WhenWaverleyreachedthatpartofthecolumnwhichwasfilledbytheclanofMac-Ivor，theyhalted，formed，andreceivedhimwithatriumphantflourishuponthebagpipes，andaloudshoutofthemen，mostofwhomknewhimpersonally，andweredelightedtoseehiminthedressoftheircountryandoftheirsept。Youshout，’’saidaHighlanderofaneighbouringclantoEvanDhu，asiftheChieftainwerejustcometoyourhead。’’
_MareBraniseabrathair，_IfitbenotBran，itisBran’sbrother，’’wastheproverbialreplyofMaccombich。
Bran，thewell-knowndogofFingal，isoftenthethemeofHighlandproverbaswellassong。
O，then，itisthehandsomeSassenachDuinh-wassel，thatistobemarriedtoLadyFlora？’’
Thatmaybe，oritmaynotbe；anditisneitheryourmatternormine，Gregor。’’
Fergusadvancedtoembracethevolunteer，andaffordhimawarmandheartywelcome；buthethoughtitnecessarytoapologizeforthediminishednumbersofhisbattalionwhichdidnotexceedthreehundredmen，byobserving，hehadsentagoodmanyoutuponparties。
Therealfact，however，was，thatthedefectionofDonaldBeanLeanhaddeprivedhimofatleastthirtyhardyfellows，whoseserviceshehadfullyreckonedupon，andthatmanyofhisoccasionaladherentshadbeenrecalledbytheirseveralchiefstothestandardstowhichtheymostproperlyowedtheirallegiance。Therivalchiefofthegreatnorthernbranchalsoofhisownclanhadmusteredhispeople，althoughhehadnotyetdeclaredeitherfortheGovernmentorfortheChevalier，andbyhisintrigueshadinsomedegreediminishedtheforcewithwhichFergustookthefield。Tomakeamendsforthesedisappointments，itwasuniversallyadmittedthatthefollowersofVichIanVohr，inpointofappearance，equipment，arms，anddexterityinusingthem，equalledthemostchoicetroopswhichfollowedthestandardofCharlesEdward。OldBallenkeirochactedashismajor；andwiththeotherofficerswhohadknownWaverleywhenatGlennaquoich，gaveourheroacordialreception，astheshareroftheirfuturedangersandexpectedhonours。
TheroutepursuedbytheHighlandarmy，afterleavingthevillageofDuddingston，wasforsometimethecommonpost-roadbetwixtEdinburghandHaddington，untiltheycrossedtheEskatMusselburgh，when，insteadofkeepingthelowgroundstowardsthesea，theyturnedmoreinland，andoccupiedthebrowoftheeminencecalledCarberryHill，aplacealreadydistinguishedinScottishhistoryasthespotwherethelovelyMarysurrenderedherselftoherinsurgentsubjects。ThisdirectionwaschosenbecausetheChevalierhadreceivednoticethatthearmyoftheGovernment，arrivingbyseafromAberdeen，hadlandedatDunbar，andquarteredthenightbeforetothewestofHaddington，withtheintentionoffallingdowntowardstheseaside，andapproachingEdinburghbythelowercoast-road。
Bykeepingtheheight，whichoverhungthatroadinmanyplaces，itwashopedtheHighlandersmightfindanopportunityofattackingthemtoadvantage。ThearmythereforehaltedupontheridgeofCarberryHill，bothtorefreshthesoldiers，andasacentralsituation，fromwhichtheirmarchcouldbedirectedtoanypointthatthemotionsoftheenemymightrendermostadvisable。Whiletheyremainedinthisposition，amessengerarrivedinhastetodesireMac-IvortocometothePrince，adding，thattheiradvancedposthadhadaskirmishwithsomeoftheenemy’scavalry，andthattheBaronofBradwardinehadsentinafewprisoners。
Waverleywalkedforwardoutofthelinetosatisfyhiscuriosity，andsoonobservedfiveorsixofthetroopers，who，coveredwithdust，hadgallopedintoannouncethattheenemywereinfullmarchwestwardalongthecoast。Passingstillalittlefartheron，hewasstruckwithagroanwhichissuedfromahovel。
Heapproachedthespot，andheardavoice，intheprovincialEnglishofhisnativecounty，whichendeavoured，thoughfrequentlyinterruptedbypain，torepeattheLord’sPrayer。Thevoiceofdistressalwaysfoundareadyanswerinourhero’sbosom。
Heenteredthehovel，whichseemedtobeintendedforwhatiscalled，inthepastoralcountiesofScotland，a_smearing-house；_
