Onthepresentoccasion，hepiquedhimselfuponleavinginthemindsofhiscompanionsafavourableimpressionofonewho，undersuchdisastrouscircumstances，couldsustainhismisfortuneswitheaseandgaiety。Hisspirits，thoughnotunyielding，wereabundantlyelastic，andsoonsecondedhisefforts。Thetriowereengagedinverylivelydiscourse，apparentlydelightedwitheachother，andthekindhostwaspressingathirdbottleofBurgundy，whenthesoundofadrumwasheardatsomedistance。TheMajor，who，inthegleeofanoldsoldier，hadforgotthedutiesofamagistrate，cursed，withamutteredmilitaryoath，thecircumstanceswhichrecalledhimtohisofficialfunctions。Heroseandwenttowardsthewindow，whichcommandedaverynearviewofthehigh-road，andhewasfollowedbyhisguests。
Thedrumadvanced，beatingnomeasuredmartialtune，butakindofrub-a-dub-dub，likethatwithwhichthefire-drumstartlestheslumberingartizansofaScotchburgh。Itistheobjectofthishistorytodojusticetoallmen；Imustthereforerecord，injusticetothedrummer，thatheprotestedhecouldbeatanyknownmarchorpointofwarknownintheBritisharmy，andhadaccordinglycommencedwithDumbarton’sDrums，’’whenhewassilencedbyGiftedGilfillan，thecommanderoftheparty，whorefusedtopermithisfollowerstomovetothisprofane，andeven，ashesaid，persecutingtune，andcommandedthedrummertobeatthe119thPsalm。Asthiswasbeyondthecapacityofthedrubberofsheepskin，hewasfaintohaverecoursetotheinoffensiverow-de-dow，asaharmlesssubstituteforthesacredmusicwhichhisinstrumentorskillwereunabletoachieve。Thismaybeheldatriflinganecdote，butthedrummerinquestionwasnolessthantown-drummerofAnderton。Irememberhissuccessorinoffice，amemberofthatenlightenedbody，theBritishConvention：behismemory，therefore，treatedwithduerespect。
CHAPTERTHIRTY-FIFTH。
AVOLUNTEERSIXTYYEARSSINCE。
Onhearingtheunwelcomesoundofthedrum，MajorMelvillehastilyopenedasashed-door，andsteppedoutuponasortofterracewhichdividedhishousefromthehigh-roadfromwhichthemartialmusicproceeded。Waverleyandhisnewfriendfollowedhim，thoughprobablyhewouldhavedispensedwiththeirattendance。Theysoonrecognisedinsolemnmarch，first，theperformeruponthedrum；secondly，alargeflagoffourcompartments，onwhichwereinscribedthewords=Covenant，Kirk，King，Kingdoms。=Thepersonwhowashonouredwiththischargewasfollowedbythecommanderoftheparty，athin，dark，rigid-lookingman，aboutsixtyyearsold。Thespiritualpride，whichinmineHostoftheCandlestickmantledinasortofsupercilioushypocrisy，wasinthisman’sfaceelevatedandyetdarkenedbygenuineandundoubtingfanaticism。Itwasimpossibletobeholdhimwithoutimaginationplacinghiminsomestrangecrisis，wherereligiouszealwastherulingprinciple。
Amartyratthestake，asoldierinthefield，alonelyandbanishedwandererconsoledbytheintensityandsupposedpurityofhisfaithundereveryearthlyprivation；perhapsapersecutinginquisitor，asterrificinpowerasunyieldinginadversity；anyoftheseseemedcongenialcharacterstothispersonage。Withthesehightraitsofenergy，therewassomethingintheaffectedprecisionandsolemnityofhisdeportmentanddiscoursethatborderedupontheludicrous；sothat，accordingtothemoodofthespectator’smind，andthelightunderwhichMr。Gilfillanpresentedhimself，onemighthavefeared，admired，orlaughedathim。
Hisdresswasthatofawest-countrypeasant，ofbettermaterialsindeedthanthatofthelowerrank，butinnorespectaffectingeitherthemodeoftheage，oroftheScottishgentryatanyperiod。Hisarmswereabroadswordandpistols，which，fromtheantiquityoftheirappearance，mighthaveseentheroutofPentland，orBothwellBrigg。
AshecameupafewstepstomeetMajorMelville，andtouchedsolemnly，butslightly，hishugeandoverbrimmedbluebonnetinanswertotheMajor，whohadcourteouslyraisedasmalltriangulargold-lacedhat，WaverleywasirresistiblyimpressedwiththeideathathebeheldaleaderoftheRoundheadsofyoreinconferencewithoneofMarlborough’scaptains。
