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.

534 WAVERLEY NOVELS.
tions; but by temperament, his blood is as unruly as ever beat under a
black skin, and if you do not find him in the vein of judging, he is likely
enough to be in that of killing. Stakes and bowstrings are as frequently
in his head as the adjustment of the scales of justice."
" No matter-I will instantly present myself at his Durbar. The Governor
cannot for very shame refuse me letters of credence."
"Never think of asking them," said his more experienced friend; "it
would cost Paupiah little to have them so worded as to induce Hyder to
rid our sable Dubash, at once and for ever, of the sturdy free-spoken Dr.
Adam Hartley. A Vakeel, or messenger of government, sets out to-morrow
for Seringapatam; contrive to join him on the road, his passport will protect
you both. Do you know none of the chiefs about Hyder's person?"
" None, excepting his late emissary to this place, Barak el Hadgi," answered aIrtley.
" His support," said Esdale, " although only aFakir, may be as effectual
as that of persons of more essential consequence. And, to say the truth,
where the caprice of a despot is the question in debate, there is no knowing
upon what it is best to reckon.-Take my advice, my dear Hartley, leave
this poor girl to her fate. After all, by placing yourself in an attitude of
endeavouring to save her, it is a hundred to one that you only ensure your
own destruction."
Hartley shook his head, and bade Esdale hastily farewell; leaving him
in the happy and self-applauding state of mind proper to one who has given
the best advice possible to a friend, and may conscientiously wash his hands
of all consequences.
Having furnished himself with money, and with the attendance of three
trusty native servants, mounted like himself on Arab horses, and carrying
with them no tent, and very little baggage, the anxious Hartley lost not a
moment in taking the road to Mysore, endeavouring, in the meantime, by
recollecting every story he had ever heard of Hyder's justice and forbearance, to assure himself that he should find the Nawaub disposed to protect
a helpless female, even against the future heir of his empire.
Before he crossed the Madras territory, he overtook the Vakeel, or messenger of the British Government, of whom Esdale had spoken. This man,
accustomed for a sum of money to permit adventurous European traders
who desired to visit Hyder's capital, to share his protection, passport, and
escort, was not disposed to refuse the same good office to a gentleman of
credit at Madras; and, propitiated by an additional gratuity, undertook to
travel as speedily as possible. It was a journey which was not prosecuted
without much fatigue and considerable danger, as they had to traverse a
country frequently exposed to all the evils of war, more especially when
they approached the Ghauts, those tremendous mountain-passes which
descend from the table-land of Mysore, and through which the mighty
streams that arise in the centre of the Indian peninsula, find their way to
the ocean.
The sun had set ere the party reached the foot of one of these perilous
passes, up which lay the road to Seringapatam. A narrow path, which in
summer resembled an empty water-course, winding upwards among immense
rocks and precipices, was at one time completely overshadowed by dark
groves of teak-trees, and at another, found its way beside impenetrable
jungles, the habitation of jackals and tigers.
By means of this unsocial path the travellers threaded their way in
silence,-Hartley, whose impatience kept him before the Vakeel, eagerly
enquiring when the moon would enlighten the darkness, which, after the
sun's disappearance, closed fast around them. He was answered by the
natives according to their usual mode of expression, that the moon was in
her dark side, and that he was not to hope to behold her bursting through
a cloud to illuminate the thickets and strata of black and slaty rocks,