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diff --git a/30022.txt b/30022.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..9630812 --- /dev/null +++ b/30022.txt @@ -0,0 +1,7050 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Graham of Claverhouse, by Ian Maclaren + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Graham of Claverhouse + +Author: Ian Maclaren + +Illustrator: Frank T. Merrill + +Release Date: September 18, 2009 [EBook #30022] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK GRAHAM OF CLAVERHOUSE *** + + + + +Produced by David Garcia, Dan Horwood and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + + + + +[Illustration: Lady Dundee lifted up the child for him to kiss. +Pages 261-2.] + + + + + Graham of Claverhouse + + By + + IAN MACLAREN + + Author of + + _"Beside the Bonnie Brier Bush,"_ + _"Kate Carnegie," "Young Barbarians,"_ + _"A Doctor of the Old School,"_ + _Etc., Etc._ + + Illustrated in Water-Colors by FRANK T. MERRILL + + Copyright, 1907, by John Watson + + + The Sale of this book in New York and Philadelphia + is confined to the stores of + JOHN WANAMAKER. + + + NEW YORK AND LONDON + THE AUTHORS AND NEWSPAPERS ASSOCIATION + 1907 + + + + + COPYRIGHT, 1907, BY + JOHN WATSON. + + _Entered at Stationers' Hall._ + _All rights reserved._ + + + Composition and Electrotyping by + J. J. Little & Co. + Printing and binding by + The Plimpton Press, Norwood, Mass., U. S. A. + + + + +CONTENTS + + + BOOK I. + CHAPTER PAGE + I.--By the Camp Fire 11 + II.--The Battle of Sineffe 31 + III.--A Decisive Blow 53 + IV.--A Change of Masters 72 + + BOOK II. + + I.--A Covenanting House 93 + II.--The Coming of the Amalekite 114 + III.--Between Mother and Lover 133 + IV.--Thy People Shall Be My People, Thy God My God 155 + + BOOK III. + + I.--One Fearless Man 175 + II.--The Crisis 194 + III.--The Last Blow 216 + IV.--Thou Also False 237 + + BOOK IV. + + I.--Treason in the Camp 263 + II.--Visions of the Night 284 + III.--Faithful Unto Death 303 + + + + +[Illustration: (FACSIMILE PAGE OF MANUSCRIPT FROM BESIDE THE BONNIE +BRIAR BUSH)] + + + + +GRAHAM OF CLAVERHOUSE + + + + +BOOK I + +CHAPTER I + +BY THE CAMP-FIRE + + +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 Conde, 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 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 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. + +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 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 his shoulders. For MacKay was not a man whose face or manner +invited jesting. + +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, 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 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 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." + +"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 Conde 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 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." + +"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." + +"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 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?" + +"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 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." + +"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." + +"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 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." + +"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 showed his white, +even teeth beneath his slight mustache, and then to MacKay, who leaned +forward and bowed stiffly. + +"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." + +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 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. + +"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." + +"The sooner the better," said Hales, "and as I have a flask of decent +Burgundy here, I 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. + +"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." + +"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 +quickly dying out in England. Such savory and godly conversation have +I not heard for years, and it warms my heart." + +"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." + +"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 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. + +"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 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." + +"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 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." + + + + +CHAPTER II + +THE BATTLE OF SINEFFE + + +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. + +"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." + +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. + +"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?" + +"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." + +"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 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?" + +"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." + +"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 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." + +"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. + +"I've been awfu favored this mornin', Maister John, for what div ye +think? I've 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. + +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, 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. + +"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 we are being entangled. If +Conde 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." + +"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." + +"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 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." + +"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." + +"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 +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. Conde 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?" + +"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." + +"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?" + +"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?" + +"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 rental of the lands of Claverhouse +that if we could see on the other side of that hill we would find +Conde's troops making ready for an attack." + +"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?" + +"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. + +"'Whom the gods wish to destroy they first make mad,' is a Latin +proverb I picked up 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." + +"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?" + +"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 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. + +"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. + +In some fifteen minutes Carlton rejoined Claverhouse red and annoyed, +and on the sight of him Claverhouse laughed. + +"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?" + +"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----" + +"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. + +"It will be a sharp piece of work for us, and some good sword play +before it is done." + +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 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. + +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 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. + +"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?" + +"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." + +In less than that space of time the regiment, now galloping, found +themselves in the 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 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. + +"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?" + +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 melee. 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, +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 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. + +[Illustration: Claverhouse fired at the French officer and missed him, +but brought down his horse. Page 49.] + +"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. + +"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. + +"To think o' the perversity o' that Dutchman obstructin' a right o' +way, especially on sich a busy day, wi' his muckle unmannerly +carcase, as if he had been a Highland cattle beast. Dod! he would make +a grand Covenanter for the cursed thrawnness o' him." + +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 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." + + + + +CHAPTER III + +A DECISIVE BLOW + + +"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. + +"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 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?" + +"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." + +"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 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?" + +"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." + +"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." + +"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 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?" + +"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." + +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. + +"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. + +"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 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?" + +"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. + +"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. + +"'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 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." + +"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 in war, and die a bloody death at the hand of +traitors whom ye trusted.'" + +"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." + +"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)." + +"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 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." + +"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 +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." + +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 +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 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. + +"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." + +"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. 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." + +"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." + +"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. 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?" + +"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." + +"Why ask those questions of me, especially 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?" + +"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." + +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. + +"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. 