chronicles of the canongate-第48节

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This　was　Robin　Oig　M'Combich。　　〃That　I　should　have　had　no　weapon；〃　he　said；　〃and　for　the　first　time　in　my　life！　　Blighted　be　the　tongue　that　bids　the　Highlander　part　with　the　dirk。　　The　dirkha！　　the　English　blood！　　My　Muhme's　word！　　When　did　her　word　fall　to　the　ground？〃

The　recollection　of　the　fatal　prophecy　confirmed　the　deadly　intention　which　instantly　sprang　up　in　his　mind。

〃Ha！　　Morrison　cannot　be　many　miles　behind；　and　if　it　were　an　hundred；　what　then？〃

His　impetuous　spirit　had　now　a　fixed　purpose　and　motive　of　action；　and　he　turned　the　light　foot　of　his　country　towards　the　wilds；　through　which　he　knew；　by　Mr。　Ireby's　report；　that　Morrison　was　advancing。　　His　mind　was　wholly　engrossed　by　the　sense　of　injuryinjury　sustained　from　a　friend；　and　by　the　desire　of　vengeance　on　one　whom　he　now　accounted　his　most　bitter　enemy。　　The　treasured　ideas　of　self…importance　and　self…opinion　of　ideal　birth　and　quality；　had　become　more　precious　to　him；　（like　the　hoard　to　the　miser）　because　he　could　only　enjoy　them　in　secret。　　But　that　hoard　was　pillagedthe　idols　which　he　had　secretly　worshipped　had　been　desecrated　and　profaned。　　Insulted；　abused；　and　beaten；　he　was　no　longer　worthy；　in　his　own　opinion；　of　the　name　he　bore；　or　the　lineage　which　he　belonged　to。　Nothing　was　left　to　himnothing　but　revenge；　and　as　the　reflection　added　a　galling　spur　to　every　step；　he　determined　it　should　be　as　sudden　and　signal　as　the　offence。

When　Robin　Oig　left　the　door　of　the　alehouse；　seven　or　eight　English　miles　at　least　lay　betwixt　Morrison　and　him。　　The　advance　of　the　former　was　slow；　limited　by　the　sluggish　pace　of　his　cattle；　the　latter　left　behind　him　stubble…field　and　hedgerow；　crag　and　dark　heath；　all　glittering　with　frost…rime　in　the　broad　November　moonlight；　at　the　rate　of　six　miles　an　hour。　　And　now　the　distant　lowing　of　Morrison's　cattle　is　heard；　and　now　they　are　seen　creeping　like　moles　in　size　and　slowness　of　motion　on　the　broad　face　of　the　moor；　and　now　he　meets　thempasses　them；　and　stops　their　conductor。

〃May　good　betide　us；〃　said　the　Westlander。　　〃Is　this　you；　Robin　M'Combich；　or　your　wraith？〃

〃It　is　Robin　Oig　M'Combich；〃　answered　the　Highlander；　〃and　it　is　not。　　But　never　mind　that；　put　pe　giving　me　the　skene…dhu。〃

〃What！　　you　are　for　back　to　the　Highlands！　　The　devil！　　Have　you　selt　all　off　before　the　fair？　　This　beats　all　for　quick　markets！〃

〃I　have　not　soldI　am　not　going　northmaype　I　will　never　go　north　again。　　Give　me　pack　my　dirk；　Hugh　Morrison；　or　there　will　pe　words　petween　us。〃

〃Indeed；　Robin；　I'll　be　better　advised　before　I　gie　it　back　to　you；　it　is　a　wanchancy　weapon　in　a　Highlandman's　hand；　and　I　am　thinking　you　will　be　about　some　harns…breaking。〃

〃Prutt；　trutt！　　let　me　have　my　weapon；〃　said　Robin　Oig　impatiently。

〃Hooly　and　fairly；〃　said　his　well…meaning　friend。　　〃I'll　tell　you　what　will　do　better　than　these　dirking　doings。　　Ye　ken　Highlander；　and　Lowlander；　and　Border…men　are　a'　ae　man's　bairns　when　you　are　over　the　Scots　dyke。　　See；　the　Eskdale　callants；　and　fighting　Charlie　of　Liddesdale；　and　the　Lockerby　lads；　and　the　four　Dandies　of　Lustruther；　and　a　wheen　mair　grey　plaids；　are　coming　up　behind；　and　if　you　are　wranged；　there　is　the　hand　of　a　Manly　Morrison；　we'll　see　you　righted；　if　Carlisle　and　Stanwix　baith　took　up　the　feud。〃

