按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
a tombstone； he told me for an example a story of its earlier
inhabitants。 Years after it chanced that I was one day diverting
myself with a Waverley Novel； when what should I come upon but the
identical narrative of my green…coated gentleman upon the moors！
In a moment the scene； the tones of his voice； his northern accent；
and the very aspect of the earth and sky and temperature of the
weather； flashed back into my mind with the reality of dreams。 The
unknown in the green…coat had been the Great Unknown！ I had met
Scott； I had heard a story from his lips； I should have been able
to write； to claim acquaintance； to tell him that his legend still
tingled in my ears。 But the discovery came too late； and the great
man had already succumbed under the load of his honours and
misfortunes。
Presently； after giving us a cigar apiece； Scott bade us farewell
and disappeared with his daughter over the hills。 And when I
applied to Sim for information； his answer of 'The Shirra； man！
A'body kens the Shirra！' told me； unfortunately； nothing。
A more considerable adventure falls to be related。 We were now
near the border。 We had travelled for long upon the track beaten
and browsed by a million herds； our predecessors； and had seen no
vestige of that traffic which had created it。 It was early in the
morning when we at last perceived； drawing near to the drove road；
but still at a distance of about half a league； a second caravan；
similar to but larger than our own。 The liveliest excitement was
at once exhibited by both my comrades。 They climbed hillocks； they
studied the approaching drove from under their hand； they consulted
each other with an appearance of alarm that seemed to me
extraordinary。 I had learned by this time that their stand…oft
manners implied； at least； no active enmity； and I made bold to ask
them what was wrong。
'Bad yins；' was Sim's emphatic answer。
All day the dogs were kept unsparingly on the alert； and the drove
pushed forward at a very unusual and seemingly unwelcome speed。
All day Sim and Candlish； with a more than ordinary expenditure
both of snuff and of words； continued to debate the position。 It
seems that they had recognised two of our neighbours on the road …
one Faa； and another by the name of Gillies。 Whether there was an
old feud between them still unsettled I could never learn； but Sim
and Candlish were prepared for every degree of fraud or violence at
their hands。 Candlish repeatedly congratulated himself on having
left 'the watch at home with the mistress'； and Sim perpetually
brandished his cudgel； and cursed his ill…fortune that it should be
sprung。
'I willna care a damn to gie the daashed scoon'rel a fair clout wi'
it；' he said。 'The daashed thing micht come sindry in ma hand。'
'Well； gentlemen；' said I； 'suppose they do come on； I think we can
give a very good account of them。' And I made my piece of holly；
Ronald's gift； the value of which I now appreciated； sing about my
head。
'Ay； man？ Are ye stench？' inquired Sim； with a gleam of approval
in his wooden countenance。
The same evening； somewhat wearied with our day…long expedition； we
encamped on a little verdant mound； from the midst of which there
welled a spring of clear water scarce great enough to wash the
hands in。 We had made our meal and lain down； but were not yet
asleep； when a growl from one of the collies set us on the alert。
All three sat up； and on a second impulse all lay down again； but
now with our cudgels ready。 A man must be an alien and an outlaw；
an old soldier and a young man in the bargain； to take adventure
easily。 With no idea as to the rights of the quarrel or the
probable consequences of the encounter； I was as ready to take part
with my two drovers； as ever to fall in line on the morning of a
battle。 Presently there leaped three men out of the heather； we
had scarce time to get to our feet before we were assailed； and in
a moment each one of us was engaged with an adversary whom the
deepening twilight scarce permitted him to see。 How the battle
sped in other quarters I am in no position to describe。 The rogue
that fell to my share was exceedingly agile and expert with his
weapon； had and held me at a disadvantage from the first assault；
forced me to give ground continually； and at last； in mere self…
