At the upper end, however, they at length arrived, where a sword and horn lay on an antique table.
"He that shall sound that horn and draw that sword," said the stranger, who now intimated that he was the famous Thomas of Hersildoune, "shall, if his heart fail him not, be king over all broad Britain.

So speaks the tongue that cannot lie.

But all depends on courage, and much on your taking the sword or the horn first." Dick was much disposed to take the sword; but his bold spirit was quailed by the supernatural terrors of the hall, and he thought to unsheathe the sword first, might be construed into defiance, and give offence to the powers of the Mountain.

He took the bugle with a trembling hand, and a feeble note, but loud enough to produce a terrible answer.

Thunder rolled in stunning peals through the immense hall; horses and men started to life; the steeds snorted, stamped, grinned their bits, and tossed on high their heads; the warriors sprung to their feet, clashed their armour, and brandished their swords.
Dick's terror was extreme at seeing the whole army, which had been so lately silent as the grave, in uproar, and about to rush on him.