Page:Scott - Tales of my Landlord - 3rd series, vol. 4 - 1819.djvu/64

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TALES OF MY LANDLORD.

he was summoned by Lorimer at break of day, who gave him to understand, that when he had broken his fast, for which he produced ample materials, his guide and horse were in attendance for his journey to Inverara. After complying with the hospitable hint of the Chamberlain, the soldier proceeded to take horse. In passing through the apartments, he observed that domestics were busily employed in hanging the great hall with black cloth, a ceremony which, he said, he had observed practised when the immortal Gustavus Adolphus lay in state in the Castle of Wolgast, and which, therefore, he opined, was a testimonial of the strictest and deepest mourning.

When Dalgetty mounted his steed, he found himself attended, or perhaps guarded, by five or six Campbells, well armed, commanded by one, who, from the target at his shoulder, and the short cock's-feather in his bonnet, as well as from the state which he took upon himself, claimed the rank of a Dunniewassel, or clansman of superior rank;