第 十七 章 · THE HOLD OF A HIGHLAND ROBBER

. THE HOLD OF A HIGHLAND ROBBER

The party preserved silence, interrupted only by the monotonous and

murmured chant of a Gaelic song, sung in a kind of low recitative by

the steersman, and by the dash of the oars, which the notes seemed to

regulate, as they dipped to them in cadence. The light, which they now

approached more nearly, assumed a broader, redder and more irregular

splendour. It appeared plainly to be a large fire, but whether kindled

upon an island or the mainland Edward could not determine. As he saw

it, the red glaring orb seemed to rest on the very surface of the lake

itself, and resembled the fiery vehicle in which the Evil Genius of an

Oriental tale traverses land and sea. They approached nearer, and the

light of the fire sufficed to show that it was kindled at the bottom of

a huge dark crag or rock, rising abruptly from the very edge of the

water; its front, changed by the reflection to dusky red, formed a

strange and even awful contrast to the banks around, which were from

time to time faintly and partially illuminated by pallid moonlight.

The boat now neared the shore, and Edward could discover that this

large fire, amply supplied with branches of pine-wood by two figures,

who, in the red reflection of its light, appeared like demons, was

kindled in the jaws of a lofty cavern, into which an inlet from the

lake seemed to advance; and he conjectured, which was indeed true, that

the fire had been lighted as a beacon to the boatmen on their return.

They rowed right for the mouth of the cave, and then, shipping their

oars, permitted the boat to enter in obedience to the impulse which it

had received. The skiff passed the little point or platform of rock on

which the fire was blazing, and running about two boats’ lengths

farther, stopped where the cavern (for it was already arched overhead)

ascended from the water by five or six broad ledges of rock, so easy

and regular that they might be termed natural steps. At this moment a

quantity of water was suddenly flung upon the fire, which sunk with a

hissing noise, and with it disappeared the light it had hitherto

afforded. Four or five active arms lifted Waverley out of the boat,

placed him on his feet, and almost carried him into the recesses of the

cave. He made a few paces in darkness, guided in this manner; and

advancing towards a hum of voices, which seemed to sound from the

centre of the rock, at an acute turn Donald Bean Lean and his whole

establishment were before his eyes.

[Illustration]

The interior of the cave, which here rose very high, was illuminated by

torches made of pine-tree, which emitted a bright and bickering light,

attended by a strong though not unpleasant odour. Their light was

assisted by the red glare of a large charcoal fire, round which were

seated five or six armed Highlanders, while others were indistinctly

seen couched on their plaids in the more remote recesses of the cavern.

In one large aperture, which the robber facetiously called his “spence”

(or pantry), there hung by the heels the carcasses of a sheep, or ewe,

and two cows lately slaughtered. The principal inhabitant of this

singular mansion, attended by Evan Dhu as master of the ceremonies,

came forward to meet his guest, totally different in appearance and

manner from what his imagination had anticipated. The profession which

he followed, the wilderness in which he dwelt, the wild warrior forms

that surrounded him, were all calculated to inspire terror. From such

accompaniments, Waverley prepared himself to meet a stern, gigantic,

ferocious figure, such as Salvator would have chosen to be the central

object of a group of banditti.[15]

Donald Bean Lean was the very reverse of all these. He was thin in

person and low in stature, with light sandy-coloured hair, and small

pale features, from which he derived his agnomen of “Bean” or white;

and although his form was light, well proportioned and active, he

appeared, on the whole, rather a diminutive and insignificant figure.

He had served in some inferior capacity in the French army, and in

order to receive his English visitor in great form, and probably

meaning, in his way, to pay him a compliment, he had laid aside the

Highland dress for the time, to put on an old blue and red uniform and

a feathered hat, in which he was far from showing to advantage, and

indeed looked so incongruous, compared with all around him, that

Waverley would have been tempted to laugh, had laughter been either

civil or safe. The robber received Captain Waverley with a profusion of

French politeness and Scottish hospitality, seemed perfectly to know

his name and connections, and to be particularly acquainted with his

uncle’s political principles. On these he bestowed great applause, to

which Waverley judged it prudent to make a very general reply.

