Ah！itwouldhavebeenataleforpoorFloratohavetoldyou。Or，ifthathillwereBenmore，andthatlongbluelake，whichyouseejustwindingtowardsyonmountainouscountry，wereLochTay，ormyownLochanRi，thetalewouldbebettersuitedwithscenery。However，letussitdownonthisknoll；
　　evenSaddlebackandUllswaterwillsuitwhatIhavetosaybetterthantheEnglishhedge-rows，enclosures，andfarm-houses。
　　Youmustknow，then，thatwhenmyancestor，IannanChaistel，wastedNorthumberland，therewasassociatedwithhimintheexpeditionasortofSouthlandChief，orcaptainofabandofLowlanders，calledHalbertHall。IntheirreturnthroughtheCheviots，theyquarrelledaboutthedivisionofthegreatbootytheyhadacquired，andcamefromwordstoblows。TheLowlanderswerecutofftoaman，andtheirchieffellthelast，coveredwithwoundsbytheswordofmyancestors。Sincethattime，hisspirithascrossedtheVichIanVohrofthedaywhenanygreatdisasterwasimpending，butespeciallybeforeapproachingdeath。Myfathersawhimtwice；oncebeforehewasmadeprisoneratSheriffmuir；anothertime，onthemorningofthedayonwhichhedied。’’
　　Howcanyou，mydearFergus，tellsuchnonsensewithagraveface？’’
　　Idonotaskyoutobelieveit；butItellyouthetruth，ascertainedbythreehundredyears’experienceatleast，andlastnightbymyowneyes。’’
　　Theparticulars，forheaven’ssake！’’saidWaverley，witheagerness。
　　Iwill，onconditionyouwillnotattemptajestonthesubject-
　　Sincethisunhappyretreatcommenced，Ihavescarceeverbeenabletosleepforthinkingofmyclan，andofthispoorPrince，whomtheyareleadingbacklikeadoginastring，whetherhewillorno，andofthedownfallofmyfamily。LastnightIfeltsofeverishthatIleftmyquarters，andwalkedout，inhopesthekeenfrostyairwouldbracemynerves-IcannottellhowmuchIdislikegoingon，forIknowyouwillhardlybelieveme。However-Icrossedasmallfoot-bridge，andkeptwalkingbackwardsandforwards，whenIobservedwithsurprise，bytheclearmoonlight，atallfigureinagreyplaid，suchasshepherdswearinthesouthofScotland，which，moveatwhatpaceIwould，keptregularlyaboutfouryardsbeforeme。’’
　　YousawaCumberlandpeasantinhisordinarydress，probably。’’
　　No：Ithoughtsoatfirst，andwasastonishedattheman’saudacityindaringtodogme。Icalledtohimbutreceivednoanswer。Ifeltananxiousthrobbingatmyheart；andtoascertainwhatIdreaded，Istoodstill，andturnedmyselfonthesamespotsuccessivelytothefourpointsofthecompass-ByHeaven，Edward，turnwhereIwould，thefigurewasinstantlybeforemyeyes，atpreciselythesamedistance？IwasthenconvinceditwastheBodachGlas。Myhairbristled，andmykneesshook。Imannedmyself，however，anddeterminedtoreturntomyquarters。MyghastlyvisitantglidedbeforemeforIcannotsayhewalked，untilhereachedthefoot-bridge：
　　therehestopped，andturnedfullround。Imusteitherwadetheriver，orpasshimascloseasIamtoyou。Adesperatecourage，foundedonthebeliefthatmydeathwasnear，mademeresolvetomakemywayindespiteofhim。Imadethesignofthecross，drewmysword，anduttered，`InthenameofGod，EvilSpirit，giveplace！’`VichIanVohr，’itsaid，inavoicethatmademyverybloodcurdle，`bewareofto-morrow！’
　　Itseemedatthatmomentnothalfayardfrommysword’spoint；butthewordswerenosoonerspokenthanitwasgone，andnothingappearedfurthertoobstructmypassage。Igothome，andthrewmyselfonmybed，whereIspentafewhoursheavilyenough；andthismorning，asnoenemywasreportedtobenearus，Itookmyhorse，androdeforwardtomakeupmatterswithyou。IwouldnotwillinglyfalluntilIamincharitywithawrongedfriend。’’
