Duringtherapidmovementfromtheblockhouse,anduntilthepartywasdeeplyburiedintheforest,eachindividualwastoomuchinterestedintheescapetohazardawordeveninwhispers.
Thescoutresumedhispostinadvance,thoughhissteps,afterhehadthrownasafedistancebetweenhimselfandhisenemies,weremoredeliberatethanintheirpreviousmarch,inconsequenceofhisutterignoranceofthelocalitiesofthesurroundingwoods.
Morethanoncehehaltedtoconsultwithhisconfederates,theMohicans,pointingupwardatthemoon,andexaminingthebarksofthetreeswithcare.
Inthesebriefpauses,Heywardandthesisterslistened,withsensesrendereddoublyacutebythedanger,todetectanysymptomswhichmightannouncetheproximityoftheirfoes.
Atsuchmoments,itseemedasifavastrangeofcountrylayburiedineternalsleep;nottheleastsoundarisingfromtheforest,unlessitwasthedistantandscarcelyaudibleripplingofawater–course.
Birds,beasts,andman,appearedtoslumberalike,if,indeed,anyofthelatterweretobefoundinthatwidetractofwilderness.
Butthesoundsoftherivulet,feebleandmurmuringastheywere,relievedtheguidesatoncefromnotriflingembarrassment,andtowardittheyimmediatelyheldtheirway.
Whenthebanksofthelittlestreamweregained,Hawkeyemadeanotherhalt;andtakingthemoccasinsfromhisfeet,heinvitedHeywardandGamuttofollowhisexample.
Themoonhadalreadysunkintoanimmensepileofblackclouds,whichlayimpendingabovethewesternhorizon,whentheyissuedfromthelowanddeviouswater–coursetoriseagaintothelightandlevelofthesandybutwoodedplain.
Herethescoutseemedtobeoncemoreathome,forheheldonthiswaywiththecertaintyanddiligenceofamanwhomovedinthesecurityofhisownknowledge.
Thepathsoonbecamemoreuneven,andthetravelerscouldplainlyperceivethatthemountainsdrewnighertothemoneachhand,andthattheywere,intruth,aboutenteringoneoftheirgorges.
Suddenly,Hawkeyemadeapause,and,waitinguntilhewasjoinedbythewholeparty,hespoke,thoughintonessolowandcautious,thattheyaddedtothesolemnityofhiswords,inthequietanddarknessoftheplace.
“Itiseasytoknowthepathways,andtofindthelicksandwater–coursesofthewilderness,”hesaid;“butwhothatsawthisspotcouldventuretosay,thatamightyarmywasatrestamongyondersilenttreesandbarrenmountains?”
See,”hesaid,pointingthroughthetreestowardaspotwherealittlebasinofwaterreflectedthestarsfromitsplacidbosom,“hereisthe‘bloodypond’;andIamongroundthatIhavenotonlyoftentraveled,butoverwhichIhavefou’ttheenemy,fromtherisingtothesettingsun.”
“Ha!thatsheetofdullanddrearywater,then,isthesepulcherofthebravemenwhofellinthecontest.Ihavehearditnamed,butneverhaveIstoodonitsbanksbefore.”
“ThreebattlesdidwemakewiththeDutch–Frenchmaninaday,”continuedHawkeye,pursuingthetrainofhisownthoughts,ratherthanreplyingtotheremarkofDuncan.
“Hemetushardby,inouroutwardmarchtoambushhisadvance,andscatteredus,likedrivendeer,throughthedefile,totheshoresofHorican.
Thenweralliedbehindourfallentrees,andmadeheadagainsthim,underSirWilliam––whowasmadeSirWilliamforthatverydeed;andwelldidwepayhimforthedisgraceofthemorning!
HundredsofFrenchmensawthesunthatdayforthelasttime;andeventheirleader,Dieskauhimself,fellintoourhands,socutandtornwiththelead,thathehasgonebacktohisowncountry,unfitforfurtheractsinwar.”
Afewyearspreviouslytotheperiodofthetale,thisofficerwasdefeatedbySirWilliamJohnson,ofJohnstown,NewYork,ontheshoresofLakeGeorge.
”’Twasanoblerepulse!”exclaimedHeyward,intheheatofhisyouthfulardor;“thefameofitreachedusearly,inoursouthernarmy.”
