TheyfoundonthespotappointedseveralpowerfulChiefs，toallofwhomWaverleywasformallypresented，andbyallcordiallyreceived。Theirvassalsandclansmen，apartofwhosefeudaldutyitwastoattendontheseparties，appearedinsuchnumbersasamountedtoasmallarmy。Theseactiveassistantsspreadthroughthecountryfarandnear，formingacircle，technicallycalledthe_tinchel，_which，graduallyclosing，drovethedeerinherdstogethertowardstheglenwheretheChiefsandprincipalsportsmenlayinwaitforthem。Inthemeanwhile，thesedistinguishedpersonagesbivouackedamongthefloweryheath，wrappedupintheirplaids；amodeofpassingasummer’snightwhichWaverleyfoundbynomeansunpleasant。
Formanyhoursaftersunrise，themountainridgesandpassesretainedtheirordinaryappearanceofsilenceandsolitude；
andtheChiefs，withtheirfollowers，amusedthemselveswithvariouspastimes，inwhichthejoysoftheshell，asOssianhasit，werenotforgotten。Othersapartsateonahillretired；’’probablyasdeeplyengagedinthediscussionofpoliticsandnews，asMilton’sspiritsinmetaphysicaldisquisition。
Atlengthsignalsoftheapproachofthegameweredescriedandheard。Distantshoutsresoundedfromvalleytovalley，asthevariouspartiesofHighlanders，climbingrocks，strugglingthroughcopses，wadingbrooks，andtraversingthickets，approachedmoreandmoreneartoeachother，andcompelledtheastonisheddeer，withtheotherwildanimalsthatfledbeforethem，intoanarrowercircuit。Everynowandthenthereportofmusketswasheard，repeatedbyathousandechoes。
Thebayingofthedogswassoonaddedtothechorus，whichgreweverlouderandmoreloud。Atlengththeadvancedpartiesofthedeerbegantoshowthemselves；andasthestragglerscameboundingdownthepassbytwoorthreeatatime，theChiefsshowedtheirskillbydistinguishingthefattestdeer，andtheirdexterityinbringingthemdownwiththeirguns。Fergusexhibitedremarkableaddress，andEdwardwasalsosofortunateastoattractthenoticeandapplauseofthesportsmen。
Butnowthemainbodyofthedeerappearedattheheadoftheglen，compelledintoaverynarrowcompass，andpresentingsuchaformidablephalanx，thattheirantlersappearedatadistance，overtheridgeofthesteeppass，likealeaflessgrove。
Theirnumberwasverygreat，andfromadesperatestandwhichtheymade，withthetallestofthered-deerstagsarrangedinfront，inasortofbattlearray，gazingonthegroupwhichbarredtheirpassagedowntheglen，themoreexperiencedsportsmenbegantoaugurdanger。Theworkofdestruction，however，nowcommencedonallsides。Dogsandhunterswereatwork，andmusketsandfuseesresoundedfromeveryquarter。
Thedeer，driventodesperation，madeatlengthafearfulchargerightuponthespotwherethemoredistinguishedsportsmenhadtakentheirstand。ThewordwasgiveninGaelictoflingthemselvesupontheirfaces；butWaverley，onwhoseEnglishearsthesignalwaslost，hadalmostfallenasacrificetohisignoranceoftheancientlanguageinwhichitwascommunicated。
Fergus，observinghisdanger，sprungupandpulledhimwithviolencetotheground，justasthewholeherdbrokedownuponthem。Thetidebeingabsolutelyirresistible，andwoundsfromastag’shornhighlydangerous，theactivityoftheChieftainThethrustfromthetynes，orbranches，ofthestag’shorns，wasaccountedfarmoredangerousthanthoseoftheboar’stusk：-
Ifthoubehurtwithhornofstag，itbringstheetothybier，Butbarber’shandshallboar’shurtheal；thereofhavethounofear。
maybeconsidered，onthisoccasion，ashavingsavedhisguest’slife。Hedetainedhimwithafirmgraspuntilthewholeherdofdeerhadfairlyrunoverthem。Waverleythenattemptedtorise，butfoundthathehadsufferedseveralveryseverecontusions；
and，uponafurtherexamination，discoveredthathehadsprainedhisankleviolently。
Thischeckedthemirthofthemeeting，althoughtheHighlanders，accustomedtosuchincidents，andpreparedforthem，hadsufferednoharmthemselves。Awigwamwaserectedalmostinaninstant，whereEdwardwasdepositedonacouchofheather。Thesurgeon，orhewhoassumedtheoffice，appearedtounitethecharactersofaleechandaconjuror。Hewasanoldsmoke-driedHighlander，wearingavenerablegreybeard，andhavingforhissolegarmentatartanfrock，theskirtsofwhichdescendedtotheknee；and，beingundividedinfront，madethevestmentserveatoncefordoubletandbreeches。
