Waverleyfeltaninvoluntaryshuddercreepoverhimatthemysteriouslanguageheldbythisoutlawedandlawlessbandit，which，indespiteofhisattemptstomasterit，deprivedhimofthepowertoaskthemeaningofhisinsinuations。Aheathpallet，withtheflowersstuckuppermost，hadbeenpreparedforhiminarecessofthecave，andhere，coveredwithsuchspareplaidsascouldbemustered，helayforsometimewatchingthemotionsoftheotherinhabitantsofthecavern。SmallpartiesoftwoorthreeenteredorlefttheplacewithoutanyotherceremonythanafewwordsinGaelictotheprincipaloutlaw，and，whenhefellasleep，toatallHighlanderwhoactedashislieutenant，andseemedtokeepwatchduringhisrepose。Thosewhoentered，seemedtohavereturnedfromsomeexcursion，ofwhichtheyreportedthesuccess，andwentwithoutfartherceremonytothelarder，where，cuttingwiththeirdirkstheirrationsfromthecarcasseswhichweretheresuspended，theyproceededtobroilandeatthemattheirownpleasureandleisure。Theliquorwasunderstrictregulation，beingservedouteitherbyDonaldhimself，hislieutenant，orthestrappingHighlandgirlaforesaid，whowastheonlyfemalethatappeared。
　　Theallowanceofwhisky，however，wouldhaveappearedprodigaltoanybutHighlanders，who，livingentirelyintheopenair，andinaverymoistclimate，canconsumegreatquantitiesofardentspiritswithouttheusualbanefuleffectseitheruponthebrainorconstitution。
　　Atlengththefluctuatinggroupsbegantoswimbeforetheeyesofourheroastheygraduallyclosed；nordidhere-openthemtillthemorningsunwashighonthelakewithout，thoughtherewasbutafaintandglimmeringtwilightintherecessesofUaimhanRi，ortheKing’sCavern，astheabodeofDonaldBeanLeanwasproudlydenominated。
　　CHAPTEREIGHTEENTH。
　　WAVERLEYPROCEEDSONHISJOURNEY。
　　WhenEdwardhadcollectedhisscatteredrecollection，hewassurprisedtoobservethecaverntotallydeserted。Havingarisenandputhisdressinsomeorder，helookedmoreaccuratelyroundhim；butallwasstillsolitary。Ifithadnotbeenforthedecayedbrandsofthefire，nowsunkintogreyashes，andtheremnantsofthefestival，consistingofboneshalfburntandhalfgnawed，andanemptykegortwo，thereremainednotracesofDonaldandhisband。WhenWaverleysalliedforthtotheentranceofthecave，heperceivedthatthepointofrock，onwhichremainedthemarksoflastnight’sbeacon，wasaccessiblebyasmallpath，eithernatural，orroughlyhewnintherock，alongthelittleinletofwaterwhichranafewyardsupintothecavern，where，asinawet-dock，theskiffwhichbroughthimtherethenightbeforewasstilllyingmoored。Whenhereachedthesmallprojectingplatformonwhichthebeaconhadbeenestablished，hewouldhavebelievedhisfurtherprogressbylandimpossible，onlythatitwasscarceprobablebutwhattheinhabitantsofthecavernhadsomemodeofissuingfromitotherwisethanbythelake。Accordingly，hesoonobservedthreeorfourshelvingsteps，orledgesofrock，attheveryextremityofthelittleplatform；and，makinguseofthemasastaircase，heclamberedbytheirmeansaroundtheprojectingshoulderofthecragonwhichthecavernopened，and，descendingwithsomedifficultyontheotherside，hegainedthewildandprecipitousshoresofaHighlandloch，aboutfourmilesinlength，andamileandahalfacross，surroundedbyheathyandsavagemountains，onthecrestsofwhichthemorningmistwasstillsleeping。
　　Lookingbacktotheplacefromwhichhecame，hecouldnothelpadmiringtheaddresswhichhadadoptedaretreatofsuchseclusionandsecrecy。Therock，roundtheshoulderofwhichhehadturnedbyafewimperceptiblenotches，thatbarelyaffordedplaceforthefoot，seemed，inlookingbackuponit，ahugeprecipice，whichbarredallfurtherpassagebytheshoresofthelakeinthatdirection。Therecouldbenopossibility，thebreadthofthelakeconsidered，ofdescryingtheentranceofthenarrowandlow-browedcavefromtheotherside；
　　sothat，unlesstheretreathadbeensoughtforwithboats，ordisclosedbytreachery，itmightbeasafeandsecretresidencetoitsgarrisonaslongastheyweresuppliedwithprovisions。
　　Havingsatisfiedhiscuriosityintheseparticulars，WaverleylookedaroundforEvanDhuandhisattendants，who，herightlyjudged，wouldbeatnogreatdistance，whatevermighthavebecomeofDonaldBeanLeanandhisparty，whosemodeoflifewas，ofcourse，liabletosuddenmigrationsofabode。Accordingly，atthedistanceofabouthalf-a-mile，hebeheldaHighlanderEvanapparentlyanglinginthelake，withanotherattendinghim，whom，fromtheweaponwhichheshouldered，herecognisedforhisfriendwiththebattle-axe。
