\"Hownow,ruffian!\"demandedtheDwarf,\"isthyjobchared?\"
\"Ay,ay,doubtnotthat,Elshie,\"answeredthefreebooter;\"WhenIride,myfoesmaymoan。TheyhavehadmairlightthancomfortattheHeugh-footthismorning;there’satoombyreandawide,andawailandacryforthebonnybride。\"
\"Thebride?\"
\"Ay;CharlieCheat-the-Woodie,asweca’him,that’sCharlieFosterofTinningBeck,haspromisedtokeepherinCumberlandtilltheblastblawby。Shesawme,andkendmeinthesplore,forthemaskfellfraemyfaceforablink。Iamthinkingitwadconcernmysafetyifsheweretocomebackhere,forthere’smonyo’theElliots,andtheybandweelthegitherforrightorwrang。
Now,whatIchieflycometoaskyourredein,ishowtomakehersure?\"
\"Wouldstthoumurderher,then?\"
\"Umph!no,no;thatIwouldnotdo,ifIcouldhelpit。Buttheysaytheycanwhilesgetfolkcannilyawaytotheplantationsfromsomeoftheoutports,andsomethingtobootforthemthatbringsabonnywench。They’rewantedbeyondseasthaefemalecattle,andthey’renothatscarcehere。ButIthinko’doingbetterforthislassie。There’saleddy,that,unlessshebea’thebetterbairn,istobesenttoforeignpartswhethershewillorno;
now,IthinkofsendingGracetowaitonher——she’sabonnylassie。Hobbiewillhaeamerrymorningwhenhecomeshame,andmissesbaithbrideandgear。\"
\"Ay;anddoyounotpityhim?\"saidtheRecluse。
\"WadhepitymewereIgaeinguptheCastlehillatJeddart?[
Theplaceofexecutionatthatancientburgh,wheremanyofWestburnflat’sprofessionhavemadetheirfinalexit。]AndyetI
ruesomethingforthebitlassie;buthe’llgetanither,andlittleskaithdune——aneisasgudeasanither。Andnow,youthatliketohearo’splores,heardyeevero’abetteranethanIhaehadthismorning?\"
\"Air,ocean,andfire,\"saidtheDwarf,speakingtohimself,\"theearthquake,thetempest,thevolcano,areallmildandmoderate,comparedtothewrathofman。Andwhatisthisfellow,butonemoreskilledthanothersinexecutingtheendofhisexistence?
——Hearme,felon,goagainwhereIbeforesentthee。\"
\"TotheSteward?\"
\"Ay;andtellhim,ElshendertheReclusecommandshimtogivetheegold。But,hearme,letthemaidenbedischargedfreeanduninjured;returnhertoherfriends,andletherswearnottodiscoverthyvillainy。\"
\"Swear\"saidWestburnflat;\"butwhatifshebreakheraith?Womenarenotfamousforkeepingtheirplight。Awisemanlikeyoushouldkenthat。——Anduninjured——whakenswhatmayhappenwereshetobeleftlangatTinning-Beck?CharlieCheat-the-Woodieisaroughcustomer。Butifthegoldcouldbemadeuptotwentypieces,IthinkIcouldensureherbeingwi’herfriendswithinthetwenty-fourhours。\"
TheDwarftookhistabletsfromhispocket,markedalineonthem,andtoreouttheleaf。\"There,\"hesaid,givingtherobbertheleaf——\"But,markme;thouknowestIamnottobefooledbythytreachery;ifthoudaresttodisobeymydirections,thywretchedlife,besure,shallanswerit。\"
\"Iknow,\"saidthefellow,lookingdown,\"thatyouhavepoweronearth,howeveryoucamebyit;youcandowhatnaeothermancando,baithbyphysicandforesight;andthegoldisshelleddownwhenyecommand,asfastasIhaveseentheash-keysfallinafrostymorninginOctober。Iwillnotdisobeyyou。\"
\"Begone,then,andrelievemeofthyhatefulpresence。\"
Therobbersetspurstohishorse,androdeoffwithoutreply。
HobbieElliothad,inthemeanwhile,pursuedhisjourneyrapidly,harassedbythoseoppressiveandindistinctfearsthatallwasnotright,whichmenusuallytermapresentimentofmisfortune。
Erehereachedthetopofthebankfromwhichhecouldlookdownonhisownhabitation,hewasmetbyhisnurse,apersonthenofgreatconsequenceinallfamiliesinScotland,whetherofthehigherormiddlingclasses。Theconnexionbetweenthemandtheirfoster-childrenwasconsideredatiefartoodearlyintimatetobebroken;anditusuallyhappened,inthecourseofyears,thatthenursebecamearesidentinthefamilyofherfoster-son,assistinginthedomesticduties,andreceivingallmarksofattentionandregardfromtheheadsofthefamily。SosoonasHobbierecognisedthefigureofAnnaple,inherredcloakandblackhood,hecouldnothelpexclaimingtohimself,\"Whatillluckcanhaebroughttheauldnursesaefarfraehame,herthatneverstirsagun-shotfraethedoor-staneforordinar?——Hout,itwilljustbetogetcrane-berries,orwhortle-berries,orsomesuchstuff,outofthemoss,tomakethepiesandtartsforthefeastonMonday。——Icannotgetthewordsofthatcankeredauldcrippledeil’s-buckieouto’myhead——theleastthingmakesmedreadsomeillnews。——O,Killbuck,man!weretherenaedeerandgoatsinthecountrybesides,butyebehovedtogangandworryhiscreature,bya’otherfolk’s?\"
BythistimeAnnaple,withabrowlikeatragicvolume,hadhobbledtowardshim,andcaughthishorsebythebridle。Thedespairinherlookwassoevidentastodepriveevenhimofthepowerofaskingthecause。\"Omybairn!\"shecried,\"gangnaforward——gangnaforward——it’sasighttokillonybody,letalanethee。\"
