Hismatterwascopious，hisvoicepowerful，andhismemorystrong；sothattherewaslittlechanceofhisendinghisexhortationtillthepartyhadreachedStirling，hadnothisattentionbeenattractedbyapedlarwhohadjoinedthemarchfromacross-road，andwhosighedorgroanedwithgreatregularityatallfittingpausesofhishomily。
　　Andwhatmayyebefriend？’’saidtheGiftedGilfillan。
　　Apuirpedlar，that’sboundforStirling，andcravestheprotectionofyourhonour’spartyinthesekittletimes。Ah！
　　yourhonourhasanotablefacultyinsearchingandexplainingthesecret，-ay，thesecretandobscureandincomprehensiblecausesofthebackslidingsoftheland；ay，yourhonourtouchestherooto’thematter。’’
　　Friend，’’saidGilfillan，withamorecomplacentvoicethanhehadhithertoused，honournotme。Idonotgoouttopark-dikes，andtosteadings，andtomarket-towns，tohaveherdsandcottarsandburgherspullofftheirbonnetstomeastheydotoMajorMelvilleo’Cairnvreckan，andca’melaird，orcaptain，orhonour；-no；mysma’means，whilkarenotaboontwentythousandmerk，havehadtheblessingofincrease，buttheprideofhearthasnotincreasedwiththem；nordoIdelighttobecalledcaptain，thoughIhavethesubscribedcommissionofthatgospel-searchingnobleman，theEarlofGlencairn，inwhilkIamsodesignated。WhileIlive，IamandwillbecalledHabakkukGilfillan，whowillstandupforthestandardsofdoctrineagreedonbytheance-famousKirkofScotland，beforeshetraffickedwiththeaccursedAchan，whilehehasaplackinhispurse，oradrapo’bluidinhisbody。’’
　　Ah，’’saidthepedlar，IhaveseenyourlandaboutMauchlin-afertilespot！yourlineshavefalleninpleasantplaces！-andsiccanabreedo’cattleisnotinonylaird’slandinScotland。’’
　　Yesayright，-yesayright，friend，’’retortedGilfillaneagerly，forhewasnotinaccessibletoflatteryuponthissubject，-yesayright；theyaretherealLancashire，andthere’snothelikeo’themevenattheMainsofKilmaurs；’’andhethenenteredintoadiscussionoftheirexcellences，towhichourreaderswillprobablybeasindifferentasourhero。Afterthisexcursion，theleaderreturnedtohistheologicaldiscussions，whilethepedlar，lessprofounduponthosemysticpoints，contentedhimselfwithgroaning，andexpressinghisedificationatsuitableintervals。
　　WhatablessingitwouldhetothepuirblindedpopishnationsamongwhomIhaesojourned，tohavesiccanalighttotheirpaths！IhaebeenasfarasMuscoviainmysma’tradingway，asatravellingmerchant；andIhaebeenthroughFrance，andtheLowCountries，anda’Poland，andmaistfecko’Germany；
　　andI！itwouldgrieveyourhonour’ssoultoseethemurmuring，andthesinging，andmassing，that’sinthekirk，andthepipingthat’sinthequire，andtheheathenishdancinganddicingupontheSabbath！’’
　　ThissetGilfillanoffupontheBookofSportsandtheCovenant，andtheEngagers，andtheProtesters，andtheWhiggamore’sRaidandtheassemblyofDivinesatWestminster，andtheLongerandShorterCatechism，andtheExcommunicationatTorwood，andtheslaughterofArchbishopSharp。Thislasttopic，again，ledhimintothelawfulnessofdefensivearms，onwhichsubjectheutteredmuchmoresensethancouldhavebeenexpectedfromsomeotherpartsofhisharangue，andattractedevenWaverley’sattention，whohadhithertobeenlostinhisownsadreflections。Mr。Gilfillanthenconsideredthelawfulnessofaprivateman’sstandingforthastheavengerofpublicoppression，andashewaslabouringwithgreatearnestnessthecauseofMasJamesMitchell，whofiredattheArchbishopofSt。Andrewssomeyearsbeforetheprelate’sassassinationonMagusMuir，anincidentoccurredwhichinterruptedhisharangue。
