TheancestorofFergusMac-Ivor，aboutthreecenturiesbefore，hadsetupaclaimtoberecognisedaschiefofthenumerousandpowerfulclantowhichhebelonged，thenameofwhichitisunnecessarytomention。Beingdefeatedbyanopponentwhohadmorejustice，oratleastmoreforce，onhisside，hemovedsouthwards，withthosewhoadheredtohim，inquestofnewsettlements，likeasecondneas。ThestateofthePerthshireHighlandsfavouredhispurpose。Agreatbaroninthatcountryhadlatelybecometraitortothecrown；Ian，whichwasthenameofouradventurer，unitedhimselfwiththosewhowerecommissionedbythekingtochastisehim，anddidsuchgoodservice，thatheobtainedagrantoftheproperty，uponwhichheandhisposterityafterwardsresided。HefollowedthekingalsoinwartothefertileregionsofEngland，whereheemployedhisleisurehourssoactivelyinraisingsubsidiesamongtheboorsofNorthumberlandandDurham，thatuponhisreturnhewasenabledtoerectastonetower，orfortalice，somuchadmiredbyhisdependentsandneighbours，thathe，whohadhithertobeencalledIanMac-Ivor，orJohnthesonofIvor，wasthereafterdistinguished，bothinsongandgenealogy，bythehightitleof_IannanChaistel，_orJohnoftheTower。Thedescendantsofthisworthyweresoproudofhim，thatthereigningchiefalwaysborethepatronymictitleofVichIanVohr，_i。e。_thesonofJohntheGreat；whiletheclanatlarge，todistinguishthemfromthatfromwhichtheyhadseceded，weredenominated_SliochdnanIvor，_theraceofIvor。
　　ThefatherofFergus，thetenthindirectdescentfromJohnoftheTower，engagedheartandhandintheinsurrectionof1715，andwasforcedtoflytoFrance，aftertheattemptofthatyearinfavouroftheStuartshadprovedunsuccessful。Morefortunatethanotherfugitives，heobtainedemploymentintheFrenchservice，andmarriedaladyofrankinthatkingdom，bywhomhehadtwochildren，FergusandhissisterFlora。
　　TheScottishestatehadbeenforfeitedandexposedtosale，butwasre-purchasedforasmallpriceinthenameoftheyoungproprietor，whoinconsequencecametoresideuponhisnativedomains。ItwassoonperceivedthathepossessedacharacterThishappenedonmanyoccasions。Indeed，itwasnottillafterthetotaldestructionoftheclaninfluence，after1745，thatpurchaserscouldbefoundwhoofferedafairpricefortheestatesforfeitedin1715，whichwerethenbroughttosalebythecreditorsoftheYork-BuildingsCompany，whohadpurchasedthewhole，orgreaterpart，fromGovernmentataverysmallprice。Evensolateastheperiodfirstmentioned，theprejudicesofthepublicinfavouroftheheirsoftheforfeitedfamiliesthrewvariousimpedimentsinthewayofintendingpurchasersofsuchproperty。
　　ofuncommonacuteness，fire，andambition，which，ashebecameacquaintedwiththestateofthecountry，graduallyassumedamixedandpeculiartone，thatcouldonlyhavebeenacquiredSixtyYearssince。
　　HadFergusMac-IvorlivedSixtyYearssoonerthanhedid，hewould，inallprobability，havewantedthepolishedmannerandknowledgeoftheworldwhichhenowpossessed；andhadhelivedSixtyYearslater，hisambitionandloveofrulewouldhavelackedthefuelwhichhissituationnowafforded。Hewasindeed，withinhislittlecircle，asperfectapoliticianasCastruccioCastrucanihimself。Heappliedhimselfwithgreatearnestnesstoappeaseallthefeudsanddissensionswhichoftenaroseamongotherclansinhisneighbourhood，sothathebecameafrequentumpireintheirquarrels。Hisownpatriarchalpowerhestrengthenedateveryexpensewhichhisfortunewouldpermit，andindeedstretchedhismeanstotheuttermost，tomaintaintherudeandplentifulhospitality，whichwasthemostvaluedattributeofachieftain。Forthesamereason，hecrowdedhisestatewithatenantry，hardyindeed，andfitforthepurposesofwar，butgreatlyoutnumberingwhatthesoilwascalculatedtomaintain。Theseconsistedchieflyofhisownclan，notoneofwhomhesufferedtoquithislandsifhecouldpossiblypreventit。Buthemaintained，besides，manyadventurersfromthemothersept，whodesertedalesswarlike，thoughmorewealthychief，todohomagetoFergusMac-Ivor。Otherindividuals，too，whohadnoteventhatapology，wereneverthelessreceivedintohisallegiance，whichindeedwasrefusedtononewhowere，likePoins，propermenoftheirhands，andwerewillingtoassumethenameofMac-Ivor。
