Atlength，uponaccurateexamination，theinfirmstateofhiswoodenprison-houseappearedtosupplythemeansofgratifyinghiscuriosity，foroutofaspotwhichwassomewhatdecayedhewasabletoextractanail。Throughthisminuteaperturehecouldperceiveafemaleform，wrappedinaplaid，intheactofconversingwithJanet。But，sincethedaysofourgrandmotherEvethegratificationofinordinatecuriosityhasgenerallyborneitspenaltyindisappointment。TheformwasnotthatofFlora，norwasthefacevisible；and，tocrownhisvexation，whilehelabouredwiththenailtoenlargethehole，thathemightobtainamorecompleteview，aslightnoisebetrayedhispurpose，andtheobjectofhiscuriosityinstantlydisappeared；nor，sofarashecouldobserve，didsheagainrevisitthecottage。
Allprecautionstoblockadehisviewwerefromthattimeabandoned，andhewasnotonlypermitted，butassistedtoriseandquitwhathadbeen，inaliteralsense，hiscouchofconfinement。
Buthewasnotallowedtoleavethehut；fortheyoungHighlanderhadnowrejoinedhissenior，andoneorotherwasconstantlyonthewatch。WheneverWaverleyapproachedthecottagedoor，thesentinelupondutycivilly，butresolutely，placedhimselfagainstitandopposedhisexit，accompanyinghisactionwithsignswhichseemedtoimplytherewasdangerintheattempt，andanenemyintheneighbourhood。OldJanetappearedanxiousanduponthewatch；andWaverley，whohadnotyetrecoveredstrengthenoughtoattempttotakehisdepartureinspiteoftheoppositionofhishosts，wasunderthenecessityofremainingpatient。Hisfarewas，ineverypointofview，betterthanhecouldhaveconceived；forpoultry，andevenwinewerenostrangerstohistable。TheHighlandersneverpresumedtoeatwithhim，andunlessinthecircumstanceofwatchinghim，treatedhimwithgreatrespect。Hissoleamusementwasgazingfromthewindow，orrathertheshapelessaperturewhichwasmeanttoanswerthepurposeofawindow，uponalargeandroughbrook，whichragedandfoamedthrougharockychannel，closelycanopiedwithtreesandbushes，abouttenfeetbeneaththesiteofhishouseofcaptivity。
Uponthesixthdayofhisconfinement，Waverleyfoundhimselfsowellthathebegantomeditatehisescapefromthisdullandmiserableprison-house，thinkinganyriskwhichhemightincurintheattemptpreferabletothestupifyingandintolerableuniformityofJanet’sretirement。Thequestionindeedoccurred，whitherhewastodirecthiscoursewhenagainathisowndisposal。Twoschemesseemedpracticable，yetbothattendedwithdangeranddifficulty。OnewastogobacktoGlennaquoich，andjoinFergusMac-Ivor，bywhomhewassuretobekindlyreceived；andinthepresentstateofhismind，therigourwithwhichhehadbeentreatedfullyabsolvedhim，inhisowneyes，fromhisallegiancetotheexistinggovernment。
TheotherprojectwastoendeavourtoattainaScottishseaport，andthencetotakeshippingforEngland。Hismindwaveredbetweentheseplans；andprobably，ifhehadeffectedhisescapeinthemannerheproposed，hewouldhavebeenfinallydeterminedbythecomparativefacilitybywhicheithermighthavebeenexecuted。Buthisfortunehadsettledthathewasnottobelefttohisoption。
Upontheeveningoftheseventhdaythedoorofthehutsuddenlyopened，andtwoHighlandersentered，whomWaverleyrecognisedashavingbeenapartofhisoriginalescorttothiscottage。Theyconversedforashorttimewiththeoldmanandhiscompanion，andthenmadeWaverleyunderstand，byverysignificantsigns，thathewastopreparetoaccompanythem。
Thiswasajoyfulcommunication。Whathadalreadypassedduringhisconfinementmadeitevidentthatnopersonalinjurywasdesignedtohim；andhisromanticspirit，havingrecoveredduringhisreposemuchofthatelasticitywhichanxiety，resentment，disappointment，andthemixtureofunpleasantfeelingsexcitedbyhislateadventures，hadforatimesubjugated，wasnowweariedwithinaction。Hispassionforthewonderful，althoughitisthenatureofsuchdispositionstobeexcitedbythatdegreeofdangerwhichmerelygivesdignitytothefeelingoftheindividualexposedtoit，hadsunkundertheextraordinaryandapparentlyinsurmountableevilsbywhichheappearedenvironedatCairnvreckan。Infact，thiscompoundofintensecuriosityandexaltedimaginationformsapeculiarspeciesofcourage，whichsomewhatresemblesthelightusuallycarriedbyaminer，-sufficientlycompetent，indeed，toaffordhimguidanceandcomfortduringtheordinaryperilsofhislabour，butcertaintobeextinguishedshouldheencounterthemoreformidablehazardofearth-dampsorpestiferousvapours。Itwasnow，however，oncemorerekindled，andwithathrobbingmixtureofhope，awe，andanxiety，Waverleywatchedthegroupbeforehim，asthosewhohadjustarrivedsnatchedahastymeal，andtheothersassumedtheirarms，andmadebriefpreparationsfortheirdeparture。
