With a momentary hesitation Muckle John followed him, but first of all he took one swift sweeping glance over his shoulder at the hillside.
Then, seating himself within, he fell into conversation, while Rob waited outside the tent, watching the soldiers standing at their posts, or marching up and down amongst the heather.
All the time a curious presentiment of fear grew heavy upon him, which the silent day only intensified.
"I take it you were at Culloden," said Captain Campbell; "that must have been a poorlike affair."
"None so poor," said Muckle John; "where there are starving men and bickering chiefs you don't look for much resistance, but they broke two lines, sir."
"Did they so? It is evident the Argyll men were not in prominence."
"No," replied Muckle John drily, "the Campbells were employed in pulling down walls."
The other eyed him uncertainly. He felt the sting under his words.
"If the business had been left to the Duke," said he, "there would have been no call for levies from the Low Country."
"If it had been left to the Duke," replied Muckle John, "every clan in the north would have made havoc of Argyll."