chronicles of the canongate-第39章

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　take　her　journey　along　with　them　when　they　should　remove　to　their　new　residence。　　Thus；　Hamish　believed　that　he　had　at　once　indulged　his　mother's　humour；　and　ensured　her　safety　and　accommodation。　　But　she　nourished　in　her　mind　very　different　thoughts　and　projects。

The　period　of　Hamish's　leave　of　absence　was　fast　approaching；　and　more　than　once　he　proposed　to　depart；　in　such　time　as　to　ensure　his　gaining　easily　and　early　Dunbarton；　the　town　where　were　the　head…quarters　of　his　regiment。　　But　still　his　mother's　entreaties；　his　own　natural　disposition　to　linger　among　scenes　long　dear　to　him；　and；　above　all；　his　firm　reliance　in　his　speed　and　activity；　induced　him　to　protract　his　departure　till　the　sixth　day；　being　the　very　last　which　he　could　possibly　afford　to　spend　with　his　mother；　if　indeed　he　meant　to　comply　with　the　conditions　of　his　furlough。



CHAPTER　V。

　　But　for　your　son；　believe　itoh；　believe　it　　　Most　dangerously　you　have　with　him　prevailed；　　　If　not　most　mortal　to　him。　　　　　　　　　　　　　　CORIOLANUS。

On　the　evening　which　preceded　his　proposed　departure；　Hamish　walked　down　to　the　river　with　his　fishing…rod；　to　practise　in　the　Awe；　for　the　last　time；　a　sport　in　which　he　excelled；　and　to　find；　at　the　same　time；　the　means　for　making　one　social　meal　with　his　mother　on　something　better　than　their　ordinary　cheer。　　He　was　as　successful　as　usual；　and　soon　killed　a　fine　salmon。　　On　his　return　homeward　an　incident　befell　him；　which　he　afterwards　related　as　ominous；　though　probably　his　heated　imagination；　joined　to　the　universal　turn　of　his　countrymen　for　the　marvellous；　exaggerated　into　superstitious　importance　some　very　ordinary　and　accidental　circumstance。

In　the　path　which　he　pursued　homeward；　he　was　surprised　to　observe　a　person；　who；　like　himself；　was　dressed　and　armed　after　the　old　Highland　fashion。　　The　first　idea　that　struck　him　was；　that　the　passenger　belonged　to　his　own　corps；　who；　levied　by　government；　and　bearing　arms　under　royal　authority；　were　not　amenable　for　breach　of　the　statutes　against　the　use　of　the　Highland　garb　or　weapons。　　But　he　was　struck　on　perceiving；　as　he　mended　his　pace　to　make　up　to　his　supposed　comrade；　meaning　to　request　his　company　for　the　next　day's　journey；　that　the　stranger　wore　a　white　cockade；　the　fatal　badge　which　was　proscribed　in　the　Highlands。　　The　stature　of　the　man　was　tall；　and　there　was　something　shadowy　in　the　outline；　which　added　to　his　size；　and　his　mode　of　motion；　which　rather　resembled　gliding　than　walking；　impressed　Hamish　with　superstitious　fears　concerning　the　character　of　the　being　which　thus　passed　before　him　in　the　twilight。　　He　no　longer　strove　to　make　up　to　the　stranger；　but　contented　himself　with　keeping　him　in　view；　under　the　superstition　common　to　the　Highlanders；　that　you　ought　neither　to　intrude　yourself　on　such　supernatural　apparitions　as　you　may　witness；　nor　avoid　their　presence；　but　leave　it　to　themselves　to　withhold　or　extend　their　communication；　as　their　power　may　permit；　or　the　purpose　of　their　commission　require。

Upon　an　elevated　knoll　by　the　side　of　the　road；　just　where　the　pathway　turned　down　to　Elspat's　hut；　the　stranger　made　a　pause；　and　seemed　to　await　Hamish's　coming　up。　　Hamish；　on　his　part；　seeing　it　was　necessary　he　should　pass　the　object　of　his　suspicion；　mustered　up　his　courage；　and　approached　the　spot　where　the　stranger　had　placed　himself；　who　first　pointed　to　Elspat's　hut；　and　made；　with　arm　and　head；　a　gesture　prohibiting　Hamish　to　approach　it；　then　stretched　his　hand　to　the　road　which　led　to　the　southward；　with　a　motion　which　seemed　to　enjoin　his　instant　departure　in　that　direction。　　In　a　moment　afterwards　the　plaided　form　was　goneHamish　did　not　exactly　say　vanished；　because　there　were　rocks　and　stunted　trees　enough　to　have　concealed　him；　but　it　was　his　own　opinion　that　he　had　seen　the　spirit　of　MacTavish　Mhor；　warning　him　to　commence　his　instant　journey　to　Dunbarton；　without　waiting　till　morning；　or　again　visiting　his　mother's　hut。