\"InGod’sname,what’sthematter?\"saidtheastonishedhorseman,endeavouringtoextricatehisbridlefromthegraspoftheoldwoman;\"forHeaven’ssake,letmegoandseewhat’sthematter。\"
\"Ohon!thatIshouldhavelivedtoseetheday!——Thesteading’sa’inalow,andthebonnystack-yardlyingintheredashes,andthegeara’drivenaway。Butgangnaforward;itwadbreakyouryoungheart,hinny,toseewhatmyauldeenhaeseenthismorning。\"
\"Andwhohasdaredtodothis?letgomybridle,Annaple——whereismygrandmother——mysisters?——WhereisGraceArmstrong?——God!——
thewordsofthewarlockareknellinginmyears!\"
HesprangfromhishorsetoridhimselfofAnnaple’sinterruption,and,ascendingthehillwithgreatspeed,sooncameinviewofthespectaclewithwhichshehadthreatenedhim。Itwasindeedaheart-breakingsight。Thehabitationwhichhehadleftinitsseclusion,besidethemountain-stream,surroundedwitheveryevidenceofrusticplenty,wasnowawastedandblackenedruin。Fromamongsttheshatteredandsablewallsthesmokecontinuedtorise。Theturf-stack,thebarn-yard,theofficesstockedwithcattle,allthewealthofanuplandcultivatoroftheperiod,ofwhichpoorElliotpossessednocommonshare,hadbeenlaidwasteorcarriedoffinasinglenight。Hestoodamomentmotionless,andthenexclaimed,\"Iamruined——ruinedtotheground!——Butcurseonthewarld’sgear——Haditnotbeentheweekbeforethebridal——ButIamnaebabe,tositdownandgreetaboutit。IfIcanbutfindGrace,andmygrandmother,andmysistersweel,IcangotothewarsinFlanders,asmygude-siredid,undertheBellendenbanner,wi’
auldBuccleuch。Atonyrate,Iwillkeepupaheart,ortheywilllosetheirsa’thegither。\"
ManfullystrodeHobbiedownthehill,resolvedtosuppresshisowndespair,andadministerconsolationwhichhedidnotfeel。
Theneighbouringinhabitantsofthedell,particularlythoseofhisownname,hadalreadyassembled。Theyoungerpartwereinarmsandclamorousforrevenge,althoughtheyknewnotuponwhom;
theelderweretakingmeasuresforthereliefofthedistressedfamily。Annaple’scottage,whichwassituateddownthebrook,atsomedistancefromthesceneofmischief,hadbeenhastilyadaptedforthetemporaryaccommodationoftheoldladyandherdaughters,withsucharticlesashadbeencontributedbytheneighbours,forverylittlewassavedfromthewreck。
\"Arewetostandherea’day,sirs,\"exclaimedonetallyoungman,\"andlookattheburntwa’sofourkinsman’shouse?Everywreathofthereekisablastofshameuponus!Letustohorse,andtakethechase。——Whohasthenearestbloodhound?\"
\"It’syoungEarnscliff,\"answeredanother;\"andhe’sbeenonandawaywi’sixhorselangsyne,toseeifhecantrackthem。\"
\"Letusfollowhimthen,andraisethecountry,andmakmairhelpasweride,andthenhaveattheCumberlandreivers!Take,burn,andslay——theythatlienearestusshallsmartfirst。\"
\"Whisht!haudyourtongues,daftcallants,\"saidanoldman,\"yedinnakenwhatyespeakabout。What!wadyeraisewaratweentwopacificatedcountries?\"
\"Andwhatsignifiesdeavinguswi’talesaboutourfathers,\"
retortedtheyoung;man,\"ifwe’retositandseeourfriends’
housesburntowertheirheads,andnoputouthandtorevengethem?Ourfathersdidnotdothat,Itrow?\"
\"IamnosayingonythingagainstrevengingHobbie’swrang,puirchield;butwemauntakethelawwi’usinthaedays,Simon,\"
answeredthemoreprudentelder。
\"Andbesides,\"saidanotheroldman,\"Idinnabelievethere’sanenowlivingthatkensthelawfulmodeoffollowingafrayacrosstheBorder。Tamo’Whittramkenda’aboutit;buthediedinthehardwinter。\"
\"Ay,\"saidathird,\"hewasatthegreatgathering,whentheychasedasfarasThirlwall;itwastheyearafterthefightofPhiliphaugh。\"
\"Hout,\"exclaimedanotherofthesediscordingcounsellors,\"there’snaegreatskillneeded;justputalightedpeatontheendofaspear,orhayfork,orsiclike,andblawahorn,andcrythegathering-word,andthenit’slawfultofollowgearintoEngland,andrecoveritbythestronghand,ortotakegearfraesomeotherEnglishman,providingyeliftnaemairthan’sbeenliftedfraeyou。That’stheauldBorderlaw,madeatDundrennan,inthedaysoftheBlackDouglas,Deilaneneeddoubtit。It’sasclearasthesun。\"
\"Comeaway,then,lads,\"criedSimon,\"gettoyourgeldings,andwe’lltakeauldCuddiethemuckletaskerwi’us;hekensthevalueo’thestockandplenishingthat’sbeenlost。Hobbie’sstallsandstakesshallbefouagainornight;andifwecannabiguptheauldhousesaesoon,we’selayanEnglishaneaslowasHeugh-footis——andthat’sfairplay,a’thewarldower。\"
Thisanimatingproposalwasreceivedwithgreatapplausebytheyoungerpartoftheassemblage,whenawhisperranamongthem,\"There’sHobbiehimsell,puirfallow!we’llbeguidedbyhim。\"
