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.

262 WAVERLEY NOVELS.
that he had caused the captives of the preceding day to be liberated in,safety; and many traits of mercy, and even of generosity, are recorded of
this remarkable man on several occasions.
A boat waited foi us in a creek beneath a huge rock, manned by four
lusty Highland rowers; and our host took leave of us with great cordiality,
and even affection. Betwixt him and Mr. Jarvie, indeed, there seemed to
exist a degree of mutual regard, which formed a strong contrast to their
different occupations and habits. After kissing each other very lovingly,
and when they were just in the act of parting, the Bailie, in the fulness of
his heart, and with a faltering voice, assured his kinsman, "that if ever an
hundred pund, or even twa hundred, would put him~or his family in a settled: way, he need but just send a line to the Saut-Market;" and Rob,
grasping his basket-hilt with one hand, and shaking Mr. Jarvie's heartily
with the other, protested, " that if ever anybody should affront his kinsman,
an he would but let him ken, he would stow his lugs out of his head, were
he the best man in Glasgow."
With these assurances.of mutual aid and continued good-will, we bore
away from the shore, and took.our course for the south-western angle of the
lake, where it gives birth to the river Leven. Rob Roy remained for some
time standing on the rock from beneath which we had departed, conspicuous by his long gun, waving tartans, and the single plume in his cap,
which in those days denoted the Highland gentleman and soldier; although
I observe that the present military taste has decorated the Highland bonnet
with a quantity of black plumage resembling that which is borne before
funerals. At length, as the distance increased between us, we saw him turn
and go slowly i.p the side of the hill, followed by his immediate attendants
or body guard.
We performed our voyage for a long time in silence, interrupted only by
the Gaelic chant which one of the rowers sung in low irregular measure,
rising occasionally into a wild chorus, in which the others joined.
My own thoughts were sad enough;-yet I felt something soothing in the
magnificent scenery with which I was surrounded; and thought, in the enthusiasm of the moment, that had my faith been that.of Rome, I could have
consented to live and die. a lonely hermit in one of the romantic and beautiful islands amongst which our boat glided.
The Bailie had also his speculations, but they were of somewhat a different complexion; as I found when, after about an hour's silence, during
which he had been mentally engaged in the calculations necessary, he undertook to prove the possibility of draining the lake, and " giving to plough
and harrow many hundred, ay, many. a thousand acres, from whilk no man
could get earthly gude e'enow, unless it were a gedd,* or a dish of perch
now and then."
Amidst a long discussion, which he "crammed into mine ear against the
stomach of my sense," I only remember, that it was part of his project to
preserve a portion of the lake just deep enough and broad enough for the
purposes of water-carriage, so that coal-barges and gabbards should; pass
as easily between Dumbarton and Glenfalloch as between Glasgow and
Greenock.
At length we neared our distant place of landing,: adjoining to the ruins
of an ancient castle, and just where the lake discharges its superfluous
waters into the Leven. There we found Do~ugal with the horses. The
Bailie had formed a plan with respect to "the creature," as well as upon
the draining of the lake; and, perhaps in both cases, with more regard to
the utility than to the practical possibility of his scheme. " Dougal,". he
said, " ye are a kindly creature, and hae the sense and feeling o' what is
due to your betters-and I'm e'en wae for you, Dougal, for it canna be but
A- pike.