This，bytheway，prettywellexplainedthecauseofquarrelbetweentheBaronandhisHighlandally。Buthewentontostatesomanycuriousparticularsconcerningthemanners，customs，andhabitsofthispatriarchalrace，thatEdward’scuriositybecamehighlyinterested，andheinquiredwhetheritwaspossibletomakewithsafetyanexcursionintotheneighbouringHighlands，whoseduskybarrierofmountainshadalreadyexcitedhiswishtopenetratebeyondthem。TheBaronassuredhisguestthatnothingwouldbemoreeasy，providingthisquarrelwerefirstmadeup，sincehecouldhimselfgivehimletterstomanyofthedistinguishedchiefs，whowouldreceivehimwiththeutmostcourtesyandhospitality。
Whiletheywereonthistopic，thedoorsuddenlyopened，and，usheredbySaundersSaunderson，aHighlander，fullyarmedandequipped，enteredtheapartment。HaditnotbeenthatSaundersactedthepartofmasteroftheceremoniestothismartialapparition，withoutappearingtodeviatefromhisusualcomposure，andthatneitherMr。BradwardinenorRoseexhibitedanyemotion，Edwardwouldcertainlyhavethoughttheintrusionhostile。Asitwas，hestartedatthesightofwhathehadnotyethappenedtosee，amountaineerinhisfullnationalcostume。
TheindividualGaelwasastout，dark，youngman，oflowstature，theamplefoldsofwhoseplaidaddedtotheappearanceofstrengthwhichhispersonexhibited。Theshortkilt，orpetticoat，showedhissinewyandclean-madelimbs；thegoat-skinpurse，flankedbytheusualdefences，adirkandsteel-wroughtpistol，hungbeforehim；hisbonnethadashortfeather，whichindicatedhisclaimtobetreatedasaDuinh
wassel，orsortofgentleman；abroadsworddangledbyhisside，atargethunguponhisshoulder，andalongSpanishfowling-pieceoccupiedoneofhishands。Withtheotherhandhepulledoffhisbonnet，andtheBaron，whowellknewtheircustoms，andthepropermodeofaddressingthem，immediatelysaid，withanairofdignity，butwithoutrising，andmuch，asEdwardthought，inthemannerofaprincereceivinganembassy，Welcome，EvanDhuMaccombich！whatnewsfromFergusMac-IvorVichIanVohr？’’
FergusMac-IvorVichIanVohr，’’saidtheambassador，ingoodEnglish，greetsyouwell，BaronofBradwardineandTully-Veolan，andissorrytherehasbeenathickcloudinterposedbetweenyouandhim，whichhaskeptyoufromseeingandconsideringthefriendshipandalliancesthathavebeenbetweenyourhousesandforbearsofold；andhepraysyouthatthecloudmaypassaway，andthatthingsmaybeastheyhavebeenheretoforebetweentheclanIvorandthehouseofBradwardine，whentherewasaneggbetweenthemforaflint，andaknifeforasword。Andheexpectsyouwillalsosay，youaresorryforthecloud，andnomanshallhereafteraskwhetheritdescendedfromthehilltothevalley，orrosefromthevalleytothehill；fortheyneverstruckwiththescabbardwhodidnotreceivewiththesword；andwoetohimwhowouldlosehisfriendforthestormycloudofaspringmorning！’’
TothistheBaronofBradwardineanswered，withsuitabledignity，thatheknewthechiefofclanIvortobeawell-wishertothe_King，_andhewassorrythereshouldhavebeenacloudbetweenhimandanygentlemanofsuchsoundprinciples，forwhenfolksarebandingtogether，feebleishewhohathnobrother。’’
Thisappearingperfectlysatisfactory，thatthepeacebetweentheseaugustpersonsmightbedulysolemnized，theBaronorderedastoupofusquebaugh，and，fillingaglass，dranktothehealthandprosperityofMac-IvorofGlennaquoich；uponwhichtheCelticambassador，torequitehispoliteness，turneddownamightybumperofthesamegenerousliquor，seasonedwithhisgoodwishestothehouseofBradwardine。
Havingthusratifiedthepreliminariesofthegeneraltreatyofpacification，theenvoyretiredtoadjustwithMr。MacwheeblesomesubordinatearticleswithwhichitwasnotthoughtnecessarytotroubletheBaron。Theseprobablyreferredtothediscontinuanceofthesubsidy，andapparentlytheBailiefoundmeanstosatisfytheirally，withoutsufferinghismastertosupposethathisdignitywascompromised。Atleast，itiscertain，thataftertheplenipotentiarieshaddrankabottleofbrandyinsingledraws，whichseemedtohavenomoreeffectuponsuchseasonedvessels，thanifithadbeenpoureduponthetwobearsatthetopoftheavenue，EvanDhuMaccombich，havingpossessedhimselfofalltheinformationwhichhecouldprocurerespectingtherobberyoftheprecedingnight，declaredhisintentiontosetofimmediatelyinpursuitofthecattle，whichhepronouncedtobenotfaroff；-theyhavebrokenthebone，’’heobserved，buttheyhavehadnotimetosuckthemarrow。’’