　　Hewasenabledtodisciplinetheseforces，fromhavingobtainedcommandofoneoftheindependentcompaniesraisedbyGovernmenttopreservethepeaceoftheHighlands。Whileinthiscapacityheactedwithvigourandspirit，andpreservedgreatorderinthecountryunderhischarge。Hecausedhisvassalstoenterbyrotationintohiscompany，andserveforacertainspaceoftime，whichgavethemallinturnageneralnotionofmilitarydiscipline。Inhiscampaignsagainstthebanditti，itwasobservedthatheassumedandexercisedtotheutmostthediscretionarypower，which，whilethelawhadnofreecourseintheHighlands，wasconceivedtobelongtothemilitarypartieswhowerecalledintosupportit。Heacted，forexample，withgreatandsuspiciouslenitytothosefreebooterswhomaderestitutiononhissummons，andofferedpersonalsubmissiontohimself，whileherigorouslypursued，apprehended，andsacrificedtojustice，allsuchinterlopersasdaredtodespisehisadmonitionsorcommands。Ontheotherhand，ifanyofficersofjustice，militaryparties，orothers，presumedtopursuethievesormaraudersthroughhisterritories，andwithoutapplyingforhisconsentandconcurrence，nothingwasmorecertainthanthattheywouldmeetwithsomenotablefoilordefeat；uponwhichoccasionsFergusMac-Ivorwasthefirsttocondolewiththem，and，aftergentlyblamingtheirrashness，neverfaileddeeplytolamentthelawlessstateofthecountry。Theselamentationsdidnotexcludesuspicion，andmattersweresorepresentedtoGovernment，thatourChieftainwasdeprivedofhismilitarycommand。
　　NoteK。HighlandPolicy。
　　WhateverFergusMac-Ivorfeltonthisoccasion，hehadtheartofentirelysuppressingeveryappearanceofdiscontent；butinashorttimetheneighbouringcountrybegantofeelbadeffectsfromhisdisgrace。DonaldBeanLean，andothersofhisclass，whosedepredationshadhithertobeenconfinedtootherdistricts，appearedfromthenceforwardtohavemadeasettlementonthisdevotedborder；andtheirravageswerecarriedonwithlittleopposition，astheLowlandgentrywerechieflyJacobites，anddisarmed。ThisforcedmanyoftheinhabitantsintocontractsofblackmailwithFergusMac-Ivor，whichnotonlyestablishedhimtheirprotector，andgavehimgreatweightinalltheirconsultations，but，moreover，suppliedfundsforthewasteofhisfeudalhospitality，whichthediscontinuanceofhispaymighthaveotherwiseessentiallydiminished。
　　Infollowingthiscourseofconduct，Fergushadafartherobjectthanmerelybeingthegreatmanofhisneighbourhood，andrulingdespoticallyoverasmallclan。Fromhisinfancyupwardhehaddevotedhimselftothecauseoftheexiledfamily，andhadpersuadedhimself，notonlythattheirrestorationtothecrownofBritainwouldbespeedy，butthatthosewhoassistedthemwouldberaisedtohonourandrank。ItwaswiththisviewthathelabouredtoreconciletheHighlandersamongthemselves，andaugmentedhisownforcetotheutmost，tobepreparedforthefirstfavourableopportunityofrising。WiththispurposealsoheconciliatedthefavourofsuchLowlandgentlemeninthevicinityaswerefriendstothegoodcause；andforthesamereason，havingincautiouslyquarrelledwithMr。Bradwardine，who，notwithstandinghispeculiarities，wasmuchrespectedinthecountry，hetookadvantageoftheforayofDonaldBeanLeantosolderupthedisputeinthemannerwehavementioned。Some，indeed，surmisedthathecausedtheenterprisetobesuggestedtoDonaldonpurposetopavethewaytoareconciliation，which，supposingthattobethecase，costtheLairdofBradwardinetwogoodmilch-cows。ThiszealintheirbehalftheHouseofStuartrepaidwithaconsiderableshareoftheirconfidence，anoccasionalsupplyoflouisd’or，abundanceoffairwords，andaparchment，withahugewaxensealappended，purportingtobeanEarl’spatent，grantedbynolessapersonthanJamestheThirdKingofEngland，andEighthKingofScotland，tohisrightleal，trusty，andwell-belovedFergusMac-IvorofGlennaquoich，inthecountyofPerth，andkingdomofScotland。
　　Withthisfuturecoronetglitteringbeforehiseyes，Fergusplungeddeeplyintothecorrespondenceandplotsofthatunhappyperiod；and，likeallsuchactiveagents，easilyreconciledhisconsciencetogoingcertainlengthsintheserviceofhisparty，fromwhichhonourandpridewouldhavedeterredhimhadhissoleobjectbeenthedirectadvancementofhisownpersonalinterest。Withthisinsightintoabold，ambitious，andardent，yetartfulandpoliticcharacter，weresumethebrokenthreadofournarrative。
　　TheChiefandhisguesthadbythistimereachedthehouseofGlennaquoich，whichconsistedofIannanChaistel’smansion，ahighrude-lookingsquaretower，withtheadditionofa_lofted_
