Thelatterdisplayedgreatearnestnesstoproceedinstantlytotheattack，EvanDhu，urgingtoFergus，bywayofargument，thatthe_sidierroy_wastotteringlikeanegguponastaff，andthattheyhada’thevantageoftheonset，forevenahaggisGodblessher！couldchargedownhill。’’
Butthegroundthroughwhichthemountaineersmusthavedescended，althoughnotofgreatextent，wasimpracticableinitscharacter，beingnotonlymarshy，butintersectedwithwallsofdrystone，andtraversedinitswholelengthbyaverybroadanddeepditch，circumstanceswhichmusthavegiventhemusketryoftheregularsdreadfuladvantages，beforethemountaineerscouldhaveusedtheirswords，onwhichtheyweretaughttorely。TheauthorityofthecommanderswasthereforeinterposedtocurbtheimpetuosityoftheHighlanders，andonlyafewmarksmenweresentdownthedescenttoskirmishwiththeenemy’sadvancedposts，andtoreconnoitretheground。
Here，then，wasamilitaryspectacleofnoordinaryinterest，orusualoccurrence。Thetwoarmies，sodifferentinaspectanddiscipline，yeteachadmirablytrainedinitsownpeculiarmodeofwar，uponwhoseconflictthetemporaryfateatleastofScotlandappearedtodepend，nowfacedeachotherliketwogladiatorsinthearena，eachmeditatinguponthemodeofattackingtheirenemy。Theleadingofficers，andthegeneral’sstaffofeacharmy，couldbedistinguishedinfrontoftheirlines，busiedwithspyglassestowatcheachother’smotions，andoccupiedindespatchingtheordersandreceivingtheintelligenceconveyedbytheaides-de-campandorderlymen，whogavelifetothescenebygallopingalongindifferentdirections，asifthefateofthedaydependeduponthespeedoftheirhorses。Thespacebetweenthearmieswasattimesoccupiedbythepartialandirregularcontestsofindividualsharpshooters，andahatorbonnetwasoccasionallyseentofall，asawoundedmanwasborneoffbyhiscomrades。These，however，werebuttriflingskirmishes，foritsuitedtheviewsofneitherpartytoadvanceinthatdirection。Fromtheneighbouringhamletsthepeasantrycautiouslyshowedthemselves，asifwatchingtheissueoftheexpectedengagement；andatnogreatdistanceinthebayweretwosquare-riggedvessels，bearingtheEnglishflag，whosetopsandyardswerecrowdedwithlesstimidspectators。
Whenthisawfulpausehadlastedforashorttime，Fergus，withanotherchieftain，receivedorderstodetachtheirclanstowardsthevillageofPreston，inordertothreatentherightflankofCope’sarmy，andcompelhimtoachangeofposition。
Toenablehimtoexecutetheseorders，theChiefofGlennaquoichoccupiedthechurchyardofTranent，acommandingsituation，andaconvenientplace，asEvanDhuremarked，foranygentlemanwhomighthavethemisfortunetobekilled，andchancedtobecuriousaboutChristianburial。’’Tocheckordislodgethisparty，theEnglishgeneraldetachedtwoguns，escortedbyastrongpartyofcavalry。Theyapproachedsonear，thatWaverleycouldplainlyrecognisethestandardofthetroophehadformerlycommanded，andhearthetrumpetsandkettle-drumssoundthesignalofadvance，whichhehadsooftenobeyed。Hecouldhear，too，thewell-knownwordgivenintheEnglishdialect，bytheequallywell-distinguishedvoiceofthecommandingofficer，forwhomhehadoncefeltsomuchrespect。Itwasatthatinstant，that，lookingaroundhim，hesawthewilddressandappearanceofhisHighlandassociates，heardtheirwhispersinanuncouthandunknownlanguage，lookeduponhisowndress，sounlikethatwhichhehadwornfromhisinfancy，andwishedtoawakefromwhatseemedatthemomentadream，strange，horrible，andunnatural。GoodGod！’’hemuttered，amIthenatraitortomycountry，arenegadetomystandard，andafoe，asthatpoordyingwretchexpressedhimself，tomynativeEngland？’’
Erehecoulddigestorsmothertherecollection，thetallmilitaryformofhislatecommandercamefullinview，forthepurposeofreconnoitring。Icanhithimnow，’’saidCallum，cautiouslyraisinghisfuseeoverthewallunderwhichhelaycouched，atscarcesixtyyards’distance。
Edwardfeltasifhewasabouttoseeaparricidecommittedinhispresence；forthevenerablegreyhairandstrikingcountenanceoftheveteranrecalledthealmostpaternalrespectwithwhichhisofficersuniversallyregardedhim。ButerehecouldsayHold！’’anagedHighlander，wholaybesideCallumBeg，stoppedhisarm。Spareyourshot，’’saidtheseer，hishourisnotyetcome。Butlethimbewareofto-morrow-Iseehiswinding-sheethighuponhisbreast。’’