Thegroupofaboutthirtyarmedmenwhofollowedthisgiftedcommander，wasofamotleydescription。TheywereinordinaryLowlanddressesofdifferentcolours，which，contrastedwiththearmstheybore，gavethemanirregularandmobbishappearance；somuchistheeyeaccustomedtoconnectuniformityofdresswiththemilitarycharacter。Infrontwereafewwhoapparentlypartookoftheirleader’senthusiasm；menobviouslytobefearedinacombatwheretheirnaturalcouragewasexaltedbyreligiouszeal。Otherspuffedandstrutted，filledwiththeimportanceofcarryingarms，andallthenoveltyoftheirsituation，whiletherest，apparentlyfatiguedwiththeirmarch，draggedtheirlimbslistlesslyalong，orstraggledfromtheircompanionstoprocuresuchrefreshmentsastheneighbouringcottagesandalehousesafforded-SixgrenadiersofLigonier’s，thoughttheMajortohimself，ashismindrevertedtohisownmilitaryexperience，wouldhavesentallthesefellowstotherightabout。
Greeting，however，Mr。Gilfillancivilly，herequestedtoknowifhehadreceivedtheletterhehadsenttohimuponhismarch，andcouldundertakethechargeofthestateprisonerwhomhetherementioned，asfarasStirlingCastle。Yea，’’wastheconcisereplyoftheCameronianleader，inavoicewhichseemedtoissuefromthevery_penetralia_ofhisperson。
Butyourescort，Mr。Gilfillan，isnotsostrongasIexpected，’’
saidMajorMelville。
Someofthepeople，’’repliedGilfillan，hungeredandwereathirstbytheway，andtarrieduntiltheirpoorsoulswererefreshedwiththeword。’’
Iamsorry，sir，’’repliedtheMajor，youdidnottrusttoyourrefreshingyourmenatCairnvreckan；whatevermyhousecontainsisatthecommandofpersonsemployedintheservice。’’
ItwasnotofcreaturecomfortsIspake，’’answeredtheCovenanter，regardingMajorMelvillewithsomethinglikeasmileofcontempt；howbeit，Ithankyou；butthepeopleremainedwaitinguponthepreciousMr。JabeshRentowel，fortheout-pouringoftheafternoonexhortation。’’
Andhaveyou，sir，’’saidtheMajor，whentherebelsareabouttospreadthemselvesthroughthiscountry，actuallyleftagreatpartofyourcommandatafield-preaching！’’
Gilfillanagainsmiledscornfullyashemadethisindirectanswer-Eventhusarethechildrenofthisworldwiserintheirgenerationthanthechildrenoflight！’’
However，sir，’’saidtheMajor，asyouaretotakechargeofthisgentlemantoStirling，anddeliverhim，withthesepapers，intothehandsofGovernorBlakeney，Ibeseechyoutoobservesomerulesofmilitarydisciplineuponyourmarch。Forexample，Iwouldadviseyoutokeepyourmenmorecloselytogether，andthateachinhismarchshouldcoverhisfileleader，insteadofstragglinglikegeeseuponacommon；andforfearofsurprise，Ifurtherrecommendtoyoutoformasmalladvance-partyofyourbestmen，withasinglevidetteinfrontofthewholemarch，sothatwhenyouapproachavillageorawood’’-HeretheMajorinterruptedhimself，-ButasIdon’tobserveyoulistentome，Mr。Gilfillan，IsupposeIneednotgivemyselfthetroubletosaymoreuponthesubject。Youareabetterjudge，unquestionably，thanIam，ofthemeasurestobepursued；butonethingIwouldhaveyouwellawareof，thatyouaretotreatthisgentleman，yourprisoner，withnorigournorincivility，andaretosubjecthimtonootherrestraintthanisnecessaryforhissecurity。’’
Ihavelookedintomycommission，’’saidMr。Gilfillan，subscribedbyaworthyandprofessingnobleman，William，EarlofGlencairn；nordoIfinditthereinsetdownthatIamtoreceiveanychargesorcommandsanentmydoingsfromMajorWilliamMelvilleofCairnvreckan。’’
MajorMelvillereddenedeventothewell-powderedearswhichappearedbeneathhisneatmilitaryside-curls，themoresoasheobservedMr。Mortonsmileatthesamemoment。Mr。Gilfillan，’’
