‘Colonel Mac-Ivor,’ said Waverley, without any farther salutation, ’I have to inform you that one of your people has this instant fired at me from a lurking-place.’

‘As that,’ answered Mac-Ivor, ’excepting the circumstance of a lurking-place, is a pleasure which I presently propose to myself, I should be glad to know which of my clansmen dared to anticipate me.’

’I shall certainly be at your command whenever you please; the gentleman who took your office upon himself is your page there, Callum Beg.’

’Stand forth from the ranks, Callum!  Did you fire at Mr. Waverley?’

‘No,’ answered the unblushing Callum.

‘You did,’ said Alick Polwarth, who was already returned, having met a trooper by whom he despatched an account of what was going forward to the Baron of Bradwardine, while he himself returned to his master at full gallop, neither sparing the rowels of his spurs nor the sides of his horse.  ’You did; I saw you as plainly as I ever saw the auld kirk at Coudingham.’

‘You lie,’ replied Callum, with his usual impenetrable obstinacy.  The combat between the knights would certainly, as in the days of chivalry, have been preceded by an encounter between the squires (for Alick was a stout-hearted Merseman, and feared the bow of Cupid far more than a Highlander’s dirk or claymore), but Fergus, with his usual tone of decision, demanded Callum’s pistol.  The cock was down, the pan and muzzle were black with the smoke; it had been that instant fired.

‘Take that,’ said Fergus, striking the boy upon the head with the heavy pistol-butt with his whole force—­’take that for acting without orders, and lying to disguise it.’  Callum received the blow without appearing to flinch from it, and fell without sign of life.  ‘Stand still, upon your lives!’ said Fergus to the rest of the clan; ’I blow out the brains of the first man who interferes between Mr. Waverley and me.’  They stood motionless; Evan Dhu alone showed symptoms of vexation and anxiety.  Callum lay on the ground bleeding copiously, but no one ventured to give him any assistance.  It seemed as if he had gotten his death-blow.

’And now for you, Mr. Waverley; please to turn your horse twenty yards with me upon the common.’  Waverley complied; and Fergus, confronting him when they were a little way from the line of march, said, with great affected coolness, ’I could not but wonder, sir, at the fickleness of taste which you were pleased to express the other day.  But it was not an angel, as you justly observed, who had charms for you, unless she brought an empire for her fortune.  I have now an excellent commentary upon that obscure text.’

’I am at a loss even to guess at your meaning, Colonel Mac-Ivor, unless it seems plain that you intend to fasten a quarrel upon me.’

’Your affected ignorance shall not serve you, sir.  The Prince—­the Prince himself has acquainted me with your manoeuvres.  I little thought that your engagements with Miss Bradwardine were the reason of your breaking off your intended match with my sister.  I suppose the information that the Baron had altered the destination of his estate was quite a sufficient reason for slighting your friend’s sister and carrying off your friend’s mistress.’