chronicles of the canongate-第33节

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ung　feet　can　trace　the　way。〃

〃Alas；　mother；〃　said　the　young　man；　with　a　faltering　accent；　〃but　to　cross　the　sea〃

〃The　sea！　　who　am　I　that　I　should　fear　the　sea？　　Have　I　never　been　in　a　birling　in　my　lifenever　known　the　Sound　of　Mull；　the　Isles　of　Treshornish；　and　the　rough　rocks　of　Harris？〃

〃Alas；　mother；　I　go　farfar　from　all　of　these。　　I　am　enlisted　in　one　of　the　new　regiments；　and　we　go　against　the　French　in　America。〃

〃Enlisted！〃　　uttered　the　astonished　mother〃against　MY　will　without　MY　consent！　　You　could　not！　　you　would　not！〃　　Then　rising　up；　and　assuming　a　posture　of　almost　imperial　command；　〃Hamish；　you　DARED　not！〃

〃Despair；　mother；　dares　everything；〃　answered　Hamish；　in　a　tone　of　melancholy　resolution。　　〃What　should　I　do　here；　where　I　can　scarce　get　bread　for　myself　and　you；　and　when　the　times　are　growing　daily　worse？　　Would　you　but　sit　down　and　listen；　I　would　convince　you　I　have　acted　for　the　best。〃

With　a　bitter　smile　Elspat　sat　down；　and　the　same　severe　ironical　expression　was　on　her　features；　as；　with　her　lips　firmly　closed；　she　listened　to　his　vindication。

Hamish　went　on；　without　being　disconcerted　by　her　expected　displeasure。　　〃When　I　left　you；　dearest　mother；　it　was　to　go　to　MacPhadraick's　house；　for　although　I　knew　he　is　crafty　and　worldly；　after　the　fashion　of　the　Sassenach；　yet　he　is　wise；　and　I　thought　how　he　would　teach　me；　as　it　would　cost　him　nothing；　in　which　way　I　could　mend　our　estate　in　the　world。〃

〃Our　estate　in　the　world！〃　　said　Elspat；　losing　patience　at　the　word；　〃and　went　you　to　a　base　fellow　with　a　soul　no　better　than　that　of　a　cowherd；　to　ask　counsel　about　your　conduct？　　Your　father　asked　none；　save　of　his　courage　and　his　sword。〃

〃Dearest　mother；〃　answered　Hamish；　〃how　shall　I　convince　you　that　you　live　in　this　land　of　our　fathers　as　if　our　fathers　were　yet　living？　　You　walk　as　it　were　in　a　dream；　surrounded　by　the　phantoms　of　those　who　have　been　long　with　the　dead。　　When　my　father　lived　and　fought；　the　great　respected　the　man　of　the　strong　right　hand；　and　the　rich　feared　him。　　He　had　protection　from　Macallum　Mhor；　and　from　Caberfae；　and　tribute　from　meaner　men。　　＇CaberfaeANGLICE；　the　Stag's…head；　the　Celtic　designation　for　the　arms　of　the　family　of　the　high　Chief　of　Seaforth。＇　　That　is　ended；　and　his　son　would　only　earn　a　disgraceful　and　unpitied　death　by　the　practices　which　gave　his　father　credit　and　power　among　those　who　wear　the　breacan。　　The　land　is　conquered；　its　lights　are　quenchedGlengarry；　Lochiel；　Perth；　Lord　Lewis；　all　the　high　chiefs　are　dead　or　in　exile。　　We　may　mourn　for　it；　but　we　cannot　help　it。　　Bonnet；　broadsword；　and　sporranpower；　strength；　and　wealth；　were　all　lost　on　Drummossie　Muir。〃

〃It　is　false！〃　　said　Elspat；　fiercely；　〃you　and　such　like　dastardly　spirits　are　quelled　by　your　own　faint　hearts；　not　by　the　strength　of　the　enemy；　you　are　like　the　fearful　waterfowl；　to　whom　the　least　cloud　in　the　sky　seems　the　shadow　of　the　eagle。〃

