Still rushing upon me!-still opening more clear!— Peace dawns now beyond,-but how terrible near! With the calm comes Glen-Orchay!-but, no! it must be,

And yet, how he looks!-O, what joy were it he!

But between us, between us, how fearful the sight! It touches! I feel it !-the Castle's all light With the flames raging round it!—and horrid's the din

Of the sudden wild tumult and slaughter within!

To arms, friends! to arms!—us it surely must be
Who are meant in the vision of horror I see!—
Hark! do I but fancy?- -or was it the cry
Of the on-rushing ruin, that seems to be by?

XXVI.

The Minstrel, ere thus far he'd sung,
Had to his feet impetuous sprung,
And for a moment listening stood,
Like Seer rapt in prophetic mood;
Then, down his harp he sudden threw,
And quick to seize his weapons flew,
Where stood they ready 'gainst the wall:
Like movement soon was made by all ;-
And mute they now round Allan throng,
Not less awed by his deeds than song.

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XXVII.

In midst the group a gillie rushes!

His very breath each warrior hushes!

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Haste, haste!" he cries," the Keep's on fire! Bathed in their blood, our guards expire;

By shafts of unseen bowmen shot,
Who cross the ice have silent got,
Sheltered by hurdles pushed before,
And to the court have scrambled o'er,
Raised by the hurdles piled without,

And now in flames: hark, hark their shout!"

XXVIII.

"A shrewd mischance!" stern Dochart said,

As with a jerk he bared his blade,

And poised his shield, and eager drew

Deep o'er his brow his bonnet blue:

"Of this same frost we might have thought!— But who, just now, suspected ought,

When outwardly we're all at peace?—
Come, follow, friends! we'll shear their fleece,
For this attempt at singeing ours !-
But, Lachlan! didst thou note their powers?-
How far they count, and whence they come?"
(6 Roundly their numbers would I sum
At double ours," was the reply;

"And Gregors are they; for their cry

I heard them in low accents call,

As like a cloud they cleared the wall."

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Gregors! most like them!" instant rise From all, in tones of fierce surprise;

"See, oozing in, the smoke appear!— Let's out, and not be stifled here!"

XXIX.

"Double our numbers!"—thus the Chief
Of Dochart muttered, musing brief:
"Dear Orchay! thou art young, and worn
With the hard march this day thou'st borne;
Haste, seize a torch, and to the tower
That eastward looks Loch-Dochart o'er,
With Allan and with Ronald hie,
Till this unlooked-for storm be by!
That gillie safely shall thee guide,
And faithful watch keep by thy side,
To tell thee how the struggle goes.-
Should fortune smile upon our foes,
That instant through a postern fly,
The guide shall shew: no human eye
Can from without the egress mark,
Even during day,—much less by dark.
Nay, frown not,-go !-Safe thou must be !-
Our Clan's whole fortune lives in thee!"

XXX.

"Then, give me chance, myself to prove
Worthy of all your trust and love!
What, Dochart! thou such counsel give?
O, rather let me cease to live,

Than, when in front war's tempest lowers,
Skulk from it through ope'd postern towers!
We waste the time !-Come, give's the cry!-
Together we prevail or die!"

"True Branch of our ancestral Stem!" All shout, as now they round him hem ; "Thy words are worthy us and thee ;— Let Colin Dubh' our slogan be!" 14

XXXI.

"Then be our slogan Colin Dubh !” Dochart replied, as out he flew,

Through the dark winding ways, that led

Into the court, now glaring red

With flames, that burst with crackling roar, From 'neath and round the oaken door,Whose massy strength, and bolts thrust home, Defy the Gregors yet to come

Beyond the court attained at first,

Where now they strain their force, to burst Straight through the flaming door their way. Brief space the assailed behind it stay,

To range their strength, and backward send
A staunch small band, their way to wend
Round through the gloom upon the lake,
And thus in rear the assailants take.
Then, with the rest,-alas, too few!
Dochart at once the bolts withdrew,
And o'er the blazing hurdles leaping,
Like torrent through deep cavern sweeping,
Rushed sudden to the charge without,
With brandished blade, and startling shout!

XXXII.

Struck with the apparition dire,
A step the Gregors back retire;
Till, quick recovering from surprise,
At once their slogan rends the skies,—
"Alpin!" Ben-More aloft replies!

Then shouts next moment " Colin Dubh !"—

The glen grows vocal through and through,

With cry on cry, and crash on crash,
As, mingled now, the weapons flash
Against the flames, that light the strife
In which they're plunged, for death or life!

XXXIII.

As when two mountain torrents rush

Down opposite heights, with sudden gush,

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