THE CONFUSION OF KING AGRAMANT'S CAMP.
It was Waverley's custom sometimes to ride a little apart from the main body, to look at any object of curiosity which occurred on the march.They were now in Lancashire, when, attracted by a castellated old hall, he left the squadron for half-an-hour, to take a survey and slight sketch of it.As he returned down the avenue, he was met by Ensign Maccombich.This man had contracted a sort of regard for Edward since the day of his first seeing him at Tully-Veolan, and introducing him to the Highlands.
He seemed to loiter, as if on purpose to meet with our hero.Yet, as he passed him, he only approached his stirrup, and pronounced the single word ``Beware!'' and then walked swiftly on, shunning all further communication.
Edward, somewhat surprised at this hint, followed with his eyes the course of Evan, who speedily disappeared among the trees.His servant, Alick Polwarth, who was in attendance, also looked after the Highlander, and then riding up close to his master, said, ``The ne'er be in me, sir, if I think you're safe among thae Highland rinthereouts.''
``What do you mean, Alick?'' said Waverley.
``The Mac-Ivors, sir, hae gotten it into their heads, that ye hae affronted their young leddy, Miss Flora; and I hae heard mae than ane say, they wadna tak muckle to make a black-cock o' ye; and ye ken weel eneugh there's mony o' them wadna mind a bawbee the weising a ball through the Prince himsell, an the Chief gae them the wink---or whether he did or no,---if they thought it a thing that would please him when it was dune.''
Waverley, though confident that Fergus Mac-Ivor was incapable of such treachery, was by no means equally sure of the forbearance of his followers.He knew, that where the honour of the Chief or his family was supposed to be touched, the happiest man would be he that could first avenge the stigma;and he had often heard them quote a proverb, ``That the best revenge was the most speedy and most safe.'' Coupling this with the hint of Evan, he judged it most prudent to set spurs to his horse, and ride briskly back to the squadron.Ere he reached the end of the long avenue, however, a ball whistled past him, and the report of a pistol was heard.
``It was that deevil's buckie, Callum Beg,'' said Alick; ``Isaw him whisk away through amang the reises.''
Edward, justly incensed at this act of treachery, galloped out of the avenue, and observed the battalion of Mac-Ivor at some distance moving along the common, in which it terminated.
He also saw an individual running very fast to join the party;this he concluded was the intended assassin, who, by leaping an enclosure, might easily make a much shorter path to the main body than he could find on horseback.Unable to contain himself, he commanded Alick to go to the Baron of Bradwardine, who was at the head of his regiment about half a mile in front, and acquaint him with what had happened.He himself immediately rode up to Fergus's regiment.The Chief himself was in the act of joining them.He was on horseback, having returned from waiting on the Prince.On perceiving Edward approaching, he put his horse in motion towards him.
``Colonel Mac-Ivor,'' said Waverley, without any farther salutation, ``I have to inform you that one of your people has this instant fired at me from a lurking-place.''
``As that,'' answered Mac-Ivor, ``excepting the circumstance of a lurking-place, is a pleasure which I presently propose to myself, I should be glad to know which of my clansmen dared to anticipate me.''
``I shall certainly be at your command whenever you please;---the gentleman who took your office upon himself is your page there, Callum Beg.''
``Stand forth from the ranks, Callum! Did you fire at Mr.
Waverley?''
``No,'' answered the unblushing Callum.
``You did,'' said Alick Polwarth, who was already returned, having met a trooper by whom he despatched an account of what was going forward to the Baron of Bradwardine, while he himself returned to his master at full gallop, neither sparing the rowels of his spurs, nor the sides of his horse.``You did; Isaw you as plainly as I ever saw the auld kirk at Coudingham.''
``You lie,'' replied Callum, with his usual impenetrable obstinacy.
The combat between the knights would certainly, as in the days of chivalry, have been preceded by an encounter between the squires (for Alick was a stouthearted Merseman, and feared the bow of Cupid far more than a Highlander's dirk or claymore), but Fergus, with his usual tone of decision, demanded Callum's pistol.The cook was down, the pan and muzzle were black with the smoke; it had been that instant fired.
``Take that,'' said Fergus, striking the boy upon the head with the heavy pistol-butt with his whole force, ``take that for acting without orders, and lying to disguise it.'' Callum received the blow without appearing to flinch from it, and fell without sign of life.``Stand still, upon your lives!''
said Fergus to the rest of the clan; ``I blow out the brains of the first man who interferes between Mr.Waverley and me.'' They stood motionless; Evan Dhu alone showed symptoms of vexation and anxiety.Callum lay on the ground bleeding copiously, but no one ventured to give him any assistance.It seemed as if he had gotten his death-blow.
``And now for you, Mr.Waverley; please to turn your horse twenty yards with me upon the common.'' Waverley complied;and Fergus, confronting him when they were a little way from the line of march, said, with great affected coolness, ``I could not but wonder, sir, at the fickleness of taste which you were pleased to express the other day.But it was not an angel, as you justly observed, who had charms for you, unless she brought an empire for her fortune.I have now an excellent commentary upon that obscure text.''
``I am at a loss even to guess at your meaning, Colonel Mac-Ivor, unless it seems plain that you intend to fasten a quarrel upon me.''
