The Black Dwarf

by Walter Scott

  CHAPTER XII.

  Some one way, some another--Do you know Where we may apprehend her?

  The researches after Miss Vere were (for the sake of appearances,perhaps) resumed on the succeeding day, with similar bad success, andthe party were returning towards Ellieslaw in the evening.

  "It is singular," said Mareschal to Ratcliffe, "that four horsemen anda female prisoner should have passed through the country without leavingthe slightest trace of their passage. One would think they had traversedthe air, or sunk through the ground."

  "Men may often," answered Ratcliffe, "arrive at the knowledge of thatwhich is, from discovering that which is not. We have now scoured everyroad, path, and track leading from the castle, in all the various pointsof the compass, saving only that intricate and difficult pass whichleads southward down the Westburn, and through the morasses."

  "And why have we not examined that?" said Mareschal.

  "O, Mr. Vere can best answer that question," replied his companion,dryly.

  "Then I will ask it instantly," said Mareschal; and, addressing Mr.Vere, "I am informed, sir," said he, "there is a path we have notexamined, leading by Westburnflat."

  "O," said Sir Frederick, laughing, "we know the owner of Westburnflatwell--a wild lad, that knows little difference between his neighbour'sgoods and his own; but, withal, very honest to his principles: he woulddisturb nothing belonging to Ellieslaw."

  "Besides," said Mr. Vere, smiling mysteriously, "he had other tow on hisdistaff last night. Have you not heard young Elliot of the Heugh-foothas had his house burnt, and his cattle driven away, because he refusedto give up his arms to some honest men that think of starting for theking?"

  The company smiled upon each other, as at hearing of an exploit whichfavoured their own views.

  "Yet, nevertheless," resumed Mareschal, "I think we ought to ride inthis direction also, otherwise we shall certainly be blamed for ournegligence."

  No reasonable objection could be offered to this proposal, and the partyturned their horses' heads towards Westburnflat.

  They had not proceeded very far in that direction when the trampling ofhorses was heard, and a small body of riders were perceived advancing tomeet them.

  "There comes Earnscliff," said Mareschal; "I know his bright bay withthe star in his front."

  "And there is my daughter along with him," exclaimed Vere,furiously. "Who shall call my suspicions false or injurious now?Gentlemen--friends--lend me the assistance of your swords for therecovery of my child."

  He unsheathed his weapon, and was imitated by Sir Frederick and severalof the party, who prepared to charge those that were advancing towardsthem. But the greater part hesitated.

  "They come to us in all peace and security," said Mareschal-Wells; "letus first hear what account they give us of this mysterious affair. IfMiss Vere has sustained the slightest insult or injury from Earnscliff,I will be first to revenge her; but let us hear what they say."

  "You do me wrong by your suspicions, Mareschal," continued Vere; "youare the last I would have expected to hear express them."

  "You injure yourself, Ellieslaw, by your violence, though the cause mayexcuse it."

  He then advanced a little before the rest, and called out, with a loudvoice,--"Stand, Mr. Earnscliff; or do you and Miss Vere advance aloneto meet us. You are charged with having carried that lady off from herfather's house; and we are here in arms to shed our best blood for herrecovery, and for bringing to justice those who have injured her."

  "And who would do that more willingly than I, Mr. Mareschal?" saidEarnscliff, haughtily,--"than I, who had the satisfaction this morningto liberate her from the dungeon in which I found her confined, and whoam now escorting her back to the Castle of Ellieslaw?"

  "Is this so, Miss Vere?" said Mareschal.

  "It is," answered Isabella, eagerly,--"it is so; for Heaven's sakesheathe your swords. I will swear by all that is sacred, that I wascarried off by ruffians, whose persons and object were alike unknown tome, and am now restored to freedom by means of this gentleman's gallantinterference."

  "By whom, and wherefore, could this have been done?" pursuedMareschal.--"Had you no knowledge of the place to which you wereconveyed?--Earnscliff, where did you find this lady?"

  But ere either question could be answered, Ellieslaw advanced, and,returning his sword to the scabbard, cut short the conference.

  "When I know," he said, "exactly how much I owe to Mr. Earnscliff, hemay rely on suitable acknowledgments; meantime," taking the bridle ofMiss Vere's horse, "thus far I thank him for replacing my daughter inthe power of her natural guardian."

  A sullen bend of the head was returned by Earnscliff with equalhaughtiness; and Ellieslaw, turning back with his daughter upon the roadto his own house, appeared engaged with her in a conference soearnest, that the rest of the company judged it improper to intrude byapproaching them too nearly. In the meantime, Earnscliff, as he tookleave of the other gentlemen belonging to Ellieslaw's party, said aloud,"Although I am unconscious of any circumstance in my conduct that canauthorize such a suspicion, I cannot but observe, that Mr. Vere seemsto believe that I have had some hand in the atrocious violence which hasbeen offered to his daughter. I request you, gentlemen, to take noticeof my explicit denial of a charge so dishonourable; and that, althoughI can pardon the bewildering feelings of a father in such a moment,yet, if any other gentleman," (he looked hard at Sir Frederick Langley)"thinks my word and that of Miss Vere, with the evidence of my friendswho accompany me, too slight for my exculpation, I will be happy--mosthappy--to repel the charge, as becomes a man who counts his honourdearer than his life."

  "And I'll be his second," said Simon of Hackburn, "and take up ony twao' ye, gentle or semple, laird or loon; it's a' ane to Simon."

  "Who is that rough-looking fellow?" said Sir Frederick Langley, "andwhat has he to do with the quarrels of gentlemen?"

  "I'se be a lad frae the Hie Te'iot," said Simon, "and I'se quarrel wi'ony body I like, except the king, or the laird I live under."

