第12章

myselflayatthebaker’sfeet，whohadjustraisedhisspoke，probablytogivemetheCOUPDEGRACE，-itwasanawfulmoment。

JustthenIheardashoutandarushingsound；awild-lookingfigureisdescendingthehillwithterriblebounds；itisaladofsomefifteenyears；heisbare-headed，andhisreduncombedhairstandsonendlikehedgehogs’bristles：hisframeislithy，likethatofanantelope，buthehasprodigiousbreadthofchest；hewearsamilitaryundress，thatoftheregiment，evenofadrummer，foritiswildDavy，whomamonthbeforeIhadseenenlistedonLeithLinkstoserveKingGeorgewithdrumanddrumstickaslongashisservicesmightberequired，andwho，ereaweekhadelapsed，hadsmittenwithhisfistDrum-MajorElzigood，who，incensedathisinaptitude，hadthreatenedhimwithhiscane；hehasbeeninconfinementforweeks，thisisthefirstdayofhisliberation，andheisnowdescendingthehillwithhorridboundsandshoutings；heisnowaboutfiveyardsdistant，andthebaker，whoapprehendsthatsomethingdangerousisathand，prepareshimselffortheencounter；

butwhatavailsthestrengthofabaker，evenfullgrown？-whatavailsthedefenceofawickershield？-whatavailsthewheel-

spoke，shouldtherebeanopportunityofusingit，againsttheimpetusofanavalancheoracannon-ball？-fortoeitherofthesemightthatwildfigurebecompared，which，atthedistanceoffiveyards，sprangatoncewithhead，hands，feetandbody，alltogether，uponthechampionoftheNewTown，tumblinghimtotheearthamain。AndnowitwastheturnoftheOldTowntotriumph。

Ourlatediscomfitedhost，returningonitssteps，overwhelmedthefallenchampionwithblowsofeverykind，andthen，ledonbyhisvanquisher，whohadassumedhisarms，namely，thewheel-spokeandwickershield，fairlyclearedthebraeoftheiradversaries，whomtheydrovedownheadlongintothemorass。

CHAPTERVIII

Expertclimbers-Thecrags-Somethingred-Thehorribleedge-

DavidHaggart-Finematerials-Thegreatestvictory-

Extraordinaryrobber-Therulingpassion。

MEANWHILEIhadbecomeadaringcragsman，acharactertowhichanEnglishladhasseldomopportunitiesofaspiring；forinEnglandthereareneithercragsnormountains。Ofthese，however，asiswellknown，thereisnolackinScotland，andthehabitsofindividualsareinvariablyinharmonywiththecountryinwhichtheydwell。TheScotchareexpertclimbers，andIwasnowaScotinmostthings，particularlyinlanguage。TheCastleinwhichI

dweltstooduponarock，aboldandcraggyone，which，atfirstsight，wouldseemtobiddefiancetoanyfeetsavethoseofgoatsandchamois；butpatienceandperseverancegenerallyenablemankindtoovercomethingswhich，atfirstsight，appearimpossible。

Indeed，whatisthereaboveman’sexertions？Unwearieddeterminationwillenablehimtorunwiththehorse，toswimwiththefish，andassuredlytocompetewiththechamoisandthegoatinagilityandsurenessoffoot。Toscaletherockwasmerelychild’splayfortheEdinbro’callants。Itwasmyownfavouritediversion。

Isoonfoundthattherockcontainedallmannerofstrangecrypts，crannies，andrecesses，whereowlsnestled，andtheweaselbroughtforthheryoung；hereandthereweresmallnaturalplatforms，overgrownwithlonggrassandvariouskindsofplants，wheretheclimber，ifsodisposed，couldstretchhimself，andeithergivehiseyestosleeporhismindtothought；forcapitalplaceswerethesesameplatformseitherforreposeormeditation。Theboldestfeaturesoftherockaredescriedonthenorthernside，where，aftershelvingdowngentlyfromthewallforsomedistance，itterminatesabruptlyinaprecipice，blackandhorrible，ofsomethreehundredfeetatleast，asiftheaxeofnaturehadbeenhereemployedcuttingsheerdown，andleavingbehindneitherexcrescencenorspur-adizzyprecipiceitis，assimilatingmuchtothosesofrequentintheflintyhillsofNorthernAfrica，andexhibitingsomedistantresemblancetothatofGibraltar，toweringinitshorridnessabovetheNeutralGround。

