第24章

BailieMacwheebleenteredimmediatelyafterwards，andbyhisreportofarmsandammunitionconfirmedthisstatement，informingtheBaron，inamelancholyvoice，thatthoughthepeoplewouldcertainlyobeyhishonour’sorders，yettherewasnochanceoftheirfollowingthegeartoonyguidpurpose，inrespecttherewereonlyhishonour’sbodyservantswhohadswordsandpistols，andthedepredatorsweretwelveHighlanders，completelyarmedafterthemanneroftheircountry-Havingdeliveredthisdolefulannunciation，heassumedapostureofsilentdejection，shakinghisheadslowlywiththemotionofapendulumwhenitisceasingtovibrate，andthenremainedstationary，hisbodystoopingatamoreacuteanglethanusual，andthelatterpartofhispersonprojectinginproportion。

TheBaron，meanwhile，pacedtheroominsilentindignation，andatlengthfixinghiseyeuponanoldportrait，whosepersonwascladinarmour，andwhosefeaturesglaredgrimlyoutofahugebushofhair，partofwhichdescendedfromhisheadtohisshoulders，andpartfromhischinandupper-liptohisbreast-plate，-Thatgentleman，CaptainWaverley，mygrand-sire，’’

hesaid，withtwohundredhorse，whomheleviedwithinhisownbounds，discomfitedandputtotheroutmorethanfivehundredoftheseHighlandreivers，whohavebeenever_lapisoffensionis，etpetrascandali，_astumbling-blockandarockofoffencetotheLowlandvicinage-hediscomfitedthem，Isay，whentheyhadthetemeritytodescendtoharrythiscountryinthetimeofthecivildissensions，intheyearofgracesixteenhundredfortyandtwo。Andnow，sir，I，hisgrandson，amthususedatsuchunworthyhands！’’

Heretherewasanawfulpause；afterwhichallthecompany，asisusualincasesofdifficulty，begantogiveseparateandinconsistentcounsel。AlexanderabAlexandroproposedtheyshouldsendsomeonetocompoundwiththeCaterans，whowouldreadily，hesaid，giveuptheirpreyforadollara-head。TheBailieopinedthatthistransactionwouldamounttotheft-boot，orcompositionoffelony；andherecommendedthatsome_cannyhand_shouldbesentuptotheglenstomakethebestbargainhecould，asitwereforhimself，sothatthelairdmightnotbeseeninsuchatransaction。Edwardproposedtosendofftothenearestgarrisonforapartyofsoldiersandamagistrate’swarrant；andRose，asfarasshedared，endeavouredtoinsinuatethecourseofpayingthearrearsoftributemoneytoFergusMac-IvorVichIanVohr，who，theyallknew，couldeasilyprocurerestorationofthecattle，ifhewereproperlypropitiated。

NoneoftheseproposalsmettheBaron’sapprobation。Theideaofcomposition，directorimplied，wasabsolutelyignominious；

thatofWaverleyonlyshowedthathedidnotunderstandthestateofthecountry，andofthepoliticalpartieswhichdividedit；and，standingmattersastheydidwithFergusMac-IvorVichIanVohr，theBaronwouldmakenoconcessiontohim，wereit，hesaid，toprocurerestitution_inintegrum_ofeverystirkandstotthatthechief，hisforefathers，andhisclan，hadstolensincethedaysofMalcolmCanmore。’’

Infact，hisvoicewasstillforwar，andheproposedtosendexpressestoBalmawhapple，Killancureit，Tulliellum，andotherlairds，whowereexposedtosimilardepredations，invitingthemtojoininthepursuit；andthen，sir，shallthese_nebulonesnequissimi，_asLesluscallsthem，bebroughttothefateoftheirpredecessorCacus。

`Elisosoculos，etsiccumsanguineguttur。’’’

TheBailie，whobynomeansrelishedthesewarlikecounsels，herepulledforthanimmensewatch，ofthecolour，andnearlyofthesize，ofapewterwarming-pan，andobserveditwasnowpastnoon，andthattheCateranshadbeenseeninthepassofBally-Broughsoonaftersunrise；sothatbeforethealliedforcescouldassemble，theyandtheirpreywouldbefarbeyondthereachofthemostactivepursuit，andshelteredinthosepathlessdesertswhereitwasneitheradvisabletofollow，norindeedpossibletotracethem。

Thispropositionwasundeniable。Thecouncilthereforebrokeupwithoutcomingtoanyconclusion，ashasoccurredtocouncilsofmoreimportance；onlyitwasdeterminedthattheBailieshouldsendhisownthreemilk-cowsdowntot