Ourhero，whohadattendedEvanDhuduringhisperquisitions，wasmuchstruckwiththeingenuitywhichhedisplayedincollectinginformation，andthepreciseandpointedconclusionswhichhedrewfromit。EvanDhu，onhispart，wasobviouslyflatteredwiththeattentionofWaverley，theinterestheseemedtotakeinhisinquiriesandhiscuriosityaboutthecustomsandsceneryoftheHighlands。WithoutmuchceremonyheinvitedEdwardtoaccompanyhimonashortwalkoftenorfifteenmilesintothemountains，andseetheplacewherethecattlewereconveyedto；adding，IfitbeasIsuppose，youneversawsuchaplaceinyourlife，noreverwill，unlessyougowithme，orthelikeofme。’’
Ourhero，feelinghiscuriosityconsiderablyexcitedbytheideaofvisitingthedenofaHighlandCacus，took，however，theprecautiontoinquireifhisguidemightbetrusted。Hewasassured，thattheinvitationwouldonnoaccounthavebeengivenhadtherebeentheleastdanger，andthatallhehadtoapprehendwasalittlefatigue；andasEvanproposedheshouldpassadayathisChieftain’shouseinreturning，wherehewouldbesueofgoodaccommodationandanexcellentwelcome，thereseemednothingveryformidableinthetaskheundertook。
Rose，indeed，turnedpalewhensheheardofit；butherfather，wholovedthespiritedcuriosityofhisyoungfriend，didnotattempttodampitbyanalarmofdangerwhichreallydidnotexist；andaknapsack，withafewnecessaries，beingboundontheshouldersofasortofdeputygamekeeper，ourherosetforthwithafowling-pieceinhishand，accompaniedbyhisnewfriendEvanDhu，and，followedbythegamekeeperaforesaid，andbytwowildHighlanders，theattendantsofEvan，oneofwhomhaduponhisshoulderahatchetattheendofapole，calledaLochaberaxe，<>andtheotheralongduckinggun。Evan，uponTheTown-guardofEdinburghwere，tillalateperiod，armedwiththisweaponwhenontheirpoliceduty。Therewasahookatthebackoftheaxe，whichtheancientHighlandersusedtoassistthemtoclimboverwalls，fixingthehookuponit，andraisingthemselvesbythehandle。Theaxe，whichwasalsomuchusedbythenativesofIreland，issupposedtohavebeenintroducedintobothcountriesfromScandinavia。
Edward’sinquiry，gavehimtounderstandthatthismartialescortwasbynomeansnecessaryasaguard，butmerely，ashesaid，drawingupandadjustinghisplaidwithanairofdignity，thathemightappeardecentlyatTully-Veolan，andasVichIanVohr’sfoster-brotheroughttodo。Ah！’’saidhe，ifyouSaxonDuinh-wassel(Englishgentlemen)sawbuttheChiefwithhistailon！’’
Withhistailon！’’echoedEdwardinsomesurprise。
Yes-thatis，withallhisusualfollowers，whenhevisitsthoseofthesamerank。Thereis，’’hecontinued，stoppinganddrawinghimselfproudlyup，whilehecounteduponhisfingerstheseveralofficersofhischiefsretinue-thereishis_hanch-man，_
orright-handman；thenhis_brd，_orpoet；thenhis_bladier，_
ororator，tomakeharanguestothegreatfolkswhomhevisits；
thenhis_gilly-more，_orarmour-bearer，tocarryhisswordandtarget，andhisgun；thenhis_gilly-casfliuch，_whocarrieshimonhisbackthroughthesikesandbrooks；thenhis_gilly-comstrian，_
toleadhishorsebythebridleinsteepanddifficultpaths；thenhis_gilly-trushharnish，_tocarryhisknapsack；andthepiperandthepiper’sman，anditmaybeadozenyoungladsbesides，thathavenobusiness，butarejustboysofthebelt，tofollowthelaird，anddohishonour’sbidding。’’
AnddoesyourChiefregularlymaintainallthesemen？’’
demandedWaverley。
Allthese！’’repliedEvan，ay，andmanyafairheadbeside，thatwouldnotkenwheretolayitself，butforthemicklebarnatGlennaquoich。’’
WithsimilartalesofthegrandeuroftheChiefinpeaceandwar，EvanDhubeguiledthewaytilltheyapproachedmorecloselythosehugemountainswhichEdwardhadhithertoonlyseenatadistance。ItwastowardseveningastheyenteredoneofthetremendouspasseswhichaffordcommunicationbetweentheHighandLowCountry；thepath，whichwasextremelysteepandrugged，windedupachasmbetweentwotremendousrocks，followingthepassagewhichafoamingstream，thatbrawledfarbelow，appearedtohavewornforitselfinthecourseofages。Afewslantingbeamsofthesun，whichwasnowsetting，reachedthewaterinitsdarksomebed，andshoweditpartially，chafedbyahundredrocks，andbrokenbyahundredfalls。Thedescentfromthepathtothestreamwasamereprecipice，withhereandthereaprojectingfragmentofgranite，orascathedtree，whichhadwarpeditstwistedrootsintothefissuresoftherock。Ontherighthand，themountainroseabovethepathwithalmostequalinaccessibility；butthehillontheoppositesidedisplayedashroudofcopsewood，withwhichsomepineswereintermingled。