Itwasnowholidaytime，andhavingnothingparticularwherewithtooccupymyself，Inotunfrequentlypassedthegreaterpartofthedayupontherocks。Once，afterscalingthewesterncrags，andcreepingroundasharpangleofthewall，overhungbyakindofwatch-tower，Ifoundmyselfonthenorthernside。Stillkeepingclosetothewall，Iwasproceedingonward，forIwasbentuponalongexcursionwhichshouldembracehalfthecircuitoftheCastle，whensuddenlymyeyewasattractedbytheappearanceofsomethingred，farbelowme；Istoppedshort，and，lookingfixedlyuponit，perceivedthatitwasahumanbeinginakindofredjacket，seatedontheextremevergeoftheprecipicewhichIhavealreadymadeafaintattempttodescribe。Wonderingwhoitcouldbe，Ishouted；

butittooknottheslightestnotice，remainingasimmovableastherockonwhichitsat。’Ishouldneverhavethoughtofgoingnearthatedge，’saidItomyself；’however，asyouhavedoneit，whyshouldnotI？AndIshouldliketoknowwhoyouare。’SoI

commencedthedescentoftherock，butwithgreatcare，forIhadasyetneverbeeninasituationsodangerous；aslightmoistureexudedfromthepalmsofmyhands，mynervesweretingling，andmybrainwassomewhatdizzy-andnowIhadarrivedwithinafewyardsofthefigure，andhadrecognisedit：itwasthewilddrummerwhohadturnedthetideofbattleinthebickerontheCastleBrae。A

smallstonewhichIdislodgednowrolleddowntherock，andtumbledintotheabyssclosebesidehim。Heturnedhishead，andafterlookingatmeforamomentsomewhatvacantly，heresumedhisformerattitude。Idrewyetnearertothehorribleedgenotclose，however，forfearwasonme。

’Whatareyouthinkingof，David？’saidI，asIsatbehindhimandtrembled，forIrepeatthatIwasafraid。

DAVIDHAGGART。IwasthinkingofWillieWallace。

MYSELF。Youhadbetterbethinkingofyourself，man。AstrangeplacethistocometoandthinkofWilliamWallace。

DAVIDHAGGART。Whyso？Isnothistowerjustbeneathourfeet？

MYSELF。YoumeantheauldruinbythesideoftheNorLoch-theuglystanebulk，fromthefootofwhichflowsthespringintothedykewherethewatercressesgrow？

DAVIDHAGGART。Justsae，Geordie。

MYSELF。Andwhywereyethinkingofhim？TheEnglishhangedhimlongsince，asIhaveheardsay。

DAVIDHAGGART。IwasthinkingthatIshouldwishtobelikehim。

MYSELF。Doyemeanthatyewouldwishtobehanged？

DAVIDHAGGART。Iwadnaflinchfromthat，Geordie，ifImightbeagreatmanfirst。

MYSELF。Andwhakens，Davie，howgreatyoumaybe，evenwithouthanging？Areyenotinthehighroadofpreferment？Areyenotabaulddrummeralready？Whakenshowhighyemayrise？perhapstobegeneral，ordrum-major。

DAVIDHAGGART。Ihaenaewishtobedrum-major；itwerenaegreatthingstobelikethedoitedcarle，Else-than-gude，astheycallhim；and，troth，hehasnaehisnamefornaething。ButIshouldhavenaeobjectiontobeageneral，andtofighttheFrenchandAmericans，andwinmyselfanameandafamelikeWillieWallace，anddobravedeeds，suchasIhavebeenreadingaboutinhisstorybook。

