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Hppletone'  Ibome  IReaMng  JSool^e 

EDITED   BY 
WILLIAM  T.    HARRIS,   A.M.,   LL.  D. 

UNITED  STATES  COMMISSIONER  OF  EDUCATION 


DIVISION     IV 

LiTERATU  RE 


F  o  r  (  h 


APPLE  TONS'   HOME  READING  BOOKS 


THE  STORY  OF 

ROB   ROY 

By  sir  WALTER  SCOTT,  Bart. 


CONDENSED   FOR   HOME 
AND   SCHOOL    READING 


BY 

EDITH    D.    HARRIS 


NEW   YORK 
D.   APPLETON  AND   COMPANY 

1898 


Copyright,  1898, 
By  D.  APPLETON  AND  COMPANY. 


EDITOE'S   PEEFACE. 


The  Waverley  novels  since  their  first  publication 
have  held  the  highest  rank  in  the  entire  field  of  prose 
fiction.  It  is  of  interest  to  inquire  into  the  cause  of 
this  pre-eminence.  Walter  Scott's  knowledge  of  human 
nature,  his  great  sense  of  humor,  his  broad  sympathies 
not  only  with  the  people  of  all  sections  of  Great  Britain 
but  with  the  people  of  all  nations;  the  possession  of  a 
poetic  ability  to  present  his  theme  in  such  a  way  as  to 
show  all  sides  and  phases  of  it  in  a  dramatic  manner; 
more  than  this,  his  manifest  superiority  over  all  other 
writers  in  the  construction  of  his  plots — these  and  simi- 
lar considerations  are  advanced  to  explain  the  power 
of  the  AYaverley  novels.  But  it  is  possible  to  bring  for- 
ward another  essential  ground  for  the  wide  influence  of 
these  novels  and  for  their  permanent  place  in  the  world's 
literature. 

A  writer  or  an  artist  shows  his  greatness  by  his 
ability  to  portray  greatness.  Plutarch,  in  his  Parallel 
Lives,  has  shown  us  a  gallery  full  of  great  men,  and  in 
reading  his  pages  we  see  indubitable  evidence  of  the 
greatness  of  these  men  in  will  power  and  in  intellect. 
We  do  not  depend  on  the  verdict  of  Plutarch;  he 
does  not  have  to  write  under  any  one  of  his  characters, 

V 


vi  ROB  ROY. 

"  This  was  a  great  man."  He  merely  describes  the 
deeds  and  reports  to  us  the  words  of  his  great  men, 
and  the  evidence  is  incontestable.  So  Homer,  Dante, 
Shakespeare,  and  Goethe  hold  their  eminence  in  the 
world  of  letters  because  they  have  portrayed  the  char- 
acters of  great  men  and  shown  them  not  only  in  their 
manifold  relations  to  their  lesser  fellow-men,  but  to  the 
great  movements  of  their  time. 

Walter  Scott  stands  next  to  Plutarch  in  ability  to 
conceive  and  describe  human  greatness.  •  The  concentra- 
tion of  the  whole  life  upon  a  single  purpose,  namely,  the 
formation  of  that  stern  character  necessary  to  a  mili- 
tary leader  in  the  times  of  border  warfare;  his  train- 
ing in  the  use  of  arms  and  in  the  etiquette  of  the 
royal  court ;  his  bravery  and  steadiness  in  sudden  emer- 
gencies and  in  the  presence  of  great  dangers ;  above  all, 
the  cultivation  of  a  sense  of  honor  which  despises  the 
love  of  life  as  a  controlling  purpose;  a  spirit  of  noble- 
ness and  generosity  which  prefers  the  creature  comfort 
of  others  to  its  own — these  are  some  of  the  elements  of 
the  education  of  the  men  whose  full  portraits  are  drawn 
by  Walter  Scott. 

The  Southern  boundary  of  Scotland  is  a  border  land 
settled  on  the  south  side  by  the  fiercest  population  of 
England,  and  on  the  northern  by  a  still  fiercer  popula- 
tion of  Scotch.  The  most  restless  part  of  a  nation's 
people  drifts  to  the  frontier.  There  they  find  it  possible 
to  cross  the  boundary  and  escape  into  another  jurisdic- 
tion when  they  become  embarrassed  by  a  conflict  with 
the  home  government.  Over  -  the  border  they  find  a 
similar  restless  population  with  whom  they  are  common- 
ly in  a  relation  of  bitter  hostility.    But  when  prosecuted 


EDITOR'S  PREFACE.  vii 

by  their  home  government  they  cross  the  marches  and 
become  allies  to  their  former  hostile  neighbors.  It  natu- 
rally happens  that  intermarriages  occur  between  the 
fierce  borderers  of  the  two  nations — cases  like  that  of 
young  Lochinvar.  A  life  on  the  frontier,  then,  is  full 
of  adventure,  arising  from  dangers  to  person  and  prop- 
erty. 

Scotland  is  a  country  of  many  border  lands.  Be- 
sides its  southern  boundary  held  against  a  fierce  and 
aggressive  nation,  the  English,  it  has  within  itself  a 
lowland  region  and  a  highland  region  peopled  by 
persons  of  diverse  races,  the  Anglo-Saxon  against  the 
Celtic.  They  speak  different  languages,  not  different 
dialects  of  the  same  language.  They  vary  in  national 
manners  and  instincts  of  civilization.  The  Celt  has  the 
patriarchal  civilization,  while  that  of  the  Saxon  is  found- 
ed on  productive  industry.  The  loosely  federated  high- 
land tribes  confront  the  compact  lowland  nation.  But 
besides  the  mountain  frontier  on  the  south  toward  Eng- 
land and  the  mountain  frontier  on  the  north  there  is 
another  border  land  which  exercises  a  great  influence 
upon  the  Scottish  character,  and  that  is  the  seashore. 
The  arms  of  the  ocean,  called  firths  and  lochs,  and  the 
deep  navigable  rivers  penetrate  the  land,  nearly  cutting 
Scotland  into  islands.  The  shore  border  land  thus 
penetrates  so  far  into  the  interior  that  a  night's  march 
from  some  cove  or  bay  may  bring  one  very  near 
to  any  strong  place  in  Scotland.  Besides  there  are  up- 
wards of  two  hundred  mountainous  islands  peopled  by 
Celtic  tribes.  The  climate  increases  the  importance  of 
this  oceanic  border  land;  fierce  storms,  dense  fogs,  and 
winter's  cold  enter  as  elements. 


yiii  ROB  ROY. 

Again,  besides  the  threefold  border  land  separating 
England  from  Scotland,  Scottish  lowlands  from  Scot- 
tish highlands,  and  Scottish  mainland  from  the  inlets 
of  the  ocean,  there  are  two  very  serious  spiritual  border 
lands.  First,  that  between  the  English  form  of  gov- 
ernment and  the  form  of  government  fitted  to  the  semi- 
patriarchal  people  of  old  Scotland.  Since  the  union  of 
Scotland  with  England  in  the  time  of  James  I,  the 
process  of  adjusting  these  two  irreconcilable  views  of 
government  has  gone  on — the  love  of  the  Stuart  royal 
family  and  of  its  principle  of  the  divine  right  of  the 
monarch  to  rule  according  to  his  pleasure,  opposed  to 
the  English  ideas  of  a  constitutional  monarchy  and  the 
supremacy  of  Parliament.  One  of  these  governmental 
ideas  was  vanquished  first  by  Cromwell,  then  again  by 
the  English  Eevolution  of  1689.  Constitutional  mon- 
archy was  ill  the  ascendant  thenceforward.  But  the  love 
of  the  Stuart  family  and  its  ideal  of  government  was 
stubborn,  and  cherished  with  the  intensity  of  a  religion. 
It  would  not  rest  content,  but  in  various  periods,  as  in 
1713  and  1745,  brought  itself  into  an  open  rebellion. 
This  spiritual  border  land  between  constitutional  and 
absolute  monarchical  forms  separates  not  only  broad 
sections  of  the  country,  but  also  isolates  families  here 
and  there  all  over  England  as  well  as  Scotland.  It  sun- 
ders, too,  the  older  and  younger  branches  of  many  noble 
families  (as  in  the^ story  of  Eob  Eoy,  the  two  brothers 
Osbaldistone). 

There  is  still  another  spiritual  border  land,  namely, 
that  between  different  forms  of  religion.  The  High- 
landers mostly  professed  the  Catholic  religion,  and  to 
this  religion  adhered  the  majority  of  English  families 


EDITOR'S  PREFACE.  ix 

who  remained  true  to  the  cause  of  the  Stuarts.  Religion 
appertains  to  the  deepest  movement  in  the  soul.  It  takes 
hold  on  eternity,  and  its  effects  in  the  education  of  a 
people  last  from  generation  to  generation. 

The  Scotch  character  therefore  abounds  in  sur- 
faces hardened  by  exposure  to  the  power  of  great  resist- 
ance. In  making  castings,  if  the  melted  iron  comes 
against  a  surface  of  iron  in  the  mold  it  is  suddenly 
chilled  and  becomes  harder  than  the  other  portions  of  the 
casting.  This  produces  what  is  called  a  chilled  surface, 
or  a  surface  that  is  "  case-hardened."  The  Scotch  char- 
acter is  full  of  "  case-hardened  "  facets  brought  about  by 
the  special  resistance  necessary  from  youth  to  old  age  in 
order  to  protect  the  individual  on  some  one  of  the  five 
border  lands  here  described.  The  Scotch  people  who 
grew  up  on  the  English  frontier  had  to  be  alert  day 
and  night  to  prevent  sudden  surprise  and  capture.  In 
his  Lay  of  the  Last  Minstrel  Walter  Scott  gives  a 
thrilling  description  of  a  border  castle  which  guarded 
itself  from  sudden  seizure  only  by  constant  readiness 
for  the  fray.  Its  knights  "  carved  at  the  meal  with 
gloves  of  steel,  and  they  drank  the  red  wine  through 
the  helmet  barred,"  and  the  steeds  champed  their  corn 
all  saddled  and  bridled  and  clad  in  full  armor.  So  the 
individual  in  the  midst  of  intolerant  people  holding  a 
hostile  religion  preserved  his  faith  intact  by  a  constant 
effort. 

What  with  "case-hardened"  surfaces  directed  toward 
foreign  nations,  pirates,  and  sea  robbers,  hostile  reli- 
gions. Highland  ravagers,  the  Scotch  people  have  become 
the  most  interesting  of  all  national  characters  when 
placed  in  situations  of  adventure.     They  exhibit  more 


X  ROB  ROY. 

resources  and  give  more  glimpses  of  the  depths  of  human 
character  than  may  be  found  in  any  other  nation. 

A  knowledge  of  Walter  Scott's  novels  is  essential  to 
a  good  education.  In  fact,  such  a  knowledge  alone  by 
itself  may  be  called  a  liberal  education.  The  motives 
of  human  action  come  nearer  to  the  surface  of  conscious- 
ness in  Scotland  than  anywhere  else  in  the  world. 
Hence,  threads  of  character  may  be  discovered  and  in- 
terpreted in  the  writings  of  Walter  Scott  which  in  other 
nations  are  subconscious,  or  more  of  the  nature  of  in- 
stinct than  open  purpose. 

It  has  been  found  possible  to  condense  the  Waverley 
novels  by  omitting  all  lengthy  descriptions  of  scenery, 
historical  disquisitions  on  the  times,  and  a  few  passages 
of  dialogue  and  monologue  that  do  not  contribute  di- 
rectly to  the  progress  of  the  story,  or  throw  light  upon 
the  character  of  the  persons  who  enter  upon  the  scene. 
It  is  believed  that  by  this  method  the  interest  is  pre- 
served intact,  and  that  after  a  year's  interval  the  story 
in  its  unabridged  form  may  be  read  with  as  lively  an 
interest  as  the  youth  will  feel  in  reading  this  version. 

W.  T.  Harris. 
Washington,  D.  C,  May  IG,  1898, 


LIST   OF  ILLUSTRATIONS. 


PACIN'O 
PAGE 


Map  . Frontispiece 

London  from  Ilighgate 1 

Cathedral  of  Glasgow 118 

Loch  Lomond  and  Ben  Lomond 138 

Map 176 

Loch  Katrine 190 

View  near  the  Trosachs 108 

Loch  Ard,  Perthshire 221 

Rob  Roy  here  took  leave  of  them  with  great  kindliness   .  271 
The  officious  Andrew  was  heard:   "A'm   bringin'    in   the 

caunles" 281 

xi 


ROB    ROY. 


CHAPTER  I. 

How  have  I  sinned  that  this  affliction 

Should  light  so  heavy  on  me  i    I  have-no  more  sons, 

And  this  no  more  mine  own.     My  grand  curse 

Hang  o'er  his  head  that  thus  transformed  thee  !— Travel  ? 

I'll  send  my  horse  to  travel  next. 

Monsieur  Thomas. 

Mr.  Osbaldistone,  a  wealthy  merchantman  of  Lon- 
don, had  an  only  son,  Francis,  familiarly  called  Frank, 
whom  he  desired  should  succeed  him  as  head  of  the 
mercantile  house  of  the  firm  of  Osbaldistone  and 
Tresham.  Accordingly,  when  Frank  was  about  sixteen 
he  sent  him  to  a  favored  French  correspondent  of 
the  mercantile  house,  by  name  Monsieur  Dubourg,  of 
Bordeaux,  in  the  south  of  France.  Here  the  young 
man  was  to  pursue  a  course  of  commercial  studies  under 
the  direction  of  M.  Dubourg.  Frank  remained  in  Bor- 
deaux some  four  years,  giving  a  fair  portion  of  his  time 
to  those  commercial  subjects  which  his  father  had  so 
much  desired  he  should  thoroughly  acquaint  himself 
with.  But  during  this  period  he  also  developed  a  great 
fondness  for  literature  and  classical  studies,  spending 
many  hours  in  scribbling  verses,  even  filling  his  jour- 
nal of  commercial  notes,  which  his  father  had  desired 
him  to  keep,  with  scribbled  poems  or  translations  of 

1 


2  ROB  ROY. 

classical  bits  that  particularly  appealed  to  the  fancy 
of  the  youthful  poet.  Thus  he  spent  the  time,  devot- 
ing himself  to  the  studies  requisite  for  preparation  for 
an  ambitious  and  successful  mercantile  career  less  than 
his  businesslike  parent  would  have  desired. 

As  he  approached  his  twentieth  year  he  received  a 
letter  from  Mr.  Osbaldistone  informing  him  of  his  pro- 
posal to  now  give  him  a  position  in  the  London  house, 
preparing  him  to  take  the  lead  of  the  business  when 
he  should  be  able  to  do  so  no  longer.  To  this  letter 
his  son  replied  that  he  had  strong  objections  to  adopt- 
ing a  mercantile  life  as  a  profession.  Soon  after  this 
displeasing  answer  had  been  forwarded  to  his  father 
he  received  a  message  from  him  requesting  his  immedi- 
ate return  to  London.  Thus  his  four  years'  residence 
in  France  came  to  an  abrupt  end. 

Upon  Frank's  arrival  in  London  he  was  greeted 
kindly  by  his  father,  and  with  a  timid  and  suppressed 
affection  by  Mr.  Owen,  the  head  clerk  of  the  great  house 
of  Osbaldistone  and  Tresham.  At  dinner  Mr.  Osbal- 
distone carefully  questioned  his  son  as  to  the  condition 
of  commerce  in  France,  thinking  in  this  way  to  dis- 
cover how  much  commercial  knowledge  and  aptitude 
he  had  acquired  from  his  four  years'  study  with  M.  Du- 
bourg.  Frank,  disclosing  by  his  answers  his  lack  of 
interest  and  observation  in  matters  of  business,  in- 
creased his  father's  displeasure  until  it  reached  its  cul- 
mination, when,  upon  examining  his  son's  journal  of 
commercial  notes,  he  came  upon  a  poem  To  the  Mem- 
ory of  Edward  the  Black  Prince.  A  few  more  words 
passed  on  the  point  of  Frank's  refusal  to  adopt  the 
mercantile    profession,    with    the    result    that    in    one 


ROB  ROY.  3 

month  Frank  was  to  give  his  final  answer  on  this  im- 
portant subject. 

The  time  of  probation  passed  slowly.  Frank  de- 
voted himself  to  his  favorite  verse-writing,  while  Mr. 
Owen  vainly  endeavored  to  dissuade  his  young  friend 
from  a  line  of  conduct  so  displeasing  to  Mr.  Osbaldi- 
stone  and  certain  to  result  in  the  son's  disinheritance. 
Frank,  however,  having  a  goodly  share  of  his  father's 
resolute  and  more  or  less  obstinate  disposition,  at  the 
end  of  the  month  firmly  declined  the  proposal  his  fa- 
ther had  made  to  him.  Thereupon  Mr.  Osbaldistone 
dismissed  him,  with  the  following  directions: 

"  You  will  instantly  set  out  for  the  north  of  Eng- 
land to  pay  your  uncle  a  visit  and  see  the  state  of  his 
family.  I  have  chosen  from  among  his  sons  (he  has 
six,  I  believe)  one  who,  I  understand,  is  most  worthy 
to  fill  the  place  I  intended  for  you  in  the  counting- 
house.  But  some  further  arrangements  may  be  neces- 
sary, and  for  these  your  presence  may  be  requisite. 
You  shall  have  further  instructions  at  Osbaldistone 
Hall,  where  you  will  please  to  remain  until  you  hear 
from  me.  Everything  will  be  ready  for  your  departure 
to-morrow  morning." 

Accordingly,  on  the  next  day,  at  five  o'clock  in  the 
morning,  Frank  was  on  his  way  to  York.  His  journey 
was  uneventful  and  uninteresting  until  he  was  joined 
by  a  fellow-traveler,  who  continued  with  him  a  day 
and  a  half.  This  tourist  carried  with  him  a  portman- 
teau, very  small,  but  apparently  very  heavy,  which  he 
guarded  with  such  solicitous  care  that  it  afforded  Frank 
much  amusement  to  alternately  excite  and  soothe  the 
suspicions  of  his  more  timorous  companion.     It  was 


4  ROB  ROY. 

in  such  a  mood  that  Frank  started  a  conversation  on  the 
comparative  strength  and  activity  of  their  horses,  which 
took  a  turn  little  calculated  to  allay  the  fears  of  his 
nervous  friend. 

"  0  sir,"  said  his  companion,  "  for  the  gallop  I 
grant  you;  but  allow  me  to  say,  your  horse  (although 
he  is  a  very  handsome  gelding — that  must  be  owned) 
has  too  little  bone  to  be  a  good  roadster.  The  trot, 
sir "  (striking  his  Bucephalus  wdth  his  spurs) — "  the 
trot  is  the  true  pace  for  a  hackney,  ,and  were  we  near 
a  town  I  should  like  to  try  that  daisy-cutter  of  yours 
upon  a  piece  of  level  road  (barring  canter)  for  a  quart 
of  claret  at  the  next  inn." 

"  Content,  sir,"  replied  Frank,  "  and  here  is  a 
stretch  of  ground  very  favorable." 

"  Hem,  ahem!  "  answered  his  friend  with  hesitation; 
"  I  make  it  a  rule  of  traveling  never  to  blow  my  horse 
between  stages;  one  never  knows  w^hat  occasion  he  may 
have  to  put  him  to  his  mettle;  and  besides,  sir,  when  I 
said  I  w^ould  match  you,  I  meant  with  even  weight;  you 
ride  four  stone  lighter  than  I." 

"  Very  well;  but  I  am  content  to  carry  weight. 
Pray,  what  may  that  portmanteau  of  yours  weigh?  " 

"My  p — p — portmanteau?  "  replied  he,  hesitating — 
"  0  very  little — a  feather — just  a  few  shirts  and  stock- 
ings." 

"  I  should  think  it  heavier  from  its  appearance. 
I'll  hold  you  to  the  quart  of  claret  it  makes  the  odds 
betwixt  our  weights." 

"You're  mistaken,  sir,  I  assure  you — quite  mis- 
taken," replied  his  friend,  edging  off  to  the  side  of  the 
road,  as  was  his  wont  on  these  alarming  occasions. 


ROB  ROY.  5 

"  Well,  I  am  willing  to  venture  the  wine;  or  I  will 
bet  you  ten  pieces  to  five  that  I  carry  your  portmanteau 
on  my  croup  and  out-trot  you  into  the  bargain." 

This  proposal  raised  his  friend's  alarm  to  the  utter- 
most. His  nose  changed  from  the  natural  copper  hue 
which  it  had  acquired  from  many  a  comfortable  cup  of 
claret  or  sack,  into  a  palish  brassy  tint,  and  his  teeth 
chattered  with  apprehension  at  the  unveiled  audacity 
of  the  proposal,  which  seemed  to  place  the  barefaced 
plunderer  before  him  in  full  atrocity.  As  he  faltered 
for  an  answer,  Frank  relieved  him  in  some  degree  by 
a  question  concerning  a  steeple,  which  now  became  visi- 
ble, and  an  observation  that  they  were  now  so  near  the 
village  as  to  run  no  risk  from  interruption  on  the  road. 
At  this  his  countenance  cleared  up,  but  it  was  long  ere 
he  forgot  a  proposal  which  seemed  to  him  so  fraught 
with  suspicion. 


CHAPTER  II. 

The  Scots  are  poor,  cries  surly  English  pride. 
True  is  the  charge  ;  nor  by  themselves  denied. 
Are  they  not,  then,  in  strictest  reason  clear, 
Who  wisely  come  to  mend  their  fortunes  here  ? 

Churchill. 

In  the  early  part  of  the  eighteenth  century  most 
long  journeys  were  made  on  horseback,  which  necessi- 
tated frequent  stops  at  those  wayside  inns  that  lay  along 
one's  ronte.  It  was  nsual  to  make  a  halt  on  the  Sunday 
in  some  town  where  the  traveler  might  attend  church, 
and  also  give  his  horse  the  benefit  of  a  day's  rest.  On 
this  day  the  landlord  of  the  principal  inn  of  the  village 
laid  aside  his  role  of  publican  and  invited  the  guests 
who  happened  to  be  within  his  walls  to  partake  of  his 
dinner,  and  very  often  such  of  the  village  cronies  as  the 
apothecary,  the  attorney,  and  sometimes  so  great  a  per- 
son as  the  curate,  were  asked  to  assist  at  this  weekly 
feast. 

It  was  on  such  a  day  and  such  an  occasion  that 
Frank  and  his  timorous  acquaintance  were  about  to 
grace  the  board  of  the  ruddy-faced  host  of  the  Black 
Bear  in  the  town  of  Darlington,*  and  Bishopric  of 
Durham,  when  their  landlord  informed  the  assembled 

*  See  map  at  end  of  volume. 


ROB  ROY.  7 

company,  with  a  sort  of  apologetic  tone,  that  there  was 
a  Scotch  gentleman  to  dine  with  them. 

When  Mr.  Osbaldistone  was  a  young  man  a  quarrel 
had  occurred  betwixt  him  and  his  family  of  such  a  na- 
ture that  he  scarcely  ever  mentioned  the  race  from 
which  he  sprang,  and  held  in  great  contempt  that  van- 
ity which  is  commonly  termed  family  pride.  He  de- 
sired to  be  known  only  as  the  first,  or  at  least  as  one  of 
the  first  merchants  on  the  'Change.  The  old  Xorthum- 
berland  estate,  which  in  the  natural  order  of  things 
would  have  fallen  to  him,  as  the  eldest  son,  was  instead 
bequeathed  to  his  younger  brother,  now  Sir  Hilde- 
brand.  Owing  to  Mr.  Osbaldistone's  reticence  on  all 
subjects  pertaining  to  his  family,  Frank  knew  little  or 
nothing  of  either  the  relatives  to  whom  he  was  going 
or  the  country  which  he  was  approaching.  What  little 
he  did  know  he  had  gathered  from  his  old  Northum- 
brian nurse,  who  could  not  easily  forget  her  native 
province.  In  his  childhood  she  had  often  regaled  him 
with  wild  and  thrilling  legends  of  her  beloved  north. 

Thus  it  was  with  peculiar  interest  that  Frank  exam- 
ined the  appearance  of  this  new  addition  to  the  com- 
pany, finding  him  to  have  the  hard  features  and  ath- 
letic form  said  to  be  peculiar  to  his  country,  and  dressed 
in  a  garb  as  coarse  as  it  could  be,  being  still  decent. 

"A  gentleman! — what  sort  of  a  gentleman?"  said 
the  timorous  gentleman  somewhat  hastily — his  mind 
running  on  gentlemen  of  the  pad,  as  they  were  then 
termed. 

"  Why,  a  Scotch  sort  of  a  gentleman,  as  I  said  be- 
fore," returned  mine  host;  "  they  are  all  gentle,  ye 
mun  know,  though  they  ha'  narra  shirt  to  back;  but 


8  ROB  ROY. 

this  is  a  decentish  hallion — a  canny  North  Briton  as 
e'er  crossed  Berwick  Bridge — I  trow  he's  a  dealer  in 
cattle." 

"  Let  us  have  his  company  by  all  means/'  answ^ered 
the  timorous  gentleman;  and  then,  turning  to  Frank, 
he  gave  vent  to  the  tenor  of  his  own  reflections.  "  I 
respect  the  Scotch,  sir;  I  love  and  honor  the  nation 
for  their  sense  of  morality.  Men  talk  of  their  filth  and 
their  poverty;  but  commend  me  to  sterling  honesty, 
though  clad  in  rags,  as  the  poet  saith.  I  have  been 
credibly  assured,  sir,  by  men  on  whom  I  can  depend, 
that  there  was  never  known  such  a  thing  in  Scotland  as 
a  highway  robbery." 

"  That's  because  they  have  nothing  to  lose,"  said 
mine  host,  with  the  chuckle  of  a  self-applauding  wit. 

"  No,  no,  landlord,"  answered  a  strong,  deep  voice 
behind  him,  "  it's  e'en  because  your  English  gangers 
and  supervisors,*  that  you  have  sent  down  benorth  the 
Tweed,  have  ta'en  up  the  trade  of  thievery  over  the 
heads  of  the  native  professors." 

"  Well  said,  Mr.  Campbell,"  answered  the  landlord; 
"  I  did  not  think  thou'dst  been  sae  near  us,  mon.  But 
thou  kens  I'm  an  outspoken  Yorkshire  tyke.  And  how 
go  markets  in  the  south  ?  " 

"  Even  in  the  ordinar,"  replied  Mr.  Campbell;  "  wise 
folks  buy  and  sell,  and  fools  are  bought  and  sold." 

"  But  wise  men  and  fools  both  eat  their  dinner," 
answered  the  jolly  entertainer;  "  and  here  a  comes — 


*  The  introduction  of  gangers,  supervisors,  and  examiners  was 
one  of  the  great  complaints  of  the  Scottish  nation,  though  a  nat- 
ural consequence  of  the  Union. 


ROB  ROY.  9 

as  prime  a  buttock  of  beef  as  e'er  hungry  mon  stuck 
fork  in." 

So  saying,  he  eagerly  whetted  his  knife,  assumed 
his  seat  of  empire  at  the  head  of  the  board,  and  loaded 
the  plates  of  his  sundry  guests  with  his  good  cheer. 

At  the  end  of  the  meal,  when  the  wine  was  circulat- 
ing and  good  cheer  was  thoroughly  established,  the  con- 
versation turned  on  the  bravery,  strength,  and  boldness 
of  Mr.  Campbell  by  mine  host  saying,  "  that,  for  as 
peaceable  a  gentleman  as  Mr.  Campbell  was,  he  was, 
moreover,  as  bold  as  a  lion — seven  highwaymen  had 
he  defeated  with  his  single  arm,  that  beset  him  as  he 
came  from  Whitson-Tryste." 

"  Thou  art  deceived,  friend  Jonathan,"  said  Camp- 
bell, interrupting  him;  "  they  were  but  barely  two,  and 
two  cowardly  loons  as  man  could  wish  to  meet  withal." 

"  And  did  you,  sir,  really,"  said  Frank's  fellow-trav- 
eler, edging  his  chair  (or  rather  his  portmanteau) 
nearer  to  Mr.  Campbell,  "  really  and  actually  beat  two 
highwaymen  yourself  alone?" 

"  In  troth  I  did,  sir,"  replied  Campbell;  "  and  I 
think  it  nae  great  thing  to  make  a  sang  about." 

"  Upon  my  word,  sir,"  replied  the  timorous  gentle- 
man, "  I  should  be  happy  to  have  the  pleasure  of  your 
company  on  my  journey — I  go  northward,  sir." 

This  piece  of  gratuitous  information  concerning  the 
route  he  proposed  to  himself  failed  to  excite  the  corre- 
sponding confidence  of  the  Scotchman. 

"  We  can  scarce  travel  together,"  he  replied  dryly. 
"  You,  sir,  doubtless,  are  well  mounted,  and  I  for  the 
present  travel  on  foot,  or  on  a  Highland  shelty,  that 
does  not  help  me  much  faster  forward." 


10  ROB  EOY. 

So  saying,  he  called  for  a  reckoning  for  the  wine, 
and  throwing  down  the  price  of  the  additional  bottle 
which  he  had  himself  introduced,  rose  as  if  to  take 
leave.  The  timorous  gentleman  made  up  to  him,  and 
taking  him  by  the  button,  drew  him  aside  into  one  of 
the  windows.  Frank  could  not  help  overhearing  him 
pressing  something — which  he  supposed  to  be  his  com- 
pany upon  the  journey,  which  Mr.  Campbell  seemed 
to  decline. 

"  I  will  pay  your  charges,  sir,"  said  the  traveler, 
in  a  tone  as  if  he  thought  the  argument  should  bear 
down  all  opposition. 

"  It  is  quite  impossible,"  said  Campbell,  somewhat 
contemptuously;  "  I  have  business  at  Eothbury." 

"  But  I  am  in  no  great  hurry;  I  can  ride  out  of 
the  way  and  never  miss  a  day  or  so  for  good  com- 
pany." 

"  Upon  my  faith,  sir,"  said  Campbell,  "  I  can  not 
render  you  the  service  you  seem  to  desiderate.  I  am," 
he  added,  drawing  himself  up  haughtily,  "  traveling  on 
my  own  private  affairs,  and  if  ye  will  act  by  my  advise- 
ment, sir,  ye  will  neither  unite  yourself  with  an  abso- 
lute stranger  on  the  road,  nor  communicate  your  line 
of  journey  to  those  who  are  asking  ye  no  questions 
about  it."  He  then  extricated  his  button,  not  very 
ceremoniously,  from  the  hold  which  detained  him,  and 
coming  up  to  Frank,  as  the  company  were  dispersing, 
observed,  "  Your  friend,  sir,  is  too  communicative,  con- 
sidering the  nature  of  his  trust." 

"  That  gentleman,"  Frank  replied,  looking  toward 
the  traveler,  "  is  no  friend  of  mine,  but  an  acquaint- 
ance whom  I  picked  up  on  the  road.     I  know  neither 


ROB  ROY.  11 

his  name  nor  business,  and  you  seem  to  be  deeper  in 
his  confidence  than  I  am." 

"  I  only  meant,"  he  replied  hastily,  "  that  he  seems 
a  thought  rash  in  conferring  the  honor  of  his  company 
on  those  who  desire  it  not." 

"  The  gentleman,"  replied  Frank,  "  knows  his  own 
affairs  best,  and  I  should  be  sorry  to  constitute  myself 
a  judge  of  them  in  any  respect." 

Mr.  Campbell  made  no  further  observation,  but 
merely  wished  Frank  a  good  journey,  and  the  party  dis- 
persed for  the  evening. 

Next  day  Frank  parted  company  with  his  timid 
companion,  and  leaving  the  great  northern  road,  took 
a  more  westerly  course  toward  Osbaldistone  Manor. 


CHAPTEE  III. 

How  raelts  my  beating  heart  as  I  behold 
Each  lovely  nymph,  our  island's  boast  and  pride, 
Push  on  the  generous  steed  that  sweeps  along 
O'er  rough,  o'er  smooth,  nor  heeds  the  steepy  hill, 
Nor  falters  in  the  extended  vale  below  ! 

The  Chase. 

Our  hero  now  speedily  approached  his  destination, 
and  as  he  proceeded  the  scenery  about  him  became  more 
wild  and  rugged.  He  paused  a  moment  on  the  summit 
of  a  hill,  whence  he  could  see  the  majestic  Cheviot 
Mountains  rising  before  him,  while  from  out  a  narrow 
glen,  just  at  the  foot  of  the  hills,  Osbaldistone  Hall,  a 
large  and  antiquated  building,  presented  itself  to  view 
for  the  first  time.  He  urged  his  horse  forward  in  the  di- 
rection of  the  manor  as  fast  as  the  very  indifferent  road 
would  permit.  Suddenly  the  notes  of  a  pack  of  hounds 
in  full  cry  were  heard.  Frank  immediately  formed  the 
conjecture  that  these  were  his  uncle's  hounds,  and  ac- 
cordingly drew  up  to  the  side  of  the  road  that  the 
hunters  might  pass  unnoticed,  while  he  pursued  his 
way  to  the  hall  to  await  the  return  of  the  party  from 
the  chase,  when  the  time  would  be  more  suitable  for 
an  introduction  to  his  uncle.  Although  his  mind  had 
been  occupied  with  far  different  and  more  serious 
thoughts,  it  was  not  without  some  excitement  that  he 
12 


ROB  ROY.  13 

awaited  the  appearance  of  the  sportsmen,  and,  per- 
chance, their  prey.  It  was  not  long  before  the  fox, 
hard  rim  and  nearly  spent,  made  his  appearance.  He 
sped  past,  crossed  the  stream  which  divided  a  little  val- 
ley, and  was  wearily  dragging  himself  up  a  ravine  on 
the  other  side  when  the  hounds  rushed  by  in  full  cry 
after  poor  Reynard.  Following  the  dogs  came  the 
hunters,  riding  in  reckless  haste.  The  party  was  com- 
posed of  an  elderly  personage — doubtless  Sir  Ililde- 
brand  Osbaldistone — three  or  four  tall,  stout  young 
men,  and  a  young  lady  of  unusual  beauty.  As  she 
neared  the  spot  where  Frank  had  halted  to  permit  the 
passing  of  the  huntsmen  her  horse  made  a  misstep, 
thereby  furnishing  Frank  an  opportunity  to  offer  the 
fair  huntress  his  assistance.  The  horse  quickly  recover- 
ing himself,  however,  she  thanked  him  by  a  smile,  and 
was  passing  on,  when  the  cries  of  "Whoop!  dead! 
dead!  "  and  the  flourish  of  the  French  horn  announced 
that  the  chase  was  at  an  end.  One  of  the  young  men 
now  approached  waving  the  brush  of  the  fox  in  tri- 
umph, as  if  to  upbraid  the  young  lady. 

"  I  see,"  she  replied,  "  I  see;  but  make  no  noise 
about  it;  if  Phoebe,"  she  said,  patting  the  neck  of  the 
beautiful  animal  on  which  she  rode,  "  had  not  got 
among  the  cliffs  you  would  have  had  little  cause  for 
boasting." 

They  met  as  she  spoke,  both  looked  at  Frank,  and 
conversed  a  moment  in  an  undertone,  the  young  lady 
apparently  pressing  the  sportsman  to  do  something 
which  he  declined  shyly,  and  with  a  sort  of  sheepish 
sullenness.  She  instantly  turned  her  horse's  head  to- 
wards Frank,   saying:    "  Well,   well,   Thornie,    if   you 


14  ROB  ROY. 

won't,  I  must,  that's  all.  Sir/'  she  continued,  address- 
ing Frank,  "  I  have  been  endeavoring  to  persuade 
this  cultivated  young  gentleman  to  make  inquiry  of  you 
whether,  in  the  course  of  your  travels  in  these  parts, 
you  have  heard  anything  of  a  friend  of  ours,  one  Mr. 
Francis  Osbaldistone,  who  has  been  for  some  days  ex- 
pected at  Osbaldistone  Hall?" 

Frank  was  only  too  happy  to  acknowledge  himself 
to  be  the  party  inquired  after,  and  to  express  his  thanks 
for  the  obliging  inquiries  of  the  young  lady. 

"  In  that  case,  sir,"  she  rejoined,  "  as  my  kinsman's 
politeness  seems  to  be  still  slumbering,  you  will  permit 
me  (though  I  suppose  it  is  highly  improper)  to  stand 
mistress  of  ceremonies  and  to  present  to  you  young 
Squire  Thorncliff  Osbaldistone,  your  cousin,  and  Die 
Vernon,  who  has  also  the  honor  to  be  your  accom- 
plished cousin's  poor  kinswoman." 

Under  this  necessity  Thorncliff  shook  hands  with 
Frank,  and,  murmuring  some  excuse  about  having  to 
help  couple  up  the  hounds,  made  his  escape. 

"  There  he  goes,"  said  the  young  lady,  following 
him  with  eyes  in  which  disdain  was  admirably  painted, 
"  the  prince  of  grooms  and  cock-fighters,  and  black- 
guard horse-coursers.  But  there  is  not  one  of  them  to 
mend  another. — Have  you  read  Markham?"  said  Miss 
Vernon. 

"  Eead  whom,  ma'am? — I  do  not  even  remember  the 
author's  name." 

"  0  lud !  on  what  a  strand  are  you  wrecked !  "  re- 
plied the  young  lady.  "  A  poor  forlorn  and  ignorant 
stranger,  unacquainted  with  the  very  Alcoran  of  the 
savage  tribe  whom  you  are  coming  to  reside  with — 


ROB  ROY.  15 

never  to  have  heard  of  Markliam,  the  most  celebrated 
author  on  farriery!  then  I  fear  you  are  equally  a 
stranger  to  the  more  modern  names  of  Gibson  and 
Bartlett?" 

"  I  am,  indeed,  Miss  Vernon.'^ 

"  And  do  you  not  blush  to  own  it  ?  "  said  Miss  Ver- 
non. "  Why,  we  must  forswear  your  alliance.  Then,  I 
suppose,  you  can  neither  give  a  ball,  nor  a  mash,  nor  a 
horn!" 

"  I  confess  I  trust  all  these  matters  to  an  ostler,  or 
to  my  groom." 

"  Incredible  carelessness! — And  you  can  not  shoe  a 
horse,  or  cut  his  mane  and  tail;  or  worm  a  dog,  or  crop 
his  ears,  or  cut  his  dew-claws;  or  reclaim  a  hawk,  or 
give  him  his  casting-stones,  or  direct  his  diet  when  he 
is  sealed;  or " 

"  To  sum  up  my  insignificance  in  one  word,"  replied 
Frank,  "  I  am  profoundly  ignorant  in  all  these  rural 
accomplishments." 

"  Then,  in  the  name  of  Heaven,  Mr.  Francis  Os- 
baldistone,  what  can  you  do?  " 

"  Very  little  to  the  purpose.  Miss  Vernon;  some- 
thing, however,  I  can  pretend  to — when  my  groom  has 
dressed  my  horse  I  can  ride  him,  and  when  my  hawk 
is  in  the  field  I  can  fly  him." 

"  Can  you  do  this?  "  said  the  young  lady,  putting 
her  horse  to  a  canter. 

There  was  a  sort  of  rude  overgrown  fence  crossed 
the  path  before  them,  with  a  gate  composed  of  pieces  of 
wood  rough  from  the  forest;  Frank  was  about  to  move 
forward  to  open  it,  when  Miss  Vernon  cleared  the  ob- 
struction at  a  flying  leap.     He  was  bound  in  point  of 


16  ROB  ROY. 

honor  to  follow,  and  was  in  a  moment  again  at  her 
side.  "  There  are  hopes  of  you  yet,"  she  said.  "  I  was 
afraid  you  had  been  a  very  degenerate  Osbaldistone. 
But  what  on  earth  brings  you  to  Cub-Castle?  for  so  the 
neighbors  have  christened  this  hunting  hall  of  ours. 
You  might  have  stayed  away,  I  suppose,  if  you  would?  " 

Frank  felt  by  this  time  that  he  was  on  a  very  in- 
timate footing  with  the  beautiful  apparition,  and  there- 
fore replied,  in  a  confidential  undertone,  "  Indeed,  my 
dear  Miss  Vernon,  I  might  have  considered  it  as  a  sac- 
rifice to  be  a  temporary  resident  in  Osbaldistone  Hall, 
the  inmates  being  such  as  you  describe  them,  but  I  am 
convinced  there  is  one  exception  that  will  make  amends 
for  all  deficiencies." 

"  Oh,  you  mean  Eashleigh?  "  said  Miss  Vernon. 

"  Indeed  I  do  not;  I  was  thinking — forgive  me — 
of  some  person  much  nearer  me." 

"  I  suppose  it  would  be  proper  not  to  understand 
your  civility?  But  that  is  not  my  way.  I  don't  make 
a  courtesy  for  it  because  I  am  sitting  on  horseback. 
But,  seriously,  I  deserve  your  exception,  for  I  am  the 
only  conversable  being  about  the  Hall,  except  the  old 
priest  and  Eashleigh." 

"  And  who  is  Eashleigh,  for  Heaven's  sake?  " 

"  Eashleigh  is  one  who  would  fain  have  everyone 
like  him  for  his  own  sake.  He  is  Sir  Hildebrand's 
youngest  son — about  your  own  age,  but  not  so — not 
well-looking,  in  short.  But  Nature  has  given  him  a 
mouthful  of  common  sense,  and  the  priest  has  added  a 
bushelful  of  learning;  he  is  what  we  call  a  very  clever 
man  in  this  country,  where  clever  men  are  scarce.  Bred 
to  the  Church,  but  in  no  hurry  to  take  orders.     You 


ROB  ROY.  17 

will  think  him  the  pleasantest  man  you  ever  saw  in 
your  life,  Mr.  Osbaldistone — that  is,  for  a  week,  at 
least.  If  he  could  find  out  a  blind  mistress,  never  man 
would  be  so  secure  of  conquest;  but  the  eye  breaks  the 
spell  that  enchants  the  ear.  But  here  we  are  in  the 
court  of  the  old  hall,  which  looks  as  wild  and  old- 
fashioned  as  any  of  its  inmates.  There  is  no  great 
toilette  kept  at  Osbaldistone  Hall,  you  must  know;  but 
I  must  take  off  these  things,  they  are  so  unpleasantly 
warm,  and  the  hat  hurts  my  forehead,  too,"  continued 
the  lively  girl,  taking  it  off,  and  shaking  down  a  pro- 
fusion of  sable  ringlets,  which,  half  laughing,  half 
blushing,  she  separated  with  her  white  slender  fingers, 
in  order  to  clear  them  away  from  her  beautiful  face  and 
piercing  hazel  eyes.  If  there  was  any  coquetry  in  the 
action,  it  was  well  disguised  by  the  careless  indiffer- 
ence of  her  manner.  Frank  could  not  help  saying 
"that,  judging  of  the  family  from  what  he  saw,  he 
should  suppose  tlie  toilette  a  very  unnecessary  care." 

"  That's  very  politely  said — though,  perhaps,  I 
ought  not  to  understand  in  what  sense  it  was  meant," 
replied  Miss  Vernon;  "but  3^ou  will  see  a  better  apol- 
ogy for  a  little  negligence  when  you  meet  the  Orsons 
you  are  to  live  among,  whose  forms  no  toilette  could 
improve.  But,  as  I  said  before,  the  old  dinner-bell  will 
clang,  or  rather  clank,  in  a  few  minutes — it  cracked  of 
its  own  accord  on  the  day  of  the  landing  of  King  Willie, 
and  my  uncle,  respecting  its  prophetic  talent,  would 
never  permit  it  to  be  mended.  So  do  j^ou  hold  my  pal- 
frey, like  a  duteous  knight,  until  I  send  some  more 
humble  squire  to  relieve  you  of  the  charge." 

Diana    Vernon    threw   the    rein    to    her    newly-ac- 


13  ROB  ROY. 

quainted  cousin,  jumped  from  her  saddle,  and  tripped 
across  the  courtyard,  entering  the  house  at  a  side  door. 
For  some  time  Frank  was  left  in  this  awkward  position, 
mounted  on  one  horse  and  holding  another,  vainly  en- 
deavoring to  summon  some  domestic  to  relieve  him 
of  his  charges.  At  length  his  patience — or  impatience 
— was  rewarded,  and  with  some  difficulty  he  persuaded 
one  servant  to  take  the  horses  and  another  to  conduct 
him  to  Sir  Hildebrand. 


CHAPTER  IV. 

The  rude  hall  rocks — they  come,  they  come  ! — 
The  din  of  voices  shakes  the  dome  ; 
In  stalk  the  various  forms,  and,  drest 
In  varying  morion,  varying  vest, 

All  march  with  haughty  step — all  proudly  shake  the  crest. 

Penrose. 

He  was  ushered  into  a  large  vaulted  room,  floored 
with,  stone,  where  a  range  of  oaken  tables  were  already 
covered  for  dinner.  After  waiting  some  few  moments, 
the  doors  were  thrown  open  and  in  rushed  curs  and 
men — eight  dogs,  the  domestic  chaplain,  the  village 
doctor,  the  six  young  men,  and  Sir  Hildebrand.  The 
latter  came  forward  and  greeted  his  new  kinsman: 

"  Had  seen  thee  sooner,  lad,"  he  exclaimed,  after  a 
rough  shake  of  the  hand,  and  a  hearty  welcome  to  Os- 
baldistone  Hall,  "but  had  to  see  the  hounds  kenneled 
first.  Thou  art  welcome  to  the  Hall,  lad — here  is  thy 
cousin  Percie,  thy  cousin  Thornie,  and  thy  cousin  John 
— your  cousin  Dick,  your  cousin  Wilfred,  and — stay, 
where's  Rashleigh? — ay,  here's  Rashleigh — take  thy 
long  body  aside,  Thornie,  and  let's  see  thy  brother  a  bit 
— your  cousin  Rashleigh.  So  thy  father  has  thought 
on  the  old  Hall  and  old  Sir  Hildebrand  at  last — better 
late  than  never.  Thou  art  welcome,  lad,  and  there's 
enough.     "Where's  my  little  Die? — ay,  here  she  comes 

19 


20  ROB  ROY. 

— this  is  my  niece,  Die,  my  wife's  brother's  daughter 
— the  prettiest  girl  in  our  dales,  be  the  other  who  she 
may — and  so  now  let's  to  the  sirloin." 

Miss  Yernon  had  so  arranged  the  seats  that  Frank 
should  sit  next  to  her  at  the  table,  and  during  dinner 
she  entertained  him  with  a  sketch  of  the  inmates  of 
Osbaldistone  Hall. 

"  I  want  to  speak  with  you,''  she  said,  "  and  I  have 
placed  honest  Thornie  betwixt  Rashleigh  and  you  on 
purpose.     He  will  be  like 

Feather-bed  'twixt  castle  wall 
And  heavy  brunt  of  cannon  ball, 

while  I,  your  earliest  acquaintance  in  this  intellectual 
family,  ask  of  you  how  you  like  us  all?" 

"  A  very  comprehensive  question.  Miss  Yernon,  con- 
sidering how  short  while  I  have  been  at  Osbaldistone 
Hall." 

"  Oh,  the  philosophy  of  our  family  lies  on  the  sur- 
face— there  are  minute  shades  distinguishing  the  indi- 
viduals, which  require  the  eye  of  an  intelligent  ob- 
server; but  the  species,  as  naturalists,  I  believe,  call  it, 
may  be  distinguished  and  characterized  at  once." 

"  My  five  elder  cousins,  then,  are,  I  presume,  of 
pretty  nearly  the  same  character." 

"  Yes,  they  form  a  happy  compound  of  sot,  game- 
keeper, bully,  horse- jockey,  and  fool;  but  as  they  say 
there  can  not  be  found  two  leaves  on  the  same  tree  ex- 
actly alike,  so  these  happy  ingredients,  being  mingled 
in  somewhat  various  proportions  in  each  individual, 
make  an  agreeable  variety  for  those  who  like  to  study 
character." 


ROB  ROY.  21 

"  Give  me  a  sketch,  if  you  please,  Miss  Vernon." 

"  You  shall  have  them  all  in  a  family-piece,  at  full 
length — the  favor  is  too  easily  granted  to  be  refused. 
Percie,  the  son  and  heir,  has  more  of  the  sot  than  of 
the  gamekeeper,  bully,  horse-jockey,  or  fool.  My  pre- 
cious Thornie  is  more  of  the  bully  than  the  sot, 
gamekeeper,  jockey,  or  fool.  John,  who  sleeps  whole 
weeks  among  the  hills,  has  most  of  the  gamekeeper. 
The  jockey  is  powerful  with  Dickon,  who  rides  two 
hundred  miles  by  day  and  night  to  be  bought  and  sold 
at  a  horse-race.  And  the  fool  predominates  so  much 
over  Wilfred's  other  qualities  that  he  may  be  termed  a 
fool  positive." 

"  A  goodly  collection,  Miss  Vernon,  and  the  indi- 
vidual varieties  belong  to  a  most  interesting  species. 
But  is  there  no  room  on  the  canvas  for  Sir  Hilde- 
brand?" 

"  I  love  my  uncle,"  was  her  reply;  "  I  owe  him 
some  kindness  (such  it  was  meant  for,  at  least),  and  I 
will  leave  you  to  draw  his  picture  yourself,  when  you 
know  him  better." 

"  Come,"  thought  Frank  to  himself,  "  I  am  glad 
there  is  some  forbearance.  After  all,  who  would  have 
looked  for  such  bitter  satire  from  a  creature  so  young, 
and  so  exquisitely  beautiful  ?  " 

"You  are  thinking  of  me,"  she  said,  bending  her 
dark  eyes  on  him. 

"  I  certainly  was,"  Frank  replied,  with  some  embar- 
rassment at  the  determined  suddenness  of  the  question, 
and  then,  endeavoring  to  give  a  complimentary  turn 
to  his  frank  avowal,  "  How  is  it  possible  I  should  think 
of  anything  else,  seated  as  I  have  the  happiness  to  be?  " 


22  ROB  ROY. 

She  smiled  with  such  an  expression  of  concentrated 
haughtiness  as  she  alone  conld  have  thrown  into  her 
countenance.  "  I  mnst  inform  you  at  once^  Mr.  Os- 
baldistone,  that  compliments  are  entirely  lost  upon  me; 
do  not,  therefore,  throw  away  your  pretty  sayings — 
they  serve  fine  gentlemen  w^ho  travel  in  the  country, 
instead  of  the  toys,  beads,  and  bracelets  which  navi- 
gators carry  to  propitiate  the  savage  inhabitants  of 
newly-discovered  lands.  Do  not  exhaust  your  stock 
in  trade;  you  will  find  natives  in  Northumberland  to 
whom  your  fine  things  will  recommend  you;  on  me 
they  would  be  utterly  thrown  away,  for  I  happen  to 
know  their  real  value." 

"  You  remind  me  at  this  moment,"  said  the  young 
lady,  resuming  her  lively  and  indifferent  manner,  "  of 
the  fairy  tale,  where  the  man  finds  all  the  money  which 
he  had  carried  to  market  suddenly  changed  into  pieces 
of  slate.  I  have  cried  down  and  ruined  your  whole 
stock  of  complimentary  discourse  by  one  unlucky  ob- 
servation. But  come,  never  mind  it.  You  are  belied, 
Mr.  Osbaldistone,  unless  you  have  much  better  con- 
versation than  these  fadeurs,  which  every  gentleman 
with  a  toupet  thinks  himself  obliged  to  recite  to  an  un- 
fortunate girl,  merely  because  she  is  dressed  in  silk  and 
gauze,  while  he  wears  superfine  cloth  with  embroidery. 
Your  natural  paces,  as  any  of  my  five  cousins  might 
say,  are  far  preferable  to  your  complimentary  amble. 
Endeavor  to  forget  my  unlucky  sex;  call  me  Tom 
Vernon,  if  you  have  a  mind,  but  speak  to  me  as  you 
would  to  a  friend  and  companion;  you  have  no  idea 
how  much  I  shall  like  you." 

"That  would  be  a  bribe,  indeed,"  returned  Frank. 


ROB  ROY.  23 

"Again!  "  rci)licd  ^liss  Vernon,  holding  up  her  fin- 
ger; "  i  told  you  1  would  not  bear  the  shadow  of  a 
coni[)linient.  And  now,  when  you  have  pledged  my 
uncle,  who  tlireatens  you  with  what  he  calls  a  brimmer, 
I  will  tell  you  what  you  think  of  me." 

TJie  bumi)er  was  pledged  by  Frank,  as  a  dutiful 
nephew.  "  And  now,''  he  said,  "  give  me  leave  to  ask 
you  frankly,  Miss  Vernon,  what  you  suppose  I  am 
thinking  of  you.  I  could  tell  you  what  I  really  do 
think,  but  you  have  interdicted  praise." 

"  I  do  not  want  your  assistance.  I  am  conjurer 
enough  to  tell  your  thoughts  without  it.  You  need  not 
open  the  casement  of  your  bosom;  I  see  through  it. 
You  tliink  me  a  strange,  bold  girl,  half  coquette,  half 
romp,  desirous  of  attracting  attention  by  the  freedom 
of  her  manners  and  loudness  of  her  conversation,  be- 
cause she  is  ignorant  of  what  the  Spectator  calls  the 
softer  graces  of  the  sex,  and  perhaps  you  think  I  have 
some  particular  plan  of  storming  you  into  admiration. 
I  should  be  sorry  to  shock  your  self-opinion,  but  you 
w^ere  never  more  mistaken.  All  the  confidence  I  have 
reposed  in  you  I  would  have  given  as  readily  to  your 
father  if  I  thought  he  could  have  understood  me.  I 
am  in  this  happy  family  as  much  secluded  from  intelli- 
gent listeners  as  Sancho  in  the  Sierra  Morena,  and 
when  opportunity  offers  I  must  speak  or  die.  I  assure 
)"ou  I  would  not  liave  told  you  a  word  of  all  this  curious 
intelligence  had  I  cared  a  pin  who  knew  it  or  knew  it 
not." 

"  It  is  very  cruel  in  you.  Miss  Vernon,  to  take  away 
all  particular  marks  of  favor  from  A'our  communica- 
tions, but  I  must  receive  them  on  your  own  terms.    You 


24  ROB  ROY. 

have  not  included  Mr.  Eashleigh  Osbaldistone  in  your 
domestic  sketches." 

She  hastily  answered,  in  a  much  lower  tone:  "Not 
a  word  of  Eashleigh!  His  ears  are  so  acute  when  his 
selfishness  is  interested  that  the  sounds  would  reach 
him  even  through  the  mass  of  Thorncliff's  person, 
stuffed  as  it  is  with  beef,  venison-pasty,  and  pudding." 

"  Yes,"  Frank  replied;  "  but  peeping  past  the  living 
screen  which  divides  us,  before  I  put  the  question,  I 
perceived  that  Mr.  Eashleigh's  chair  was  empty — he  has 
left  the  table." 

"  I  would  not  have  you  be  too  sure  of  that,"  Miss 
Vernon  replied.  "  Take  my  advice,  and  when  you 
speak  of  Eashleigh  get  up  to  the  top  of  Otterscope  Hill, 
where  you  can  see  for  twenty  miles  round  you  in  every 
direction — stand  on  the  very  peak,  and  speak  in  whis- 
pers; and,  after  all,  don't  be  too  sure  that  the  bird  of 
the  air  will  not  carry  the  matter.  Eashleigh  has  been 
my  tutor  for  four  years;  we  are  mutually  tired  of  each 
other,  and  we  shall  heartily  rejoice  at  our  approaching 
separation." 

"  Mr.  Eashleigh  leaves  Osbaldistone  Hall,  then  ?  " 

"  Yes,  in  a  few  days — did  you  not  know  that  ?  Your 
father  must  keep  his  resolutions  much  more  secret  than 
Sir  Hildebrand.  Why,  when  my  uncle  was  informed 
that  you  were  to  be  his  guest  for  some  time,  and  that 
your  father  desired  to  have  one  of  his  hopeful  sons  to 
fill  up  the  lucrative  situation  in  his  counting-house 
which  was  vacant  by  your  obstinacy,  Mr.  Francis,  the 
good  knight  held  a  cour  pUniere  of  all  his  family,  in- 
cluding the  butler,  housekeeper,  and  gamekeeper. 
This  reverend  assembly  of  the  peers  and  household  oflQ.- 


ROB  ROY.  25 

cers  of  Osbaldistone  Hall  was  not  convoked,  as  you  may 
suppose,  to  elect  your  substitute,  because,  as  KashleigJi 
alone  possessed  more  arithmetic  than  was  necessary  to 
calculate  the  odds  on  a  fighting  cock,  none  but  he  could 
be  supposed  qualified  for  the  situation.  But  some  sol- 
emn sanction  was  necessary  for  transforming  Kashleigh's 
destination  from  starving  as  a  Catholic  priest  to  thriv- 
ing as  a  wealthy  banker,  and  it  was  not  without  some 
reluctance  that  the  acquiescence  of  the  assembly  was 
obtained  to  such  an  act  of  degradation." 

"  I  can  conceive  the  scruples — but  how  were  they 
got  over?  " 

"  By  the  general  wish,  I  believe,  to  get  Kashleigh 
out  of  the  house,"  replied  Miss  Vernon.  "  Although 
youngest  of  the  family,  he  has  somehow  or  other  got 
the  entire  management  of  all  the  others;  and  everyone 
is  sensible  of  the  subjection,  though  they  can  not  shake 
it  oft".  If  anyone  opposes  him,  he  is  sure  to  rue  having 
done  so  before  the  year  goes  about,  and  if  you  do  him 
a  very  important  service,  you  may  rue  it  still  more." 

"  At  that  rate,"  answered  Frank,  smiling,  "  I  should 
look  about  me,  for  I  have  been  the  cause,  however  un- 
intentionally, of  his  change  of  situation." 

"  Yes;  and  whether  he  regards  it  as  an  advantage 
or  disadvantage,  he  will  owe  you  a  grudge  for  it.  But 
here  come  cheese,  radishes,  and  a  bumper  to  church 
and  king,  the  hint  for  chaplains  and  ladies  to  disappear, 
and  I,  sole  representative  of  womanhood  at  Osbaldistone 
Hall,  retreat,  as  in  duty  bound." 

With  this  Miss  Vernon  left  the  apartment,  and  then 
the  bottle  began  to  circulate,  or  rather  to  fly  around  the 
table   in  unceasing   revolution.     To   Frank,   who   was 


26  ROB  ROY. 

wholly  unaccustomed  to  so  intemperate  a  "use  of  wine, 
tlie  scene  became  more  and  more  displeasing,  so  that 
at  the  first  opportunity  he  made  his  escape  through  a 
side  door,  leading  he  knew  not  whither.  He  was  wildly 
pursued  by  his  cousins,  but  hastily  descending  a  wind- 
ing stair,  he  jumped  from  a  low  window  to  the  garden 
below.  Wandering  hither  and  thither  among  the  gar- 
den paths,  he  suddenly  came  upon  Andrew  Fairservice, 
the  old  Scotch  gardener,  who  was  hard  at  work  at  his 
evening  employment.  Here  he  spent  some  time  in  con- 
versation with  Andrew,  listening  to  his  version  of  the 
characteristics  of  the  Osbaldistone  family.  When  a 
sufficient  length  of  time  had  elapsed  to  cool  the  ardor 
of  his  pursuers,  Frank  returned  to  the  house,  and  with 
some  difficulty  found  the  apartment  which  was  des- 
tined for  his  accommodation. 


CHAPTER  V. 

Bardolph. — The  sheriff,  with  a  monstrous  watch,  is  at  the  door. 

Henry  IV.  First  Part. 

Early  the  next  morning,  when  the  first  streaks  of 
light  were  breaking  upon  the  horizon,  Frank  Osbaldi- 
stone  was  awakened  from  his  first  night's  slumber  in 
his  new  abode  by  the  cheerful  notes  of  the  hunting- 
horn.  Hurriedly  completing  his  toilette  and  directing 
his  horse  to  be  saddled,  he  made  his  way  to  the  court- 
yard, where  his  uncle  and  cousins  were  already  finish- 
ing preparations  for  the  morning's 'liunt.  Miss  Vernon 
joined  them  and  they  soon  set  forth,  Frank  riding  by 
Miss  Vernon's  side.  After  beating  in  vain  for  the 
greater  part  of  the  morning,  a  fox  was  at  length  found, 
wlio  led  them  a  chase  of  two  hours,  but  proved  too 
wily  for  them  in  tlie  end;  the  hounds  lost  the  scent, 
and  the  hunt  was  at  an  end  for  a  time. 

"  Come,  Mr.  Frank,"  said  Miss  Vernon,  "  the  scent's 
cold;  tliey  won't  recover  it  there  this  while;  follow  me, 
I  have  a  view  to  show  you." 

And,  in  fact,  she  cantered  up  to  the  top  of  a  gentle 
hill,  commanding  an  extensive  prospect.  Casting  her 
eyes  around,  to  see  that  no  one  was  near  them,  slie 
drew  up  her  horse  beneath  a  few  birch-trees,  whicli 
screened  them  from  the  rest  of  the  hunting  field.     "  Do 

27 


28  ^OB  ROY, 

you  see  yon  peaked,  brown,  heathy  hill,  having  some- 
thing like  a  whitish  speck  upon  the  side  ?  '^ 

"  Terminating  that  long  ridge  of  broken  moorish 
uplands?     I  see  it  distinctly,''  replied  Frank. 

"  That  whitish  speck  is  a  rock  called  Hawkesmore- 
crag,  and  Hawkesmore-crag  is  in  Scotland." 

"  Indeed!  I  did  not  think  we  had  been  so  near  Scot- 
land." 

"  It  is  so,  I  assure  you,  and  your  horse  will  carry 
you  there  in  two  hours." 

"  I  shall  hardly  give  him  the  trouble;  why,  the  dis- 
tance must  be  eighteen  miles  as  the  crow^  flies." 

"  You  may  have  my  mare,  if  you  think  her  less 
blown.  I  say  that  in  two  hours  you  may  be  in  Scot- 
land." 

"  And  I  say,  that  I  have  so  little  desire  to  be  there, 
that  if  my  horse's  head  were  over  the  Border  I  would 
not  give  his  tail  the  trouble  of  following.  What  should 
I  do  in  Scotland?" 

"  Provide  for  your  safety,  if  I  must  speak  plainly. 
Do  you  understand  me  now,  Mr.  Frank?  " 

'*'  Not  a  w^hit;  you  are  more  and  more  oracular." 

"  Then,  on  my  word,  you  either  mistrust  me  most 
unjustly,  and  are  a  better  dissembler  than  Rashleigh 
Osbaldistone  himself,  or  you  know  nothing  of  what  is 
imputed  to  you;  and  then  no  wonder  you  stare  at  me 
in  that  grave  manner,  which  I  can  scarce  see  without 
laughing." 

"  Upon  my  word  of  honor,  Miss  Vernon,"  said 
Frank,  with  an  impatient  feeling  of  her  childish  dis- 
position to  mirth,  "  I  have  not  the  most  distant  con- 
ception of  what  you  mean.     I  am  happy  to  afford  you 


ROB   ROY.  29 

any  subject  of  amusement,  but  I  am  quite  ignorant  in 
what  it  consists." 

"  Nay,  there's  no  sound  jest  after  all,"  said  tlie 
young  lady,  composing  herself,  "  only  one  looks  so  very 
ridiculous  when  he  is  fairly  perplexed.  But  the  matter 
is  serious  enough.  Do  you  know  one  Moray,  or  Morris, 
or  some  such  name  ?  " 

"  Not  that  I  can  at  present  recollect." 

"  Think  a  moment.  Did  you  not  lately  travel  with 
somebody  of  such  a  name?  " 

'•  The  only  man  with  whom  I  traveled  for  any 
length  of  time  was  a  fellow  whose  soul  seemed  to  lie  in 
his  portmanteau." 

"  Then  it  was  like  the  soul  of  the  licentiate  Pedro 
Garcias,  which  lay  among  the  ducats  in  his  leathern 
purse.  That  man  has  been  robbed,  and  he  has  lodged 
an  information  against  you,  as  connected  with  the  vio- 
lence done  to  him." 

"  You  jest,  Miss  Vernon  I  " 

"  I  do  not,  I  assure  you — the  thing  is  an  absolute 
fact." 

"  And  do  you,"  said  Frank,  with  strong  indigna- 
tion, "  do  you  suppose  me  capable  of  meriting  such  a 
charge? " 

"  You  would  call  me  out  for  it,  I  suppose,  had  I 
the  advantage  of  being  a  man.  You  may  do  so  as  it  is, 
if  you  like  it — I  can  shoot  flying,  as  well  as  leap  a  five- 
barred  gate." 

"  And  are  colonel  of  a  regiment  of  horse  besides," 
replied  Frank,  reflecting  how  idle  it  was  to  be  angry 
with  her.     ''  But  do  explain  the  present  jest  to  me." 

"  There's  no  jest  whatever,"  said  Diana;  "  you  are 


30  ROB  ROY. 

accused  of  robbing  this  man,  and  my  uncle  believes  it 
as  well  as  I  did."^ 

"  Upon  my  honor,  I  am  greatly  obliged  to  my 
friends  for  their  good  opinion! '' 

"  Now  do  not,  if  you  can  help  it,  snort,  and  stare, 
and  snuff  the  wind,  and  look  so  exceedingly  like  a 
startled  horse.  There's  no  such  offence  as  you  suppose 
— you  are  not  charged  with  any  petty  larceny  or  vulgar 
felony — ^by  no  means.  This  fellow  was  carrying  money 
from  Government,  both  specie  and  bills,  to  pay  the 
troops  in  the  north,  and  it  is  said  he  has  been  also 
robbed  of  some  despatches  of  great  consequence." 

"And  so  it  is  high  treason,  then,  and  not  simple 
robbery  of  which  I  am  accused! " 

"  Certainly — which,  you  know,  has  been  in  all  ages 
accounted  the  crime  of  a  gentleman.  You  will  find 
plenty  in  this  country,  and  one  not  far  from  your  elbow, 
who  think  it  a  merit  to  distress  the  Hanoverian  govern- 
ment by  every  means  possible." 

"'  Neither  my  politics  nor  my  morals.  Miss  Vernon, 
are  of  a  description  so  accommodating." 

"  I  really  begin  to  believe  that  you  are  a  Presby- 
terian and  Hanoverian  in  good  earnest.  But  what  do 
you  propose  to  do  ?  " 

"  Instantly  to  refute  this  atrocious  calumny.  Be- 
fore whom,"  he  asked,  "  was  this  extraordinary  accusa- 
tion laid?" 

"  Before  old  Squire  Inglewood,  who  had  sufficient 
unwillingness  to  receive  it.  He  sent  tidings  to  my 
uncle,  I  suppose,  that  he  might  smuggle  you  away  into 
Scotland,  out  of  reach  of  the  warrant.  But  my  uncle 
is  sensible  that  his  religion  and  old  predilections  render 


ROB  ROY.  31 

him  obnoxious  to  Government,  and  that  were  he  caiiglit 
playing  booty  he  would  be  disarmed,  and  probably  dis- 
mounted (which  would  be  the  worse  evil  of  the  two), 
as  a  Jacobite,  papist,  and  suspected  person."  * 

"  I  can  conceive  that,  sooner  than  lose  his  hunters, 
he  would  give  up  his  nephew." 

"His  nephew,  nieces,  sons — daughters,  if  he  had 
them,  and  whole  generation,"  said  Diana;  "  therefore 
trust  not  to  him,  even  for  a  single  moment,  but  make 
the  best  of  your  way  before  they  can  serve  the  warrant." 

"That  I  shall  certainly  do;  but  it  shall  be  to  the 
house  of  this  Squire  Inglewood.  Which  way  does  it 
lie?" 

"About  five  miles  off,  in  the  low  ground,  behind 
yonder  plantations — you  may  see  the  tower  of  the  clock- 
house." 

"  I  will  be  there  in  a  few  minutes,"  said  Frank, 
putting  his  horse  in  motion. 

"  And  I  will  go  with  you  and  show  you  the  way," 
said  Diana,  putting  her  palfrey  also  to  the  trot. 

"  Do  not  think  of  it.  Miss  Vernon,"  Frank  replied. 
"  It  is  not — permit  me  the  freedom  of  a  friend — it  is 
not  proper,  scarcely  even  delicate,  in  you  to  go  with  me 
on  such  an  errand  as  I  am  now  upon." 

"  I  understand  your  moaning,"  said  Miss  Vernon,  a 
slight  blush  crossing  her  haughty  brow;  "  it  is  plainly 
spoken,"  and  after  a  moment's  pause  she  added,  "  and 
I  believe  kindly  meant." 

*  On  occasions  of  public  aliirtn,  in  the  beginning  of  tlie  eight- 
eenth century,  the  horses  of  the  Catholics  were  often  seized  upon, 
as  tliey  were  always  supposed  to  be  on  the  eve  of  rising  in 
rebellion. 


32  ROB  ROY. 

"  It  is  indeed,  Miss  Vernon.  Can  you  think  me  in- 
sensible of  tlie  interest  you  show  me,  or  ungrateful  for 
it  ?  "  said  Frank,  with  even  more  earnestness  than  he 
could  have  wislied  to  express.  ^'  Yours  is  meant  for 
true  kindness,  shown  best  at  the  hour  of  need.  But  I 
must  not,  for  your  own  sake — for  the  chance  of  mis- 
construction— suffer  you  to  pursue  the  dictates  of  your 
generosity;  this  is  so  public  an  occasion — it  is  almost 
like  venturing  into  an  open  court  of  justice." 

"  And  if  it  were  not  almost,  but  altogether  entering 
into  an  open  court  of  justice,  do  you  think  1  would  not 
go  there  if  I  thought  it  right,  and  wished  to  protect 
a  friend?  You  have  no  one  to  stand  by  you — you 
are  a  stranger;  and  here,  in  the  outskirts  of  the  king- 
dom, country  justices  do  odd  things.  My  uncle  has  no 
desire  to  embroil  himself  in  your  affair;  Kashleigh  is 
absent,  and  were  he  here  there  is  no  knowing  which  side 
he  might  take;  the  rest  are  all  more  stupid  and  brutal 
one  than  another.  I  will  go  with  you,  and  I  do  not 
fear  being  able  to  serve  you.  I  am  no  fine  lady,  to  be 
terrified  to  death  with  law-books,  hard  words,  or  big 
wigs.'^ 

"  But  my  dear  Miss  Vernon " 

"  But  my  dear  Mr.  Francis,  be  patient  and  quiet, 
and  let  me  take  my  own  way,  for  when  I  take  the  bit 
between  my  teeth  there  is  no  bridle  will  stop  me." 


CHAPTER  YI. 

"  Sir,"  quoth  the  lawyer,  "  not  to  flatter  ye. 
You  have  as  good  and  fair  a  battery 
As  heart  could  wish,  and  need  not  shame 
The  proudest  man  alive  to  claim." 

Butler. 

Arrived  at  Inglewood  Place,  their  horses  were 
taken  by  a  servant  in  Sir  Hildebrand's  livery,  whom 
they  found  in  the  courtyard.  In  the  entrance-hall 
Frank  was  somewhat  surprised,  and  his  fair  companion 
still  more  so,  when  they  met  Eashleigh  Osbaldistone, 
who  could  not  help  showing  equal  wonder  at  the  ren- 
contre. 

"  Eashleigh,"  said  Miss  Vernon,  without  giving  him 
time  to  ask  any  question,  "  you  have  heard  of  Mr. 
Francis  Osbaldistone's  affair,  and  you  have  been  talking 
to  the  Justice  about  it?" 

"  Certainly,"  said  Eashleigh  composedly;  "  it  has 
been  my  business  here.  I  have  been  endeavoring,"  he 
said,  "  to  render  my  cousin  what  service  I  can.  But  I 
am  sorry  to  meet  him  here." 

"  As  a  friend  and  relation,  Mr.  Osbaldistone,  you 
ought  to  have  been  sorry  to  have  met  me  anywhere  else, 
at  a  time  when  the  charge  of  my  reputation  required  me 
to  be  on  this  spot  as  soon  as  possible." 

"True;  but  judging  from  what  my  father  said,  I 

33 


34:  I^OB  ROY. 

should  have  supposed  a  short  retreat  into  Scotland — ■ 
just  till  matters  should  be  smoothed  over  in  a  quiet 
way '' 

Frank  answered  with  warmth,  "  I  have  no  pruden- 
tial measures  to  observe,  and  desire  to  have  nothing 
smoothed  over;  on  the  contrary,  I  come  to  inquire  into 
a  rascally  calumny,  which  I  am  .determined  to  probe  to 
the  bottom/^ 

"  Mr.  Francis  Osbaldistone  is  an  innocent  man, 
Rashleigh,^^  said  Miss  Vernon,  ^'  and  he  demands  an  in- 
vestigation of  the  charges  against  him,  and  I  intend  to 
support  him  in  it/^ 

"You  do,  my  pretty  cousin?  I  should  think,  now, 
Mr.  Francis  Osbaldistone  was  likely  to  be  as  effectually, 
and  rather  more  delicately,  supported  by  my  presence 
than  by  yours." 

"  Oh,  certainly;  but  two  heads  are  better  than  one, 
3'ou  know." 

"Especially  such  a  head  as  yours,  my  pretty  Die," 
he  answered,  advancing  and  taking  her  hand  with  a 
familiar  fondness.  She  led  him  a  few  steps  aside; 
they  conversed  in  an  under  voice,  and  she  appeared 
to  insist  upon  some  request  which  he  was  unwilling 
or  unable  to  comply  with.  Miss  Vernon's  face, 
from  being  earnest,  became  angry;  her  eyes  and  cheeks 
became  more  animated,  her  color  mounted,  she 
clinched  her  little  hand,  and  stamping  on  the  ground 
with  her  tiny  foot,  seemed  to  listen  with  a  mixture  of 
contempt  and  indignation  to  the  apologies  which  Rash- 
leigh  seemed  to  be  pouring  at  her  feet.  At  length  she 
flung  away  from  liim,  with  "  I  will  have  it  so." 

"  It  is  not  in  my  power — there  is  no  possibility  of 


ROB  ROY.  35 

it.  Would  you  think  it,  Mr.  Osbaldistonc?  "  said  he, 
addressing  Frank. 

"  You  are  not  mad?  "  said  she,  interrupting  him. 

"  Would  you  think  it?  "  said  he,  without  attending 
to  her  hint;  "  Miss  Vernon  insists,  not  only  that  I  know 
your  innocence  (of  which,  indeed,  it  is  impossible  for 
any  one  to  be  more  convinced),  but  that  I  must  also 
be  acquainted  with  the  real  perpetrators  of  the  outrage 
on  this  fellow — if,  indeed,  such  an  outrage  has  been 
committed.     Is  this  reasonable,  Mr.  Osbaldistone?  ^' 

"  I  will  not  allow  any  appeal  to  Mr.  Osbaldistone, 
Rashleigh,''  said  the  young  lady;  "  he  does  not  know, 
as  I  do,  the  incredible  extent  and  accuracy  of  your  in- 
formation on  all  points.^' 

"  As  I  am  a  gentleman,  you  do  me  more  honor 
than  I  deserve." 

"  Justice,  Rashleigh — only  justice — and  it  is  only 
justice  which  I  expect  at  your  hands." 

"  You  are  a  tyrant,  Diana,"  he  answered,  with  a 
sort  of  sigh,  ''  a  capricious  tyrant,  and  rule  your  friends 
with  a  rod  of  iron.  Still,  however,  it  shall  be  as  you 
desire.  But  you  ought  not  to  be  here — you  know  you 
ought  not — you  must  return  with  me." 

Then  turning  from  Diana,  vrho  seemed  to  stand  un- 
decided, he  came  up  to  Frank  in  the  most  friendly 
manner,  and  said:  "  Do  not  doubt  my  interest  in  what 
regards  you,  ^Ir.  Osbaldistone.  If  I  leave  you  just  at 
this  moment,  it  is  only  to  act  for  your  advantage.  But 
you  must  use  your  influence  with  your  cousin  to  return; 
her  presence  can  not  serve  you,  and  must  prejudice  her- 
self." 

"  I  assure  you,  sir/"  Frank  replied,  "  you  can  not  be 


36  ROB  ROY. 

more  convinced  of  this  than  I;  I  have  urged  Miss  Ver- 
non's return  as  anxiously  as  she  would  permit  me 
to  do." 

"  I  have  thought  on  it/'  said  Miss  Vernon  after  a 
pause,  "  and  I  will  not  go  till  I  see  you  safe  out  of  the 
hands  of  the  Philistines.  Cousin  Rashleigh,  I  dare  say, 
means  well;  but  he  and  I  know  each  other  well.  Eash- 
leigh,  I  will  NOT  go;  I  know/'  she  added,  in  a  more 
soothing  tone,  "  my  being  here  will  give  you  more  mo- 
tive for  speed  and  exertion." 

