THE HOLD OF A HIGHLAND ROBBER
The party preserved silence, interrupted only by the monotonous
and murmured chant of a Gaelic song, sung in a kind of low
recitative by the steersman, and by the dash of the oars, which
the notes seemed to regulate, as they dipped to them in cadence.
The light, which they now approached more nearly, assumed a
broader, redder and more irregular splendour. It appeared plainly
to be a large fire, but whether kindled upon an island or the
mainland Edward could not determine. As he saw it, the red glaring
orb seemed to rest on the very surface of the lake itself, and
resembled the fiery vehicle in which the Evil Genius of an
Oriental tale traverses land and sea. They approached nearer, and
the light of the fire sufficed to show that it was kindled at the
bottom of a huge dark crag or rock, rising abruptly from the very
edge of the water; its front, changed by the reflection to dusky
red, formed a strange and even awful contrast to the banks around,
which were from time to time faintly and partially illuminated by
pallid moonlight.
The boat now neared the shore, and Edward could discover that this
large fire, amply supplied with branches of pine-wood by two
figures, who, in the red reflection of its light, appeared like
demons, was kindled in the jaws of a lofty cavern, into which an
inlet from the lake seemed to advance; and he conjectured, which
was indeed true, that the fire had been lighted as a beacon to the
boatmen on their return. They rowed right for the mouth of the
cave, and then, shifting their oars, permitted the boat to enter
in obedience to the impulse which it had received. The skiff
passed the little point or platform of rock on which the fire was
blazing, and running about two boats' lengths farther, stopped
where the cavern (for it was already arched overhead) ascended
from the water by five or six broad ledges of rock, so easy and
regular that they might be termed natural steps. At this moment a
quantity of water was suddenly flung upon the fire, which sunk
with a hissing noise, and with it disappeared the light it had
hitherto afforded. Four or five active arms lifted Waverley out of
the boat, placed him on his feet, and almost carried him into the
recesses of the cave. He made a few paces in darkness, guided in
this manner; and advancing towards a hum of voices, which seemed
to sound from the centre of the rock, at an acute turn Donald Bean
Lean and his whole establishment were before his eyes.
The interior of the cave, which here rose very high, was
illuminated by torches made of pine-tree, which emitted a bright
and bickering light, attended by a strong though not unpleasant
odour. Their light was assisted by the red glare of a large
charcoal fire, round which were seated five or six armed
Highlanders, while others were indistinctly seen couched on their
plaids in the more remote recesses of the cavern. In one large
aperture, which the robber facetiously called his SPENCE (or
pantry), there hung by the heels the carcasses of a sheep, or ewe,
and two cows lately slaughtered. The principal inhabitant of this
singular mansion, attended by Evan Dhu as master of the
ceremonies, came forward to meet his guest, totally different in
appearance and manner from what his imagination had anticipated.
The profession which he followed, the wilderness in which he
dwelt, the wild warrior forms that surrounded him, were all
calculated to inspire terror. From such accompaniments, Waverley
prepared himself to meet a stern, gigantic, ferocious figure, such
as Salvator would have chosen to be the central object of a group
of banditti. [Footnote: See Note 15.]
Donald Bean Lean was the very reverse of all these. He was thin in
person and low in stature, with light sandy-coloured hair, and
small pale features, from which he derived his agnomen of BEAN or
white; and although his form was light, well proportioned and
active, he appeared, on the whole, rather a diminutive and
insignificant figure. He had served in some inferior capacity in
the French army, and in order to receive his English visitor in
great form, and probably meaning, in his way, to pay him a
compliment, he had laid aside the Highland dress for the time, to
put on an old blue and red uniform and a feathered hat, in which
he was far from showing to advantage, and indeed looked so
incongruous, compared with all around him, that Waverley would
have been tempted to laugh, had laughter been either civil or
safe. The robber received Captain Waverley with a profusion of
French politeness and Scottish hospitality, seemed perfectly to
know his name and connections, and to be particularly acquainted
with his uncle's political principles. On these he bestowed great
applause, to which Waverley judged it prudent to make a very
general reply.