Ashesatinthesmokyhut，atsomedistancefromthefire，aroundwhichtheotherswerecrowded，hefeltagentlepressureuponhisarm。Helookedround-itwasAlice，thedaughterofDonaldBeanLean。Sheshowedhimapacketofpapersinsuchamannerthatthemotionwasremarkedbynooneelse，putherfingerforasecondtoherlips，andpassedon，asiftoassistoldJanetinpackingWaverley’sclothesinhisportmanteau。
Itwasobviouslyherwishthatheshouldnotseemtorecogniseher；yetsherepeatedlylookedbackathim，asanopportunityoccurredofdoingsounobserved，andwhenshesawthatheremarkedwhatshedid，shefoldedthepacketwithgreataddressandspeedinoneofhisshirts，whichshedepositedintheportmanteau。
Herethenwasfreshfoodforconjecture。WasAlicehisunknownwarden，andwasthismaidenofthecavernthetutelargeniusthatwatchedhisbedduringhissickness？Washeinthehandsofherfather？andifso，whatwashispurpose？
Spoil，hisusualobject，seemedinthiscaseneglected；fornotonlywasWaverley’spropertyrestored，buthispurse，whichmighthavetemptedthisprofessionalplunderer，hadbeenallalongsufferedtoremaininhispossession。Allthisperhapsthepacketmightexplain；butitwasplainfromAlice’smannerthatshedesiredheshouldconsultitinsecret。Nordidsheagainseekhiseyeaftershehadsatisfiedherselfthathermanuvrewasobservedandunderstood。Onthecontrary，sheshortlyafterwardsleftthehut，anditwasonlyasshetriptoutfromthedoor，that，favouredbytheobscurity，shegaveWaverleyapartingsmileandnodofsignificance，ereshevanishedinthedarkglen。
TheyoungHighlanderwasrepeatedlydespatchedbyhiscomradesasiftocollectintelligence。Atlengthwhenhehadreturnedforthethirdorfourthtime，thewholepartyarose，andmadesignstoourherotoaccompanythem。Beforehisdeparture，however，heshookhandswitholdJanet，whohadbeensosedulousinhisbehalf，andaddedsubstantialmarksofhisgratitudeforherattendance。
Godblessyou！Godprosperyou，CaptainWaverley！’’saidJanet，ingoodLowlandScotch，thoughhehadneverhithertoheardherutterasyllable，saveinGaelic。Buttheimpatienceofhisattendantsprohibitedhisaskinganyexplanation。
Therewasamoment’spausewhenthewholepartyhadgotoutofthehut；andtheHighlanderwhoassumedthecommandandwho，inWaverley’sawakenedrecollection，seemedtobethesametallfigurewhohadactedasDonaldBeanLean’slieutenant，bywhispersandsignsimposedthestrictestsilence。
HedeliveredtoEdwardaswordandsteelpistol，and，pointingupthetract，laidhishandonthehiltofhisownclaymore，asiftomakehimsensibletheymighthaveoccasiontouseforcetomakegoodtheirpassage。Hethenplacedhimselfattheheadoftheparty，whomovedupthepathwayinsingleorIndianfile，Waverleybeingplacednearesttotheirleader。Hemovedwithgreatprecaution，asiftoavoidgivinganyalarm，andhaltedassoonashecametothevergeoftheascent。
Waverleywassoonsensibleofthereason，forheheardatnogreatdistanceanEnglishsentinelcalloutAll’swell。’’Theheavysoundsunkonthenight-winddownthewoodyglen，andwasansweredbytheechoesofitsbanks。Asecond，third，andfourthtime，thesignalwasrepeated，fainterandfainter，asifatagreaterandgreaterdistance。Itwasobviousthatapartyofsoldierswerenear，andupontheirguard，thoughnotsufficientlysotodetectmenskilfulineveryartofpredatorywarfare，likethosewithwhomhenowwatchedtheirineffectualprecautions。
Whenthesesoundshaddieduponthesilenceofthenight，theHighlandersbegantheirmarchswiftly，yetwiththemostcautioussilence。Waverleyhadlittletime，orindeeddisposition，forobservation，andcouldonlydiscernthattheypassedatsomedistancefromalargebuilding，inthewindowsofwhichalightortwoyetseemedtotwinkle。Alittlefartheron，theleadingHighlandersnuffedthewindlikeasettingspaniel，andthenmadeasignaltohispartyagaintohalt。Hestoopeddownuponall-fours，wrappedupinhisplaid，soastobescarcedistinguishablefromtheheathygroundonwhichhemoved，andadvancedinthisposturetoreconnoitre。Inashorttimehereturned，anddismissedhisattendantsexceptingone；and，intimatingtoWaverley，thathemustimitatehiscautiousmodeofproceeding，allthreecreptforwardonhandsandknees。