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." + +"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." + +"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 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." + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +A CHANGE OF MASTERS + + +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 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 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. + +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 +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, 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. + +"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? + +"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?" + +"Nothing, sir," replied Claverhouse. "I judged that Colonel MacKay had +done me a 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." + +"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----" + +"I am twenty-six years of age, may it please your Highness," +interpolated Claverhouse, "and have served in two armies." + +"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 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?" + +"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." + +"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. + +"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. + +"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 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." + +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 +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. + +"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?" + +"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 you have not the capacity +to command. I give you back your right arm, and I release you from the +service of my army." + +"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?" + +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. + +"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. + +"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." + +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. + +"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 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. + +"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 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. + +"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. + +"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. + +"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 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. + +"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 Conde'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." + +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 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. + +"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." + +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 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. + +"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." + +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 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. + +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. +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, 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. + +"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." + +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." + + + + +BOOK II + +CHAPTER I + +A COVENANTING HOUSE + + +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 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 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 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, 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 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. + +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, 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. + +"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. + +"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 +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." + +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 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 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. + +"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." + +"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 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." + +"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 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." + +"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." + +"It may be," hazarded Pollock anxiously, "that the Earl then does not +look on me with pleasure, and as the head of the house----" + +"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, 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." + +"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 +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." + +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 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 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. + +"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 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. + +"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 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. + +"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." + +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. + +"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. + +"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 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." + +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. + + + + +CHAPTER II + +THE COMING OF THE AMALEKITE + + +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 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. + +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 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 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." + +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 mediaeval 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 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. + +"The day of trial which separates the wheat from the chaff has come at +last, as I expected it would," said Lady Cochrane, with 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. + +"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." + +"_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 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." + +"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 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." + +"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." + +"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. 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." + +"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." + +"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). "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. + +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 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 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. + +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. + +"I thank you, my lord," said Claverhouse, 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. + +"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 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. + +"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." + +"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. + +"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. + +"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." + +"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 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." + +"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." + +"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, 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." + +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." + +"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. + +"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, 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." + +"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----" + +"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." + + + + +CHAPTER III + +BETWEEN MOTHER AND LOVER + + +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 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 +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 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 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. + +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 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. + +"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; 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?" + +"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." + +"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?" + +"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. It would please you to +hear him, for ye have seen the Court." + +"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. + +"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." + +"Did he, indeed?" and Lady Cochrane was very scornful. "Doubtless that +was 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!" + +"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." + +"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 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? + +"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. + +"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 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." + +[Illustration: "Ye will have to answer to man and God for this." Page +143.] + +"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." + +"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 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. + +"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. + +"Weel, it's mair than three years ago our brave gentleman scented his +game, and ever 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. + +"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. + +"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." + +"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. + +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 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 passing, whether he was the mercenary +adventurer of her mother's description. + +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. + +"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." + +"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, 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." + +"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." + +"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 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." + +"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." + +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 on his master that evening he +laid himself out for instruction. + +"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." + +"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." + +"Surely, Mr. John, surely. I ken it's no becoming and I'll no give ye +cause to complain 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'. + +"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 me a Covenanter, and, of +course, the higher they are the cleverer. + +"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. + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +"THY PEOPLE SHALL BE MY PEOPLE, THY GOD MY GOD" + + +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 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 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. + +"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." + +"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 ended in the defeat of his Majesty's Horse. I seem +to forget the name of the place." + +"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." + +"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 hundred 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. + +Never had Claverhouse admired her more than at that moment, for the +scorn on her face became her well, and he concluded that it must +spring from one of two causes. Most likely, after all, Pollock was her +lover. + +"'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." + +"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?" + +"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 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." + +"For my sake?" said Jean, looking at him in amazement. "What have I to +do with him more than other women?" + +"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." + +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. + +"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 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." + +"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. + +"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, 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." + +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. + +"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 daughter, for ye were made to gang yir ain gait." + +"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." + +"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 notice and then flung +aside like a flower ye wore till it withered." + +"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?" + +"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." + +"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 