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.

31)2 WAVERLEY NOVELS.
still more so, for want of tools and gunpowder; neither were the besiegers
provided with food, means of shelter, or other conveniences, which might
have enabled them to convert the siege into a blockade; and there would,
at any rate, have been a risk of relief from some of the marauder's
comrades. Hobbie grinded and gnashed his teeth, as, walking round the
fastness, he could devise no means of making a forcible entry. At length
he suddenly exclaimed, " And what for no do as our fathers did lang sync?
Put hand to the wark, lads. Let us cut up bushes and briers, pile them
before the door and set fire to them, and smoke that auld devil's dam as if
she were to be reestcd for bacon."
All immediately closed with this proposal, and some went to work with
swords and knives to cut down'the alder and hawthorn bushes which grew
by the side of the sluggish stream, many of which were sufficiently decayed
and dried for'their purpose, while others began to collect them in a large
stack, properly disposed for burning, as close to the iron-grate as they could
be piled. Fire was speedily obtained from one of their guns, and Hobbie
was already advancing to the pile with a kindled brand, when the surly
face of the robber, and the muzzle of a musquetoon, were partially shown
at a shot-hole which flanked the entrance. " Mony thanks to ye," he said,
scoffingly, "for collecting sae muckle winter eilding for us: but if ye step
a foot nearer it wi' that lunt, it's be the dearest step ye ever made in your
days."
"We'll sune see that," said Iobbie, advancing fearlessly with the torch.
The marauder snapped his piece at him, which, fortunately for our honest
friend, did not go off; while Earnscliff, firing at the same moment at the
narrow aperture and slight mark afforded by the robber's face, grazed the
side of his head with a bullet. He had apparently calculated upon his post
affording him more security, for he no sooner felt the wound, though a very
slight one, than he requested a parley, and demanded to know what they
meant by attacking in this fashion a peaceable and honest man, and shedding his blood in that lawless manner?
"We want your prisoner," said Earnscliff, "to be delivered up to us in
safety."
"And what concern have you with her?" replied the marauder.
" That," retorted Earnscliff, "you, who are detaining her by force, have
no right to inquire."
" Aweel, I think I can gie a guess," said the robber. "Wooeel, sirs, I am
laith to enter into deadly feud with you by spilling ony of your bluid,
though Earnscliff hasna stopped to shed mine - and he can hit a mark to
a groat's breadth - so, to prevent mair skaith, I am willing to deliver up
the prisoner, since nae less will please you."
" And Hobbie's gear?" cried Simon of Hackburn. "ID'ye think you're
to be free to plunder the faulds and byres of a gentle Elliot, as if they were
an auld wife's hen's-cavey?"
"As I live by bread," replied Willie of WVestburnfiat — " As I live by
bread, I have not a single cloot o' them! They're a' ower the march lang
syne; there's no a horn o' them about the tower. But I'll see what o' them
can be gotten back, and I'll take this day twa days to meet Hobbie at the
Castleton wi' twa friends on ilka side, and see to mak an agreement about
a' the wrang he can wyte me wi'."
"Ay, ay," said Elliot, " that will do weel eneugh." And then aside to
his kinsman, "Murrain on the gear! Lordsake, man! say nought about
them. Let us but get puir Grace out o' that auld hellicat's clutches."
"Will ye gie me your word, Earnscliff," said the marauder, who still
lingered at the shot-hole, " your faith and troth, with hand and glove, that
I am free to come and free to gae, with five minutes to open the grate, and
five minutes to steek it and to draw the bolts? less winna do, for they want
creishing sairly. Will ye do this?"'