chronicles of the canongate-第39章

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n　to　fight　with；　Ralph　Heskett？〃

〃No；　but　I　can　send　to　the　armoury　at　Carlisle；　and　lend　them　two　forks；　to　be　making　shift　with　in　the　meantime。〃

〃Tush；　man；〃　said　another；　〃the　bonny　Scots　come　into　the　world　with　the　blue　bonnet　on　their　heads；　and　dirk　and　pistol　at　their　belt。〃

〃Best　send　post；〃　said　Mr。　Fleecebumpkin；　〃to　the　Squire　of　Corby　Castle；　to　come　and　stand　second　to　the　GENTLEMAN。〃

In　the　midst　of　this　torrent　of　general　ridicule；　the　Highlander　instinctively　griped　beneath　the　folds　of　his　plaid；

〃But　it's　better　not；〃　he　said　in　his　own　language。　　〃A　hundred　curses　on　the　swine…eaters；　who　know　neither　decency　nor　civility！〃

〃Make　room；　the　pack　of　you；〃　he　said；　advancing　to　the　door。

But　his　former　friend　interposed　his　sturdy　bulk；　and　opposed　his　leaving　the　house；　and　when　Robin　Oig　attempted　to　make　his　way　by　force；　he　hit　him　down　on　the　floor；　with　as　much　ease　as　a　boy　bowls　down　a　nine…pin。

〃A　ring；　a　ring！〃　　was　now　shouted；　until　the　dark　rafters；　and　the　hams　that　hung　on　them；　trembled　again；　and　the　very　platters　on　the　BINK　clattered　against　each　other。　　〃Well　done；　Harry〃　〃Give　it　him　home；　Harry〃〃Take　care　of　him　nowhe　sees　his　own　blood！〃

Such　were　the　exclamations；　while　the　Highlander；　starting　from　the　ground；　all　his　coldness　and　caution　lost　in　frantic　rage；　sprung　at　his　antagonist　with　the　fury；　the　activity；　and　the　vindictive　purpose　of　an　incensed　tiger…cat。　　But　when　could　rage　encounter　science　and　temper？　　Robin　Oig　again　went　down　in　the　unequal　contest；　and　as　the　blow　was　necessarily　a　severe　one；　he　lay　motionless　on　the　floor　of　the　kitchen。　　The　landlady　ran　to　offer　some　aid；　but　Mr。　Fleecebumpkin　would　not　permit　her　to　approach。

〃Let　him　alone；〃　he　said；　〃he　will　come　to　within　time；　and　come　up　to　the　scratch　again。　　He　has　not　got　half　his　broth　yet。〃

〃He　has　got　all　I　mean　to　give　him；　though；〃　said　his　antagonist；　whose　heart　began　to　relent　towards　his　old　associate；　〃and　I　would　rather　by　half　give　the　rest　to　yourself；　Mr。　Fleecebumpkin；　for　you　pretend　to　know　a　thing　or　two；　and　Robin　had　not　art　enough　even　to　peel　before　setting　to；　but　fought　with　his　plaid　dangling　about　him。Stand　up；　Robin；　my　man！　　All　friends　now；　and　let　me　hear　the　man　that　will　speak　a　word　against　you；　or　your　country；　for　your　sake。〃

Robin　Oig　was　still　under　the　dominion　of　his　passion；　and　eager　to　renew　the　onset；　but　being　withheld　on　the　one　side　by　the　peacemaking　Dame　Heskett；　and　on　the　other；　aware　that　Wakefield　no　longer　meant　to　renew　the　combat；　his　fury　sunk　into　gloomy　sullenness。

〃Come；　come；　never　grudge　so　much　at　it；　man；〃　said　the　brave…　spirited　Englishman；　with　the　placability　of　his　country；　〃shake　hands；　and　we　will　be　better　friends　than　ever。〃

〃Friends！〃　　exclaimed　Robin　Oig　with　strong　emphasis〃friends！　Never。　　Look　to　yourself；　Harry　Waakfelt。〃

〃Then　the　curse　of　Cromwell　on　your　proud　Scots　stomach；　as　the　man　says　in　the　play；　and　you　may　do　your　worst；　and　be　dd；　for　one　man　can　say　nothing　more　to　another　after　a　tussle；　than　that　he　is　sorry　for　it。〃

On　these　terms　the　friends　parted。　　Robin　Oig　drew　out；　in　silence；　a　piece　of　money；　threw　it　on　the　table；　and　then　left　the　alehouse。　　But　turning　at　the　door；　he　shook　his　hand　at　Wakefield；　pointing　with　his　forefinger　upwards；　in　a　manner　which　might　imply　either　a　threat　or　a　caution。　　He　then　disappeared　in　the　moonlight。

