To this sanctified person Waverley addressed his request that he would procure him a guide, with a saddle-horse, to carry his portmanteau to Edinburgh.
``And whar may ye be coming from?'' demanded mine host of the Candlestick.
``I have told you where I wish to go; I do not conceive any further information necessary either for the guide or his saddle-horse.''
``Hem! Ahem!'' returned he of the Candlestick, somewhat disconcerted at this rebuff.``It's the general fast, sir, and Icannot enter into ony carnal transactions on sic a day, when the people should be humbled, and the backsliders should return, as worthy Mr.Goukthrapple said; and moreover when, as the precious Mr.Jabesh Rentowel did weel observe, the land was mourning for covenants burnt, broken, and buried.''
``My good friend,'' said Waverley, ``if you cannot let me have a horse and guide, my servant shall seek them elsewhere.''
``Aweel! Your servant?---and what for gangs he not forward wi' you himsell?''
Waverley had but very little of a captain of horse's spirit within him---I mean of that sort of spirit which I have been obliged to when I happened, in a mail-coach, or diligence, to meet some military man who has kindly taken upon him the disciplining of the waiters, and the taxing of reckonings.
Some of this useful talent our hero had, however, acquired during his military service, and on this gross provocation it began seriously to arise.``Look ye, sir; I came here for my own accommodation, and not to answer impertinent questions.
Either say you can, or cannot, get me what I want; I shall pursue my course in either case.''
Mr.Ebenezer Cruickshanks left the room with some indistinct muttering; but whether negative or acquiescent, Edward could not well distinguish.The hostess, a civil, quiet, laborious drudge, came to take his orders for dinner, but declined to make answer on the subject of the horse and guide; for the Salique law, it seems, extended to the stables of the Golden Candlestick.
From a window which overlooked the dark and narrow court in which Callum Beg rubbed down the horses after their journey, Waverley heard the following dialogue betwixt the subtile foot-page of Vich Ian Vohr and his landlord:---``Yell be frae the north, young man?'' began the latter.
``And ye may say that,'' answered Callum.
``And yell hae ridden a lang way the day, it may weel be?''
``Sae lang, that I could weel tak a dram.''
``Gudewife, bring the gill stoup.''
Here some compliments passed, fitting the occasion, when my host of the Golden Candlestick, having, as he thought, opened his guest's heart by this hospitable propitiation, resumed his scrutiny.
``Ye'll no hae mickle better whisky than that aboon the Pass?''
``I am nae frae aboon the Pass.''
``Ye're a Highlandman by your tongue?''
``Na; I am but just Aberdeen-a-way.''
``And did your master come frae Aberdeen wi' you?''
``Ay---that's when I left it mysell,'' answered the cool and impenetrable Callum Beg.
``And what kind of a gentleman is he?''
``I believe he is ane o' King George's state officers; at least, he's aye for ganging on to the south, and he has a hantle siller, and never grudges onything till a poor body, or in the way of a lawing.''
``He wants a guide and a horse frae hence to Edinburgh?''
``Ay, and ye maun find it him forthwith.''
``Ahem! It will be chargeable.''
``He cares na for that a bodle.''
``Aweel, Duncan---did ye say your name was Duncan, or Donald?''
``Na, man---Jamie---Jamie Steenson---I telt ye before.''
This last undaunted parry altogether foiled Mr.Cruickshanks, who, though not quite satisfied either with the reserve of the master, or the extreme readiness of the man, was contented to lay a tax on the reckoning and horse-hire, that might compound for his ungratified curiosity.The circumstance of its being the fast-day was not forgotten in the charge, which, on the whole, did not, however, amount to much more than double what in fairness it should have been.
Callum Beg soon after announced in person the ratification of this treaty, adding, ``Ta auld deevil was gauging to ride wi' ta Duinh<e'>-wassel hersell.''
``That will not be very pleasant, Callum, nor altogether safe, for our host seems a person of great curiosity; but a traveller must submit to these inconveniences.Meanwhile, my good lad, here is a trifle for you to drink Vich Ian Vohr's health.''
The hawk's eye of Callum flashed delight upon a golden guinea, with which these last words were accompanied.He hastened, not without a curse on the intricacies of a Saxon breeches pocket, or _spleuchan,_ as he called it, to deposit the treasure in his fob; and then, as if he conceived the benevolence called for some requital on his part, he gathered close up to Edward, with an expression of countenance peculiarly knowing, and spoke in an under tone, ``If his honour thought ta auld deevil Whig carle was a bit dangerous, she could easily provide for him, and teil ane ta wiser.''
``How, and in what manner?''
``Her ain sell,'' replied Callum, ``could wait for him a wee bit frae the toun, and kittle his quarters wi' her _skene-occle._''
``Skene-occle! what's that?''
Callum unbuttoned his coat, raised his left arm, and with an emphatic nod, pointed to the hilt of a small dirk, snugly deposited under it, in the lining of his jacket.Waverley thought he had understood his meaning; he gazed in his face, and discovered in Callum's very handsome, though embrowned features, just the degree of roguish malice with which a lad of the came age in England would have brought forward a plan for robbing an orchard.
``Good God, Callum, would you take the man's life?''
``Indeed,'' answered the young desperado, ``and I think he has had just a lang enough lease o't, when he's for betraying honest folk, that come to spend siller at his public.''