Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-04-28


Our Lord. Amen.
Dundee ordered the English officers to be
brought before him. and for thirty seconds
he looked at them without speaking, as II
he were searching their thoughts and esti-
mating their character. During this scru-
tiny the shorter man looked sullen and def
ant, as one prepared for the worst. but
the other was 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 part of the game.
IF tell you, gentlemen. that your gen.
eral refuses to clear you from this charge,
have We anything to say before ye die?'
Nothing said their spokesman, with
light laugh, except that we would take
more kindly to a bullet than rope. 'Tis a
soldiers fancy. my lord, but 1 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 1t was an
adventure. and it has ended badly
Gentlemen. whoever ye may be, and
that | do not know. and whatever ye may
be about, and of that also l am not sure.
1 have watched you closely and l 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
l would trust rather than the other.
Il have this further to say, that General
Mackay declares that, so far as he knows,
ye are innocent of the foul crime OF when
L
arrest. and 1t We're perhaps wiser to do so.
but l have myself suffered greatly through
mistrusting those who were true ana non
orable, and l would not wish to let the
shadow of disgrace lie upon you. If indeed
We 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 today for our king
and the ancient Scottish glory"
Thank you, my lord, but 1 expected
nothing else / give you our word that
We shall not fail in our duty. said the
But the other grew dark red in the face.
as If strong passion were stirring with
in him MY lord" he said, Il would
rather remain as l am till the battle be
depart from the army.
Dundee glanced keenIy at him, one
weighing his words, and trying to fathom
their meaning. but the taller man broke
in with boisterous haste:
Pardon my comrade. general; we Eng
lishmen have proud stomachs, and We
but today's fighting will he the best med
icine." And then he hurried his friend
away. and they left to join their troop
he seemed to be demonstrating with him
for his touchy ScrupleS
What We may think of those two gen.
tlemen 1 know not, my lord" said
Lochiel. who had been standing by. but
1 count the dark man the truer Of the
they both be brave. He is fair and
false. If l am not out in my Judgment,
with a smooth word and tricky dirk.
like the Campbells. God grant We be not
overgenerous and trustful unto blind
Hess
"Lochiel. I have trusted We know,
many men who have betrayed our cause;
have distrusted one who was faithful
at cost to me. On this day. maybe the
last of my Iife I will believe rather than
doubt, In the hope that faith will be
the surest bond of honor There is
something 1 know not what, in that tall
fellow 1 did not like. But what I have
done l 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
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 corre-
spending formation of the English troops
In the distance. He read Mackays prayer
slowly and reverently and then, letting
the paper fall upon the grass. Dundee
fell into a reyerie. There was 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 Today. with the lists of
battle before his eyes, and the ordeal