Theprincipalsufferer,havingnowreachedthebottomofthehill,pushedonthroughthecrowd,unable,fromthetumultuousstateofhisfeelings,todomorethanreceiveandreturnthegraspsofthefriendlyhandsbywhichhisneighboursandkinsmenmutelyexpressedtheirsympathyinhismisfortune。WhilehepressedSimonofHackburn’shand,hisanxietyatlengthfoundwords。\"Thankye,Simon——thankye,neighbours——Ikenwhatyewada’say。Butwherearethey?——Whereare——\"Hestopped,asifafraideventonametheobjectsofhisenquiry;andwithasimilarfeeling,hiskinsmen,withoutreply,pointedtothehut,intowhichHobbieprecipitatedhimselfwiththedesperateairofonewhoisresolvedtoknowtheworstatonce。Ageneralandpowerfulexpressionofsympathyaccompaniedhim。\"Ah,puirfallow——puirHobbie!\"
\"He’lllearnthewarsto’tnow!\"
\"ButItrustEarnscliffwillgetsomespeeringso’thepuirlassie。\"
Suchweretheexclamationsofthegroup,who,havingnoacknowledgedleadertodirecttheirmotions,passivelyawaitedthereturnofthesufferer,anddeterminedtobeguidedbyhisdirections。
ThemeetingbetweenHobbieandhisfamilywasinthehighestdegreeaffecting。Hissistersthrewthemselvesuponhim,andalmoststifledhimwiththeircaresses,asiftopreventhislookingroundtodistinguishtheabsenceofoneyetmorebeloved。
\"Godhelpthee,myson!Hecanhelpwhenworldlytrustisabrokenreed。\"——Suchwasthewelcomeofthematrontoherunfortunategrandson。Helookedeagerlyround,holdingtwoofhissistersbythehand,whilethethirdhungabouthisneck——\"I
seeyou——Icountyou——mygrandmother,Lilias,Jean,andAnnot;
butwhereis——\"(hehesitated,andthencontinued,asifwithaneffort),\"WhereisGrace?Surelythisisnotatimetohidehersellfraeme——there’snaetimefordaffingnow。\"
\"O,brother!\"and\"OurpoorGrace!\"wastheonlyanswerhisquestionscouldprocure,tillhisgrandmotherroseup,andgentlydisengagedhimfromtheweepinggirls,ledhimtoaseat,andwiththeaffectingserenitywhichsincerepiety,likeoilsprinkledonthewaves,canthrowoverthemostacutefeelings,shesaid,\"Mybairn,whenthygrandfatherwaskilledinthewars,andleftmewithsixorphansaroundme,withscarcebreadtoeat,orarooftocoverus,Ihadstrength,——notofmineown——butI
hadstrengthgivenmetosay,TheLord’swillbedone!——Myson,ourpeacefulhousewaslastnightbrokenintobymoss-troopers,armedandmasked;theyhavetakenanddestroyedall,andcarriedoffourdearGrace。Prayforstrengthtosay,Hiswillbedone!\"
\"Mother!mother!urgemenot——Icannot——notnowIamasinfulman,andofahardenedrace。Maskedarmed——Gracecarriedoff!
Giememysword,andmyfather’sknapsack——Iwillhavevengeance,ifIshouldgotothepitofdarknesstoseekit!\"
\"Omybairn,mybairn!bepatientundertherod。WhoknowswhenHemayliftHishandofffromus?YoungEarnscliff,Heavenblesshim,hastaenthechase,withDavieofStenhouse,andthefirstcomers。Icriedtolethouseandplenishingburn,andfollowthereiverstorecoverGrace,andEarnscliffandhismenwereowertheFellwithinthreehoursafterthedeed。Godblesshim!he’sarealEarnscliff;he’shisfather’strueson——alealfriend。\"
\"Atruefriendindeed;Godblesshim!\"exclaimedHobbie;\"let’sonandaway,andtakethechaseafterhim。\"
\"O,mychild,beforeyourunondanger,letmehearyoubutsay,HISwillbedone!\"
\"Urgemenot,mother——notnow。\"Hewasrushingout,when,lookingback,heobservedhisgrandmothermakeamuteattitudeofaffliction。Hereturnedhastily,threwhimselfintoherarms,andsaid,\"Yes,mother,ICANsay,HISwillbedone,sinceitwillcomfortyou。\"
\"MayHegoforth——mayHegoforthwithyou,mydearbairn;andO,mayHegiveyoucausetosayonyourreturn,HISnamebepraised!\"
\"Farewell,mother!——farewell,mydearsisters!\"exclaimedElliot,andrushedoutofthehouse。
CHAPTERVIII。
Nowhorseandhattock,criedtheLaird,——
Nowhorseandhattock,speedilie;
TheythatwinnarideforTelfer’skye,Letthemneverlookinthefaceo’me。BorderBallad。
\"Horse!horse!andspear!\"exclaimedHobbietohiskinsmen。
Manyareadyfootwasinthestirrup;and,whileElliothastilycollectedarmsandaccoutrements,noeasymatterinsuchaconfusion,theglenresoundedwiththeapprobationofhisyoungerfriends。
\"Ay,ay!\"exclaimedSimonofHackburn,\"that’sthegatetotakeit,Hobbie。Letwomensitandgreetathame,menmustdoastheyhavebeendoneby;it’stheScripturesays’t。\"
\"Haudyourtongue,sir,\"saidoneoftheseniors,sternly;\"dinnaabusetheWordthatgate,yedinnakenwhatyespeakabout。\"
\"Haeyeonytidings?——Haeyeonyspeerings,Hobbie?——O,callants,dinnabeowerhasty,\"saidoldDickoftheDingle。
\"Whatsignifiespreachingtous,e’enow?\"saidSimon;\"ifyecannamakehelpyoursell,dinnakeepbackthemthatcan。\"
\"Whisht,sir;wadyetakevengeanceoryekenwhahaswrang’dye?\"
\"D’yethinkwedinnakentheroadtoEnglandasweelasourfathersbeforeus?——Allevilcomesouto’thereaway——it’sanauldsayingandatrue;andwe’lle’enawaythere,asifthedevilwasblawingussouth。\"
\"We’llfollowthetracko’Earnscliff’shorsesowerthewaste,\"
criedoneElliot。