Callum，flinttootherconsiderations，waspenetrabletosuperstition。
Heturnedpaleatthewordsofthe_Taishatr，_andrecoveredhispiece。ColonelGardiner，unconsciousofthedangerhehadescaped，turnedhishorseround，androdeslowlybacktothefrontofhisregiment。
Bythistimetheregulararmyhadassumedanewline，withoneflankinclinedtowardsthesea，andtheotherrestinguponthevillageofPreston；andassimilardifficultiesoccurredinattackingtheirnewposition，Fergusandtherestofthedetachmentwererecalledtotheirformerpost。ThisalterationcreatedthenecessityofacorrespondingchangeinGeneralCope’sarmy，whichwasagainbroughtintoalineparallelwiththatoftheHighlanders。Inthesemanuvresonbothsidestheday-lightwasnearlyconsumed，andbotharmiespreparedtorestupontheirarmsforthenightinthelineswhichtheyrespectivelyoccupied。
Therewillbenothingdonetonight，’’saidFergustohisfriendWaverley。Erewewrapourselvesinourplaids，letusgoseewhattheBaronisdoingintherearoftheline。’’
Whentheyapproachedhispost，theyfoundthegoodoldcarefulofficer，afterhavingsentouthisnightpatrols，andpostedhissentinels，engagedinreadingtheEveningServiceoftheEpiscopalChurchtotheremainderofhistroop。Hisvoicewasloudandsonorous，andthoughhisspectaclesuponhisnose，andtheappearanceofSaundersSaunderson，inmilitaryarray，performingthefunctionsofclerk，hadsomethingludicrous，yetthecircumstancesofdangerinwhichtheystood，themilitarycostumeoftheaudience，andtheappearanceoftheirhorses，saddledandpicketedbehindthem，gaveanimpressiveandsolemneffecttotheofficeofdevotion。
Ihaveconfessedto-day，ereyouwereawake，’’whisperedFergustoWaverley；yetIamnotsostrictaCatholicastorefusetojoininthisgoodman’sprayers。’’
Edwardassented，andtheyremainedtilltheBaronhadconcludedtheservice。
Asheshutthebook，Nowlads，’’saidhe，haveattheminthemorning，withheavyhandsandlightconsciences。’’HethenkindlygreetedMac-IvorandWaverley，whorequestedtoknowhisopinionoftheirsituation。Why，youknow，Tacitussaith`_InrebusbellicismaximedominaturFortuna，’whichisequiponderatewithourvernacularadage，`Luckcanmaistinthemellee。’Butcreditme，gentlemen，yonmanisnotadeacono’hiscraft。Hedampsthespiritsofthepoorladshecommands，bykeepingthemonthedefensive，whilkofitselfimpliesinferiorityorfear。Nowwilltheylieontheirarmsyonder，asanxiousandasillateaseasatoadunderaharrow，whileourmenwillbequitefreshandblitheforactioninthemorning。Well，goodnight-Onethingtroublesme，butifto-morrowgoeswelloff，Iwillconsultyouaboutit，Glennaquoich。’’
IcouldalmostapplytoMr。BradwardinethecharacterwhichHenrygivesofFluellen，’’saidWaverley，ashisfriendandhewalkedtowardstheir_bivouac：_
Thoughitappearsalittleoutoffashion，Thereismuchcareandvalourinthis`Scotchman。’’’
Hehasseenmuchservice，’’answeredFergus，andoneissometimesastonishedtofindhowmuchnonsenseandreasonaremingledinhiscomposition。Iwonderwhatcanbetroublinghismind-probablysomethingaboutRose-Hark！theEnglisharesettingtheirwatch。’’
Therollofthedrumandshrillaccompanimentofthefifesswelledupthehill-diedaway-resumeditsthunder-andwasatlengthhushed。Thetrumpetsandkettle-drumsofthecavalrywerenextheardtoperformthebeautifulandwildpointofwarappropriatedasasignalforthatpieceofnocturnalduty，andthenfinallysunkuponthewindwithashrillandmournfulcadence。
Thefriends，whohadnowreachedtheirpost，stoodandlookedroundthemeretheylaydowntorest。Thewesternskytwinkledwithstars，butafrost-mist，risingfromtheocean，coveredtheeasternhorizon，androlledinwhitewreathsalongtheplainwheretheadversearmylaycouchedupontheirarms。
Theiradvancedpostswerepushedasfarasthesideofthegreatditchatthebottomofthedescent，andhadkindledlargefiresatdifferentintervals，gleamingwithobscureandhazylustrethroughtheheavyfogwhichencircledthemwithadoubtfulhalo。
