by Walter Scott
CHAPTER LIX
A SKIRMISH
Theeader need hardly be reminded that, after a council of war held atDerby on the 5th of December, the Highlanders relinquished theirdesperate attempt to penetrate farther into England, and, greatly tothe dissatisfaction of their young and daring leader, positivelydetermined to return northward. They commenced their retreataccordingly, and, by the extreme celerity of their movements,outstripped the motions of the Duke of Cumberland, who now pursued themwith a very large body of cavalry.
This retreat was a virtual resignation of their towering hopes. Nonehad been so sanguine as Fergus MacIvor; none, consequently, was socruelly mortified at the change of measures. He argued, or ratherremonstrated, with the utmost vehemence at the council of war; and,when his opinion was rejected, shed tears of grief and indignation.From that moment his whole manner was so much altered that he couldscarcely have been recognised for the same soaring and ardent spirit,for whom the whole earth seemed too narrow but a week before. Theretreat had continued for several days, when Edward, to his surprise,early on the 12th of December, received a visit from the Chieftain inhis quarters, in a hamlet about half-way between Shap and Penrith.
Having had no intercourse with the Chieftain since their rupture,Edward waited with some anxiety an explanation of this unexpectedvisit; nor could he help being surprised, and somewhat shocked, withthe change in his appearance. His eye had lost much of its fire; hischeek was hollow, his voice was languid, even his gait seemed less firmand elastic than it was wont; and his dress, to which he used to beparticularly attentive, was now carelessly flung about him. He invitedEdward to walk out with him by the little river in the vicinity; andsmiled in a melancholy manner when he observed him take down and buckleon his sword.
As soon as they were in a wild sequestered path by the side of thestream, the Chief broke out--'Our fine adventure is now totally ruined,Waverley, and I wish to know what you intend to do;--nay, never stareat me, man. I tell you I received a packet from my sister yesterday,and, had I got the information it contains sooner, it would haveprevented a quarrel which I am always vexed when I think of. In aletter written after our dispute, I acquainted her with the cause ofit; and she now replies to me that she never had, nor could have, anypurpose of giving you encouragement; so that it seems I have acted likea madman. Poor Flora! she writes in high spirits; what a change willthe news of this unhappy retreat make in her state of mind!'
Waverley, who was really much affected by the deep tone of melancholywith which Fergus spoke, affectionately entreated him to banish fromhis remembrance any unkindness which had arisen between them, and theyonce more shook hands, but now with sincere cordiality. Fergus againinquired of Waverley what he intended to do. 'Had you not better leavethis luckless army, and get down before us into Scotland, and embarkfor the Continent from some of the eastern ports that are still in ourpossession? When you are out of the kingdom, your friends will easilynegotiate your pardon; and, to tell you the truth, I wish you wouldcarry Rose Bradwardine with you as your wife, and take Flora also underyour joint protection.'--Edward looked surprised.--'She loves you, andI believe you love her, though, perhaps, you have not found it out, foryou are not celebrated for knowing your own mind very pointedly.' Hesaid this with a sort of smile.
'How,' answered Edward, 'can you advise me to desert the expedition inwhich we are all embarked?'
'Embarked?' said Fergus; 'the vessel is going to pieces, and it is fulltime for all who can to get into the long-boat and leave her.'
'Why, what will other gentlemen do?' answered Waverley, 'and why didthe Highland Chiefs consent to this retreat if it is so ruinous?'
'O,' replied Mac-Ivor, 'they think that, as on former occasions, theheading, hanging, and forfeiting will chiefly fall to the lot of theLowland gentry; that they will be left secure in their poverty andtheir fastnesses, there, according to their proverb, "to listen to thewind upon the hill till the waters abate." But they will bedisappointed; they have been too often troublesome to be so repeatedlypassed over, and this time John Bull has been too heartily frightenedto recover his good-humour for some time. The Hanoverian ministersalways deserved to be hanged for rascals; but now, if they get thepower in their hands,--as, sooner or later, they must, since there isneither rising in England nor assistance from France,--they willdeserve the gallows as fools if they leave a single clan in theHighlands in a situation to be again troublesome to government. Ay,they will make root-and-branch-work, I warrant them.'
