farewell to Flora Mac-Ivor, perhaps for ever.  The pang attending this reflection was inexpressible; for her high-minded elevation of character, her self-devotion to the cause which she had embraced, united to her scrupulous rectitude as to the means of serving it, had vindicated to his judgment the choice adopted by his passions.  But time pressed, calumny was busy with his fame, and every hour’s delay increased the power to injure it.  His departure must be instant.

With this determination he sought out Fergus, and communicated to him the contents of Rose’s letter, with his own resolution instantly to go to Edinburgh, and put into the hands of some one or other of those persons of influence to whom he had letters from his father his exculpation from any charge which might be preferred against him.

‘You run your head into the lion’s mouth,’ answered Mac-Ivor.  ’You do not know the severity of a government harassed by just apprehensions, and a consciousness of their own illegality and insecurity.  I shall have to deliver you from some dungeon in Stirling or Edinburgh Castle.’

’My innocence, my rank, my father’s intimacy with Lord M—­, General G—­, etc., will be a sufficient protection,’ said Waverley.

‘You will find the contrary,’ replied the Chieftain, ’these gentlemen will have enough to do about their own matters.  Once more, will you take the plaid, and stay a little while with us among the mists and the crows, in the bravest cause ever sword was drawn in?’

[Footnote:  A Highland rhyme on Glencairn’s Expedition, in 1650, has these lines—­

      We’ll bide a while amang ta crows,
      We’ll wiske ta sword and bend ta bows]

‘For many reasons, my dear Fergus, you must hold me excused.’

‘Well then,’ said Mac-Ivor, ’I shall certainly find you exerting your poetical talents in elegies upon a prison, or your antiquarian researches in detecting the Oggam [Footnote:  The Oggam is a species of the old Irish character.  The idea of the correspondence betwixt the Celtic and Punic, founded on a scene in Plautus, was not started till General Vallancey set up his theory, long after the date of Fergus Mac-Ivor] character or some Punic hieroglyphic upon the keystones of a vault, curiously arched.  Or what say you to un petit pendement bien joli? against which awkward ceremony I don’t warrant you, should you meet a body of the armed West-Country Whigs.’

‘And why should they use me so?’ said Waverley.

‘For a hundred good reasons,’ answered Fergus.  ’First, you are an Englishman; secondly, a gentleman; thirdly, a prelatist abjured; and, fourthly, they have not had an opportunity to exercise their talents on such a subject this long while.  But don’t be cast down, beloved; all will be done in the fear of the Lord.’

‘Well, I must run my hazard.’

‘You are determined, then?’

‘I am.’

‘Wilful will do’t’ said Fergus.  ’But you cannot go on foot, and I shall want no horse, as I must march on foot at the head of the children of Ivor; you shall have brown Dermid.’