首页 >出版文学> WAVERLEY>第25章

第25章

  This,bytheway,prettywellexplainedthecauseofquarrelbetweentheBaronandhisHighlandally。Buthewentontostatesomanycuriousparticularsconcerningthemanners,customs,andhabitsofthispatriarchalrace,thatEdward’scuriositybecamehighlyinterested,andheinquiredwhetheritwaspossibletomakewithsafetyanexcursionintotheneighbouringHighlands,whoseduskybarrierofmountainshadalreadyexcitedhiswishtopenetratebeyondthem。TheBaronassuredhisguestthatnothingwouldbemoreeasy,providingthisquarrelwerefirstmadeup,sincehecouldhimselfgivehimletterstomanyofthedistinguishedchiefs,whowouldreceivehimwiththeutmostcourtesyandhospitality。
  Whiletheywereonthistopic,thedoorsuddenlyopened,and,usheredbySaundersSaunderson,aHighlander,fullyarmedandequipped,enteredtheapartment。HaditnotbeenthatSaundersactedthepartofmasteroftheceremoniestothismartialapparition,withoutappearingtodeviatefromhisusualcomposure,andthatneitherMr。BradwardinenorRoseexhibitedanyemotion,Edwardwouldcertainlyhavethoughttheintrusionhostile。Asitwas,hestartedatthesightofwhathehadnotyethappenedtosee,amountaineerinhisfullnationalcostume。
  TheindividualGaelwasastout,dark,youngman,oflowstature,theamplefoldsofwhoseplaidaddedtotheappearanceofstrengthwhichhispersonexhibited。Theshortkilt,orpetticoat,showedhissinewyandclean-madelimbs;thegoat-skinpurse,flankedbytheusualdefences,adirkandsteel-wroughtpistol,hungbeforehim;hisbonnethadashortfeather,whichindicatedhisclaimtobetreatedasaDuinh
  wassel,orsortofgentleman;abroadsworddangledbyhisside,atargethunguponhisshoulder,andalongSpanishfowling-pieceoccupiedoneofhishands。Withtheotherhandhepulledoffhisbonnet,andtheBaron,whowellknewtheircustoms,andthepropermodeofaddressingthem,immediatelysaid,withanairofdignity,butwithoutrising,andmuch,asEdwardthought,inthemannerofaprincereceivinganembassy,Welcome,EvanDhuMaccombich!whatnewsfromFergusMac-IvorVichIanVohr?’’
  FergusMac-IvorVichIanVohr,’’saidtheambassador,ingoodEnglish,greetsyouwell,BaronofBradwardineandTully-Veolan,andissorrytherehasbeenathickcloudinterposedbetweenyouandhim,whichhaskeptyoufromseeingandconsideringthefriendshipandalliancesthathavebeenbetweenyourhousesandforbearsofold;andhepraysyouthatthecloudmaypassaway,andthatthingsmaybeastheyhavebeenheretoforebetweentheclanIvorandthehouseofBradwardine,whentherewasaneggbetweenthemforaflint,andaknifeforasword。Andheexpectsyouwillalsosay,youaresorryforthecloud,andnomanshallhereafteraskwhetheritdescendedfromthehilltothevalley,orrosefromthevalleytothehill;fortheyneverstruckwiththescabbardwhodidnotreceivewiththesword;andwoetohimwhowouldlosehisfriendforthestormycloudofaspringmorning!’’
  TothistheBaronofBradwardineanswered,withsuitabledignity,thatheknewthechiefofclanIvortobeawell-wishertothe_King,_andhewassorrythereshouldhavebeenacloudbetweenhimandanygentlemanofsuchsoundprinciples,forwhenfolksarebandingtogether,feebleishewhohathnobrother。’’
  Thisappearingperfectlysatisfactory,thatthepeacebetweentheseaugustpersonsmightbedulysolemnized,theBaronorderedastoupofusquebaugh,and,fillingaglass,dranktothehealthandprosperityofMac-IvorofGlennaquoich;uponwhichtheCelticambassador,torequitehispoliteness,turneddownamightybumperofthesamegenerousliquor,seasonedwithhisgoodwishestothehouseofBradwardine。
