he said, ``with two hundred horse, whom he levied within his own bounds, discomfited and put to the rout more than five hundred of these Highland reivers, who have been ever _lapis offensionis, et petra scandali,_ a stumbling-block and a rock of offence to the Lowland vicinage---he discomfited them, I say, when they had the temerity to descend to harry this country in the time of the civil dissensions, in the year of grace sixteen hundred forty and two.And now, sir, I, his grandson, am thus used at such unworthy hands!''
Here there was an awful pause; after which all the company, as is usual in cases of difficulty, began to give separate and inconsistent counsel.Alexander ab Alexandro proposed they should send some one to compound with the Caterans, who would readily, he said, give up their prey for a dollar a-head.The Bailie opined that this transaction would amount to theft-boot, or composition of felony; and he recommended that some _canny hand_ should be sent up to the glens to make the best bargain he could, as it were for himself, so that the laird might not be seen in such a transaction.Edward proposed to send off to the nearest garrison for a party of soldiers and a magistrate's warrant; and Rose, as far as she dared, endeavoured to insinuate the course of paying the arrears of tribute money to Fergus Mac-Ivor Vich Ian Vohr, who, they all knew, could easily procure restoration of the cattle, if he were properly propitiated.
None of these proposals met the Baron's approbation.The idea of composition, direct or implied, was absolutely ignominious;that of Waverley only showed that he did not understand the state of the country, and of the political parties which divided it; and, standing matters as they did with Fergus Mac-Ivor Vich Ian Vohr, the Baron would make no concession to him, were it, he said, ``to procure restitution _in integrum_ of every stirk and stot that the chief, his forefathers, and his clan, had stolen since the days of Malcolm Canmore.''
In fact, his voice was still for war, and he proposed to send expresses to Balmawhapple, Killancureit, Tulliellum, and other lairds, who were exposed to similar depredations, inviting them to join in the pursuit; ``and then, sir, shall these _nebulones nequissimi,_ as Lesl<ae>us calls them, be brought to the fate of their predecessor Cacus.
`Elisos oculos, et siccum sanguine guttur.' ''
The Bailie, who by no means relished these warlike counsels, here pulled forth an immense watch, of the colour, and nearly of the size, of a pewter warming-pan, and observed it was now past noon, and that the Caterans had been seen in the pass of Bally-Brough soon after sunrise; so that before the allied forces could assemble, they and their prey would be far beyond the reach of the most active pursuit, and sheltered in those pathless deserts where it was neither advisable to follow, nor indeed possible to trace them.
This proposition was undeniable.The council therefore broke up without coming to any conclusion, as has occurred to councils of more importance; only it was determined that the Bailie should send his own three milk-cows down to the Mains for the use of the Baron's family, and brew small ale, as a substitute for milk, in his own.To this arrangement, which was suggested by Saunderson, the Bailie readily assented, both from habitual deference to the family, and an internal consciousness that his courtesy would, in some mode or other, be repaid ten-fold.
The Baron having also retired to give some necessary directions, Waverley seized the opportunity to ask, whether this Fergus, with the unpronounceable name, was the chief thief-taker of the district.
``Thief-taker!'' answered Rose, laughing; ``he is a gentle man of great honour and consequence; the chieftain of an independent branch of a powerful Highland clan, and is much respected, both for his own power, and that of his kith, kin, and allies.''
``And what has he to do with the thieves, then? is he a magistrate, or in the commission of the peace?'' asked Waverley.
``The commission of war rather, if there be such a thing,''
said Rose; ``for he is a very unquiet neighbour to his un-friends, and keeps a greater _following_ on foot than many that have thrice his estate.As to his connection with the thieves, that Icannot well explain; but the boldest of them will never steal a hoof from any one that pays black-mail to Vich Ian Vohr.''
``And what is black-mail?''
``A sort of protection-money that Low-country gentlemen and heritors, lying near the Highlands, pay to some Highland chief, that he may neither do them harm himself, nor suffer it to be done to them by others; and then, if your cattle are stolen, you have only to send him word, and he will recover them; or it may be, he will drive away cows from some distant place, where he has a quarrel, and give them to you to make up your loss.''
``And is this sort of Highland Jonathan Wild admitted into society, and called a gentleman?''