MYSELF。Yeareafule，Davie；thestorybookisfulloflies。

Wallace，indeed!thewuddierebel!IhaveheardmyfathersaythattheDukeofCumberlandwasworthtwentyofWillieWallace。

DAVIDHAGGART。YehadbettersaenaethingaginWillieWallace，Geordie，for，ifyedo，De’ilhaeme，ifIdinnatumbleyedoonthecraig。

Finematerialsinthatladforahero，youwillsay。Yes，indeed，forahero，orforwhatheafterwardsbecame。Inothertimes，andunderothercircumstances，hemighthavemadewhatisgenerallytermedagreatman，apatriot，oraconqueror。Asitwas，theveryqualitieswhichmightthenhavepushedhimontofortuneandrenownwerethecauseofhisruin。Thewarover，hefellintoevilcourses；forhiswildheartandambitiousspiritcouldnotbrookthesoberandquietpursuitsofhonestindustry。

’CananArabiansteedsubmittobeaviledrudge？’Icriesthefatalist。Nonsense!Amanisnotanirrationalcreature，butareasoningbeing，andhassomethingwithinhimbeyondmerebrutalinstinct。Thegreatestvictorywhichamancanachieveisoverhimself，bywhichismeantthoseunrulypassionswhicharenotconvenienttothetimeandplace。Daviddidnotdothis；hegavethereinstohiswildheart，insteadofcurbingit，andbecamearobber，and，alas!alas!heshedblood-underpeculiarcircumstances，itistrue，andwithoutMALICEPREPENSE-andforthatbloodheeventuallydied，andjustly；foritwasthatofthewardenofaprisonfromwhichhewasescaping，andwhomheslewwithoneblowofhisstalwartarm。

TamerlaneandHaggart!HaggartandTamerlane!Boththesemenwererobbers，andoflowbirth，yetoneperishedonanignoblescaffold，andtheotherdiedemperoroftheworld。Isthisjustice？Theendsofthetwomenwerewidelydissimilar-yetwhatistheintrinsicdifferencebetweenthem？Verygreatindeed；theoneactedaccordingtohislightsandhiscountry，notsotheother。

Tamerlanewasaheathen，andactedaccordingtohislights；hewasarobberwhereallaroundwererobbers，buthebecametheavengerofGod-God’sscourgeonunjustkings，onthecruelBajazet，whohadpluckedouthisownbrothers’eyes；hebecametoacertainextentthepurifieroftheEast，itsregenerator；hisequalneverwasbefore，norhasitsincebeenseen。Herethewildheartwasprofitablyemployed，thewildstrength，theteemingbrain。Onward，Lameone!Onward，Tamur-lank!Haggart……

Butpeacetothee，poorDavid!whyshouldamortalwormbesittinginjudgmentoverthee？TheMightyandJustOnehasalreadyjudgedthee，andperhapsabovethouhastreceivedpardonforthycrimes，whichcouldnotbepardonedherebelow；andnowthatthyfeverishexistencehasclosed，andthyonceactiveformbecomeinanimatedust，thyverymemoryallbutforgotten，Iwillsayafewwordsaboutthee，afewwordssoonalsotobeforgotten。ThouwastthemostextraordinaryrobberthateverlivedwithinthebeltofBritain；Scotlandrangwiththyexploits，andEngland，too，northoftheHumber；strangedeedsalsodidstthouachievewhen，fleeingfromjustice，thoudidstfindthyselfintheSisterIsle；busywastthouthereintownandoncurragh，atfairandrace-course，andalsointhesolitaryplace。Irelandthoughttheeherchild，forwhospokeherbroguebetterthanthyself？-shefeltproudofthee，andsaid，’Sure，O’Hanloniscomeagain。’WhatmightnothavebeenthyfateinthefarwestinAmerica，whitherthouhadstturnedthineeye，saying，’Iwillgothere，andbecomeanhonestman!’