redgauntlet-第28节

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ader　must　remember　the　celebrated　Blind　Jack　of　Knaresborough；　who　lived　by　laying　out　roads。＇




LETTER　XI

THE　SAME　TO　THE　SAME

You　are　now　to　conceive　us　proceeding　in　our　different　directions　across　the　bare　downs。　　Yonder　flies　little　Benjie　to　the　northward　with　Hemp　scampering　at　his　heels；　both　running　as　if　for　dear　life　so　long　as　the　rogue　is　within　sight　of　his　employer；　and　certain　to　take　the　walk　very　easy　so　soon　as　he　is　out　of　ken。　　Stepping　westward；　you　see　Maggie's　tall　form　and　high…crowned　hat；　relieved　by　the　fluttering　of　her　plaid　upon　the　left　shoulder；　darkening　as　the　distance　diminishes　her　size　and　as　the　level　sunbeams　begin　to　sink　upon　the　sea。　　She　is　taking　her　quiet　journey　to　the　Shepherd's　Bush。

Then；　stoutly　striding　over　the　lea；　you　have　a　full　view　of　Darsie　Latimer；　with　his　new　acquaintance；　Wandering　Willie；　who；　bating　that　he　touched　the　ground　now　and　then　with　his　staff；　not　in　a　doubtful　groping　manner；　but　with　the　confident　air　of　an　experienced　pilot；　heaving　the　lead　when　he　has　the　soundings　by　heart；　walks　as　firmly　and　boldly　as　if　he　possessed　the　eyes　of　Argus。　　There　they　go；　each　with　his　violin　slung　at　his　back；　but　one　of　them　at　least　totally　ignorant　whither　their　course　is　directed。

And　wherefore　did　you　enter　so　keenly　into　such　a　mad　frolic？　says　my　wise　counsellor。Why；　I　think；　upon　the　whole；　that　as　a　sense　of　loneliness；　and　a　longing　for　that　kindness　which　is　interchanged　in　society；　led　me　to　take　up　my　temporary　residence　at　Mount　Sharon；　the　monotony　of　my　life　there；　the　quiet　simplicity　of　the　conversation　of　the　Geddeses；　and　the　uniformity　of　their　amusements　and　employments；　wearied　out　my　impatient　temper；　and　prepared　me　for　the　first　escapade　which　chance　might　throw　in　my　way。

What　would　I　have　given　that　I　could　have　procured　that　solemn　grave　visage　of　thine；　to　dignify　this　joke；　as　it　has　done　full　many　a　one　of　thine　own！　　Thou　hast　so　happy　a　knack　of　doing　the　most　foolish　things　in　the　wisest　manner；　that　thou　mightst　pass　thy　extravagances　for　rational　actions；　even　in　the　eyes　of　Prudence　herself。

From　the　direction　which　my　guide　observed；　I　began　to　suspect　that　the　dell　at　Brokenburn　was　our　probable　destination；　and　it　became　important　to　me　to　consider　whether　I　could；　with　propriety；　or　even　perfect　safety；　intrude　myself　again　upon　the　hospitality　of　my　former　host。　　I　therefore　asked　Willie　whether　we　were　bound　for　the　laird's；　as　folk　called　him。

'Do　ye　ken　the　laird？'　　said　Willie；　interrupting　a　sonata　of　Corelli；　of　which　he　had　whistled　several　bars　with　great　precision。

'I　know　the　laird　a　little；'　said　I；　'and　therefore　I　was　doubting　whether　I　ought　to　go　to　his　town　in　disguise。'

'I　should　doubt；　not　a　little　only；　but　a　great　deal；　before　I　took　ye　there；　my　chap；'　said　Wandering　Willie；　'for　I　am　thinking　it　wad　be　worth　little　less　than　broken　banes　baith　to　you　and　me。　　Na；　na；　chap；　we　are　no　ganging　to　the　laird's；　but　to　a　blithe　birling　at　the　Brokenburn…foot；　where　there　will　be　mony　a　braw　lad　and　lass；　and　maybe　there　may　be　some　of　the　laird's　folks；　for　he　never　comes　to　sic　splores　himsell。　　He　is　all　for　fowling…piece　and　salmon…spear；　now　that　pike　and　musket　are　out　of　the　question。'