Being placed at a convenient distance from the charcoal fire, the
heat of which the season rendered oppressive, a strapping Highland
damsel placed before Waverley, Evan, and Donald Bean three cogues,
or wooden vessels composed of staves and hoops, containing
eanaruich, [Footnote: This was the regale presented by Rob Roy to
the Laird of Tullibody.] a sort of strong soup, made out of a
particular part of the inside of the beeves. After this
refreshment, which, though coarse, fatigue and hunger rendered
palatable, steaks, roasted on the coals, were supplied in liberal
abundance, and disappeared before Evan Dhu and their host with a
promptitude that seemed like magic, and astonished Waverley, who
was much puzzled to reconcile their voracity with what he had
heard of the abstemiousness of the Highlanders. He was ignorant
that this abstinence was with the lower ranks wholly compulsory,
and that, like some animals of prey, those who practise it were
usually gifted with the power of indemnifying themselves to good
purpose when chance threw plenty in their way. The whisky came
forth in abundance to crown the cheer. The Highlanders drank it
copiously and undiluted; but Edward, having mixed a little with
water, did not find it so palatable as to invite him to repeat the
draught. Their host bewailed himself exceedingly that he could
offer him no wine: 'Had he but known four-and-twenty hours before,
he would have had some, had it been within the circle of forty
miles round him. But no gentleman could do more to show his sense
of the honour of a visit from another than to offer him the best
cheer his house afforded. Where there are no bushes there can be
no nuts, and the way of those you live with is that you must
follow,'
He went on regretting to Evan Dhu the death of an aged man,
Donnacha an Amrigh, or Duncan with the Cap, 'a gifted seer,' who
foretold, through the second sight, visitors of every description
who haunted their dwelling, whether as friends or foes.
'Is not his son Malcolm taishatr (a second-sighted person)?' asked
Evan.
'Nothing equal to his father,' replied Donald Bean. 'He told us
the other day, we were to see a great gentleman riding on a horse,
and there came nobody that whole day but Shemus Beg, the blind
harper, with his dog. Another time he advertised us of a wedding,
and behold it proved a funeral; and on the creagh, when he
foretold to us we should bring home a hundred head of horned
cattle, we gripped nothing but a fat bailie of Perth.'
From this discourse he passed to the political and military state
of the country; and Waverley was astonished, and even alarmed, to
find a person of this description so accurately acquainted with
the strength of the various garrisons and regiments quartered
north of the Tay. He even mentioned the exact number of recruits
who had joined Waverley's troop from his uncle's estate, and
observed they were PRETTY MEN, meaning, not handsome, but stout
warlike fellows. He put Waverley in mind of one or two minute
circumstances which had happened at a general review of the
regiment, which satisfied him that the robber had been an eye-
witness of it; and Evan Dhu having by this time retired from the
conversation, and wrapped himself up in his plaid to take some
repose, Donald asked Edward, in a very significant manner, whether
he had nothing particular to say to him.
Waverley, surprised and somewhat startled at this question from
such a character, answered, he had no motive in visiting him but
curiosity to see his extraordinary place of residence. Donald Bean
Lean looked him steadily in the face for an instant, and then
said, with a significant nod, 'You might as well have confided in
me; I am as much worthy of trust as either the Baron of
Bradwardine or Vich Ian Vohr. But you are equally welcome to my
house.'
Waverley felt an involuntary shudder creep over him at the
mysterious language held by this outlawed and lawless bandit,
which, in despite of his attempts to master it, deprived him of
the power to ask the meaning of his insinuations. A heath pallet,
with the flowers stuck uppermost, had been prepared for him in a
recess of the cave, and here, covered with such spare plaids as
could be mustered, he lay for some time watching the motions of
the other inhabitants of the cavern. Small parties of two or three
entered or left the place, without any other ceremony than a few
words in Gaelic to the principal outlaw, and, when he fell asleep,
to a tall Highlander who acted as his lieutenant, and seemed to
keep watch during his repose. Those who entered seemed to have
returned from some excursion, of which they reported the success,
and went without farther ceremony to the larder, where, cutting
with their dirks their rations from the carcasses which were there
suspended, they proceeded to broil and eat them at their own
pleasure and leisure. The liquor was under strict regulation,
being served out either by Donald himself, his lieutenant, or the
strapping Highland girl aforesaid, who was the only female that
appeared. The allowance of whisky, however, would have appeared
prodigal to any but Highlanders, who, living entirely in the open
air and in a very moist climate, can consume great quantities of
ardent spirits without the usual baneful effects either upon the
brain or constitution.
At length the fluctuating groups began to swim before the eyes of
our hero as they gradually closed; nor did he re-open them till
the morning sun was high on the lake without, though there was but
a faint and glimmering twilight in the recesses of Uaimh an Ri, or
the King's Cavern, as the abode of Donald Bean Lean was proudly
denominated.