"  Stay  then,  rash,  obstinate  girl,"  said  Eashleigh; 
"  you  know  but  too  well  to  whom  you  trust,"  and  has- 
tening out  of  the  hall,  they  heard  his  horse's  feet  a  min- 
ute afterward  in  rapid  motion. 

"  Thank  Heaven,  he  is  gone!  "  said  Diana.  "  And 
now  let  us  seek  out  the  Justice." 

"  Had  we  not  better  call  a  servant?  " 

"  Oh,  by  no  means;  I  know  the  way  to  his  den — 
we  must  burst  on  him  suddenly — follow  me." 

Frank  followed  her,  accordingly,  as  she  tripped  up 
a  few  gloomy  steps,  traversed  a  twilight  passage,  and 
entered  a  sort  of  ante-room  hung  round  with  old  maps, 
architectural  elevations,  and  genealogical  trees.  A  pair 
of  folding-doors  opened  from  this  into  Mr.  Inglewood's 
sitting  apartment,  from  which  was  heard  the  fag-end 
of  an  old  ditty,  chanted  by  a  voice  which  had  been  in  its 
day  fit  for  a  jolly  bottle  song: 

"  0,  in  Skipton-in-Craven 
Is  never  a  haven, 

But  many  a  day  foul  weather; 
And  he  that  would  say 
A  pretty  girl  nay, 

I  wish  for  his  cravat  a  tether.'* 


ROB  ROY.  37 

"Heyday!"  said  Miss  Vernon,  "the  genial  Justice 
must  have  dined  already — I  did  not  think  it  had  been 
so  late." 

It  was  even  so.  Mr.  Inglewood's  appetite  having 
been  sharpened  by  his  official  investigations,  he  had 
antedated  his  meridian  repast,  having  dined  at  twelve 
instead  of  one  o'clock,  then  the  general  dining  hour  in 
England. 

"  Stay  you  here,"  said  Diana.  "  I  know  the  house, 
and  I  will  call  a  servant;  your  sudden  appearance  might 
startle  the  old  gentleman  even  to  choking,"  and  she  es- 
caped, leaving  Frank  uncertain  whether  he  ought  to  ad- 
vance or  retreat.  It  was  impossible  for  him  not  to  hear 
some  part  of  what  passed  within  the  dinner  apartment, 
and  particularly  several  apologies  for  declining  to  sing, 
expressed  in  a  dejected  croaking  voice,  the  tones  of 
which  were  not  entirely  new  to  him. 

"  Not  sing,  sir?  by  our  Lady!  but  you  must.  What! 
you  have  cracked  my  silver-mounted  cocoa-nut  of  sack, 
and  tell  me  that  you  can  not  sing!  Sir,  sack  will  make 
a  cat  sing,  and  speak,  too;  so  up  with  a  merry  stave,  or 
trundle  yourself  out  of  my  doors!     Do  you  think  you 

are  to  take  up  all  of  my  valuable  time  with  your  d d 

declarations,  and  then  tell  me  you  can  not  sing?  " 

"  Your  worship  is  perfectly  in  rule,"  said  another 
voice,  which,  from  its  pert,  conceited  accent,  might  be 
that  of  the  clerk,  "  and  the  party  must  be  conformable; 
he  hath  canet  written  on  his  face  in  court  hand." 

"  Up  with  it  then,"  said  the  Justice,  "  or  by  St. 
Christopher,  you  shall  crack  the  cocoa-nut  full  of  salt- 
and-water,  according  to  the  statute  for  such  effect  made 
and  provided." 
4 


38  i^OB   ROY. 

Thus  exhorted  and  threatened,  Frank's  quondam 
fellow-traveler,  for  he  could  no  longer  doubt  that  he 
was  the  recusant  in  question,  uplifted,  with  a  voice 
similar  to  that  of  a  criminal  singing  his  last  psalm  on 
the  scaffold,  a  most  doleful  stave  to  the  following  effect: 

"  Good  people  all,  I  pray  give  ear, 
A  woful  story  you  shall  hear, 
'Tis  of  a  robber  as  stout  as  ever 
Bade  a  true  man  stand  and  deliver. 
With  his  foodie  doo  fa  loodle  loo. 

"  This  knave,  most  worthy  of  a  cord, 
Bering  armed  with  pistol  and  with  sword, 
'Twixt  Kensington  and  Brentford  then 
Did  boldly  stop  six  honest  men. 
With  his  foodie  doo,  etc. 

"  These  honest  men  did  at  Brentford  dine. 
Having  drank  each  man  his  pint  of  wine, 
When  this  bold  thief,  with  many  curses, 
Did  say,  You  dogs,  your  lives  or  purses. 
With  his  foodie  doo,"  etc. 

It  is  a  question  if  the  honest  men,  whose  misfortune 
is  commemorated  in  this  pathetic  ditty,  were  more 
startled  at  the  appearance  of  the  bold  thief  than  the 
songster  was  at  Frank's;  for,  tired  of  waiting  for  some 
one  to  announce  him,  he  presented  himself  to  the  com- 
pany just  as  his  friend  Mr.  Morris,  for  such,  it  seems, 
was  his  name,  was  uplifting  the  fifth  stave  of  his  dole- 
ful ballad.  The  high  tone  with  which  the  tune  started 
died  away  in  a  quaver  of  consternation  on  finding  him- 
self so  near  one  whose  character  he  supposed  to  be  little 
less  suspicious  than  that  of  the  hero  of  his  madrigal, 
and  he  remained  silent,  with  a  mouth  gaping. 


ROB  ROY.  39 

The  Justice,  whose  eyes  had  closed  under  the  influ- 
ence of  the  somniferous  lullaby  of  the  song,  started  up 
in  his  chair  as  it  suddenly  ceased,  and  stared  with  won- 
der at  the  unexpected  addition  which  the  company  had 
received  while  his  organs  of  sight  were  in  abeyance. 
The  clerk  was  also  commoved,  for,  sitting  opposite  to 
Mr.  Morris,  that  honest  gentleman's  terror  communi- 
cated itself  to  him,  though  he  wotted  not  why. 

Frank  broke  the  silence  of  surprise  occasioned  by 
his  abrupt  entrance.  "  My  name,  Mr.  Inglewood,  is 
Francis  Osbaldistone;  I  understand  that  some  scoundrel 
has  brought  a  complaint  before  you,  charging  me  with 
being  concerned  in  a  loss  which  he  says  he  has  sus- 
tained." 

"  Sir,"  said  the  Justice,  somewhat  peevishly,  "  these 
are  matters  I  never  enter  upon  after  dinner;  there  is  a 
time  for  everything,  and  a  justice  of  peace  must  eat  as 
well  as  other  folks." 

The  goodly  person  of  Mr.  Inglewood,  by  the  way, 
seemed  by  no  means  to  have  suffered  by  any  fasts, 
whether  in  the  service  of  the  law  or  of  religion. 

"  I  beg  pardon  for  an  ill-timed  visit,  sir;  but  as 
my  reputation  is  concerned,  and  as  the  dinner  ap- 
pears to  be  concluded " 

"  It  is  not  concluded,  sir,"  replied  the  magistrate; 
"  a  man  requires  digestion  as  well  as  food,  and  I  protest 
I  can  not  have  benefit  from  my  victuals  unless  I  am 
allowed  two  hours  of  quiet  leisure,  intermixed  with 
harmless  mirth  and  a  moderate  circulation  of  the 
bottle." 

"  If  your  Honor  will  forgive  me,"  said  Mr.  Jobson, 
who  had    produced   and   arranged   his   writing  imple- 


40  ROB  ROY. 

ments  in  the  brief  space  that  the  conversation  afforded, 
"  as  this  is  a  case  of  felony,  and  the  gentleman  seems 
something  impatient,  the  charge  is  contra  imcem  domini 
regis " 

"D — n  dominie  regis!''  said  the  impatient  Justice; 
"  I  hope  it's  no  treason  to  say  so,  but  it's  enough  to 
make  one  mad  to  be  worried  in  this  way.  Have  I  a 
moment  of  my  life  quiet  for  warrants,  orders,  directions, 
acts,  bails,  bonds,  and  recognizances?  I  pronounce  to 
you,  Mr.  Jobson,  that  I  shall  send  you  and  the  justice- 
ship to  the  devil  one  of  these  days.'^ 

"  Your  Honor  will  consider  the  dignity  of  the  office 
— one  of  the  quorum  and  custos  rotulorum,  an  office  of 
which  Sir  Edward  Coke  wisely  saith.  The  whole  Chris- 
tian world  hath  not  the  like  of  it,  so  it  be  duly  exe- 
cuted.'^ 

"  Well,''  said  the  Justice,  partly  reconciled  by  this 
eulogium  on  the  dignity  of  his  situation,  and  gulping 
down  the  rest  of  his  dissatisfaction  in  a  huge  bumper 
of  claret,  "  let  us  to  this  gear  then,  and  get  rid  of  it 
as  fast  as  we  can.  Here  you,  sir — you,  Morris — you, 
knight  of  the  sorrowful  countenance — is  this  Mr.  Fran- 
cis Osbaldistone  the  gentleman  whom  you  charge  with 
being  art  and  part  of  felony?  " 

"  I,  sir?  "  replied  Morris,  whose  scattered  wits  had 
hardly  yet  reassembled  themselves;  "  I  charge  nothing 
— I  say  nothing  against  the  gentleman." 

"  Then  we  dismiss  your  complaint,  sir,  that's  all,  and 
a  good  riddance.  Push  about  the  bottle.  Mr.  Osbaldi- 
stone, help  yourself." 

Jobson,  however,  was  determined  that  Morris  should 
not  back  out  of  the  scrape  so  easily.     "  What  do  you 


ROB  ROY.  41 

mean,  ^Ir,  Morris?  Here  is  your  own  declaration — 
the  ink  scarce  dried — and  you  would  retract  it  in  this 
scandalous  manner!  " 

"  How  do  I  know/'  whispered  the  other  in  a  tremu- 
lous tone,  "  how  many  rogues  are  in  the  house  to  back 
him?  I  have  read  of  such  things  in  Johnson's  Lives 
of  the  Highwaymen.     I  protest  the  door  opens " 

And  it  did  open,  and  Diana  Vernon  entered.  "  You 
keep  fine  order  here,  Justice — not  a  servant  to  be  seen 
or  heard  of." 

"  Ah  I  "  said  the  Justice,  starting  up  with  an  alac- 
rity which  showed  that  he  was  not  so  engrossed  by  his 
devotions  to  Themis  or  Comus  as  to  forget  what  was 
due  to  beauty;  "ah,  ha!  Die  A^ernon,  the  heath-bell  of 
Cheviot,  and  the  Blossom  of  the  Border,  come  to  see 
how  the  old  bachelor  keeps  house?  Art  welcome,  girl, 
as  flowers  in  May." 

"  A  fine,  open,  hospitable  house  you  do  keep,  Justice, 
that  must  be  allowed — not  a  soul  to  answer  a  visitor." 

"  Ah,  the  knaves!  they  reckoned  themselves  secure 
of  me  for  a  couple  of  hours.  But  why  did  you  not 
come  earlier?  Your  cousin  Rashleigh  dined  here,  and 
ran  away  like  a  poltroon  after  the  first  bottle  was  out. 
But  you  have  not  dined — we'll  have  something  nice  and 
ladylike — sweet  and  pretty  like  yourself,  tossed  up  in 
a  trice." 

"  I  may  eat  a  crust  in  the  ante-room  before  I  set 
out,"  answered  Miss  Vernon;  "I  have  had  a  long  ride* 
this  morning;  but  I  can't  stay  long.  Justice — I  came 
with  my  cousin,  Frank  Osbaldistone,  there,  and  I  must 
show  him  the  way  back  again  to  the  Hall,  or  he'll  lose 
himself  in  the  wolds." 


42  I^OB  ROY. 

"Whew!  sits  the  wind  in  that  quarter?"  inquired 
the  Justice. 

"  She  showed  him  the  way,  she  showed  him  the  way, 
She  showed  him  the  way  to  woo. 

What!  no  luck  for  old  fellows,  then,  my  sweet  bud  of 
the  wilderness?  " 

"  None  Avhatever,  Squire  Inglewood;  but  if  you  wdll 
be  a  good;  kind  Justice,  and  despatch  young  Frank's 
business,  and  let  us  canter  home  again,  Fll  bring  my 
uncle  to  dine  with  you  next  week,  and  we'll  expect 
merry  doings." 

"  And  you  shall  find  them,  my  pearl  of  the  Tyne — 
Zookers,  lass,  I  never  envy  these  young  fellows  their 
rides  and  scampers,  unless  when  you  come  across  me. 
But  I  must  not  keep  you  just  now,  I  suppose.  I  am 
quite  satisfied  with  Mr.  Frank  Osbaldistone's  explana- 
tion— there  has  been  some  mistake,  which  can  be 
cleared  at  greater  leisure." 

"  Pardon  me,  sir,"  said  Frank,  "  but  I  have  not 
heard  the  nature  of  the  accusation  yet." 

"  Yes,  sir,"  said  the  clerk,  who  at  the  appearance 
of  Miss  Vernon  had  given  up  the  matter  in  despair, 
but  who  picked  up  courage  to  press  farther  investiga- 
tion on  finding  himself  supported  from  a  quarter 
whence  assuredly  he  expected  no  backing — "yes,  sir, 
and  Dalton  saith.  That  he  who  is  apprehended  as  a  felon 
shall  not  be  discharged  upon  any  man's  discretion,  but 
shall  be  held  either  to  bail  or  commitment,  paying  to 
the  clerk  of  the  peace  the  usual  fees  for  recognizance 
or  commitment." 

The  Justice,  thus  goaded  on,  gave  Frank  at  length 
a  few  words  of  explanation. 


ROB  ROY.  43 

It  seems  the  tricks  which  he  had  played  to  this  man 
Morris  on  his  journey  had  made  a  strong  impression  on 
liis  imagination;  they  had  been  arrayed  against  Frank  in 
liis  evidence^  with  all  the  exaggerations  which  a  timor- 
ous and  heated  imagination  could  suggest.  It  appeared, 
also,  that  on  the  day  they  parted  Morris  had  been 
stopped  on  a  solitary  spot  and  eased  of  his  beloved  trav- 
eling companion,  the  portmanteau,  by  two  men,  well 
mounted  and  armed,  having  their  faces  covered  with 
vizards. 

One  of  them,  he  conceived,  had  much  of  Frank's 
shape  and  air,  and  in  a  whispering  conversation  which 
took  place  betwixt  the  freebooters  he  heard  the  other 
apply  to  him  the  name  of  Osbaldistone.  The  declara- 
tion farther  set  forth  that  upon  inquiring  into  the  prin- 
ciples of  the  family  so  named,  he,  the  said  declarant, 
was  informed  that  they  were  of  the  worst  description, 
the  family,  in  all  its  members,  having  been  Papists 
and  Jacobites,  as  he  was  given  to  understand  by  the 
dissenting  clergyman  at  whose  house  he  stopped  after 
his  rencontre,  since  the  days  of  William  the  Conqueror. 

Upon  all  and  each  of  these  weighty  reasons  he 
charged  Frank  with  being  accessory  to  the  felony  com- 
mitted upon  his  person;  he,  the  said  declarant,  then 
traveling  in  the  special  employment  of  Government, 
and  having  charge  of  certain  important  papers,  and  also 
a  large  sum  in  specie,  to  be  paid  over,  according  to  his 
instructions,  to  certain  persons  of  official  trust  and  im- 
portance in  Scotland. 

Having  heard  this  extraordinary  accusation,  Frank 
replied  to  it,  that  the  circumstances  on  which  it  was 
founded  were  such  as  could  warrant  no  justice  or  magis- 


44  ROB  ROY. 

trate  in  any  attempt  on  his  personal  liberty.  He  ad- 
mitted that  he  had  practised  a  little  upon  the  terrors 
of  Mr.  Morris,  while  they  traveled  together,  but  in 
such  trifling  particulars  as  could  have  excited  appre- 
hension in  no  one  who  was  one  whit  less  timorous  and 
jealous  than  himself.  But  he  added  that  he  had  never 
seen  him  since  they  parted,  and  if  that  which  Morris 
feared  had  really  come  upon  him,  he  was  in  no  wise 
accessory  to  an  action  so  unworthy  of  his  character 
and  station  in  life.  That  one  of  the  robbers  was  called 
Osbaldistone,  or  that  such  a  name  was  mentioned  in  the 
course  of  the  conversation  betwixt  them,  was  a  trifling 
circumstance,  to  which  no  w^eight  was  due.  And  con- 
cerning the  disaffection  alleged  against  him,  he  was 
willing  to  prove,  to  the  satisfaction  of  the  Justice,  the 
clerk,  and  even  the  witness  himself,  that  he  was  of  the 
same  persuasion  as  his  friend  the  dissenting  clergyman; 
had  been  educated  as  a  good  subject  in  the  principles 
of  the  Eevolution,  and  as  such  now  demanded  the  per- 
sonal protection  of  the  laws  which  had  been  assured  by 
that  great  event. 

The  Justice  fidgeted,  took  snuff,  and  seemed  consid- 
erably embarrassed,  while  Mr.  Attorney  Jobson,  with 
all  the  volubility  of  his  profession,  ran  over  the  statute 
of  the  34  Edward  III,  by  which  justices  of  the  peace 
are  allowed  to  arrest  all  those  whom  they  find  by  indict- 
ment or  suspicion,  and  to  put  them  into  prison.  The 
rogue  even  turned  Frank's  own  admissions  against  him, 
alleging  "  that  since  he  had  confessedly,  upon  his  own 
showing,  assumed  the  bearing  or  deportment  of  a  rob- 
ber or  malefactor,  he  had  voluntarily  subjected  him- 
self to  the  suspicions  of  which  he  complained,  and 


ROB  ROY.  45 

brought  himself  within  the  compass  of  the  act,  havings 
willfully  clothed  his  conduct  with  all  the  color  and 
livery  of  guilt.'*' 

Frank  combated  both  his  arguments  and  his  jar- 
gon with  much  indignation  and  scorn,  and  observed, 
"  That  he  should,  if  necessary,  produce  the  bail  of  his 
relations,  which  he  conceived  could  not  be  "refused, 
without  subjecting  the  magistrate  in  a  misdemeanor." 

"  Pardon  me,  my  good  sir — pardon  me,"  said  the 
insatiable  clerk;  "  this  is  a  case  in  which  neither  bail 
nor  mainprize  can  be  received,  the  felon  who  is  liable 
to  be  committed  on  heavy  grounds  of  suspicion  not 
being  replevisable  imder  the  statute  of  the  3d  of  King 
Edward,  there  being  in  that  act  an  express  excep- 
tion of  such  as  be  charged  of  commandment,  of  force, 
and  aid  of  felony  done,"  and  he  hinted  that  his 
worship  would  do  well  to  remember  that  such  were 
in  no  way  replevisable  by  common  writ,  nor  without 
writ. 

At  this  period  of  the  conversation  a  servant  entered 
and  delivered  a  letter  to  Mr."  Jobson.  He  had  no  sooner 
run  it  hastily  over  than  he  exclaimed,  with  the  air  of 
one  who  wished  to  appear  much  vexed  at  the  inter- 
ruption, and  felt  the  consequence  attached  to  a  man 
of  multifarious  avocations:  "  Good  God!  why,  at  this 
rate,  I  shall  have  neither  time  to  attend  to  the  public 
concerns  nor  my  own — no  rest — no  quiet — I  wish  to 
Heaven  another  gentleman  in  our  line  would  settle 
here!  " 

"  God  forbid!  "  said  the  Justice  in  a  tone  of  sotto- 
voce  deprecation;  "  some  of  us  have  enough  of  one  of 
the  tribe." 


46  ROB  ROY. 

"  This  is  a  matter  of  life  and  death,  if  your  worship 
pleases." 

"  In  God's  name!  no  more  justice  business,  I  hope," 
said  the  alarmed  magistrate. 

"  No — no,"  replied  Mr.  Jobson,  very  consequen- 
tially; "  old  Gaffer  Eutledge  of  Grimes' s-hill  is  sub- 
poena'd  for  the  next  world;  he  has  sent  an  express  for 
Dr.  Kill-down  to  put  in  bail — another  for  me  to  ar- 
range his  worldly  affairs." 

"  Away  with  you,  then,"  said  Mr.  Inglewood 
hastily;  "  his  may  not  be  a  replevisable  case  under 
the  statute,  you  know,  or  Mr.  Justice's  Death  may 
not  like  the  doctor  for  a  main  pernor,  or  bails- 
man." 

"  And  yet,"  said  Jobson,  lingering  as  he  moved  to- 
wards the  door,  "  if  my  presence  here  be  necessary — I 
could  make  out  the  warrant  for  committal  in  a  moment, 
and  the  constable  is  below.     And  you  have  heard,"  he 

said,  lowering  his  voice,  "  Mr.  Eashleigh's  opinion " 

the  rest  was  lost  in  a  whisper. 

The  Justice  replied  aloud:  "  I  tell  thee  no,  man,  no 
— we'll  do  naught  till  thou  return,  man;  'tis  but  a  four- 
mile  ride.  Come,  push  the  bottle,  Mr.  Morris — don't 
be  cast  down,  Mr.  Osbaldistone.  And  you,  my  rose  of 
the  wilderness,  one  cup  of  claret  to  refresh  the  bloom 
of  your  cheeks." 

Diana  started,  as  if  from  a  reverie,  in  which  she  ap- 
peared to  have  been  plunged  during  this  discussion. 
"  No,  Justice — I  should  be  afraid  of  transferring  the 
bloom  to  a  part  of  my  face  where  it  would  show  to  lit- 
tle advantage,  but  I  will  pledge  you  in  a  cooler  bev- 
erage," and  filling  a  glass  with  water  she  drank  it  has- 


ROB  ROY.  47 

tily,    while    her   hurried    manner    belied    her    assumed 
gayety. 

At  this  moment  a  servant,  opening  the  door,  an- 
nounced "  a  strange  gentleman  to  wait  upon  his  Hon- 
or," and  the  party  whom  he  thus  described  entered  the 
room  without  further  ceremony. 


CHAPTER  VII. 

One  of  the  thieves  come  back  again  !     I'll  stand  close. 
He  dares  not  wrong  me  now,  so  near  the  house, 
And  call  in  vain  'tis,  till  I  see  him  offer  it. 

The  Widow.       >• 

"  A  stkanger!  "  echoed  the  Justice;  "  not  upon 
business,  I  trust,  for  I'll  be " 

His  protestation  was  cut  short  by  the  answer  of  the 
man  himself.  "  My  business  is  of  a  nature  somewhat 
onerous  and  particular,"  said  Frank's  acquaintance,  Mr. 
Campbell — for  it  was  he,  the  very  Scotchman  whom  he 
had  seen  at  Northallerton — "  and  I  must  solicit  your 
Honor  to  give  instant  and  heedful  consideration  to  it. 
I  believe,  Mr.  Morris,"  he  added,  fixing  his  eye  on  that 
person  with  a  look  of  peculiar  firmness  and  almost 
ferocity,  "  I  believe  ye  ken  brawly  what  I  am — I  believe 
ye  can  not  have  forgotten  what  passed  at  our  last  meet- 
ing on  the  road?"  Morris's  jaw  dropped,  his  counte- 
nance became  the  color  of  tallow,  his  teeth  chattered, 
and  he  gave  visible  signs  of  the  utmost  consternation. 
"  Take  heart  of  grace,  man,"  said  Campbell,  "  and  dinna 
sit  clattering  your  jaws  there  like  a  pair  of  castanets! 
I  think  there  can  be  nae  difficulty  in  your  telling  Mr. 
Justice  that  ye  have  seen  me  of  yore,  and  ken  me  to  be 
a  cavalier  of  fortune  and  a  man  of  honor.  Ye  ken 
fu'  wcel  ye  will  be  some  time  resident  in  my  vicinity, 
48 


ROB  ROY.  49 

when  I  may  have  the  power,  as  I  will  possess  the  in- 
clination, to  do  you  as  good  a  turn." 

"  Sir — sir — I  believe  you  to  be  a  man  of  honor, 
and,  as  ^you  say,  a  man  of  fortune.  Yes,  Mr.  Ingle- 
wood,"  he  added,  clearing  his  voice,  "  I  really  believe 
this  gentleman  to  be  so." 

"  And  what  are  this  gentleman's  commands  with 
me?  "  said  the  Justice,  somewhat  peevishly.  "  One  man 
introduces  another,  like  the  rhymes  in  the  *  house  that 
Jack  built,'  and  I  get  company  without  either  peace  or 
conversation!  " 

"  Both  shall  be  yours,  sir,"  answered  Campbell,  "  in 
a  brief  period  of  time.  I  come  to  release  your  mind 
from  a  piece  of  troublesome  duty,  not  to  make  incre- 
ment to  it." 

"Body  o'  me!  then  you  are  welcome  as  ever  Scot 
was  to  England,  and  that's  not  saying  much.  But  get 
on,  man — let's  hear  what  you  have  got  to  say  at  once." 

"  I  presume  this  gentleman,"  continued  the  North 
Briton,  "  told  you  there  was  a  person  of  the  name  of 
Campbell  with  him  when  he  had  the  mischance  to  lose 
his  valise?  " 

"  He  has  not  mentioned  such  a  name,  from  begin- 
ning to  f!bdA)f  the  matter,"  said  the  Justice. 

"  Ah,  I  conceive — I  conceive,"  replied  Mr.  Camp- 
bell ;  "  Mr.  Morris  was  kindly  af eared  of  committing  a 
stranger  into  collision  wi'  the  judicial  forms  of  the 
country;  but  as  I  understand  my  evidence  is  necessary 
to  the  compurgation  of  one  honest  gentleman  here,  Mr. 
Francis  Osbaldi stone,  wha  has  been  most  unjustly  sus- 
pected, I  will  dispense  with  the  precaution.  Ye  will 
therefore  "  (he  added,  addressing  Morris  with  the  same 


50  ROB  ROY. 

determined  look  and  accent)  "  please  tell  Mr.  Justice 
Inglewood  whether  we  did  not  travel  several  miles  to- 
gether on  the  road,  in  consequence  of  your  own  anxious 
request  and  suggestion,  reiterated  ance  and  again,  baith 
on  the  evening  that  we  were  at  Northallerton,  and  there 
declined  by  me,  but  afterwards  accepted,  when  I  over- 
took ye  on  the  road  near  Cloberry  Allers,  and  was  pre- 
vailed on  by  you  to  resign  my  ain  intention  of  proceed- 
ing to  Eothbury;  and,  for  my  misfortune,  to  accompany' 
you  on  your  proposed  route." 

"  It's  a  melancholy  truth,''  answered  Morris,  holding 
down  his  head  as  he  gave  this  general  assent  to  the 
long  and  leading  question  which  Campbell  put  to  him, 
and  seemed  to  acquiesce  in  the  statement  it  contained 
with  rueful  docility. 

"  And  I  presume  you  also  asseverate  to  his  Wor- 
ship that  no  man  is  better  qualified  than  I  am  to  bear 
testimony  in  this  case,  seeing  that  I  was  by  you,  and 
near  you  constantly  during  the  whole  occurrence." 

"  No  man  better  qualified,  certainly,"  said  Morris, 
with  a  deep  and  embarrassed  sigh. 

"  And  why  the  devil  did  you  not  assist  him,  then," 
said  the  Justice,  since,  by  Mr.  Morris's  account,  there 
were  but  two  robbers;  so  you  were  two  to  two,  and  you 
are  both  stout,  likely  men?  " 

"  Sir,  if  it  please  your  Worship,"  said  Campbell, 
"  I  have  been  all  my  life  a  man  of  peace  and  quietness, 
noways  given  to  broils  or  batteries.  Mr.  Morris,  who 
belongs,  as  I  understand,  or  hath  belonged,  to  his  Maj- 
esty's army,  might  have  used  liis  pleasure  in  "resistance, 
he  traveling,  as  I  also  understand,  with  a  great  charge 
of  treasure;  but  for  me,  who  had  but  my  own  small 


ROB  ROY.  51 

peculiar  to  defend,  and  who  am,  moreover,  a  man  of 
a  pacific  occupation,  I  was  unwilling  to  commit  myself 
to  hazard  in  the  matter/' 

As  he  uttered  these  words  there  was  a  singular  con- 
trast between  the  strong,  daring  sternness  expressed  in 
his  harsh  features,  and  the  air  of  composed  meekness 
and  simplicity  which  his  language  assumed.  There 
was  even  a  slight  ironical  smile  lurking  about  the  cor- 
ners of  his  mouth,  which  seemed,  involuntarily  as  it 
were,  to  intimate  his  disdain  of  the  quiet  and  peaceful 
character  which  he  thought  proper  to  assume,  and 
which  led  Frank  to  entertain  strange  suspicions  that 
his  concern  in  the  violence  done  to  Morris  had  been 
something  very  different  from  that  of  a  fellow-sufferer, 
or  even  of  a  mere  spectator. 

Perhaps  some  suspicions  crossed  the  Justice's  mind 
at  the  moment,  for  he  exclaimed,  as  if  by  way  of  ejacu- 
lation, "  Body  o'  me!  but  this  is  a  strange  story." 

The  Xorth  Briton  seemed  to  guess  at  what  was  pass- 
ing in  his  mind,  for  he  went  on,  with  a  change  of  man- 
ner and  tone,  dismissing  from  his  countenance  some 
part  of  ikfe  hypocritical  affectation  of  humility  which 
had  made  him  obnoxious  to  suspicion,  and  saying,  wdth 
a  more  frank  and  unconstrained  air:  "  To  say  the  truth, 
I  am  just  ane  o'  those  canny  folks  wha  care  not  to  fight 
but  when  they  hae  gotten  something  to  fight  for,  which 
did  not  chance  to  be  my  predicament  when  I  fell  in 
wi'  these  loons.  But  that  your  Worship  may  know 
that  I  am  a  person  of  good  fame  and  character,  please 
to  cast  your  eye  over  that  billet." 

Mr.  Inglewood  took  the  paper  from  his  hand,  and 
read  half  aloud:  "These  are  to  certify  that  the  bearer, 


52  ROB  ROY. 

Kobert  Campbell  of — of  some  place  which  I  can  not 
pronounce,"  interjected  the  Justice — "  is  a  person  of 
good  lineage  and  peaceable  demeanor,  traveling  to- 
wards England  on  his  own  proper  affairs,  etc.  Given 
under  our  hand,  at  our  Castle  of  Inver — Invera — rara — 
Aegyle." 

"A  slight  testimonial,  sir,  which  I  thought  fit  to 
impetrate  from  that  worthy  nobleman  "  (here  he  raised 
his  hand  to  his  head,  as  if  to  touch  his  hat),  "  MacCal- 
lum  More." 

"  MacCallum  who,  sir?"  said  the  Justice. 

"  Whom  the  Southern  call  the  Duke  of  Argyle." 

"  I  know  the  Duke  of  Argyie  very  well  to  be  a  no- 
bleman of  great  worth  and  distinction,  and  a  true  lover 
of  his  country.  I  was  one  of  those  who  stood  by  him 
in  1714,  when  he  unhorsed  tlie  Duke  of  Marlborough 
out  of  his  command.  I  wish  we  had  more  noblemen 
like  him.  He  was  an  honest  Tory  in  those  days,  and 
hand  and  glove  with  Ormond.  And  he  has  acceded  to 
the  present  Government,  as  I  have  done  myself,  for 
the  peace  and  quiet  of  his  country,  for  I  can  not  pre- 
sume that  great  man  to  have  been  actuated,  as  violent 
folks  pretend,  with  the  fear  of  losing  his  places  and 
regiment.  His  testimonial,  as  you  call  it,  Mr.  Camp- 
bell, is  perfectly  satisfactory;  and  now  what  have  you 
got  to  say  to  this  matter  of  the  robbery?  " 

"  Briefly  this,  if  it  please  your  Worship :  that  Mr. 
Morris  might  as  weel  charge  it  against  the  babe  yet  to 
be  born,  or  against  myself  even,  as  against  this  young 
gentleman,  Mr.  Osbaldistone,  for  I  am  not  only  free  to 
depone  that  the  person  whom  we  took  for  him  was  a 
shorter  man,  and  a  thicker  man,  but  also,  for  I  chanced 


ROB  ROY.  53 

to  obtain  a  glisk  of  his  visage,  as  his  fause-face  slipped 
aside,  that  he  was  a  man  of  other  features  and  com- 
plexion than  those  of  this  young  gentleman,  Mr.  Os- 
baldistone.  And  I  believe,"  he  added,  turning  round 
witli  a  natural  yet  somewhat  sterner  air  to  Mr.  Morris, 
"  that  the  gentleman  will  allow  I  had  better  opportunity 
to  take  cognizance  wha  were  present  on  that  occasion 
than  he,  being,  I  believe,  much  the  cooler  o'  the  twa." 

"  I  agree  to  it,  sir — I  agree  to  it  perfectly,"  said 
Morris,  shrinking  back  as  Campbell  moved  his  chair 
towards  him  to  fortify  his  appeal,  "  and  I  incline,  sir," 
he  added,  addressing  Mr.  Inglewood,  "  to  retract  my 
information  as  to  Mr.  Osbaldistone;  and  I  request,  sir, 
you  will  permit  him,  sir,  to  go  about  his  business,  and 
me  to  go  about  mine  also;  your  Worship  may  have  busi- 
ness to  settle  with  Mr.  Campbell,  and  I  am  rather  in 
haste  to  be  gone." 

^^  Then,  there  go  the  declarations,"  said  the  Justice, 
throwing  them  into  the  fire.  "  And  now  you  are  at 
perfect  liberh^,  Mr.  Osbaldistone.  And  you,  Mr.  Mor- 
ris, are  set  quite  at  your  ease." 

"  Ay,"  said  Campbell,  eying  Morris  as  he  assented 
with  a  rueful  grin  to  the  Justice's  observations,  "  much 
like  the  ease  of  a  tod  under  a  pair  of  harrows.  But  fear 
nothing,  Mr.  Morris,  you  and  I  maun  leave  the  house 
thegither.  I  will  see  you  safe — I  hope  you  will  not 
doubt  my  honor,  when  I  say  sae — to  the  next  high- 
way, and  then  we  part  company,  and  if  we  do  not  meet 
as  friends  in  Scotland  it  will  be  your  ain  fault." 

With  such  a  lingering  look  of  terror  as  the  con- 
demned criminal  throws  when  he  is  informed  that  the 
cart  awaits  him,  Morris  arose,  but  when  on  his  legs  ap- 
5 


54  ROB  ROY. 

peared  to  hesitate.  "  I  tell  thee,  man,  fear  nothing/^ 
reiterated  Campbell;  ''  I  will  keep  my  word  with  you. 
Why,  thou  sheep's  heart,  how  do  ye  ken  but  we  may 
pick  up  some  speerings  of  your  valise,  if  ye  will  be 
amenable  to  gude  counsel?  Our  horses  are  ready.  Bid 
the  Justice  fareweel,  man,  and  show  your  Southern 
breeding.^^ 

Morris,  thus  exhorted  and  encouraged,  took .  his 
leave,  under  the  escort  of  Mr.  Campbell;  but,  appar- 
ently, new  scruples  and  terrors  had  struck  him  before 
they  left  the  house,  for  Campbell  could  be  heard  reit- 
erating assurances  of  safety  and  protection  as  they  left 
the  ante-room.  "  By  the  soul  of  my  body,  man,  thou'rt 
as  safe  as  in  thy  father's  kailyard.  Zounds!  that  a 
chield  wi'  sic  a  black  beard  should  nae  hae  mair  heart 
than  a  hen-partridge!  Come  on  wi'  ye,  like  a  frank  fal- 
low, anes  and  for  aye.'' 

The  voices  died  away,  and  the  subsequent  trampling 
of  their  horses  announced  that  they  had  left  the  man- 
sion of  Justice  Ingiewood. 

Miss  Vernon  and  Frank  soon  took  their  leave  also, 
after  having  partaken  of  a  slight  repast  prepared  for 
them  in  the  ante-room.  This  was  supplemented  after 
their  ride  back  to  Osbaldistone  Hall  by  dinner,  which 
Miss  Vernon  ordered  served  in  the  library.  Observing 
Frank's  eyes  wandering  about  the  room,  over  the  dusty 
book-shelves,  tattered  tapestry,  the  huge  and  clumsy 
yet  tottering  tables,  desks,  and  chairs,  Diana  said: 

"  You  think  this  place  somewhat  disconsolate,  I 
suppose?  but  to  me  it  seems  like  a  little  paradise,  for  I 
call  it  my  own  and  fear  no  intrusion.  Rashleigh  was 
joint  proprietor  with  me,  while  we  were  friends." 


ROB  ROY.  56 

"And  are  you  no  longer  so?"  was  Frank's  natural 
question. 

"  We  are  still  allies/'  she  continued,  "  bound,  like 
other  confederate  powers,  by  circumstances  of  mutual 
interest;  but  I  am  afraid,  as  will  happen  in  other  cases, 
the  treaty  of  alliance  has  survived  the  amicable  dispo- 
sitions in  which  it  had  its  origin.  At  any  rate,  we  live 
less  together,  and  when  he  comes  through  that  door 
there  1  vanish  through  this  door  here;  and  so,  having 
made  the  discovery  that  we  two  were  one  too  many  for 
this  apartment,  as  large  as  it  seems,  Eashleigh,  whose 
occasions  frequently  call  him  elsewhere,  has  generously 
made  a  cession  of  his  rights  in  my  favor,  so  that  I  now 
endeavor  to  prosecute  alone  the  studies  in  which  he 
used  formerly  to  be  my  guide." 

"  And  what  are  those  studies,  if  I  may  presume  to 
ask?  " 

"  Indeed  you  may,  without  the  least  fear  of  seeing 
my  forefinger  raised  to  my  chin  as  a  sign  of  prohibition. 
Science  and  history  are  my  principal  favorites,  but  I 
also  study  poetry  and  the  classics." 

"  And  the  classics?  Do  you  read  them  in  the  origi- 
nal?" 

"  Unquestionably.  Eashleigh,  who  is  no  contempti- 
ble scholar,  taught  me  Greek  and  Latin,  as  well  as 
most  of  the  languages  of  modern  Europe.  I  assure  you 
there  has  been  some  pains  taken  in  my  education,  al- 
though I  can  neither  sew  a  tucker,  nor  work  cross-stitch, 
nor  make  a  pudding,  nor — as  the  vicar's  fat  wife,  with 
as  much  truth  as  elegance,  good-will,  and  politeness, 
was  pleased  to  say  in  my  behalf — do  any  other  useful 
thing  in  the  varsal  world." 


56  *IiOB  ROY. 

"  And  was  this  selection  of  studies  Rashleigh's 
choice,  or  your  own,  Miss  Vernon?  " 

"  Um!  "  said  she,  as  if  hesitating  to  answer  the  ques- 
tion, "  it's  not  worth  while  lifting  my  finger  about, 
after  all.  Why,  partly  his  and  partly  mine.  As  I 
learned  out  of  doors  to  ride  a  horse,  and  bridle  and 
saddle  him  in  case  of  necessity,  and  to  clear  a  five-barred 
gate,  and  fire  a  gun  without  winking,  and  all  other  of 
those  masculine  accomplishments  that  my  brute  cousins 
run  mad  after,  I  wanted,  like  my  rational  cousin,  to 
read  Greek  and  Latin  within  doors,  and  make  my  com- 
plete approach  to  the  tree  of  knowledge,  which  you  men 
scholars  would  engross  to  yourselves,  in  revenge,  I  sup- 
pose, for  our  common  mother's  share  in  the  great  origi- 
nal transgression.'' 

"  And  Rashleigh  indulged  your  propensity  to  learn- 
ing? " 

"  Why,  he  wished  to  have  me  for  his  scholar,  and 
he  could  but  teach  me  that  which  he  knew  himself — 
he  was  not  likely  to  instruct  me  in  the  mysteries  of 
washing  lace-ruffles,  or  hemming  cambric  handkerchiefs, 
I  suppose." 

"  I  admit  the  temptation  of  getting  such  a  scholar, 
and  have  no  doubt  that  it  made  a  weighty  consideration 
on  the  tutor's  part." 

"  Oh,  if  you  begin  to  investigate  Eashleigh's  motives, 
my  finger  touches  my  chin  once  more.  I  can  only  be 
frank  where  my  own  are  inquired  into.  But  to  resume, 
he  has  resigned  the  library  in  my  favor,  and  never  enters 
without  leave  had  and  obtained;  and  so  I  have  taken  the 
liberty  to  make  it  the  place  of  deposit  for  some  of  my  own 
goods  and  chattels,  as  you  may  see  by  looking  round  you." 


ROB  ROY.  57 

^^  I  beg  pardon,  Miss  Vernon,  but  I  really  see  noth- 
ing around  these  walls  which  I  can  distinguish  as  likely 
to  claim  you  as  mistress/' 

"  That  is,  I  suppose,  because  you  neither  see  a  shep- 
herd or  shepherdess  wrought  in  worsted  and  handsomely 
framed  in  black  ebony,  or  a  stuffed  parrot,  or  a  breeding- 
cage  full  of  canary  birds,  or  a  housewife-case  broidered 
with  tarnished  silver,  or  a  toilet-table  with  a  nest  of  ja- 
panned boxes,  with  as  many  angles  as  Christmas  minced- 
pies,  or  a  broken-backed  spinet,  or  a  lute  with  three 
strings,  or  rock-work,  or  shell-work,  or  needle-work,  or 
work  of  any  kind,  or  a  lap-dog  with  a  litter  of  blind  pup- 
pies— none  of  these  treasures  do  I  possess,^'  she  contin- 
ued, after  a  pause  in  order  to  recover  the  breath  she  had 
lost  in  enumerating  them.  "  But  there  stands  the 
sword  of  my  ancestor  Sir  Richard  Vernon,  slain  at 
Shrewsbury,  and  sorely  slandered  by  a  sad  fellow  called 
Will  Shakspeare,  whose  Lancastrian  partialities,  and  a 
certain  knack  at  embodying  them,  has  turned  history 
upside  down,  or  rather  inside  out,  and  by  that  redoubted 
Aveapon  hangs  the  mail  of  the  still  older  Vernon,  squire 
to  the  Black  Prince,  whose  fate  is  the  reverse  of  his 
descendant's,  since  he  is  more  indebted  to  the  bard  who 
took  the  trouble  to  celebrate  him  for  good  will  than  for 
talents: 

Araiddes  the  route  you  may  discern  one 
Brave  knight,  with  pipes  on  shield,  ycleped  Vernon ; 
Like  a  borne  fiend  along  the  plain  he  thundered, 
Prest  to  be  carving  throtes,  while  others  plundered. 

Then  there  is  a  model  of  a  new  martingale,  which  I 
invented  myself — a  great  improvement  on  the  Duke  of 
Newcastle's — and  there  are  the  hood  and  bells  of  my 


58  ROB  ROY. 

falcon  Cheviot,  who  spitted  himself  on  a  heron's  hill 
at  Horsely-moss — poor  Cheviot,  there  is  not  a  bird  on 
the  perches  below,  but  are  kites  and  riflers  compared  to 
him;  and  there  is  my  own  light  fowling-piece,  with  an 
improved  firelock;  with  twenty  other  treasures,  each 
more  valuable  than  another.  And  there,  that  speaks 
for  itself." 

She  pointed  to  the  carved  oak  frame  of  a  full-length 
portrait  by  Vandyke,  on  which  were  inscribed,  in  Gothic 
letters,  the  words  Vernon  semper  viret.  Frank  looked 
at  her  for  explanation.  "  Do  you  not  know,"  said  she, 
with  some  surprise,  "  our  motto — the  Vernon  motto, 
where, 

Like  the  solemn  vice  iniquity, 

We  moralize  two  meanings  in  one  word  1 

And  do  you  not  know  our  cognizance,  the  pipes? " 
pointing  to  the  armorial  bearings  sculptured  on  the 
oaken  scutcheon,  around  which  the  legend  was  dis- 
played. 

"  Pipes !  they  look  more  like  penny  whistles.  But 
pray  do  not  be  angry  with  my  ignorance,"  he  continued, 
observing  the  color  mount  to  her  cheeks.  "  I  can  mean 
no  affront  to  your  armorial  bearings,  for  I  do  not  even 
know  my  own." 

"You  an  Osbaldistone,  and  confess  so  much!" 
she  exclaimed.  "  Why,  Percie,  Thornie,  John,  Dickon, 
— Wilfred  himself,  might  be  your  instructor.  Even  ig- 
norance itself  is  a  plummet  over  you." 

"  With  shame  I  confess  it,  my  dear  Miss  Vernon, 
the  mysteries  couched  under  the  grim  hieroglyphics  of 
heraldry  are  to  me  as  unintelligible  as  those  of  the  pyra- 
mids of  Egypt." 


ROB'  ROY.  59 

"What!  is  it  possible?  Why,  even  my  uncle  reads 
Gwillym  sometimes  of  a  winter  night.  Not  know  the 
figures  of  heraldry! — of  what  could  your  father  be 
thinking?" 

"  Of  the  figures  of  arithmetic/'  Frank  answered; 
"  the  most  insignificant  unit  of  which  he  holds  more 
highly  than  all  the  blazonry  of  chivalry.  But  though 
I  am  ignorant  to  this  inexpressible  degree,  I  have 
knowledge  and  taste  enough  to  admire  that  splendid 
picture,  in  which  I  think  I  can  discover  a  family  like- 
ness to  you.  What  ease  and  dignity  in  the  attitude  I — 
what  richness  of  coloring — what  breadth  and  depth  of 
shade!" 

"  Is  it  really  a  fine  painting?  "  she  asked. 

"  I  have  seen  many  works  of  the  renowned  artist," 
he  replied,  "  but  never  beheld  one  more  to  my  lik- 
ing." 

"  Well,  I  know  as  little  of  pictures  as  you  do  of 
heraldry,"  replied  Miss  Vernon;  "  yet  I  have  the  ad- 
vantage of  you,  because  I  have  always  admired  the 
painting  without  understanding  its  value." 

"  While  I  have  neglected  pipes  and  tabors,  and  all 
the  whimsical  combinations  of  chivalry,  still  I  am  in- 
formed that  they  floated  in  the  fields  of  ancient  fame. 
But  you  will  allow  their  exterior  appearance  is  not  so 
peculiarly  interesting  to  the  uninformed  spectator  as 
that  fine  painting.  Who  is  the  person  here  repre- 
sented?" 

"  My  grandfather.  He  shared  the  misfortunes  of 
Charles  I,  and,  I  am  sorry  to  add,  the  excesses  of  his 
son.  Our  patrimonial  estate  was  greatly  impaired  by 
his  prodigality,  and  was  altogether  lost  by  his  successor, 


60  ROB  ROY. 

my  unfortunate  father.  But  peace  be  with  them  who 
have  got  it! — it  was  lost  in  the  cause  of  loyalty." 

"  Your  father,  I  presume,  suffered  in  the  political 
dissensions  of  the  j)eriod?  " 

"  He  did,  indeed;  he  lost  his  all.  And  hence  is 
his  child  a  dependent  orphan — eating  the  bread  of 
others — subjected  to  their  caprices,  and  compelled  to 
study  their  inclinations;  yet  prouder  of  having  had 
such  a  father  than  if,  playing  a  more  prudent  but  less 
upright  part,  he  had  left  me  possessor  of  all  the  rich 
and  fair  baronies  which  his  family  once  possessed.'^ 

As  she  thus  spoke  the  entrance  of  the  servants  with 
dinner  cut  off  all  conversation  but  that  of  a  general 
nature. 

When  the  hasty  meal  was  concluded,  and  the  wine 
placed  on  the  table,  the  domestic  informed  them  "  that 
Mr.  Eashleigh  had  desired  to  be  told  when  our  dinner 
was  removed." 

"  Tell  him,"  said  Miss  Vernon,  "  we  shall  be  happy 
to  see  him  if  he  will  step  this  way — place  another  wine- 
glass and  chair,  and  leave  the  room.  You  must  retire 
with  him  when  he  goes  away,"  she  continued,  address- 
ing herself  to  Frank;  "  even  my  liberality  cannot  spare 
a  gentleman  above  eight  hours  out  of  the  twenty-four, 
and  I  think  we  have  been  together  for  at  least  that 
length  of  time." 

"  The  old  scythe-man  has  moved  so  rapidty,"  he  an- 
swered, "  that  I  could  not  count  his  strides." 

"  Hush !  "  said  Miss  Vernon,  "  here  comes  Eash- 
leigh." 


CHAPTER    VIII. 

A  MODEST  tap  at  the  door — a  gentle  manner  of  open- 
ing when  invited  to  enter — a  studied  softness  and 
humility  of  step  and  deportment,  announced  the  ap- 
proach of  Kashleigh  Osbaldi stone.  "  Why  should  you 
use  the  ceremony  of  knocking/'  said  Miss  Vernon, 
"  when  you  knew  that  I  was  not  alone  ?  " 

This  was  spoken  with  a  burst  of  impatience,  as  if 
she  had  felt  that  Rashleigh's  air  of  caution  and  reserve 
covered  some  insinuation  of  impertinent  suspicion. 
"  You  have  taught  me  the  form  of  knocking  at  this  door 
so  perfectly,  my  fair  cousin,''  answered  Rashleigh,  with- 
out change  of  voice  or  manner,  "  that  habit  has  become 
a  second  nature." 

"  I  prize  sincerity  more  than  courtesy,  sir,  and  you 
know  I  do,"  was  Miss  Vernon's  reply. 

"  Courtesy  is  a  gallant  gay,  a  courtier  by  name  and 
by  profession,"  replied  Rashleigh,  "  and  therefore  most 
fit  for  a  lady's  bower." 

"  But  Sincerity  is  the  true  knight,"  retorted  Miss 
Vernon,  ^'  and  therefore  much  more  welcome,  cousin. 
But  to  end  a  debate  not  over-amusing  to  your  stranger 
kinsman,  sit  down,  Rashleigh,  and  give  Mr.  Francis  Os- 
baldistone  your  countenance  to  his  glass  of  wine.     I 

61 


e2  ROB  ROY. 

have  done  the  honors  of  the  dinner,  for  the  credit  of  Os- 
baldistone  Hall." 

Eashleigh  sat  down,  and  filled  his  glass,  glancing 
his  eye  from  Diana  to  Frank,  with  an  embarrassment 
which  his  utmost  efforts  could  not  entirely  disguise. 
He  appeared  to  be  uncertain  concerning  the  extent  of 
confidence  she  might  have  reposed  in  Frank,  who  has- 
tened to  lead  the  conversation  into  a  channel  which 
should  sweep  away  any  suspicion  that  Diana  might  have 
betrayed  any  secrets  which  rested  between  them.  "  Mr. 
Eashleigh,"  he  said,  ^'  Miss  Vernon  has  recommended 
me  to  return  my  thanks  to  you  for  my  speedy  disengage- 
ment from  the  ridiculous  accusation  of  Morris;  and,  un- 
justly fearing  my  gratitude  might  not  be  warm  enough 
to  remind  me  of  this  duty,  she  has  put  my  curiosity  on 
its  side,  by  referring  me  to  you  for  an  account,  or  rather 
explanation,  of  the  events  of  the  day." 

"  Indeed,"  answered  Eashleigh;  "  I  should  have 
thought "  (looking  keenly  at  Miss  Vernon)  "  that  the 
lady  herself  might  have  stood  interpreter  ";  and  his  eye, 
reverting  from  her  face,  sought  Frank's,  as  if  to  search, 
from  the  expression  of  his  features,  whether  Diana's  com- 
munication had  been  as  narrowly  limited  as  his  words 
had  intimated.  Miss  Vernon  retorted  his  inquisitorial 
glance  with  one  of  decided  scorn;  while  Frank,  uncer- 
tain whether  to  deprecate  or  resent  his  obvious  suspicion, 
replied:  "  If  it  is  your  pleasure,  Mr.  Eashleigh,  as  it  has 
been  Miss  Vernon's,  to  leave  me  in  ignorance,  I  must 
necessarily  submit;  but,  pray,  do  not  withhold  your  in- 
formation from  me  on  the  ground  of  imagining  that  I 
have  already  obtained  any  on  the  subject.  For  I  tell 
you,  as  a  man  of  honor,  I  am  as  ignorant  as  that  pic- 


ROB  ROY.  03 

ture  of  anything  relating  to  the  events  I  have  witnessed 
to-day,  excepting  that  1  understand  from  Miss  Vernon 
that  you  have  been  kindly  active  in  my  favor." 

''  Miss  Vernon  has  overrated  my  humble  efforts," 
said  Rashleigh,  '^  though  I  claim  full  credit  for  my  zeal. 
The  truth  is,  that  as  I  galloped  back  to  get  some  one  of 
our  family  to  join  me  in  becoming  your  bail,  which  was 
the  most  obvious,  or,  indeed,  I  may  say,  the  only  way  of 
serving  you  which  occurred  to  my  stupidity,  I  met  the 
man  Cawmil — Colville — Campbell,  or  whatsoever  they 
call  him.  I  had  understood  from  Morris  that  he  was 
present  when  the  robbery  took  place,  and  had  the  good 
fortune  to  prevail  on  him  (with  some  difficulty,  I  confess) 
to  tender  his  evidence  in  your  exculpation — which  I  pre- 
sume was  the  means  of  your  being  released  from  an  un- 
pleasant situation." 

"Indeed?  I  am  much  your  debtor  for  procuring 
such  a  seasonable  evidence  in  my  behalf.  But  I  can 
not  see  why  (having  been,  as  he  said,  a  fellow-sufferer 
with  Morris)  it  should  have  required  much  trouble 
to  persuade  him  to  step  forth  and  bear  evidence, 
whether  to  convict  the  actual  robber,  or  free  an  innocent 
person." 

"  You  do  not  know  the  genius  of  that  man's  coun- 
try," answered  Eashleigh — "  discretion,  prudence,  and 
foresight,  are  their  leading  qualities;  these  are  only 
modified  by  a  narrow-spirited  but  yet  ardent  patriotism, 
which  forms  as  it  w^ere  the  outmost  of  the  concentric 
bulwarks  with  which  a  Scotchman  fortifies  himself 
against  all  the  attacks  of  a  generous  philanthropical 
principle.  Surmount  this  mound,  you  find  an  inner  and 
still  dearer  barrier — the  love  of  his  province,  his  village^ 


64  ROB  ROY. 

or,  most  probably,  his  clan;  storm  this  second  obstacle, 
you  have  a  third — his  attachment  to  his  own  family^- 
his  father,  mother,  sons,  daughters,  uncles,  aunts,  and 
cousins,  to  the  ninth  generation.  It  is  within  these 
limits  that  a  Scotchman's  social  affection  expands  itself, 
never  reaching  those  which  are  outermost,  till  all  means 
of  discharging  itself  in  the  interior  circles  have  been 
exhausted.  It  is  within  these  circles  that  his  heart 
throbs,  each  pulsation  being  fainter  and  fainter,  till,  be- 
yond the  widest  boundary,  it  is  almost  unfelt.  And 
what  is  worst  of  all,  could  you  surmount  all  these  con- 
centric outworks,  you  have  an  inner  citadel,  deeper, 
higher,  and  more  efficient  than  them  all — a  Scotchman's 
love  for  himself." 

"  All  this  is  extremely  eloquent  and  metaphorical, 
Rashleigh,"  said  Miss  Yernon,  who  listened  with  unre- 
pressed  impatience;  "  there  are  only  two  objections  to 
it:  first,  it  is  not  true;  secondly,  if  true,  it  is  nothing 
to  the  purpose." 

"  It  is  true,  my  fairest  Diana,"  returned  Rashleigh; 
^'  and,  moreover,  it  is  most  instantly  to  the  purpose.  It 
is  true,  because  you  can  not  deny  that  I  know  the  country 
and  people  intimately,  and  the  character  is  drawn  from 
deep  and  accurate  considerations;  and  it  is  to  the  pur- 
pose, because  it  answers  Mr.  Francis  Osbaldistone's  ques- 
tion, and  shows  why  this  same  wary  Scotchman,  consid- 
ering our  kinsman  to  be  neither  his  countr3^man,  nor  a 
Campbell,  nor  his  cousin  in  any  of  the  inextricable  com- 
binations by  which  they  extend  their  pedigree;  and, 
above  all,  seeing  no  prospect  of  personal  advantage,  but, 
on  the  contrary,  much  hazard  of  loss  of  time  and  delay 
of  business " 


ROB   ROY.  65 

"  With  other  inconveniences,  perhaps,  of  a  nature 
yet  more  formidable,"  interrupted  Miss  Vernon. 

"  Of  which,  doubtless,  there  might  be  many,"  said 
Eashleigh,  continuing  in  the  same  tone — "In  short,  my 
theory  shows  why  this  man,  hoping  for  no  advantage, 
and  afraid  of  some  inconvenience,  might  require  a  degree 
of  persuasion  ere  he  could  be  prevailed  on  to  give  his 
testimony  in  favor  of  Mr.  Osbaldistone." 

"  It  seems  surprising  to  me,"  Frank  observed,  "  that 
during  the  glance  I  cast  over  the  declaration,  or  what- 
ever it  is  termed,  of  Mr.  Morris,  he  should  never  have 
mentioned  that  Campbell  was  in  his  company  when  he 
met  the  marauders." 

"  I  understood  from  Campbell  that  he  had  taken 
his  solemn  promise  not  to  mention  that  circumstance," 
replied  Kashleigh;  "his  reason  for  exacting  such  an  en- 
gagement you  may  guess  from  what  I  have  hinted — he 
wished  to  get  back  to  his  own  country,  undelayed  and 
unembarrassed  by  any  of  the  judicial  inquiries  which 
he  would  have  been  under  the  necessity  of  attending, 
had  the  fact  of  his  being  present  at  the  robbery  taken 
air  while  he  was  on  this  side  of  the  Border.  But 
let  him  once  be  as  distant  as  the  Forth,  Morris  will, 
I  warrant  you,  come  forth  with  all  he  knows  about 
him,  and,  it  may  be,  a  good  deal  more.  Besides,  Camp- 
bell is  a  very  extensive  dealer  in  cattle,  and  has  often 
tlie  occasion  to  send  great  droves  into  Xorthumber- 
land;  and,  when  driving  such  a  trade,  he  would  be 
a  great  fool  to  embroil  himself  with  our  Xorthum- 
brian  thieves,  than  whom  no  men  who  live  are  more  vin- 
dictive." 

"  I  dare  be  sworn  of  that,"  said  Miss  Vernon,  with 


ee  ROB  ROY. 

a  tone  which  implied  something  more  than  a  simple  ac- 
quiescence in  the  proposition. 

"  Still/'  said  Frank,  resuming  the  subject,  "  allowing 
the  force  of  the  reasons  which  Campbell  might  have  for 
desiring  that  Morris  should  be  silent  with  regard  to  his 
promise  when  the  robbery  was  committed,  I  can  not  yet 
see  how  he  could  attain  such  an  influence  over  the  man 
as  to  make  him  suppress  his  evidence  in  that  particular, 
at  the  manifest  risk  of  subjecting  his  story  to  discredit." 

Eashleigh  agreed  with  him  that  it  was  very  extraor- 
dinary, and  seemed  to  regret  that  he  had  not  questioned 
the  Scotchman  more  closely  on  that  subject,  which  he 
allowed  looked  extremely  mysterious.  "  But,"  he  asked, 
immediately  after  this  acquiescence,  "  are  you  very  sure 
the  circumstance  of  Morris's  being  accompanied  by 
Campbell  is  really  not  alluded  to  in  his  examination? '' 

"  I  read  the  paper  over  hastily,"  said  Frank;  "  but  it 
is  my  strong  impression  that  no  such  circumstance  is 
mentioned;  at  least,  it  must  have  been  touched  on  very 
slightly,  since  it  failed  to  catch  my  attention." 

"  True,  true,"  answered  Eashleigh,  "  I  incline  to 
think,  with  you,  that  the  circumstance  must  in  reality 
have  been  mentioned,  but  so  slightly  that  it  failed  to  at- 
tract your  attention.  And  then,  as  to  Campbell's  inter- 
est with  Morris,  I  incline  to  suppose  that  it  must  have 
been  gained  by  playing  upon  his  fears.  This  chicken- 
hearted  fellow,  Morris,  is  bound,  I  understand,  for  Scot- 
land, destined  for  some  little  employment  under  Gov- 
ernment; and,  possessing  the  courage  of  the  wrathful 
dove,  or  most  magnanimous  mouse,  he  may  have  been 
afraid  to  encounter  the  ill-will  of  such  a  kill-cow  as 
Campbell,  whose  very  appearance  would  be  enough  to 


ROB  ROY.  67 

frighten  him  out  of  his  little  wits.  You  observed  tliat 
^Ir.  Campbell  has  at  times  a  keen  and  animated  man- 
ner— something  of  a  martial  cast  in  his  tone  and  bear- 
ing/'' 

"  I  own/'  Frank  replied,  "  that  his  expression  struck 
me  as  being  occasionally  fierce  and  sinister,  and  little 
adapted  to  his  peaceable  professions.  Has  he  served  in 
the  arm}^  ?  " 

"  Yes — no — not,  strictly  speaking,  served;  but  he  has 
been,  I  believe,  like  most  of  his  countrymen,  trained  to 
arms.  Indeed,  among  the  hills,  they  carry  them  from 
bovhood  to  the  o^rave.  So,  if  vou  know  anvthino^  of 
your  fellow-traveler,  you  will  easily  judge  that,  going 
to  such  a  country,  he  will  take  care  to  avoid  a  quarrel, 
if  he  can  help  it,  with  any  of  the  natives.  But,  come,  I 
see  you  decline  your  wine — and  I  too  am  a  degenerate 
Osbaldistone,  so  far  as  respects  the  circulation  of  the 
bottle.  If  you  will  go  to  my  room,  I  will  hold  you  a 
hand  at  piquet." 

They  rose  to  take  leave  of  Miss  Vernon,  who  had 
from  time  to  time  suppressed,  apparently  with  difficulty, 
a  strong  temptation  to  break  in  upon  Eashleigh's  de- 
tails. As  they  were  about  to  leave  the  room,  the  smoth- 
ered fire  broke  forth. 

"  Mr.  Osbaldistone,"  she  said,  "  your  own  observation 
will  enable  you  to  verify  the  justice,  or  injustice,  of  Rash- 
leigh's  suggestions  concerning  such  individuals  as  Mr. 
Campbell  and  Mr.  Morris.  But,  in  slandering  Scotland, 
he  has  borne  false  witness  against  a  whole  country;  and 
I  request  you  will  allow  no  weight  to  his  evidence." 

"  Perhaps,"  Frank  answered,  "  I  may  find  it  some- 
what difficult  to  obey  your  injunction.  Miss  Vernon; 


68  ROB  ROY. 

for  I  must  own  I  was  brought  up  with  no  favorable 
idea  of  our  northern  neighbors." 

"  Distrust  that  part  of  your  education,  sir/'  she  re- 
plied, "  and  let  the  daughter  of  a  Scotchwoman  pray 
you  to  respect  the  land  which  gave  her  parent  birth, 
until  your  own  observation  has  proved  them  to  be  un- 
worthy of  your  good  opinion.  Preserve  your  hatred  and 
contempt  for  dissimulation,  baseness,  and  falsehood, 
wheresoever  they  are  to  be  met  with.  You  will  find 
enough  of  all  without  leaving  England. — Adieu,  gentle- 
men, I  wish  you  good-evening." 

And  she  signed  to  the  door,  with  the  manner  of  a 
princess  dismissing  her  train. 

They  retired  to  Eashleigh's  apartment,  where  the 
remainder  of  the  evening  was  spent  in  the  fascinations 
of  the  game  of  piquet. 


CHAPTER   IX. 

"What  gars  ye  gaunt,  my  merry  men  a'! 

What  gars  yc  look  sae  dreary  ? 
What  gars  ye  hing  your  head  sae  sair, 

In  the  castle  of  Balwearie  ? 

Old  Scotch  Ballad. 

The  next  morning  was  Sunday,  and  after  the  formal 
religious  service,  which  all  the  family  regularly  attended, 
Eashleigh  and  Frank  were  left  alone  in  the  old  dining- 
hall.  The  conversation  was  upon  Rashleigh's  approach- 
ing change  of  residence  from  Osbaldistone  Hall  to  Lon- 
don, where  he  was  to  assume  the  position  in  the  mercan- 
tile house  of  Osbaldistone  and  Tresham,  which  Frank 
by  his  obstinacy  had  forfeited.  To  Eashleigh,  desiring 
to  know  something  of  his  uncle,  whom  he  was  to  meet 
so  soon,  Frank  described  his  father  in  the  following 
words: 

^'  Well,  then,  you  will  find  in  my  father  a  man  who 
has  followed  the  paths  of  thriving  more  for  the  exercise 
they  afforded  to  his  talents  than  for  the  love  of  the  gold 
with  which  they  are  strewed.  His  active  mind  would 
have  been  happy  in  any  situation  which  gave  it  scope  for 
exertion,  though  that  exertion  had  been  its  sole  reward. 
But  his  wealth  has  accumulated,  because,  moderate  and 
frugal  in  his  habits,  no  new  sources  of  expense  have 
occurred  to  dispose  of  his  increasing  income.  He  is  a 
G  69 


70  KOB  ROY. 

man  who  hates  dissimulation  in  others,  never  practices 
it  himself;  and  is  peculiarly  alert  in  discovering  motives 
through  the  coloring  of  language.  Himself  silent  by 
habit,  he  is  readily  disgusted  by  great  talkers;  the  rather, 
that  the  circumstances  by  which  he  is  most  interested 
afford  no  great  scope  for  conversation.  He  is  severely 
strict  in  the  duties  of  religion;  but  you  have  no  reason 
to  fear  his  interference  with  yours,  for  he  regards  tolera- 
tion as  a  sacred  principle  of  political  economy.  But  if 
you  have  any  Jacobitical  partialities,  as  is  naturally  to  be 
supposed,  you  will  do  well  to  suppress  them  in  his  pres- 
ence, as  well  as  the  least  tendency  to  the  highflying  or 
Tory  principles;  for  he  holds  both  in  utter  detestation. 
For  the  rest,  his  word  is  his  own  bond,  and  must  be  the 
law  of  all  who  act  under  him.  He  will  fail  in  his  duty 
to  no  one,  and  will  permit  no  one  to  fail  toward  him; 
to  cultivate  his  favor  you  must  execute  his  commands, 
instead  of  echoing  his  sentiments.  His  greatest  failings 
arise  out  of  prejudices  connected  with  his  own  profes- 
sion, or  rather  his  exclusive  devotion  to  it,  which  makes 
him  see  little  worthy  of  praise  or  attention,  unless  it  be 
in  some  measure  connected  with  commerce." 

"  0  rare-painted  portrait! "  exclaimed  Eashleigh, 
when  Frank  was  silent — "  Vandyke  was  a  dauber  to  you, 
Frank.  I  see  thy  sire  before  me  in  all  his  strength  and 
weakness;  loving  and  honoring  the  King  as  a  sort  of 
lord  mayor  of  the  empire,  or  chief  of  the  board  of  trade — 
venerating  the  Commons,  for  the  acts  regulating  the  ex- 
port trade — and  respecting  the  Peers,  because  the  Lord 
Chancellor  sits  on  a  woolsack." 

"  Mine  was  a  likeness,  Eashleigh;  yours  is  a  carica- 
ture.    But  in  return  for  the  carte  du  pays  which  I  have 


ROB  ROY.  71 

unfolded  to  you,  give  me  some  lights  on  the  geography 
of  the  unknown  lands " 

"  On  which  you  are  wrecked,"  said  Rashleigh.  "  It 
is  not  worth  while;  it  is  no  Isle  of  Calypso,  umbrageous 
with  shade  and  intricate  with  sylvan  labyrinth — but  a 
bare,  ragged  Xorthumbrian  moor,  with  as  little  to  in- 
terest curiosity  as  to  delight  the  eye;  you  may  descry  it 
in  all  its  nakedness  in  half  an  hour's  survey,  as  well  as  if 
I  were  to  lay  it  down  before  you  by  line  and  compass." 

^'  Oh,  but  something  there  is,  worthy  a  more  atten- 
tive survey.  What  say  you  to  Miss  Vernon?  Does  not 
she  form  an  interesting  object  in  the  landscape,  were  all 
round  as  rude  as  Iceland's  coast  ?  " 

"  I  have  known  less  of  Miss  Vernon,"  he  said,  "  for 
some  time,  than  I  was  wont  to  do  formerly.  In  early 
age  I  was  her  tutor;  but  as  she  advanced  toward  woman- 
hood, my  various  avocations — the  gravity  of  the  profes- 
sion to  which  I  was  destined — the  peculiar  nature  of 
her  engagements — our  mutual  situation,  in  short,  ren- 
dered a  close  and  constant  intimacy  dangerous  and  im- 
proper. I  believe  Miss  Vernon  might  consider  my  re- 
serve as  unkindness,  but  it  was  my  duty;  I  felt  as  much 
as  she  seemed  to  do,  when  compelled  to  give  way  to  pru- 
dence. But  where  was  the  safety  in  cultivating  an  inti- 
macy with  a  beautiful  and  susceptible  girl,  whose  heart 
you  are  aware  must  be  given  either  to  the  cloister  or  to 
a  betrothed  husband?" 

"The  cloister  or  a  betrothed  husband?"  Frank 
echoed — "  is  that  the  alternative  destined  for  Miss  Ver- 
non?" 

"  It  is  indeed,"  said  Rashleigh,  with  a  sigh.  "  I 
need  not,  I  suppose,  caution  3'ou  against  the  danger  of 


Y2  ROB  ROY. 

cultivating  too  closely  the  friendship  of  Miss  Vernon — 
you  are  a  man  of  the  world,  and  know  how  far  you  can 
indulge  yourself  in  her  society  with  safety  to  yourself 
and  justice  to  her.  But  I  warn  you,  that,  considering 
her  ardent  temper,  you  must  let  your  experience  keep 
guard  over  her  as  well  as  yourself,  for  the  specimen  of 
yesterday  may  serve  to  show  her  extreme  thoughtless- 
ness and  the  neglect  of  decorum." 

"  The  deuce  take  his  insolence!  "  was  Frank's  in- 
ternal meditation.  "  Would  he  wish  me  to  infer  that 
Miss  Vernon  has  fallen  in  love  with  that  hatchet-face  of 
his,  and  become  degraded  so  low  as  to  require  his  shyness 
to  cure  her  of  an  imprudent  passion?  I  will  have  his 
meaning  from  him  if  I  should  drag  it  out  with  cart- 
ropes." 

For  this  purpose  he  placed  his  temper  under  as 
accurate  a  guard  as  he  could,  and  observed,  "  That,  for  a 
lady  of  her  good  sense  and  acquired  accomplishments, 
it  was  to  be  regretted  that  Miss  Vernon's  manners  were 
rather  blunt  and  rustic." 

"  Frank  and  unreserved,  at  least,  to  the  extreme," 
replied  Eashleigh;  "  yet,  trust  me,  she  has  an  excellent 
heart.  To  tell  you  the  truth,  should  she  continue  her 
extreme  aversion  to  the  cloister,  and  to  her  destined 
husband,  and  should  my  own  labors  in  the  mine  of  Plu- 
tus  promise  to  secure  me  a  decent  independence,  I  shall 
think  of  renewing  our  acquaintance  and  sharing  it  with 
Miss  Vernon.  But,"  continued  he,  as  if  thinking  aloud, 
"  I  should  not  like  to  supplant  Thorncliff ." 

"  Supplant  Thorncliff!  Is  your  brother  Thornciff," 
Frank  inquired,  with  great  surprise,  "  the  destined  hus- 
band of  Diana  Vernon?" 


ROB  ROY.  73 

"  Why,  ay,  her  father's  commands,  and  a  certain 
family  contract,  destined  her  to  marry  one  of  Sir  Ililde- 
brand's  sons.  A  dispensation  lias  been  obtained  from 
Kome  to  Diana  Vernon  to  marry  Blank  Osbaldistone, 
Esq.,  son  of  Sir  Hildebrand  Osbaldistone,  of  Osbaldi- 
stone Hall,  Bart.,  and  so  forth;  and  it  only  remains  to 
pitch  upon  the  happy  man  whose  name  shall  fill  the  gap 
in  the  manuscript.  Now,  as  Percie  is  seldom  sober,  my 
father  pitched  on  Thorncliff,  as  the  second  prop  of  the 
family,  and  therefore  most  proper  to  carry  on  the  line 
of  the  Osbaldistones." 

"  The  young  lady,"  said  Frank,  forcing  himself  to 
assume  an  air  of  pleasantry,  "  would  perhaps  have  been 
inclined  to  look  a  little  lower  on  the  family-tree  for 
the  branch  to  which  she  was  desirous  of  clinging." 

"  I  can  not  say,"  he  replied.  "  There  is  room  for 
little  choice  in  our  family:  Dick  is  a  gambler,  John  a 
boor,  and  Wilfred  an  ass.  I  believe  my  father  really 
made  the  best  selection  for  poor  Die  after  all." 

"  The  present  company,"  said  Frank,  ''  being  always 
excepted." 

"  Oh,  my  destination  to  the  church  placed  me  out  of 
the  question;  otherwise  I  will  not  affect  to  say  that, 
qualified  by  my  education  both  to  instruct  and  guide 
Miss  Vernon,  I  might  not  have  been  a  more  creditable 
choice  than  any  of  my  elders." 

"  And  so  thought  the  young  lady,  doubtless?  " 

"  You  are  not  to  suppose  so,"  answered  Rashleigh, 
with  an  affectation  of  denial  which  was  contrived  to 
convey  the  strongest  affirmation  the  case  admitted  of; 
"  friendship — only  friendship — formed  the  tie  betwixt 
us,  and  the  tender  affection  of  an  opening  mind  to  its 


74  ROB  ROY. 

only  instructor — Love  came  not  near  its — I  told  you  I 
was  wise  in  time." 

Frank  felt  little  inclination  to  pursue  this  conversa- 
tion any  further,  and  shaking  himself  clear  of  Eash- 
leigh,  withdrew  to  his  own  apartment,  which  he  trav- 
ersed with  much  vehemence  of  agitation,  repeating  aloud 
the  expressions  which  had  most  offended  him — "  Sus- 
ceptible— ardent — tender  affection — Love — Diana  Ver- 
non, the  most  beautiful  creature  I  ever  beheld,  in  love 
with  him,  the  bandy-legged,  bull-necked,  limping  scoun- 
drel! Eichard  the  Third  in  all  but  his  hump-back! — 
And  yet  the  opportunities  he  must  have  had  during  his 
cursed  course  of  lectures;  and  the  fellow's  flowing  and 
easy  strain  of  sentiment;  and  her  extreme  seclusion  from 
every  one  who  spoke  and  acted  with  common  sense;  ay, 
and  her  obvious  pique  at  him,  mixed  with  admiration  of 
his  talents,  which  looked  as  like  the  result  of  neglected 
attachment  as  anything  else —  Well,  and  what  is  it  to 
me,  that  I  should  storm  and  rage  at  it  ?  Is  Diana  Vernon 
the  first  pretty  girl  that  has  loved  and  married  an  ugly 
fellow?  And  if  she  were  free  of  every  Osbaldistone  of 
them,  what  concern  is  it  of  mine? — a  Catholic — a  Jaco- 
bite— termagant  into  the  boot — for  me  to  look  that  way 
were  utter  madness." 

By  throwing  such  reflections  on  the  flame  of  his  dis- 
pleasure, he  subdued  it  into  a  sort  of  smoldering  heart- 
burning, and  appeared  at  the  dinner-table  in  as  sulky  a 
humor  as  could  well  be  imagined. 

Miss  Vernon  heard  him,  with  surprise,  return  un- 
gracious answers  to  one  or  two  playful  strokes  of  satire 
which  she  threw  out  with  her  usual  freedom  of  speech; 
but,  having  no  suspicion  that  ofi^ense  was  meant,  she  only 


ROB  ROY.  75 

replied  to  his  rude  repartees  with  jests  somewhat  simi- 
lar, but  polished  by  her  good  temper,  though  pointed 
by  her  wit.  At  length  she  perceived  he  was  really 
out  of  humor,  and  answered  one  of  his  rude  speeches 
thus : 

"  They  say,  Mr.  Frank,  that  one  may  gather  sense 
from  fools. — I  heard  Cousin  Wilfred  refuse  to  play  any 
longer  at  cudgels  the  other  day  with  Cousin  Thornie, 
because  Cousin  Thornie  got  angry,  and  struck  harder 
than  the  rules  of  amicable  combat,  it  seems,  permitted. 
*  Were  I  to  break  your  head  in  good  earnest,'  quoth  hon- 
est Wilfred,  '  I  care  not  how  angry  you  are,  for  I  should 
do  it  so  much  the  more  easily-^but  it's  hard  I  should 
get  raps  over  the  costard,  and  only  pay  you  back  in 
make-believes.'  Do  you  understand  the  moral  of  this, 
Frank?" 

