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.

THIE BLACK DWARF. 8307
they'll be for being back that way. The rest disperse by twasome and
threesome through the waste, and meet me at the Trysting-pool. Tell my
brothers when they come up, to follow and meet us there. Poor lads, they
will hae hearts weelnigh as sair as mine; little think they what a sorrowful house they are bringing their venison to! I'll ride ower MucklestaneMoor mysell."
" And if I were you," said Dick of the Dingle, " I would speak to Canny
Elshie. He can tell you whatever betides in this land, if he's sae minded."
" IHe shall tell me," said I-obbie, who was busy putting his arms in order,
"what he kens o' this night's job, or I shall right weel ken wherefore he
does not."
" Ay, but speak him fair, my bonny man-speak him fair, Hobbie; the
like o' him will no bear thrawing. They converse sae muckle wi' thae fractious ghaists and evil spirits, that it clean spoils their temper."
"Let me alane to guide him," answered Hobbie; "there's that in my
breast this day, that would ower-maister a' the warlocks on earth, and a'
the devils in hell."
And being now fully equipped, he threw himself on his horse, and spurred
him at a rapid pace against the steep ascent.
Elliot speedily surmounted the hill, rode down the other side at the same
rate, crossed a wood, and traversed a long glen, ere he at length regained
Mucklestane-Moor. As he was obliged, in the course of his journey, to
relax his speed in consideration of the labour which his horse might still
have to undergo, he had time to consider maturely in what manner he
should address the Dwarf, in order to extract from him the knowledge
which he supposed him to be in possession of concerning the authors of his
misfortunes. Hobbie, though bLunt, plain of speech, and hot of disposition,
like most of his countrymen, was by no means deficient in the shrewdness
which is also their characteristic. He reflected, that from what he had observed on the memorable night when the Dwarf was first seen, and from the
conduct of that mysterious being ever since, he was likely to be rendered
even more obstinate in his sullenness by threats and violence.
"I'll speak him fair," he said, "as auld Dickon advised me. Though folk
say he has a league wi' Satan, he canna be sic an incarnate devil as no to take
some pity in a case like mine; and folk threep he'll whiles do good, charitable sort o' things. I'll keep my heart doun as well as I can, and stroke
him wi' the hair; and if the warst come to the warst, it's but wringing the
head o' him about at last."
In this disposition of accommodation he approached the hut of the
Solitary.
The old man was not upon his seat of audience, nor could Ilobbie perceive him in his garden, or enclosures.
"He's gotten into his very keep," said Hobbie, "maybe to be out o' the
gate; but I'se pu' it doun about his lugs, if I canna win at him otherwise."
Having thus communed with himself, he raised his voice, and invoked
Elshie, in a tone as supplicating as his conflicting feelings would permit..
"Elshie, my gude friend!" No reply. "Elshie, canny Father Elshie!'
The Dwarf remained mute. " Sorrow be in the crooked carcase of thee!"
said the Borderer between his teeth; and then again attempting a soothing
tone,-" Good Father Elshie, a most miserable creature desires some counsel
of your wisdom."
"The better!" answered the shrill and discordant voice of the Dwarf
through a very small window, resembling an arrow-slit, which he had constructed near the door of his dwelling, and through which he could see any
one who approached it, without the possibility of their looking in upon him.
"The better!" said Hobbie impatiently; "what is the better, Elshie?
Do you not hear me tell you I am the most miserable wretch living?"
" And do you not hear me tell you it is so much the better? and did I