The banners glittered and shook
as they moved forward, and the horse hastened to occupy their station as
the advanced guard, and to push on reconnoitring parties to ascertain and
report the motions of the enemy. They vanished from Waverley's eye as
they wheeled round the base of Arthur's Seat, under the remarkable ridge
of basaltic rocks which fronts the little lake of Duddingston.
The infantry followed in the same direction, regulating their pace by
another body which occupied a road more to the southward. It cost Edward
some exertion of activity to attain the place which Fergus's followers
occupied in the line of march.
CHAPTER XVI
AN INCIDENT GIVES RISE TO UNAVAILING REFLECTIONS
When Waverley reached that part of the column which was filled by the
clan of Mac-Ivor, they halted, formed, and received him with a triumphant
flourish upon the bagpipes and a loud shout of the men, most of whom knew
him personally, and were delighted to see him in the dress of their
country and of their sept. 'You shout,' said a Highlander of a
neighbouring clan to Evan Dhu, 'as if the Chieftain were just come to
your head.'
'Mar e Bran is e a brathair, If it be not Bran, it is Bran's brother,'
was the proverbial reply of Maccombich.
Pages:
603
604
605
606
607
608
609
610
611
612
613
614
615
616
617
618
619
620
621
622
623
624
625
626
627