''  I  have  never  felt  myself  under  the  necessity,  mad- 
am, of  studying  how  to  extract  the  slender  portion  of 
sense  with  which  this  family  season  their  conversation." 

"  ^Necessity  '!  and  '  madam  '!  You  surprise  me,  Mr. 
Osbaldistone." 

"  I  am  unfortunate  in  doing  so." 

"  Am  I  to  suppose  that  this  capricious  tone  is  seri- 
ous; or  is  it  only  assumed,  to  make  your  good  humor 
more  valuable  ?  " 

"  You  have  a  right  to  the  attention  of  so  many  gen- 
tlemen in  this  family,  !Miss  Vernon,  that  it  can  not  be 
worth  your  while  to  inquire  into  the  cause  of  my  stupid- 
ity and  bad  spirits." 

"  What!  "  she  said,  "  am  I  to  understand,  then,  that 
you  have  deserted  my  faction,  and  gone  over  to  the  ene- 


76  ROB  ROY. 

Then,  looking  across  the  table,  and  observing  that 
Rashleigh,  who  was  seated  opposite,  was  watching  them 
with  a  singular  expression  of  interest  on  his  harsh  fea- 
tures, she  continued: 

" '  Horrible  thought ! — Ay,  now  I  see  'tis  true, 
For  the  grim-visaged  Rashleigh  smiles  on  me, 
And  points  at  thee  for  his  ! ' 

"Well,  thank  Heaven,  and  the  unprotected  state  which 
has  taught  me  endurance,  I  do  not  take  offense  easily; 
and  that  I  may  not  be  forced  to  quarrel,  whether  I  like 
it  or  not,  I  have  the  honor,*  earlier  than  usual,  to  wish 
you  a  happy  digestion  of  your  dinner  and  your  bad 
humor.'* 

And  she  left  the  table  accordingly. 

Thoroughly  dissatisfied  with  his  previous  conduct, 
Frank,  to  drown  his  discomfiture,  applied  himself  more 
frequently  than  was  his  wont  to  the  wine  which  circu- 
lated around  the  table.  The  agitated  state  of  his  feelings 
combined  with  his  usual  habits  of  temperance  to  give 
rapid  effect  to  the  liquor.  Flis  spirits  once  aroused  be- 
came extravagant;  he  talked  a  great  deal,  argued  on 
what  he  knew  nothing  of;  accepted  several  bets  without 
the  least  judgment;  challenged  the  giant  John  to  wrestle 
with  him,  although  he  knew  nothing  of  the  art;  and,  at 
length,  frantic  at  some  real  or  supposed  injurious  in- 
sinuation, he  struck  Eashleigh  with  his  fist,  who  re- 
ceived the  insult  with  the  highest  degree  of  scorn.  But 
what  Rashleigh  did  not  think  worth  while  to  resent,  his 
hrother  Thorncliff  resented  for  him.  Swords  were 
drawn,  and  Frank  and  he  exchanged  one  or  two  passes 
before  the  other  brothers  separated  them  by  main  force, 


ROB  ROY.  77 

and  unceremoniously  carried  the  former  to  his  apart- 
ment, where  they  secured  him  by  locking  the  door.  At 
length  he  threw  himself  on  the  bed,  where  he  fell  asleej:), 
amid  vows  of  dire  revenge  to  be  taken  on  the  ensuing 
day. 


CHAPTER   X. 

Dire  was  his  thought,  who  first  in  poison  steeped 
The  weapon  formed  for  slaughter — direr  his, 
And  worthier  of  damnation,  who  instilled 
The  mortal  venom  in  the  social  cup. 
To  fill  the  veins  with  death  instead  of  life. 

Anonymous. 

But  with  the  morning  came  cool  repentance,  and 
Frank  felt  in  the  keenest  manner  the  violence  and  ah- 
surdity  of  his  behavior  of  the  night  before.  The  rude- 
ness and  nnkindness  of  his  conduct  to  Miss  Vernon 
added  not  a  little  to  his  disagreeable  reflections,  and  for 
this  he  could  not  even  plead  the  miserable  excuse  of  in- 
toxication. 

Under  all  these  aggravated  feelings  of  shame  and 
degradation  he  descended  to  the  dining-hall  for  break- 
fast. His  cousins  were  in  a  high  state  of  glee  as  he  en- 
tered, and  were  disposed  to  regard,  what  to  him  was  a 
cause  of  serious  pain,  as  an  excellent  jest,  and  his  uncle 
attempted  to  console  him  in  his  rough  and  hearty  man- 
ner. 

Frank  had  already  settled  in  his  own  mind  how  he 
was  to  behave  on  this  occasion  and  had  schooled  himself 
to  believe  that  true  honor  consisted,  not  in  defending, 
but  in  apologizing  for  an  injury  so  much  disproportioned 
to  any  provocation  he  might  have  to  allege.  According- 
78 


ROB  ROY.  79 

ly,  when  Rashleigh  entered  the  room  he  hastened  to 
meet  him  and  expressed  his  great  sorrow  at  the  violence 
with  which  he  had  acted  on  the  previous  evening.  His 
apology  was  accepted  with  good  grace,  and  it  now  only 
remained  for  him  to  seek  an  interview  with  Miss  Vernon 
and  win  her  forgiveness  for  his  pettishness.  Such  a 
chance  was  afforded  him  when  Diana  addressed  him  as 
follows: 

"  Cousin  Francis,"  she  said,  "  I  have  encountered 
this  morning  a  difficult  passage  in  the  Divina  Comme- 
dia  of  Dante;  will  you  have  the  goodness  to  step  to  the 
library  and  give  me  your  assistance?  and  when  you  have 
unearthed  for  me  the  meaning  of  the  obscure  Florentine, 
we  will  join  the  rest  at  Birkenwood-bank,  and  see  their 
luck  at  unearthing  the  badger." 

He  signified,  of  course,  his  readiness  to  wait  upon 
her.  Eashleigh  made  an  offer  to  accompany  them.  "  I 
am  something  better  skilled,"  he  said,  "  at  tracking  the 
sense  of  Dante  through  the  metaphors  and  elisions  of  his 
wild  and  gloomy  poem,  than  at  hunting  the  poor,  in- 
offensive hermit  yonder  out  of  his  cave." 

"  Pardon  me,  Rashleigh,"  said  Miss  Vernon,  "  but  as 
you  are  to  occupy  Mr.  Francis's  place  in  the  counting- 
house,  you  must  surrender  to  him  the  charge  of  your 
pupil's  education  at  Osbaldistone  Hall.  We  shall  call 
you  in,  however,  if  there  is  any  occasion;  so  pray  do  not 
look  so  grave  upon  it.  Besides,  it  is  a  shame  to  you  not 
to  understand  field  sports.  What  will  you  do  should  our 
uncle  in  Crane-Alley  ask  you  the  signs  by  which  you 
track  a  badger?  " 

"  Ay,  true,  Die — true,"  said  Sir  Hildebrand,  with  a 
sigh,  "  I  misdoubt  Eashleigh  will  be  found  short  at  the 


80  ROB  ROY. 

leap  when  he  is  put  to  the  trial.  An'  he  would  ha' 
learned  useful  knowledge  like  his  brothers;  he  was  bred 
up  where  it  grew,  I  wuss;  but  French  antics,  and  book- 
learning,  with  the  new  turnips,  and  the  rats,  and  the 
Hanoverians,  ha'  changed  the  world  that  I  ha'  known 
in  Old  England.  But  come  along  with  us,  Eashie, 
and  carry  my  hunting-staff,  man;  thy  cousin  lacks 
none  of  thy  company  as  now,  and  I  wonna  ha'  Die 
crossed.  It's  ne'er  be  said  there  was  but  one  woman 
in  Osbaldistone  Hall,  and  she  died  for  lack  of  her 
will." 

So  Eashleigh  followed  the  hunters,  while  Miss  Ver- 
non led  the  way  to  the  library,  accompanied  by  Frank. 
There  she  seated  herself  majestically  in  a  huge  elbow- 
chair,  like  a  judge  about  to  hear  a  cause  of  importance, 
signed  to  Frank  to  take  a  chair  opposite  to  her,  and  en- 
tered upon  conversation  in  a  tone  of  bitter  irony.  In 
this  strain  she  continued  for  some  minutes,  reproaching 
Frank  without  mercy  for  his  breach  of  good  conduct. 
Then,  suddenly  changing  the  subject,  she  demanded  to 
know  what  Eashleigh  had  said  concerning  her  that 
caused  Frank  to  so  change  his  manner  toward  her.  At 
first  Frank  endeavored  to  evade  the  request,  but  was 
compelled  at  last  to  detail  the  story  Eashleigh  had  told 
him,  on  the  preceding  day,  of  his  association  with  Miss 
Vernon.  Diana  was  much  agitated  by  the  report  of 
their  conversation;  as  Frank  proceeded  she  grew  more 
excited,  and  when  he  finished,  broke  forth  into  a  ve- 
hement speech,  disclosing  fully  Eashleigh's  villainous 
character.  But  she  forced  herself  to  calmness,  when 
Frank,  catching  some  of 'her  excitement,  laid  his  hand 
on  the  hilt  of  his  sword  and  was  about  to  leave  the 


ROB  ROY.  81 

apartment  in  search  of  his  cousin.  Throwing  herself 
between  him  and  the  door — 

"Stay!"  she  said — "stay! — however  just  your  re- 
sentment, you  do  not  know  half  the  secrets  of  this  fear- 
ful prison-house."  She  then  glanced  her  eyes  anxiously 
round  the  room,  and  sunk  her  voice  almost  to  a  whisper: 
"  lie  bears  a  charmed  life;  you  can  not  assail  him  with- 
out endangering  other  lives,  and  wider  destruction. 
Had  it  been  otherwise,  in  some  hour  of  Justice  he  had 
hardly  been  safe,  even  from  this  weak  hand.  I  have  al- 
ready said  that  there  is  a  mystery  connected  with  Rash- 
leigh,  of  a  dangerous  and  fatal  nature.  Villain  as 
he  is,  and  as  he  knows  he  stands  convicted  in  my  eyes,  I 
can  not,  I  dare  not,  openly  break  with  or  defy  him.  You, 
also,  Mr.  Osbaldistone,must  bear  with  him  with  patience, 
foil  his  artifices  by  opposing  to  them  prudence,  not  vio- 
lence; and,  above  all,youmust  avoid  such  scenes  as  thatof 
last  night,  which  can  not  but  give  him  perilous  advan- 
tages over  you.  This  caution  I  designed  to  give  you,  and  it 
was  the  object  with  which  I  desired  this  interview ;  but  I 
have  extended  my  confidence  further  than  I  proposed." 

Frank  assured  her  that  it  was  not  misplaced. 

"  I  do  not  believe  that  it  is,"  she  replied.  "  You  have 
that  in  your  face  and  manners  which  authorizes  trust. 
Let  us  continue  to  be  friends.  And  now  that  the  pas- 
sage in  Dante  is  made  so  clear,  pray  go  and  see  what  has 
become  of  the  badger-baiters.  My  head  aches  so  much 
that  I  can  not  join  the  party." 

Frank  left  the  library,  but  not  to  join  the  hunters. 
He  felt  that  a  solitary  walk  was  necessary  to  compose 
his  spirits  before  he  again  trusted  himself  in  Eash- 
leigh's  company.     It  was  absolutely  necessary  that  he 


82  ROB  ROY. 

should  treat  his  cousin  with  courtesy,  not  only  on  ac- 
count of  the  mysterious  charge  which  Diana  had  given 
him,  but  because  he  had,  in  reality,  no  ostensible  ground 
for  quarreling  with  him. 

He  therefore  resolved,  as  far  as  possible,  to  meet 
Eashleigh's  dissimulation  with  equal  caution  on  his  part 
during  their  residence  in  the  same  family;  and  when 
Eashleigh  should  depart  for  London,  he  resolved  to  give 
Owen  at  least  such  a  hint  of  his  character  as  might  keep 
him  on  his  guard.  The  energy  of  Eashleigh's  character, 
and  his  power  of  assuming  all  seeming  good  qualities, 
were  likely  to  procure  him  a  high  degree  of  confidence, 
and  it  was  not  to  be  hoped  that  either  good  faith  or  grati- 
tude would  prevent  him  from  abusing  it.  Frank  there- 
fore indited  a  letter  to  Owen,  leaving  it  to  him,  who  in 
his  own  line  was  wary,  prudent,  and  circumspect,  to  make 
the  necessary  use  of  his  knowledge  of  Eashleigh's  true 
character.  This  he  dispatched  to  the  post-house  by 
the  first  opportunity. 

At  the  next  meeting  of  Frank  and  Eashleigh,*  each 
seemed  to  have  resolved  to  adopt  a  distant  and  formal 
manner  toward  the  other,  and  to  be  disposed  to  avoid 
all  pretext  for  collision.  Their  intercourse  was  reserved 
on  both  sides  and  on  subjects  of  little  interest.  Indeed, 
Eashleigh  remained  at  Osbaldistone  Hall  only  a  few 
days  after  this  period. 

The  day  came  for  Eashleigh's  departure,  to  the  ill- 
concealed  delight  of  the  entire  family  at  Osbaldistone 
Hall.  Frank  sent  a  letter  to  his  father  by  Eashleigh, 
and  also  a  few  lines  to  Owen,  besides  the  confidential 
letter,  already  mentioned,  which  he  thought  more  proper 
and  prudent  to  dispatch  by  another  conveyance. 


CHAPTER    XI. 

Yon  lamp  its  line  of  quivering  light 

Shoots  from  my  lady's  bower ; 
But  why  should  beauty's  lamp  be  bright 

At  midnight's  lonely  hour  if 

Old  Ballad. 

Life  went  on  much  as  usual  at  Osbaldistone  Hall. 
Frank  endeavored  to  make  himself,  at  least,  a  not  un- 
welcome member  of  the  household,  and  assisted  his  uncle 
with  his  pen  and  arithmetic  when  necessary.  He  also 
made  some  efforts  to  overcome  the  ill-will  which  his 
cousins  entertained  toward  him,  and  succeeded  to  a 
greater  or  less  extent  with  all,  save  Thorncliff,  who  per- 
sisted in  his  sullen  and  quarrelsome  temper,  regarding 
Frank's  residence  at  Osbaldistone  Hall  as  an  intrusion. 
But  between  Diana  Vernon  and  Frank  there  existed  the 
best  understanding,  and  much  of  their  time  was  spent 
over  their  mutual  studies. 

There  was  another  person  who  should  not  be  for- 
gotten, for  he  may  be  counted  as  one  of  Frank's  adher- 
ents at  the  manor,  and  this  was  Andrew  Fairservice,  the 
gardener.  Since  making  the  discovery  that  Frank  was 
a  Protestant,  ^Andrew  rarely  suffered  him  to  pass  without 
proffering  his  Scotch  mull  for  a  social  pinch.  Andrew 
obtained  the  greatest  pleasure  from  these  interviews,  in 
the  opportunity  it  gave  him  of  communicating  the  news 

83 


84  ROB  ROY. 

he  had  collected,  or  the  satirical  remarks  which  his 
shrewd  northern  humor  suggested. 

"  I  am  saying,  sir/'  he  said  to  him  one  evening,  with 
a  face  obviously  charged  with  intelligence,  "  I  hae  been 
down  at  the  Trinlay-knowe." 

"  Well,  Andrew,  and  I  suppose  you  heard  some  news 
at  the  alehouse?  " 

"  Na,  sir;  I  never  gang  to  the  yillhouse — that  is 
unless  ony  neighbor  was  to  gie  me  a  pint,  or  the  like  o' 
that;  but  to  gang  there  on  ane's  ain  coat-tail,  is  a  waste 
o'  precious  time  and  hard-won  siller. — But  I  was  doun 
at  the  Trinlay-knowe,  as  I  was  saying,  about  a  wee  bit 
business  o'  my  ain  wi'  Mattie  Simpson,  that  w^ants  a  for- 
pit  or  twa  o'  peers  that  will  never  be  missed  in  the  Ha'- 
house — and  when  we  were  at  the  thrangest  o'  our  bar- 
gain, wha  suld  come  in  but  Pate  Macready  the  traveling 
merchant? '' 

"Peddler,  I  suppose  you  mean?" 

"  E'en  as  your  honor  like  to  ca'  him;  but  it's  a  cred- 
itable calling,  and  a  gainfu',  and  has  been  lang  in  use 
wi'  our  folk.  Pate's  a  far-awa'  cousin  o'  mine,  and  we 
were  blythe  to  meet  wi'  ane  anither." 

"  And  you  went  and  had  a  jug  of  ale  together,  I  sup- 
pose, Andrew?  For  Heaven's  sake,  cut  short  your 
story." 

"Bide  a  wee — bide  a  wee;  you  southrons  are  aye  in 
sic  a  hurry,  and  this  is  something  concerns  yoursell,  and  ye 
wad  tak'  patience  tohear't. — Yill? — deil  a  drapo'yill  did 
Pate  offer  me;  but  Mattie  gae  us  baith  a  drap  skimmed 
milk,  and  ane  o'  her  thick  ait  Jannocks,  that  was  as  wat 
and  raw  as  a  divot.  0  for  the  bonnie  girdle  cakes  o'  the 
north ! — and  sae  we  sat  doun  and  took  out  our  clavers." 


ROB  ROY.  85 

"  I  wish  you  would  take  them  out  just  now.  Pray, 
tell  me  the  news,  if  you  have  got  any  worth  telling,  for  I 
can't  stop  here  all  night." 

"  Than,  if  ye  maun  hae't,  the  folk  in  Lunnon  are  a' 
clean  wud  about  this  bit  job  in  the  north  here." 

"Clean  wood!  what's  that?" 

''  Ou,  just  real  daft — neither  to  haud  nor  to  bind — 
a'  hirdy-girdy — clean  through  ither — the  deil's  ower 
Jock  Wabster." 

"  But  what  does  all  this  mean?  or  what  business  have 
I  with  the  devil  or  Jack  Webster?  " 

"Umph!"  said  Andrew,  looking  extremely  know- 
ing, "  it's  just  because — just  that  the  dirdum's  a'  about 
yon  man's  pokmanty." 

"  Whose  portmanteau?  or  what  do  you  mean?  " 

"  Ou,  just  the  man  Morris's,  that  he  said  he  lost  yon- 
der; but  if  it's  no  your  honor's  affair,  as  little  is  it  mine; 
and  I  mauna  lose  this  gracious  evening." 

And,  as  if  suddenly  seized  with  a  violent  fit  of  indus- 
try, Andrew  began  to  labor  most  diligently. 

Frank's  attention,  as  the  crafty  knave  had  foreseen, 
was  now  arrested,  but  he  was  unwilling  to  acknowledge 
any  particular  interest  in  that  affair,  by  asking  direct 
questions,  and  stood  waiting  till  the  spirit  of  voluntary 
communication  should  again  prompt  the  gardener  to  re- 
sume his  story.  Andrew  dug  on  manfully  and  spoke 
at  intervals,  but  nothing  to  the  purpose  of  Mr.  Ma- 
cready's  news;  and  Frank  stood  and  listened,  cursing 
him  in  his  heart,  and  desirous  at  the  same  time  to  see 
how  long  his  humor  of  contradiction  would  prevail  over 
his  desire  of  speaking  upon  the  subject  which  was  ob- 
viously uppermost  in  his  mind. 

7  • 


86  ROB  ROY. 

"  Am  trenching  up  the  sparry-grass,  and  am  gaun  to 
saw  some  Misegun  beans;  they  winna  want  them  to  their 
swine's  flesh,  I'se  warrant — muckle  gude  may  it  do  them. 
And  siclike  dung  as  the  grieve  has  gien  me! — it  should 
be  wheat-strae,  or  aiten  at  the  warst  o't,  and  it's  pease 
dirt,  as  fizzenless  as  chuckie-stanes.  But  the  huntsman 
guides  a'  as  he  likes  about  the  stable-yard,  and  he's  selled 
the  best  o'  the  litter,  I'se  warrant.  But,  howsoever,  we 
mauna  lose  a  turn  o'  this  Saturday  at  e'en,  for  the  wa- 
ther's  sair  broken,  and  if  there's  a  fair  day  in  seven, 
Sunday's  sure  to  come  and  lick  it  up.  Howsomever,  I'm 
no  denying  that  it  may  settle,  if  it  be  Heaven's  will,  till 
Monday  morning — and  what's  the  use  o'  my  breaking 
my  back  at  this  rate? — I  think,  I'll  e'en  awa'  hame,  for 
yon's  the  curfew,  as  they  ca'  their  jowing-in  bell." 

Accordingly,  applying  both  his  hands  to  his  spade, 
he  pitched  it  upright  in  the  trench  which  he  had  been 
digging,  and  looking  at  Frank  with  the  air  of  superiority 
of  one  who  knows  himself  possessed  of  important  in- 
formation, which  he  may  communicate  or  refuse  at  his 
pleasure,  pulled  down  the  sleeves  of  his  shirt,  and  walked 
slowly  toward  his  coat,  which  lay  carefully  folded  up 
upon  a  neighboring  garden-seat. 

"  I  must  pay  the  penalty  of  having  interrupted  the 
tiresome  rascal,"  thought  Frank  to  himself,  "  and  even 
gratify  Mr.  Fairservice  by  taking  his  communication 
on  his  own  terms.  Then,  addressing  him:  "And  after 
all,  Andrew,  what  are  these  London  news  you  had  from 
your  kinsman,  the  traveling  merchant?" 

"  The  peddler,  your  honor  means?  "  retorted  Andrew 
— "  but  ca'  him  what  ye  wull,  they're  a  great  convenience 
in  a  country-side  that's  scant  o'  borough-towns  like  this 


ROB  ROY.  87 

Northumberland.  That's  no  the  case,  now,  in  Scot- 
land; there's  the  kingdom  of  Fife,  frae  Culross  to  the 
East  Xuik,  it's  just  like  a  great  combined  city — sae  mony 
ruyal  boroughs  yoked  on  end  to  end,  like  ropes  of  in- 
gans,  with  their  hie-streets  and  their  booths,  nae  doubt, 
and  their  kra?mes,  and  houses  of  stane  and  lime  and  fore- 
stairs — Kirkcaldy,  the  sell  o't,  is  langer  than  ony  town 
in  England." 

'  ^^  1  dare  say  it's  all  very  splendid  and  very  fine — but 
you  were  talking  of  the  London  news  a  little  while  ago, 
Andrew." 

'^  Ay,"  replied  Andrew;  "  but  I  dinna  think  your 
honor  cared  to  hear  about  them. — Howsoever  "  (he  con- 
tinued, grinning  a  ghastly  smile),  "  Pate  Macready  does 
say,  that  they  are  sair  mistrysted  yonder  in  their  Parlia- 
ment House  about  this  rubbery  o'  Mr.  Morris,  or  what- 
ever they  ca'  the  chiel." 

"In  the  House  of  Parliament,  Andrew! — how  came 
they  to  mention  it  there?  " 

"  Ou,  that's  just  what  I  said  to  Pate;  if  it  like  your 
honor,  I'll  tell  you  the  very  words;  it's  no  worth  making 
a  lie  for  the  matter.  ^  Pate,'  said  I,  ^  what  ado  hath  the 
lords  and  lairds  and  gentles  at  Lunnon  wi'  the  carle  and 
his  walise? — When  we  had  a  Scotch  Parliament,  Pate,' 
says  I  (and  deil  rax  their  thrapples  that  reft  us  o't!) 
'  they  sate  dousely  down  and  made  laws  for  a  haill  coun- 
try and  kinrick,  and  never  fashed  their  beards  about 
things  that  were  competent  to  the  judge  ordinar  o'  the 
bounds;  but  I  think,'  said  I,  'that  if  ae  kailwife  pou'd 
aff  her  neighbor's  mutch  they  wad  hae  the  twasome  o' 
them  into  the  Parliament  House  o'  Lunnon.  It's  just,' 
said  I, '  amaist  as  silly  as  our  auld  daft  laird  here  and  his 


88  KOB  ROY. 

gomerils  o'  sons,  wi'  his  huntsmen  and  his  hounds,  and 
his  hunting  cattle  and  horns,  riding  haill  days  after  a  bit 
beast  that  winna  weigh  sax  punds  when  they  hae 
catched  it.'  " 

"  You  argued  most  admirably,  Andrew,''  said  Frank, 
willing  to  encourage  him  to  get  into  the  marrow  of  his 
intelligence;  "and  what  said  Pate?" 

"  Ou,"  he  said,  "  what  better  could  be  expected  of  a 
wheen  pock-pudding  English  folk? — But  as  to  the  rob- 
bery, it's  like  that  when  they're  a'  at  the  thrang  o'  their 
"Whig  and  Tory  wark,  and  ca'ing  ane  anither,  like  un- 
hanged blackguards — up  gets  ae  lang-tongued  chield 
and  he  says,  that  a'  the  north  of  England  were  rank 
Jacobites  (and,  quietly,  he  wasna  far  wrang  maybe),  and 
that  they  had  IcAded  amaist  open  war,  and  a  king's  mes- 
senger had  been  stoppit  and  rubbit  on  the  highway,  and 
that  the  best  bluid  o'  Northumberland  had  been  at  the 
doing  o't — and  mickle  gowd  ta'en  aff  him,  and  mony 
valuable  papers;  and  that  there  was  nae  redress  to  be 
gotten  by  remeed  o'  law,  for  the  first  justice  o'  the  peace 
that  the  rubbit  man  gaed  to,  he  had  fund  the  twa  loons 
that  did  the  deed  birling  and  drinking  wi'  him,  wha  but 
they;  and  the  justice  took  the  word  o'  the  tane  for  the 
compearance  o'  the  tither;  and  that  they  e'en  gae  him 
leg-bail,  and  the  honest  man  that  had  lost  his  siller  was 
fain  to  leave  the  country  for  fear  that  waur  had  come 
of  it." 

"  Can  this  be  really  true?"  said  Frank. 

"  Pate  swears  it's  as  true  as  that  his  ellwand  is  a 
yard  lang — (and  so  it  is,  just  bating  an  inch,  that  it  may 
meet  the  English  measure). — And  when  the  chield  had 
said  his  warst,  there  was  a  terrible  cry  for  names,  and  out 


ROB  ROY.  89 

comes  he  wi'  this  man  Morris's  name,  and  your  uncle's, 
and  Squire  Inglewood's,  and  other  folk's  beside.  And 
then  another  dragon  o'  a  chield  got  up  on  the  other  side, 
and  said,  wad  they  accuse  the  best  gentleman  in  the 
land  on  the  oath  of  a  broken  coward? — for  it's  like  that 
Morris  had  been  drummed  out  o'  the  army  for  rinning 
awa'  in  Flanders,  and  he  said,  it  was  like  the  story  had 
been  made  up  between  the  minister  and  him  or  ever  he 
had  left  Lunnun;  and  that,  if  there  was  to  be  a  search- 
warrant  granted,  he  thought  the  siller  wad  be  fund  some 
gate  near  to  St.  James's  Palace.  Aweel,  they  trailed  up 
Morris  to  their  bar,  as  they  ca't,  to  see  what  he  could  say 
to  the  job;  but  the  folk  that  were  again  him,  gae  him  sic 
an  awfu'  throughgaun  about  his  rinnin'  awa',  and  about 
a'  the  ill  he  had  ever  dune  or  said  for  a'  the  forepart  o' 
his  life,  that  Patie  says  he  looked  mair  like  ane  dead 
than  living;  and  they  couldjia  get  a  word  o'  sense  out  o* 
him,  for  downright  fright  at  their  growling  and  routing. 
He  maun  be  a  saft  sap,  wi'  a  head  nae  better  than  a  fozy 
frosted  turnip — it  wad  hae  ta'en  a  hantle  o'  them  to 
scaur  Andrew  Fairservice  out  o'  his  tale." 

"And  how  did  it  all  end,  Andrew?  did  your  friend 
happen  to  learn?  " 

"  Ou,  ay;  for  as  his  walk  is  in  this  country.  Pate  put 
aff  his  journey  for  the  space  of  a  week  or  thereby,  because 
it  wad  be  acceptable  to  his  customers  to  bring  down  the 
news.  It's  just  a'  gaed  aff  like  moonshine  in  water. 
The  fellow  that  began  it  drew  in  his  horns,  and  said, 
that  though  he  believed  the  man  had  been  robbit,  yet  he 
acknowledged  that  he  might  hae  been  mistaken  about  the 
particulars.  And  then  the  other  chield  got  up,  and  said, 
he  caredna  whether  Morris  was  rubbed  or  no,  provided 


90  ^OB  ROY. 

it  wasna  to  become  a  stain  on  ony  gentleman's  honor  and 
reputation,  especially  in  the  north  of  England;  for,  said 
he  before  them,  I  come  frae  the  north,  mysell,  and  I 
carena  a  boddle  wha  kens  it.  And  this  is  what  they  ca' 
explaining — the  tane  gies  up  a  bit,  and  the  tither  gies  up 
a  bit,  and  a'  friends  again.  Aweel,  after  the  Commons' 
Parliament  had  tuggit,  and  rived,  and  rugged  at  Morris 
and  his  rubbery  till  they  were  tired  o't,  the  Lords'  Parlia- 
ment they  behoved  to  hae  their  spell  o't.  In  puir  auld 
Scotland's  Parliament  they  a'  sate  thegither,  cheek  by 
choul,  and  then  they  didna  need  to  hae  the  same  blethers 
twice  ower  again.  But  till't  their  lordships  went  wi'  as 
muckle  teeth  and  gude-will,  as  if  the  matter  had  been  a' 
speck  and  span  new.  Forbye,  there  was  something  said 
about  ane  Campbell,  that  suld  hae  been  concerned  in  the 
rubbery,  mair  or  less,  and  that  he  suld  hae  had  a  war- 
rant frae  the  Duke  of  Argyle,  as  a  testimonial  o'  his 
character.  And  this  put  MacCallum  More's  beard  in 
a  bleize,  as  gude  reason  there  was;  and  he  gat  up  wi'  an 
unco  bang,  and  garr'd  them  a'  look  about  them,  and  wad 
ram  it  even  doun  their  throats,  there  was  never  ane  o'  the 
Campbells  but  what  was  as  wight,  wise,  warlike,  and 
worthy  trust,  as  auld  Sir  John  the  Graeme.  Now,  if 
your  honor's  sure  ye  arena  a  drap's  bluid  a-kin  to  a 
Campbell,  as  I  am  nane  mysell,  sae  far  as  I  can  count  my 
kin,  or  hae  had  it  counted  to  me,  I'll  gie  ye  my  mind  on 
that  matter." 

"  You  may  be  assured  I  have  no  connection  whatever 
with  any  gentleman  of  the  name." 

"  Ou,  than  we  may  speak  it  quietly  amang  oursells. 
There's  baith  gude  and  bad  o'  the  Campbells,  like  other 
names.     But  this  MacCullum  More  has  an  unco  sway 


ROB  ROY.  91 

and  say  baith,  amang  the  grit  folk  at  Lunnun  even  now; 
for  he  canna  preceesely  be  said  to  belang  to  ony  o'  the  twa 
sides  o'  them,  sae  deil  any  o'  them  likes  to  quarrel  wi' 
him;  sae  they  e'en  voted  Morris's  tale  a  fause  calumnious 
libel,  as  they  ca't,  and  if  he  hadna  gien  them  leg-bail,  he 
was  likely  to  hae  ta'en  the  air  on  the  pillory  for  leasing- 
making." 

So  speaking,  honest  Andrew  collected  his  dibbles, 
spades,  and  hoes,  and  threw  them  into  a  wheel-barrow — 
leisurely,  however,  and  allowing  Frank  full  time  to  put 
any  further  questions  which  might  occur  to  him  before 
he  trundled  them  off  to  the  tool-house,  there  to  repose 
during  the  ensuing  day.  Frank  thought  it  best  to  speak 
out  at  once,  lest  this  meddling  fellow  should  suppose 
there  were  more  weighty  reasons  for  his  silence  than 
actually  existed. 

"  I  should  like  to  see  this  countryman  of  yours,  An- 
drew, and  to  hear  his  news  from  himself  directly.  You 
have  probably  heard  that  I  had  some  trouble  from  the 
impertinent  folly  of  this  man  Morris  "  (Andrew  grinned 
a  most  significant  grin),  "  and  I  should  wish  to  see  your 
cousin  the  merchant,  to  ask  him  the  particulars  of  what 
he  heard  in  London,  if  it  could  be  done  without  much 
trouble." 

"  Xaething  mair  easy,"  Andrew  observed ;  "  I  hae 
but  to  hint  to  my  cousin  that  your  honor  wants  a  pair  or 
twa  o'  hose,  and  he  wad  be  wi'  ye  as  fast  as  he  could  lay 
leg  to  the  grund." 

"  Oh,  yes,  assure  him  I  shall  be  a  customer;  and  as  the 
night  is,  as  you  say,  settled  and  fair,  I  shall  walk  in  the 
garden  until  he  comes;  the  moon  will  soon  rise  over  the 
fells.     You  may  bring  him  to  the  little  back-gate;  and 


92  ROB  ROY. 

I  shall  have  pleasure,  in  the  meanwhile,  in  looking  on 
the  bushes  and  evergreens  b}'  the  bright  frosty  moon- 
light." 

"  Yara  right,  vara  right — that's  what  I  hae  often 
said;  a  kail-blade,  or  a  colliflour,  glances  sae  glegiy  by 
moonlight,  it's  like  a  leddy  in  her  diamonds." 

So  saying,  off  went  Andrew  Fairservice  with  great 
glee.  He  had  to  walk  about  two  miles,  a  labor  he  under- 
took with  the  greatest  pleasure,  in  order  to  secure  to  his 
kinsman  the  sale  of  some  articles  of  his  trade,  though  it 
is  probable  he  would  not  have  given  him  sixpence  to 
treat  him  to  a  quart  of  ale. 

As  Frank  paced  along  the  garden  walks,  it  was  nat- 
ural that  he  should  lift  up  his  eyes  to  the  windows  of 
the  old  library,  which,  small  in  size,  but  several  in  num- 
ber, stretched  along  the  second  story  of  that  side  of  the 
house  which  now  faced  him.  Light  glanced  from  their 
casements.  He  was  not  surprised  at  this,  for  Miss  Ver- 
non often  sat  there  of  an  evening,  but  he  was  a  little 
startled  when  he  distinctly  perceived  the  shadows  of 
two  persons  pass  along  and  intercept  the  light  from  the 
first  of  the  windows,  throwing  the  casement  for  a  mo- 
ment into  shade.  ^'  It  must  be  old  Martha,"  thought  he, 
"  whom  Diana  has  engaged  to  be  her  companion  for  the 
evening;  or  I  must  have  been  mistaken,  and  taken 
Diana's  shadow  for  a  second  person.  No,  by  Heaven!  it 
appears  on  the  second  window — two  figures  distinctly 
traced;  and  now  it  is  lost  again — it  is  seen  on  the  third 
— on  the  fourth — the  darkened  forms  of  two  persons  dis- 
tinctly seen  in  each  window  as  they  pass  along  the  room, 
betwixt  the  windows  and  the  lights.  Whom  can  Diana 
have  got  for  a  companion?  "     The  passage  of  the  shad- 


ROB  ROY.  93 

ows  between  the  lights  and  the  casements  was  twice  re- 
peated, after  which  the  lights  were  extinguished,  and 
the  shades,  of  course,  were  seen  no  more. 

Trifling  as  the  circumstance  was,  it  occu2:)icd  his 
mind  for  a  considerable  time.  But  he  had  not  long 
speculated  on  this  disagreeable  subject,  in  reality,  how- 
ever, when  the  back  garden-door  opened,  and  the  figures 
of  Andrew  and  his  countryman — bending  under  his 
pack — crossed  the  moonlit  alley. 

Mr.  Macready  was  a  tough,  sagacious,  long-headed 
Scotchman;  and  a  collector  of  news,  both  from  choice 
and  profession.  He  was  able  to  give  a  distinct  account 
of  what  had  passed  in  the  House  of  Commons  and  House 
of  Lords  on  the  affair  of  Morris.  He  was  even  able  to 
supply  Frank  with  a  copy  of  a  printed  journal  or  News- 
Letter,  in  which  the  substance  of  the  debate  was  men- 
tioned; and  also  with  a  copy  of  the  Duke  of  Argyle's 
speech.  These,  however,  failed  to  give  much — if  any — 
additional  information,  so  that  Frank  could  not  learn 
whether  his  own  reputation  had  been  directly  implicated, 
although  he  perceived  that  the  honor  of  his  uncle's 
family  had  been  impeached,  and  that  this  person  Camp- 
bell, stated  by  Morris  to  have  been  the  most  active  rob- 
ber of  the  two  by  whom  he  was  assailed,  was  also  said  by 
him  to  have  appeared  in  the  behalf  of  a  Mr.  Osbaldistone, 
and  by  the  connivance  of  the  Justice  procured  his  libera- 
tion. Vexed  upon  the  whole,  as  well  as  perplexed,  with 
this  extraordinary  story,  Frank  dismissed  the  two  Scotch- 
men, after  making  some  purchases  from  Macready,  and 
a  small  compliment  to  Fairservice,  and  retired  to  his 
own  apartment  to  consider  what  he  ought  to  do  in  de- 
fense of  his  character  thus  publicly  attacked. 


CHAPTER   XII. 

Whence,  and  what  art  thou  ? 


Milton. 


Aftek  exhausting  a  sleepless  night  in  meditating  on 
the  intelligence  he  had  received,  Frank  was  at  first  in- 
clined to  think  that  he  ought  as  speedily  as  possible  to 
return  to  London,  and  by  open  appearance  repel  the 
calumny  which  had  been  spread  against  him.  But  on 
second  thought  he  decided  that  it  would  be  best  to  state 
the  whole  story  in  the  shape  of  a  narrative  addressed  to 
his  father;  and  as  the  ordinary  communications  between 
the  Hall  and  the  post-town  were  rare,  he  determined  to 
convey  his  letter  to  the  post  in  person. 

Indeed,  he  began  to  think  it  strange  that,  though 
several  weeks  had  elapsed  since  his  departure  from  home, 
he  had  received  no  word  from  either  his  father  or  Mr. 
Owen.  By  going  to  the  post-office  himself  he  might 
secure  somewhat  earlier  his  letters — should  there  be  any 
for  him — than  if  they  were  sent  by  regular  course  to 
the  Hall. 

He  was  not  wholly  disappointed,  for,  though  he  re- 
ceived nothing  from  his  father,  he  found  the  following 
note  from  Mr.  Owen: 

"Dear  Mr.  Francis:  Yours  received  per  favor  of 
Mr.  R.  Osbaldistone,  and  note  the  contents.     Shall  do 
94 


ROB  ROY.  95 

Mr.  R.  0.  such  civilities  as  are  in  my  power,  and  have 
taken  him  to  see  the  Bank  and  Custom-House.  He 
seems  a  sober,  steady  young  gentleman,  and  takes  to 
business;  so  will  be  of  service  to  the  firm.  Could  have 
wished  another  person  had  turned  his  mind  that  way; 
but  God's  will  be  done.  As  cash  may  be  scarce  in  those 
parts,  have  to  trust  you  will  excuse  my  inclosing  a  gold- 
smith's bill  at  six  days'  sight,  on  Messrs.  Hooper  and 
Girder,  of  Newcastle,  for  £1,00,  which  I  doubt  not  will 
be  duly  honored. — I  remain,  as  in  duty  bound,  dear  Mr. 
Frank,  your  very  respectful  and  obedient  servant, 

"  Joseph  Owen. 

'' Postscmptnm. — Hope  you  will  advise  the  above 
coming  safe  to  hand.  Am  sorry  we  have  so  few  of  yours. 
Your  father  says  he  is  as  usual,  but  looks  poorly." 

From  this  epistle,  written  in  old  Owen's  formal  style, 
Frank  was  rather  surprised  to  observe  that  he  made  no 
acknowledgment  of  that  private  letter  which  he  had 
written  to  him,  with  a  view  to  possess  him  of  Rash- 
leigh's  real  character,  although,  from  the  course  of  post, 
it  seemed  certain  that  he  ought  to  have  received  it.  As 
it  comprised  matters  of  great  importance  both  to  his 
father  and  to  himself,  he  sat  down  in  the  post-office  and 
again  wrote  to  Owen,  recapitulating  the  heads  of  his 
former  letter,  and  requesting  to  know,  in  course  of  post, 
if  it  had  reached  him  in  safety. 

Without  difficulty  Frank  obtained  gold  for  the  bill 
on  Messrs.  Hooper  and  Girder.  This  addition  to  his 
funds  was  not  unwelcome,  for  the  amount  left  from  his 
traveling  expenses  had  almost  come  to  an  end. 


96  JROB  ROY. 

On  his  arrival  at  the  Hall  he  found  Sir  Hildebrand 
and  all  his  offspring  had  gone  down  to  the  little  hamlet 
called  Trinlay-kno^^'es,  "  to  see,"  as  Andrew  Fairserviee 
expressed  it,  "  a  wheen  midden  cocks  pike  ilk  ither's 
hams  out." 

"  It  is  indeed  a  brutal  amusement,  Andrew;  I  sup- 
pose you  have  none  such  in  Scotland?  " 

"  Na,  na,"  answered  Andrew  boldly;  then  shaded 
away  his  negative  with,  "  unless  it  be  on  Fastern's-e'en, 
or  the  like  o'  that.  But  indeed  it's  no  muckle  matter 
what  the  folk  do  to  the  midden  pootry,  for  they  had  sic- 
can  a  skarting  and  scraping  in  the  yard,  that  there's  nae 
getting  a  bean  or  pea  keepit  for  them.  But  I  am  won- 
dering what  it  is  that  leaves  that  turret-door  open — 
now  that  Mr.  Eashleigh's  away,  it  canna  be  him,  I  trow." 

The  turret-door  to  which  he  alluded  opened  to  the 
garden  at  the  bottom  of  a  winding  stair,  leading  down 
from  Mr.  Eashleigh's  apartment.  This  w^as  situated  in 
a  sequestered  part  of  the  house,  communicating  with  the 
library  by  a  private  entrance,  and  by  another  intricate 
and  dark  vaulted  passage  with  the  rest  of  the  house.  A 
long,  narrow  turf  walk  led,  between  two  high  holly 
hedges,  from  the  turret-door  to  a  little  postern  in  the 
wall  of  the  garden.  By  means  of  these  communications 
Eashleigh,  whose  movements  were  very  independent  of- 
those  of  the  rest  of  his  family,  could  leave  the  Hall  or 
return  to  it  at  pleasure,  without  his  absence  or  presence 
attracting  any  observation.  But  during  his  absence  the 
stair  and  the  turret-door  were  entirely  disused,  and  this 
made  Andrew's  observation  somewhat  remarkable. 

"Have  you  often  observed  that  door  open?"  was 
Frank's  question. 


ROB  ROY.  97 

"  No  just  that  often  neither;  but  I  hae  noticed  it 
ance  or  twice.  I'm  thinking  it  maun  hae  been  the  priest, 
Father  Vaughan,  as  tliey  ca'  him.  Ye'll  no  catch  ane 
o'  the  servants  ganging  up  tliat  stair,  puir  frightened 
heathens  that  they  are,  for  fear  of  bogles  and  brownies, 
and  lang-nebbit  things  frae  the  neist  warld.  But  P'ather 
Vaughan  thinks  himself  a  privileged  person — set  him  up 
and  lay  him  down! — I'se  be  caution  the  warst  stibbler 
that  ever  stickit  a  sermon  out  ower  the  Tweed  yonder, 
wad  lay  a  ghaist  twice  as  fast  as  him,  wi'  his  holy  water 
and  his  idolatrous  trinkets.  I  dinna  believe  he  speaks 
gude  Latin  neither;  at  least  he  disna  take  me  up  when  I 
tell  him  the  learned  names  o'  the  plants." 

Father  Vaughan  was  about  sixty  years  of  age,  of  a 
striking  and  imposing  presence,  grave  in  his  exterior, 
and  much  respected  among  the  Catholics  of  Northum- 
berland, as  a  worthy  and  upright  man.  He  divided  his 
time  and  ghostly  care  between  Osbaldistone  Hall  and 
half-a-dozen  mansions  of  C^atholic  gentlemen  in  the 
neighborhood.  He  was  a  particular  acquaintance  of 
Rashleigh,  and  this  circumstance  led  Frank  to  conjecture 
that  the  Father  might  occupy  Eashleigh's  apartment 
during  his  visits  to  the  Hall;  and  it  was  probable  that 
it  might  have  been  his  candle  that  had  excited  Frank's 
attention  on  the  preceding  evening. 

An  air  of  mystery  also  marked  the  intercourse  be- 
tween ^liss  Vernon  and  the  priest.  His  arrival  at  the 
Hall  never  failed  to  impress  her  with  an  anxious  and 
fluttering  tremor,  which  lasted  until  they  had  exchanged 
one  or  two  significant  glances.  Whatever  the  m)'stery 
might  be  which  overclouded  the  destinies  of  this  beauti- 
ful and  interesting  female,   it  was  clear  that   Father 


98  I^OB  ROY. 

Vaughan  was  implicated  in  it;  unless,  indeed,  he  was  the 
agent  employed  to  procure  her  settlement  in  the  cloister, 
in  the  event  of  her  rejecting  a  union  with  either  of  her 
cousins — an  office  which  would  sufficiently  account  for 
her  obvious  emotion  at  his  appearance.  As  to  the  rest, 
they  did  not  seem  to  converse  much  together,  or  even 
to  seek  each  other's  society.  Their  league,  if  any  sub- 
sisted between  them,  was  of  a  tacit  and  understood  na- 
ture, operating  on  their  actions  without  any  necessity  of 
speech.  Signs  passed  betw^ixt  them,  which  might  bear 
reference  to  some  hint  concerning  Miss  Vernon's  reli- 
gious observances,  for  the  Catholic  clergy  maintain, 
at  all  times  and  seasons,  their  influence  over  .  the 
minds  of  their  followers.  But  there  were  more  reasons 
to  suppose  that  these  communications  had  a  deeper  and 
more  serious  import. 


CHAPTER    XIII. 

It  happened  one  day  about  noon,  going  to  ray  boat,  I  was  ex- 
ceedingly surprised  with  the  print  of  a  man's  naked  foot  on  the 
shore,  which  was  very  plain  to  be  seen  on  the  sand. 

Robinson  Crusoe. 

Frank's  thoughts  were  much  occupied  with  vain 
endeavors  to  solve  the  mystery  surrounding  Diana  Ver- 
non. And  it  must  be  admitted  that  jealousy  aided  to 
pique  his  interest  in  the  secret  which  established  a  bond 
of  confidence  between  Miss  Vernon,  Rashleigh,  and 
Father  Vaughan.  By  this  time  he  candidly  admitted 
to  himself  that  he  was  in  love  with  Diana  Vernon,  but  he 
could  not  but  look  ujwn  his  passion  as  hopeless,  for, 
aside  from  other  obstacles.  Miss  Vernon  was  of  a  char- 
acter too  formed  and  determined  to  permit  her  love  for 
him  to  overpower  either  her  sense  of  duty  or  of  prudence, 
and  of  this  she  gave  proof  in  a  conversation  which  they 
had  together  about  this  time. 

They  were  sitting  together  in  the  library.  Miss  Ver- 
non, in  turning  over  a  copy  of  the  Orlando  Furioso, 
which  belonged  to  Frank,  shook  a  piece  of  writing  paper 
from  between  the  leaves.  He  hastened  to  lift  it,  but  she 
prevented  him.  "  It  is  verse,"  she  said,  on  glancing  at 
the  paper;  and  then  unfolding  it:  "  May  I  take  the  lib- 
erty?— Xay,  nay,  if  you  blush  and  stammer,  I  must  do 


100  ROB  ROY. 

violence  to  your  modesty,  and  suppose  that  permission 
is  granted." 

"  It  is  not  worthy  your  perusal — a  scrap  of  a  transla- 
tion—  My  dear  Miss  Vernon,  it  would  be  too  severe  a 
trial,  that  you,  who  understand  the  original  so  well, 
should  sit  in  judgment." 

"  Mine  honest  friend,"  replied  Diana,  "  do  not,  if 
you  will  be  guided  by  my  advice,  bait  your  hook  with  too 
much  humility;  for,  ten  to  one,  it  will  not  catch  a  single 
compliment.  You  know  I  belong  to  the  unpopular 
family  of  Tell-truths,  and  would  not  flatter  Apollo  for 
his  lyre." 

She  proceeded  to  read  the  first  stanza,  which  was 
nearly  to  the  following  purpose: 

"  Ladies,  and  knights,  and  arms,  and  love's  fair  flame, 

Deeds  of  emprise  and  courtesy  I  sing ; 
What  time  the  Moors  from  sultry  Africk  came, 

Led  on  by  Agramant,  their  youthful  king — 
He  whom  revenge  and  hasty  ire  did  bring 

O'er  the  broad  wave,  in  France  to  waste  and  war ; 
Such  ills  from  old  Trojano's  death  did  spring. 

Which  to  avenge  he  came  from  realms  afar. 
And  menaced  Christian  Charles,  the  Roman  Emperor. 

Of  dauntless  Roland,  too,  my  strain  shall  sound, 
In  import  never  known  in  prose  or  rhyme, 

How  he,  the  chief,  of  judgment  deemed  profound, 
For  luckless  love  was  crazed  upon  a  time — " 

"  There  is  a  great  deal  of  it,"  said  she,  glancing  along 
the  paper,  and  interrupting  the  sweetest  sounds  which 
mortal  ears  can  drink  in — those  of  a  youthful  poet's 
verses,  namely,  read  by  the  lips  which  arc  dearest  to  him. 

"  Much  more  than  ought  to  engage  your  attention, 
Miss    Vernon,"    Frank    replied,    something    mortified; 


ROB  ROY.  101 

and  he  took  the  verses  from  her  unreluctant  hand; 
"  and  yet,"  he  continued,  "  shut  up  as  1  am  in  this 
retired  situation,  I  have  felt  sometimes  I  could  not 
amuse  myself  better  than  by  carrying  on — merely  for 
my  own  amusement,  you  will  of  course  understand — 
the  version  of  this  fascinating  author,  which  I  began 
some  months  since  when  I  was  on  the  banks  of  the  Ga- 
ronne." 

"  The  question  would  only  be,"  said  Diana,  gravely, 
"  whether  you  could  not  spend  your  time  to  better  pur- 
pose? " 

"You  mean  in  original  composition?"  said  Frank, 
greatly  flattered;  "  but,  to  say  truth,  my  genius  rather 
lies  in  finding  words  and  rlmnes  than  ideas;  and  there- 
fore I  am  happy  to  use  those  which  Ariosto  has  prepared 
to  my  hand.  However,  Miss  Yernon,  with  the  en- 
couragement you  give " 

"  Pardon  me,  Frank — it  is  encouragement  not  of  my 
giving,  but  of  your  taking.  I  meant  neither  original 
composition  nor  translation,  since  I  think  you  might 
employ  your  time  to  far  better  purpose  than  in  either. 
You  are  mortified,"  she  continued,  "'  and  I  am  sorry  to 
be  the  cause." 

"  Xot  mortified — certainly  not  mortified,"  said  he, 
with  the  best  grace  he  could  muster,  and  it  was  but  in- 
differently assumed;  "  I  am  too  much  obliged  by  the 
interest  you  take  in  me." 

"  Xay,  but,"  resumed  the  relentless  Diana,  "  there 
are  both  mortification  and  a  little  grain  of  anger  in  that 
constrained  tone  of  voice;  do  not  be  angry  if  I  probe 
your  feelings  to  the  bottom — perhaps  what  I  am  about 
to  sav  will  affect  them  still  more." 


102  ^OB  ROY. 

Frank  felt  the  childishness  of  his  own  conduct,  and 
the  superior  manliness  of  Miss  Vernon's,  and  assured  her 
that  she  need  not  fear  his  wincing  under  criticism  which 
he  knew  to  be  kindly  meant. 

"  That  was  honestly  meant  and  said/'  she  replied; 
"  I  knew  full  well  that  the  fiend  of  poetical  irritability 
flew  away  with  the  little  preluding  cough  which  ushered 
in  the  declaration.  And  now  I  must  be  serious.  Have 
you  heard  from  your  father  lately  ?  " 

"  Not  a  word,"  he  replied;  "  he  has  not  honored  me 
with  a  single  line  during  the  several  months  of  my 
residence  here." 

"  That  is  strange! — you  are  a  singular  race,  you  bold 
Osbaldistones.  Then  you  are  not  aware  that  he  has  gone 
to  Holland,  to  arrange  some  pressing  affairs  which  re- 
quired his  own  immediate  presence  ?  " 

"  I  never  heard  a  word  of  it  until  this  moment." 

"  x\nd  further,  it  must  be  news  to  you,  and  I  presume 
scarcely  the  most  agreeable,  that  he  has  left  Eashleigh 
in  the  almost  uncontrolled  management  of  his  affairs 
until  his  return." 

Frank  started,  and  could  not  suppress  his  surprise 
and  apprehension. 

"  You  have  reason  for  alarm,"  said  Miss  Vernon, 
very  gravely;  "  and  were  I  you,  I  would  endeavor  to 
meet  and  obviate  the  dangers  which  arise  from  so  unde- 
sirable an  arrangement." 

"  And  how  is  it  possible  for  me  to  do  so?  " 

"  Everything  is  possible  for  him  who  possesses  cour- 
age and  activity,"  she  said,  with  a  look  resembling  one 
of  those  heroines  of  the  age  of  chivalry  whose  encourage- 
ment was  wont  to  give  champions  double  valor  at  the 


ROB  ROY.  103 

hour  of  need;  "  and  to  the  timid  and  hesitating  every- 
thing is  impossible,  because  it  seems  so." 

''And  what  would  you  advise,  Miss  Vernon?"  he 
replied,  wishing,  yet  dreading,  to  hear  her  answer. 

She  paused  a  moment,  then  answered  firmly:  "  That 
you  instantly  leave  Osbaldistone  Hall,  and  return  to 
London.  You  have  perhaps  already,"  she  continued,  in 
a  softer  tone,  "  been  here  too  long;  that  fault  was  not 
yours.  Every  succeeding  moment  you  waste  here  will 
be  a  crime.  Yes,  a  crime:  for  I  tell  you  plainly,  that  if 
Rashleigh  long  manages  your  father's  affairs,  you  may 
consider  his  ruin  as  consummated." 

"  How  is  this  possible?  " 

"  Ask  no  cjuestions,"  she  said;  ''  but  believe  me, 
Rashleigh's  views  extend  far  beyond  the  possession  or  in- 
crease of  commercial  wealth:  he  will  only  make  the 
command  of  Mr.  Osbaldistone's  revenues  and  property 
the  means  of  putting  in  motion  his  own  ambitious  and 
extensive  schemes.  While  your  father  was  in  Britain 
this  was  impossible;  during  his  absence,  Rashleigh  will 
possess  many  opportunities,  and  he  will  not  neglect  to 
use  them." 

"  But  how  can  I,  in  disgrace  with  my  father,  and 
divested  of  all  control  over  his  affairs,  prevent  this  dan- 
ger by  my  mere  presence  in  London?  " 

"  That  presence  alone  will  do  much.  Your  claim  to 
interfere  is  a  part  of  your  birthright,  and  it  is  inalienable. 
You  will  have  the  countenance,  doubtless,  of  your  fa- 
ther's head-clerk,  and  confidential  friends  and  partners. 
Above  all,  Rashleigh's  schemes  are  of  a  nature  that " — 
(she  stopped  abruptly,  as  if  fearful  of  saying  too  much) 
— "  are,  in  short,"  she  resumed,  "  of  the  nature  of  all 


104  I^C>B  ROY. 

selfish  and  unconscientious  plans,  which  are  speedily 
abandoned  as  soon  as  those  who  frame  them  perceive 
their  arts  are  discovered  and  watched.  Therefore,  in 
the  language  of  your  favorite  poet — 

" '  To  horse  !  to  horse  !     Urge  doubts  to  those  that  fear.'  " 

A  feeling  irresistible  in  its  impulse  induced  Frank  to 
reply:  "  Ah,  Diana,  can  you  give  me  advice  to  leave  Ds- 
baldistone  Hall! — then  indeed  I  have  already  been  a 
resident  here  too  long!  " 

Miss  Vernon  colored,  but  proceeded  with  great  firm- 
ness: "  Indeed,  I  do  give  you  this  advice — not  only  to 
quit  Osbaldistone  Hall,  but  never  to  return  to  it  more. 
You  have  only  one  friend  to  regret  here,"  she  continued, 
forcing  a  smile,  "  and  she  has  been  long  accustomed  to 
sacrifice  her  friendships  and  her  comforts  to  the  wel- 
fare of  others.  In  the  world  you  will  meet  a  hundred 
whose  friendship  will  be  as  disinterested — more  useful — 
less  encumbered  by  untoward  circumstances — less  infiu- 
enced  by  evil  tongues  and  evil  times." 

"  Never!  "  he  exclaimed,  "  never! — the  world  can 
afford  me  nothing  to  repay  what  I  must  leave  behind 
me."     Here  he  took  her  hand,  and  pressed  it  to  his  lips. 

"  This  is  folly!  "  she  exclaimed — "  this  is  madness!  " 
and  she  struggled  to  withdraw  her  hand  from  his  grasp, 
but  not  so  stubbornly  as  actually  to  succeed  until  he  had 
lield  it  for  nearly  a  minute.  "  Hear  me,  sir!  "  she  said, 
"  and  curb  this  unmanly  burst  of  passion.  I  am,  by  a 
solemn  contract,  the  bride  of  Heaven,  unless  I  could  pre- 
fer being  wedded  to  villainy  in  the  person  of  Eashleigh 
Osbaldistone,  or  brutality  in  that  of  his  brother.  I  am, 
therefore,  the  bride  of  Heaven — betrothed  to  the  con- 


ROB  ROY.  105 

vent  from  the  cradle.  To  me,  therefore,  these  raptures 
are  misapplied — they  only  serve  to  prove  a  further  ne- 
cessity for  your  departure,  and  that  without  delay." 
At  these  words  she  broke  suddenly  off,  and  said, 
but  in  a  suppressed  tone  of  voice,  "  Leave  me  instantly 
— we  will  meet  here  again,  but  it  must  be  for  the  last 
time." 

Frank's  eyes  followed  the  direction  of  hers  as  she 
spoke,  and  he  thought  he  saw  the  tapestry  shake,  which 
covered  the  door  of  the  secret  passage  from  Kashleigh's 
room  to  the  library.  He  conceived  they  were  observed, 
and  turned  an  inquiring  glance  on  Miss  Vernon. 

"  It  is  nothing,"  said  she,  faintly;  "  a  rat  behind  the 
arras." 

Obeying  Diana's  reiterated  command  of  "  Leave  me! 
leave  me!  "  Frank  left  the  apartment  in  a  wild  whirl 
and  giddiness  of  mind,  which  he  in  vain  attempted  to 
compose. 

A  chaos  of  thoughts  intruded  themselves  on  him,  at 
once  passing  hastily  through  his  brain.  The  dark  and 
undefined  idea  of  danger  arising  to  his  father  from  the 
machinations  of  such  a  man  as  Rashleigh  Osbaldistone, 
the  half  declaration  of  love  that  he  had  offered  to  Miss 
Vernon's  acceptance,  the  acknowledged  difficulties  of 
her  situation  bound  by  a  previous  contract  to  sacrifice 
herself  to  a  cloister  or  to  an  ill-assorted  marriage — all 
pressed  themselves  at  once  to  his  recollection,  while  his 
judgment  was  unable  to  consider  any  of  them  in  their 
just  light  and  bearings. 

This  incident  excited  Frank's  further  interest  in  the 
mysteries  which  enveloped  Miss  Vernon,  and  he  resolved, 
ere  he  left  Osbaldistone  Hall,  to  determine  in  what  light 


106  liOB  ROY. 

lie  must  in  future  regard  this  fascinating  being;  what 
the  mysterious  secret  was  that  spread  a  misty  influence 
over  all  her  actions;  whether  his  love  was  entirely  hope- 
less. The  pursuance  of  this  resolution  we  detail  in  an- 
other cha|)ter. 


CHAPTER    XIV. 

I  hear  a  voice  you  can  not  hear, 
Which  says,  I  must  not  stay ; 

I  see  a  hand  you  can  not  see, 
Which  beckons  me  away. 


TiCKELL. 


Fraxk  had  rarely  visited  the  library  in  the  evening 
except  by  appointment  with  Miss  Vernon  and  under  the 
sanction  of  the  old  housekeeper — Dame  Martha's  pres- 
ence. The  apartment,  however,  was  always  open  to  any 
member  of  the  family,  at  all  hours  of  the  day  or  night, 
so  that  Frank's  sudden  appearance  in  it  on  any  evening 
could  not  be  called  an  intrusion.  Frank  had  formed  the 
conclusion  that  here  Miss  Vernon  occasionally,  when 
there  was  least  likelihood  of  interruption,  received  Fa- 
ther Vaughan  or  some  other  person  equally  near  to  her 
confidence.  The  lights  that  gleamed  from  the  library 
at  unusual  hours,  the  passing  shadows  which  he  had  him- 
self remarked,  the  sounds  and  sights  which  some  of  the 
servants,  and  Andrew  Fairservice  in  particular,  had  ob- 
served, all  tended  to  show  that  the  place  was  visited  by 
some  one  different  from  the  ordinary  inmates  of  the 
Hall.  Therefore  Frank  determined  to  wander  into  the 
library,  on  some  evening  when  his  appearance  would  be 
wholly  unexpected,  hoping  that  he  might  detect  such  a 
rival,  should  there  be  one,  as  he  doubted  not.     Accord- 

107 


108  K,OB  ROY. 

ingly^  one  July  evening,  he  stationed  himself  in  the 
garden  to  watch  the  library  windows,  although  in  his 
impatience  he  had  come  out  a  full  hour  before  the  day- 
light disappeared,  and  no  signs  could  be  visible  until 
darkness. 

While  he  paced  the  green  alleys  he  suddenly  alighted 
upon  Andrew  Fairservice,  perched  up  like  a  statue  by 
a  range  of  beehives,  in  an  attitude  of  devout  contempla- 
tion— one  eye,  however,  watching  the  motions  of  the 
little  irritable  citizens,  who  were  settling  in  their  straw- 
thatched  mansion  for  the  evening,  and  the  other  fixed 
on  a  book  of  devotion,  which  much  attrition  had  de- 
prived of  its  corners,  and  worn  into  an  oval  shape;  a 
circumstance  which,  with  the  close  print  and  dingy 
color  of  the  volume  in  question,  gave  it  an  air  of  most 
respectable  antiquity. 

"  I  was  e'en  taking  a  spell  o'  worthy  Mess  John 
Quackleben's  Flower  of  a  Sweet  Savour  sawn  on  the  Mid- 
denstead  of  this  World,"  said  Andrew,  closing  his  book 
at  Frank's  appearance,  and  putting  his  horn  spectacles, 
by  way  of  mark,  at  the  place  where  he  had  been  reading. 

"  And  the  bees,  I  observe,  were  dividing  your  at- 
tention, x\ndrew,  with  the  learned  author?  " 

"  They  are  a  contumacious  generation,"  replied  the 
gardener;  "  they  hae  sax  days  in  the  week  to  hive  on, 
and  yet  it's  a  common  observe  that  they  will  aye  swarm 
on  the  Sabbath-day,  and  keep  falk  at  hame  frae  hearing 
the  Word — but  there's  nae  preaching  at  Graneagain 
chapel  the  e'en — that's  aye  ae  mercy." 

"  You  might  have  gone  to  the  parish  church  as  I  did, 
Andrew,  and  heard  an  excellent  discourse." 

"  Clauts  o'  cauld  parritch — clauts  o'  cauld  parritch," 


ROB  ROY.  109 

replied  Andrew  with  a  most  supercilious  sneer — "  glide 
aneiicli  for  dogs,  begging  your  honor's  pardon — ay!  I 
might  nae  doubt  hae  heard  the  curate  linking  awa'  at  it 
in  his  white  sark  yonder,  and  the  musicians  playing  on 
whistles,  niair  like  a  penny-wedding  than  a  sermon — 
and  to  -the  boot  of  that,  I  might  hae  gaen  to  even-song, 
and  heard  Daddie  Docharty  mumbJing  his  mass — muckle 
the  better  I  wad  hae  been  o'  that! '' 

"  Docharty!  "  said  Frank  (this  was  the  name  of  an 
old  priest,  an  Irishman,  who  sometimes  officiated  at  Os- 
baldistone  Hall),  ''  I  thought  Father  Yaughan  had  been 
at  the  Hall.     He  was  here  yesterday." 

"  Ay,"  replied  Andrew;  "  but  he  left  it  yestreen,  to 
gang  to  Greystock,  or  some  o'  thae  west-country  haulds. 
There's  an  unco  stir  among  them  a'  e'enow.  They  are 
as  busy  as  my  bees  are — God  sain  them!  that  I  suld  even 
the  puir  things  to  the  like  o'  papists.  Ye  see  this  is 
the  second  swarm,  and  whiles  they  will  swarm  off  in 
the  afternoon.  The  first  swarm  set  off  sune  in  the 
morning.  But  I  am  thinking  they  are  settled  in  their 
skeps  for  the  night;  sae  I  wuss  your  honor  good-night, 
and  grace,  and  muckle  o't." 

So  saying,  Andrew  retreated,  but  often  cast  a  parting 
glance  upon  the  skeps,  as  he  called  the  beehives. 

Frank  had  indirectly  gained  from  him  an  important 
piece  of  information,  that  Father  A^aughan,  namely,  was 
not  supposed  to  be  at  the  Hall.  If,  therefore,  there  ap- 
peared light  in  the  windows  of  the  library  this  evening, 
it  either  could  not  be  his,  or  he  was  observing  a  very 
secret  and  suspicious  line  of  conduct.  Frank  waited 
with  impatience  the  time  of  sunset  and  of  twilight. 
It  had  hardly  arrived  ere  a  gleam  from  the  windows  of 


110  ROB  ROY. 

the  library  was  seen,  dimly  distinguishable  amid  the 
still  enduring  light  of  the  evening.  He  marked  its  first 
glimpse,  however,  as  speedily  as  the  benighted  sailor  de- 
scribes the  first  distant  twinkle  of  the  lighthouse  which 
marks  his  course.  The  feelings  of  doubt  and  propriety, 
which  had  hitherto  contended  with  his  curiosity  and 
jealousy,  vanished  when  an  opportunity  of  gratifying  the 
former  was  presented  to  him.  He  re-entered  the  house, 
and  avoiding  the  more  frequented  apartments  with  the 
consciousness  of  one  who  wishes  to  keep  his  purpose 
secret,  he  reached  the  door  of  the  library — hesitated  for 
a  moment  as  his  hand  was  upon  the  latch — heard  a  sup- 
pressed step  within — opened  the  door — and  found  Miss 
Vernon  alone. 

Diana  appeared  surprised — whether  at  his  sudden 
appearance,  or  from  some  other  cause,  Frank  could  not 
guess;  but  there  was  in  her  appearance  a  degree  of  flutter 
which  he  had  never  before  remarked,  and  which  he  knew 
could  only  be  produced  by  unusual  emotion.  Yet  she  was 
calm  in  a  moment;  and  such  is  the  force  of  conscience, 
that  he,  who  studied  to  surprise  her,  seemed  himself  the 
surprised,  and  Avas  certainly  the  embarrassed  person. 

"  Has  anything  happened  ?  "  said  Miss  Vernon — 
"  has  any  one  arrived  at  the  Hall  ?  " 

"  No  one  that  I  know  of,"  Frank  answered,  in  some 
confusion;  "  I  only  sought  the  Orlando." 

"  It  lies  there,"  said  Miss  Vernon,  pointing  to  the 
table. 

In  removing  one  or  two  books  to  get  at  that  which 
he  pretended  to  seek,  he  perceived  a  man's  glove  h^ing 
upon  the  table.  His  eyes  encountered  those  of  Miss  Ver- 
non, who  blushed  deeply. 


ROB  ROY.  Ill 

"  It  is  one  of  my  relics,?  she  said  with  hesitation; 
"  it  is  one  of  the  gloves  of  my  grandfather,  the  original 
of  the  superb  Vandyke  which  you  admire." 

As  if  she  thought  something  more  than  her  bare  as- 
sertion was  necessary  to  prove  her  statement  true,  she 
opened  a  drawer  of  the  large  oaken  table,  and  taking 
out  another  glove,  threw  it  toward  him.  When  a  tem- 
per naturally  ingenuous  stoops  to  equivocate,  or  to  dis- 
semble, the  anxious  pain  with  which  the  unwonted  task 
is  labored  often  induces  the  hearer  to  doubt  the  authen- 
ticity of  the  tale.  Frank  cast  a  hasty  glance  on  both 
gloves,  and  then  replied  gravely:  "  The  gloves  resemble 
each  other  doubtless,  in  form  and  embroidery;  but  they 
can  not  form  a  pair,  since  they  both  belong  to  the  right 
hand." 

She  bit  her  lip  with  anger,  and  again  colored  deeply. 

"  You  do  right  to  expose  me,"  she  replied  with  bitter- 
ness; "  some  friends  would  have  only  judged,  from  what 
I  said,  that  I  chose  to  give  no  particular  explanation 
of  a  circumstance  which  calls  for  none — at  least  to  a 
stranger.  You  have  judged  better,  and  have  made  me 
feel,  not  only  the  meanness  of  duplicity,  but  my  own 
inadequacy  to  sustain  the  task  of  a  dissembler.  I  now 
tell  you  distinctly  that  that  glove  is  not  the  fellow,  as 
you  have  acutely  discerned,  to  the  one  which  I  just  now 
produced;  it  belongs  to  a  friend  yet  dearer  to  me  than 
the  original  of  Vandyke's  picture — a  friend  by  whose 
counsels  I  have  been,  and  will  be,  guided — whom  I 
honor — whom  I "  she  paused. 

Frank  was  irritated  at  her  manner,  and  filled  up  the 
blank  in  his  own  way:  "  Whom  she  loves,  Miss  Yernon 
would  say." 


112  ROB  ROY. 

"  And  if  1  do  say  so/'  she  replied  haughtily,  "  by 
whom  shall  my  affection  be  called  to  account?  " 

"  ^ot  by  me,  Miss  Vernonj  assuredly — I  entreat  you 
to  hold  me  acquitted  of  such  presumption —  But/'  he 
continued,  with  some  emphasis,  for  he  was  now  piqued 
in  return,  "  I  hope  Miss  Vernon  will  pardon  a  friend, 
from  whom  she  seems  disposed  to  withdraw  the  title,  for 
observing " 

"  Observe  nothing,  sir,"  she  interrupted  with  some 
vehemence,  "  except  that  I  will  neither  be  doubted  nor 
questioned.  There  does  not  exist  one  by  whom  I  will  be 
either  interrogated  or  judged;  and  if  you  sought  this 
unusual  time  of  presenting  yourself  in  order  to  spy  upon 
my  privacy,  the  friendship  or  interest  with  which  you 
pretend  to  regard  me  is  a  poor  excuse  for  your  uncivil 
curiosity." 

"  I  relieve  you  of  my  presence,"  said  Frank  with 
pride  equal  to  her  own;  "  I  relieve  you  of  my  presence. 
I  awake  from  a  pleasant  but  a  most  delusive  dream; 
and — but  we  understand  each  other." 

He  had  reached  the  door  of  the  apartment,  when  Miss 
Vernon,  whose  movements  were  sometimes  so  rapid  as 
to  seem  almost  instinctive,  overtook  him,  and,  catching 
hold  of  his  arm,  stopped  him  with  that  air  of  authority 
which  she  could  so  whimsically  assume,  and  which,  from 
the  naivete  and  simplicity  of  her  manner,  had  an  effect 
so  peculiarly  interesting. 

"  Stop,  Mr.  Frank,"  she  said,  "  you  are  not  to  leave 
me  in  that  way  neither;  I  am  not  so  amply  provided  with 
friends  that  I  can  afford  to  throw  away  even  the  un- 
grateful and  the  selfish.  Mark  what  I  say,  Mr.  Francis 
Osbaldistone.     You  shall  know  nothing  of  this  mysteri- 


ROB  ROY.  113 

ous  glove,"  and  she  held  it  up  as  she  spoke — "  nothing — 
no,  not  a  single  iota  more  than  you  know  already;  and 
yet  I  will  not  permit  it  to  be  a  gauntlet  of  strife  and 
defiance  betwixt  us.  My  time  here,"  she  said,  sinking 
into  a  tone  somewhat  softer,  "  must  necessarily  be  very 
short;  yours  must  be  still  shorter:  we  are  soon  to  part, 
never  to  meet  again;  do  not  let  us  quarrel,  or  make  any 
mysterious  miseries  the  pretext  for  further  embittering 
the  few  hours  we  shall  ever  pass  together  on  this  side  of 
eternity." 

"  What  does  this  avail  ?  "  said  Frank.  "  What  can 
this  avail,  Miss  Vernon?  Why  should  I  witness  embar- 
rassments which  I  can  not  relieve,  and  mysteries  which  I 
offend  you  even  by  attempting  to  penetrate?  Inexperi- 
enced as  you  are  in  the  world,  you  must  still  be  aware 
that  a  beautiful  young  woman  can  have  but  one  male 
friend.  Even  in  a  male  friend  I  will  be  jealous  of  a 
confidence  shared  with  a  third  party  unknown  and  con- 
cealed; but  with  you,  Miss  Vernon " 

"  You  are,  of  course,  jealous,  in  all  the  tenses  and 
moods  of  that  amiable  passion?  But,  my  good  friend, 
you  have  all  this  time  spoken  nothing  but  the  paltry 
gossip  which  simpletons  repeat  from  play-books  and  ro- 
mances, till  they  give  mere  cant  a  real  and  powerful  in- 
fluence over  their  minds.  Boys  and  girls  prate  them- 
selves into  love;  and  when  their  love  is  like  to  fall  asleep, 
they  prate  and  tease  themselves  into  jealousy.  But  you 
and  I,  Frank,  are  rational  beings,  and  neither  silly  nor 
idle  enough  to  talk  ourselves  into  any  other  relation  than 
that  of  plain,  honest,  disinterested  friendship.  Any  other 
union  is  as  far  out  of  our  reach  as  if  I  were  man,  or  you 
woman.     To  speak  truth,"  she  added,  after  a  moment's 


114  ROB  ROY. 

hesitation,  "  even  though  I  am  so  complaisant  to  the 
decorum  of  my  sex  as  to  blush  a  little  at  my  own  plain 
dealing,  we  can  not  marry  if  we  would;  and  we  ought 
not  if  we  could." 

She  blushed  as  she  made  this  cruel  declaration. 
Frank  was  about  to  attack  both  her  positions,  entirely 
forgetting  those  very  suspicions  which  had  been  con- 
firmed in  the  course  of  the  evening,  but  she  proceeded 
with  a  cold  firmness  which  approached  to  severity: 
*^  what  I  say  is  sober  and  indisputable  truth,  on  which  I 
will  neither  hear  question  nor  explanation.  We  are 
therefore  friends,  Mr.  Osbaldistone — are  we  not?  "  She 
held  out  her  hand,  and  taking  his,  added — "  and  noth- 
ing to  each  other  now,  or  henceforward,  except  as 
friends.'' 

She  let  go  his  hand.  He  sunk  it  and  his  head  at 
once,  fairly  overcroived,  as  Spenser  would  have  termed 
it,  by  the  mingled  kindness  and  firmness  of  her  manner. 
She  hastened  to  change  the  subject. 

"  Here  is  a  letter,"  she  said,  "  directed  for  you,  Mr. 
Osbaldistone,  very  duly  and  distinctly;  but  which,  not- 
withstanding the  caution  of  the  person  who  wrote  and 
addressed  it,  might  perhaps  never  have  reached  your 
hands,  had  it  not  fallen  into  the  possession  of  a  certain 
Pacolet,  or  enchanted  dwarf  of  mine,  whom,  like  all 
distressed  damsels  of  romance,  I  retain  in  my  secret 
service." 

Frank  opened  the  letter  and  glanced  over  the  con- 
tents. The  unfolded  sheet  of  paper  dropped  from  his 
hands,  with  the  involuntary  exclamation  of  "  Gracious 
Heaven!  my  folly  and  disobedience  have  ruined  my  fa- 
ther! " 


ROB  ROY.  115 

Miss  Yernon  rose  with  loolvs  of  real  and  affectionate 
alarm.  '*  You  grow  pale — you  are  ill — shall  I  bring  you 
a  glass  of  water?  Be  a  man,  Mr.  Osbaldistone,  and  a 
firm  one.     Is  your  father — is  he  no  more?  '' 

"He  lives,"  said  Frank,  "thank  God!  but  to  what 
distress  and  difliculty " 

"  If  that  be  all,  despair  not.  May  I  read  this  let- 
ter? "  she  said,  taking  it  up. 

He  assented.     She  read  it  with  great  attention. 