　　Edwardhadlittledoubtthatthisphantomwastheoperationofanexhaustedframeanddepressedspirits，workingonthebeliefcommontoallHighlandersinsuchsuperstitions。
　　HedidnotthelesspityFergus，forwhom，inhispresentdistress，hefeltallhisformerregardrevive。Withtheviewofdivertinghismindfromthesegloomyimages，heofferedwiththeBaron’spermission，whichheknowhecouldreadilyobtain，toremaininhisquarterstillFergus’scorpsshouldcomeup，andthentomarchwiththemasusual。Thechiefseemedmuchpleased，yethesitatedtoaccepttheoffer。
　　Weare，youknow，intherear，-thepostofdangerinaretreat。’’
　　Andthereforethepostofhonour。’’
　　Well，’’repliedtheChieftain，letAlickhaveyourhorseinreadiness，incaseweshouldbeover-matched，andIshallbedelightedtohaveyourcompanyoncemore。’’
　　Therearguardwerelateinmakingtheirappearance，havingbeendelayedbyvariousaccidentsandbythebadnessoftheroads。Atlengththeyenteredthehamlet。WhenWaverleyjoinedtheclanMac-Ivor，arminarmwiththeirChieftain，alltheresentmenttheyhadentertainedagainsthimseemedblownoffatonce。EvanDhureceivedhimwithagrinofcongratulation；
　　andevenCallum，whowasrunningaboutasactiveasever，paleindeed，andwithagreatpatchonhishead，appeareddelightedtoseehim。
　　Thatgallows-bird’sskull，’’saidFergus，mustbeharderthanmarble：thelockofthepistolwasactuallybroken。’’
　　Howcouldyoustrikesoyoungaladsohard？’’saidWaverley，withsomeinterest。
　　Why，ifIdidnotstrikehardsometimes，therascalswouldforgetthemselves。’’
　　Theywerenowinfullmarch，everycautionbeingtakentopreventsurprise。Fergus’speople，andafineclanregimentfromBadenoch，commandedbyClunyMac-Pherson，hadtherear。Theyhadpassedalargeopenmoor，andwereenteringintotheenclosureswhichsurroundasmallvillagecalledClifton。Thewintersunhadset，andEdwardbegantorallyFergusuponthefalsepredictionsoftheGreySpirit。TheIdesofMarcharenotpast，’’saidMac-Ivor，withasmile；when，suddenlycastinghiseyesbackonthemoor，alargebodyofcavalrywasindistinctlyseentohoveruponitsbrownanddarksurface。Tolinetheenclosuresfacingtheopenground，andtheroadbywhichtheenemymustmovefromituponthevillage，wastheworkofashorttime。Whilethesemanuvreswereaccomplishing，nightsunkdown，darkandgloomy，thoughthemoonwasatfull。Sometimes，however，shegleamedforthadubiouslightuponthesceneofaction。
　　TheHighlandersdidnotremainlongundisturbedinthedefensivepositiontheyhadadopted。Favouredbythenight，onelargebodyofdismounteddragoonsattemptedtoforcetheenclosures，whileanother，equallystrong，strovetopenetratebythehighroad。Bothwerereceivedbysuchaheavyfireasdisconcertedtheirranks，andeffectuallycheckedtheirprogress。
　　Unsatisfiedwiththeadvantagethusgained，Fergus，towhoseardentspirittheapproachofdangerseemedtorestoreallitselasticity，drawinghissword，andcalledoutClaymore！’’
　　encouragedhismen，byvoiceandexample，tobreakthroughthehedgewhichdividedthem，andrushdownupontheenemy。