'And while you recommend flight to me,' said Edward,--'a counsel whichI would rather die than embrace,--what are your own views?'
'O,' answered Fergus, with a melancholy air, 'my fate is settled. Deador captive I must be before tomorrow.'
'What do you mean by that, my friend?' said Edward. 'The enemy is stilla day's march in our rear, and if he comes up, we are still strongenough to keep him in check. Remember Gladsmuir.'
'What I tell you is true notwithstanding, so far as I am individuallyconcerned.'
'Upon what authority can you found so melancholy a prediction?' askedWaverley.
'On one which never failed a person of my house. I have seen,' he said,lowering his voice, 'I have seen the Bodach Glas.'
'Bodach Glas?'
'Yes; have you been so long at Glennaquoich, and never heard of theGrey Spectre? though indeed there is a certain reluctance among us tomention him.'
'No, never.'
'Ah! it would have been a tale for poor Flora to have told you. Or, ifthat hill were Benmore, and that long blue lake, which you see justwinding towards yon mountainous country, were Loch Tay, or my own Lochan Ri, the tale would be better suited with scenery. However, let ussit down on this knoll; even Saddleback and Ulswater will suit what Ihave to say better than the English hedgerows, enclosures, andfarmhouses. You must know, then, that when my ancestor, Ian nanChaistel, wasted Northumberland, there was associated with him in theexpedition a sort of Southland Chief, or captain of a band ofLowlanders, called Halbert Hall. In their return through the Cheviotsthey quarrelled about the division of the great booty they hadacquired, and came from words to blows. The Lowlanders were cut off toa man, and their chief fell the last, covered with wounds by the swordof my ancestor. Since that time his spirit has crossed the Vich IanVohr of the day when any great disaster was impending, but especiallybefore approaching death. My father saw him twice, once before he wasmade prisoner at Sheriff-Muir, another time on the morning of the dayon which he died.'
'How can you, my dear Fergus, tell such nonsense with a grave face?'
' I do not ask you to believe it; but I tell you the truth, ascertainedby three hundred years' experience at least, and last night by my owneyes.'
'The particulars, for heaven's sake!' said Waverley, with eagerness.
'I will, on condition you will not attempt a jest on the subject. Sincethis unhappy retreat commenced I have scarce ever been able to sleepfor thinking of my clan, and of this poor Prince, whom they are leadingback like a dog in a string, whether he will or no, and of the downfallof my family. Last night I felt so feverish that I left my quarters andwalked out, in hopes the keen frosty air would brace my nerves--Icannot tell how much I dislike going on, for I know you will hardlybelieve me. However--I crossed a small footbridge, and kept walkingbackwards and forwards, when I observed with surprise by the clearmoonlight a tall figure in a grey plaid, such as shepherds wear in thesouth of Scotland, which, move at what pace I would, kept regularlyabout four yards before me.'
'You saw a Cumberland peasant in his ordinary dress, probably.'
'No; I thought so at first, and was astonished at the man's audacity indaring to dog me. I called to him, but received no answer. I felt ananxious throbbing at my heart, and to ascertain what I dreaded, I stoodstill and turned myself on the same spot successively to the fourpoints of the compass. By Heaven, Edward, turn where I would, thefigure was instantly before my eyes, at precisely the same distance! Iwas then convinced it was the Bodach Glas. My hair bristle
d and myknees shook. I manned myself, however, and determined to return to myquarters. My ghastly visitant glided before me (for I cannot say hewalked) until he reached the footbridge; there he stopped and turnedfull round. I must either wade the river or pass him as close as I amto you. A desperate courage, founded on the belief that my death wasnear, made me resolve to make my way in despite of him. I made the signof the cross, drew my sword, and uttered, "In the name of God, EvilSpirit, give place!" "Vich Ian Vohr," it said, in a voice that made myvery blood curdle, "beware of to-morrow!" It seemed at that moment nothalf a yard from my sword's point; but the words were no sooner spokenthan it was gone, and nothing appeared further to obstruct my passage.I got home and threw myself on my bed, where I spent a few hoursheavily enough; and this morning, as no enemy was reported to be nearus, I took my horse and rode forward to make up matters with you. Iwould not willingly fall until I am in charity with a wronged friend.'