\"I’llprickthemoutthroughtheblindestmoorintheBorder,antherehadbeenafairheldtherethedaybefore,\"saidHugh,theblacksmithofRingleburn,\"forIayeshoehishorsewi’myainhand。\"
\"Layonthedeer-hounds,\"criedanother\"wherearethey?\"
\"Hout,man,thesun’sbeenlangup,andthedewisaffthegrund——thescentwillneverlie。\"
Hobbieinstantlywhistledonhishounds,whichwererovingabouttheruinsoftheiroldhabitation,andfillingtheairwiththeirdolefulhowls。
\"Now,Killbuck,\"saidHobbie,\"trythyskillthisday\"andthen,asifalighthadsuddenlybrokeonhim,——\"thatill-faur’dgoblinspaksomethingo’this!Hemaykenmairo’t,eitherbyvillainsonearth,ordevilsbelow——I’llhaeitfraehim,ifIshouldcutitouto’hismis-shapenboukwi’mywhinger。\"Hethenhastilygavedirectionstohiscomrades:\"Fouro’ye,wi’Simon,haudrightforwardtoGraeme’s-gap。Ifthey’reEnglish,they’llbeforbeingbackthatway。Therestdispersebytwasomeandthreesomethroughthewaste,andmeetmeattheTrysting-pool。
Tellmybrothers,whentheycomeup,tofollowandmeetusthere。
Poorlads,theywillhaeheartsweelnighassairasmine;littlethinktheywhatasorrowfulhousetheyarebringingtheirvenisonto!I’llrideowerMucklestane-Moormysell。\"
\"AndifIwereyou,\"saidDickoftheDingle,\"IwouldspeaktoCannyElshie。Hecantellyouwhateverbetidesinthisland,ifhe’ssaeminded。\"
\"HeSHALLtellme,\"saidHobbie,whowasbusyputtinghisarmsinorder,\"whathekenso’thisnight’sjob,orIshallrightweelkenwhereforehedoesnot。\"
\"Ay,butspeakhimfair,mybonnyman——speakhimfairHobbie;thelikeo’himwillnobearthrawing。Theyconversesaemucklewi’
thaefractiousghaistsandevilspirits,thatitcleanspoilstheirtemper。\"
\"Letmealanetoguidehim,\"answeredHobbie;\"there’sthatinmybreastthisday,thatwouldower-maistera’thewarlocksonearth,anda’thedevilsinhell。\"
Andbeingnowfullyequipped,hethrewhimselfonhishorse,andspurredhimatarapidpaceagainstthesteepascent。
Elliotspeedilysurmountedthehill,rodedowntheothersideatthesamerate,crossedawood,andtraversedalongglen,ereheatlengthregainedMucklestane-Moor。Ashewasobliged,inthecourseofhisjourney,torelaxhisspeedinconsiderationofthelabourwhichhishorsemightstillhavetoundergo,hehadtimetoconsidermaturelyinwhatmannerheshouldaddresstheDwarf,inordertoextractfromhimtheknowledgewhichhesupposedhimtobeinpossessionofconcerningtheauthorsofhismisfortunes。
Hobbie,thoughblunt,plainofspeech,andhotofdisposition,likemostofhiscountrymen,wasbynomeansdeficientintheshrewdnesswhichisalsotheircharacteristic。Hereflected,thatfromwhathehadobservedonthememorablenightwhentheDwarfwasfirstseen,andfromtheconductofthatmysteriousbeingeversince,hewaslikelytoberenderedevenmoreobstinateinhissullennessbythreatsandviolence。
\"I’llspeakhimfair,\"hesaid,\"asauldDickonadvisedme。
Thoughfolksayhehasaleaguewi’Satan,hecannabesicanincarnatedevilasnototakesomepityinacaselikemine;andfolkthreephe’llwhilesdogood,charitablesorto’things。
I’llkeepmyheartdounasweelasIcan,andstrokehimwi’thehair;andifthewarstcometothewarst,it’sbutwringingtheheado’himaboutatlast。\"
InthisdispositionofaccommodationheapproachedthehutoftheSolitary。
Theoldmanwasnotuponhisseatofaudience,norcouldHobbieperceivehiminhisgarden,orenclosures。
\"He’sgottenintohisverykeep,\"saidHobbie,\"maybetobeouto’thegate;butI’sepu’itdounabouthislugs,ifIcannawinathimotherwise。\"
Havingthuscommunedwithhimself,heraisedhisvoice,andinvokedElshieinatoneassupplicatingashisconflictingfeelingswouldpermit。\"Elshie,mygudefriend!\"Noreply。
\"Elshie,cannyFatherElshie!\"TheDwarfremainedmute。\"Sorrowbeinthecrookedcarcassofthee!\"saidtheBordererbetweenhisteeth;andthenagainattemptingasoothingtone,——\"GoodFatherElshie,amostmiserablecreaturedesiressomecounselofyourwisdom。\"
\"Thebetter!\"answeredtheshrillanddiscordantvoiceoftheDwarfthroughaverysmallwindow,resemblinganarrowslit,whichhehadconstructednearthedoorofhisdwelling,andthroughwhichhecouldseeanyonewhoapproachedit,withoutthepossibilityoftheirlookinginuponhim。
\"Thebetter!\"saidHobbieimpatiently;\"whatisthebetter,Elshie?DoyounothearmetellyouIamthemostmiserablewretchliving?\"
\"Anddoyounothearmetellyouitissomuchthebetter!anddidInottellyouthismorning,whenyouthoughtyourselfsohappy,whataneveningwascominguponyou?\"
\"Thatyedide’en,\"repliedHobbie,\"andthatgarsmecometoyouforadvicenow;theythatforesawthetroublemaunkenthecure。\"
\"Iknownocureforearthlytrouble,\"returnedtheDwarf\"or,ifIdid,whyshouldIhelpothers,whennonehathaidedme?HaveI
notlostwealth,thatwouldhaveboughtallthybarrenhillsahundredtimesover?rank,towhichthineisasthatofapeasant?society,wheretherewasaninterchangeofallthatwasamiable——ofallthatwasintellectual?HaveInotlostallthis?