IwassentbyMajorEffingham,atSirWilliam’sownbidding,tooutflanktheFrench,andcarrythetidingsoftheirdisasteracrosstheportage,tothefortontheHudson.
Justhereaway,whereyouseethetreesriseintoamountainswell,Imetapartycomingdowntoouraid,andIledthemwheretheenemyweretakingtheirmeal,littledreamingthattheyhadnotfinishedthebloodyworkoftheday.”
Wegavethembutlittlebreathingtime,fortheyhadborneharduponusinthefightofthemorning,andtherewerefewinourpartywhohadnotlostfriendorrelativebytheirhands.”
“Itwasaconvenient,and,Itrust,willproveapeacefulgraveforasoldier.Youhavethenseenmuchserviceonthisfrontier?”
“Ay!”saidthescout,erectinghistallpersonwithanairofmilitarypride;“therearenotmanyechoesamongthesehillsthathaven’trungwiththecrackofmyrifle,noristherethespaceofasquaremileatwixtHoricanandtheriver,that‘killdeer’hasn’tdroppedalivingbodyon,beitanenemyorbeitabrutebeast.
Therearetheminthecampwhosayandthink,man,toliestill,shouldnotbeburiedwhilethebreathisinthebody;andcertainitisthatinthehurryofthatevening,thedoctorshadbutlittletimetosaywhowaslivingandwhowasdead.Hist!
“Suchashemaycarebutlittleforhouseorshelter,andnightdewcanneverwetabodythatpassesitsdaysinthewater,”returnedthescout,graspingtheshoulderofHeywardwithsuchconvulsivestrengthastomaketheyoungsoldierpainfullysensiblehowmuchsuperstitiousterrorhadgotthemasteryofamanusuallysodauntless.
“Quivive?”demandedastern,quickvoice,whichsoundedlikeachallengefromanotherworld,issuingoutofthatsolitaryandsolemnplace.
“France!”criedHeyward,advancingfromtheshadowofthetreestotheshoreofthepond,withinafewyardsofthesentinel.
“D’ouvenez–vous––ouallez–vous,d’aussibonneheure?”demandedthegrenadier,inthelanguageandwiththeaccentofamanfromoldFrance.
Jesuiscapitainedechasseurs(Heywardwellknewthattheotherwasofaregimentintheline);j’aiici,avecmoi,lesfillesducommandantdelafortification.Aha!tuenasentenduparler!
“Mafoi!mesdames;j’ensuisfâchepourvous,”exclaimedtheyoungsoldier,touchinghiscapwithgrace;“mais––fortunedeguerre!
“C’estlecaracteredesgensdeguerre,”saidCora,withadmirableself–possession.“Adieu,monami;jevoussouhaiteraisundevoirplusagreablearemplir.”
Thesoldiermadealowandhumbleacknowledgmentforhercivility;andHeywardaddinga“Bonnenuit,moncamarade,”theymoveddeliberatelyforward,leavingthesentinelpacingthebanksofthesilentpond,littlesuspectinganenemyofsomucheffrontery,andhummingtohimselfthosewordswhichwererecalledtohismindbythesightofwomen,and,perhaps,byrecollectionsofhisowndistantandbeautifulFrance:“Vivelevin,vivel’amour,”etc.,etc.
”’Tiswellyouunderstoodtheknave!”whisperedthescout,whentheyhadgainedalittledistancefromtheplace,andlettinghisriflefallintothehollowofhisarmagain;“IsoonsawthathewasoneofthemuneasyFrenchers;andwellforhimitwasthathisspeechwasfriendlyandhiswisheskind,oraplacemighthavebeenfoundforhisbonesamongthoseofhiscountrymen.”
Hewasinterruptedbyalongandheavygroanwhicharosefromthelittlebasin,asthough,intruth,thespiritsofthedepartedlingeredabouttheirwaterysepulcher.
“Itwasofflesh;butwhetherthepoorfellowstillbelongstothisworldmaywellbedoubted,”saidHeyward,glancinghiseyesaroundhim,andmissingChingachgookfromtheirlittleband.
Anothergroanmorefaintthantheformerwassucceededbyaheavyandsullenplungeintothewater,andallwasstillagainasifthebordersofthedrearypoolhadneverbeenawakenedfromthesilenceofcreation.
Asthechiefrejoinedthem,withonehandheattachedthereekingscalpoftheunfortunateyoungFrenchmantohisgirdle,andwiththeotherhereplacedtheknifeandtomahawkthathaddrunkhisblood.
