Ah！itwouldhavebeenataleforpoorFloratohavetoldyou。Or，ifthathillwereBenmore，andthatlongbluelake，whichyouseejustwindingtowardsyonmountainouscountry，wereLochTay，ormyownLochanRi，thetalewouldbebettersuitedwithscenery。However，letussitdownonthisknoll；
evenSaddlebackandUllswaterwillsuitwhatIhavetosaybetterthantheEnglishhedge-rows，enclosures，andfarm-houses。
Youmustknow，then，thatwhenmyancestor，IannanChaistel，wastedNorthumberland，therewasassociatedwithhimintheexpeditionasortofSouthlandChief，orcaptainofabandofLowlanders，calledHalbertHall。IntheirreturnthroughtheCheviots，theyquarrelledaboutthedivisionofthegreatbootytheyhadacquired，andcamefromwordstoblows。TheLowlanderswerecutofftoaman，andtheirchieffellthelast，coveredwithwoundsbytheswordofmyancestors。Sincethattime，hisspirithascrossedtheVichIanVohrofthedaywhenanygreatdisasterwasimpending，butespeciallybeforeapproachingdeath。Myfathersawhimtwice；oncebeforehewasmadeprisoneratSheriffmuir；anothertime，onthemorningofthedayonwhichhedied。’’
Howcanyou，mydearFergus，tellsuchnonsensewithagraveface？’’
Idonotaskyoutobelieveit；butItellyouthetruth，ascertainedbythreehundredyears’experienceatleast，andlastnightbymyowneyes。’’
Theparticulars，forheaven’ssake！’’saidWaverley，witheagerness。
Iwill，onconditionyouwillnotattemptajestonthesubject-
Sincethisunhappyretreatcommenced，Ihavescarceeverbeenabletosleepforthinkingofmyclan，andofthispoorPrince，whomtheyareleadingbacklikeadoginastring，whetherhewillorno，andofthedownfallofmyfamily。LastnightIfeltsofeverishthatIleftmyquarters，andwalkedout，inhopesthekeenfrostyairwouldbracemynerves-IcannottellhowmuchIdislikegoingon，forIknowyouwillhardlybelieveme。However-Icrossedasmallfoot-bridge，andkeptwalkingbackwardsandforwards，whenIobservedwithsurprise，bytheclearmoonlight，atallfigureinagreyplaid，suchasshepherdswearinthesouthofScotland，which，moveatwhatpaceIwould，keptregularlyaboutfouryardsbeforeme。’’
YousawaCumberlandpeasantinhisordinarydress，probably。’’
No：Ithoughtsoatfirst，andwasastonishedattheman’saudacityindaringtodogme。Icalledtohimbutreceivednoanswer。Ifeltananxiousthrobbingatmyheart；andtoascertainwhatIdreaded，Istoodstill，andturnedmyselfonthesamespotsuccessivelytothefourpointsofthecompass-ByHeaven，Edward，turnwhereIwould，thefigurewasinstantlybeforemyeyes，atpreciselythesamedistance？IwasthenconvinceditwastheBodachGlas。Myhairbristled，andmykneesshook。Imannedmyself，however，anddeterminedtoreturntomyquarters。MyghastlyvisitantglidedbeforemeforIcannotsayhewalked，untilhereachedthefoot-bridge：
therehestopped，andturnedfullround。Imusteitherwadetheriver，orpasshimascloseasIamtoyou。Adesperatecourage，foundedonthebeliefthatmydeathwasnear，mademeresolvetomakemywayindespiteofhim。Imadethesignofthecross，drewmysword，anduttered，`InthenameofGod，EvilSpirit，giveplace！’`VichIanVohr，’itsaid，inavoicethatmademyverybloodcurdle，`bewareofto-morrow！’
Itseemedatthatmomentnothalfayardfrommysword’spoint；butthewordswerenosoonerspokenthanitwasgone，andnothingappearedfurthertoobstructmypassage。Igothome，andthrewmyselfonmybed，whereIspentafewhoursheavilyenough；andthismorning，asnoenemywasreportedtobenearus，Itookmyhorse，androdeforwardtomakeupmatterswithyou。IwouldnotwillinglyfalluntilIamincharitywithawrongedfriend。’’
