After walking about three miles, he at length reached a hamlet.  Conscious that the common people were in general unfavourable to the cause he had espoused, yet desirous, if possible, to procure a horse and guide to Penrith, where he hoped to find the rear, if not the main body, of the Chevalier’s army, he approached the ale-house of the place.  There was a great noise within:  he paused to listen.  A round English oath or two, and the burden of a campaign song, convinced him the hamlet also was occupied by the Duke of Cumberland’s soldiers.  Endeavouring to retire from it as softly as possible, and blessing the obscurity which hitherto he had murmured against, Waverley groped his way the best he could along a small paling, which seemed the boundary of some cottage garden.  As he reached the gate of this little enclosure, his outstretched hand was grasped by that of a female, whose voice at the same time uttered, ‘Edward, is’t thou, man?’

‘Here is some unlucky mistake,’ thought Edward, struggling, but gently, to disengage himself.

‘Naen o’ thy foun, now; man, or the red cwoats will hear thee; they hae been houlerying and poulerying every ane that past alehouse door this noight to make them drive their wagons and sick loike.  Come into feyther’s, or they’ll do ho a mischief.’

‘A good hint,’ thought Waverley, following the girl through the little garden into a brick-paved kitchen, where she set herself to kindle a match at an expiring fire, and with the match to light a candle.  She had no sooner looked on Edward than she dropped the light, with a shrill scream of ‘O feyther! feyther!’

The father, thus invoked, speedily appeared, a sturdy old farmer, in a pair of leather breeches, and boots pulled on without stockings, having just started from his bed;—­the rest of his dress was only a Westmoreland statesman’s robe-de-chambre,—­that is, his shirt.  His figure was displayed to advantage, by a candle which he bore in his left hand; in his right he brandished a poker.

What hast ho here, wench?’

‘Oh!’ cried the poor girl, almost going off in hysterics, I thought it was Ned Williams, and it is one of the plaid-men!’

‘And what was thee ganging to do wi’ Ned Williams at this time o’ noight?’ To this, which was, perhaps, one of the numerous class of questions more easily asked than answered, the rosy-cheeked damsel made no reply, but continued sobbing and wringing her hands.

’And thee, lad, dost ho know that the dragoons be a town?  Dost ho know that, mon?—­ad, they’ll sliver thee like a turnip, mon.’

‘I know my life is in great danger,’ said Waverley, ’but if you can assist me, I will reward you handsomely, I am no Scotchman, but an unfortunate English gentleman.’