　　Muchnearertothemouthofthecave，heheardthenotesofalivelyGaelicsong，guidedbywhich，inasunnyrecess，shadedbyaglitteringbirch-tree，andcarpetedwithabankoffirmwhitesand，hefoundthedamselofthecavern，whoselayhadalreadyreachedhim，busy，tothebestofherpower，inarrangingtoadvantageamorningrepastofmilk，eggs，barley-bread，freshbutter，andhoney-comb。Thepoorgirlhadalreadymadeacircuitoffourmilesthatmorninginsearchoftheeggs，ofthemealwhichbakedhercakes，andoftheothermaterialsofthebreakfast，beingalldelicacieswhichshehadtobegorborrowfromdistantcottagers。ThefollowersofDonaldBeanLeanusedlittlefoodexceptthefleshoftheanimalswhichtheydroveawayfromtheLowlands；breaditselfwasadelicacyseldomthoughtof，becausehardtobeobtained，andallthedomesticaccommodationsofmilk，poultry，butter，etc。，wereoutofthequestioninthisScythiancamp。Yetitmustnotbeomitted，that，althoughAlicehadoccupiedapartofthemorninginprovidingthoseaccommodationsforherguestwhichthecaverndidnotafford，shehadsecuredtimealsotoarrangeherownpersoninherbesttrim。Herfinerywasverysimple。Ashortrusset-colouredjacket，andapetticoat，ofscantylongitude，washerwholedress；butthesewereclean，andneatlyarranged。
　　Apieceofscarletembroideredcloth，calledthe_snood，_confinedherhair，whichfelloveritinaprofusionofrichdarkcurls。
　　Thescarletplaid，whichformedpartofherdress，waslaidaside，thatitmightnotimpedeheractivityinattendingthestranger。
　　IshouldforgetAlice’sproudestornament，wereItoomitmentioningapairofgoldear-rings，andagoldenrosary，whichherfatherforshewasthedaughterofDonaldBeanLeanhadbroughtfromFrance，theplunder，probably，ofsomebattleorstorm。
　　Herform，thoughratherlargeforheryears，wasverywellproportioned，andherdemeanourhadanaturalandrusticgrace，withnothingofthesheepishnessofanordinarypeasant。Thesmiles，displayingarowofteethofexquisitewhiteness，andthelaughingeyes，withwhich，indumbshow，shegaveWaverleythatmorninggreetingwhichshewantedEnglishwordstoexpress，mighthavebeeninterpretedbyacoxcomb，orperhapsbyayoungsoldier，who，withoutbeingsuch，wasconsciousofahandsomeperson，asmeanttoconveymorethanthecourtesyofanhostess。NordoItakeituponmetosay，thatthelittlewildmountaineerwouldhavewelcomedanystaidoldgentlemanadvancedinlife，theBaronofBradwardine，forexample，withthecheerfulpainswhichshebestoweduponEdward’saccommodation。
　　Sheseemedeagertoplacehimbythemealwhichshehadsosedulouslyarranged，andtowhichshenowaddedafewbunchesofcranberries，gatheredinanadjacentmorass。Havinghadthesatisfactionofseeinghimseatedathisbreakfast，sheplacedherselfdemurelyuponastoneatafewyards’distance，andappearedtowatchwithgreatcomplacencyforsomeopportunityofservinghim。
　　Evanandhisattendantnowreturnedslowlyalongthebeach，thelatterbearingalargesalmon-trout，theproduceofthemorning’ssport，togetherwiththeangling-rod，whileEvanstrolledforward，withaneasy，self-satisfied，andimportantgait，towardsthespotwhereWaverleywassoagreeablyemployedatthebreakfast-table。Aftermorninggreetingshadpassedonbothsides，andEvan，lookingatWaverley，hadsaidsomethinginGaelictoAlice，whichmadeherlaugh，yetcolouruptohereyes，throughacomplexionwellembrownedbysunandwind，Evanintimatedhiscommandsthatthefishshouldbepreparedforbreakfast。Asparkfromthelockofhispistolproducedalight，andafewwitheredfirbrancheswerequicklyinflame，andasspeedilyreducedtohotembers，onwhichthetroutwasbroiledinlargeslices。Tocrowntherepast，Evanproducedfromthepocketofhisshortjerkin，alargescallopshell，andfromunderthefoldsofhisplaid，aram’shornfullofwhisky。