Afterproceedingagreaterwayinthisinconvenientmannerthanwasatallcomfortabletohiskneesandshins，Waverleyperceivedthesmellofsmoke，whichprobablyhadbeenmuchsoonerdistinguishedbythemoreacutenasalorgansofhisguide。Itproceededfromthecornerofalowandruinoussheep-fold，thewallsofwhichweremadeofloosestones，asisusualinScotland。ClosebythislowwalltheHighlanderguidedWaverley，and，inorderprobablytomakehimsensibleofhisdanger，orperhapstoobtainthefullcreditofhisowndexterity，heintimatedtohim，bysignandexample，thathemightraisehisheadsoastopeepintothesheep-fold。Waverleydidso，andbeheldanoutpostoffourorfivesoldierslyingbytheirwatch-fire。Theywereallasleep，exceptthesentinel，whopacedbackwardsandforwardswithhisfirelockonhisshoulder，whichglancedredinthe，lightofthefireashecrossedandrecrossedbeforeitinhisshortwalk，castinghiseyefrequentlytothatpartoftheheavensfromwhichthemoon，hithertoobscuredbymist，seemednowabouttomakeherappearance。
Inthecourseofaminuteortwo，byoneofthosesuddenchangesofatmosphereincidenttoamountainouscountry，abreezearose，andsweptbeforeitthecloudswhichhadcoveredthehorizon，andthenightplanetpouredherfulleffulgenceuponawideandblightedheath，skirtedindeedwithcopse-woodandstuntedtreesinthequarterfromwhichtheyhadcome，butopenandbaretotheobservationofthesentinelinthattowhichtheircoursetended。Thewallofthesheep-fold，indeed，concealedthemastheylay，butanyadvancebeyonditsshelterseemedimpossiblewithoutcertaindiscovery。
TheHighlandereyedthebluevault，butfarfromblessingtheusefullightwithHomer’sorratherPope’sbenightedpeasant，hemutteredaGaeliccurseupontheunseasonablesplendourof_Mac-Farlane’sbuat_(_i。e。，_lantern。)<>HelookedNoteP。Mac-Farlane’sLantern。<！p250>
anxiouslyaroundforafewminutes，andthenapparentlytookhisresolution。LeavinghisattendantwithWaverley，aftermotioningtoEdwardtoremainquiet，andgivinghiscomradedirectionsinabriefwhisper，heretreated，favouredbytheirregularityoftheground，inthesamedirectionandinthesamemannerastheyhadadvanced。Edward，turninghisheadafterhim，couldperceivehimcrawlingonall-fourswiththedexterityofanIndian，availinghimselfofeverybushandinequalitytoescapeobservation，andneverpassingoverthemoreexposedpartsofhistrackuntilthesentinel’sbackwasturnedfromhim。Atlengthhereachedthethicketsandunderwoodwhichpartlycoveredthemoorinthatdirection，andprobablyextendedtothevergeoftheglenwhereWaverleyhadbeensolonganinhabitant。TheHighlanderdisappeared，butitwasonlyforafewminutes，forhesuddenlyissuedforthfromadifferentpartofthethicket，andadvancingboldlyupontheopenheath，asiftoinvitediscovery，helevelledhispiece，andfiredatthesentinel。Awoundinthearmprovedadisagreeableinterruptiontothepoorfellow’smeteorologicalobservations，aswellastothetuneofNancyDawson，whichhewaswhistling。Hereturnedthefireineffectually，andhiscomradesstartingupatthealarm，advancedalertlytowardsthespotfromwhichthefirstshothadissued。TheHighlander，aftergivingthemafullviewofhisperson，divedamongthethickets，forhis_rusedeguerre_hadnowperfectlysucceeded。
Whilethesoldierspursuedthecauseoftheirdisturbanceinonedirection，Waverley，adoptingthehintofhisremainingattendant，madethebestofhisspeedinthatwhichhisguideoriginallyintendedtopursue，andwhichnow(theattentionofthesoldiersbeingdrawntoadifferentquarter)wasunobservedandunguarded。Whentheyhadrunaboutaquarterofamile，thebrowofarisingground，whichtheyhadsurmounted，concealedthemfromfurtherriskofobservation。Theystillheard，however，atadistance，theshoutsofthesoldiersastheyhallooedtoeachotherupontheheath，andtheycouldalsohearthedistantrollofadrumbeatingtoarmsinthesamedirection。
Butthesehostilesoundswerenowfarintheirrear，anddiedawayuponthebreezeastheyrapidlyproceeded。
