AN INCIDENT GIVES RISE TO UNAVAILING REFLECTIONS.
When Waverley reached that part of the column which was filled by the clan of Mac-Ivor, they halted, formed, and received him with a triumphant flourish upon the bagpipes, and a loud shout of the men, most of whom knew him personally, and were delighted to see him in the dress of their country and of their sept.``You shout,'' said a Highlander of a neighbouring clan to Evan Dhu, ``as if the Chieftain were just come to your head.''
``_Mar e Bran is e a brathair,_ If it be not Bran, it is Bran's brother,'' was the proverbial reply of Maccombich.<*>
* Bran, the well-known dog of Fingal, is often the theme of Highland * proverb as well as song.
``O, then, it is the handsome Sassenach Duinh<e'>-wassel, that is to be married to Lady Flora?''
``That may be, or it may not be; and it is neither your matter nor mine, Gregor.''
Fergus advanced to embrace the volunteer, and afford him a warm and hearty welcome; but he thought it necessary to apologize for the diminished numbers of his battalion (which did not exceed three hundred men), by observing, he had sent a good many out upon parties.
The real fact, however, was, that the defection of Donald Bean Lean had deprived him of at least thirty hardy fellows, whose services he had fully reckoned upon, and that many of his occasional adherents had been recalled by their several chiefs to the standards to which they most properly owed their allegiance.The rival chief of the great northern branch also of his own clan had mustered his people, although he had not yet declared either for the Government or for the Chevalier, and by his intrigues had in some degree diminished the force with which Fergus took the field.To make amends for these disappointments, it was universally admitted that the followers of Vich Ian Vohr, in point of appearance, equipment, arms, and dexterity in using them, equalled the most choice troops which followed the standard of Charles Edward.Old Ballenkeiroch acted as his major; and with the other officers who had known Waverley when at Glennaquoich, gave our hero a cordial reception, as the sharer of their future dangers and expected honours.
The route pursued by the Highland army, after leaving the village of Duddingston, was for some time the common post-road betwixt Edinburgh and Haddington, until they crossed the Esk at Musselburgh, when, instead of keeping the low grounds towards the sea, they turned more inland, and occupied the brow of the eminence called Carberry Hill, a place already distinguished in Scottish history as the spot where the lovely Mary surrendered herself to her insurgent subjects.This direction was chosen because the Chevalier had received notice that the army of the Government, arriving by sea from Aberdeen, had landed at Dunbar, and quartered the night before to the west of Haddington, with the intention of falling down towards the seaside, and approaching Edinburgh by the lower coast-road.
By keeping the height, which overhung that road in many places, it was hoped the Highlanders might find an opportunity of attacking them to advantage.The army therefore halted upon the ridge of Carberry Hill, both to refresh the soldiers, and as a central situation, from which their march could be directed to any point that the motions of the enemy might render most advisable.While they remained in this position, a messenger arrived in haste to desire Mac-Ivor to come to the Prince, adding, that their advanced post had had a skirmish with some of the enemy's cavalry, and that the Baron of Bradwardine had sent in a few prisoners.
Waverley walked forward out of the line to satisfy his curiosity, and soon observed five or six of the troopers, who, covered with dust, had galloped in to announce that the enemy were in full march westward along the coast.Passing still a little farther on, he was struck with a groan which issued from a hovel.
He approached the spot, and heard a voice, in the provincial English of his native county, which endeavoured, though frequently interrupted by pain, to repeat the Lord's Prayer.The voice of distress always found a ready answer in our hero's bosom.
He entered the hovel, which seemed to be intended for what is called, in the pastoral counties of Scotland, a _smearing-house;_and in its obscurity Edward could only at first discern a sort of red bundle; for those who had stripped the wounded man of his arms, and part of his clothes, had left him the dragoon-cloak in which he was enveloped.
``For the love of God,'' said the wounded man, as he heard Waverley's step, ``give me a single drop of water!''
``You shall have it,'' answered Waverley, at the same time raising him in his arms, bearing him to the door of the hut, and giving him some drink from his flask.
``I should know that voice,'' said the man; but looking on Waverley's dress with a bewildered look---``no, this is not the young squire?''
