第28章

Doeshealwaysresideinthatcave？’’

Out，no！it’spasttheskillofmantotellwherehe’stobefoundata’times；there’snotadern，nook，orcove，orcorri，inthewholecountry，thathe’snotacquaintedwith。’’

Anddoothersbesideyourmastershelterhim？’’

Mymaster？-_My_masterisinheaven，’’answeredEvanhaughtily；andthenimmediatelyassuminghisusualcivilityofmanner-ButyoumeanmyChief；-no，hedoesnotshelterDonaldBeanLean，noranythatarelikehim；heonlyallowshim(withasmile)woodandwater。’’

Nogreatboon，Ishouldthink，Evan，whenbothseemtobeveryplenty。’’

Ah！butyedinnaseethroughit。WhenIsaywoodandwater，Imeanthelochandtheland；andIfancyDonaldwouldbeputtill’tifthelairdweretolookforhimwi’threescoremeninthewoodofKailychatyonder；andifourboats，withascoreortwamair，weretocomedownthelochtoUaimhanRi，headedbymysell，oronyotherprettyman。’’

ButsupposeastrongpartycameagainsthimfromtheLowCountry，wouldnotyourChiefdefendhim？’’

Na，hewouldnotwarethesparkofaflintforhim-iftheycamewiththelaw。’’

AndwhatmustDonalddo，then？’’

Hebehovedtoridthiscountryofhimself，andfallback，itmaybe，overthemountuponLetterScriven。’’

Andifhewerepursuedtothatplace？’’

I’sewarranthewouldgotohiscousin’satRannoch。’’

Well，butiftheyfollowedhimtoRannoch？’’

That，’’quothEvan，isbeyondallbelief；and，indeed，totellyouthetruth，theredurstnotaLowlanderinallScotlandfollowthefrayagun-shotbeyondBally-Brough，unlesshehadthehelpofthe_SidierDhu。_’’

Whomdoyoucallso？’’

The_SidierDhu？_theblacksoldier；thatiswhattheycalltheindependentcompaniesthatwereraisedtokeeppeaceandlawintheHighlands。VichIanVohrcommandedoneofthemforfiveyears，andIwassergeantmyself，Ishallwarrantye。Theycallthem_SidierDhu，_becausetheywearthetartans-astheycallyourmen，KingGeorge’smen，_SidierRoy，_orredsoldiers。’’

Well，butwhenyouwereinKingGeorge’spay，Evan，youweresurelyKingGeorge’ssoldiers？’’

Troth，andyoumustaskVichIanVohraboutthat；forweareforhisking，andcarenotmuchwhichofthemitis。

Atanyrate，nobodycansayweareKingGeorge’smennow，whenwehavenotseenhispaythistwelvemonth。’’

Thislastargumentadmittedofnoreply，nordidEdwardattemptany；heratherchosetobringbackthediscoursetoDonaldBeanLean。DoesDonaldconfinehimselftocattle，ordoeshe_lift，_asyoucallit，anythingelsethatcomesinhisway？’’

Troth，he’snaenicebody，andhe’lljusttak’onything，butmostreadilycattle，horse，orliveChristians；forsheepareslowoftravel，andinsideplenishingiscumbroustocarry，andnoteasytoputawayforsillerinthiscountry。’’

Butdoeshecarryoffmenandwomen？’’

Out，ay。Didnotyehearhimspeako’thePerthbailie？

ItcostthatbodyfivehundredmerkserehegottothesouthofBally-Brough。AndanceDonaldplayedaprettysport。<>ThereNoteI。Caterans。<！p130>

wastobeablythebridalbetweentheLadyCramfeezer，inthehoweo’theMearns(shewastheauldlaird’swidow，andnosaeyoungasshehadbeenherself)，andyoungGilliewhackit，whohadspenthisheirshipandmoveables，likeagentleman，atcock-matches，bull-baitings，horse-races，andthelike。Now，DonaldBeanLeanbeingawarethatthebridegroomwasinrequest，andwantingtocleikthecunzie(thatis，tohookthesiller)，hecannilycarriedoffGilliewhackitaenightwhenhewasriding_dovering_hame(wi’themaltratherabunethemeal)，andwiththehelpofhisgillieshegathimintothehillswiththespeedoflight，andthefirstplacehewakenedinwasthecoveofUaimhanRi。Sotherewasoldtodoaboutransomingthebridegroom；forDonaldwouldnotlowerafarthingofathousandpunds’’

Thedevil！’’

PundsScottish，yeshallunderstand。Andtheladyhadnotthesillerifshehadpawnedhergown；andtheyappliedtothegovernoro’StirlingCastle，andtothemajoro’theBlackWatch；andthegovernorsaid，itwasowerfartothenorthward，andoutofhisdistrict；andthemajorsaid，hismenwereganehametotheshearin