〃Mother；〃　said　Hamish　proudly；　〃lay　not　faint　heart　to　my　charge。　I　go　where　men　are　wanted　who　have　strong　arms　and　bold　hearts　too。　　I　leave　a　desert；　for　a　land　where　I　may　gather　fame。〃

〃And　you　leave　your　mother　to　perish　in　want；　age；　and　solitude；〃　said　Elspat；　essaying　successively　every　means　of　moving　a　resolution　which　she　began　to　see　was　more　deeply　rooted　than　she　had　at　first　thought。

〃Not　so；　neither；〃　he　answered；　〃I　leave　you　to　comfort　and　certainty；　which　you　have　yet　never　known。　　Barcaldine's　son　is　made　a　leader；　and　with　him　I　have　enrolled　myself。　　MacPhadraick　acts　for　him；　and　raises　men；　and　finds　his　own　in　doing　it。〃

〃That　is　the　truest　word　of　the　tale；　were　all　the　rest　as　false　as　hell；〃　said　the　old　woman；　bitterly。

〃But　we　are　to　find　our　good　in　it　also；〃　continued　Hamish；　〃for　Barcaldine　is　to　give　you　a　shieling　in　his　wood　of　Letter…　findreight；　with　grass　for　your　goats；　and　a　cow；　when　you　please　to　have　one；　on　the　common；　and　my　own　pay；　dearest　mother；　though　I　am　far　away；　will　do　more　than　provide　you　with　meal；　and　with　all　else　you　can　want。　　Do　not　fear　for　me。　　I　enter　a　private　gentleman；　but　I　will　return；　if　hard　fighting　and　regular　duty　can　deserve　it；　an　officer；　and　with　half　a　dollar　a　day。〃

〃Poor　child！〃　　replied　Elspat；　in　a　tone　of　pity　mingled　with　contempt；　〃and　you　trust　MacPhadraick？〃

〃I　might　mother；〃　said　Hamish；　the　dark　red　colour　of　his　race　crossing　his　forehead　and　cheeks；　〃for　MacPhadraick　knows　the　blood　which　flows　in　my　veins；　and　is　aware；　that　should　he　break　trust　with　you；　he　might　count　the　days　which　could　bring　Hamish　back　to　Breadalbane；　and　number　those　of　his　life　within　three　suns　more。　　I　would　kill　him　at　his　own　hearth；　did　he　break　his　word　with　meI　would；　by　the　great　Being　who　made　us　both！〃

The　look　and　attitude　of　the　young　soldier　for　a　moment　overawed　Elspat；　she　was　unused　to　see　him　express　a　deep　and　bitter　mood；　which　reminded　her　so　strongly　of　his　father。　　But　she　resumed　her　remonstrances　in　the　same　taunting　manner　in　which　she　had　commenced　them。

〃Poor　boy！〃　　she　said；　〃and　you　think　that　at　the　distance　of　half　the　world　your　threats　will　be　heard　or　thought　of！　　But；　gogoplace　your　neck　under　him　of　Hanover's　yoke；　against　whom　every　true　Gael　fought　to　the　death。　　Go；　disown　the　royal　Stewart；　for　whom　your　father；　and　his　fathers；　and　your　mother's　fathers；　have　crimsoned　many　a　field　with　their　blood。　　Go；　put　your　head　under　the　belt　of　one　of　the　race　of　Dermid；　whose　children　murderedYes；〃　she　added；　with　a　wild　shriek；　〃murdered　your　mother's　fathers　in　their　peaceful　dwellings　in　Glencoe！　Yes；〃　she　again　exclaimed；　with　a　wilder　and　shriller　scream；　〃I　was　then　unborn；　but　my　mother　has　told　meand　I　attended　to　the　voice　of　MY　motherwell　I　remember　her　words！　　They　came　in　peace；　and　were　received　in　friendshipand　blood　and　fire　arose；　and　screams　and　murder！〃　　＇See　Note　9。Massacre　of　Glencoe。＇

〃Mother；〃　answered　Hamish；　mournfully；　but　with　a　decided　tone；　〃all　that　I　have　thought　over。　　There　is　not　a　drop　of　the　blood　of　Glencoe　on　the　noble　hand　of　Barcaldine；　with　the　unhappy　house　of　Glenlyon　the　curse　remains；　and　on　them　God　hath　avenged　it。〃

