got as far as Ardnamurchan. They might have been here before now, but, I
suppose, they loitered to plunder the country as they came along."

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

"Colkitto?" said Allan M'Aulay, scornfully; "who talks of
Colkitto?--There lives but one man whom we will follow, and that is
Montrose."

"But Montrose, sir," said Sir Christopher Hall, "has not been heard of
since our ineffectual attempt to rise in the north of England. It is
thought he has returned to the King at Oxford for farther instructions."

"Returned!" said Allan, with a scornful laugh; "I could tell ye, but it
is not worth my while; ye will know soon enough."

"By my honour, Allan," said Lord Menteith, "you will weary out your
friends with this intolerable, froward, and sullen humour--But I know
the reason," added he, laughing; "you have not seen Annot Lyle to-day."

"Whom did you say I had not seen?" said Allan, sternly.

"Annot Lyle, the fairy queen of song and minstrelsy," said Lord
Menteith.

"Would to God I were never to see her again," said Allan, sighing, "On
condition the same weird were laid on you!"

"And why on me?" said Lord Menteith, carelessly.