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 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. + +[Illustration: She could not speak nor move, but only looked at him. +Page 166.] + +"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 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. + +"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, 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. + +"Jean Cochrane, can you trust yourself to me; will you be the wife of +John Graham of Claverhouse?" + +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. + +"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 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." + +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 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 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." + +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, 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 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, "_In the name of God_ 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 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." + +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. + + + + +BOOK III + +CHAPTER I + +ONE FEARLESS MAN + + +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, 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 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 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 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 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, 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. + +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: + + 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 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." + + 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? + + 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 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? 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 + + 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, + + JOHN GRAHAM. + +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 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 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. + +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, 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. + + _For the fair hands of the Viscountess of Dundee, and Lady Graham + of Claverhouse._ + + MY DEAREST LADY: 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 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. + + 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 + 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. + + Yours till death, + + DUNDEE. + +God was not pleased to reenforce 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: + + DEAREST AND BRAVEST OF WOMEN: 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 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 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. + + "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. + + 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 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. + + Yours always and altogether, + + DUNDEE. + + + + +CHAPTER II + +THE CRISIS + + +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 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 +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. + +"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. + +"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 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. + +"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. + +"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 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. + +"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. + +"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 +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. + +"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." + +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: + +"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." + +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 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, 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 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 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." + +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. + +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. + +"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 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 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." + +"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." + +"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 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." + +"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." + +"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." + +"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 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." + +"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." + +"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." + +"By God, Balcarres, if that be true, and I jalouse that ye are richt, +Gordon will get his 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. + +While his master had been reenforcing 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 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 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? + +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 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. 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 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. + +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 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. + + + + +CHAPTER III + +THE LAST BLOW + + +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, 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. + +Wild partisans, to whom every man is either white as snow or black as +pitch, have gone mad over Graham, making him out, according 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, 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. + +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; 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. + +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 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. 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. + +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 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 reenforcement, 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 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 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. + +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 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. MacKay 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 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 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." + +"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. + +"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 +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. + +"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." + +"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." + +"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 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." + +"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?" + +"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' 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." + +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, +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. + +"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." + +"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, +and maybe struck, by his maister when he had quicker ears than the +foolish man, and was giving warning of danger. + +"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." + +"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. + +"It's nae madness, my lord," answered Grimond doggedly, "and has +naethin' to do with my lady being a Cochrane. Maybe I 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." + +"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." + +"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 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." + +"Go on," said Dundee quietly. + +"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." + +"Go on," said Dundee, "till you have finished." + +"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 +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!' + +"'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." + +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. + +"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." + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +THOU ALSO FALSE + + +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 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. + +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 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 reenforced 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 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 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 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? 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. + +"Damn you, begone, begone!" + +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 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 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 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!" + +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 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 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. + +"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? 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, 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 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." + +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 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 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." + +"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 +doubtless prepared a warmer. Livingstone was the laggard." + +"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?" + +"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 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." + +"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." + +"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 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." + +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 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. + +"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. + +"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 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 +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." + +"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 unborn +will bless the hand which slew Claverhouse. + +"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. 