chronicles of the canongate-第46节

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g。

〃Thou　art　in　good　luck；　my　canny　Scot；〃　said　Mr。　Ireby；　〃to　have　spoken　to　me；　for　I　see　thy　cattle　have　done　their　day's　work；　and　I　have　at　my　disposal　the　only　field　within　three　miles　that　is　to　be　let　in　these　parts。〃

〃The　drove　can　pe　gang　two；　three；　four　miles　very　pratty　weel　indeed〃said　the　cautious　Highlander；　〃put　what　would　his　honour　pe　axing　for　the　peasts　pe　the　head；　if　she　was　to　tak　the　park　for　twa　or　three　days？〃

〃We　won't　differ；　Sawney；　if　you　let　me　have　six　stots　for　winterers；　in　the　way　of　reason。〃

〃And　which　peasts　wad　your　honour　pe　for　having？〃

〃Whylet　me　seethe　two　blackthe　dun　oneyon　doddyhim　with　the　twisted　hornthe　brockitHow　much　by　the　head？〃

〃Ah；〃　said　Robin；　〃your　honour　is　a　shudgea　real　shudge。　　I　couldna　have　set　off　the　pest　six　peasts　petter　mysel'me　that　ken　them　as　if　they　were　my　pairns；　puir　things。〃

〃Well；　how　much　per　head；　Sawney？〃　　continued　Mr。　Ireby。

〃It　was　high　markets　at　Doune　and　Falkirk；〃　answered　Robin。

And　thus　the　conversation　proceeded；　until　they　had　agreed　on　the　PRIX　JUSTE　for　the　bullocks；　the　Squire　throwing　in　the　temporary　accommodation　of　the　enclosure　for　the　cattle　into　the　boot；　and　Robin　making；　as　he　thought；　a　very　good　bargain；　provided　the　grass　was　but　tolerable。　　The　Squire　walked　his　pony　alongside　of　the　drove；　partly　to　show　him　the　way；　and　see　him　put　into　possession　of　the　field；　and　partly　to　learn　the　latest　news　of　the　northern　markets。

They　arrived　at　the　field；　and　the　pasture　seemed　excellent。　　But　what　was　their　surprise　when　they　saw　the　bailiff　quietly　inducting　the　cattle　of　Harry　Wakefield　into　the　grassy　Goshen　which　had　just　been　assigned　to　those　of　Robin　Oig　M'Combich　by　the　proprietor　himself！　　Squire　Ireby　set　spurs　to　his　horse；　dashed　up　to　his　servant；　and　learning　what　had　passed　between　the　parties；　briefly　informed　the　English　drover　that　his　bailiff　had　let　the　ground　without　his　authority；　and　that　he　might　seek　grass　for　his　cattle　wherever　he　would；　since　he　was　to　get　none　there。　　At　the　same　time　he　rebuked　his　servant　severely　for　having　transgressed　his　commands；　and　ordered　him　instantly　to　assist　in　ejecting　the　hungry　and　weary　cattle　of　Harry　Wakefield；　which　were　just　beginning　to　enjoy　a　meal　of　unusual　plenty；　and　to　introduce　those　of　his　comrade；　whom　the　English　drover　now　began　to　consider　as　a　rival。

The　feelings　which　arose　in　Wakefield's　mind　would　have　induced　him　to　resist　Mr。　Ireby's　decision；　but　every　Englishman　has　a　tolerably　accurate　sense　of　law　and　justice；　and　John　Fleecebumpkin；　the　bailiff；　having　acknowledged　that　he　had　exceeded　his　commission；　Wakefield　saw　nothing　else　for　it　than　to　collect　his　hungry　and　disappointed　charge；　and　drive　them　on　to　seek　quarters　elsewhere。　　Robin　Oig　saw　what　had　happened　with　regret；　and　hastened　to　offer　to　his　English　friend　to　share　with　him　the　disputed　possession。　　But　Wakefield's　pride　was　severely　hurt；　and　he　answered　disdainfully；　〃Take　it　all；　mantake　it　all；　never　make　two　bites　of　a　cherry。　　Thou　canst　talk　over　the　gentry；　and　blear　a　plain　man's　eye。　　Out　upon　you；　man。　　I　would　not　kiss　any　man's　dirty　latchets　for　leave　to　bake　in　his　oven。〃