Edwardhadlittledoubtthatthisphantomwastheoperationofanexhaustedframeanddepressedspirits，workingonthebeliefcommontoallHighlandersinsuchsuperstitions。
HedidnotthelesspityFergus，forwhom，inhispresentdistress，hefeltallhisformerregardrevive。Withtheviewofdivertinghismindfromthesegloomyimages，heofferedwiththeBaron’spermission，whichheknowhecouldreadilyobtain，toremaininhisquarterstillFergus’scorpsshouldcomeup，andthentomarchwiththemasusual。Thechiefseemedmuchpleased，yethesitatedtoaccepttheoffer。
Weare，youknow，intherear，-thepostofdangerinaretreat。’’
Andthereforethepostofhonour。’’
Well，’’repliedtheChieftain，letAlickhaveyourhorseinreadiness，incaseweshouldbeover-matched，andIshallbedelightedtohaveyourcompanyoncemore。’’
Therearguardwerelateinmakingtheirappearance，havingbeendelayedbyvariousaccidentsandbythebadnessoftheroads。Atlengththeyenteredthehamlet。WhenWaverleyjoinedtheclanMac-Ivor，arminarmwiththeirChieftain，alltheresentmenttheyhadentertainedagainsthimseemedblownoffatonce。EvanDhureceivedhimwithagrinofcongratulation；
andevenCallum，whowasrunningaboutasactiveasever，paleindeed，andwithagreatpatchonhishead，appeareddelightedtoseehim。
Thatgallows-bird’sskull，’’saidFergus，mustbeharderthanmarble：thelockofthepistolwasactuallybroken。’’
Howcouldyoustrikesoyoungaladsohard？’’saidWaverley，withsomeinterest。
Why，ifIdidnotstrikehardsometimes，therascalswouldforgetthemselves。’’
Theywerenowinfullmarch，everycautionbeingtakentopreventsurprise。Fergus’speople，andafineclanregimentfromBadenoch，commandedbyClunyMac-Pherson，hadtherear。Theyhadpassedalargeopenmoor，andwereenteringintotheenclosureswhichsurroundasmallvillagecalledClifton。Thewintersunhadset，andEdwardbegantorallyFergusuponthefalsepredictionsoftheGreySpirit。TheIdesofMarcharenotpast，’’saidMac-Ivor，withasmile；when，suddenlycastinghiseyesbackonthemoor，alargebodyofcavalrywasindistinctlyseentohoveruponitsbrownanddarksurface。Tolinetheenclosuresfacingtheopenground，andtheroadbywhichtheenemymustmovefromituponthevillage，wastheworkofashorttime。Whilethesemanuvreswereaccomplishing，nightsunkdown，darkandgloomy，thoughthemoonwasatfull。Sometimes，however，shegleamedforthadubiouslightuponthesceneofaction。
TheHighlandersdidnotremainlongundisturbedinthedefensivepositiontheyhadadopted。Favouredbythenight，onelargebodyofdismounteddragoonsattemptedtoforcetheenclosures，whileanother，equallystrong，strovetopenetratebythehighroad。Bothwerereceivedbysuchaheavyfireasdisconcertedtheirranks，andeffectuallycheckedtheirprogress。
Unsatisfiedwiththeadvantagethusgained，Fergus，towhoseardentspirittheapproachofdangerseemedtorestoreallitselasticity，drawinghissword，andcalledoutClaymore！’’
encouragedhismen，byvoiceandexample，tobreakthroughthehedgewhichdividedthem，andrushdownupontheenemy。