TheHighlanders，thickasleavesinVallambrosa，’’laystretchedupontheridgeofthehill，buriedexceptingtheirsentinelsinthemostprofoundrepose。Howmanyofthesebravefellowswillsleepmoresoundlybeforeto-morrownight，Fergus？’’saidWaverley，withaninvoluntarysigh。
Youmustnotthinkofthat，’’answeredFergus，whoseideaswereentirelymilitary。Youmustonlythinkofyoursword，andbywhomitwasgiven。Allotherreflectionsarenow=toolate。=’’
Withtheopiatecontainedinthisundeniableremark，Edwardendeavouredtolullthetumultofhisconflictingfeelings。TheChieftainandhe，combiningtheirplaids，madeacomfortableandwarmcouch。Callum，sittingdownattheirhead，foritwashisdutytowatchupontheimmediatepersonoftheChief，
beganalongmournfulsonginGaelic，toalowanduniformtune，which，likethesoundofthewindatadistance，soonlulledthemtosleep。
WhenFergusMac-Ivorandhisfriendhadsleptforafewhours，theywereawakened，andsummonedtoattendthePrince。
Thedistantvillage-clockwasheardtotollthreeastheyhastenedtotheplacewherehelay。Hewasalreadysurroundedbyhisprincipalofficersandthechiefsofclans。Abundleofpease-straw，whichhadbeenlatelyhiscouch，nowservedforaseat。
JustasFergusreachedthecircle，theconsultationhadbrokenup。Courage，mybravefriends！’’saidtheChevalier，andeachoneputhimselfinstantlyattheheadofhiscommand；afaithfulfriendhasofferedtoguideusbyapracticable，thoughnarrowNoteU-AndersonofWhitburgh。
andcircuitousroute，which，sweepingtoourright，traversesthebrokengroundandmorass，andenablesustogainthefirmandopenplain，uponwhichtheenemyarelying。Thisdifficultysurmounted，Heavenandyourgoodswordsmustdotherest。’’
Theproposalspreadunanimousjoy，andeachleaderhastenedtogethismenintoorderwithaslittlenoiseaspossible。Thearmy，movingbyitsrightfromofthegroundonwhichtheyhadrested，soonenteredthepaththroughthemorass，conductingtheirmarchwithastonishingsilenceandgreatrapidity。
Themisthadnotrisentothehighergrounds，sothatforsometimetheyhadtheadvantageofstarlight。Butthiswaslostasthestarsfadedbeforeapproachingday，andtheheadofthemarchingcolumn，continuingitsdescent，plungingasitwereintotheheavyoceanoffog，whichrolleditswhitewavesoverthewholeplain，andovertheseabywhichitwasbounded。
Somedifficultieswerenowtobeencountered，inseparablefromdarkness，-anarrow，broken，andmarshypath，andthenecessityofpreservingunioninthemarch。These，however，werelessinconvenienttoHighlanders，fromtheirhabitsoflife，thantheywouldhavebeentoanyothertroops，andtheycontinuedasteadyandswiftmovement。
AstheclanofIvorapproachedthefirmground，followingthetrackofthosewhoprecededthem，thechallengeofapatrolwasheardthroughthemist，thoughtheycouldnotseethedragoonbywhomitwasmade-Whogoesthere？’’
Hush！’’criedFergus，hush！-Letnoneanswerashevalueshislife-Pressforward！’’andtheycontinuedtheirmarchwithsilenceandrapidity。
Thepatrolfiredhiscarabineuponthebody，andthereportwasinstantlyfollowedbytheclangofhishorse’sfeetashegallopedoff。_Hylaxinliminelatrat，_’’saidtheBaronofBradwardine，whoheardtheshot；thatloonwillgivethealarm。’’
TheclanofFergushadnowgainedthefirmplain，whichhadlatelybornealargecropofcorn。Buttheharvestwasgatheredin，andtheexpansewasunbrokenbytree，bush，orinterruptionofanykind。Therestofthearmywerefollowingfast，whentheyheardthedrumsoftheenemybeatthe_general。_
Surprise，however，hadmadenopartoftheirplan，sotheywerenotdisconcertedbythisintimationthatthefoewasuponhisguardandpreparedtoreceivethem。Itonlyhastenedtheirdispositionsforthecombat，whichwereverysimple。
TheHighlandarmy，whichnowoccupiedtheeasternendofthewideplain，orstubblefield，sooftenreferredto，wasdrawnupintwolines，extendingfromthemorasstowardsthesea。
Thefirstwasdestinedtochargetheenemy，thesecondtoactasareserve。Thefewhorse，whomthePrinceheadedinperson，remainedbetweenthetwolines。TheAdventurerhadintimatedaresolutiontochargeinpersonattheheadofhisfirstline；