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。