　　Minglingwiththedismounteddragoons，theyforcedthem，attheswordpoint，toflytotheopenmoor，whereaconsiderablenumberwerecuttopieces。Butthemoonwhichsuddenlyshoneout，showedtotheEnglishthesmallnumberofassailants，disorderedbytheirownsuccess。Twosquadronsofhorsemovingtothesupportoftheircompanions，theHighlandersendeavouredtorecovertheenclosures。Butseveralofthem，amongstotherstheirbraveChieftain，werecutoffandsurroundedbeforetheycouldeffecttheirpurpose。Waverley，lookingeagerlyforFergus，fromwhom，aswellasfromtheretreatingbodyofhisfollowers，hehadbeenseparatedinthedarknessandtumult，sawhim，withEvanDhuandCallum，defendingthemselvesdesperatelyagainstadozenofhorsemen，whowerehewingatthemwiththeirlongbroadswords。Themoonwasagainatthatmomenttotallyoverclouded，andEdward，intheobscurity，couldneitherbringaidtohisfriends，nordiscoverwhichwaylayhisownroadtorejointherearguard。Afteronceortwicenarrowlyescapingbeingslainormadeprisonerbypartiesofthecavalrywhomheencounteredinthedarkness，heatlengthreachedanenclosure，andclamberingoverit，concludedhimselfinsafety，andonthewaytotheHighlandforces，whosepipesheheardatsomedistance。ForFergushardlyahoperemained，unlessthathemightbemadeprisoner。Revolvinghisfatewithsorrowandanxiety，thesuperstitionoftheBodachGlasrecurredtoEdward’srecollection，andhesaidtohimself，withinternalsurprise，What，canthedevilspeaktruth？’’
　　NoteAA。TheSkirmishatClifton。
　　Edwardwasinamostunpleasantanddangeroussituation。
　　Hesoonlostthesoundofthebagpipes；and，whatwasyetmoreunpleasant，when，aftersearchinglonginvain，andscramblingthroughmanyenclosures，heatlengthapproachedthehighroad，helearned，fromtheunwelcomenoiseofkettle-drumsandtrumpets，thattheEnglishCavalrynowoccupiedit，andconsequentlywerebetweenhimandtheHighlanders。
　　Precluded，therefore，fromadvancinginastraightdirection，heresolvedtoavoidtheEnglishmilitary，andendeavourtojoinhisfriendsbymakingacircuittotheleft，forwhichabeatenpathdeviatingfromthemainroadinthatdirection，seemedtoaffordfacilities。Thepathwasmuddy，andthenightdarkandcold；buteventheseinconvenienceswerehardlyfeltamidsttheapprehensionswhichfallingintothehandsoftheKing’sforcesreasonablyexcitedinhisbosom。
　　Afterwalkingaboutthreemiles，heatlengthreachedahamlet。Consciousthatthecommonpeoplewereingeneralunfavourabletothecausehehadespoused，yetdesirous，ifpossible，toprocureahorseandguidetoPenrith，wherehehopedtofindtherear，ifnotthemainbody，oftheChevalier’sarmy，heapproachedthealehouseoftheplace。Therewasagreatnoisewithin：hepausedtolisten。AroundEnglishoathortwo，andtheburdenofacampaignsong，convincedhimthehamletalsowasoccupiedbytheDukeofCumberland’ssoldiers。Endeavouringtoretirefromitassoftlyaspossible，andblessingtheobscuritywhichhithertohehadmurmuredagainst，Waverleygropedhiswaythebesthecouldalongasmallpaling，whichseemedtheboundaryofsomecottagegarden。Ashereachedthegateofthislittleenclosure，hisoutstretchedhandwasgraspedbythatofafemale，whosevoiceatthesametimeuttered，Edward，is’tthou，man？’’
　　Hereissomeunluckymistake，’’thoughtEdward，struggling，butgently，todisengagehimself。
　　Naeno’thyfoun，now，man，ortheredcwoatswillhearthee；theyhaebeenhouleryingandpouleryingeveryanethat，pastalehousedoorthisnoighttomakethemdrivetheirwaggonsandsickloike。Comeintofeyther’s，orthey’lldohoamischief。’’
　　Agoodhint，’’thoughtWaverley，followingthegirlthroughthelittlegardenintoabrick-pavedkitchen，whereshesetherselftokindleamatchatanexpiringfire，andwiththematchtolightacandle。ShehadnosoonerlookedonEdward，thanshedroppedthelight，withashrillscreamofOfeyther！feyther！“
　　Thefather，thusinvoked，speedilyappeared，-asturdyoldfarmer，inapairofleatherbreechesandbootspulledonwithoutstockings，havingjuststartedfromhisbed；-therestofhisdresswasonlyaWestmorelandstatesman’srobe-de-chambre，-