Thescoutdroppedoneendofhisrifletotheearth,andleaninghishandsontheother,hestoodmusinginprofoundsilence.Then,shakinghisheadinamournfulmanner,hemuttered:
”’Twouldhavebeenacruelandanunhumanactforawhite–skin;but‘tisthegiftandnatur’ofanIndian,andIsupposeitshouldnotbedenied.
“Enough!”saidHeyward,apprehensivetheunconscioussistersmightcomprehendthenatureofthedetention,andconqueringhisdisgustbyatrainofreflectionsverymuchlikethatofthehunter;”’tisdone;andthoughbetteritwereleftundone,cannotbeamended.
“Andbutlittletimetodoitin,”addedHeyward,glancinghiseyesupwards,towardthebankofvaporthatconcealedthesettingmoon.“Andlittletimetodoitin!”repeatedthescout.
“Onewouldbetodismountthegentleones,andlettheirbeastsrangetheplain,bysendingtheMohicansinfront,wemightthencutalanethroughtheirsentries,andenterthefortoverthedeadbodies.”
“Itwillnotdo––itwillnotdo!”interruptedthegenerousHeyward;“asoldiermightforcehiswayinthismanner,butneverwithsuchaconvoy.”
”’Twouldbe,indeed,abloodypathforsuchtenderfeettowadein,”returnedtheequallyreluctantscout;“butIthoughtitbefittingmymanhoodtonameit.
Wemust,then,turninourtrailandgetwithoutthelineoftheirlookouts,whenwewillbendshorttothewest,andenterthemountains;whereIcanhideyou,sothatallthedevil’shoundsinMontcalm’spaywouldbethrownoffthescentformonthstocome.”
Furtherwordswereunnecessary;forHawkeye,merelyutteringthemandateto“follow,”movedalongtheroutebywhichtheyhadjustenteredtheirpresentcriticalandevendangeroussituation.
Theirprogress,liketheirlatedialogue,wasguarded,andwithoutnoise;fornoneknewatwhatmomentapassingpatrol,oracrouchingpicketoftheenemy,mightriseupontheirpath.
Astheyheldtheirsilentwayalongthemarginofthepond,againHeywardandthescoutstolefurtiveglancesatitsappallingdreariness.
Theylookedinvainfortheformtheyhadsorecentlyseenstalkingalonginsilentshores,whilealowandregularwashofthelittlewaves,byannouncingthatthewaterswerenotyetsubsided,furnishedafrightfulmemorialofthedeedofbloodtheyhadjustwitnessed.
Likeallthatpassingandgloomyscene,thelowbasin,however,quicklymeltedinthedarkness,andbecameblendedwiththemassofblackobjectsintherearofthetravelers.
Hawkeyesoondeviatedfromthelineoftheirretreat,andstrikingofftowardsthemountainswhichformthewesternboundaryofthenarrowplain,heledhisfollowers,withswiftsteps,deepwithintheshadowsthatwerecastfromtheirhighandbrokensummits.
Theroutewasnowpainful;lyingovergroundraggedwithrocks,andintersectedwithravines,andtheirprogressproportionatelyslow.
Bleakandblackhillslayoneverysideofthem,compensatinginsomedegreefortheadditionaltoilofthemarchbythesenseofsecuritytheyimparted.
Atlengththepartybeganslowlytoriseasteepandruggedascent,byapaththatcuriouslywoundamongrocksandtrees,avoidingtheoneandsupportedbytheother,inamannerthatshowedithadbeendevisedbymenlongpractisedintheartsofthewilderness.
Astheygraduallyrosefromthelevelofthevalleys,thethickdarknesswhichusuallyprecedestheapproachofdaybegantodisperse,andobjectswereseenintheplainandpalpablecolorswithwhichtheyhadbeengiftedbynature.
Whentheyissuedfromthestuntedwoodswhichclungtothebarrensidesofthemountain,uponaflatandmossyrockthatformeditssummit,theymetthemorning,asitcameblushingabovethegreenpinesofahillthatlayontheoppositesideofthevalleyoftheHorican.
Thescoutnowtoldthesisterstodismount;andtakingthebridlesfromthemouths,andthesaddlesoffthebacksofthejadedbeasts,heturnedthemloose,togleanascantysubsistenceamongtheshrubsandmeagerherbageofthatelevatedregion.