AmInotresidinghere,theveriestoutcastonthefaceofNature,inthemosthideousandmostsolitaryofherretreats,myselfmorehideousthanallthatisaroundme?Andwhyshouldotherwormscomplaintomewhentheyaretroddenon,sinceIammyselflyingcrushedandwrithingunderthechariot-wheel?\"
\"Yemayhavelostallthis,\"answeredHobbie,inthebitternessofemotion;\"landandfriends,goodsandgear;yemayhaelostthema’,——butyene’ercanhaesaesairaheartasmine,foryene’erlostnaeGraceArmstrong。Andnowmylasthopesaregane,andIshallne’erseehermair。\"
Thishesaidinthetoneofdeepestemotion——andtherefollowedalongpause,forthementionofhisbride’snamehadovercomethemoreangryandirritablefeelingsofpoorHobbie。ErehehadagainaddressedtheSolitary,thebonyhandandlongfingersofthelatter,holdingalargeleathernbag,wasthrustforthatthesmallwindow,andasitunclutchedtheburden,andletitdropwithaclangupontheground,hisharshvoiceagainaddressedElliot。
\"There——thereliesasalveforeveryhumanill;so,atleast,eachhumanwretchreadilythinks。——Begone;returntwiceaswealthyasthouwertbeforeyesterday,andtormentmenomorewithquestions,complaints,orthanks;theyarealikeodioustome。\"
\"Itisa’gowd,byHeaven!\"saidElliot,havingglancedatthecontents;andthenagainaddressingtheHermit,\"Muckleobligedforyourgoodwill;andIwadblithelygieyouabondforsomeo’
thesiller,orawadsetowerthelandso’Wideopen。ButIdinnaken,Elshie;tobefreewi’you,IdinnaliketousesillerunlessIkenditwasdecentlycomeby;andmaybeitmightturnintosclate-stanes,andcheatsomepoorman。\"
\"Ignorantidiot!\"retortedtheDwarf;\"thetrashisasgenuinepoisonaseverwasdugoutofthebowelsoftheearth。Takeit——useit,andmayitthrivewithyouasithathdonewithme!\"
\"ButItellyou,\"saidElliot,\"itwasnaaboutthegearthatI
wasconsultingyou,——itwasabrawbarn-yard,doubtless,andthirtyheadoffinercattletherewerenaonthissideoftheCatrail;butletthegeargang,——ifyecouldbutgiemespeeringso’puirGrace,Iwouldbecontenttobeyourslaveforlife,inonythingthatdidnatouchmysalvation。O,Elshie,speak,man,speak!\"
\"Well,then,\"answeredtheDwarf,asifwornoutbyhisimportunity,\"sincethouhastnotenoughofwoesofthineown,butmustneedsseektoburdenthyselfwiththoseofapartner,seekherwhomthouhastlostintheWEST。\"
\"IntheWEST?That’sawideword。\"
\"Itisthelast,\"saidtheDwarf,whichIdesigntoutter;\"andhedrewtheshuttersofhiswindow,leavingHobbietomakethemostofthehinthehadgiven。
Thewest!thewest!——thoughtElliot;thecountryisprettyquietdownthatway,unlessitwereJocko’theTodholes;andhe’sowerauldnowforthelikeo’thaejobs。——West!——ByMylife,itmustbeWestburnflat。\"Elshie,justtellmeoneword。AmIright?