　　Ofthishetookacopiousdram，observinghehadalreadytakenhis_morning_withDonaldBeanLean，beforehisdeparture；heofferedthesamecordialtoAliceandtoEdward，whichtheybothdeclined。Withthebounteousairofalord，EvanthenprofferedthescalloptoDugaldMahony，hisattendant，who，withoutwaitingtobeaskedasecondtime，drankitoffwithgreatgusto。Evanthenpreparedtomovetowardstheboat，invitingWaverleytoattendhim。Meanwhile，Alicehadmadeupinasmallbasketwhatshethoughtworthremoving，andflingingherplaidaroundher，sheadvanceduptoEdward，and，withtheutmostsimplicity，takingholdofhishand，offeredhercheektohissalute，dropping，atthesametime，herlittlecourtesy。Evan，whowasesteemedawagamongthemountainfair，advanced，asiftosecureasimilarfavour；butAlice，snatchingupherbasket，escapeduptherockybankasfleetlyasaroe，and，turningroundandlaughing，calledsomethingouttohiminGaelic，whichheansweredinthesametoneandlanguagethen，wavingherhandtoEdward，sheresumedherroad，andwassoonlostamongthethickets，thoughtheycontinuedforsometimetohearherlivelycarol，assheproceededgailyonhersolitaryjourney。
　　Theynowagainenteredthegorgeofthecavern，andsteppingintotheboat，theHighlanderpushedoff，and，takingadvantageofthemorningbreeze，hoistedaclumsysortofsail，whileEvanassumedthehelm，directingtheircourse，asitappearedtoWaverley，ratherhigherupthelakethantowardstheplaceofhisembarkationontheprecedingnight。Astheyglidedalongthesilvermirror，EvanopenedtheconversationwithapanegyricuponAlice，who，hesaid，wasboth_cannyandfendy；_andwas，tothebootofallthat，thebestdancerofastrathspeyinthewholestrath。Edwardassentedtoherpraisessofarasheunderstoodthem，yetcouldnothelpregrettingthatshewascondemnedtosuchaperilousanddismallife。
　　Oich！forthat，’’saidEvan，thereisnothinginPerthshirethatsheneedwant，ifsheaskherfathertofetchit，unlessitbetoohotortooheavy。’’
　　Buttobethedaughterofacattle-stealer-acommonthief！’’
　　Commonthief！-nosuchthing；DonaldBeanLeannever_lifted_lessthanadroveinhislife。’’
　　Doyoucallhimanuncommonthief，then？’’
　　No-hethatstealsacowfromapoorwidoworastirkfromacotterisathief；hethatliftsadrovefromaSassenachlairdisagentleman-drover。And，besides，totakeatreefromtheforest，asalmonfromtheriver，adeerfromthehill，oracowfromaLowlandstrath，iswhatnoHighlanderneedeverthinkshameupon。’’
　　Butwhatcanthisendinwerehetakeninsuchanappropriation？’’
　　Tobesurehewould_dieforthelaw，_asmanyaprettymanhasdonebeforehim。’’
　　Dieforthelaw！’’
　　Ay；thatis，withthelaw，orbythelaw；bestrappeduponthe_kind_gallowsofCrieff，wherehisfatherdied，andhisNoteH。KindGallowsofCrieff。
　　goodsiredied，andwhereIhopehe’lllivetodiehimsell，ifhe’snotshotorslashedinacreagh。’’
　　You_hope_suchadeathforyourfriend，Evan！’’
　　AndthatdoIe’en；wouldyouhavemewishhimtodieonabundleofwetstrawinyondenofhis，likeamangytyke？’’
　　ButwhatbecomesofAlice，then？’’
　　Troth，ifsuchanaccidentweretohappen，asherfatherwouldnotneedherhelponylanger，Ikennoughttohindermetomarryhermysell。’’
　　Gallantlyresolved！’’saidEdward；-butinthemeanwhile，Evan，whathasyourfather-in-lawthatshallbe，ifhehavethegoodfortunetobehangeddonewiththeBaron’scattle？’’
　　Oich，’’answeredEvan，theywerealltrudgingbeforeyourladandAllanKennedybeforethesunblinkedowerBen-Lawersthismorning；andthey’llbeinthepassofBally-Broughbythistime，intheirwaybacktotheparksofTully-Veolan，allbuttwo，thatwereunhappilyslaughteredbeforeIgotlastnighttoUaimhanRi。’’
　　Andwherearewegoing，Evan，ifImaybesoboldastoask？’’saidWaverley。
　　Wherewouldyoubeganging，buttothelaird’sainhouseofGlennaquoich？Yewouldnotthinktobeinhiscountrywithoutgangingtoseehim？Itwouldbeasmuchasaman’slife’sworth。’’
　　AndarewefarfromGlennaquoich？’’
　　Butfivebitsofmiles；andVichIanVohrwillmeetus。’’
　　Inabouthalfanhourtheyreachedtheupperendofthelake，where，afterlandingWaverley，thetwoHighlandersdrewtheboatintoalittlecreekamongthickflagsandreeds，whereitlayperfectlyconcealed。Theoarstheyputinanotherplaceofconcealment，bothfortheuseofDonaldBeanLeanprobably，whenhisoccasionsshouldnextbringhimtothatplace。
　　Thetravellersfollowedforsometimeadelightfulopeningintothehills，downwhichalittlebrookfounditswaytothelake。Whentheyhadpursuedtheirwalkashortdistance，Waverleyrenewedhisquestionsabouttheirhostofthecavern。