'In that case,' said Waverley, determined not to spare civility, 'I
should have thought a person of your appearance would not have been found
on the road.'
'Vera true, vera true, sir,' replied the officer, 'but every why has its
wherefore. Ye maun ken, the laird there bought a' thir beasts frae me to
munt his troop, and agreed to pay for them according to the necessities
and prices of the time. But then he hadna the ready penny, and I hae been
advised his bond will not be worth a boddle against the estate, and then
I had a' my dealers to settle wi' at Martinmas; and so, as he very kindly
offered me this commission, and as the auld Fifteen [Footnote: The Judges
of the Supreme Court of Session in Scotland are proverbially termed among
the country people, The Fifteen.] wad never help me to my siller for
sending out naigs against the government, why, conscience! sir, I thought
my best chance for payment was e'en to GAE OUT [Footnote: See Note 28.]
mysell; and ye may judge, sir, as I hae dealt a' my life in halters, I
think na mickle o' putting my craig in peril of a Saint John-stone's
tippet.'
'You are not, then, by profession a soldier?' said Waverley.
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