"  Who  is  this  Mr.  Tresham,  who  signs  the  letter?  " 

"  My  father's  partner;  but  he  is  little  in  the  habit 
of  acting  personally  in  the  business  of  the  house." 

"  He  writes  here,"  said  Miss  A^ernon,  "  of  various 
letters  sent  to  you  previously." 

"  I  have  received  none  of  them,"  Frank  replied. 

"  x\nd  it  appears,"  she  continued,  ''  that  Eashleigh, 
who  has  taken  the  full  management  of  affairs  during 
your  father's  absence  in  Holland,  has  some  time  since 
left  London  for  Scotland,  with  effects  and  remittances 
to  take  up  large  bills  granted  by  your  father  to  per- 
sons in  that  country,  and  that  he  has  not  since  been 
heard  of." 

"It'isbut  too  true." 

"  And  here  has  been,"  she  added,  looking  at  the 
letter,  "  a  head-clerk,  or  some  such  person — Owenson — 
Owen — dispatched  to  Glasgow,  to  find  out  Rashleigh,  if 
possible,  and  you  are  entreated  to  repair  to  the  same 
place,  and  assist  him  in  his  researches." 

"  It  is  even  so,  and  I  must  depart  instantly." 

"  Stay  but  one  moment,"  said  Miss  Yernon.  "  It 
seems  to  me  that  the  worst  which  can  come  of  this  mat- 
ter will  be  the  loss  of  a  certain  sum  of  money — and  can 


116  ROB  ROY. 

that  bring  tears  into  your  eyes?  For  shame,  Mr.  Osbal- 
distone!  " 

"  You  do  me  injustice,  Miss  Vernon/'  Frank  an- 
swered. "  I  grieve  not  for  the  loss  of  the  money,  but  for 
the  effect  which  I  know  it  will  produce  on  the  spirits  and 
health  of  my  father,  to  whom  mercantile  credit  is  as 
honor;  and  who,  if  declared  insolvent,  would  sink  into 
the  grave,  oppressed  by  a  sense  of  grief,  remorse,  and  de- 
spair, like  that  of  a  soldier  convicted  of  cowardice  or  a 
man  of  honor  w^ho  had  lost  his  rank  and  character  in 
society.  All  this  I  might  have  prevented  by  a  trifling 
sacrifice  of  the  foolish  pride  and  indolence  which  re- 
coiled from  sharing  the  labors  of  his  honorable  and 
useful  profession.  Good  Heaven!  how  shall  I  redeem 
the  consequences  of  my  error  ?  " 

"  By  instantly  repairing  to  Glasgow,  as  you  are  con- 
jured to  do  by  the  friend  who  writes  this  letter." 

"  But  if  Eashleigh,"  said  he,  "  has  really  formed  this 
base  and  unconscious  scheme  of  plundering  his  bene- 
factor, what  prospect  is  there  that  I  can  find  means  of 
frustrating  a  plan  so  deeply  laid  ?  " 

"  The  prospect,"  she  replied,  ''  indeed,  may  be  uncer- 
tain; but,  on  the  other  hand,  there  is  no  possibility  of 
your  doing  any  service  to  your  father  by  remaining  here. 
Remember,  had  you  been  on  the  post  destined  for  you, 
this  disaster  could  not  have  happened:  hasten  to  that 
which  is  now  pointed  out,  and  it  may  possibly  be  re- 
trieved.— Yet  stay — do  not  leave  this  room  until  I  re- 
turn." 

She  left  him  in  confusion  and  amazement;  amid 
which,  however,  he  could  find  a  lucid  interval  to  admire 
the  firmness,  composure,  and  presence  of  mind  which 


ROB  ROY.  117 

Miss  Yernon  seemed  to  possess  on  every  crisis,  however 
sudden. 

In  a  few  minutes  she  returned  with  a  sheet  of  paper 
in  her  hand,  folded  and  sealed  like  a  letter,  but  without 
address.  "  I  trust  you,"  she  said,  ^^  with  this  proof  of 
my  friendship  because  I  have  the  most  perfect  confi- 
dence in  your  honor.  If  I  understand  the  nature  of 
your  distress  rightly,  the  funds  in  Eashleigh's  possession 
must  be  recovered  by  a  certain  day — the  12tli  of  Septem- 
ber, I  think  is  named — in  order  that  they  may  be  ap- 
plied to  pay  the  bills  in  question;  and,  consequently, 
that  if  adequate  funds  be  provided  before  that  period, 
your  father's  credit  is  safe  from  the  apprehended  ca- 
lamity.'' 

"  Certainly — I  so  understand  Mr.  Tresham."  He 
looked  at  the  letter  again,  and  added,  '^  There  can  not  be 
a  doubt  of  it." 

"  Well,"  said  Diana,  "  in  that  case  my  little  Pacolet 
may  be  of  use  to  you.  You  have  heard  of  a  spell  con- 
tained in  a  letter.  Take  this  packet;  do  not  open  it 
until  other  and  ordinary  means  have  failed.  If  you  suc- 
ceed by  your  own  exertions,  I  trust  to  your  honor  for  de- 
stroying it  without  opening  or  suffering  it  to  be  opened; 
but  if  not,  you  may  break  the  seal  within  ten  days  of  the 
fated  day,  and  you  will  find  directions  which  may  pos- 
sibly be  of  service  to  you.  Adieu,  Frank;  we  never 
meet  more — but  sometimes  think  of  your  friend  Die  Yer- 
non." 

She  extended  her  hand,  but  he  clasped  her  to  his 
bosom.     She  sighed  as  she  extricated  herself  from  the 
embrace  which  she  permitted — escaped  to  the  door  which 
led  to  her  own  apartment — and  Frank  saw  her  no  more. 
9 


CHAPTER    XY. 

And  hurry,  hurry,  off  they  roile. 

As  fast  as  fast  might  be  ; 
Hurra !  hurra !  the  dead  can  ride, 

Dost  fear  to  ride  with  me  'i 

Burger. 

On  reaching  his  own  apartment,  Frank  again  perused 
the  letter  of  Mr.  Tresham,  finding  the  substance  of  it 
to  be  an  entreaty  to  him  to  go  to  Glasgow  to  Messrs. 
MacVittie,  MacFin  and  Company,  as  soon  as  possible, 
to  meet  with  Owen,  who  would  give  him  the  particulars 
of  the  evil  done  by  Eashleigh.  After  consideration, 
Frank  resolved  to  depart  from  Osbaldistone  Hall  the 
next  day  and  wend  his  way  without  loss  of  time  to  Glas- 
gow. But  there  was  one  drawback  to  the  speed  which 
would  be  necessary  on  his  journey — namely,  his  lack  of 
knowledge  as  to  the  nearest  route — or  indeed  any  route 
— to  Scotland.  As  it  was  of  the  greatest  importance 
that  he  should  reach  Glasgow  with  the  least  delay  pos- 
sible, he  decided  to  consult  Andrew  Fairservice  on  this 
important  point.  Late  as  it  was,  he  set  off  for  the  dwell- 
ing of  the  gardener,  which  was  situated  at  no  great  dis- 
tance from  the  Hall.  He  had  no  difficulty  in  finding 
Andrew,  who  was  occupied  in  reading  aloud  to  himself 
a  weighty  volume  of  the  "  worthy  Doctor  Lightfoot." 
Frank  interrupted  this  devotional  occupation  by  enter- 
118 


ROB  ROY.  119 

ing  the  cottage  and  requesting  of  Andrew  information 
as  to  the  road  he  should  pursue  to  Glasgow.  After  some 
parleying,  during  which  Frank  restrained  his  impatience 
with  diliiculty,  Andrew  confessed  his  desire — and  in- 
tention— to  serve  as  Frank's  guide  to  Scotland.  Find- 
ing Andrew  well  acquainted  with  all  the  short  cuts 
through  the  district  which  he  must  traverse  to  reach 
Glasgow,  Frank  accepted  the  proposal  without  much 
hesitation.  Setting  the  hour  tor  departure  at  three 
o'clock  in  the  morning,  he  had  just  time  to  return  to 
the  Hall,  pack  the  few  articles  that  would  be  necessary 
on  his  journey,  write  a  note  to  his  uncle — expressing  his 
thanks  for  his  hospitality,  and  assuring  him  that  sudden 
and  important  business  only  prevented  his  offering  them 
in  person — and  snatch  a  brief  sleep  before  setting  forth. 

At  the  appointed  hour  he  found  Andrew  Fairservice 
waiting  for  him  at  the  gate  of  the  avenue.  They  trav- 
eled at  a  swift  pace  until  dawn,  when  they  had  reached 
the  top  of  a  high,  bleak  ridge.  xVndrew  cast  a  look  be- 
hind him,  and  not  seeing  the  appearance  of  a  living  thing 
on  the  moors  which  he  had  traveled,  his  hard  features 
gradually  unbent,  as  he  first  whistled,  then  sung,  with 
much  glee,  the  end  of  one  of  his  native  songs: 

Jenny  lass  !  I  think  I  hae  her, 
Ower  the  muir  araang  the  heather; 
All  their  elan  shall  never  get  her. 

He  patted  at  the  same  time  the  neck  of  the  horse 
which  he  rode,  which  action  directed  Frank's  attention 
to  the  animal,  and  he  instantly  recognized  a  favorite 
mare  of  Thorncliff  Osbaldistone's.  He  proceeded  to 
expostulate  with  Andrew,  but  to  little  avail,  for  the 


120  "  ^^^  ^OY. 

latter  protested  that  it  was  no  theft,  since  ThorncliS 
had  borrowed  ten  pounds  of  him  which  he  had  not  re- 
paid, and  therefore  he  was  but  taking  the  mare  as  his 
rightful  payment.  Frank  was  obliged  to  be  content 
with  this  reasoning,  but  inwardly  resolved  to  buy  the 
mare  at  the  end  of  the  journey  and  from  there  send  it 
back  to  his  cousin  at  Osbaldistone  Hall. 

Having  entered  Scotland,  they  turned  to  the  north- 
westward, and  pursjied  their  way  over  one  chain  of  bar- 
ren and  uninteresting  hills  after  another,  until  they 
came  into  the  open  and  more  fertile  valley  of  the  Clyde. 
They  now  speedily  gained  the  town  or  city  of  Glasgow. 
It  was  on  a  Saturday  evening  that  they  arrived,  too  late 
to  do  business  of  any  kind,  so  they  repaired  to  a  quiet 
inn  kept  by  a  "  jolly  hostler-wife,"  as  Andrew  called  her. 

On  the  following  morning,  though  it  was  the  Sab- 
bath, Frank's  first  desire  was  to  seek  out  Owen,  but  on 
inquiry  he  found  this  attempt  would  be  vain  until  after 
kirk-time.  The  urging  of  Andrew  Fairservice,  together 
with  the  assurance  that  Mr.  Ephraim  MacVittie  and 
his  guest — should  he  chance  to  have  one  within  his  gates 
— would,  without  doubt,  be  at  the  Barony  Kirk,  per- 
suaded Frank  to  accompany  Andrew  to  the  morning 
service.  Accordingly,  they  set  forth  in  the  direction  of 
the  Cathedral  of  Glasgow.  On  attaining  the  summit 
of  a  hill,  they  turned  to  the  left  and  passed  through  a 
large  pair  of  folding'  doors  into  the  burial  ground  sur- 
rounding the  church.  Andrew  led  the  way;  they  passed 
through  a  small,  low-arched  door,  secured  by  a  wicket, 
Avhich  a  grave-looking  person  seemed  on  the  point  of 
closing,  and  descended  several  steps  as  if  into  the  funeral 
vaults  beneath  the  church.     It  was  even  so,  for  in  these 


ROB  ROY.  121 

subterranean  precincts  was  established  a  very  singular 
place  of  worship. 

There  was  an  extensive  range  orf  low,  dark,  twilight 
vaults  divided  into  parts  by  huge  pillars  which  served  to 
support  the  cathedral  proper.  A  portion  of  the  vaults 
was  seated  with  pews  and  used  as  a  church  by  those  of 
the  Presbyterian  faith. 

It  must  be  admitted  that  Frank  found  it  difficult  to 
fix  his  attention  on  the  service,  and  often  his  eyes  wan- 
dered over  the  congregation,  searching  for  Owen's  face 
among  the  multitude;  or  strained  themselves  to  pene- 
trate into  the  dark  and  further  recesses  of  the  vaults. 
He  was  at  length  just  endeavoring  to  confine  his  eyes  to 
the  face  of  the  preacher  and  his  mind  to  the  words  of  the 
sermon,  when  his  attention  was  again  distracted  by  a 
voice  from  behind,  which  whispered  distinctly  in  his  ear, 
"  You  are  in  danger  in  this  city."  Frank  turned,  but 
too  late,  to  catch  a  glimpse  of  the  person  who  had  ut- 
tered this  mysterious  caution.  All  those  around  wore 
a  look  of  stolid  attention  to  the  sermon;  it  was  impos- 
sible one  of  them  could  have  addressed  him.  A  massive 
round  pillar  close  behind  him  might  have  concealed  the 
speaker.  Frank  resolved  to  again  fix  his  attention  on 
the  preacher,  thinking  that  probably  the  communication 
would  be  repeated,  on  the  conjecture  that  the  first  had 
not  been  heard.  This  plan  succeeded,  and  he  had  not  re- 
sumed his  appearance  of  attention  for  five  minutes  ere 
the  same  voice  whispered: 

"  Listen,  but  do  not  look  back.  You  are  in  danger  in 
this  place,  so  am  I — meet  me  to-night  on  the  Brigg,  at 
twelve  preceesely — keep  at  home  till  the  gloaming,  and 
avoid  observation.'' 


122  ROB  ROY. 

Here  the  voice  ceased,  and  Frank  instantly  turned 
his  head.  But  the  speaker  had,  with  still  greater  promp- 
titude, glided  behind  the  pillar,  and  escaped  his  ob- 
servation. He  was  determined  to  catch  sight  of  him, 
if  possible,  and  extricating  himself  from  the  outer  circle 
of  hearers,  he  also  stepped  behind  the  column.  All  there 
w^as  empty;  and  he  could  only  see  a  figure  wrapped  in 
a  mantle,  a  Lowland  cloak,  or  Highland  plaid,  which 
traversed,  like  a  phantom,  the  dreary  vacuity  of  vaults. 

Pursuit  was  useless,  for  the  mysterious  form  glided 
swiftly  away  and  vanished  in  the  darkness.  Frank  was 
compelled  to  resign  himself  with  the  best  grace  he  could, 
to  wait  until  the  service  should  be  ended.  As  the  con- 
gregation dispersed,  Andrew  exclaimed:  "  See  yonder  is 
worthy  Mr.  MacVittie  and  Mrs.  MacVittie  and  Miss 
Alison  MacVittie  and  Mr.  Thamas  MacFin,  that  they 
say  is  to  marry  Miss  Alison,  if  a'  bowls  right — she'll  hae 
a  hantle  siller  if  she's  no  that  bonny." 

Mr.  MacVittie  was  a  tall,  thin,  elderly  man,  with 
hard  features,  thick  gray  eyebrows,  light  eyes,  and,  as 
Frank  imagined,  a  sinister  expression  of  countenance. 
Frank  decided  not  to  address  himself  directly  to  this 
gentleman,  as  he  had  first  intended,  but  to  send  Andrew 
to  inquire  at  Mr.  MacVittie's  house  the  address  of  Mr. 
Owen,  charging  him  not  to  mention  the  person  from 
whom  he  received  the  commission. 

In  the  afternoon  Frank  shut  himself  up  in  his  apart- 
ment at  the  inn,  and  having  dismissed  Andrew  to  go  to 
St.  Enoch's  Kirk,  set  himself  earnestly  to  consider  what 
was  best  to  be  done,  and  to  while  away  the  hours  until 
the  time  when  he  should  keep  the  appointment  with  his 
strange  friend — or  foe.     But,  having  once  seriously  de- 


ROB  ROY.  123 

termined  to  keep  this  engagement,  his  impatience  got  the 
better  of  him  and  he  sallied  forth,  several  hours  before 
the  appointed  time.  At  length,  as  he  paced  the  bridge 
across  the  Clyde,  the  city  clock  tolled  the  hour  of  mid- 
night, and  the  echo  of  the  last  stroke  had  scarce  ceased 
to  sound,  when  a  figure  beneath  the  middle  size,  strong, 
thick-set  and  muscular,  wrapped  in  a  horseman's  cloak, 
passed  along  the  bridge  from  the  southern  side  of  the 
river.  Frank  advanced,  slackened  his  pace  as  he  came 
near  to  the  man,  in  expectation  that  he  would  address 
him;  but  to  his  disappointment  the  figure  passed  on, 
without  speaking,  to  the  northern  end  of  the  bridge. 
He  then  paused,  looked  back,  turned  around  and  again 
advanced  toward  Frank,  who  resolved  to  address  him 
this  time. 

"  You  walk  late,  sir,"  said  he. 

"  I  bide  tryste,"  was  the  reply;  "  and  so  I  think  do 
3^ou,  Mr.  Osbaldistone." 

"  You  are  then  the  person  who  requested  to  meet  me 
here  at  this  unusual  hour?  " 

"  I  am,"  he  replied.  "  Follow  me  and  you  shall 
know  my  reasons." 

"  Before  following  you,  I  must  know  your  name  and 
purpose,"  Frank  answered. 

"  I  am  a  man,"  was  the  reply;  "  and  my  purpose  is 
friendly  to  you." 

"A  man!"  Frank  repeated;  "that  is  a  very  brief 
description." 

"  It  will  serve  for  one  who  has  no  other  to  give,"  said 
the  stranger.  "  He  that  is  without  name,  without 
friends,  without  coin,  without  country,  is  still  at  least  a 
man;  and  he  that  hath  all  these  is  no  more." 


;[24:  I^OB  ROY. 

^'  Yet  this  is  still  too  general  an  account  of  yourself, 
to  say  the  least  of  it,  to  establish  your  credit  with  a 
stranger." 

^'  It  is  all  I  mean  to  give,  howsoe'er;  you  may  choose 
to  follow  me,  or  to  remain  without  the  information  I 
desire  to  afford  you." 

"  Can  you  not  give  me  that  information  here  ? " 
Frank  demanded. 

"  You  must  receive  it  from  your  eyes,  not  from  my 
tongue — you  must  follow  me,  or  remain  in  ignorance  of 
the  information  which  I  have  to  give  you." 

There  was  something  short,  determined,  and  even 
stern,  in  the  man's  manner,  not  certainly  well  calculated 
to  conciliate  undoubting  confidence. 

"What  is  it  you  fear?"  he  said  impatiently.  "To 
whom,  think  ye,  is  your  life  of  such  consequence,  that 
they  should  seek  to  bereave  ye  of  it?  " 

"  I  fear  nothing,"  Frank  replied  firmly,  though  some- 
what hastily.     "  Walk  on — I  attend  you." 

They  proceeded  to  re-enter  the  town,  and  glided  like 
mute  spectres,  side  by  side,  up  its  empty  and  silent 
streets.  The  high  and  gloomy  stone  fronts,  with  the 
variegated  ornaments  and  pediments  of  the  windows, 
looked  yet  taller  and  more  sable  by  the  imperfect  moon- 
shine. Their  walk  was  for  some  minutes  in  perfect  si- 
lence.    At  length  Frank's  conductor  spoke. 

"  Are  you  afraid  ?  " 

"  I  retort  your  own  words,"  Frank  replied;  "  where 
fore  should  I  fear?" 

"  Because  you  are  with  a  stranger — perhaps  an  ene- 
my, in  a  place  where  you  have  no  friends  and  many 


ROB  ROY.  125 

"I  neither  fear  you  nor  them;  I  am  young,  active, 
and  armed." 

"  I  am  not  armed,"  replied  the  conductor;  "  but  no 
matter,  a  willing  hand  never  lacked  weapon.  You  say 
you  fear  nothing;  but  if  you  knew  who  was  by  your  side, 
perhaps  you  might  underlie  a  tremor." 

"  And  why  should  I?  "  replied  Frank.  "  I  again  re- 
peat, I  fear  naught  that  you  can  do." 

"  Naught  that  I  can  do? — Be  it  so.  But  do  you  not 
fear  the  consequences  of  being  found  with  one  whose 
very  name  whispered  in  this  lonely  street  would  make 
the  stones  themselves  rise  up  to  apprehend  him — on 
whose  head  half  the  men  in  Glasgow  would  build  their 
fortune  as  on  a  found  treasure,  had  they  the  luck  to 
grip  him  by  the  collar — the  sound  of  whose  appre- 
hension were  as  welcome  at  the  Cross  of  Edinburgh 
as  ever  the  news  of  a  field  stricken  and  won  in  Flan- 
ders ?  " 

"  And  who  then  are  you,  whose  name  should  create  so 
deep  a  feeling  of  terror?  "  Frank  replied. 

''  Xo  enemy  of  yours,  since  I  am  conveying  you  to  a 
place  where,  were  I  myself  recognized  and  identified, 
iron  to  the  heels  and  hemp  to  the  craig  would  be  my 
brief  dooming." 

Frank  paused  and  stood  still  on  the  pavement,  draw- 
ing back  so  as  to  have  the  most  perfect  view  of  his  com- 
panion which  the  light  afforded,  and  which  was  sufficient 
to  guard  against  any  sudden  motion  of  assault. 

"  Y^ou  have  said,"  Frank  answered,  "  either  too  much 
or  too  little — too  much  to  induce  me  to  confide  in  you 
as  a  mere  stranger,  since  you  avow  yourself  a  person 
amenable  to  the  laws  of  the  country  in  which  we  are — 


126  ROB  EOY. 

and  too  little,  unless  you  could  show  that  you  are  un- 
justly subjected  to  their  rigor." 

As  he  ceased  to  speak,  the  man  made  a  step  toward 
him.  Frank  drew  back  instinctively,  and  laid  his  hand 
on  the  hilt  of  his  sword. 

"What?"  said  the  stranger,  "on  an  unarmed  man, 
and  your  friend?  " 

"  I  am  yet  ignorant  if  you  are  either  the  one  or  the 
other,"  Frank  replied;  "  and  to  say  the  truth,  your  lan- 
guage and  manner  might  well  entitle  me  to  doubt  both." 

"  It  is  manfully  spoken,"  replied  his  conductor; 
"  and  I  respect  him  whose  hand  can  keep  his  head.  I 
will  be  frank  and  free  with  you — I  am  conveying  you  to 
prison." 

"To  prison!"  Frank  exclaimed;  "by  what  warrant 
or  for  what  offense?  You  shall  have  my  life  sooner 
than  my  liberty — I  defy  you,  and  I  will  not  follow  you 
a  step  farther." 

"  I  do  not,"  he  said,  "  carry  you  there  as  a  prisoner; 
I  am,"  he  added,  drawing  himself  haughtily  up,  "'  neither 
a  messenger  nor  sheriff's  officer.  I  carry  you  to  see  a 
prisoner  from  whose  lips  you  will  learn  the  risk  in  which 
you  presently  stand.  Your  liberty  is  little  risked  by  the 
visit;  mine  is  in  some  peril;  but  that  I  readily  encounter 
on  your  account,  for  I  care  not  for  risk,  and  I  love  a  free 
young  blood,  that  kens  no  protector  but  the  cross  o'  the 
sword." 

While  he  spoke  thus,  they  had  reached  the  principal 
street,  and  were  pausing  before  a  large  building  of  hewn 
stone,  garnished  with  gratings  of  iron  before  the  win- 
dows. 

"  Muckle,"  said  the  stranger,  whose  language  became 


ROB  ROY.  127 

more  broadly  national  as  he  assumed  a  tone  of  colloquial 
freedom — "  muckle  wad  the  provost  and  bailies  o'  Glas- 
gow gie  to  hae  him  sitting  within  iron  garters  to  his 
hose  within  their  tolbooth  that  now  stands  wi'  his  legs 
as  free  as  the  red-deer's  on  the  outside  on't.  And  little 
wad  it  avail  them;  for  an  if  they  had  me  there  wi'  a 
Stan's  weight  o'  iron  at  every  ankle,  I  would  show  them 
a  toom  room  and  a  lost  lodger  before  to-morrow.  But 
come  on,  what  stint  ye  for?  " 

As  he  spoke  thus,  he  tapped  a  low  wicket,  and  was 
answered  by  a  sharp  voice,  as  of  one  awakened  from 
a  dream  or  reverie — "  Fa's  tat? — Wh,a's  that,  I  wad  say? 
— and  fat  a  deil  want  ye  at  this  hour  at  e'en? — Clean 
again  rules — clean  again  rules,  as  they  ca'  them." 

The  protracted  tone  in  which  the  last  words  were 
uttered  betokened  that  the  speaker  was  again  composing 
himself  to  slumber.  But  Frank's  guide  spoke  in  a  loud 
whisper:  "  Dougal,  man  I  hae  ye  forgotten  Ha  nun  Gre- 
garach  ?  " 

"  Deil  a  bit,  deil  a  bit,"  was  the  ready  and  lively  re- 
sponse, and  the  internal  guardian  of  the  prison-gate 
bustled  up  with  great  alacrity.  A  few  words  were  ex- 
changed between  the  conductor  and  the  turnkey  in  a 
language  of  which  Frank  was  an  absolute  stranger.  The 
bolts  revolved,  but  with  a  caution  which  marked  the  ap- 
prehension that  the  noise  might  be  overheard,  and  they 
stood  within  the  vestibule  of  the  prison  of  Glasgow. 


CHAPTER    XYI. 

Look  round  thee,  young  Astolpho :  Here's  the  place 
Which  men  (for  being  poor)  are  sent  to  starve  in ; 
Rude  remedy,  I  trow,  for  sore  disease. 
Within  these  walls,  stifled  by  damp  and  stench, 
Doth  Hope's  fair  torch  expire ;  and  at  the  snuff. 
Ere  yet  'tis  quite  extinct,  rude,  wild,  and  wayward, 
The  desperate  revelries  of  wild  despair, 
Kindling  their  hell-born  cressets,  light  to  deeds 
That  the  poor  captive  would  have  died  ere  practiced, 
Till  bondage  sunk  his  soul  to  his  condition. 

The  Prison,  Scene  III,  Act  I. 

Frank  turned  an  eager  glance  toward  his  con- 
ductor; but  the  lamp  in  the  vestibule  was  too  low  in 
flame  to  give  his  curiosity  any  satisfaction  by  affording 
a  distinct  perusal  of  his  features.  As  the  turnkey  held 
the  light  in  his  hand,  the  beams  fell  more  full  on  his 
own  scarce  less  interesting  figure.  He  was  a  wild,  shock- 
headed  looking  animal,  whose  profusion  of  red  hair  cov- 
ered and  obscured  his  features,  which  were  otherwise 
only  characterized  by  the  extravagant  joy  that  affected 
him  at  the  sight  of  Frank's  guide.  He  grinned,  he 
shivered,  he  laughed,  he  was  near  crying,  if  he  did  not 
actually  cry.  He  had  a  "  Where  shall  I  go  ? — What 
can  I  do  for  you  ?  "  expression  of  face.  The  fellow's 
voice  seemed  choking  in  his  ecstasy,  and  only  could  ex- 
press itself  in  such  interjections  as  "  Oigh!  oigh! — Ay! 
128 


ROB  ROY.  129 

ay! — it's  lang  since  she's  seen  ye!  "  and  other  exclama- 
tions equally  brief,  expressed  in  the  same  unknown 
tongue.  Frank's  guide  received  all  this  excess  of  joyful 
gratulation  much  like  a  prince  too  early  accustomed 
to  the  homage  of  those  around  him  to  be  much  moved 
by  it,  yet  willing  to  requite  it  by  the  usual  form  of  royal 
courtesy.  He  extended  his  hand  graciously  toward  the 
turnkey,  with  civil  inquiry  of  "  How's  a'  wi'  you,  Dou- 
gal?" 

'"  Oigh!  oigh!"  exclaimed  Dougal,  softening  the 
sharp  exclamation  of  his  surprise  as  he  looked  around 
with  an  eye  of  watchful  alarm — ''oigh!  to  see  you  here 
— to  see  you  here! — oigh! — what  will  come  o'  ye  gin  the 
bailies  suld  come  to  get  witting — ta  filthy,  gutty  hal- 
lions,  tat  they  are?  " 

The  guide  placed  his  finger  on  his  lip,  and  said: 
"  Fear  nothing,  Dougal;  your  hands  shall  never  draw  a 
bolt  on  me." 

"  Tat  sail  they  no,"  said  Dougal;  '^  she  suld — she 
wad — that  is,  she  wishes  them  hacked  aff  by  the  elbows 
first.  But  when  are  ye  gaun  yonder  again?  and  ye'U 
no  forget  to  let  her  ken — she's  your  puir  cousin,  God 
kens,  only  seven  times  removed." 

"  I  will  let  you  ken,  Dougal,  as  soon  as  my  plans  are 
settled." 

"  And,  by  her  sooth,  when  you  do,  an  it  were  twal  o' 
the  Sunday  at  e'en,  she'll  fling  her  keys  at  the  provost's 
head  or  she  gie  them  anither  turn,  and  that  or  ever  Mon- 
day morning  begins — see  if  she  winna." 

The  mysterious  stranger  cut  his  acquaintance's  ec- 
stasies short  by  again  addressing  him,  explaining  the 
services  which  he  required  at  his  hand.     The  answer. 


130  ROB  ROY. 

"  Wi'  a'  her  heart — wi'  a'  her  soul/'  with  a  good  deal  of 
indistinct  muttering  in  a  similar  tone,  intimated  the 
turnkey's  acquiescence  in  what  he  proposed.  The  fellow 
trimmed  his  d3'ing  lamp,  and  made  a  sign  to  Frank  to 
follow  him. 

"Do  you  not  go  with  us?"  said  Frank,  looking  to 
his  conductor. 

"It  is  unnecessary,"  he  replied;  "my  company  may 
be  inconvenient  for  you,  and  I  had  better  remain  to  se- 
cure our  retreat." 

"  I  do  not  suppose  you  mean  to  betray  me  to  dan- 
ger," said  Frank. 

"  To  none  but  what  I  partake  in  doubly,"  answered 
the  stranger,  with  a  voice  of  assurance  which  it  was  im- 
possible to  mistrust. 

Frank  followed  the  turnkey,  who  led  him  up  a  turn- 
pil'e  (so  the  Scotch  call  a  winding  stair),  then  along  a 
narrow  gallery — then  opening  one  of  several  doors 
which  led  into  the  passage,  he  ushered  him  into  a  small 
apartment,  and  casting  his  eye  on  the  pallet-bed  which 
occupied  one  corner,  said  with  an  under  voice,  as  he 
placed  the  lamp  on  a  little  table,  "  She's  sleeping." 

"  She! — who? — can  it  be  Diana  Vernon  in  this  abode 
of  misery?  " 

Frank  turned  his  eye  to  the  bed,  and  it  was  with  a 
mixture  of  disappointment,  oddly  mingled  with  pleasure, 
that  he  saw  his  first  suspicion  had  deceived  him.  He 
saw  a  head  neither  young  nor  beautiful,  garnished  with 
a  gray  beard  of  two  days'  growth,  and  accommodated 
with  a  red  nightcap.  As  the  slumberer  awoke  from  a 
heavy  sleep,  yawned,  and  rubbed  his  eyes,  Frank  recog- 
nized the  features  of  his  poor  friend  Owen. 


ROB  ROY.  131 

Tlie  unfortunate  formalist,  raising  himself  from  the 
pallet-bed  with  the  assistance  of  one  hand,  and  scratch- 
ing his  cap  with  the  other,  exclaimed  in  a  voice  in  which 
as  much  peevishness  as  he  was  capable  of  feeling,  con- 
tended with  drowsiness,  "  I'll  tell  you  what,  Mr.  Dug- 
well,  or  whatever  your  name  may  be,  the  sum-total  of 
the  matter  is,  that  if  my  natural  rest  is  to  be  broken  in 
this  manner,  I  must  complain  to  the  lord  mayor." 

"  Shentlemans  to  speak  wi'  her,"  replied  Dougal, 
resuming  the  true  dogged  sullen  tone  of  a  turnkey,  in  ex- 
change for  the  shrill  clang  of  Highland  congratulation 
with  which  he  had  welcomed  the  mysterious  guide;  and, 
turning  on  his  heel,  he  left  the  apartment. 

It  was  some  time  before  Frank  could  prevail  upon 
the  unfortunate  sleeper  awakening  to  recognize  him; 
and  when  he  did  so,  the  distress  of  the  worthy  creature 
was  extreme,  at  supposing,  which  he  naturally  did,  that 
Frank  had  been  sent  thither  as  a  partner  of  his  cap- 
tivity. 

"  0  Mr.  Frank,  what  have  you  brought  yourself  and 
the  house  to?  I  think  nothing  of  myself,  that  am  a 
mere  cipher,  so  to  speak;  but  you,  that  was  your  father's 
sum-total — his  omnium — you  that  might  have  been  the 
first  man  in  the  first  house  in  the  first  city,  to  be  shut  up 
in  a  nasty  Scotch  jail,  where  one  can  not  even  get  the 
dirt  brushed  off  his  clothes!  " 

He  rubbed,  with  an  air  of  peevish  irritation,  the  once 
stainless  brown  coat,  which  had  now  shared  some  of  the 
impurities  of  the  floor  of  his  prison-house — his  habits 
of  extreme  punctilious  neatness  acting  mechanically  to 
increase  his  distress.  "  0  Heaven,  be  gracious  to  us!  " 
he  continued.     "  What  news  this  will  be  on  'Change! 


132  ROB  ROY. 

There  has  not  the  hke  come  there  since  the  battle  of  Al- 
manza,  where  the  total  of  the  British  loss  was  summed 
up  to  five  thousand  men  killed  and  wounded,  besides  a 
floating  balance  of  missing — but  what  will  that  be  to  the 
news  that  Osbaldistone  and  Tresham  have  stopped!  '^ 

Frank  broke  in  on  his  lamentations  to  tell  him  that 
he  was  no  prisoner,  and  at  length  succeeded  in  quieting 
him  sufficiently  to  obtain  such  information  concerning 
his  father's  affairs  as  he  was  able  to  give.  It  was  to  the 
effect  that  of  the  two  correspondents  of  the  house  of  Os- 
baldistone and  Tresham,  in  Glasgow,  both  Mr.  Osbaldi- 
stone and  Owen  had  found  the  house  of  MacVittie,  Mac- 
Fin  and  Company  more  obliging  than  Mr.  Nicol  Jarvie, 
the  other  correspondent,  who  disliked  the  English  as 
much  as  Mr.  Osbaldistone  did  the  Scotch;  was  extremely 
tenacious  of  his  own  opinions,  and  was  totally  indiffer- 
ent, though  the  authority  of  all  Lombard  Street  had 
stood  against  his  own  private  opinion.  Therefore,  Mr. 
Owen,  upon  his  arrival  in  Glasgow,  had  not  hesitated  to 
go  directly  to  MacVittie,  MacFin  and  Company  and  to 
them  state  his  difficulties.  The  partners  immediately 
examined  their  ledger,  and  on  finding  that  the  financial 
scale  depressed  considerably  against  the  English  firm, 
grew  cold  in  their  treatment  of  Owen  and  refused  direct- 
ly any  assistance,  demanding  instead,  instant  security 
against  imminent  hazard  of  eventual  loss. 

Owen,  having  a  small  share  in  the  house  to  which  he 
acted  as  head  clerk,  was  personally  liable  for  all  its  ob- 
ligations. Messrs.  MacVittie  and  MacFin,  knowing  this, 
caused  Owen  to  be  arrested  and  imprisoned,  under  a 
Scottish  law  providing  for  such  arrest  when  the  creditor 
makes  oath  that  the  debtor  meditates  departing  from 


ROB  ROY.  133 

the  realm.  As  a  last  recourse  Owen  had  that  morning 
sent  a  letter  to  Mr.  Xicol  Jarvie,  but  without  hope  of 
help;  for  if  the  smooth-tongued  and  civil  house  of  Mac- 
Yittie,  MacFin  and  Company  had  treated  him  so  hardly, 
what  could  be  expected  from  the  cross-grained  Mr. 
Jarvie? 

In  the  midst  of  Frank's  interview  with  his  poor 
friend  Owen,  a  loud  knocking  at  the  outer  door  of  the 
prison  was  heard.  Presently  Frank's  mysterious  guide 
bounded  into  the  apartment,  looked  hastily  about  for 
some  place  of  concealment,  but  finding  none  he  stripped 
off  his  coat,  and,  assuming  an  attitude  of  defense,  boldly 
stationed  himself  in  front  of  the  door.  Within  a  short 
space  of  time  a  good-looking  young  woman  ushered  into 
the  apartment  a  more  important  personage — stout,  short, 
and  somewhat  corpulent,  and  by  dignity,  as  it  soon  ap- 
peared, a  magistrate.  At  his  appearance  Frank's  con- 
ductor drew  back  as  if  to  escape  observation. 

The  magistrate  hastily  reconnoitcred  the  apartment, 
and  then  proceeded  to  chide  the  jailer  for  his  negligence 
in  the  following  terms: 

^'  A  bonny  thing  it  is,  and  a  beseeming,  that  I  should 
be  kept  at  the  door  half  an  hour.  Captain  Stanchells," 
said  he,  addressing  the  principal  jailer,  who  now  showed 
himself  at  the  door  as  if  in  attendance  on  the  great  man, 
"  knocking  as  hard  to  get  into  the  tolbooth  as  onybody 
else  wad  to  get  out  of  it,  could  that  avail  them,  poor 
fallen  creatures!  And  how's  this?  how's  this?  strangers 
in  jail  after  lock-up  hours,  and  on  the  Sabbath  even- 
ing. I  shall  look  after  this,  Stanchells,  you  may  de- 
pend on't.  Keep  the  door  locked,  and  I'll  speak  to  these 
gentlemen  in  a  gliffing.  But  first  I  maun  hae  a  crack  wi' 
10 


134  I^OB  HOY. 

an  auld  acquaintance  here. — Mr.  Owen^  Mr.  Owen,  how's 
a'  wi'  ye,  man  ?  " 

"  Pretty  well  in  body,  I  thank  you,  Mr.  Jarvie/' 
drawled  out  poor  Owen,  ^'  but  sore  afflicted  in  spirit." 

"  Nae  doubt,  nae  doubt — ay,  ay — it's  an  awf  u' 
whummle — and  for  ane  that  held  his  head  sae  high  too — 
human  nature,  human  nature.  Ay,  ay,  we're  a'  subject 
to  a  downcome.  Mr.  Osbaldistone  is  a  gude  honest  gen- 
tleman; but  I  aye  said  he  was  ane  o'  them  wad  make  a 
spune  or  spoil  a  horn,  as  my  father  the  worthy  deacon 
used  to  say.  The  deacon  used  to  say  to  me,  '  Nick — 
young  Xick '  (his  name  was  Nicol  as  weel  as  mine;  sae 
folk  ca'd  us  in  their  daffin'.  Young  Nick  and  Auld  Nick) 
— ^  Nick,'  said  he  '  never  put  out  your  arm  farther  than 
ye  can  draw  it  easily  back  again.'  I  hae  said  sae  to  Mr. 
Osbaldistone,  and  he  didna  seem  to  take  it  a'thegither  sae 
kind  as  I  wished;  but  it  was  weel  meant — weel  meant. 
But  cheer  up  a  gliff!  D'ye  think  I  wad  hae  comed 
out  at  twal  o'clock  at  night,  and  amaist  broken  the  Lord's 
day,  just  to  tell  a  fa'en  man  o'  his  backslidings  ?  Na, 
na,  that's  no  Bailie  Jarvie's  gate,  nor  was't  his  worthy 
father's  the  deacon  afore  him.  Why,  man !  it's  my  rule 
never  to  think  on  warldly  business  on  the  Sabbath,  and 
though  I  did  a'  I  could  to  keep  your  note  that  I  gat  this 
morning  out  o'  my  head,  yet  I  thought  mair  on  it  a' 
day  than  on  the  preaching.  And  it's  my  rule  to  gang  to 
my  bed  wi'  the  yellow  curtains  preceesely  at  ten  o'clock 
— unless  I  were  eating  a  haddock  wi'  a  neighbor,  or  a 
neighbor  wi'  me — ask  the  lass-quean  there  if  it  isna  a 
fundamental  rule  in  my  household;  and  here  I  hae  sit- 
ten  up  reading  gude  books,  and  gaping  as  if  I  wad  swal- 
low St.Enox  Kirk,  till  it  chappit  twal,  whilk  was  a  lawfu' 


ROB  ROY.  135 

hour  to  gie  a  look  at  my  ledger,  just  to  see  how  things 
stood  between  us;  and  then,  as  time  and  tide  wait  for 
no  man,  I  made  the  lass  get  the  lantern,  and  came  slip- 
ping my  ways  here  to  see  what  can  be  done  anent  your 
afTairs.  Bailie  Jarvie  can  command  entrance  into  the 
tolbooth  at  ony  hour,  day  or  night;  sae  could  my  father 
the  deacon  in  his  time,  honest  man,  praise  to  his  mem- 
ory." 

Mr.  Jarvie,  sitting  on  the  edge  of  the  bed,  carefully 
examined  some  papers  which  he  had  asked  for,  and 
which  Owen  had  fortunately  been  able  to  supply.  When 
the  magistrate  had  mastered  the  contents  of  the  papers, 
he  addressed  himself  to  Mr.  Owen  as  follows: 

"  Weel,  Mr.  Owen,  weel — your  house  are  awin'  certain 
sums  to  Messrs.  MacYittie  and  MacFin  (shame  fa'  their 
souple  snouts!  they  made  that  and  mair  out  o'  a  bargain 
about  the  aik-woods  at  Glen-Cailziechat,  that  they  took 
out  atween  my  teeth — wi'  help  o'  your  gude  word,  I 
maun  needs  say,  Mr.  Owen — but  that  makes  nae  odds 
now).  Weel,  sir,  your  house  awes  them  this  siller;  and 
for  this,  and  relief  of  other  engagements  they  stand  in 
for  you,  they  hae  putten  a  double  turn  o'  Stanchells' 
muckle-key  on  ye.  Weel,  sir,  ye  awe  this  siller — and 
maybe  ye  awe  some  mair  to  some  other  body  too — maybe 
ye  awe  some  to  myself.  Bailie  Xicol  Jarvie." 

"  I  can  not  deny,  sir,  but  the  balance  may  of  this  date 
be  brought  out  against  us,  Mr.  Jarvie,"  said  Owen;  "  but 
you'll  please  to  consider " 

"  I  hae  nae  time  to  consider  e'enow,  Mr.  Owen — sae 
near  Sabbath  at  e'en  and  out  o'  ane's  warm  bed  at  this 
time  o'  night,  and  a  sort  o'  drow  in  the  air  besides — 
there's  nae  time  for  considering.     But,  sir,  as  I  was  say- 


136  ROB  ROY. 

ing,  3'e  awe  me  money — it  winna  deny — ye  awe  me 
money,  less  or  mair,  I'll  stand  by  it.  But  then,  Mr. 
Owen,  I  canna  see  how  you,  an  active  man  that  un- 
derstands business,  can  redd  out  the  business  ye're  come 
down  about,  and  clear  us  a'  aff — as  I  have  gritt  hope 
ye  will — if  ye're  keepit  lying  here  in  the  tolbooth  of 
Glasgow.  jSTow,  sir,  if  you  can  find  caution  judicio 
sisti — that  is,  that  ye  winna  flee  the  country,  but  ap- 
pear and  relieve  your  caution  when  ca'd  for  in  our 
legal  courts,  ye  may  be  set  at  liberty  this  verv  morn- 
ing." 

"  Mr.  Jarvie,"  said  Owen,  "  if  any  friend  would  be- 
come surety  for  me  to  that  effect,  my  liberty  might  be 
usefully  employed  doubtless,  both  for  the  house  and  all 
connected  with  it." 

"  Aweel,  sir,"  continued  Jarvie,  "  and  doubtless  such 
a  friend  wad  expect  ye  to  appear  when  ca'd  on,  and  re- 
lieve him  o'  his  engagement." 

"  And  I  should  do  so  as  certainly,  bating  sickness  or 
death,  as  that  two  and  two  make  four." 

"  Aweel,  Mr.  Owen,"  resumed  the  citizen  of  Glasgow, 
"  I  dinna  misdoubt  ye,  and  I'll  prove  it,  sir — I'll  prove 
it.  I  am  a  carefu'  man,  as  is  weel  ken'd,  and  industri- 
ous, as  the  hale  town  can  testify;  and  I  can  win  my 
crowns,  and  keep  my  crowns,  and  count  my  crowns,  wi' 
onybody  in  the  Saut  Market,  or  it  may  be  in  the  Gallow- 
gate.  And  I'm  a  prudent  man,  as  my  father  the  deacon 
was  before  me;  but  rather  than  an  honest  civil  gentleman, 
that  understands  business,  and  is  willing  to  do  justice  to 
all  men,  should  lie  by  the  heels  this  gate,  unable  to  help 
himself  or  onybody  else,  why,  conscience,  man!  I'll  be 
your  bail  myself — but  ye'll  mind  it's  a  bail  judicio  sisti. 


ROB  ROY.  137 

as  our  town  clerk  says,  not  judicatum  solvi;  ye'U  mind 
that,  for  there's  muckle  dilTerence/' 

Mr.  Owen  assured  him  that,  as  matters  then  stood,  he 
could  not  expect  any  one  to  become  surety  for  the  actual 
payment  of  a  debt,  but  that  there  was  not  the  most  dis- 
tant cause  for  apfprehending  loss  from  his  failing  to  pre- 
sent himself  when  lawfully  called  upon. 

*'  I  believe  ye — I  believe  ye.  Eneugh  said — eneugh 
said.  We'se  hae  your  legs  loose  by  breakfast-time. 
And  now  let's  hear  what  thir  chamber  chiels  o'  yours 
hae  to  say  for  themselves,  or  how,  in  the  name  of  unrule, 
they  got  here  at  this  time  o'  night." 


CHAPTER   XVII. 

Hame  came  our  gudeinan  at  e'en, 

And  hame  came  he, 
And  there  he  saw  a  man 

Where  a  man  suldna  be. 
"  How's  this  now,  kimmer  ? 

How's  this?"  quo  he— 
*'  How  came  this  carle  here 

Without  the  leave  o'  me  f  " 

Old  Song. 

The  magistrate  took  the  light  out  of  the  servant- 
maid's  hand,  and  advanced  to  his  scrutiny,  like  Diogenes 
in  the  street  of  Athens,  lantern  in  hand,  and  probably 
with  as  little  expectation  as  that  of  the  cynic  that  he  was 
likely  to  encounter  any  especial  treasure  in  the  course 
of  his  researches.  The  first  whom  he  approached  was 
the  mysterious  guide,  who,  seated  on  a  table  with  his  eyes 
firmly  fixed  on  the  wall,  his  features  arranged  into  the 
utmost  inflexibility  of  expression,  his  hands  folded  on  his 
breast  with  an  air  betwixt  carelessness  and  defiance,  his 
heel  patting  against  the  foot  of  the  table,  to  keep  time 
with  the  tune  which  he  continued  to  whistle,  submitted 
to  Mr.  Jarvie's  investigation  with  an  air  of  absolute 
confidence  and  assurance,  which  for  a  moment  placed 
at  fault  the  memory  and  sagacity  of  the  acute  investi- 
gator. 

''Ah!  Eh!  Oh!"  exclaimed  the  Bailie.  "My 
138 


ROB  ROY.  139 

conscience! — it's  impossible! — and  yet — no!  Con- 
science!— it  canna  be! — and  yet  again — Deil  hae  me, 
tliat  I  suld  say  sae!  Ye  robber — ye  cateran — ye  born 
deevil  that  ye  are,  to  a'  bad  ends  and  nae  gude  ane! — can 
this  be  you?  " 

"  E'en  as  ye  see,  Bailie,"  was  the  laconic  answer. 

"  Conscience!  if  I  am  na  clean  biimbaized — yuu,  ye 
cheat-the-wuddy  rogue — you  here  on  your  venture  in  the 
tolbooth  o'  Glasgow?  What  d'ye  think's  the  value  o' 
your  head  ?  " 

"Umph!  why,  fairly  weighed,  and  Dutch  weight, 
it  might  weigh  down  one  provost's,  four  bailies',  a  town- 
clerk's,  six  deacons',  besides  stent-masters' " 

"  Ah,  ye  reiving  villian !  "  interrupted  Mr.  Jarvie. 
"  But  tell  ower  your  sins,  and  prepare  ye,  for  if  I  say  the 
word " 

"  True,  Bailie,"  said  he  who  was  thus  addressed, 
folding  his  hands  behind  him  with  the  utmost  7ion- 
clialance,  "  but  ye  will  never  say  that  word." 

"And  why  suld  I  not,  sir?"  exclaimed  the  magis- 
trate— "why  suld  I  not?  Answer  me  that — why  suld 
I  not?" 

"  For  three  sufficient  reasons.  Bailie  Jarvie.  First, 
for  auld  langsyne;  second,  for  the  sake  of  the  auld  wife 
ayont  the  fire  at  Stuckavrallachan,  that  made  some  mix- 
ture of  our  bluids,  to  my  own  proper  shame  be  it  spoken ! 
that  has  a  cousin  wi'  accounts,  and  yarn  winnles,  and 
looms  and  shuttles,  like  a  mere  mechanical  person;  and 
lastly.  Bailie,  because  if  I  saw  a  sign  o'  your  betraying 
me,  I  would  plaster  that  wa'  with  your  harns  ere  the 
hand  of  man  could  rescue  you!  " 

"  Ye're  a  bauld,  desperate  villain,  sir,"  retorted  the 


lJ-0  ROB  ROY. 

undaunted  Bailie ;  "  and  ye  ken  that  I  ken  ye  to  be 
sae,  and  that  I  wadna  stand  a  moment  for  my  ain 
risk/^ 

"  I  ken  weel/'  said  the  other,  "  ye  hae  gentle  bluid 
in  your  veins,  and  I  wad  be  laith  to  hurt  my  ain  kinsman. 
But  I'll  gang  out  here  as  free  as  I  came  in,  or  the  very 
wa's  o'  Glasgow  tolbooth  shall  tell  o't  these  ten  years  to 
come." 

"  Weel,  weel,''  said  Mr.  Jarvie,  "  bluid's  thicker  than 
water;  and  it  liesna  in  kith,  kin,  and  ally  to  see  motes 
in  ilka  other's  een  if  other  een  see  them  no.  It  wad  be 
sair  news  to  the  auld  wife  below  the  Ben  of  Stuckavralla- 
chan,  that  you,  ye  Hieland  limmer,  had  knockit  out  my 
harns,  or  that  I  had  kilted  you  uj)  in  a  tow.  But  ye'll 
own,  ye  dour  deevil,  that  were  it  no  your  very  sell,  I  wad 
hae  grippit  the  best  man  in  the  Hielands." 

"  Ye  wad  hae  tried,  cousin,"  answered  my  guide, 
"  that  I  wot  weel;  but  I  doubt  ye  wad  hae  come  aff  wi' 
the  short  measure;  for  we  gang-there-out  Hieland  bodies 
are  an  unchancy  generation  when  you  speak  "to  us  o' 
bondage.  We  downa  bide  the  coercion  of  gude  braid- 
claith  about  our  hinderlans,  let  a  be  breeks  o'  free-stone 
and  garters  o'  iron." 

"  Ye'll  find  the  stane  breeks  and  the  airn  garters — 
ay,  and  the  hemp  cravat,  for  a'  that,  neighbor,"  replied 
the  Bailie.  "  ]^ae  man  in  a  civilized  country  ever  played 
the  pliskies  ye  hae  done — but  e'en  pickle  in  your  ain 
pock-neuk.     I  hae  gi'en  ye  warning." 

"  Well,  cousin,"  said  the  other,  "  ye'll  wear  black  at 
my  burial." 

"  Deil  a  black  cloak  will  be  there,  Eobin,  but  the 
corbies  and  the  hoodie-craws,  I'se  gie  ye  my  hand  on 


ROB  ROY.  141 

that.  But  whar's  the  gude  thousand  pund  Scots  that  I 
lent  ye,  man,  and  when  am  I  to  see  it  again?  '' 

"  Where  it  is,"  replied  the  guide,  after  the  affectation 
of  considering  for  a  moment,  '^  I  can  not  justly  tell — 
probably  where  last  year's  snaw  is." 

"  And  that's  on  the  tap  of  Schehallion,  ye  Hieland 
dog,"  said  Mr.  Jarvie;  "  and  I  look  for  payment  frae 
you  where  ye  stand." 

"  Ay,"  replied  the  Highlander,  "  but  I  keep  neither 
snaw  nor  dollars  in  my  sporran.  And  as  to  when  you'll 
see  it — why,  just  when  the  king  enjoys  his  ain  again,  as 
the  auld  sang  says." 

"  Warst  of  a',  Eobin,"  retorted  the  Glaswegian — "I 
mean,  ye  dislo3'al  traitor — warst  of  a'!  wad  ye  bring 
popery  in  on  us,  and  arbitrary  power,  and  a  foist  and  a 
warming-pan,  and  tlie  set  forms,  and  the  curates,  and 
the  auld  enormities  o'  surplices  and  cerements?  Ye  had 
better  stick  to  your  auld  trade  o'  theft-boot,  blackmail, 
spreaghs,  and  gillravaging — better  stealing  nowte  than 
ruining  nations." 

"  Hout,  man — whisht  wi'  your  whiggery,"  answered 
the  Celt;  "  we  hae  ken'd  ane  anither  mony  a  lang  day. 
I'se  take  care  your  counting-room  is  no  cleaned  out  when 
the  Gillon-a-naillie  *  come  to  redd  up  the  Glasgow 
buiths,  and  clear  them  o'  their  auld  shop  wares.  And, 
unless  it  just  fa'  in  the  preceese  way  o'  your  duty,  ye 
maunna  see  me  oftener,  Nicol,  than  I  am  disposed  to 
be  seen." 

"  Ye  are  a  dauring  villain,  Eob,"  answered  the  Bailie; 
"  and  ye  will  be  hanged,  that  will  be  seen  and  heard  tell 

*  The  lads  with  the  kilts  or  petticoats. 


142  ROB  ROY. 

o';  but  I'se  ne'er  be  the  ill  bird  and  foul  my  nest,  set 
apart  strong  necessity  and  the  skreigh  of  duty,  which 
no  man  should  hear  and  be  inobedient. — x\nd  wha  the 
deeviFs  this?  ''  he  continued,  turning  to  Frank.  "  Some 
gillravager  that  ye  hae  listed,  I  daur  say.  He  looks  as 
if  he  had  a  bauld  heart  to  the  highway,  and  a  lang  craig 
for  the  gibbet.'' 

"  This,  good  Mr.  Jarvie,"  said  Owen,  who  had  been 
struck  dumb  during  this  strange  recognition,  and  no 
less  strange  dialogue,  which  took  place  betwixt  these 
extraordinary  kinsmen — "  this,  good  Mr.  Jarvie,  is 
young  Mr.  Frank  Osbaldistone,  only  child  of  the  head  of 
our  house,  who  should  have  been  taken  into  our  firm  at 
the  time  Mr.  Eashleigh  Osbaldistone,  his  cousin,  had  the 
luck  to  be  taken  into  it " — (here  Owen  could  not  sup- 
press a  groan) — "  but  howsoever " 

"  Oh,  I  have  heard  of  that  smaik,"  said  the  Scotch 
merchant,  interrupting  him;  "  it  is  he  whom  your  prin- 
cipal, like  an  obstinate  auld  fule,  wad  make  a  merchant 
o',  wad  he  or  wad  he  no — and  the  lad  turned  a  strolling 
stage-player,  in  pure  dislike  to  the  labor  an  honest  man 
should  live  by.  Weel,  sir,  what  say  you  to  your  handi- 
wark?  Will  Hamlet  the  Dane,  or  Hamlet's  ghost,  be 
good  security  for  Mr.  Owen,  sir?  " 

"  I  don't  deserve  your  taunt,"  Frank  replied, 
"  though  I  respect  your  motive,  and  am  too  grateful  for 
the  assistance  you  have  afforded  Mr.  Owen  to  resent  it. 
My  only  business  here  was  to  do  what  I  could  (it  is  per- 
haps very  little)  to  aid  Mr.  Owen  in  the  management  of 
my  father's  affairs.  My  dislike  of  the  commercial  pro- 
fession is  a  feeling  of  which  I  am  the  best  and  sole 
judge." 


ROB  ROY.  143 

"  I  protest/'  said  the  Highlander,  "  I  had  some  re- 
spect for  this  callant  even  before  I  ken'd  what  was  in 
him;  but  now  I  honor  him  for  his  contempt  of  weavers 
and  spinners,  and  sic  like  mechanical  persons  and  their 
pursuits." 

''  Ye're  mad,  Rob,"  said  the  Bailie — "  mad  as  a 
March  hare — though  wherefore  a  hare  suld  be  mad  at 
March  mair  than  at  Martinmas  is  mair  than  I  can  weel 
say.  Weavers!  Deil  shake  ye  out  o'  the  web  the  weaver 
craft  made.  Spinners !  ye'll  spin  and  wind  yoursel  a 
bonny  pirn.  xVnd  this  young  birkie  here,  that  ye're 
hooing  and  hounding  on  the  sh,ortest  road  to  the  gallows 
and  the  deevil,  will  his  stage-plays  and  his  poetries  help 
him  here,  d'ye  think,  ony  mair  than  your  deep  oaths  and 
drawn  dirks,  ye  reprobate  that  ye  are?  Will  Tityre  tu 
patulce,  as  they  ca'  it,  tell  him  where  Eashleigh  Osbaldi- 
stone  is?  or  Macbeth,  and  all  his  kernes  and  galla-glasses, 
and  your  awn  to  boot,  Rob,  procure  him  five  thousand 
pounds  to  answer  the  bills  which  fall  due  ten  days  hence, 
were  they  a'  rouped  at  the  Cross — basket-hilts,  Andra- 
Ferraras,  leather  targets,  brogues,  brochan,  and  spor- 
rans?" 

"  Ten  days,"  Frank  answered,  and  instinctively  drew 
out  Diana  Vernon's  packet;  and  the  time  being  elapsed 
during  which  he  was  to  keep  the  seal  sacred,  he  hastily 
broke  it  open.  A  sealed  letter  fell  from  a  blank  inclo- 
sure.  A  slight  current  of  wind,  which  found  its  way 
through  a  broken  pane  of  the  window,  wafted  the  let- 
ter to  Mr.  Jarvie's  feet,  who  lifted  it,  examined  the  ad- 
dress with  unceremonious  curiosity,  and  handed  it 
to  his  Highland  kinsman,  saying,  "  Here's  a  wind 
has  blown  a  letter  to  its  right  owner,  though  there 


144  ROB  ROY. 

were  ten  thousand  chances  against  its  coming  to 
hand/' 

The  Highlander,  having  examined  the  address,  broke 
the  letter  open  without  the  least  ceremony.  Frank  en- 
deavored to  interrupt  his  proceeding. 

"  You  must  satisfy  me,  sir,"  said  he,  "  that  the  let- 
ter is  intended  for  you  before  I  can  permit  you  to  peruse 
it." 

"  Make  yourself  quite  easy,  Mr.  Osbaldistone,"  re- 
plied the  mountaineer  with  great  composure;  "  remem- 
ber Justice  Inglewood,  Clerk  Jobson,  Mr.  Morris — 
above  all,  remember  your  vera  humble  servant,  Eobert 
Cawmil,  and  the  beautiful  Diana  Vernon.  Eemem- 
ber  all  this,  and  doubt  no  longer  that  the  letter  is  for 
me." 

Presently  he  said:  "  It's  a  kittle  cast  she  has  gien  me 
to  play;  but  yet  it's  fair  play,  and  I  winna  baulk  her. 
Mr.  Osbaldistone,  I  dwell  not  very  far  from  hence — my 
kinsman  can  show  you  the  way.  Leave  Mr.  Owen  to  do 
the  best  he  can  in  Glasgow;  do  you  come  and  see  me  in 
the  glens,  and  it's  like  I  may  pleasure  you,  and  stead  your 
father  in  his  extremity.  I  am  but  a  poor  man;  but  wit's 
better  than  wealth. — And  cousin  "  (turning  to  Mr.  Jar- 
vie),  "  if  ye  daur  venture  sae  muckle  as  to  eat  a  dish  of 
Scotch  collops,  and  a  leg  o'  red-deer  venison  wi'  me, 
come  ye  wi'  this  Sassenach  gentleman  as  far  as  Drymen 
or  Bucklivie — or  the  Clachan  of  x\berfoil  will  be  better 
than  ony  o'  them — and  I'll  hae  somebody  waiting  to 
weise  ye  the  gate  to  the  place  where  I  may  be  for  the 
time.  What  say  ye,  man?  There's  my  thumb,  I'll  ne'er 
beguile  thee." 

"  Na,  na,  Eobin,"  said  the  cautious  burgher,  "  I  sel- 


ROB  ROY.  145 

dom  like  to  leave  the  Gorbals;  *  I  have  nae  freedom  to 
gang  among  your  wild  hills,  Robin,  and  your  kilted  red- 
shanks; it  disna  become  my  place,  man." 

"The  devil  damn  your  place  and  you  baith!  "  re- 
iterated Campbell.  "  The  only  drap  o'  gentle  bluid 
that's  in  your  body  was  our  great-granduncle's  that  was 
justified  f  at  Dumbarton,  and  you  set  yourself  up  to  say 
ye  wad  derogate  frae  your  place  to  visit  me!  Hark  thee, 
man — I  owe  thee  a  day  in  harst;  I'll  pay  up  your  thou- 
san  pund  Scots,  plack  and  bawbee,  gin  ye'll  be  an  hon- 
est fallow  for  anes,  and  just  daiker  up  the  gate  wi'  this 
Sassenach." 

"  Hout  awa'  wi'  your  gentility,"  replied  the  Bailie; 
"  carry  your  gentle  bluid  to  the  Cross,  and  see  what  ye'll 
buy  wi't.  But,  if  I  luere  to  come,  wad  ye  really  and 
soothfastly  pay  me  the  siller?  " 

"  I  swear  to  ye,"  said  the  Highlander,  "  upon  the 
halidome  of  him  that  sleeps  beneath  the  gray  stane  at 
Inch-Cailleach."  | 

"  Say  nae  mair,  Robin — say  nae  mair;  we'll  see 
what  may  be  dune.  But  ye  maunna  expect  me  to  gang 
ower  the  Highland  line.  I'll  gae  beyond  the  line  at  no 
rate.  Ye  maun  meet  me  about  Bucklivie  or  the  Clachan 
of  Aberfoil — and  dinna  forget  the  needful." 

"  Xae  fear — nae  fear,"  said  Campbell;  "  I'll  be  as 

*  The  Oorhals,  or  "  suburbs,"  are  situate  on  the  south  side  of 
the  river. 

+  Executed  for  treason. 

X  Inch-Cailleach  is  an  island  in  Loch  Lomond,  where  the  clan 
of  MacGregor  were  wont  to  be  interred,  and  where  their  sepulchres 
may  still  be  seen.  It  formerly  contained  a  nunnery;  hence  the 
name  of  Inch-Cailleach,  or  the  island  of  Old  Women. 


146  ROB  ROY. 

true  as  the  steel  blade  that  never  failed  its  master.  But 
I  must  be  budging,  cousin,  for  the  air  o'  Glasgow  tol- 
booth  is  no  that  ower  salutary  to  a  Highlander's  consti- 
tution.'' 

"  Troth,"  replied  the  merchant,  "  and  if  my  duty 
were  to  be  dune,  ye  couldna  change  your  atmosphere, 
as  the  minister  ca's  it,  this  ae  wee  while.  Ochon, 
that  I  suld  ever  be  concerned  in  aiding  and  abetting 
an  escape  f rae  justice !  It  will  be  a  shame  and  disgrace 
to  me  and  mine,  and  my  very  father's  memory  for- 
ever." 

"  Hout  tout,  man!  let  that  flee  stick  in  the  wa',"  an- 
swered his  kinsman;  "  when  the  dirt's  dry  it  will  rub 
out.  Your  father,  honest  man,  could  look  ower  a 
friend's  fault  as  weel  as  anither." 

"  Y"e  may  be  right,  Robin,"  replied  the  bailie,  after 
a  moment's  reflection;  "  he  was  a  considerate  man,  the 
deacon;  he  ken'd  we  had  a'  our  frailties,  and  he  lo'ed  his 
friends.  YVll  no  hae  forgotten  him,  Eobin?"  This 
question  he  put  in  a  softened  tone,  conveying  as  much 
at  least  of  the  ludicrous  as  the  pathetic. 

"Forgotten  him!"  replied  his  kinsman — "what 
suld  ail  me  to  forget  him? — a  wapping  weaver  he  was, 
and  wrought  my  first  pair  o'  hose.  But  come  awa',  kins- 
man— 

*  Come,  fill  up  my  cap,  come,  fill  up  my  cann, 
Come,  saddle  my  horses,  and  call  up  my  man ; 
Come,  open  your  gates,  and  let  me  gae  free ; 
I  daurna  stay  langer  in  bonny  Dundee.'  " 

"Whisht,  sir!  "  said  the  magistrate,  in  an  authorita- 
tive tone — ^  lilting  and  singing  sae  near  the  latter  end  o' 
the   Sabbath!     This  house  may   hear  ye   sing  anither 


ROB  ROY.  147 

tune  yet.  Aweel,  we  hae  a'  baekslidings  to  answer  for 
— Stanchells,  open  the  door." 

The  jailer  obeyed,  and  they  all  sallied  forth.  Stan- 
chells looked  with  some  surprise  at  the  two  strangers, 
wondering,  doubtless,  how  they  came  into  these  premises 
without  his  knowledge;  but  Mr.  Jarvie's  "  Friends  o' 
mine,  Stanchells — friends  o'  mine,"  silenced  all  disposi- 
tion to  inquiries.  They  now  descended  into  the  lower 
vestibule,  and  hallooed  more  than  once  for  Dougal,  to 
which  summons  no  answer  was  returned;  when  Camp- 
bell observed  with  a  sardonic  smile,  "  That  if  Dougal 
was  the  lad  he  kent  him,  he  would  scarce  wait  to  get 
thanks  for  his  ain  share  of  the  night's  wark,  but  was  in 
all  probability  on  the  full  trot  to  the  pass  of  Balla- 
maha " 

'*  And  left  us — and,  abune  a',  me,  mysel,  locked  up 
in  the  tolbooth  a'  night!  "  exclaimed  the  Bailie,  in  ire 
and  perturbation.  "  Ca'  for  forehammers,  sledge-ham- 
mers, pinches,  and  coulters;  send  for  Deacon  Yettlin, 
the  smith,  an'  let  him  ken  that  Bailie  Jarvie's  shut  up  in 
the  tolbooth  by  a  Highland  blackguard,  whom  he'll  hang 
up  as  high  as  Haman " 

"  When  ye  catch  him,"  said  Campbell  gravely;  "  but 
stay — the  door  is  surely  not  locked." 

Indeed,  on  examination,  they  found  that  the  door 
was  not  only  left  open,  but  that  Dougal  in  his  retreat 
had,  by  carrying  off  the  keys  along  with  him,  taken  care 
that  no  one  should  exercise  his  office  of  porter  in  a 
hurry. 

"  He  has  glimmerings  o'  common  sense  now,  that 
creature  Dougal,"  said  Campbell;  "he  ken'd  an  open 
door  might  hae  served  me  at  a  pinch." 


148  ROB  ROY. 

They  were  by  this  time  in  the  street. 

"  I  tell  you,  Robin/^  said  the  magistrate,  "  in  my 
puir  mind,  if  ye  live  the  life  ye  do,  ye  suld  hae  ane  o'  your 
gillies  doorkeeper  in  every  jail  in  Scotland,  in  case  o' 
the  warst." 

"  Ane  o'  my  kinsmen  a  bailie  in  ilka  burgh  will  just 
do  as  weel,  cousin  Nicol.  So,  gude-night  or  good  morn- 
ing to  ye;  and  forget  not  the  Clachan  of  Aberfoil." 

And  without  waiting  for  an  answer,  he  sprang  to  the 
other  side  of  the  street,  and  was  lost  in  darkness.*  Im- 
mediately on  his  disappearance  he  gave  a  low  whistle  of 
peculiar  modulation,  which  was  instantly  replied  to. 

"  Hear  to  the  Highland  deevils!  "  said  Mr.  Jarvie; 
"  they  think  themselves  on  the  skirts  of  Benlomond  al- 
ready, where  they  may  gang  whewing  and  whistling 
about  without  minding  Sunday  or  Saturday.'^  Here  he 
was  interrupted  by  something  which  fell  with  a  heavy 
clash  on  the  street  before  them.  "  Gude  guide  us!  what's 
this,  mair  o't?  Mattie,  baud  up  the  lantern.  Con- 
science ;  if  it  isna  the  keys !  Weel,  that's  just  as  weel — 
they  cost  the  burgh  siller,  and  there  might  hae  been 
some  clavers  about  the  loss  o'  them.  Oh,  an  Bailie 
Grahame  were  to  get  a  word  o'  this  night's  job,  it  would 
be  a  sair  hair  in  my  neck  !  " 

As  they  were  still  but  a  few  steps  from  the  tolbooth 
door,  they  carried  back  these  implements  of  office  and 
consigned  them  to  the  head  jailer,  who,  in  lieu  of  the 
usual  mode  of  making  good  his  post  by  turning  the  keys, 
was  keeping  sentry  in  the  vestibule  till  the  arrival  of 
some  assistant. 

Frank  accompanied  the  honest  magistrate  to  his  door, 
and  on  parting  received  an  urgent  invitation  to  breakfast 


ROB  ROY. 


149 


with  the  Bailie,  and  his  friend  Owen,  the  next  morn- 
ing, when  the  latter  would  have  been  set  at  liberty. 
Frank  now  pursued  his  way  to  his  inn,  where  after 
repeated  knocking  he  was  admitted  by  Andrew  Fair- 
service. 


11 


CHAPTEE   XVIII. 

"  Will  it  please  your  Worship  to  accept  of  my  poor  service  ?  I 
beseech  that  I  may  feed  upon  your  bread,  though  it  be  the 
brownest,  and  drink  of  your  drink,  though  it  be  of  the  smallest  • 
for  I  will  do  your  Worship  as  much  service  for  forty  shillings  as 
another  man  shall  for  three  pounds." 

Greene's  Tu  Quoque. 

Andrew  Fairseryice  had  become  much  worried  at 
Frank's  continued  absence  on  the  preceding  evening,  and 
conceived  it  his  duty  to  go  to  the  magistrate  to  procure 
an  order  to  send  the  crier  through  the  town  after  his 
young  master.  And  he,  the  town-crier,  and  a  worthy 
Mr.  Hammorgaw  were  planning,  over  a  cog  of  ale,  the 
form  of  the  proclamation  to  be  made  through  the  city, 
when  Frank's  loud  knocking  interrupted  them.  Frank 
had  already  learned  through  Mr.  Jarvie  of  Andrew's 
officious  act  in  his  behalf,  and  feeling  much  displeased 
at  his  impertinent  interference,  had  decided  to  dismiss 
him,  but  Andrew's  exclamations  of  joy  at  his  return 
both  softened  and  at  the  same  time  irritated  him,  so 
that  he  slammed  the  door  in  the  face  of  his  offending 
servant  and  decided  to  delay  his  dismissal  until  the  fol- 
lowing day.  Accordingly,  the  next  morning  he  paid 
Andrew  for  his  services  as  guide  from  Osbaldistone  Hall 
to  Glasgow,  and  told  him  that  he  should  no  longer  need 
him.  But  Andrew,  partly  from  a  real  fondness  for  his 
150 


ROB  ROY.  151 

young  master,  and  more,  probably,  because  he  was  well 
aware  that  Frank  was  very  generous  in  disposition,  and 
that  it  would  be  hard  to  find  a  better  position — or  one  as 
good,  in  fact — refused  to  be  dismissed  so  suddenly.  He 
begged  so  hard  and  persistently  to  be  retained  in  his 
service  that  Frank  at  length  relented,  and  with  a  lecture 
on  his  future  behavior  permitted  Andrew  to  remain. 

Having  transacted  this  business,  Frank  wended  his 
more  at  liberty,  and  refreshed  by  a  clean  toilet — and 
the  appointed  breakfast  were  awaiting  him.  In  the 
course  of  the  repast  Frank  took  advantage  of  a  pause  to 
make  some  inquiries  concerning  his  guide  of  the  previ- 
ous night: 

"  Pray,  by  the  bye,  Mr.  Jarvie,  who  may  this  Mr. 
Robert  Campbell  be,  whom  we  met  with  last  night  ?  " 

The  interrogatory  seemed  to  strike  the  honest  magis- 
trate, to  use  the  vulgar  phrase,  "  all  of  a  heap,"  and  in- 
stead of  answering,  he  returned  the  question — "  Whae's 
Mr.  Robert  Campbell? — ahem!  ahay!  Whae's  Mr.  Rob- 
ert Campbell,  quo'  he?" 

"  Yes,"  said  Frank,  "  I  mean  who  and  what  is  he?  " 

"Why,  he's — ahay! — he's — ahem!  Where  did  ye 
meet  with  Mr.  Robert  Campbell,  as  ye  ca'  him?  " 

"  I  met  him  by  chance,"  Frank  replied,  "  some 
months  ago  in  the  north  of  England." 

"  Ou  then;  Mr.  Osbaldistone,"  said  the  BaiHe  dog- 
gedly, "  ye'll  ken  as  muckle  about  him  as  I  do." 

"  I  should  suppose  not,  Mr.  Jarvie,"  he  replied;  "  you 
are  his  relation,  it  seems,  and  his  friend." 

"  There  is  some  cousin-red  between  us,  doubtless," 
said  the  Bailie  reluctantly;  "  but  we  hae  seen  little  o'  ilk 
other  since  Rob  gae  up  the  cattle-line  o'  dealing,  poor 


152  TtOB  ROY. 

fallow!  he  was  hardly  guided  by  them  that  might  hae 
used  him  better — and  theyhaena  made  their  plack  a  baw- 
bee o't  neither.  There's  mony  ane  this  day  wad  rather 
they  had  never  chased  puir  Robin  frae  the  Cross  o'  Glas- 
gow; there's  mony  ane  wad  rather  see  him  again  at  the 
table  o'  three  hundred  kyloes,  than  at  the  head  o'  thirty 
waur  cattle." 

"  All  this  explains  nothing  to  me,  Mr.  Jarvie,  of  Mr. 
Campbell's  rank,  habits  of  life,  and  means  of  subsist- 
ence," Frank  replied. 

"Eank?"  said  Mr.  Jarvie;  "he's  a  Hieland  gen- 
tleman, nae  doubt — better  rank  need  nane  to  be;  and 
for  habit,  I  judge  he  wears  the  Hieland  habit  amang  the 
hills,  though  he  has  breeks  on  when  he  comes  to  Glas- 
gow; and  as  for  his  subsistence,  Avhat  need  we  care  about 
his  subsistence,  sae  lang  as  he  asks  naething  from  us,  ye 
ken?  But  I  hae  nae  time  for  clavering  about  him  e'en 
now,  because  we  maun  look  into  your  father's  concerns 
Avi'  all  speed." 

So  saying,  he  put  on  his  spectacles,  and  sat  down  to 
examine  Mr.  Owen's  states,  which  the  other  thought  it 
most  prudent  to  communicate  to  him  without  reserve. 
Nothing  could  be  more  acute  and  sagacious  than  the 
views  which  Mr.  Jarvie  entertained  of  the  matters  sub- 
mitted to  his  examination;  and,  to  do  him  justice,  it 
was  marked  by  much  fairness,  and  even  liberality.  He 
scratched  his  ear  indeed  repeatedly  on  observing  the  bal- 
ance which  stood  at  the  debit  of  Osbaldistone  and  Tresh- 
am  in  account  with  himself  personally. 

"  It  may  be  a  dead  loss,"  he  observed;  "  and,  con- 
science! whate'er  ane  o'  your  Lombard  Street  goldsmiths 
may  sae  to  it,  it's  snell  ane  in  the  Saut-Market  o'  Glas- 


ROB  ROY.  153 

gow.  It  will  be  a  heavy  deficit — a  staff  out  o'  my  bicker, 
I  trow.  But  what  then?  I  trust  the  house  wunna  coup 
the  crans  for  a'  that's  come  and  gane  yet;  and  if  it  does, 
I'll  never  bear  sae  base  a  mind  as  thae  corbies  in  the  Gal- 
lowgate — an  I  am  to  lose  by  ye,  I'se  ne'er  deny  I  hae  won 
by  ye  mony  a  fair  pund  sterling.  Sae,  and  it  come  to 
the  warst,  I'se  e'en  lay  the  head  o'  the  sow  to  the  tail  o* 
the  grice." 