〃You　speak　like　the　Saxon　priest　already；〃　replied　his　mother；　〃will　you　not　better　stay；　and　ask　a　kirk　from　Macallum　Mhor；　that　you　may　preach　forgiveness　to　the　race　of　Dermid？〃

〃Yesterday　was　yesterday；〃　answered　Hamish；　〃and　to…day　is　to…　day。　　When　the　clans　are　crushed　and　confounded　together；　it　is　well　and　wise　that　their　hatreds　and　their　feuds　should　not　survive　their　independence　and　their　power。　　He　that　cannot　execute　vengeance　like　a　man；　should　not　harbour　useless　enmity　like　a　craven。　　Mother；　young　Barcaldine　is　true　and　brave。　　I　know　that　MacPhadraick　counselled　him　that　he　should　not　let　me　take　leave　of　you；　lest　you　dissuaded　me　from　my　purpose；　but　he　said；　'Hamish　MacTavish　is　the　son　of　a　brave　man；　and　he　will　not　break　his　word。'　　Mother；　Barcaldine　leads　an　hundred　of　the　bravest　of　the　sons　of　the　Gael　in　their　native　dress；　and　with　their　fathers'　armsheart　to　heartshoulder　to　shoulder。　　I　have　sworn　to　go　with　him。　　He　has　trusted　me；　and　I　will　trust　him。〃

At　this　reply；　so　firmly　and　resolvedly　pronounced；　Elspat　remained　like　one　thunderstruck；　and　sunk　in　despair。　　The　arguments　which　she　had　considered　so　irresistibly　conclusive；　had　recoiled　like　a　wave　from　a　rock。　　After　a　long　pause；　she　filled　her　son's　quaigh；　and　presented　it　to　him　with　an　air　of　dejected　deference　and　submission。

〃Drink；〃　she　said；　〃to　thy　father's　roof…tree；　ere　you　leave　it　for　ever；　and　tell　mesince　the　chains　of　a　new　King；　and　of　a　new　chief；　whom　your　fathers　knew　not　save　as　mortal　enemies；　are　fastened　upon　the　limbs　of　your　father's　sontell　me　how　many　links　you　count　upon　them？〃

Hamish　took　the　cup；　but　looked　at　her　as　if　uncertain　of　her　meaning。　　She　proceeded　in　a　raised　voice。　　〃Tell　me；〃　she　said；　〃for　I　have　a　right　to　know；　for　how　many　days　the　will　of　those　you　have　made　your　masters　permits　me　to　look　upon　you？　　In　other　words；　how　many　are　the　days　of　my　life？　　for　when　you　leave　me；　the　earth　has　nought　besides　worth　living　for！〃

〃Mother；〃　replied　Hamish　MacTavish；　〃for　six　days　I　may　remain　with　you；　and　if　you　will　set　out　with　me　on　the　fifth；　I　will　conduct　you　in　safety　to　your　new　dwelling。　　But　if　you　remain　here；　then　I　will　depart　on　the　seventh　by　daybreakthen；　as　at　the　last　moment；　I　MUST　set　out　for　Dunbarton；　for　if　I　appear　not　on　the　eighth　day；　I　am　subject　to　punishment　as　a　deserter；　and　am　dishonoured　as　a　soldier　and　a　gentleman。〃

〃Your　father's　foot；〃　she　answered；　〃was　free　as　the　wind　on　the　heathit　were　as　vain　to　say　to　him；　where　goest　thou？　　as　to　ask　that　viewless　driver　of　the　clouds；　wherefore　blowest　thou？　Tell　me　under　what　penalty　thou　mustsince　go　thou　must；　and　go　thou　wiltreturn　to　thy　thraldom？〃

〃Call　it　not　thraldom；　mother；　it　is　the　service　of　an　honourable　soldierthe　only　service　which　is　now　open　to　the　son　of　MacTavish　Mhor。〃

〃Yet　say　what　is　the　penalty　if　thou　shouldst　not　return？〃　replied　Elspat。

〃Military　punishment　as　a　deserter；〃　answered　Hamish；　writhing；　however；　as　his　mother　failed　not　to　observe；　under　some　internal　feelin