“Go,”hesaid,“andseekyourfoodwherenatur’givesittoyou;andbewarethatyoubecomenotfoodtoravenouswolvesyourselves,amongthesehills.”
“See,andjudgewithyourowneyes,”saidthescout,advancingtowardtheeasternbrowofthemountain,whitherhebeckonedforthewholepartytofollow;“ifitwasaseasytolookintotheheartofmanasitistospyoutthenakednessofMontcalm’scampfromthisspot,hypocriteswouldgrowscarce,andthecunningofaMingomightprovealosinggame,comparedtothehonestyofaDelaware.”
Whenthetravelersreachedthevergeoftheprecipicestheysaw,ataglance,thetruthofthescout’sdeclaration,andtheadmirableforesightwithwhichhehadledthemtotheircommandingstation.
Themountainonwhichtheystood,elevatedperhapsathousandfeetintheair,wasahighconethatrosealittleinadvanceofthatrangewhichstretchesformilesalongthewesternshoresofthelake,untilmeetingitssistersmilesbeyondthewater,itranofftowardtheCanadas,inconfusedandbrokenmassesofrock,thinlysprinkledwithevergreens.
Immediatelyatthefeetoftheparty,thesouthernshoreoftheHoricansweptinabroadsemicirclefrommountaintomountain,markingawidestrand,thatsoonroseintoanunevenandsomewhatelevatedplain.
Tothenorthstretchedthelimpid,and,asitappearedfromthatdizzyheight,thenarrowsheetofthe“holylake,”indentedwithnumberlessbays,embellishedbyfantasticheadlands,anddottedwithcountlessislands.
Atthedistanceofafewleagues,thebedofthewaterbecamelostamongmountains,orwaswrappedinthemassesofvaporthatcameslowlyrollingalongtheirbosom,beforealightmorningair.
Butanarrowopeningbetweenthecrestsofthehillspointedoutthepassagebywhichtheyfoundtheirwaystillfurthernorth,tospreadtheirpureandamplesheetsagain,beforepouringouttheirtributeintothedistantChamplain.
Forseveralmilesinthisdirection,themountainsappearedreluctanttoyieldtheirdominion,butwithinreachoftheeyetheydiverged,andfinallymeltedintothelevelandsandylands,acrosswhichwehaveaccompaniedouradventurersintheirdoublejourney.
Alongbothrangesofhills,whichboundedtheoppositesidesofthelakeandvalley,cloudsoflightvaporwererisinginspiralwreathsfromtheuninhabitedwoods,lookinglikethesmokeofhiddencottages;orrolledlazilydownthedeclivities,tominglewiththefogsofthelowerland.
Asingle,solitary,snow–whitecloudfloatedabovethevalley,andmarkedthespotbeneathwhichlaythesilentpoolofthe“bloodypond.”
Directlyontheshoreofthelake,andnearertoitswesternthantoitseasternmargin,laytheextensiveearthenrampartsandlowbuildingsofWilliamHenry.
Twoofthesweepingbastionsappearedtorestonthewaterwhichwashedtheirbases,whileadeepditchandextensivemorassesguardeditsothersidesandangles.
Thelandhadbeenclearedofwoodforareasonabledistancearoundthework,buteveryotherpartofthescenelayinthegreenliveryofnature,exceptwherethelimpidwatermellowedtheview,ortheboldrocksthrusttheirblackandnakedheadsabovetheundulatingoutlineofthemountainranges.
Initsfrontmightbeseenthescatteredsentinels,whoheldawearywatchagainsttheirnumerousfoes;andwithinthewallsthemselves,thetravelerslookeddownuponmenstilldrowsywithanightofvigilance.
Towardthesoutheast,butinimmediatecontactwiththefort,wasanentrenchedcamp,postedonarockyeminence,thatwouldhavebeenfarmoreeligiblefortheworkitself,inwhichHawkeyepointedoutthepresenceofthoseauxiliaryregimentsthathadsorecentlylefttheHudsonintheircompany.
Fromthewoods,alittlefurthertothesouth,rosenumerousdarkandluridsmokes,thatwereeasilytobedistinguishedfromthepurerexhalationsofthesprings,andwhichthescoutalsoshowedtoHeyward,asevidencesthattheenemylayinforceinthatdirection.