Edward had little doubt that this phantom was the operation of anexhausted frame and depressed spirits, working on the belief common toall Highlanders in such superstitions. He did not the less pity Fergus,for whom, in his present distress, he felt all his former regardrevive. With the view of diverting his mind from these gloomy images,he offered, with the Baron's permission, which he knew he could readilyobtain, to remain in his quarters till Fergus's corps should come up,and then to march with them as usual. The Chief seemed much pleased,yet hesitated to accept the offer.
'We are, you know, in the rear, the post of danger in a retreat.'
'And therefore the post of honour.'
'Well,' replied the Chieftain, 'let Alick have your horse in readiness,in case we should be overmatched, and I shall be delighted to have yourcompany once more.'
The rear-guard were late in making their appearance, having beendelayed by various accidents and by the badness of the roads. At lengththey entered the hamlet. When Waverley joined the clan Mac-Ivor,arm-in-arm with their Chieftain, all the resentment they hadentertained against him seemed blown off at once. Evan Dhu received himwith a grin of congratulation; and even Callum, who was running aboutas active as ever, pale indeed, and with a great patch on his head,appeared delighted to see him.
'That gallows-bird's skull,' said Fergus, 'must be harder than marble;the lock of the pistol was actually broken.'
'How could you strike so young a lad so hard?' said Waverley, with someinterest.
'Why, if I did not strike hard sometimes, the rascals would forgetthemselves.'
They were now in full march, every caution being taken to preventsurprise. Fergus's people, and a fine clan regiment from Badenoch,commanded by Cluny Mac-Pherson, had the rear. They had passed a largeopen moor, and were entering into the enclosures which surround a smallvillage called Clifton. The winter sun had set, and Edward began torally Fergus upon the false predictions of the Grey Spirit. 'The idesof March are not past,' said Mac-Ivor, with a smile; when, suddenlycasting his eyes back on the moor, a large body of cavalry wasindistinctly seen to hover upon its brown and dark surface. To line theenclosures facing the open ground and the road by which the enemy mustmove from it upon the village was the work of a short time. While thesemanoeuvres were accomplishing, night sunk down, dark and gloomy, thoughthe moon was at full. Sometimes, however, she gleamed forth a dubiouslight upon the scene of action.
The Highlanders did not long remain undisturbed in the defensiveposition they had adopted. Favoured by the night, one large body ofdismounted dragoons attempted to force the enclosures, while another,equally strong, strove to penetrate by the highroad. Both were receivedby such a heavy fire as disconcerted their ranks and effectuallychecked their progress. Unsatisfied with the advantage thus gained,Fergus, to whose ardent spirit the approach of danger seemed to restoreall its elasticity, drawing his sword and calling out 'Claymore!'encouraged his men, by voice and example, to break through the hedgewhich divided them and rush down upon the enemy. Mingling with thedismounted dragoons, they forced them, at the sword-point, to fly tothe open moor, where a considerable number were cut to pieces. But themoon, which suddenly shone out, showed to the English the small numberof assailants, disordered by their own success. Two squadrons of horsemoving to the support of their companions, the Highlanders endeavouredto recover the enclosures. But several of them, amongst others theirbrave Chieftain, were cut off and surrounded before they could effecttheir purpose. Waverley, looking eagerly for Fergus, from whom, as wellas from the retreating body of his followers, he had been separated inthe darkness and tumult, saw him, with Evan Dhu and Callum, defendingthemselves desperately against a dozen of horsemen, who were hewing atthem with their long broadswords. The moon was again at that momenttotally overclouded, and Edward, in the obscurity, could neither bringaid to his friends nor discover which way lay his own road to rejointhe rear-guard. After once or twice narrowly escaping being slain ormade prisoner by parties of the cavalry whom he encountered in thedarkness, he at length reached an enclosure, and, clambering over it,concluded himself in safety and on the way to the Highland forces,whose pipes he heard at some distance. For Fergus hardly a hoperemained, unless that he might be made prisoner Revolving his fate withsorrow and anxiety, the superstition of the Bodach Glas recurred toEdward's recollection, and he said to himself, with internal surprise'What, can the devil speak truth?' [Footnote: See Note 13.]