　　Theraysofthesunwerelingeringontheveryvergeofthehorizon，asthepartyascendedahollowandsomewhatsteeppath，whichledtothesummitofarisingground。Thecountrywasunenclosed，beingpartofaveryextensiveheathorcommon；butitwasfarfromlevel，exhibitinginmanyplaceshollowsfilledwithfurzeandbroom；inotherslittledinglesofstuntedbrushwood。
　　Athicketofthelatterdescriptioncrownedthehillupwhichthepartyascended。Theforemostoftheband，beingthestoutestandmostactive，hadpushedon，andhavingsurmountedtheascent，wereoutofkenforthepresent。Gilfillan，withthepedlar，andasmallpartywhowereWaverley’smoreimmediateguard，werenearthetopoftheascent，andtheremainderstraggledafterthemataconsiderableinterval。
　　Suchwasthesituationofmatters，whenthepedlar，missing，ashesaid，alittledoggiewhichbelongedtohim，begantohaltandwhistlefortheanimal。Thissignal，repeatedmorethanonce，gaveoffencetotherigourofhiscompanion，theratherbecauseitappearedtoindicateinattentiontothetreasuresoftheologicalandcontroversialknowledgewhichwaspouringoutforhisedification。Hethereforesignifiedgruffly，thathecouldnotwasteistimeinwaitingforauselesscur。
　　ButifyourhonourwouldconsiderthecaseofTobit’’-
　　Tobit！’’exclaimedGilfillan，withgreatheat；Tobitandhisdogbaitharealtogetherheathenishandapocryphal，andnonebutaprelatistorapapistwoulddrawthemintoquestion。
　　IdoubtIhaebeenmista’eninyou，friend。’’
　　Verylikely，’’answeredthepedlar，withgreatcomposure；
　　butnevertheless，IshalltakeleavetowhistleagainuponpuirBawty。’’
　　Thislastsignalwasansweredinanunexpectedmanner；forsixoreightstoutHighlanders，wholurkedamongthecopseandbrushwood，sprungintothehollowway，andbegantolayaboutthemwiththeirclaymores。Gilfillan，unappalledatthisundesirableapparition，criedoutmanfully，TheswordoftheLordandofGideon！’’and，drawinghisbroadsword，wouldprobablyhavedoneasmuchcredittothegoodoldcauseasanyofitsdoughtychampionsatDrumclog，when，behold！thepedlarsnatchingamusketfromthepersonwhowasnexthim，bestowedthebuttofitwithsuchemphasisontheheadofhislateinstructorintheCameroniancreed，thathewasforthwithlevelledtotheground。Intheconfusionwhichensued，thehorsewhichboreourherowasshotbyoneofGilfillan’sparty，ashedischargedhisfire-lockatrandom。Waverleyfellwith，andindeedunder，theanimal，andsustainedsomeseverecontusions。ButhewasalmostinstantlyextricatedfromthefallensteedbytwoHighlanders，who，eachseizinghimbythearm，hurriedhimawayfromthescuffleandfromthehigh-road。Theyranwithgreatspeed，halfsupportingandhalfdraggingourhero，whocould，however，distinguishafewdroppingshotsfiredaboutthespotwhichhehadleft。This，asheafterwardslearned，proceededfromGilfillan’sparty，whohadnowassembled，thestragglersinfrontandrearhavingjoinedtheothers。Attheirapproach，theHighlandersdrewoff，butnotbeforetheyhadrifledGilfillanandtwoofhispeople，whoremainedonthespotgrievouslywounded。AfewshotswereexchangedbetwixtthemandtheWestlanders；butthelatter，nowwithoutacommander，andapprehensiveofasecondambush，didnotmakeanyseriousefforttorecovertheirprisoner，judgingitmorewisetoproceedontheirjourneytoStirling，carryingwiththemtheirwoundedcaptainandcomrades。
