so much value for that fertile spot that I would take on with you, on the chance of getting it back in the event of our success.

Angus. I can resolve Captain Dalgetty's question, I think, if his estate of Drumthwacket be the long waste. moor of that name, south of Aberdeen, — I can tell him it was lately purchased by as rank a rebel as ever swore the Covenant.

Dalgetty. The crop-eared hound! Cynthius aurem vellet, as we used to say at the Mareschal College, - that is to say, I will drag him out of my father's house by the ears. And so, my lord Menteith, I am yours, body and soul, till death do us part, or to the end of the campaign, whichever event shall first come to pass. [Enter Donald.

Donald. Room for ta great Lochiel.

Angus (aside to Donald.) With how many attendants? Donald. Some five and thirty.

[Bagpipes are heard outside. Angus. Tell them to shake down plenty of straw in the great barn.

[Exit Donald, enter Evan Dhu. The piper precedes the

chieftain piping, and retires.

Angus. Right welcome, Evan; never has your sword been missed when the King's cause needed it. What news from the chieftains?

Evan. Duncan Campbell and Vich Alister More lie in Strath Ire this night, and will be here betimes on the morrow. The galleys of McLeod, with all the Islesmen, will anchor ere sunrise in the lee of Ardnamurchan.

Angus. Ho, Donald! Show the retainers of Lochiel to the great barn. And you may put the Forbes men there, too. And put the followers of Vich Alister in the

malt-kiln, but keep the breadth of the middenstead between them and the Forbes men; they are but unfriends to each other.

Donald. The great barn wad hold them a', an they wad lie heads and thraws; but the Forbes gillies wad want to be uppermaist, and there wad be drawn dirks amang them ere morning.

Angus. True, Donald; if ye cannot put up an oak partition thro' the centre of the barn, the Forbes men must e'en lie in the shed the night.

Donald. They'll hae nane but ane anither to kill there; but I'm nae sae sure they'll no be doing it.

Angus. Then, Donald, put the Campbells in the loft, and bolt the gate between them and the shed. [Exit Donald.] And Donald, bring in some humming ale to pledge our new-comers after the manner of our fathers.

[Enter Donald with ale, which is passed around. Enter Eracht, the minstrel. Menteith gives his cup to Anderson, who washes it before drinking.

Donald. What the diel, man! Can she no drink after her ain master without washing the cup, and spilling the ale, and be tamned to her?

Anderson. I was bred in France, where no one drinks after another out of the same cup, unless it be after a lady. Donald. The tiel's in their nicety, and if the ale be gude, fut the waur is 't that another man's beard has been in the queich before ye?

[Supplies Menteith with another cup. Angus. Come, gentlemen, the King's health,- King Charles's health, and may the covenanting dog that refuses it go to heaven by the road of the Grassmarket! Ho, Eracht, a song!

SONG BY ERACHT, WITH CHORUS:

Here's a Health to King Charles.

1.

Bring the bowl which you boast;

Fill it up to the brim.
Here's to him we love most,

And to all who love him.
Brave gallants stand up

And avaunt ye base carles.
Were there death in the cup,

Were there death in the cup,

CHOR. Here's a health to King Charles, Here's a health to King Charles.

II.

Though he wanders through dangers,

Unaided, unknown,

Dependent on strangers,

Estranged from his own;

Though 't is under our breath,

Amidst forfeits and perils,

Here's to honor and faith,

Here's to honor and faith,

CHOR. And a health to King Charles, And a health to King Charles.

III.

Let such honors abound

As the time can afford,

The knee on the ground,

And the hand on the sword,

But the time shall come round

When 'mid Lords, Dukes, and Earls
The loud trumpet shall sound,

The loud trumpet shall sound,

CHOR. Here's a health to King Charles,
Here's a health to King Charles.

CURTAIN.

END OF SCENE I.

Act I.

SCENE II

THE STORY OF ANNOT LYLE.

Same. After the Supper.

[Enter Angus with Evan Dhu, Menteith with Anderson, and Dalgetty following leisurely.

Menteith (drawing chair to front and sitting down.) Major Dalgetty, I noticed with pleasure that you did honor to the good cheer.

Dalgetty (doing likewise). As to the quantity of my food, be it known to the honorable company, that it is the duty of every commander of a fortress, on all occasions which offer, to secure as much munition and vivers as their magazines can possibly hold, not knowing when they may have to sustain a siege or blockade; upon which principle, gentlemen, when a cavalier finds that provant is good and abundant, he will, in my estimation, do well to victual himself for at least three days, as there is no knowing when he may come by another meal.

Menteith. A wise plan. (To Angus.) What clans are expected to join the master of the King's friends?

Angus. That depends much upon the man who lifts the banner, for we Highlanders are not easily commanded. by one of our own chiefs, or, to say the truth, by any other body. We have heard that young Colkitto is coming over the Kyle from Ireland.

Menteith. Will not Colkitto serve you for a leader, then?

Evan. Who talks of Colkitto?

There lives but one

man we will follow, and that is Montrose !

Angus. Evan, may I have your attention for a while?

Ho, Eracht, cheer our guests with a song.

[Exit Angus and Evan. Enter Eracht.

Menteith. Draw up to the fire beside us, Anderson. Eracht, your songs are all good.

SONG BY ERACHT: Castles in the Air.

I.

The bonnie, bonnie bairn, who sits poking in the ase,
Glowering in the fire wi' his wee round face;
Laughing at the fuffin lowe, what sees he there?
Ha! the young dreamer 's bigging castles in the air.
His wee chubby face, and his towzie curly pow
Are laughing and nodding to the dancing lowe;
He'll brown his rosy cheeks, and singe his sunny hair,
Glowering at the imps with their castles in the air.

II.

He sees muckle castles tow'ring to the moon!

He sees little sodgers pu'ing them a' down.
Worlds wombling up and down, bleezing wi' a flare
See how he loups! as they glimmer in the air.