　　thatis，hisshirt。Hisfigurewasdisplayedtoadvantage，byacandlewhichheboreinhislefthand；inhisrighthebrandishedapoker。
　　Whathasthohere，wench？’’
　　O！’’criedthepoorgirl，almostgoingoffinhysterics，I
　　thoughtitwasNedWilliams，anditisoneoftheplaid-men！’’
　　Andwhatwastheegangingtodowi’NedWilliamsatthistimeo’noight？’’Tothis，whichwas，perhaps，oneofthenumerousclassofquestionsmoreeasilyaskedthananswered，therosy-cheekeddamselmadenoreply，butcontinuedsobbingandwringingherhands。
　　Andthee，lad，dosthoknowthatthedragoonsbeatown？
　　Dosthoknowthat，mon？-ad，they’llslivertheeloikeaturnip，mon。’’
　　Iknowmylifeisingreatdanger，’’saidWaverley，butifyoucanassistme，Iwillrewardyouhandsomely。IamnoScotchman，butanunfortunateEnglishgentleman。’’
　　BeheScotorno，’’saidthehonestfarmer，Iwishthouhadstkepttheothersideofthehallan。Butsincethouarthere，JacobJopsonwillbetraynoman’sbluid；andtheplaidsweregeycanny，anddidnotsomuchmischiefwhentheywerehereyesterday。’’Accordinglyhesetseriouslyaboutshelteringandrefreshingourheroforthenight。Thefirewasspeedilyrekindled，butwithprecautionagainstitslightbeingseenfromwithout。Thejollyyeomancutarasherofbacon，whichCicelysoonbroiled，andherfatheraddedaswingingtankardofhisbestale。Itwassettled，thatEdwardshouldremaintheretillthetroopsmarchedinthemorning，thenhireorbuyahorsefromthefarmer，and，withthebestdirectionsthatcouldbeobtained，endeavourtoovertakehisfriends。Aclean，thoughcoarsebed，receivedhimafterthefatiguesofthisunhappyday。
　　WiththemorningarrivedthenewsthattheHighlandershadevacuatedPenrith，andmarchedofftowardsCarlisle；thattheDukeofCumberlandwasinpossessionofPenrith，andthatdetachmentsofhisarmycoveredtheroadsineverydirection。
　　Toattempttogetthroughundiscovered，wouldbeanactofthemostfrantictemerity。NedWilliamstherightEdward
　　wasnowcalledtocouncilbyCicelyandherfather。Ned，whoperhapsdidnotcarethathishandsomenamesakeshouldremaintoolonginthesamehousewithhissweetheart，forfearoffreshmistakes，proposedthatWaverley，exchanginghisuniformandplaidforthedressofthecountry，shouldgowithhimtohisfather’sfarmnearUllswater，andremaininthatundisturbedretirementuntilthemilitarymovementsinthecountryshouldhaveceasedtorenderhisdeparturehazardous。Apricewasalsoagreedupon，atwhichthestrangermightboardwithFarmerWilliams，ifhethoughtproper，tillhecoulddepartwithsafety。
　　Itwasofmoderateamount；thedistressofhissituation，amongthishonestandsimple-heartedrace，beingconsideredasnoreasonforincreasingtheirdemand。
　　Thenecessaryarticlesofdresswereaccordinglyprocured；
　　and，byfollowingby-paths，knowntotheyoungfarmer，theyhopedtoescapeanyunpleasantrencontre。ArecompensefortheirhospitalitywasrefusedperemptorilybyoldJopsonandhischerry-cheekeddaughter；akisspaidtheone，andaheartyshakeofthehandtheother。Bothseemedanxiousfortheirguest’ssafety，andtookleaveofhimwithkindwishes。
　　Inthecourseoftheirroute，Edward，withhisguide，traversedthosefieldswhichthenightbeforehadbeenthesceneofaction。
　　AbriefgleamofDecember’ssunshonesadlyonthebroadheath，which，towardsthespotwherethegreatnorth-westroadenteredtheenclosuresofLordLonsdale’sproperty，exhibiteddeadbodiesofmenandhorses，andtheusualcompanionsofwar-anumberofcarrion-crows，hawks，andravens。