The Waverley novels, by Sir Walter Scott, complete in 12 vol., printed from the latest English ed., embracing the author's last corrections, prefaces & notes.

THE ANTIQUARY. 153
and pit mair strength, man — ae gude downright devvel will split it, I'se
warrant ye-Ay, that will do!-Od, he comes on wi' Wallace's straiks!"
In fact, the adept, moved by Edie's exhortations, fetched two or three
desperate blows, and succeeded in breaking, not indeed that against which
he struck, which, as he had already conjectured, was the solid rock, but the
implement which he wielded, jarring at the same time his arms up to the
shoulder-blades.
" Hurra, boys!-there goes Ringan's pick-axe!" cried Edie: " it's a shame
o' the Fairport folk to sell siccan frail gear. Try the shule -at it again,
Mr. Dusterdeevil."
The adept, without reply, scrambled out of the pit, which was now about
six feet deep, and addressed his associate in a voice that trembled with
anger. "Does you know, Mr. Edies Ochiltrees, who it is you put off your
gibes and your jests upon?"
i" Brawly, Mr. Dusterdeevil - brawly do I ken ye, and has done mony a
day; but there's nae jesting in the case, for I am wearying to see a' our
treasures; we should hae had baith ends o' the pockmanky filled by this
time -I hope it's bowk eneugh to haud a' the gear?"
" Look you, you base old person,"' said the incensed philosopher, " if you
do put another jest upon me, I will cleave your skull-piece with this
shovels!"
"And whare wad my hands and my pike-staff be a' the time?" replied.
Edie, in a tone that indicated no apprehension. " Hout, tout, Maister Dusterdeevil, I haena lived sae lang in the warld neither, to be shuled out o't
that gate. What ails ye to be cankered, man, wi' your friends? I'll wager
I'11 find out the treasure in a minute;" and he jumped into the pit, and
took up the spade.
"I do swear to you," said the adept, whose suspicions were now fully
awake, "that if you have played me one big trick, I will give you one big
beating, Mr. Edies."
"Hear till him now!" said Ochiltree —"he kens how to gar folk find
out the gear — Od, I'm thinking he's been drilled that way himsell some
day."
At this insinuation, which alluded obviously to the former scene betwixt
himself and Sir Arthur, the philosopher lost the slender remnant of patience
he had left, and being of violent passions, heaved up the truncheon of the
broken mattock to discharge it upon the old man's head. The blow would
in all probability have been fatal, had not he at whom it was aimed exclaimed
in a stern and firm voice, " Shame to ye, man! — do ye think Heaven or
earth will suffer ye to murder an auld man that might be your father? —
Look behind ye, man!"
Dousterswivel turned instinctively, and beheld, to his utter astonishment,
a tall dark figure standing close behind him. The apparition gave him no
time to proceed by exorcism or otherwise, but having instantly recourse to
the voie defait, took measure of the adept's shoulders three or four times
with blows so substantial, that he fell under the weight of them, and
remained senseless for some minutes between fear and stupefaction. When
he came to himself, he, was alone in the ruined chancel, lying upon the softi
and damp earth which had been thrown out of Misticot's grave. He raised
himself with a confused sensation of anger, pain, and terror, and it was not
until he had sat upright for some minutes that he could arrange his ideas sufficiently to recollect how he came there, or with what purpose. As his recollection -returned, he could have little doubt that the bait held out to him by
Ochiltree to bring him to that solitary spot, the sarcasms by which he had
provoked him into a quarrel, and the ready assistance which he had at
hand for terminating it in the manner in which it had ended, were all parts
of a concerted plan to bring disgrace and damage on Herman Dousterswivel. He could hardly suppose that he was indebted for the fatigue,