d was not the girl brought to this fatal castle, and
afterwards wedded to the brother of M'Callum More, and all for the sake
of her broad lands?" [Such a story is told of the heiress of the clan
of Calder, who was made prisoner in the manner described, and afterwards
wedded to Sir Duncan Campbell, from which union the Campbells of Cawdor
have their descent.]

"And if the tale be true," said Murdoch, "she had a preferment beyond
what the King of Scots would have conferred on her. But this is far
from the purpose. The daughter of Sir Duncan of Ardenvohr is of our own
blood, not a stranger; and who has so good a right to know her fate as
M'Callum More, the chief of her clan?"

"It is on his part, then, that you demand it!" said the outlaw. The
domestic of the Marquis assented.

"And you will practise no evil against the maiden?--I have done her
wrong enough already."

"No evil, upon the word of a Christian man," replied Murdoch.

"And my guerdon is to be life and liberty?" said the Child of the Mist.

"Such is our paction," replied the Campbell.

"Then know, that the child whom I saved our of compassion at the
spoiling of her father's tower of strength, was bred as an adopted
daughter of our tribe, until we were worsted at the pass of
Ballenduthil, by the fiend incarnate and mortal enemy of our tribe,
Allan M'Aulay of the Bloody hand, and by the horsemen of Lennox, under
the heir of Menteith."

"Fell she into the power of Allan of the Bloody hand," said Murdoch,
"and she a reputed daughter of thy tribe? Then her blood has gilded the
dirk, and thou hast said nothing to rescue thine own forfeited life."

"If my life rest on hers," answered the outlaw, "it is secure, for she
still survives; but it has a more insecure reliance--the frail promise
of a son of Diarmid."

"That promise shall not fail you," said the Campbell, "if you can assure
me that she survives, and where she is to be found."

"In the Castle of Darlinvarach," said Ranald MacEagh, "under the name
of Annot Lyle. I have often heard of her from my kinsmen, who have again
approached their native woods, and it is not long since mine old eyes
beheld her."

"You!" said Murdoch, in astonishment, "you, a chief among the Children
of the Mist, and ventured so near your mortal foe?"

"Son of Diarmid, I did more," replied the outlaw; "I was in the hall of
the castle, disguised as a harper from the wild shores of Skianach. My
purpose was to have plunged my dir