Peace was thus restored, and the party seated themselves agreeably to their former arrangement, with which Allan, who had now returned to his settle by the fire, and seemed again immersed in meditation, did not again interfere. Lord Menteith, addressing the principal servant, hastened to start some theme of conversation which might obliterate all recollection of the fray that had taken place. "The laird is at the hill then, Donald, I understand, and some English strangers with him?"
"At the hill he is, an it like your honour, and two Saxon calabaleros are with him sure enough; and that is Sir Miles Musgrave and Christopher Hall, both from the Cumraig, as I think they call their country."
"Hall and Musgrave?" said Lord Menteith, looking at his attendants, "the very men that we wished to see."
"Troth," said Donald, "an' I wish I had never seen them between the een, for