Frank  left  Mr.  Owen  and  Mr.  Jarvie  deep  in  the 
business  affairs  of  Osbaldistone  and  Tresham,  which 
would  probably  occupy  them  all  the  morning,  and,  prom- 
ising to  return  for  dinner  at  one  o'clock  precisely,  sallied 
forth  to  see  the  town.  He  took  the  route  toward  the 
college,  that  he  might  there  be  quiet  and  consider  his 
own  affairs  and  arrange  on  a  future  line  of  conduct.  He 
wandered  from  one  quadrangle  of  old-fashioned  build- 
ings to  another,  and  from  thence  to  the  college  yards, 
where,  pleased  with  the  solitude  of  the  place,  he  paced 
to  and  fro.  But  presently  his  meditations  were  dis- 
turbed by  three  persons  who  appeared  at  the  upper  end 
of  the  walk.  The  central  figure  of  the  three  he  recog- 
nized as  Eashleigh  Osbaldistone.  To  address  him  then 
and  there  was  Frank's  first  impulse;  his  second,  to  watch 
and  wait  until  he  was  alone.  He  therefore,  the  party 
being  still  at  some  distance,  stepped  unobserved  behind  a 
small  hedge  which  imperfectly  screened  him  from  the 
road.  Muffling  his  face  in  his  cloak  he  was  able  to  meet 
his  cousin  without  observation,  or,  at  least  recognition 
from  him.  As  the  company  approached,  Frank  was 
startled  to  recognize  in  its  other  two  members  the  Mr. 
Morris,  on  whose  account  he  had  been  summoned  before 
Justice  Inglew^ood,  and  Mr.  MacYittie;  for  a  combina- 


154  ROB  ROY. 

tion  foreboding  more  evil  to  his  father's  affairs  and  his 
own  could  scarce  have  been  formed.  At  the  end  of  the 
walk  Eashleigh  and  his  companions  separated,  the  for- 
mer returning  alone  along  the  walk.  Frank  now  pre- 
sented himself  in  front  of  his  cousin  and  addressed  him: 

"  You  are  well  met,  sir;  I  was  about  to  take  a  long 
and  doubtful  journey  in  quest  of  you." 

"  Y^ou  know  little  of  him  you  sought,  then/'  replied 
Eashleigh,  with  his  usual  undaunted  composure.  "  I 
am  easily  found  by  my  friends — still  more  easily  by  my 
foes;  your  manner  compels  me  to  ask  in  which  class  I 
must  rank  Mr.  Francis  Osbaldistone?  " 

"  In  that  of  your  foes,  sir,"  he  answered — "  in  that 
of  your  mortal  foes,  unless  you  instantly  do  justice  to 
your  benefactor,  my  father,  by  accounting  for  his  prop- 
erty." 

"  And  to  whom,  Mr.  Osbaldistone,"  answered  Eash- 
leigh, "  am  I,  a  member  of  your  father's  commercial  es- 
tablishment, to  be  compelled  to  give  any  account  of  my 
proceedings  in  those  concerns,  which  are  in  every  respect 
identified  with  my  own?  Surely  not  to  a  young  gentle- 
man whose  exquisite  taste  for  literature  would  render 
such  discussions  disgusting  and  unintelligible." 

"  Your  sneer,  sir,  is  no  answer.  I  will  not  part  with 
you  until  I  have  full  satisfaction  concerning  the  fraud 
you  meditate — you  shall  go  with  me  before  a  magis- 
trate." 

"  Be  it  so,"  said  Eashleigh,  and  made  a  step  or  two 
as  if  to  accompany  him;  then  pausing,  proceeded: 
"  "Were  I  inclined  to  do  as  you  would  have  me,  you 
should  soon  feel  which  of  us  had  most  reason  to  dread 
the  presence  of  a  magistrate.     But  I  have  no  wish  to  ac- 


ROB  ROY.  155 

celorate  your  fate.  Go,  young  man !  amuse  yourself 
in  your  world  of  poetical  inuiginations,  and  leave  the 
business  of  life  to  those  who  understand  and  can  con- 
duct it." 

His  intention  was  to  provoke  Frank,  and  he  succeed- 
ed. "  Mr.  Osbaldistone,"  he  said,  "'  this  tone  of  calm 
insolence  shall  not  avail  you.  You  ought  to  be  aware 
that  the  name  we  both  bear  never  submitted  to  insult, 
and  shall  not  in  my  person  be  exposed  to  it." 

"  You  remind  me,"  said  Rashleigh,  with  one  of  his 
blackest  looks,  "  that  it  was  dishonored  in  my  person! — 
and  you  remind  me  also  by  whom!  Do  you  think  I  have 
forgotten  the  evening  at  Osbaldistone  Hall  when  you 
cheaply  and  with  impunity  played  the  bully  at  my  ex- 
pense? For  that  insult — never  to  be  washed  out  but  by 
blood — for  the  various  times  you  have  crossed  my  path, 
and  always  to  my  prejudice — for  the  persevering  folly 
with  which  you  seek  to  Iraverse  schemes,  the  importance 
of  which  you  neither  know  nor  are  capable  of  estimating 
— for  all  these,  sir,  you  owe  me  a  long  account,  for  which 
there  shall  come  an  early  day  of  reckoning." 

"  Let  it  come  when  it  will,"  Frank  replied,  "  I  shall 
be  willing  and  ready  to  meet  it.  Yet  you  seem  to  have 
forgotten  the  heaviest  article — that  I  had  the  pleasure  to 
aid  ^liss  Vernon's  good  sense  and  virtuous  feeling  in  ex- 
tricating her  from  your  infamous  toils." 

Rashleigh's  dark  eyes  flashed  actual  fire  at  this 
home-taunt,  and  yet  his  voice  retained  the  same  calm, 
expressive  tone  with  which  he  had  hitherto  conducted 
the  conversation. 

"  I  had  other  views  with  respect  to  you,  young  man," 
was  his  answer;  "less  hazardous  for  you,  and  more 


156  E,OB  ROY. 

suitable  to  my  present  character  and  former  education. 
But  I  see  you  will  draw  on  yourself  the  personal  chas- 
tisement your  boyish  insolence  so  well  merits.  Follow 
me  to  a  more  remote  spot,  where  we  are  less  likely  to  be 
interrupted." 

They  passed  to  an  open  spot,  but  remote  and  in  a  sort 
of  wilderness.  They  fought  several  minutes,  more  or 
less  indifferently;  for  Frank,  in  the  two  or  three  min- 
utes-' walk,  had  time  to  reflect,  and  kinder  sentiments  had 
taken  the  place  of  the  more  violent  passions,  and  he  now 
acted  more  on  the  defensive,  and  endeavored  to  disarm 
his  antagonist  rather  than  to  actually  wound  him.  But 
the  combat  became  fiercer,  as  Rashleigh  with  persistency 
and  hatred  sought  to  take  the  life  of  his  cousin.  They 
had  just  seized  each  other  in  what  promised  to  be  the 
death-grapple,  when  they  were  interrupted  by  a  man 
who  forcibly  threw  himself  between  them,  and  pushing 
them  separate  from  each  other  exclaimed  in  a  loud  and 
commanding  voice: 

"  What !  the  sons  of  those  fathers  who  sucked  the 
same  breast  shedding  each  other's  bluid  as  it  were  stran- 
gers' !  By  the  hand  of  my  father,  I  will  cleave  to  the 
brisket  the  first  man  that  mints  another  stroke!  " 

The  speaker  was  no  other  than  Campbell.  "  Do  you, 
Maister  Francis,  opine  that  you  will  re-establish  your 
father's  credit  by  cutting  your  kinsman's  thrapple,  or 
getting  your  ain  sneckit  instead  thereof  in  the  College 
yards  of  Glasgow? — Or  do  you,  Mr.  Rashleigh,  think 
men  will  trust  their  lives  and  fortunes  wi'  ane  that,  when 
in  point  of  trust  and  in  point  of  confidence  wi'  a  great 
political  interest,  gangs  about  brawling  like  a  drunken 
gillie?     Xay,  never. look  gash  or  grim  at  me,  man.     If 


ROB  ROY.  157 

ye're  angry,  ye  ken  how  to  turn  the  buckle  o'  your  belt 
behind  you." 

"  You  presume  on  my  present  situation,"  replied 
Rashleigh,  '*  or  you  would  hardly  dare  to  interfere  where 
my  honor  is  concerned." 

''  llout!  tout!  tout!  Presume?  And  what  for 
should  it  be  presuming?  Ye  may  be  the  richer  man,  Mr. 
Osbaldistone,  as  is  maist  likely;  and  ye  may  be  the  mair 
learned  man,  whilk  I  dispute  not :  but  I  reckon  ye  are 
neither  a  prettier  man  nor  a  better  gentleman  than 
mysell — and  it  will  be  news  to  me  when  I  hear  ye  arc 
as  gude.  And  dare,  too?  Muckle  daring  there's  about 
it,  I  trow.  Here  I  stand,  that  hae  slashed  as  het  a 
haggis  as  ony  o'  the  twa  o'  ye,  and  thought  nae  muckle 
o'  my  morning's  wark  when  it  was  dune.  If  my  foot 
were  on  the  heather  as  it's  on  the  causeway,  or  this  pickle 
gravel,  that's  little  better,  I  hae  been  waur  mistrysted 
than  if  I  were  set  to  gie  ye  baith  your  ser'ing  o't." 

Kashleigh  had  by  this  time  recovered  his  temper  com- 
pletely. "  My  kinsman,"  he  said,  "  will  acknowledge 
he  forced  this  quarrel  on  me.  It  was  none  of  my  seek- 
ing. I  am  glad  we  are  interrupted  before  I  chastised  his 
forwardness  more  severely." 

"Are  ye  hurt,  lad?"  inquired  Campbell  of  Frank, 
with  some  appearance  of  interest. 

"  A  very  slight  scratch,"  he  answered,  "  which  my 
kind  cousin  would  not  long  have  boasted  of  had  not  you 
come  between  us." 

"  In  troth,  and  that's  true,  Maister  Rashleigh,"  said 
Campbell;  "  for  the  cauld  iron  and  your  best  bluid  were 
like  to  hae  become  acquaint  when  I  mastered  Mr.  Frank's 
right  hand.     But  never  look  like  a  sow  laying  upon  a 


158  ROB  ROY. 

trump  for  the  luve  of  that.  Come  and  walk  wi'  me. 
I  liae  news  to  tell  ye,  and  ye'll  cool  and  come  to  yoursell, 
like  MacGibbon's  crowdy,  when  he  set  it  out  at  the 
window-bole." 

"  Pardon  me,  sir,"  said  Frank.  "  Your  intentions 
have  seemed  friendly  to  me  on  more  occasions  than  one; 
but  I  must  not,  and  will  not,  quit  sight  of  this  person 
until  he  yields  up  to  me  those  means  of  doing  justice  to 
my  father^s  engagements,  of  which  he  has  treacherously 
possessed  himself." 

"  Ye're  daft,  man,"  replied  Campbell;  "  it  will  serve 
ye  naething  to  follow  us  e'enow.  Ye  hae  just  enow  o'  ae 
man;  wad  ye  bring  twa  on  your  head,  and  might  bide 
quiet?" 

'^  Twenty,"  Frank  replied,  "  if  it  be  necessary." 

He  laid  his  hand  on  Eashleigh's  collar,  who  made  no 
resistence,  but  said,  with  a  sort  of  scornful  smile:  "  You 
hear  him  MacGregor!  he  rushes  on  his  fate — will  it 
be  my  fault  if  he  falls  into  it?  The  warrants  are  by 
this  time  ready,  and  all  is  prepared." 

The  Scotchman  was  obviously  embarrassed.  He 
looked  around,  and  before  and  behind  him,  and  then 
said:  "  The  ne'er  a  bit  will  I  yield  my  consent  to  his  be- 
ing ill-guided  for  standing  up  for  the  father  that  got 
him;  andl  gie  God's  malison  and  mine  to  a'  sort  o'  mag- 
istrates, justices,  bailies,  sheriffs,  sheriff  officers,  consta- 
bles, and  sic-like  black  cattle,  that  hae  been  the  plagues  o' 
puir  auld  Scotland  this  hunder  year.  It  was  a  merry 
warld  when  every  man  held  his  ain  gear  wi'  his  ain  grip, 
and  when  the  country  side  wasna  fashed  wi'  warrants 
and  poindings  and  apprizings,  and  a'  that  cheatry  craft. 
And  ance  mair  I  say  it,  my  conscience  winna  see  this 


ROB  ROY.  159 

puir  thoughtless  lad  ill-guided,  and  especially  wi'  that 
sort  o'  trade.  I  wad  rather  ye  fell  till't  again,  and 
fought  it  out  like  douce  honest  men." 

"  Your  conscience,  MacGregor! ''  said  Rashleigh. 
"  You  forget  how  long  you  and  I  have  known  each 
other." 

"  Yes,  my  conscience,"  reiterated  Campbell,  or  Mac- 
Gregor, or  whatever  was  his  name;  "  I  hae  such  a  thing 
about  me,  Maister  Osbaldistone;  and  therein  it  may  weel 
chance  that  I  hae  the  better  o'  you.  As  to  our  knowledge 
of  each  other — if  ye  ken  what  I  am,  ye  ken  what  usage  it 
was  made  me  what  I  am;  and,  whatever  you  may  think, 
I  would  not  change  states  with  the  proudest  of  the  op- 
pressors that  hae  driven  me  to  tak  the  heather-bush  for 
a  beild.  What  you  are,  Maister  Eashleigh,  and  what 
excuse  ye  hae  for  being  ichat  you  are,  is  between  your  ain 
heart  and  the  lang  day. — And  now,  Maister  Francis,  let 
go  his  collar;  for  he  says  truly,  that  ye  are  in  mair  dan- 
ger from  a  magistrate  than  he  is,  and  were  your  cause  as 
straight  as  an  arrow,  he  wad  find  a  way  to  put  you  wrang. 
So  let  go  his  craig,  as  I  was  sajdng." 

He  seconded  his  words  with  an  effort  so  sudden  and 
unexpected  that  he  freed  Rashleigh  from  Frank's  hold, 
and  securing  him,  notwithstanding  his  struggles,  in  his 
own  Herculean  grip,  he  called  out:  ''  Take  the  bent,  Mr. 
Rashleigh;  make  ae  pair  o'  legs  w^orth  twa  pair  o'  hands; 
ye  hae  dune  that  before  now." 

"  You  may  thank  this  gentleman,  kinsman,"  said 
Rashleigh,  "  if  I  leave  any  part  of  my  debt  to  you  un- 
paid; and  if  I  quit  you  now,  it  is  only  in  the  hope  we 
shall  soon  meet  again  without  the  possibility  of  inter- 
ruption." 


160  ^^^  ^^Y- 

He  took  up  his  sword,  wiped  it,  sheathed  it,  and  was 
lost  among  the  bushes. 

The  Scotchman,  partly  by  force,  partly  by  remon- 
strance, prevented  Frank's  following  him. 

"  As  I  live  by  bread,"  said  Campbell,  after  one  or 
two  struggles  in  which  he  used  much  forebearance,  "  I 
never  saw  sae  daft  a  callant!  I  wad  hae  gien  the  best  man 
in  the  country  the  breadth  o'  his  back  gin  he  had  gien 
me  sic  a  kemping  as  ye  hae  dune.  AVhat  wad  ye  do? 
wad  ye  follow  the  wolf  to  his  den?  I  tell  ye,  man,  he 
has  the  auld  trap  set  for  ye.  He  has  got  the  collector- 
creature  Morris  to  bring  up  a'  the  auld  story  again,  and 
ye  maun  look  for  nae  help  frae  me  here,  as  ye  got  at  Jus- 
tice Ingle  wood's;  it  isna  good  for  my  health  to  come  in 
the  gate  o'  the  whigamore  bailie  bodies.  Xow  gang  your 
ways  hame,  like  a  gude  bairn;  jouk  and  let  the  jaw  gae 
by.  Keep  out  o'  sight  o'  Eashleigh,  and  Morris,  and  that 
MacYittie  animal.  Mind  the  Clachan  of  Aberfoil,  as  I 
said  before,  and  by  the  word  of  a  gentleman  I  wunna 
see  ye  wranged.  But  keep  a  calm  sough  till  we  meet 
again.  I  maun  gae  and  get  Eashleigh  out  o'  town  afore 
waur  comes  o't,  for  the  neb  o'  him's  never  out  o'  mischief. 
Mind  the  Clachan  of  Aberfoil." 

Mr.  Campbell  turned  upon  his  heel  and  walked  away, 
leaving  Frank  to  meditate  upon  the  singular  events 
which  had  befallen  him.  After  adjusting  his  dress  and 
reassuming  his  cloak,  he  betook  himself  to  Bailie  Jar- 
vie's,  stopping  at  a  surgeon's,  who  dressed  the  slight 
wound  that  he  had  received  from  Eashleigh.  It  was 
after  one  o'clock  when  Frank  reached  the  dining-parlor 
of  the  honest  Bailie. 


CHAPTER    XIX. 

An  iron  rcace  the  mountuin  cliffs  maintain, 
Foes  to  the  gentler  genius  of  the  i)lain  ; 

Who  while  their  rocky  ramparts  round  they  see, 
The  rough  abode  of  want  and  liberty, 
As  lawless  force  from  confidence  will  grow. 
Insult  the  plenty  of  the  vales  below. 

Gray. 

"  "What  made  ye  sae  late?  "  said  Mr.  Jarvie  as  Frank 
entered;  "  it  is  chappit  ane  the  best  feck  o'  five  minutes 
by-gane.  Mattie  has  been  twice  at  the  door  wi'  the  din- 
ner, and  weel  for  you  it  was  a  tup's  head^  for  that  canna 
suffer  by  delay.  A  sheep's  head  ower  muckle  boiled  is 
rank  poison,  as  my  worthy  father  used  to  say — he  likit 
the  lug  o'  ane  weel,  honest  man." 

Frank  made  a  suitable  apology  for  his  breach  of 
punctuality,  and  was  soon  seated  at  table,  where  Mr. 
Jarvie  presided  with  great  glee  and  hospitality,  com- 
pelling, however,  Owen  and  Frank  to  do  rather  more 
justice  to  the  Scottish  dainties  with  which  his  board 
was  charged  than  was  quite  agreeable  to  their  southern 
palates. 

When  the  cloth  was  removed,  Mr.  Jarvie  compound- 
ed with  his  own  hands  a  very  small  bowl  of  brandy 
punch. 

"  Tlie  limes,"  he  assured  them,  "  were  from  his  own 

161 


102  I^OB  ROY. 

little  farm  yonder-away' ''  (indicating  the  West  Indies 
with  a  knowing  shrug  of  his  shoulders),  "  and  he  learned 
the  art  of  composing  the  liquor  from  auld  Captain  Coffin- 
key,  who  acquired  it,"  he  added  in  a  whisper,  ^'  as  maist 
folk  thought,  among  the  buccaneers.  "  But  it's  excel- 
lent liquor,"  said  he,  helping  them  round,  "  and  good 
ware  has  often  come  frae  a  wicked  market.  And  as  for 
Captain  Coffinkey,  he  was  a  decent  man  when  I  kent 
him,  only  he  used  to  swear  awfully.  But  he's  dead,  and 
gaen  to  his  account,  and  I  trust  he's  accepted — I  trust 
he's  accepted." 

At  length  an  opportunity  offered  itself  to  Frank  in 
which  to  tell  his  story  of  the  morning's  experiences,  and 
ask  Mr.  Jarvie's  advice  thereon.  When  he  mentioned 
the  appearance  of  Mr.  Campbell,  Jarvie  arose  in  great 
surprise,  and  paced  the  room,  exclaiming,  "  Eobin  again! 
Eobert's  mad — clean  wud,  and  waur.  Eob  will  be 
hanged,  and  disgrace  a'  his  kindred,  and  that  will  be  seen 
and  heard  tell  o'.  My  father  the  deacon  wrought  him 
his  first  hose.  Od,  1  am  thinking  Deacon  Threeplie,  the 
rape-spinner,  will  be  twisting  his  last  cravat.  Ay,  ay, 
puir  Robin  is  in  a  fair  way  o'  being  hanged.  But  come 
awa',  come  awa' — let's  hear  the  lave  o't." 

Frank  told  the  whole  story  as  pointedly  as  he  could; 
but  Mr.  Jarvie  still  found  something  lacking  to  make  it 
clear,  until  Frank  went  back,  though  with  considerable 
reluctance,  on  the  whole  story  of  Morris,  and  of  his  meet- 
ing with  Campbell  at  the  house  of  Justice  Inglewood. 
Mr.  Jarvie  inclined  a  serious  ear  to  all  this,  and  remained 
silent  for  some  time  after  the  finishing  of  the  narrative. 

"  Upon  all  these  matters  I  am  now  to  ask  your  advice, 
Mr.  Jarvie,  which,  I  have  no  doubt,  will  point  out  the 


ROB  ROY.  163 

best  way  to  act  for  my  father's  advantage  and  my  own 
lionor/'  said  Frank. 

"•  Ye're  right,  young  man,  ye're  right/'  said  the 
bailie.  "  Aye  take  the  counsel  of  those  who  are  aulder 
and  wiser  than  yoursell,  and  binna  like  the  godless  Reho- 
boam,  who  took  the  advice  o'  a'  wheon  beardless  callants, 
neglecting  the  auld  counsellors  who  had  sate  at  the  feet 
o'  his  father  Solomon,  and  as  it  was  weel  put  by  Mr. 
Meiklejohn,  in  his  lecture  on  the  chapter,  were  doubt- 
less partakers  of  his  sapience.  But  I  maun  hear  nae- 
tliing  about  honor;  we  ken  naething  here  but  about 
credit.  Honor  is  a  homicide  and  a  bloodspiller,  that 
gangs  about  making  frays  in  the  street;  but  Credit  is  a 
decent  honest  man,  that  sits  at  hame  and  makes  the  pat 
play." 

"Assuredly,  ^Ir.  Jarvie,"  said  Owen,  "credit  is  the 
sum  total;  and  if  we  can  but  save  that,  at  whatever  dis- 
count  " 

"  Ye  are  right,  Mr.  Owen — ye  are  right;  ye  speak 
weel  and  wisely;  and  I  trust  bowls  will  row  right,  though 
they  are  a  wee  ajee  e'enow.  But  touching  Robin,  I  am 
of  opinion  he  will  befriend  this  young  man  if  it  is 
in  his  power.  He  has  a  gude  heart,  puir  Robin;  and 
though  I  lost  a  matter  of  twa  hundred  punds  wi'  his 
former  engagements,  and  haena  muckle  expectation 
ever  to  see  back  my  thousand  punds  Scots  that  he 
promises  me  e'enow,  yet  I  will  never  say  but  what  Robin 
means  fair  by  a'  men." 

"  I  am  then  to  consider  him,"  Frank  replied,  "  as  an 
honest  man  ?  " 

"Umph!"  replied  Jarvie,  with  a  precautionary  sort 
of  cough.     "  Ay,  he  has  a  land  o'  Hieland  honesty — he's 


164  ROB  ROY. 

honest  after  a  sort;,  as  they  say.  My  father  the  deacon 
used  aye  to  laugh  when  he  tauld  me  how  that  hyword 
came  up.  Ane  Captain  Costlett  was  cracking  crouse 
ahout  his  loyalty  to  King  Charles,  and  Clerk  Pettigrew — 
ye'll  hae  heard  mony  a  tale  about  him — asked  him  after 
what  manner  he  served  the  king,  when  he  was  fighting 
again  him  at  Wor'ster  in  Cromwell's  army;  and  Captain 
Costlett  was  a  ready  body,  and  said  that  he  served  him 
after  a  sort.  My  honest  father  used  to  laugh  weel  at 
that  sport — and  sae  the  byword  came  up." 

"  But  do  you  think  that  this  man  will  be  able  to  serve 
me  after  a  sort,  or  should  I  trust  myself  to  this  place  of 
rendezvous  which  he  has  given  me?  " 

"  Frankly  and  fairly,  it's  worth  trying.  Ye  see  your- 
sell  there's  some  risk  in  your  staying  here.  This  bit 
body  Morris  has  gotten  a  custom-house  place  doun  at 
Greenock — that's  a  port  on  the  Firth  doun  by  here;  and 
tho'  a'  the  world  kens  him  to  be  but  a  twa-leggit  crea- 
ture wi'  a  goose's  head  and  a  hen's  heart,  that  goes 
about  on  the  quay  plaguing  folk  about  permits  and  cock- 
its,  and  dockits,  and  a'  that  vexatious  trade,  yet  if  he 
lodge  an  information — ou'  nae  doubt  a  man  in  magis- 
terial duty  maun  attend  to  it,  and  ye  might  come  to  be 
clapped  up  between  four  wa's,  whilk  wad  be  ill-conven- 
ient to  your  father's  affairs." 

"True,"  observed  Frank;  "yet  what  service  am  I 
likely  to  render  him  by  leaving  Glasgow,  which,  it  is 
probable,  will  be  the  principal  scene  of  Rashleigh's 
machinations,  and  committing  myself  to  the  doubtful 
faith  of  a  man  of  whom  I  know  little  but  that  he  fears 
justice,  and  has  doubtless  good  reasons  for  doing  so; 
and  that,  for  some  secret,  and  probably  dangerous  pur- 


ROB  ROY.  165 

pose,  he  is  in  close  league  and  alliance  with  the  very  per- 
son who  is  like  to  be  the  author  of  our  ruin?  "' 

"  Ah,  but  ye  judge  Rob  hardly,"  said  the  Bailie,  "  ye 
judge  him  hardly,  puir  chield;  and  the  truth  is,  that  ye 
ken  naething  about  our  hill  country,  or  Hielands,  as 
we  ca'  them.  They  are  clean  anither  set  frae  the  like 
o'  huz;  there's  nae  bailie-courts  amang  them — nae  mag- 
istrates that  dinna  bear  the  sword  in  vain,  like  the  worthy 
deacon  that's  awa',  and,  I  may  say't,  like  mysell  and 
other  present  magistrates  in  this  city.  But  it's  just  the 
laird's  command,  and  the  loon  maun  loup;  and  the  never 
another  law  hae  they  but  the  length  o'  their  dirks — the 
broadsword's  pursuer,  or  plaintiff,  as  you  Englishers  ca' 
it,  and  the  target  is  defender;  the  stoutest  head  bears 
langest  out;  and  there's  a  Hieland  plea  for  ye.  Now, 
sir,  we  speak  little  o'  thae  things,  because  they  are  famil- 
iar to  oursells;  and  where's  the  use  o'  vilifying  ane's 
country,  and  bringing  a  discredit  on  ane's  kin,  before 
southrons  and  strangers?  It's  an  ill  bird  that  files  its 
ain  nest." 

"Well,  sir,  but  as  it  is  no  impertinent  curiosity  of 
mine,  but  real  necessity,  that  obliges  me  to  make  these 
inquiries,  I  hope  you  will  not  be  offended  at  my  pressing 
for  a  little  further  information.  I  have  to  deal,  on  my 
father's  account,  with  several  gentlemen  of  these  wild 
countries,  and  I  must  trust  your  good  sense  and  experi- 
ence for  the  requisite  light  upon  the  subject." 

This  little  morsel  of  flattery  was  not  thrown  out  in 
vain. 

'^Experience!"  said  the  bailie — "I  hae  had  experi- 
ence, nae  doubt,  and  I  hae  made  some  calculations — ay, 
and  to  speak  quietly  amang  oursells,  I  hae  made  some 
12 


166  ROB  ROY. 

perquisitions  through  Andrew  Wylie,  my  auld  clerk; 
he's  wi'  MacA'ittie  and  Company  now — but  he  whiles 
drinks  a  gill  on  the  Saturday  afternoons  wi'  his  auld 
master.  And  since  ye  say  ye  are  willing  to  be  guided 
by  the  Glasgow  weaver-body's  advice,  I  am  no  the  man 
that  will  refuse  it  to  the  son  of  an  auld  correspondent, 
and  my  father  the  deacon  was  nane  sic  afore  me." 

And  here  Mr.  Jarvie  wandered  off  into  a  long  dis- 
course on  the  Highlands,  from  which  Frank  diverted 
him  by  desiring  to  know  more  of  his  kinsman  Mr.  Eobert 
Ca  'npbell. 

"  Eobin  was  ance  a  weel-doing,  painstaking  drover/' 
Paid  Mr.  Jarvie,  "  as  ye  wad  see  amang  ten  thousand, 
(t  was  a  pleasure  to  see  him  in  his  belted  plaid  and 
brogues,  wi'  his  target  at  his  back,  and  claymore  and 
dirk  at  his  belt,  following  a  hundred  Highland  stots, 
and  a  dozen  o'  the  gillies,  as  rough  and  ragged  as  the 
beasts  they  drave.  And  he  was  baith  civil  and  just  in 
his  dealings;  and  if  he  thought  his  chapman  had  made 
a  hard  bargain,  he  wad  gie  him  a  lucky-penny  to  the 
mends.  I  hae  ken'd  him  gie  back  five  shillings  out  o' 
the  pund  sterling." 

"  Twenty-five  per  cent,"  said  Owen — ^'  a  heavy  dis- 
count." 

"  He  wad  gie  it,  though,  sir,  as  I  tell  ye;  mair  espe- 
cially if  he  thought  the  buyer  was  a  puir  man,  and  could- 
na  stand  by  a  loss.  But  the  times  cam  hard,  and  Eob 
was  venturesome.  It  wasna  my  faut — it  wasna  my 
faut;  he  canna  wyte  me — I  aye  tauld  him  o't.  iVnd  the 
creditors,  mair  especially  some  grit  neighbors  o'  his, 
gripped  to  his  living  and  land;  and  they  say  his  wife  was 
turned  out  o'  the  house  to  the  hillside,  and  sair  misguided 


ROB  ROY.  167 

to  the  boot.  Shamefif!  shamefu'!  I  am  a  peacefu' 
man  and  a  magistrate,  but  if  ony  ane  had  guided  sae 
muckle  as  my  servant  quean,  Mattie,  as  it's  like  they 
guided  Rob's  wife,  I  think  it  suld  hae  set  the  shable* 
that  my  father  the  deacon  had  at  Bothwell  brig  a-walk- 
ing  again.  Weel,  Rob  cam  hame,  and  fand  desolation, 
God  pity  us!  where  he  left  plenty.  He  looked  east, 
west,  south,  north,  and  saw  neither  hauld  nor  hope — 
neither  beild  nor  shelter;  sae  he  e'en  pu'd  the  bonnet 
ower  his  brow,  belted  the  broadsword  to  his  side,  took 
to  the  braeside,  and  became  a  broken  man."  f 

The  voice  of  the  good  citizen  was  broken  by  his 
contending  feelings.  He  obviously,  while  he  professed 
to  contemn  the  pedigree  of  his  Highland  kinsman,  at- 
tached a  secret  feeling  of  consequence  to  the  connection, 
and  he  spoke  of  his  friend  in  his  prosperity  with  an 
overflow  of  affection,  which  deepened  his  sympathy  for 
his  misfortunes  and  his  regret  for  their  consequences. 

^^  Thus  tempted  and  urged  by  despair,"  said  Frank, 
seeing  Mr.  Jarvie  did  not  proceed  in  his  narrative,  "  I 
suppose  your  kinsman  became  one  of  those  depredators 
you  have  described  to  us  ?  " 

"  Xo  sae  bad  as  that,"  said  the  Glaswegian — "  no 
a'thegither  and  outright  sae  bad  as  that;  but  he  became 
a  levier  of  blackmail,  wider  and  farther  than  ever  it  was 
raised  in  our  day,  a'  through  the  Lennox  and  Menteith, 
and  up  to  the  gates  o'  Stirling  Castle." 

"  Blackmail?     I  do  not  understand  the  phrase." 

"  Ou,  ye  see,  Rob  soon  gathered  an  unco  band  o' 
blue-bonnets  at  his  back,  for  he  comes  o'  a  rough  name 

*  Cutlass.  f  An  outlaw. 


168  ROB  ROY. 

when  he's  kent  by  his  ain,  and  a  name  that's  held  its  aiu 
for  mony  a  lang  year,  baith  again  king  and  parliament, 
and  kirk  too,  for  aught  I  ken — an  auld  and  honorable 
name,  for  as  sair  as  it  has  been  worried  and  hadden  down 
and  oppressed.  My  mother  was  a  MacGregor — I  carena 
wha  kens  it — and  Eob  had  soon  a  gallant  band;  and  as 
it  grieved  him  (he  said)  to  see  sic  hersMp  and  waste  and 
depredation  to  the  south  o'  the  Hieland  line,  why,  if  only 
heritor  or  farmer  wad  pay  him  four  punds  Scots  out 
of  each  hunder  punds  of  valued  rent,  whilk  was  doubt- 
less a  moderate  consideration,  Eob  engaged  to  keep  them 
scaithless;  let  them  send  to  him  if  they  lost  sae  muckle 
as  a  single  cloot  by  thieving,  and  Eob  engaged  to  get 
them  again,  or  pay  the  value — and  he  aye  keepit  his  word 
— I  canna  deny  but  he  keepit  his  word — a'  men  allow 
Eob  keeps  his  word." 

"  This  is  a  very  singular  contract  of  assurance,"  said 
Mr.  Owen. 

"  It's  clean  again  our  statute  law,  that  must  bo 
owned,"  said  Jarvie,  "  clean  again  law;  the  levying  and 
the  paying  blackmail  are  baith  punishable:  but  if  the 
law  canna  protect  my  barn  and  byre,  whatfor  suld  I  no 
engage  wi'  a  Hieland  gentleman  that  can? — answer  me 
that." 

"  But,  Mr.  Jarvie,"  said  Frank,  "  is  this  contract  of 
blackmail,  as  you  call  it,  completely  voluntary  on  the 
part  of  the  landlord  or  farmer  who  pays  the  insurance? 
or  what  usually  happens  in  case  any  one  refuses  payment 
of  this  tribute?" 

"  Aha,  lad,"  said  the  Bailie,  laughing,  and  putting 
his  finger  to  his  nose,  "  ye  think  ye  hae  me  there.  Troth, 
I  wad  advise  ony  friends  o'  mine  to  gree  wi'  Eob;  for, 


ROB  ROY.  169 

watch  as  they  like,  and  do  what  they  like,  they  are  sair 
apt  to  be  harried  *  when  the  lang  nights  come  on.  Some 
o'  the  Grahame  and  Cohoon  gentry  stood  out;  but  what 
then — they  lost  their  haill  stock  the  first  winter;  sae 
maist  folks  now  think  it  best  to  come  into  Rob's  terms. 
He's  easy  wi'  a'  body  that  will  be  easy  wi'  him;  but  if  ye 
thraw  him,  ye  had  better  thraw  the  deevil." 

"  And  by  his  exploits  in  these  vocations,"  Frank  con- 
tinued, "  I  suppose  he  has  rendered  himself  amenable  to 
the  laws  of  the  country?  " 

"Amenable? — ye  may  say  that;  his  craig  wad  ken 
the  weight  o'  his  hurdies  if  they  could  get  baud  o'  Rob. 
But  he  has  gude  friends  amang  the  grit  folks;  and  I 
could  tell  ye  o'  ae  grit  family  that  keeps  him  up  as  far  as 
they  decently  can,  to  be  a  thorn  in  the  side  of  another. 
And  then  he's  sic  an  auld-farran  lang-headed  chield  as 
never  took  up  the  trade  o'  cateran  in  our  time;  mony  a 
daft  reik  he  has  played — mair  than  wad  fill  a  book,  and  a 
queer  ane  it  wad  be — as  gude  as  Robin  Hood,  or  William 
AVallace — a'  fu'  o'  venturesome  deeds  and  escapes,  sic  as 
folk  tell  ower  at  a  winter  ingle  in  the  daft  days.  It's 
a  queer  thing  o'  me,  gentlemen,  that  am  a  man  o'  peace 
mysell,  and  a  peaceful  man's  son — for  the  deacon  my 
father  quarreled  wi'  nane  out  of  the  town-council — 
it's  a  queer  thing,  I  say,  but  I  think  the  Hieland  bluid 
o'  me  warms  at  thae  daft  tales,  and  whiles  I  like  better 
to  hear  them  than  a  word  o'  profit,  Gude  forgie  me! 
But  they  are  vanities — sinfu'  vanities — and,  moreover, 
again  the  statute  law — again  the  statute  and  gospel 
law." 

*  Plundered. 


170  ROB  ROY. 

Frank  now  followed  up  his  investigation,  by  inquir- 
ing what  means  of  influence  this  Mr.  Robert  Campbell 
could  possibly  possess  over  his  affairs  or  those  of  his 
father. 

"  But  to  your  father's  affairs/'  replied  Mr.  Jarvie. 
"  Ye  maun  think  that  in  thae  twenty  years  bygane,  some 
o'  the  Hieland  lairds  and  chiefs  hae  come  to  some  sma^ 
sense  o'  their  ain  interest.  Your  father  and  others  hae 
bought  the  woods  of  Glen-Disseries,  Glen-Kissoch,  To- 
ber-na-Kippoch,  and  mony  mair  besides,  and  your  fa- 
ther's house  has  granted  large  bills  in  payment;  and  as 
the  credit  o'  Osbaldistone  and  Tresham  was  gude — for 
I'll  say  before  Mr.  Owen's  face,  as  I  wad  behind  his 
back,  that,  baiting  misfortunes  o'  the  Lord's  sending, 
nae  men  could  be  mair  honorable  in  business — the  Hie- 
land gentlemen,  holders  of  thae  bills,  hae  found  credit 
in  Glasgow  and  Edinburgh — (I  might  amaist  say  in 
Glasgow  wholly,  for  it's  little  the  pridefu'  Edinburgh 
folk  do  in  real  business) — for  all,  or  the  greater  part,  of 
the  contents  o'  thae  bills.  So  that — aha!  d'ye  see  me 
now?" 

Frank  confessed  he  could  not  quite  follow  his  drift. 

"'  Why,"  said  he,  "  if  these  bills  are  not  paid,  the 
Glasgow  merchant  comes  on  the  Hieland  lairds,  whae  hae 
deil  a  boddle  o'  siller,  and  will  like  ill  to  spew  up  what  is 
item  a'  spent.  They  will  turn  desperate — five  hundred 
will  rise  that  might  hae  sitten  at  hame — the  deil  will  gae 
ower  Jock  Wabster — and  the  stopping  of  your  father's 
house  will  hasten  the  outbreak  of  the  Hielands  that's 
been  sae  lang  biding  us." 

"  You  think,  then,"  said  Frank,  surprised  at  this 
singular  view  of  the  case,  "  that  Rashleigh  Osbalidistone 


ROB  ROY.  171 

has  done  this  injury  to  my  father  merely  to  accelerate  a 
rising  in  the  Highlands,  by  distressilig  the  gentlemen  to 
whom  these  bills  were  originally  granted?  " 

"  Doubtless — doubtless — it  has  been  one  main  rea- 
son, Mr.  Osbaldistone.  I  doubtna  but  what  the  ready 
money  he  carried  off  wi'  him  might  be  another.  But 
that  makes  comparatively  but  a  sma'  part  o'  your 
father's  loss,  though  it  might  make  the  maist  part  o' 
Eashleigh's  direct  gain.  The  assets  he  carried  off  are 
of  nae  mair  use  to  him  than  if  he  were  to  light  his  pipe 
wi'  them.  He  tried  if  Mac  Vittie  and  Company  would 
gie  him  siller  on  them — that  I  ken  by  Andrew  Wylie — 
but  they  were  ower  auld  cats  to  draw  that  strae  afore 
them;  they  keepit  aff,  and  gae  fair  words,  llashleigh 
Osbaldistone  is  better  ken'd  than  trusted  in  Glasgow, 
for  he  was  here  about  some  Jacobitical  papistical  troking 
in  seventeen  hundred  and  seven,  and  left  debt  ahint 
him.  Na,  na,  he  canna  pit  aff  the  paper  here;  folk  will 
misdoubt  him  how  he  came  by  it.  Na,  na,  he'll  hae  the 
stuff  safe  at  some  o'  their  haulds  in  the  Hielands,  and  I 
daur  say  my  cousin  Rob  could  get  at  it  gin  he  liked." 

"  But  would  he  be  disposed  to  serve  us  in  this  pinch, 
Mr.  Jarvie  ?  "  said  Frank.  "  You  have  described  him 
as  an  agent  of  the  Jacobite  party,  and  deeply  connected 
in  their  intrigues:  will  he  be  disposed  for  my  sake,  or,  if 
you  please,  for  the  sake  of  justice,  to  make  an  act  of  resti- 
tution, which,  supposing  it  in  his  power,  would,  accord- 
ing to  your  view  of  the  case,  materially  interfere  with 
their  plans?  " 

"I  canna  preceesely  speak  to  that:  the  grandees 
among  them  are  doubtfu'  o'  Rob,  and  he's  doubtfu'  o' 
them.     And  he's  been  weel  friended  wi'   the  Argyle 


172  I^OB  ROY. 

family,  wha  stand  for  the  present  model  of  government. 
If  lie  was  freed  o'  his  hornings  and  captions,  he  would 
rather  be  on  Argyle's  side  than  he  wad  be  on  Bread- 
albane's,  for  there's  auld  ill-will  between  the  Breadal- 
bane  family  and  his  kin  and  name.  The  truth  is,  that 
Eob  is  for  his  ain  hand,  as  Henry  Wynd  feught  * — he'll 
take  the  side  that  suits  him  best.  If  the  deil  was  laird, 
Eob  wad  be  for  being  tenant;  and  ye  canna  blame  him, 
puir  fallow,  considering  his  circumstances.  But  there's 
ae  thing  sair  again  ye — Eob  has  a  gray  mear  in  his  stable 
at  hame." 

"  A  gray  mare?  "  said  Frank.  "  What  is  that  to  the 
purpose?  " 

"  The  wife,  man — the  wife — an  awfu'  wife  she  is. 
She  dow^na  bide  the  sight  o'  a  kindly  Scot,  if  he  come 
frae  the  Lowlands,  far  less  of  an  Inglisher,  and  she'll  be 
keen  for  a'  that  can  set  up  King  James,  and  ding  down 
King  George." 

"  It  is  very  singular,"  Frank  replied,  "  that  the  mer- 
cantile transactions  of  London  citizens  should  become 
involved  with  revolutions  and  rebellions." 

"  Not  at  a',  man — not  at  a',"  returned  Mr.  Jarvie; 
"  that's  a'  your  silly  prejudications.     I  read  whiles  in  the 

*  Two  great  clans  fought  out  a  quarrel  with  thirty  men  of  a 
side,  in  presence  of  the  king,  on  the  north  Inch  of  Perth,  on  or 
about  the  year  1392.  A  man  was  amissing  on  one  side,  whose  room 
was  filled  by  a  little  bandy-legged  citizen  of  Perth.  This  substi- 
tute, Henry  Wynd — or,  as  the  Highlanders  called  him,  Oow 
Chrom,  that  is,  the  bandy-legged  smith — fought  well,  and  con- 
tributed greatly  to  the  fate  of  the  battle,  without  knowing  which 
side  he  fought  on.  So,  "To  fight  for  your  own  hand,  like  Henry 
Wynd,"  passed  into  a  proverb.  See  Walter  Scott's  "  Fair  Maid 
of  Perth." 


ROB  ROY.  173 

lang  dark  nights,  and  I  hae  read  in  Baker's  Chronicle 
that  the  merchants  o'  London  could  gar  the  Iknk  of 
Genoa  break  their  promise  to  advance  a  mighty  sum  to 
the  King  o'  Spain,  whereby  the  sailing  of  the  Grand 
Spanish  Armada  was  put  atf  for  a  haill  year.  What 
think  you  o'  that,  sir?  " 

"  That  the  merchants  did  their  country  golden  serv- 
ice, which  ought  to  be  honorably  remembered  in  our 
histories."  • 

^'  I  think  sae  too;  and  they  wad  do  weel,  and  deserve 
weel  baith  o'  the  state  and  o'  humanity,  that  wad  save 
three  or  four  honest  Hieland  gentlemen  frae  louping 
heads  ower  heels  into  destruction,  wi'  a'  their  puir  sack- 
less*  followers.  Just  because  theycanna  pay  back  the  siller 
they  had  reason  to  count  upon  as  their  ain — and  save 
your  father's  credit — and  my  ain  gude  siller  that  Osbaldi- 
stone  and  Tresham  awes  me  into  the  bargain.  I  say,  if 
ane  could  manage  a'  this,  I  think  it  suld  be  done,  and 
said  unto  him,  even  if  he  were  a  puir  ca'-the-shuttle 
body,  as  unto  one  whom  the  king  delighteth  to  honor." 

"  I  can  not  pretend  to  estimate  the  extent  of  public 
gratitude,"  Frank  replied;  "  but  our  own  thankfulness, 
Mr.  Jarvie,  would  be  commensurate  with  the  extent  of 
the  obligation." 

"  Which,"  added  Mr.  Owen,  "  we  would  endeavor  to 
balance  with  a  per  contra,  the  instant  our  Mr.  Osbaldi- 
stone  returns  from  Holland." 

"  I  doubtna — I  doubtua — he  is  a  very  worthy  gentle- 
man, and  a  sponsible,  and  wi'  some  o'  my  lights  might  do 
muckle  business  in  Scotland.     Well,  sir,  if  these  assets 

*  Sackless,  that  is,  innocent. 


174  liOB  ROY. 

could  be  redeemed  out  o'  the  hands  o'  the  Philistines, 
they  are  gude  paper — they  are  the  right  stuff  when  they 
are  in  the  right  hands,  and  that's  yours,  Mr.  Owen. 
And  I'se  find  ye  three  men  in  Glasgow — for  as  little  as 
ye  may  think  o'  us,  Mr.  Owen — that's  Sandie  Steen- 
son  in  the  Trade's-Land  and  John  Pirie  in  Can- 
dleriggs,  and  another  that  sail  be  nameless  at  this  pres- 
ent— sail  advance  what  soums  are  sufficient  to  secure  the 
credit  of  your  house,  and  seek  nae  better  security." 

Owen's  eyes  sparkled  at  this  prospect  of  extrication; 
but  his  countenance  instantly  fell  on  recollecting  how 
improbable  it  was  that  the  recovery  of  the  assets,  as 
he  technically  called  them,  should  be  successfully 
achieved. 

"  Dinna  despair,  sir — dinna  despair,"  said  Mr.  Jar- 
vie;  "  I  hae  taen  sae  muckle  concern  wi'  your  affairs  al- 
ready, that  it  maun  een  be  ower  shoon  ower  boots  wi'  me 
now.  I  am  just  like  my  father  the  deacon  (praise  be  wi' 
him!)  I  canna  meddle  wi'  a  friend's  business,  but  I  aye 
end  wi'  making  it  my  ain.  Sae,  I'll  e'en  pit  on  my  boots 
the  morn,  and  be  jogging  ower  Drymen  Muir  wi'  Mr. 
Frank  here;  and  if  I  canna  mak  Eob  hear  reason,  and 
his  wife  too,  I  dinna  ken  wha  can.  I  hae  been  a  kind 
freend  to  them  afore  now,  to  say  naething  o'  ower-look- 
ing  him  last  night,  when  naming  his  name  wad  hae  cost 
him  his  life.  I'll  be  hearing  o'  this  in  the  council,  maybe, 
frae  Bailie  Grahame,  and  MacVittie,  and  some  o'  them. 
They  hae  coost  up  my  kindred  to  Rob  to  me  already — 
set  up  their  nashgabs!  I  tauld  them  I  wad  vindicate  nae 
man's  faults;  but  set  apart  what  he  had  done  again  the 
law  o'  the  country,  and  the  hership  o'  the  Lennox,  and 
the  misfortune  o'  some  folk  losing  hfe  by  him,  he  was 


ROB  ROY.  175 

an  honester  man  than  stood  on  ony  o'  their  shanks. 
And  whatfor  suld  I  mind  their  clavers?  If  Eob  is  an 
outlaw,  to  himsell  be  it  said;  there  is  nae  laws  now  about 
the  reset  of  intercommuned  persons,  as  there  was  in  the 
ill  times  o'  the  last  Stuarts.  I  trow  I  hae  a  Scotch 
tongue  in  my  head;  if  they  speak,  I'se  answer." 

So  the  Bailie  decide  to  accompany  Frank  to  the 
place  of  meeting  with  Mr.  Campbell.  An  early  hour 
the  next  morning  was  the  time  set  for  departure,  and 
Frank,  having  installed  Mr.  Owen  in  an  apartment  in 
his  lodgings  close  to  his  own,  retired  to  rest,  with  better 
hopes  than  it  had  lately  been  his  fortune  to  entertain. 


CHAPTER    XX. 

Far  as  the  eye  could  reach  no  tree  was  seen ; 
Earth,  clad  in  russet,  scorned  the  lively  green ; 
No  birds,  except  as  birds  of  passage,  flew ; 
No  bee  was  heard  to  hum,  no  dove  to  coo ; 
No  streams  as  amber  smooth,  as  amber  clear, 
Were  seen  to  glide  or  heard  to  warble  here. 

Prophecy  of  Famine. 

Early  the  next  morning  Frank  met,  by  appoint- 
ment, Andrew  with  the  horses,  at  the  door  of  Mr.  Jarvie's 
house.  Presently  this  gentleman  appeared,  and  after 
considerable  bustle  and  many  parting  directions  from 
Mattie,  Mr.  Jarvie's  housekeeper,  they  at  last  set  forth 
on  their  journey  into  the  Highlands. 

The  travel  of  the  forenoon  was  of  little  interest, 
and  it  was  not  till  after  dinner  that  the  road  became  less 
monotonous.  A  range  of  dark-blue  mountains,  with 
wildly  varied  and  distinguished  peaks,  now  rose  in  front 
of  them.  These,  Mr.  Jarvie  informed  Frank,  were  "  the 
Hieland  hills — the  Hieland  hills.  Ye'll  see  and  hear 
eneugh  about  them  before  ye  see  Glasgow  Cross  again. 
I  downa  look  at  them;  I  never  see  them  but  they  gar  me 
grew.  It's  no  for  fear — no  for  fear,  but  just  for  grief, 
for  the  puir  blinded,  half -starved  creatures  that  inhabit 
them.  But  say  nae  mair  about  it;  it's  ill  speaking  o' 
Hielandmen  sae  near  the  line.  I  hac  ken'd  mony  an 
176 


^  Balluch 


ROB  ROY.  177 

honest  man  wadna  hae  ventured  this  length  without  he 
had  made  his  last  will  and  testament.  Mattie  had  ill-will 
to  see  me  set  awa'  on  this  ride,  and  grat  awee,  the  silly 
tawpie;  but  it's  nae  mair  ferlie  to  see  a  woman  greet 
than  to  see  a  goose  gang  barefit." 

It  grew  dark,  the  moon  came  out,  and  still  they  trav- 
eled on,  over  open  heaths,  down  into  steep  ravines ;  till  at 
length  they  came  to  a  narrow,  deep,  and  silent  stream, 
which  the  Bailie  announced  to  be  the  Forth.  They 
crossed  this  by  a  stone  bridge,  very  high  and  very  nar- 
row, and  after  about  half  a  mile  of  further  riding  ar- 
rived at  the  door  of  the  public  house,  where  they  were  to 
pass  the  evening.  It  was  a  hovel  rather  worse  than  bet- 
ter than  that  in  which  the  travelers  had  dined;  but  its 
little  windows  were  lighted  up,  voices  were  heard  from 
within,  and  all  intimated  a  prospect  of  food  and  shelter, 
to  which  they  were  by  no  means  indifferent.  Andrew 
was  the  first  to  observe  that  there  was  a  peeled  willow- 
wand  placed  across  the  half-open  door  of  the  little  inn. 
He  hung  back  and  advised  them  not  to  enter.  "  For," 
said  he,  "  some  of  their  chiefs  and  grit  men  are  birling 
at  the  usquebaugh  in  by  there,  and  dinna  want  to 
be  disturbed;  and  the  least  we'll  get,  if  we  gang  ramstam 
in  on  them,  w411  be  a  broken  head,  to  learn  us  better  hav- 
ings, if  we  dinna  come  by  the  length  of  a  cauld  dirk  in 
our  wame,  whilk  is  just  as  likely." 

Meantime  a  staring  half-clad  wench  or  two  came  out 
of  the  inn  and  the  neighboring  cottages,  on  hearing  the 
sound  of  the  horses'  feet.  Xo  one  bade  them  welcome, 
nor  did  any  one  offer  to  take  their  horses;  and  to  their 
various  inquiries,  the  hopeless  response  of  "  Ha  niel  Sas- 
senach "  was  the  only  answer.     The  Bailie,  however. 


178  liOB  ROY. 

found  (in  his  experience)  a  way  to  make  them  speak 
EngUsh.  "  If  I  gie  3'e  a  bawbee,"  said  he  to  an  urchin 
of  about  ten  years  old,  w^ith  a  fragment  of  a  tattered 
plaid  about  him,  "  will  you  understand  Sassenach  ?  " 

"  Ay,  ay,  that  will  I,'^  replied  the  brat  in  very  de- 
cent English. 

"  Then  gang  and  tell  your  mammy,  my  man,  there's 
twa  Sassenach  gentlemen  come  to  speak  wi'  her." 

The  landlady  presently  appeared,  with  a  lighted  piece 
of  split  fir  blazing  in  her  hand.  The  turpentine  in  this 
species  of  torch  (which  is  generally  dug  from  out  the 
turf-bogs)  makes  it  blaze  and  sparkle  readily,  so  that  it 
is  often  used  in  the  Highlands  in  lieu  of  candles.  On 
this  occasion  such  a  torch  illuminated  the  wild  and 
anxious  features  of  a  female,  pale,  thin,  and  rather  above 
the  usual  size,  whose  soiled  and  ragged  dress,  though 
aided  by  a  plaid  or  tartan  screen,  barely  served  the  pur- 
poses of  decency,  and  certainly  not  those  of  comfort. 
Her  black  hair,  which  escaped  in  uncombed  elf-locks 
from  under  her  coif,  as  well  as  the  strange  and  embar- 
rassed look  with  which  she  regarded  them,  gave  them 
the  idea  of  a  witch  disturbed  in  the  midst  of  her  unlaw- 
ful rites.  She  plainly  refused  to  admit  them  into  the 
house.  They  remonstrated  anxiously,  and  pleaded  the 
length  of  their  journey,  the  state  of  their  horses,  and 
the  certainty  that  there  was  not  another  place  where 
they  could  be  received  nearer  than  Callander,  which  the 
Bailie  stated  to  be  seven  Scots  miles  distant.  The  ob- 
durate hostess  treated  their  expostulation  with  contempt. 
"  Better  gang  farther  than  fare  waur,"  she  said,  speaking 
the  Scottish  Lowland  dialect,  and  being  indeed  a  native 
of  the  Lennox  district.     "  Her  house  was  taen  up  wi' 


ROB  ROY.  179 

them  wadna  like  to  be  intruded  on  wi'  strangers.  She 
didna  ken  wha  mair  might  be  there — red-coats,  it  might 
be,  frae  the  garrison,"  (These  last  words  she  spoke 
under  her  breath,  and  with  very  strong  emphasis.) 
"  The  night,"  she  said,  "  was  fair  abune  head — a  night 
amang  the  heather  wad  caller  their  bloods — they  might 
sleep  in  their  claes,  as  mony  a  gude  blade  does  in  the 
scabbard — there  wasna  muckle  flowmoss  in  the  shaw,  if 
they  took  up  their  quarters  right,  and  they  might  pit 
up  their  horses  to  the  hill,  naebody  wad  say  naething 
against  it." 

"  But,  my  good  woman,"  said  Frank,  while  the 
Bailie  groaned  and  remained  undecided,  "  it  is  six  hours 
since  we  dined,  and  we  have  not  taken  a  morsel  since.  I 
am  positively  dying  with  hunger,  and  I  have  no  taste  for 
taking  up  my  abode  supperless  among  these  mountains 
of  yours.  I  positively  must  enter;  and  make  the  best 
apology  you  can  to  your  guests  for  adding  a  stranger  or 
two  to  their  number — Andrew,  you  will  see  the  horses 
put  up." 

The  Hecate  looked  at  him  with  surprise,  and  then 
ejaculated:  "  A  willfu'  man  will  hae  his  way — them  that 
will  to  Cupar  maun  to  Cupar!  To  see  thae  English 
belly-gods!  he  has  had  a  fu'  meal  the  day  already,  and 
he'll  venture  life  and  liberty,  rather  than  he'll  want  a 
het  supper!  Set  roasted  beef  and  pudding  on  the  op- 
posite side  o'  the  pit  o'  Tophet,  and  an  Englishman  will 
mak  a  spank  at  it,  but  I  wash  my  hands  o't.  Follow 
me,  sir  "  (to  Andrew),  "  and  I'se  show  ye  where  to  pit 
the  beasts." 

In  spite  of  the  landlady's  grumbling  cautions,  our 
travelers  persisted  in  entering  the  tavern — or  shed,  rath- 


180  ROB  ROY. 

er.  A  fire  blazed  merrily  in  the  center  of  the  room,  near 
to  which  an  old  oaken  table  was  drawn.  At  this  table  sat 
three  men,  guests  apparently,  whom  it  was  impossible  to 
regard  with  indifference.  Two  were  in  the  Highland 
dress;  the  one,  a  little,  dark-complexioned  man,  with  a 
lively,  quick,  and  irritable  expression  of  features,  wore 
the  trews,  or  close  pantaloons  wove  out  of  a  sort  of  check- 
ered stocking  stuff. 

The  other  mountaineer  was  a  very  tall,  strong  man, 
with  a  quantity  of  reddish  hair,  freckled  face,  high 
cheek  bones,  and  long  chin — a  sort  of  caricature  of  the 
national  features  of  Scotland.  The  tartan  which  he  wore 
differed  from  that  of  his  companion,  as  it  had  much 
more  scarlet  in  it,  whereas  the  shades  of  black  and  dark- 
green  predominated  in  the  checkers  of  the  other.  The 
third,  w^ho  sat  at  the  same  table,  was  in  the  Lowland 
dress — a  bold,  stout-looking  man,  with  a  cast  of  mili- 
tary daring  in  his  eye  and  manner,  his  riding-dress  show- 
ily and  profusely  laced,  and  his  cocked  hat  of  formidable 
dimensions.  His  hanger  and  a  pair  of  pistols  lay  on  the 
table  before  him.  Each  of  the  Highlanders  had  their 
naked  dirks  stuck  upright  in  the  board  beside  him — an 
emblem,  but  surely  a  strange  one,  that  their  compotation 
was  not  to  be  interrupted  by  any  brawl.  A  mighty  pew- 
ter measure,  containing  about  an  English  quart  of  us- 
quebaugh, liquor  nearly  as  strong  as  brandy,  which  the 
Highlanders  distill  from  malt,  and  drink  undiluted  in 
excessive  quantities,  was  placed  before  these  worthies. 
A  broken  glass,  with  a  wooden  foot,  served  as  a  drinking 
cup  to  the  whole  party,  and  circulated  with  a  rapidity 
which,  considering  the  potency  of  the  liquor,  seemed 
absolutely  marvelous.      These  men  spoke  loudly  and 


ROB  ROY.  181 

eagerly  together,  sometimes  in  Gaelic,  at  other  times  in 
English.  Another  Higlilander,  wrapped  in  his  plaid, 
reclined  on  the  floor,  his  head  resting  on  a  stone,  from 
which  it  was  only  separated  hy  a  wisp  of  straw,  and 
slept  or  seemed  to  sleep,  without  attending  to  what  was 
going  on  around  him.  He  also  was  probably  a  stranger, 
for  he  lay  in  full  dress,  and  accoutered  with  the  sword 
and  target,  the  usual  arms  of  his  countrymen  when  on  a 
journey.  Cribs  there  were  of  different  dimensions  be- 
side the  walls,  formed  some  of  fractured  boards,  some  of 
shattered  wickerwork  or  plaited  boughs,  in  which  slum- 
bered the  family  of  the  house,  men,  women,  and  chil- 
dren, their  places  of  repose  only  concealed  by  the  dusky 
wreaths  of  vapor  which  arose  above,  below,  and  around 
them. 

The  entrance  of  the  new  guests  was  made  so  quietly, 
and  the  carousers  were  so  eagerly  engaged  in  their  dis- 
cussions, that  the  Bailie  and  Frank  escaped  their  notice 
for  a  minute  or  two.  But  the  Highlander  who  lay  be- 
side the  fire  raised  himself  on  his  elbow  as  they  entered, 
and,  drawing  his  plaid  over  the  lower  part  of  his  face, 
fixed  his  look  on  them  for  a  few  seconds,  after  which  he 
resumed  his  recumbent  posture,  and  seemed  again  to 
betake  himself  to  the  repose  which  their  entrance  had 
interrupted. 

Mr.  Jarvie  and  Frank  advanced  to  the  fire,  which  was 
an  agreeable  spectacle  after  their  late  ride  during  the 
chilliness  of  an  autumn  evening  among  the  mountains, 
and  first  attracted  the  attention  of  the  guests  who  had 
preceded  them  by  calling  for  the  landlady.  She  ap- 
proached, looking  doubtfully  and  timidly  now  at  them, 
now  at  the  other  party,  and  returned  a  hesitating  and 
13 


182  ROB  ROY. 

doubtful  answer  to  their  request  to  have  something  to 
eat. 

''  She  didna  ken/'  she  said,  "  she  wasna  sure  there 
was  onything  in  the  house/'  and  then  modified  her  re- 
fusal with  the  qualification — "  that  is,  onything  fit  for 
the  like  of  ye." 

Frank  assured  her  that  they  were  indifferent  to  the 
quality  of  the  supper;  and  looking  round  for  the  means 
of  accommodation,  which  were  not  easily  to  be  found,  he 
arranged  an  old  hen-coop  as  a  seat  for  Mr.  Jarvie,  and 
turned  down  a  broken  tub  to  serve  for  his  own.  Andrew 
Fairservice  entered  presently  afterward,  and  took  a 
place  in  silence  behind  their  backs.  The  natives  con- 
tinued staring  at  them  with  an  air  as  if  confounded  by 
their  assurance. 

At  length  the  lesser  Highlander,  addressing  himself 
to  Frank,  said,  in  very  good  English,  and  in  a  tone  of 
great  haughtiness,  "  Ye  make  yourself  at  home,  sir,  I 
see." 

"  I  usually  do  so,"  Frank  replied,  "  when  I  come  into 
a  house  of  public  entertainment." 

"  And  did  she  na  see,"  said  the  taller  man,  "  by  the 
white  wand  at  the  door,  that  gentlemans  had  taken  up 
the  public  house  on  their  ain  business  ?  " 

"  I  do  not  pretend  to  understand  the  customs  of  this 
country;  but  I  am  yet  to  learn,"  Frank  replied,  "  how 
three  persons  should  be  entitled  to  exclude  all  other  trav- 
elers from  the  only  place  of  shelter  and  refreshment  for 
miles  around." 

"  There's  nae  reason  for't,  gentlemen,"  said  the 
Bailie;  "  we  mean  nae  offense;  but  there's  neither  law 
nor  reason  for't;  but  as  far  as  a  stoup  o'  gude  brandy 


ROB  ROY.  183 

wad  make  up  the  quarrel,  we,  being  peaceable  folk,  wad 
be  willing." 

"  Damn  your  brandy,  sir!  "  said  the  Lowlander,  ad- 
justing his  cocked  hat  fiercely  upon  his  head;  "  we  desire 
neither  your  brandy  nor  your  company,"  and  up  he  rose 
from  his  seat.  His  companions  also  arose,  muttering  to 
each  other,  drawing  up  their  plaids,  and  snorting  and 
snuffing  the  air  after  the  manner  of  their  countrymen 
when  working  themselves  into  a  passion. 

"  I  tauld  ye  what  wad  come,  gentlemen,"  said  the 
landlady,  "  and  ye  wad  liae  been  tauld.  Get  awa'  wi'  ye 
out  o'  my  house,  and  make  nae  disturbance  here;  there's 
nae  gentleman  be  disturbed  at  Jeanie  MacAlpine's  an  she 
can  hinder.  A  wheen  idle  English  loons,  gaun  about  the 
country  under  clouds  o'  night,  and  disturbing  honest, 
peaceable  gentlemen  that  are  drinking  their  drap  drink 
at  the  fireside!  " 

A  fray  was  obviously  about  to  ensue. 

"  We  are  three  to  three,"  said  the  lesser  Highlander, 
glancing  his  eyes  at  the  party:  "if  ye  be  pretty  men, 
draw!  "  and,  unsheathing  his  broadsword,  he  advanced 
on  Frank,  who  put  himself  in  a  posture  of  defense, 
and,  aware  of  the  superiority  of  his  weapon,  a  rapier  or 
small-sword,  was  little  afraid  of  the  issue  of  the  contest. 
The  Bailie  behaved  with  unexpected  mettle.  x\s  he  saw 
the  gigantic  Highlander  confront  him  with  his  weapon 
drawn,  he  tugged  for  a  second  or  two  at  the  hilt  of  his 
shahhle,  as  he  called  it;  but  finding  it  loath  to  quit  the 
sheath,  to  which  it  had  long  been  secured  by  rust  and 
disuse,  he  seized,  as  a  substitute,  on  the  red-hot  coulter 
of  a  plow  which  had  been  employed  in  arranging  the  fire 
by  way  of  a  poker,  and  brandished  it  with  such  effect 


184  ROB  ROY. 

that  at  the  first  pass  he  set  the  Highlander's  plaid  on 
fire,  and  compelled  him  to  keep  a  respectful  distance  till 
he  could  get  it  extinguished.  Andrew,  on  the  contrary, 
who  ought  to  have  faced  the  Lowland  champion,  had 
vanished  at  the  very  commencement  of  the  fray.  But 
his  antagonist,  crying,  "  Fair  play!  fair  play! "  seemed 
courteously  disposed  to  take  no  share  in  the  scuffle. 
Thus  the  rencontre  commenced  on  fair  terms  as  to  num- 
bers. Frank  endeavored  to  possess  himself  of  his  antag- 
onist's weapon,  but  was  deterred  from  closing  with  him 
for  fear  of  the  dirk  which  his  combatant  held  in  his  left 
hand.  Meantime  the  Bailie,  notwithstanding  the  suc- 
cess of  his  first  onset,  was  sorely  bested.  The  weight  of 
his  weapon,  the  corpulence  of  his  person,  the  very  effer- 
vesence  of  his  own  passions,  were  rapidly  exhausting 
both  his  strength  and  his  breath,  and  he  was  almost  at 
the  mercy  of  his  antagonist,  when  up  started  the  sleep- 
ing Highlander  from  the  floor  on  which  he  reclined, 
with  both  his  naked  sword  and  target  in  his  hand,  and 
threw  himself  between  the  discomfited  magistrate  and 
his  assailant,  exclaiming,  "  Her  nainsell  has  eaten  the 
town  pread  at  the  Cross  o'  Glasgow,  and  py  her  troth 
she'll  fight  for  Bailie  Sharvie  at  the  Clachan  of  Aberfoil 
— tat  will  she  e'en!  "  And  seconding  his  words  with 
deeds,  this  unexpected  auxiliary  made  his  sword  whistle 
about  the  ears  of  his  tall  countryman,  who,  nothing 
abashed,  returned  his  blows  with  interest.  But  being 
both  aecoutered  with  round  targets  made  of  wood,  stud- 
ded with  brass  and  covered  with  leather,  with  which  they 
readily  parried  each  other's  strokes,  their  combat  was 
attended  with  mucli  more  noise  and  clatter  than  serious 
risk  of  damage.     It  appeared,  indeed,  that  there  was 


ROB  ROY.  185 

more  of  bravado  than  of  serious  attempt  to  do  our 
friends  any  injury;  for  the  Lowland  gentleman,  who 
had  stood  aside  for  want  of  an  antagonist  when  the 
brawl  commenced,  was  now  pleased  to  act  the  part  of 
moderator  and  peacemaker. 

"  Hand  your  hands!  baud  your  hands! — eneugh 
done! — eneugh  done!  the  quarrel's  no  mortal.  The 
strange  gentlemen  have  shown  themselves  men  of  honor, 
and  gien  reasonable  satisfaction.  I'll  stand  on  mine 
honor  as  kittle  as  ony  man,  but  I  hate  unnecessary  blood- 
shed." 

Frank,  of  course,  did  not  wish  to  protract  the  fray; 
his  adversary  seemed  equally  disposed  to  sheathe  his 
sword;  the  Bailie,  gasping  for  breath,  might  be  consid- 
ered as  hors  de  combat,  and  the  two  -sword-and-buckler 
men  gave  up  their  contest  with  as  much  indifference  as 
they  had  entered  into  it. 

"  And  now,"  said  the  worthy  gentleman  who  acted 
as  umpire,  "  let  us  drink  and  gree  like  honest  fellows. 
The  house  will  baud  us  a'.  I  propose  that  this  good 
little  gentleman,  that  seems  sair  forfoughen,  as  I  may 
say,  in  this  tuilzie,  shall  send  for  a  tass  o'  brandy,  and 
I'll  pay  for  another  by  way  of  archilowe,*  and  then  we'll 
birl  our  bawbees  a'  round  about  the  brethren." 

"  xA.nd  fa's  to  pay  my  new  ponnie  plaid,"  said  the 
larger  Highlander,  "  wi'  a  hole  burnt  in't  ane  might  put 
a  kail-pat  through?  Saw  ever  onybody  a  decent  gentle- 
man fight  wi'  a  firebrand  ])efore?  " 

"  Let  that  be  nae  hinderance,"  said  the  Bailie,  who 
had  now  recovered  his  breath,  and  was  at  once  disposed 

*  Archilowc,  of  unknown  derivation,  signifies  a  peace-offering. 


186  ROB  ROY. 

to  enjoy  the  triumph  of  having  behaved  with  spirit,  and 
avoid  the  necessity  of  again  resorting  to  such  hard  and 
doubtful  arbitrament.  ^ "  Gin  I  hae  broken  the  head/'  he 
said,  ^'  I  sail  find  the  plaister.  A  new  plaid  sail  ye  hae, 
and  o'  the  best — your  ain  clan  colors,  man — an  ye  will 
tell  me  where  it  can  be  sent  t'ye  frae  Glasco." 

"  I  needna  name  my  clan — I  am  of  a  king's  clan,  as 
is  weel  ken'd,"  said  the  Highlander;  "but  ye  may  tak 
a  bit  o'  the  plaid — figh!  she  smells  like  a  singit  sheep's 
head! — and  that'll  learn  ye  the  sett — and  a  gentleman, 
that's  a  cousin  o'  my  ain,  that  carries  eggs  doun  frae 
Glencroe,  will  ca'  for't  about  Martimas,  and  ye  will  tell 
her  where  ye  bide.  But,  honest  gentleman,  neist  time  ye 
fight,  and  ye  hae  ony  respect  for  your  athversary,  let  it 
be  wi'  your  sword,  man,  since  ye  wear  ane,  and  no  wi' 
thae  het  culters  and  fireprands,  like  a  wild  Indian." 

"  Conscience!  "  replied  the  Bailie,  "  every  man  maun 
do  as  he  dow.  My  sword  hasna  seen  the  light  since 
Bothwell  Brigg,  when  my  father,  that's  dead  and  gane, 
ware  it;  and  I  kenna  weel  if  it  was  forthcoming  then 
either,  for  the  battle  was  o'  the  briefest.  At  ony  rate,  it's 
glued  to  the  scabbard  now  beyond  my  power  to  part 
them;  and,  finding  that,  I  e'en  grippit  at  the  first  thing 
I  could  make  a  fend  wi'.  I  trow  my  fighting  days  is 
done,  though  I  like  ill  to  take  the  scorn,  for  a'  that. 
But  where's  the  honest  lad  that  tuik  my  quarrel  on  him- 
self sae  frankly?  I'se  bestow  a  gill  o'  aquavitae  on  him, 
as  I  suld  never  ca'  for  anither." 

The  champion  for  whom  he  looked  around  was,  how- 
ever, no  longer  to  be  seen.  He  had  escaped  unobserved 
by  the  Bailie,  immediately  when  the  brawl  was  ended, 
yet  not  before  Frank  had  recognized,  in  his  wild  features 


ROB  ROY.  187 

and  shaggy  red  hair,  Dougal,  the  fugitive  turnkey  of  the 
Glasgow  jail.  He  communicated  this  observation  in  a 
whisper  to  the  Bailie,  who  answered  in  the  same  tone: 
"  Weel,  weel — I  see  that  him  that  ye  ken  o'  said  very 
right;  there  is  some  glimmering  o'  common  sense  about 
that  creature  Dougal;  I  maun  see  and  think  o'  some- 
thing will  do  him  some  gude." 

Thus  saying,  he  sat  down,  and  fetching  one  or  two 
deep  inspirations,  by  way  of  recovering  his  breath,  called 
to  the  landlady:  "  I  think,  Luckie,  now  that  I  find  that 
there's  nae  hole  in  my  wame,  whilk  I  had  muckle  reason 
to  doubt  frae  the  doings  o'  your  house,  I  wad  be  the  bet- 
ter o'  something  to  pit  intilFt." 

The  dame,  who  was  all  officiousness  so  soon  as  the 
storm  had  blown  over,  immediately  undertook  to  broil 
something  comfortable  for  the  Bailie's  and  Frank's  sup- 
per. She  now  made  a  great  bustle,  and  very  soon  began 
to  prepare  in  the  frying-pan  a  savory  mess  of  venison 
collops,  which  she  dressed  in  a  manner  that  might  w^ll 
satisfy  hungry  men,  if  not  epicures.  In  the  meantime 
the  brandy  was  placed  on  the  table,  to  which  the  High- 
landers, however  partial  to  their  native  strong  waters, 
showed  no  objection,  but  much  the  contrary;  and  the 
Lowland  gentleman,  after  the  first  cup  had  passed 
round,  became  desirous  to  know  the  profession  of  their 
recent  antagonists,  and  the  object  of  their  journey. 

"We  are  bits  o'  Glasgow  bodies,  if  it  please  your 
honor,"  said  the  Bailie,  with  an  affectation  of  great  hu- 
mility, "  traveling  to  Stirling  to  get  in  some  siller  that 
is  awing  us." 

The  spokesman  of  the  other  party,  snuffing  up  his 
breath  through  his  nose,  repeated  the  words  with  a  sort 


188  liOB  ROY. 

of  sneer:  "  You  Glasgow  tradesfolk  hae  naething  to  do 
but  to  gang  frae  the  tae  end  o'  the  west  o'  Scotland  to 
the  ither,  to  plague  honest  folks  that  may  chance  to  be 
awee  ahint  the  hand^  like  me." 

"  If  our  debtors  were  a'  sic  honest  gentlemen  as  I 
believe  you  to  be,  Garschattachin/'  replied  the  Bailie, 
"  conscience!  we  might  save  ourselves  a  labor,  for  they 
wad  come  and  seek  us." 

"Eh!  what!  how!"  exclaimed  the  person  whom  he 
had  addressed.  As  I  shall  live  by  bread  (not  forgetting 
beef  and  brandy),  it's  my  auld  friend  Nicol  Jarvie,  the 
best  man  that  ever  counted  doun  merks  on  a  band  till  a 
distressed  gentleman.  Were  ye  na  coming  up  my  way? 
were  ye  na  coming  up  the  Endrick  to  Garschattachin  ?  " 

"Troth  no,  Maister  Galbraith,"  replied  the  Bailie, 
"  I  had  other  eggs  on  the  spit;  and  I  thought  ye  wad  be 
saying  I  cam  to  look  about  the  annual  rent  that's  due  on 
the  bit  heritable  band  that's  between  us." 

"  Damn  the  annual  rent !  "  said  the  laird,  with  an 
appearance  of  great  heartiness.  "  Deil  a  word  o'  business 
will  you  or  I  speak,  now  ye're  so  near  my  country.  To 
see  how  a  trot-cosey  and  a  Joseph  can  disguise  a  man — 
that  I  suldna  ken  my  auld  feal  friend  the  deacon!  " 

"  The  Bailie,  if  you  please,"  resumed  Mr.  Jarvie; 
"  but  I  ken  what  gars  ye  mistak — the  band  was  granted 
to  my  father  that's  happy,  and  he  was  deacon;  but  his 
name  was  Nicol  as  weel  as  mine.  I  dinna  mind  that 
there's  been  a  payment  of  principal  sum  or  annual  rent 
on  it  in  my  day,  and  doubtless  that  has  made  the  mis- 
take." 

"  Weel,  the  devil  take  the  mistake  and  all  that  oc- 
casioned it!  "  repHed  Mr.  Galbr^ith.     "  But  I  am  glad  ye 


ROB   ROY.  180 

are  a  bailie. — Gentlemen,  fill  a  brimmer — this  is  my  ex- 
cellent friend,  Bailie  Xicol  Jarvie's  health;  I  ken'd  him 
and  his  father  these  twenty  years.  Are  ye  a'  cleared 
kelty  aff?  Fill  anither.  Here's  to  his  being  sune  pro- 
vost— I  say  provost — Lord  Provost  Xicol  Jarvie! — and 
them  that  affirms  there's  a  man  walks  the  Hie-street  o' 
Glasgow  that's  fitter  for  the  office,  they  will  do  weel  not 
to  let  me,  Duncan  Galbraith  of  Garschattachin,  hear 
them  say  sae — that's  all."  And  therewith  Duncan  Gal- 
braith martially  cocked  his  hat,  and  placed  it  on  one  side 
of  his  head  with  an  air  of  defiance. 

