it so, since this +gives pleasure to his lordship” (who had +crept over and was standing, as it were, +under the shield of his bold granddaughter). +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_123' name='page_123'></a>123</span> +“Only, one word of warning, if ye be not too +proud and high-minded to take it. Albeit +this man has the heart of Pontius Pilate, and +will be the curse of everyone that has to do +with him, yet the story goes that the master +whom he serves has given him a fair face +and beguiling words, and I bid you beware. +But from what I hear outside it is time I left. +Your guest is at your gate: I pray you may +have comfort in him, and that he may not +bring a shadow to this home.” And Lady +Cochrane swept her majestic way out of the +dining-hall; and retired to her apartments in +another wing.</p> +<p>As she left, the earl, with Jean, went to the +public door of the hall to meet Lord Ross and +Claverhouse, who, without waiting for any +invitation to stay in the castle, had come to +pay their respects to the earl. They were +already ascending the narrow stone stairs by +which visitors came from the courtyard to the +hall, and almost as soon as the earl and Jean +had taken their places, Lord Ross came +through the doorway, and having bowed to +the earl turned aside to present Claverhouse. +Jean saw him for the first time framed in +the arch of the door, and never while she +lived, even after she was the loyal wife of +another man, forgot the sight. Ten years +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_124' name='page_124'></a>124</span> +had passed since Graham jested at the camp-fire +with his comrades of the English Volunteers, +on the night before the battle of Sineffe, +but war, with many anxieties, had left +only slight traces upon his face. He was no +longer a soldier of fortune, but the commander +of “His Majesty’s Own Regiment +of Horse,” and a colonel in the king’s army. +By this time also he was a member of the +Privy Council, and a favorite person at +Court; he had held various offices and taken +part in many public affairs. Yet he was the +same gracious and engaging figure, carrying +on his face the changeless bloom of youth, +though now thirty-six years of age. He was +in the handsome uniform of his regiment, +completed by a polished and gleaming breastplate +over which his neckerchief of white +lace streamed, while his face looked out from +the wealth of brown hair which fell over his +shoulders. His left hand rested on his sword, +and Jean marked the refinement and delicacy +of his right hand, which was ungloved, +as if for salutation. The day had been +cloudy, and the hall, with its stone floor, high +roof, oaken furniture, and walls covered by +dark tapestry, was full of gloom, only partially +relieved by the firelight from the wide, +open hearth. While Claverhouse was coming +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_125' name='page_125'></a>125</span> +up the stairs to the sound of his spurs and +the striking of his sword against the wall, the +sun came out from behind a cloud, and a ray +of light streaming from an opposite window +fell upon the doorway as he entered. It lingered +but for a moment, and after touching +his picturesque figure as with a caress, disappeared, +and the eyes of John Graham and +Jean Cochrane met.</p> +<p>They were the opposite of each other: he +slight and graceful, she tall and strong; he +dark and rich of complexion, with hazel eye, +she fair and golden, with eyes of gray-blue; +he a born and convinced Cavalier, and she a +born and professed Covenanter; he a kinsman +of the great marquis whom the Covenanters +beheaded, and she on her mother’s +side the daughter of a house which hated +Montrose and all his works. There was nothing +common between them; they stood distant +as the east from the west, and yet in that +instant their hearts were drawn together. +They might never confess their love––there +would be a thousand hindrances to give it +effect––it was in the last degree unlikely that +they could ever marry, but it had come to +pass with them as with innumerable lovers, +that love was born in an instant.</p> +<p>“I thank you, my lord,” said Claverhouse, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_126' name='page_126'></a>126</span> +bowing low to the earl, “for this friendly +greeting, and for the invitation you now give +to be your guest during my short stay in the +district. It is strange that through some +ordering of circumstances, to me very disappointing, +I have never had the honor of +offering to you an assurance of my respect +as a good subject of the king, and one whom +the king has greatly honored. As you know, +my lord, I come and go hastily on the king’s +business. I only wish, and I judge his Majesty +would join in the wish, that my visits to +those parts were fewer. One is tempted, +preachers tell us, to think well of himself, +overmuch indeed, maybe, but I have been +wonderfully delivered from the snare of imagining +that I am a beloved person in the +west of Scotland.” As he spoke, a sudden +and almost roguish look of humor sprang +from his eyes and played across his face. +And he smiled pleasantly to Lady Jean, to +whom he was now introduced, and whose +hand he kissed.</p> +<p>“You will give your indulgence to a poor +soldier who must appear in this foolish trapping +of war, and whose time in these parts +is spent in the saddle rather than in a lady’s +rooms. I trust that it is well with the Lady +Cochrane, of whom I have often heard, and +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_127' name='page_127'></a>127</span> +whom I dared to hope I might have the privilege +of meeting.” And a second time the +same smile flickered over Claverhouse’s face, +and he seemed to challenge Jean for an +answer.</p> +<p>“My mother, Colonel Graham,” responded +Jean, with a careful choice of words, “does +not find herself able to receive you to-day as +we would have wished, and I fear she may be +confined to her room during your visit. It +will, I fear, be the greater loss to you that you +have to accept me in her place, but we will +try to give you such attention as we can, and +my good cousin here knows the castle as if +it were his own home.”</p> +<p>“Yes, and he has often spoken of our fair +hostess of to-day”––and Claverhouse led +Lady Jean to the table, where a meal was +spread––“and everyone has heard how wide +is the hospitality of Paisley Castle. Am I +too bold in asking whether Lord Ross and I +are the only guests, or whether we may not +expect to have a blessing on this generous +board from some minister of the kirk, even +perhaps from the worthy Mr. Henry Pollock? +I think, my lord, he favors you sometimes +with his company.” Again the smile returned, +but this time more searching and +ironical.</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_128' name='page_128'></a>128</span></div> +<p>“Pollock? Henry? That name sounds +familiar. One of the leaders of the hillmen, +isn’t he, who were giving such trouble to the +government? I am not sure but he was in +this district not long ago, maybe a month +since. Last Monday, was it? Well, you will +know better than I do, Colonel. My Lady +Cochrane and I don’t perhaps quite agree in +this, but I can’t approve of any trafficking +with persons disaffected to the government. +Gone! what, did any man say that Pollock +was here?” And the earl shuffled in his +chair beneath Claverhouse’s mocking eyes.</p> +<p>“If you desire to know the truth,” Jean +Cochrane said, with severe dignity, “it were +better not to ask my lord, because many come +and go, and he sometimes forgets their names. +Mr. Henry Pollock was our guest three days +ago, as you are ours to-day, but next day he +left, and we know not where he is. If, as I +judge, you have surrounded the castle, I +think you might let your troopers go to their +dinner.”</p> +<p>“It is good advice,” laughed Claverhouse, +concealing his disappointment, and nodding +to Lord Ross, who rose and left the table, to +send off the soldiers. “For one thing, at any +rate, I have come a day behind the fair, and +I shall not have the pleasure this time of +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_129' name='page_129'></a>129</span> +hearing some gracious words from that eminent +saint, and introducing my unworthy +self to his notice. We have met once or twice +before, but at a distance, and he had no leisure +to speak with me. Some day I hope to +be more fortunate.”</p> +<p>“When you do meet, Colonel Graham,” +retorted Jean, stung by this mockery, for she +knew now that one of the ends of Claverhouse’s +visit was the arrest of Pollock, and +if it had not been the accident of her refusal, +Pollock would have been Claverhouse’s prisoner, +“you will be in the company of a good +man and a brave, who may not be of your +way, but who, I will say in any presence, is a +gentleman of Christ.”</p> +<p>“Whatever else befall him, Pollock is fortunate +in his advocate.” Claverhouse looked +curiously at Jean. “God knows I do not desire +to say aught against him. Had I found +him in Paisley Castle I should have done my +duty, and he would have done his. We were +together in the old days at St. Andrew’s, and +he was a good Cavalier then; he is a man of +family and of honor. Pardon me if I think +he has chosen the wrong side, and is doing +vast evil in stirring up ignorant people +against the government and breeding lawlessness. +But there, I desire not to debate, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_130' name='page_130'></a>130</span> +and none grieves more over the divisions of +the day than an unhappy soldier who is sent +to settle them by the rough medicine of the +sword. Henry Pollock has chosen his side +and taken his risk: I have chosen mine and +taken my risk, too. If it be his lot when the +time comes he will die as a brave man should, +for there is no cowardice in Pollock, and +when my time comes, may heaven give me the +same grace. But I fear, Lady Jean, it is a +struggle unto life or death.” Claverhouse’s +face grew stern and sad, and he repeated, +“Unto life or death.”</p> +<p>Then suddenly his face relaxed into the +old polite, mocking smile as he turned to +Lord Dundonald. “The Lady Jean and I +have fallen upon much too serious talk, and +I take blame, my lord, that I have not been +inquiring for the welfare of your family. I +congratulate you on my Lord Cochrane, who +well sustains the fame of your house on all +its sides for turning out strong men and fair +women. Some day I hope Cochrane will ask +for a commission in his Majesty’s Regiment +of Horse and join his kinsman Ross under +my command. But what news have you from +Sir John? It came to my ears somehow that +he was travelling abroad; is that so, my lord? +Some one told me also that you had a letter +from him a week ago.”</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_131' name='page_131'></a>131</span></div> +<p>“John! We have not seen him for a year. +He was in London, but he is not there now. +Yes, I seem to remember that he had some +business which has taken him out of the country +for a little. We hope he will soon return, +and when he knows that you have done us the +honor of coming beneath our roof he will be +very sorry that he was not here to meet you.” +The earl havered to the end of his breath and +his prevarications, like a clock which had run +down.</p> +<p>“It would have been more good fortune +than I expected from my information if I +had found Sir John here, for unless rumor be +a wilder liar than usual he is in Holland, +where there is a considerable gathering of +worthy Presbyterians at present, taking council +together, no doubt, for the good of their +country. When you are writing to Sir John, +would you of your courtesy give him a +message from me? Say that I know Holland +well, and that the climate is excellent +for Scotsmen––more healthy sometimes, indeed, +than their native air––and that some of +his well-wishers think that he might be happier +there than even in Paisley Castle. If +he wishes service in the army, I could recommend +him to the notice of my old fellow-officer +MacKay of Scourie, who is now, I hear, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_132' name='page_132'></a>132</span> +a general in the Prince’s service. You will +be pleased to know, my lord, that the Rye +House Plot against his Majesty was a very +poor failure, and that all engaged in it, who +were caught, will be soundly trounced.”</p> +<p>“If anyone says that my son had anything +to do with that damnable proceeding, which +all loyal subjects must detest, then he is slandering +John, who is–––”</p> +<p>“Your son, my lord, and the brother of my +late Lord Cochrane cut off too soon. I am +curious to get any gossip from the low country. +Would it be too great a labor for you to +let your eyes rest again on Sir John’s letters, +and to learn whether he has anything to tell +about my old commander, his Highness of +Orange, or anything else that would satisfy +my poor curiosity. Burned them, have you? +Strange. If I had a son instead of being a +lonely man, I think his letters would be kept. +But you are a wise man, my lord, no doubt, +and I seem to be doomed to disappointment +to-day in everything except the most gracious +hospitality. Now, with your permission, Lady +Jean, I must go to see that those rascals of +mine are not making your good people in the +town drink the king’s health too deeply.”</p> +<hr class='toprule' /> +<div class='chsp'> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_133' name='page_133'></a>133</span> +<a name='CHAPTER_III_BETWEEN_MOTHER_AND_LOVER' id='CHAPTER_III_BETWEEN_MOTHER_AND_LOVER'></a> +<h3>CHAPTER III</h3> +<h4>BETWEEN MOTHER AND LOVER</h4> +</div> +<p>For no less a time than fourteen days did +Claverhouse and his men remain in Paisley, +to the amazement of the district and the fierce +indignation of Lady Cochrane. During that +time the soldiers made sudden journeys in various +directions, but if they arrested any Covenanters +they were never brought to Paisley, +and although Lady Cochrane prophesied the +murder of the saints every day, no new atrocity +was laid to her guest’s charge. Once or +twice he went out with his men himself, but +he mostly contented himself with directing +their operations, and he occupied his time +with writing long despatches on the case of +Sir John Cochrane and the state of affairs +in Scotland. He was not so busy, however, +that he had no leisure for the duties of a +guest, and now that he had missed Pollock +and had found out all he wanted about Sir +John, he never came a thousand miles within +controversy. He was studiously courteous +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_134' name='page_134'></a>134</span> +to the servants at the castle, who had regarded +his coming with absolute terror; he +calmed and gentled the timid old earl, and +drew him out to tell stories of the days of +the Commonwealth, when one of Cromwell’s +troopers pulled the minister out of the pulpit +of the Abbey kirk, and held forth himself +on the sins both of Prelacy and Presbytery, +declaring that he was as good a priest +as any man. Claverhouse made no objection +when the minister of the Abbey, who had +taken the indulgence and was on good terms +with the government, but whom Lady Cochrane +detested and considered to be a mere +Gallio, came up to hold family worship in the +castle. He attended the service himself, and +explained that he always had prayers when +he was at home, and that he generally had a +chaplain with him. When he was not shut +up in his room reading or writing despatches, +he mingled freely with the family and suited +himself to each one’s taste with great tact +and good nature. It was not long since he +had returned from Court at London, where +he was now a popular and influential person, +and he had many good tales for young Lord +Cochrane, about hunting with the Duke of +York, cock-fighting and other sports in vogue, +and all the doings of the royal circle. For +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_135' name='page_135'></a>135</span> +Jean he had endless interesting gossip from +the capital about the great ladies and famous +men, and the amusements of the Court and +the varied life of London. But he was careful +never to tell any of those tales which +buzzed through the land about the ways of +Charles, but which were not fit for a maiden’s +ears. From time to time, also, as they walked +together in the pleasaunce of the castle, they +touched on deeper things, and Jean marked +that, although this man had lived a soldier’s +life, and had been much with people who were +far removed from Puritanism, he was free +from the coarseness of the day, and that, although +he might be capable of severity and +even cruelty, he was of more fastidious and +chivalrous temper than anyone else she had +met among the Covenanters except Henry +Pollock. Unconsciously Jean began to compare +the two men, and to weigh their types +of character. There was nothing to choose +between them in honor or in manliness, +though the one was a minister of the Evangel +and the other a colonel of his Majesty’s +Horse, but they were different. Pollock, +with all his narrowness of faith and extravagance +of action, was a saint, and no one +could say that of Claverhouse, even though +they might admit he was not the devil of the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_136' name='page_136'></a>136</span> +Covenanting imagination. But John Graham +was more human: he might not see visions, +and there never came into his face that +light of the other world which she had seen +on Pollock’s, but he knew when a woman was +walking by his side, and his eyes caressed her. +His voice never had that indescribable accent +of eternity which thrilled Henry Pollock’s +hearers, and was to them as a message +from God, but Graham’s speech could +turn from grave and courteous mockery, +which was very taking in its way, to a gentle +deference and respectful appeal, which, from +a strong man with so dazzling a reputation, +was irresistible to a woman’s heart. Then, +no one could deny that his person was beautiful––a +rare thing to say of a man––or that +his manner was gracious, and Jean began to +admit to herself that if he set himself he +would be a successful lover. The very contradiction +of the man––with so graceful a form +and so high a spirit, with so evil a name for +persecution and so engaging a presence, with +such a high tone of authority among the men +in power and so modest a carriage towards +maidens––made him a captivating guest and +dangerous to women’s hearts. There was +also a natural sympathy between John Graham +and Jean Cochrane, because, though they +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_137' name='page_137'></a>137</span> +had been brought up under different traditions +and were on opposite sides, they were +both resolute, honest, independent, and loyal. +No word or hint of love passed between them +during those days, but Jean knew that for the +first time her heart had been touched, and +Claverhouse, who had seen all kinds of women +and had been indifferent to them all, and who +for the beauty of him had been tempted at +Court quite shamelessly and had remained +cold as ice, understood at last the attraction +of a maid for a man, and also realized that +Jean Cochrane was a fit mate for him because +her spirit was as high as his own.</p> +<p>They were trying days for Lady Cochrane +in her self-enforced seclusion, and her temper +was not improved by the news, brought +diligently to her by her waiting-maid, that +her daughter was doing her utmost to make +the persecutor’s time pass pleasantly. Her +mother had no suspicion at this point that +Jean was really wavering in loyalty to the +good cause, but as a woman with insight and +discernment she knew the danger to which +Jean was exposed, and blamed herself for her +own inconvenient pride. What if by way of +putting a slight on this arch enemy she were +to sacrifice her own child? It was impossible, +of course, that any daughter of hers should +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_138' name='page_138'></a>138</span> +ever allow her affections to be entangled by +the murderer of the saints, and Claverhouse +dared not, if he would, marry a Cochrane, for +he might as well throw up his commission and +join Henry Pollock at the next preaching on +the moors. But foolish ideas might come into +the girl’s head, and it was said that Claverhouse +could appear as an angel of light. It +might be as well to strengthen and safeguard +her daughter against the wiles of the wicked +one, so she summoned her to her room, and, +as her manner was, dealt with Jean in a +straightforward and faithful fashion. Lady +Cochrane had, however, learned that her +daughter could not be browbeaten or captured +by direct assault, but that, however thorough +might be her own mind and uncompromising +her will, she would have to walk warily +with Jean.</p> +<p>“It was an ill wind that blew that evil +man to this castle, and an ill work, I make no +doubt, he has been after in this district. He +came like a bloodhound to catch Henry Pollock, +and like a fox to get what news he could +about Sir John. What he lingers for his +master only knows, but it grieves me, lassie, +that ye have had the burden of him on your +shoulders. They are too light, though they +may be stronger than most, for such a weight; +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_139' name='page_139'></a>139</span> +I will not deny your spirit, but he, as the +Proverb goes, must have a lang spoon to sup +wi’ the deil. Has he spoken civilly”––and +Lady Cochrane eyed her daughter keenly––“or +has he been saying evil of our house and +the cause?”</p> +<p>“Claverhouse has said no evil of any man +that I can mind of, mother,” replied Jean +coldly; “and what he did say about Mr. +Henry Pollock would have rather pleased +than angered you. He does not discourse +without ceasing, as certain do when they +come to the castle, about the times and all +the black troubles; he seems to me rather to +avoid matters of debate, I suppose because +they would give offence. I doubt whether +you could quarrel with him if you met him.”</p> +<p>“What, then, is the substance of his talk––for, +if all stories be true, it is not much he +knows of anything but war and wicked people? +What has he for a godly maiden to +hear?”</p> +<p>“Nothing worth mentioning, mayhap”––and +Jean spoke with almost studied indifference––“what +is going on in London, and +how the great ladies of the Court are dressed, +and the clever things the king says, and how +the Duke of York loves sport, and suchlike. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_140' name='page_140'></a>140</span> +It would please you to hear him, for ye have +seen the Court.”</p> +<p>“Once, Jean, and never again by God’s +mercy, for it is a spring of corruption from +which pours every evil work, where no man +can live clean, and no chaste woman should +ever go. The like of it has not been seen for +wickedness since the daughter of Herodias +danced before Herod and his lewd courtiers, +and obtained the head of John the Baptist +on a charger for her reward. Black shame +upon John Graham! Cruel he is, but I +thought he would not pollute any girl’s ears +with such immodest tales.” And Lady Cochrane +was beginning to lose control of herself.</p> +<p>“Colonel Graham said never a word which +it were unbecoming a maiden to hear, and +especially a daughter of Lady Cochrane.” +And Jean grew hot with indignation. “His +talk was about the ceremonies and the dresses; +there was no mention of any wrongdoings. +Nor was his speech always of London, for he +touched on many other things, and seemed to +me to have right thoughts, both of how men +should live and die. For example, he said, +that though Mr. Henry Pollock and he differ, +Mr. Henry was a good and brave gentleman.”</p> +<p>“Did he, indeed?” and Lady Cochrane +was very scornful. “Doubtless that was +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_141' name='page_141'></a>141</span> +very cunning on his part, and meant to tickle +your ears. But ye know, Jean, that if by +evil chance, or rather, let us say, a dark ordering +of the Lord, he had caught Mr. Henry +here, like a bird in the snare of the fowler, +he would have given him a short trial. If +ye had cared to look ye would have seen that +godly man shot in our own courtyard by six +of Claverhouse’s dragoons. Aye, and he +would have given the order in words as +smooth as butter, and come back to tell you +brave tales of the court ladies with a smile +upon his bonnie face. May God smite his +beauty with wasting and destruction!”</p> +<p>“Mother,” said Jean, flushing and throwing +back her head, “ye speak what ye believe +to be true, and many hard things are done in +these black days on both sides; but after I +have spoken with Claverhouse, I cannot +think that he would have any good man killed +in cold blood.”</p> +<p>“What does it matter, Jean, what you +think, for it is weel kent that a young lassie’s +eye is caught in the snare of a glancing eye +and a gallant’s lovelocks. Listen to me, and +I will tell you what three weeks ago this fair-spoken +and sweet-smiling cavalier did. He +was hunting for the hidden servants of the +Lord in the wild places of Ayrshire, and he +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_142' name='page_142'></a>142</span> +caught near his own house a faithful professor +of religion, on whose head a price was set, +and for whose blood those sons of Belial were +thirsting. Claverhouse demanded that he +should take the oath, which no honest man +can swear, and of which ye have often heard. +And when that brave heart would not, because +he counted his life not dear to him for +the Lord’s sake, Claverhouse gave him three +minutes to pray before he died. You are +hearing me, Jean, for I have not done?</p> +<p>“The martyr of the Lord prayed so earnestly +for his wife and children, for the downtrodden +Kirk of Scotland, and for his murderer, +that Graham ordered him to rise from +his knees, because his time was come. When +he rose he was made to stand upon the green +before his own house, with his wife and bairns +at the door, and Claverhouse commanded so +many of his men to fire upon him. Ah! ye +would have seen another Claverhouse than ye +know in that hour. But that is not all.</p> +<p>“His dragoons are ignorant and ungodly +men, accustomed to blood, but after hearing +that prayer their hearts were softened within +them and they refused to fire. So Graham +took a pistol from his saddle, and with his +own hands slew the martyr. Ye are hearing, +Jean, but there is more to follow. With her +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_143' name='page_143'></a>143</span> +husband lying dead before her eyes, Claverhouse +asked his wife what she thought of her +man now. That brave woman, made strong +in the hour of trial, wrapt her husband’s head +in a white cloth and took it on her lap, and +answered: ‘I have always honored him, but I +have never been so proud of him as this day. +Ye will have to answer to man and God for +this.’ This is what he gave back to her: ‘I +am not afraid of man, and God I will take +into my own hands.’ That is how he can deal +with women, Jean, when he is on his errands +of blood, and that is what he thinks of God. +But his day is coming, and the judgment of +the Lord will not tarry.”</p> +<div class='figtag'> +<a name='linki_5' id='linki_5'></a> +</div> +<div class='figcenter'> +<img src='images/illus-145.jpg' alt='' title='' width='393' height='500' /><br /> +<p class='caption'> +“Ye will have to answer to man and God for this.” Page <ins class="trchange" title="Was '145'">143</ins>.<br /> +</p> +</div> +<p>“My lady,” said Jean, who had grown very +pale, and whose face had hardened through +this ghastly story, “that, I am certain as I +live, is a lie. Colonel Graham might order +the Covenanter to be shot, and that were +dreadful enough. He would never have insulted +his wife after such a base manner––none +but a churl would do that, and Claverhouse +is not base-born.”</p> +<p>“He is base, girl, who does basely, it matters +not how fair he be or how pleasing in a +lady’s room. And I am not sure about his respect +for ladies and the high ways of what ye +would call his chivalry. Mayhap ye have not +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_144' name='page_144'></a>144</span> +heard the story of his courting––then I have +something else, and a lighter tale for your +ears, but whether it please you better I know +not. Though I begin to believe ye are easily +satisfied.” At the mention of courting Lady +Cochrane searched the face of her daughter, +but though Jean was startled she gave no sign.</p> +<p>“There be many tales which fly up and +down the land, and are passed from mouth to +mouth among the children of this world, and +some of them are not for a godly maiden’s +ears, since they are maistly concerned wi’ +chambering and wantonness. But this thing +ye had better hear, and then ye will understand +what manner of man in his walk and +conversation we are harboring beneath our +roof. For a’ he look so grand and carries his +head so high, he has little gold in his purse, +but the black devil of greed is in his heart. +So, like the lave of the gallants that drink and +gamble and do waur things at the king’s +court, he has been hunting for some lass that +will bring him a tocher (dowry) and a title. +For this is what the men of his generation +are ever needing. Ye follow me, Jean? This +may be news to a country lass wha has not +been corrupted among the king’s ladies.</p> +<p>“Weel, it’s mair than three years ago our +brave gentleman scented his game, and ever +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_145' name='page_145'></a>145</span> +since has been trying to trap this misguided +lass, for like the rest o’ them, when he is not +persecuting the saints, he is ruining innocent +women soul and body. I would have you +understand that, daughter, and maybe ye will +walk with him less in the pleasaunce.” Both +women were standing, and Lady Cochrane +was watching Jean to see whether she had +touched her. Her daughter gave no sign except +that her face was hardening, and she +tapped the floor with her foot.</p> +<p>“Ye may not have heard of Helen Graham, +for she belongs to another world from +ours, and one I pray God ye may never see +the inside of, for a black clan to Scotland +have been the Grahams from the Marquis +himself, who was a traitor to the Covenant +and a scourge to Israel, to this bonnie kinsman +of his, who has the face of a woman and +the dress of a popinjay and the heart of a +fiend. Now, it happens that this fair lass, +whom I pity both for her blood and for her +company, for indeed she is a daughter of +Heth and hath the portion of her people, is +heiress to the Earl of Monteith, and whaso-ever +marries her will succeed to what money +there is and will be an earl in his own richt. +A fine prize for an avaricious and ambitious +worldling.</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_146' name='page_146'></a>146</span></div> +<p>“For years, then, as I was saying, Claverhouse +has been scheming and plotting to +capture Helen Graham and to make himself +Earl o’ Monteith. It wasna sic easy work as +shootin’ God’s people on the hillside, and for +a while the sun didna shine on his game. +Some say the Marquis wanted her for himself, +and then John Graham of Claverhouse +would have to go behind like a little dog to +his master’s heel. Some say that her father +had some compunction in handing over his +daughter into sic cruel hands. Some say that +the lass had a lover of her own, though that +is neither here nor there with her folk. But +it’s no easy throwing a bloodhound off the +track, and now I hear he has gained his purpose, +and afore he left the Court and came +back to his evil trade in Scotland the contract +of marriage was settled, and ane o’ these days +we will be hearing that a Graham has married +a Graham, and that both o’ them have +gotten the portion that belongeth to the unrighteous. +Ye ken, Jean, that I have never +loved the foolish gossip which fills the minds +o’ idle folk when they had better be readin’ +their Bibles and praying for their souls, but +I judged it expedient that ye should know +that Claverhouse is as gude as a married +man.”</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_147' name='page_147'></a>147</span></div> +<p>“If he were not,” said Jean, looking +steadily at her mother, and drawing herself +up to her full height, “there is little +danger he would come to Paisley Castle for +his love, or find a bride in my Lady Cochrane’s +daughter. Ye have given me fair warning +and have used very plain speech, but I was +wondering with myself all the time”––and +then as her mother waited and questioned +her by a look––“whether miscalling a man +black with the shameful lies of his enemies is +not the surest way to turn the heart of a +woman towards him. But doubtless ye ken +best.” Without further speech Jean left her +mother’s room, who felt that she would have +succeeded better if her daughter had been less +like herself.</p> +<p>Jean gave, truth to tell, little heed to the +stories of Claverhouse’s savagery, partly because +rough deeds were being done on both +sides, and they were not so much horrified in +the West Country of that time at the shooting +of a man as we are in our delicate days; +partly, also, because she had been fed on those +horrors for years, and had learned to regard +Claverhouse and the other Royalist officers +as men capable of any atrocity. Gradually +the dramatic stories had grown stale and +lost their bite, and when she noticed that +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_148' name='page_148'></a>148</span> +with every new telling it was necessary to +strengthen the horrors, Jean had begun to +regard them as works of political fiction. +But this was another story about Claverhouse’s +engagement to Helen Graham. Jean +would not admit to herself, even in her own +room or in her own heart, that she was in +love with Graham, and she was ready to say +to herself that no marriage could be more +preposterous than between a Cochrane and a +Graham. It did not really matter to her +whether he had been engaged or was going +to be engaged to one Graham or twenty Grahams. +She had never seen him till a few +days ago, and very likely, having done all he +wanted, he would never come to Paisley +Castle again. Their lives had touched just +for a space, and then would run forever +afterwards apart. They had passed some +pleasant hours together, and she would ever +remember his face; perhaps he might sometimes +recall hers. So the little play would +end without ill being done to her or him. +Still, as she knew her mother was not overscrupulous, +and any stick was good enough +wherewith to beat Claverhouse, she would +like to know, if only to gratify a woman’s +curiosity, whether Claverhouse was really +going to marry this kinswoman of his, and, in +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_149' name='page_149'></a>149</span> +passing, whether he was the mercenary adventurer +of her mother’s description.