Some　words　passed　after　his　departure；　between　the　bailiff；　who　piqued　himself　on　being　a　little　of　a　bully；　and　Harry　Wakefield；　who；　with　generous　inconsistency；　was　now　not　indisposed　to　begin　a　new　combat　in　defence　of　Robin　Oig's　reputation；　〃although　he　could　not　use　his　daddles　like　an　Englishman；　as　it　did　not　come　natural　to　him。〃　　But　Dame　Heskett　prevented　this　second　quarrel　from　coming　to　a　head　by　her　peremptory　interference。　　〃There　should　be　no　more　fighting　in　her　house；〃　she　said；　〃there　had　been　too　much　already。And　you；　Mr。　Wakefield；　may　live　to　learn；〃　she　added；　〃what　it　is　to　make　a　deadly　enemy　out　of　a　good　friend。〃

〃Pshaw；　dame！　　Robin　Oig　is　an　honest　fellow；　and　will　never　keep　malice。〃

〃Do　not　trust　to　that；　you　do　not　know　the　dour　temper　of　the　Scots；　though　you　have　dealt　with　them　so　often。　　I　have　a　right　to　know　them；　my　mother　being　a　Scot。〃

〃And　so　is　well　seen　on　her　daughter；〃　said　Ralph　Heskett。

This　nuptial　sarcasm　gave　the　discourse　another　turn。　　Fresh　customers　entered　the　tap…room　or　kitchen；　and　others　left　it。　The　conversation　turned　on　the　expected　markets；　and　the　report　of　prices　from　different　parts　both　of　Scotland　and　England。　Treaties　were　commenced；　and　Harry　Wakefield　was　lucky　enough　to　find　a　chap　for　a　part　of　his　drove；　and　at　a　very　considerable　profitan　event　of　consequence　more　than　sufficient　to　blot　out　all　remembrances　of　the　unpleasant　scuffle　in　the　earlier　part　of　the　day。　　But　there　remained　one　party　from　whose　mind　that　recollection　could　not　have　been　wiped　away　by　the　possession　of　every　head　of　cattle　betwixt　Esk　and　Eden。

This　was　Robin　Oig　M'Combich。　　〃That　I　should　have　had　no　weapon；〃　he　said；　〃and　for　the　first　time　in　my　life！　　Blighted　be　the　tongue　that　bids　the　Highlander　part　with　the　dirk。　　The　dirkha！　　the　English　blood！　　My　Muhme's　word！　　When　did　her　word　fall　to　the　ground？〃

The　recollection　of　the　fatal　prophecy　confirmed　the　deadly　intention　which　instantly　sprang　up　in　his　mind。

〃Ha！　　Morrison　cannot　be　many　miles　behind；　and　if　it　were　an　hundred；　what　then？〃

His　impetuous　spirit　had　now　a　fixed　purpose　and　motive　of　action；　and　he　turned　the　light　foot　of　his　country　towards　the　wilds；　through　which　he　knew；　by　Mr。　Ireby's　report；　that　Morrison　was　advancing。　　His　mind　was　wholly　engrossed　by　the　sense　of　injuryinjury　sustained　from　a　friend；　and　by　the　desire　of　vengeance　on　one　whom　he　now　accounted　his　most　bitter　enemy。　　The　treasured　ideas　of　self…importance　and　self…opinion　of　ideal　birth　and　quality；　had　become　more　precious　to　him；　（like　the　hoard　to　the　miser）　because　he　could　only　enjoy　them　in　secret。　　But　that　hoard　was　pillagedthe　idols　which　he　had　secretly　worshipped　had　been　desecrated　and　profaned。　　Insulted；　abused；　and　beaten；　he　was　no　longer　worthy；　in　his　own　opinion；　of　the　name　he　bore；　or　the　lineage　which　he　belonged　to。　Nothing　was　left　to　himnothing　but　revenge；　and　as　the　reflection　added　a　galling　spur　to　every　step；　he　determined　it　should　be　as　sudden　and　signal　as　the　offence。

When　Robin　Oig　left　the　door　of　the　alehouse；　seven　or　eight　English　miles　at　least　lay　betwixt　Morrison　and　him。　　The　advance　of　the　former　was　slow；　limited　by　the　sluggish　pace　of　his　cattle；　the　latter　left　behind　him　stubble…field　and　hedgerow；　crag　and　dark　heath；　all　glittering　with　frost…rime　in　the　broad　November　moonlight；　at　the　rate　of　six　miles　an　hour。　　And　now　the　distant　lowing　of　Morrison's　cattle　is　heard；　and　now　they　are　seen　creeping　like　moles　in　size　and　slowness　of　motion　on　the　broad　face　of　the　moor；　and　now　he　meets　thempasses　them；　and　stops　their　conductor。

〃May　good　betide　us；〃　said　the　Westlander。　　〃Is　this　you；　Robin　M'Combich；　or　your　wraith？〃

〃It　is　Robin　Oig　M'Combich；〃　answered　the　Highlander；　〃and　it　is　not。　　But　never　mind　that；　put　pe　giving　me　the　skene…dhu。〃

〃What！　　you　are　for　back　to　the　Highlands！　　The　devil！　　Have　you　selt　all　off　before　the　fair？　　This　beats　all　for　quick　markets！〃

〃I　have　not　soldI　am　not　going　northmaype　I　will　never　go　north　again。　　Give　me　pack　my　dirk；　Hugh　Morrison；　or　there　will　pe　words　petween　us。〃

