upon him to punish such an offence with death."

"Gentlemen," said the Captain, who began much to dislike the turn which
his mission seemed about to take, "I pray you to remember, that the
Earl of Montrose will hold you and your possessions liable for
whatever injury my person, or my horse, shall sustain by these unseemly
proceedings, and that he will be justified in executing retributive
vengeance on your persons and possessions."

This menace was received with a scornful laugh, while one of the
Campbells replied, "It is a far cry to Lochow;" proverbial expression of
the tribe, meaning that their ancient hereditary domains lay beyond
the reach of an invading enemy. "But, gentlemen," further urged the
unfortunate Captain, who was unwilling to be condemned, without at least
the benefit of a full hearing, "although it is not for me to say how
far it may be to Lochow, in respect I am a stranger to these parts,
yet, what is more to the purpose, I trust you will admit that I have
the guarantee of an honourable gentleman of your own name, Sir Duncan
Campbell of Ardenvohr, for my safety on this mission; and I pray you
to observe, that in breaking the truce towards me, you will highly
prejudicate his honour and fair fame."

This seemed to be new information to many of the gentlemen, for they
spoke aside with each other, and the Marquis's face, notwithstanding
his power of suppressing all external signs of his passions, showed
impatience and vexation.

"Does Sir Duncan of Ardenvohr pledge his honour for this person's
safety, my lord?" said one of the company, addressing the Marquis.

"I do not believe it," answered the Marquis; "but I have not yet had
time to read his letter."

"We will pray your lordship to do so," said another of the Campbells;
"our name must not suffer discredit through the means of such a fellow
as this."

"A dead fly," said a clergyman, "maketh the ointment of the apothecary
to stink."

"Reverend sir," said Captain Dalgetty, "in respect of the use to be
derived, I forgive you the unsavouriness of your comparison; and also
remit to the gentleman in the red bonnet, the disparaging epithet of
FELLOW, which he has discourteously applied to me, who am no way to
be distinguished by the same, unless in so far as I have been called
fellow-soldier by the great Gustavus Adolphus, the Lion of the North,
and other choice commanders, both in Germany and the Low Countries. But,
touching Sir Duncan Campbell's gu