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." + +"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." + +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 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. + + + + +BOOK IV + +CHAPTER I + +TREASON IN THE CAMP + + +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 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 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. + +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 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. + +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 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 +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 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. + +"Jock," said Graham, with a certain accent 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. + +"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 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. + +"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. + +"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 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. + +"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?" + +"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." + +"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 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?" + +"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. + +"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. + +"Na, na, my lord," for the face of Dundee was beginning again to +blacken. "I've 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." + +"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." + +"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." + +"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 sermon. +But we must just take them as they come--rough men for rough work, and +desperate men for a wild adventure." + +"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." + +"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." + +"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, 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?" + +"For King James, I should say, and a bellyful of fighting," said +Dundee carelessly. + +"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?" + +"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?" + +"I did," said Jock, with some pride, "and they never jaloused wha was +lying close beside 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." + +"Well," said Dundee, with more interest, "what were the bits?" + +"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." + +"And what was that, Jock?" And Dundee now was paying close attention. + +"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 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?" + +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. 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. + +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. + +"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? 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?" + +"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." + +"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." + +The shorter man colored with vexation and 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. + +"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." + +"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." + +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. + +"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 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. + +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 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. + + BLAIR CASTLE, _July 26, 1689_. + + _To Major-General Hugh MacKay, Commanding the forces in the + interests of the Prince of Orange._ + + SIR: 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. + + 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. + + 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. + + I salute you before we fight and I have the honor to be, + + Your most obedient servant, + + DUNDEE. + + + + +CHAPTER II + +VISIONS OF THE NIGHT + + +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 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. + +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 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. 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 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 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. + +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 servitor at last came near and rustled to catch his +master's ear. + +"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." + +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 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 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 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. + +"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." + +"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." + +"Nor had I been minded or allowed to 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. + +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 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. + +"Ye mean not----" + +"Read," said the Covenanter, "for the writing surely is plain." And +this is what Claverhouse saw: + + "JAMES GRAHAME, + Only son and child of my Lord Dundie. + Aged eight months." + +"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, thou hast harried +many homes, but thy house shall be left unto thee desolate." + +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. + +"God rest his innocent soul, if this be his lot; but I live and with +me my house." + +"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." + +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. + +"This--do I see myself?" + +"Yes, thou seest thyself lying low as the humblest man and weaker now +than the poorest of God's people thou didst mock." + +"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." + +"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." + +"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 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." + +"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?" + +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 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. + +"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, Brown 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." + +"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." + +From the faces of the bride and bridegroom the mysterious shadow, +which hides the future from the present in mercy to us 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. + +"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?" + +"One more," said the spirit, "and I have done with thee, proud and +unrepentant sinner." + +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. + +"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. + +"So thou also art to be cut off in the midst of thy days, Jean. Better +this way both for 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." + +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. + + + + +CHAPTER III + +FAITHFUL UNTO DEATH + + +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 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 manoeuvring 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, 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 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. + +"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." + +"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 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." + +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." + +Through the morning of the decisive day 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, 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 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. + +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. + +"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." + +"You may take my word for it, Major 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." + +"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." + +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. + +"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 him a brave and honorable gentleman, as it pleases me to know +he counts me also. + +"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. + +"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 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." + +Dundee received MacKay's letter during the long wait before the +battle, and this is what he read: + + _To My Lord Viscount Dundee, Commanding the forces raised in the + interest of James Stuart._ + + MY LORD: 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. + + 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. + + 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 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. + + I have the honor to be, + + Your very obedient servant, + + HUGH MACKAY. + Commander-in-Chief of His Majesty's Forces. + +And this was the prayer, surely the most remarkable ever published by +a general of the British army: + + 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. + +Dundee ordered the English officers to be brought before him, and for +thirty seconds 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. + +"If I tell you, gentlemen, that your general refuses to clear you from +this charge, have ye anything to say before ye die?" + +"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." + +When Dundee turned to the other, who had not yet spoken, this was all +he got: + +"My lord, that it be quickly, and that no mention be made of our +names. It was an adventure, and it has ended badly." + +"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 there be one +of you I would trust rather than the other. + +"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." + +"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." + +Dundee glanced keenly at him, as one weighing his words, and trying to +fathom their meaning, but the taller man broke in with boisterous +haste: + +"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. + +"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." + +"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." + +"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 prepare his clan for the +hour that was near at hand. + +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. + +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 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 it +would be under James, and what a miserable business for him to return +to the hunt of the Covenanters! + +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 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." + +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 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 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. + +"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." + +"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 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." + +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. + +"Ye cannot staunch that wound, Jock, and this is my last fight. How +goes it--is it well?" + +"Well for the king, my lord--the battle is won; but ill for thee, my +dear maister." + +"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." + +"Rest easy, Maister John, I wrung the 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." + +"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!" + +So, after much strife and many sorrows, Claverhouse fell in the moment +of victory, and passed to his account. + + +THE END + + + + +Other Works by Ian Maclaren + + +THE POTTER'S WHEEL + +_12mo, cloth, $1.25_ + + +AFTERWARDS AND OTHER STORIES + +_12mo, Cloth, $1.50_ + + +THE COMPANIONS OF THE SORROWFUL WAY + +_16mo, cloth, $.75_ + + +RABBI SAUNDERSON + +"From Kate Carnegie." With 12 illustrations by A. S. Boyd. 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With a new portrait, and an introduction by the +author. 12mo, cloth, gilt edges, $2.00 + + +KATE CARNEGIE + +With 50 illustrations by F. C. 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Page =143=.) + + Page 158: Was 'hundrel' (belly, and taken him to Edinburgh with a + =hundred= of his Majesty's Horse before him and a hundred + behind to keep him safe; ye) + + Page 166, illustration caption: Was '168' (She could not speak nor + move, but only looked at him. Page =166=.) + + Page 226: Was 'Mackay' (more than when hounds run a fox to his lair. + =MacKay= would be arranging how to trap him, anticipating + his ways of escape, and stopping) + + Page 299: Was 'brown' (joy. "For this vision at least I bless thee, + spirit, whoever thou mayest be, =Brown= or any other. That + was the day of all my life,) + + Page 318: Was 'perpare' (enough to do with his own work, he went to + =prepare= his clan for the hour that was near at hand.) + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Graham of Claverhouse, by Ian Maclaren + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK GRAHAM OF CLAVERHOUSE *** + +***** This file should be named 30022.txt or 30022.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/3/0/0/2/30022/ + +Produced by David Garcia, Dan Horwood and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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