Whentheyhadwalkedabouthalf-an-hour，stillalongopenandwastegroundofthesamedescription，theycametothestumpofanancientoak，which，fromitsrelics，appearedtohavebeenatonetimeatreeofverylargesize。InanadjacenthollowtheyfoundseveralHighlanders，withahorseortwo。
Theyhadnotjoinedthemaboveafewminutes，whichWaverley’sattendantemployed，inallprobability，incommunicatingthecauseoftheirdelayforthewordsDuncanDuroch’’wereoftenrepeated，whenDuncanhimselfappeared，outofbreathindeed，andwithallthesymptomsofhavingrunforhislife，butlaughing，andinhighspiritsatthesuccessofthestratagembywhichhehadbaffledhispursuers。This，indeed，Waverleycouldeasilyconceivemightbeamatterofnogreatdifficultytotheactivemountaineer，whowasperfectlyacquaintedwiththeground，andtracedhiscoursewithafirmnessandconfidencetowhichhispursuersmusthavebeenstrangers。Thealarmwhichheexcitedseemedstilltocontinue，foradroppingshotortwowereheardatagreatdistance，whichseemedtoserveasanadditiontothemirthofDuncanandhiscomrades。
Themountaineernowresumedthearmswithwhichhehadentrustedourhero，givinghimtounderstandthatthedangersofthejourneywerehappilysurmounted。Waverleywasthenmountedupononeofthehorses，achangewhichthefatigueofthenightandhisrecentillnessrenderedexceedinglyacceptable。
Hisportmanteauwasplacedonanotherpony，Duncanmountedathird，andtheysetforwardataroundpace，accompaniedbytheirescort。Nootherincidentmarkedthecourseofthatnight’sjourney，andatthedawnofmorningtheyattainedthebanksofarapidriver。Thecountryaroundwasatoncefertileandromantic。Steepbanksofwoodwerebrokenbycornfields，whichthisyearpresentedanabundantharvest，alreadyinagreatmeasurecutdown。
Ontheoppositebankoftheriver，andpartlysurroundedbyawindingofitsstream，stoodalargeandmassivecastle，thehalf-ruinedturretsofwhichwerealreadyglitteringinthefirstraysofthesun。Itwasinformanoblongsquare，ofsizeNoteQ。CastleofDoune。
sufficienttocontainalargecourtinthecentre。Thetowersateachangleofthesquarerosehigherthanthewallsofthebuilding，andwereintheirturnsurmountedbyturrets，differinginheight，andirregularinshape。Upononeoftheseasentinelwatched，whosebonnetandplaidstreaminginthewinddeclaredhimtobeaHighlander，asabroadwhiteensign，whichfloatedfromanothertower，announcedthatthegarrisonwasheldbytheinsurgentadherentsoftheHouseofStuart。
Passinghastilythroughasmallandmeantown，wheretheirappearanceexcitedneithersurprisenorcuriosityinthefewpeasantswhomthelaboursoftheharvestbegantosummonfromtheirrepose，thepartycrossedanancientandnarrowbridgeofseveralarches，andturningtotheleft，upanavenueofhugeoldsycamores，Waverleyfoundhimselfinfrontofthegloomyyetpicturesquestructurewhichhehadadmiredatadistance。Ahugeiron-grateddoor，whichformedtheexteriordefenceofthegateway，wasalreadythrownbacktoreceivethem；andasecond，heavilyconstructedofoak，andstuddedthicklywithironnails，beingnextopened，admittedthemintotheinteriorcourtyard。AgentlemandressedintheHighlandgarb，andhavingawhitecockadeinhisbonnet，assistedWaverleytodismountfromhishorse，andwithmuchcourtesybidhimwelcometothecastle。
Thegovernor，forsowemusttermhim，havingconductedWaverleytoahalf-ruinousapartment，where，however，therewasasmallcamp-bed，andhavingofferedhimanyrefreshmentwhichhedesired，wasthenabouttoleavehim。
Willyounotaddtoyourcivilities，’’saidWaverley，afterhavingmadetheusualacknowledgment，byhavingthekindnesstoinformmewhereIam，andwhetherornotIamtoconsidermyselfasaprisoner？’’
IamnotatlibertytobesoexplicituponthissubjectasI