</p> +<p>This was the reason of a friendly duel between +that vivacious woman Kirsty Howieson, +Jean Cochrane’s maid and humble friend, +and that hard-headed and far-seeing man of +Angus, Jock Grimond, Claverhouse’s servant +and only too loyal clansman.</p> +<p>“It’s no true every time ‘Like master like +man’”––and Kirsty made a bold opening, as +was the way of her class––“for I never saw +a woman wi’ a bonnier face than Claverhouse, +and, my certes, mony a lass would give ten +years o’ her life, aye, and mair, for his brown +curls and his glancing een. I’m judgin’ there +have been sair hearts for him amang the fair +Court ladies.”</p> +<p>“Ye may weel say that, Kirsty,” answered +Jock; “if Providence had been pleased to +give ye a coontinance half as winsome, nae +doot ye would have been married afore this, +my lass. As for him, the women just rin +after Claverhouse in flooks. It doesna matter +whether it be Holland or whether it be +London, whether it be duchesses at Whitehall +or merchants’ daughters at Dundee, he +could have married a hundred times over wi’ +money and rank and beauty and power. +Lord’s sake! the opportunities he has had, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_150' name='page_150'></a>150</span> +and the risks he has run, it’s been a merciful +thing he had me by his side to be, if I may say +it, a guide and a protector.”</p> +<p>“If the Almichty hasna done muckle for +your face, Jock, He’s given you a grand conceit +o’ yoursel’, and that must be a rael comfort. +I wish I’d a share o’ it. So you have +preserved your maister safe till this day, and +he’s still gaeing aboot heart-free and hand-free.”</p> +<p>“Na, Kirsty”––and Grimond looked +shrewdly at her––“I’ll no say that Claverhouse +isna bound to marry some day or ither, +and, of course, in his posseetion it behove +him to find a lady of his ain rank and his +ain creed. Noo, what I’m tellin’ ye is strictly +between oorsel’s, and ye’re no to mention it +even to your ain mistress. Claverhouse is +contracted in marriage to Miss Helen Graham, +the daughter of Sir James Graham, +his own uncle, and the heiress to the Earl of +Monteith. Ye see, Miss Helen is his kinswoman, +and she brings him an earldom in +her lap. Besides that she’s verra takin’ in +her appearance and manner, and I needna +say just hates a Covenanter as she would a +brock (badger). It’s a maist suitable match +every way ye look at it, and it has my entire +approbation. But no a word aboot this, mind +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_151' name='page_151'></a>151</span> +ye, Kirsty––though I was juist thinkin’ +this afternoon of recommendin’ Claverhouse +to let this contract be known. He’s an honorable +man, is the laird, and, by ordinary, +weel-livin’; but there’s nae doot he is awfu’ +temptit by women, and I wouldna like to see +their hearts broken.”</p> +<p>“A word in season to my Lady Jean, if I’m +no sair mistaken”––and Jock chuckled to +himself when Kirsty had gone––“and a +warning to the laird micht no be amiss. It +would be fine business for a Graham o’ +Claverhouse to marry a Covenantin’ fanatic +and the daughter o’ sic a mither. Dod! it +would be fair ruin for his career, and misery +for himsel’. I’ll no deny her looks, but I’ll +guarantee she has her mither’s temper. +What would Claverhouse have done without +me––though I wouldna say that to onybody +except mysel’––he would have been just an +object––aye, aye, just a fair object.”</p> +<p>As Grimond had communicated the engagement +of Claverhouse to Helen Graham under +the form of a secret, he was perfectly certain +that Kirsty would tell it that evening to her +mistress and in the end to the whole castle. +But he thought it wise to reinforce the resolution +of the other side, and when he waited +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_152' name='page_152'></a>152</span> +on his master that evening he laid himself +out for instruction.</p> +<p>“Ye would have laughed hearty, Mr. John, +if you had heard the officers over their wine +this afternoon in the town. Lord Ross wasna +there, and so they had the freedom o’ their +tongues, and if Sir Adam Blair wasna holdin’ +out that you had fallen in love wi’ Lady Jean, +and the next thing they would hear would be +a marriage that would astonish Scotland. +Earleshall nearly went mad, and said that if +ye did that you would be fairly bewitched, +and that you might as well join the Covenanters. +I tell ye, laird, they nearly quarrelled +over it, and I am telt they got so thirsty +that they drank fourteen bottles o’ claret to +five o’ them besides what they had before. Ye +will excuse me mentionin’ this, for it’s no +for me to tell you what the gentlemen speak +aboot, but I thought a bit o’ daffin’ (amusement) +micht lichten ye after the day’s work.”</p> +<p>“It is no concern of mine what the officers +say between themselves, and I’ve told you before, +Grimond, that you are not to bring any +idle tales you pick up to my ears. You’ve +done this more than once, and I lay it on you +not to do it again.”</p> +<p>“Surely, Mr. John, surely. I ken it’s no +becoming and I’ll no give ye cause to complain +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_153' name='page_153'></a>153</span> +again. But as sure as death, when I +heard them saying it as I took in your message +to Earleshall I nearly dropped on the +floor, I was that amused. Claverhouse married +to a Covenanter! It was verra takin’.</p> +<p>“Na, na, Mr. John, I kent better than that, +but I’m no just comfortable in my mind sae +lang as ye are in Paisley Castle and in the +company o’ Lady Jean. Her mither is an +able besom, and her young ladyship is verra +deep. What I’m hearin’ on the ither side o’ +the hedge is that she’s trying to get round ye +so as to get a pardon for Sir John, and to let +him come home from Holland. No, Claverhouse, +ye maunna be angry wi’ me, for I’ve +waited on ye longer than ye mind, and I +canna help bein’ anxious. Ye are a grand +soldier, and ye’ve been a fine adviser to the +government. There’s no mony things ye’re +no fit for, Mr. John, but the women are cunning, +and have aye made a fule o’ the men +since Eve led Adam aff the straicht and made +sic a mishanter o’ the hale race. They say +doon stairs that Lady Jean is getting roond +ye fine, and that if it wasna that her family +wanted something from you, you would never +have had a blink o’ her, ony mair than her +auld jade o’ a mither. For a hypocrite give +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_154' name='page_154'></a>154</span> +me a Covenanter, and, of course, the higher +they are the cleverer.</p> +<p>“Just ae word more, Claverhouse, and I +pray ye no to be angry, for there’s naebody +luves ye better than Jock Grimond. I hear +things ye canna hear, and I see things ye +canna see. Naebody would tell you that Lady +Jean and Pollock, the Covenantin’ minister, +are as gude as man and wife. They may no +be married yet, but they will be as sune as it’s +safe, and that’s how he comes here so often. +She has a good reason to speak ye fair, laird, +and she has a souple tongue and a beguilin’ +way, juist a Delilah. Laird, as sure as I’m a +livin’ man this is a hoose o’ deceit, and we +are encompassed wi’ fausehood as wi’ a garment.” +And although Claverhouse’s rebuke +was hot, Grimond felt that he had not suffered +in vain.</p> +<hr class='toprule' /> +<div class='chsp'> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_155' name='page_155'></a>155</span> +<a name='CHAPTER_IV_THY_PEOPLE_SHALL_BE_MY_PEOPLE_THY_GOD_MY_GOD' id='CHAPTER_IV_THY_PEOPLE_SHALL_BE_MY_PEOPLE_THY_GOD_MY_GOD'></a> +<h3>CHAPTER IV</h3> +<h4>“THY PEOPLE SHALL BE MY PEOPLE, THY GOD MY GOD”</h4> +</div> +<p>A month had passed before Claverhouse +returned to Paisley, and this time he made +his headquarters in the town, and did not accept +the hospitality of the castle, excusing +himself on the ground of his many and sudden +journeys. His real reason was that he +thought it better to keep away, both for his +own sake and that of Jean Cochrane. During +his lonely rides he had time to examine +the state of his feelings, and he found himself +more deeply affected than he thought; +indeed he confessed to himself that if he +were to marry he should prefer Jean to any +other woman he had ever met. But he remembered +her ancestry, especially her mother, +and her creed, which was the opposite of his, +and he knew that either she would not marry +him because he was the chief opponent of her +cause, or if he succeeded in winning her, he +would most likely be discredited at Court by +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_156' name='page_156'></a>156</span> +this suspicious marriage. It was better not +to see her, or to run any further risks. He +had made many sacrifices––all his life was +to be sacrificed for his cause––and this would +only be one more. He tried also to think the +matter out from her side, and although he +hated to think that she was a traitress trying +to ensnare him for her own ends, yet it might +be that her family were making a tool of her +to seduce him from the path of duty, and although +he doubted whether she was betrothed +to Pollock, yet it might be true, and he certainly +was not going to be Pollock’s unsuccessful +rival. Altogether, it was expedient +that they should not see one another, and +Claverhouse contented himself with sending +a courteous message by Lord Ross to the earl +and Lady Jean, and busied himself with his +public and by no means agreeable task of +Covenanter-hunting. As, however, he had +received the very thoughtful and generous +hospitality of the castle on his last visit, and +as Lord Ross was constantly saying that the +earl would like to see him, he determined to +call on the afternoon before his departure. +Lady Cochrane, as usual, did not appear, and +neither did her daughter, and after a futile +conversation with Dundonald, who seemed +feebler than ever, Claverhouse left, and had it +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_157' name='page_157'></a>157</span> +not been for a sudden whim, as he was going +through the courtyard, he had never seen Jean +Cochrane again, and many things would not +have happened. But there was a way of +reaching the town through the pleasaunce, +and under the attraction of past hours spent +among its trees Claverhouse turned aside, and +walking down one of its grass walks, and +thinking of an evening in that place with +Jean, he came suddenly upon her on her favorite +seat beneath a spreading beech.</p> +<p>“I crave your pardon, my Lady Jean,” +said Claverhouse, recovering himself after +an instant’s discomposure, “for this intrusion +upon your chosen place and your meditation. +My excuse is the peace of the garden +after the wildness of the moors, but I did not +hope to find so good company. My success in +Paisley Castle has been greater than among +the moss-hags.”</p> +<p>“It is a brave work, Colonel Graham, to +hunt unarmed peasants”––and for the first +time Claverhouse caught the ironical note in +Jean’s speech, and knew that for some reason +she was nettled with him––“and it seems to +bring little glory. Though, the story did come +to our ears, it sometimes brought risk, and––perhaps +it was a lie of the Covenanters––once +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_158' name='page_158'></a>158</span> +ended in the defeat of his Majesty’s Horse. I +seem to forget the name of the place.”</p> +<p>“Yes,” replied Claverhouse with great +good humor, “the rascals had the better of +us at Drumclog. They might have the same +to-morrow again, for the bogs are not good +ground for cavalry, and fanatics are dour +fighters.”</p> +<p>“It was Henry Pollock ye were after this +time, we hear, and ye followed him hard, but +ye have not got him. It was a sair pity that +you did not come a day sooner to the castle, +and then you could have captured him without +danger.” And Lady Jean mocked him +openly. “Ye would have tied his hands behind +his back and his feet below the horse’s +belly, and taken him to Edinburgh with a +<a name='TC_1'></a><ins class="trchange" title="Was 'hundrel">hundred</ins> of his Majesty’s Horse before him +and a hundred behind to keep him safe; ye +would have been a proud man, Colonel Graham, +when ye came and presented the prisoner +to your masters. May I crave of you +the right word, for I am only a woman of the +country? Would Mr. Henry Pollock have +been a prisoner of war––of war?” she repeated +with an accent and look of vast contempt.</p> +<p>Never had Claverhouse admired her more +than at that moment, for the scorn on her face +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_159' name='page_159'></a>159</span> +became her well, and he concluded that it +must spring from one of two causes. Most +likely, after all, Pollock was her lover.</p> +<p>“‘Tis not possible, my Lady Jean,” softening +his accent till it was as smooth as velvet, +and looking at the girl through half-closed +eyes, “to please everyone to whom he +owes duty in this poor world. If I had been +successful for my master his Majesty the +King––I cannot remember the name of any +other master––then I would have arrested a +rebel and a maker of strife in the land, and +doubtless he would have suffered his just +punishment. That would have been my part +towards the king and towards Mr. Henry +Pollock, too, and therein have I for the time +failed. To-morrow, Lady Jean, I may succeed.”</p> +<p>“Perhaps,” she said, looking at him from +a height, “and perhaps not. And to whom +else do you owe a duty, and have you filled it +better?”</p> +<p>“I owe a service to a most gracious hostess, +and that is to please her in every way I can. +Whether by my will or not, I have surely +given you satisfaction by allowing Mr. Henry +Pollock to escape, instead of bringing him +tied with ropes to Paisley Castle. So far as +my information goes you may sleep quietly +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_160' name='page_160'></a>160</span> +to-night, for he is safe in some rebel’s house. +Yet I am sorry from my heart,” said Claverhouse, +“and I am sorry for your sake, since +I make no doubt he will die some day soon, +either on the hill or on the scaffold.”</p> +<p>“For my sake?” said Jean, looking at him +in amazement. “What have I to do with him +more than other women?”</p> +<p>“If I have touched upon a secret thing +which ought not to be spoken of, I ask your +pardon upon my bended knees. But I was +told, it seemed to me from a sure quarter, +that there was some love passage between you +and Henry Pollock, and that indeed you were +betrothed for marriage.”</p> +<p>As Claverhouse spoke the red blood flowed +over Jean’s face and ebbed as quickly. She +looked at Claverhouse steadily, and answered +him in a quiet and intense voice, which quivered +with emotion.</p> +<p>“Ye were told wrong, then, Claverhouse, +for I have never been betrothed to any man, +and I shall never be the wife of Henry Pollock. +I am not worthy, for he is a saint, and +God knows I am not that nor ever likely to +be, but only a woman. But I tell you, face +to face, that I respect him, suffering for his +religion more than those who pursue him +unto his death. And when he dies, for his +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_161' name='page_161'></a>161</span> +testimony, he will have greater honor than +those who have murdered him. But they did +me too much grace who betrothed me to +Henry Pollock; if I am ever married it will +be to more ordinary flesh and blood, and I +doubt me”––here her mood changed, and the +tension relaxing, she smiled on Claverhouse––“whether +it will be to any Covenanter.”</p> +<p>“Lady Jean,” said Claverhouse, with a +new light breaking on him, for he began to +suspect another cause of her anger, “it concerns +me to see you standing while there is +this fair seat, and, with your leave, may I sit +beside you? Can you give me a few minutes +of your time before we part––I to go on my +way and you on yours. I hope mine will not +bring me again to Paisley Castle, where I am, +as the hillmen would say, ‘a stumbling-block +and an offence.’” Jean, glancing quickly at +him, saw that Claverhouse was not mocking, +but speaking with a note of sad sincerity.</p> +<p>“When you said a brief while ago that +mine was work without glory, ye said truly. +But consider that in this confused and dark +world, in which we grope our way like shepherds +in a mist, we have to do what lies to our +hand, and ask no questions––and the weariness +of it is that in the darkness we strike +ane another. We know not which be right, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_162' name='page_162'></a>162</span> +and shall not know till the day breaks: we +maun just do our duty, and mine, by every +drop of my blood, is to the king and the +king’s side. But mind ye, Lady Jean, it will +not be always through the moss-hags––chasing +shepherds, ploughmen and sic-like; by +and by it will be on the battle-field, when this +great quarrel is settled in Scotland. May the +day not be far off, and may the richt side win.”</p> +<p>As Claverhouse spoke he leaned back in the +corner of the seat and looked into the far distance, +while his face lost its changing expressions +of cynicism, severity, gracious courtesy +and keen scrutiny, and showed a nobility +which Jean had never seen before. She +noticed how it invested his somewhat effeminate +beauty with manliness and dignity.</p> +<p>“That is true”––and Jean’s voice grew +gentler––“nane kens that better than myself, +for nane has been more tossed in mind +than I have been. Ilka man, and also woman, +must walk the road as they see it before them, +and do their part till the end comes; but the +roads cross terribly on the muirs in the West +Country. If I was uncivil a minute syne I +crave your pardon, for that was not my mind. +But if rumor be true it matters not to you +what any man says, far less my Lady Cochrane’s +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_163' name='page_163'></a>163</span> +daughter, for ye were made to gang +yir ain gait.”</p> +<p>“Ye are wrong there, Lady Jean, far +wrong,” Claverhouse suddenly turned round +and looked at her with a new countenance. +“I will not deny that I am made to be careless +about the strife of tongues, and to give +little heed whether the world condemns or +approves if I do my devoir rightly to my +lord the king. But it would touch me to +the heart what you thought of me. They say +that a woman knows if a man loves her, even +though his love be sudden and unlikely, and +if that be so, then surely you have seen, as +we walked in this pleasaunce those fair evenings, +that I have loved you from the moment +I saw you in the hall that day. Confess it, +Jean, if that be not so. I, with what I heard +of Pollock, was bound in honor to be silent.”</p> +<p>“Was Pollock the only bond of honor?” +and Jean blazed on him with sudden fury. +“Is there no other tie that should keep you +from speaking of love to me and offering me +insult in my father’s house? Is this the chivalry +of a Royalist, and am I, Jean Cochrane, +to be treated like a light lady of the Court, +or some poor lass of the countryside ye can +play with at your leisure? Pleased by your +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_164' name='page_164'></a>164</span> +notice and then flung aside like a flower ye +wore till it withered.”</p> +<p>“Before God, what do ye mean by those +words?” They were both standing now, and +Graham’s face was white as death. “Is the +love of John Graham of Claverhouse a dishonor?”</p> +<p>“It is, and so is the love of any man if he +be pledged to another woman. Though we +go not to Court, think you I have not heard +of Helen Graham, the heiress of Monteith, +and your courting of her––where, the story +goes, ye have been more successful than catching +ministers of the kirk? Ye would play +with me! I thank God my brother lives, and +they say he is no mean swordsman.”</p> +<p>“If it were as you believe, my lady, and I +had spoken of love to you when I was betrothed +to another woman, then ye did well +and worthy of your blood to be angry, and +my Lord Cochrane’s sword, if it had found +its way to my heart, had rid the world of a +rascal. Rumor is often wrong, and it has +told you false this time. I deny not, since I am +on my confession, that I desired to wed Helen +Graham, and I will also say freely, though +it also be to my shame, that I desired to win +her, not only because she was a Graham and a +gracious maiden, but because I should obtain +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_165' name='page_165'></a>165</span> +rank and power, for I have ever hungered for +both, that with them I might serve my cause. +My suit did not prosper, so that we were never +betrothed, and now I hear she is to be married +to Captain Rawdon, the nephew of my +Lord Conway. I would have married Helen +Graham in her smock if need be, though I +say again I craved that title, and I would +have been a faithful husband to her. But I +have never loved her, nor any other woman +before. Love, Jean”––he went on, and they +both unconsciously had seated themselves a +little apart––“is like the wind spoken of in +the Holy Gospel. It bloweth where it listeth, +and is not to be explained by reasons. In +my coming and going to Court I have seen +many fair women, and some of them have +smiled on me and tried to take me by the lure +of their eyes, but none has ever been so bonnie +to me as you, Jean, and your hair of burnished +gold. Doubtless I have met holier +women than you, though my way has not +lain much among the saints, but though one +should show me a hundred faults in you, ye +are to me to-day the best, and I declare if ye +had sinned I would love you for your sins +only less than for your virtues. I love you +as a man should love a woman: altogether, +your fair body from the crown of your head +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_166' name='page_166'></a>166</span> +to the sole of your foot, your hair, your eyes, +your mouth, your hands, the way you hold +your head, the way you walk, your white +teeth when you smile, and the dimple on your +cheek. Yourself, too, the Jean within that +body, with your courage, your pride, your +scorn, your temper, your fierce desires, your +fiery jealousies, your changing moods. And +your passion, with its demands, with its surrenders, +with its caresses, with its pain. You, +Jean Cochrane, as you are and as you shall +be, with all my heart and with all my body, +with all my loyalty, next to that I give my +king, I love you, Jean.” He leaned towards +her as he spoke, and all the passion that was +hidden behind his girl face and Court manner––the +passion that had made him the most +daring of soldiers, and was to make him the +most successful of leaders––poured from his +eyes, from his lips, from his whole self, like +a hot stream, enveloping, overwhelming and +captivating her. Strong as she was in will +and character, she could not speak nor move, +but only looked at him, with eyes wide open, +from the midst of the wealth of her golden +hair.</p> +<div class='figtag'> +<a name='linki_6' id='linki_6'></a> +</div> +<div class='figcenter'> +<img src='images/illus-253.jpg' alt='' title='' width='362' height='500' /><br /> +<p class='caption'> +She could not speak nor move, but only looked at him. Page <ins class="trchange" title="Was '168'">166</ins>.<br /> +</p> +</div> +<p>“Do I not know the sacrifice I am asking +if you should consent to be my wife? Jean, I +will tell you true: not for my love even and +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_167' name='page_167'></a>167</span> +your bonnie self will I lie or palter with my +faith. You will have to come to me, I will +not go to you; you will have to break with +the Covenant, leave your father’s house and +face your mother’s anger, and be denounced +by the godly, up and down the land, because +ye married the man of blood and the persecutor +of the saints. I will not change, ye +understand that? No, not for the warm, soft +clasp of your white arms round my neck; no, +not though ye tie me with the meshes of your +shining hair. I judge that ye will not be a +temptress, but I give you warning I am +no Sampson, in his weakness to a woman’s +witchery, when it comes to my faith and my +duty. I will love you night and day as a man +loveth a woman, but I will do what I am told +to do, even though it be against your own +people, till the evil days be over. And it +may be, Jean, that I shall have to lead a hopeless +cause. Ye must be willing to give me +to death without a grudge, and send me with +a kiss to serve the king.</p> +<p>“Can you do this”––and now his voice +sank almost to a whisper, and he stretched +his hands towards her––“for the sake of +love, for love’s sake only, for the sight of +my face, for the touch of my lips, for the +clasp of my arms, for the service of my heart, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_168' name='page_168'></a>168</span> +for myself? If ye should, I will be a true +man to you, Jean, till death us do part. I +have not been better than other men, but +women have never made me play the fool, +and even your own folk, who hate me, will +tell you that I have been a clean liver. And +now I will never touch or look on any other +woman in the way of love save you. If I +have to leave your side to serve the king, I +will return when the work is done, and all +the time I am away my love will be returning +to you. If you be not in my empty arms, +you shall ever be in my heart; if I win honor +or wealth, it will now be for you. If I can +shelter you from sorrows and trouble, I will +do so with my life, and if I die my last +thought, after the cause, will be of you, my +lady and my love.</p> +<p>“Jean Cochrane, can you trust yourself to +me; will you be the wife of John Graham of +Claverhouse?”</p> +<p>They had risen as by an instinct, and were +facing one another where the light of the +setting sun fell softly upon them through the +fretted greenery of the beech tree.</p> +<p>“For life, John Graham, and for death,” +and as she said “death” he clasped her in his +arms. The brown hair mingled with the gold, +they looked into one another’s eyes, and their +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_169' name='page_169'></a>169</span> +lips met in a long, passionate kiss, renewed +again and again, as if their souls had flowed +together. Then she disentangled herself and +stood a pace away, and laying her hands upon +his shoulders and looking steadfastly at him, +she said: “Whither thou goest I will go, and +where thou lodgest I will lodge, thy people +shall be my people, and thy God my God.”</p> +<p>The sooner they were married the better +pleased John Graham and Jean Cochrane +would be, for life in Paisley Castle could not +be a paradise for Jean after that betrothal. +Three weeks later Claverhouse rode down one +Saturday from Edinburgh to Paisley against +his marriage day on the following Tuesday. +His love for Jean had steadily grown during +those days, and now was in a white +heat of anticipation, for she was no nun, but +a woman to stir a man’s senses. Yet there +were many things to chasten and keep him +sober. No sooner was it known that he was +to marry Lady Cochrane’s daughter and the +granddaughter of Lord Cassillis than his +rivals in the high places of Scotland and at +Whitehall did their best to injure him, setting +abroad stories that he was no longer +loyal, and that in future he would play into +the hands of the enemy. His young wife +would certainly get round him and shake his +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_170' name='page_170'></a>170</span> +integrity, and it would not be wise to trust +Claverhouse with secrets of grave affairs. It +was prophesied that this amazing and incongruous +marriage, the mating of opposites, +would only work ruin to his career, and that +indeed this was the beginning of the end for +Claverhouse. Lady Cochrane, raging like a +fiend in Paisley Castle, did not fail, in the +interludes of invective against her daughter +for disgracing their good name and giving +herself into the hands of the cruelest enemy +of the kirk, to remind Jean also that she was +doing the worst injury to the man she professed +to love, and that in the end Claverhouse +would be twice damned––for his sin +against the Covenanters and for his disloyalty +to his own cause. Jean was, of all +women, most capable of holding her own +even with her masterful mother, and Claverhouse +was perfectly confident that neither +Lady Cochrane nor her family would be able +to shake Jean’s fidelity. But there were +times, and they were her bitterest hours, +when Jean was not sure whether she had not +done selfishly and was not going to satisfy +her love at the expense of her lover. On his +part, he could not help being anxious, for it +seemed as if every man of his own party +had turned his hand against him. With all +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_171' name='page_171'></a>171</span> +his severity, Claverhouse had a just mind, +and he offended Queensberry by protesting +against the severity of the law; while the +Duke of Perth, an unprincipled vagabond, +ready to play traitor to either king or religion, +hated Claverhouse because he was an +honorable man. Claverhouse thought it necessary +to write to the Duke of York, explaining +the circumstances of his marriage and +assuring him of his continued loyalty, and to +the Duke of Hamilton, whose daughter was +to be married to young Lord Cochrane, testifying +to the integrity of Jean. “For the +young lady herself, I shall answer for her. +Had she been right principled she would +never in despyt of her mother and relations +made choyse of a persecutor, as they call me. +So, whoever think to misrepresent me on +that head will find themselves mistaken; for +both the king and the church’s interest, dryve +as fast as they think fit, they will never see +me behind.”</p> +<p>Lord Dundonald himself was pleased because +the marriage secured Claverhouse’s influence, +and so were his personal friends, +such as Lord Ross, who knew and admired +Jean; Claverhouse could not hide from himself, +however, that the world judged the marriage +an irreparable mistake, and Grimond, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_172' name='page_172'></a>172</span> +so far as he dared––but he had now to be very +careful––rubbed salt into the wound. All +the omens were against them, and when on +the Sunday Claverhouse sat beside his bride +in the Abbey church, the people gave them +a cold countenance, and as they went up the +street true Presbyterians turned their faces +from Claverhouse. The marriage service +was performed in the gallery of the castle, +and the minister officiating was one who had +taken the indulgence and was avoided by the +stricter people of the kirk. The contract +was signed by Lord Dundonald and the old +countess with weak and feeble hands, but +the bride and bridegroom placed their names +with strong and unhesitating characters. +Lord Ross stood beside his commanding officer +as best man, and young Lord Cochrane +was also present, full of good-will and sympathy, +for was he not himself about to marry +the daughter of the Duke of Hamilton? But +neither Dundonald’s weakly approval nor +the gayety of the young men could lift the +shadow that fell within and without, both in +the gallery and in the courtyard of the castle, +upon the marriage of Claverhouse and Jean +Cochrane. News had come two days before +that there had been a rising among the Covenanters, +and Claverhouse was ordered to pursue +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_173' name='page_173'></a>173</span> +them with his cavalry. His regiment was +in the district, and while the service was +going on in the castle, his horse was saddled +in the courtyard, and a guard of troopers +were making ready to start. The sound of +the champing of bits and the clinking of +spurs came up through the quiet summer air +and mingled with the prayer of the minister. +Lady Cochrane was not supposed to be present, +but when the minister asked if anyone +could show just cause why this marriage +should not be performed, she appeared suddenly +from an alcove where she had been +sheltered behind the servants. Stepping forward, +she said, with an unfaltering voice, +vibrant with solemn indignation, “<i>In the +name of God</i> and in my own, I, the mother +of Jean Cochrane, forbid this marriage, because +she is marrying against my will, and +joining herself to the persecutor of God’s +people; because she is turning herself against +her father’s house and forsaking the faith +of her father’s God.” The minister paused +for a moment, for he was a quiet man and +stood in awe of Lady Cochrane; he looked +anxiously at the bride and bridegroom. “I +have made my choice,” said Jean, “and I +adhere to it with my mind and heart,” and +Claverhouse, with a smile and bow, bade the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_174' name='page_174'></a>174</span> +minister do his duty. When they were married +there was a moment’s stillness, during +which the bridegroom kissed the bride, and +then Lady Cochrane spoke again. “Ye have +gone your own way and done your own will, +John Graham and Jean Cochrane, and the +curse of God’s kirk and of a mother goes +with you. The veil is lifted from before my +eyes, and I prophesy that neither the bridegroom +nor the bride will die in their beds. +There are those here present who will witness +one day that I have spoken true.”</p> +<p>Claverhouse led his bride to the wing of +the castle, where she lived, and from which +she could look down on the courtyard. At the +door of her room he kissed her again and +bade her good-by. “This is what ye have +got, Jean, by marrying me,” and his smile +was dashed with sadness. Two minutes later +he rode out from the courtyard of the castle +to hunt the people of Lady Cochrane’s faith, +while her daughter and his bride waved him +God speed from her window.