Others puffed and strutted, filled with the importance
of carrying arms, and all the novelty of their situation, while
the rest, apparently fatigued with their march, dragged their limbs
listlessly along, or straggled from their companions to procure such
refreshments as the neighbouring cottages and ale-houses afforded.--Six
grenadiers of Ligonier's, thought the Major to himself, as his mind
reverted to his own military experience, would have sent all these
fellows to the right about.
Greeting, however, Mr. Gilfillan civilly, he requested to know if he
had received the letter he had sent to him upon his march, and could
undertake the charge of the state prisoner whom he there mentioned, as
far as Stirling Castle. 'Yea,' was the concise reply of the Cameronian
leader, in a voice which seemed to issue from the very PENETRALIA of his
person.
'But your escort, Mr. Gilfillan, is not so strong as I expected,' said
Major Melville,
'Some of the people,' replied Gilfillan, 'hungered and were athirst
by the way, and tarried until their poor souls were refreshed with the
word.'
'I am sorry, sir,' replied the Major, 'you did not trust to your
refreshing your men at Cairnvreckan; whatever my house contains is at
the command of persons employed in the service.
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