This，’’saidEvan，isthepassofBally-Brough，whichwaskeptinformertimesbytenoftheclanDonnochieagainstahundredoftheLowCountrycarles。Thegravesoftheslainarestilltobeseeninthatlittlecorri，orbottom，ontheoppositesideoftheburn-ifyoureyesaregood，youmayseethegreenspecksamongtheheather-See，thereisanearn，whichyouSouthronscallaneagle-youhavenosuchbirdsasthatinEngland-heisgoingtofetchhissupperfromtheLairdofBradwardine’sbraes，butI’llsendaslugafterhim。’’
Hefiredhispieceaccordingly，butmissedthesuperbmonarchofthefeatheredtribes，who，withoutnoticingtheattempttoannoyhim，continuedhismajesticflighttothesouthward。A
thousandbirdsofprey，hawks，kites，carrion-crows，andravens，disturbedfromthelodgingswhichtheyhadjusttakenupfortheevening，roseatthereportofthegun，andmingledtheirhoarseanddiscordantnoteswiththeechoeswhichrepliedtoit，andwiththeroarofthemountaincataracts。Evan，alittledisconcertedathavingmissedhismark，whenhemeanttohavedisplayedpeculiardexterity，coveredhisconfusionbywhistlingpartofapibrochashereloadedhispiece，andproceededinsilenceupthepass。
Itissuedinanarrowglen，betweentwomountains，bothverylofty，andcoveredwithheath。Thebrookcontinuedtobetheircompanion，andtheyadvancedupitsmazes，crossingthemnowandthem，onwhichoccasionsEvanDhuuniformlyofferedtheassistanceofhisattendantstocarryoverEdward；butourhero，whohadbeenalwaysatolerablepedestrian，declinedtheaccommodation，andobviouslyroseinhisguide’sopinion，byshowingthathedidnot，fearwettinghisfeet。Indeedhewasanxious，sofarashecouldwithoutaffectation，toremovetheopinionwhichEvanseemedtoentertainoftheeffeminacyoftheLowlanders，andparticularlyoftheEnglish。
Throughthegorgeofthisglentheyfoundaccesstoablackbog，oftremendousextent，fulloflargepit-holes，whichtheytraversedwithgreatdifficultyandsomedanger，bytrackswhichnoonebutaHighlandercouldhavefollowed。Thepathitself，orrathertheportionofmoresolidgroundonwhichthetravellershalfwalked，halfwaded，wasrough，broken，andinmanyplacesquaggyandunsound。Sometimesthegroundwassocompletelyunsafe，thatitwasnecessarytospringfromonehillocktoanother，thespacebetweenbeingincapableofbearingthehumanweight。ThiswasaneasymattertotheHighlanders，whoworethin-soledbroguesfitforthepurpose，andmovedwithapeculiarspringingstep；butEdwardbegantofindtheexercise，towhichhewasunaccustomed，morefatiguingthanheexpected。ThelingeringtwilightservedtoshowthemthroughthisSerbonianbog，butdesertedthemalmosttotallyatthebottomofasteepandverystonyhill，whichitwasthetraveller’snexttoilsometasktoascend。Thenight，however，waspleasant，andnotdark；andWaverley，callingupmentalenergytosupportpersonalfatigue，heldonhismarchgallantly，thoughenvyinginhishearthisHighlandattendants，whocontinued，withoutasymptomofunabatedvigour，therapidandswingingpace，orrathertrot，which，accordingtohiscomputation，hadalreadybroughtthemfifteenmilesupontheirjourney。
Aftercrossingthismountain，anddescendingupontheothersidetowardsathickwood，EvanDhuheldsomeconferencewithhisHighlandattendants，inconsequenceofwhichEdward’sbaggagewasshiftedfromtheshoulderofthegamekeepertothoseofoneofthegillies，andtheformerwassentoffwiththeothermountaineerinadirectiondifferentfromthatofthethreeremainingtravellers。Onaskingthemeaningofthisseparation，WaverleywastoldthattheLowlandermustgotoahamletaboutthreemilesoffforthenight；forunlessitwassomeveryparticularfriend，DonaldBeanLean，theworthypersonwhomtheysupposedtobepossessedofthecattle，didnotmuchapproveofstrangersapproachinghisretreat。Thisseemedreasonable，andsilencedaqualmofsuspicionwhichcameacrossEdward’smind，whenhesawhimself，atsuchaplace，andsuchanhour，deprivedofhisonlyLowlandcompanion。AndEvanimmediatelyafterwardsadded，thatindeedhehimselfhadbettergetforwardandannouncetheirapproachtoDonaldBeanLean，asthearrivalofa_sidierroy_<>(redsoldier)mightotherwiseThe_sidierroy_wereusedtodistinguishtheregularregimentsfromtheindependentcompaniesraisedtoprotectthepeaceoftheHighlands。