Waverley; Or, 'Tis Sixty Years Since — Volume 1

by Walter Scott

  CHAPTER XVII

  THE HOLD OF A HIGHLAND ROBBER

  The party preserved silence, interrupted only by the monotonousand murmured chant of a Gaelic song, sung in a kind of lowrecitative by the steersman, and by the dash of the oars, whichthe notes seemed to regulate, as they dipped to them in cadence.The light, which they now approached more nearly, assumed abroader, redder and more irregular splendour. It appeared plainlyto be a large fire, but whether kindled upon an island or themainland Edward could not determine. As he saw it, the red glaringorb seemed to rest on the very surface of the lake itself, andresembled the fiery vehicle in which the Evil Genius of anOriental tale traverses land and sea. They approached nearer, andthe light of the fire sufficed to show that it was kindled at thebottom of a huge dark crag or rock, rising abruptly from the veryedge of the water; its front, changed by the reflection to duskyred, formed a strange and even awful contrast to the banks around,which were from time to time faintly and partially illuminated bypallid moonlight.

  The boat now neared the shore, and Edward could discover that thislarge fire, amply supplied with branches of pine-wood by twofigures, who, in the red reflection of its light, appeared likedemons, was kindled in the jaws of a lofty cavern, into which aninlet from the lake seemed to advance; and he conjectured, whichwas indeed true, that the fire had been lighted as a beacon to theboatmen on their return. They rowed right for the mouth of thecave, and then, shifting their oars, permitted the boat to enterin obedience to the impulse which it had received. The skiffpassed the little point or platform of rock on which the fire wasblazing, and running about two boats' lengths farther, stoppedwhere the cavern (for it was already arched overhead) ascendedfrom the water by five or six broad ledges of rock, so easy andregular that they might be termed natural steps. At this moment aquantity of water was suddenly flung upon the fire, which sunkwith a hissing noise, and with it disappeared the light it hadhitherto afforded. Four or five active arms lifted Waverley out ofthe boat, placed him on his feet, and almost carried him into therecesses of the cave. He made a few paces in darkness, guided inthis manner; and advancing towards a hum of voices, which seemedto sound from the centre of the rock, at an acute turn Donald BeanLean and his whole establishment were before his eyes.

  The interior of the cave, which here rose very high, wasilluminated by torches made of pine-tree, which emitted a brightand bickering light, attended by a strong though not unpleasantodour. Their light was assisted by the red glare of a largecharcoal fire, round which were seated five or six armedHighlanders, while others were indistinctly seen couched on theirplaids in the more remote recesses of the cavern. In one largeaperture, which the robber facetiously called his SPENCE (orpantry), there hung by the heels the carcasses of a sheep, or ewe,and two cows lately slaughtered. The principal inhabitant of thissingular mansion, attended by Evan Dhu as master of theceremonies, came forward to meet his guest, totally different inappearance and manner from what his imagination had anticipated.The profession which he followed, the wilderness in which hedwelt, the wild warrior forms that surrounded him, were allcalculated to inspire terror. From such accompaniments, Waverleyprepared himself to meet a stern, gigantic, ferocious figure, suchas Salvator would have chosen to be the central object of a groupof banditti. [Footnote: See Note 15.]

  Donald Bean Lean was the very reverse of all these. He was thin inperson and low in stature, with light sandy-coloured hair, andsmall pale features, from which he derived his agnomen of BEAN orwhite; and although his form was light, well proportioned andactive, he appeared, on the whole, rather a diminutive andinsignificant figure. He had served in some inferior capacity inthe French army, and in order to receive his English visitor ingreat form, and probably meaning, in his way, to pay him acompliment, he had laid aside the Highland dress for the time, toput on an old blue and red uniform and a feathered hat, in whichhe was far from showing to advantage, and indeed looked soincongruous, compared with all around him, that Waverley wouldhave been tempted to laugh, had laughter been either civil orsafe. The robber received Captain Waverley with a profusion ofFrench politeness and Scottish hospitality, seemed perfectly toknow his name and connections, and to be particularly acquaintedwith his uncle's political principles. On these he bestowed greatapplause, to which Waverley judged it prudent to make a verygeneral reply.