Minglingwiththedismounteddragoons，theyforcedthem，attheswordpoint，toflytotheopenmoor，whereaconsiderablenumberwerecuttopieces。Butthemoonwhichsuddenlyshoneout，showedtotheEnglishthesmallnumberofassailants，disorderedbytheirownsuccess。Twosquadronsofhorsemovingtothesupportoftheircompanions，theHighlandersendeavouredtorecovertheenclosures。Butseveralofthem，amongstotherstheirbraveChieftain，werecutoffandsurroundedbeforetheycouldeffecttheirpurpose。Waverley，lookingeagerlyforFergus，fromwhom，aswellasfromtheretreatingbodyofhisfollowers，hehadbeenseparatedinthedarknessandtumult，sawhim，withEvanDhuandCallum，defendingthemselvesdesperatelyagainstadozenofhorsemen，whowerehewingatthemwiththeirlongbroadswords。Themoonwasagainatthatmomenttotallyoverclouded，andEdward，intheobscurity，couldneitherbringaidtohisfriends，nordiscoverwhichwaylayhisownroadtorejointherearguard。Afteronceortwicenarrowlyescapingbeingslainormadeprisonerbypartiesofthecavalrywhomheencounteredinthedarkness，heatlengthreachedanenclosure，andclamberingoverit，concludedhimselfinsafety，andonthewaytotheHighlandforces，whosepipesheheardatsomedistance。ForFergushardlyahoperemained，unlessthathemightbemadeprisoner。Revolvinghisfatewithsorrowandanxiety，thesuperstitionoftheBodachGlasrecurredtoEdward’srecollection，andhesaidtohimself，withinternalsurprise，What，canthedevilspeaktruth？’’
NoteAA。TheSkirmishatClifton。
Edwardwasinamostunpleasantanddangeroussituation。
Hesoonlostthesoundofthebagpipes；and，whatwasyetmoreunpleasant，when，aftersearchinglonginvain，andscramblingthroughmanyenclosures，heatlengthapproachedthehighroad，helearned，fromtheunwelcomenoiseofkettle-drumsandtrumpets，thattheEnglishCavalrynowoccupiedit，andconsequentlywerebetweenhimandtheHighlanders。
Precluded，therefore，fromadvancinginastraightdirection，heresolvedtoavoidtheEnglishmilitary，andendeavourtojoinhisfriendsbymakingacircuittotheleft，forwhichabeatenpathdeviatingfromthemainroadinthatdirection，seemedtoaffordfacilities。Thepathwasmuddy，andthenightdarkandcold；buteventheseinconvenienceswerehardlyfeltamidsttheapprehensionswhichfallingintothehandsoftheKing’sforcesreasonablyexcitedinhisbosom。
Afterwalkingaboutthreemiles，heatlengthreachedahamlet。Consciousthatthecommonpeoplewereingeneralunfavourabletothecausehehadespoused，yetdesirous，ifpossible，toprocureahorseandguidetoPenrith，wherehehopedtofindtherear，ifnotthemainbody，oftheChevalier’sarmy，heapproachedthealehouseoftheplace。Therewasagreatnoisewithin：hepausedtolisten。AroundEnglishoathortwo，andtheburdenofacampaignsong，convincedhimthehamletalsowasoccupiedbytheDukeofCumberland’ssoldiers。Endeavouringtoretirefromitassoftlyaspossible，andblessingtheobscuritywhichhithertohehadmurmuredagainst，Waverleygropedhiswaythebesthecouldalongasmallpaling，whichseemedtheboundaryofsomecottagegarden。Ashereachedthegateofthislittleenclosure，hisoutstretchedhandwasgraspedbythatofafemale，whosevoiceatthesametimeuttered，Edward，is’tthou，man？’’
Hereissomeunluckymistake，’’thoughtEdward，struggling，butgently，todisengagehimself。
Naeno’thyfoun，now，man，ortheredcwoatswillhearthee；theyhaebeenhouleryingandpouleryingeveryanethat，pastalehousedoorthisnoighttomakethemdrivetheirwaggonsandsickloike。Comeintofeyther’s，orthey’lldohoamischief。’’
Agoodhint，’’thoughtWaverley，followingthegirlthroughthelittlegardenintoabrick-pavedkitchen，whereshesetherselftokindleamatchatanexpiringfire，andwiththematchtolightacandle。ShehadnosoonerlookedonEdward，thanshedroppedthelight，withashrillscreamofOfeyther！feyther！“
Thefather，thusinvoked，speedilyappeared，-asturdyoldfarmer，inapairofleatherbreechesandbootspulledonwithoutstockings，havingjuststartedfromhisbed；-therestofhisdresswasonlyaWestmorelandstatesman’srobe-de-chambre，-