IsitWestburnflat?IfIamwrang,saysae。Iwadnaliketowyteaninnocentneighbourwi’violence——Noanswer?——ItmustbetheRedReiver——Ididnathinkhewadhaeventuredonme,neither,andsaemonykinasthere’so’us——Iamthinkinghe’llhaesomebetterbackingthanhisCumberlandfriends。——Fareweeltoyou,Elshie,andmonythanks——Idownabefashedwi’thesillere’ennow,forImaunawa’tomeetmyfriendsattheTrysting-place——
Sae,ifyecarenatoopenthewindow,yecanfetchitinafterI’mawa’。\"
Stilltherewasnoreply。
\"He’sdeaf,orhe’sdaft,orhe’sbaith;butIhaenaetimetostaytoclaverwi’him。\"
AndoffrodeHobbieElliottowardstheplaceofrendezvouswhichhehadnamedtohisfriends。
FourorfiveriderswerealreadygatheredattheTrystingpool。
Theystoodincloseconsultationtogether,whiletheirhorseswerepermittedtograzeamongthepoplarswhichoverhungthebroadstillpool。Amorenumerouspartywereseencomingfromthesouthward。ItprovedtobeEarnscliffandhisparty,whohadfollowedthetrackofthecattleasfarastheEnglishborder,buthadhaltedontheinformationthataconsiderableforcewasdrawntogetherundersomeoftheJacobitegentlemeninthatdistrict,andthereweretidingsofinsurrectionindifferentpartsofScotland。Thistookawayfromtheactwhichhadbeenperpetratedtheappearanceofprivateanimosity,orloveofplunder;andEarnscliffwasnowdisposedtoregarditasasymptomofcivilwar。TheyounggentlemangreetedHobbiewiththemostsinceresympathy,andinformedhimofthenewshehadreceived。
\"Then,mayIneverstirfraethebit,\"saidElliot,\"ifauldEllieslawisnotatthebottomo’thehaillvillainy!Yeseehe’sleaguedwi’theCumberlandCatholics;andthatagreesweelwi’whatElshiehintedaboutWestburnflat,forEllieslawayeprotectedhim,andhewillwanttoharryanddisarmthecountryabouthisainhandbeforehebreaksout。\"
SomenowrememberedthatthepartyofruffianshadbeenheardtosaytheywereactingforJamesVIII。,andwerechargedtodisarmallrebels。OthershadheardWestburnflatboast,indrinkingparties,thatEllieslawwouldsoonbeinarmsfortheJacobitecause,andthathehimselfwastoholdacommandunderhim,andthattheywouldbebadneighboursforyoungEarnscliff;andallthatstoodoutfortheestablishedgovernment。TheresultwasastrongbeliefthatWestburnflathadheadedthepartyunderEllieslaw’sorders;andtheyresolvedtoproceedinstantlytothehouseoftheformer,and,ifpossible,tosecurehisperson。
Theywerebythistimejoinedbysomanyoftheirdispersedfriends,thattheirnumberamountedtoupwardsoftwentyhorsemen,wellmounted,andtolerably,thoughvariously,armed。
Abrook,whichissuedfromanarrowglenamongthehills,entered,atWestburnflat,upontheopenmarshylevel,which,expandingabouthalfamileineverydirection,givesnametothespot。Inthisplacethecharacterofthestreambecomeschanged,and,frombeingalivelybrisk-runningmountain-torrent,itstagnates,likeablueswollensnake,indulldeepwindings,throughtheswampylevel。Onthesideofthestream,andnearlyaboutthecentreoftheplain,arosethetowerofWestburnflat,oneofthefewremainingstrongholdsformerlysonumerousupontheBorders。Thegrounduponwhichitstoodwasgentlyelevatedabovethemarshforthespaceofaboutahundredyards,affordinganesplanadeofdryturf,whichextendeditselfintheimmediateneighbourhoodofthetower;but,beyondwhich,thesurfacepresentedtostrangerswasthatofanimpassableanddangerousbog。Theownerofthetowerandhisinmatesaloneknewthewindingandintricatepaths,which,leadingovergroundthatwascomparativelysound,admittedvisitorstohisresidence。ButamongthepartywhichwereassembledunderEarnscliff’sdirections,therewasmorethanonepersonqualifiedtoactasaguide。Foralthoughtheowner’scharacterandhabitsoflifeweregenerallyknown,yetthelaxityoffeelingwithrespecttopropertypreventedhisbeinglookedonwiththeabhorrencewithwhichhemusthavebeenregardedinamorecivilizedcountry。Hewasconsidered,amonghismorepeaceableneighbours,prettymuchasagambler,cock-fighter,orhorse-jockeywouldberegardedatthepresentday;aperson,ofcourse,whosehabitsweretobecondemned,andhissociety,ingeneral,avoided,yetwhocouldnotbeconsideredasmarkedwiththeindelibleinfamyattachedtohisprofession,wherelawshavebeenhabituallyobserved。Andtheirindignationwasawakenedagainsthimuponthisoccasion,notsomuchonaccountofthegeneralnatureofthetransaction,whichwasjustsuchaswastobeexpectedfromthismarauder,asthattheviolencehadbeenperpetrateduponaneighbouragainstwhomhehadnocauseofquarrel,——againstafriendoftheirown,——aboveall,againstoneofthenameofElliot,towhichclanmostofthembelonged。Itwasnot,therefore,wonderful,thatthereshouldbeseveralinthebandprettywellacquaintedwiththelocalityofhishabitation,andcapableofgivingsuchdirectionsandguidanceassoonplacedthewholepartyontheopenspaceoffirmgroundinfrontoftheTowerofWestburnflat。
CHAPTERIX。
Sospaktheknicht;thegeauntsed,Lendforthwiththe,theselymaid,Andmakmequileoftheandsche;
Forglaunsingee,orbrowsobrent,Orcheekwithroseandlilyeblent,Melistsnotfichtwiththe。ROMANCEOFTHEFALCON。
Thetower,beforewhichthepartynowstood,wasasmallsquarebuilding,ofthemostgloomyaspect。Thewallswereofgreatthickness,andthewindows,orslitswhichservedthepurposeofwindows,seemedrathercalculatedtoaffordthedefendersthemeansofemployingmissileweapons,thanforadmittingairorlighttotheapartmentswithin。Asmallbattlementprojectedoverthewallsoneveryside,andaffordedfartheradvantageofdefencebyitsnichedparapet,withinwhicharoseasteeproof,flaggedwithgreystones。Asingleturretatoneangle,defendedbyadoorstuddedwithhugeironnails,roseabovethebattlement,andgaveaccesstotherooffromwithin,bythespiralstaircasewhichitenclosed。Itseemedtothepartythattheirmotionswerewatchedbysomeoneconcealedwithinthisturret;andtheywereconfirmedintheirbeliefwhen,throughanarrowloophole,afemalehandwasseentowaveahandkerchief,asifbywayofsignaltothem。Hobbiewasalmostoutofhissenseswithjoyandeagerness。