couldwish。Briefly，however，youareintheCastleofDoune，inthedistrictofMenteith，andinnodangerwhatever。’’
AndhowamIassuredofthat？’’
BythehonourofDonaldStewart，governorofthegarrison，andlieutenant-colonelintheserviceofhisRoyalHighnessPrinceCharlesEdward。’’Sosaying，hehastilylefttheapartment，asiftoavoidfurtherdiscussion。
Exhaustedbythefatiguesofthenight，ourheronowthrewhimselfuponthebed，andwasinafewminutesfastasleep。
BeforeWaverleyawakenedfromhisreposethedaywasfaradvanced，andhebegantofeelthathehadpassedmanyhourswithoutfood。Thiswassoonsuppliedinformofacopiousbreakfast，butColonelStewart，asifwishingtoavoidthequeriesofhisguest，didnotagainpresenthimself。Hiscomplimentswere，however，deliveredbyaservant，withanoffertoprovideanythinginhispowerthatcouldbeusefultoCaptainWaverleyonhisjourney，whichheintimatedwouldbecontinuedthatevening。ToWaverley’sfurtherinquiriestheservantopposedtheimpenetrablebarrierofrealoraffectedignoranceandstupidity。Heremovedthetableandprovisions，andWaverleywasagainconsignedtohisownmeditations。
Ashecontemplatedthestrangenessofhisfortune，whichseemedtodelightinplacinghimatthedisposalofotherswithoutthepowerofdirectinghisownmotions，Edward’seyesuddenlyresteduponhisportmanteau，whichhadbeendepositedinhisapartmentduringhissleep。ThemysteriousappearanceofAliceinthecottageoftheglenimmediatelyrusheduponhismind，andhewasabouttosecureandexaminethepacketwhichshehaddepositedamonghisclothes，whentheservantofColonelStewartagainmadehisappearance，andtookuptheportmanteauuponhisshoulders。
MayInottakeoutachangeoflinen，myfriend？’’
Yourhonoursallgetaneo’theColonel’sainruffledsarks，butthismaunganginthebaggage-cart。’’
Andsosaying，heverycoollycarriedofftheportmanteauwithoutwaitingfurtherremonstrance，leavingourheroinastatewheredisappointmentandindignationstruggledforthemastery。Inafewminutesheheardacartrumbleoutoftheruggedcourt-yard，andmadenodoubtthathewasnowdispossessed，foraspaceatleast，ifnotforever，oftheonlydocumentswhichseemedtopromisesomelightuponthedubiouseventswhichhadoflateinfluencedhisdestiny。Withsuchmelancholythoughtshehadtobeguileaboutfourorfivehoursofsolitude。
Whenthisspacewaselapsed，thetramplingofhorsewasheardinthecourt-yard，andColonelStewartsoonaftermadehisappearancetorequesthisguesttotakesomefurtherrefreshmentbeforehisdeparture。Theofferwasaccepted，foralatebreakfasthadbynomeansleftourheroincapableofdoinghonourtodinner，whichwasnowpresented。Theconversationofhishostwasthatofaplaincountrygentleman，mixedwithsomesoldier-likesentimentsandexpressions。Hecautiouslyavoidedanyreferencetothemilitaryoperationsorcivilpoliticsofthetime：andtoWaverley’sdirectinquiriesconcerningsomeofthesepoints，replied，thathewasnotatlibertytospeakuponsuchtopics。
Whendinnerwasfinished，thegovernorarose，and，wishingEdwardagoodjourney，said，thathavingbeeninformedbyWaverley’sservantthathisbaggagehadbeensentforward，hehadtakenthefreedomtosupplyhimwithsuchchangesoflinenashemightfindnecessary，tillhewasagainpossessedofhisown。Withthiscomplimenthedisappeared。AservantacquaintedWaverleyaninstantafterwardsthathishorsewasready。
Uponthishinthedescendedintothecourt-yard，andfoundatrooperholdingasaddledhorse，onwhichhemounted，andsalliedfromtheportalofDouneCastle，attendedbyaboutascoreofarmedmenonhorseback。Thesehadlesstheappearanceofregularsoldiersthanofindividualswhohadsuddenlyassumedarmsfromsomepressingmotiveofunexpectedemergency。
Theiruniform，whichwasblueandred，anaffectedimitationofthatofFrenchchasseurs，wasinmanyrespectsincomplete，andsateawkwardlyuponthosewhoworeit。