Thisgarb，whichresembledthedressoftenputonchildreninScotland，calledapolorde_i。e。_polonaise，isaveryancientmodificationoftheHighlandgarb。Itwas，infact，thehauberkorshirtofmail，onlycomposedofclothinsteadofringsofarmour。
HeobservedgreatceremonyinapproachingEdward；andthoughourherowaswrithingwithpain，wouldnotproceedtoanyoperationwhichmightassuageituntilhehadperambulatedhiscouchthreetimes，movingfromeasttowest，accordingtothecourseofthesun。This，whichwascalledmakingthe_deasil，_boththeleechandtheassistantsseemedtoconsiderasOldHighlanderswillstillmakethe_deasil_aroundthosewhomtheywishwellto。Togoroundapersonintheoppositedirection，or_wither-shins_
German_wider-shins_，isunlucky，andasortofincantation。
amatterofthelastimportancetotheaccomplishmentofacure；andWaverley，whompainrenderedincapableofexpostulation，andwhoindeedsawnochanceofitsbeingattendedto，submittedinsilence。
Afterthisceremonywasdulyperformed，theoldEsculapiuslethispatientbloodwithacupping-glasswithgreatdexterity，andproceeded，mutteringallthewhiletohimselfinGaelic，toboilonthefirecertainherbs，withwhichhecompoundedanembrocation。Hethenfomentedthepartswhichhadsustainedinjury，neverfailingtomurmurprayersorspells，whichofthetwoWaverleycouldnotdistinguish，ashisearonlycaughtthewords_Gasper-Melchior-Balthazar-max-prax-fax，_andsimilargibberish。
Thefomentationhadaspeedyeffectinalleviatingthepainandswelling，whichourheroimputedtothevirtueoftheherbs，ortheeffectofthechaffing，butwhichwasbythebystandersunanimouslyascribedtothespellswithwhichtheoperationhadbeenaccompanied。Edwardwasgiventounderstand，thatnotoneoftheingredientshadbeengatheredexceptduringthefullmoon，andthattheherbalisthad，whilecollectingthem，uniformlyrecitedacharm，whichinEnglishranthusHailtothee，thouholyherb，Thatsprungonholyground！
AllintheMountOlivetFirstwertthoufound：
Thouartbootformanyabruise，Andhealestmanyawound；
InourLady’sblessedname，Itaketheefromtheground。
Thismetricalspell，orsomethingverylikeit，ispreservedbyReginaldScott，inhisworkonWitchcraft。
Edwardobserved，withsomesurprise，thatevenFergus，notwithstandinghisknowledgeandeducation，seemedtofallinwiththesuperstitiousideasofhiscountrymen，eitherbecausehedeemeditimpolitictoaffectscepticismonamatterofgeneralbelief，ormoreprobablybecause，likemostmenwhodonotthinkdeeplyoraccuratelyonsuchsubjects，hehadinhismindareserveofsuperstitionwhichbalancedthefreedomofhisexpressionsandpracticeuponotheroccasions。Waverleymadenocommentary，therefore，onthemannerofthetreatment，butrewardedtheprofessorofmedicinewithaliberalitybeyondtheutmostconceptionofhiswildesthopes。Heutteredontheoccasion，somanyincoherentblessingsinGaelicandEnglish，thatMac-Ivor，ratherscandalizedattheexcessofhisacknowledgments，cutthemshortbyexclaiming，_Ceudmilemhalloichort！_’’_i。e。，_Ahundredthousandcursesonyou！’’andsopushedthehelperofmenoutofthecabin。
AfterWaverleywasleftalone，theexhaustionofpainandfatigue-forthewholeday’sexercisehadbeensevere-threwhimintoaprofound，butyetafeverishsleep，whichhechieflyowedtoanopiatedraughtadministeredbytheoldHighlanderfromsomedecoctionofherbsinhispharmacopoeia。
Earlythenextmorning，thepurposeoftheirmeetingbeingover，andtheirsportsdampedbytheuntowardaccident，inwhichFergusandallhisfriendsexpressedthegreatestsympathy，itbecameaquestionhowtodisposeofthedisabledsportsman。
ThiswassettledbyMac-Ivor，whohadalitterprepared，ofbirchandhazel-grey，’’whichwasbornebyhispeoplewithOnthemorrowtheymadetheirbiers，Ofbirchandhazelgrey-_ChevyChase。_
suchcautionanddexterityasrendersitnotimprobablethattheymayhavebeentheancestorsofsomeofthosesturdyGael，whohavenowthehappinesstotransportthebellesofEdinburgh，intheirsedan-chairs，totenroutsinoneevening。WhenEdwardwaselevatedupontheirshoulders，hecouldnothelpbeinggratifiedwiththeromanticeffectproducedbythebreakingupofthissylvancamp。