\"ItwasGrace’shandandarm,\"hesaid;\"Icansweartoitamangathousand。ThereisnotthelikeofitonthissideoftheLowdens——We’llhaveherout,lads,ifweshouldcarryofftheTowerofWestburnflatstanebystane。\"
Earnscliff,thoughhedoubtedthepossibilityofrecognisingafairmaiden’shandatsuchadistancefromtheeyeofthelover,wouldsaynothingtodamphisfriend’sanimatedhopes,anditwasresolvedtosummonthegarrison。
Theshoutsoftheparty,andthewindingofoneortwohorns,atlengthbroughttoaloophole,whichflankedtheentrance,thehaggardfaceofanoldwoman。
\"That’stheReiver’smother,\"saidoneoftheElliots;\"she’stentimeswaurthanhimsell,andiswytedformuckleoftheillhedoesaboutthecountry。\"
\"Whaareye?whatd’yewanthere?\"werethequeriesoftherespectableprogenitor。
\"WeareseekingWilliamGraemeofWestburnflat,\"saidEarnscliff。
\"He’snoathame,\"returnedtheolddame。
\"Whendidheleavehome?\"pursuedEarnscliff。
\"Icannatell,\"saidtheportress。
\"Whenwillhereturn?\"saidHobbieElliot。
\"Idinnakennaethingaboutit,\"repliedtheinexorableguardianofthekeep。
\"Isthereanybodywithinthetowerwithyou?\"againdemandedEarnscliff。
\"Naebodybutmysellandbaudrons,\"saidtheoldwoman。
\"Thenopenthegateandadmitus,\"saidEarnscliff;\"Iamajusticeofpeace,andinsearchoftheevidenceofafelony。\"
\"Deilbeintheirfingersthatdrawsaboltforye,\"retortedtheportress;\"formineshallneverdoit。Thinknayeshameo’
yoursells,tocomeheresiccanabando’ye,wi’yourswords,andspears,andsteel-caps,tofrightenalonewidowwoman?\"
\"Ourinformation,\"saidEarnscliff;\"ispositive;weareseekinggoodswhichhavebeenforciblycarriedoff,toagreatamount。\"
\"Andayoungwoman,that’sbeencruellymadeprisoner,that’sworthmairthana’thegear,twicetold,\"saidHobbie。
\"AndIwarnyou。\"continuedEarnscliff,\"thatyouronlywaytoproveyourson’sinnocenceistogiveusquietadmittancetosearchthehouse。\"
\"Andwhatwillyedo,ifIcarenatothrawthekeys,ordrawthebolts,oropenthegratetosicaclamjamfrie?\"saidtheolddame,scoffingly。
\"Forceourwaywiththeking’skeys,andbreaktheneckofeverylivingsoulwefindinthehouse,ifyedinnagieitowerforthwith!\"menacedtheincensedHobbie。
\"Threatenedfolkslivelang,\"saidthehag,inthesametoneofirony;\"there’stheirongrate——tryyourskeelon’t,lads——ithaskeptoutasgudemenasyouornow。\"
Sosaying,shelaughed,andwithdrewfromtheaperturethroughwhichshehadheldtheparley。
Thebesiegersnowopenedaseriousconsultation。Theimmensethicknessofthewalls,andthesmallsizeofthewindows,might,foratime,haveevenresistedcannon-shot。Theentrancewassecured,first,byastronggrateddoor,composedentirelyofhammerediron,ofsuchponderousstrengthasseemedcalculatedtoresistanyforcethatcouldbebroughtagainstit。\"Pinchesorforehammerswillneverpickupon’t,\"saidHugh,theblacksmithofRingleburn;\"yemightasweelbatteratitwi’pipe-staples。\"
Withinthedoorway,andatthedistanceofninefeet,whichwasthesolidthicknessofthewall,therewasaseconddoorofoak,crossed,bothbreadthandlengthways,withclenchedbarsofiron,andstuddedfullofbroad-headednails。Besidesallthesedefences,theywerebynomeansconfidentinthetruthoftheolddame’sassertion,thatshealonecomposedthegarrison。Themoreknowingofthepartyhadobservedhoof-marksinthetrackbywhichtheyapproachedthetower,whichseemedtoindicatethatseveralpersonshadverylatelypassedinthatdirection。
Toallthesedifficultieswasaddedtheirwantofmeansforattackingtheplace。Therewasnohopeofprocuringladderslongenoughtoreachthebattlements,andthewindows,besidesbeingverynarrow,weresecuredwithironbars。Scalingwasthereforeoutofthequestion;miningwasstillmoreso,forwantoftoolsandgunpowder;neitherwerethebesiegersprovidedwithfood,meansofshelter,orotherconveniences,whichmighthaveenabledthemtoconvertthesiegeintoablockade;andtherewould,atanyrate,havebeenariskofrelieffromsomeofthemarauder’scomrades。Hobbiegrindedandgnashedhisteeth,as,walkingroundthefastness,hecoulddevisenomeansofmakingaforcibleentry。Atlengthhesuddenlyexclaimed,\"Andwhatfornodoasourfathersdidlangsyne?——Puthandtothewark,lads。Letuscutupbushesandbriers,pilethembeforethedoorandsetfiretothem,andsmokethataulddevil’sdamasifsheweretobereestedforbacon。\"
Allimmediatelyclosedwiththisproposal,andsomewenttoworkwithswordsandknivestocutdownthealderandhawthornbusheswhichgrewbythesideofthesluggishstream,manyofwhichweresufficientlydecayedanddriedfortheirpurpose,whileothersbegantocollecttheminalargestack,properlydisposedforburning,asclosetotheiron-grateastheycouldbepiled。Firewasspeedilyobtainedfromoneoftheirguns,andHobbiewasalreadyadvancingtothepilewithakindledbrand,whenthesurlyfaceoftherobber,andthemuzzleofamusquetoon,werepartiallyshownatashot-holewhichflankedtheentrance。\"Monythankstoye,\"hesaid,scoffingly,\"forcollectingsaemucklewintereildingforus;butifyestepafootneareritwi’thatlunt,it’sbethedeareststepyeevermadeinyourdays。\"
\"We’llsuneseethat,\"saidHobbie,advancingfearlesslywiththetorch。
Themaraudersnappedhispieceathim,which,fortunatelyforourhonestfriend,didnotgooff;whileEarnscliff,firingatthesamemomentatthenarrowapertureandslightmarkaffordedbytherobber’sface,grazedthesideofhisheadwithabullet。Hehadapparentlycalculateduponhispostaffordinghimmoresecurity,forhenosoonerfeltthewound,thoughaveryslightone,thanherequestedaparley,anddemandedtoknowwhattheymeantbyattackinginthisfashionapeaceableandhonestman,andsheddinghisbloodinthatlawlessmanner?