〃To　tell　you　the　truth；〃　said　Robin　Oig；　desirous　of　eluding　the　suspicions　of　his　friend；　〃I　have　enlisted　with　a　party　of　the　Black　Watch；　and　must　march　off　to…morrow　morning。〃

〃Enlisted！　　Were　you　mad　or　drunk？　　You　must　buy　yourself　off。　　I　can　lend　you　twenty　notes；　and　twenty　to　that；　if　the　drove　sell。〃

〃I　thank　youthank　ye；　Hughie；　but　I　go　with　good…will　the　gate　that　I　am　going。　　So　the　dirk；　the　dirk！〃

〃There　it　is　for　you　then；　since　less　wunna　serve。　　But　think　on　what　I　was　saying。　　Waes　me；　it　will　be　sair　news　in　the　braes　of　Balquidder　that　Robin　Oig　M'Combich　should　have　run　an　ill　gate；　and　ta'en　on。〃

〃Ill　news　in　Balquidder；　indeed！〃　　echoed　poor　Robin。　　〃But　Cot　speed　you；　Hughie；　and　send　you　good　marcats。　　Ye　winna　meet　with　Robin　Oig　again；　either　at　tryste　or　fair。〃

So　saying；　he　shook　hastily　the　hand　of　his　acquaintance；　and　set　out　in　the　direction　from　which　he　had　advanced；　with　the　spirit　of　his　former　pace。

〃There　is　something　wrang　with　the　lad；〃　muttered　the　Morrison　to　himself；　〃but　we　will　maybe　see　better　into　it　the　morn's　morning。〃

But　long　ere　the　morning　dawned；　the　catastrophe　of　our　tale　had　taken　place。　　It　was　two　hours　after　the　affray　had　happened；　and　it　was　totally　forgotten　by　almost　every　one；　when　Robin　Oig　returned　to　Heskett's　inn。　　The　place　was　filled　at　once　by　various　sorts　of　men；　and　with　noises　corresponding　to　their　character。　　There　were　the　grave　low　sounds　of　men　engaged　in　busy　traffic；　with　the　laugh；　the　song；　and　the　riotous　jest　of　those　who　had　nothing　to　do　but　to　enjoy　themselves。　　Among　the　last　was　Harry　Wakefield；　who；　amidst　a　grinning　group　of　smock…　frocks；　hobnailed　shoes；　and　jolly　English　physiognomies；　was　trolling　forth　the　old　ditty；

　　〃What　though　my　name　be　Roger；　　　　Who　drives　the　plough　and　cart〃

when　he　was　interrupted　by　a　well…known　voice　saying　in　a　high　and　stern　voice；　marked　by　the　sharp　Highland　accent；　〃Harry　Waakfeltif　you　be　a　man　stand　up！〃

〃What　is　the　matter？what　is　it？〃　　the　guests　demanded　of　each　other。

〃It　is　only　a　dd　Scotsman；〃　said　Fleecebumpkin；　who　was　by　this　time　very　drunk；　〃whom　Harry　Wakefield　helped　to　his　broth　to…　day；　who　is　now　come　to　have　HIS　CAULD　KAIL　het　again。〃

〃Harry　Waakfelt；〃　repeated　the　same　ominous　summons；　〃stand　up；　if　you　be　a　man！〃

There　is　something　in　the　tone　of　deep　and　concentrated　passion；　which　attracts　attention　and　imposes　awe；　even　by　the　very　sound。　The　guests　shrunk　back　on　every　side；　and　gazed　at　the　Highlander　as　he　stood　in　the　middle　of　them；　his　brows　bent；　and　his　features　rigid　with　resolution。