andinitsobscurityEdwardcouldonlyatfirstdiscernasortofredbundle；forthosewhohadstrippedthewoundedmanofhisarms，andpartofhisclothes，hadlefthimthedragoon-cloakinwhichhewasenveloped。
FortheloveofGod，’’saidthewoundedman，asheheardWaverley’sstep，givemeasingledropofwater！’’
Youshallhaveit，’’answeredWaverley，atthesametimeraisinghiminhisarms，bearinghimtothedoorofthehut，andgivinghimsomedrinkfromhisflask。
Ishouldknowthatvoice，’’saidtheman；butlookingonWaverley’sdresswithabewilderedlook-no，thisisnottheyoungsquire？’’
ThiswasthecommonphrasebywhichEdwardwasdistinguishedontheestateofWaverley-Honour，andthesoundnowthrilledtohisheartwiththethousandrecollectionswhichthewell-knownaccentsofhisnativecountryhadalreadycontributedtoawaken。Houghton！’’hesaid，gazingontheghastlyfeatureswhichdeathwasfastdisfiguring，canthisbeyou？’’
IneverthoughttohearanEnglishvoiceagain，’’saidthewoundedman；theyleftmetoliveordiehereasIcould，whentheyfoundIwouldsaynothingaboutthestrengthoftheregiment。But，Osquire！howcouldyoustayfromussolong，andletusbetemptedbythatfiendofthepit，Ruffin？-weshouldhavefollowedyouthroughfloodandfire，tobesure。’’
Ruffin！Iassureyou，Houghton，youhavebeenvilelyimposedupon。’’
Ioftenthoughtso，’’saidHoughton，thoughtheyshowedusyourveryseal；andsoTimswasshot，andIwasreducedtotheranks。’’
Donotexhaustyourstrengthinspeaking，’’saidEdward。
Iwillgetyouasurgeonpresently。’’
HesawMac-Ivorapproaching，whowannowreturningfromhead-quarters，wherehehadattendedacouncilofwae，andhastenedtomeethim。Bravenews！’’shoutedtheChief，weshallbeatitinlessthantwohours。ThePrincehasputhimselfattheheadoftheadvance，andashedrewhissword，calledout，`Myfriends，Ihavethrownawaythescabbard。’Come，Waverley，wemoveinstantly。’’
Amoment-amoment；thispoorprisonerisdying-
whereshallIfindasurgeon？’’
Why，whereshouldyou？Wehavenone，youknow，buttwoorthreeFrenchfellows，who，Ibelieve，arelittlebetterthan_garonsapothcaires。_’’
Butthemanwillbleedtodeath。’’
Poorfellow！’’saidFergusinamomentaryfitofcompassion；
theninstantlyadded，Butitwillbeathousandmen’sfatebeforenight；socomealong。’’
Icannot；Itellyouheisasonofatenantofmyuncle’s。’’
O，ifhe’safollowerofyours，hemustbelookedto；I’llsendCallumtoyou。But_diaoul！ceademilliamolligheart！_’’
continuedtheimpatientChieftain-whatmadeanoldsoldierlikeBradwardinesenddyingmenheretocumberus？’’
Callumcamewithhisusualalertness；and，indeed，WaverleyrathergainedthanlostintheopinionoftheHighlandersbyhisanxietyaboutthewoundedman。TheywouldnothaveunderstoodthegeneralphilanthropywhichrendereditalmostimpossibleforWaverleytohavepassedanypersoninsuchdistress；but，asapprehendingthatthesuffererwasoneofhis_following，_theyunanimouslyallowedthatWaverley’sconduct_Scottic_forfollowers。
wasthatofakindandconsideratechieftain，whomeritedtheattachmentofhispeople。InaboutaquarterofanhourpoorHumphreybreathedhislast，prayinghisyoungmaster，whenhereturnedtoWaverley-Honour，tobekindtooldJobHoughtonandhisdame，andconjuringhimnottofightwiththesewildpetticoat-menagainstoldEngland。
Whenhislastbreathwasdrawn，Waverley，whohadbeheldwithsinceresorrow，andnoslighttingeofremorse，thefinalagoniesofmortality，nowwitnessedforthefirsttime，commandedCallumtoremovethebodyintothehut。ThistheyoungHighlanderperformed，notwithoutexaminingthepocketsofthedefunct，which，however，heremarked，hadbeenprettywellspung’d。Hetookthecloak，however，andproceedingwiththeprovidentcautionofaspanielhidingabone，concealeditamongsomefurze，andcarefullymarkedthespot，observing，thatifhechancedtoreturnthatway，itwouldbeanexcellentrokelayforhisauldmotherElspat。
Itwasbyaconsiderableexertionthattheyregainedtheirplaceinthemarchingcolumn，whichwasnowmovingrapidlyforwardtooccupythehighgroundsabovethevillageofTranent，betweenwhichandthesealaythepurposedmarchoftheoppositearmy。
