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 dirk in the body of the M'Aulay with the Bloody hand, before whom our race trembles, and to have taken thereafter what fate God should send me.

But I saw Annot Lyle, even when my hand was on the hilt of my dagger.