BailieMacwheebleenteredimmediatelyafterwards，andbyhisreportofarmsandammunitionconfirmedthisstatement，informingtheBaron，inamelancholyvoice，thatthoughthepeoplewouldcertainlyobeyhishonour’sorders，yettherewasnochanceoftheirfollowingthegeartoonyguidpurpose，inrespecttherewereonlyhishonour’sbodyservantswhohadswordsandpistols，andthedepredatorsweretwelveHighlanders，completelyarmedafterthemanneroftheircountry-Havingdeliveredthisdolefulannunciation，heassumedapostureofsilentdejection，shakinghisheadslowlywiththemotionofapendulumwhenitisceasingtovibrate，andthenremainedstationary，hisbodystoopingatamoreacuteanglethanusual，andthelatterpartofhispersonprojectinginproportion。
TheBaron，meanwhile，pacedtheroominsilentindignation，andatlengthfixinghiseyeuponanoldportrait，whosepersonwascladinarmour，andwhosefeaturesglaredgrimlyoutofahugebushofhair，partofwhichdescendedfromhisheadtohisshoulders，andpartfromhischinandupper-liptohisbreast-plate，-Thatgentleman，CaptainWaverley，mygrand-sire，’’
hesaid，withtwohundredhorse，whomheleviedwithinhisownbounds，discomfitedandputtotheroutmorethanfivehundredoftheseHighlandreivers，whohavebeenever_lapisoffensionis，etpetrascandali，_astumbling-blockandarockofoffencetotheLowlandvicinage-hediscomfitedthem，Isay，whentheyhadthetemeritytodescendtoharrythiscountryinthetimeofthecivildissensions，intheyearofgracesixteenhundredfortyandtwo。Andnow，sir，I，hisgrandson，amthususedatsuchunworthyhands！’’
Heretherewasanawfulpause；afterwhichallthecompany，asisusualincasesofdifficulty，begantogiveseparateandinconsistentcounsel。AlexanderabAlexandroproposedtheyshouldsendsomeonetocompoundwiththeCaterans，whowouldreadily，hesaid，giveuptheirpreyforadollara-head。TheBailieopinedthatthistransactionwouldamounttotheft-boot，orcompositionoffelony；andherecommendedthatsome_cannyhand_shouldbesentuptotheglenstomakethebestbargainhecould，asitwereforhimself，sothatthelairdmightnotbeseeninsuchatransaction。Edwardproposedtosendofftothenearestgarrisonforapartyofsoldiersandamagistrate’swarrant；andRose，asfarasshedared，endeavouredtoinsinuatethecourseofpayingthearrearsoftributemoneytoFergusMac-IvorVichIanVohr，who，theyallknew，couldeasilyprocurerestorationofthecattle，ifhewereproperlypropitiated。
NoneoftheseproposalsmettheBaron’sapprobation。Theideaofcomposition，directorimplied，wasabsolutelyignominious；