Impatient of the silent horn,
Now on the gale her voice was borne:—­
‘Father!’ she cried; the rocks around
Loved to prolong the gentle sound. 
Awhile she paused, no answer came;—­
‘Malcolm, was thine the blast?’ the name
Less resolutely uttered fell,
The echoes could not catch the swell. 
‘A stranger I,’ the Huntsman said,
Advancing from the hazel shade. 
The maid, alarmed, with hasty oar
Pushed her light shallop from the shore,
And when a space was gained between,
Closer she drew her bosom’s screen;—­
So forth the startled swan would swing,
So turn to prune his ruffled wing. 
Then safe, though fluttered and amazed,
She paused, and on the stranger gazed. 
Not his the form, nor his the eye,
That youthful maidens wont to fly.

XXI.

On his bold visage middle age
Had slightly pressed its signet sage,
Yet had not quenched the open truth
And fiery vehemence of youth;
Forward and frolic glee was there,
The will to do, the soul to dare,
The sparkling glance, soon blown to fire,
Of hasty love or headlong ire. 
His limbs were cast in manly could
For hardy sports or contest bold;
And though in peaceful garb arrayed,
And weaponless except his blade,
His stately mien as well implied
A high-born heart, a martial pride,
As if a baron’s crest he wore,
And sheathed in armor bode the shore. 
Slighting the petty need he showed,
He told of his benighted road;
His ready speech flowed fair and free,
In phrase of gentlest courtesy,
Yet seemed that tone and gesture bland
Less used to sue than to command.

XXII.

Awhile the maid the stranger eyed,
And, reassured, at length replied,
That Highland halls were open still
To wildered wanderers of the hill. 
’Nor think you unexpected come
To yon lone isle, our desert home;
Before the heath had lost the dew,
This morn, a couch was pulled for you;
On yonder mountain’s purple head
Have ptarmigan and heath-cock bled,
And our broad nets have swept the mere,
To furnish forth your evening cheer.’—­
’Now, by the rood, my lovely maid,
Your courtesy has erred,’ he said;
’No right have I to claim, misplaced,
The welcome of expected guest. 
A wanderer, here by fortune toss,
My way, my friends, my courser lost,
I ne’er before, believe me, fair,
Have ever drawn your mountain air,
Till on this lake’s romantic strand
I found a fey in fairy land!’—­

XXIII.