第70章

Andthis，then，wasthylastfield，’’saidWaverleytohimself，hiseyefillingattherecollectionofthemanysplendidpointsofFergus’scharacter，andoftheirformerintimacy，allhispassionsandimperfectionsforgotten-HerefellthelastVichIanVohr，onanamelessheath；andinanobscurenight-skirmishwasquenchedthatardentspirit，whothoughtitlittletocutawayforhismastertotheBritishthrone！Ambition，policy，bravery，allfarbeyondtheirsphere，herelearnedthefateofmortals。Thesolesupport，too，ofasister，whosespirit，asproudandunbending，wasevenmoreexaltedthanthineown；hereendedallthyhopesforFlora，andthelongandvaluedlinewhichitwasthyboasttoraiseyetmorehighlybythyadventurousvalour！’’

AstheseideaspressedonWaverley’smind，heresolvedtogoupontheopenheath，andsearchif，amongtheslain，hecoulddiscoverthebodyofhisfriend，withthepiousintentionofprocuringforhimthelastritesofsepulture。Thetimorousyoungmanwhoaccompaniedhimremonstrateduponthedangeroftheattempt，butEdwardwasdetermined。Thefollowersofthecamphadalreadystrippedthedeadofalltheycouldcarryaway；butthecountrypeople，unusedtoscenesofblood，hadnotyetapproachedthefieldofaction，thoughsomestoodfearfullygazingatadistance。Aboutsixtyorseventydragoonslayslainwithinthefirstenclosure，uponthehighroad，andontheopenmoor。OftheHighlanders，notaboveadozenhadfallen，chieflythosewho，venturingtoofaronthemoor，couldnotregainthestrongground。HecouldnotfindthebodyofFergusamongtheslain。Onalittleknoll，separatedfromtheothers，laythecarcassesofthreeEnglishdragoons，twohorses，andthepageCallumBeg，whosehardskullatrooper’sbroadswordhad，atlength，effectuallycloven。ItwaspossiblehisclanhadcarriedoffthebodyofFergus；butitwasalsopossiblehehadescaped，especiallyasEvanDhu，whowouldneverleavehischief，wasnotfoundamongthedead；orhemightbeprisoner，andthelessformidabledenunciationinferredfromtheappearanceoftheBodachGlasmighthaveprovedthetrueone。Theapproachofaparty，sentforthepurposeofcompellingthecountrypeopletoburythedead，andwhohadalreadyassembledseveralpeasantsforthatpurpose，nowobligedEdwardtorejoinhisguide，whoawaitedhimingreatanxietyandfearundershadeoftheplantations。

Afterleavingthisfieldofdeath，therestoftheirjourneywashappilyaccomplished。AtthehouseofFarmerWilliams，Edwardpassedforayoungkinsman，educatedforthechurch，whowascometoresidetheretilltheciviltumultspermittedhimtopassthroughthecountry。ThissilencedsuspicionamongthekindandsimpleyeomanryofCumberland，andaccountedsufficientlyforthegravemannersandretiredhabitsofthenewguest。TheprecautionbecamemorenecessarythanWaverleyhadanticipated，asavarietyofincidentsprolongedhisstayatFasthwaite，asthefarmwascalled。

Atremendousfallofsnowrenderedhisdepartureimpossibleformorethantendays。Whentheroadsbegantobecomealittlepracticable，theysuccessivelyreceivednewsoftheretreatoftheChevalierintoScotland；then，thathehadabandonedthefrontiers，retiringuponGlasgow；andthattheDukeofCumberlandhadformedthesiegeofCarlisle。Hisarmy，therefore，cutoffallpossibilityofWaverley’sescapingintoScotlandinthatdirection。Ontheeasternborder，MarshalWade，withalargeforce，wasadvancinguponEdinburgh；

andallalongthefrontier，partiesofmilitia，volunteers，andpartisans，wereinarmstosuppressinsurrection，andapprehendsuchstragglersfromtheHighlandarmyashadbeenleftinEngland。ThesurrenderofCarlisle，andtheseveritywithwhichtherebelgarrisonwerethreatened，soonformedalladditionalreasonagainstventuringuponasolitaryandhopelessjourneythroughahostilecountryandalargearmy，tocarrytheassistanceofasingleswordtoacausewhichseemedaltogetherdesperate。

Inthislonelyandsecludedsituation，withouttheadvantageofcompanyorconversationwithmenofcultivatedminds，theargumentsofColonelTalbotoftenrecurredtothemindofourhero。Astillmoreanxiousrecollectionhauntedhisslumbers-itwasthedyinglookandgestureofColonelGardiner。Mostdevoutlydidhehope，astherarelyoccurringpostbroughtnews