heansweredwithsomeasperity，Ibegtenthousandpardonsforinterferingwithapersonofyourimportance。Ithought，however，thatasyouhavebeenbredagrazier，ifImistakenot，theremightbeoccasiontoremindyouofthedifferencebetweenHighlandersandHighlandcattle；andifyoushouldhappentomeetwithanygentlemanwhohasseenservice，andisdisposedtospeakuponthesubject，Ishouldstillimaginethatlisteningtohimwoulddoyounosortofharm。ButIhavedone，andhaveonlyoncemoretorecommendthisgentlemantoyourcivility，aswellastoyourcustody-Mr。Waverley，Iamtrulysorryweshouldpartinthisway；butItrustwhenyouareagaininthiscountryImayhaveanopportunitytorenderCairnvreckanmoreagreeablethancircumstanceshavepermittedonthisoccasion。’’
Sosaying，heshookourherobythehand。Mortonalsotookanaffectionatefarewell；andWaverley，havingmountedhishorse，withamusketeerleadingitbythebridle，andafileuponeachsidetopreventhisescape，setforwarduponthemarchwithGilfillanandhisparty。Throughthelittlevillagetheywereaccompaniedwiththeshoutsofthechildren，whocriedout，Eh！seetotheSouthlandgentleman，that’sgauntobehangedforshootinglangJohnMucklewraththesmith！’’
CHAPTERTHIRTY-SIXTH。
ANINCIDENT。
Thedinner-hourofScotlandSixtyYearssincewastwoo’clock。
Itwasthereforeaboutfouro’clockofadelightfulautumnafternoonthatMr。Gilfillancommencedhismarch，inhopes，althoughStirlingwaseighteenmilesdistant，hemightbeable，bybecomingaborrowerofthenightforanhourortwo，toreachitthatevening。Hethereforeputforthhisstrength，andmarchedstoutlyalongattheheadofhisfollowers，eyeingourherofromtimetotime，asifhelongedtoenterintocontroversywithhim。
Atlength，unabletoresistthetemptation，heslackenedhispacetillhewasalongsideofhisprisoner’shorse，andaftermarchingafewstepsinsilenceabreastofhim，hesuddenlyasked，-
Canyesaywhathecarlewaswi’theblackcoatandthemoustedhead，thatwaswi’theLairdofCairnvreckan？’’
APresbyterianclergyman，’’answeredWaverley。
Presbyterian！’’answeredGilfillancontemptuously；awretchedErastian，orratheranobscuredPrelatist，-afavoureroftheblackIndulgence；aneofthaedumbdogsthatcannabark：theytelloweraclasho’terrorandaclattero’comfortintheirsermons，withoutonysense，orsavour，orlife-Ye’vebeenfedinsiccanafauld，belike？’’
No；IamoftheChurchofEngland，’’saidWaverley。
Andthey’rejustneighbour-like，’’repliedtheCovenanter；
andnaewondertheygreesaeweel。WhawadhaethoughtthegoodlystructureoftheKirkofScotland，builtupbyourfathersin1642，wadhaebeendefacedbycarnalendsandthecorruptionsofthetime；-ay，whawadhaethoughtthecarvedworkofthesanctuarywouldhaebeensaesooncutdown！’’
Tothislamentation，whichoneortwooftheassistantschorussedwithadeepgroan，ourherothoughtitunnecessarytomakeanyreply。WhereuponMrGilfillan，resolvingthatheshouldbeaheareratleast，ifnotadisputant，proceededinhisJeremiade。
Andnowisitwonderful，when，forlackofexerciseanentthecalltotheserviceofthealtarandthedutyoftheday，ministersfallintosinfulcomplianceswithpatronage，andindemnities，andoaths，andbonds，andothercorruptions，-isitwonderful，Isay，thatyou，sir，andothersic-likeunhappypersons，shouldlabourtobuildupyourauldBabelofiniquity，asinthebluidypersecutingsaint-killingtimes？Itrow，gillyewerenablindedwi’thegracesandfavours，andservicesandenjoyments，andemploymentsandinheritances，ofthiswickedworld，Icouldprovetoyou，bytheScripture，inwhatafilthyragyeputyourtrust；andthatyoursurplices，andyourcopesandvestments，arebutcast-offgarmentsofthemuckleharlot，thatsittethuponsevenhills，anddrinkethofthecupofabomination。
But，Itrow，yearedeafasaddersuponthatsideofthehead；ay，yearedeceivedwithherenchantments，andyetrafficwithhermerchandise，andyearedrankwiththecupofherfornication！’’
Howmuchlongerthismilitarytheologistmighthavecontinuedhisinvective，inwhichhesparednobodybutthescatteredremnantof_hill-folk，_ashecalledthem，isabsolutelyuncertain。