In　fact；　so　many　accidents　might　arise　to　delay　his　journey；　especially　where　there　were　many　ferries；　that　it　became　his　settled　purpose；　though　he　could　not　depart　without　bidding　his　mother　adieu；　that　he　neither　could　nor　would　abide　longer　than　for　that　object；　and　that　the　first　glimpse　of　next　day's　sun　should　see　him　many　miles　advanced　towards　Dunbarton。　　He　descended　the　path；　therefore；　and　entering　the　cottage；　he　communicated；　in　a　hasty　and　troubled　voice；　which　indicated　mental　agitation；　his　determination　to　take　his　instant　departure。　　Somewhat　to　his　surprise；　Elspat　appeared　not　to　combat　his　purpose；　but　she　urged　him　to　take　some　refreshment　ere　he　left　her　for　ever。　　He　did　so　hastily；　and　in　silence；　thinking　on　the　approaching　separation；　and　scarce　yet　believing　it　would　take　place　without　a　final　struggle　with　his　mother's　fondness。　　To　his　surprise；　she　filled　the　quaigh　with　liquor　for　his　parting　cup。

〃Go；〃　she　said；　〃my　son；　since　such　is　thy　settled　purpose；　but　first　stand　once　more　on　thy　mother's　hearth；　the　flame　on　which　will　be　extinguished　long　ere　thy　foot　shall　again　be　placed　there。〃

〃To　your　health；　mother！〃　　said　Hamish；　〃and　may　we　meet　again　in　happiness；　in　spite　of　your　ominous　words。〃

〃It　were　better　not　to　part；〃　said　his　mother；　watching　him　as　he　quaffed　the　liquor；　of　which　he　would　have　held　it　ominous　to　have　left　a　drop。

〃And　now；〃　she　said；　muttering　the　words　to　herself；　〃goif　thou　canst　go。〃

〃Mother；〃　said　Hamish；　as　he　replaced　on　the　table　the　empty　quaigh；　〃thy　drink　is　pleasant　to　the　taste；　but　it　takes　away　the　strength　which　it　ought　to　give。〃

〃Such　is　its　first　effect；　my　son；〃　replied　Elspat。　　〃But　lie　down　upon　that　soft　heather　couch；　shut　your　eyes　but　for　a　moment；　and；　in　the　sleep　of　an　hour；　you　shall　have　more　refreshment　than　in　the　ordinary　repose　of　three　whole　nights；　could　they　be　blended　into　one。〃

〃Mother；〃　said　Hamish；　upon　whose　brain　the　potion　was　now　taking　rapid　effect；　〃give　me　my　bonnetI　must　kiss　you　and　begoneyet　it　seems　as　if　my　feet　were　nailed　to　the　floor。〃

〃Indeed；〃　said　his　mother；　〃you　will　be　instantly　well；　if　you　will　sit　down　for　half　an　hourbut　half　an　hour。　　It　is　eight　hours　to　dawn；　and　dawn　were　time　enough　for　your　father's　son　to　begin　such　a　journey。〃

〃I　must　obey　you；　motherI　feel　I　must；〃　said　Hamish　inarticulately；　〃but　call　me　when　the　moon　rises。〃

He　sat　down　on　the　bed；　reclined　back；　and　almost　instantly　was　fast　asleep。　　With　the　throbbing　glee　of　one　who　has　brought　to　an　end　a　difficult　and　troublesome　enterprise；　Elspat　proceeded　tenderly　to　arrange　the　plaid　of　the　unconscious　slumberer；　to　whom　her　extravagant　affection　was　doomed　to　be　so　fatal；　expressing；　while　busied　in　her　office；　her　delight；　in　tones　of　mingled　tenderness　and　triumph。　　〃Yes；〃　she　said；　〃calf　of　my　heart；　the　moon　shall　arise　and　set　to　thee；　and　so　shall　the　sun；　but　not　to　light　thee　from　the　land　of　thy　fathers；　or　tempt　thee　to　serve　the　foreign　prince　or　the　feudal　enemy！　　To　no　son　of　Dermid　shall　I　be　delivered；　to　be　fed　like　a　bondswoman；　but　he　who　is　my　pleasure　and　my　pride　shall　be　my　guard　and　my　protector。　　They　say　the　Highlands　are　changed；　but　I　see　Ben　Cruachan　rear　his　crest　as　high　as　ever　into　the　evening　sky；　no　one　hath　yet　herded　his　kine　on　the　depths　of　Loch　Awe；　and　yonder　oak　does　not　yet　bend　like　a　willow。　　The　children　of　the　mountains　will　be　such　as　their　fathers；　until　the　mountains　themselves　shall　be　levelled　with　the　strath。　　In　these　wild　forests；　which　used　to　support　thousands　of　the　brave；　there　is　still　surely　subsistence　and　refuge　left　for　one　aged　woman；　and　one　gallant　youth　of　the　ancient　race　and　the　ancient　manners。〃

While　the　misjudging　mother　thus　exulted　in　the　success　of　her　stratagem；　we　may　mention　to　the　reader　that　it　was　founded　on　the　acquaintance　with　drugs　and　simples　which　Elspat；　accomplished　in　all　things　belonging　to　the　wild　life　which　she　had　led；　possessed　in　an　uncommon　degree；　and　which　she　exercised　for　various　purposes。　　With　the　herbs；　which　she　knew　how　to　select　as　well　as　how　to　distil；　she　could　relieve　more　diseases　than　a　regular　medical　person　could　easily　believe。　　She　applied　some　to　dye　the　bright