</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_175' name='page_175'></a>175</span></div> +<hr class='toprule' /> +<div class='chsp'> +<h2><span class='smcap'>BOOK</span> III</h2> +</div> +<div class='chsp' style='padding-top:0'> +<a name='CHAPTER_I_ONE_FEARLESS_MAN' id='CHAPTER_I_ONE_FEARLESS_MAN'></a> +<h3>CHAPTER I</h3> +<h4>ONE FEARLESS MAN</h4> +</div> +<p>Above the town of Dundee, and built to +command the place, stood, at the date of our +tale, Dudhope Castle, a good specimen of +Scots architecture, which in its severity and +strength is, like architecture everywhere, +the physical incarnation of national creed +and character. The hardness of Dudhope +was softened in those days by what was not +usual in the case of keeps and other warlike +buildings, for Dudhope was set in the midst +of sloping fields where cattle browsed, and +had also round it rising plantations of wood. +Before the castle there was a terrace, and +from it one looked down upon the little town, +nestling under the shelter of the castle, and +across the Firth of Tay to Fifeshire, where +so much Scots history had been made. It +was to Dudhope Claverhouse brought his +bride, after that stormy honeymoon which +she had to spend under the shadow of her +mother’s hot displeasure in Paisley Castle, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_176' name='page_176'></a>176</span> +and he occupied with the weary hunt of Covenanters +up and down the West Country. +Their wedding day was the 10th of June, but +it was not till August that Claverhouse and +his wife came home to Dudhope. Since then +four years have passed, during which the +monotony of his duty in hunting Covenanters +had been relieved by the office of Provost of +Dundee, in which it is said he ruled severely, +and the sameness of Jean’s life at Dudhope by +a visit to the Court of London, where she produced +a vast impression, and was said to have +been adored in the highest quarter. There +were hours when she felt very lonely, although +she would not have confessed this, +being a woman of invincible spirit and fortified +by the courage of her love. She never +knew when her husband would be called away +for one of his hunts, and though there were +many Loyalist families in Forfarshire, it was +not a time for easy social intercourse, and +Jean was conscious that the Carnegies and +the rest of them of the old Cavalier stock +looked askance at her, and suspected the +black Covenanting taint in her blood. Claverhouse, +like a faithful gentleman, had done +his best to conceal from her the injury which +his marriage had done him, but she knew that +his cunning and bitter enemy, the Duke of +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_177' name='page_177'></a>177</span> +Queensberry, had constantly insinuated into +the mind of the Duke of York and various +high personages in London that no one who +had married Lady Cochrane’s daughter could, +in the nature of things, be perfectly loyal. It +was really for this love that he had lost the +post of commander-in-chief in Scotland, to +which he was distinctly entitled, and had experienced +the insult of having his name removed +from the Scots Council. It might be +her imagination, but it seemed as if his fellow +officers and other friends, whom she met +from time to time, were not at ease with her. +She was angry when they refrained from +their customary frank expressions about her +mother’s party, just as she would have been +angry if they had said the things they were +accustomed to say in her presence. Claverhouse +assured her on those happy days when +he was living at Dudhope, and when they +could be lovers among the woods there, as +they had been in the pleasaunce at Paisley +Castle, that he never regretted his choice, and +that she was the inspiration of his life. It +was pleasant to hear him repeat his love +vows, with a passion as hot and words as +moving as in the days of their courtship, and +the very contrast between his unbending +severity as a soldier and his grace as a lover +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_178' name='page_178'></a>178</span> +made him the more fascinating to a woman +who was herself of the lioness breed. All the +same, she could not forget that Claverhouse +would have done better for himself if he had +married into one of the great Scots houses of +his own party––and there were few in which +he would not have been welcome––and that +indeed he could not have done much worse +for his future than in marrying her. It was +a day of keen rivalry among the Royalists, +and a more unprincipled and disreputable +gang than the king’s Scots ministers could +not be found in any land; indeed Claverhouse +was the only man of honor amongst them. +His battle to hold his own and achieve his +legitimate ambition was very hard, and certainly +he needed no handicap. Jean Graham +was haunted with the reflection that Claverhouse’s +wife, instead of being a help, was a +hindrance to her husband, and that if it were +not for the burden of her Covenanting name, +he would have climbed easily to the highest +place. Nor could she relish the change of attitude +of the common people towards her, +and the difference in atmosphere between +Paisley and Dundee. Once she had been accustomed +to receive a respectful, though it +might be awkward, salutation from the dour +West Country folk, and to know that, though +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_179' name='page_179'></a>179</span> +in her heart she was not in sympathy with +them, the people in the town, where her +mother reigned supreme, felt kindly towards +her, as the daughter of that godly Covenanting +lady. In Dundee, where the ordinary +people sided with the Presbyterians and only +the minority were with the Bishops, men +turned away their faces when she passed +through the place, and the women cried +“Bloody Claverse!” as she passed. She +knew without any word of abuse that both +she and her husband were bitterly hated, because +he was judged a persecutor and she a +renegade. They were two of the proudest +people in Scotland, but although Claverhouse +gave no sign that he cared for the people’s +loathing, she often suspected that he felt it, +being a true Scots gentleman, and although +Jean pretended to despise Covenanting fanaticism, +she would rather have been loved by +the folk round her than hated. While she declared +to Graham that her deliverance from +her mother’s party, with their sermons, their +denunciations, their narrowness and that +horrible Covenant, had been a passage from +bondage to liberty, there were times, as she +paced the terrace alone and looked out on the +gray sea of the east coast, when the contradictory +circumstances of her life beset her +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_180' name='page_180'></a>180</span> +and she was troubled. When she was forced +to listen to the interminable harangues of +hill preachers, sheltering for a night in the +castle, and day by day was resisting the +domination of her mother, her mind rose in +revolt against the Presbyterians and all their +ways. When she was among men who spoke +of those hillmen as if they were vermin to be +trapped, and as if no one had breeding or +honor or intelligence or sincerity except the +Cavaliers, she was again goaded into opposition. +Jean had made her choice both of her +man and of her cause––for they went together––with +her eyes open, and she was not +a woman to change again, nor to vex herself +with vain regrets. It was rather her nature +to decide once for all, and then to throw herself +without reserve into her cause, and to +follow without question her man through +good report and ill, through right, and, if +need be, wrong. Yet she was a shrewd and +high-minded woman, and not one of those +fortunate fanatics who can see nothing but +good on one side, and nothing but ill on the +other. Life had grown intolerable in her +mother’s house, and Jean had not in her the +making of a convinced and thoroughgoing +Covenanter, and in going over to the other +party, she had, on the whole, fulfilled herself, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_181' name='page_181'></a>181</span> +as well as found a mate of the same proud +spirit. But she was honest enough to admit +to herself that those Ayrshire peasants were +dying for conscience’ sake, though she might +think it a narrow conscience, and were sincere +in their piety, though she might think it +an unattractive religion. And she could not +shut her eyes to the fact that there was little +glory in shooting them down like muirfowl, +or that the men of Claverhouse’s side were +too often drunken and evil-living bravos.</p> +<p>Jean was feeling the situation in its acuteness +that evening as she read for the third +time a letter which had come from Edinburgh +by the hands of Grimond. At the +sight of the writing her pulse quickened, and +Grimond marked, with jealous displeasure +(for that impracticable Scot never trusted +Jean), the flush of love upon her cheek and +its joy in her eyes. She now drew the letter +from her bosom, and this is what she read, +but in a different spelling from ours and with +some slight differences in construction, all of +which have been translated:</p> +<blockquote> +<p>SWEETHEART: It is my one trouble when I must leave +you, and save when I am engaged on the king’s work my +every thought is with you, for indeed it appeareth to me +that if I loved you with strong desire on the day of our +marriage, I love you more soul and body this day. When +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_182' name='page_182'></a>182</span> +another woman speaks to me in the daytime, though they +say that she is fair, her beauty coming into comparison +with your’s, is disparaged, beside the sheen of your hair +and the richness of your lips, and though she may have +a pleasant way with men, as they tell me, she hath no +lure for me, as I picture you throw back your head and +look at me with eyes that challenge my love. When the +night cometh, and the task of the day is done, I hold you +in my embrace, the proudest woman in Scotland, and you +say again, as on that day in the pleasaunce, “For life, John +Graham, and for death.”</p> +<p>It has not been easy living for you, Jean, since that +marriage-day, when the trumpets were our wedding-bells, +and your mother’s curse our benediction, and I take +thought oftentimes that it has been harder for thee, Sweetheart, +than for me. I had the encounters of the field with +open enemies and of the Council with false friends, but +thou hast had the loneliness of Dudhope, when I was not +there to caress you and kiss away your cares. Faithful +have you been to the cause, and to me, and I make boast +that I have not been unfaithful myself to either, but the +sun has not been always shining on our side of the hedge +and there have been some chill blasts. Yet they have ever +driven us closer into one another’s arms, and each coming +home, if it has been like the first from the work of war, +has been also like it a new marriage-day. Say you is it not +true, Sweetheart, we be still bridegroom and bride, and +shall be to the end?</p> +<p>When I asked you to be my wife, Jean, I told you that +love even for you would not hinder me from doing the +king’s work, but this matter I have had on hand in Edinburgh +has tried me sorely,––though one in the Council +would guess at my heart. I have also the fear that it will +vex you greatly. Mayhap you have heard, for such news +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_183' name='page_183'></a>183</span> +flies fast, that we lighted upon Henry Pollock and a party +of his people last week. They were going to some preaching +and were taken unawares, and we captured them all, not +without blows and blood. Pollock himself fought as ye +might expect, like a man without fear, and was wounded. +I saw that his cuts were bound up, and that he had meat +and drink. We brought him on horseback to Edinburgh, +treating him as well as we could, for while I knew what +the end would be, and that he sought no other, I do not +deny that he is an honest man and I do not forget that he +loved you. Yesterday he was tried before the Council, and +I gave strong evidence against him. Upon my word it +was that he was declared guilty of rebellion against the +king’s authority, and was condemned to death. None other +could I do, Jean, for he that spared so dangerous and +stalwart an enemy as Pollock, is himself a traitor, but +when the Council were fain to insult him I rebuked +them sharply and told them to their face that among +them there was no spirit so clean and brave. This morning +he was executed and since there was a fear lest the +people who have greatly loved him should attempt to +rescue, I was present with two troops of horse. It needeth +not me to tell you that he died well, bidding farewell to +earth and welcome to heaven in words I cannot forget, +tho’ they sounded strange to me. Sweetheart, I will say +something boldly in thine ear. I have had little time +to think of heaven and little desire for such a place, but +I would count myself fortunate if in the hour of death I +were as sure of winning there as Henry Pollock. So he +died for his side, and I helped him to his death; some +day I may die for my side, and his friends will help me +to my death. It is a dark day and a troubled nation. +Henry Pollock and John Graham have both been thorough. +God is our judge, wha kens but He may accept us baith? +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_184' name='page_184'></a>184</span> +But I cannot deny he was a saint, as ye once said of him, +and that I shall never be, neither shall you, Jean Graham, +my love and my heart’s delight</p> +<p>This is sore writing to me, but I would rather ye had +it from my hand than from another’s, and I fear me ye +will hear bitter words in Dundee of what has been done. +This is the cup we have to drink and worse things may yet +be coming, for I have the misgiving that black danger is +at hand and that the king will have to fight for his crown. +Before long, if I be not a false prophet, my old general, +the Prince of Orange, will do his part to wrest the throne +from his own wife’s father. If he does the crown will +not be taken without one man seeing that other crowns +be broken, but I fear me, Jean, I fear greatly. In Scotland +the king’s chief servants be mostly liars and cowards, seeking +every man after his own interest, with the heart of +Judas Iscariot, and in London I doubt if they be much +better. These be dreary news, and I wish to heaven I had +better to send thee. This I can ever give, unless ye answer +me that it is yours before, the love of my inmost heart till +I am able to give you it in the kiss of my lips, with your +arms again flung about me, as on that day. Till our meeting +and for evermore, my dearest lady and only Sweetheart +first and last, I am your faithful lover and servant,</p> +<p class='ralign' style="margin-right:1.0em"><span class='smcap'>John Graham.</span></p> +</blockquote> +<p>So it had come to pass as she had often +feared, that Pollock would die by Claverhouse’s +doing, and now she had not been a +woman if her heart were not divided that evening +between her lovers, although she had no +hesitation either then or in the past about +her preference. Jean knew she was not made +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_185' name='page_185'></a>185</span> +to be the wife of an ascetic, but never could +she forget the look in Pollock’s eyes when +he told her of his love, nor cease to be proud +that he had done her the chief honor a man +can render to a woman. She knew then, and +she knew better to-day, that she had never +loved Pollock, and never indeed could have +loved him as a woman loves her husband. +But she revered him then, and he would have +forever a place in her heart like the niche +given to a saint, and she hoped that his +prayers for her––for she knew he would intercede +for her––would be answered in the +highest. Nor could she refrain from the +comparison between Pollock and Graham. +In some respects they were so like one another, +both being men of ancient blood and +high tradition, both carrying themselves without +shame and without fear, both being fanatics––the +one for religion and the other for +loyalty––and, it might be, both alike to be martyrs +for their faith. And so unlike––the one +unworldly, spiritual, and, save in self-defence, +gentle and meek; the other charged with high +ambition, fond of power, ready for battle, +gracious in gay society, passionate in love. +Who had the better of it in the fight––her +debonair husband, with his body-guard of +dragoons, striking down and capturing a +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_186' name='page_186'></a>186</span> +minister and a handful of shepherds, or that +pure soul, who lived preaching and praying, +and was willing to die praying and fighting +against hopeless odds? She had cast in her +lot with the Royalists, but it came over her +that in the eternal justice Pollock, dying on +the scaffold, was already victor, and Graham, +who sent him there, was already the loser. If +it had been cruel writing for Claverhouse, +it was cruel reading for his wife, and yet, +when she had read it over again, the passage +on Pollock faded away as if it had been +spiritualized and no longer existed for the +earthly sense. She only lingered over the +words of devotion and passion, and when she +kissed again and again his signature she +knew that whether he was to win or to be +beaten, whether he was right or wrong, angel +or devil––and he was neither––she belonged +with her whole desire to Claverhouse.</p> +<p>Claverhouse’s letter to his wife was written +in May, and by October his gloomy forebodings +regarding the king were being verified. +During the autumn William of Orange +had been preparing to invade England, and +it was freely said he would come on the invitation +of the English people and as the +champion of English liberty. From the beginning +of the crisis James was badly advised, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_187' name='page_187'></a>187</span> +and showed neither nerve nor discernment, +and among other foolish measures was +the withdrawal of the regular troops from +Scotland and their concentration at London. +From London James made a feeble campaign +in the direction of the west, and Claverhouse, +who was in command of the Scots Cavalry, +and whose mind was torn between contempt +for the feebleness of the military measures +and impatience to be at the enemy, wrote to +Jean, sending her, as it seemed to be his lot, +mixed news of honor and despair.</p> +<blockquote> +<p><i>For the fair hands of the Viscountess of Dundee, and Lady +Graham of Claverhouse.</i></p> +<p><span class='smcap'>My Dearest Lady:</span> If I have to send ye evil tidings +concerning the affairs of the king, which can hardly be +worse, let me first acquaint you with the honor His Majesty +has bestowed upon me, and which I count the more precious +because it bringeth honor to her who is dearer to me than +life, and who has suffered much trouble through me. +Hitherto our marriage has meant suffering of many kinds +for my Sweetheart, though I am fain to believe there has +been more consolation in our love, but now it is charged +with the King’s favor and high dignity in the State. Whatever +it be worth for you and me, and however long or short +I be left to enjoy it, I have been made a Peer of Scotland +by the titles written above, and what I like best in the +matter, is that the peerage has been given––so it runs, and +no doubt a woman loves to read such things of her man––for +“Many good and eminent services rendered to His +Majesty, and his dearest Royal brother, King Charles II, by +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_188' name='page_188'></a>188</span> +his right trusty and well-beloved Councilor, Major-General +John Graham of Claverhouse; together with his constant +loyalty and firm adherence upon all occasions to the true +interests of the crown.” Whatever befalls me it pleases +me that the king knows I have been loyal and that he is +grateful for one faithful servant. So I kiss the hand of +my Lady Viscountess and were I at Dudhope I might +venture upon her lips, aye, more than once.</p> +<p>When I leave myself and come unto the King I have +nothing to tell but what fills me with shame and fear. It +was not good policy to call the troops from Scotland, where +we could have held the land for the King, but one had not +so much regret if we had been allowed to strike a blow +against the Usurper. Had there been a heart in my Lord +Feversham––it hurts me to reflect on the King––then the +army should have made a quick march into the West, +gathering round it all the loyal gentlemen, and struck a +blow at the Prince before he had established himself in +the land. By God’s help we had driven him and his Dutchmen, +and the traitors who have flocked to him, into the +sea. But it is with a sore heart I tell thee, tho’ this had +better be kept to thy secret council, that there seemeth to +be neither wisdom nor courage amongst us. His Majesty +has been living in the Bishop’s Palace, and does nothing +at the time, when to strike quickly is to strike for ever. +Officers in high place are stealing away like thieves, and +others who remain are preaching caution, by which they +mean safety for themselves and their goods. “Damn all +caution,” say I, to Feversham and the rest of them, “let us +into the saddle and forward, let us strike hard and altogether, +for the King and our cause!” If we win it will be +a speedy end to rebellion and another Sedgemoor; if we are +defeated, and I do not despise the Scots Brigade with +Hugh MacKay, we shall fall with honor and not be a +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_189' name='page_189'></a>189</span> +scorn to coming generations. For myself, were it not for +thee, Jean, I should crave no better end than to fall in a +last charge for the King and the good cause. As it is, +unless God put some heart into our leaders, the army will +melt away like snow upon a dyke in the springtime, and +William will have an open road to London and the throne +of England. He may have mair trouble and see some +bloodshed before he lays his hand on the auld crown of +Scotland. When I may get awa to the North countrie I +know not yet, but whether I be in the South, where many +are cowards and some are traitors, or in the North, where +the clans at least be true, and there be also not a few loyal +Lowland Cavaliers, my love is ever with thee, dear heart, +and warm upon my breast lies the lock of your golden hair.</p> +<p class='center'>Yours till death,</p> +<p class='ralign' style="margin-right:1.0em"><span class='smcap'>Dundee.</span></p> +</blockquote> +<p>God was not pleased to reënforce the king’s +advisers, and his cause fell rapidly to pieces. +Claverhouse withdrew the Scots Cavalry to +the neighborhood of London, and wore out +his heart in the effort to put manhood into +his party, which was now occupied in looking +after their own interests in the inevitable +revolution. And again Claverhouse, or, as +we should call him, Dundee, wrote to Jean:</p> +<blockquote> +<p><span class='smcap'>Dearest and Bravest of Women</span>: Were ye not that, +as I know well, I had no heart in me to write this letter, +for I have no good thing to tell thee about the cause of +the King and it seems to me certain that, for the time at +least, England is lost. I am now in London, and the days +are far harder for me than when I campaigned with the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_190' name='page_190'></a>190</span> +Usurper, and fought joyfully at Seneffe and Grave. It is +ill to contain oneself when a man has to go from one to +another of his comrades and ask him for God’s sake and +the King’s sake to play the man. Then to get nothing +but fair and false words, and to see the very officers that +hold the King’s commission shuffling and lying, with one +eye on King James and the other on the Prince of Orange. +Had I my way of it I would shoot a dozen of the traitors +to encourage the others. But the King is all for peace––peace, +forsooth! when his enemies are at the door of the +palace. What can one man do against so many, and a +King too tolerant and good-natured––God forgive me, I +had almost written too weak? It is not for me to sit in +judgment on my Sovereign, but some days ago I gave my +mind to Hamilton in his own lodgings, where Balcarres +and certain of us met to take council. There were hot +words, and no good came of it. Balcarres alone is staunch, +and yesterday he went with me to Whitehall and we had +our last word for the present with the King. He was +gracious unto us, as he has ever been to me when his mind +was not poisoned by Queensberry or Perth, and ye might +care to know, Jean, what your man, much daring, said to +His Majesty: “We have come, Sir, to ask a favor of your +Majesty, and that ye will let us do a deed which will +waken the land and turn the tide of affairs. Have we your +permission to cause the drums to be beat of every regiment +in London and the neighbourhood, for if ye so consent +there will be twenty thousand men ready to start to-morrow +morning. Before to-morrow night the road to London will +be barred, and, please God, before a week is over your +throne will be placed beyond danger.” For a space I think +he was moved and then the life went out of him, and he +sadly shook his head. “It is too late,” he said, “too late, +and the shedding of blood would be vain.” But I saw +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_191' name='page_191'></a>191</span> +he was not displeased with us, and he signified his pleasure +that we should walk with him in the Mall. Again I dared +to entreat him not to leave his capital without a stroke, +and in my soul I wondered that he could be so enduring. +Had it been your man, Jean, he had been at the Prince’s +throat before the Dutchman had been twenty-four hours +in England. But who am I to reflect upon my King? and +I will say it, that he spake words to me I can never forget. +“You are brave men,” said the King, and, though he be +a cold man, I saw that he was touched, “and if there had +been twenty like you among the officers and nobles, things +had not come to this pass. Ye can do nothing more in +England, and for myself I have resolved to go to France, +for if I stayed here I would be a prisoner, and there is +but a short road between the prison and the graves of +Kings. To you,” he said to Balcarres, “I leave the charge +of civil affairs in Scotland,” and, then turning to me, +“You, Lord Dundee, who ought before to have had this +place, but I was ill-advised, shall be commander of the +troops in Scotland. Do for your King what God gives +you to do, and he pledges his word to aid you by all means +in his power, and in the day of victory to reward you.” +We knelt and kissed his hand, and so for the time, heaven +grant it be not forever, bade goodbye to our Sovereign. As +I walked down the Mall I saw a face I seemed to know, +and the man, whoever he was, made a sign that he would +speak with me. I turned aside and found to my amazement +that the stranger, who was not in uniform, and did not +court observation, was Captain Carlton, who served with +me in the Prince’s army and of whom ye may have heard +me speak. A good soldier and a fair-minded gentleman, +tho’ of another way of thinking from me. After a brief +salutation he told me that the Prince was already in London +and had taken up his quarters at Zion House.</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_192' name='page_192'></a>192</span></div> +<p>“Then,” said I to him, “it availeth nothing for some of +us to remain in London, it were better that we should +leave quickly.” “It might or it might not be,” he replied, +being a man of few and careful words, “but before you go +there is a certain person who desires to have a word with +you. If it be not too much toil will you lay aside your +military dress, and come with me this evening as a private +gentleman to Zion House?” Then I knew that he had come +from the Prince, and altho’ much tossed in my mind as to +what was right to do, I consented, and ye will be astonished, +Jean, to hear what happened.</p> +<p>There was none present at my audience, and I contented +myself with bowing when I entered his presence, for your +husband is not made to kiss the hands of one king in the +morning and of another in the evening of the same day. +The Prince, for so I may justly call him, expected none +otherwise, and, according to his custom––I have often +spoken of his silence––said at once, “My lord,” for he +knows everything as is his wont, “it has happened as I +prophesied, you are on one side and I am on another, and +you have been a faithful servant to your master, as I told +him you would be. If it had been in your power, I had +not come so easily to this place, for the council you gave +to the King has been told to me. All that man can do, +ye have done, and now you may, like other officers, take +service in the army under my command.” Whereupon I +told the Prince that our house had never changed sides, +and he would excuse me setting the example. He seemed +prepared for this answer, and then he said, “You purpose, +my lord, to return to Scotland, and I shall not prevent you, +but I ask that ye stir not up useless strife and shed blood +in vain, for the end is certain.” I will not deny, Jean, +that I was moved by his words, for he is a strong man, +and has men of the same kind with him. So far I went +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_193' name='page_193'></a>193</span> +as to say that if duty did not compell me I would not trouble +the land. More I could not promise, and I reckon there is +not much in that promise, for I will never see the Prince +of Orange made King of Scotland with my sword in its +sheath. If there be any other way out of it, I have no +wish to set every man’s hand against his neighbour’s in +Scotland. He bowed to me and I knew that the audience +was over, and when I left Zion House, my heart was sore +that my King was not as wise and resolute as this foreign +Prince. The second sight has been given to me to-day, and, +dear heart, I see the shroud rising till it reaches the face, +but whose face I cannot see. What I have to do, I cannot +see either, but in a few days I shall be in Edinburgh, with +as many of my horse as I can bring. If peace be consistent +with honor then ye will see me soon in Dudhope for another +honeymoon, but if it is to be war my lot is cast, and, +while my hand can hold it, my sword belongs to the King. +But my heart, sweet love, is thine till it ceases to beat.</p> +<p class='center'>Yours always and altogether,</p> +<p class='ralign' style="margin-right:1.0em"><span class='smcap'>Dundee.</span></p> +</blockquote> +<hr class='toprule' /> +<div class='chsp'> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_194' name='page_194'></a>194</span> +<a name='CHAPTER_II_THE_CRISIS' id='CHAPTER_II_THE_CRISIS'></a> +<h3>CHAPTER II</h3> +<h4>THE CRISIS</h4> +</div> +<p>Early springtime is cruel on the east coast +of Scotland, and it was a bitter morning in +March when Dundee took another of his +many farewells before he left his wife to attend +the Convention at Edinburgh. It was +only a month since he had come down from +London, disheartened for the moment by the +treachery of Royalists and the timidity of +James, and he had found relief in administrating +municipal affairs as Provost of Dundee. +If it had been possible in consistence +with his loyalty to the Jacobite cause, and +the commission he had received from James, +Dundee would have gladly withdrawn from +public life and lived quietly with his wife. +He was an ambitious man, and of stirring +spirit, but none knew better the weakness of +his party, and no one on his side had been +more shamefully treated. It had been his +lot to leave his bride on their marriage day, +and now it would be harder to leave her at +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_195' name='page_195'></a>195</span> +a time when every husband desires to be near +his wife. But the summons to be present at +the Convention had come, and its business +was to decide who should be King of Scotland, +for though William had succeeded to +the throne of England, James still reigned +in law over the northern kingdom. Dundee +could not be absent at the deposition of his +king and the virtual close of the Stuart dynasty. +As usual he would be one of a beaten +party, or perhaps might stand alone; it was +not his friends but his enemies who were +calling him to Edinburgh, and the chances +were that the hillmen would settle their account +with him by assassination. His judgment +told him that his presence in Edinburgh +would be fruitless, and his heart held +him to his home. Yet day after day he put +off his going. It was now the thirteenth of +March, and to-morrow the Convention would +meet, and if he were to go he must go quickly. +He had been tossed in mind and troubled in +heart, but the instinct of obedience to duty +which Graham had obeyed through good report +and evil, without reserve, and without +scruple, till he had done not only the things +he ought to have done, but many things also +which he ought not to have done, finally +triumphed. He had told Jean that morning +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_196' name='page_196'></a>196</span> +that he must leave. His little escort of +troopers were saddling their horses, and in +half an hour they would be on the road, the +dreary, hopeless road it was his fate to be +ever travelling. Jean and he were saying +their last words before this new adventure, +for they both knew that every departure +might be the final parting. They were standing +at the door, and nothing could be grayer +than their outlook. For a haar had come up +from the sea, as is common on the east coast, +and the cold and dripping mist blotted out +the seascape; it hid the town of Dundee, +which lay below Dudhope, and enveloped the +castle in its cold garments, like a shroud, and +chilled Graham and his wife to the very bone.</p> +<p>“Ye will acknowledge, John, that I have +never hindered you when the call came.” As +she spoke Jean took his flowing hair in her +hand, and he had never seen her so gentle before, +for indeed she could not be called a soft +or tender woman.</p> +<p>“Ye told me what would be the way of life +for us, and it has been what ye said, and I +have not complained. But this day I wish to +God that ye could have stayed, for when my +hour comes, and it is not far off, ye ken I +will miss you sairly. Other women have their +mothers with them in that strait, but for me +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_197' name='page_197'></a>197</span> +there is none; naebody but strangers. If ony +evil befall thee, John, it will go ill with me, +and I have in my keeping the hope of your +house. Can ye no bide quietly here with me +and let them that have the power do as they +will in Edinburgh? No man of your own +party has ever thanked you for anything ye +did, and if my mother’s people do their will +by you, I shall surely die and the child with +me. And that will be the end of the House +of Dundee. Must ye go and leave me?” +And now her arm was round him, and with +the other hand she caressed his face, while +her warm bosom pressed against his cold, +hard cuirass.</p> +<p>“Queensberry, for the liar he always was, +said ye would be my Delilah, Jean, but that +I knew was not in you,” said Dundee, smiling +sadly and stroking the proud head, which he +had never seen bowed before.</p> +<p>“You are, I believe in my soul, the bravest +woman in Scotland, and I wish to God the +men on our side had only had the heart of +my Lady Dundee. With a hundred men and +your spirit in them, Jean, we had driven William +of Orange into the sea, or, at the worst, +we should certainly save Scotland for the +king. Well and bravely have ye stood by me +since our marriage day, and if I had ever +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_198' name='page_198'></a>198</span> +consulted my own safety or sought after private +ends, I believe ye would have been the +first to cry shame upon me. Surely ye have +been a true soldier’s wife, and ye are the +same this morning, and braver even than on +our wedding day.