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.

-ROB ROY. 205
loons, wove out of a sort of chequered stocking stuff. The Bailie whispered
me, that " he behoved to be a man of some consequence, for that naebody
but their Duinhewassels wore the trews - they were ill to weave exactly to
their Highland pleasure."
The other mountaineer was a very tall, strong man, with a quantity of
reddish hair, freckled face, high cheek-bones, and long' chin- a sort of
caricature of the national features of Scotland. The tartan which he wore
differed from that of his companion, as it had much more scarlet in it,
whereas the shades of black and dark-green predominated in the chequers
of the other. The third, who sate at the same table, was in'the Lowland
dress, - a bold, stout-looking man, with a cast of military daring in his eye
and manner, his riding-dress showily and profusely laced, and his cocked
hat of formidable dimensions. His hanger and a pair of pistols lay on the
table before him. Each of the Highlanders had their naked dirks stuck
upright in the board beside him, - an emblem, I was afterwards informed,
but surely a strange one, that their compotation was not to be interrupted
by any brawl. A mighty pewter measure, containing about an English
quart of usquebaugh, a liquor nearly as strong as brandy, which the Highlanders distil from malt, and drink undiluted in excessive quantities, was
placed before these worthies. A broken glass, with a wooden foot, served
as a drinking cup to the whole party, and circulated with a rapidity, which,
considering the potency of the liquor, seemed absolutely marvellous. These
men spoke loud and eagerly together, sometimes in Gaelic, at other times in
English. Another Highlander, wrapt in his plaid, reclined on the floor, his
head resting on a stone, from which it was only separated by a wisp of
straw, and slept, or seemed to sleep, without attending to what was going
on around him. He also was probably a stranger, for he lay in full dress,
and accoutred with the sword and target, the usual arms of his countrymen
when on a journey. Cribs there were of different dimensions beside the
walls, formed, some of fractured boards, some of shattered wicker-work or
plaited boughs, in which slumbered the family of the house, men, women,
and children, their places of repose only concealed by the dusky wreaths
of vapour which arose above, below, and around them.
Our entrance was made so quietly, and the carousers I have described
were so eagerly engaged in their discussions, that we escaped their notice
for a minute or two. But I observed the Highlander who lay beside the
fire raise himself on his elbow as we entered, and, drawing his plaid over
the lower part of his face, fixshis look on us for a few seconds, after which
he resumed his recumbent posture, and seemed again to betake himself to
the repose which our entrance had interrupted.
WVe advanced to the fire, which was an agreeable spectacle after our late
ride,'during the chillness of an autumn evening among the mountains, and
first attracted the attention of the guests who had preceded us, by calling
for the landlady. She approached, looking doubtfully and timidly, now at
us, now at the other party, and returned a hesitating and doubtful answer
to our request to have something to eat.
"She didna ken," she said, "she wasna sure there was onything in the
house," and then modified her refusal with the qualification -- "that is,
onything fit for the like of us."
I assured her we were indifferent'to the quality of our supper; and
looking round for the means of accommodation, which were not easily to be
found, I arranged ain old hen-coop as a seat for Mr. Jarvie, and turned down
a broken tub to serve for my own. Andrew Fairservice entered presently
afterwards, and took a place in silence behind our backs. The natives, as
I may call them, continued staring at us with an air as if confounded by
our assurance, and we, at least I myself, disguised as well as we could,
under an appearance of indifference, any secret anxiety we might feel cons