Butthespectaclewhichmostconcernedtheyoungsoldierwasonthewesternbankofthelake,thoughquiteneartoitssoutherntermination.
Onastripofland,whichappearedfromhisstandtoonarrowtocontainsuchanarmy,butwhich,intruth,extendedmanyhundredsofyardsfromtheshoresoftheHoricantothebaseofthemountain,weretobeseenthewhitetentsandmilitaryenginesofanencampmentoftenthousandmen.
Batterieswerealreadythrownupintheirfront,andevenwhilethespectatorsabovethemwerelookingdown,withsuchdifferentemotions,onascenewhichlaylikeamapbeneaththeirfeet,theroarofartilleryrosefromthevalley,andpassedoffinthunderingechoesalongtheeasternhills.
“Morningisjusttouchingthembelow,”saidthedeliberateandmusingscout,“andthewatchershaveamindtowakeupthesleepersbythesoundofcannon.Weareafewhourstoolate!
“Theplaceis,indeed,invested,”returnedDuncan;“butistherenoexpedientbywhichwemayenter?captureintheworkswouldbefarpreferabletofallingagainintothehandsofrovingIndians.”
“See!”exclaimedthescout,unconsciouslydirectingtheattentionofCoratothequartersofherownfather,“howthatshothasmadethestonesflyfromthesideofthecommandant’shouse!Ay!
“Heyward,IsickenatthesightofdangerthatIcannotshare,”saidtheundauntedbutanxiousdaughter.“LetusgotoMontcalm,anddemandadmission:hedarenotdenyachildtheboon.”
herewillsoonbeanendofthefiring,foryondercomesafogthatwillturndaytonight,andmakeanIndianarrowmoredangerousthanamoldedcannon.
Now,ifyouareequaltothework,andwillfollow,Iwillmakeapush;forIlongtogetdownintothatcamp,ifitbeonlytoscattersomeMingodogsthatIseelurkingintheskirtsofyonderthicketofbirch.”
I’dsendthemjabberingFrenchersbackintotheirdenagain,aforetheweekwasended,howlinglikesomanyfetteredhoundsorhungrywolves.
But,sir,”headded,turningfromhertotherestoftheparty,“thefogcomesrollingdownsofast,weshallhavebutjustthetimetomeetitontheplain,anduseitasacover.
Remember,ifanyaccidentshouldbefallme,tokeeptheairblowingonyourleftcheeks––or,rather,followtheMohicans;they’dscenttheirway,beitindayorbeitatnight.”
Hethenwavedhishandforthemtofollow,andthrewhimselfdownthesteepdeclivity,withfree,butcarefulfootsteps.
Heywardassistedthesisterstodescend,andinafewminutestheywereallfardownamountainwhosesidestheyhadclimbedwithsomuchtoilandpain.
ThedirectiontakenbyHawkeyesoonbroughtthetravelerstotheleveloftheplain,nearlyoppositetoasally–portinthewesterncurtainofthefort,whichlayitselfatthedistanceofabouthalfamilefromthepointwherehehaltedtoallowDuncantocomeupwithhischarge.
Intheireagerness,andfavoredbythenatureoftheground,theyhadanticipatedthefog,whichwasrollingheavilydownthelake,anditbecamenecessarytopause,untilthemistshadwrappedthecampoftheenemyintheirfleecymantle.
Theywerefollowedatalittledistancebythescout,withaviewtoprofitearlybytheirreport,andtoobtainsomefaintknowledgeforhimselfofthemoreimmediatelocalities.
Inaveryfewmomentshereturned,hisfacereddenedwithvexation,whilehemutteredhisdisappointmentinwordsofnoverygentleimport.
“HerehasthecunningFrenchmanbeenpostingapicketdirectlyinourpath,”hesaid;“red–skinsandwhites;andweshallbeaslikelytofallintotheirmidstastopasstheminthefog!”
Hewasyetspeaking,whenacrashingsoundwasheard,andacannon–ballenteredthethicket,strikingthebodyofasapling,andreboundingtotheearth,itsforcebeingmuchexpendedbypreviousresistance.
TheIndiansfollowedinstantlylikebusyattendantsontheterriblemessenger,andUncascommencedspeakingearnestlyandwithmuchaction,intheDelawaretongue.
“Itmaybeso,lad,”mutteredthescout,whenhehadended;“fordesperatefeversarenottobetreatedlikeatoothache.Come,then,thefogisshuttingin.”