　　Thevelocity，andindeedviolence，withwhichWaverleywashurriedalong，nearlydeprivedhimofsensation；fortheinjuryhehadreceivedfromhisfallpreventedhimfromaidinghimselfsoeffectuallyashemightotherwisehavedone。Whenthiswasobservedbyhisconductors，theycalledtotheiraidtwoorthreeothersoftheparty，andswathingourhero’sbodyinoneoftheirplaids，dividedhisweightbythatmeansamongthem，andtransportedhimatthesamerapidrateasbefore，withoutanyexertionofhisown。Theyspokelittle，andthatinGaelic；anddidnotslackentheirpacetilltheyhadrunnearlytwomiles，whentheyabatedtheirextremerapidity，butcontinuedstilltowalkveryfast，relievingeachotheroccasionally。
　　Ourheronowendeavouredtoaddressthem，butwasonlyansweredwith_Chan’eilBeurl’agam，_’’i。e。，IhavenoEnglish，’’beingasWaverleywellknew，theconstantreplyofaHighlander，whenheeitherdoesnotunderstand，ordoesnotchoosetoreplyto，anEnglishmanorLowlander。HethenmentionedthenameofVichIanVohr，concludingthathewasindebtedtohisfriendshipforhisrescuefromtheclutchesofGiftedGilfillan；butneitherdidthisproduceanymarkofrecognitionfromhisescort。
　　Thetwilighthadgivenplacetomoonshinewhenthepartyhalteduponthebrinkofaprecipitousglen，which，aspartlyenlightenedbythemoonbeams，seemedfulloftreesandtangledbrushwood。TwooftheHighlandersdivedintoitbyasmallfoot-path，asiftoexploreitsrecesses，andoneofthemreturninginafewminutes，saidsomethingtohiscompanions，whoinstantlyraisedtheirburden，andborehimwithgreatattentionandcare，downthenarrowandabruptdescent。Notwithstandingtheirprecautions，however，Waverley’spersoncamemorethanonceintocontact，rudelyenough，withtheprojectingstumpsandbrancheswhichoverhungthepathway。
　　Atthebottomofthedescent，andasitseemed，bythesideofabrook，forWaverleyheardtherushingofaconsiderablebodyofwater，althoughitsstreamwasinvisibleinthedarkness，
　　thepartyagainstoppedbeforeasmallandrudelyconstructedhovel。Thedoorwasopen，andtheinsideofthepremisesappearedasuncomfortableandrudeasitssituationandexteriorforeboded。Therewasnoappearanceofafloorofanykind；
　　theroofseemedrentinseveralplaces；thewallswerecomposedofloosestonesandturf，andthethatchofbranchesoftrees。
　　Thefirewasinthecentre，andfilledthewholewigwamwithsmoke，whichescapedasmuchthroughthedoorasbymeansofacircularapertureintheroof。AnoldHighlandsibyl，theonlyinhabitantofthisforlornmansion，appearedbusyinthepreparationofsomefood。Bythelightwhichthefireafforded，WaverleycoulddiscoverthathisattendantswerenotoftheclanofIvor，forFerguswasparticularlystrictinrequiringfromhisfollowersthattheyshouldwearthetartanstripedinthemodepeculiartotheirrace；amarkofdistinctionancientlygeneralthroughtheHighlands，andstillmaintainedbythoseChiefswhowereproudoftheirlineage，orjealousoftheirseparateandexclusiveauthority。
　　EdwardhadlivedatGlennaquoichlongenoughtobeawareofadistinctionwhichhehadrepeatedlyheardnoticed；andnowsatisfiedthathehadnointerestwithhisattendants，heglancedadisconsolateeyearoundtheinteriorofthecabin。