'He　has　been　at　soldier；　then？'　　said　I。

'I'se　warrant　him　a　soger；'　answered　Willie；　'but　take　my　advice；　and　speer　as　little　about　him　as　he　does　about　you。　　Best　to　let　sleeping　dogs　lie。　　Better　say　naething　about　the　laird；　my　man；　and　tell　me　instead；　what　sort　of　a　chap　ye　are　that　are　sae　ready　to　cleik　in　with　an　auld　gaberlunzie　fiddler？　　Maggie　says　ye're　gentle；　but　a　shilling　maks　a'　the　difference　that　Maggie　kens　between　a　gentle　and　a　semple；　and　your　crowns　wad　mak　ye　a　prince　of　the　blood　in　her　een。　　But　I　am　ane　that　ken　full　weel　that　ye　may　wear　good　claithes；　and　have　a　saft　hand；　and　yet　that　may　come　of　idleness　as　weel　as　gentrice。'

I　told　him　my　name；　with　the　same　addition　I　had　formerly　given　to　Mr。　Joshua　Geddes；　that　I　was　a　law…student；　tired　of　my　studies；　and　rambling　about　for　exercise　and　amusement。

'And　are　ye　in　the　wont　of　drawing　up　wi'　a'　the　gangrel　bodies　that　ye　meet　on　the　high…road；　or　find　cowering　in　a　sand…bunker　upon　the　links？'　　demanded　Willie。

'Oh；　no；　only　with　honest　folks　like　yourself；　Willie；'　was　my　reply。

'Honest　folks　like　me！　　How　do　ye　ken　whether　I　am　honest；　or　what　I　am？　　I　may　be　the　deevil　himsell　for　what　ye　ken；　for　he　has　power　to　come　disguised　like　an　angel　of　light；　and　besides　he　is　a　prime　fiddler。　　He　played　a　sonata　to　Corelli；　ye　ken。'

There　was　something　odd　in　this　speech；　and　the　tone　in　which　it　was　said。　　It　seemed　as　if　my　companion　was　not　always　in　his　constant　mind；　or　that　he　was　willing　to　try　if　he　could　frighten　me。　　I　laughed　at　the　extravagance　of　his　language；　however；　and　asked　him　in　reply；　if　he　was　fool　enough　to　believe　that　the　foul　fiend　would　play　so　silly　a　masquerade。

'Ye　ken　little　about　itlittle　about　it；'　said　the　old　man；　shaking　his　head　and　beard；　and　knitting　his　brows；　'I　could　tell　ye　something　about　that。'

What　his　wife　mentioned　of　his　being　a　tale…teller；　as　well　as　a　musician；　now　occurred　to　me；　and　as　you　know　I　like　tales　of　superstition；　I　begged　to　have　a　specimen　of　his　talent　as　we　went　along。

'It　is　very　true；'　said　the　blind　man；　'that　when　I　am　tired　of　scraping　thairm　or　singing　ballants；　I　whiles　mak　a　tale　serve　the　turn　among　the　country　bodies；　and　I　have　some　fearsome　anes；　that　make　the　auld　carlines　shake　on　the　settle；　and　the　bits　o'　bairns　skirl　on　their　minnies　out　frae　their　beds。　　But　this　that　I　am　gaun　to　tell　you　was　a　thing　that　befell　in　our　ain　house　in　my　father's　timethat　is；　my　father　was　then　a　hafflins　callant；　and　I　tell　it　to　you　that　it　may　be　a　lesson　to　you；　that　are　but　a　young；　thoughtless　chap；　wha　ye　draw　up　wi'　on　a　lonely　road；　for　muckle　was　the　dool　and　care　that　came　o't　to　my　gudesire。'

He　commenced　his　tale　accordingly；　in　a　distinct　narrative　tone　of　voice　which　he　raised　and　depressed　with　considerable　skill；　at　times　sinking　almost　into　a　whisper；　and　turning　his　clear　but　sightless　eyeballs　upon　my　face；　as　if　it　had　been　possible　for　him　to　witness　the　impression　which　his　narrative　made　upon　my　features。　　I　will　not　spare　you　a　syllable　of　it；　although　it　be　of　the　longest；　so　I　make　a　dashand　begin