thatis，hisshirt。Hisfigurewasdisplayedtoadvantage，byacandlewhichheboreinhislefthand；inhisrighthebrandishedapoker。
Whathasthohere，wench？’’
O！’’criedthepoorgirl，almostgoingoffinhysterics，I
thoughtitwasNedWilliams，anditisoneoftheplaid-men！’’
Andwhatwastheegangingtodowi’NedWilliamsatthistimeo’noight？’’Tothis，whichwas，perhaps，oneofthenumerousclassofquestionsmoreeasilyaskedthananswered，therosy-cheekeddamselmadenoreply，butcontinuedsobbingandwringingherhands。
Andthee，lad，dosthoknowthatthedragoonsbeatown？
Dosthoknowthat，mon？-ad，they’llslivertheeloikeaturnip，mon。’’
Iknowmylifeisingreatdanger，’’saidWaverley，butifyoucanassistme，Iwillrewardyouhandsomely。IamnoScotchman，butanunfortunateEnglishgentleman。’’
BeheScotorno，’’saidthehonestfarmer，Iwishthouhadstkepttheothersideofthehallan。Butsincethouarthere，JacobJopsonwillbetraynoman’sbluid；andtheplaidsweregeycanny，anddidnotsomuchmischiefwhentheywerehereyesterday。’’Accordinglyhesetseriouslyaboutshelteringandrefreshingourheroforthenight。Thefirewasspeedilyrekindled，butwithprecautionagainstitslightbeingseenfromwithout。Thejollyyeomancutarasherofbacon，whichCicelysoonbroiled，andherfatheraddedaswingingtankardofhisbestale。Itwassettled，thatEdwardshouldremaintheretillthetroopsmarchedinthemorning，thenhireorbuyahorsefromthefarmer，and，withthebestdirectionsthatcouldbeobtained，endeavourtoovertakehisfriends。Aclean，thoughcoarsebed，receivedhimafterthefatiguesofthisunhappyday。
WiththemorningarrivedthenewsthattheHighlandershadevacuatedPenrith，andmarchedofftowardsCarlisle；thattheDukeofCumberlandwasinpossessionofPenrith，andthatdetachmentsofhisarmycoveredtheroadsineverydirection。
Toattempttogetthroughundiscovered，wouldbeanactofthemostfrantictemerity。NedWilliamstherightEdward
wasnowcalledtocouncilbyCicelyandherfather。Ned，whoperhapsdidnotcarethathishandsomenamesakeshouldremaintoolonginthesamehousewithhissweetheart，forfearoffreshmistakes，proposedthatWaverley，exchanginghisuniformandplaidforthedressofthecountry，shouldgowithhimtohisfather’sfarmnearUllswater，andremaininthatundisturbedretirementuntilthemilitarymovementsinthecountryshouldhaveceasedtorenderhisdeparturehazardous。Apricewasalsoagreedupon，atwhichthestrangermightboardwithFarmerWilliams，ifhethoughtproper，tillhecoulddepartwithsafety。
Itwasofmoderateamount；thedistressofhissituation，amongthishonestandsimple-heartedrace，beingconsideredasnoreasonforincreasingtheirdemand。
Thenecessaryarticlesofdresswereaccordinglyprocured；
and，byfollowingby-paths，knowntotheyoungfarmer，theyhopedtoescapeanyunpleasantrencontre。ArecompensefortheirhospitalitywasrefusedperemptorilybyoldJopsonandhischerry-cheekeddaughter；akisspaidtheone，andaheartyshakeofthehandtheother。Bothseemedanxiousfortheirguest’ssafety，andtookleaveofhimwithkindwishes。
Inthecourseoftheirroute，Edward，withhisguide，traversedthosefieldswhichthenightbeforehadbeenthesceneofaction。
AbriefgleamofDecember’ssunshonesadlyonthebroadheath，which，towardsthespotwherethegreatnorth-westroadenteredtheenclosuresofLordLonsdale’sproperty，exhibiteddeadbodiesofmenandhorses，andtheusualcompanionsofwar-anumberofcarrion-crows，hawks，andravens。