  Being placed at a convenient distance from the charcoal fire, theheat of which the season rendered oppressive, a strapping Highlanddamsel placed before Waverley, Evan, and Donald Bean three cogues,or wooden vessels composed of staves and hoops, containingeanaruich, [Footnote: This was the regale presented by Rob Roy tothe Laird of Tullibody.] a sort of strong soup, made out of aparticular part of the inside of the beeves. After thisrefreshment, which, though coarse, fatigue and hunger renderedpalatable, steaks, roasted on the coals, were supplied in liberalabundance, and disappeared before Evan Dhu and their host with apromptitude that seemed like magic, and astonished Waverley, whowas much puzzled to reconcile their voracity with what he hadheard of the abstemiousness of the Highlanders. He was ignorantthat this abstinence was with the lower ranks wholly compulsory,and that, like some animals of prey, those who practise it wereusually gifted with the power of indemnifying themselves to goodpurpose when chance threw plenty in their way. The whisky cameforth in abundance to crown the cheer. The Highlanders drank itcopiously and undiluted; but Edward, having mixed a little withwater, did not find it so palatable as to invite him to repeat thedraught. Their host bewailed himself exceedingly that he couldoffer him no wine: 'Had he but known four-and-twenty hours before,he would have had some, had it been within the circle of fortymiles round him. But no gentleman could do more to show his senseof the honour of a visit from another than to offer him the bestcheer his house afforded. Where there are no bushes there can beno nuts, and the way of those you live with is that you mustfollow,'

  He went on regretting to Evan Dhu the death of an aged man,Donnacha an Amrigh, or Duncan with the Cap, 'a gifted seer,' whoforetold, through the second sight, visitors of every descriptionwho haunted their dwelling, whether as friends or foes.

  'Is not his son Malcolm taishatr (a second-sighted person)?' askedEvan.

  'Nothing equal to his father,' replied Donald Bean. 'He told usthe other day, we were to see a great gentleman riding on a horse,and there came nobody that whole day but Shemus Beg, the blindharper, with his dog. Another time he advertised us of a wedding,and behold it proved a funeral; and on the creagh, when heforetold to us we should bring home a hundred head of hornedcattle, we gripped nothing but a fat bailie of Perth.'

  From this discourse he passed to the political and military stateof the country; and Waverley was astonished, and even alarmed, tofind a person of this description so accurately acquainted withthe strength of the various garrisons and regiments quarterednorth of the Tay. He even mentioned the exact number of recruitswho had joined Waverley's troop from his uncle's estate, andobserved they were PRETTY MEN, meaning, not handsome, but stoutwarlike fellows. He put Waverley in mind of one or two minutecircumstances which had happened at a general review of theregiment, which satisfied him that the robber had been an eye-witness of it; and Evan Dhu having by this time retired from theconversation, and wrapped himself up in his plaid to take somerepose, Donald asked Edward, in a very significant manner, whetherhe had nothing particular to say to him.

  Waverley, surprised and somewhat startled at this question fromsuch a character, answered, he had no motive in visiting him butcuriosity to see his extraordinary place of residence. Donald BeanLean looked him steadily in the face for an instant, and thensaid, with a significant nod, 'You might as well have confided inme; I am as much worthy of trust as either the Baron ofBradwardine or Vich Ian Vohr. But you are equally welcome to myhouse.'

  Waverley felt an involuntary shudder creep over him at themysterious language held by this outlawed and lawless bandit,which, in despite of his attempts to master it, deprived him ofthe power to ask the meaning of his insinuations. A heath pallet,
with the flowers stuck uppermost, had been prepared for him in arecess of the cave, and here, covered with such spare plaids ascould be mustered, he lay for some time watching the motions ofthe other inhabitants of the cavern. Small parties of two or threeentered or left the place, without any other ceremony than a fewwords in Gaelic to the principal outlaw, and, when he fell asleep,to a tall Highlander who acted as his lieutenant, and seemed tokeep watch during his repose. Those who entered seemed to havereturned from some excursion, of which they reported the success,and went without farther ceremony to the larder, where, cuttingwith their dirks their rations from the carcasses which were theresuspended, they proceeded to broil and eat them at their ownpleasure and leisure. The liquor was under strict regulation,being served out either by Donald himself, his lieutenant, or thestrapping Highland girl aforesaid, who was the only female thatappeared. The allowance of whisky, however, would have appearedprodigal to any but Highlanders, who, living entirely in the openair and in a very moist climate, can consume great quantities ofardent spirits without the usual baneful effects either upon thebrain or constitution.

  At length the fluctuating groups began to swim before the eyes ofour hero as they gradually closed; nor did he re-open them tillthe morning sun was high on the lake without, though there was buta faint and glimmering twilight in the recesses of Uaimh an Ri, orthe King's Cavern, as the abode of Donald Bean Lean was proudlydenominated.