secret love I had nourished and fostered in my heart since the first moment of our acquaintance. Yet her silence, her pallor, her deep unspoken emotion when I left her, would seem to say that I was not without an interest in her heart. May she not, thought I, have wept for me, and prayed for me, on the midnight pillow, even as I, all lonely and unseen, had sighed and prayed for her?

6

No-no; the light had vanished at last, and Laura was for ever lost to me-a just punishment to one of the wildest fancies that ever warmed a romantic heart. The pearl ring, with a thousand trifles light as air,' came in all their bitter, blighting strength, to confirm the news of Clavering's marriage, and, covering my face with my hands, I wept like a child. Until that burning hour I knew not the depth of my hopeless passion, or how much I had really loved Miss Everingham.

The night was a miserable one to me, but it passed away like others; and the sharp brass drum, and then the yelling war-pipe, as they rang in the early morning air, waking the deep echoes of Balclutha's walls of rock,' announced that to march' was now the order; and first Jack Belton, and then Callum Dhu, burst breathlessly into my room.

"What the deuce-why the champagne must have been strong last night,' exclaimed Jack, on seeing me lying on my bed, and not in it; come, my boybustle up-turn out-the route has come!'

'The route-for where?'

'The East,' cried he, flinging his cap up to the ceiling.

CHAPTER XXIX.

THE ROUTE-WE SAIL.

"THE route-the route has come !' What a commotion that momentous announcement makes in the little world of a barrack, as it passes from mouth to mouth -from the commanding officer to the adjutant, and from that indefatigable vizier to the sergeant-majorfrom mouth to mouth, and room to room!

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This important document, fresh under the seal of the Adjutant-General's office at Edinburgh, stated in usual form, that it was Her Majesty's pleasure that one field officer, two captains, four subalterns, six sergeants, three pipers, and two hundred rank and file of the th regiment of Highlanders be held in readiness to march at such a time, as may be judged expedient, from the castle of Dumbarton, and to embark on board such tonnage as may be provided for their reception, and conveyance to Constantinople.'

The field-officer was our rough and bearded Major Duncan Catanagh, K.H.; the captains were Mac Pherson and Logan; the subalterns, Lieutenants Rigg and Johnstone, with two ensigns-viz., Jack Belton and myself.

The Vestal, formerly a donkey-frigate of twentysix guns, but now, cut, lengthened, and fitted with a screw-propeller, and transmogrified into a troopship, lay off Dumbarton, with her top-sails loose and blue-peter at the fore-mast head.

We embarked next day. I remember how much I was impressed by the service-like aspect of our chosen two hundred, who were to join our first battalionall with their bonnets cased in oil-skins; their white gaiters on; their great-coats rolled on the top of their packs; their haversacks and wooden canteens slung above their accoutrements, as they paraded in the

grey light of the early morning, when the sun was yet below the hills, and when the shrill gathering,' woke the echoes of dark and shadowy Dumbarton.

On the roll being called, one of our men, Lancecorporal Donald Roy, was reported to be absent.

Absent,' reiterated the adjutant; 'devilish oddwere not all the men of this detachment confined to barracks immediately on the route arriving?

Yes, sir-but Donald is not here.'

Under his moustache, the adjutant muttered something that sounded very much like an oath.

'a

This looks ill,' said he, reddening with anger; fellow bolts on the eve of embarking for foreign service! The sergeant of the main guard and the sentries at the gate must be accountable for this.'

'Nay, I alone am answerable,' said Major Catanagh; 'Donald comes from my native glen on the west bank of Loch Lomond; and late on the night the route arrived, he came to me and said, "Major, you know me well-you have known me since we were boys, and can trust me. My mother died when we were fighting on the banks of the Indus, and she is buried in the auld kirkyard of Luss; get me leave for a night, that I may cross the hills to say one prayer at her grave before we go, and I swear by the God that hears me to be at Dumbarton gate before you marchay before the pipes play réveille."

C And you obtained leave for him from the colonel?' Yes.'

Réveille was blown long since,' said the adjutant, with an incredulous smile, and Donald has not yet appeared. Sergeant Mac Ildhui, mark him absent in the Report.'

The kind major reddened in turn, for our adjutant was a Lowlander, and did not believe in Highlanders; but Catanagh was a Celt, and better knew the missing

man.

I will answer for him,' said he; Donald will be

back in time, I warrant him-where are his musket, pack, and accoutrements.'

They are carried by his comrades.'

The hour for marching drew near; already the boats of the Vestal awaited us; but there was no appearance of Donald Roy, so the next man for duty,' was ordered to prepare to take his place.

The women had been balloted for at the drumhead; the two fortunate wives who were to accompany us were clinging in joy to their husbands' necks. The unfortunates who had drawn blanks were filling the barrack square with noisy lamentations. Adieux had been said, and hands shaken. Then the little column broke into sections of threes, and with the whole band of the battalion in our front, playing 'Lochaber no more,' and accompanied by our comrades' cheering, we left the ancient castle of Dumbarton just as the sun rose, and marched towards the landing-place.

As we proceeded to the bank of the river, a soldier, pale and breathless, dashed into our ranks, raised his hand to his bonnet, and cried aloud,

Major Catanagh-I am here!'

'Donald Roy!' exclaimed the soldiers with satisfaction, for this man was a favourite with all, and moreover was a famous sword-player and tosser of the caber.

'I knew that you would return, Donald,' said the major, with an approving smile.

I have travelled day and night, running like a deer, Major Catanagh,' replied the soldier in a rapid whisper; I have had twelve miles to go, and as many to return; but I am young and active, and the ardour of grief bore me up, for I was determined to see the grave of my mother before I left my native place, perhaps for ever; and may heaven bless you, major, for the trust you have put in me. I am poorbut I never deceived any one. Oh, major, I have

seen the woods of Cameron, the rocks of Ross-dhu, and the wilds of Rowardennan, places that you and I know well-but may never look upon again.'

We shall, Donald-please God, we shall both see them again,' said Catanagh, with kindling eyes.

With kindly interest I looked on this pale and weary soldier, who spoke in my native Gaelic; but I had soon other thoughts in my heart, and in the ardour and excitement of embarking for foreign service and the seat of war, with the brattle of the drum and the blare of the brass band playing a stirring Scottish quick-step; the tread of marching feet, and the gleam of fixed bayonets round me, I was soon beyond the reach of tender or soft impressions.

The steam continued to roar at times through the safety-valve; the band continued to play, and our comrades to cheer, as our detachment went off in boat-loads to the Vestal, which was rapidly getting up all her horse-power. Her white canvas hung loose aloft, and her decks were crowded by groups of the sombre Rifles below; but until I stood upon her poop and looked round me, I could scarcely realise the truth of my position, or that all this new phase of life, so strange to me, was not a dream.

The sun came up in his glory from the morning sea; the blue waters rolled around us in light, and curled their crested waves before the soft west wind. The huge dark shadows of Balclutha's double Dun fell far along the azure bosom of the Clyde, when the steamer's anchor was apeak, and the propeller began to dash the water into foam astern, making a sweep of nearly twenty feet at each impetuous turn, and objects on the beach began to lessen, change or pass each other, and we stood in groups looking at the fading mountains few of us might ever see again.

Summer had passed away with all its bloom and verdure; no longer laden with rosy blossoms,