Being placed at a convenient distance from the charcoal fire, the heat

of which the season rendered oppressive, a strapping Highland damsel

placed before Waverley, Evan, and Donald Bean three _cogues_, or wooden

vessels composed of staves and hoops, containing _eanaruich_,[*] a sort

of strong soup, made out of a particular part of the inside of the

beeves. After this refreshment, which, though coarse, fatigue and

hunger rendered palatable, steaks, roasted on the coals, were supplied

in liberal abundance, and disappeared before Evan Dhu and their host

with a promptitude that seemed like magic, and astonished Waverley, who

was much puzzled to reconcile their voracity with what he had heard of

the abstemiousness of the Highlanders. He was ignorant that this

abstinence was with the lower ranks wholly compulsory, and that, like

some animals of prey, those who practise it were usually gifted with

the power of indemnifying themselves to good purpose when chance threw

plenty in their way. The whisky came forth in abundance to crown the

cheer. The Highlanders drank it copiously and undiluted; but Edward,

having mixed a little with water, did not find it so palatable as to

invite him to repeat the draught. Their host bewailed himself

exceedingly that he could offer him no wine; had he but known

four-and-twenty hours before, he would have had some, had it been

within the circle of forty miles round him. But no gentleman could do

more to show his sense of the honour of a visit from another than to

offer him the best cheer his house afforded. Where there are no bushes

there can be no nuts, and the way of those you live with is that you

must follow.

[* This was the regale presented by Rob Roy to the Laird of Tullibody.]

He went on regretting to Evan Dhu the death of an aged man, Donnacha an

Amrigh, or Duncan with the Cap, “a gifted seer,” who foretold, through

the second sight, visitors of every description who haunted their

dwelling, whether as friends or foes.

“Is not his son Malcolm _taishatr_ (a second-sighted person)?” asked

Evan.

“Nothing equal to his father,” replied Donald Bean. “He told us the

other day, we were to see a great gentleman riding on a horse, and

there came nobody that whole day but Shemus Beg, the blind harper, with

his dog. Another time he advertised us of a wedding, and behold it

proved a funeral; and on the _creagh_, when he foretold to us we should

bring home a hundred head of horned cattle, we gripped nothing but a

fat bailie of Perth.”

From this discourse he passed to the political and military state of

the country; and Waverley was astonished, and even alarmed, to find a

person of this description so accurately acquainted with the strength

of the various garrisons and regiments quartered north of the Tay. He

even mentioned the exact number of recruits who had joined Waverley’s

troop from his uncle’s estate, and observed they were “pretty men”,

meaning, not handsome, but stout warlike fellows. He put Waverley in

mind of one or two minute circumstances which had happened at a general

review of the regiment, which satisfied him that the robber had been an

eye-witness of it; and Evan Dhu having by this time retired from the

conversation, and wrapped himself up in his plaid to take some repose,

Donald asked Edward, in a very significant manner, whether he had

nothing particular to say to him.

Waverley, surprised and somewhat startled at this question from such a

character, answered, he had no motive in visiting him but curiosity to

see his extraordinary place of residence. Donald Bean Lean looked him

steadily in the face for an instant, and then said, with a significant

nod, “You might as well have confided in me; I am as much worthy of

trust as either the Baron of Bradwardine or Vich Ian Vohr. But you are

equally welcome to my house.”

Waverley felt an involuntary shudder creep over him at the mysterious

language held by this outlawed and lawless bandit, which, in despite of

his attempts to master it, deprived him of the power to ask the meaning

of his insinuations. A heath pallet, with the flowers stuck uppermost,

had been prepared for him in a recess of the cave, and here, covered

with such spare plaids as could be mustered, he lay for some time

watching the motions of the other inhabitants of the cavern. Small

parties of two or three entered or left the place, without any other

ceremony than a few words in Gaelic to the principal outlaw, and, when

he fell asleep, to a tall Highlander who acted as his lieutenant, and

seemed to keep watch during his repose. Those who entered seemed to

have returned from some excursion, of which they reported the success,

and went without farther ceremony to the larder, where, cutting with

their dirks their rations from the carcasses which were there

suspended, they proceeded to broil and eat them at their own pleasure

and leisure. The liquor was under strict regulation, being served out

either by Donald himself, his lieutenant, or the strapping Highland

girl aforesaid, who was the only female that appeared. The allowance of

whisky, however, would have appeared prodigal to any but Highlanders,

who, living entirely in the open air and in a very moist climate, can

consume great quantities of ardent spirits without the usual baneful

effects either upon the brain or constitution.

At length the fluctuating groups began to swim before the eyes of our

hero as they gradually closed; nor did he re-open them till the morning

sun was high on the lake without, though there was but a faint and

glimmering twilight in the recesses of Uaimh an Ri, or the King’s

Cavern, as the abode of Donald Bean Lean was proudly denominated.