Robin　Oig；　sorry　but　not　surprised　at　his　comrade's　displeasure；　hastened　to　entreat　his　friend　to　wait　but　an　hour　till　he　had　gone　to　the　Squire's　house　to　receive　payment　for　the　cattle　he　had　sold；　and　he　would　come　back　and　help　him　to　drive　the　cattle　into　some　convenient　place　of　rest；　and　explain　to　him　the　whole　mistake　they　had　both　of　them　fallen　into。　　But　the　Englishman　continued　indignant：　　〃Thou　hast　been　selling；　hast　thou？　　Ay；　ay；　thou　is　a　cunning　lad　for　kenning　the　hours　of　bargaining。　Go　to　the　devil　with　thyself；　for　I　will　ne'er　see　thy　fause　loon's　visage　againthou　should　be　ashamed　to　look　me　in　the　face。〃

〃I　am　ashamed　to　look　no　man　in　the　face；〃　said　Robin　Oig；　something　moved；　〃and；　moreover；　I　will　look　you　in　the　face　this　blessed　day；　if　you　will　bide　at　the　Clachan　down　yonder。〃

〃Mayhap　you　had　as　well　keep　away；〃　said　his　comrade；　and　turning　his　back　on　his　former　friend；　he　collected　his　unwilling　associates；　assisted　by　the　bailiff；　who　took　some　real　and　some　affected　interest　in　seeing　Wakefield　accommodated。

After　spending　some　time　in　negotiating　with　more　than　one　of　the　neighbouring　farmers；　who　could　not；　or　would　not；　afford　the　accommodation　desired；　Henry　Wakefield　at　last；　and　in　his　necessity；　accomplished　his　point　by　means　of　the　landlord　of　the　alehouse　at　which　Robin　Oig　and　he　had　agreed　to　pass　the　night；　when　they　first　separated　from　each　other。　　Mine　host　was　content　to　let　him　turn　his　cattle　on　a　piece　of　barren　moor；　at　a　price　little　less　than　the　bailiff　had　asked　for　the　disputed　enclosure；　and　the　wretchedness　of　the　pasture；　as　well　as　the　price　paid　for　it；　were　set　down　as　exaggerations　of　the　breach　of　faith　and　friendship　of　his　Scottish　crony。　　This　turn　of　Wakefield's　passions　was　encouraged　by　the　bailiff；　（who　had　his　own　reasons　for　being　offended　against　poor　Robin；　as　having　been　the　unwitting　cause　of　his　falling　into　disgrace　with　his　master）；　as　well　as　by　the　innkeeper；　and　two　or　three　chance　guests；　who　stimulated　the　drover　in　his　resentment　against　his　quondam　associatesome　from　the　ancient　grudge　against　the　Scots；　which；　when　it　exists　anywhere；　is　to　be　found　lurking　in　the　Border　counties；　and　some　from　the　general　love　of　mischief；　which　characterises　mankind　in　all　ranks　of　life；　to　the　honour　of　Adam's　children　be　it　spoken。　　Good　John　Barleycorn　also；　who　always　heightens　and　exaggerates　the　prevailing　passions；　be　they　angry　or　kindly；　was　not　wanting　in　his　offices　on　this　occasion；　and　confusion　to　false　friends　and　hard　masters　was　pledged　in　more　than　one　tankard。

In　the　meanwhile　Mr。　Ireby　found　some　amusement　in　detaining　the　northern　drover　at　his　ancient　hall。　　He　caused　a　cold　round　of　beef　to　be　placed　before　the　Scot　in　the　butler's　pantry；　together　with　a　foaming　tankard　of　home…brewed；　and　took　pleasure　in　seeing　the　hearty　appetite　with　which　these　unwonted　edibles　were　discussed　by　Robin　Oig　M'Combich。　　The　Squire　himself　lighting　his　pipe；　compounded　between　his　patrician　dignity　and　his　love　of　agricultural　gossip；　by　walking　up　and　down　while　he　conversed　with　his　guest。