\"Wewantyourprisoner,\"saidEarnscliff,\"tobedelivereduptousinsafety,\"
\"Andwhatconcernhaveyouwithher?\"repliedthemarauder。
\"That,\"retortedEarnscliff,\"you,whoaredetainingherbyforce,havenorighttoenquire。\"
\"Aweel,IthinkIcangieaguess,\"saidtherobber。\"Weel,sirs,Iamlaithtoenterintodeadlyfeudwithyoubyspillingonyofyourbluid,thoughEarnscliffhasnastoppedtoshedmine——andhecanhitamarktoagroat’sbreadth——so,topreventmairskaith,Iamwillingtodeliveruptheprisoner,sincenaelesswillpleaseyou。\"
\"AndHobbie’sgear?\"criedSimonofHackburn。\"D’yethinkyou’retobefreetoplunderthefauldsandbyresofagentleElliot,asiftheywereanauldwife’shens’-cavey?\"
\"AsIlivebybread,\"repliedWillieofWestburnflat\"AsIlivebybread,Ihavenotasingleclooto’them!They’rea’owerthemarchlangsyne;there’snoahorno’themaboutthetower。ButI’llseewhato’themcanbegottenback,andI’lltakethisdaytwadaystomeetHobbieattheCastletonwi’twafriendsonilkaside,andseetomakeanagreementabouta’thewranghecanwytemewi’。\"
\"Ay,ay,\"saidElliot,\"thatwilldoweeleneugh。\"——Andthenasidetohiskinsman,\"Murrainonthegear!Lordsake,man!saynoughtaboutthem。LetusbutgetpuirGraceouto’thatauldhellicat’sclutches。\"
\"Willyegiemeyourword,Earnscliff,\"saidthemarauder,whostilllingeredattheshot-hole,\"yourfaithandtroth,withhandandglove,thatIamfreetocomeandfreetogae,withfiveminutestoopenthegrate,andfiveminutestosteekitandtodrawthebolts?lesswinnado,fortheywantcreishingsairly。
Willyedothis?\"
\"Youshallhavefulltime,\"saidEarnscliff;\"Iplightmyfaithandtroth,myhandandmyglove。\"
\"Waitthereamoment,then,\"saidWestburnflat;\"orhearye,I
wadratheryewadfa’backapistol-shotfromthedoor。It’snothatImistrustyourword,Earnscliff;butit’sbesttobesure。\"
O,friend,thoughtHobbietohimself,ashedrewback,anIhadyoubutonTurner’s-holm,[Thereisalevelmeadow,ontheverymarginofthetwokingdoms,calledTurner’s-holm,justwherethebrookcalledCrissopjoinstheLiddel。Itissaidtohavederiveditsnameasbeingaplacefrequentlyassignedfortourneys,duringtheancientBordertimes。]andnaebodybybuttwahonestladstoseefairplay,Iwadmakeyewishyehadbrokenyourlegereyehadtouchedbeastorbodythatbelangedtome!
\"HehasawhitefeatherinhiswingthissameWestburnflat,aftera’,\"saidSimonofHackburn,somewhatscandalizedbyhisreadysurrender。——\"He’llne’erfillhisfather’sboots。\"
Inthemeanwhile,theinnerdoorofthetowerwasopened,andthemotherofthefreebooterappearedinthespacebetwixtthatandtheoutergrate。Williehimselfwasnextseen,leadingforthafemale,andtheoldwoman,carefullyboltingthegratebehindthem,remainedonthepostasasortofsentinel。
\"Onyaneortwao’yecomeforward,\"saidtheoutlaw,\"andtakeherfraemyhandhaillandsound。\"
Hobbieadvancedeagerly,tomeethisbetrothedbride。Earnsclifffollowedmoreslowly,toguardagainsttreachery。SuddenlyHobbieslackenedhispaceinthedeepestmortification,whilethatofEarnscliffwashastenedbyimpatientsurprise。ItwasnotGraceArmstrong,butMissIsabellaVere,whoseliberationhadbeeneffectedbytheirappearancebeforethetower。
\"WhereisGrace?whereisGraceArmstrong?\"exclaimedHobbie,intheextremityofwrathandindignation。