look at him, he is about fifteen years; but he is a century old in mischief and villainy.  He was playing at quoits the other day in the court; a gentleman, a decent-looking person enough, came past, and as a quoit hit his shin, he lifted his cane; but my young bravo whips out his pistol, like Beau Clincher in the “Trip to the Jubilee,” and had not a scream of Gardez l’eau from an upper window set all parties a-scampering for fear of the inevitable consequences, the poor gentleman would have lost his life by the hands of that little cockatrice.’

’A fine character you’ll give of Scotland upon your return, Colonel Talbot.’

‘O, Justice Shallow,’ said the Colonel, ’will save me the trouble —­“Barren, barren, beggars all, beggars all.  Marry, good air,”—­and that only when you are fairly out of Edinburgh, and not yet come to Leith, as is our case at present.’

In a short time they arrived at the seaport.

    The boat rock’d at the pier of Leith,
    Full loud the wind blew down the ferry;
    The ship rode at the Berwick Law.

’Farewell, Colonel; may you find all as you would wish it!  Perhaps we may meet sooner than you expect; they talk of an immediate route to England.’

‘Tell me nothing of that,’ said Talbot; ’I wish to carry no news of your motions.’

’Simply, then, adieu.  Say, with a thousand kind greetings, all that is dutiful and affectionate to Sir Everard and Aunt Rachel.  Think of me as kindly as you can, speak of me as indulgently as your conscience will permit, and once more adieu.’

’And adieu, my dear Waverley; many, many thanks for your kindness.  Unplaid yourself on the first opportunity.  I shall ever think on you with gratitude, and the worst of my censure shall be, Que diable alloit—­il faire dans cette galere?’

And thus they parted, Colonel Talbot going on board of the boat and Waverley returning to Edinburgh.

CHAPTER LVII

THE MARCH

It is not our purpose to intrude upon the province of history.  We shall therefore only remind our readers that about the beginning of November the Young Chevalier, at the head of about six thousand men at the utmost, resolved to peril his cause on an attempt to penetrate into the centre of England, although aware of the mighty preparations which were made for his reception.  They set forward on this crusade in weather which would have rendered any other troops incapable of marching, but which in reality gave these active mountaineers advantages over a less hardy enemy.  In defiance of a superior army lying upon the Borders, under Field-Marshal Wade, they besieged and took Carlisle, and soon afterwards prosecuted their daring march to the southward.