Indeed, in my new trouble, the
kindness and affection of the Colonel were becoming my best stand-by.
"The great game's afoot, Oliver," he said.
"And we'll play it to the end, sir."
"Good lad," said he.
"Donald, ye auld skaicher," said Maclachlan, "get your bairns agait. The
Maclachlans are going to be last, where they should be first, at the
intaking of a town, but the Prince, God bless him, will think me balm in
Gilead when he sees the reinforcements I bring."
He was in high feather, and it interested me to watch in another the
tonic effect of Margaret's presence. I took no advantage of my capacity as
her body-servant, but leaped into my saddle and sat the sorrel like a
wooden image as he dodged about to get her horsed again and ready for the
road. He was, indeed, fit to serve a queen; the Highland fashion
marvellously well set off the clean, strong lines of his body, and the
single eagle's feather in his bonnet was the right sign to be waving over
him. The top-dog spirit was fast oozing out of me, and I sat there sourly
dusting the skirts of my poor country-tailor-made coat.
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