bably, you know as well or better than I."

"You do my second-sight too much honour. We were so busy, first with the scheme of giving battle to Cope, and afterwards with our operations in the Lowlands, that I could only give general directions to such of our people as were left in Perthshire to respect and protect you should you come in their way. But let me hear the full story of your adventures, for they have reached us in a very partial and mutilated manner.".

ར

Waverley then detailed at length the circumstances with which the reader is already acquainted, to which Fergus listened with great attention. By this time they had reached the door of his quarters, which he had taken up in a small paved court, retiring from the street, at the house of a buxom widow of forty, who seemed to smile very graciously upon the handsome young Chief, being a person with whom good looks and good humour were

-sure to secure an interest, whatever might be the party's political opinions. Here Callum Beg received them with a smile of recognition. "Callum," said the Chief, "call Shemus an Snaht," (James of the Needle.) This was the hereditary tailor of Vich Ian Vohr. "Shemus, Mr Waverley is to wear the cath d'ath, (battle colour or tartan ;) his trews must be ready in four hours. You know the measure of a wellinade man: two double nails to the small of the leg

"Eleven from haunch to heel, seven round the waist-I give your honour leave to hang Sheinus, if there's a pair of sheers in the Highlands that has a baulder sneck. than hers ain at the cumadh an truais," (shape of the trews.)

"Get a plaid of Mac-Ivor tartan, and sash," continued the Chieftain," and a blue bonnet of the Prince's pattern, at Mr Mouat's the haberdasher. My short- green coat, with silver lace, will fit him exactly, and I have never worn it. Tell Ensign

Maccombich to pick out a handsome target from among mine. The Prince has given Mr Waverley broad-sword and pistols, I will furnish him with a dirk and purse; add but a pair of low-heeled shoes, and then, my dear Edward, (turning to him) you will be a complete son of Ivor."

These necessary directions given, the Chieftain resumed the subject of Waverley's adventures. "It is plain," he said, "that you have been in the custody of Donald Bean Lean. You must know that when I marched away my clan to join the Prince, I laid my injunctions on that worthy member of society to perform a certain piece of service, which done, he was to join me with all the force he could muster. But instead of doing so, the gentleman, finding the coast clear, thought it better to make war on his own account, and has scoured the country, plundering, I believe, both friend and foe, under pretence of levying black-mail, sometimes as if by my authority, and sometimes (and be

cursed to his consummate impudence) in his own great name. Upon my honour, if I live to see the cairn of Benmore again, I will be tempted to hang that fellow. Now I recognise his hand particularly in the mode of your rescue from that canting rascal Gilfillan, and I have little doubt that Donald himself played the part of the pedlar on that occasion; but how he should not have plundered you, or put you to ransom, or availed himself in some way or other of your captivity for his own advan tage, passes my judgment."

"When and how did you hear of my confinement?" said Waverley.

"The Prince himself told me," said Fergus, "and enquired very minutely into your history. He then mentioned your being at that moment in the power of one of our northern parties-you know I could not ask him to explain particulars-and requested my opinion about disposing of you. I recommended that you should be brought here as a prisoner, because I did

not wish to prejudice you farther with the English government, in case you pursued your purpose of going southward. I knew nothing, you must recollect, of the charge brought against you of aiding and abetting high treason, which I presume has some share in changing your original plan. That sullen, good-for-nothing brute Balmawhapple was sent to escort you from Doune, with what he calls his troop of horse. As to his behaviour, in addition to his natural antipathy to every thing that resembles a gentleman, I presume his adventure with Bradwardine rankles in his recollection, the rather that I dare say his mode of telling that story contributed to the evil reports which reached your quondam regiment.".

"Very likely," said Waverley; but now surely, my dear Fergus, you may find time to tell me something of Flora."

6.6

Why, I can only tell you that she is well, and residing for the present with a

relation in this city. I thought it better