Historical memoirs of Rob Roy and the Clan Macgregor

NOTICES OF LAUY GRANGE. 287
regaled their spirits with large potations of
whisky.
As the evening approached the weather be-
came more settled, but the anxiety of our
travellers increased. The moon broke through
a cloud, and prognosticated a favourable
change, which they were resolved to embrace ;
but the arrival of a man, who was a stranger to
the detained, in the meantime frustrated their
purpose, the whole attention of the robbers
being given to what he said, which seemed to
be intelligence of importance, as they all
buckled on their swords, and prepared for an
expedition.
Their captain begged that our travellers
would retire to their own apartment, as they
wished to hold a private conference, and this
they complied with ; but they had no sooner
entered the room, than the door was locked
upon them from without, so that the hostile
intention of the gang became evident, and
occasioned the party great consternation. Now
confined in a place which was almost a dun-
geon, they had no means of relief, and though
they heard the banditti depart, their escape
seemed impossible. They examined the door,
and found it secure, though it was old. It was