  Havingthusratifiedthepreliminariesofthegeneraltreatyofpacification,theenvoyretiredtoadjustwithMr。MacwheeblesomesubordinatearticleswithwhichitwasnotthoughtnecessarytotroubletheBaron。Theseprobablyreferredtothediscontinuanceofthesubsidy,andapparentlytheBailiefoundmeanstosatisfytheirally,withoutsufferinghismastertosupposethathisdignitywascompromised。Atleast,itiscertain,thataftertheplenipotentiarieshaddrankabottleofbrandyinsingledraws,whichseemedtohavenomoreeffectuponsuchseasonedvessels,thanifithadbeenpoureduponthetwobearsatthetopoftheavenue,EvanDhuMaccombich,havingpossessedhimselfofalltheinformationwhichhecouldprocurerespectingtherobberyoftheprecedingnight,declaredhisintentiontosetofimmediatelyinpursuitofthecattle,whichhepronouncedtobenotfaroff;-theyhavebrokenthebone,’’heobserved,buttheyhavehadnotimetosuckthemarrow。’’
  Ourhero,whohadattendedEvanDhuduringhisperquisitions,wasmuchstruckwiththeingenuitywhichhedisplayedincollectinginformation,andthepreciseandpointedconclusionswhichhedrewfromit。EvanDhu,onhispart,wasobviouslyflatteredwiththeattentionofWaverley,theinterestheseemedtotakeinhisinquiriesandhiscuriosityaboutthecustomsandsceneryoftheHighlands。WithoutmuchceremonyheinvitedEdwardtoaccompanyhimonashortwalkoftenorfifteenmilesintothemountains,andseetheplacewherethecattlewereconveyedto;adding,IfitbeasIsuppose,youneversawsuchaplaceinyourlife,noreverwill,unlessyougowithme,orthelikeofme。’’
  Ourhero,feelinghiscuriosityconsiderablyexcitedbytheideaofvisitingthedenofaHighlandCacus,took,however,theprecautiontoinquireifhisguidemightbetrusted。Hewasassured,thattheinvitationwouldonnoaccounthavebeengivenhadtherebeentheleastdanger,andthatallhehadtoapprehendwasalittlefatigue;andasEvanproposedheshouldpassadayathisChieftain’shouseinreturning,wherehewouldbesueofgoodaccommodationandanexcellentwelcome,thereseemednothingveryformidableinthetaskheundertook。
  Rose,indeed,turnedpalewhensheheardofit;butherfather,wholovedthespiritedcuriosityofhisyoungfriend,didnotattempttodampitbyanalarmofdangerwhichreallydidnotexist;andaknapsack,withafewnecessaries,beingboundontheshouldersofasortofdeputygamekeeper,ourherosetforthwithafowling-pieceinhishand,accompaniedbyhisnewfriendEvanDhu,and,followedbythegamekeeperaforesaid,andbytwowildHighlanders,theattendantsofEvan,oneofwhomhaduponhisshoulderahatchetattheendofapole,calledaLochaberaxe,andtheotheralongduckinggun。Evan,uponTheTown-guardofEdinburghwere,tillalateperiod,armedwiththisweaponwhenontheirpoliceduty。Therewasahookatthebackoftheaxe,whichtheancientHighlandersusedtoassistthemtoclimboverwalls,fixingthehookuponit,andraisingthemselvesbythehandle。Theaxe,whichwasalsomuchusedbythenativesofIreland,issupposedtohavebeenintroducedintobothcountriesfromScandinavia。
  Edward’sinquiry,gavehimtounderstandthatthismartialescortwasbynomeansnecessaryasaguard,butmerely,ashesaid,drawingupandadjustinghisplaidwithanairofdignity,thathemightappeardecentlyatTully-Veolan,andasVichIanVohr’sfoster-brotheroughttodo。Ah!’’saidhe,ifyouSaxonDuinh-wasselEnglishgentlemensawbuttheChiefwithhistailon!’’
  Withhistailon!’’echoedEdwardinsomesurprise。
  Yes-thatis,withallhisusualfollowers,whenhevisitsthoseofthesamerank。Thereis,’’hecontinued,stoppinganddrawinghimselfproudlyup,whilehecounteduponhisfingerstheseveralofficersofhischiefsretinue-thereishis_hanch-man,_
  orright-handman;thenhis_brd,_orpoet;thenhis_bladier,_
  ororator,tomakeharanguestothegreatfolkswhomhevisits;
  thenhis_gilly-more,_orarmour-bearer,tocarryhisswordandtarget,andhisgun;thenhis_gilly-casfliuch,_whocarrieshimonhisbackthroughthesikesandbrooks;thenhis_gilly-comstrian,_
  toleadhishorsebythebridleinsteepanddifficultpaths;thenhis_gilly-trushharnish,_tocarryhisknapsack;andthepiperandthepiper’sman,anditmaybeadozenyoungladsbesides,thathavenobusiness,butarejustboysofthebelt,tofollowthelaird,anddohishonour’sbidding。’’
  AnddoesyourChiefregularlymaintainallthesemen?’’