</p> +<p>“Do not make little of yourself, Jean, because +your heart is sore and ye canna keep +back the tears. It is not given to a man to +understand what a woman feels in your place +but I am trying to imagine, and my love is +suffering with you, sweetheart. I do pity +you, and I could weep with you, but tears are +strange to my eyes––God made me soft without +and hard within––and I have a better +medicine to help you than pity.” Still he +was caressing her, but she felt his body +straightening within the armor.</p> +<p>“When ye prophesy that the fanatics of +the west will be at me in Edinburgh, I suspect +ye are right, but I pray you not to +trouble yourself overmuch. They have shot +at me before with leaden bullets and with +silver, trying me first as a man and next as +a devil, but no bullet touched me, and now if +they fall back upon the steel there are two +or three trusty lads with me who can use the +sword fairly well, and though your husband +be not a large man, Jean, none has had the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_199' name='page_199'></a>199</span> +better of him when it came to sword-play. +So cheer up, lass, for I may fall some day, +but it will not be at the hands of a skulking +Covenanter in a street brawl.</p> +<p>“But if this should come to pass, Jean––and +the future is known only to God––then I beseech +you that ye be worthy of yourself, and +show them that ye are my Lady Dundee. If +I fall, then ye must live, and take good care +that the unborn child shall live, too, and if +he be a boy––as I am sure he will be––then +ye have your life-work. Train him up in the +good faith and in loyalty to the king; tell +him how Montrose fought for the good cause +and died for it, and how his own father followed +in the steps of the Marquis. Train +him for the best life a man can live and make +him a soldier, and lay upon him from his +youth that ye will not die till he has avenged +his father’s murder. That will be worthy of +your blood and your rank, aye, and the love +which has been between us, Jean Cochrane +and John Graham.”</p> +<p>She held him in her arms till the very +breastplate was warm, and she kissed him +twice upon the lips. Then she raised herself +to her full height––and she was as tall as +Graham––and looking proudly at him, she +said:</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_200' name='page_200'></a>200</span></div> +<p>“Ye have put strength into me, as if the +iron which covers your breast had passed into +my blood. Ye go to-day with my full will to +serve the king, and God protect and prosper +you, my husband and my Lord Dundee.”</p> +<p>For a space the heat of Jean’s high courage +cheered her husband’s heart, but as the +day wore on, and hour by hour he rode +through the cold gray mist which covered Fife, +the temperature of his heart began to correspond +with the atmosphere. While Dundee +had always carried himself bravely before +men, and had kept his misgivings to himself, +and seemed the most indifferent of gay Cavaliers, +he had really been a modest and diffident +man. From the first he had had grave +fears of the success of his cause, and more +than doubts about the loyalty of his comrades. +He was quite prepared not only for +desperate effort, but for final defeat. No +man could say he had embarked on the royal +service from worldly ends, and now, if he had +been a shrewd Lowland Scot, he had surely +consulted his safety and changed his side, as +most of his friends were doing. Graham did +not do this for an imperative reason––because +he had been so made that he could not. There +are natures which are not consciously dishonest +or treacherous, but which are flexible +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_201' name='page_201'></a>201</span> +and accommodating. They are open to the +play of every influence, and are sensitive to +environment; they are loyal when others are +loyal, but if there be a change in spirit round +them they immediately correspond, and they +do so not from any selfish calculation, but +merely through a quick adaptation to environment. +People of this kind find themselves +by an instinct on the winning side, but +they would be mightily offended if they were +charged with being opportunists. They are +at each moment thoroughly convinced of +their integrity, and are ever on the side +which commends itself to their judgment; if +it happens to be the side on which the sun is +shining, that is a felicitous accident. There +are other natures, narrower possibly and +more intractable, whose chief quality is a +thoroughgoing and masterful devotion, perhaps +to a person, perhaps to a cause. Once +this devotion is given, it can never be changed +by any circumstance except the last and most +inexcusable treachery, and then it will be apt +to turn into a madness of hatred which nothing +will appease. There is no optimism in +this character, very often a clear-sighted and +painful acceptance of facts; faults are distinctly +seen and difficulties are estimated at +their full strength, sacrifice is discounted, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_202' name='page_202'></a>202</span> +and defeat is accepted. But the die is cast, +and for weal or woe––most likely woe––they +must go on their way and fight the fight to +the end. This was the mould in which Dundee +was cast, the heir of shattered hopes, and +the descendant of broken men, the servant +of a discredited and condemned cause. He +faced the reality, and knew that he had only +one chance out of a hundred of success; but +it never entered his mind to yield to circumstances +and accept the new situation. There +was indeed a moment when he would have +been willing, not to change his service, but to +sheathe his sword and stand apart. That moment +was over, and now he had bidden his +wife good-by and was riding through the +cold gray mist to do his weary, hopeless best +for an obstinate, foolish, impracticable king, +and to put some heart, if it were possible, +into a dwindling handful of unprincipled, +self-seeking, double-minded men. The day +was full of omens, and they were all against +him. Twice a hare ran across the road, and +Grimond muttered to himself as he rode behind +his master, “The ill-faured beast.” As +they passed through Glenfarg, a raven followed +them for a mile, croaking weirdly. A +trooper’s horse stumbled and fell, and the +man had to be left behind, insensible. When +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_203' name='page_203'></a>203</span> +they halted for an hour at Kinross it spread +among the people who they were, and they +were watched by hard, unsympathetic faces. +The innkeeper gave them what they needed, +but with ill grace, and it was clear that only +fear of Dundee prevented him refusing food +both to man and beast. When they left a +crowd had gathered, and as they rode out +from the village a voice cried: “Woe unto +the man of blood––a double woe! He goeth, +but he shall not return, his doom is fixed.” +An approving murmur from the hearers +showed what the Scots folk thought of John +Graham. Grimond would fain have turned +and answered this Jeremiah and his chorus +with a touch of the sword, but his commander +forbade him sharply. “We have +other men to deal with,” he said to Grimond, +“than country fanatics, and our work is before +us in Edinburgh.” But he would not +have been a Scot if he had been indifferent +to signs, and this raven-croak the whole day +long rang in his heart. The sun struggled +for a little through the mist, and across Loch +Leven they saw on its island the prison-house +of Mary. “Grimond,” said Graham, “there +is where they kept her, and by this road she +went out on her last hopeless ride, and we +follow her, Jock. But not to a prison, ye +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_204' name='page_204'></a>204</span> +may stake your soul on that. It was enough +that one Graham should die upon a scaffold. +The next will die in the open field.”</p> +<p>It was late when they reached Edinburgh, +and a murky night when they rode up Leith +Wynd; the tall houses of Edinburgh hung +over them; the few lights struggled against +the thick, enveloping air. Figures came out +of one dark passage, and disappeared into another. +A body of Highlanders, in the Campbell +tartan, for a moment blocked the way. +Twice they were cursed by unknown voices, +and when Claverhouse reached his lodging +someone called out his name, and added: +“The day of vengeance is at hand. The +blood of John Brown crieth from the altar!” +And Grimond kept four troopers on guard all +night.</p> +<p>The next night Claverhouse and Balcarres +were closeted together, the only men left to +consult for the royal cause, and both knew +what was going to be the issue.</p> +<p>“There is no use blinding our eyes, Balcarres,” +said Graham, “or feeding our hearts +with vain hopes, the Convention is for the +Prince of Orange, and is done with King +James. The men who kissed his hand yesterday, +when he was in power, and would have +licked his feet if that had got them place and +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_205' name='page_205'></a>205</span> +power, will be the first to cast him forth and +cry huzza for the new king. There is a black +taint in the Scots blood, and there always +have been men in high position to sell their +country. The lords of the congregation were +English traitors in Mary’s day, and on them +as much as that wanton Elizabeth lay her +blood. It was a Scots army sold Charles I +to the Roundheads, and it would have been +mair decent to have beheaded him at Edinburgh. +And now they will take the ancient +throne of auld Scotland and hand it over, +without a stroke, to a cold-blooded foreigner +who has taught his wife to turn her hand +against her own father. God’s ban is upon +the land, Balcarres, for one party of us be +raging fanatics, and the other party be false-hearted +cowards. Lord, if we could set the +one against the other, Argyle’s Highlanders +against the West Country Whigs, it were a +bonnie piece of work, and if they fought till +death the country were well rid o’ baith, for +I know not whether I hate mair bitterly a +Covenanter or a Campbell. But it would set +us better, Balcarres, to keep our breath to +cool oor ain porridge. What is this I hear, +that Athole is playing the knave, and that +Gordon cannot be trusted to keep the castle? +Has the day come upon us that the best names +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_206' name='page_206'></a>206</span> +in Scotland are to be dragged in the mire? I +sairly doot that for the time the throne is lost +to the auld line, but if it is to be sold by the +best blood of Scotland, then I wish their silver +bullet had found John Graham’s heart at +Drumclog.”</p> +<p>“Ye maunna deal ower hardly with Athole, +Dundee, for I will not say he isna true. His +son, mind you, is on the other side, and Athole +himself is a man broken in body. These be +trying times, and it is not every ane has your +heart. It may be that Athole and other men +judge that everything has been done that can, +and that a heavy burden o’ guilt will rest on +ony man that spills blood without reason. +Mind you,” went on Balcarres hastily, as he +saw the black gloom gathering on Dundee’s +face, “I say not that is my way of it, for I +am with you while ony hope remains, but we +maun do justice.”</p> +<p>“Justice!” broke in Claverhouse, irritated +beyond control by Balcarres’s apologies +and his hint of compromise. “If I had my +way of it, every time-serving trickster in the +land would have justice––a rope round his +neck and a long drop, for a bullet would be +too honorable a death. But let Athole pass. +He was once a loyal man, and there may be +reason in what ye say. I have never known +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_207' name='page_207'></a>207</span> +sickness myself, and doubtless it weakens +even strong men. But what is this I hear +of Gordon? Is it a lie that he is trafficking +with Hamilton and the Whig lords to surrender +the castle? If so, he is the most damnable +traitor of them all, and will have his +place with Judas Iscariot.”</p> +<p>“Na, na, Dundee, nae Gordon has ever +been false, though I judge maist o’ them, +since Mary’s day, have been foolish. Concerning +the castle, this is how the matter +stands, and I pray you to hear me patiently +and not to fly out till I have finished.”</p> +<p>“For God’s sake, speak out and speak on, +and dinna sit watching me as if you were +terrified for your life, and dinna pick your +words, like a double-dealing, white-blooded +Whig lawyer, or I will begin to think that +the leprosy of cowardice has reached the +Lindsays.”</p> +<p>“Weel, Dundee”––but Balcarres was still +very careful with his word––“I have reason +to believe, and, in fact, I may as well say I +know, that there have been some goings and +comings between Gordon and the Lords of +Convention. I will not say that Gordon isna +true to the king, and that he would not hold +the castle if it would help the cause. But I +am judging that he isna minded to be left +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_208' name='page_208'></a>208</span> +alone and keep Edinburgh Castle for King +James if all Scotland is for King William.” +And Balcarres, plucking up courage in the +face of his fierce companion, added: “I will +not say, Dundee, that the duke is wrong. +What use would it be if he did? But mind +you,” went on Balcarres hastily, “he hasna +promised to surrender his trust. He is just +waiting to see what happens.”</p> +<p>“Which they have all been doing, every +woman’s son of them, instead of minding +their duty whatever happens; but I grant +there’s no use raging, we maun make our +plans. What does Gordon want if he’s holding +his hand? Out with it, Balcarres, for I +see from your face ye ken.”</p> +<p>“If the duke,” replied Balcarres, “had +ony guarantee that a fight would be made +for the auld line in Scotland, and that he +would not be left alane, like a sparrow upon +the housetop in Edinburgh Castle, I make +certain he would stand fast; but if the royal +standard is to be seen nowhere else except +on one keep––strong though that be––the +duke will come to terms wi’ the Convention. +There ye have the situation, mak’ o’ it what +ye will.”</p> +<p>“By God, Balcarres, if that be true, and I +jalouse that ye are richt, Gordon will get his +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_209' name='page_209'></a>209</span> +assurance this very nicht. It’s a fair and +just pledge he asks, and I know the man +who’ll give it to him. Edinburgh will no be +the only place in the land where the good standard +flies before many days are passed. Man! +Balcarres, this is good news ye have brought, +and I am glad to ken that there is still red +blood in Gordon’s heart. I’m thinking ye’ve +had your own communings wi’ the duke, and +that ye ken the by-roads to the castle. Settle +it that he and I can meet this very nicht, and +if need be I’ll be ready to leave the morrow’s +morning. Aye, Balcarres, if the duke +holds the fastness, I’ll look after the open +country.” And before daybreak there was a +meeting between the Gordon and the Graham. +They exchanged pledges, each to do +his part, but both of them knew an almost +hopeless part, for the king. Many a forlorn +hope had their houses led, and this would be +only one more.</p> +<p>While his master had been reënforcing the +duke’s determination and giving pledges of +thoroughness, Grimond had been doing his +part to secure Dundee’s safety in the seat of +his enemies. Edinburgh was swarming with +West Country Whigs, whose day of victory +had come, and who had hurried to the capital +that they might make the most of it. No one +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_210' name='page_210'></a>210</span> +could blame them for their exultation, least +of all Claverhouse. They had been hunted +like wild beasts, they had been scattered +when worshipping God according to the fashion +of their fathers, they had been shot down +without a trial, they had been shut up in noisome +prisons––and all this because they would +not submit to the most corrupt government +ever known in Scotland, and that most intolerable +kind of tyranny which tries, not only +to coerce a man as a citizen, but also as a +Christian. They had many persecutors, but, +on the whole, the most active had been Graham, +and it was Graham they hated most. It +is his name rather than that of Dalzell or +Lauderdale which has been passed with execration +from mouth to mouth and from +generation to generation in Scotland. The +tyrant James had fled, like the coward he +was, and God’s deliverer had come––a man of +their own faith––in William of Orange. The +iron doors had been burst and the fetters had +been broken, there was liberty to hear the +word of the Lord again, and the Kirk of +Scotland was once more free. Justice was +being done, but it would not be perfect till +Claverhouse suffered the penalty of his +crimes. It had been the hope of many a dour +Covenanter, infuriated by the wrongs of his +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_211' name='page_211'></a>211</span> +friends, if not his own, to strike down Claverhouse +and avenge the sufferings of God’s +people. Satan had protected his own, but +now the man of blood was given into their +hands. Surely it was the doing of the Lord +that Dundee should have left Dudhope, where +he was in stronghold, and come up to Edinburgh, +where his friends were few. That he +should go at large upon the streets and take +his seat in the Convention, that he should +dare to plot against William and lift a hand +for James in this day of triumph, was his +last stroke of insolence––the drop which filled +his cup to overflowing. He had come to +Edinburgh, to which he had sent many a martyr +of the Covenant, and where he had seen +Henry Pollock die for Christ’s crown and +the Scots kirk. Behold! was it not a sign, +and was it not the will of the Lord that in +this high place, where godly men had been +murdered by him, his blood should be spilled +as an offering unto the Lord?</p> +<p>This was what the hillmen were saying +among themselves as they gathered in their +meetings and communed together in their +lodgings. They were not given to public +vaporing, and were much readier to strike +than to speak, but when there are so many, +and their hearts are so hot, a secret cannot +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_212' name='page_212'></a>212</span> +be easily kept. And Grimond, who concealed +much shrewdness behind a stolid face––which +is the way with Scots peasants––caught some +suspicious words as two unmistakable Covenanters +passed him in the high street. If +mischief was brewing for his master, it was +his business to find it out and take a hand in +the affair. He followed the pair as if he +were a countryman gaping at the sights of +the town and the stir of those days, when +armed men passed on every side and the air +was thick with rumors. When the Covenanters, +after glancing round, plunged down a +dark entry and into an obscure tavern, +Grimond, after a pause, followed cautiously, +assuming as best he could––and not unsuccessfully––the +manner of a man from the +west. The outer room was empty when he +entered, and he was careful when he got his +measure of ale to bend his head over it for +at least five minutes by way of grace. The +woman, who had glanced sharply at him on +entry, was satisfied by this sign of godliness, +and left him in a dark corner, from which +he saw one after another of the saints pass +into an inner chamber. Between the two +rooms there was a wooden partition, and +through a crack in the boarding Grimond +was able to see and hear what was going on. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_213' name='page_213'></a>213</span> +It was characteristic of the men that they +opened their conference of assassination with +prayer, in which the sorrows of the past were +mentioned with a certain pathos, and thanks +given for the great deliverance which had +been wrought. Then they asked wisdom and +strength to finish the Lord’s work, and to +rid the land of the chief of the Amalekites, +after which they made their plan. Although +Grimond could not catch everything that was +said, he gathered clearly that when Claverhouse +left his lodging to attend the Convention +on the morning of the fifteenth of March, +they would be waiting in the narrow way, as +if talking with friends, and would slay the +persecutor before he could summon help. +When it was agreed who should be present, +and what each one should do, they closed their +meeting, as they had opened it, with prayer. +One of them glanced suspiciously round the +kitchen as he passed through, but saw no man, +for Grimond had quietly departed. He knew +his master’s obstinate temper and reckless +courage, and was afraid if he told him of the +plot that he would give no heed, or trust to +his own sword. “We’ll run no risks,” said +Grimond to himself, and next morning a dozen +troopers of Claverhouse’s regiment guarded +the entry to his lodging, and a dozen more were +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_214' name='page_214'></a>214</span> +scattered handily about the street. They followed +him to the Convention and waited till +he returned. That was how Claverhouse lived +to fight the battle of Killiecrankie, but till that +day came he had never been so near death as +in that narrow way of Edinburgh.</p> +<p>Dundee was not a prudent man, and he was +very fearless, but for once he consulted common-sense +and made ready to leave Edinburgh. +It was plain that the Convention would elect +William to the throne of Scotland, and as the +days passed it was also very bitter to him that +the Jacobites were not very keen about the rising. +When he learned that his trusted friends +were going to attend the Convention, and did +not propose with undue haste to raise the +standard for the king, Dundee concluded that +if anything should be done, it would not be +by such cautious spirits. As he seemed to be +the sole hope of his cause, the sooner he was +out of Edinburgh the better. When he was +seen upon the street with fifty of his troopers, +mounted and armed, there was a wild idea of +arresting him, but it came to nothing. There +was not time to gather the hillmen together, +and there was no heart in the others to face +this desperate man and his body-guard. +With his men behind him, he rode down +Leith Wynd unmolested, and when someone +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_215' name='page_215'></a>215</span> +cried, “Where art thou going, Lord Dundee?” +he turned him round in the saddle +and answered, “Whither the spirit of Montrose +will lead me.” A fortnight later, in +front of his house at Dudhope, he raised the +standard for King James, and Jean Cochrane, +a mother now, holding their infant son +in her arms, stood by his side before he rode +north. As he had left her on their marriage +day with his troopers, so now he left her and +their child, to see her only once again––a +cruel meeting, before he fell. Verily, a life +of storm and stress, of bitter conflicts and +many partings. Verily, a man whom, right or +wrong, the fates were treating as a victim +and pursuing to his doom.</p> +<hr class='toprule' /> +<div class='chsp'> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_216' name='page_216'></a>216</span> +<a name='CHAPTER_III_THE_LAST_BLOW' id='CHAPTER_III_THE_LAST_BLOW'></a> +<h3>CHAPTER III</h3> +<h4>THE LAST BLOW</h4> +</div> +<p>It is said that those stories are best liked +which present a hero and sing his achievements +from beginning to end. And the more +faultless and brilliant the hero, the better +goes the tale, and the louder the applause. +Certainly John Graham is the central figure +in this history, and so rich is the color of the +man and so intense his vitality, that other +personages among whom he moves become +pale and uninteresting. They had, if one +takes the long result, a larger share in affairs, +and their hand stretches across the centuries, +but there was not in them that charm +of humanity which captivates the heart. One +must study the work of William of Orange if +he is to understand the history of his nation, +but one would not go round the corner to +meet him. Claverhouse, if one faces the facts +and sweeps away the glamour, was only a +dashing cavalry officer, who happened to win +an insignificant battle by obvious local tactics, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_217' name='page_217'></a>217</span> +and yet there are few men whom one +would prefer to meet. One would make a +long journey to catch a sight of Claverhouse +riding down the street, as one to-day is +caught by the fascination of his portrait. +But the reader has already discovered that +Graham can hardly be called a hero by any of +the ordinary tests except beauty of personal +appearance. He was not an ignorant man, +as certain persons have concluded from the +varied and picturesque habits of his spelling, +but his friends cannot claim that he was +endowed with rich intellectual gifts. He had +sense enough to condemn the wilder excesses +of his colleagues in the government of the +day, but he had not force enough to replace +their foolishness by a wiser policy. Had his +powers been more commanding, or indeed if +he had had any talent for constructive action, +with his unwavering integrity and masterful +determination, he might have ousted Lauderdale +and saved Scotland for King James. +But accomplished intriguers and trained politicians +were always too much for Claverhouse, +and held him as a lithe wild animal is +caught in the meshes of a net.</p> +<p>Wild partisans, to whom every man is +either white as snow or black as pitch, have +gone mad over Graham, making him out, according +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_218' name='page_218'></a>218</span> +to their craze, either an angel or a +devil, and forgetting that most men are half +and between. But it must be also said that +those who hold John Graham to have been a +Jacobite saint are the more delirious in their +minds, and hysterical in their writing, for +they will not hear that he ever did anything +less than the best, or that the men he persecuted +had any right upon their side. He is +from first to last a perfect paladin of romance +whom everyone is bound to praise. +Then artists rush in and not only make fine +trade of his good looks, but lend his beauty +to the clansmen who fought at Killiecrankie, +till the curtain falls upon “Bonnie Dundee” +being carried to his grave by picturesque and +broken-hearted Highlanders dressed in the +costly panoply of the Inverness Gathering, +and with faces of the style of George MacDonald +or Lord Leighton. Whatever Claverhouse +was, and this story at least suggests +that he was brave and honorable, he was in +no sense a saint, and would have been the +last to claim this high degree. It is open to +question whether he deserved to be called a +good man, for he was ambitious of power +and, perhaps for public ends, of wealth; he +had no small measure of pride and jealousy +in him; he was headstrong and unmanageable, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_219' name='page_219'></a>219</span> +and for his own side he was unrelenting +and cruel. There are things he would not +have done to advance his cause, as, for instance, +tell lies, or stain his honor, but he +never would have dreamed of showing mercy +to his opponent. Nor did he ever try to enter +into his mind or understand what the other +man was feeling.</p> +<p>It is sometimes judged enough for a hero +that he succeed without being clever or good, +but neither did Graham pass this doubtful +and dangerous test. For when you clear +away the romance which heroic poetry and +excited prose have flung around him, you +were an optimist if you did not see his life +was one long failure as well as a disappointment +and a sorrow. He did bravely with the +Prince of Orange, and yet somehow he missed +promotion; he was the best officer the government +had in Scotland, and yet it was only +in the last resort he became commander-in-chief. +He was the only honest man among a +gang of rascals in the Scots council, and yet +he was once dismissed from it; he was entitled +to substantial rewards, and yet he had to make +degrading appeals to obtain his due. He +was loyal to foolishness, yet he was represented +to the Court as a man who could not +be trusted. He had only two love affairs; +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_220' name='page_220'></a>220</span> +the first brought him the reputation of mercenary +aims, and the second almost ruined +his life. He embarked on a contest which +was hopeless from the beginning, and died +at the close of a futile victory. Except winning +the heart of Jean Cochrane, he failed +in everything which he attempted. With the +exception of his wife he was betrayed on +every hand, while a multitude hated him with +all their strength and thirsted for his blood. +If Jean were not true to him there would not +be one star in the dark sky of Claverhouse’s +life.</p> +<p>But this irredeemable and final disaster is +surely incredible. Dundee, fooled as he had +been both by his master and by his friends +till he was alone and forsaken, was bound to +put his whole trust in his wife. Had she not +made the last sacrifices for him and through +dark days stood bravely by his side? Their +private life had not always run smoothly, for +if in one way they were well mated, because +both were of the eagle breed, in another way, +they were ill-suited, because they were so +like. John Graham and Jean Cochrane both +came of proud houses which loved to rule, +and were not accustomed to yield, they both +had iron and determined wills, they shared +the dubious gift of a lofty temper and fiery +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_221' name='page_221'></a>221</span> +affections. They were set upon their own +ways, and so they had clashed many a time +in plan and deed; hot words had passed between +them, and they had been days without +speech. But below the tumult of contending +wills, and behind the flash of fiery hearts, +they were bound together by the passion of +their first love, which had grown and deepened, +and by that respect which strong and +honorable people have for one another. They +could rage, but each knew that the other +could not lie; they could be most unreasonable, +but each knew that the other could never +descend to dishonor, so their quarrels had +always one ending, and seemed, after they +were over, to draw them closer together and +to feed their love. One could not think of +them as timid and gentle creatures, billing +and cooing their affection; one rather imagined +the lion and his lioness, whose very +love was fierce and perilous. No power from +without could separate these two nor make +them quail. Alone and united Dundee and +his wife could stand undismayed and self-sufficient, +with all Scotland against them. +Nothing could ever break their bond except +dishonor. But if one should charge the other +with that foulest crime, then the end had +come, beside which death would be welcome. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_222' name='page_222'></a>222</span> +Where life is a comedy one writes with +gayety not untouched by contempt; where +life is a tragedy one writes with tears not +unredeemed by pride. But one shrinks when +the tragedy deepens into black night, and is +terrified when strong passions, falling on an +evil day, work their hot wills, with no restraining +or favorable fate. There are people +whose life is a primrose path along which +they dance and prattle, whose emotions are +a pose, whose thoughts are an echo, whose +trials are a graceful luxury; there are others +whose way lies through dark ravines and beside +raging torrents, over whose head the black +clouds are ever lowering, and whom any moment +the lightning may strike. This was +their destiny. Upon their marriage day one +saw the way that these two would have to go, +and it was inevitable that they should drink +their cup to the dregs.</p> +<p>The blame of what happened must be laid +at Graham’s door, and in his last hours he +took it altogether to himself; but since it has +to be written about, and he showed so badly, +let us make from the first the best excuse we +can for him, and try to appreciate his state +of mind. It was a brave event and a taking +scene when he set up the standard of King +James above Dundee, and he left to raise the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_223' name='page_223'></a>223</span> +North Country with a flush of hope. It soon +passed away and settled down into dreary determination, +as he made his toilsome journey +with a handful of followers by Aboyne and +Huntly, till he landed in Inverness. The +Gordons had sent him a reënforcement, and +certain of the chiefs had promised their support, +but the only aid the Highlanders had +given was of dubious value and very disappointing +issue. The MacDonalds had hastened +to Inverness by way of meeting Dundee, +and then had seized the opportunity to +plunder their old enemies, the Mackintoshes, +and to extract a comfortable ransom out of +Inverness. This was not his idea of war, +and Dundee scolded Keppoch, who commanded +the MacDonalds, most vigorously. +Keppoch immediately returned homeward to +his fastnesses with the accumulated spoil, +partly because his fine, sensitive Highland +nature was hurt by Dundee’s plain speech, +and partly because whatever happened it +was wise to secure what they had got. It is +no reflection on Dundee’s manhood that he +was cast down during those days at Inverness, +for a ten times more buoyant man would +have lost heart. His life was a romantic +drama, and it seemed as if the Fates had constructed +it for the stage, for now, after the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_224' name='page_224'></a>224</span> +lapse of years, MacKay, his old rival in Holland, +reappears, and they resume the duel, +which this time is to be unto death. While +Dundee was struggling in Edinburgh to save +the throne for James, MacKay was on his +way with regiments of the Scots Brigade to +make sure of Scotland for William. A few +days after Dundee left Edinburgh MacKay +arrived, and now, as Dundee rode northward +in hot haste, MacKay was on his track. Both +were eager for a meeting, but the bitterness +of it for Dundee was that he dared not run +the risk. With all his appeals and all his +riding, he had only a handful of mounted +men, and the clans had not risen. It seemed +as if his enterprise were futile, and that Scotland +would not lift a hand for King James. +He might be a commander-in-chief, but he +was a commander of nobody; he might raise +a standard, but it was only a vain show. It +did not matter where he went or what he did; +he was not a general, but a fugitive, a man +to be neglected, and his following a handful +of bandits. The rising was a thing to laugh +at, and the report was current in the capital +that he had absconded with one or two servants. +This pretty description of his campaign +had not reached his ears, but the +humiliation of his situation burned into his +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_225' name='page_225'></a>225</span> +proud heart. Much as he would have liked +to meet MacKay, there remained for him no +alternative but flight. Flight was the only +word which could describe his journey, and +as he planned his course on the morrow, how +he would ride to Invergarry, and then return +on his course, and then make his way to +Cluny, he started to his feet and paced the +room in a fury of anger. What better was +he than a hare with the hounds after him, +running for his life, and doubling in his +track, fleeing here and dodging there, a cowering, +timid, panting animal of the chase? +“Damnation!” and Dundee flung himself +out of the room, and paced up and down the +side of the river.