The second instance was when a strong body of German troops had made a lodgement on an island in the Rhine, from which it was necessary to force them; the Marquis de Selle ordered a number of boats to be prepared, under an impression that the river was too deep and rapid to be fordable, and the Scottish officers were to lead the way, but were not to move until orders were given to embark. Finding it impossible to restrain their ardour till the arrival of the boats, they slung their musquets and prepared to cross. "Come on, Walter!" exclaimed the brave Douglas as he led the way, "and we will shew these gay chevaliers of France that we, who have forded the rapid Spey and rocky Forth, need not shrink on the margin of the Rhine. Join hands, gentlemen Scots; forward! and I will lead you to the dance. Hurrah!" Hand in hand, in the Highland fashion, with their musquets slung, they threw themselves into the rapid and impetuous stream, where between jagged rocks it urged its foamy way over a slippery and stony bed; and thus breaking its force they stemmed the current, and, though under a fierce cannonade and storm of musquet balls poured on them from the rocks of the islet, they forced the dangerous passage in the view of both armies; the Laird of Drumquhasel and Captain Ogilvie* were shot dead; but, led on by Finland, the Scottish officers scaled the rocks, and assailing ten times their number of Germans with screwed bayonets and clubbed musquets, drove them from their intrenchments into the Rhine on the other side of the island, and reared the French standard on its summit. * Captain Ogilvie was author of a song, which is preserved in Hogg's Jacobite reliques,--"_Adieu for evermore._" "By St. Denis!" exclaimed the Marquis de Selle, "His the bravest action soldiers ever performed!" "_Vive les officiers Ecossais!_" cried the French soldiers. "_Le gentilhomme est toujours gentilhomme_;" and to this day, in memory of the Scottish valour, the place is named L'ISLE D'ECOSSE. CHAPTER XIV. THE 20TH OF SEPTEMBER, 1692. But the far mind was absent in pursuit Of him, her love, in fields where foes contested The bloody harvest, and a crown the fruit, Dread fruit, with cares and dangerous joys invested! Her mind was absent in the distant war. PEDRO OF CASTILE. "Whither awa', Clermistonlee, ye mad buckie?" exclaimed Lord Mersington, as his friend jostled past him under the great pillars or arcade near the cross, one forenoon, when all the city were abroad _enjoying_ the sunshine; "whatna way is that to gliff folk? is a dun or the deil after ye?" "I crave pardon, my Lord, but did not observe you; for what is all this crowd collected?" "The heralds have been proclaiming the ratification of the new Protestant league against Louis of France."