〃I　passed　another　drove；〃　said　the　Squire；　with　one　of　your　countrymen　behind　them。　　They　were　something　less　beasts　than　your　drovedoddies　most　of　them。　　A　big　man　was　with　them。　　None　of　your　kilts；　though；　but　a　decent　pair　of　breeches。　　D'ye　know　who　he　may　be？〃

〃Hout　aye；　that　might；　could；　and　would　be　Hughie　Morrison。　　I　didna　think　he　could　hae　peen　sae　weel　up。　　He　has　made　a　day　on　us；　but　his　Argyleshires　will　have　wearied　shanks。　　How　far　was　he　pehind？〃

〃I　think　about　six　or　seven　miles；〃　answered　the　Squire；　〃for　I　passed　them　at　the　Christenbury　Crag；　and　I　overtook　you　at　the　Hollan　Bush。　　If　his　beasts　be　leg…weary；　he　will　be　maybe　selling　bargains。〃

〃Na；　na；　Hughie　Morrison　is　no　the　man　for　pargainsye　maun　come　to　some　Highland　body　like　Robin　Oig　hersel'　for　the　like　of　these。　　Put　I　maun　pe　wishing　you　goot　night；　and　twenty　of　them；　let　alane　ane；　and　I　maun　down　to　the　Clachan　to　see　if　the　lad　Harry　Waakfelt　is　out　of　his　humdudgeons　yet。〃

The　party　at　the　alehouse　were　still　in　full　talk；　and　the　treachery　of　Robin　Oig　still　the　theme　of　conversation；　when　the　supposed　culprit　entered　the　apartment。　　His　arrival；　as　usually　happens　in　such　a　case；　put　an　instant　stop　to　the　discussion　of　which　he　had　furnished　the　subject；　and　he　was　received　by　the　company　assembled　with　that　chilling　silence　which；　more　than　a　thousand　exclamations；　tells　an　intruder　that　he　is　unwelcome。　Surprised　and　offended；　but　not　appalled　by　the　reception　which　he　experienced；　Robin　entered　with　an　undaunted　and　even　a　haughty　air；　attempted　no　greeting；　as　he　saw　he　was　received　with　none；　and　placed　himself　by　the　side　of　the　fire；　a　little　apart　from　a　table　at　which　Harry　Wakefield；　the　bailiff；　and　two　or　three　other　persons；　were　seated。　　The　ample　Cumbrian　kitchen　would　have　afforded　plenty　of　room；　even　for　a　larger　separation。

Robin　thus　seated；　proceeded　to　light　his　pipe；　and　call　for　a　pint　of　twopenny。

〃We　have　no　twopence　ale；〃　answered　Ralph　Heskett　the　landlord；　〃but　as　thou　find'st　thy　own　tobacco；　it's　like　thou　mayst　find　thy　own　liquor　tooit's　the　wont　of　thy　country；　I　wot。〃

〃Shame；　goodman；〃　said　the　landlady；　a　blithe；　bustling　housewife；　hastening　herself　to　supply　the　guest　with　liquor。　〃Thou　knowest　well　enow　what　the　strange　man　wants；　and　it's　thy　trade　to　be　civil；　man。　　Thou　shouldst　know；　that　if　the　Scot　likes　a　small　pot；　he　pays　a　sure　penny。〃

Without　taking　any　notice　of　this　nuptial　dialogue；　the　Highlander　took　the　flagon　in　his　hand；　and　addressing　the　company　generally；　drank　the　interesting　toast　of　〃Good　markets〃　to　the　party　assembled。

〃The　better　that　the　wind　blew　fewer　dealers　from　the　north；〃　said　one　of　the　farmers；　〃and　fewer　Highland　runts　to　eat　up　the　English　meadows。〃

〃Saul　of　my　pody；　put　you　are　wrang　there；　my　friend；〃　answered　Robin；　with　composure；　〃it　is　your　fat　Englishmen　that　eat　up　our