WANDERING　WILLIE'S　TALE。

Ye　maun　have　heard　of　Sir　Robert　Redgauntlet　of　that　Ilk；　who　lived　in　these　parts　before　the　dear　years。　　The　country　will　lang　mind　him；　and　our　fathers　used　to　draw　breath　thick　if　ever　they　heard　him　named。　　He　was　out　wi'　the　Hielandmen　in　Montrose's　time；　and　again　he　was　in　the　hills　wi'　Glencairn　in　the　saxteen　hundred　and　fifty…twa；　and　sae　when　King　Charles　the　Second　came　in；　wha　was　in　sic　favour　as　the　Laird　of　Redgauntlet？　　He　was　knighted　at　Lonon　court；　wi'　the　king's　ain　sword；　and　being　a　redhot　prelatist；　he　came　down　here；　rampauging　like　a　lion；　with　commissions　of　lieutenancy　（and　of　lunacy；　for　what　I　ken）　to　put　down　a'　the　Whigs　and　Covenanters　in　the　country。　　Wild　wark　they　made　of　it；　for　the　Whigs　were　as　dour　as　the　Cavaliers　were　fierce；　and　it　was　which　should　first　tire　the　other。　　Redgauntlet　was　ay　for　the　strong　hand；　and　his　name　is　kend　as　wide　in　the　country　as　Claverhouse's　or　Tam　Dalyell's。　　Glen；　nor　dargle；　nor　mountain；　nor　cave；　could　hide　the　puir　hill…folk　when　Redgauntlet　was　out　with　bugle　and　bloodhound　after　them；　as　if　they　had　been　sae　mony　deer。　　And　troth　when　they　fand　them；　they　didna　mak　muckle　mair　ceremony　than　a　Hielandman　wi'　a　roebuckit　was　just；　'Will　ye　tak　the　test？'if　not；　'Make　readypresentfire！'and　there　lay　the　recusant。

Far　and　wide　was　Sir　Robert　hated　and　feared。　　Men　thought　he　had　a　direct　compact　with　Satanthat　he　was　proof　against　steeland　that　bullets　happed　aff　his　buff…coat　like　hailstanes　from　a　hearththat　he　had　a　mear　that　would　turn　a　hare　on　the　side　of　Carrifra…gawns　＇A　precipitous　side　of　a　mountain　in　Moffatdale。＇　and　muckle　to　the　same　purpose；　of　whilk　mair　anon。　　The　best　blessing　they　wared　on　him　was；　'Deil　scowp　wi'　Redgauntlet！'　　He　wasna　a　bad　master　to　his　ain　folk；　though；　and　was　weel　aneugh　liked　by　his　tenants；　and　as　for　the　lackies　and　troopers　that　raid　out　wi'　him　to　the　persecutions；　as　the　Whigs　caa'd　those　killing　times；　they　wad　hae　drunken　themsells　blind　to　his　health　at　ony　time。

Now　you　are　to　ken　that　my　gudesire　lived　on　Redgauntlet's　grund　they　ca'　the　place　Primrose　Knowe。　　We　had　lived　on　the　grund；　and　under　the　Redgauntlets；　since　the　riding　days；　and　lang　before。　　It　was　a　pleasant　bit；　and　I　think　the　air　is　callerer　and　fresher　there　than　onywhere　else　in　the　country。　　It's　a'　deserted　now；　and　I　sat　on　the　broken　door…cheek　three　days　since；　and　was　glad　I　couldna　see　the　plight　the　place　was　in；　but　that's　a'　wide　o'　the　mark。　　There　dwelt　my　gudesire；　Steenie　Steenson；　a　rambling；　rattling　chiel'　he　had　been　in　his　young　days；　and　could　play　weel　on　the　pipes；　he　was　famous　at　'Hoopers　and　Girders'a'　Cumberland　couldna；　touch　him　at　'Jockie　Lattin'and　he　had　the　finest　finger　for　the　back…lilt　between　Berwick　and　Carlisle。　　The　like　o'　St