He made his escape by night from the window of the apartment, and laughing at his father's vain care, produced on one occasion the head of one, and upon another those of two, of the Children of the Mist.

At length these men, fierce as they were, became appalled by the inveterate animosity and audacity with which Allan sought out their recesses.

As he never hesitated to encounter any odds, they concluded that he must bear a charmed life, or fight under the guardianship of some supernatural influence.

Neither gun, dirk, nor dourlach [DOURLACH--quiver; literally, satchel--of arrows.], they said, availed aught against him.

They imputed this to the remarkable circumstances under which he was born; and at length five or six of the stoutest caterans of the Highlands would have fled at Allan's halloo, or the blast of his horn.
"In the meanwhile, however, the Children of the Mist carried on their old trade, and did the M'Aulays, as well as their kinsmen and allies, as much mischief as they could.