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II
Brigadier Mackintosh of Borlum
A VERY remarkable person was Brigadier Mackintosh, Laird of Borlum, and since he is destined to play a conspicuous part in our story, it may be proper to describe him.
The redoubted Laird of Borlum, then, was an old campaigner, having served in Holland years ago, in Ireland under James the Second, where he gained laurels, but little pay, and in France, where he had attained the rank of brigadier, which he still held. Devotedly attached to James the Second, on the death of that monarch, he had transferred all his loyalty to his son. The Chevalier de Saint George had no more zealous adherent than the brave Laird of Borlum.
Brigadier Mackintosh, when we first behold him, standing beside the Earl of Mar, who had quitted his elevated position on the rock to talk to him, could not be far from sixty. Yet despite the hardships he had undergone, he had few traces of age about him. His step was free, his glance piercing, his muscular power prodigious, and he could still run as fleetly, and endure as much fatigue as the youngest of his clan.
His personal appearance was very striking-features strongly marked and prominent, high cheek bones, a very firmly set mouth, and square chin. His eyes were grey and keen, and shaded by black brows, though his locks were blanched. His close-shaven cheeks were marked by many a scar.
The brigadier’s expression was cautious, perhaps crafty, and sometimes so grim as to inspire terror. But on occasions his habitual sternness disappeared, and gave way to a winning bonhomie. Though a rigorous disciplinarian, he had always been liked by those who served under him. His enemies said that the brigadier did not object to plunder, and that his maxim was that war should pay its own expenses; but this was a principle pretty generally recognised by the Highlanders of the period.
“Why have you kept aloof, brigadier?” asked the earl.
“Because your lordship has others of mair importance to attend to than an auld trooper, who has only his sword to offer you.”
“Hout awa! your sword is worth a thousand men, brigadier, and that ye ken fu’ weel. You are the man of all others I must have with me, heart and hand.”
“I am a man of few words as your lordship kens-I am ready to do your bidding.”
“Aweel then, your kinsman, Colonel Mackintosh, has promised to raise a regiment of six or seven hundred Highland men.”
“And so wad I, if I could only find the callants. But they are few and far to seek at Borlum.”
“What say you to taking the command of the Clan Chattan?”
“That belongs to our chief, unless-”
“He chooses to resign it to another, and I approve his choice. Will you take it?”
“Gladly,” replied the brigadier, his eyes sparkling with satisfaction. “Is this a’ your lordship has to say to me, at present?”
“Ye are in a confounded hurry,” cried the earl, detaining him. “Hear me to an end.”
“My lord, I am all attention.”
“When all our forces have assembled, a strong detachment, to consist of five or six regiments, will be sent south to march with the Lowlanders and the Northumbrian insurgents to London. You shall command the detachment. If any man can make a rapid march, you can, brigadier. Long before you reach London, you will have a considerable army, for you are certain to receive large reinforcements in every county through which you pass—especially in Lancashire and Cheshire. You will, therefore, be able to give battle to all the forces the Hanoverian usurper can bring against you. Win that battle and the crown is gained for the prince.”
The brigadier drew his broadsword and kissed the hilt.
“I swear to devote myself to this enterprise!” he cried. “Turn back who may, I never will!”
Thereupon, he bowed and retired, looking greatly elated.
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III
How the Standard was set up, and King James proclaimed at Castletown
SHORTLY afterwards the whole party proceeded to the castle, where a grand banquet awaited them.
Even more wine was drunk on this occasion than on the previous day, and the company vied with each other in demonstrations of loyalty.
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