</p> +<p>There was a dim light upon the running +water, and his thoughts turned to the West +Country, to the streams he had often crossed +and along whose bed he had sometimes ridden, +as he hunted for his Covenanting prey. +The Fates were just, for now the Whigs were +the hunters and he was the hunted. He began +to understand what it was to be ever on +the alert for the approach of the enemy, to +escape at the first sign of danger, to cross +hills in full flight, and to be listening for the +sound of the pursuer. As yet he had not to +hide, but before many days were over he also +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_226' name='page_226'></a>226</span> +may be skulking in moss-hags, and concealing +himself in caves, and disguising himself +in peasant’s garments, he, John Graham of +Claverhouse, and my Viscount of Dundee. +The tables had turned with a vengeance, and +the day of the godly had come. The hillmen +would laugh when they heard of it, and the +Conventicles would rejoice together. MacKay +would be sitting in his quarters at Elgin +that night making his plans also, but not for +flight, and hardly for fighting. When officers +arrest an outlaw, it is not called a battle any +more than when hounds run a fox to his lair. +<a name='TC_2'></a><ins class="trchange" title="Was 'Mackay'">MacKay</ins> would be arranging how to trap him, +anticipating his ways of escape, and stopping +all the earths, so that say, to-morrow, he +might be quietly taken. It would not be a +surrender; it would be a capture, and he +would be sent to Edinburgh in charge of half +a dozen English dragoons, and tried at Edinburgh, +and condemned for treason against +King William––King William. They would +execute him without mercy, and be only +doing to him what he had done to the Whigs, +and just as he had kept guard at Pollock’s +execution, that new Cameronian Regiment, +of which there was much talk, would keep +guard at his. There would be little cause for +precaution; no one need fear a rescue, for +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_227' name='page_227'></a>227</span> +the hillmen would be there in thousands with +the other Whigs, to feast their eyes upon his +shame, and cheer his death. He could not +complain, for it would happen to him as it +had to many of them, and what he had sown +that would he reap. Would MacKay be +laughing that night at Elgin, with his officers, +and crying in his Puritanic cant, “Aha, aha, +how is the enemy fallen and the mighty cast +down! Where now is the boasting of his +pride, where now is the persecutor of the +saints?” No, far worse, MacKay would +give orders in his cold, immovable manner, +and treat the matter as of no account, as one +who had never expected anything else from +the beginning, and was only amazed at his +opponent’s madness. That was the inner +bitterness of it all; they had taken their sides +fifteen years ago; MacKay had chosen wisely, +and he had chosen foolishly, as the world +would say. The conflict had been inevitable, +and it was quite as inevitable that his would +be the losing side. William saw what was +coming afar off, so did MacKay; and it had +all come to pass, year by year, act by act, and +now MacKay was to give the last stroke. +They had won, and they had been sure all the +time they were going to win, and they would +win with hardly an effort. He did not repent +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_228' name='page_228'></a>228</span> +of his loyalty, and he would not have +done otherwise if he had had the choice over +again. But their foresight, and their patience, +and their capacity, and their thoroughness, +and the madness of his own people, +and their feebleness, and their cowardice, and +their helplessness, infuriated him. “Curse +MacKay and his master, and the whole crew +of cold-blooded Whigs! But it is I and mine +which are cursed.”</p> +<p>“Amen to the malediction on the Usurper +and all his servants; it’s weel deserved, and +may it sune be fulfilled, full measure and +rinnin’ over, but for ony sake dinna curse +yersel’, my lord, for it’s blessings ye’ve earned +as a faithful servant o’ your king.” And +Dundee turned round to find his faithful servant +had arrived from home and had sought +him out on the riverside.</p> +<p>“You took me by surprise, Jock, and +startled me, for I knew not that any man was +near. I thought that you of all men were at +Dudhope, where I left you, to protect Lady +Dundee and the young lord. Is aught +wrong,” cried Dundee anxiously, “my wife +and child, are they both well? Speak +quickly.” For even then Dundee saw that +Grimond was hesitating, and looked like a +man who had to speak carefully. “Do not +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_229' name='page_229'></a>229</span> +tell me that MacKay has ordered the castle +to be seized, and that the dragoons have insulted +my family; this were an outrage on +the laws of war. If they have done this thing +I will avenge it before many days pass. Is +that the news ye bring?” And Dundee +gripped his servant’s shoulder and shook him +with such violence that Grimond, a strongly +built fellow, was almost thrown from his feet.</p> +<p>“Be quiet, Maister John, for I canna help +callin’ ye that, and dinna work yoursel’ into +a frenzy, for this is no like your ain sel’. Na, +na, Dudhope is safe, and no a single dragoon, +leastways a soldier, has been near it since ye +left; whatever other mischief he may do, +Colonel Livingstone, him that commands the +cavalry ye ken, at Dundee, will no see ony +harm come to my Lady Dundee. Have no +fear on that concern, my lord.”</p> +<p>“You havena come for nought, Grimond, +and I’m not expecting that ye have much +good to tell. Good tidings do not come my +way in these days. Is the lad well?” said +Dundee anxiously, “for in him is all my +hope.”</p> +<p>“It’s a gude hope then, my lord, for the +bairn is juist bye-ordinary. I could see him +growing every day, and never a complaint +from his mouth except when he wants his +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_230' name='page_230'></a>230</span> +food. God be thankit there’s nothing wrong +wi’ him, and it does my heart good to see that +he is a rael Graham, a branch o’ the old tree; +long may it stand in Scotland, and wide may +its branches spread. If it be the will of +Providence I would like to live till my auld +een saw Lord Graham of Claverhouse, for +that I’m supposing is his title, riding on the +right hand of the Viscount of Dundee. And +I would be a’ the better pleased if it was over +the necks of the Whigs. My lord, ye will +never be ashamed of your son.”</p> +<p>“Ye have said nothing of Lady Dundee’s +health, surely she isna ill or anything befallen +her. It was hard, Jock, for a man to +leave his wife but a few weeks after his son +was born. Yet she recovered quickly as becometh +a strong and healthy woman, and +when I left her she was in good heart and was +content that I should go. There is nothing +wrong with Lady Dundee, Jock?”</p> +<p>“Ye may set yir mind at rest aboot her +ladyship, Maister John. She’s stronger than +I’ve ever seen her, and I can say no more than +that, nor have I ever marked her more active, +baith by nicht and day, and in spite o’ her +lord being so far awa and in sic peril, ye +would never think she had an anxious thought. +It’s amazin’ an’ ... very encouragin’ +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_231' name='page_231'></a>231</span> +to see her ladyship sae content an’ ... +occupied. Ye need have nae concern aboot her +bodily condeetion, an’ of course that’s a great +matter.”</p> +<p>Dundee was so relieved to hear that his +wife and child were well, and that Dudhope +was safe, that he did not for the moment catch +with the dubious tone of Grimond’s references +to Lady Dundee, and indeed it struck +no unaccustomed note. Grimond had all the +virtues of a family retainer––utter forgetfulness +of self, and absolute devotion to his master’s +house, as well as a passionate, doglike +affection for Dundee. But he had the defects +of his qualities. It seems the inevitable disability +of this faithfulness, that this kind of +servant is jealous of any newcomer into the +family, suspicious of the stranger’s ways, +over-sensitive to the family interests, and +ready at any moment to fight for the family’s +cause. Grimond had done his best to prevent +his master’s marriage with Jean Cochrane, +and had never concealed his conviction that +it was an act of madness; he had never been +more than decently civil to his mistress, and +there never had been any love lost between +them. If she had been a smaller woman, +Jean would have had him dismissed from her +husband’s side, but being what she was herself, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_232' name='page_232'></a>232</span> +proud and thoroughgoing, she respected +him for his very prejudices, and his dislike +of her she counted unto him for righteousness. +Jean had made no effort to conciliate Grimond, +for he was not the kind of watchdog to be won +from his allegiance by a tempting morsel. +She laughed with her husband over his watchfulness, +and often said, “Ye may trust me +anywhere, John, if ye leave Grimond in +charge. If I wanted to do wrong I should +not be able.” “Ye would be wise, Jean,” +Graham would reply, “to keep your eye on +Grimond if ye are minded to play a prank, +for his bite is as quick as his bark.” They +laughed together over this jest, for they +trusted each other utterly, as they had good +reason to do, but the day was at hand when +that laughter was to be bitter in the mouth.</p> +<p>“Ye are like a cross-grained tyke which +snarls at its master’s best friend through +faithfulness to him. Ye never liked your +mistress from the beginning, because ye +thought she would not be loyal, but, man, ye +know better now,” said Dundee kindly, “and +it’s time ye were giving her a share o’ the +love ye’ve always given me.”</p> +<p>“Never!” cried Grimond hotly. “And I +canna bear that ye should treat this maitter as +a jest. Many a faithful dog has been scolded––aye, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_233' name='page_233'></a>233</span> +and maybe struck, by his maister when +he had quicker ears than the foolish man, +and was giving warning of danger.</p> +<p>“Ye think me, my lord, a silly and cankered +auld haveril, and that my head is full +of prejudices and fancies. Would to God +that I were wrong. If I were, I would go +down on my knees to her ladyship and ask +her pardon and serve her like a dog all the +days of my life; but, waes me, I’m ower richt. +When my lady is loyal to you I’ll be loyal to +her, but no an hour sooner, say ye as ye like, +laugh ye as ye will. But my lady is false, +and ye are deceived in your own home.”</p> +<p>“Do you know what you are saying, +Grimond, and to whom you are speaking? +We have carried this jest too far, and it is +my blame, but ye may not again speak this +way of your mistress in my presence. I know +you mean nothing by it, and it is all your love +of me and dislike of Covenanters that makes +you jealous; but never again, Grimond, remember, +or else, old servant though you be, +you leave me that hour. It’s a madness with +you; ye must learn to control it,” said Dundee +sternly.</p> +<p>“It’s nae madness, my lord,” answered +Grimond doggedly, “and has naethin’ to do +with my lady being a Cochrane. Maybe I +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_234' name='page_234'></a>234</span> +would rather she had been a Graham or a Carnegie, +but that was nae business o’ mine. +Even if I didna like her, it’s no for a serving-man +to complain o’ his mistress. I ken when +to speak and when to hold my tongue, but +there are things I canna see and forbear. My +lord, it’s time you were at Dudhope, for the +sake, o’ your honor.”</p> +<p>“Grimond,” said Dundee, and his words +were as morsels of ice, “if it were any other +man who spoke of my wife and dishonor in +the same breath I would kill him where he +stood; but ye are the oldest and faithfullest +follower of our house. For the work ye have +done and the risks ye have run I pardon you +so far as to hear any excuse ye have to make +for yourself; but make it plain and make it +quick, for ye know I am not a man to be +trifled with.”</p> +<p>“I will speak plainly, my lord, though they +be the hardest words I have ever had to say. +I ken the risk. It is not the first time I have +taken my life in my hand for the Grahams +and their good name. My suspicions were +aroused by that little besom Kirsty, when I +saw her ane day comin’ oot from the quarters +of Colonel Livingstone, wha commands the +dragoons at Dundee. I kent she could be +doing nae good there, for she’s as full o’ mischief +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_235' name='page_235'></a>235</span> +as an egg is full o’ meat. So I wheeped +up by the near road and met her coming up +to the castle. When she saw me she hid a letter +in her breast, and, question her as I like, +I could get nothing from her but impudence. +But it was plain to me that communication +was passing between someone in Dudhope and +the commander o’ William’s soldiers.”</p> +<p>“Go on,” said Dundee quietly.</p> +<p>“Putting two and two together, my lord, +I watched in the orchard below the castle that +nicht and the next, and on the next, when it +was dark, a man muffled in a cloak came up +the road from the town and waited below the +apple trees, near where I was lying in the +hollow among the grass. After a while a +woman in a plaid so that ye couldna see her +face came down from the direction of the +castle. They drew away among the trees, so +that I could only see that they were there, but +couldna hear what they were saying. After +a while, colloguing together, they parted, and +I jaloused who the two were, but that nicht +I could not be certain.”</p> +<p>“Go on,” said Dundee, “till you have finished.”</p> +<p>“Three nichts later they met again, and I +crept a little nearer, and the moon coming out +for a minute I saw their faces. It was her +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_236' name='page_236'></a>236</span> +ladyship and Colonel Livingstone. She was +pleading wi’ him, and he was half yielding, +half consenting. Her voice was so low I +couldna catch her words, but I heard him say: +‘God knows ye have my heart; but my honor, +my honor.’ ‘I will be content wi’ your heart,’ +I heard her answer. ‘When will you be +ready? For if Dundee hear of it, he will ride +south night and day, tho’ the whole English +army be in his road!’</p> +<p>“‘For eight days,’ said Livingstone, ‘I +am engaged on duty and can do nothing, on +the ninth I am at your service for ever.’ +Then I saw him kiss her hand, and they +parted. Within an hour I was riding north. +Ye may shoot me if you please, but I have +cleared my conscience.”</p> +<p>Dundee’s face was white as death, and his +eyes glittered as when the light shines on +steel. Twice he laid his hand upon his pistol, +and twice withdrew it.</p> +<p>“If an angel from heaven told me that +Lady Dundee was untrue I would not believe +him, and you, you I take to be rather a devil +from hell. Said Livingstone eight days? +And two are passed. I was proposing to go +south for other ends, and now I shall not fail +to be there before that appointment. But it +may be, Grimond, I shall have to kill you.”</p> +<hr class='toprule' /> +<div class='chsp'> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_237' name='page_237'></a>237</span> +<a name='CHAPTER_IV_THOU_ALSO_FALSE' id='CHAPTER_IV_THOU_ALSO_FALSE'></a> +<h3>CHAPTER IV</h3> +<h4>THOU ALSO FALSE</h4> +</div> +<p>Dundee was a man of many trials, and one +on whom fortune seldom smiled; but the most +cruel days of his life were the ride from Inverness +by the Pass of Corryarrack to Blair +Athole, and from Blair Athole by Perth to +Dundee. He learned then, as many men have +done in times of their distress, the horror of +the night time and the blessing of the light. +Had his mind not been affected by the universal +treachery of the time, and the disappointments +he had met on every side, till it +seemed that every man except himself was +hunting after his own interest, and no one, +high or low, could be trusted, he had from +the beginning treated Grimond’s story with +contempt and made it a subject of jest. He +would no more have doubted Jean’s honor +than that of his mother. He would have +known that Grimond never lied, and that he +did not often drink, but he also would have +been sure that even if it was Jean who met +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_238' name='page_238'></a>238</span> +Livingstone, that there was some good explanation, +and he never would have allowed +his thoughts to dwell upon the matter. If +Jean had been told that Graham had been +seen with a lady of the Court at Whitehall, +she would have scorned to question him, and +indeed she had often laughed at the snares +certain frail beauties of that day had laid +for him in London. For she knew him, and +he also knew her. But he was sorely tried +in spirit and driven half crazy by the disloyalty +of his friends, and it is in those circumstances +of morbid, unhealthy feeling that the +seeds of suspicion find a root and grow, as +the microbes settle upon susceptible and disordered +organs of the body.</p> +<p>As it was, he was divided in his mind, and +it was the alternation of dark and bright +moods which made his agony. Spring had +only reached the Highlands as he rode southwards, +but its first touches had made everything +winsome and beautiful. While patches +of snow lingered on the higher hills, and glittered +in the sunlight, the grass in the hollows +between the heather was putting on the first +greenness of the season, and the heather was +sprouting bravely; the burns were full-bodied +with the melting snow from the higher levels +and rushing with a pleasant noise to join the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_239' name='page_239'></a>239</span> +river. As he came down from the bare uplands +at Dalnaspidal into the sheltered glen +at Blair Castle, the trees made an arch of the +most delicate emerald over his head, for the +buds were beginning to open, and the wind +blew gently upon his face. The sight of +habitations as he came nearer to the Lowlands, +the sound of the horses’ feet upon the +road, the gayety of his band of troopers, the +children playing before their humble cottages, +the exhilarating air, and the hope of +the season when winter was gone, told upon +his heart and reënforced him. The despair +of the night before, when he tossed to and +fro upon a wretched bed or paced up and +down before the farmhouse door, imagining +everything that was horrible, passed away as +a nightmare. Was there ever such madness +as that he, John Graham, should be doubting +his wife, Jean Cochrane, whom he had won +from the midst of his enemies, and who had +left her mother and her mother’s house to be +his bride? How brave she had been, how self-sacrificing, +how uncomplaining, how proud +in heart and high in spirit; she had given up +the whole world for him; she was the bravest +and purest of ladies. That his wife of those +years of storm and the mother a few weeks +ago of his child should forget her vows and +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_240' name='page_240'></a>240</span> +her love, and condescend to a base intrigue; +that she should meet a lover in the orchard +where they often used to walk, where the +blossom would now be opening on the trees, +that Livingstone, whom he knew and counted +in a sense a friend, though he held King William’s +commission now, and had not stood by +the right side, should take the opportunity of +his absence to seduce his wife! It was a +hideous and incredible idea, some mad mistake +which could be easily explained. Dundee, +throwing off his black and brooding burden +of thought, would touch his horse with +the spur and gallop for a mile in gayety of +heart and then ride on his way, singing some +Cavalier song, till Grimond, who kept away +from his master those days and rode among +the troopers, would shake his head, and say +to himself, “God grant he be not fey” (possessed). +Dundee would continue in high +spirits till the evening shadows began to fall, +and then the other shadow would lengthen +across his soul. The night before he met his +wife he spent in Glamis Castle, and the grim, +austere beauty of that ancient house affected +his imagination. Up its winding stairs with +their bare, stern walls men had gone in their +armor, through the thickness of the outer +walls secret stairs connected mysterious +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_241' name='page_241'></a>241</span> +chambers one with another. Strange deeds +had been done in those low-roofed rooms with +their dark carved furniture, and there were +secret places in the castle where ghosts of the +past had their habitation. Weird figures +were said to flit through the castle at night, +restless spirits which revisited the scene of +former tragedies and crimes, and the room +in which Graham slept was known to be +haunted. Alas! he needed no troubled ancestor +of the Strathmore house to visit him, for +his own thoughts were sufficient torment, and +through the brief summer night and then +through the dawning light of the morning +he threshed the question which gnawed his +heart. Evil suggestions and suspicious remembrances +of the past, which would have +fled before the sunlight, surrounded him and +looked out at him from the shadow with gibbering +faces. Had he not been told that Jean +laid traps for him in Paisley that she might +secure the safety of her lover Pollock, and +also of her kinsman, Sir John Cochrane? +Had she not often spoken warmly of that +Covenanting minister and expressed her bitter +regret that her husband had compassed +Pollock’s death? She had tried to keep him +from attending the Convention, and of late +days had often suggested that he had better +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_242' name='page_242'></a>242</span> +be at peace and not stir up the country. +After all, can you take out of the life what is +bred in the bone?––and Jean Cochrane was of +a Covenanting stock, and her mother a very +harridan of bigotry. Might there not have +been some sense in the fear of his friends +that he would no longer be loyal to the good +cause, and was Jock Grimond’s grudge +against his marriage mere stupidity and jealousy? +Everyone was securing his safety +and adjusting himself to the new regime; +there was hardly a Lowland gentleman who +had irretrievably pledged himself to King +James, and as for the chiefs, they would fight +for their own hand as they had always done, +and could only be counted on for one thing, +and that was securing plunder. Was not he +alone, and would not he soon be either on the +scaffold or an exile? The Whigs would soon +be reigning in their glory over Scotland, and +it would be well with everyone that had their +password. If he were out of the way, would +there not be a strong temptation for her to +make terms with her family and buy security +by loyalty to their side? No doubt she was a +strong woman, but, after all, she was only a +woman, and was she able to stand alone and +live forsaken at Glenogilvie, with friends +neither among Cavaliers nor Covenanters? +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_243' name='page_243'></a>243</span> +Could he blame her if she separated herself +from a ruined cause and a discredited husband, +for would she not be only doing what +soldiers and courtiers had done, what everybody +except himself was doing? Why should +she, a young woman with life before her, tie +herself up with a hopeless cause, and one +who might be called commander-in-chief of +James’s army, but who had nothing to show +for it but a handful of reckless troopers and +a few hundred Highland thieves, a man +whom all sensible people would be regarding +as a mad adventurer? Would it not be a +stroke of wisdom––the Whigs were a cunning +crew, and he recalled that Lord Dundonald +was an adroit schemer––to buy the future +for herself and her child by selling him +and returning to her old allegiance? There +was enough reality in this ghost to give it, +as it were, a bodily shape, and Graham, who +had been flinging himself about, struck out +with his fist as if at flesh and blood.</p> +<p>“Damn you, begone, begone!”</p> +<p>For a while he lay quietly and made as +though he would have slept. Then the ghosts +began to gather around his bed again as if +the Covenanters he had murdered had come +from the other world and were having their +day of vengeance. It must have been Jean +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_244' name='page_244'></a>244</span> +who met Livingstone in the orchard, and it +must have been an assignation. There was +no woman in Dudhope had her height and +carriage, and the vision of her proud face +that he had loved so well brought scalding +tears to his eyes. For what purpose had she +met Livingstone, if not to arrange some base +surrender, if not to give information about +him so that MacKay might find him more +easily? Was it worse than that, if worse +could be when all was black as hell? Livingstone +had known her for years; it had been +evident that he admired her; he was an attractive +man of his kind. Nothing was more +likely in that day, when unlawful love was +not a shame, but a boast, than that he had +been making his suit to Lady Dundee. Her +husband was away, likely never to return; +she was a young and handsome woman, and +Livingstone had time upon his hands at Dundee. +A month ago he had sworn that the virtue +of his wife was unassailable as that of +the Blessed Virgin; he would have sworn it +two days ago as he rode through Killiecrankie; +but now, with the brooding darkness round +him and its awful shapes peopling the room, +he was not sure of anything that was good +and true. Had he not lived at Court, had he +not known the great ladies, had not they +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_245' name='page_245'></a>245</span> +tried to seduce him, and flung themselves at +his head? Was not Jean a woman like the +rest, and why should his wife be faithful +when every other woman of rank was an +adulteress! This, then, was the end of it +all, and he had suffered the last stroke of +treachery, and the last stain of dishonor. +How he had been befooled and bewitched; +what an actress she had been, with a manner +that would have deceived the wisest! +What a stupid, blundering fool he had been! +There are times, the black straits of life, +when a man must either pray or curse. If +he be a saint he will pray, but Dundee was +not a saint, so he rose from his bed, and +sweeping away the evil shapes from before +him with his right arm, and then with his +left, as one makes his road through high-standing +corn that closes in behind him, he +raged from side to side of the room in which +the day was faintly breaking, while unaccustomed +oaths poured from his mouth. One +thing only remained for him, and at the +thought peace began to come. He had +planned weeks ago to visit Dundee again and +give the chance to Livingstone’s dragoons to +join him, for he had reason to believe that +they were not unalterably loyal. He was on +his way to Dundee now, and to-morrow he +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_246' name='page_246'></a>246</span> +would be there, but he cared little what the +dragoons would do; he had other folk to deal +with. If he found he had been betrayed at +home, and by her who had lain on his breast, +and by a man whom he had counted his friend, +they should know the vengeance of the Grahams. +“Both of them––both of them to hell, +and then my work is done and I shall go to +see them!”</p> +<p>It was characteristic of the man that, +though he had no assistance from Grimond +in the morning––for Jock dared not go near +him––Dundee appeared in perfect order, even +more carefully dressed than usual; but as he +rode from the door of Glamis Castle through +the beautiful domain of park and wood, +Grimond was aghast at his pinched and +drawn face and the gleam in his eye. “May +the Lord hae mercy, but I doot sairly that +he is aff his head, and that there will be wild +work at Dudhope.” And while Grimond +had all the imperturbable self-satisfaction +and unshaken dourness of the Lowland Scot, +and never on any occasion acknowledged that +he could be wrong or changed his way, he +almost wished that he had left this affair +alone and had not meddled between his master +and his master’s wife. It was again a +fair and sunny day, when the freshness of +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_247' name='page_247'></a>247</span> +spring was feeling the first touch of summer, +as Dundee and his men rode up the pass +through the hills from Strathmore to Dundee. +There were times when Graham would +have breathed his horse at the highest point, +from which you are able to look down upon +the sea, and drunk in the pure, invigorating +air, and gazed at the distant stretches of the +ocean. But he had no time to lose that day; +he had work to do without delay. With all +his delirium––and Graham’s brain was hot, +and every nerve tingling––he retained the instincts +of a soldier, and just because he was +so suspicious of his reception he took the more +elaborate precautions. Before he entered the +pass his scouts made sure that he would not +be ambuscaded, for it might be that his approach +was known, and that Livingstone, +taking him at a disadvantage in the narrow +way, by one happy stroke would complete his +triumph. As he came near Dundee, he sent +out a party to reconnoitre, while he remained +with his troop to watch events. When the +sound of firing was heard he knew that the +garrison was on the alert, and that the town +could only be taken by assault. The soldiers +came galloping back with several wounded +men, having left one dead. Livingstone was +for the moment safe in his fastness, and it was +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_248' name='page_248'></a>248</span> +evident that the dragoons were not in a mind +to desert their colors. By this time it would +be known at Dudhope that he was near, and +the sooner he arrived the more chance of +finding his wife. It was possible that Livingstone +had garrisoned Dudhope, and that if +he rode forward alone he might be snared. +But this risk he would take in the heat of +his mind, and summoning Grimond with a +stern gesture to his side, and ordering the +soldiers to follow at a slight interval and to +surround the castle, he galloped forward to +the door. The place appeared to be deserted, +but at last, in answer to his knocking, as he +beat on the door with the hilt of his sword, it +was opened by an old woman who seemed the +only servant left, and who was driven speechless +by her master’s unexpected appearance +and his wild expression. For, although John +Graham had been a stern as well as just and +kind master, and although he had often been +angry, and was never to be trifled with, no +one had ever seen him before other than cool +and calm, smooth-spoken and master of himself.</p> +<p>“What means it, Janet, or whatever be +your name, that the door was barred and I +kept standing outside my own house? What +were ye doing, and who is within the walls? +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_249' name='page_249'></a>249</span> +Speak out, and quickly, or I will make you do +it at your pain. Have the dragoons been here, +and are there any hid in this place? Is my +Lady Dundee in the castle, and if so, where +is she?” And then, when the panic-stricken +woman could not find intelligible words before +the unwonted fury of her master, he +pushed her aside and, rushing up the stair, +tore open the door of the familiar room +where Jean and he usually sat––to find that +she was not there nor anywhere else in the +castle, that his wife and the child were gone. +With this confirmation of his worst fears, +his fever left him suddenly, and he came to +himself, so far as the action of his mind and +the passion of his manner were concerned. +Sending for Janet, he expressed his regret, +with more than his usual courtesy, that he +had spoken roughly to her and for the moment +had frightened her. Something, he +said, had vexed him, but now she must not be +afraid, but must tell him some things that he +wished to know. Had everything been going +well at Dudhope since he left, and had her +ladyship and my little lord been in good +health? That was excellent. He hoped that +the dragoons had not been troublesome or +come about the castle? They had not? Well, +that was satisfactory. Their commander, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_250' name='page_250'></a>250</span> +Colonel Livingstone, perhaps had called to +pay his respects to Lady Dundee, and render +any kindness he could? No, never been seen +at the castle? That was strange. Her ladyship––where +had she gone, for she did not appear +to be in the castle, nor her maid nor the +other servants? Where were they all? Had +her ladyship taken refuge in Dundee for +safety in those troubled times? And as his +master asked this question with studied calmness +and the gentlest of accents, Grimond +shuddered, for this was the heart of the matter, +and there was murder in the answer. +Not to Dundee––where then? To Glenogilvie, +only last night in great haste, as if afraid +of someone or something happening. Of +whom, of what? But Janet did not know, +and could only say that Lady Dundee and +the household had formed a sudden plan and +departed at nightfall for the old home of the +Grahams. Whereat Dundee smiled, and, +crossing to a window and looking down upon +the town, said to himself: “A cunning trap. +I was to be taken at Dundee, when in my hot +haste, and thinking I had an easy capture, I +rushed the town without precautions, as I +might have done. While in quiet Glenogilvie +my lady waited for his triumphant coming, +victor and lover. It was a saving mercy, as +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_251' name='page_251'></a>251</span> +her people would say, that our scouts drew +their fire and brought out the situation. +They might have baited the trap at Dudhope +had they been cleverer, and I been taken in +my home with her by my side––but that would +have been dangerous. Now it is left for me +to see whether the town could be rushed, and +I have the last joy of one good stroke at +Colonel Livingstone. But if that be beyond +my reach, as I fear it may, then haste me to +Glenogilvie.”