第67章

Inthemeanwhile，WaverleyturnedtheinstructionshehadreceivedwhileinGardiner’sdragoonstosomeaccount，andassistedtheBaroninhiscommandasasortofadjutant。

_Parmilesaveuglesunborgneestroi，_’’saystheFrenchproverb；

andthecavalry，whichconsistedchieflyofLowlandgentlemen，theirtenantsandservants，formedahighopinionofWaverley’sskill，andagreatattachmenttohisperson。ThiswasindeedpartlyowingtothesatisfactionwhichtheyfeltatthedistinguishedEnglishvolunteer’sleavingtheHighlanderstorankamongthem；fortherewasalatentgrudgebetweenthehorseandfoot，notonlyowingtothedifferenceoftheservices，butbecausemostofthegentlemen，livingneartheHighlands，hadatonetimeorotherhadquarrelswiththetribesintheirvicinity，andallofthemlookedwithajealouseyeontheHighlanders’avowedpretensionstosuperiorvalour，andutilityinthePrince’sservice。

ItwasWaverley’scustomsometimestoridealittleapartfromthemainbody，tolookatanyobjectofcuriositywhichoccurredonthemarch。TheywerenowinLancashire，when，attractedbyacastellatedoldhall，heleftthesquadronforhalf-an-hour，totakeasurveyandslightsketchofit。Ashereturneddowntheavenue，hewasmetbyEnsignMaccombich。ThismanhadcontractedasortofregardforEdwardsincethedayofhisfirstseeinghimatTully-Veolan，andintroducinghimtotheHighlands。

Heseemedtoloiter，asifonpurposetomeetwithourhero。Yet，ashepassedhim，heonlyapproachedhisstirrup，andpronouncedthesinglewordBeware！’’andthenwalkedswiftlyon，shunningallfurthercommunication。

Edward，somewhatsurprisedatthishint，followedwithhiseyesthecourseofEvan，whospeedilydisappearedamongthetrees。Hisservant，AlickPolwarth，whowasinattendance，alsolookedaftertheHighlander，andthenridingupclosetohismaster，said，Thene’erbeinme，sir，ifIthinkyou’resafeamongthaeHighlandrinthereouts。’’

Whatdoyoumean，Alick？’’saidWaverley。

TheMac-Ivors，sir，haegottenitintotheirheads，thatyehaeaffrontedtheiryoungleddy，MissFlora；andIhaeheardmaethananesay，theywadnatakmuckletomakeablack-cocko’ye；andyekenweeleneughthere’smonyo’themwadnamindabawbeetheweisingaballthroughthePrincehimsell，antheChiefgaethemthewink-orwhetherhedidorno，-

iftheythoughtitathingthatwouldpleasehimwhenitwasdune。’’

Waverley，thoughconfidentthatFergusMac-Ivorwasincapableofsuchtreachery，wasbynomeansequallysureoftheforbearanceofhisfollowers。Heknew，thatwherethehonouroftheChieforhisfamilywassupposedtobetouched，thehappiestmanwouldbehethatcouldfirstavengethestigma；

andhehadoftenheardthemquoteaproverb，Thatthebestrevengewasthemostspeedyandmostsafe。’’CouplingthiswiththehintofEvan，hejudgeditmostprudenttosetspurstohishorse，andridebrisklybacktothesquadron。Erehereachedtheendofthelongavenue，however，aballwhistledpasthim，andthereportofapistolwasheard。

Itwasthatdeevil’sbuckie，CallumBeg，’’saidAlick；I

sawhimwhiskawaythroughamangthereises。’’

Edward，justlyincensedatthisactoftreachery，gallopedoutoftheavenue，andobservedthebattalionofMac-Ivoratsomedistancemovingalongthecommon，inwhichitterminated。

Healsosawanindividualrunningveryfasttojointheparty；

thisheconcludedwastheintendedassassin，who，byleapinganenclosure，mighteasilymakeamuchshorterpathtothemainbodythanhecouldfindonhorseback。Unabletocontainhimself，hecommandedAlicktogototheBaronofBradwardine，whowasattheheadofhisregimentabouthalfamileinfront，andacquainthimwithwhathadhappened。HehimselfimmediatelyrodeuptoFergus’sregiment。TheChiefhimselfwasintheactofjoiningthem。Hewasonhorseback，havingreturnedfromwaitingonthePrince。OnperceivingEdwardapproaching，heputhishorseinmotiontowardshim。

Colo