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.

318 WAVERLEY NOVELS.
a broomstick, or played cantrips on Fastern's E'ep. It wad hae been Iang
or Elshie had burnt down my house and barns, and I am determined to try
if he will do aught to build them up again. HIe's weel kend a skilfu' man
ower a' the country, as far as Brough under Stanmore."
"Bide a wee, my bairn; mind his benefits havena thriven wi' a' body.
Jock Howden died o' the very same disorder Elshie pretended to cure him
of, about the fa' o' the leaf; and though he helped Lambside's cow weel out
o' the moor-ill, yet the louping-ill's been sairer amang his sheep that ony
season before. And then I have heard lie uses sic words abusing human
nature, that's like a fleeing in the face of Providence; and ye mind ye said
yoursell, the first time ye ever saw him, that he was mair like a bogle than
a living thing."
"IIout, mother," said Hobbie, "Elshie's no that bad a chield; he's a
grewsome spectacle for a crooked disciple, to be sure, and a rough talker,
but his bark is waur than his bite; sae, if I had anes something to eat, for
I havena had a morsel ower my throat this day, I wad streek mysell down
for twa or three hours aside the beast, and be on and awa to Miucklestano
wi' the first skreigh o' morning."
"And what for no the night, Hobbie," said Harry, "'and I will ride
wi' ye?"
" My naig is tired," said Hobbie.
"Ye may take mine then," said John.
" But I am a wee thing wearied imysell."
"You wearied?" said Harry; " shame on ye 1 I have kend ye keep the
saddle four-and-twenty hours thegither, and ne'er sic a word as weariness in
your wame."
" The night's very dark," said I-Iobbie, rising and looking through the
casement of the cottage; " and, to speak truth, and shame the deil, though
Elshie's a real honest fallow, yet somegate I would rather take day-light wi'
me when I gang to visit him."
This frank avowal put a stop to farther argument; and Hobbie, having
thus compromised matters between the rashness of his brother's counsel, and
the timid cautions which he received from his grandmother, refreshed himself with such food as the cottage afforded; and, after a cordial salutation
all round, retired to the shed, and stretched himself beside his trusty palfrey.
I-is brothers shared between them some trusses of clean straw, disposed in
the stall usually occupied by old Annaple's cow; and the females arranged
themselves for repose as well as the accommodations of the cottage would
permit.
With the first dawn of morning, Hobbie arose; and, having rubbed down
and saddled his horse, he set forth to Mucklestane-moor. He avoided the
company of either of his brothers, from an idea that the Dwarf was most
propitious to those who visited him alone.
" The creature," said he to himself, as he went along, " is no neighbourly;
ae body at a time is fully mair than he weel can abide. I wonder if he's
looked out o' the crib o' him to gather up the bag o' siller. If he hasna
done that, it will hee been a braw windfa' for somebody, and I'll be finely
flung. Come, Tarras," said he to his horse, striking him at the same
time with his spur, " make mair fit, man; we maun be first on the field if
we can."
Hie was now on the heath, which began to be illuminated by the beams
of the rising sun; the gentle declivity which he was descending presented
him a distinct, though distant view of the Dwarf's dwelling. The door
opened, and Hobbie witnessed with his own eyes that phenomenon which
he had frequently heard mentioned. Two human figures (if that of the
Dwarf could be termed such) issued from the solitary abode of the Recluse,
and stood as if in converse together in the open air. The taller form then
stoopedj as if taking something up which lay beside the door of the hut,