The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-05-02

which had disguised Argyle and the
two passed swiftly out Of the secret
| door and closed II behind them.
I'VE have three hours good before
they find him." said Dalgetty, seixing
Argyle's private papers and q purse OF
gold as they hurried through the
| private apartment. Fortune was with
them. They found their way. through
q private corridor to the courtyard,
where Dalgetty demanded his horse
| loudfy as Ne sfiowed ms passport and
! gave ere password - Argyie's soldiers.
accustomed to strange actions OF their
crafty master. opened the gates with
out much surprise that Dalgetty should
be free within an hour Of being made
prisoner.
Before night Ranald and the soldier
were In the hills. surrounded by the
Sons OF the Mist, who shook his hand
while the women kissed his coat skirts
in gratitude for having delivered their
chief, Ranald
70 the RIFT Masters lively disgust.
| the Highlanders were armed only with
bows and arrows. He Immediately ex-
patiated on the ihsufficiency Of such
weapons and his conviction was not a
bit shaken when they beat off an at
lacking party from Inverary that had
| pressed hard after them.
The soldado did not permit his love
for disputation and conversation to
| interfere with his fighting, but pressed
| forward ahead of the clan and did
great execution till a musket ball took
him in the thigh and stretched him
helpless.
The clan closed around him and
| fought so savagely that they managed
to carry their wounded ally off; but
! their progress was slow. and they had
to double and redouble on their tracks
continually before they could gain a
secure hiding place in the mountains
where the RIFT Master could rest till
| his wound was healed.
Therefore several weeks elapsed be-
| fore Daigetty succeeded In rejoining
| the forces under Montrose The battle
| OF Tippermuir had been won, deciding
! the possession of the fortified town Of
Perth, which<threw q great store of
| money AMI munitions into the hands
OF the royalists Then followed the
| victory OF Aberdeen, after which Mont
rose retreated or. rather, threw HIM
self into the Highlands. where his
army grew 80 greatly that Argyle re-
| turned to the security Of Inverary after
| resigning his commission.
! The Lowlands lay open now before
Montrose. and the surest and quickest
road to glory lay In attacking those
rich lands and cities. But the High
land chiefs regarded Argyle as the
chief of their enemies To them the
| capture of Inverary was far more de-
sirable than that of Edinburgh. Their
wishes found secret echo In the heart
of Montrose. and his inclination was
strengthened by the knowledge that
| the chiefs might withdraw their retain
them from their vengeance.
Still he hesitated. Even the clans
/ nearest the territory of Argyle did not
4 pretend to any thorough knowledge OF
1 the road through the mountains.
While he was busied with contradic-
tory thoughts. Dugald Dalgetty entered
his tent accompanied by RanaId. His
wanderings and adventures had not
| failed to increase the soldado's self
| Importance, and 1t was with more ver-
bosity and elaborate detail than ever
that he recounted his story to the Earl
| Montrose listened attentively. Every
word he heard increased his hatred OF
Argyle. At last. when his eyes glanced
over the papers that had been taken
so thoughtfully by the Ritt-Master he
cried angrily:
$50 he does not fear me. Then he
shall feel mel He will fire my castle
OF Murdochl Inverary shall raise the
first smoke! Oh. for a guide through
the skirts Of Strath-Fillan.'
III Your Excellency wishes to make
an in-fall into Argyleshire." said Dal-
getty, this Highlander who has guided
me knows every pass In and out OF thai
land"
Montrose asked the mans name and
condition. 1T may not be spoken. .
answered the Highlander.
THAT Is to say" Interpreted Dalget-
~. 'he desires to have his name con.
cealed In respect that. he hath In for.
mer days taken a castle and slain GER.
tain children and done other things
which are often practiced IN war time
but excite no benevolence toward this
perpetrator In the breasts OF those who
sustain injury. I can answer for his
honor and loyalty with my head, though
he is something of a homicide or muir.
/ derer. He Is named Ranald MacEIgf
and calls himself Son Of the fist"