Page:Scott - Tales of my Landlord - 3rd series, vol. 4 - 1819.djvu/45

 ty an irregular fortification as an invading army ever broke their teeth upon. But I see," he continued, looking down from the window upon the bottom of the precipice, "they have got Gustavus safe ashore—proper fellow! I would know that toss of his head among a whole squadron. I must go to see what they are to make of him."

He had no sooner reached, however, the court to the seaward, and put himself in the act of descending the stair-case, than two Highland sentinels, advancing their Lochaber axes, gave him to understand that this was a service of danger.

"Diavolo!" said the soldier, "and I have got no pass-word. I could not speak a syllable of their salvage gibberish, an it were to save me from the provost-marshal."

"I will be your surety," said Sir Duncan, "Captain Dalgetty," who had again approached him without his observing from whence; "and we will go together, and see how your favourite charger is accommodated."