“And respecting arms,” said Captain Dalgetty, “if your lordship will permit an old cavalier to speak his mind, so that the one-third have muskets, my darling weapon would be the pike for the remainder, whether for resisting a charge of horse, or for breaking the infantry.  A common smith will make a hundred pike-heads in a day; here is plenty of wood for shafts; and I will uphold, that, according to the best usages of war, a strong battalion of pikes, drawn up in the fashion of the Lion of the North, the immortal Gustavus, would beat the Macedonian phalanx, of which I used to read in the Mareschal-College, when I studied in the ancient town of Bon-accord; and further, I will venture to predicate—­”

The Captain’s lecture upon tactics was here suddenly interrupted by Allan M’Aulay, who said, hastily,—­“Room for an unexpected and unwelcome guest!”

At the same moment, the door of the hall opened, and a grey-haired man, of a very stately appearance, presented himself to the assembly.  There was much dignity, and even authority, in his manner.  His stature was above the common size, and his looks such as were used to command.  He cast a severe, and almost stern glance upon the assembly of Chiefs.  Those of the higher rank among them returned it with scornful indifference; but some of the western gentlemen of inferior power, looked as if they wished themselves elsewhere.

“To which of this assembly,” said the stranger, “am I to address myself as leader? or have you not fixed upon the person who is to hold an office at least as perilous as it is honourable?”

“Address yourself to me, Sir Duncan Campbell,” said Montrose, stepping forward.

“To you!” said Sir Duncan Campbell, with some scorn.

“Yes,—­to me,” repeated Montrose,—­“to the Earl of Montrose, if you have forgot him.”

“I should now, at least,” said Sir Duncan Campbell, “have had some difficulty in recognising him in the disguise of a groom.—­and yet I might have guessed that no evil influence inferior to your lordship’s, distinguished as one who troubles Israel, could have collected together this rash assembly of misguided persons.”

“I will answer unto you,” said Montrose, “in the manner of your own Puritans.  I have not troubled Israel, but thou and thy father’s house.  But let us leave an altercation, which is of little consequence but to ourselves, and hear the tidings you have brought from your Chief of Argyle; for I must conclude that it is in his name that you have come to this meeting.”

“It is in the name of the Marquis of Argyle,” said Sir Duncan Campbell,—­“in the name of the Scottish Convention of Estates, that I demand to know the meaning of this singular convocation.  If it is designed to disturb the peace of the country, it were but acting like neighbours, and men of honour, to give us some intimation to stand upon our guard.”