  demandedWaverley。
  Allthese!’’repliedEvan,ay,andmanyafairheadbeside,thatwouldnotkenwheretolayitself,butforthemicklebarnatGlennaquoich。’’
  WithsimilartalesofthegrandeuroftheChiefinpeaceandwar,EvanDhubeguiledthewaytilltheyapproachedmorecloselythosehugemountainswhichEdwardhadhithertoonlyseenatadistance。ItwastowardseveningastheyenteredoneofthetremendouspasseswhichaffordcommunicationbetweentheHighandLowCountry;thepath,whichwasextremelysteepandrugged,windedupachasmbetweentwotremendousrocks,followingthepassagewhichafoamingstream,thatbrawledfarbelow,appearedtohavewornforitselfinthecourseofages。Afewslantingbeamsofthesun,whichwasnowsetting,reachedthewaterinitsdarksomebed,andshoweditpartially,chafedbyahundredrocks,andbrokenbyahundredfalls。Thedescentfromthepathtothestreamwasamereprecipice,withhereandthereaprojectingfragmentofgranite,orascathedtree,whichhadwarpeditstwistedrootsintothefissuresoftherock。Ontherighthand,themountainroseabovethepathwithalmostequalinaccessibility;butthehillontheoppositesidedisplayedashroudofcopsewood,withwhichsomepineswereintermingled。
  This,’’saidEvan,isthepassofBally-Brough,whichwaskeptinformertimesbytenoftheclanDonnochieagainstahundredoftheLowCountrycarles。Thegravesoftheslainarestilltobeseeninthatlittlecorri,orbottom,ontheoppositesideoftheburn-ifyoureyesaregood,youmayseethegreenspecksamongtheheather-See,thereisanearn,whichyouSouthronscallaneagle-youhavenosuchbirdsasthatinEngland-heisgoingtofetchhissupperfromtheLairdofBradwardine’sbraes,butI’llsendaslugafterhim。’’
  Hefiredhispieceaccordingly,butmissedthesuperbmonarchofthefeatheredtribes,who,withoutnoticingtheattempttoannoyhim,continuedhismajesticflighttothesouthward。A
  thousandbirdsofprey,hawks,kites,carrion-crows,andravens,disturbedfromthelodgingswhichtheyhadjusttakenupfortheevening,roseatthereportofthegun,andmingledtheirhoarseanddiscordantnoteswiththeechoeswhichrepliedtoit,andwiththeroarofthemountaincataracts。Evan,alittledisconcertedathavingmissedhismark,whenhemeanttohavedisplayedpeculiardexterity,coveredhisconfusionbywhistlingpartofapibrochashereloadedhispiece,andproceededinsilenceupthepass。
  Itissuedinanarrowglen,betweentwomountains,bothverylofty,andcoveredwithheath。Thebrookcontinuedtobetheircompanion,andtheyadvancedupitsmazes,crossingthemnowandthem,onwhichoccasionsEvanDhuuniformlyofferedtheassistanceofhisattendantstocarryoverEdward;butourhero,whohadbeenalwaysatolerablepedestrian,declinedtheaccommodation,andobviouslyroseinhisguide’sopinion,byshowingthathedidnot,fearwettinghisfeet。Indeedhewasanxious,sofarashecouldwithoutaffectation,toremovetheopinionwhichEvanseemedtoentertainoftheeffeminacyoftheLowlanders,andparticularlyoftheEnglish。
  Throughthegorgeofthisglentheyfoundaccesstoablackbog,oftremendousextent,fulloflargepit-holes,whichtheytraversedwithgreatdifficultyandsomedanger,bytrackswhichnoonebutaHighlandercouldhavefollowed。Thepathitself,orrathertheportionofmoresolidgroundonwhichthetravellershalfwalked,halfwaded,wasrough,broken,andinmanyplacesquaggyandunsound。Sometimesthegroundwassocompletelyunsafe,thatitwasnecessarytospringfromonehillocktoanother,thespacebetweenbeingincapableofbearingthehumanweight。ThiswasaneasymattertotheHighlanders,whoworethin-soledbroguesfitforthepurpose,andmovedwithapeculiarspringingstep;butEdwardbegantofindtheexercise,towhichhewasunaccustomed,morefatiguingthanheexpected。ThelingeringtwilightservedtoshowthemthroughthisSerbonianbog,butdesertedthemalmosttotallyatthebottomofasteepandverystonyhill,whichitwasthetraveller’snexttoilsometasktoascend。Thenight,however,waspleasant,andnotdark;andWaverley,callingupmentalenergytosupportpersonalfatigue,heldonhismarchgallantly,thoughenvyinginhishearthisHighlandattendants,whocontinued,withoutasymptomofunabatedvigour,therapidandswingingpace,orrathertrot,which,accordingtohiscomputation,hadalreadybroughtthemfifteenmilesupontheirjourney。
  Aftercrossingthismountain,anddescendingupontheothersidetowardsathickwood,EvanDhuheldsomeconferencewithhisHighlandattendants,inconsequenceofwhichEdward’sbaggagewasshiftedfromtheshoulderofthegamekeepertothoseofoneofthegillies,andtheformerwassentoffwiththeothermountaineerinadirectiondifferentfromthatofthethreeremainingtravellers。Onaskingthemeaningofthisseparation,WaverleywastoldthattheLowlandermustgotoahamletaboutthreemilesoffforthenight;forunlessitwassomeveryparticularfriend,DonaldBeanLean,theworthypersonwhomtheysupposedtobepossessedofthecattle,didnotmuchapproveofstrangersapproachinghisretreat。Thisseemedreasonable,andsilencedaqualmofsuspicionwhichcameacrossEdward’smind,whenhesawhimself,atsuchaplace,andsuchanhour,deprivedofhisonlyLowlandcompanion。AndEvanimmediatelyafterwardsadded,thatindeedhehimselfhadbettergetforwardandannouncetheirapproachtoDonaldBeanLean,asthearrivalofa_sidierroy_redsoldiermightotherwiseThe_sidierroy_wereusedtodistinguishtheregularregimentsfromtheindependentcompaniesraisedtoprotectthepeaceoftheHighlands。