ThismelancholyinterviewwithhislatesergeantforcedmanyunavailingandpainfulreflectionsuponWaverley’smind。Itwasclear，fromtheconfessionoftheman，thatColonelGardiner’sproceedingshadbeenstrictlywarranted，andevenrenderedindispensable，bythestepstakeninEdward’snametoinducethesoldiersofhistrooptomutiny。Thecircumstanceofthesealhenow，forthefirsttime，recollected，andthathehadlostitinthecavernoftherobber，BeanLean。Thattheartfulvillainhadsecuredit，anduseditasthemeansofcarryingonanintrigueintheregiment，forhisownpurposes，wassufficientlyevident；andEdwardhadnowlittledoubtthatinthepacketplacedinhisportmanteaubyhisdaughterheshouldfindfartherlightuponhisproceedings。Inthemeanwhile，therepeatedexpostulationofHoughton-Ah，squire，whydidyouleaveus？’’runglikeaknellinhisears。
Yes，’’hesaid，Ihaveindeedactedtowardsyouwiththoughtlesscruelty。Ibroughtyoufromyourpaternalfields，andtheprotectionofagenerousandkindlandlord，andwhenI
hadsubjectedyoutoalltherigourofmilitarydisciplineI
shunnedtobearmyownshareoftheburden，andwanderedfromthedutiesIhadundertaken，leavingalikethosewhomitwasmybusinesstoprotect，andmyownreputation，tosufferundertheartificesofvillany。Oindolenceandindecisionofmind！ifnotinyourselvesvices，tohowmuchexquisitemiseryandmischiefdoyoufrequentlypreparetheway！’’
AlthoughtheHighlandersmarchedonveryfast，thesunwasdecliningwhentheyarriveduponthebrowofthosehighgroundswhichcommandanopenandextensiveplainstretchingnorthwardtothesea，onwhicharesituated，butataconsiderabledistancefromeachother，thesmallvillagesofSeatonandCockenzie，andthelargeroneofPreston。Oneofthelowcoast-roadstoEdinburghpassedthroughthisplain，issuinguponitfromtheenclosures，ofSeaton-house，andatthetownorvillageofPrestonagainenteringthedefilesofanenclosedcountry。BythiswaytheEnglishgeneralhadchosentoapproachthemetropolis，bothasmostcommodiousforhiscavalry，andbeingprobablyofopinionthat，bydoingso，hewouldmeetinfrontwiththeHighlandersadvancingfromEdinburghintheoppositedirection。Inthishewasmistaken；forthesoundjudgmentoftheChevalier，orofthosetowhoseadvicehelistened，leftthedirectpassagefree，butoccupiedthestronggroundbywhichitwasoverlookedandcommanded。
WhentheHighlandersreachedtheheightsabovetheplaindescribed，theywereimmediatelyformedinarrayofbattlealongthebrowofthehill。AlmostatthesameinstantthevanoftheEnglishappearedissuingfromamongthetreesandenclosuresofSeaton，withthepurposeofoccupyingthelevelplainbetweenthehighgroundandthesea；thespacewhichdividedthearmiesbeingonlyabouthalf-a-mileinbreadth。
Waverleycouldplainlyseethesquadronsofdragoons，issue，oneafteranother，fromthedefiles，withtheirvidettesinfront，andformupontheplain，withtheirfrontopposedtothatofthePrince’sarmy。Theywerefollowedbyatrainoffield-pieces，which，whentheyreachedtheflankofthedragoons，werealsobroughtintoline，andpointedagainsttheheights。Themarchwascontinuedbythreeorfourregimentsofinfantrymarchinginopencolumn，theirfixedbayonetsshowinglikesuccessivehedgesofsteel，andtheirarmsglancinglikelightning，as，atasignalgiven，theyalsoatoncewheeledup，andwereplacedindirectoppositiontotheHighlanders。Asecondtrainofartillery，withanotherregimentofhorse，closedthelongmarch，andformedontheleftflankoftheinfantry，thewholelinefacingsouthward。
WhiletheEnglisharmywentthroughtheseevolutions，theHighlandersshowedequalpromptitudeandzealforbattle。Asfastastheclanscameupontheridgewhichfrontedtheirenemy，theywereformedintoline，sothatbotharmiesgotintocompleteorderofbattle，atthesamemoment。Whenthiswasaccomplished，theHighlanderssetupatremendousyell，whichwasre-echoedbytheheightsbehindthem。Theregulars，whowereinhighspirits，returnedaloudshoutofdefiance，andfiredoneortwooftheircannonuponanadvancedpostoftheHighlanders。