Supper  being  now  nearly  ready,  Frank  looked  around 
fop  Andrew  Fairservice,  who  was  nowhere  to  be  seen. 
The  hostess  said  she  believed  he  had  gone  to  the  stable, 
and  offered  to  light  Frank  to  the  place.  As  soon  as  they 
were  outside,  she  slipped  a  piece  of  paper  into  his  hands, 
gave  him  the  pine  torch,  and  returned  into  the  house. 


CHAPTEE    XXI. 

Bagpipes,  not  lyres,  the  Highland  hills  adorn, 
MacLean's  loud  hollo,  and  MacGregor's  horn. 

John  Cooper's  Reply  to  Allan  Ramsay. 

Feank  stopped  in  the  entrance  of  the  stable,  and  by 
the  light  of  his  torch  deciphered  the  following  note, 
addressed:  "  For  the  honored  hands  of  Mr.  F.  0.,  a 
Saxon  young  gentleman — These.'^  The  contents  were 
as  follows: 

Sie:  There  are  night-hawks  abroad,  so  that  I  can 
not  give  you  and  my  respected  kinsman,  B.  N.  J.,  the 
meeting  at  the  Clachan  of  Aberfoil,  whilk  was  my  pur- 
pose. I  pray  you  to  avoid  unnecessary  communication 
with  those  you  may  find  there,  as  it  may  give  future 
trouble.  The  person  who  gives  you  this  is  faithful  and 
may  be  trusted,  and  will  guide  you  to  a  place  where,  God 
willing,  I  may  safely  give  you  the  meeting,  when  I  trust 
my  kinsman  and  you  will  visit  my  poor  house,  where,  in 
despite  of  my  enemies,  I  can  still  promise  sic  cheer  as  ane 
Hielandman  may  gie  his  friends,  and  where  we  will 
drink  a  solemn  health  to  a  certain  D.  V.,  and  look  to  cer- 
tain affairs  whilk  I  hope  to  be  your  aidance  in;  and  I 
rest,  as  is  wont  among  gentlemen,  your  servant  to  com- 
mand, E.  M.  C." 
100 


ROB  ROY.  191 

Frank  was  a  good  deal  disappointed  to  find  that  his 
meeting  with  Campbell  was  put  oft*  to  a  still  further  dis- 
tant place  and  time.  He  resolved  to  obey  the  instruc- 
tions of  the  note,  and  observe  all  caution  before  the 
guests  of  the  inn,  and  at  the  first  opportunity  to  obtain 
directions  from  his  landlady  as  to  how  he  could  meet 
the  bearer  of  the  note. 

Next  he  sought  out  Andrew  Fairservice,  whom  he  at 
last  found  huddled  up  in  a  corner  behind  a  barrel  of 
feathers. 

Upon  his  return  to  the  house,  Mr.  Galbraitb 
and  the  Bailie  were  high  in  dispute.  Mr.  Galbraith, 
rather  the  worse  for  the  amount  of  liquor  which  he  had 
taken,  was  inclined  to  be  more  or  less  disputatious  dur- 
ing the  remainder  of  the  evening.  From  his  harangues 
it  became  evident  that  he  and  his  two  companions,  with 
their  followers,  were  to  join  forces  with  a  company  of 
English  soldiers  at  this  rendezvous,  and  in  the  early 
morning  sally  forth  to  capture  the  famed  outlaw  Rob 
Roy,  who  was  no  other  than  our  friend  Campbell.  Gal- 
braith had  hardly  become  silent  when  the  measured  foot- 
steps of  a  body  of  infantry  on  the  march  were  heard,  and 
an  officer,  followed  by  two  or  three  files  of  soldiers,  en- 
tered the  apartment. 

The  officer  approached  the  Lowlander  and  addressed 
him  as  follows: 

"  You  are,  I  suppose.  Major  Galbraith,  of  the  squad- 
ron of  Lennox  Militia,  and  these  are  the  two  Highland 
gentlemen  with  whom  I  was  appointed  to  meet  in  this 
place?" 

They  assented,  and  invited  the  officer  to  take  some 
refreshments,  which  he  declined.     "  I  have  been  too 


192  I^OB  ROY. 

late,  gentlemen,  and  am  desirous  to  make  up  time.  I 
have  orders  to  search  for  and  arrest  two  persons  guilty 
of  treasonable  practices.  "  Do  these  gentlemen  belong 
to  your  party?"  he  said  to  Major  Galbraith,  looking 
at  the  Bailie  and  Frank,  who,  engaged  in  eating  their 
supper,  had  paid  little  attention  to  the  officer  on  his  en- 
trance. 

"  Travelers,  sir,"  said  Galbraith — "  lawful  travelers 
by  sea  and  land,  as  the  Prayer-Book  hath  it." 

"  My  instructions,"  said  the  Captain,  taking  a  light 
to  survey  them  closer,  "  are  to  place  under  arrest  an  eld- 
erly and  a  young  person;  and  I  think  these  gentlemen 
answer  nearly  the  description." 

"  Take  care  what  you  say,  sir,"  said  Mr.  Jar  vie;  "  it 
shall  not  be  your  red  coat  nor  your  laced  hat  shall  pro- 
tect you,  if  you  put  any  affront  on  me.  I'se  convene  ye 
baith  in  an  action  of  scandal  and  false  imprisonment. 
I  am  a  free  burgess  and  a  magistrate  o'  Glasgow;  Xicol 
Jarvie  is  my  name,  sae  was  my  father's  afore  me.  I  am 
a  bailie,  be  praised  for  the  honor,  and  my  father  was 
a  deacon." 

"  He  was  a  prick-eared  cur,"  said  Major  Galbraith, 
"  and  fought  agane  the  King  at  Bothwell  Brigg." 

"  He  paid  what  he  ought  and  what  he  bought,  Mr. 
Galbraith,"  said  the  Bailie,  "  and  was  an  honester  man 
than  ever  stude  on  your  shanks." 

"  I  have  no  time  to  attend  to  all  this,"  said  the  offi- 
cer; "  I  must  positively  detain  you,  gentlemen,  unless 
you  can  produce  some  respectable  security  that  you  are 
loyal  subjects." 

"  I  desire  to  be  carried  before  some  civil  magistrate," 
said  the  Bailie — "  the  sherra,  or  the  judge  of  the  bounds. 


ROB  ROY.  193 

I  am  not  obliged  to  answer  every  red-coat  that  speers 
questions  at  me." 

"  Well,  sir,  I  shall  know  how  to  manage  you  if  you 
are  silent. — And  you,  sir  "  (to  Frank),  "  what  may  your 
name  be?" 

"  Francis  Osbaldistone,  sir." 

"  What,  a  son  of  Sir  Hildebrand  Osbaldistone  of 
Northumberland  ?  " 

"  No,  sir,"  interrupted  the  Bailie;  "  a  son  of  the 
great  William  Osbaldistone  of  the  house  of  Osbaldistone 
and  Tresham,  Crane-Alley,  London." 

"  I  am  afraid,  sir,"  said  the  officer,  "  your  name  only 
increases  the  suspicions  against  you,  and  lays  me  under 
the  necessity  of  requesting  that  you  will  give  up  what 
papers  you  have  in  charge." 

"  I  have  none,"  Frank  replied,  "  to  surrender." 

The  officer  commanded  him  to  be  disarmed  and 
searched.  To  have  resisted  would  have  been  madness. 
He  accordingly  gave  up  his  arms  and  submitted  to  a 
search,  which  was  conducted  as  civilly  as  an  operation 
of  the  kind  well  could.  They  found  nothing  except  the 
note  which  he  had  received  that  night  through  the  hand 
of  the  landlady. 

"  This  is  different  from  what  I  expected,"  said  the 
officer,  "  but  it  affords  us  good  grounds  for  detaining 
you.  Here  I  find  you  in  written  communication  with 
the  outlawed  robber,  Robert  MacGregor  Campbell,  who 
has  been  so  long  the  plague  of  this  district.  How  do  you 
account  for  that?  " 

"  Spies  of  Rob! "  said  Inverashalloch.  "  We  wad 
serve  them  right  to  strap  them  up  till  the  neist  tree." 

"  We  are  gaun  to  see  after  some  gear  o'  our  ain. 


194  ROB  ROY. 

gentlemen/'  said  the  Bailie,  ^'  that's  fa'en  into  his  hands 
by  accident.  There's  nae  law  agane  a  man  looking  after 
his  ain,  I  hope." 

"  How  did  you  come  by  this  letter?  "  said  the  offi- 
cer, addressing  himself  to  Frank. 

Not  liking  to  betray  the  poor  woman  who  had  given 
it  to  him,  he  remained  silent. 

"  Do  you  know  anything  of  it,  fellow  ? "  said  the 
officer,  looking  at  Andrew,  whose  jaws  were  chattering 
like  a  pair  of  castanets  at  the  threats  thrown  out  by  the 
Highlander. 

"  0  ay,  I  ken  a'  about  it — it  was  a  Hieland  loon  gied 
the  letter  to  that  lang-tongued  jaud  the  gudewife  there; 
I'll  be  sworn  my  master  ken'd  naething  about  it.  But 
he's  willfu'  to  gang  up  the  hills  and  speak  wi'  Rob;  and 
oh,  sir,  it  wad  be  a  charity  just  to  send  a  wheen  o'  your 
red-coats  to  see  him  safe  back  to  Glasgow  again  whether 
he  wdll  or  no.  And  ye  can  keep  Mr.  Jarvie  as  lang  as  ye 
hke;  he's  responsible  eneugh  for  ony  fine  ye  may  lay 
on  him;  and  so's  my  master,  for  that  matter.  For  me, 
I'm  just  a  puir  gardener  lad,  and  no  w^orth  your  steer- 
ing." 

"  I  believe,"  said  the- officer,  "  the  best  thing  I  can  do 
is  to  send  these  persons  to  the  garrison  under  an  escort. 
They  seem  to  be  in  immediate  correspondence  with  the 
enemy,  and  I  shall  be  in  no  respect  answerable  for  suf- 
fering them  to  be  at  liberty. — Gentlemen,  you  will  con- 
sider yourselves  as  my  prisoners.  So  soon  as  dawn  ap- 
proaches I  will  send  you  to  a  place  of  security.  If  you 
be  the  persons  you  describe  yourselves,  it  will  soon  ap- 
pear, and  you  will  sustain  no  great  inconvenience  from 
being  detained  a  day  or  two.     I  can  hear  no  remon- 


ROB   ROY.  195 

strances,"  he  continued,  turning  awa}'  from  the  BaiUe, 
whose  mouth  was  open  to  address  him;  "  the  service  I 
am  on  gives  me  no  time  for  idle  discussions." 

"  Aweel,  aweel,  sir/'  said  the  Bailie,  "  you're  welcome 
to  a  tune  on  your  ain  fiddle;  but  see  if  I  dinna  gar  ye 
dance  till't  afore  a's  dune." 


CHAPTER   XXII. 

General 
Hear  me,  and  mark  me  well,  and  look  upon  me 
Directly  in  my  face — my  woman's  face  : 
See  if  one  fear,  one  shadow  of  a  terror, 
One  paleness  dare  appear,  but  from  my  anger, 
To  lay  hold  on  your  mercies. 

BOXDUCA. 

The  travelers,  now  prisoners,  were  permitted  to 
sleep  during  the  remainder  of  the  night  in  the  best 
manner  that  the  miserable  accommodations  of  the  ale- 
house permitted.  The  morning  had  broken  when  a  cor- 
poral and  two  men  rushed  into  the  hut,  dragging  after 
them  in  a  sort  of  triumph  a  Highlander,  whom  Frank 
immediately  recognized  as  his  acquaintance  the  ex-turn- 
key. The  Bailie,  who  started  up  at  the  noise  with  which 
they  entered,  immediately  made  the  same  discovery,  and 
exclaimed:  '^  Mercy  on  us!  they  hae  grippit  the  puir 
creature  Dougal. — Captain,  I  will  put  in  bail — sufficient 
bail — for  the  Dougal  creature." 

To  this  offer,  dictated  undoubtedly  by  a  grateful 
recollection  of  the  late  interference  of  the  Highlander 
in  his  behalf,  the  Captain  only  answered  by  requesting 
Mr.  Jarvie  to  ^'  mind  his  own  affairs,  and  remember  that 
he  was  himself  for  the  present  a  prisoner." 
196 


ROB  ROY.  197 

"  I  take  you  to  witness,  Mr.  Osbaldistonc,"  said  the 
Bailie,  who  was  probably  better  acquainted  with  the  pro- 
cess in  civil  than  in  military  cases,  "  that  he  has  refused 
sufficient  bail.  It's  my  opinion  that  the  creature  Dougal 
will  have  a  good  action  of  wrongous  imprisonment  and 
damages  agane  him,  under  the  Act  seventeen  hundred 
and  one,  and  I'll  see  the  .creature  righted." 

The  officer.  Captain  Thornton,  paying  no  attention 
to  the  Bailie's  threats  or  expostulations,  instituted  a  very 
close  inquiry  into  Dougal's  life  and  conversation,  and 
compelled  him  to  admit,  though  with  apparent  reluc- 
tance, the  successive  facts — that  he  knew  Kob  Roy  Mac- 
Gregor — that  he  had  seen  him  within  these  twelve 
months — within  these  six  months — within  this  month — 
within  this  week;  in  fine,  that  he  had  parted  from  him 
only  an  hour  ago.  All  this  detail  came  like  drops  of 
blood  from  the  prisoner,  and  was,  to  all  appearance,  only 
extorted  by  the  threat  of  a  halter  and  the  next  tree, 
which  Captain  Thornton  assured  him  should  be  his 
doom  if  he  did  not  give  direct  and  special  information. 

"  And  now,  my  friend,"  said  the  officer,  "  you  will 
please  inform  me  how  many  men  your  master  has  with 
him  at  present." 

Dougal  looked  in  every  direction  except  at  the  que- 
rist, and  began  to  answer,  "  She  canna  just  be  sure  about 
that." 

"  Look  at  me,  you  Highland  dog,"  said  the  officer, 
"  and  remember  your  life  depends  on  your  answer.  How 
many  rogues  had  that  outlawed  scoundrel  with  him 
when  you  left  him  ?  " 

"  Ou,  no  aboon  sax  rogues  when  I  was  gane." 

"  And  where  are  the  rest  of  his  banditti?  " 
14 


198  ROB  ROY. 

"  Gane  wi'  the  Lieutenant  agane  ta  westland  carles." 

'^Against  the  westland  clans?"  said  the  Captain. 
"Umph!  that  is  likely  enough.  And  what  rogue's  er- 
rand were  you  dispatched  upon  ?  " 

"  Just  to  see  what  your  honor  and  ta  gentlemen 
-red-coats  were  doing  doun  here  at  ta  Clachan." 

"  The  creature  will  prove  fause-hearted,  after  a'," 
said  the  Bailie,  who  by  this  time  had  planted  himself 
close  behind  Frank;  "  it's  lucky  I  didna  pit  my  sell  to 
expenses  anent  him." 

"  And  now,  my  friend,"  said  the  Captain,  "  let  us 
understand  each  other.  You  have  confessed  yourself 
a  spy,  and  should  string  up  to  the  next  tree.  But  come, 
if  you  will  do  me  one  good  turn,  I  will'  do  you  another. 
You,  Dougal — you  shall,  just  in  the  way  of  kindness, 
carry  me  and  a  small  party  to  the  place  where  you  left 
your  master,  as  I  wish  to  speak  a  few  words  with  him  on 
serious  affairs,  and  I'll  let  you  go  about  your  business, 
and  give  you  five  guineas  to  boot." 

"  Oigh !  oigh !  "  exclaimed  Dougal,  in  the  extremity 
of  distress  and  perplexity;  "  she  canna  do  that — she 
canna  do  that;  she'll  rather  be  hanged." 

"  Hanged,  then,  you  shall  be,  my  friend,"  said  the 
officer;  "  and  your  blood  be  upon  your  own  head. — 
Corporal  Cramp,  do  you  play  provost-marshal.  Away 
with  him!  " 

The  corporal  had  confronted  poor  Dougal  for  some 
time,  ostentatiously  twisting  a  piece  of  cord  which  he 
had  found  in  the  house  into  the  form  of  a  halter.  He 
now  threw  it  about  the  culprit's  neck,  and,  with  the  as- 
sistance of  two  soldiers,  had  dragged  Dougal  as  far  as  the 
door,  when,   overcome  with   the  terror  of  immediate 


ROB  ROY.  199 

death,  he  exclaimed:  "  Shentiemens,  stops!  stops! 
She'll  do  his  Honor's  bidding — stops!  " 

"  Awa'  wi'  the  creature!  "  said  the  Bailie,  "  he  de- 
serves hanging  niair  now  than  ever.  Awa'  \vi'  him,  cor- 
poral!    Why  dinna  ye  tak  him  awa'?  " 

"  It's  my  belief  and  opinion,  honest  gentleman,"  said 
the  corporal,  "  that  if  you  were  going  to  be  hanged 
yourself  you  would  be  in  no  such  d d  hurry." 

A  few  words  passed  between  Captain  Thornton  and 
the  prisoner,  and  Dougai  sniveled  out  in  a  very  sub- 
dued tone:  "  And  ye'U  ask  her  to  gang  nae  farther  than 
just  to  show  ye  where  the  MacGregor  is? — Ohon! 
ohon! " 

"  Silence  your  howling,  you  rascal!  Xo;  I  give  you 
my  word  I  will  ask  you  to  go  no  farther. — Corporal, 
make  the  men  fall  in,  in  front  of  the  houses.  Get  out 
these  gentlemen's  horses;  we  must  carry  them  with  us. 
I  can  not  spare  any  men  to  guard  them  here.  Come,  my 
lads,  get  under  arms." 

The  soldiers  bustled  about,  and  were  ready  to  move. 
Frank  and  the  Bailie  were  led  out,  along  with  Dougai,  in 
the  capacity  of  prisoners. 

The  fresh  morning  air,  after  the  dark,  smoky,  smoth- 
ering atmosphere  of  the  hut,  was  a  great  relief  to  our 
friends,  even  though  they  breathed  it  as  prisoners.  Only 
a  short  distance  from  the  spot  where  they  had  passed  the 
night  lay  the  village  of  Aberfoyle,  and  as  they  passed 
through  the  small  hamlet  many  an  old  woman  thrust 
forth  her  gray  head  from  the  half-opened  door  of  her 
hut,  and  showed  her  long,  skinny  arms,  with  various 
gestures,  shrugs,  and  muttered  expressions  in  Gaelic, 
addressed  to  her  neighbor,  indicating  her  hatred  and 


200  ROB  ROY. 

loathing  of  the  English  soldiers.  Andrew,  with  a  face 
as  pale  as  death,  whispered  to  Frank  the  meaning  of 
these  weird  imprecations. 

"  The  Highland  wives  are  cursing  and  banning  the 
red-coats,"  said  he,  "  and  wishing  ill-luck  to  them,  and 
ilka  ane  that  ever  spoke  the  Saxon  tongue.  I  have  heard 
wives  %te  in  England  and  Scotland — it's  nae  a  marvel 
to  hear  them  flyte  ony  gate;  but  sic  ill-scrapit  tongues 
as  thae  Highland  carlines — and  sic  grewsome  wishes, 
that*  men  should  be  slaughtered  like  sheep — and  that 
they  may  lapper  their  hands  to  the  elbows  in  their 
heart's  blude — and  that  they  suld  dee  the  death  of  Walter 
Cuming  o'  Guiyock,*  wha  hadna  as  muckle  o'  him  left 
thegither  as  would  supper  a  messan-dog — sic  awsome 
language  as  that  I  ne'er  heard  out  o'  a  human  thrapple; 
and,  unless  the  deil  wad  rise  amang  them  to  gie  them  a 
lesson,  I  thinkna  that  their  talent  at  cursing  could  be 
amended.  The  warst  o't  is,  they  bid  us  aye  gang  up  the 
loch,-  and  see  what  we'll  land  in." 

The  road  now  winded  through  marshy  meadow 
ground,  now  through  dark  and  close  thickets  where  an 
ambuscade  might  easily  be  sheltered.  From  these  and 
other  circumstances  it  seemed  that  an  attack  might  be 
meditated  upon  the  party  despite  Dougal's  apparent  con- 
fessions. Bailie  Jarvie's  good  sense  and  shrewd  observa- 
tion led  him  to  the  same  conclusion,  and  he  offered 
words  of  caution  to  the  Captain  as  follows : 

*  A  great  feudal  oppressor,  who.  riding  on  some  cruel  purpose 
through  the  forest  of  Guiyock,  was  thrown  from  his  horse,  and, 
his  foot  being  caught  in  the  stirrup,  was  dragged  along  by  the 
frightened  animal  till  he  was  torn  to  pieces.  The  expression, 
"Walter  of  Guiyock's  curse,"  is  proverbial. 


ROB  ROY.  201 

"  Captain,  it's  no  to  fleech  ony  favor  out  o'  ye,  for  I 
scorn  it — and  it's  under  protest  that  I  reserve  my  action 
and  pleas  of  oppression  and  wrongous  imprisonment; 
but,  being  a  friend  to  King  George  and  his  army,  I  take 
the  liberty  to  speer — Dinna  ye  think  ye  might  tak  a  bet- 
ter time  to  gang  up  this  glen?  If  ye  are  seeking  Rob 
Roy,  he's  ken'd  to  be  better  than  half  a  hundred  men 
strong  when  he's  at  the  fewest;  an  if  he  brings  in  the 
Glengyle  folk,  and  the  Glenfinlas  and  Balquhidder  lads, 
he  may  come  to  gie  you  your  kail  through  the  reek; 
and  it's  my  sincere  advice,  as  a  king's  friend,  ye  had 
better  tak  back  again  to  the  Clachan,  for  thae  women 
at  Aberfoil  are  like  the  scarts  and  seamaws  at  the 
Cumries — there's  ave  foul  weather  follows  their  skirl- 

iBg." 

"  Make  yourself  easy,  sir,"  replied  Captain  Thorn- 
ton; "  I  am  in  the  execution  of  my  orders.  And  as  yooi 
say  you  are  a  friend  to  King  George,  you  will  be  glad 
to  learn  that  it  is  impossible  that  this  gang  of  ruffians, 
whose  license  has  disturbed  the  country  so  long,  can  es- 
cape the  measures  now  taken  to  suppress  them.  The 
horse  squadron  of  militia,  commanded  by  Major  Gal- 
braith,  is  already  joined  by  two  or  more  troops  of  cavalry, 
which  Avill  occupy  all  the  lower  passes  of  this  wild  coun- 
try; three  hundred  Highlanders,  under  the  two  gentle- 
men you  saw  at  the  inn,  are  in  possession  of  the  upper 
part,  and  various  strong  parties  from  the  garrison  are 
securing  the  hills  and  glens  in  different  directions.  Our 
last  accounts  of  Rob  Roy  correspond  with  what  this  fel- 
low has  confessed,  that,  finding  himself  surroimded  on 
all  sides,  he  had  dismissed  the  greater  part  of  his  follow- 
ers, with  the  purpose  either  of  lying  concealed,  or  of 


202  liOB  HOY. 

making  his  escape  through  his  superior  knowledge  of 
the  passes." 

"  I  dinna  ken,"  said  the  Bailie;  "  there's  mail  brandy 
than  brains  in  Garschattaehin's  head  this  morning; 
and  I  wadna,  an  I  were  you,  Captain,  rest  my  main 
dependence  on  the  Hielandmen;  hawks  winna  pike  out 
hawks'  een.  They  may  quarrel  among  themsells,  and 
gie  ilk  ither  ill  names,  and  maybe  a  slash  wi'  a  clay- 
more ;  but  they  are  sure  to  join,  in  the  lang  run,  against 
a'  civilized  folk,  that  wear  breeks  on  their  hinder  ends, 
and  hae  purses  in  their  pouches." 

Apparently  these  admonitions  w^ere  not  altogether 
thrown  away  on  Captain  Thornton.  He  reformed  his 
line  of  march,  commanded  his  soldiers  to  unsling  their 
firelocks  and  fix  their  bayonets,  and  formed  an  advance 
and  rear  guard,  each  consisting  of  a  non-commissioned 
officer  and  two  soldiers,  who  received  strict  orders  to  keep 
an  alert  lookout.  Dougal  underwent  another  and  very 
close  examination,  in  which  he  steadfastly  asserted  the 
truth  of  what  he  had  before  affirmed;  and  being  rebuked 
on  account  of  the  suspicious  and  dangerous  appearance 
of  the  route  by  which  he  was  guiding  them,  he  answered 
with  a  sort  of  testiness  that  seemed  very  natural:  "  Her 
nainsel  didna  mak  ta  road;  an  shentlemans  likit  grand 
roads,  she  suld  hae  pided  at  Glasco." 

The  way  grew  more  precarious,  the  road  rounding 
every  promontory  and  bay  which  indented  the  lake  whose 
banks  they  were  now  skirting  so  that  it  was  impossible  to 
see  a  hundred  yards  before  them.  It  was  at  this  junc- 
ture that  a  soldier  of  the  advance  file  was  sent  back  to 
inform  the  captain  that  the  path  in  front  was  occupied 
by  Highlanders.     Almost  at  the  same  instant  a  soldier 


ROB  ROY.  203 

from  the  rear  came  to  say  that  the  sound  of  a  bagpipe 
was  heard  in  the  woods  through  which  they  had  just 
passed. 

Captain  Thornton,  a  man  of  conduct  as  well  as  of 
courage,  instantly  resolved  to  force  the  pass  in  front, 
without  waiting  until  he  was  assailed  from  the  rear. 
He  therefore  ordered  the  rear  guard  to  join  the  center, 
and  both  to  close  up  to  the  advance,  doubling  his  files 
so  as  to  occupy  with  his  column  the  whole  practicable 
part  of  the  road,  and  to  present  such  a  front  as  its 
breadth  admitted. 

They  approached  within  about  twenty  yards  of  the 
spot  where  the  advance  guard  had  seen  some  appearance 
of  an  enemy.  It  was  one  of  those  promontories  which 
run  into  the  lake,  and  round  the  base  of  which  the 
road  had  hitherto  winded  in  the  manner  I  have  described. 
In  the  present  case,  however,  the  path,  instead  of  keep- 
ing the  water's  edge,  scaled  the  promontory  by  one  or 
two  rapid  zigzags,  carried  in  a  broken  track  along  the 
precipitous  face  of  a  slaty  gray  rock,  which  would  other- 
wise have  been  absolutely  inaccessible.  On  the  top  of 
this  rock,  only  to  be  approached  by  a  road  so  broken, 
so  narrow,  and  so  precarious,  the  corporal  declared  he 
had  seen  the  bonnets  and  long-barreled  guns  of  several 
mountaineers  apparently  couched  among  the  long  heath 
and  brushwood  which  crested  the  eminence.  Captain 
Thornton  ordered  him  to  move  forward  with  three  files, 
to  dislodge  the  supposed  ambuscade,  while  at  a  more  slow 
but  steady  pace  he  advanced  to  his  support  with  the  rest 
of  his  party. 

The  attack  which  he  meditated  was  prevented  by  the 
unexpected  apparition  of  a  female  upon  the  summit  of 


204  ROB  KOY. 

the  rock.  "  Stand! "  she  said,  with  a  commanding 
tone,  "  and  tell  me  what  ye  seek  in  MacGregor's  coun- 
try?" 

This  woman  was  tall  and  of  commanding  form — a 
worthy  mate  of  Eob  Eoy.  She  might  be  between  the 
term  of  forty  and  fifty  years,  and  had  a  countenance 
which  must  once  have  been  of  a  masculine  cast  of  beauty; 
though  now^,  imprinted  with  deep  lines  by  exposure  to 
rough  weather,  and  perhaps  by  the  wasting  influence  of 
grief  and  passion,  its  features  were  only  strong,  harsh, 
and  expressive.  She  wore  her  plaid,  not  drawn  around 
her  head  and  shoulders  as  is  the  fashion  of  the  women 
in  Scotland,  but  disposed  around  her  body  as  the  High- 
land soldiers  wear  theirs.  She  had  a  man's  bonnet, 
with  a  feather  in  it,  an  unsheathed  sword  in  her  hand, 
and  a  pair  of  pistols  at  her  girdle. 

"  It's  Helen  Campbell,  Eob's  wife,"  said  the  Bailie, 
in  a  whisper  of  considerable  alarm;  "  and  there  will  be 
broken  heads  amang  us  or  it's  lang." 

"  What  seek  ye  here  ?  "  she  asked  again  of  Cap- 
tain Thornton,  who  had  himself  advanced  to  recon- 
noiter. 

"  We  seek  the  outlaw,  Rob  Roy  MacGregor  Camp- 
bell," answered  the  officer,  "  and  make  no  war  on  wom- 
en; therefore  offer  no  vain  opposition  to  the  king's 
troops,  and  assure  yourself  of  civil  treatment." 

"  Ay,"  retorted  the  Amazon,  "  I  am  no  stranger  to 
your  tender  mercies.  Ye  have  left  me  neither  name  nor 
fame;  my  mother's  bones  will  shrink  aside  in  their  grave 
when  mine  are  laid  beside  them.  Ye  have  left  me 
neither  house  nor  hold,  blanket  nor  bedding,  cattle  to 
feed  us,  or  flocks  to  clothe  us.     You  have  taken  from  us 


ROB  ROY.  205 

all — all!  The  very  name  of  our  ancestors  have  ye  taken 
away,  and  now  ye  conie  for  our  lives." 

"  I  seek  no  man's  life,"  replied  the  captain;  "  I  only 
execute  my  orders.  If  you  are  alone,  good  woman,  you 
have  naught  to  fear.  If  there  are  any  with  you  so  rash 
as  to  offer  useless  resistance,  their  blood  be  on  their 
own  heads. — Move  forward,  sergeant !  " 

"Forward!  march!"  said  the  non-commissioned 
officer.  "  Huzza,  my  boys,  for  Kob  Koy's  head  and  a 
purse  of  gold!  " 

He  quickened  his  pace  into  a  run,  followed  by  the 
six  soldiers;  but  as  they  attained  the  first  traverse  of  the 
ascent,  the  flash  of  a  dozen  firelocks  from  various  parts 
of  the  pass  parted  in  quick  succession  and  deliberate  aim. 
The  sergeant,  shot  through  the  body,  still  struggled  to 
gain  the  ascent,  raised  himself  by  his  hands  to  clamber 
up  the  face  of  the  rock,  but  relaxed  his  grasp  after  a  des- 
perate effort,  and  falling,  rolled  from  the  face  of  the  cliff 
into  the  deep  lake,  where  he  perished.  Of  the  soldiers, 
three  fell,  slain  or  disabled;  the  others  retreated  on  the 
main  body,  all  more  or  less  wounded. 

"  Grenadiers,  to  the  front!  "  said  Captain  Thornton. 
The  four  grenadiers  moved  to  the  front  accordingly. 
The  officer  commanded  the  rest  of  the  party  to  be  ready 
to  support  them,  and,  only  saying  to  the  Bailie  and 
Frank,  "  Look  to  your  safety,  gentlemen,"  gave  in  rapid 
succession  the  word  to  the  grenadiers:  "  Open  your 
pouches — handle  your  grenades — blow  your  matches — 
fall  on!" 

The  whole  advanced  \vith  a  shout,  headed  by  Captain 
Thornton — the  grenadiers  preparing  to  throw  their  gre- 
nades among  the  bushes  where  the  ambuscade  lay,  and 


206  B,OB  ROY. 

the  musketeers  to  support  them  by  an  instant  and  close 
assault.  Dougal,  forgotten  in  the  scuffle,  wisely  crept 
into  the  thicket  which  overhung  that  part  of  the  road 
where  they  had  first  halted,  which  he  ascended  with  the 
activity  of  a  wild  cat.  Frank  followed  his  example,  in- 
stinctively recollecting  that  the  fire  of  the  Highlanders 
would  sweep  the  open  track.  He  clambered  until  out  of 
breath;  for  a  continued  spattering  fire,  in  which  every 
shot  was  multiplied  by  a  thousand  echoes,  the  hissing  of 
the  kindled  fuses  of  the  grenades,  and  the  successive  ex- 
plosion of  those  missiles,  mingled  with  the  huzzas  of  the 
soldiers  and  the  yells  and  cries  of  their  Highland  antag- 
onists formed  a  contrast  which  added  wings  to  his  desire 
to  reach  a  place  of  safety.  The  difficulties  of  the  ascent 
soon  increased  so  much  that  Frank  despaired  of  reaching 
Dougal,  who  seemed  to  swing  himself  from  rock  to  rock 
and  stump  to  stump  with  the  facility  of  a  squirrel,  and 
he  turned  down  his  eyes  to  see  what  had  become  of  his 
other  companions.  Both  were  brought  to  a  very  awk- 
ward stand-still. 

The  Bailie,  to  whom  fear  had  given  a  temporary  share 
of  agility,  had  descended  about  twenty  feet  from  the 
path,  when,  his  foot  slipping  as  he  straddled  from  one 
huge  fragment  of  rock  to  another,  he  would  have  slum- 
bered with  his  father  the  deacon,  whose  acts  and  words 
he  was  so  fond  of  quoting,  but  for  a  projecting  branch 
of  a  ragged  thorn,  which,  catching  hold  of  the  skirts  of 
his  riding-coat,  supported  him  in  mid-air,  where  he 
dangled  not  unlike  to  the  sign  of  the  Golden  Fleece  over 
the  door  of  a  mercer  in  the  Trongate  of  his  native  city. 

As  for  Andrew  Fairservice,  he  had  advanced  with 
better  success  until  he  had  attained  the  top  of  a  bare  cliff, 


ROB  ROY.  207 

which,  rising  above  the  wood,  exposed  him,  at  least  in 
his  own  opinion,  to  all  the  dangers  of  the  neighboring 
skirmish,  while  at  the  same  time  it  was  of  such  a  precip- 
itous and  impracticable  nature  that  he  dared  neither  to 
advance  nor  retreat.  Footing  it  up  and  down  upon 
the  narrow  space  which  the  top  of  the  cliff  afforded — 
very  like  a  fellow  at  a  country-fair  dancing  upon  a 
trencher — he  roared  for  mercy  in  Gaelic  and  English 
alternateh',"  according  to  the  side  on  which  the  scale  of 
victory  seemed  to  predominate,  while  his  exclamations 
were  only  answered  by  the  groans  of  the  Bailie,  who 
suffered  much  not  only  from  apprehension,  but  from 
the  pendulous  posture  in  which  he  hung  suspended  by 
the  loins. 

In  a  few  minutes  the  firing,  at  first  so  well  sustained, 
ceased — a  sure  sign  that  the  conflict  was  concluded.  It 
had  ended  in  the  defeat  of  Captain  Thornton,  who  was 
surrounded  by  a  party  of  Highlanders  in  the  act  of  dis- 
arming him  and  his  few  remaining  men — only  twelve, 
most  of  whom  had  been  w^ounded. 


CHAPTEE    XXIII. 

"  Woe  to  the  vanquished  ! "  was  stern  Brenno's  word, 
When  sunk  proud  Rome  beneath  the  Gallic  sword — 
*'  Woe  to  the  vanquished  ! "  when  his  massive  blade 
Bore  down  the  scale  against  her  ransom  weighed ; 
And  on  the  field  of  foughten  battle  still, 
Woe  knows  no  limits  save  the  victor's  will. 

The  Gaulliad. 

Frank,  now  feeling  a  certain  degree  of  safety,  looked 
about  to  see  what  assistance  he  could  render  his  friend 
the  BaiHe,  but  to  his  great  joy  found  him  already  re- 
leased; and  though  very  black  in  the  face,  and  much  de- 
ranged in  the  garments,  safely  seated  beneath  the  rock 
in  front  of  which  he  had  been  so  lately  suspended. 
Frank  hastened  to  join  him  and  offer  his  congratulations, 
which  he  was  at  first  far  from  receiving  in  the  spirit  of 
cordiality  with  which  they  were  offered.  A  heavy  fit  of 
coughing  scarce  permitted  him  breath  enough  to  ex- 
press the  broken  hints  which  he  threw  out  against 
Frank's  sincerity. 

"Uh!  uh!  uh!  uh! — they  say  a  friend — uh!  uh! 
— a  friend  sticketh  closer  than  a  brither — uh!  uh!  uh! 
When  I  came  up  here,  Maister  Osbaldistone,  to  this 
country,  cursed  of  God  and  man — uli!  uh! — Heaven  for- 
gie  me  for  swearing — on  nae  man's  errand  but  yours, 
d'ye  think  it  was  fair — uh  !  uh  !  uh  ! — to  leave  me  first  to 
208 


ROB  ROY.  209 

be  shot  or  drowned  atween  red-wud  Highlanders  and 
redcoats,  and  next  to  be  hung  np  between  heaven  and 
earth  like  an  auld  potato-bogle,  without  sae  muckle  as 
trying — uh!  uh! — sae  muckle  as  trying  to  relieve  me?  " 

Frank  made  a  thousand  apologies,  and  labored  so 
hard  to  represent  the  impossibility  of  his  ali'ording  him 
relief,  that  at  length  he  succeeded,  and  the  Bailie,  who 
was  as  placable  as  hasty  in  his  temper,  extended  his  fa- 
vor to  him  once  more.  Frank  next  took  the  liberty  of 
asking  how  he  had  contrived  to  extricate  himself. 

"  Me  extricate!  I  might  hae  hung  there  till  the  day 
of  judgment  or  I  could  hae  helped  my  sell,  wi'  my  head 
hinging  down  on  the  tae  side,  and  my  heels  on  the 
tother,  like  the  yarn-scales  in  the  weigh-house.  It  was 
the  creature  Dougal  that  extricated  me,  as  he  did  yes- 
treen ;  he  cuttit  aff  the  tails  o'  my  coat  wi'  his  durk,  and 
another  gillie  and  him  set  me  on  my  legs  as  cleverly  as 
if  I  had  never  been  aff  them.  But  to  see  what  a  thing 
gude  braid  claith  is!  Had  I  been  in  ony  o'  your  rotten 
French  camlets  now,  or  your  drab-de-berries,  it  would 
hae  screeded  like  an  auld  rag  wi'  sic  a  weight  as  mine. 
But  fair  fa'  the  weaver  that  wrought  the  weft  o't.  I 
swung  and  bobbit  yonder  as  safe  as  a  gabbart  *  that's 
moored  by  a  three-ply  cable  at  the  Broomielaw." 

Frank  now  inquired  what  had  become  of  the  Bailie's 
preserver. 

"  The  creature,"  so  he  continued  to  call  the  High- 
landman,  "  contrived  to  let  me  ken  there  wad  be  danger 
in  gaun  near  the  leddy  till  he  came  back,  and  bade  me 

*  A  kind  of  lighter  used  in  the  river  Clyde — probably  from  the 
French  abare. 


210  ROB  ROY. 

stay  here.  I  am  o'  the  mind/*'  he  continued,  "  that  he's 
seeking  after  you — it's  a  considerate  creature — and 
troth,  I  would  swear  he  was  right  about  the  leddy,  as 
he  ca's  her,  too.  Helen  Campbell  was  nane  o'  the  maist 
douce  maidens,  nor  meekest  wives  neither,  and  folk  say 
that  Rob  himsell  stands  in  awe  o'  her.  I  doubt  she 
winna  ken  me,  for  it's  mony  years  since  we  met.  I  am 
clear  for  waiting  for  the  Dougal  creature  or  we  gang 
near  her." 

Andrew  Fairservice,  though  he  had  ceased  to  caper 
on  the  pinnacle  upon  the  cessation  of  the  firing  which 
had  given  occasion  for  his  whimsical  exercise,  con- 
tinued, as  perched  on  the  top  of  an  exposed  cliff,  too 
conspicuous  an  object  to  escape  the  sharp  eyes  of  the 
Highlanders  when  they  had  time  to  look  a  little  around 
them.  When  he  was  discovered,  a  wild  and  loud  halloo 
was  set  up  among  the  assembled  victors,  three  or  four  of 
whom  instantly  plunged  into  the  copsewood  and  ascend- 
ed the  rocky  sides  of  the  hill  in  different  directions  to- 
ward the  place  where  they  had  discovered  this  whimsi- 
cal apparition. 

Those  who  arrived  first  within  gunshot  of  poor  An- 
drew did  not  trouble  themselves  to  offer  him  any  assist- 
ance in  the  ticklish  posture  of  his  affairs,  but,  leveling 
their  long  Spanish-barreled  guns,  gave  him  to  under- 
stand by  signs  which  admitted  of  no  misconstruction 
that  he  must  contrive  to  come  down  and  submit  himself 
to  their  mercy,  or  to  be  marked  at  from  beneath  like  a 
regimental  target  set  up  for  ball  practice.  With  such  a 
formidable  hint  for  venturous  exertion  Andrew  Fairserv- 
ice could  no  longer  hesitate;  the  more  imminent  peril 
overcame  his  sense  of  that  which  seemed  less  inevitable, 


ROB  ROY.  211 

and  he  began  to  descend  the  cliff  at  all  risks,  clutching 
to  the  ivy  and  oak  stumps  and  projecting  fragments  of 
rock  with  an  almost  feverish  anxiety,  and  never  failing, 
as  circumstances  left  him  a  hand  at  liberty,  to  extend  it 
to  the  plaided  gentry  below  in  an  attitude  of  supplica- 
tion, as  if  to  deprecate  the  discharge  of  their  leveled 
firearms.  In  a  word,  the  fellow,  under  the  influence  of  a 
counteracting  motive  for  terror,  achieved  a  safe  descent 
from  his  perilous  eminence  which  nothing  but  the  fear 
of  instant  death  could  have  moved  him  to  attempt.  The 
awkward  mode  of  Andrew's  descent  greatly  amused  the 
Highlanders  below,  who  fired  a  shot  or  two  while  he  was 
engaged  in  it,  without  the  purpose  of  injuring  him,  but 
merely  to  enhance  the  amusement  they  derived  from  his 
extreme  terror,  and  the  superlative  exertions  of  agility 
to  which  it  excited  him. 

At  length  he  attained  firm  and  comparatively  level 
ground — or  rather,  to  speak  more  correctly,  his  foot  slip- 
ping at  the  last  point  of  descent,  he  fell  on  the  earth  at 
his  full  length  and  was  raised  by  the  assistance  of  the 
Highlanders  who  stood  to  receive  him,  and  who,  ere  he 
gained  his  legs,  stripped  him  not  only  of  the  w^hole  con- 
tents of  his  pockets,  but  of  periwig,  hat,  coat,  doublet, 
stockings,  and  shoes,  performing  the  feat  with  such  ad- 
mirably celerity  that,  although  he  fell  on  his  back  a 
well-clothed  and  decent  burgher-seeming  serving-man, 
he  arose  a  forked,  uncased,  bald-pated,  beggarly-looking 
scarecrow.  Without  respect  to  the  pain  which  his  unde- 
fended toes  experienced  from  the  sharp  encounter  of  the 
rocks  over  which  they  hurried  him,  those  who  had  de- 
tected Andrew  proceeded  to  drag  him  downward  toward 
the  road  through  all  the  intervening  obstacles. 


212  I^OB  ROY. 

In  the  course  of  their  descent  the  Highlanders  dis- 
covered Mr.  Jarvie  and  Frank;  instantly  several  of  their 
number  surrounded  them  and  were  about  to  treat  them 
in  the  same  manner  as  they  had  poor  Andrew,  when  Dou- 
gal  entered  upon  the  scene.  By  a  high  tone  of  expostu- 
lation, mixed  with  oaths  and  threats,  he  compelled  the 
plunderers  to  desist  from  further  trespass,  and  under  his 
protection  led  the  Bailie  and  Frank  to  the  presence  of 
Helen  MacGregor.  Frank  was  hesitating  in  what  terms 
to  accost  this  personage,  when  Mr.  Jarvie,  breaking  the 
ice  with  a  preparatory  cough  (for  the  speed  with  which 
he  had  been  brought  into  her  presence  had  again  im- 
peded his  respiration),  addressed  her  as  follows:  "  Uli! 
uh!  etc.,  etc. — I  am  very  happy  to  have  this  joyful  op- 
portunity " — a  quaver  in  his  voice  strongly  belied  the 
emphasis  which  he  studiously  laid  on  the  word  joyful — 
"this  joyful  occasion,"  he  resumed,  trying  to  give  the 
adjective  a  more  suitable  accentuation,  "  to  wish  my 
kinsman  Eobin's  wife  a  very  good-morning — uh!  uh! 
How's  a'  wi'  ye?" — by  this  time  he  had  talked  himself 
into  his  usual  jog-trot  manner,  which  exhibited  a  mix- 
ture of  familiarity  and  self-importance — "  how's  a'  wi' 
ye  this  lang  time?  Ye'll  hae  forgotten  me,  Mrs.  Mac- 
Gregor Campbell,  as  your  cousin — uh!  uh! — but  ye'll 
mind  my  father.  Deacon  Xicol  Jarvie,  in  the  Saut  Market 
o'  Glasgow? — an  honest  man  he  was,  and  a  sponsible, 
and  respectit  you  and  yours.  Sae,  as  I  said  before,  I 
am  right  glad  to  see  you,  Mrs.  Macgregor  Campbell, 
as  my  kinsman's  wife.  I  wad  crave  the  liberty  of  a 
kinsman  to  salute  you,  but  that  your  gillies  keep 
such  a  dolefu'  fast  baud  o'  my  arms,  and,  to  speak 
Heaven's  truth  and  a  magistrate's,  ye  wadna  be  the 


ROB  ROY.  213 

waur  of  a  cogfu'  o'  water  before  ye  welcome  your 
friends." 

There  was  something  in  the  familiarity  of  this  intro- 
duction which  ill  suited  the  exalted  state  of  temper  of 
the  person  to  whom  it  was  addressed,  then  busied  with 
distributing  dooms  of  death,  and  warm  from  conquest 
in  a  perilous  encounter. 

"  What  fellow  are  you/'  she  said,  ''  that  dare  to  claim 
kindred  with  the  MacGregor,  and  neither  wear  his  dress 
nor  speak  the  language?  What  are  you,  that  have  the 
tongue  and  the  habit  of  the  hound,  and  yet  seek  to  lie 
down  with  the  deer  ?  " 

"  I  dinna  ken,"  said  the  undaunted  Bailie,  "  if  the 
kindred  has  ever  been  weel  redd  out  to  you  yet,  cousin 
— but  it's  ken'd,  and  can  be  prov'd.  My'  mother,  Els- 
peth  MacFarlane,  was  the  wife  of  my  father.  Deacon 
Xicol  Jarvie — peace  be  wi'  them  baith! — and  Elspeth 
was  the  daughter  of  Parlane  MacFarlane,  at  the  Sheel- 
ing  0^  Loch  Sloy.  Xow,  this  Parlane  MacFarlane,  as  his 
surviving  daughter  Maggy  MacFarlane,  alias  MacXab, 
wha  married  Duncan  MacXab  o'  Stuckavrallachan,  can 
testify,  stood  as  near  to  your  gudeman,  Robert  Mac- 
Gregor, as  in  the  fourth  degree  of  kindred,  for " 

The  virago  lopped  the  genealogical  tree  by  demand- 
ing haughtily  '^  if  a  stream  of  rushing  water  acknowl- 
edged any  relation  with  the  portion  withdrawn  from  it 
for  the  mean  domestic  uses  of  those  who  dwelt  on  its 
banks?" 

"Vera  true,  kinswoman,"  said  the  Bailie;  "but  for 

a'  that,  the  burn  wad  be  glad  to  hae  the  mildam  back 

again  in  simmer,  when  the  chuckie-stanes  are  white  in 

the  sun.     I  ken  weel  eneugh  you  Hieland  folk  haud  us 

15 


214  ROB  ROY. 

Glasgow  people  light  and  cheap  for  our  language  and 
our  claes;  but  everybody  speaks  their  native  tongue  that 
they  learned  in  infancy;  and  it  would  be  a  dafthke 
thing  to  see  me  wi'  my  fat  wame  in  a  short  Hieland 
coat,  and  my  puir  short  houghs  gartered  below  the  knee, 
like  ane  o'  your  lang-legged  gillies.  Mair  by  token,  kins- 
woman/' he  continued,  in  defiance  of  various  intima- 
tions by  which  Dougal  seemed  to  recommend  silence,  as 
well  as  of  the  marks  of  impatience  which  the  Amazon 
evinced  at  his  loquacity,  "  I  wad  hae  ye  to  mind  that  the 
king's  errand  whiles  comes  in  the  cadger's  gate,  and 
that,  for  as  high  as  ye  may  think  o'  the  gudeman,  as  it's 
right  every  wife  should  honor  her  husband — there's 
Scripture  warrant  for  that — yet  as  high  as  ye  hand  him, 
as  I  was  saying,  I  hae  been  serviceable  to  Rob  ere  now; 
foreby  a  set  o'  pearlins  I  sent  yourself  when  ye  was  gaun 
to  be  married,  and  when  Rob  was  an  honest  weel-doing 
drover,  and  nane  o'  this  unlawfu'  wark,  wi'  fighting, 
and  flashes,  and  fluff -gibs,  disturbing  the  king's  peace 
and  disarming  his  soldiers." 

He  had  apparently  touched  on  a  key  which  his  kins- 
woman could  not  brook.  She  drew  herself  to  her  full 
height  and  betrayed  the  acuteness  of  feelings  by  a  laugh 
of  mingled  scorn  and  bitterness. 

"  Yes,"  she  said,  "  you,  and  such  as  you,  might  claim 
a  relation  to  us  when  we  stooped  to  be  the  paltry 
wretches  fit  to  exist  under  your  dominion  as  your  hewers 
of  wood  and  drawers  of  water — to  find  cattle  for  your 
banquets,  and  subjects  for  your  laws  to  oppress  and 
trample  on.  But  now  we  are  free — free  by  the  very  act 
which  left  us  neither  house  nor  hearth,  food  nor  covering 
— which  bereaved  me  of  all — of  all — and  makes  me 


ROB  ROY.  215 

groan  when  I  think  that  I  must  still  cumber  the  earth 
for  other  purposes  than  those  of  vengeance.  And  1  will 
carry  on  the  work  this  day  so  well  commenced  by  a  deed 
that  shall  break  all  bands  between  MacGregor  and  the 
Lowland  churls.  Here,  xVllan — Dougal — bind  these  Sas- 
senachs  neck  and  heel  together,  and  throw  them  into  the 
Highland  Loch  to  seek  for  their  Highland  kinsfolk." 

The  Bailie,  alarmed  at  this  mandate,  was  commenc- 
ing an  expostulation  which  probably  would  have  only  in- 
flamed the  violent  passions  of  the  person  whom  he  ad- 
dressed, when  Dougal  threw  himself  between  them,  and 
in  his  own  language,  which  he  spoke  with  a  fluency  and 
rapidity  strongly  contrasted  by  the  slow,  imperfect,  and 
idiotlike  manner  in  which  he  expressed  himself  in  Eng- 
lish, poured  forth  a  very  animated  pleading  in  behalf  of 
the  Sassenach  gentlemen. 

His  mistress  replied  to  him,  or  rather  cut  short  his 
harangue,  by  exclaiming  in  English :  "  Base  dog,  and 
son  of  a  dog,  do  you  dispute  my  command?  Should  I 
tell  ye  to  cut  out  their  tongues  and  put  them  into  each 
other's  throats  to  try  which  would  there  best  knap  South- 
ron, or  to  tear  out  their  hearts  and  put  them  into  each 
other's  breasts,  to  see  which  would  there  best  plot  trea- 
son against  the  MacGregor — and  such  things  have  been 
done  of  old  in  the  day  of  revenge,  when  our  fathers  had 
wrongs  to  redress — should  I  command  you  to  do  this, 
would  it  be  your  part  to  dispute  my  orders?  " 

"  To  be  sure,  to  be  sure,"  Dougal  replied  with  ac- 
cents of  profound  submission,  "  her  pleasure  snld  be 
done — tat's  but  reason;  but  an  it  were — tat  is,  an  it 
could  be  thought  the  same  to  her  to  coup  the  ill-faured 
loon  of  ta  red-coat  Captain,  and  hims  Corporal  Cramp, 


21G  r.OB  ROY. 

and  twa  three  o^  the  red-coats,  into  the  loch,  hersell  wad 
do't  wi'  nnickle  mair  great  satisfaction  than  to  hurt  sa 
honest  civil  shentlemans  as  were  friends  to  the  Grega- 
rach,  and  came  up  on  the  Chief's  assurance,  and  not  to 
do  no  treason,  as  hersell  could  testify." 

The  lady  was  about  to  reply,  when  a  few  wild  strains 
of  a  pibroch  were  heard  advancing  up  the  road  from 
Aberfoil,  the  same,  probably,  which  had  reached  the  ears 
of  Captain  Thornton's  rear  guard  and  determined  him 
to  force  his  way  onward  rather  than  return  to  the  village, 
on  finding  the  pass  occupied.  The  skirmish  being  of 
very  short  duration,  the  armed  men  who  followed  this 
martial  melody  had  not,  although  quickening  their 
march  when  they  heard  the  firing,  been  able  to  arrive 
in  time  sufficient  to  take  any  share  in  the  rencounter. 
The  victory,  therefore,  was  complete  without  them,  and 
they  now  arrived  only  to  share  in  the  triumph  of  their 
countrymen. 

But  it  was  easy  to  see  that  this  band  had  not  arrived 
from  a  victory  such  as  they  found  their  companions  here 
possessed  of.  The  pibroch  sent  forth  occasionally  a  few 
wailing  notes  expressive  of  a  very  different  sentiment 
from  triumph;  and  when  they  appeared  before  the 
wife  of  their  chieftain  it  was  in  silence,  and  with  down- 
cast and  melancholy  looks.  They  paused  when  they  ap- 
proached her,  and  the  pipes  again  sent  forth  the  same 
wild  and  melancholy  strain. 

Helen  rushed  toward  them  with  a  countenance  in 
which  anger  was  mingled  with  appreliension.  "  What 
means  this,  Alaster?"  she  said  to  the  minstrel — "why 
a  lament  in  the  moment  of  victory? — Robert — Hamish 
— where's  the  Macgregor?  where's  your  father?  " 


ROB  ROY.  217 

Her  sons,  who  led  the  band,  advanced  with  slow  and 
irresolute  steps  toward  her  and  murmured  a  few  words 
in  Gaelic,  at  hearing  which  she  set  up  a  shriek  that  made 
the  rocks  ring  again,  in  which  all  the  women  and  boys 
joined,  clapping  their  hands  and  yelling  as  if  their  lives 
had  been  expiring  in  the  sound. 

"  Taken !  ''  repeated  Helen,  when  the  clamor  had 
subsided — "  taken!  captive!  and  you  live  to  say  so? 
Coward  dogs!  did  I  nurse  you  for  this,  that  you 
should  spare  your  blood  on  your  father's  enemies?  or  see 
him  prisoner,  and  come  back  to  tell  it?'' 

The  sons  of  MacGregor,  to  whom  this  expostulation 
was  addressed,  were  youths,  of  whom  the  eldest  had  hard- 
ly attained  his  twentieth  year.  Hamish,  or  James,  the 
elder  of  these  youths,  was  the  tallest  by  a  head,  and 
much  handsomer  than  his  brother;  his  light-blue  eyes, 
with  a  profusion  of  fair  hair,  which  streamed  from  under 
his  smart  blue  bonnet,  made  his  whole  appearance  a 
most  favorable  specimen  of  the  Highland  youth.  The 
younger  was  called  Robert;  but,  to  distinguish  him  from 
his  father,  the  Highlanders  added  the  epithet  Oig,  or 
the  young.  Dark  hair  and  dark  features,  with  a  ruddy 
glow  of  health  and  animation,  and  a  form  strong  and 
well-set  beyond  his  years,  completed  the  sketch  of  the 
young  mountaineer. 

Both  now  stood  before  their  mother  with  counte- 
nances clouded  with  grief  and  shame,  and  listened  with 
the  most  respectful  submission  to  the  reproaches  with 
which  she  loaded  them.  At  length  when  her  resent- 
ment appeared  in  some  degree  to  subside,  the  eldest, 
speaking  in  English,  probably  that  he  might  not  be 
understood  by  their  followers,  endeavored  respectfully 


218  liOB  ROY. 

to  vindicate  himself  and  his  brother  from  his  mother's 
reproaches. 

"  The  MacGregor/'  his  son  stated,  "  had  been  called 
out  npon  a  trysting  with  a  Lowland  hallion  who  came 
with  a  token  from  " — he  muttered  the  name  very  low, 
but  Frank  thought  it  sounded  like  his  own.  "  The  Mac- 
Gregor,"  he  said,  '^  accepted  the  invitation,  but  com- 
manded the  Saxon  who  brought  the  message  to  be  de- 
tained as  a  hostage,  that  good  faith  should  be  observed 
to  him.  Accordingly  he  went  to  the  place  of  ap- 
pointment attended  only  by  Angus  Breck  and  Little 
Eory,  commanding  no  one  to  follow  him.  With- 
in half  an  hour  Angus  Breck  came  back  with  the  dole- 
ful tidings  that  the  MacGregor  had  been  surprised  and 
made  prisoner  by  a  party  of  Lennox  militia  under  Gal- 
braith  of  Garschattachin."  He  added,  "  that  Galbraith, 
on  being  threatened  by  MacGregor,  who  upon  his  cap- 
ture menaced  him  with  retaliation  on  the  person  of  the 
hostage,  had  treated  the  threat  with  great  contempt,  re- 
plying: '  Let  each  side  hang  his  man;  we'll  hang  the 
thief,  and  your  caterans  may  hang  the  ganger  Eob,  and 
the  country  will  be  rid  of  two  damned  things  at  once,  a 
wild  Highlander  and  a  revenue  officer.'  Angus  Breck, 
less  carefully  looked  to  than  his  master,  contrived  to  es- 
cape from  the  hands  of  his  captors,  after  having  been  in 
their  custody  long  enough  to  hear  this  discussion  and 
to  bring  off  the  news." 

"  And  did  you  learn  this,  you  false-hearted  traitor," 
said  the  wife  of  MacGregor,  "  and  not  instantly  rush  to 
your  father's  rescue  to  bring  him  off,  or  leave  your  body 
on  the  place?  " 

The  young  MacGregor  modestly  replied  by  repre- 


ROB   ROY.  219 

senting  the  very  superior  force  of  the  enemy,  and  stated 
that,  as  they  made  no  preparation  for  leaving  the  coun- 
try, he  had  fallen  back  up  the  glen  with  the  purpose 
of  collecting  a  band  sufficient  to  attempt  a  rescue  with 
some  tolerable  chance  of  success.  At  length  he  said 
"  the  militiamen  would  quarter,  he  understood,  in  the 
neighboring  house  of  Gartartan,  or  the  old  castle  in  the 
port  of  Monteith,  or  some  other  stronghold  which,  al- 
though strong  and  defensible,  was  nevertheless  capable 
of  being  surprised  could  they  but  get  enough  men 
assembled  for  the  purpose." 

The  wife  of  MacGregor  commanded  that  the  hostage 
exchanged  for  his  safety  should  be  brought  into  her 
presence.  They  dragged  forward  at  her  summons  a 
wretch  already  half  dead  with  terror,  in  whose  agonized 
features  Frank  recognized,  to  his  horror  and  astonish- 
ment, his  old  acquaintance  Morris. 

He  fell  prostrate  before  the  female  chief;  entreated, 
begged,  and  pleaded — becoming,  in  the  ecstasy  of  fear, 
even  eloquent — for  his  life;  but  all  his  efforts  failed  to 
move  the  wife  of  MacGregor.  With  scorn,  loathing, 
and  contempt  she  addressed  him: 

"  I  could  have  bid  ye  live,"  she  said,  "  had  life  been 
to  you  the  same  weary  and  wasting  burden  that  it  is  to 
me — that  it  is  to  every  noble  and  generous  mind.  But 
you — wretch!  you  could  creep  through  the  world  unaf- 
fected by  its  various  disgraces,  its  ineffable  miseries,  its 
constantly  accumulating  masses  of  crime  and  sorrow: 
you  could  live  and  enjoy  yourself,  while  the  noble-minded 
are  betrayed — while  nameless  and  birthless  villains  tread 
on  the  neck  of  the  brave  and  the  long-descended;  you 
could  enjoy  yourself  like  a  butcher's  dog  in  the  shambles, 


220  I^^B  ROY. 

battening  on  garbage,  while  the  slaughter  of  the  oldest 
and  best  went  on  around  you!  This  enjoyment  you 
shall  not  live  to  partake  of!  You  shall  die,  base  dog! 
and  that  before  yon  cloud  has  passed  over  the  sun." 

She  gave  a  brief  command  in  Gaelic  to  her  attend- 
ants, two  of  whom  seized  upon  the  prostrate  suppliant 
and  hurried  him  to  the  brink  of  a  cliff  which  overhung 
the  flood.  He  set  up  the  most  piercing  and  dreadful  cries 
that  fear  ever  uttered.  The  victim  was  held  fast  by 
some,  while  others,  binding  a  large  heavy  stone  in  a 
plaid,  tied  it  round  his  neck,  and  others  eagerly  stripped 
him  of  some  part  of  his  dress.  Half  naked,  and  thus 
manacled,  they  hurled  him  into  the  lake,  there  about 
twelve  feet  deep,  with  a  loud  halloo  of  vindictive  tri- 
umph— above  which,  however,  his  last  death-shriek,  the 
yell  of  mortal  agony,  was  distinctly  heard.  The  heavy 
burden  splashed  in  the  dark-blue  waters,  and  the  High- 
landers, with  their  pole-axes  and  swords,  watched  an  in- 
stant to  guard,  lest,  extricating  himself  from  the  load 
to  which  he  was  attached,  the  victim  might  have  strug- 
gled to  regain  the  shore.  But  the  knot  had  been  se- 
curely bound — the  wretched  man  sank  without  effort; 
the  waters,  which  his  fall  had  disturbed,  settled  calmly 
over  him,  and  the  unit  of  that  life  for  which  he  had 
pleaded  so  strongly  was  forever  withdrawn  from  the 
sum  of  human  existence. 


CHAPTER    XXIV. 

And  be  he  safe  restored  ere  evening  set, 
Or  if  there's  vengeance  in  an  injured  heart, 
And  power  to  wreak  it  in  an  armed  hand, 
Your  land  shall  ache  for't ! 

Old  Play. 

Fraxk  and  Mr.  Jarvie  were  horrified  at  this  deed  of 
violence,  and  the  latter  gave  vent  to  his  feelings  in  the 
following  words: 

"  I  take  up  my  protest  against  this  deed  as  a  bloody 
and  cruel  murder.  It  is  a  cursed  deed,  and  God  will 
avenge  it  in  his  due  way  and  time." 

"  Then  you  do  not  fear  to  follow?  "  said  the  virago, 
bending  on  him  a  look  of  death,  such  as  that  with  which 
a  hawk  looks  at  his  prey  ere  he  pounces. 

"  Kinswoman,"  said  the  Bailie,  "  nae  man  willingly 
wad  cut  short  his  thread  of  life  before  the  end  o'  his  pirn 
was  fairly  measured  off  on  the  yarn-winles;  and  I  hae 
muckle  to  do,  an  I  be  spared,  in  this  warld — public  and 
private  business,  as  weel  that  belanging  to  the  magistracy. 
as  to  my  ain  particular;  and  nae  doubt  I  hae  some  to  de- 
pend on  me,  as  puir  Mattie  wha  is  an  orphan — she's  a 
far-awa'  cousin  o'  the  Laird  o'  Limmerfield.  Sae  that, 
laying  a'  this  thegither — skin  for  skin,  yea,  all  that  a 
man  hath  will  he  give  for  his  life." 

"  And  were  I  to  set  you  at  liberty,"  said  the  imperi- 

221 


222  ROB  ROY. 

ous  dame,  "  what  name  could  you  give  to  the  drowning 
of  that  Saxon  dog?  " 

"  Uh!  uh! — hem!  hem!  "  said  the  Bailie,  clearing 
his  throat  as  well  as  he  could,  ''  I  suld  study  to  say  as 
little  on  that  score  as  might  be:  least  said  is  sunest 
mended." 

"  But  if  you  were  called  on  by  the  courts,  as  you 
term  them,  of  justice,"  she  again  demanded,  "  what  then 
would  be  your  answer?  " 

The  Bailie  looked  this  way  and  that  way,  like  a  person 
who  meditates  an  escape,  and  then  answered  in  the  tone 
of  one  wlio,  seeing  no  means  of  accomplishing  a  retreat, 
determines  to  stand  the  brunt  of  battle:  "I  see  what 
you  are  driving  me  to  the  wa'  about.  But  I'll  tell  you't 
plain,  kinswoman,  I  behoved  just  to  speak  according 
to  my  ain  conscience;  and  though  your  ain  gudeman, 
that  I  wish  had  been  here  for  his  ain  sake  and  mine,  as 
weel  as  the  puir  Hieland  creature  Dougal,  can  tell  ye 
that  Nicol  Jarvie  can  wink  as  hard  at  a  friend's  failings 
as  onybody,  yet  I'se  tell  ye,  kinswoman,  mine's  ne'er  be 
the  tongue  to  belie  my  thought;  and  sooner  than  say 
that  yonder  puir  wretch  was  lawfully  slaughtered,  I  wad 
consent  to  be  laid  beside  him — though  I  think  ye  are  the 
first  Hieland  woman  wad  mint  sic  a  doom  to  her  hus- 
band's kinsman  but  four  times  removed." 

It  is  probable  that  the  tone  and  firmness  assumed  by 
the  Bailie  in  his  last  speech  was  better  suited  to  make 
an  impression  on  the  hard  heart  of  his  kinswoman  than 
the  tone  of  supplication  he  had  hitherto  assumed,  as 
gems  can  be  cut  with  steel,  though  they  resist  softer 
metals.  She  commanded  the  Bailie  and  Frank  both  to 
be  placed  before  her.     "  Your  name,"  she  said  to  the 


ROB  ROY.  223 

latter,  "is  Osbaldistone? — the  dead  dog,  whose  death 
you  have  witnessed,  called  you  so.' 

"  My  name  is  Osbaldistone,"  was  Frank's  answer. 

"  Kashleigh,  then,  I  suppose,  is  your  Christian 
name?"  she  pursued. 

"  No;  my  name  is  Francis." 

"  But  you  know  Eashlcigh  Osbaldistone,"  she  con- 
tinued. "  He  is  your  brother,  if  I  mistake  not — at  least 
your  kinsman  and  near  friend." 

"  He  is  my  kinsman,"  replied  Frank,  "  but  not  my 
friend.  We  were  lately  engaged  together  in  a  rencoun- 
ter, when  we  were  separated  by  a  person  whom  I  under- 
stand to  be  your  husband.  My  blood  is  hardly  yet 
dried  on  his  sword,  and  the  wound  on  my  side  is  yet 
green.  I  have  little  reason  to  acknowledge  him  as  a 
friend." 

"  Then,"  she  replied,  "  if  a  stranger  to  his  intrigues, 
you  can  go  in  safety  to  Garschattachin  and  his  party 
without  fear  of  being  detained,  and  carry  them  a  mes- 
sage from  the  wife  of  the  MacGregor?" 

Frank  answered  that  he  knew  no  reasonable  cause 
why  the  militia  gentlemen  should  detain  him;  that  he 
had  no  reason  to  fear  being  in  their  hands;  and  that 
if  his  going  on  her  embassy  would  act  as  a  protection  to 
his  friend  and  servant,  who  were  her  prisoners,  he  was 
ready  to  set  out  directly.  He  also  took  the  opportunity 
to  say,  "  I  have  come  into  this  country  on  your  hus- 
band's invitation,  and  his  assurance  that  he  would  aid 
me  in  some  important  matters  in  which  I  am  interested. 
My  companion,  Mr.  Jarvie,  has  accompanied  me  on  the 
same  errand." 

"  And  I  wish  ^Ir.  Jarvie's  boots  had  been  fu'  o'  boil- 


224  ROB  ROY. 

ing  water  when  he  drew  them  on  for  sic  a  purpose/' 
interrupted  the  Bailie. 

"  You  may  read  your  father/'  said  Helen  Mac- 
Gregor,  turning  to  her  sons,  ''  in  what  this  young  Saxon 
tells  us — wise  only  when  the  bonnet  is  on  his  head  and 
the  sword  is  in  his  hand,  he  never  exchanges  the  tartan 
for  the  broadcloth,  but  he  runs  himself  into  the  miser- 
able intrigues  of  the  Lowlanders,  and  becomes  again, 
after  all  he  has  suffered,  their  agent,  their  tool,  their 
slave." 

"  Add,  madam,"  said  Frank,  ^'  and  their  benefactor." 

^'  Be  it  so,"  she  said;  "  for  it  is  the  most  empty  title 
of  them  all,  since  he  has  uniformly  sown  benefits  to  reap 
a  harvest  of  the  most  foul  ingratitude.  But  enough 
of  this.  I  shall  cause  you  to  be  guided  to  the  enemy's 
outposts.  Ask  for  their  commander,  and  deliver  him 
this  message  from  me,  Helen  MacGregor:  that  if  they  in- 
jure a  hair  of  MacGregor's  head,  and  if  they  do  not  set 
him  at  liberty  within  the  space  of  twelve  hours,  there  is 
not  a  lady  in  the  Lennox  but  shall  before  Christmas  cry 
the  coronach  for  them  she  will  be  loath  to  lose;  there  is 
not  a  farmer  but  shall  sing  well-a-wa  over  a  burnt  barn- 
yard and  an  empty  byre;  there  is  not  a  laird  nor  heritor 
shall  lay  his  head  on  the  pillow  at  night  with  the  assur- 
ance of  being  a  live  man  in  the  morning;  and,  to  begin 
as  we  are  to  end,  so  soon  as  the  term  is  expired,  I  will 
send  them  this  Glasgow  Bailie,  and  this  Saxon  captain, 
and  all  the  rest  of  my  prisoners,  each  bundled  in  a  plaid, 
and  chopped  into  as  many  pieces  as  there  are  checks  in 
the  tartan!  " 

As  she  paused  in  her  denunciation,  Captain  Thorn- 
ton, who  was  within  hearing,  added  with  great  coolness ; 


ROB  ROY.  225 

"  Present  my  compliments — Captain  Thornton's,  of  the 
Royals,  compliments — to  the  commanding  officer,  and 
tell  him  to  do  his  duty  and  secure  his  prisoner,  and 
not  waste  a  thought  upon  me.  If  1  have  been  fool 
enough  to  have  been  led  into  an  ambuscade  by  these  art- 
ful savages,  I  am  wise  enough  to  know  how  to  die  for  it 
without  disgracing  the  service.  I  am  only  sorry  for  my 
poor  fellows,"  he  said,  "that  have  fallen  into  such  butch- 
erly hands." 

"WhistI  whist!"  exclaimed  the  Bailie;  '*  are  ye 
weary  o'  your  life?  Ye'U  gie  rnij  service  to  the  com- 
manding officer,  Mr.  Osbaldistone — Bailie  Nicol  Jarvie's 
service,  a  magistrate  o'  Glasgow,  as  his  father  the  deacon 
was  before  him — and  tell  him,  here  are  a  vrlieen  honest 
men  in  great  trouble,  and  like  to  come  to  mair;  and  the 
best  thing  he  can  do  for  the  common  good  will  be  just 
to  let  Rob  come  his  wa's  up  the  glen,  and  nae  mair  about 
it.  There's  been  some  ill  dune  here  already;  but  as  it 
has  lighted  chief  on  the  ganger,  it  winna  be  muckle 
worth  making  a  stir  about." 

"With  these  very  opposite  injunctions  from  the  parties 
chiefly  interested  in  the  success  of  his  embassy,  Frank, 
under  the  guidance  and  escort  of  Hamish  MacGregor, 
the  elder  of  the  brothers,  set  forth  on  foot  for  the  camp 
of  Galbraith,  or,  in  other  words,  Garschattachin.  In 
al)out  an  hour's  time  they  approached  the  outposts  of  the 
enemy's  camp.  Young  ^lacGregor  intimated  to  Frank 
that  he  was  to  descend  to  the  station  of  the  militia  and 
execute  his  errand  to  the  commander,  enjoining  him  at 
the  same  time,  with  a  menacing  gesture,  neither  to  in- 
form them  who  had  guided  him  to  that  place,  nor  where 
he  had  parted  from  his  escort.     Thus  tutorod,  Frank  de- 


226  ROB  ROY. 

scended  toward  the  military  post,  followed  by  Andrew, 
who,  only  retaining  his  breeches  and  stockings  of  the 
English  costume,  without  a  hat,  bare-legged,  with 
brogues  on  his  feet,  which  Dougal  had  given  him  out  of 
compassion,  and  having  a  tattered  plaid  to  supply  the 
want  of  all  upper  garments,  looked  as  if  he  had  been 
playing  the  part  of  a  Highland  Tom-of-Bedlam.  They 
had  not  proceeded  far  before  they  became  visible  to  one 
of  the  videttes,  who,  riding  toward  them,  presented  his 
carbine  and  commanded  Frank  to  stand.  He  obeyed, 
and  when  the  soldier  came  up,  desired  to  be  conducted  to 
his  commanding  officer.  He  was  immediately  brought 
where  the  circle  of  officers,  sitting  upon  the  grass,  seemed 
in  attendance  upon  one  of  superior  rank.  He  wore  a 
cuirass  of  polished  steel,  over  which  was  drawn  the  in- 
signia of  the  ancient  Order  of  the  Thistle.  Garschatta- 
chin  and  many  other  gentlemen,  some  in  uniform,  others 
in  their  ordinary  dress,  but  all  armed  and  well  attended, 
seemed  to  receive  their  orders  from  this  person  of  dis- 
tinction. Many  servants  in  rich  liveries,  apparently  a 
part  of  his  household,  were  also  waiting. 

Having  paid  to  this  nobleman  the  respect  which  his 
rank  appeared  to  demand,  Frank  acquainted  him  that 
he  had  been  an  involuntary  witness  to  the  king's  sol- 
diers having  suffered  a  defeat  from  the  Highlanders  at 
the  pass  of  Loch-Ard,  and  that  the  victors  threatened 
every  species  of  extremity  to  those  who  had  fallen  into 
their  power  as  well  as  to  the  Low  Country  in  general, 
unless  their  chief,  who  had  that  morning  been  made  pris- 
oner, were  returned  to  them  uninjured.  The  Duke  (for 
he  was  of  no  lower  rank)  listened  to  Frank  with  great 
composure,  and  then  replied  that  he  should  be  extremely 


ROB  ROY.  227 

sorry  to  expose  the  unfortunate  gentlemen  who  had 
been  made  jjrisoners  to  the  cruelty  of  the  barbarians  into 
whose  hands  they  had  fallen,  but  that  it  was  folly  to 
suppose  that  he  would  deliver  up  tlie  very  author  of  all 
these  disorders  and  offenses,  and  so  encourage  his  fol- 
lowers in  their  license.  "  You  may  return  to  those  who 
sent  you/'  he  proceeded,  "  and  inform  them  that  I  shall 
certainly  cause  Rob  Roy  Campbell,  whom  they  call  ^lac- 
Gregor,  to  be  executed  by  break  of  day,  as  an  outlaw 
taken  in  arms,  and  deserving  death  by  a  thousand  acts 
of  violence;  that  1  should  be  most  justly  held  unworthy 
of  my  situation  and  commission  did  I  act  otherwise;  that 
I  shall  know  how  to  protect  the  country  against  their 
insolent  threats  of  violence;  and  that  if  they  injure  a 
hair  of  the  head  of  any  of  the  unfortunate  gentlemen 
whom  an  unlucky  accident  has  thrown  into  their  power, 
I  will  take  such  ample  vengeance  that  the  very  stones 
of  their  glens  shall  sing  woe  for  it  this  hundred  years  to 
come!  " 

Frank  humbly  begged  leave  to  remonstrate  respect- 
ing the  honorable  mission  imposed  on  him,  and  touched 
upon  the  obvious  danger  attending  it,  w^ien  the  noble 
commander  replied  "  that,  such  being  the  case,  he  might 
send  his  servant." 

