Page:Allan the freebooter, or, The witch of Glenross (2).pdf/18

18 noble blood of Strathmore to beggary and infamy." He repeated his command, but his men, awed by the looks of the band, hesitated to obey; when raising his glittering falcon he fiercly approached the still immoveable Allan; his action aroused Helen from the torpor which had seized her, and with a piercing shriek, she flung herself between them, and fell lifeless at the feet of her father. Roderick gazed upon her with emotion, and again commanded the seizure of Allan; the trusty band then drew their weapons, and placed themselves before their beloved chief, who would not draw his sword against the father of his betrothed bride, in whom he wished to behold a friend, rather than an enemy; the sacred fane now become the scene of fierce contention, but the servant of religion was respected still, and father Austin, partly by persuasion and partly by force, succeeded in drawing Allan from the spot, and his band reached the cave in safety. As Roderick beheld the lovely form of his daughter lying at his feet, the feelings of nature awakened in his bosom, he raised her in his arms, and, as he gazed on her transendant loveliness, his keen regrets for a male heir were almost obliterated.

[As soon as the ceremony of Malvina's funeral was ended, Roderick retired to his chamber, he remained there alone till the following morning, pensively ruminating on the sudden and mysterious occurances which had attended the loss both of his wife and son, when Andrew, the old warder, begged permission to enter to announce that a strange black looking man at the gate craved vehemently to see the laird of Glenross on business of the first importance. Roderick instantly refused his request, but upon the warder saying, from some questions the fellow had put to him, he believed he brought intelligence of his young lord, he as precipitately ordered him to be instantly brought before him. The warder then retired, and quickly returned with Donaldblain, (for it was him who had secretly left the cave,) and briefly unfolded to Roderick his daughter's disguise, and that she was upon the following evening to