　　house，thatis，abuildingoftwostoreys，constructedbyFergus’sgrandfatherwhenhereturnedfromthatmemorableexpedition，wellrememberedbythewesternshires，underthenameoftheHighlandHost。UponoccasionofthiscrusadeagainsttheAyrshireWhigsandCovenanters，theVichIanVohrofthetimehadprobablybeenassuccessfulashispredecessorwasinharryingNorthumberland，andthereforelefttohisposterityarivaledifice，asamonumentofhismagnificence。
　　Aroundthehouse，whichstoodonaneminenceinthemidstofanarrowHighlandvalley，thereappearednoneofthatattentiontoconvenience，farlesstoornamentanddecoration，whichusuallysurroundsagentleman’shabitation。Aninclosureortwo，dividedbydry-stonewalls，weretheonlypartofthedomainthatwasfenced；astotherest，thenarrowslipsoflevelgroundwhichlaybythesideofthebrookexhibitedascantycropofbarley，liabletoconstantdepredationsfromtheherdsofwildponiesandblackcattlethatgrazedupontheadjacenthills。Theseeverandanonmadeanincursionuponthearableground，whichwasrepelledbytheloud，uncouth，anddissonantshoutsofhalf-a-dozenHighlandswains，allrunningasiftheyhadbeenmad，andeveryonehallooingahalf-starveddogtotherescueoftheforage。Atalittledistanceuptheglenwasasmallandstuntedwoodofbirch；thehillswerehighandheathy，butwithoutanyvarietyofsurface；sothatthewholeviewwaswildanddesolateratherthangrandandsolitary。
　　Yet，suchasitwas，nogenuinedescendantofIannanChaistelwouldhavechangedthedomainforStoworBlenheim。
　　Therewasasight，however，beforethegate，which，perhaps，wouldhaveaffordedthefirstownerofBlenheimmorepleasurethanthefinestviewinthedomainassignedtohimbythegratitudeofhiscountry。ThisconsistedofaboutahundredHighlandersincompletedressandarms；atsightofwhomtheChieftainapologisedtoWaverleyinasortofnegligentmanner。
　　Hehadforgot，’’hesaid，thathehadorderedafewofhisclanoutforthepurposeofseeingthattheywereinafitconditiontoprotectthecountry，andpreventsuchaccidentsas，hewassorrytolearn，hadbefallentheBaronofBradwardine。
　　Beforetheyweredismissed，perhapsCaptainWaverleymightchoosetoseethemgothroughapartoftheirexercise。’’
　　Edwardassented，andthemenexecutedwithagilityandprecisionsomeoftheordinarymilitarymovements。Theythenpractisedindividuallyatamark，andshowedextraordinarydexterityinthemanagementofthepistolandfirelock。Theytookaimstanding，sitting，leaning，orlyingprostrate，astheywerecommanded，andalwayswitheffectuponthetarget。Next，theypairedoffforthebroadswordexercise；andhavingmanifestedtheirindividualskillanddexterity，unitedintwobodies，andexhibitedasortofmockencounter，inwhichthecharge，therally，theflight，thepursuit，andallthecurrentofaheadyfight，wereexhibitedtothesoundofthegreatwar-bagpipe。
　　OnasignalmadebytheChieftheskirmishwasended。
　　Matcheswerethenmadeforrunning，wrestling，leaping，pitchingthebar，andothersports，inwhichthisfeudalmilitiadisplayedincredibleswiftness，strength，andagility；andaccomplishedthepurposewhichtheirChieftainhadatheart，byimpressingonWaverleynolightsenseoftheirmeritassoldiers，andofthepowerofhimwhocommandedthembyhisnod。
　　NoteL。HighlandDiscipline。
　　Andwhatnumberofsuchgallantfellowshavethehappinesstocallyouleader？’’askedWaverley。
　　Inagoodcause，andunderachieftainwhomtheyloved，theraceofIvorhaveseldomtakenthefieldunderfivehundredclaymores。Butyouareaware，CaptainWaverley，thattheDisarmingAct，passedabouttwentyyearsago，preventstheirbeinginthecompletestateofpreparationasinformertimes；
　　andIkeepnomoreofmyclanunderarmsthanmaydefendmyownormyfriends’propertywhenthecountryistroubledwithsuchmenasyourlastnight’slandlord；andGovernment，whichhasremovedothermeansofdefence，mustconniveatourprotectingourselves。’’
　　ButwithyourforceyoumightsoondestroyorputdownsuchgangsasthatofDonaldBeanLean。’’
　　Yes，doubtless；andmyrewardwouldbeasummonstodeliveruptoGeneralBlakeneyatStirlingthefewbroadswordstheyhaveleftus；therewerelittlepolicyinthat，methinks。
　　Butcome，Captain，thesoundofthepipesinformsmethatdinnerisprepared。Letmehavethehonourtoshowyouintomyrudemansion。’’