"  The  deil  be  in  my  feet,"  said  Andrew,  without 
either  having  respect  to  the  presence  in  which  he  stood, 
or  waiting  till  Frank  replied,  "  the  deil  be  in  my  feet  if 
I  gang  my  tae's  length.  Do  the  folk  think  I  hae  another 
thrapple  in  my  pouch  after  John  Highlandman's 
snecked  this  ane  wi'  his  joctaleg?  or  that  I  can  dive 
doun  at  the  tae  side  of  a  Highland  loch  and  rise  at  the 
tother,  like  a  sheldrake?    Xa,  na;  ilk  ane  for  himsell, 


228  ROB  ROY. 

and  God  for  us  a'.  Folk  may  just  make  a  page  o'  their 
ain  age,  and  serve  themsells  till  their  bairns  grow  up, 
and  gang  their  ain  errands  for  Andrew.  Eob  Roy  never 
came  near  the  parish  of  Dreepdaily  to  steal  either  pippin 
or  pear  frae  me  or  mine/' 

Silencing  his  follower  with  some  difficulty,  Frank 
represented  to  the  Duke  the  great  danger  Captain  Thorn- 
ton and  Mr.  Jarvie  would  certainly  be  exposed  to,  and 
entreated  he  would  make  him  the  bearer  of  such  modi- 
fied terms  as  might  be  the  means  of  saving  their  lives. 
He  assured  him  he  should  decline  no  danger  if  he  could 
be  of  service;  but  from  what  he  had  heard  and  seen,  he 
had  little  doubt  they  would  be  instantly  murdered 
should  the  chief  of  the  outlaws  suffer  death. 

The  Duke  was  obviously  much  affected.  "  It  was  a 
hard  case,"  he  said,  "  and  he  felt  it  as  such;  but  he  had 
a  paramount  duty  to  perform  to  the  country.  Rob  Roy 
must  die!  " 

It  was  not  without  emotion  that  Frank  heard  this 
threat  of  instant  death  to  his  acquaintance  Campbell, 
who  had  so  often  testified  his  good  will  toward  him. 
Nor  was  he  singular  in  the  feeling,  for  many  of  those 
around  the  Duke  ventured  to  express  themselves  in  fa- 
vor of  the  outlaw.  "  It  would  be  more  advisable,"  they 
said,  '•'  to  send  him  to  Stirling  Castle  and  there  detain 
him  a  close  prisoner,  as  a  pledge  for  the  submission  and 
dispersion  of  his  gang.  It  were  a  great  pity  to  expose 
the  country  to  be  plundered,  which,  now  that  the  long 
nights  approached,  it  would  be  found  very  difficult  to 
prevent,  since  it  was  impossible  to  guard  every  point, 
and  the  Highlanders  were  sure  to  select  those  that  were 
left  exposed."     They  added  that  there  was  great  hard- 


TtOB  ROY.  229 

ship  in  leaving  the  unfortunate  prisoners  to  the  almost 
certain  doom  of  massacre  denounced  against  them, 
which  no  one  doubted  would  be  executed  in  the  first 
burst  of  revenge. 

Garschattachin  ventured  yet  further,  confiding  in 
the  honor  of  the  nobleman  whom  he  addressed,  although 
he  knew  he  had  particular  reasons  for  disliking  their 
prisoner.  "  Rob  Roy,"  he  said,  "  though  a  kittle  neigh- 
bor to  the  Low  Country,  and  particularly  obnoxious  to 
his  Grace,  and  though  he  maybe  carried  the  cateran 
trade  farther  than  ony  man  o'  his  day,  was  an  auld-far- 
rand  carle,  and  there  might  be  some  means  of  making 
him  hear  reason;  whereas  his  wife  and  sons  were  reck- 
less fiends,  without  either  fear  or  mercy  about  them, 
and,  at  the  head  of  a'  his  limmer  loons,  would  be  a 
worse  plague  to  the  country  than  ever  he  had  been." 

"Pooh!  pooh!"  replied  his  Grace,  "it  is  the  very 
sense  and  cunning  of  this  fellow  which  has  so  long  main- 
tained his  reign;  a  mere  Highland  robber  w^ould  have 
been  put  down  in  as  many  weeks  as  he  has  flourished 
years.  His  gang  without  him  is  no  more  to  be  dreaded 
as  a  permanent  annoyance — it  will  no  longer  exist — 
than  a  wasp  without  its  head,  which  may  sting  once  per- 
haps, but  is  instantly  crushed  into  annihilation." 

Garschattachin  was  not  so  easily  silenced.  "  I  am 
sure,  my  Lord  Duke,"  he  replied,  "  I  have  no  favor  for 
Rob,  and  he  has  as  little  for  me,  seeing  he  has  twice 
cleaned  out  my  ain  byres,  beside  skaith  amang  my  ten- 
ants; but,  however " 

"  But,   however,    Garschattachin,"   said    the    Duke, 

with   a   smile   of   peculiar   expression,    "  I    fancy   you 

think  such  a  freedom  mav  be  pardoned  in  a  friend's 
16 


230  I^OB  ROY. 

friend,  and  Eob's  supposed  to  be  no  enemy  to  Major 
Galbraitli's  friends  over  the  water." 

"  If  it  be  so,  my  Lord/'  said  Garschattachin  in  the 
same  tone  of  jocularity,  "  it's  no  the  warst  thing  I  have 
heard  of  him.  But  I  wish  we  heard  some  news  from 
the  clans  that  we  have  waited  for  sae  lang.  I  vow  to 
God  they'll  keep  a  Hielandman's  word  wi'  us.  I  never 
ken'd  them  better.     It's  ill  drawing  boots  upon  trews." 

"  I  can  not  believe  it,"  said  the  Duke.  "  These  gen- 
tlemen are  known  to  be  men  of  honor,  and  I  must  neces- 
sarily  suppose  they  are  to  keep  their  appointment.  Send 
out  two  more  horsemen  to  look  for  our  friends.  We 
can  not,  till  their  arrival,  pretend  to  attack  the  pass 
where  Captain  Thornton  has  suffered  himself  to  be  sur- 
prised, and  which,  to  my  know^ledge,  ten  men  on  foot 
might  make  good  against  a -regiment  of  the  best  horse 
in  Europe.  Meanwhile  let  refreshments  be  given  to 
the  men." 

Frank  had  the  benefit  of  this  last  order,  the  more 
necessary  and  acceptable  as  he  had  tasted  nothing  since 
the  hasty  meal  at  Aberfoil  the  evening  before.  The  vi- 
dettes  who  had  been  dispatched  returned  without  tid- 
ings of  the  expected  auxiliaries,  and  sunset  was  ap- 
proaching when  a  Highlander,  belonging  to  the  clans 
whose  co-operation  was  expected,  appeared  as  the  bearer 
of  a  letter,  which  he  delivered  to  the  Duke  with  a  most 
profound  concje. 

"  Now  will  I  wad  a  hogshead  of  claret,"  said  Gars- 
chattachin, "  that  this  is  a  message  to  tell  us  that  these 
cursed  Highlandmen,  whom  we  have  fetched  here  at  the 
expense  of  so  much  plague  and  vexation,  are  going  to 
draw  off,  and  leave  us  to  do  our  own  business  if  we  can." 


ROB  ROY.  231 

"  It  is  even  so,  gentlemen,"  said  the  Duke,  reddening 
with  indignation  after  having  perused  the  letter,  which 
was  written  upon  a  very  dirty  scrap  of  paper,  but  most 
punctiliously  addressed,  "  For  the  much-honored  hands 
of  Ane  High  and  Mighty  Prince,  the  Duke,"  etc.,  etc. 
"  Our  allies,"  continued  the  Duke,  "  have  deserted  us, 
gentlemen,  and  have  made  a  separate  peace  with  the 
enemy." 

"  It's  just  the  fate  of  all  alliances,"  said  Garschatta- 
chin;  ^^  the  Dutch  were  gaun  to  serve  us  the  same  gate, 
if  we  had  not  got  the  start  of  them  at  Utrecht." 

"  You  are  facetious,  sir,"  said  the  Duke,  with  a  frown 
which  showed  how  little  he  liked  the  pleasantry;  "but 
our  business  is  rather  of  a  grave  cast  just  now.  I  sup- 
pose no  gentleman  would  advise  our  attempting  to  pene- 
trate farther  into  the  country  unsupported  either  by 
friendly  Highlanders  or  by  infantry  from  Inversnaid  ?  " 

A  general  answer  announced  that  the  attempt  w^ould 
be  perfect  madness. 

"  Xor  would  there  be  great  wisdom,"  the  Duke  add- 
ed, "  in  remaining  exposed  to  a  night-attack  in  this  place. 
I  therefore  propose  that  we  should  retreat  to  the  house 
of  Duchray  and  that  of  Gartartan,  and  keep  safe  and 
sure  watch  and  ward  until  morning.  But  before  we 
separate,  I  will  examine  Eob  Roy  before  you  all,  and 
jnake  you  sensible  by  your  own  eyes  and  ears,  of  the  ex- 
treme unfitness  of  leaving  him  space  for  further  out- 
rage." He  gave  orders  accordingly,  and  the  prisoner 
was  brought  before  him,  his  arms  belted  down  above  the 
elbow,  and  secured  to  his  body  by  a  horse-girth  buckled 
tight  behind  him.  Two  non-commissioned  officers  had 
hold  of  him,  one  on  each  side,  and  two  file  of  men  with 


232  i^^s  i^C)y. 

carbines  and  fixed  bayonets  attended  for  additional  se- 
curity. 

His  manner  was  bold,  unconstrained  unless  by  the 
actual  bonds,  haughty,  and  even  dignified.  He  bowed 
to  the  Duke,  nodded  to  Garschattachin  and  others,  and 
showed  some  surprise  at  seeing  Frank  among  the  party. 

"  It  is  long  since  we  have  met,  Mr.  Campbell,"  said 
the  Duke. 

"  It  is  so,  my  Lord  Duke ;  I  could  have  wished  it  had 
been  "  (looking  at  the  fastening  on  his  arms)  "  when  I 
could  have  better  paid  the  compliments  I  owe  to  your 
Grace;  but  there's  a  gude  time  coming." 

"  No  time  like  the  time  present,  Mr.  Campbell,"  an- 
swered the  Duke,  "  for  the  hours  are  fast  flying  that 
must  settle  your  last  accounts  with  all  mortal  affairs.  I 
do  not  say  this  to  insult  your  distress;  but  you  must  be 
aware  yourself  that  you  draw  near  the  end  of  your  career. 
I  do  not  deny  that  you  may  sometimes  have  done  less 
harm  than  others  of  your  unhappy  trade,  and  that  you 
may  occasionally  have  exhibited  marks  of  talent,  and 
even  of  a  disposition  which  promised  better  things.  But 
you  are  aware  how  long  you  have  been  the  terror  and  the 
oppressor  of  a  peaceful  neighborhood,  and  by  what  acts 
of  violence  you  have  maintained  and  extended  your 
usurped  authority.  You  know,  in  short,  that  you  have 
deserved  death,  and  that  you  must  prepare  for  it." 

"  My  Lord,"  said  Eob  Eoy,  "  although  I  may  well  lay 
my  misfortunes  at  your  Grace's  door,  yet  I  will  never 
say  that  you  yourself  have  been  the  willful  and  witting 
author  of  them.  My  Lord,  if  I  had  thought  sae,  your 
Grace  would  not  this  day  have  been  sitting  in  judgment 
on  me;  for  you  have  been  three  times  within  good  rifle 


ROB  ROY.  233 

distance  of  me  when  you  were  thinking  but  of  the  red 
deer,  and  few  people  liave  ken'd  me  miss  my  aim.  But 
as  for  them  that  have  abused  your  Grace's  ear,  and  set 
you  up  against  a  man  that  was  ance  as  peacefu'  a  man  as 
ony  in  the  land,  and  made  your  name  the  warrant  for 
driving  me  to  utter  extremity,  I  have  had  some  amends 
of  them,  and,  for  a'  that  your  Grace  now  says,  I  expect 
to  live  to  hae  mair." 

"  I  know,"  said  the  Duke,  in  rising  anger,  "  that  you 
are  a  determined  and  impudent  villain,  who  will  keep 
his  oath  if  he  swears  to  mischief;  but  it  shall  be  my  care 
to  prevent  you.  You  have  no  enemies  but  your  own 
wicked  actions." 

*^  Had  I  called  myself  Grahame,  instead  of  Campbell, 
I  might  have  heard  less  about  them,"  answered  Rob  Roy 
with  dogged  resolution. 

"  You  will  do  well,  sir,"  said  the  Duke,  "  to  warn 
your  wife  and  family  and  followers  to  beware  how  they 
use  the  gentlemen  now  in  their  hands,  as  I  will  requite 
tenfold  on  them,  and  their  kin  and  allies,  the  slightest 
injury  done  to  any  of  his  Majesty's  liege  subjects." 

"  My  Lord,"  said  Roy  in  answer,  "  none  of  my  ene- 
mies will  allege  that  I  have  been  a  bloodthirsty  man, 
and  were  I  now  wi'  my  folk  I  could  rule  four  or  five 
hundred  wild  Hielanders  as  easy  as  your  Grace  those 
eight  or  ten  lackeys  and  foot-boys.  But  if  your  Grace  is 
bent  to  take  the  head  away  from  a  house,  ye  may  lay 
your  account  there  will  be  misrule  amang  the  members. 
However,  come  o't  what  like,  there's  an  honest  man,  a 
kinsman  o'  my  ain,  maun  come  by  nae  skaith.  Is  there 
one  body  here  wad  do  a  gude  deed  for  MacGregor?  he 
may  repay  it,  though  his  hands  be  now  tied." 


234  ROB  ROY. 

The  Highlander  who  had  delivered  the  letter  to  the 
Duke  replied:  "  I'll  do  your  will  for  you,  MacGregor, 
and  I'll  gang  back  up  the  glen  on  purpose." 

He  advanced,  and  received  from  the  prisoner  a  mes- 
sage in  Gaelic  to  his  wife,  which  probably  related  to 
some  measures  to  be  taken  for  the  safety  of  Mr.  Jarvie. 

^' Do  you  hear  the  fellow's  impudence?"  said  the 
Duke;  "  he  confides  in  his  character  of  a  messenger. 
His  conduct  is  of  a  piece  with  his  master's,  who  invited 
us  to  make  common  cause  against  these  freebooters,  and 
have  deserted  us  so  soon  as  the  MacGregors  have  agreed 
to  surrender  the  Balquhidder  lands  they  were  squab- 
bling about. 

*  No  truth  in  plaids,  no  faith  in  tartan  trews ! 
Chameleon-Kke,  they  change  a  thousand  hues.'  " 

"  Your  great  ancestor  never  said  so,  my  Lord,"  an- 
swered Major  Galbraith;  "  and,  with  submission,  neither 
would  your  Grace  have  occasion  to  say  it,  wad  ye  but  be 
for  beginning  justice  at  the  well-head.  Gie  the  honest 
man  his  mear  again.  Let  every  head  wear  it's  ane  ban- 
net,  and  the  distractions  o'  the  Lennox  wad  be  mended 
wi'  them  o'  the  land." 

"Hush!  hush!  Garschattachin,"  said  the  Duke; 
"  this  is  language  dangerous  for  you  to  talk  to  any  one, 
and  especially  to  me;  but  I  presume  you  reckon  yourself 
a  privileged  person.  Please  to  draw  off  your  party  to- 
ward Gartartan.  I  shall  myself  see  the  prisoner  escorted 
to  Duchray,  and  send  you  orders  to-morrow.  You  will 
please  grant  no  leave  of  absence  to  any  of  your  troopers." 

"  Here's  auld  ordering  and  counter-ordering,"  mut- 
tered Garschattachin  between  his  teeth.     "  But  patience! 


ROB  ROY.  235 

patience!  we  may  ae  day  play  at  change  seats,  the  king's 
coming." 

The  two  troops  of  cavalry  now  formed  and  prepared 
to  march  off  the  ground,  that  they  might  avail  them- 
selves of  the  remainder  of  daylight  to  get  to  their  even- 
ing quarters.  Frank  received  an  intimation,  rather 
than  an  invitation,  to  attend  the  party;  and  he  per- 
ceived that,  though  no  longer  considered  as  a  prisoner, 
he  was  yet  under  some  sort  of  suspicion. 


CHAPTER   XXV. 

And  when  he  came  to  broken  brigg, 

He  bent  his  bow  and  swam  ; 
And  when  he  came  to  grass  growing, 

Set  down  his  feet  and  ran. 

Gil  Morrice. 

To  insure  the  safe  custody  of  the  prisoner,  the  Duke 
had  caused  him  to  be  placed  on  horseback  behind  one  of 
his  retainers,  called  Ewan  of  Brigglands,  one  of  the 
largest  and  strongest  men  who  were  present.  A  horse- 
belt  passed  round  the  bodies  of  both,  and  buckled  before 
the  yeoman's  breast,  rendered  it  impossible  for  Eob  Roy 
to  free  himself  from  his  keeper.  Frank  was  directed  to 
keep  close  beside  them,  and  accommodated  for  the  pur- 
pose with  a  troop-horse.  They  were  as  closely  surround- 
ed by  the  soldiers  as  the  width  of  the  road  would  permit, 
and  had  always  at  least  one,  if  not  two,  on  each  side  with 
pistol  in  hand.  Andrew  Fairservice,  furnished  with  a 
Highland  pony,  of  which  they  had  made  prey  somewhere 
or  other,  was  permitted  to  ride  among  the  other  domes- 
tics, of  whom  a  great  number  attended  the  line  of  march, 
though  without  falling  into  the  ranks  of  the  more  regu- 
larly trained  troopers. 

In  this  manner  the  company  traveled  for  a  certain 
distance,  until  they  arrived  at  a  place  where  they  were  to 
cross  the  river.  The  Forth,  as  being  the  outlet  of  a  lake, 
236 


ROB  ROY.  237 

is  of  considerable  depth,  even  where  less  important  in 
point  of  width,  and  the  descent  to  the  ford  was  by  a 
broken  precipitous  ravine  which  only  permitted  one 
horsemen  to  descend  at  once.  The  rear  and  center  of 
the  small  body  halting  on  the  bank  while  the  front  files 
passed  down  in  succession,  produced  a  considerable  de- 
lay, as  is  usual  on  such  occasions,  and  even  some  con- 
fusion; for  a  number  of  those  riders  who  made  no 
proper  part  of  the  squadron  crowded  to  the  ford  without 
regularity,  and  made  the  militia  cavalry,  although  toler- 
ably well  drilled,  partake  in  some  degree  of  their  own 
disorder. 

It  was  while  they  were  thus  huddled  together  on  the 
bank  that  Rob  Roy  whispered  to  the  man  behind  whom 
he  was  placed  on  horseback, ''  Your  father,  Ewan,  wadna 
hae  carried  an  auld  friend  to  the  shambles,  like  a  calf, 
for  a'  the  dukes  in  Chrij^tondom,'' 

Ewan  returned  no  answer,  but  shrugged,  as  one  who 
would  express  by  that  sign  that  what  he  was  doing  was 
none  of  his  own  choice. 

"  And  when  the  MacGregors  come  down  the  glen, 
and  ye  see  toom  faulds,  a  bluidy  hearthstone,  and  the 
fire  flashing  out  between  the  rafters  o'  your  house,  ye 
may  be  thinking  then,  Ewan,  that  were  your  friend  Rob 
to  the  fore  you  would  have  had  that  safe  which  it  will 
make  your  heart  sair  to  lose." 

Ewan  of  Brigglands  again  shrugged  and  groaned, 
but  remained  silent. 

"  It's  a  sair  thing,"  continued  Rob,  sliding  his  insin- 
uations so  gently  into  Ewan's  ear  that  they  reached  no 
other  but  Frank's,  who  certainly  saw  himself  in  no  shape 
called  upon  to  destroy  MacGregor's  prospects  of  escape — 


238  I^OB  ROY. 

^'  it's  a  sair  thing  that  Ewan  of  Brigglands,  whom  Roy 
MacGregor  has  helped  with  hands,  sword,  and  purse, 
suld  mind  a  gloom  from  a  great  man  mair  than  a  friend's 
life/' 

Ewan  seemed  sorely  agitated,  hut  was  silent.  The 
Duke's  voice  from  the  opposite  bank  called,  "  Bring  over 
the  prisoner." 

Ewan  put  his  horse  in  motion,  and  just  as  Roy  said, 
"  Never  weigh  a  MacGregor's  blude  against  a  broken 
whang  o'  leather,  for  there  will  be  another  accounting 
to  gie  for  it  baith  here  and  hereafter,"  they  dashed  for- 
ward rather  precipitately  and  entered  the  water. 

"  Not  yet,  sir — not  yet,"  said  some  of  the  troopers  to 
Frank,  as  he  was  about  to  follow,  while  others  pressed 
forward  into  the  stream. 

The  Duke,  on  the  other  side,  was  engaged  in  com- 
manding his  people  to  get  into  order,  as  they  landed  dis- 
persedly,  some  higher,  some  lower.  Many  had  crossed, 
some  were  in  the  water,  and  the  rest  were  preparing  to 
follow,  when  a  sudden  splash  announced  that  Mac- 
Gregor's  eloquence  had  prevailed  on  Ewan  to  give  him 
freedom  and  a  chance  for  life.  The  Duke  also  heard 
the  sound,  and  instantly  guessed  its  meaning.  '"  Dog!  " 
he  exclaimed  to  Ewan  as  he  landed,  "  where  is  your  pris- 
oner? "  and,  without  waiting  to  hear  the  apology  which 
the  terrified  vassal  began  to  falter  forth,  he  fired  a  pistol 
at  his  head,  and  exclaimed :  "  Gentlemen,  disperse,  and 
pursue  the  villain!  A  hundred  guineas  for  him  that 
secures  Rob  Roy!  " 

All  became  an  instant  scene  of  the  most  lively  con- 
fusion. Rob  Roy,  disengaged  from  his  bonds,  doubtless 
by  Ewan's  slipping  the  buckle  of  his  belt,  had  dropped 


ROB  ROY.  239 

off  at  the  horse's  tail,  and  instantly  dived,  passing  under 
the  belly  of  the  troop-horse  which  was  on  his  left  hand. 
But  as  he  was  obliged  to  come  to  the  surface  an  instant 
for  air,  the  glimpse  of  his  tartan  plaid  drew  the  attention 
of  the  troopers,  some  of  whom  plunged  into  the  river 
with  a  total  disregard  to  their  own  safety,  rushing,  ac- 
cording to  the  expression  of  their  country,  through  pool 
and  stream,  sometimes  swimming  their  horses,  some- 
times losing  them  and  struggling  for  their  own  lives. 
Others,  less  zealous  or  more  prudent,  broke  off  in  differ- 
ent directions  and  galloped  up  and  down  the  banks,  to 
watch  the  place  at  which  the  fugitive  might  possibly 
land.  The  hallooing,  the  whooping,  the  calls  for  aid  at 
different  points  where  they  saw,  or  conceived  they  saw, 
some  vestige  of  him  they  were  seeking;  the  frequent 
report  of  pistols  and  carbines  fired  at  every  object  which 
excited  the  least  suspicion;  the  sight  of  so  many  horse- 
men riding  about,  in  and  out  of  the  river,  and  striking 
with  their  long  broadswords  at  whatever  excited  their 
attention,  joined  to  the  vain  exertions  used  by  their  offi- 
cers to  restore  order  and  regularity — and  all  this  in  so 
wild  a  scene,  and  visible  only  by  the  imperfect  twilight 
of  an  autumn  evening,  made  the  most  extraordinary 
hubbub.  Many  of  those  who  seemed  most  active  in 
their  attempts  to  waylay  and  recover  the  fugitive,  were, 
in  actual  truth,  least  desirous  that  he  should  be  taken, 
and  only  joined  in  the  cry  to  increase  the  general  con- 
fusion, and  to  give  Rob  Roy  a  better  opportunity  of 
escaping. 

Escape,  indeed,  was  not  difficult  for  a  swimmer  so 
expert  as  the  freebooter  as  soon  as  he  had  eluded 
the  first  burst  of  pursuit.     At  one  time  he  was  closely 


240  I^OB  ROY. 

pressed  and  several  blows  were  made  which  flashed  in 
the  water  around  him.  MacGregor,  however,  con- 
trived, when  very  closely  pursued,  to  disengage  him- 
self unobserved  from  his  ]3laid,  and  suffer  it  to  float 
down  the  stream,  where  in  its  progress  it  quickly  at- 
tracted general  attention;  many  of  the  horsemen  were 
thus  put  upon  a  false  scent,  and  several  shots  or  stabs 
were  averted  from  the  party  for  whom  they  were  de- 
signed. 

Once  fairly  out  of  view,  the  recovery  of  the  prisoner 
became  almost  impossible,  since  in  so  many  places  the 
river  was  rendered  inaccessible  by  the  steepness  of  its 
banks  or  the  thickets  of  alders,  poplars,  and  birch 
which,  overhanging  its  banks,  prevented  the  approach 
of  horsemen.  Errors  and  accidents  had  also  happened 
among  the  pursuers,  whose  task  the  approaching  night 
rendered  every  moment  more  hopeless.  Some  got  them- 
selves involved  in  the  eddies  of  the  stream,  and  required 
the  assistance  of  their  companions  to  save  them  from 
drowning.  Others,  hurt  by  shots  or  blows  in  the  con- 
fused melee,  implored  help  or  threatened  vengeance, 
and  in  one  or  two  instances  such  accidents  led  to  actual 
strife.  The  trumpets,  therefore,  sounded  the  retreat,  an- 
nouncing that  the  commanding  officer,  with  whatsoever 
unwillingness,  had  for  the  present  relinquished  hopes 
of  the  important  prize  which  had  thus  unexpectedly  es- 
caped his  grasp,  and  the  troopers  began  slowly,  reluc- 
tantly, and  brawling  with  each  other  as  they  returned, 
again  to  assume  their  ranks. 

Hitherto  Frank  had  been  as  it  were  a  mere  spectator, 
though  far  from  an  uninterested  one,  of  the  singular 
scene  which  had  passed.     But  now  a  voice  suddenly  ex- 


ROB  ROY.  2J:1 

claimed:  ""Where  is  the  English  stranger?  It  was  he 
gave  Rob  Roy  the  knife  to  cut  the  belt." 

"  Cleeve  the  pock-pudding  to  the  chafts!  "  cried  one 
voice. 

'^  Weize  a  brace  of  balls  through  his  harn-pan!  "  said 
a  second. 

"  Drive  three  inches  of  cauld  aim  into  his  brisket! " 
shouted  a  third. 

And  Frank  heard  several  horses  galloping  to  and  fro, 
with  the  kind  purpose,  doubtless,  of  executing  these  de- 
nunciations. He  was  immediately  awakened  to  a  sense 
of  his  situation  and  to  the  certainty  that  armed  men, 
having  no  restraint  whatever  on  their  irritated  and  in- 
flamed passions,  would  undoubtedly  begin  by  shooting  or 
cutting  him  down,  and  afterward  investigate  the  justice 
of  the  action.  Impressed  by  this  belief,  he  leaped  from 
his  horse,  and,  turning  him  loose,  plunged  into  a  bush  of 
alder  trees,  where,  considering  the  advancing  obscurity 
of  the  night,  he  thought  there  was  little  chance  of  his 
being  discovered. 

After  a  time  Frank  crept  forth  from  his  hiding- 
place,  with  the  purpose  of  seeking  out  the  Duke's  quar- 
ters and  giving  himself  up  to  him  as  a  liege  subject.  It 
was  nearly  dark,  only  the  distant  trample  of  horses'  feet 
and  the  wailing  and  prolonged  sound  of  the  trumpets 
to  recall  the  straggling  soldiers  could  be  heard.  Frank 
realized  that  he  was  left  in  a  position  of  considerable 
difficulty.  He  had  no  horse;  the  river  before  him  was 
too  deep  to  be  waded,  and  he  could  hope  for  no  pleasing 
shelter  if  he  remained  on  this  side  of  the  river.  But 
after  some  consideration,  and  in  want  of  a  better  alter- 
native, he  decided  to  retrace  his  steps  to  the  little  inn 


242  ROB  ROY. 

where  he  had  spent  the  night  before.  He  had  nothing 
to  apprehend  from  Eob  Roy;  he  might  be  able  to  render 
Mr.  Jarvie  some  assistance — at  least  it  would  show  that 
he  had  not  intentionally  deserted  him ;  and  in  this  quar- 
ter only  could  he  hope  to  hear  of  his  father's  papers. 
These  considerations  urged  him  to  abandon  all  idea 
of  crossing  the  Forth  that  evening.  Accordingly,  he 
turned  away,  and  was  well  on  his  road  to  the  little  inn, 
whistling  as  merrily  as  he  could  a  favorite  tune,  when 
two  horsemen  came  up  behind  him  without  his  hearing 
their  approach  until  one  was  on  each  side  of  him,  when 
the  left-hand  rider,  pulling  up  his  horse,  spoke  in  the 
English  tongue:  "So  ho,  friend!  whither  so  late?" 

"  To  my  supper  and  bed  at  Aberfoil,"  Frank  replied. 

"  Are  the  passes  open  ?  "  he  inquired  with  the  same 
commanding  tone  of  voice. 

"  I  do  not  know,"  replied  Frank;  "  I  shall  learn 
when  I  get  there.  "  But,"  he  added,  the  fate  of  Morris 
recurring  to  his  recollection,  "  if  you  are  an  English 
stranger,  I  advise  you  to  turn  back  till  daylight;  there 
has  been  some  disturbance  in  this  neighborhood,  and 
I  should  hesitate  to  say  it  is  perfectly  safe  for  strangers." 

"  The  soldiers  had  the  worst — had  they  not  ?  "  was 
the  reply. 

"  They  had  indeed;  and  an  officer's  party  were  de- 
stroyed or  made  prisoners." 

"  Are  you  sure  of  that?  "  replied  the  horseman. 

"  As  sure  as  that  I  hear  you  speak,"  Frank  replied. 
"  I  was  an  unwilling  spectator  of  the  skirmish." 

"  Unwilling!  "  continued  the  interrogator.  "  Were 
you  not  engaged  in  it,  then?  " 

"  Certainly  no;  I  was  detained  by  the  king's  officer." 


ROB  ROY.  •  243 

"On  what  suspicion?  and  who  are  you?  or  what  is 
your  name?"  he  continued. 

"■  I  really  do  not  know,  sir,"  said  Frank,  "  why  I 
should  answer  so  many  questions  to  an  unknown 
stranger.  I  have  told  you  enough  to  convince  you  that 
you  are  going  into  a  dangerous  and  distracted  country. 
If  3^ou  choose  to  proceed,  it  is  your  own  affair;  hut  as  I 
ask  you  no  questions  respecting  your  name  and  business, 
you  will  oblige  me  by  making  no  inquiries  after  mine." 

"  Mr.  Francis  Osbaldistone,"  said  the  other  rider, 
in  a  voice  every  tone  of  which  thrilled  Frank,  ''  should 
not  whistle  his  favorite  airs  when  he  wishes  to  remain 
undiscovered." 

And  Diana  Vernon — for  she,  wrapped  in  a  horse- 
man's cloak,  was  the  last  speaker — whistled  in  playful 
mimicry  the  second  part  of  the  tune  which  was  on 
Frank's  lips  when  they  came  up. 

"  Good  God!  "  he  exclaimed  like  one  thunderstruck, 
"  can  it  be  you.  Miss  Vernon,  on  such  a  spot — at  such  an 
hour — in  such  a  lawless  country — in  such " 

'^  In  such  a  masculine  dress,  you  would  say.  But 
what  would  you  have?  The  philosophy  of  the  excel- 
lent Corporal  Nym  is  the  best,  after  all;  things  must  be 
as  they  may — pauca  verha.'^ 

While  she  was  thus  speaking,  Frank  eagerly  took  ad- 
vantage of  an  unusually  bright  gleam  of  moonshine  to 
study  the  appearance  of  her  companion;  for  it  may  be 
easily  supposed  that,  finding  ^liss  Vernon  in  a  place  so 
solitary,  engaged  in  a  journey  so  dangerous,  and  under 
the  protection  of  one  gentleman  only,  were  circum- 
stances to  excite  every  feeling  of  jealousy  as  well  as  sur- 
prise.    The  rider  did  not  speak  with  the  deep  melody  of 


244  ^OB  ROY. 

Rashleigh's  voice;  his  tones  were  more  high  and  com- 
manding; and  he  was  taller,  moreover,  as  he  sat  on 
horseback.  Neither  did  the  stranger's  address  resemble 
that  of  any  of  the  other  cousins;  it  had  that  indescrib- 
able tone  and  manner  by  which  is  recognized  a  man  of 
sense  and  breeding  even  in  the  first  few  sentences  he 
speaks. 

The  object  of  Frank's  anxiety  seemed  desirous  to  get 
rid  of  the  investigation. 

"  Diana/'  he  said,  in  a  tone  of  mingled  kindness 
and  authority,  "  give  your  cousin  his  property,  and  let 
us  not  spend  time  here." 

Miss  Vernon  had  in  the  meantime  taken  out  a  small 
case,  and  leaning  down  from  her  horse  toward  Frank, 
she  said,  in  a  tone  in  which  an  effort  at  her  usual  quaint 
lightness  of  expression  contended  with  a  deeper  and 
more  grave  tone  of  sentiment:  "You  see,  my  dear  coz, 
I  was  born  to  be  your  better  angel.  Rashleigh  has  been 
compelled  to  yield  up  his  spoil,  and  had  we  reached  this 
same  village  of  Aberfoil  last  night,  as  w^e  purposed,  I 
should  have  found  some  Highland  sylph  to  have  wafted 
to  you  all  these  representatives  of  commercial  wealth. 
But  there  were  giants  and  dragons  in  the  way;  and 
errant  knights  and  damsels  of  modern  times,  bold  though 
they  may  be,  must  not,  as  of  yore,  run  into  useless  dan- 
ger.    Do  you  not  do  so  either,  my  dear  coz." 

"  Diana,"  said  her  companion,  "  let  me  once  more 
warn  you  that  the  evening  waxes  late,  and  we  are  still 
distant  from  our  home." 

"  I  am  coming,  sir,  I  am  coming.  Consider,"  she 
added  with  a  sigh,  "  how  lately  I  have  been  subjected  to 
control;    besides,  I  have  not  yet  given  my  cousin  the 


ROB  ROY.  245 

packet  and  bade  him  farewell — forever. — Yes,  Frank/' 
she  said,  ''  forever!  There  is  a  gulf  between  us — a  gulf 
of  absolute  perdition.  Where  we  go  you  must  not  fol- 
low; what  we  do  you  must  not  share  in.  Farewell — be 
happy!  " 

In  the  attitude  in  which  she  bent  from  her  horse, 
which  was  a  Highland  pony,  her  face,  not  perhaps  alto- 
gether unwillingly,  touched  Frank's.  She  pressed  his 
hand,  while  the  tear  that  trembled  in  her  eye  found  its 
way  to  his  cheek  instead  of  her  own.  Instantly  recov- 
ering from  the  feeling  to  which  she  had  involuntarily 
given  way,  she  intimated  to  her  companion  she  was  ready 
to  attend  him,  and,  putting  their  horses  to  a  brisk  pace, 
they  were  soon  far  distant  from  the  place  wdiere  Frank 
stood. 

Frank,  from  the  surprise  of  the  sudden  meeting  with 
Diana  Vernon  and  the  sorrow^  of  the  almost  instant  part- 
ing, was  left  stupefied.  He  continued  to  look  after  the 
retreating  figures  of  Diana  and  her  companion  until 
they  were  no  longer  visible,  and  the  last  distant  hoof- 
beats  of  their  horses  had  died  away. 


17 


CHAPTER    XXVI. 

Dangle. — Egad,  I  think  the  interpreter  is  the  harder  to  be  un- 
derstood of  the  two. 

Critic. 

Feank  now  resumed  his  journey  toward  the  inn 
that  might  give  him  shelter  for  the  night.  As  he  pur- 
sued his  way  wrapped  in  thoughts  of  Diana  Vernon,  he 
was  suddenly  hailed  by  a  touch  on  the  shoulder,  and  the 
deep  voice  of  a  Highlander  accosted  him  with,  "  A  braw 
night,  Maister  Osbaldistone;  we  have  met  at  the  mirk 
hour  before  now." 

There  was  no  mistaking  the  tone  of  MacGregor;  he 
had  escaped  the  pursuit  of  his  enemies,  and  was  in  full 
retreat  to  his  own  wilds  and  to  his  adherents.  He  had 
also  contrived  to  arm  himself,  probably  at  the  house  of 
some  secret  adherent,  for  he  had  a  musket  on  his  shoul- 
der and  the  usual  Highland  weapons  by  his  side. 

Frank  answered  his  greeting  by  congratulating  him 
on  his  escape  from  a  situation  where  escape  seemed  im- 
possible. 

"  Ay,"  he  replied,  "  there  is  as  much  between  the 
craig  and  the  woodie  *  as  there  is  between  the  cup  and 

♦  I.  e..  The  throat  and  the  withy.    Twigs  of  willow,  such  as  bind 
fagots,  were  often  used  for  halters  in  Scotland  and  Ireland,  being 
a  sage  economy  of  hemp. 
246  ' 


ROB  ROY.  2^7 

the  lip.  But  my  peril  was  less  than  you  may  think, 
being  a  stranger  to  this  country.  Of  those  that  were 
summoned  to  take  me,  and  to  keep  me,  and  to  retake  me 
again,  there  was  a  moiety,  as  cousin  Nicol  Jarvie  calls  it, 
that  had  nae  will  that  I  suld  be  either  taen,  or  keepit  fast, 
or  retaen;  and  of  tother  moiety,  there  was  ae  half  was 
feared  to  stir  me;  and  so  I  had  only  like  the  fourth  part 
of  fifty  or  sixty  men  to  deal  withal.^' 

"  And  enough,  too,  I  should  think,"  replied  Frank. 

"  I  dinna  ken  that,"  said  he;  "  but  I  ken  that,  turn 
every  ill-wilier  that  I  had  amang  them  out  upon  the 
green  before  the  Clachan  of  Aberfoil,  I  wad  find  them 
play  with  broadsword  and  target,  one  down  and  another 
come  on." 

He  now  inquired  into  Frank's  adventures  since  he 
entered  his  country,  and  laughed  heartily  at  the  account 
of  the  battle  in  the  inn,  and  at  the  exploits  of  the  Bailie 
with  the  red-hot  poker. 

"  Let  Glasgow  flourish!  "  he  exclaimed."  The  curse 
of  Cromwell  on  me,  if  I  wad  hae  wished  better  sport 
than  to  see  cousin  Xicol  Jarvie  singe  Iverach's  plaid,  like 
a  sheep's  head  between  a  pair  of  tongs.  But  my  cousin 
Jarvie,"  he  added  more  gravely,  "  has  some  gentleman's 
bluid  in  his  veins,  although  he  has  been  unhappily 
bred  up  to  a  peaceful  and  mechanical  craft  which 
could  not  but  blunt  any  pretty  man's  spirit.  Ye  may 
estimate  the  reason  why  I  could  not  receive  you  at  the 
Clachan  of  Aberfoil,  as  I  purposed.  They  had  made  a 
fine  hosenet  for  me  when  I  was  absent  twa  or  three  days 
at  Glasgow  upon  the  king's  business.  But  I  think  I 
broke  up  the  league  about  their  lugs;  they'll  no  be  able 
to  hound  one  clan  against  another  as  they  hae  dune,     I 


248  r-OB  ROY. 

hope  soon  to  see  the  day  when  a'  Hielandmen  will  stand 
shouther  to  shouther.     But  what  chanced  next  ? '' 

Frank  gave  him  an  account  of  the  arrival  of  Cap- 
tain Thornton  and  his  party,  and  the  arrest  of  the  Bailie 
and  himself  under  pretext  of  their  being  suspicious  per- 
sons; and  upon  his  more  special  inquiry,  Frank  recol- 
lected the  officer  had  mentioned  that,  besides  his  name 
sounding  suspicious  in  his  ears,  he  had  orders  to  secure 
an  old  and  young  person.  This  again  moved  the  out- 
law's risibility. 

"  As  man  lives  by  bread,"  he  said,  "  the  buzzards 
have  mistaen  my  friend  the  Bailie  for  his  Excellency, 
and  you  for  Diana  Yernon.  Oh,  the  most  egregious 
night-howlets!  " 

"Miss  Vernon?"  said  Frank  with  hesitation,  and 
trembling  for  the  answer.  "  Does  she  still  bear  that 
name?  She  passed  but  now,  along  with  a  gentleman 
who  seemed  to  use  a  style  of  authority." 

"  Ay,  ay,"  answered  Rob,  "  she's  under  lawfu'  au- 
thority now;  and  full  time,  for  she  was  a  daft  hempie. 
But  she's  a  mettle  quean.  It's  a  pity  his  Excellency  is 
a  thought  eldern.  The  like  o'  yoursell,  or  my  son  Ha- 
mi&h,  wad  be  mair  sortable  in  point  of  years." 

Here,  then,  was  a  complete  downfall  of  those  cas- 
tles of  cards  which  Frank's  fancy  had,  in  spite  of  his 
reason,  so  often  amused  herself  with  building.  Al- 
though in  truth  he  had  scarcely  anything  else  to  ex- 
pect, since  he  could  not  suppose  that  Diana  could  be 
traveling  in  such  a  country,  at  such  an  hour,  with  any 
but  one  who  had  a  legal  title  to  protect  her,  Frank 
did  not  feel  the  blow  less  severely  when  it  came;  and 
MacGregor's    voice    urging    him    to    pursue    his    story 


ROB  ROY.  249 

sounded  in  his  ears  without  conveying  any  exact  import 
to  his  mind. 

"  You  are  ill,"  he  said  at  length,  after  he  had  spoken 
twice  without  receiving  any  answer;  "'  this  day's  wark 
has  been  ower  muckle  for  ane  doubtless  unused  to  sic 
things." 

The  tone  of  kindness  in  which  this  was  spoken  re- 
calling Frank  to  himself  and  to  the  necessities  of  his 
situation,  he  continued  his  narrative  as  well  as  he  could. 
Rob  Roy  expressed  great  exultation  at  the  successful 
skirmish  in  the  pass. 

"  They  say,"  he  observed,  "  that  king's  chaff  is  better 
than  other  folks'  corn;  but  I  think  that  canna  be  said  o' 
king's  soldiers  if  they  let  themselves  be  beaten  wi'  a 
wheen  auld  carles  that  are  past  fighting,  and  bairns  that 
are  no  come  till't,  and  wives  wi'  their  rocks  and  distaffs, 
the  very  wally-draigles  o'  the  country-side.  And  Dou- 
gal  Gregor,  too — wha  wad  hae  thought  there  had  been 
as  muckle  sense  in  his  tatty-pow  that  ne'er  had  a  better 
covering  than  his  ain  shaggy  hassock  of  hair!  But  say 
away,  though  I  dread  what's  to  come  neist;  for  my 
Helen's  an  incarnate  devil  when  her  bluid's  up.  Puir 
thing,  she  has  ower  muckle  reason." 

The  account  of  the  reception  which  Mr.  Jarvie  and 
Frank  had  received  at  the  hands  of  Helen  MacGregor 
gave  Rob  Roy  great  pain. 

"  I  wad  rather  than  a  thousand  merks,"  he  said, 
"  that  I  had  been  at  hame.  To  misguide  strangers,  and 
forbye  a',  my  ain  natural  cousin,  that  had  showed  me  sic 
kindness — I  wad  rather  they  had  burned  half  the  Len- 
nox in  their  folly.  But  this  comes  o'  trusting  women 
and  their  bairns,  that  have  neither  measure  nor  reason 


250  ROB  ROY. 

in  their  dealings.  However,  it's  owing  to  that  dog  of 
a  ganger,  wha  betrayed  me  by  pretending  a  message  from 
your  cousin  Rashleigh,  to  meet  him  on  the  king's  affairs, 
whilk  I  thought  was  very  like  to  be  anent  Garschatta- 
chin  and  a  party  of  the  Lennox  declaring  themselves  for 
King  James.  Faith!  but  I  ken'd  I  was  clean  beguiled 
when  I  heard  the  Duke  was  there;  and  when  they 
strapped  the  horse-girth  ower  my  arms,  I  might  hae 
judged  what  was  biding  me ;  for  I  ken'd  your  kinsman, 
being,  wi'  pardon,  a  slippery  loon  himsell,  is  prone  to 
employ  those  of  his  ain  kidney.  I  wish  he  mayna  hae 
been  at  the  bottom  o'  the  ploy  himsell.  I  thought  the 
chield  Morris  looked  devilish  queer  when  I  determined 
he  should  remain  a  wad,  or  hostage,  for  my  safe  back- 
coming.  But  I  am  come  back,  nae  thanks  to  him  or 
them  that  employed  him;  and  the  question  is,  how  the 
collector  loon  is  to  win  back  himsell.  I  promise  him  it 
wdll  not  be  without  a  ransom." 

'^  Morris,"  said  Frank,  "  has  already  paid  the  last 
ransom  which  mortal  man  can  owe." 

"Eh!  What?"  exclaimed  his  companion  hastily; 
"  what  d'ye  say  ?  I  trust  it  was  in  the  skirmish  he  was 
killed?" 

"  He  was  slain  in  cold  blood  after  the  fight  was  over, 
Mr.  Campbell." 

"  Cold  blood?  Damnation!  "  he  said,  muttering  be- 
twixt his  teeth.  How  fell  that,  sir?  Speak  out,  sir, 
and  do  not  Maister  or  Campbell  me;  my  foot  is  on  my 
native  heath,  and  my  name  is  MacGregor!  " 

His  passions  were  obviously  irritated;  but  without 
noticing  the  rudeness  of  his  tone  Frank  gave  him  a  short 
and  distinct  account  of  the  death  of  Morris.     He  struck 


ROB  ROY.  251 

the  butt  of  his  gun  with  great  vehemence  against  the 
ground,  and  broke  out:  "I  vow  to  God,  such  a  deed 
might  make  one  forswear  kin,  clan,  country,  wife,  and 
bairns!  And  yet  the  villain  wrought  long  for  it.  And 
what  is  the  difference  between  warsling  below  the  water 
wi'  a  stane  about  your  neck,  and  wavering  in  the  wind 
wi'  a  tether  round  it?  It's  but  choking  after  a',  and  he 
drees  the  doom  he  ettled  for  me.  I  could  have  wished, 
though,  they  had  rather  putten  a  ball  through  him,  or 
a  dirk;  for  the  fashion  of  removing  him  will  give  rise 
to  mony  idle  clavers.  But  every  wight  has  his  w^ird, 
and  we  maun  a'  dee  when  our  day  comes.  And  naebody 
will  deny  that  Helen  MacGregor  has  deep  wrongs  to 
avenge." 

So  saying,  he  seemed  to  dismiss  the  theme  altogether 
from  his  mind  and  proceeded  to  inquire  how  Frank  got 
free  from  the  party  in  whose  hands  he  had  seen  him. 

Frank's  story  was  soon  told,  and  he  added  the  episode 
of  his  having  recovered  the  papers  of  his  father,  though 
he  dared  not  trust  his  voice  to  name  the  name  of  Diana. 

"  I  was  sure  ye  wad  get  them,"  said  MacGregor; 
"  the  letter  ye  brought  me  contained  his  Excellency's 
pleasure  to  that  effect;  and  nae  doubt  it  was  my  will  to 
have  aided  in  it.  And  I  asked  ye  up  into  this  glen  on 
the  very  errand.  But  it's  like  his  Excellency  has  fore- 
gathered wi'  Rashleigh  sooner  than  I  expected." 

^^  Was  the  letter  I  brought  you,  then,  from  this  per- 
son you  call  his  Excellency?"  asked  Frank.  "Who 
is  he?  and  what  is  his  rank  and  proper  name?  " 

"  I'm  thinking,"  said  MacGregor,  "  that  since  ye 
dinna  ken  them  already  they  canna  be  o'  muckle  conse- 
quence to  you,  and  sae  I  shall  say  naething  on  that  score. 


252  ROB  ROY. 

But  weel  I  wot  the  letter  was  frae  his  ain  hand,  or, 
having  a  sort  of  business  of  my  ain  on  my  hands,  being, 
as  ye  weel  may  see,  just  as  much  as  I  can  fairly  manage, 
I  canna  say  I  would  hae  fashed  mysell  sae  muckle  about 
the  matter/' 

*^  I  conclude,  then,"  Frank  said  to  MacGregor,  after 
about  five  minutes'  silence  on  both  sides,  "  that  his  Ex- 
cellency, since  you  give  me  no  other  name  for  him,  was 
residing  in  Osbaldistone  Hall  at  the  same  time  with  my- 
self?" 

"  To  be  sure — to  be  sure — and  in  the  young  lady's 
apartment,  as  best  reason  was."  This  gratuitous  in- 
formation was  adding,  gall  to  bitterness.  "  But  few," 
added  MacGregor,  "  ken'd  he  was  derned  there,  save 
Rashleigh  and  Sir  Hildebrand;  for  we  were  out  o'  the 
question;  and  the  young  lads  haena  wit  enough  to  ca' 
the  cat  frae  the  cream.  But  it's  a  bra'  auld-fashioned 
house;  and  what  I  specially  admire  is  the  abundance  o' 
holes  and  bores  and  concealments;  ye  could  put  twenty 
or  thirty  men  in  ae  corner,  and  a  family  might  live  a 
week  without  finding  them  out — whilk,  nae  doubt,  may 
on  occasion  be  a  special  convenience.  I  wish  we  had 
the  like  o'  Osbaldistone  Hall  on  the  braes  o'  Craig-Roys- 
ton.  But  we  maun  gar  woods  and  caves  serve  the  like 
o'  us  puir  Hieland  bodies." 

"  I  suppose  his  Excellency,"  said  Frank,  "  was  privy 
to  the  first  accident  which  befell " 

He  could  not  help  hesitating  a  moment. 

"  Ye  were  going  to  say  Morris,"  said  Eob  Roy  coolly, 
for  he  was  too  much  accustomed  to  deeds  of  violence 
for  the  agitation  he  had  at  first  expressed  to  be  of  long 
continuance.     "  I  used  to  laugh  heartily  at  that  reik; 


ROB  ROY.  253 

but  I'll  hardly  hae  the  heart  to  do't  again,  since  the  ill- 
far'd  accident  at  the  Loch.  Xa,  na,  his  Excellency 
ken'd  naught  o'  that  ploy;  it  was  a'  managed  atween 
Rashleigh  and  mysell.  But  the  sport  that  came  after — 
and  Rashleigh's  shift  o'  turning  the  suspicion  aff  himsell 
upon  you,  that  he  had  nae  grit  favor  to  frae  the  begin- 
ning— and  then  Miss  Die,  she  maun  hae  us  sweep  up  a' 
our  spiders'  webs  again,  and  set  you  out  o'  the  justice's 
claws — and  then  the  frightened  craven  Morris,  that  was 
scared  out  o'  his  seven  senses  by  seeing  the  real  man 
when  he  was  charging  the  innocent  stranger — and  the 
gowk  of  a  clerk — and  the  drunken  carle  of  a  justice. 
Ohon!  ohon!  mony  a  laugh  that  job's  given  me;  and 
now  a'  that  I  can  do  for  the  puir  devil  is  to  get  some 
messes  said  for  his  soul." 

"  May  I  ask,"  said  Frank,  "  how  Miss  Vernon  came 
to  have  so  much  influence  over  Rashleigh  and  his  ac- 
complices as  to  derange  your  projected  plan?  '^ 

"  Mine!  It  was  none  of  mine.  Xo  man  can  say  I 
ever  laid  my  burden  on  other  folk's  shoulders.  It  was  a' 
Rashleigh's  doings.  But,  undoubtedly,  she  had  great  in- 
fluence wi'  us  baith  on  account  of  his  Excellency's  affec- 
tion, as  weel  as  that  she  ken'd  far  ower  mony  secrets  to 
be  lightlied  in  a  matter  o'  that  kind.  Deil  tak  him,"  he 
ejaculated,  by  way  of  summing  up,  "  that  gies  woman 
either  secret  to  keep  or  power  to  abuse.  Fules  shouldna 
hae  chapping-sticks." 


CHAPTER    XXVII. 

They  were  now  within  a  quarter  of  a  mile  of  the 
village,  when  three  Highlanders,  springing  upon  them, 
presented  arms,  and  commanded  them  to  stand  and  tell 
their  business.  The  single  word  Gregaragh,  uttered  in 
the  deep,  commanding  voice  of  Eob  Roy,  was  answered 
by  a  shout  of  joyful  recognition.  Two  of  the  Highland- 
ers ran  forward  to  give  to  the  village,  now  occupied  by 
a  strong  party  of  the  MacGregors,  the  joyful  news  of  Rob 
Roy's  escape  and  return,  while  the  third  remained  to  es- 
cort them  in  triumph  to  the  town.  On  arrival  at  the 
door  of  the  inn,  Rob  Roy  was  obliged  to  relate  the  story 
of  his  escape  at  least  a  dozen  times  over  to  the  village 
throng  before  he  could  enter  the  house  where  he  might 
obtain  rest  and  refreshment.  The  exultant  reception 
given  to  Rob  Roy  extended  itself  to  Frank  as  his  friend, 
Avho  found  the  overwhelming  and  unrestrained  affection 
of  the  Highlanders  almost  as  inconvenient  as  their  rude- 
ness had  been  on  the  previous  day. 

When  they  at  last  made  their  way  into  the  interior 
cf  the  hut,  they  found  Bailie  Nicol  Jarvie  seated  by  the 
fireside.  To  the  welcomes  and  apologies  of  MacGregor 
the  Bailie  replied  with  a  sort  of  reserved  dignity: 

"  I  am  pretty  weel,  kinsman,  indifferent  weel,  I  thank 
ye;  and  for  accommodations,  ane  canna  expect  to  carry 
254 


ROB  ROY.  255 

about  the  Saiit  ]\Iarket  at  his  tail,  as  a  snail  does  his 
caup;  and  I  am  blythe  that  ye  hae  gotten  out  o'  the 
hands  o'  your  unfreends." 

"  Weel,  weel,  then,"  answered  Roy,  "  what  is't  ails  ye, 
man?  a's  weel  that  ends  weel!  the  warld  will  last  our 
day.  Come,  take  a  cup  o'  branny;  your  father  the  dea- 
con could  take  ane  at  an  orra  time." 

"  It  might  be  he  might  do  sae,  Robin,  after  fatigue 
— whilk  has  been  my  lot  mair  ways  than  ane  this  day. 
But,"  he  continued,  slowly  filling  up  a  little  wooden 
stoup  which  might  hold  about  three  glasses,  "  he  was  a 
moderate  man  of  his  bicker,  as  I  am  mysell.  Here's 
wussing  health  to  ye,  Robin"  (a  sip),  "and  your  weel- 
fare  here  and  hereafter  "  (another  taste),  "  and  also  to 
my  cousin  Helen,  and  to  your  twa  hopefu'  lads,  of  whom 
mair  anon." 

So  saying,  the  Bailie  drank  up  the  contents  of  the 
cup  with  great  gravity  and  deliberation.  As  he  set  down 
his  cup  he  recognized  Frank,  and  giving  him  a  cordial 
welcome  he  waived  further  communication  with  him  for 
the  present.  "  I  w411  speak  to  your  matters  anon;  I 
maun  begin,  as  in  reason,  wi'  those  of  my  kinsman. — 
I  presume,  Robin,  there's  naebody  here  will  carry  aught 
o'  what  I  am  gaun  to  say  to  the  town-council  or  else- 
where to  my  prejudice  or  to  yours?" 

"  Make  yourself  easy  on  that  head,  cousin  Nicol," 
answered  MacGregor;  "  th«  tae  half  o'  the  gillies  winna 
ken  what  ye  say,  and  the  other  winna  care;  besides  that, 
I  wad  stow  the  tongue  out  o'  the  head  o'  aiiy  o'  them 
that  suld  presume  to  say  ower  again  ony  speech  held  wi' 
me  in  their  presence." 

"  Aweel,  cousin,  sic  being  the  case,  and  Mr.  Osbaldi- 


256  I^OB  ^OY. 

stone  here  being  a  prudent  youth,  and  a  safe  friend,  I'se 
plainly  tell  ye,  ye  are  breeding  up  your  family  to  gang 
an  ill  gate."  Then  clearing  his  voice  with  a  preliminary 
hem,  he  addressed  his  kinsman,  checking,  as  Malvolio 
proposed  to  do  when  seated  in  his  state,  his  familiar 
smile  with  an  austere  regard  of  control.  "  Ye  ken  your- 
sell  ye  hand  Hght  by  the  law;  and  for  my  cousin  Helen, 
forbye  that  her  reception  o'  me  this  blessed  day — whilk  I 
excuse  on  account  of  perturbation  of  mind,  was  muckle 
on  the  north  side  o'  friendhj,  I  say,  outputting  this  per- 
sonal reason  of  complaint,  I  hae  that  to  say  o'  your 
wife " 

"  Say  noihing  of  her,  kinsman,"  said  Kob,  in  a  grave 
and  stern  tone,  "  but  Avhat  is  befitting  a  friend  to  say 
and  her  husband  to  hear.  Of  me  you  are  welcome  to  say 
your  full  pleasure." 

"  Aweel,  aweel,"  said  the  Bailie,  somewhat  discon- 
certed, "we'se  let  that  be  a  pass-over;  I  dinna  approve 
of  making  mischief  in  families.  But  here  are  your 
twa  sons,  Hamish  and  Eobin,  whilk  signifies,  as  I'm  gien 
to  understand,  James  and  Eobert — I  trust  ye  will  call 
them  sae  in  future;  there  comes  nae  gude  o'  Hamishes, 
and  Eachines,  and  Angusses,  except  that  they're  the 
names  ane  aye  chances  to  see  in  the  indictments  at  the 
Western  Circuits  of  cow-lifting,  at  the  instance  of  his 
Majesty's  advocate  for  his  Majesty's  interest.  Aweel, 
but  the  twa  lads,  as  I  was  saying,  they  haena  sae  muckle 
as  the  ordinar  grunds,  man,  of  liberal  education;  they 
dinna  ken  the  very  multiplication  table  itself,  whilk  is 
the  root  of  a'  useful  knowledge,  and  they  did  naething 
but  laugh  and  fleer  at  me  when  I  tauld  them  my  mind 
on  their  ignorance.    If  s  my  belief  they  can  neither  read, 


ROB  ROY.  257 

write,  nor  cipher,  if  sic  a  tiling  could  be  believed  o'  ane's 
ain  connections  in  a  Christian  land." 

"  If  they  could,  kinsman,"  said  MacGregor  with 
great  indifference,  "  their  learning  must  have  come  o' 
free  will,  for  whar  the  deil  was  I  to  get  them  a  teacher? 
Wad  ye  hae  had  me  put  on  the  gate  o'  your  Divinity 
Hall  at  Glasgow  College, '  Wanted,  a  tutor  for  Rob  Roy's 
bairns'?" 

"  Na,  kinsman,"  replied  Mr.  Jarvie,  "  but  ye  might 
hae  sent  the  lads  whar  they  could  hae  learned  the  fear  o' 
God  and  the  usages  of  civilized  creatures.  They  are 
as  ignorant  as  the  kyloes  ye  used  to  drive  to  market, 
or  the  very  English  churls  that  ye  sauld  them  to,  and  can 
do  naething  whatever  to  purpose." 

"  Umph! "  answered  Rob;  "  Hamish  can  bring 
down  a  blackcock  when  he's  on  the  wing  wi'  a  single 
bullet,  and  Rob  can  drive  a  dirk  through  a  twa-inch 
board." 

"  Sae  muckle  the  waur  for  them,  cousin!  sae  muckle 
the  waur  for  them  baith!  "  answered  the  Glasgow  mer- 
chant in  a  tone  of  great  decision;  "  an  they  ken  naething 
better  than  that,  they  had  better  no  ken  that  neither. 
Tell  me  yoursell,  Rob,  what  has  a'  this  cutting,  and  stab- 
bing, and  shooting,  and  driving  of  dirks,  whether 
through  human  flesh  or  fir  deals,  dune  for  yoursell? 
and  werena  ye  a  happier  man  at  the  tail  o'  your  nowte- 
bestial,  when  ye  were  in  an  honest  calling,  than  ever  ye 
hae  been  since,  at  the  head  o'  your  Hieland  kerns  and 
gally-glasses  ?  And  sae,"  added  the  Bailie,  "  I  hae  been 
thinking,  Rob,  that  as  it  may  be  ye  are  ower  deep  in  the 
black  book  to  win  a  pardon,  and  ower  auld  to  mend  your- 
sell, that  it  wad  be  a  pity  to  bring  up  twa  liopefu'  lads 


258  ROB  ROY. 

to  sic  a  godless  trade  as  your  ain,  and  I  wad  blythely  tak 
them  for  'prentices  at  the  loom,  as  I  began  mysell,  and 
my  father  the  deacon  afore  me,  though,  praise  to  the 
Giver,  I  only  trade  now  as  wholesale  dealer.  And — 
and " 

He  saw  a  storm  gathering  on  Rob's  brow,  which  prob- 
ably induced  him  to  throw  in,  as  a  sweetener  of  an  ob- 
noxious proposition,  what  he  had  reserved  to  crown  his 
own  generosity,  had  it  been  embraced  as  an  acceptable 
one — "  And  Robin,  lad,  ye  needna  look  sae  glum,  for  I'll 
pay  the  'prentice-fee,  and  never  plague  ye  for  the  thou- 
sand merks  neither." 

"  Ceade  millia  diaoul,  hundred  thousand  devils!  "  ex- 
claimed Rob,  rising  and  striding  through  the  hut.  "  My 
sons  weavers?  Millia  molligheart!  but  I  wad  see  every 
loom  in  Glasgow,  beams,  traddles,  and  shuttles,  burnt  in 
hell-fire  sooner!  " 

In  a  minute  he  recovered,  or  reassumed  his  serenity 
of  temper. 

"  But  ye  mean  Aveel — ye  mean  weel,"  said  he;  "  so 
gie  me  your  hand,  Mcol,  and  if  ever  I  put  my  sons  ap- 
prentice I  will  gie  you  the  refusal  o'  them.  And,  as  you 
say,  there's  the  thousand  merks  to  be  settled  between  us. 
— Here,  Eachin  MacAnaleister,  bring  me  my  sporran." 

The  person  he  addressed,  a  tall,  strong  mountaineer, 
who  seemed  to  act  as  MacGregor's  lieutenant,  brought 
from  some  place  of  safety  a  large  leathern  pouch,  such 
as  Highlanders  of  rank  wear  before  them  when  in  full 
dress,  made  of  the  skin  of  the  sea-otter,  richly  garnished 
with  silver  ornaments  and  studs. 

"  I  advise  no  man  to  attempt  opening  this  sporran 
till  he  has  my  secret,"  said  Rob  Roy;  and  then  twisting 


ROB  ROY.  259 

one  button  in  one  direction  and  another  in  another, 
pulling  one  stud  upward  and  pressing  another  down- 
ward, the  mouth  of  the  purse,  which  was  bound  with 
massive  silver  plate,  opened  and  gave  admittance  to  his 
hand.  He  made  Frank  remark,  as  if  to  break  short  the 
subject  on  which  Bailie  Jarvie  had  spoken,  that  a  small 
steel  pistol  was  concealed  within  the  purse,  the  trigger  of 
which  was  connected  with  the  mounting  and  made  part 
of  the  machinery,  so  that  the  weapon  would  certainly  be 
discharged,  and  in  all  probability  its  contents  lodged 
in  the  person  of  any  one  who,  being  unacquainted  with 
the  secret,  should  tamper  with  the  lock  which  secured 
his  treasure.  "  This,"  said  he,  touching  the  pistol,  ^'  this 
is  the  keeper  of  my  privy  purse." 

The  Bailie  put  on  his  spectacles  to  examine  the 
mechanism,  and  when  he  had  done  returned  it  with  a 
smile  and  a  sigh,  observing:  "  Ah,  Rob,  had  ither  folk's 
purses  been  as  weel  guarded,  I  doubt  if  your  sporran  wad 
hae  been  as  weel  filled  as  it  kythes  to  be  by  the  weight." 

"  Never  mind,  kinsman,"  said  Rob,  laughing;  "  it 
will  aye  open  for  a  friend's  necessity,  or  to  pay  a  just 
due;  and  here,"  he  added,  pulling  out  a  rouleau  of  gold, 
"here  is  your  ten  hundred  merks:  count  them,  and  see 
that  you  are  full  and  justly  paid." 

Mr.  Jarvie  took  the  money  in  silence,  and  weighing 
it  in  his  hand  for  an  instant,  laid  it  on  the  table  and 
replied:  "Rob,  I  canna  tak  it — I  downa  intromit  with 
it — there  can  nae  gude  come  o't.  I  hae  seen  ower  weel 
the  day  what  sort  of  a  gate  your  gowd  is  made  in.  Ill 
got  gear  ne'er  prospered;  and,  to  be  plain  wi'  you,  I 
winna  meddle  wi't — it  looks  as  there  might  be  bluid 
on't." 


260  ROB  ROY. 

"  Troutsho!  "  said  the  outlaw,  affecting  an  indiffer- 
ence which  perhaps  he  did  not  altogetlier  feel;  "  it's 
glide  French  gowd,  and  ne'er  was  in  Scotchman's  pouch 
before  mine.  Look  at  them,  man!  they  are  a'  louis- 
d'ors,  bright  and  bonnie  as  the  day  they  were  coined." 

"  The  waur,  the  waur — ^just  sae  muckle  the  waur, 
Robin,"  replied  the  Bailie,  averting  his  eyes  from  the 
money,  though,  like  Caesar  on  the  Lupercal,  his  fingers 
seemed  to  itch  for  it.  "  Rebellion  is  waur  than  witch- 
craft, or  robbery  either;  there's  gospel  warrant  for't." 

"  Never  mind  the  warrant,  kinsman,"  said  the  free- 
booter; "  you  come  by  the  gowd  honestly,  and  in  pay- 
ment of  a  just  debt.  It  came  from  the  one  king,  you 
may  gie  it  to  the  other,  if  ye  like;  and  it  will  just  serve 
for  a  weakening  of  the  enemy,  and  in  the  point  where 
puir  King  James  is  weakest  too,  for,  God  knows,  he  has 
hands  and  hearts  eneugh,  but  I  doubt  he  wants  the 
siller." 

"  He'll  no  get  mony  Hielanders  then,  Robin,"  said 
Mr.  Jarvie,  as,  again  replacing  his  spectacles  on  his  nose, 
he  undid  the  rouleau  and  began  to  count  its  contents. 

"  Nor  Lowlanders  either,"  said  MacGregor,  arching 
his  eyebrow,  and,  as  he  looked  at  Frank,  directing  a 
glance  toward  ^Ir.  Jarvie,  who,  all  unconscious  of  the 
ridicule,  weighed  each  piece  with  habitual  scrupulosity; 
and  having  told  twice  over  the  sum,  which  amounted  to 
th«  discharge  of  his  debt,  principal  and  interest,  he  re- 
turned three  pieces  to  buy  his  kinswoman  a  gown,  as  he 
expressed  himself,  and  a  brace  more  for  the  twa  bairns, 
as  he  called  them,  requesting  they  might  buy  anything 
they  liked  with  them  except  gunpowder.  The  High- 
lander stared  at  his  kinsman's  unexpected  generosity, 


ROB  ROY.  261 

but  courteously  accepted  liis  gift,  which  lie  deposited  for 
the  time  in  his  well-secured  pouch. 

The  Bailie  next  produced  the  original  bond  for  the 
debt,  on  the  back  of  which  he  had  written  a  formal  dis- 
charge, which,  having  subscribed  himself,  he  requested 
Frank  to  sign  as  a  witness.  He  did  so,  and  Bailie  Jar- 
vie  was  looking  anxiously  around  for  another,  the  Scot- 
tish law  requiring  the  subscription  of  two  witnesses  to 
validate  either  a  bond  or  acquittance.  "  You  will  hard- 
ly find  a  man  that  can  write  save  ourselves  within  these 
three  miles,''  said  Kob,  "  but  I'll  settle  the  matter  as 
easily  ";  and,  taking  the  paper  from  before  his  kinsman, 
he  threw  it  in  the  fire.  Bailie  Jarvie  stared  in  his  turn, 
but  his  kinsman  continued:  "That's  a  Ilieland  settle- 
ment of  accounts.  The  time  might  come,  cousin,  were  I 
to  keep  a'  these  charges  and  discharges,  that  friends 
might  be  brought  into  trouble  for  having  dealt  with  me." 

The  Bailie  attempted  no  reply  to  this  argument, 
and  the  supper  now  appeared  in  a  style  of  abundance, 
and  even  delicacy,  which,  for  the  place,  might  be  consid- 
ered as  extraordinary.  The  greater  part  of  the  provi- 
sions were  cold,  intimating  they  had  been  prepared  at 
some  distance;  and  there  were  some  bottles  of  good 
French  wine  to  relish  pasties  of  various  sorts  of  game, 
as  well  as  other  dishes.  MacGregor,  while  doing  the 
honors  of  the  table  with  great  and  anxious  hospitality, 
prayed  his  guests  to  excuse  the  circumstance  that  some 
particular  dish  or  pasty  had  been  infringed  on  before  it 
was  presented  to  them.  "  You  must  know,"  said  he  to 
Mr.  Jarvie,  but  without  looking  toward  Frank,  "  you 
are  not  the  only  guests  this  night  in  the  MacGregor 
country,  whilk,  doubtless,  ye  will  believe,  since  my  wife 
18 


262  ROB  ROY. 

and  the  twa  lads  would  otherwise  have  been  maist  ready 
to  attend  yoii^  as  weel  beseems  them." 

When  the  meal  was  finished  the  Bailie  betook  him- 
self to  rest  on  a  fresh  bed  of  heather  in  one  corner  of  the 
hut,  while  Frank  and  Eob  Roy  determined  to  keep  each 
other  company  a  while  longer,  as  neither  felt  inclined  to 
sleep. 


CHAPTER   XXYIII. 

A  hopeless  durkness  settles  o'er  my  fate ; 
I've  seen  tiie  last  look  of  her  heavenly  eyes, 
I've  heard  t!ie  last  sound  of  her  blessed  voice, 
I've  seen  her  fair  form  from  my  sight  depart ; 
My  doom  is  closed. 
*  Count  Basil. 

"  I  KEX  not  what  to  make  of  you,  Mr.  Osbaldistone," 
said  MacGregor,  as  he  pushed  the  flask  toward  Frank. 
"  You  eat  not,  you  show  no  wish  for  rest;  and  yet  you 
drink  not,  though  that  flask  of  Bordeaux  might  have 
come  out  of  Sir  Hildebrand's  ain  cellar.  Had  you  been 
always  as  abstinent,  you  would  have  escaped  the  deadly 
hatred  of  your  cousin  Eashleigh." 

"  Had  I  been  always  prudent,"  said  Frank,  blushing 
at  the  scene  he  recalled  to  his  recollection,  "  I  should 
have  escaped  a  worse  evil — the  reproach  of  my  own  con- 
science."    Neither  spoke  for  a  few  moments. 

MacGregor  first  broke  silence,  in  the  tone  of  one 
who  takes  up  his  determination  to  enter  on  a  painful 
subject.  "  My  cousin  Xicol  Jarvie  means  well,"  he  said, 
"  but  he  presses  ower  hard  on  the  temper  and  situation 
of  a  man  like  me,  considering  what  I  have  been — what 
I  have  been  forced  to  become — and,  above  all,  that 
which  has  forced  me  to  become  what  I  am." 

"  I  should  be  happy  to  learn,"  Frank  said,  "  that 

2G3 


264  TwOB  ROY. 

there  is  an  honorable  chance  of  your  escaping  from 
it/' 

"  You  speak  like  a  boy/'  returned  MacGregor,  in  a 
low  tone  that  growled  like  distant  thunder — "  like  a  boy 
who  thinks  the  auld  gnarled  oak  can  be  twisted  as  easily 
as  the  young  sapling.  Can  I  forget  that  I  have  been 
branded  as  an  outlaw — stigmatized  as  a  traitor — a  price 
set  on  my  head  as  if  I  had  been  a  wolf — my  family  treat- 
ed as  the  dam  and  cubs  of  the  hill-fox,  whom  all  may 
torment,  vilify,  degrade,  and  insult — the  very  name 
which  came  to  me  from  a  long  and  noble  line  of  martial 
ancestors,  denounced,  as  if  it  were  a  spell  to  conjure  up 
the  devil  with?" 

As  he  went  on  in  this  manner,  he  was  plainly  lashing 
himself  up  into  a  rage  by  the  enumeration  of  his  wrongs, 
in  order  to  justify  in  his  own  eyes  the  errors  they  had 
led  him  into.  In  this  he  perfectly  succeeded;  his  light 
gray  eyes  contracting  alternately  and  dilating  their  pu- 
pils, until  they  seemed  actually  to  flash  with  flame,  while 
he  thrust  forward  and  drew  back  his  foot,  grasped  the 
hilt  of  his  dirk,  extended  his  arm,  clinched  his  fist,  and 
finally  rose  from  his  seat. 

"  And  they  sliall  find,''  he  said,  in  the  same  mut- 
tered but  deep  tone  of  stifled  passion,  "  that  the  name 
they  have  dared  to  proscribe — that  the  name  of  Mac- 
Gregor — is  a  spell  to  raise  the  wild  devil  withal.  They 
shall  hear  of  my  vengeance  that  would  scorn  to  listen 
to  the  story  of  my  wrongs.  The  miserable  Highland 
drover — bankrupt,  barefooted,  stripped  of  all,  dishon- 
ored and  hunted  down,  because  the  avarice  of  others 
grasped  at  more  than  that  poor  all  could  pay — shall 
burst  on  them  in  an  awful  change.     They  that  scoffed  at 


ROB  ROY.  265 

the  groveling  worm,  and  trod  upon  him,  may  cry  and 
howl  when  they  see  the  stoop  of  the  flying  and  fiery- 
mouthed  dragon.  But  why  do  I  speak  of  all  this  ?  "  he 
said,  sitting  down  again,  and  in  a  calmer  tone — ^^  only 
ye  may  opine  it  frets  my  patience,  Mr.  Osbaldistone,  to 
be  hunted  like  an  otter,  or  a  sealgh,  or  a  salmon  upon 
the  shallows,  and  that  by  my  very  friends  and  neighbors; 
and  to  have  as  many  sword-cuts  made,  and  pistols  flashed 
at  me,  as  I  had  this  day  in  the  ford  of  Avondow,  would 
try  a  saint's  temper,  much  more  a  Highlander's,  who  are 
not  famous  for  that  gude  gift,  as  ye  may  hae  heard,  Mr. 
Osbaldistone.  But  ae  thing  bides  wi'  me  o'  what  Nicol 
said:  I'm  vexed  for  the  bairns — I'm  vexed  when  I  think 
o'  Hamish  and  Robert  living  their  father's  life."  And 
yielding  to  despondence  on  account  of  his  sons,  which 
he  felt  not  upon  his  own,  the  father  rested  his  head 
upon  his  hand. 

The  desire  of  aiding  him  rushed  strongly  on  Frank's 
mind,  notwithstanding  the  apparent  difficulty  and  even 
impossibility  of  the  task. 

"  AVe  have  extensive  connections  abroad,"  said  he; 
"  might  not  your  sons,  with  some  assistance — and  they 
are  well  entitled  to  what  my  father's  house  can  give — 
find  an  honorable  resource  in  foreign  service?  " 

MacGregor,  taking  him  by  the  hand  as  Frank  was 
going  to  speak  further,  said:  ^^  I  thank — I  thank  ye! 
but  let  us  say  nae  mair  o'  this.  I  did  not  think  the  eye 
of  man  would  again  have  seen  a  tear  on  MacGregor's 
ej'clash."  He  dashed  the  moisture  from  his  long  gray 
eyelash  and  shaggy  red  brow  with  the  back  of  his  hand. 
"  To-morrow  morning,"  he  said,  *'  we'll  talk  of  this,  and 
we  will  talk,  too,  of  your  affairs;  for  we  are  early  start- 


266  I^C)B  ROY. 

ers  in  the  dawn,  even  when  we  have  the  luck  to  have 
good  beds  to  sleep  in.  AYill  ye  not  pledge  me  in  a  grace 
cup  ?  "     Frank  declined  the  invitation. 

"  Then,  by  the  soul  of  St.  Maronoch,  I  must  pledge 
myself!  "  and  he  poured  out  and  swallowed  at  least  half 
a  quart  of  wine. 

Frank  now  laid  himself  down  to  repose,  and,  over- 
powered by  fatigue,  soon  sank  into  a  deep  slumber,  from 
which  he  did  not  awaken  until  the  next  morning.  His 
first  act  on  arising  was  to  arouse  the  Bailie,  and  tell  him 
of  the  safe  recovery  of  the  papers  carried  off  by  Eash- 
leigh.  As  soon  as  Mr.  Jarvie  comprehended  this  fact 
be  began  a  careful  comparison  of  the  packet  which 
Frank  put  into  his  hands  with  the  memorandum  of  Mr. 
Owen.  He  was  finishing  this  examination  when  Eob 
Eoy  entered  the  hut. 