Waverley’seye，accustomedtolookatawell-disciplinedregiment，couldeasilydiscoverthatthemotionsandhabitsofhisescortwerenotthoseoftrainedsoldiers，andthat，althoughexpertenoughinthemanagementoftheirhorses，theirskillwasthatofhuntsmenorgrooms，ratherthanoftroopers。Thehorseswerenottrainedtotheregularpacesonecessarytoexecutesimultaneousandcombinedmovementsandformations；
nordidtheyseem_bitted_asitistechnicallyexpressedfortheuseofthesword。Themen，however，werestout，hardy-lookingfellows，andmightbeindividuallyformidablea’sirregularcavalry。Thecommanderofthissmallpartywasmounteduponanexcellenthunter，andalthoughdressedinuniform，hischangeofappareldidnotpreventWaverleyfromrecognisinghisoldacquaintance，Mr。FalconerofBalmawhapple。
Now，althoughthetermsuponwhichEdwardhadpartedwiththisgentlemanwerenoneofthemostfriendly，hewouldhavesacrificedeveryrecollectionoftheirfoolishquarrelforthepleasureofenjoyingoncemorethesocialintercourseofquestionandanswer，fromwhichhehadbeensolongsecluded。ButapparentlytheremembranceofhisdefeatbytheBaronofBradwardine，ofwhichEdwardhadbeentheunwillingcause，stillrankledinthemindofthelow-bred，andyetproudlaird。
Hecarefullyavoidedgivingtheleastsignofrecognition，ridingdoggedlyattheheadofhismen，who，thoughscarceequalinnumbertoasergeant’sparty，weredenominatedCaptainFalconer’stroop，beingprecededbyatrumpet，whichsoundedfromtimetotime，andastandard，bornebyCornetFalconer，thelaird’syoungerbrother。Thelieutenant，anelderlyman，hadmuchtheairofalowsportsmanandbooncompanion；anexpressionofdryhumourpredominatedinhiscountenance，overfeaturesofavulgarcast，whichindicatedhabitualintemperance。
Hiscockedhatwassetknowinglyupononesideofhishead，andwhilehewhistledtheBobofDumblain，’’undertheinfluenceofhalf-a-mutchkinofbrandy，heseemedtotrotmerrilyforward，withahappyindifferencetothestateofthecountry，theconductoftheparty，theendofthejourney，andallothersublunarymatterswhatever。
Fromthiswight，whonowandthendroppedalongsideofhishorse，Waverleyhopedtoacquiresomeinformation，oratleasttobeguilethewaywithtalk。
Afineevening，sir，’’wasEdward’ssalutation。
Ow，ay，sir！abra’night，’’repliedthelieutenant，inbroadScotchofthemostvulgardescription。
Andafineharvest，apparently，’’continuedWaverley，followinguphisfirstattack。
Ay，theaitswillbegotbravelyin：butthefarmers，deilburstthem，andthecorn-mongers，willmaketheauldpricegudeagainstthemashashorsestillkeep。’’
Youperhapsactasquartermaster，Sir？’’
Ay，quartermaster，riding-master，andlieutenant，’’answeredthisofficerofallwork。And，tobesure，wha’sfittertolookafterthebreakingandthekeepingofthepoorbeaststhanmysell，thatboughtandsoldeveryaneo’them？’’
Andpray，air，ifitbenottoogreatafreedom，mayIbegtoknowwherewearegoingjustnow？’’
Afule’serrand，Ifear，’’answeredthiscommunicativepersonage。
Inthatcase，’’saidWaverley，determinednottosparecivility，Ishouldhavethoughtapersonofyourappearancewouldnothavebeenfoundontheroad。’’
Veratrue，veratrue，sir，’’repliedtheofficer，buteverywhyhasitswherefore。Yemaunken，thelairdthereboughtthirbeastsfraemetomunthistroop，andagreedtopayforthemaccordingtothenecessitiesandpricesofthetime。Butthenhehadnathereadypenny，andIhaebeenadvisedhisbondwillnotbeworthaboddleagainsttheestate，andthenI
hada’mydealerstosettlewi’atMartinmas；andsoasheverykindlyofferedmethiscommission，andastheauldFifteen
TheJudgesoftheSupremeCourtofSessioninScotlandareproverbiallytermed，amongthecountrypeeple，TheFifteen。