Thisshotthatyousee,”addedthescout,kickingtheharmlessironwithhisfoot,“hasplowedthe‘arthinitsroadfromthefort,andweshallhuntforthefurrowithasmade,whenallothersignsmayfail.
Heywardperceivingthat,infact,acrisishadarrived,whenactsweremorerequiredthanwords,placedhimselfbetweenthesisters,anddrewthemswiftlyforward,keepingthedimfigureoftheirleaderinhiseye.
ItwassoonapparentthatHawkeyehadnotmagnifiedthepowerofthefog,forbeforetheyhadproceededtwentyyards,itwasdifficultforthedifferentindividualsofthepartytodistinguisheachotherinthevapor.
Theyhadmadetheirlittlecircuittotheleft,andwerealreadyincliningagaintowardtheright,having,asHeywardthought,gotovernearlyhalfthedistancetothefriendlyworks,whenhisearsweresalutedwiththefiercesummons,apparentlywithintwentyfeetofthem,of:
Happily,theaimwasbad,andthebulletscuttheairinadirectionalittledifferentfromthattakenbythefugitives;thoughstillsonighthem,thattotheunpractisedearsofDavidandthetwofemales,itappearedasiftheywhistledwithinafewinchesoftheorgans.
WhenHeywardbrieflyexplainedthemeaningofthewordstheyheard,Hawkeyehaltedandspokewithquickdecisionandgreatfirmness.
TheinstanttheFrenchheardthepieces,itseemedasiftheplainwasalivewithmen,musketsrattlingalongitswholeextent,fromtheshoresofthelaketothefurthestboundaryofthewoods.
“Weshalldrawtheirentirearmyuponus,andbringonageneralassault,”saidDuncan:“leadon,myfriend,foryourownlifeandours.”
Thescoutseemedwillingtocomply;but,inthehurryofthemoment,andinthechangeofposition,hehadlostthedirection.
Inthisdilemma,Uncaslightedonthefurrowofthecannonball,whereithadcutthegroundinthreeadjacentant–hills.
Cries,oaths,voicescallingtoeachother,andthereportsofmuskets,werenowquickandincessant,and,apparently,oneverysideofthem.
Suddenlyastrongglareoflightflashedacrossthescene,thefogrolledupwardinthickwreaths,andseveralcannonsbelchedacrosstheplain,andtheroarwasthrownheavilybackfromthebellowingechoesofthemountain.
”’Tisfromthefort!”exclaimedHawkeye,turningshortonhistracks;“andwe,likestrickenfools,wererushingtothewoods,undertheveryknivesoftheMaquas.”
DuncanwillinglyrelinquishedthesupportofCoratothearmofUncasandCoraasreadilyacceptedthewelcomeassistance.
Men,hotandangryinpursuit,wereevidentlyontheirfootsteps,andeachinstantthreatenedtheircapture,ifnottheirdestruction.
“Standfirm,andbeready,mygallantSixtieths!”suddenlyexclaimedavoiceabovethem;“waittoseetheenemy,firelowandsweeptheglacis.”
“Father!father!”exclaimedapiercingcryfromoutthemist:“itisI!Alice!thyownElsie!Spare,oh!saveyourdaughters!”
“Hold!”shoutedtheformerspeaker,intheawfultonesofparentalagony,thesoundreachingeventothewoods,androllingbackinsolemnecho.”’Tisshe!Godhasrestoredmetomychildren!
Duncanheardthegratingoftherustyhinges,anddartingtothespot,directedbythesound,hemetalonglineofdarkredwarriors,passingswiftlytowardtheglacis.
HeknewthemforhisownbattalionoftheRoyalAmericans,andflyingtotheirhead,soonswepteverytraceofhispursuersfrombeforetheworks.
Foraninstant,CoraandAlicehadstoodtremblingandbewilderedbythisunexpecteddesertion;butbeforeeitherhadleisureforspeech,oreventhought,anofficerofgiganticframe,whoselockswerebleachedwithyearsandservice,butwhoseairofmilitarygrandeurhadbeenrathersoftenedthandestroyedbytime,rushedoutofthebodyofmist,andfoldedthemtohisbosom,whilelargescaldingtearsrolleddownhispaleandwrinkledcheeks,andheexclaimed,inthepeculiaraccentofScotland:
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