"  I  am  sorry,  cousin,"  said  MacGregor,  "  I  have  not 
been  altogether  in  the  circumstances  to  make  your  re- 
ception sic  as  I  could  have  desired;  natheless,  if  you 
would  condescend  to  visit  my  puir  dwelling " 

"  Muckle  obliged,  muckle  obliged,"  answered  Mr. 
Jarvie  very  hastily,  "but  we  maun  be  ganging — we 
maun  be  jogging,  Mr.  Osbaldistone  and  me;  business 
canna  wait." 

"  Aweel,  kinsman,"  replied  the  Highlander,  "  ye  ken 
our  fashion — foster  the  guest  that  comes — further  him 
that  maun  gang.  But  ye  can  not  return  by  Drymen. 
I  must  set  you  on  Loch  Lomond,  and  boat  ye  down  to 
the  Ferry  o'  Balloch,  and  send  your  nags  round  to  meet 
ye  there.  It's  a  maxim  of  a  wise  man  never  to  return 
by  the  same  road  he  came,  providing  another's  free  to 
him." 


ROB  ROY.  267 

"Ay,  ay,  Rob,"  said  the  Bailie,  "that's  ane  o'  the 
maxims  ye  learned  when  ye  were  a  drover;  ye  caredna 
to  face  the  tenants  where  your  beasts  had  been  taking  a 
rug  of  their  moorland  grass  in  the  by-ganging,  and  I 
doubt  your  road's  waur  marked  now  than  it  was  then." 

"  The  mair  need  not  to  travel  it  ower  often,  kins- 
man," replied  Rob;  "  but  I'se  send  round  your  nags  to 
the  ferry  wi'  Dougal  Gregor,  wha  is  converted  for  that 
purpose  into  the  Bailie's  man,  coming,  not,  as  ye  may 
believe,  from  Aberfoil  or  Rob  Roy's  country,  but  on  a 
quiet  jaunt  from  Stirling.     See,  here  he  is." 

"  I  wadna  hae  ken'd  the  creature,"  said  I^Ir.  Jar  vie; 
nor  indeed  was  it  easy  to  recognize  the  wild  Highlander 
when  he  appeared  before  the  door  of  the  cottage,  attired 
in  a  hat,  periwig,  and  riding  coat  which  had  once  called 
Andrew  Fairservice  master,  and  mounted  on  the  Bailie's 
horse,  and  leading  Frank's.  He  received  his  last  orders 
from  his  master  to  avoid  certain  places  where  he  might 
be  exposed  to  suspicion — to  collect  what  intelligence  he 
could  in  the  course  of  his  journey,  and  to  await  the  com- 
ing of  Mr.  Jarvie  and  Frank  at  an  appointed  place  near 
the  Ferry  of  Balloch. 

At  the  same  time  MacGregor  invited  them  to  accom- 
pany him  upon  their  own  road,  assuring  them  that  they 
must  necessarily  march  a  few  miles  before  breakfast, 
and  recommending  a  dram  of  brandy  as  a  proper  intro- 
duction to  the  journey,  in  which  he  was  pledged  by  the 
Bailie,  who  pronounced  it  "  an  unlawful  and  perilous 
habit  to  begin  the  day  wi'  spirituous  liquors,  except  to 
defend  the  stomach  (whilk  was  a  tender  part)  against 
the  morning  mist;  in  whilk  case  his  father  the  deacon 
had  recommended  a  dram,  by  precept  and  example." 


268  RO-B  ROY. 

"Very  true,  kinsman/'  replied  Rob,  "for  which 
reason  we,  who  are  Children  of  the  Mist,  have  a  right  to 
drink  brandy  from  morning  till  night." 

The  Bailie,  thus  refreshed,  was  mounted  on  a  small 
Highland  pony;  and  they  resumed  under  very  different 
guidance  and  auspices  their  journey  of  the  preceding 
day. 

The  escort  consisted  of  MacGregor  and  five  or  six 
of  the  handsomest,  best  armed  and  most  athletic  moun- 
taineers of  his  band,  and  whom  he  had  generally  in  im- 
mediate attendance  upon  his  own  person. 

A  portion  of  their  way  lay  over  the  route  they  had 
traced  the  day  before.  They  skirted  the  margin  of  the 
lake  *  for  some  distance,  and  then  wound  upward  from 
the  shores  for  about  two  hundred  yards,  pausing  on  the 
summit  of  a  steep  hill  where  Rob  Roy's  wife  and  fol- 
lowers had  prepared  breakfast  for  them  in  a  spot  of  rare 
beauty.  Helen  MacGregor  came  forward  to  meet  them. 
After  folding  the  Bailie  in  an  embrace  of  welcome  which 
seemed  to  discomfort  that  gentleman,  she  turned  to 
Frank: 

"  You,  too,  are  welcome,  stranger,"  she  said,  releas- 
ing the  alarmed  Bailie,  who  instinctively  drew  back  and 
settled  his  wig.  "  You  came,"  she  added,  "  to  our  un- 
happy country  when  our  bloods  were  chafed  and  our 
hands  were  red.  Excuse  the  rudeness  that  gave  you  a 
rough  welcome,  and  lay  it  upon  the  evil  times,  and  not 
upon  us."  All  this  was  said  with  the  manners  of  a  prin- 
cess, and  in  the  tone  and  style  of  a  court. 

She  then  courteously  invited  them  to  a  refreshment 

*  Loch  Ard. 


ROB  ROY.  269 

spread  out  on  the  grass,  which  abounded  with  all  the 
good  things  tlieir  mountains  could  oil'er,  but  was  cloud- 
ed by  the  dark  and  undisturbed  gravity  which  sat  on 
the  brow  of  the  hostess.  It  was  in  vain  that  the  leader 
exerted  himself  to  excite  mirth;  a  chill  hung  over  the 
minds  of  the  guests  as  if  the  feast  had  been  funereal; 
and  every  bosom  felt  light  when  it  was  ended. 

"  xVdieu,  cousin,"  she  said  to  Mr.  Jarvie  as  the  com- 
pany arose  from  the  entertainment;  "  the  best  wish 
Helen  MacGregor  can  give  to  a  friend  is,  that  he  may  see 
her  no  more." 

The  Bailie  struggled  to  answer,  probably  with  some 
commonplace  maxim  of  morality;  but  the  calm  and  mel- 
ancholy sternness  of  her  countenance  bore  down  and  dis- 
concerted the  mechanical  and  formal  importance  of  the 
magistrate.  He  coughed — hemmed — bowed — and  was 
silent. 

"  For  you,  stranger,"  she  said,  "  I  have  a  token,  from 
one  whom  you  can  never " 

'^  Helen,"  interrupted  MacGregor,  in  a  loud  and 
stern  voice,  "  what  means  this? — have  you  forgotten  the 
charge?  " 

"  MacGregor,"  she  replied,  "  I  have  forgotten  naught 
that  is  fitting  for  me  to  remember.  It  is  not  such  hands 
as  these,"  and  she  stretched  forth  her  long,  sinewy,  and 
bare  arm,  "  that  are  fitting  to  convey  love-tokens,  were 
the  gift  connected  with  aught  but  misery. — Young 
man,"  she  said,  presenting  Frank  with  a  ring  which  he 
well  remembered  as  one  of  the  few  ornaments  that  Miss 
Vernon  sometimes  wore,  "  this  comes  from  one  whom 
you  will  never  see  more.  If  it  is  a  joyless  token,  it  is  well 
fitted  to  pass  through  the  hands  of  one  to  whom  joy  can 


270  ROB  ROY. 

never  be  known.  Her  last  words  were,  '  Let  him  forget 
me  forever.'  " 

"  And  can  she/'  said  Frank,  almost  without  being 
conscious  that  he  spoke,  "suppose  that  is  possible?" 

"  All  may  be  forgotten,"  said  the  extraordinary  fe- 
male who  addressed  him,  "  all — but  the  sense  of  dis- 
honor and  the  desire  for  vengeance." 

"  Seid  suas!  "  *  cried  the  MacGregor,  stamping  with 
impatience.  The  bagpipes  sounded,  and  with  their 
thrilling  and  jarring  tones  cut  short  the  conference. 
They  took  leave  of  their  hostess  by  silent  gestures. 

*  "  Strike  up ! " 


Rob  Roy  here  took  leave  of  them  with  great  kindlinc? 


CHAPTER    XXIX. 

Farewell  to  the  land  where  the  clouds  love  to  rest, 

Like  the  shroud  of  the  dead,  on  the  mountain's  cold  breast ; 

To  the  cataract's  roar  where  the  eagles  reply, 

And  the  lake  her  lone  bosom  expands  to  the  sky. 

They  now  pursued  their  way  to  Loch  Lomond, 
where  a  boat  waited  for  them  in  a  creek  beneath  a  huge 
rock.  Rob  Roy  here  took  leave  of  them  with  great 
kindliness  and  even  affection,  and  for  some  time  stood 
watching  their  progress  over  the  lake. 

On  the  otber  side  the  Bailie  and  Frank  found  Dougal 
waiting  with  the  horses.  They  mounted,  and  leaving 
Dougal  and  the  rowers  happy  in  the  possession  of  the 
gold  pieces  with  which  they  rewarded  them,  they  pro- 
ceeded on  their  way  to  Glasgow.  By  dint  of  hard  travel- 
ing they  reached  that  town  early  the  next  morning. 

Having  seen  Mr.  Jarvie  to  his  home  and  under  the 
care  of  the  trustworthy  Mattie,  Frank  proceeded  onward 
to  his  inn,  where  he  was  admitted  by  Andrew  Fairservice. 
xA^ndrew  for  a  time  had  been  a  sort  of  prisoner  with  the 
troops  of  the  Duke,  but,  after  examination,  had  been  dis- 
missed and  furnished  with  the  means  to  return  to 
Glasgow.  He  set  up  a  loud  shout  of  joy  upon  recogniz- 
ing his  young  master,  and,  without  uttering  a  syllable, 

271 


272  ROB  ROY. 

ran  upstairs  toward  a  parlor  on  the  second  floor. 
Justly  conceiving  that  he  went  to  announce  his  return 
to  the  anxious  Owen,  Frank  followed  him  upon  the  foot. 
Owen  was  not  alone;  there  was  another  in  the  apart- 
ment— it  was  his  father. 

The  first  impulse  was  to  preserve  the  dignity  of  his 
usual  equanimity — "  Francis,  I  am  glad  to  see  you.'' 
The  next  was  to  embrace  his  son  tenderl}' — "  My  dear 
— dear  son ! ''  Owen  secured  one  of  his  hands  and 
Avetted  it  with  his  tears,  while  he  joined  in  gratulating 
his  return. 

Leaving  Mr.  Osbaldistone  and  his  son  to  enjoy  the 
first  moments  of  their  reunion,  "we  shall  briefly  outline 
the  former's  opportune  appearance  in  Glasgow.  Mr. 
Osbaldistone  had  returned  to  London  from  Holland 
shortly  after  Owen  had  set  forth  for  Scotland.  By  his 
extensive  resources,  with  funds  enlarged  and  credit  forti- 
fied, by  eminent  success  in  his  continental  speculation, 
he  discharged  all  obligations  incumbent  on  his  house, 
and  set  forth  without  delay  for  Scotland,  to  extract  jus- 
tice from  Eashleigh  Osbaldistone,  and  put  to  order  his 
affairs  in  that  country.  He  had  immediately  closed  ac- 
counts with  MacVittie  and  Company,  and,  in  spite  of 
profuse  apologies  on  their  part,  refused  to  carry  on 
further  business  with  them.  But  his  triumphs  were  out- 
weighed by  his  anxiety  on  Frank's  account,  for  he  well 
knew  the  danger  of  a  trip  into  the  Highlands.  An- 
drew's arrival  at  this  point  added  to  rather  than  de- 
tracted from  his  fears,  for  Andrew  spared  no  details 
that  would  give  a  sensational  tinge  to  the  telling  of  his 
story  of  their  journey.  Mr.  Osbaldistone  was  himself 
preparing  to  set  out  in  search  of  Mr.  Jarvie  and  Frank, 


ROB  ROY.  273 

wlien  the  latter's  arrival  relieved  him  from  all  necessity 
for  so  doing. 

It  was  late  ere  father,  son,  and  the  faithful  Owen 
separated  to  rest;  and  too  impatient  to  endure  repose 
long,  it  was  early  the  next  morning  when  Frank  arose. 
Immediately  after  breakfast  he  and  his  father  visited  Mr. 
Jarvie.  Mr.  Osbaldistone,  after  thanking  the  Baihe  for 
his  kindness,  offered  him  that  business  which  had  hith- 
erto been  managed  by  MacVittie  and  Company.  The 
Bailie  frankly  accepted  it  with  thanks.  "  Had  Mac- 
Vittie's  folk  behaved  like  honest  men,"  he  said,  "  he  wad 
hae  liked  ill  to  hae  come  in  ahint  them,  and  out  afore 
them  this  gate.  But  it's  otherwise,  and  they  maun  e'en 
stand  the  loss." 

The  Bailie  then  pulled  Frank  by  the  sleeve  into  a 
corner,  and,  after  again  cordially  wishing  him  joy,  pro- 
ceeded, in  rather  an  embarrassed  tone:  "I  wad  heartily 
wish,  Maister  Francis,  there  suld  be  as  little  said  as  pos- 
sible about  the  queer  things  we  saw  up  yonder  awa. 
There's  nae  gude,  unless  ane  were  judicially  examinate, 
to  say  onything  about  that  awfu'  job  o'  Morris;  and  the 
members  o'  the  council  wadna  think  it  creditable  in  ane 
of  their  body  to  be  fighting  wi'  a  wheen  Hielandmen, 
and  singeing  their  plaidens.  And  abune  a',  though  I  am 
a  decent  sponsible  man  when  I  am  on  my  right  end,  I 
canna  but  think  I  maun  hae  made  a  queer  figure  without 
my  hat  and  my  periwig,  hinging  by  the  middle  like  baw- 
drons,  or  a  cloak  flung  ower  a  cloak-pin.  Bailie  Gra- 
hame  wad  hae  an  unco  hair  in  my  neck  an  he  got  that 
tale  by  the  end." 

Frank  promised  as  the  Bailie  wished,  and  he  seemed 
to  be  much  relieved  when  Frank  told  him  that  it  was 


2Y4  ROB  ROY. 

his  father's  intention  to  leave  Glasgow  almost  imme- 
diately. 

They  spent,  accordingly,  one  hospitable  day  with  the 
Bailie,  and  took  leave  of  him,  as  this  narrative  now  does. 
He  continued  to  grow  in  wealth,  honor,  and  credit,  and 
actually  rose  to  the  highest  civic  honors  in  his  native  city. 
About  two  years  after  the  period  mentioned,  he  tired  of 
his  bachelor  hfe,  and  promoted  Mattie  from  her  wheel 
by  the  kitchen  fire  to  the  upper  end  of  his  table,  in  the 
character  of  ^Irs.  Jarvie.  Bailie  Grahame,  the  Mac- 
Vitties,  and  others  (for  all  men  have  their  enemies,  espe- 
cially in  the  council  of  a  royal  burgh)  ridiculed  this 
transformation.  "  But,"  said  Mr.  Jarvie,  *'  let  them  say 
their  say.  I'll  ne'er  fash  mysell,  nor  lose  my  liking  for 
sae  feckless  a  matter  as  a  nine  days'  clash.  My  honest 
father  the  deacon  had  a  byword: 

Brent  brow  and  lily  skin, 

A  loving  heart,  and  leal  within, 

Is  better  than  gowd  or  gentle  kin. 

Besides,"  as  he  always  concluded,  "  Mattie  was  nae  or- 
dinary lassock-quean;  she  was  akin  to  the  Laird  o'  Lim- 
merfield." 


CHAPTER    XXX. 

"Come  ye  hither  my  'six'  good  sons, 
Giillant  men  I  trow  ye  be, 
How  many  of  you,  my  children  dear. 
Will  stand  by  that  good  Earl  and  me?" 

"  Five  "  of  them  did  answer  make — 

"Five"  of  them  spoke  hastily, 
"  0  father,  till  the  day  we  die 

We'll  stand  by  that  good  Earl  and  thee." 

The  Rising  in  the  North. 

On  the  morning  when  they  were  to  depart  from  Glas- 
gow Andrew  Fairservice  bounced  into  Frank's  apart- 
ment like  a  madman,  jumping  up  and  down,  and  singing 
with  more  vehemence  than  tune: 

The  kiln's  on  fire — the  kiln's  on  fire — 
The  kiln's  on  fire — she's  a'  in  a  lowe. 

With  some  difficulty  he  was  prevailed  on  to  cease  his 
confounded  clamor  and  explain  what  the  matter  was. 
He  was  pleased  to  inform  Frank,  as  if  he  had  been 
bringing  the  finest  news  imaginable,  "  that  the  Hielands 
were  clean  broken  out,  every  man  o'  them,  and  that  Rob 
Roy  and  a'  his  breekless  bands  wad  be  down  upon  Glas- 
gow or  twenty-four  hours  o'  the  clock  gaed  round." 

"Hold  your  tongue,  you  rascal!"  said  his  master. 

275 


2Y6  ^^^  KOY. 

*'  You  must  be  drunk  or  mad ;  and  if  there  is  any  truth 
in  your  news,  is  it  a  singing  matter,  you  scoundrel?  " 

"  Drunk  or  mad!  nae  doubt/'  replied  x\ndrew  daunt- 
lessly;  "  ane's  aye  drunk  or  mad  if  he  tells  what  grit 
folks  dinna  like  to  hear.  Sing?  Od,  the  clans  will  make 
us  sing  on  the  wrang  side  o'  our  mouth,  if  we  are  sae 
dmnk  or  mad  as  to  bide  their  coming." 

Frank  rose  in  great  haste,  and  found  his  father  and 
Owen  also  on  foot  and  in  considerable  alarm. 

Andrew's  news  proved  but  too  true  in  the  main. 
The  great  rebellion  which  agitated  Britain  in  the  year 
1715  had  already  broken  out  by  the  unfortunate  Earl 
of  Mar's  setting  up  the  standard  of  the  Stuart  family  in 
an  ill-omened  hour,  to  the  ruin  of  many  honorable  fami- 
lies both  in  England  and  Scotland.  The  treachery  of 
some  of  the  Jacobite  agents  (Eashleigh  among  the  rest), 
and  the  arrest  of  others,  had  made  George  the  First's 
Government  acquainted  with  the  extensive  ramifications 
of  a  conspiracy  long  prepared,  and  which  at  last  ex- 
ploded prematurely,  and  in  a  part  of  the  kingdom  too 
distant  to  have  any  vital  effect  upon  the  country,  which, 
however,  was  plunged  into  much  confusion. 

After  some  consultation  it  was  decided  that  Mr.  Os- 
baldistone  and  his  party  (consisting  of  Mr.  Owen,  Frank, 
and  Andrew  Fairservice)  should  instantly  get  the  neces- 
sary passports  and  make  the  best  of  their  way  to  London. 

On  reaching  the  metropolis,  Frank,  vrith  his  father's 
full  approval,  joined  General  Carpenter's  army,  for  the 
rebelHon  had  by  this  time  extended  itself  to  England. 

Sir  Hildebrand  joined  the  standard  of  the  Earl  of 
Derwentwater,  but  before  doing  so  he  made  his  will, 
leaving  Osbaldistone  Hall  in  turn  to  his  sons  successively 


ROB  ROY.  277 

until  he  came  to  Rashleigli,  whom,  on  account  of  the 
turn  he  had  taken  in  politics,  he  cut  off  with  a  shil- 
ling. In  place  of  Kashleigh's  name  he  substituted  that 
of  Francis  Osbaldistone.  So  Frank,  by  the  sudden  and 
unexpected  deaths  of  the  five  cousins  mentioned  in  Sir 
Hildebrand's  will,  found  himself  sole  owner  of  Osbaldi- 
stone Hall.  Thorncliff  was  killed  in  a  duel.  Percival, 
the  sot,  died  as  the  result  of  a  wager  with  another  gentle- 
man as  to  which  should  drink  the  most  brandy.  Dickon 
broke  his  neck  in  forcing  a  horse  to  leap  a  five-barred 
gate.  Wilfred  met  the  most  honorable  death  of  the  lot, 
dying  fighting  bravely  at  the  battle  of  Proud  Preston  in 
Lancashire.  Sir  Hildebrand  was  taken  prisoner  with 
his  wounded  son  John,  and  lodged  in  Xewgate,  where 
John  died  of  his  wounds. 

Frank,  when  released  from  military  duty,  did  what 
he  could  to  alleviate  the  distress  of  his  uncle,  but  little 
could  be  done,  for  poor  old  Sir  Hildebrand  was  completely 
broken  down  by  the  death  of  his  sons  in  such  speedy  suc- 
cession. He  died  before  his  trial,  though  in  all  probabil- 
ity Mr.  Osbaldistone's  influence  with  the  Government, 
and  the  general  compassion  excited  by  a  parent  who  had 
lost  so  many  sons  within  so  short  a  time,  would  have  pre- 
vented his  ever  being  brought  to  trial  for  high  treason. 

Frank  therefore  came  into  possession  of  Osbaldi- 
stone Hall,  but  not  without  a  struggle,  for  Eashleigh 
threatened  loudly  to  contest  his  father's  will.  Affairs 
had  reached  this  juncture  when  it  was  decided  that 
Frank  should  go  down  to  Osbaldistone  Hall  and  take 
possession  of  it  as  the  heir  and  representative  of  the 
family.  Accordingly,  he  and  the  faithful  Andrew  jour- 
neyed down  to  Northumberland.  Their  first  visit  was 
19 


278  i^OB  ROY. 

to  Justice  Inglewood's,  who  received  Frank  cordially, 
and  readily  showed  Sir  Hildebrand's  will,  which  seemed 
to  be  without  a  flaw. 

Frank  and  the  justice  were  tete-a-tete,  and  several 
bumpers  had  been  quaffed  by  the  justice's  special  desire, 
when,  on  a  sudden,  he  requested  Frank  to  fill  a  bona 
fide  brimmer  "  to  the  health  of  poor  dear  Die  Vernon, 
the  rose  of  the  wilderness,  the  heath-bell  of  Cheviot,  and 
the  blossom  that's  transplanted  to  an  infernal  convent. ' 

''  Is  not  Miss  Vernon  married,  then  ?  "  Frank  ex- 
claimed in  great  astonishment.  "  I  thought  his  Ex- 
cellency  " 

"Pooh!  pooh!  his  Excellency  and  his  Lordship's 
all  a  humbug  now,  you  know — mere  St.  Germains  titles 
— Earl  of  Beauchamp,  and  ambassador  plenipotentiary 
from  France,  when  the  Duke  Regent  of  Orleans  scarce 
knew  that  he  lived,  I  dare  say.  But  you  must  have  seen 
old  Sir  Frederick  Vernon  at  the  Hall,  when  he  played 
the  part  of  Father  Vaughan?" 

"  Good  heavens !  then  Vaughan  was  Miss  Vernon's 
father?" 

"  To  be  sure  he  was,"  said  the  justice  coolly ; 
"  there's  no  use  in  keeping  the  secret  now,  for  he  must 
be  out  of  the  country  by  this  time — otherwise,  no  doubt, 
it  would  be  my  duty  to  aprrehend  him.  Come,  off  with 
your  bumper  to  my  dear  lost  Die! 

And  let  her  health  go  round,  around,  around, 

And  let  her  health  go  round ; 
For  though  your  stocking  be  of  silk, 
Your  knees  near  kiss  the  ground,  aground,  aground."  * 

*  This  pithy  verse  occurs,  it  is  believed,  in  Shadwell's  play  of 
Bury  Fair. 


ROB  ROY.  279 

Frank  was  unable,  as  the  reader  may  easily  con- 
ceive, to  join  in  the  justice's  jollity.  His  head  swam 
with  the  shock  he  had  received.  ''  I  never  heard,"  he 
said,  "  that  Miss  Vernon's  father  was  living." 

"  It  was  not  our  Government's  fault  that  he  is,"  re- 
plied Inglewood,  "  for  the  devil  a  man  there  is  whose 
head  would  have  brought  more  money.  lie  was  con- 
demned to  death  for  Fenwick's  plot,  and  was  thought 
to  have  had  some  hand  in  the  Knightsbridge  affair,  in 
King  AYilHam's  time;  and  as  he  had  married  in  Scot- 
land a  relation  of  the  house  of  Breadalbane,  he  possessed 
great  influence  with  all  their  chiefs.  There  was  a  talk  of 
his  being  demanded  to  be  given  up  at  the  Peace  of  Rys- 
wick,  but  he  shammed  ill,  and  his  death  was  given  pub- 
licly out  in  the  French  papers.  But  when  he  came  back 
here  on  the  old  score,  we  old  cavaliers  knew  him  well — 
that  is  to  say,  I  knew  him,  not  as  being  a  cavalier  myself, 
but  no  information  being  lodged  against  the  poor  gentle- 
man, and  my  memory  being  shortened  by  frequent  at- 
tacks of  the  gout,  I  could  not  have  sworn  to  him,  you 
know." 

"Was  he,  then,  not  known  at  Osbaldistone  Hall?" 
Frank  inquired. 

"  To  none  but  to  his  daughter,  the  old  knight,  and 
Eashleigh,  who  had  got  at  that  secret  as  he  did  at  every 
one  else,  and  held  it  like  a  twisted  cord  about  poor  Die's 
neck.  I  have  seen  her  one  hundred  times  she  would 
have  spit  at  him,  if  it  had  not  been  fear  for  her  father, 
whose  life  would  not  have  been  worth  five  minutes' 
purchase  if  he  had  been  discovered  to  the  Govern- 
ment. But  don't  mistake  me,  Mr.  Osbaldistone;  I  say 
the  Government  is  a  good,  a  gracious,  and  a  just  Govern- 


280  ROB  ROY. 

ment;  and  if  it  has  hanged  one  half  of  the  rebels,  poor 
things,  all  will  acknowledge  they  would  not  have  been 
touched  had  they  stayed  peaceably  at  home." 

It  seemed  to  Frank  that,  in  the  knowledge  that  Miss 
Vernon  was  eternally  divided  from  him,  not  by  marriage 
with  another,  but  by  seclusion  in  a  convent,  in  order  to 
fulfill  an  absurd  bargain  of  this  kind,  his  regret  for  her 
loss  was  aggravated  rather  than  diminished.  He  be- 
came dull,  low-spirited,  absent,  and  unable  to  support 
the  task  of  conversing  with  Justice  Inglewood,  who  in 
his  turn  yawned,  and  proposed  to  retire  early.  Frank 
took  leave  of  him  overnight,  determining  the  next  day, 
before  breakfast,  to  ride  over  to  Osbaldistone  Hall. 

Mr.  Inglewood  acquiesced  in  his  proposal.  "  It 
would  be  well,"  he  said,  "  that  he  made  his  appearance 
there  before  he  was  known  to  be  in  the  country,  the  more 
especially  as  ■  Sir  Rashleigh  Osbaldistone  was  now,  he 
understood,  at  Mr.  Jobson's  house,  hatching  some  mis- 
chief, doubtless.  They  were  fit  company,"  he  added, 
"  for  each  other.  Sir  Eashleigh  having  lost  all  right  to 
mingle  in  the  society  of  men  of  honor;  but  it  was  hardly 
possible  two  such  d — d  rascals  should  collogue  together 
without  mischief  to  honest  people." 


The  ullieiuus  Andrew  was  heard :  "  A'lii  briii'nir  in  the  caunles. 


CHAPTER    XXXI. 

His  master's  gone,  and  no  one  now 

Dwells  in  the  halls  of  Ivor; 
Men,  dogs,  and  horses,  are  all  dead, 

He  is  the  sole  survivor. 

Wordsworth. 

True  to  his  purpose,  Frank  the  next  morning,  at- 
tended by  the  ever-present  Andrew,  rode  to  Osbaldistone 
Hall.  The  closed  doors  and  windows,  the  grass-grown 
pavement,  the  silent  courts,  presented  a  strong  con- 
trast to  the  time  when  he  first  approached  the  Hall. 
An  air  of  desolation  and  loneliness  breathed  about  the 
place,  so  different  from  the  time  when  the  courtyard 
rang  with  the  merry  shouts  of  the  strong  young  hunters 
preparing  for  the  chase.  Frank  fell  into  a  reverie  of 
both  bitter  and  sweet  recollections,  from  which  Andrew 
aroused  him  by  loudly  calling  for  admittance,  in  a  tone 
of  authority  that  showed  that  he  realized,  if  his  master 
did  not,  his  newly  acquired  importance. 

At  length,  timidly  and  reluctantly,  Anthony  Syd- 
dall,  the  aged  butler  and  major-domo,  presented  himself 
at  the  lower  window,  well  fenced  with  iron  bars,  and  in- 
quired their  business. 

"  We  are  come  to  tak  your  charge  aff  your  hand,  my 

281 


282  ROB  ROY. 

auld  friend/'  said  Andrew  Fairservice;  "  ye  may  gie  up 
your  keys  as  sune  as  ye  like;  ilka  dog  has  his  day.  I'll 
tak  the  plate  and  napery  aff  your  hand.  Ye  hae  had 
your  ain  time  o't,  Mr.  Syddall;  hut  ilka  hean  has  its 
black,  and  ilka  path  has  its  puddle;  and  it  will  just  set 
you  henceforth  to  sit  at  the  board-end,  as  weel  as  it  did 
Andrew  lang  syne." 

Checking  with  some  difficulty  the  forwardness  of  his 
follower,  Frank  explained  to  Syddall  the  nature  of  his 
right,  and  the  title  he  had  to  demand  admittance  into 
the  Hall  as  into  his  own  property.  The  old  man  seemed 
much  agitated  and  distressed,  and  testified  manifest  re- 
luctance to  give  him  entrance,  although  it  was  couched 
in  a  humble  and  submissive  tone.  Frank  allowed  for 
the  agitation  of  natural  feelings  which  really  did  the  old 
man  honor,  but  continued  peremptory  in  his  demand  of 
admittance,  explaining  to  him  that  his  refusal  would 
oblige  hiin  to  apply  for  Mr.  Inglewood's  warrant  and  a 
constable. 

"  We  are  come  from  Mr.  Justice  Inglewood's  this 
morning,"  said  Andrew,  to  enforce  the  menace;  ^^  and  I 
saw  Archie  Rutledge,  the  constable,  as  I  came  up  by. 
The  country's  no  to  be  lawless  as  it  has  been,  Mr,  Syd- 
dall, letting  rebels  and  papists  gang  on  as  they  best 
listed." 

The  threat  of  the  law  sounded  dreadful  in  the  old 
man's  ears,  conscious  as  he  was  of  the  suspicion  under 
which  he  himself  lay,  from  his  religion  and  his  devotion 
to  Sir  Hildebrand  and  his  sons.  He  undid,  with  fear 
and  trembling,  one  of  the  postern  entrances,  which  was 
secured  with  many  a  bolt  and  bar,  and  humbly  hoped 
that  Frank  would  excuse  him  for  fidelity  in  the  discharge 


ROB  ROY.  2S3 

of  his  duty.  Frank  reassured  him,  and  told  him  he 
had  the  better  opinion  of  him  for  his  caution. 

"  Sae  have  not  I/'  said  Andrew;  "  Syddall  is  an  auld 
sneck-drawer;  he  wadna  be  looking  as  white  as  a  sheet, 
and  his  knees  knocking  thegither,  unless  it  were  for 
something  mair  than  he's  like  to  tell  us." 

"  Lord  forgive  you,  Mr.  Fairservice,"  replied  the 
butler,  "  to  say  such  things  of  an  old  friend  and  fel- 
low-servant !  Where  "  —  following  Frank  humbly 
along  the  passage — "  where  would  it  be  your  honor's 
pleasure  to  have  a  fire  lighted?  I  fear  me  you  will 
find  the  house  very  dull  and  dreary.  But  perhaps 
you   mean  to   ride   back   to   Inglewood   Place   to   din- 


ner 


?" 


"  Light  a  fire  in  the  library,"  Frank  replied. 

"  In  the  library!  "  answered  the  old  man;  "  nobody 
has  sat  there  this  many  a  day,  and  the  room  smokes, 
for  the  daws  have  built  in  the  chimney  this  spring,  and 
there  were  no  young  men  about  the  Hall  to  pull  them 
down." 

"  Our  ain  reek's  better  than  other  folk's  fire,"  said 
Andrew.  "  His  honor  likes  the  library;  he's  nane  o' 
your  Papishers,  that  delight  in  blinded  ignorance,  Mr. 
Syddall." 

Very  reluctantly  the  butler  led  the  way  to  the  library, 
where,  contrary  to  Syddall's  previous  assertions,  a  fire 
was  burning  clearly  in  the  grate.  He,  in  way  of  excuse, 
observed  "  it  was  burning  clear  now,  but  had  smoked 
woundily  in  the  morning." 

Frank,  desiring  to  be  alone,  sent  Syddall  to  call  the 
land  steward,  who  lived  about  a  quarter  of  a  mile  from 
the  Hall.     He  also  sent  Andrew  to  procure  the  attend- 


284:  liOB  ROY. 

ance  of  two  stout  men  upon  whom  he  could  rely,  to 
spend  the  night  at  the  manor. 

Shortly  Wardlaw,  the  land  steward,  appeared.  Frank 
transacted  much  necessary  business  with  him  and  de- 
tained him  to  dinner.  They  dined  in  the  library,  and 
during  the  meal  Andrew  made  his  appearance  with  his 
two  recruits,  whom  he  recommended  in  the  highest 
terms.  As  they  left  the  room  old  Syddall  shook  his 
head,  and,  upon  being  questioned,  said: 

"  I  maybe  can  not  expect  that  your  honor  should  put 
confidence  in  what  I  say,  but  it  is  Heaven^s  truth  for 
all  that — Ambrose  Wingfield  is  as  honest  a  man  as  lives, 
but  if  there  is  a  false  knave  in  the  country,  it  is  his  broth- 
er Lancie;  the  whole  country  knows  him  to  be  a  spy  for 
Clerk  Jobson  on  the  poor  gentlemen  that  have  been  in 
trouble.  But  he's  a  Dissenter,  and  I  suppose  that's 
enough  nowadays." 

Having  thus  far  given  vent  to  his  feelings — to  which, 
however,  Frank  was  little  disposed  to  pay  attention — 
and  having  placed  the  wine  on  the  table,  the  old  butler 
left  the  apartment. 

Mr.  AVardlaw  remained  until  late  in  the  afternoon, 
when  he  bundled  up  his  papers  and  returned  to  his 
home,  leaving  Frank  alone  with  his  melancholy  re- 
flections. 

At  twilight  Andrew  came  up  to  suggest  that  he  had 
better  have  some  lights  brought  as  a  precaution  against 
the  bogles,  which  still  haunted  his  imagination.  Frank 
rejected  his  proffer,  trimmed  the  fire,  and  settled  himself 
in  an  old  leathern  chair  on  one  side  of  the  chimney. 
Suddenly  a  deep  sigh  from  the  opposite  side  of  the  room 
interrupted  his  meditations.     He  started  up  in  amaze- 


ROB  ROY.  285 

ment.  Diana  Yernon  stood  before  him,  resting  on  the 
arm  of  a  figure  so  strongly  resembling  that  of  the  por- 
trait so  often  mentioned,  that  Frank  looked  hastily  at 
the  frame,  expecting  to  see  it  empty.  His  first  idea  was 
either  that  he  had  gone  suddenly  distracted,  or  that  the 
spirits  of  the  dead  had  arisen  and  been  placed  before 
him.  A  second  glance  convinced  him  of  his  being  in  his 
senses,  and  that  the  forms  which  stood  before  him  were 
real  and  substantial.  It  was  Diana  herself,  though  paler 
and  thinner  than  her  former  self;  and  it  was  no  tenant 
of  the  grave  who  stood  beside  her,  but  Vaughan,  or 
rather  Sir  Frederick  Vernon,  in  a  dress  made  to  imitate 
that  of  his  ancestor,  to  whose  picture  his  countenance 
possessed  a  family  resemblance.  He  was  the  first  to 
speak,  for  Diana  kept  her  eyes  fast  fixed  on  the  ground. 

"  We  are  your  suppliants,  Mr.  Osbaldistone,"  he  said, 
"  and  we  claim  the  refuge  and  protection  of  your  roof 
till  we  can  pursue  a  journey  where  dungeons  and  death 
gape  for  me  at  every  step." 

"  Surely,"  Frank  articulated  with  great  difficulty, 
"  Miss  Vernon  can  not  suppose — you,  sir,  can  not  be- 
lieve— that  I  have  forgot  your  interference  in  my  diffi- 
culties, or  that  I  am  capable  of  betraying  any  one,  much 
less  you?  " 

"  I  know  it,"  said  Sir  Frederick;  "  yet  it  is  with  the 
most  inexpressible  reluctance  that  I  impose  on  you  a 
confidence  disagreeable,  perhaps — certainly  dangerous — 
and  which  I  would  have  specially  wished  to  have  con- 
ferred on  some  one  else.  But  my  fate,  which  has  chased 
me  through  a  life  of  perils  and  escapes,  is  now  pressing 
me  hard,  and  I  have  no  alternative." 

At  this  moment  the  door  opened,  and  the  voice  of 


286  ROB  ROY. 

the  officious  Andrew  was  heard:  "A'm  bringin'  in  the 
caunles;  ye  can  light  them  gin  ye  like — can  do  is  easy 
carried  about  wi'  ane." 

Frank  ran  to  the  door,  which,  as  he  hoped,  he  reached 
in  time  to  prevent  his  observing  who  were  in  the  apart- 
ment. He  turned  Andrew  out  with  hasty  violence, 
shut  the  door  after  him,  and  locked  it;  then,  instantly 
remembering  his  two  companions  below,  knowing  his 
talkative  humor,  and  recollecting  SyddalFs  remark, 
that  one  of  them  was  supposed  to  be  a  spy,  he  followed 
him  as  fast  as  he  could  to  the  servants'  hall  in  which 
they  were  assembled.  Andrew's  tongue  was  loud  as 
Frank  opened  the  door,  but  his  unexpected  appearance 
silenced  him. 

"  What  is  the  matter  with  you,  you  fool  ? "  said 
Frank;  "  you  stare  and  look  wild,  as  if  you  had  seen  a 
ghost." 

" N-n-no-nothing,"  said  Andrew;  "but  your  wor- 
ship was  pleased  to  be  hasty." 

"  Because  you  disturbed  me  out  of  a  sound  sleep,  you 
fool!  Syddall  tells  me  he  can  not  find  beds  for  these 
good  fellows  to-night,  and  Mr.  Wardlaw  thinks  there 
will  be  no  occasion  to  detain  them.  Here  is  a  crown- 
piece  for  them  to  drink  my  health,  and  thanks  for  their 
good  will. — You  will  leave  the  Hall  immediately,  my 
good  lads." 

The  men  thanked  him  for  his  bounty,  took  the  silver, 
and  withdrew,  apparently  unsuspicious  and  contented. 
Frank  watched  their  departure  until  he  was  sure  they 
could  have  no  further  intercourse  that  night  with  honest 
Andrew.  And  so  instantly  had  he  followed  Andrew, 
that  he  thought  he  could  not  have  had  time  to  speak 


ROB  ROY.  287 

two  words  with  them  before  he  interrupted  him.  But 
it  is  wonderful  what  mischief  may  be  done  by  only  two 
words.     On  this  occasion  they  cost  two  lives. 

Having  made  these  arrangements,  the  best  which  oc- 
curred to  Frank  upon  the  pressure  of  the  moment,  to 
secure  privacy  for  his  guests,  he  returned  to  report  his 
proceedings,  and  added  that  he  had  desired  Syddall  to 
answer  every  summons,  concluding  that  it  was  by  his 
connivance  they  had  been  secreted  in  the  Hall.  Diana 
raised  her  eyes  to  thank  him  for  the  caution. 

"  You  now  understand  my  mystery,"  she  said;  "  you 
know,  doubtless,  how  near  and  dear  that  relative  is 
who  has  so  often  found  shelter  here;  and  will  not  be 
longer  surprised  that  Eashleigh,  having  such  a  secret  at 
his  command,  should  rule  me  with  a  rod  of  iron." 

Her  father  added  that  "  it  was  their  intention  to 
trouble  him  with  their  presence  as  short  a  time  as  was 
possible." 

Frank  entreated  the  fugitives  to  waive  every  consid- 
eration but  what  affected  their  safety,  and  to  rely  on  his 
utmost  exertions  to  promote  it.  This  led  to  an  explana- 
tion of  the  circumstances  under  which  they  stood. 

They  had,  it  seemed,  after  various  vicissitudes  and 
as  a  last  recourse,  expected  to  meet  a  well-tried  friend 
in  this  neighborhood,  who  would  guide  them  to  a  sea- 
port on  the  Solway,  where  a  sloop  was  prepared  to  carry 
Sir  Frederick  Vernon  away  from  his  native  land  to  a 
place  of  greater  safety.  As  Osbaldistone  Hall  was  for 
the  present  uninhabited,  and  under  the  charge  of  old 
Syddall,  who  had  been  their  confidant  on  former  occa- 
sions, they  had  come  hither  to  wait  until  the  time  for  Sir 
Frederick's  escape  should  be  ripe.     Frank's  sudden  ar- 


288  I^OB  ROY. 

rival  at  the  Hall  had  compelled  them  to  acknowledge 
their  presence  in  the  house  and  submit  to  his  mercy. 

"  We  will  now,"  said  Sir  Frederick  to  his  daughter, 
"  intrude  no  further  on  Mr.  Osbaldistone's  time,  since 
we  have  acquainted  him  with  the  circumstances  of  the 
miserable  guests  who  claim  his  protection." 

Frank  requested  them  to  stay,  and  offered  himself  to 
leave  the  apartment.  Sir  Frederick  •  observed  that  his 
doing  so  could  not  but  excite  suspicion,  and  that  the 
place  of  their  retreat  was  in  every  respect  commodious, 
and  furnished  by  Syddall  with  all  they  could  possibly 
want.  "  We  might  perhaps  have  even  contrived  to  re- 
main there  concealed  from  your  observation;  but  it 
would  have  been  unjust  to  decline  the  most  absolute 
reliance  upon  your  honor." 

"  You  have  done  me  but  justice,"  Frank  replied. 
"  To  you.  Sir  Frederick,  I  am  but  little  known;  but  Miss 
Vernon,  I  am  sure,  will  bear  me  witness  that " 

"  I  do  not  want  my  daughter's  evidence,"  he  said 
politely,  but  yet  with  an  air  calculated  to  prevent  Frank's 
addressing  himself  to  Diana,  "  since  I  am  prepared  to 
believe  all  that  is  worthy  of  Mr.  Francis  Osbaldistone. 
Permit  us  now  to  retire;  we  must  take  repose  when  we 
can,  since  we  are  absolutely  uncertain  when  we  may  be 
called  upon  to  renew  our  perilous  journey." 

He  drew  his  daughter's  arm  within  his,  and  with  a 
profound  reverence  disappeared  with  her  behind  the 
tapestry. 


CHAPTER   XXXII. 

But  now  the  hand  of  Fate  is  on  the  curtain, 

And  gives  the  scene  to  light. 

Don  Sebastian. 

Frank's  thoughts,  when  left  to  himself,  were  of 
Diana  Yernon.  Disappointed  at  his  inability  to  speak 
with  her  during  the  previous  interview,  her  seeming 
coldness  and  passiveness  of  manner,  he  succeeded  in 
working  himself  into  a  fit  of  offended  dignity,  if  not  of 
jealousy. 

"  I  am  contemned,  then,"  he  said,  when  left  to  run 
over  the  tenor  of  Sir  Frederick's  communications — "  I 
am  contemned,  and  thought  unworthy  even  to  exchange 
words  with.  her.  Be  it  so;  they  shall  not  at  least  pre- 
vent me  from  watching  over  her  safety.  Here  will  I  re- 
main as  an  outpost,  and,  while  under  my  roof  at  least, 
no  danger  shall  threaten  her,  if  it  be  such  as  the  arm  of 
one  determined  man  can  avert." 

He  summoned  Syddall,  who  came,  but  accompanied 
by  the  eternal  Andrew,  so  that  Frank  was  unable  to 
speak  freely  to  the  butler,  and  was  therefore  obliged  to 
turn  the  subject  to  trivial  affairs.  "  I  shall  sleep  here, 
sir,"  he  said,  giving  them  directions  to  wheel  nearer  to 
the  fire  an  old-fashioned  day-bed,  or  settee.  "  I  have 
much  to  do,  and  shall  go  late  to  bed." 

289 


290  I^OB  ROY. 

The  domestics  retired,  leaving  Frank  to  his  painful 
and  ill-arranged  reflections,  until  nature,  worn  out, 
should  require  some  repose. 

Vainly  did  he  endeavor  to  sleep,  and  when  at  last 
he  did  sink  into  a  light  slumber  it  was  haunted  by  many 
phantoms.  He  was  awakened  from  one  of  these  dreams 
by  a  violent  knocking  at  the  gate.  He  leaped  from  his 
couch  in  great  apprehension,  took  his  sword  under  his 
arm,  and  hastened  to  forbid  the  admission  of  any  one. 
But  his  route  was  necessarily  circuitous,  because  the 
library  looked  not  upon  the  quadrangle  but  into  the  gar- 
dens. When  he  had  reached  the  staircase,  the  windows 
of  which  opened  upon  the  entrance  court,  he  heard  the 
feeble  and  intimidated  tones  of  Syddall  expostulating 
with  rough  voices  which  demanded  admittance,  by  the 
warrant  of  Justice  Standish  and  in  the  King's  name, 
and  threatened  the  old  domestic  with  the  heaviest  penal 
consequences  if  he  refused  instant  obedience.  Ere  they 
had  ceased,  Frank  heard,  to  his  unspeakable  provocation, 
the  voice  of  Andrew  bidding  Syddall  stand  aside  and  let 
him  open  the  door. 

"  If  they  come  in  King  George's  name  we  have  nae- 
thing  to  fear;  we  have  spent  baith  bluid  and  gowd  for 
him.  We  dinna  need  to  darn  ourselves  like  some  folks, 
Mr.  Syddall;  we  are  neither  Papists  nor  Jacobites,  I 
trow." 

It  was  in  vain  Frank  accelerated  his  pace  downstairs; 
he  heard  bolt  after  bolt  withdrawn  by  the  officious  scoun- 
drel, while  all  the  time  he  was  boasting  his  own  and  his 
master's  loyalty  to  King  George;  and  Frank  could  easily 
calculate  that  the  party  must  enter  before  he  could  arrive 
at  the  door  to  replace  the  bars.     Devoting  the  back  of 


ROB  ROY.  291 

Andrew  Fairservice  to  the  cudgel  so  soon  as  he  should 
have  time  to  pay  him  his  deserts,  he  ran  back  to  the 
library,  barricaded  the  door  as  he  best  could,  and  has- 
tened to  that  by  which  Diana  and  her  father  entered, 
and  begged  for  instant  admittance.  Diana  herself  un- 
did the  door.  She  was  ready  dressed,  and  betrayed 
neither  perturbation  nor  fear. 

''  Danger  is  so  familiar  to  us,"  she  said,  "  that  we 
are  always  prepared  to  meet  it.  My  father  is  already  up; 
he  is  in  Rashleigh's  apartment.  We  will  escape  into 
the  garden,  and  thence  by  the  postern  gate  (I  have  the 
key  from  Syddall  in  case  of  need)  into  the  wood.  I 
know  its  dingles  better  than  any  one  now  alive.  Keep 
them  a  few  minutes  in  play.  iVnd  dear,  dear  Frank, 
once  more  fare  thee  well!  " 

She  vanished  like  a  meteor  to  join  her  father,  and  the 
intruders  were  rapping  violently,  and  attempting  to 
force  the  library  door  by  the  time  Frank  had  returned 
into  it. 

"  You  robber  dogs!  "  he  exclaimed,  willfully  mistak- 
ing the  purpose  of  their  disturbance,  "  if  you  do  not  in- 
stantly quit  the  house  I  will  fire  my  blunderbuss  through 
the  door." 

"  Fire  a  fule's  bauble! "  said  Andrew  Fairservice. 
"  It's  Mr.  Clerk  Jobson,  with  a  legal  warrant " 

"  To  search  for,  take,  and  apprehend,"  said  the  voice 
of  that  execrable  pettifogger,  "  the  bodies  of  certain 
persons  in  my  warrant  named,  charged  of  high  treason 
under  the  13th  of  King  William,  chapter  third." 

And  the  violence  on  the  door  was  renewed.  "  I  am 
rising,  gentlemen,"  said  Frank,  desirous  to  gain  as  much 
time  as  possible.     ^'  Commit  no  violence.     Give  me  leave 


ROB  ROY. 

to  look  at  your  warranty  and  if  it  is  formal  and  legal  I 
shall  not  oppose  it." 

"  God  save  great  George  our  King!  "  ejaculated  An- 
drew. "  I  tauid  ye  that  ye  would  find  nae  Jacobites 
here." 

Spinning  out  the  time  as  much  as  possible,  Frank 
was  at  length  compelled  to  open  the  door,  which  they 
would  otherwise  have  forced. 

Mr.  Jobson  entered  with  several  assistants,  and  ex- 
hibited his  warrant,  directed  not  only  against  Frederick 
Vernon,  an  attainted  traitor,  but  also  against  Diana  Ver- 
non, spinster,  and  Francis  Osbaldistone,  gentleman,  ac- 
cused of  misprision  and  treason.  It  was  a  case  in  which 
resistance  would  have  been  madness;  Frank,  therefore, 
after  stipulating  for  a  few  minutes'  delay,  surrendered 
himself  a  prisoner. 

Jobson  next  went  straight  to  the  chamber  of  Miss 
Vernon,  and  from  thence,  without  hesitation  or  diffi- 
culty, he  went  to  the  room  where  Sir  Frederick  had  slept. 
*'  The  hare  has  stolen  away,"  said  the  brute,  "  but  her 
form  is  warm;  the  greyhounds  will  have  her  by  the 
haunches  yet." 

A  scream  from  the  garden  announced  that  he 
prophesied  truly.  In  the  course  of  five  minutes  Rash- 
leigh  entered  the  library  with  Sir  Frederick  Vernon  and 
his  daughter  as  prisoners.  "  The  fox,"  he  said,  "  knew 
his  old  earth*,  but  he  forgot  it  could  be  stopped  by  a  care- 
ful huntsman.  I  had  not  forgotten  the  garden  gate.  Sir 
Frederick — or,  if  that  title  suits  you  better,  most  noble 
Lord  Beauchamp." 

"  Rashleigh,"  said  Sir  Frederick,  "  thou  art  a  detest- 
able villain! " 


ROB  ROY.  293 

"  I  better  deserved  the  name,  Sir  Knight,  or  my 
Lord,  when,  under  the  direction  of  an  able  tutor,  I 
sought  to  introduce  civil  war  into  the  bosom  of  a  peace- 
ful country.  But  I  have  done  my  best,"  said  he,  look- 
ing upward,  "  to  atone  for  my  errors." 

Frank  could  hold  no  longer.  He  had  designed  to 
watch  their  proceedings  in  silence,  but  now  felt  that  he 
must  speak  or  die.  "  If  hell,"  he  said,  "  has  one  com- 
plexion more  hideous  than  another,  it  is  where  villainy  is 
masked  by  hypocrisy." 

"  Ha!  my  gentle  cousin,"  said  Rashleigh,  holding  a 
candle  toward  Frank  and  surveying  him  from  head  to 
foot,  "right  welcome  to  Osbaldistone  Hall!  I  can  for- 
give your  spleen.  It  is  hard  to  lose  an  estate  and  a  mis- 
tress in  one  night;  for  we  shall  take  possession  of  this 
poor  manor-house  in  the  name  of  the  lawful  heir.  Sir 
Rashleigh  Osbaldistone." 

While  Rashleigh  braved  it  out  in  this  manner,  he 
put  a  strong  force  upon  his  feelings  both  of  anger  and 
shame.  But  his  state  of  mind  was  more  obvious  when 
Diana  Vernon  addressed  him.  "  Rashleigh,"  she  said, 
"I  pity  you;  for,  deep  as  the  evil  is  which  you  have 
labored  to  do  me,  and  the  evil  which  you  have  actually 
done,  I  can  not  hate  you  so  much  as  I  scorn  and  pity  you. 
What  you  have  now  done  may  be  the  work  of  an  hour, 
but  will  furnish  you  with  reflection  for  your  life — of 
what  nature  I  leave  to  your  own  conscience,  which  will 
not  slumber  forever." 

Rashleigh  strode  once  or  twice  through  the  room, 

came   up   to   the   side-table,   on   which   wine   was   still 

standing,  and  poured  out  a  large  glass  with  a  trembling 

hand;  but  when  he  saw  that  his  tremor  was  observed, 

20 


294:  KOB  ROY. 

he  suppressed  it  b}'  a  strong  effort,  and,  looking  at  them 
with  a  fixed  and  daring  composure,  carried  the  bumper 
to  his  head  without  spilhng  a  drop.  "  It  is  my  father's 
old  Burgundy,"  he  said,  looking  to  Jobson;  "  I  am  glad 
there  is  some  of  it  left.  You  will  get  proper  persons  to 
take  care  of  the  house  and  property  in  my  name,  and 
turn  out  the  doting  old  butler,  and  that  foolish  Scotch 
rascal.  Meanwhile  we  will  convey  these  persons  to  a 
more  proper  place  of  custody.  I  have  provided  the  old 
family  coach  for  your  convenience,"  he  said,  "though 
I  am  not  ignorant  that  even  the  lady  could  brave  the 
night-air  on  foot  or  on  horseback,  were  the  errand  more 
to  her  mind." 

Andrew  wrung  his  hands.  "  I  only  said  that  my 
master  was  surely  speaking  to  a  ghaist  in  the  library — 
and  the  villain  Laneie  to  betray  an  auld  friend,  that 
sang  aff  the  same  Psalm-book  wi'  him  every  Sabbath  for 
twenty  years!  " 

He  was  turned  out  of  the  house,  together  with  Syd- 
dall,  without  being  allowed  to  conclude  his  lamenta- 
tion. His  expulsion,  however,  led  to  some  singular 
consequences.  Eesolving,  according  to  his  own  story, 
to  go  down  for  the  night  where  Mother  Simpson  would 
give  him  a  lodging  for  old  acquaintance'  sake,  he  had 
just  got  clear  of  the  avenue,  and  into  the  old  wood,  as  it 
was  called,  though  it  was  now  used  as  a  pasture-ground 
rather  than  woodland,  when  he  suddenly  lighted  on  a 
drove  of  Scotch  cattle,  which  were  lying  there  to  repose 
themselves  after  the  day's  journey.  At  this  Andrew 
was  in  no  way  surprised,  it  being  the  well-known  cus- 
tom of  his  countrymen,  who  take  care  of  those  droves, 
to  quarter  themselves  after  night  upon  the  best  unin- 


ROB  ROY.  295 

closed  grass-ground  tliey  can  find,  and  depart  before  day- 
break to  escape  paying  for  their  night's  lodgings.  But 
he  was  both  surprised  and  startled  when  a  Highlander, 
springing  up,  accused  him  of  disturbing  the  cattle,  and 
refused  him  to  pass  forward  till  he  had  spoken  to  his 
master.  The  mountaineer  conducted  Andrew  into  a 
thicket,  where  he  found  three  or  four  more  of  his  coun- 
trymen. "  And,"  said  Andrew,"  I  saw  sune  they  were 
ower  mony  men  for  the  drove;  and  from  the  questions 
they  put  to  me,  I  judged  they  had  other  tow  on  their 
rock." 

They  questioned  him  closely  about  all  that  had 
passed  at  Osbaldistone  Hall,  and  seemed  surprised  and 
concerned  at  the  report  he  made  to  them. 

"  And  troth,"  said  Andrew,  "  I  tauld  them  a'  I  ken'd; 
for  dirks  and  pistols  were  what  I  could  never  refuse  in- 
formation to  in  a'  my  life." 

They  talked  in  whispers  among  themselves,  and  at 
length  collected  their  cattle  together  and  drove  them 
close  up  to  the  entrance  of  the  avenue,  which  might  be 
half  a  mile  distant  from  the  house.  They  proceeded 
to  drag  together  some  felled  trees  which  lay  in  the  vicin- 
ity, so  as  to  make  a  temporary  barricade  across  the  road, 
about  fifteen  yards  beyond  the  avenue.  It  was  now 
near  daybreak,  and  there  was  a  pale  eastern  gleam 
mingled  with  the  fading  moonlight,  so  that  objects 
could  be  discovered  with  some  distinctness.  The  lum- 
bering sound  of  a  coach  drawn  by  four  horses,  and 
escorted  by  six  men  on  horseback,  was  heard  coming 
up  the  avenue.  The  Highlanders  listened  attentively. 
The  carriage  contained  Mr.  Jobson  and  his  unfortunate 
prisoners.     The  escort  consisted  of  Eashleigh,  and  of 


296  ROB  ROY. 

several  horsemen,  peace  officers  and  their  asistants. 
So  soon  as  they  had  passed  the  gate  at  the  head  of  the 
avenue  it  was  shut  behind  the  cavalcade  by  a  Highland- 
man  stationed  there  for  that  purpose.  At  the  same 
time  the  carriage  was  impeded  in  its  further  progress  by 
the  cattle,  and  by  the  barricade  in  front.  Two  of  the 
escort  dismounted  to  remove  the  felled  trees,  which  they 
might  think  were  left  there  by  accident  or  carelessness. 
The  others  began  with  their  whips  to  drive  the  cattle 
from  the  road. 

"Who  dare  abuse  our  cattle?"  said  a  rough  voice. 
"  Shoot  him,  Angus!  " 

Eashleigh  instantly  called  out:  "A  rescue!  a  res- 
cue ! ''  and^  firing  a  pistol,  w^ounded  the  man  who 
spoke. 

"  Claymore ! "  cried  the  leader  of  the  Highlanders, 
and  a  scuffle  instantly  commenced.  The  officers  of  the 
law,  surprised  at  so  sudden  an  attack,  and  not  usually 
possessing  the  most  desperate  bravery,  made  but  an  im- 
perfect defense,  considering  the  superiority  of  their  num- 
bers. Some  attempted  to  ride  back  to  the  Hall,  but  on 
a  pistol  being  fired  from  behind  the  gate  they  conceived 
themselves  surrounded,  and  at  length  galloped  off  in  dif- 
ferent directions.  Eashleigh,  meanwhile,  had  dismount- 
ed, and  on  foot  had  maintained  a  desperate  and  single- 
handed  conffict  with  the  leader  of  the  band.  At  length 
Rashleigh  dropped. 

"  Will  you  ask  forgiveness  for  the  sake  of  God,  King 
James,  and  auld  friendship?"  said  a  voice. 

"  No,  never!  "  said  Rashleigh  firmly. 

"Then,  traitor,  die  in  treason!"  retorted  MacGreg- 
or,  and  plunged  his  sword  in  his  prostrate  antagonist. 


ROB  ROY.  297 

In  the  next  moment  he  was  at  the  carriage  door, 
handed  out  Miss  Vernon,  assisted  her  father  and  Frank 
to  alight,  and  dragging  out  the  attorney  head  foremost, 
threw  him  under  the  wheel. 

"  ^Ir.  Osbaldistone,"  he  said  in  a  whisper  to  Frank, 
"  you  have  nothing  to  fear.  I  must  look  after  those 
who  have.  Your  friends  will  soon  be  in  safety.  Fare- 
well, and  forget  not  the  MacGregor." 

He  whistled — his  band  gathered  round  him,  and, 
hurrying  Diana  and  her  father  along  with  him,  they 
were  almost  instantly  lost  in  the  glades  of  the  forest. 
The  coachman  and  postilion  had  abandoned  their  horses, 
and  fled  at  the  first  discharge  of  firearms;  but  the  ani- 
mals, stopped  by  the  barricade,  remained  perfectly  still; 
and  well  for  Jobson  that  they  did  so,  for  the  slightest 
motion  would  have  dragged  the  wheel  over  his  body. 
Frank's  first  object  was  to  relieve  him,  for  such  was  the 
rascal's  terror  that  he  never  could  have  risen  by  his  own 
exertions.  Frank  next  commanded  him  to  observe  that 
he  had  neither  taken  part  in  the  rescue  nor  availed  him- 
self of  it  to  make  his  escape,  and  enjoined  him  to  go 
down  to  the  Hall  and  call  some  of  the  party,  who  had 
been  left  there,  to  assist  the  wounded.  But  Jobson's 
fears  had  so  mastered  and  controlled  every  faculty  of 
his  mind  that  he  was  totally  incapable  of  moving. 
Frank  now  resolved  to  go  himself,  but  in  his  way  stum- 
bled over  the  body  of  a  man,  as  he  thought,  dead  or  dy- 
ing. It  was,  however,  Andrew  Fairservice,  as  well  and 
whole  as  ever  he  was  in  his  life,  who  had  only  taken  this 
recumbent  posture  to  avoid  the  slashes,  stabs,  and  pistol 
balls  which  for  a  moment  or  two  were  flying  in  various 
directions.     Frank  was  so  glad  to  find  him  that  he  did 


298  ROB  ROY. 

not  inquire  how  he  came  thither,  but  instantly  com- 
manded his  assistance. 

Eashleigh  was  their  first  object.  He  groaned  when 
Frank'  approached  him,  as  much  through  spite  as 
through  pain,  and  shut  his  eyes,  as  if  determined,  like 
lago,  to  speak  no  word  more.  They  lifted  him  into  the 
carriage,  and  performed  the  same  good  office  to  another 
wounded  man  of  his  party,  who  had  been  left  on  the 
field.  With  difficulty  Jobson  was  made  to  understand 
that  he  must  enter  the  coach  also  and  support  Sir  Eash- 
leigh upon  the  seat.  He  obeyed,  but  with  an  air  as  if 
he  but  half  comprehended.  Andrew  and  Frank  turned 
the  horses'  heads  round,  and,  opening  the  gate  of  the 
avenue,  led  them  slowly  back  to  Osbaldistone  Hall. 
Eashleigh  was  still  alive  when  they  reached  the  Hall, 
but  expired  a  few  moments  afterward. 

After  the  death  of  the  last  one  of  Sir  Hildebrand's 
sons  Frank  now  came  into  his  rights  of  inheritance  with- 
out further  challenge.  Jobson  was  compelled  to  admit 
that  the  charge  of  high  treason  was  got  up  on  an  affidavit 
which  he  made  with  the  sole  purpose  of  favoring  Eash- 
leigh's  views  and  removing  Frank  from  Osbaldistone 
Hall.  The  rascaFs  name  was  struck  from  the  list  of 
attorneys,  and  he  was  reduced  to  poverty  and  contempt. 

As  soon  as  Frank  had  settled  his  affairs  at  Osbaldi- 
stone Hall  he  returned  to  London.  His  anxiety  was 
now  acute  to  learn  the  fate  of  Diana  and  her  father. 
A  French  gentleman  who  came  to  London  on  commer- 
cial business  was  intrusted  with  a  letter  from  Miss  Ver- 
non to  Frank  which  put  his  mind  at  rest  respecting  their 
safety.  Eob  Eoy  had  assisted  them  to  escape,  and  not- 
withstanding their  plans  had  almost  failed  by  the  unex- 


ROB  ROY.  299 

pected  appearance  of  Rashleigh,  they  reached  France 
without  further  mishap.  Diana  was  placed  in  a  convent, 
and  although  it  was  her  father's  desire  that  she  should 
take  the  veil,  he  was  understood  to  refer  the  matter  en- 
tirely to  her  own  inclinations. 

When  these  news  reached  Frank,  he  told  the  state  of 
his  affections  to  his  father,  who  was  not  a  little  startled 
at  the  idea  of  his  son's  marrying  a  Roman  Catholic.  But 
he  was  very  desirous  to  see  him  "  settled  in  life,"  as  he 
called  it;  and  he  was  sensible  that,  in  joining  him  with 
heart  and  hand  in  his  commercial  labors,  Frank  had 
sacrificed  his  own  inclinations.  After  a  brief  hesitation, 
and  several  questions  asked  and  answered  to  his  satisfac- 
tion, he  broke  out  with — "  I  little  thought  a  son  of 
mine  should  have  been  Lord  of  Osbaldistone  Manor,  and 
far  less  that  he  should  go  to  a  French  convent  for  a 
spouse.  But  so  dutiful  a  daughter  can  not  but  prove  a 
good  wife.  You  have  worked  at  the  desk  to  please  me, 
Frank;  it  is  but  fair  you  should  wive  to  please  your- 
self." 

Within  a  short  time  Diana  Yernon  and  Francis  Os- 
baldistone were  married,  and  had  many  long  years  of 
happiness  together.  Frank  many  times  in  his  after- 
life revisited  Scotland,  but  he  never  again  saw  the  bold 
Highlander  who  had  exerted  so  much  influence  on  his 
earlier  years.  He  heard  of  him  occasionally,  however, 
and  felt  a  sincere  sorrow  when  the  news  of  Rob  Roy's 
death  reached  him,  though  the  pang  was  softened  by 
the  knowledge  that  the  Highland  chieftain,  in  contrast 
to  his  wild  and  violent  life,  had  died  peacefully  at  a 
good  old  age. 


GLOSSARY   OF   CERTAIN   SCOTCH    WORDS    AND 
PHRASES   AS   APPLIED  IN   ROB  ROY. 


AiBLixs,  perhaps. 

A  IK,  oak. 

AiRN,  iron. 

Aits,  oats. 

An,  if. 

Andrea     Ferrara,     Highland 

broadsword. 
AuLDFARRAN,  sagacious. 

Bailie,  a  Scotch  magistrate. 

Bairn,  a  child. 

Ban,  curse. 

Barkit,  tanned. 

Barkit  aik  snag,  barked  oak 
stick. 

Barm,  yeast. 

Baudron,  a  cat. 

Bawbee,  halfpenny. 

Bent,  the  moor  or  hillside. 

Bicker,  a  wooden  vessel. 

Bicker,  to  throw  stones,  to  quar- 
rel. 

Bide,  wait. 

Bield,  shelter. 

BiGGiNG,  building. 

Bike,  nest. 


Birkie,  lively  fellow. 
BiRL,  toss. 

BiTTOCK,  more  than  a  bit. 
Blether,  rattling  nonsense. 
Bleteer,  to  spout  nonsense. 
Blythe,  happy. 
Boddle,  a  farthing. 
Bogle,  ghost,  scarecrow. 
Bole,  an  aperture. 
Bonnie,  pi-etty. 
Braw,  fine,  brave. 
Breeks,  breeches. 
Brig,  bridge. 

Brochan,  Gaelic  for  porridge. 
Brogue,  Highland  shoe. 
Brose,  a  sort  of  pottage. 
Brownie,  ghost. 

Gallant,  a  lad. 

Caller,  fresh. 

Calm   sough,  a  quiet   mind   or 
tongue. 

CANNELMASjScotch  term,  2d  Feb- 
ruary. 

Canny,  quiet,  sensible. 

Cateran,  a  robber. 
301 


302 


ROB  ROY. 


Caunle,  candle. 

Caup,  a  shell. 

Chack,  sneck. 

Chap,  strike. 

Chappin,  choppin,  a  liquid  meas- 
ure. 

Chiel,  a  fellow. 

Chimley,  chimney. 

Chuckie-stanes,  small  pebbles. 

Clachan,  Gaelic,  village. 

Clash,  scandal. 

Claut,  clot. 

Clavers,  gossip,  scandal. 

Clerkit,  written. 

Cloot,  a  rag,  cloth. 

Codlings,  baking  apples. 

Cogue,  wooden  vessel. 

CoosT,  cast. 

Corbie,  crow. 

Coup,  upset. 

CowE,  stalk. 

Crack,  to  gossip,  jaw. 

Craig,  the  neck, 

Creagh,  Gaelic,  pillage. 

Creel,  basket. 

Crouse,  confident,  cheery. 

Crowdy,  a  sort  of  pottage  made 
of  oatmeal. 

Cuitle  up,  tickle  up,  to  do  for. 

Curle,  a  fellow. 

Curlie-wurlie,  twisting. 

Baffin',  frolicking. 

Daft,  crazy. 

Daiker,     (toil)     up     the     gate 

(way). 
Darn  (dern),  conceal. 
Deil's  ower  Jock  Wabster,  all 

to  the  devil. 


Ding,  pull  down. 
DiRDU3i,  an  ado. 
Divot,  a  turf. 
Dour,  stubborn. 
Dourlach,  Gaelic,  satchel. 
Douse,  quiet. 
Dow,  can. 
DowNA,  do  not  like. 
Dree,  to  suffer. 

Duinhewassel,  Gaelic,  gentle- 
man. 

Een,  eyes. 
E'en,  evening. 
Ettle,  intend. 

Fa',  Highland,  who. 

Fashious,  troublesome. 

Fa'ard,  favored. 

Feal,  faithful. 

Feck,  part. 

Ferlie,  wonderful. 

Fizzinless,  tasteless,  useless. 

Flae,  flea. 

Fleech,  wheedle. 

Fleg,  fright. 

Fley,  frighten. 

Flit,  remove. 

Flow-moss,  wet  moss. 

Flyte,  scold. 

Forbye,  besides. 

Forfoughen,  blown,  breath- 
less. 

Forgather,  make  friends  with, 
take  up  with. 

Forfit,  fourth  part  of  a  peck. 

Fozy,  soft. 

Fushionless,  tasteless,  use- 
less. 


ROB   ROY. 


303 


Gabble,  absurd  talk. 
Galla    Glass,    an    armed    re- 
tainer— 

" The  merciless  Macdonald 

From  the  Western  Isles 

Of  Kernes  and  Gallowglasses  is 
supplied."  ,  ^ 

Macbeth,  Act  I,  Scene  2. 

Gang-there-out,  wandering. 
Gar,  make,  oblige. 
Gash,  sour-looking. 
Gate,  way,  manner, 
Gauger,  exciseman. 
Gaun,  going. 

Gillie,  Highland  foot-boy. 
Gilravaging,  devouring. 
Gleed,  twisted. 
Gleg,  quick,  active. 
Gliff,  an  instant. 

Glisk,  a  spark. 

Gloamin,  twilight. 

Gloom,  a  frown. 

Glower,  gaze. 

Glum,  sour-looking. 

Gomeril.  fool,  lout. 

GowD.  gold. 

Gowk,  fool. 

Gree,  agree. 

Greet,  cry,  weep. 

Grew,  shiver. 

Grewsome,  ill-omened,  bitter. 

Grieve,  a  bailiff,  or  steward. 

GuDEMAN,  husband,  head  of  the 
house. 

Guide,  use,  employ. 

Ha  MEL  Sassenach  (corrupt 
Gaelic),  1  have  no  English. 

Ha  nun  Gregarach  (corrupt 
Gaelic),  It  is  a  MacGregor. 


Haggis,  a    Scotch  pudding  of 

minced  meat,  oatmeal,  etc. 
Hail,  whole. 
Hallion,  rascal. 
Hantle,  a  number  of. 
Harns,  brains. 
Harst,  harvest. 
Haud,  hold. 
Her,  Highland,  my. 
Her-nainsel,  Highland,  myself. 
Hership,  plunder. 
Het,  hot. 

Hinderlans,  buttocks. 
Hosenet,  a  small  net  used  for 
rivulet  fishing;    also   an   en- 
tanglement or  confusion. 

Hough,  thigh,  ham. 

Howe,  hollow.' 

Howlet,  owl.' 

HuRDiES,  buttocks. 

Hussy,  jade. 

Ilk, each. 
Ingan,  onion. 
Ivy-tod,  ivy-bush. 

Jalouse,  suspect. 
Jannock,  bannock. 
JocTALEG,  clasp-knife. 
Joseph,  a  riding  cloak. 
JouK    (dive)  and    let    the    jaw 
(wave)  go  by. 

Kail  through  the  Reek,  the 
soup  through  the  smoke;  to 
suffer  reproof,  blame,  or  retri- 
bution. 

Kail-yard,  cabbage-garden. 

Kaim,  comb. 


304 


ROB  ROY. 


Kale,  greens,  sometimes  broth. 
Kemp,  strive  and  fight. 
Ken,  know. 

Kerne,  a  retainer  or  gillie. 
Kraem,  a  stall  or  shop. 
Kyloes,  Highland  cattle. 
Kythe,  seem. 

Lassock,  girl. 

Lave,  the  remainder. 

Lawing,  reckoning. 

Limmer,  jade. 

Loon,  fellow. 

Loup,  leap. 

LucKiE,  goodie !  addressed  to 

woman. 
Lug,  the  ear. 

Malison,  curse. 

Manse,  house,  parsonage. 

Maun,  must. 

Maw,  to  mow. 

Menpe,  sense. 

Mint,  aim,  intend. 

MisTRYST,  disappoint,  deceive. 

MouL,  the  sod. 

MucKLE,  much. 

Mutch,  cap. 

Napery,  table-linen. 
Natheless,  nevertheless. 
NowTE,  black  cattle. 

Opensteek,  open  stitch. 
Opine,  suppose,  presume. 
Orra,  odd. 
Ower,  over. 
OwsEN,  oxen. 


Pairs,  chastisement,  a  kick- 
ing. 

Parochine,  parish. 

Parritch,  porridge. 

Pat,  pot. 

Peers,  pears. 

Pirn,  a  reel. 

Plack,  third  of  a  penny. 

Pliskie,  trick. 

Pock,  a  poke,'  bag. 

Pock-neuk,  one's  own  means  or 
exertions. 

Pootry,  poultry. 

Pow,  head. 

Pretty,  Highland,  brave,  smart. 

Provost,  a  Scotch  Mayor. 

Quean,  flirt. 

Queez  madan,  a  French  pear. 

Rathe,  ready,  quick. 

Rax,  stretch. 

Redd,  clear  up. 

Reek,  smoke. 

Reft,  seized. 

Reisted,  roasted,  smoked. 

Reive,  to  break,  pillage. 

RoosE,  praise. 

Roup,  auction. 

Sark,  a  shirt. 
Sau,  sow. 

ScART,  a  cormorant. 
Sea-maw,  a  gull. 
Searcher,  a  town  officer. 
Sell  o't,  itself. 
Ser'ing,  serving. 
Shanks,  legs. 
Shaw,  a  green  blade. 


ROB   ROY. 


305 


She,  Highland,  I  or  he. 

Shear,  slip,  cut,  reap. 

Sic,  such. 

Siller,  money. 

Skart,  scratch. 

Skirl,  scream. 

Skreigh,  scream. 

Skyte,  a  wretched  fellow. 

Slabber,  froth. 

Slink,  worthless. 

Smaik,  a  fool,  or  spoon. 

Snag,  a  stick,  branch. 

Sneckdrawer,  a  sly,  cunning 
person. 

Snell,  sharp,  severe,  terri- 
ble. 

Soothfast,  honest. 

Sough,  sigh. 

Spang,  to  spring. 

Sparry-grass,  asparagus. 

Speer,  inquire. 

Splore,  a  row. 

Sporran,  Gaelic,  purse. 

Spreagh,  cattle-lifting. 

Spune,  a  spoon. 

Steek,  shut. 

Steer,  molest. 

Stibbler,  a  poor  preacher. 

Stint,  stop. 

Stot,  a  bullock. 

Stoup,  a  liquid  measure. 

Strae,  straw. 

Sybo,  a  kind  of  onion,  or  rad- 
ish. 


Tae,  the  one. 
Tabs,  a  glass,  cup. 
Tatty,  potato. 


Thrang,  thronged,  busy. 
Thrapple,  throat. 
Thraw,  thwart,  twist. 
Through -GAUN,    a    down -set- 
ting. 
Thrum,  a  story. 
TooM,  empty. 
Tow,  a  rope. 

Troke,  transact,  dabble  with. 
Trotcosie,  riding-hood. 
Troth,  truth  !  sure  ! 
Trow,  trust. 
TuiLziE,  scuffle. 
Tup,  a  ram. 
TwAL,  twelve. 

Unco,  very  particularly. 
Unco  thing,  a  sad  thing. 
Usquebaugh,  Gaelic,  whisky. 

Vivers,  victuals. 

Wabster,  a  weaver. 
Wally    draigh,   a   feeble    per- 
son. 
Wame,  belly,  hollow. 
Wappin,  stout,  clever. 
Warstle,  wrestle. 
Waur,  worse. 
Wean,  an  infant. 
Wee,  little. 
Weird,  destiny. 
Weise,  guide. 
Wheen,  a  few. 
Whigmaleerie,  gimcrack. 
Whilk,  which. 
Whin,  gorse. 
Whummle,  turn  over. 


306 


ROB  ROY. 


Will  to  Cupar  maun  to  Cupar, 
a  willful  man  must  have  his 
way. 

WiNNLE,  turning  frame. 

WuD,  mad. 


WuDDiE,  gallows-rope. 
Wuss,  wish. 
Wyte,  blame. 

YiLL,  ale. 


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