TheAuthorhasbeensometimesaccusedofconfoundingfictionwithreality。Hethereforethinksitnecessarytostate，thatthecircumstancesofthehuntingdescribedinthetextaspreparatorytotheinsurrectionof1745，is，sofarasheknows，entirelyimaginary。ButitiswellknownsuchagreathuntingwasheldintheForestofBraemar，undertheauspicesoftheEarlofMar，aspreparatorytotheRebellionof1715；andmostoftheHighlandChieftainswhoafterwardsengagedinthatcivilcommotionwarepresentonthisoccasion。
Thevarioustribesassembled，eachatthepibrochoftheirnativeclan，andeachheadedbytheirpatriarchalruler。Some，whohadalreadybeguntoretire，wereseenwindingupthehills，ordescendingthepasseswhichledtothesceneofaction，thesoundoftheirbagpipesdyingupontheear。Othersmadestillamovingpictureuponthenarrowplain，formingvariouschangefulgroups，theirfeathersandlooseplaidswavinginthemorningbreeze，andtheirarmsglitteringintherisingsun。
MostoftheChiefscametotakefarewellofWaverley，andtoexpresstheiranxioushopetheymightagain，andspeedily，meet；butthecareofFergusabridgedtheceremonyoftakingleave。Atlength，hisownmenbeingcompletelyassembledandmustered，Mac-Ivorcommencedhismarch，butnottowardsthequarterfromwhichtheyhadcome。HegaveEdwardtounderstand，thatthegreaterpartofhisfollowers，nowonthefield，wereboundonadistantexpedition，andthatwhenhehaddepositedhiminthehouseofagentleman，whohewassurewouldpayhimeveryattention，hehimselfshouldbeunderthenecessityofaccompanyingthemthegreaterpartoftheway，butwouldlosenotimeinrejoininghisfriend。
WaverleywasrathersurprisedthatFergushadnotmentionedthisulteriordestinationwhentheysetoutuponthehunting-party；
buthissituationdidnotadmitofmanyinterrogatories。
ThegreaterpartoftheclansmenwentforwardundertheguidanceofoldBallenkeiroch，andEvanDhuMaccombich，apparentlyinhighspirits。AfewremainedforthepurposeofescortingtheChieftain，whowalkedbythesideofEdward’slitter，andattendedhimwiththemostaffectionateassiduity。
Aboutnoon，afterajourneywhichthenatureoftheconveyance，thepainofhisbruises，andtheroughnessoftheway，renderedinexpressiblypainful，WaverleywashospitablyreceivedintothehouseofagentlemanrelatedtoFergus，whohadpreparedforhimeveryaccommodationwhichthesimplehabitsofliving，thenuniversalintheHighlands，putinhispower。Inthisperson，anoldmanaboutseventy，Edwardadmiredarelicofprimitivesimplicity。Heworenodressbutwhathisestateafforded。
Theclothwasthefleeceofhisownsheep，wovenbyhisownservants，andstainedintotartanbythedyesproducedfromtheherbsandlichensofthehillsaroundhim。Hislinenwasspunbyhisdaughtersandmaid-servants，fromhisownflax，nordidhistable，thoughplentiful，andvariedwithgameandfish，offeranarticlebutwhatwasofnativeproduce。
Claiminghimselfnorightsofclanshiporvassalage，hewasfortunateintheallianceandprotectionofVichIanVohr，andotherboldandenterprisingChieftains，whoprotectedhiminthequietunambitiouslifeheloved。Itistrue，theyouthbornonhisgroundswereoftenenticedtoleavehimfortheserviceofhismoreactivefriends；butafewoldservantsandtenantsusedtoshaketheirgreylockswhentheyheardtheirmastercensuredforwantofspirit，andobserved，Whenthewindisstill，theshowerfallssoft。’’Thisgoodoldman，whosecharityandhospitalitywereunbounded，wouldhavereceivedWaverleywithkindness，hadhebeenthemeanestSaxonpeasant，sincehissituationrequiredassistance。ButhisattentiontoafriendandguestofVichIanVohrwasanxiousandunremitted。
Otherembrocationswereappliedtotheinjuredlimb，andnewspellswereputinpractice。Atlength，aftermoresolicitudethanwasperhapsfortheadvantageofhishealth，FergustookfarewellofEdwardforafewdays，when，hesaid，hewouldreturntoTomanrait，andhopedbythattimeWaverleywouldbeabletorideoneoftheHighlandponiesofhislandlord，andinthatmannerreturntoGlennaquoich。