〃I　will　stand　up　with　all　my　heart；　Robin；　my　boy；　but　it　shall　be　to　shake　hands　with　you；　and　drink　down　all　unkindness。　　It　is　not　the　fault　of　your　heart；　man；　that　you　don't　know　how　to　clench　your　hands。〃

By　this　time　he　stood　opposite　to　his　antagonist；　his　open　and　unsuspecting　look　strangely　contrasted　with　the　stern　purpose；　which　gleamed　wild；　dark；　and　vindictive　in　the　eyes　of　the　Highlander。

〃'Tis　not　thy　fault；　man；　that；　not　having　the　luck　to　be　an　Englishman；　thou　canst　not　fight　more　than　a　school…girl。〃

〃I　can　fight；〃　answered　Robin　Oig　sternly；　but　calmly；　〃and　you　shall　know　it。　　You；　Harry　Waakfelt；　showed　me　to…day　how　the　Saxon　churls　fight；　I　show　you　now　how　the　Highland　Dunnie…wassel　fights。〃

He　seconded　the　word　with　the　action；　and　plunged　the　dagger；　which　he　suddenly　displayed；　into　the　broad　breast　of　the　English　yeoman；　with　such　fatal　certainty　and　force　that　the　hilt　made　a　hollow　sound　against　the　breast…bone；　and　the　double…edged　point　split　the　very　heart　of　his　victim。　　Harry　Wakefield　fell　and　expired　with　a　single　groan。　　His　assassin　next　seized　the　bailiff　by　the　collar；　and　offered　the　bloody　poniard　to　his　throat；　whilst　dread　and　surprise　rendered　the　man　incapable　of　defence。

〃It　were　very　just　to　lay　you　peside　him；〃　he　said；　〃but　the　blood　of　a　pase　pickthank　shall　never　mix　on　my　father's　dirk；　with　that　of　a　brave　man。〃

As　he　spoke；　he　cast　the　man　from　him　with　so　much　force　that　he　fell　on　the　floor；　while　Robin；　with　his　other　hand；　threw　the　fatal　weapon　into　the　blazing　turf…fire。

〃There；〃　he　said；　〃take　me　who　likesand　let　fire　cleanse　blood　if　it　can。〃

The　pause　of　astonishment　still　continuing；　Robin　Oig　asked　for　a　peace…officer；　and　a　constable　having　stepped　out；　he　surrendered　himself　to　his　custody。

〃A　bloody　night's　work　you　have　made　of　it；〃　said　the　constable。

〃Your　own　fault；〃　said　the　Highlander。　　〃Had　you　kept　his　hands　off　me　twa　hours　since；　he　would　have　been　now　as　well　and　merry　as　he　was　twa　minutes　since。〃

〃It　must　be　sorely　answered；〃　said　the　peace…officer。

〃Never　you　mind　thatdeath　pays　all　debts；　it　will　pay　that　too。〃

The　horror　of　the　bystanders　began　now　to　give　way　to　indignation；　and　the　sight　of　a　favourite　companion　murdered　in　the　midst　of　them；　the　provocation　being；　in　their　opinion；　so　utterly　inadequate　to　the　excess　of　vengeance；　might　have　induced　them　to　kill　the　perpetrator　of　the　deed　even　upon　the　very　spot。　The　constable；　however；　did　his　duty　on　this　occasion；　and　with　the　assistance　of　some　of　the　more　reasonable　persons　present；　procured　horses　to　guard　the　prisoner　to　Carlisle；　to　abide　his　doom　at　the　next　assizes。　　While　the　escort　was　preparing；　the　prisoner　neither　expressed　the　least　interest；　nor　attempted　the　slightest　reply。　　Only；　before　he　was　carried　from　the　fatal　apartment；　he　desired　to　look　at　the　dead　body；　which；　raised　from　the　floor；　had　been　deposited　upon　the　large　table　（at　the　head　of　which　Harry　Wakefield　had　presided　but　a　few　minutes　before；　full　of　life；　vigour；　and　animation）；　until　the　surgeons　should　examine　the　mortal　wound。　　The　face　of　the　corpse　was　decently　covered　with　a　napkin。　　To　the　surprise　and　horror　of　the　bystanders；　which　displayed　itself　in　a　general　AH！　　drawn　through　clenched　teeth　and　half…shut