　　Theonlyfurniture，exceptingawashing-tub，andawoodenpress，calledinScotlandan_ambry，_sorelydecayed，wasalargewoodenbed，planked，asisusual，allaround，andopeningbyaslidingpanel。InthisrecesstheHighlandersdepositedWaverley，afterhehadbysignsdeclinedanyrefreshment。Hisslumberswerebrokenandunrefreshing；strangevisionspassedbeforehiseyes，anditrequiredconstantandreiteratedeffortsofmindtodispelthem。Shivering，violentheadache，andshootingpainsinhislimbs，succeededthesesymptoms；andinthemorningitwasevidenttohisHighlandattendantsorguard，forheknewnotinwhichlighttoconsiderthem，thatWaverleywasquiteunfittotravel。
　　Afteralongconsultationamongthemselves，sixofthepartyleftthehutwiththeirarms，leavingbehindanoldandayoungman。TheformeraddressedWaverley，andbathedthecontusions，whichswellingandlividcolournowmadeconspicuous。
　　Hisownportmanteau，whichtheHighlandershadnotfailedtobringoff，suppliedhimwithlinen，and，tohisgreatsurprise，was，withallitsundiminishedcontents，freelyresignedtohisuse。Thebeddingofhiscouchseemedcleanandcomfortable，andhisagedattendantclosedthedoorofthebed，forithadnocurtain，afterafewwordsofGaelic，fromwhichWaverleygatheredthatheexhortedhimtorepose。SobeholdourheroforasecondtimethepatientofaHighlandsculapius，butinasituationmuchmoreuncomfortablethanwhenhewastheguestoftheworthyTomanrait。
　　Thesymptomaticfeverwhichaccompaniedtheinjurieshehadsustaineddidnotabatetillthethirdday，whenitgavewaytothecareofhisattendantsandthestrengthofhisconstitution，andhecouldnowraisehimselfinhisbed，thoughnotwithoutpain。Heobserved，however，thattherewasagreatdisinclination，onthepartoftheoldwomanwhoactedashisnurse，aswellasonthatoftheelderlyHighlander，topermitthedoorofthebedtobeleftopen，sothathemightamusehimselfwithobservingtheirmotions；andatlength，afterWaverleyhadrepeatedlydrawnopen，andtheyhadasfrequentlyshut，thehatchwayofhiscage，theoldgentlemanputanendtothecontest，bysecuringitontheoutsidewithanail，soeffectuallythatthedoorcouldnotbedrawntillthisexteriorimpedimentwasremoved。
　　Whilemusinguponthecauseofthiscontradictoryspiritinpersonswhoseconductintimatednopurposeofplunder，andwho，inallotherpoints，appearedtoconsulthiswelfareandhiswishes，itoccurredtoourhero，thatduringtheworstcrisisofhisillness，afemalefigure，youngerthanhisoldHighlandnurse，hadappearedtoflitaroundhiscouch。Ofthisindeed，hehadbutaveryindistinctrecollection，buthissuspicionswereconfirmedwhen，attentivelylistening，heoftenheard，inthecourseoftheday，thevoiceofanotherfemaleconversinginwhisperswithhisattendant。Whocoulditbe？Andwhyshouldsheapparentlydesireconcealment？Fancyimmediatelyarousedherself，andturnedtoFloraMac-Ivor。Butafterashortconflictbetweenhiseagerdesiretobelieveshewasinhisneighbourhood，guarding，likeanangelofmercy，thecouchofhissickness，Waverleywascompelledtoconcludethathisconjecturewasaltogetherimprobable；since，tosupposeshehadleftthecomparativelysafesituationatGlennaquoichtodescendintotheLowCountry，nowtheseatofcivilwar，andtoinhabitsuchalurking-placeasthis，wasathinghardlytobeimagined。Yethisheartboundedashesometimescoulddistinctlyhearthetripofalightfemalestepglidetoorfromthedoorofthehut，orthesuppressedsoundsofafemalevoice，ofsoftnessanddelicacy，holddialoguewiththehoarseinwardcroakofoldJanet，forsoheunderstoodhisantiquatedattendantwasdenominated。
　　Havingnothingelsetoamusehissolitude，heemployedhimselfincontrivingsomeplantogratifyhiscuriosity，inspiteofthesedulouscautionofJanetandtheoldHighlandjanizary，forhehadneverseentheyoungfellowsincethefirstmorning。