第26章

Theselastwerecalled_sidierdhu，_i。e。，blacksoldier；andthe42dRegiment，whichwasformedoutoftheseindependentcompanies，isstillcalledtheBlackWatchfromthedarkcolourofthetartans。

beadisagreeablesurprise。’’Andwithoutwaitingforananswer，injockeyphrase，hetrottedout，andputtinghimselftoaveryroundpace，wasoutofsightinaninstant。

Waverleywasnowlefttohisownmeditations，forhisattendantwiththebattle-axespokeverylittleEnglish。Theyweretraversingathick，and，asitseemed，anendlesswoodofpines，andconsequentlythepathwasaltogetherindiscernibleinthemurkydarknesswhichsurroundedthem。TheHighlander，however，seemedtotraceitbyinstinct，withoutthehesitationofamoment，andEdwardfollowedhisfootstepsascloseashecould。

Afterjourneyingaconsiderabletimeinsilence，hecouldnothelpasking，Wasitfartotheendoftheirjourney？’’

Tacovewastree，fourmile；butasDuinh-wasselwasaweetaiglit，Donaldcould，tatis，might-would-shouldsendtacurragh。’’

Thisconveyednoinformation。The_curragh_whichwaspromisedmightbeaman，ahorse，acart，orchaise；andnomorecouldbegotfromthemanwiththebattle-axe，butarepetitionofAichay！tacurragh。’’

ButinashorttimeEdwardbegantoconceivehismeaning，when，issuingfromthewood，hefoundhimselfonthebanksofalargeriverorlake，wherehisconductorgavehimtounderstandtheymustsitdownforalittlewhile。Themoon，whichnowbegantorise，showedobscurelytheexpanseofwaterwhichspreadbeforethem，andtheshapelessandindistinctformsofmountainswithwhichitseemedtobesurrounded。ThecoolandyetmildairofthesummernightrefreshedWaverleyafterhisrapidandtoilsomewalk；andtheperfumewhichitwaftedfromthebirchtrees，<>bathedintheeveningdew，wasexquisitelyItisnottheweepingbirch，themostcommonspeciesintheHighlands，butthewoolly-leavedLowlandbirch，thatisdistinguishedbythisfragrance。

fragrant。

Hehadnowtimetogivehimselfuptothefullromanceofhissituation。Herehesateonthebanksofanunknownlake，undertheguidanceofawildnative，whoselanguagewasunknowntohim，onavisittothedenofsomerenownedoutlaw，asecondRobinHoodperhaps，orAdamo’Gordon，andthatatdeepmidnight，throughscenesofdifficultyandtoil，separatedfromhisattendant，leftbyhisguide-Whatavarietyofincidentsfortheexerciseofaromanticimagination，andallenhancedbythesolemnfeelingofuncertainty，atleast，ifnotofdanger？Theonlycircumstancewhichassortedillwiththerest，wasthecauseofhisjourney-theBaron’smilk-cows！

Thisdegradingincidenthekeptintheback-ground。

Whilewraptinthesedreamsofimagination，hiscompaniongentlytouchedhim，andpointinginadirectionnearlystraightacrossthelake，saidYon’stacove。’’Asmallpointoflightwasseentotwinkleinthedirectioninwhichhepointed，andgraduallyincreasinginsizeandlustre，seemedtoflickerlikeameteoruponthevergeofthehorizon。WhileEdwardwatchedthisphenomenon，thedistantdashofoarswasheard。Themeasuredsoundapproachednearandmorenear，andpresentlyaloudwhistlewasheardinthesamedirection。Hisfriendwiththebattle-axeimmediatelywhistledclearandshrill，inreplytothesignal，andaboat，mannedwithfourorfiveHighlanders，pushedforalittleinlet，nearwhichEdwardwassitting。

Headvancedtomeetthemwithhisattendant，wasimmediatelyassistedintotheboatbytheofficiousattentionoftwostoutmountaineers，andhadnosoonerseatedhimself，thantheyresumedtheiroars，andbegantorowacrossthelakewithgreatrapidity。

Thepartypreservedsilence，interruptedonlybythemonotonousandmurmuredchantofaGaelicsong，sunginakindoflowrecitativebythesteersman，andbythedashoftheoars，whichthenotesseemedtoregulate，astheydippedtothemincadence。

Thelight，whichtheynowapproachedmorenearly，assumedabroader，redder，andmoreirregularsplendour