Guy Mannering.

GUY MANNERING. 117
hats, drawn over their brows, concealed their wild
features, dark eyes, and swarthy faces. Two of them
carried long fowling-pieces, one wore a broadsword without a sheath, and all had the Highland dirk, though they
did not wear that weapon openly or ostentatiously.
Behind them followed the train of laden asses, and small
carts, or tumblers as they were called in that country, on
which were laid the decrepit and the helpless, the aged
and infant part of the exiled community. The women in
their red cloaks and straw hats, the elder children with
bare heads and bare feet, and almost naked bodies, had
the immediate care of the little caravan. The road was
narrow, running between two broken banks of sand, and
Mr. Bertram's servant rode forward, smacking his whip
with an air of authority, and motioning to the drivers to
allow free passage to their betters. His signal was unattended to. He then called to the men who lounged
idly on before, " Stand to your beasts' heads, and make
room for the Laird to pass."
"He shall have his share of the road," answered a
male gipsy from under his slouched and large brimmed
hat, and without raising his face, "and he shall have nae
mair; the highway is as free to our cuddies as to his
gelding."
The tone of the man being sulky, and even menacing,
Mr. Bertram thought it best to put his dignity in his
pocket, and pass by the procession quietly, on such space
as they chose to leave for his accommodation, which was
narrow enough. To cover with an appearance of indifference his feeling of the want of respect with which
he was treated, he addressed one of the men, as he
passed without any show of greeting, salute, or recognition,-" Giles Baillie," he said, "have you heard that