defence； to let him have the point。 It struck him in the throat；
and he went down like a ninepin and moved no more。
It seemed this was the signal for the engagement to be
discontinued。 The other combatants separated at once； our foes
were suffered； without molestation； to lift up and bear away their
fallen comrade； so that I perceived this sort of war to be not
wholly without laws of chivalry； and perhaps rather to partake of
the character of a tournament than of a battle A OUTRANCE。 There
was no doubt； at least； that I was supposed to have pushed the
affair too seriously。 Our friends the enemy removed their wounded
companion with undisguised consternation； and they were no sooner
over the top of the brae； than Sim and Candlish roused up their
wearied drove and set forth on a night march。
'I'm thinking Faa's unco bad；' said the one。
'Ay；' said the other； 'he lookit dooms gash。'
'He did that；' said the first。
And their weary silence fell upon them again。
Presently Sim turned to me。 'Ye're unco ready with the stick；'
said he。
'Too ready； I'm afraid；' said I。 'I am afraid Mr。 Faa （if that be
his name） has got his gruel。'
'Weel； I wouldnae wonder；' replied Sim。
'And what is likely to happen？' I inquired。
'Aweel；' said Sim； snuffing profoundly； 'if I were to offer an
opeenion； it would not be conscientious。 For the plain fac' is；
Mr。 St。 Ivy； that I div not ken。 We have had crackit heids … and
rowth of them … ere now； and we have had a broken leg or maybe twa；
and the like of that we drover bodies make a kind of a practice
like to keep among oursel's。 But a corp we have none of us ever
had to deal with； and I could set nae leemit to what Gillies micht
consider proper in the affair。 Forbye that； he would be in raither
a hobble himsel'； if he was to gang hame wantin' Faa。 Folk are
awfu' throng with their questions； and parteecularly when they're
no wantit。'
'That's a fac'；' said Candlish。
I considered this prospect ruefully； and then making the best of
it； 'Upon all which accounts；' said I； 'the best will be to get
across the border and there separate。 If you are troubled； you can
very truly put the blame upon your late companion； and if I am
pursued； I must just try to keep out of the way。'
'Mr。 St。 Ivy；' said Sim； with something resembling enthusiasm； 'no'
a word mair！ I have met in wi' mony kinds o' gentry ere now； I hae
seen o' them that was the tae thing； and I hae seen o' them that
was the tither； but the wale of a gentleman like you I have no sae
very frequently seen the bate of。'
Our night march was accordingly pursued with unremitting diligence。
The stars paled； the east whitened； and we were still； both dogs
and men； toiling after the wearied cattle。 Again and again Sim and
Candlish lamented the necessity： it was 'fair ruin on the bestial；'
they declared； but the thought of a judge and a scaffold hunted
them ever forward。 I myself was not so much to be pitied。 All
that night； and during the whole of the little that remained before
us of our conjunct journey； I enjoyed a new pleasure； the reward of
my prowess； in the now loosened tongue of Mr。 Sim。 Candlish was
still obdurately taciturn： it was the man's nature； but Sim； having
finally appraised and approved me； displayed without reticence a
rather garrulous habit of mind and a pretty talent for narration。
The pair were old and close companions； co…existing in these
endless moors in a brotherhood of silence such as I have heard
attributed to the trappers of the west。 It seems absurd to mention
love in connection with so ugly and snuffy a couple； at least；
their trust was absolute； and they entertained a surprising
admiration for each other's qualities； Candlish exclaiming that Sim
was 'grand company！' and Sim frequently assuring me in an aside
that for 'a rale； auld； stench bitch； there was nae the bate of
Candlish in braid Scotland。' The two dogs appeared to be entirely
included in this family compact； and I remarked that their exploits
and traits of character were constantly and minutely observed by
the two masters。 Dog stories particularly abounded with them； and
not only the dogs of the present but those of the past contributed
their quota。 'But that was naething；' Sim would begin： 'there was
a herd in Manar； they ca'd him Tweedie … ye'll mind Tweedie；
Can'lish？' 'Fine； that！' said Candlish。 'Aweel； Tweedie had