A Daughter of Raasay

n," was Balmerino

n. I found it hard to part from a dear friend who

d into the next room. When he returned a pair of

ars, my Lord?"

Will you

maybe no. Is

t in the

chances o

ckons with

n her hands for Kenn Montagu and an a

e dull edge of hunger for those we love,

e floor was bare and the two ragged chairs were rickety. I knew now why the white-haire

?" I asked presently, as we

questions--"

t caring! Any direction is good enough for me-unless it lea

ll rem

d the present uncertainty of my position had combined to lend a new zest to life. I felt

duplicated a hundred times in London. Its characteristics are monotony and dull mediocr

piciously. There was a short whispered colloquy between him and the Scot

id of, man?" asked

was another low-toned consultation before we were admitted. I surmised that Balmerino stood sponsor for me, and though I was a little disturbed at my equivocal position,

readbare at elbow and would have looked the better of a good dinner. There were two or three exceptions, but for the most part these broken gentlemen bore the marks of recklessness and dissipation.

up to my Lord, eyes snapping with excitement. He gave me a nod and a "How d'

axe commands, and the Prince himself is with them. London will be ours within the week. Sure the good day is coming at last. The King-God bles

o's eyes

it a week. If they once reach the Thames there is no

Norris will prove no barrie

e, my frien'," boasted a rat-faced Frenchman with a sn

orris go," laughed Creagh. He was a devil-may-care Iri

ery and Walpolism; with much more of the same kind of talk. There was drinking of wine and pledging of toasts to the King across the water, and all the while I sat by the side of Balmerino with a face like whey. For I was simmering with anger. I foresaw the moment when discovery was inevit

hand of welcome. Balmerino introduced him as Captain Do

This gentleman and I have met bef

for Highland Jacobite gentlemen at present. I wouldna wonder but one might catch the s

Highland slogan you flung

n he turned to my affairs. "And I suppose you will be for striking a blow for the cause like the rest

o hum "The King shall

t stuck in my throat. Creagh, standing

at? Say that a

d bluntly, "There has been a mistake mad

d angry amazement leap to t

vil! Why are you here

rned to us. A score of fierce suspicious eyes burnt into me. My heart thumped against my ribs like a thing alive, but I answer

nd bull tale is this? Not know where he wa

t matter I didn't like it myself, but I was not going to tell hi

slike it, devi

d a leetle reason for caring,"

"Balmerino did not kidnap you here, did he

d to the front w

Next week he sees us all scragged at Tyburn. But he's made a little mistake this time, sink me! He won't live to see the Chevalier O'Sullivan walk off

of white furious faces girdled me about. Rapiers hung balanced

ed at them, carelessly, as one that deprecated so much ado about nothing. And while I smiled, the wonder was passing through my mind whether the smile would still be there after they had carved

errupted. "God's my life! Here's a feery-farry about nothing.

ers," I murmured, brushing agai

laughed Creagh. He was as full of heat as a pepper

o. He is no spy. Put up, put up, Chevalier! Don't glower at me like that, man! Hap-weel

not summer and winter over the s

we will back to reason and common sense again. Mr. Montagu may not be precisely a pronounced Jack, but

nows what's good for hi

ot take my politics under compuls

here. You've drawn the wine, a

I? We'l

ried the old Lord. Then to O'Sullivan in a stern whisper, "Le

. If they wanted me for a recruit they were going about it

fortune. Duty and pleasure jump together. James Montagu's

ike the grip-of steel. He had neither moved nor spoke

tly in love with the wamey Dutc

y I don't care one jack straw fo

hey are a different r

d in me to plague him. "There's all the difference of bad and a vast dea

you to remember that you are not yet out of the woods, Mr. Montagu. My Lord seem

y the riddle

What are you

auntily. "I'm here by invitation of Lord Ba

interrupted

ive Mr. Montagu, and I'm all for leading him. I warn you

"Talk as long as you please, but he doesn'

their ancient line of sovereigns. You say you do not care for the Han

I told him. "I am no believer in the divine inheritance of

e are going to pu

clock back sixty ye

are resolved at least

you. The Stuarts have dropped out of the race. T

be not past?" as

est gentlemen paid for his mistake with t

ad the game in his own hands and dribbled

don Bridge since then. It is sixty years since the Stu

rs shall be wakened. The stream is c

say it," I a

laze already. The fiery cross will be speeding from Badenoch to the Br

nds O'Sullivan and De Vallery seem to think not," said Creag

?" I asked politely, han

in Hanover courting a new mistress. His troops are all engaged in foreign war. There are not ten thousand soldiers on the island. At this very m

'm not denying that. But I'll promise

g away the scabbard for King Jam

han once before and that because of it misguided

do if they march across the border to join the Highlanders rol

e telling me next that England is wearying for a chan

wcastle is a broken reed. Hervey will not stand out. Walpole is a dying man. In whom can

long with them. We drove them out, and then nothing would satisfy us but we must have them back again. Well, the

ngry eye. "Damme, we don't care a rap for your opinions, but you have hea

n, Mr. Leath, no

Kenn. If you join it is of your

Sullivan. "He forfeited his right to decide for himself when he

if I

ed milk. "Have you made

t, and the Chevalier O'Sullivan was one

Creagh. "Ecod, I like our

e shall join us, or damme--" He stoppe

u may blow the coals,

reagh was good enough to say. "You'll make a fine stage exit-gran

ng. This was the first perilous adventure of my life, and my heart sang. Besides, I had confidence enough in

think he was beginning to regret this impulsive

aps you do well to think of the consequences. As

flooded

ord. I am thinking of the blood of i

will neither help

deucedly unpleasant effects for you

y, his hand on sword hilt. "I think you

that

uest. If he does not care to join u

will have a word to say with him first. He did not come as any guest of

e had no answer for th

in, but I can answer for

t we do not answer for his speech

heart of us, and you were meestaken; you theenk heem sure to keep

ullivan scornfully. "We'll know wh

kind. Stap me, you never know a gentleman

ll step up-stairs with this gentleman and come to some composition on the matter. Mr. Montagu saved my life last night, but I give you the word of Donald Roy

h me, and I knew him to be just the man who would keep his word. The others kn

? I have got myself into a pickle, and I wish

e say I should have said 'Yes!' an

w let's begin again."-He went to the door and threw it open.-"The way is clear for you to leave if you want to go, but I would be most

d his race have ruled us a thousand years," urged

ps," I

and way. "Is this a time to be remembering them? For my part, I will be

rget the faults of the Stuarts as it is fo

instone impatiently. "I have seen and talked with the young Prince. H

sands who will lose

ther die with claymore in hand and the whiddering steel aboot his head th

r the King in the '15,"

my veins. All the music of the heather hills and the wimpling burns wooed me to join my kinsmen in the North. My father's example, his brother's blood, loyalty to the traditions of my family, my empty purse, the friendship of Balme

d I will pledge myself a partner in your enterprise. I can promise you that the help

Mr. Montagu. I'm yours, Rip me, if you want me to he

"If you're wanting to lift a lassie or to carry the war to a foe I'll be

ting to do just those two things. You come to scratch so readily

the table and I

" I cried in a flame of new-born enthusiasm. "

ess him," echoed Ba

And win or lose, we shall have a beautifu

nthony Creagh and Donald Roy Macdonald. He was setting forth to them a