</p> +<p>During the day Graham hung about the +outskirts of the town searching for some +weak spot where he could make a successful +entrance with his troopers. Before evening +he was driven to the conclusion that an assault +could only mean defeat and likely his +own death, and he wished to live at least for +another day. So when the sun was setting he +rode away from Dudhope, and on the crest of +the hill that overhangs Dundee, he turned +him in his saddle and looked down on the +castle from which he had ruled the town, and +where he had spent many glad days with +Jean. The shadows of evening were now +gathering, and when he reached the home of +his boyhood in secluded Glenogilvie the night +had fallen. It was contrary to his pride to +practise any tactics in his own country, and +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_252' name='page_252'></a>252</span> +they rode boldly to the door from which he +had gone out and in so often in earlier, happier +days. They had been keeping watch, he +noticed, for lights shifted in the rooms as +they came near, and almost as soon as he had +crossed the threshold his wife came out from +her room to greet him. He marked in that +instant that, though she was startled to see +him, and had not looked for him so soon, she +showed no sign of confusion or of guilt. +Against his will he admired the courage of +her carriage and her dignity in what he +judged a critical hour of her life. It was not +their way to rush into one another’s arms, +though there burned in them the hottest and +fiercest passion of love. In presence of others +they never gave themselves away, but carried +themselves with a stately grace. “We heard +you were on your way, my lord,” she simply +said, “but I did not expect so quick a meeting. +Have ye come from the north or from +Perth? A messenger went to Lord Perth’s +house with news of the happenings at Dundee, +but doubtless he missed you.” She gave +him her hand, over which he bent, and which +he seemed to kiss, but did not. “We left +Perth two days ago,” he replied, with a cold, +clear voice, which did not quite hide the +underlying emotion, “and we have this day +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_253' name='page_253'></a>253</span> +paid our visit to Dundee––to get a chill welcome +and find Dudhope empty. It was a pity +that we missed the messenger, Lady Dundee, +who doubtless sought for us diligently, for +if we had known where you were when we +left Glamis this morning, it had been easy––aye, +and in keeping with my mind––to turn +aside and visit Glenogilvie.” They were +still standing in the hall, and Jean had begun +to realize that Dundee was changed, and +that behind this cold courtesy some fire was +burning. When they were alone she would, +in other circumstances, have cast herself in +the proud surrender of a strong woman’s +love into his arms, and he would have kissed +her hair, her forehead, her eyes, her cheeks, +her chin, and, last, her mouth; but at the sight +of his eyes she stood apart, and straightening +herself, Jean said: “What is the meaning of +this look, John, and what ails you? Ye seem +as if ye had suffered some cruel blow. Has +aught gone wrong with you? Ye have come +back in hot haste.”</p> +<p>“Yes, my Lady Dundee, something wrong +with me, and maybe worse with you. I have +come quicker than I intended, and have had +a somewhat cold reception at Dundee, but I +grant you that was not your blame, you had +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_254' name='page_254'></a>254</span> +doubtless prepared a warmer. Livingstone +was the laggard.”</p> +<p>“You are angry, John, and I now understand +the cause. It was not my blame, for +what woman could do I did, and maybe more +than becometh your wife, to win him over. He +almost consented, and I declare to you that +Livingstone is with us. I could have sworn +two days ago that the regiment would have +joined us and been waiting for you. But that +determined Whig, Captain Balfour, discovered +the plot, and I had a message yesterday +afternoon that it was hopeless. So for fear +of arrest I hurried to Glenogilvie, and tried to +intercept your coming. Blame not me, for I +could do no more––and what mean you by calling +me ever by my title and not by my name, +after our parting for so long and dangerous a +time?”</p> +<p>“You are right, Jean Cochrane, and I will +do you this justice, ye could not do more +than meet him in the orchard and in the dark +of the night. Yes, ye were both seen, and +word was brought me to the north by a faithful +messenger––I judge the only true heart +left. That was fine doing and fine pleading, +when he confessed that you had won his +heart, but his honor was hindering him. Ye +cannot deny the words, they are graven on +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_255' name='page_255'></a>255</span> +my heart like fire, and are burning it to the +core. You, my wife, and whom I made my +Lady Dundee, as if you had been a lowborn +country lass.”</p> +<p>“You are unjust, my lord, shamefully and +cruelly unjust. It was not a pleasant thing +for me to do, and I hated myself in the stooping +to do it, but there was no other way for +it, since he dared not come in the daylight, +and I dared not go to him. Now I wish to +God I had never troubled myself and never +lifted my little finger to accomplish this thing +for the cause, since spies have been going +and coming between Dudhope and the north. +What I did, I did for you and King James, +and if I had succeeded ye would have praised +me and said that a woman’s wiles had won a +regiment of horse. But because I have failed +ye fling my poor effort in my face, and make +me angry with myself that I ever tried to +serve you––you who stand here reproaching +me for my condescension.”</p> +<p>“Well acted, my lady, and a very cunning +tale. So it was to serve me ye crept out at +night disguised, and it was to win his heart +for King James that ye spoke so tenderly? +I never expected the day would come when +John Graham of Claverhouse would call +down blessings––aye, the richest benediction +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_256' name='page_256'></a>256</span> +of heaven––upon a Covenanter, but I pray +God to bless Captain Balfour with all things +that he desires in this world and in that which +is to come. Because, though he knew not +what he was doing, and might have served +his own cause better by letting things run +their course, he saved, at least in the eyes of +the world, my honor, and averted the public +shame of a treacherous wanton.”</p> +<p>As the words fell slowly and quietly from +his lips, like drops of vitriol, Jean’s face reflected +the rapid succession of emotions in +her heart. She was startled as one not grasping +the meaning of his words: she was horrified +as their shameful charge emerged: she +was stricken to the heart as the man she had +loved from out of all the world called her by +the vilest of all names a woman can hear. +Then, being no gentle and timid young wife +who could be crushed by a savage and unexpected +blow and find her relief in a flood of +tears, but a proud and determined woman with +the blood of two ancient houses in her veins, +after the briefest pause she struck back at +Dundee, carrying herself at her full height, +throwing back her head with an attitude of +scorn, her face pale because intense feeling +had called the blood back to the heart, and +her eyes blazing with fury, as when the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_257' name='page_257'></a>257</span> +forked lightning bursts from the cloud and +shatters a house or strikes a living person +dead. And it was like her that she spoke almost +as quietly as Graham, neither shrinking +nor trembling.</p> +<p>“This, then, is the cause of your strange +carriage, Lord Dundee, which I noted on +your coming, and tried to explain in a simple +and honorable way, for I had no key to your +mind, and have not known you for what you +are till this night. So that was the base thing +you have been imagining in your heart, as +you rode through the North Country, and +that was the spur that drave you home with +such haste––to guard your honor as a husband, +and to put to shame an adulterous +wife? Pardon me if I was slow in catching +your meaning, the charge has taken me somewhat +by surprise.” And already, before her +face, Dundee began to weaken and to shrink +for the first time in his life.</p> +<p>“And you are the man whom I, Jean Cochrane, +have loved alone of all men in the world, +and for whose love I forsook my mother and +my house, and became a stranger in the land! +You are the husband whom I trusted utterly, +for whom I was willing to make the last sacrifice +of life, of whom I boasted in my heart, +in whom I placed all my joy! I knew you +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_258' name='page_258'></a>258</span> +were a bigot for your cause; I knew you were +cruel in the doing of your work; I knew you +had a merciless ambition; I knew you had +an unmanageable pride; I have not lain in +your arms nor lived by your side, I have not +heard you speak nor seen you act, without +understanding how obstinate is the temper +of your mind, and how fiery is your heart. +For those faults I did not love you less, and +of them I did not complain, for they were +my own also. That you were incapable of +trusting, that you could suspect your wife +of dishonor, that you would be moved by the +report of a spy, a baseborn peasant man, +that you could offer the last gross, unpardonable +insult to a virtuous woman, is what I +never could have even imagined. The Covenanters +called you by many evil names, and +I did not believe them. I believe every one of +them now––they did not tell half the truth. +They called you persecutor and murderer, +they forgot to call you what I now do. As +when one strikes a cur with a whip, so to your +fair, false face I call you liar and coward. +Peace till I be done, and then you may kill +me, for it were better I should not live, and if +I had the sword of one of my kinsfolk here +I would kill you where you stand. God in +heaven, what an accusation! A wife of five +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_259' name='page_259'></a>259</span> +years, and a mother of only a few weeks, that +she should sin with an honorable man who is +her friend and her husband’s friend! Did +Livingstone say, according to that dastard +hiding in the wood, that his heart was with us? +That was with our cause, and not with me. +Did he say honor hindered him? That was +not honor towards you, it was honor towards +his colors. But honor is a strange word in +your ears now, my lord. I have never thought +of Livingstone more than any other man who +has a good name and has never betrayed a +trust. This night my heart is favorable to +him, for I saw him in an agony about his +honor, and I judge if he were a woman’s husband, +and she was such a woman as I am before +God this day, he would rather die than +insult her.”</p> +<p>“Ye wished for some weapon wherewith +to take a coward’s life. Here is my sword, +Jean, and here is my heart. I would not be +sorry to die, and I would rather take the last +stroke from you than from my enemies. It is +not worth while to live, for I have no friend, +and soon shall have no possessions. My cause +is forlorn, and my name is a byword, and now, +by my own doing, I have lost my only love. +Strike just here, and my blood will be an +atonement to thee for my sin, and generations +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_260' name='page_260'></a>260</span> +unborn will bless the hand which slew Claverhouse.</p> +<p>“Ye hesitate for a moment”––for she was +holding the sword by the hilt, and her face +was still clouded with gloom, although the fire +was dying down. “Then I will use that moment, +not to ask your pardon, for I judge you +are not a woman to forgive––and neither +should I be in your place––but to explain. I +shall not speak of my love for you, for that +now ye will not believe, nor of my shame in +having received those evil thoughts for a +moment into my heart. I have never known +the bitterness of shame before, but I would +fain tell how it happened, that the remembrance +of me be less black after we have +parted forever. Had I been in my natural +state it had been impossible for me to doubt +thee, Jean, and if I had seen thee sin before +mine eyes, I would have thought it was another. +But my mind has been distraught +through weariness of the body on the long +rides, and nights without sleep as I lay a-planning, +and the desertion of friends in whom I +trusted, and the refusals of men of whom I +expected loyalty, and the humiliating helplessness +before William’s general, my old +rival MacKay. I was almost mad. In the +night-time, I think, I was mad altogether. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_261' name='page_261'></a>261</span> +But I had always one comfort, like a single +star shining in a dark sky, and that was the +faithfulness of my wife. When a cloud obscured +that solitary light, then a frenzy passed +into my blood. I ceased to reason, and according +to the measure of my love was my +foolish, groundless hate.”</p> +<p>“Take back your sword, Dundee, for I am +not now minded to use it. Five minutes ago +it had been dangerous to give it me. If ye +fall, it shall be by another hand than your +wife’s, and in another place than your home. +We have said words to one another this night +which neither of us will lightly pardon, for +we are not of the pardoning kind. I do not +feel as I did: my anger has turned into sorrow; +the idol of my idolatry is broken––my +fair model of chivalry––and now I can only +gather together the pieces. Even while I +hated you I was loving you––this is the contradiction +of a woman’s heart––and I knew +that love of me had made you mad. Whatever +happens, I will always remember that +you loved me, but my dream has vanished––forever.”</p> +<p>They spent next day walking quietly in the +glen, and the following morning he left for +his last campaign. They said farewell alone, +but after he was in the saddle Lady Dundee +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_262' name='page_262'></a>262</span> +lifted up the child for him to kiss––which was +to die before the year was out. He turned as +they were riding down the road and waved +his plumed hat to his wife, where she stood, +still holding the child in her arms. And that +was the last Jean Cochrane saw of Claverhouse.</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_263' name='page_263'></a>263</span></div> +<hr class='toprule' /> +<div class='chsp'><h2> +<span class='smcap'>BOOK</span> IV</h2> +</div> +<div class='chsp' style='padding-top:0'> +<a name='CHAPTER_I_TREASON_IN_THE_CAMP' id='CHAPTER_I_TREASON_IN_THE_CAMP'></a> +<h3>CHAPTER I</h3> +<h4>TREASON IN THE CAMP</h4> +</div> +<p>Since the day Dundee rode away from +Glenogilvie, after the scene with Jean, he was +a man broken in heart, but he hid his private +wound bravely, and gave himself with the +fiercer energy to the king’s business. Hither +and thither through the Highlands he raced, +so that he was described in letters of that +day as “skipping from one hill to another +like wildfire, which at last will vanish of itself +for want of fuel,” and “like an incendiary +to inflame that cold country, yet he +finds small encouragement.” Anything more +pathetic than this last endeavor of Dundee, +except it be his death, cannot be imagined. +The clans were not devoured with devotion to +King James, and were not the victims of +guileless enthusiasm; they were not the heroes +of romance depicted by Jacobite poets +and story-tellers: they were half-starved, entirely +ignorant, fond of fighting, but largely +intent on stealing. If there was any chance +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_264' name='page_264'></a>264</span> +of a foray in which they could gather spoil, +they were ready to fling themselves into the +fray, but as soon as they had gained their +end, they would make for the glens and leave +their general in the lurch. Whether they +would rise or not depended neither on the +merits of William or James, but in the last +issue upon their chiefs––and the chiefs were +not easy to move. Some of them were hostile, +and most of them lukewarm; and Dundee +drank the cup of humiliation as he canvassed +for his cause from door to door. By +pleading, by arguing, by cajoling, by threatening, +by promising and by bribing, he got +together some two thousand men, more or +less, and he had also the remains of his cavalry. +His king had, as usual, left him to +fend for himself, and sent him nothing but +an incapable Irish officer called Cannon and +some ragged Irish recruits, while MacKay +was watching him and following him with a +well-equipped force. Now and again the sun +shone on him and he had glimpses of victory, +driving MacKay for days before him, +and keeping up communication with Livingstone, +who had come from Dundee with his +dragoons, and was playing the part of traitor +in MacKay’s army––for Jean was still determined, +with characteristic obstinacy and indifference +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_265' name='page_265'></a>265</span> +to suspicion, to reap the fruit of +her negotiation with Livingstone. It seemed +as if Dundee would at least gain a few troops +of cavalry, which would be a great advantage +to him and a disquieting event for MacKay’s +army. But again the Fates were hostile, and +misfortune dogged the Jacobite cause. MacKay +got wind of the plot, Livingstone and +his fellow-officers were arrested, and Jean’s +scheming, with all its weary expedients and +bitter cost, came to naught.</p> +<p>When Claverhouse, in the height of summer, +started on his last campaign and descended +on Blair Athole, he carried himself +as one in the highest spirits and assured of +triumph. He sent word everywhere that +things were going well with the cause, and +that the whole world was with him; he made +no doubt of crushing MacKay if he opposed +his march into the Lowlands, and of entering +Edinburgh after another fashion than he +had left it. He kept a bold front, and wrote +in a buoyant style; but this was partly the +pride of his house, and partly the tactics of +a desperate leader. Though a bigot to his +cause, Graham was not a madman. He was +a thorough believer in the power of guerrilla +troops, but he knew that in the end they +would go down before the regulars. He +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_266' name='page_266'></a>266</span> +hoped, by availing himself of the hot courage +of the clansmen, to deal a smashing blow at +his old rival, but unless the Lowlands and +the regulars joined James’s side, there was +not the remotest chance of unseating William +from his new throne. His words were +high, but his heart was anxious, as he hurried +with his little army to strike once at least for +the king, and to make his last adventure. He +had decided on the line of march to be taken +next morning, and the place where he would +join issue with MacKay, who was coming up +from Perth with a small army of regular +troops, many of whom were veterans. He +had discussed the matter with his staff, and +settled with the jealous and irascible chiefs +as best he could the position they were to take +on the battle-field, and he had fallen into a fit +of gloomy meditation, when Grimond entered +the room in Blair Castle, where Dundee had +his headquarters for the night.</p> +<p>If Grimond, for pure malice or even for +jealousy, had invented that unhappy interview +between Lady Dundee and Livingstone, +or if it had been shown that he had by a word +perverted the conversation, then his master, +who had sent many a Covenanter to death, +because he loved his religion more than King +James, would have shot even that faithful +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_267' name='page_267'></a>267</span> +servant without scruple and with satisfaction. +But it was in keeping with the chivalry of +Dundee––his sense of justice, his appreciation +of loyalty, and his admiration for thoroughness––that +he took no revenge for his own +madness upon the unwitting cause thereof. +During the brief stay at Glenogilvie, Grimond +hid himself with discretion, so that neither +his master nor mistress either saw or heard +of him, and when Dundee left his home with +his men, Grimond was not in the company. +But as a dog which is not sure of a welcome +from its master, or rather expects a blow and +yet cannot leave him or let him go alone, will +suddenly join him on the road by which he +is making his journey, and will follow him +distantly, but ever keep him in sight, so Jock +was found one morning among the troopers. +He kept as far from his master as he could +and was careful not to obtrude himself or +offer to resume a servant’s duty. Dundee’s +face hardened at the sight of him, but he +said no word, and Jock made no approach. +With wise discretion he remained at a distance, +and seemed anxious to be forgotten, +but he had his own plan of operations. One +morning Dundee found his bits and stirrups +and the steel work of his horse furnishing +polished and glittering as they had not been +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_268' name='page_268'></a>268</span> +since he rode to Glenogilvie, and he suspected +that an old hand had been at work. +Another day his cuirass was so well and carefully +done, his uniform so perfectly brushed +and laid out, and his lace cravat so skilfully +arranged that he was certain Grimond was +doing secret duty. Day by day the signs of +his attention grew more frequent and visible, +till at last one morning he appeared in person, +and without remark began to assist his +master with his arms. Nothing passed between +them, and for weeks relations were very +strained, but before the end Grimond knew +that he had been forgiven for his superfluity +of loyalty, and Dundee was thankful that, as +the shadows settled upon his life blacker and +deeper every day, one honest man was his +companion, and would remain true when +every fair-weather friend and false schemer +had fled. One can make excuses for jealousy +when it is another name for love; one may +not quarrel with doggedness when it is another +name for devotion. There are not too +many people who have in them the heart to +be faithful unto death, not too many who will +place one’s interest before their own life. +When one’s back is at the wall, and he is not +sure even of his nearest, he will not despise +or quarrel with the roughest or plainest man +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_269' name='page_269'></a>269</span> +who will stand by his side and share his lot, +either of life or death. So Jock was reinstated +without pardon asked or given, and +with no reference to the tragedy of Glenogilvie, +and Dundee knew that he had beside +him a faithful and fearless watchdog of the +tough old Scottish breed. As Grimond busied +himself with preparations for the evening +meal––among other dark suspicions he had +taken into his head that Dundee might be +poisoned––his master’s eye fell on him, and +at the sight memory woke. John Graham recalled +the days when Grimond received him +from the charge of his nurse, and took him +out upon the hills round Glenogilvie. How +he taught him to catch trout with his own +hands below the big stones of the burn, how +he told him the names of the wild birds and +their ways, how he gave him his first lesson +in sport, how one day he saved his life, when +he was about to be gored by an infuriated +bull. All the kindness of this hard man and +his thoughtfulness, all his faithfulness and +unselfishness, touched Dundee’s heart––a +heart capable of affection for a few, though +it could never be called tender, and capable +of sentiment, though rather that which is +bound up with a cause than with a person.</p> +<p>“Jock,” said Graham, with a certain accent +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_270' name='page_270'></a>270</span> +of former days and kindly doings. Now, +a person’s name may mean anything according +to the way in which it is pronounced. It +may be an accusation, a rebuke, an insult, a +threat, or it may be an appeal, a thanksgiving, +a benediction, a caress. And at the +sound of the word, said more kindly than he +had ever heard it, Grimond turned him round +and looked at his master; his grim, lean, +weather-beaten face relaxed and softened +and grew almost gentle.</p> +<p>“Maister John, Maister John,” and suddenly +he did a thing incredible for his undemonstrative, +unsentimental, immovable +granite nature. He knelt down beside Dundee, +and seizing his hand, kissed it, while +tears rolled down his cheeks. “My laddie, +and my lord, baith o’ them, this is the best +day o’ my life, for ye’ve forgiven me my terrible +mistake, and my sin against my mistress. +It’s sore against my grain to confess +that I was wrang, for it’s been my infirmity +to be always richt, but I sinned in this matter +grievously, and micht have done what could +never be put richt. But oh! my lord, it was +a’ for love’s sake, for though I be only a +serving man to the house of Graham, I dare +to say I have been faithful. With neither +wife nor child, I have nothing but you, my +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_271' name='page_271'></a>271</span> +lord, and I have nothing to live for but your +weel. When ye were angry wi’ me I didna +blame you, I coonted ye just, but ’twas to me +as when the sun gaes behind the clouds. I +cared neither to eat nor drink––had it not been +for your sake, I didna care to live. But noo, +when ye’ve buried the past and taken me +back into your favor, I’m in the licht again, +and I carena what happens to me, neither +hardship nor death. Oh! my loved lord, will +ye call me Jock again? When the severe +and self-contained Lowland Scot takes fire, +there is such strength of fuel in him, that he +burns into white heat, and there is no quenching +of the flame. And at that moment Graham +understood, as he had only imagined before, +the passion which can be concealed in +the heart of a Scots retainer.</p> +<p>“Get up, Jock, you old fool and––my +trusty friend.” Claverhouse concealed but +poorly behind his banter the emotion of his +heart, for Jock had found him in a lonely +mood.</p> +<p>“You and me are no made for kneeling, +except to our Maker and our king. Faith, I +judge we are better at the striking. Aye, we +are friends again, and shall be till the end, +which I am thinking may not be far off. Ye +gave me a bitter time, the like of which I +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_272' name='page_272'></a>272</span> +never had before, and beside which death, +when it comes, will be welcome, but ye did it +not in baseness, but in all honesty. It was +our calamity. Life, Jock, is full o’ sic calamities, +and we are all for the maist part at cross +purposes. It seemeth to me as if we were +travelling in the darkness, knowing not +whether the man beside us be friend or foe, +and often striking at our friends by mistake. +But we must march on till the day breaks.</p> +<p>“It’ll break for us soon, at any rate,” went +on Dundee, “for by to-morrow night the +matter will be settled between General MacKay +and me. Div ye mind, Jock, how I fain +would have fought with him at The Hague, +and he wouldna take my challenge?”</p> +<p>“Cowardly and cold-blooded Whig like the +lave o’ them,” burst out Jock, in a strong reaction +from his former mood of tenderness. +“Leave him to look after himsel’, he micht +have stood mair nor once thae last weeks and +faced ye like a man, but would he? Na, na, +he ran afore ye, and I doot sair whether he +will give you a chance to-morrow.”</p> +<p>“Have no fear of that, Jock, we’ve waited +long for our duel, but, ye may take my word +for it, it will come off at Killiecrankie before +the sun goes down again behind the hills. +There will be a fair field and a free fight, and +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_273' name='page_273'></a>273</span> +the best man will win; and, Jock, I will not +be sorry when the sun sets. What ails you, +Jock, for your face is downcast? That didna +used to be the way with you in the low country +on the prospect of battle. Div ye mind +Seneffe and the gap in the wall?”</p> +<p>“Fine, my lord, fine, and I’ll acknowledge +that I’ve nae rooted objection in principle or +in practice to fechtin’––that is, when it’s to +serve a richt cause and there be a good chance +o’ victory, to say nothing o’ profit. But a’ +thing maun be fair and aboveboard, and I’m +dootin’ whether that will be the case the +mornin’. What I’m feared o’ is no war, but +black murder.” And there was an earnestness +in Grimond’s tone which arrested Dundee.</p> +<p>“My lord,” said Jock, in answer to the interrogation +on his master’s face, “I came +here to speak, if Providence gave me the +chance, for aifter all that has happened, I +didna consider your ear would be open to +hear me. When a man has made as big a +mistake as I have dune, and caused as muckle +sorrow, it behooves him to walk softly, and +this is pairt of his judgment that them he +loves most may trust him least.</p> +<p>“Na, na, my lord,” for the face of Dundee +was beginning again to blacken. “I’ve +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_274' name='page_274'></a>274</span> +no a word to say against her ladyship. I +gather she has been doing what she can for +the cause wi’ them slippery rascals o’ dragoons +and their Laodicean commander, of +whom I have my ain thoughts. I fear me, +indeed, to say what I have found, and what +I am suspecting, for ye hae reason to conclude +that my head is full o’ plots, and that +broodin’ ower treachery has made me daft.”</p> +<p>“What is it now, Jock?” in a tone between +amusement and seriousness. “Ye +havena found a letter from Lochiel to the +Prince of Orange, offering to win the reward +upon my head, or caught General MacKay, +dressed in a ragged kilt, stealing about through +the army? Out with it, and let us know the +worst at once.”</p> +<p>“Ye are laughin’, Maister John, and I will +not deny ye have justification. I wish to God +I be as far frae the truth this time as I was +last time, but there is some thin’ gaein’ on in +the camp that bodes nae gude to yersel’, and +through you to the cause. It was not for naethin’ +I watched two of our new recruits for +days, and heard a snap o’ their conversation +yesterday on the march.”</p> +<p>“I’ll be bound, Jock, ye heard some wild +talk, for I doubt our men are readier with an +oath than a Psalm and a loose story than a +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_275' name='page_275'></a>275</span> +sermon. But we must just take them as they +come––rough men for rough work, and desperate +men for a wild adventure.”</p> +<p>“Gude knows, my ears are weel accustomed +to the clatter of the camp, and it’s no a coarse +word here or there would offend Jock Grimond. +But the men I mean are of the other +kind; they speak like gentlefolk, and micht, +for the manner o’ them, sit wi’ her ladyship +in Dudhope Castle.”</p> +<p>“Broken gentlemen, very likely, Jock. +There have always been plenty in our ranks. +Surely you are not going to make that a crime +at this time of the day. If I had five hundred +of that kidney behind me, I would drive MacKay––horse, +foot and bits of artillery––like +chaff before the wind. A gentleman makes a +good trooper, and when he has nothing to lose, +he’s the very devil to fight.”</p> +<p>“But that’s no a’ else. I wouldna have +troubled you, my lord, but the two are aye +the-gither, and keep in company like a pair +o’ dogs poachin’. They have the look o’ men +who are on their gaird, and are feared o’ +bein’ caught by surprise. According to their +story they had served with Livingstone’s dragoons, +and had come over to us because they +were for the good cause. But ain o’ Livingstone’s +lads wha deserted at the same time, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_276' name='page_276'></a>276</span> +and has naethin’ wrong wi’ him except that +he belongs to Forfar and has a perpetual +drouth, tells me that our twa friends were +juist in and oot, no mair than a week wi’ the +dragoons. My idea is that they went wi’ +Livingstone to get to us. And what for––aye, +what for?”</p> +<p>“For King James, I should say, and a +bellyful of fighting,” said Dundee carelessly.</p> +<p>“Maybe ye’re richt, and if so, there’s no +mischief done; and maybe ye’re wrang, and +if so, there will be black trouble. At ony rate, +I didna like the story, and I wasna taken wi’ +the men. No that they’re bad-lookin’, but +they’re after some ploy. Weel, they ride by +themsel’s, and they camp by themsel’s, and +they eat by themsel’s, and they sleep by themsel’s. +So this midday, when we haltit, they +made off to the bank o’ the river, and settled +themsel’s ablow a tree, and by chance a burn +ran into the river there wi’ a high bank on the +side next them. Are ye listenin’, my lord?”</p> +<p>“Yes, yes,” said Dundee, whose thoughts +had evidently been far away, and who was +attaching little importance to Jock’s groundless +fears. “Go on. So you did a bit of +scouting, I suppose?”</p> +<p>“I did,” said Jock, with some pride, “and +they never jaloused wha was lying close beside +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_277' name='page_277'></a>277</span> +them, like a tod (fox) in his hole. I’m +no prepared to say that I could catch a’ their +colloguing, but I got enough to set me thinkin’. +Juist bits, but they could be pieced togither.”</p> +<p>“Well,” said Dundee, with more interest, +“what were the bits?”</p> +<p>“The one asks the other where he keeps +his pass. ‘Sown in the lining of my coat,’ +says he. ‘Where’s yours?’ ‘In my boot,’ +answers he, ‘the safest place.’ Who gave +them the passes, thinks I to myself, and what +are they hiding them for? So I cocks both +my ears to hear the rest.”</p> +<p>“And what was that, Jock?” And Dundee +now was paying close attention.</p> +<p>“For a while they spoke so low I could +only hear, ‘This underhand work goes against +my stomach.’ ‘Aha, my lad, so it’s underhand,’ +says I in my hole. ‘It’s worth the +doing,’ says the other, ‘and a big stroke of +work if we succeed. It might be a throne +one way or other.’ ‘Not to us,’ laughs the +first. ‘No,’ says his friend, ‘but we’ll have +our share.’ ‘This is no ordinary work,’ says +I to mysel’, and I risked my ears out of the +hole. ‘It’s no an army,’ says one o’ them, +‘but juist a rabble, and a’ depends on one +man.’ ‘You’re right there,’ answers the +other, ‘if he falls all is over.’ Then they said +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_278' name='page_278'></a>278</span> +something to one another I couldn’t catch, +and then one stretched himself, as I took it +by his kicking a stone into the river, and rose, +saying, ‘By heaven! we’ll manage it.’ The +other laughed as he rose too, and as they +went away the last words I heard were, ‘The +devil, Jack, is more likely to be our friend.’ +Notice this, my lord, every word in the English +tongue, as fine and smooth spoken as ye +like. Where did they come from, and what +are they after? Aye, and wha is to fall, +that’s the question, my lord?”</p> +<p>Dundee started, for Jock’s story had unloosed +a secret fear in his mind, which he +had often banished, but which had been returning +with great force. As a band holds +together the sheaf of corn, so he alone kept +King James’s army. Apart from him there +was no cohesion, and apart from him there +was no commander. With his death, not only +would the forces disperse, but the cause of +King James would be ended. If he were out +of the way, William would have no other +cause for anxiety, and he knew the determined +and cold-blooded character of his former +master. William had given him his +chance, and he had not taken it. He would +have no more scruple in assassinating his opponent +than in brushing a fly off the table. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_279' name='page_279'></a>279</span> +Instead of gathering an army and fighting +him through the Highlands and Lowlands, +just one stroke of a dirk or a pistol bullet +and William is secure on his throne. “Jock +may be right for once,” said Claverhouse to +himself, “and, by heaven! if I am to fall, I +had rather be shot in front than behind.” +He wrote an order to the commander of the +cavalry, and in fifteen minutes the two +troopers were standing before him disarmed +and guarded.</p> +<p>The moment Dundee looked at them he +knew that Jock was correct in saying that +they were not common soldiers, for they had +the unmistakable manner of gentlemen, and +as soon as they spoke he also knew that they +were Englishmen. One was tall and fair, +with honest blue eyes, which did not suggest +treachery, the other was shorter and dark, +with a more cautious and uncertain expression.</p> +<p>“For certain reasons, gentlemen,” said +Dundee, with emphasis upon the word, “I +desire by your leave to ask you one or two +questions. If you will take my advice, you +had better answer truthfully. I will not +waste time about things I know. What +brought you from Livingstone’s dragoons to +us? why were ye so short a time with them? +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_280' name='page_280'></a>280</span> +and why did ye leave the English army? Tell +no lies, I pray you. I can see that ye are soldiers +and have been officers. Why are you +with us in the guise of troopers?”</p> +<p>“You know so much, my lord,” said the +taller man, with that outspoken candor which +is so taking, “that I may as well tell you all. +We have held commissions in the army, and +are, I suppose, officers to-day, though they +will be wondering where we are, and we should +be shot if we were caught. You will excuse +me giving our names, for they could not be +easily kept. We belong to families which have +ever been true to their king, and we came +north to take a share in the good work. That +is the only way that we could manage it, and +we do not fancy it overmuch, but we have +taken our lives in our hands for the adventure.”</p> +<p>“You are men of spirit, I can see,” said +Dundee ironically, “but ye are wise men also, +and have reduced your risks. Would you do +me the favor of showing the passes with which +you provided yourselves before leaving England? +Save yourselves the trouble of––argument. +One of you has got his pass in his coat, +and the other in his boot. I’m sure you would +not wish to be stripped.”</p> +<p>The shorter man colored with vexation and +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_281' name='page_281'></a>281</span> +then paled, but the other only laughed like a +boy caught in a trick, and said, “There are +quick eyes, or, more likely, quick ears, in this +army, my lord.” Then, without more ado, +they handed Lord Dundee the passes. “As +I expected,” said Dundee, “to the officers of +King William’s army, and to allow the bearers +to go where they please, and signed by his +Majesty’s secretary of state.” And Dundee +looked at them with a mocking smile.</p> +<p>“Damn those passes!” said the spokesman +with much geniality. “I always thought +we should have destroyed them once we were +safely through the other lines, but my friend +declared they might help us afterwards in +time of need.”</p> +<p>“And now, gentlemen, they are going to +hang you, for shooting is too honorable for +spies and, worse than spies, assassins, for,” +concluded Dundee softly, “it was to shoot me +you two loyal Cavaliers have come.”</p> +<p>The shorter man was about to protest, in +hope of saving his life, but his comrade waved +him to be silent, and for the last time took up +the talk.</p> +<p>“We are caught in a pretty coil, my lord. +Circumstances are against us, and we have +nothing to put on the other side, except our +word of honor as gentlemen. Neither my +comrade nor I are going to plead for our +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_282' name='page_282'></a>282</span> +lives, though we don’t fancy being hung. But +perhaps of your courtesy, if we write our +names, you will allow a letter to go to General +MacKay, and that canting Puritan will +be vastly amused when he learns that he had +hired us to assassinate my Lord Dundee. He +will be more apt to consider our execution an +act of judgment for joining the Malignants. +We got our passes by trickery from Lord +Nottingham, and they have tricked us, and, +by the gods! the whole affair is a fine jest, except +the hanging. I would rather it had been +shooting, but I grant that if MacKay had +sent us on such an errand, both he and we deserve +to be hung.” And the Englishman +shrugged his shoulders as one who had said +his last word and accepted his fate.</p> +<p>He carried himself so bravely, with such +an ingenuous countenance and honest speech, +that Claverhouse was interested in the man, +and the reference to MacKay arrested him +in his purpose. They were not likely to have +come on such an errand from MacKay’s +camp without the English general knowing +what they were about. Was MacKay the +man to sanction a proceeding so cowardly +and so contrary to the rules of war? Of all +things in the world, was not this action the +one his principles would most strongly condemn? +Certainly their conversation by the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_283' name='page_283'></a>283</span> +riverside had been suspicious, but then +Grimond had made one hideous mistake before. +It was possible that he had made another. +Graham had insulted his loyal wife +through Grimond’s blundering; it would be +almost as bad if he put to an ignominious +death two adventurous, blundering English +Cavaliers. He ordered that the Englishmen +should be kept under close arrest till next +morning, and he sent the following letter by +a swift messenger and under flag of truce to +the general of the English forces.</p> +<blockquote> +<p class='ralign' style="margin-right:1.0em"><span class='smcap'>Blair Castle</span>, <i>July 26, 1689</i>.</p> +<p><i>To Major-General Hugh MacKay, Commanding the forces +in the interests of the Prince of Orange.</i></p> +<p><span class='smcap'>Sir:</span> It is years since we have met and many things have +happened since, but I freely acknowledge that you have ever +been a good soldier and one who would not condescend +to dishonor. And this being my mind I crave your assistance +in the following matter.</p> +<p>Two English officers have been arrested in disguise and +carrying compromising passes; there is reason to believe +that their errand was to assassinate me, and if this be the +case they shall be hung early to-morrow morning.</p> +<p>Albeit we were rivals in the Low Country and will soon +fight our duel to the death, I am loath to believe that this +thing is true of you, and I will ask of you this last courtesy, +for your sake and mine and that of the two Englishmen, +that ye tell me the truth.</p> +<p>I salute you before we fight and I have the honor to be,</p> +<p class='center'>Your most obedient servant,</p> +<p class='ralign' style="margin-right:1.0em"><span class='smcap'>Dundee.</span></p> +</blockquote> +<hr class='toprule' /> +<div class='chsp'> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_284' name='page_284'></a>284</span> +<a name='CHAPTER_II_VISIONS_OF_THE_NIGHT' id='CHAPTER_II_VISIONS_OF_THE_NIGHT'></a> +<h3>CHAPTER II</h3> +<h4>VISIONS OF THE NIGHT</h4> +</div> +<p>Upon the highest floor of Blair Castle there +was a long and spacious apartment, like unto +the gallery in Paisley Castle, where John +Graham had been married to Jean Cochrane, +and which to-day is the drawing-room. To +this high place Claverhouse climbed from the +room where he had examined the two Englishmen, +and here he passed the last hours of +daylight on the day before the battle of Killiecrankie. +Seating himself at one of the +windows, he looked out towards the west, +through whose golden gates the sun had begun +to enter. Beneath lay a widespreading +meadow which reached to the Garry; beyond +the river the ground began to rise, and in the +distance were the hills covered with heather, +with lakes of emerald amid the purple. There +are two hours of the day when the soul of +man is powerfully affected by the physical +world in which we live, and in which, indeed, +the things we see become transparent, like a +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_285' name='page_285'></a>285</span> +thin veil, and through them the things which +are not seen stream in upon the soul. One +is sunrise, when there is first a grayness in +the east, and then the clouds begin to redden, +and afterwards a joyful brightness heralds +the appearing of the sun as he drives in rout +the reluctant rearguard of the night. The +most impressive moment is when all the high +lands are bathed in soft, fresh, hopeful sunshine, +but the glens are still lying in the cold +and dank shadow, so that one may suddenly +descend from a place of brightness, where he +has been in the eye of the sun, to a land of +gloom, which the sun has not yet reached. +Sunrise quickens the power that has been +sleeping, and calls a man in high hope to the +labor of the day, for if there be darkness +lingering in the glen, there is light on the +lofty table-lands, and soon it will be shining +everywhere, when the sun has reached his +meridian. And it puts heart into a man to +come over the hill and down through the hollows +when the sun is rising, for though the +woods be dark and chill, the traveller is sure +of the inevitable victory of the light.</p> +<p>Yet more imperious and irresistible is the +impression of sunset as Dundee saw the closing +pageant of the day on the last evening of +his life. When first he looked the green plain +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_286' name='page_286'></a>286</span> +was flooded with gentle light which turned +into gold the brown, shaggy Highland cattle +scattered among the grass, and made the +river as it flashed out and in among the +trees a chain of silver, and took the hardness +from the jagged rocks that emerged from +the sides of the hills. As the sun entered in +between high banks of cloud, the light began +to fade from the plain, and it touched the +river no more; but above the clouds were +glowing and reddening like a celestial army +clad in scarlet and escorting home to his palace +a victorious general. In a few minutes +the sun has disappeared, and the red changes +into violet and delicate, indescribable shades +of green and blue, like the color of Nile +water. Then there is a faint flicker, sudden +and transient, from the city into which the +sun has gone, and the day is over. As the +monarch of the day withdraws, the queen of +the night takes possession, and Claverhouse, +leaning his chin upon his hand and gazing +from the sadness of his eyes across the valley, +saw the silver light, clear, beautiful, +awful, flood the mountains and the level +ground below, till the outstanding hills above, +and the cattle which had lain down to rest +in the meadow, were thrown out as in an +etching, with exact and distinct outlines. +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_287' name='page_287'></a>287</span> +The day, with its morning promise, with its +noontide heat, with its evening glory, was +closed, completed and irrevocable. The +night, in which no man can work, had come, +and in the cold and merciless light thereof +every man’s work was revealed and judged. +The weird influence of the hour was upon +the imagination of an impressionable man, +and before him he saw the history of his life. +It seemed only a year or so since he was a +gay-hearted lad upon the Sidlaw hills, and +yesterday since he made his first adventure +in arms, with the army of France. Again +he is sitting by the camp-fire in the Low +Country, and crossing swords for the first +time with Hugh MacKay, with whom he is +to settle his warfare to-morrow. He is again +pledging his loyalty to King James at Whitehall, +whom he has done his best to serve, and +who has been but a sorry master to him. His +thoughts turn once more to the pleasaunce +of Paisley Castle, he hears again the jingling +of the horses’ bits as he pledges his troth to +his bride. Across the moss-hags, where the +horses plunge in the ooze and the mist encircles +the troopers, he is hunting his Covenanting +prey, and catches the fearless face +of some peasant zealot as he falls pierced +with bullets. Jean weaves her arms round +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_288' name='page_288'></a>288</span> +his neck, for once in her life a tender and +fearful woman, pleading that he should withdraw +from the fight and live quietly with her +at home, and then, more like herself, she +rages in the moment of his mad jealousy +and her unquenchable anger. To-morrow +he would submit to the final arbitrament of +arms the cause for which he had lived, and +for which the presentiment was upon him +that he would die, and the quarrel begun +between him and MacKay fifteen years ago, +between the sides they represent centuries +ago, would be settled. If the years had been +given back to him to live again, he would not +have had them otherwise. Destiny had settled +for him his politics and his principles, +for he could not leave the way in which +Montrose had gone before, or be the comrade +of Covenanting Whigs. It would have been +a thing unnatural and impossible. And yet +he feared that the future was with them and +not with the Jacobites. He only did his part +in arresting fanatical hillmen and executing +the punishment of the law upon them, but he +would have been glad that night if he had +not been obliged to shoot John Brown of +Priest Hill before his wife’s eyes, and keep +guard at the scaffold from which Pollock +went home to God. He had never loved any +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_289' name='page_289'></a>289</span> +other woman than Jean Cochrane, and they +were well mated in their high temper of nature, +but their marriage had been tempestuous, +and he was haunted with vague misgivings. +What light was given him he had +followed, but there was little to show for his +life. His king had failed him, his comrades +had distrusted him, his nation hated him. +His wife––had she forgiven him, and was she +true-hearted to him still? Behind high words +of loyalty and hope his heart had been sinking, +and now it seemed to him in the light +of eternal judgment, wherein there is justice +but no charity, that his forty years had failed +and were leaving behind them no lasting +good to his house or to his land. The moonlight +shining full upon Claverhouse shows +many a line now on the smoothness of his fair +girl face, and declares his hidden, inextinguishable +sorrow, who all his days had been +an actor in a tragedy. He had written to +the chiefs that all the world was with him, +but in his heart he knew that it was against +him, and perhaps also God.</p> +<p>Once and again Grimond had come into the +gallery to summon his master to rest, but seeing +him absorbed in one of his reveries had +quietly withdrawn. Full of anxiety, for he +knows what the morrow will mean, that faithful +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_290' name='page_290'></a>290</span> +servitor at last came near and rustled to +catch his master’s ear.</p> +<p>“Jock,” said Claverhouse, startling and +rising to his feet, “is that you, man, coming +to coax me to my bed as ye did lang syne, +when ye received me first from my nurse’s +hands? It’s getting late, and I am needing +rest for to-morrow’s work, if I can get it. +We have come to Armageddon, as the preachers +would say, and mony things for mony +days hang on the issue. All a man can do, +Jock, is to walk in the road that was set before +him from a laddie, and to complete the task +laid to his hand. What will happen afterwards +doesna concern him, so be it he is faithful. +Where is my room? And, hark ye, Jock, +waken me early, and be not far from me +through the night, for I can trust you altogether. +And there be not mony true.”</p> +<p>Worn out with a long day in the saddle, +and the planning of the evening together +with many anxieties, and the inward tumult +of his mind, Claverhouse fell asleep. He +was resting so quietly that Grimond, who had +gone to the door to listen, was satisfied and +lay down to catch an hour or two of sleep for +himself, for he could waken at any hour he +pleased, and knew that soon after daybreak +he must be stirring. While he was nearby +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_291' name='page_291'></a>291</span> +heavy with sleep, his master, conscious or +unconscious, according as one judges, was in +the awful presence of the unseen. He woke +suddenly, as if he had been called, and knew +that someone was in the room, but also in the +same instant that it was not Grimond or any +visitor of flesh and blood. Twice had the +wraith of the Grahams appeared to him, and +always before a day of danger, but this time +it was no sad, beautiful woman’s face, carrying +upon its weird grace the sorrows of his +line, but the figure of a man that loomed from +the shadow. The moon had gone behind a +cloud, and the room was so dark that he +could only see that someone was there, but +could not tell who it was or by what name he +would be called. Then the moon struggled +out from behind her covering, and sent a +shaft of light into the gloomy chamber, with +its dark draping and heavy carved furniture. +With the coming of the light Claverhouse, +who was not unaccustomed to ghostly sights, +for they were his heritage, raised himself in +bed, and knowing no fear looked steadily. +What he saw thrown into relief against the +shadows was the figure of a hillman of the +west, and one that in an instant he knew. +The Covenanter was dressed in rough homespun +hodden gray, stained heavily with the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_292' name='page_292'></a>292</span> +black of the peat holes in which he had been +hiding, and torn here and there where the +rocks had caught him as he was crawling for +shelter. Of middle age, with hair hanging +over his ears and beard uncared for, his face +bore all the signs of hunger and suffering, +as of one who had wanted right food and +warmth and every comfort of life for months +on end. In his eyes glowed the fire of an intense +and honest, but fierce and narrow piety, +and with that expression was mingled another, +not of anger nor of sorrow, but of reproach, +of judgment and of sombre triumph. +His hands were strapped in front of him with +a stirrup leather, and his head was bare. As +the moon shone more clearly, Claverhouse saw +other stains than those of peat upon his chest, +and while he looked the red blood seemed to +rise from wounds that pierced his heart and +lungs, it flowed out again in a trickling stream, +and dripped upon the whiteness of his hands. +More awful still, there was a wound in his +forehead, and part of his head was shattered. +The scene had never been absent long from +Claverhouse’s memory, and now he reacted it +again. How this man had been caught after +a long pursuit, upon the moor, how he had +stood bold and unrepentant before the man +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_293' name='page_293'></a>293</span> +that had power of life and death over him, +how he refused to take the oath of loyalty to +the king, how he had been shot dead before +his cottage, and how his wife had been spectator +of her husband’s death.</p> +<p>“Ye have not forgot me, John Graham of +Claverhouse, nor the deed which ye did at +Priest Hill in the West Country. I am John +Brown, whom ye caused to be slain for the +faith of the saints and their testimony, and +whom ye set free from the bondage of man +forever. Behold, I have washed my robes +and made them white in better blood than +this, but I am sent in the garment o’ earth, +sair stained wi’ its defilement, and in my ain +unworthy blude, that ye may ken me and believe +that I am sent.”</p> +<p>“What I did was according to law,” answered +Claverhouse, unshaken by the sight, +“and in the fulfilling of my commission, +though God knows I loved not the work, and +have oftentimes regretted thy killing. For +that and all the deeds of this life I shall answer +to my judge and not to man. What wilt +thou have with me, what hast thou to do with +me? Had it been the other way and I had +fallen at Drumclog, I had not troubled thee +or any of thy kind.”</p> +<p>“Nor had I been minded or allowed to +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_294' name='page_294'></a>294</span> +visit thee, John Graham, if I had fallen in +fair fight, contending for Christ’s crown and +the liberty of the Scots Kirk, but these +wounds upon my head and breast speak not +of war, but of murder. Because thou didst +murder Christ’s confessors, and the souls of +the martyrs cry from beneath the altar, I am +come to show thee things which are to be and +the doing of Him who saith, ‘I will avenge.’ +Ye have often said go, and he goeth, and +come and he cometh, but this nicht ye will +come with me, and see things that will shake +even thy bold heart.” And so in vision they +went.</p> +<p>Claverhouse was standing in a country +kirkyard, and at the hour of sunset. Round +him were ancient graves with stones whose +inscriptions had been worn away by rough +weather, and upon which the grass was growing +rank. They were the resting-places of +past generations whose descendants had died +out, and whose names were forgotten in the +land where once they may have been mighty +people. Before him was a burying-place he +knew, for it belonged to his house. There lay +his father, and there he had laid his mother, +the Lady Magdalene Graham, to rest, taken +as he often thought from the evil to come. +The ground had been stirred again, and there +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_295' name='page_295'></a>295</span> +was another grave. It was of tiny size, not +that of a man or woman, but of a child, and +one that had died in its infancy. It was carefully +tended, as if the mother still lived and +had not yet forgotten her child. At the sight +of it Claverhouse turned to the figure by his +side.</p> +<p>“Ye mean not–––”</p> +<p>“Read,” said the Covenanter, “for the +writing surely is plain.” And this is what +Claverhouse saw:</p> +<p class='center'>“JAMES GRAHAME,<br /> +Only son and child of my Lord Dundie.<br /> +Aged eight months.”</p> +<p>“Ye longed for him and ye were proud +of him, and if the sword of the righteous +should slay thee, ye boasted in your heart +that there was a man-child to continue your +line. But there shall be none, and thine evil +house shall die from out the land, like the +house of Ahab, the son of Omri, who persecuted +the saints. Fathers have seen their +sons’ heads hung above the West Port to +bleach in the sun for the sake of the Covenant, +and mothers have wept for them who +languished in the dungeon of the Bass and +wearied for death. This is the cup ye are +drinking this night before the time, for, behold, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_296' name='page_296'></a>296</span> +thou hast harried many homes, but thy +house shall be left unto thee desolate.”</p> +<p>For a brief space Claverhouse bent his +head, for he seemed to feel the child in his +arms, as he had held him before leaving Glenogilvie. +Then he rallied his manhood, who +had never been given to quail before the +hardest strokes of fortune.</p> +<p>“God rest his innocent soul, if this be his +lot; but I live and with me my house.”</p> +<p>“Yea, thou livest,” said the shade, “and +it has been a stumbling-block to many that +thou wert spared so long, but the day of +vengeance is at hand. Come again with me.”</p> +<p>Claverhouse finds himself now on a plain +with the hills above and a river beneath and +an ancient house close at hand, and he knows +that this is the battle-field of to-morrow. +They are standing together on a mound which +rises out of a garden, and on the grass the +body of a man is lying. A cloth covers his +face, but by the uniform and arms Claverhouse +knows that it is that of an officer of +rank, and one that has belonged to his own +regiment of horse. A dint upon the cuirass +and the sight of the sword by his side catch +his eye and he shudders.</p> +<p>“This––do I see myself?”</p> +<p>“Yes, thou seest thyself lying low as the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_297' name='page_297'></a>297</span> +humblest man and weaker now than the poorest +of God’s people thou didst mock.”</p> +<p>“It is not other than I expected, nor does +this make me afraid, and I judge thou art a +lying spirit, for I see no wound. Lift up the +cloth. Nor any mark upon my face. I had +not died for nothing.”</p> +<p>“Nay, thou hadst been ready to die in the +heat of battle facing thy foe, for there has +ever been in thee a bold heart, but thy wound +is not in front as mine is. See ye, Claverhouse, +thou hast been killed from behind.” +And Claverhouse saw where the blood, escaping +from a wound near the armpit, had +stained the grass. “Aye, some one of thine +own and riding near beside thee found that +place, and as thou didst raise thine arm to call +thy soldiers to the slaughter of them who are +contending for the right, thou wast cunningly +stricken unto death. By a coward’s blow thou +hast fallen, O valiant man, and there will be +none to mourn thy doom, for thou hast been +a man of blood from thy youth up, even unto +this day.”</p> +<p>“Thou liest there, and art a false spirit. +It may be that your assassins are in my army, +and that I may have the fate of the good +archbishop whom the saints slew in cold blood +and before his daughter’s eyes. But if I fall +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_298' name='page_298'></a>298</span> +I shall be mourned deep and long by one who +was of your faith, and had her name in your +Covenant, but whose heart I won like goodly +spoil taken from the mighty. If I die by the +sword of my Lady Cochrane’s men, her +daughter will keep my grave green with her +tears. If, living, I have been loved by one +strong woman, and after I am dead am +mourned by her, I have not lived in vain.”</p> +<p>“Sayest thou,” replied the shadowy figure, +with triumphant scorn. “That was a pretty +catch-word to be repeated over the wine cup +at the drinking of my lady’s health. Verily +thou didst deceive a daughter of the godly, +and she was willing to be caught in the snare +of thy fair face and soft words. Judge ye +whether the child who breaks the bond of the +Covenant and turns against the mother who +bore her, is likely to be a true wife or a faithful +widow. Again will I lift the veil, and +thou wilt see with thine own eyes the things +which are going to be, for as thou hast shown +no mercy, mercy will not be shown to thee. +Dost thou remember this place?”</p> +<p>Claverhouse is again within the gallery of +Paisley Castle, and he is looking upon a marriage +service. Before him are the people of +five years ago, except that now young Lord +Cochrane is Earl of Dundonald, and is giving +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_299' name='page_299'></a>299</span> +away the bride, and my Lady Cochrane is not +there either to bless or to ban. For a while +he cannot see the faces of the bride or bridegroom, +nor tell what they are, save that he +is a soldier, and she is tall and proud of carriage.</p> +<p>“My marriage day!” exclaimed Claverhouse, +his defiant note softening into tenderness, +and the underlying sorrow rising into +joy. “For this vision at least I bless thee, +spirit, whoever thou mayest be, <a name='TC_3'></a><ins class="trchange" title="Was 'brown'">Brown</ins> or +any other. That was the day of all my life, +and I am ready now or any time in this world +or the other to have it over again and pledge +my troth to my one and only love, to my gallant +lady and sweetheart, Jean.”</p> +<p>“Thou wilt not be asked to take thy marriage +vow again, Claverhouse, nor would thy +presence be acceptable on this day. It is the +wedding of my Lady Viscountess Dundee, +but be not too sure that thou art the bridegroom. +She that broke lightly the Covenant +with her living heavenly bridegroom, will +have little scruple in breaking the bond to a +dead earthly bridegroom. Thy Jean hath +found another husband.”</p> +<p>From the faces of the bride and bridegroom +the mysterious shadow, which hides +the future from the present in mercy to us +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_300' name='page_300'></a>300</span> +all, lifted. It was Jean as majestic and as +youthful as in the days when he wooed her +in the pleasaunce, with her golden hair glittering +as before in the sunshine, and the love-light +again in her eye. And beside her, oh! +fickleness of a woman’s heart, oh! irony of +life, oh! cruelty to the most faithful passion, +Colonel Livingstone, now my Lord Kilsyth. +And an expression of fierce satisfaction lit +up the Covenanter’s ghastly face.</p> +<p>“This then was thy revenge, Jean, for the +insult I offered at Glenogilvie, and I was +right in my fear that thy love was shattered. +Be it so,” said Claverhouse, “I believe that +thou wast loyal while I lived, and now, while +I may have hoped other things of thee, I will +not grudge thee in thy loneliness peace and +protection. When this heart of mine, which +ever beat for thee, lies cold in the grave, and +my hair, that thou didst caress, has mingled +with the dust, may joy be with thee, Jean, +and God’s sunshine ever rest upon thy golden +crown. Thou didst think, servant of the +devil, to damn my soul in the black depths of +jealousy and hatred, as once I damned myself, +but I have escaped, and I defy thee. Do +as thou pleasest, thou canst not break my +spirit or make me bend. Hast thou other visions?”</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_301' name='page_301'></a>301</span></div> +<p>“One more,” said the spirit, “and I have +done with thee, proud and unrepentant sinner.”</p> +<p>Before Claverhouse is a room in which +there has been some sudden disaster, for the +roof has fallen and buried in its ruins a bed +whereon someone had been sleeping, and a +cradle in which some child had been lying. +In the foreground is a coffin covered by a +pall.</p> +<p>“She was called before her judge without +warning, prepared or unprepared, and thou +hadst better see her for the last time ere she +goes to the place of the dead.” And then the +cloth being lifted, Claverhouse looked on the +face of his wife, with her infant child, not +his, but Kilsyth’s, lying at her feet. There +was no abatement in the splendor of her hair, +nor the pride of her countenance; the flush +was still upon her cheek, and though her eyes +were closed there was courage in the set of +her lips. By an unexpected blow she had +been stricken and perished, but in the fullness +of her magnificent womanhood, and undismayed. +Lying there she seemed to defy +death, and her mother’s curse, which had +come true at last.</p> +<p>“So thou also art to be cut off in the midst +of thy days, Jean. Better this way both for +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_302' name='page_302'></a>302</span> +you and me, than to grow old and become +feeble, and be carried to and fro, and be +despised. We were born to rule and not to +serve, to conquer and not to yield, to persecute +if need be, but not to be persecuted. Kilsyth +loved thee, it was not his blame, who +would not? He did his best to please thee. +Mayhap it was not much he could do, but that +was not his blame. He was thy husband for +awhile, but I am thy man forever. Thou art +mine and I am thine, for we are of the same +creed and temper. I, John Graham of Claverhouse, +and not Kilsyth, will claim thee on the +judgment day, and thou shalt come with me, +as the eagle follows her mate; together we +shall go to Heaven or to Hell, for we are one. +Slain we may be, Jean, but conquered never. +We have lived, we have loved, and neither in +life or death can anyone make us afraid.”</p> +<p>Outside the trumpets sounded and Claverhouse +awoke, for the visions of the night had +passed and the light of the morning was +pouring into his room.