〃Indeed；　Robin；　I'll　be　better　advised　before　I　gie　it　back　to　you；　it　is　a　wanchancy　weapon　in　a　Highlandman's　hand；　and　I　am　thinking　you　will　be　about　some　harns…breaking。〃

〃Prutt；　trutt！　　let　me　have　my　weapon；〃　said　Robin　Oig　impatiently。

〃Hooly　and　fairly；〃　said　his　well…meaning　friend。　　〃I'll　tell　you　what　will　do　better　than　these　dirking　doings。　　Ye　ken　Highlander；　and　Lowlander；　and　Border…men　are　a'　ae　man's　bairns　when　you　are　over　the　Scots　dyke。　　See；　the　Eskdale　callants；　and　fighting　Charlie　of　Liddesdale；　and　the　Lockerby　lads；　and　the　four　Dandies　of　Lustruther；　and　a　wheen　mair　grey　plaids；　are　coming　up　behind；　and　if　you　are　wranged；　there　is　the　hand　of　a　Manly　Morrison；　we'll　see　you　righted；　if　Carlisle　and　Stanwix　baith　took　up　the　feud。〃

〃To　tell　you　the　truth；〃　said　Robin　Oig；　desirous　of　eluding　the　suspicions　of　his　friend；　〃I　have　enlisted　with　a　party　of　the　Black　Watch；　and　must　march　off　to…morrow　morning。〃

〃Enlisted！　　Were　you　mad　or　drunk？　　You　must　buy　yourself　off。　　I　can　lend　you　twenty　notes；　and　twenty　to　that；　if　the　drove　sell。〃

〃I　thank　youthank　ye；　Hughie；　but　I　go　with　good…will　the　gate　that　I　am　going。　　So　the　dirk；　the　dirk！〃

〃There　it　is　for　you　then；　since　less　wunna　serve。　　But　think　on　what　I　was　saying。　　Waes　me；　it　will　be　sair　news　in　the　braes　of　Balquidder　that　Robin　Oig　M'Combich　should　have　run　an　ill　gate；　and　ta'en　on。〃

〃Ill　news　in　Balquidder；　indeed！〃　　echoed　poor　Robin。　　〃But　Cot　speed　you；　Hughie；　and　send　you　good　marcats。　　Ye　winna　meet　with　Robin　Oig　again；　either　at　tryste　or　fair。〃

So　saying；　he　shook　hastily　the　hand　of　his　acquaintance；　and　set　out　in　the　direction　from　which　he　had　advanced；　with　the　spirit　of　his　former　pace。

〃There　is　something　wrang　with　the　lad；〃　muttered　the　Morrison　to　himself；　〃but　we　will　maybe　see　better　into　it　the　morn's　morning。〃

But　long　ere　the　morning　dawned；　the　catastrophe　of　our　tale　had　taken　place。　　It　was　two　hours　after　the　affray　had　happened；　and　it　was　totally　forgotten　by　almost　every　one；　when　Robin　Oig　returned　to　Heskett's　inn。　　The　place　was　filled　at　once　by　various　sorts　of　men；　and　with　noises　corresponding　to　their　character。　　There　were　the　grave　low　sounds　of　men　engaged　in　busy　traffic；　with　the　laugh；　the　song；　and　the　riotous　jest　of　those　who　had　nothing　to　do　but　to　enjoy　themselves。　　Among　the　last　was　Harry　Wakefield；　who；　amidst　a　grinning　group　of　smock…　frocks；　hobnailed　shoes；　and　jolly　English　physiognomies；　was　trolling　forth　the　old　ditty；

　　〃What　though　my　name　be　Roger；　　　　Who　drives　the　plough　and　cart〃

when　he　was　interrupted　by　a　well…known　voice　saying　in　a　high　and　stern　voice；　marked　by　the　sharp　Highland　accent；　〃Harry　Waakfeltif　you　be　a　man　stand　up！〃

〃What　is　the　matter？what　is　it？〃　　the　guests　demanded　of　each　other。

〃It　is　only　a　dd　Scotsman；〃　said　Fleecebumpkin；　who　was　by　this　time　very　drunk；　〃whom　Harry　Wakefield　helped　to　his　broth　to…　day；　who　is　now　come　to　have　HIS　CAULD　KAIL　het　again。〃

〃Harry　Waakfelt；〃　repeated　the　same　ominous　summons；　〃stand　up；　if　you　be　a　man！〃

There　is　something　in　the　tone　of　deep　and　concentrated　passion；　which　attracts　attention　and　imposes　awe；　even　by　the　very　sound。　The　guests　shrunk　back　on　every　side；　and　gazed　at　the　Highlander　as　he　stood　in　the　middle　of　them；　his　brows　bent；　and　his　features　rigid　with　resolution。

〃I　will　stand　up　with　all　my　heart；　Robin；　my　boy；　but　it　shall　be　to　shake　hands　with　you；　and　drink　down　all　unkindness。　　It　is　not　the　fault　of　your　heart；　man；　that　you　don't　know　how　to　clench　your　hands。〃

By　this　time　he　stood　opposite　to　his　antagonist；　his　open　and　unsuspec