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.

228 WAVERLEY NOVELS.
whom he addressed, when Dougal threw himself between them, and in his
own language, which he spoke with a fluency and rapidity strongly contrasted by the slow, imperfect, and idiot-like manner in which he expressed
himself in English, poured forth what I doubt not was a very animated
pleading in our behalf.
His mistress replied to him, or rather cut short his harangue, by exclaiming in English (as if determined to make us taste in anticipation the full
bitterness of death) - " Base dog, and son of a dog,'do you dispute my
commands? Should I tell ye to cut out their tongues and put' them into
each other's throats, to try which would there best knap Southron, or to
tear out their hearts and put them into each other's breasts, to see which
would there best plot treason against the MacGregor-and such things have
been done of old in the day of revenge, when our fathers had wrongs to
redress-Should I command you to do this, would it be your part to dispute
my orders?"
" To be sure, to be sure," Dougal replied, with accents of profound submission; " her pleasure suld be done-tat's but reason; but an it were-tat
is, an it could be thought the same to her to coup the ill-faured loon of ta
red-coat Captain, and hims Corporal Cramp, and twa three o' the red-coats
into the loch, hersell wad do't wi' muckle mair great satisfaction than to'hurt ta honest civil shentlemans as were friends to the Gregarach, and
came up on the chief's assurance, and not to do no treason, as hersell could
testify."
The lady was about to reply, when a few wild strains of a pibroch were
heard advancing up the road from Aberfoil, the same probably which had
reached the ears of Captain Thornton's rear-guard, and determined him to
force his way onward rather than return to the village, on finding the pass
occupied. The skirmish being of very short duration, the armed men who
followed -this martial melody, had not, although quickening their marth
when they heard the firing,.been able to arrive in time sufficient to take
any share in the rencontre. The victory, therefore, was complete without
them, and they now arrived only to share in the triumph of their countrymen.
There was a marked difference betwixt the appearance of these new
comers and that of the party by which our escort had been defeated-and it
was greatly in favour of the former. Among the Highlanders who surrounded the Chieftainess, if I may presume to call her so without offence to
grammar, were men in the extremity of age, boys scarce able to bear al
sword, and even women-all, in short, whom the last necessity urges to take
up arms; and it added a shade of bitter shame to the dejection whic
clouded Thornton's manly countenance, when he found that the number
and position of a foe, otherwise so despicable, had enabled them' to conque
his brave veterans. But the thirty or forty Highlanders who now joined the
others, were all men in the prime of youth or manhood, active clean-mad
fellows, whose short hose and belted plaids set out their sinewy limbs to th
best advantage. Their arms were as superior to those of the first party a
their dress and appearance. The followers of the female Chief had axes
scythes, and other antique weapons, in aid of their guns; and some had onl
clubs, daggers, and long knives. But of the second party, most had pistol
at the belt, and almost all had dirks hanging at the pouches which the,
wore in front. Each had a good gun in his hand, and a broadsword by hi
side, besides a stout round target, made of light wood, covered with leather
and curiously studded with brass, and having a steel spike screwed into th
centre. These hung on their left shoulder during a march, or while thei
were engaged in exchanging fire with the enemy, and were worn on thei
left arm when they charged with sword in hand.
But it was easy to see that this chosen band had not arrived from a vid
tory such as they found their ill-appointed companions possessed of. Tht