</p> +<hr class='toprule' /> +<div class='chsp'> +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_303' name='page_303'></a>303</span> +<a name='CHAPTER_III_FAITHFUL_UNTO_DEATH' id='CHAPTER_III_FAITHFUL_UNTO_DEATH'></a> +<h3>CHAPTER III</h3> +<h4>FAITHFUL UNTO DEATH</h4> +</div> +<p>It is written in an ancient book “weeping +may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the +morning,” and with the brief darkness of +the summer night passed the shadow from +Claverhouse’s soul. According, also, to the +brightness and freshness of the early sunshine +was his high hope on the eventful day, +which was to decide both the fate of his king +and of himself. The powers of darkness had +attacked him on every side, appealing to his +fear and to his faith, to his love and to his +hate, to his pride and to his jealousy, to see +whether they could not shake his constancy +and break his spirit. They had failed at +every assault, and he had conquered; he had +risen above his ghostly enemies and above +himself, and now, having stood fast against +principalities and powers of the other world, +he was convinced that his earthly enemies +would be driven before him as chaff before +the wind. He knew exactly what MacKay +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_304' name='page_304'></a>304</span> +and his army could do, and what he and his +army could, in the place of issue, where, by +the mercy of God, Who surely was on the +side of His anointed, the battle would be +fought. What would avail MacKay’s parade-ground +tactics and all the lessons of books, +and what would avail the drilling and the +manœuvring of his hired automatons in the +pass of Killiecrankie, with its wooded banks +and swift running river, and narrow gorge +and surrounding hills? This was no level +plain for wheeling right and wheeling left, +for bombarding with artillery and flanking +by masses of cavalry. Claverhouse remembers +the morning of the battle of Seneffe, when he +rode with Carleton and longed to be on the +hills with a body of Highlanders, and have +the chance of taking by surprise the lumbering +army of the Prince of Orange and sweeping +it away by one headlong charge. The day +for this onslaught had come, and by an irony, +or felicity, of Providence, he has the troops +he had longed for and his rival has the inert +and helpless regulars. News had come that +MacKay was marching with phlegmatic +steadiness and perfect confidence into the +trap, and going to place himself at the greatest +disadvantage for his kind of army. The +Lord was giving the Whigs into his hand, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_305' name='page_305'></a>305</span> +and they would fall before the sun set, as a +prey unto his sword. The passion of battle +was in his blood, and the laurels of victory +were within his reach. Graham forgot his +bitter disappointments and cowardly friends, +the weary journeys and worse anxieties of +the past weeks, the cunning cautiousness of +the chiefs and their maddening jealousies. +Even the pitiable scene at Glenogilvie and his +gnawing vain regret faded for the moment +from his memory and from his heart. If the +Lowlands had been cold as death to the good +cause, the Highlands had at last taken fire; +if he had not one-tenth the army he should +have commanded, had every Highlander +shared his loyalty to the ancient line, he had +sufficient for the day’s work. If he had +spoken in vain to the king at Whitehall and +miserably failed to put some spirit into his +timid mind, and been outvoted at the Convention, +and been driven from Edinburgh by +Covenanting assassins and hunted like a +brigand by MacKay’s troops, his day had +now come. He was to taste for the first time +the glorious cup of victory. He had not been +so glad or confident since his marriage day, +when he snatched his bride from the fastness +of his enemy, and as Grimond helped him to +arm, and gave the last touches to his martial +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_306' name='page_306'></a>306</span> +dress, he jested merrily with that solemn servitor, +and sang aloud to Grimond’s vast dismay, +who held the good Scottish faith that if +you be quiet Providence may leave you alone, +but if you show any sign of triumph it will +be an irresistible temptation to the unseen +powers.</p> +<p>“I’m judging my lord, that we’ll win the +day, and that it will be a crownin’ victory. +I would like fine to see MacKay’s army +tumble in are great heap into the Garry, with +their general on the top o’ them. I’m expectin’ +to see ye ride into Edinburgh at the +head o’ the clans, and the Duke o’ Gordon +come oot frae the castle to greet you, as the +king’s commander-in-chief, and a’ Scotland +lyin’ at yir mercy. But for ony sake be cautious, +Maister John, and dinna mak a noise, +it’s juist temptin’ Providence, an’ the Lord +forgie me for sayin’ it, I never saw a hicht +withoot a howe. I’m no wantin’ you to be +there afore the day is done. Dinna sing thae +rantin’ camp songs, and abune a’ dinna whistle +till a’ things be settled; at ony rate, it’s no +canny.”</p> +<p>“Was there ever such a solemn face and +cautious-spoken fellow living as you, Jock +Grimond, though I’ve seen you take your +glass, and unless my ears played me false, sing +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_307' name='page_307'></a>307</span> +a song, too, round the camp-fire in days past. +But I know the superstition that is in +you and all your breed of Lowland Scots. +Whether ye be Covenanters or Cavaliers, +ye are all tarred with the same stick. Do ye +really think, Jock, that the Almighty sits +watching us, like a poor, jealous, cankered +Whig minister, and if a bit of good fortune +comes our way and our hearts are lifted, that +He’s ready to strike for pure bad temper? +But there’s no use arguing with you, for +you’re set in your own opinions. But I’ll +tell you what to do––sing the dreariest Psalm +ye can find to the longest Cameronian tune. +That will keep things right, and ward off +judgment, for the blood in my veins is dancing, +Jock, and the day of my life has come.”</p> +<p>Claverhouse went out from his room to +confer with the chiefs and his officers about +the plan of operation, “like a bridegroom +coming out of his chamber and rejoicing as +a strong man to run a race.” Grimond, as +he watched him go, shook his head and said +to himself, “The last time I heard a Covenanting +tune was at Drumclog, and it’s no +a cheerfu’ remembrance. May God preserve +him, for in John Graham is all our hope and +a’ my love.”</p> +<p>Through the morning of the decisive day +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_308' name='page_308'></a>308</span> +the omens continued favorable, and the sun +still shone on Claverhouse’s heart. As a rule, +a war council of Highland chiefs was a babel +and a battle, when their jealous pride and +traditional rivalry rose to fever height. They +were often more anxious to settle standing +quarrels with one another than to join issue +with the enemy; they would not draw a sword +if their pride had in any way been touched, +and battles were lost because a clan had been +offended. Jacobite councils were also cursed +by the self-seeking and insubordination of +officers, who were not under the iron discipline +of a regular army, and owing to the absence +of the central authorities, with a king +beyond the water, were apt to fight for their +own hand. Dundee had known trouble, and +had in his day required more self-restraint +than nature had given him, and if there had +been division among the chiefs that day, he +would have fallen into despair; but he had +never seen such harmony. They were of one +mind that there could not be a ground more +favorable than Killiecrankie, and that they +should offer battle to MacKay before the day +closed. They approved of the line of march +which Dundee had laid out, and the chiefs, +wonderful to say, raised no objection to the +arrangement of the clans in the fighting line, +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_309' name='page_309'></a>309</span> +even although the MacDonalds were placed +on the left, which was not a situation that +proud clan greatly fancied. The morning +was still young when the Jacobite army left +their camping ground in the valley north +of Blair Castle, and, climbing the hillside, +passed Lude, till they reached a ridge which +ran down from the high country on their left +to the narrow pass through which the Garry +ran. Along this rising ground, with a plateau +of open ground before them, fringed +with wood, Dundee drew up his army, while +below MacKay arranged his troops, whom he +had hastily extricated from the dangerous +and helpless confinement of the pass. During +the day they faced one another, the Jacobites +on their high ground, William’s +troops on the level ground below––two characteristic +armies of Highlanders and Lowlanders, +met to settle a quarrel older than +James and William, and which would last, +under different conditions and other names, +centuries after the grass had grown on the +battle-field of Killiecrankie and Dundee been +laid to his last rest in the ancient kirkyard of +Blair. Had Dundee considered only his own +impetuous feelings, and given effect to the +fire that was burning him, he would have instantly +launched his force at MacKay. He +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_310' name='page_310'></a>310</span> +was, however, determined that day, keen +though he was, to run no needless risks nor +to give any advantage to the enemy. The +Highlanders were like hounds held in the +leash, and it was a question of time when they +must be let go. He would keep them if he +could, till the sun had begun to set and its +light was behind them and on the face of +MacKay’s army.</p> +<p>During this period the messenger came +back with an answer to the despatch which +Dundee had sent to MacKay the night before. +He had found William’s general at Pitlochry, +as he was approaching the pass of Killiecrankie, +and, not without difficulty and some +danger, had presented his letter.</p> +<p>“This man, sir, surrendered himself late +last night to my Lord Belhaven, who was +bivouacking in the pass which is ahead,” said +an English aide-de-camp to General MacKay, +“and his lordship, from what I am told, was +doubtful whether he should not have shot +him as a spy, but seeing he had some kind of +letter addressed to you, sir, he sent him on +under guard. It may be that it contains +terms of surrender, and at any rate it will, I +take it, be your desire that the man be kept +a prisoner.”</p> +<p>“You may take my word for it, Major +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_311' name='page_311'></a>311</span> +Lovel,” said young Cameron of Lochiel, who, +according to the curious confusion of that +day, was with MacKay, while his father was +with Dundee, “and my oath also, if that adds +anything to my word, that whatever be in the +letter, there will be no word of surrender. +Lord Dundee will fight as sure as we are living +men, and I only pray we may not be the +losers. Ye be not wise to laugh,” added he +hotly, “and ye would not if ye had ever seen +the Cameron’s charge.”</p> +<p>“Peace, gentlemen, we are not here to +quarrel with one another,” said General MacKay. +“Hand me the letter, and do the messenger +no ill till we see its contents.”</p> +<p>As he read his cheek flushed for a moment, +and he made an impatient gesture with his +hand, as one repudiating the shameful accusation, +and then he spoke with his usual composure.</p> +<p>“You are right,” he said, addressing +Cameron, who was on his staff, “in thinking +that Lord Dundee is ready for the fight. +I had expected nothing else from him, for I +knew him of old, the bigotry of his principles, +and the courage of his heart. We could never +be else than foes, but I wish to say, whatever +happens before the day is done, that I count +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_312' name='page_312'></a>312</span> +him a brave and honorable gentleman, as it +pleases me to know he counts me also.</p> +<p>“This letter”––and MacKay threw it with +irritation on the table of the room in which he +had taken his morning meal, “is from Dundee +explaining that two English officers have +been arrested, who were serving as privates +in his cavalry, and who are suspected of being +sent by us to assassinate him. If no answer +is sent back they will be hung at once, but if +the charge is denied, they will be released, +which, I take it, gentlemen, is merciful and +generous conduct.</p> +<p>“I will write a letter with my own hand +and clear our honor from this foul slander. +Spying is allowed in war, though I have +never liked it, and the spy need deserve no +mercy, but assassination is unworthy of any +soldier, and a work of the devil, of which I +humbly trust I am incapable, and also my +king. Give this letter”––when he had written +and sealed it––“to the messenger, Major +Lovel, and see that he has a safe conduct +through our army, and past our outposts.” +Lovel saluted and left the room, but outside +he laughed, and said to himself, “Very likely +it’s true all the same, and a quick and useful +way of ending the war. When Claverhouse +dies the rebellion dies, too, and there’s a text +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_313' name='page_313'></a>313</span> +somewhere which runs like this, ‘It is expedient +that one man should die than all the +people.’ I wonder who those fellows are, and +if they’ll manage it, and what they’re going +to get. They have the devil’s luck in this affair, +for, of course, MacKay would be told +nothing about it; he’s the piousest officer in +the English army.”</p> +<p>Dundee received MacKay’s letter during +the long wait before the battle, and this is +what he read:</p> +<blockquote> +<p><i>To My Lord Viscount Dundee, Commanding the forces +raised in the interest of James Stuart.</i></p> +<p><span class='smcap'>My Lord</span>: It gives me satisfaction that altho’ words once +passed between us, and there be a far greater difference +to-day, you have not believed that I was art and part in +so base a work as assassination, and I hereby on my word +of honor as an officer, and as a Christian, declare that I +know nothing of the two men who are under arrest in your +camp. So far as I am concerned their blood should not +be shed, nor any evil befall them.</p> +<p>Before this letter reaches your hand we shall be arrayed +against one another in order of battle, and though arms +be my profession, I am filled with sorrow as I think that +the conflict to-day will be between men of the same nation, +and sometimes of the same family, for it seemeth to me +as if brother will be slaying brother.</p> +<p>I fear that it is too late to avert battle and I have no +authority to offer any terms of settlement to you and those +that are with you. Unto God belongs the issue, and in His +hands I leave it. We are divided by faith, and now also +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_314' name='page_314'></a>314</span> +by loyalty, but if any evil befel your person I pray you +to believe that it would give me no satisfaction, and I +beg that ye be not angry with me nor regard me with contempt +if I send you as I now do the prayer which, as a +believer in our common Lord I have drawn up for the +use of our army. It may be the last communication that +shall pass between us.</p> +<p class='lalign'><span class='indent2'> </span>I have the honor to be,</p> +<p class='center'> Your very obedient servant,</p> +<p class='ralign'> <span class='smcap'>Hugh MacKay</span>.<span class='rindent2'> </span><br /> + Commander-in-Chief of His Majesty’s Forces.</p> +</blockquote> +<p>And this was the prayer, surely the most +remarkable ever published by a general of +the British army:</p> +<blockquote> +<p>O Almighty King of Kings, and Lord of Hosts, which +by Thy Angels thereunto appointed, dost minister both +War and Peace; Thou rulest and commandest all things, +and sittest in the throne judging right; And, therefore, +we make our Addresses to Thy Divine Majesty in this our +necessity, that Thou wouldst take us and our Cause into +Thine Own hand and judge between us and our Enemies. +Stir up Thy strength, O Lord, and come and help us, for +Thou givest not always the Battle to the strong, but canst +save by Many or Few. O let not our sins now cry against +us for vengeance, but hear us Thy poor servants, begging +mercy, and imploring Thy help, and that Thou wouldst +be a defence for us against the Enemy. Make it appear, +that Thou art our Saviour, and Mighty Deliverer, through +Jesus Christ Our Lord. Amen.</p> +</blockquote> +<p>Dundee ordered the English officers to be +brought before him, and for thirty seconds +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_315' name='page_315'></a>315</span> +he looked at them without speaking, as if he +were searching their thoughts and estimating +their character. During this scrutiny the +shorter man looked sullen and defiant, as one +prepared for the worst, but the other was as +careless and gay as ever, with the expression +either of one who was sure of a favorable +issue, or of one who took life or death as a +part of the game.</p> +<p>“If I tell you, gentlemen, that your general +refuses to clear you from this charge, +have ye anything to say before ye die?”</p> +<p>“Nothing,” said their spokesman, with a +light laugh, “except that we would take more +kindly to a bullet than a rope. ’Tis a soldier’s +fancy, my lord, but I fear me ye will not humor +it; perhaps ye will even say we have not +deserved it.”</p> +<p>When Dundee turned to the other, who had +not yet spoken, this was all he got:</p> +<p>“My lord, that it be quickly, and that no +mention be made of our names. It was an +adventure, and it has ended badly.”</p> +<p>“Gentlemen, whoever ye may be, and that +I do not know, and whatever ye may be about, +and of that also I am not sure, I have watched +you closely, and I freely grant that ye are +both brave men. Each in his own way, and +each to be trusted by his own cause, though +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_316' name='page_316'></a>316</span> +there be one of you I would trust rather than +the other.</p> +<p>“I have this further to say, that General +MacKay declares that, so far as he knows, +ye are innocent of the foul crime of which +we suspected you. I might still keep you in +arrest, and it were perhaps wiser to do so; +but I have myself suffered greatly through +mistrusting those who were true and honorable, +and I would not wish to let the shadow +of disgrace lie upon you, if indeed ye be honest +Cavaliers. You have your liberty, gentlemen, +to return to your troop, and if there +be any gratitude in you for this deliverance +from death, ride in the front and strike hard +to-day for our king and the ancient Scottish +glory.”</p> +<p>“Thank you, my lord, but I expected +nothing else. I give you our word that we +shall not fail in our duty,” said the taller soldier, +with a light-hearted laugh. But the +other grew dark red in the face, as if a strong +passion were stirring within him. “My +lord,” he said, “I would rather remain as I +am till the battle be over, and then that ye +give me leave to depart from the army.”</p> +<p>Dundee glanced keenly at him, as one +weighing his words, and trying to fathom +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_317' name='page_317'></a>317</span> +their meaning, but the taller man broke in +with boisterous haste:</p> +<p>“Pardon my comrade, general, we Englishmen +have proud stomachs, and ye have +offended his honor by your charges, but to-day’s +fighting will be the best medicine.” +And then he hurried his friend away, and as +they left to join their troop he seemed to +be remonstrating with him for his touchy +scruples.</p> +<p>“What ye may think of those two gentlemen +I know not, my lord,” said Lochiel, who +had been standing by, “but I count the dark +man the truer of the two. I like not the +other, though I grant they both be brave. He +is fair and false, if I am not out in my judgment, +with a smooth word and a tricky dirk, +like the Campbells. God grant ye be not +over-generous, and trustful unto blindness.”</p> +<p>“Lochiel, I have trusted, as ye know, many +men who have betrayed our cause; I have distrusted +one who was faithful at a cost to me. +On this day, maybe the last of my life, I will +believe rather than doubt, in the hope that +faith will be the surest bond of honor. There +is something, I know not what, in that tall +fellow I did not like. But what I have done, +I have done, and if I have erred, Lochiel, the +punishment will be on my own head.”</p> +<div><span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_318' name='page_318'></a>318</span></div> +<p>“On many other heads, too, I judge,” +muttered Lochiel to himself, and for an instant +he thought of taking private measures +to hinder the two Englishmen from service +that day, but considering that he would have +enough to do with his own work, he went to +<a name='TC_4'></a><ins class="trchange" title="Was 'perpare'">prepare</ins> his clan for the hour that was near +at hand.</p> +<p>Dundee dismissed his staff for the time on +various duties, and attended only by Grimond, +sat down upon a knoll, from which he +could see the whole plateau of Urrard––the +drawn-out line of his own army beneath him, +and the corresponding formation of the English +troops in the distance. He read MacKay’s +prayer slowly and reverently, and +then, letting the paper fall upon the grass, +Dundee fell into a reverie. There was a day +when he would have treated the prayer +lightly, not because he had ever been a profane +man, like Esau, but because he had no +relish for soldiers who acted as chaplains.</p> +<p>To-day, with the lists of battle before his +eyes, and the ordeal of last night still fresh +in his experience, and his inexcusable cruelty +to Jean, his heart was weighed with a sense +of the tragedy of life and the tears of things. +He was going to fight unto death for his king, +but he was haunted by the conviction that +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_319' name='page_319'></a>319</span> +William was a wiser and better monarch. +MacKay and he were to cross swords, as before +they had crossed words, and would ever +cross principles, but he could not help confessing +to himself that MacKay, in the service +of the Prince of Orange, had for years +been doing a more soldierly part than his, +in hunting to the death Covenanting peasants. +His Highlanders below, hungering for +the joy of battle and the gathering of spoil, +were brave and faithful, but they were little +more than savages, and woe betide the land +that lay beneath their sword; while the troops +on the other side represented the forces of +order and civilization, and though they might +be routed that evening, they held the promise +of final victory. Was it worth the doing, and +something of which afterwards a man could +be proud, to restore King James to Whitehall, +and place Scotland again in the hands +of the gang of cowards and evil livers, thieves +and liars who had misgoverned it and shamefully +treated himself? What a confused and +tangled web life was, and who had eyes to decipher +its pattern? He would live and die +for the Stuarts, as Montrose had done before +him; he could not take service under William, +nor be partner with the Covenanters. He +could do none otherwise, and yet, what a Scotland +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_320' name='page_320'></a>320</span> +it would be under James, and what a +miserable business for him to return to the +hunt of the Covenanters!</p> +<p>The buoyancy of the morning had passed, +and now his thoughts took a darker turn. +MacKay, no doubt, had told the truth, for he +was not capable of falsehood, but if those +Englishmen were not agents of the English +government, did it follow that they were +clear of suspicion? There was some mystery +about them, for if indeed they had been Cavalier +gentlemen who had abandoned the English +service, would they be so anxious to conceal +themselves? Why should they refuse to +let their names be known? They had come +from Livingstone’s regiment. Was it possible +that they had been sent by him, and if +so, for what end? It is the penalty of once +yielding to distrust that a person falls into +the habit of suspicion, and the latent jealousy +of Livingstone began to work like +poison in Dundee’s blood. Jean was innocent, +he would stake his life on that, but +Livingstone––who knew whether the attraction +of those interviews was Dundee’s cause +or Dundee’s wife? If Livingstone had been +in earnest, he had been with King James’s +men that day; but he might be earnest enough +in love, though halting enough in loyalty. If +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_321' name='page_321'></a>321</span> +her husband fell, he would have the freer +course in wooing the wife. What if he had +arranged the assassination, and not William’s +government; what if Jean, outraged +by that reflection upon her honor and infuriated +by wounded pride, had consented to this +revenge? Her house had never been scrupulous, +and love changed to hate by an insult +such as he had offered might be satisfied with +nothing less than blood. Stung by this venomous +thought, Dundee sprang to his feet, +and looking at the westering sun, cried to +Grimond, who had been watching him with +unobtrusive sympathy, as if he read his +thoughts, “Jock, the time for thinking is +over, the time for doing has come.”</p> +<p>He rode along the line and gave his last +directions to the army. Riding from right to +left, he placed himself at the head of the cavalry, +and gave the order to charge. That +wild rush of Highlanders, which swept before +it, across the plain of Urrard, the thin +and panic-stricken line of regular troops, +was not a battle. It was an onslaught, a +flight, a massacre, as when the rain breaks +upon a Highland mountain, and the river in +the glen beneath, swollen with the mountain +water, dashes to the lowlands with irresistible +devastation. Grimond placed himself close +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_322' name='page_322'></a>322</span> +behind his master for the charge, and determined +that if there was treachery in the +ranks, the bullet that was meant for Dundee +must pass through him. But the battle advance +of cavalry is confused and tumultuous, +as horses and men roll in the dust, and +eager riders push ahead of their fellows, and +no man knows what he is doing, except that +the foe is in front of him. They were passing +at a gallop across the ground above Urrard +House, when Grimond, who was now a +little in the rear of his commander, saw him +lift his right arm in the air and wave his +sword, and heard him cry, “King James and +the crown of Scotland!” At that instant he +fell forward upon his horse’s mane, as one +who had received a mortal wound, and the +horse galloped off towards the right, with its +master helpless upon it. Through the dust +of battle, and looking between two troopers +who intervened, Grimond saw the fair-haired +Englishman lowering the pistol and thrusting +it into his holster, with which he had shot +Dundee through the armpit, as he gave his +last command. Onward they were carried, +till one of the troopers on his right fell and +the other went ahead, and there was clear +course between Grimond and the Englishman. +They were now, both of them, detached +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_323' name='page_323'></a>323</span> +from the main body, and the Englishman was +planning to fall aside and escape unnoticed +from the field. His comrade could not be +seen, and evidently had taken no part in the +deed. Grimond was upon him ere he knew, +and before he could turn and parry the +stroke, Jock’s sword was in him, and he fell +mortally wounded from his horse. Keen as +Grimond was to follow his master, and find +him where he must be lying ahead, he was +still more anxious to get the truth at last out +of the dying man. He knelt down and lifted +up his head.</p> +<p>“It is over with ye now, and thou hast +done thy hellish deed. I wish to God I’d +killed thee before; but say before thou goest +who was thy master––was it Livingstone? +Quick, man, tell the truth, it may serve thee +in the other world, and make hell cooler.”</p> +<p>“Livingstone,” replied the Englishman +with his dying breath, and a look of almost +boyish triumph on his face, “what had I to +do with him? It was from my Lord Nottingham, +his Majesty’s secretary of state, I took +my orders, and I have fulfilled them. Did I +not lie bravely and do what I had to do thoroughly? +Thou cunning rascal, save for thee +I had also escaped. You may take my purse, +for thou art a faithful servant. My hand +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_324' name='page_324'></a>324</span> +struck the final blow.” Now, his breath was +going fast from him, and with a last effort, +as Grimond dropped his head with a curse, +he cried, “You have––won––the battle. Your +cause is––lost.”</p> +<p>Amid the confusion the cavalry had not +noticed the fall of their commander, and +Grimond found his master lying near a +mound, a little above the house of Urrard. +He was faint through loss of blood, and evidently +was wounded unto death, but he recognized +his faithful follower, and thanked him +with his eyes, as Jock wiped the blood from +his lips––for he was wounded through the +lungs––and gave him brandy to restore his +strength.</p> +<p>“Ye cannot staunch that wound, Jock, and +this is my last fight. How goes it––is it well?”</p> +<p>“Well for the king, my lord––the battle is +won; but ill for thee, my dear maister.”</p> +<p>“If it be well for the king, it’s well for me, +Jock, but I wish to God my wound had been +in front. That fair-haired fellow, I take it, +did the deed. Ye killed him, did ye, Jock? +Well, he deserved it, but I fain would know +who was behind him before I die. If it were +he whom I suspect, Jock, I could not rest in +my grave.”</p> +<p>“Rest easy, Maister John, I wrung the +<span class='pagenum pncolor'><a id='page_325' name='page_325'></a>325</span> +truth frae his deein’ lips. It was Lord Nottingham, +the English minister, wha feed him, +the black-hearted devil. Livingstone had naethin’ +to do wi’ the maitter, far less onybody––ye +luved.”</p> +<p>“Thank God, and you too, Jock, my faithful +friend.... Tell Lady Dundee that +my last thoughts were with her, and my last +breath repeated her name.... For the +rest, I have done what I could, according to +my conscience.... May the Lord have +mercy on my sins.... God save the +King!”</p> +<p>So, after much strife and many sorrows, +Claverhouse fell in the moment of victory, +and passed to his account.</p> +<p class='center' style='margin-top:2em'>THE END</p> +<hr class='pb' /> +<div class='center' style='max-width:600px; margin:auto;'> +<h2>Other Works by Ian Maclaren</h2> +<hr class='double' /> +<p class='bigtitle'>THE POTTER’S WHEEL</p> +<p><i>12mo, cloth, $1.25</i></p> +<p class='bigtitle'>AFTERWARDS AND OTHER STORIES</p> +<p><i>12mo, Cloth, $1.50</i></p> +<p class='bigtitle'>THE COMPANIONS OF THE SORROWFUL +WAY</p> +<p><i>16mo, cloth, $.75</i></p> +<p class='bigtitle'>RABBI SAUNDERSON</p> +<p class='lalign smaller'>“From Kate Carnegie.” With 12 illustrations by A. S. Boyd. +(in Phenix Series), <i>16mo, cloth, <span class='ralign'>$.40</span></i></p> +<p class='bigtitle'>THE YOUNG BARBARIANS</p> +<p><i>12mo, cloth, illustrated, $1.50</i></p> +<p class='bigtitle'>THE HOMELY VIRTUES</p> +<p><i>12mo, cloth, net $1.00</i></p> +<p class='bigtitle'>OUR NEIGHBORS</p> +<p><i>12mo, cloth, $1.50</i></p> +<p class='bigtitle'>THE LIFE OF THE MASTER</p> +<p class='lalign smaller'>Illustrated with sixteen full page reproductions in colors from +pictures made in Palestine especially for this work, by Corwin +Knapp Linson. <i>8vo, cloth, net <span class='ralign'>$3.50</span></i></p> +<hr class='toprule' /> +<h2>Other Works by Ian Maclaren</h2> +<p class='smaller'>Rev. John Watson.</p> +<hr class='double' /> +<p class='smalltitle'>BESIDE THE BONNIE BRIER BUSH</p> +<p><i>12mo, cloth, $1.25</i></p> +<p class='lalign smaller'>The same, with about 75 illustrations from photographs taken in +Drumtochty by Clifton Johnson. 12mo., cloth, gilt top $2.00</p> +<p class='smalltitle'>THE DAYS OF AULD LANG SYNE</p> +<p><i>12mo, cloth, $1.25</i></p> +<p class='lalign smaller'>The same, with about 75 illustrations from photographs taken in +Drumtochty by Clifton Johnson. 12mo, cloth, gilt top, <span class='ralign'>$2.00</span></p> +<p class='smalltitle'>A DOCTOR OF THE OLD SCHOOL</p> +<p class='lalign smaller'>From “Beside the Bonnie Brier Bush.” Illustrated from drawings +made by Frederic C. Gordon. With a new portrait, and an introduction +by the author. 12mo, cloth, gilt edges, <span class='ralign'>$2.00</span></p> +<p class='smalltitle'>KATE CARNEGIE</p> +<p class='lalign smaller'>With 50 illustrations by F. C. Gordon. <i>12mo, cloth, <span class='ralign'>$1.50</span></i></p> +<p class='smalltitle'>THE UPPER ROOM</p> +<p><i>16mo, cloth, special net, $.50</i></p> +<p class='lalign smaller'>Holiday edition in white and gold, <i>16mo, boxed, special net, <span class='ralign'>$.75</span></i></p> +<p class='smalltitle'>THE MIND OF THE MASTER</p> +<p class='lalign smaller'>A discussion of Topics of Practical Religion. <i>12mo, cloth, <span class='ralign'>$1.50</span></i></p> +<p class='smalltitle'>THE CURE OF SOULS</p> +<p class='lalign smaller'>Being the Yale Lectures on Theology, <i>12mo, cloth, <span class='ralign'>$1.50</span></i></p> +</div> +<hr class='dashed' /> +<hr class='tb' /> +<div class="trnote"> +<p>Transcriber’s Note:</p> +<p style='margin-left:1.0em'>Illustrations have been moved closer to their relevant paragraphs.</p> +<p style='margin-left:1.0em'>Author’s archaic and variable spelling and hyphenation is preserved.</p> +<p style='margin-left:1.0em'>Author’s punctuation style is preserved.</p> +<p style='margin-left:1.0em'>Any missing page numbers in this HTML version refer to blank or un-numbered pages in the original.</p> +<p style='margin-left:1.0em'>Typographical problems have been changed and these are +<a name='TC_5'></a><ins class="trchange" title="Was 'hgihligthed'">highlighted</ins>.</p> +<p>Transcriber’s Changes:</p> +<p style='margin-left:1.0em'><a href='#linki_2'>Frontispiece caption</a>: Was ‘Page 265’ (Lady Dundee lifted up the child for him to kiss. <b>Pages 261-2</b>.)</p> +<p style='margin-left:1.0em'><a href='#linki_5'>Page 143, illustration caption</a>: Was ‘145’ (“Ye will have to answer to man and God for this.” Page <b>143</b>.)</p> +<p style='margin-left:1.0em'><a href='#TC_1'>Page 158</a>: Was ‘hundrel’ (belly, and taken him to Edinburgh with a <b>hundred</b> of his Majesty’s Horse before him and a hundred behind to keep him safe; ye)</p> +<p style='margin-left:1.0em'><a href='#linki_6'>Page 166, illustration caption</a>: Was ‘168’ (She could not speak nor move, but only looked at him. Page <b>166</b>.)</p> +<p style='margin-left:1.0em'><a href='#TC_2'>Page 226</a>: Was ‘Mackay’ (more than when hounds run a fox to his lair. <b>MacKay</b> would be arranging how to trap him, anticipating his ways of escape, and stopping)</p> +<p style='margin-left:1.0em'><a href='#TC_3'>Page 299</a>: Was ‘brown’ (joy. “For this vision at least I bless thee, spirit, whoever thou mayest be, <b>Brown</b> or any other. That was the day of all my life,)</p> +<p style='margin-left:1.0em'><a href='#TC_4'>Page 318</a>: Was ‘perpare’ (enough to do with his own work, he went to <b>prepare</b> his clan for the hour that was near at hand.)</p> +</div> + +<!-- generated by ppg.rb version: ppg0801 --> +<!-- timestamp: Thu Sep 17 16:10:39 +0700 2009 --> + +<div>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 30022 ***</div> +</body> +</html> diff --git a/30022-h/images/illus-047.jpg b/30022-h/images/illus-047.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..817e094 --- /dev/null +++ b/30022-h/images/illus-047.jpg diff --git a/30022-h/images/illus-145.jpg b/30022-h/images/illus-145.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..cc50e4f --- /dev/null +++ b/30022-h/images/illus-145.jpg diff --git a/30022-h/images/illus-253.jpg b/30022-h/images/illus-253.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..42e0a7a --- /dev/null +++ b/30022-h/images/illus-253.jpg diff --git a/30022-h/images/illus-cover.jpg b/30022-h/images/illus-cover.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..6e70f4b --- /dev/null +++ b/30022-h/images/illus-cover.jpg diff --git a/30022-h/images/illus-facsimile.png b/30022-h/images/illus-facsimile.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..943cd66 --- /dev/null +++ b/30022-h/images/illus-facsimile.png diff --git a/30022-h/images/illus-fpc.jpg b/30022-h/images/illus-fpc.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..14b065d --- /dev/null +++ b/30022-h/images/illus-fpc.jpg |
