The novel takes the theme of Schiller???s Die R??uber (1781) but transplants the action to the Scottish Highlands. ???This atmosphere was achieved by borrowing such names as Dunkan, Malwina, Carno, Toskar, Linuf and Dunchomar, all found in Ossian, as well as by introducing devices such as knocking on one???s shield as a challenge to fight, the cairn of four stones marking the hero???s grave, the e