第56章

WhenWaverleyreachedthatpartofthecolumnwhichwasfilledbytheclanofMac-Ivor，theyhalted，formed，andreceivedhimwithatriumphantflourishuponthebagpipes，andaloudshoutofthemen，mostofwhomknewhimpersonally，andweredelightedtoseehiminthedressoftheircountryandoftheirsept。Youshout，’’saidaHighlanderofaneighbouringclantoEvanDhu，asiftheChieftainwerejustcometoyourhead。’’

_MareBraniseabrathair，_IfitbenotBran，itisBran’sbrother，’’wastheproverbialreplyofMaccombich。<>

Bran，thewell-knowndogofFingal，isoftenthethemeofHighlandproverbaswellassong。

O，then，itisthehandsomeSassenachDuinh-wassel，thatistobemarriedtoLadyFlora？’’

Thatmaybe，oritmaynotbe；anditisneitheryourmatternormine，Gregor。’’

Fergusadvancedtoembracethevolunteer，andaffordhimawarmandheartywelcome；buthethoughtitnecessarytoapologizeforthediminishednumbersofhisbattalion(whichdidnotexceedthreehundredmen)，byobserving，hehadsentagoodmanyoutuponparties。

Therealfact，however，was，thatthedefectionofDonaldBeanLeanhaddeprivedhimofatleastthirtyhardyfellows，whoseserviceshehadfullyreckonedupon，andthatmanyofhisoccasionaladherentshadbeenrecalledbytheirseveralchiefstothestandardstowhichtheymostproperlyowedtheirallegiance。Therivalchiefofthegreatnorthernbranchalsoofhisownclanhadmusteredhispeople，althoughhehadnotyetdeclaredeitherfortheGovernmentorfortheChevalier，andbyhisintrigueshadinsomedegreediminishedtheforcewithwhichFergustookthefield。Tomakeamendsforthesedisappointments，itwasuniversallyadmittedthatthefollowersofVichIanVohr，inpointofappearance，equipment，arms，anddexterityinusingthem，equalledthemostchoicetroopswhichfollowedthestandardofCharlesEdward。OldBallenkeirochactedashismajor；andwiththeotherofficerswhohadknownWaverleywhenatGlennaquoich，gaveourheroacordialreception，astheshareroftheirfuturedangersandexpectedhonours。

TheroutepursuedbytheHighlandarmy，afterleavingthevillageofDuddingston，wasforsometimethecommonpost-roadbetwixtEdinburghandHaddington，untiltheycrossedtheEskatMusselburgh，when，insteadofkeepingthelowgroundstowardsthesea，theyturnedmoreinland，andoccupiedthebrowoftheeminencecalledCarberryHill，aplacealreadydistinguishedinScottishhistoryasthespotwherethelovelyMarysurrenderedherselftoherinsurgentsubjects。ThisdirectionwaschosenbecausetheChevalierhadreceivednoticethatthearmyoftheGovernment，arrivingbyseafromAberdeen，hadlandedatDunbar，andquarteredthenightbeforetothewestofHaddington，withtheintentionoffallingdowntowardstheseaside，andapproachingEdinburghbythelowercoast-road。

Bykeepingtheheight，whichoverhungthatroadinmanyplaces，itwashopedtheHighlandersmightfindanopportunityofattackingthemtoadvantage。ThearmythereforehaltedupontheridgeofCarberryHill，bothtorefreshthesoldiers，andasacentralsituation，fromwhichtheirmarchcouldbedirectedtoanypointthatthemotionsoftheenemymightrendermostadvisable。Whiletheyremainedinthisposition，amessengerarrivedinhastetodesireMac-IvortocometothePrince，adding，thattheiradvancedposthadhadaskirmishwithsomeoftheenemy’scavalry，andthattheBaronofBradwardinehadsentinafewprisoners。

Waverleywalkedforwardoutofthelinetosatisfyhiscuriosity，andsoonobservedfiveorsixofthetroopers，who，coveredwithdust，hadgallopedintoannouncethattheenemywereinfullmarchwestwardalongthecoast。Passingstillalittlefartheron，hewasstruckwithagroanwhichissuedfromahovel。

Heapproachedthespot，andheardavoice，intheprovincialEnglishofhisnativecounty，whichendeavoured，thoughfrequentlyinterruptedbypain，torepeattheLord’sPrayer。Thevoiceofdistressalwaysfoundareadyanswerinourhero’sbosom。

Heenteredthehovel，whichseemedtobeintendedforwhatiscalled，inthepastoralcountiesofScotland，a_smearing-house；_

andinitsobscurityEdwardcouldonlyatfirstdiscernasortofredbundle；forthosewh