  "Come," said; Mareschal, "let us have no brawls.--Mr. Earnscliff;although we do not think alike in some things, I trust we may beopponents, even enemies, if fortune will have it so, without losing ourrespect for birth, fair-play, and each other. I believe you as innocentof this matter as I am myself; and I will pledge myself that my cousinEllieslaw, as soon as the perplexity attending these sudden events hasleft his judgment to its free exercise, shall handsomely acknowledge thevery important service you have this day rendered him."

  "To have served your cousin is a sufficient reward in itself--Goodevening, gentlemen," continued Earnscliff; "I see most of your party arealready on their way to Ellieslaw."

  Then saluting Mareschal with courtesy, and the rest of the partywith indifference, Earnscliff turned his horse and rode towardsthe Heugh-foot, to concert measures with Hobbie Elliot for fartherresearches after his bride, of whose restoration to her friends he wasstill ignorant.

  "There he goes," said Mareschal; "he is a fine, gallant young fellow,upon my soul; and yet I should like well to have a thrust with him onthe green turf. I was reckoned at college nearly his equal with thefoils, and I should like to try him at sharps."

  "In my opinion," answered Sir Frederick Langley, "we have done veryill in having suffered him, and those men who are with him, to go offwithout taking away their arms; for the Whigs are very likely to draw toa head under such a sprightly young fellow as that."

  "For shame, Sir Frederick!" exclaimed Mareschal; "do you think thatEllieslaw could, in honour, consent to any violence being offered toEarnscliff; when he entered his bounds only to bring back his daughter?or, if he were to be of your opinion, do you think that I, and the restof these gentlemen, would disgrace ourselves by assisting in such atransaction? No, no, fair play and auld Scotland for ever! When thesword is drawn, I will be as ready to use it as any man; but while it isin the sheath, let us behave like gentlemen and neighbours."

  Soon after this colloquy they reac
hed the castle, when Ellieslaw, whohad been arrived a few minutes before, met them in the court-yard.

  "How is Miss Vere? and have you learned the cause of her being carriedoff?" asked Mareschal hastily.

  "She is retired to her apartment greatly fatigued; and I cannot expectmuch light upon her adventure till her spirits are somewhat recruited,"replied her father. "She and I were not the less obliged to you,Mareschal, and to my other friends, for their kind enquiries. But I mustsuppress the father's feelings for a while to give myself up to those ofthe patriot. You know this is the day fixed for our final decision--timepresses--our friends are arriving, and I have opened house, not onlyfor the gentry, but for the under spur-leathers whom we must necessarilyemploy. We have, therefore, little time to prepare to meet them.--Lookover these lists, Marchie (an abbreviation by which Mareschal-Wells wasknown among his friends). Do you, Sir Frederick, read these letters fromLothian and the west--all is ripe for the sickle, and we have but tosummon out the reapers."

  "With all my heart," said Mareschal; "the more mischief the bettersport."

  Sir Frederick looked grave and disconcerted.

  "Walk aside with me, my good friend," said Ellieslaw to the sombrebaronet; "I have something for your private ear, with which I know youwill be gratified."

  They walked into the house, leaving Ratcliffe and Mareschal standingtogether in the court.

  "And so," said Ratcliffe, "the gentlemen of your political persuasionthink the downfall of this government so certain, that they disdain evento throw a decent disguise over the machinations of their party?"

  "Faith, Mr. Ratcliffe," answered Mareschal, "the actions and sentimentsYOUR friends may require to be veiled, but I am better pleased that ourscan go barefaced."

  "And is it possible," continued Ratcliffe, "that you, who,notwithstanding pour thoughtlessness and heat of temper (I beg pardon,Mr. Mareschal, I am a plain man)--that you, who, notwithstandingthese constitutional defects, possess natural good sense and acquiredinformation, should be infatuated enough to embroil yourself in suchdesperate proceedings? How does your head feel when you are engaged inthese dangerous conferences?"

  "Not quite so secure on my shoulders," answered Mareschal, "as if I weretalking of hunting and hawking. I am not of so indifferent a mould asmy cousin Ellieslaw, who speaks treason as if it were a child's nurseryrhymes, and loses and recovers that sweet girl, his daughter, with agood deal less emotion on both occasions, than would have affected mehad I lost and recovered a greyhound puppy. My temper is not quite soinflexible, nor my hate against government so inveterate, as to blind meto the full danger of the attempt."

  "Then why involve yourself in it?" said Ratcliffe.

  "Why, I love this poor exiled king with all my heart; and my father wasan old Killiecrankie man, and I long to see some amends on the Unionistcourtiers, that have bought and sold old Scotland, whose crown has beenso long independent."

  "And for the sake of these shadows," said his monitor, "you are going toinvolve your country in war and yourself in trouble?"

  "I involve? No!--but, trouble for trouble, I had rather it cameto-morrow than a month hence. COME, I know it will; and, as your countryfolks say, better soon than syne--it will never find me younger--and asfor hanging, as Sir John Falstaff says, I can become a gallows as wellas another. You know the end of the old ballad;

  "Sae dauntonly, sae wantonly, Sae rantingly gaed he, He play'd a spring, and danced a round, Beneath the gallows tree."

  "Mr. Mareschal, I am sorry for you," said his grave adviser.

  "I am obliged to you, Mr. Ratcliffe; but I would not have you judge ofour enterprise by my way of vindicating it; there are wiser heads thanmine at the work."

  "Wiser heads than yours may lie as low," said Ratcliffe, in a warningtone.

  "Perhaps so; but no lighter heart shall; and, to prevent it being madeheavier by your remonstrances, I will bid you adieu, Mr. Ratcliffe, tilldinner-time, when you shall see that my apprehensions have not spoiledmy appetite."