He did not the less pity Fergus, for whom, in his present distress, he felt all his former regard revive.With the view of diverting his mind from these gloomy images, he offered with the Baron's permission, which he know he could readily obtain, to remain in his quarters till Fergus's corps should come up, and then to march with them as usual.The chief seemed much pleased, yet hesitated to accept the offer.
``We are, you know, in the rear,---the post of danger in a retreat.''
``And therefore the post of honour.''
``Well,'' replied the Chieftain, ``let Alick have your horse in readiness, in case we should be over-matched, and I shall be delighted to have your company once more.''
The rearguard were late in ****** their appearance, having been delayed by various accidents and by the badness of the roads.At length they entered the hamlet.When Waverley joined the clan Mac-Ivor, arm in arm with their Chieftain, all the resentment they had entertained against him seemed blown off at once.Evan Dhu received him with a grin of congratulation;and even Callum, who was running about as active as ever, pale indeed, and with a great patch on his head, appeared delighted to see him.
``That gallows-bird's skull,'' said Fergus, ``must be harder than marble: the lock of the pistol was actually broken.''
``How could you strike so young a lad so hard?'' said Waverley, with some interest.
``Why, if I did not strike hard sometimes, the rascals would forget themselves.''
They were now in full march, every caution being taken to prevent surprise.Fergus's people, and a fine clan regiment from Badenoch, commanded by Cluny Mac-Pherson, had the rear.They had passed a large open moor, and were entering into the enclosures which surround a small village called Clifton.The winter sun had set, and Edward began to rally Fergus upon the false predictions of the Grey Spirit.``The Ides of March are not past,'' said Mac-Ivor, with a smile; when, suddenly casting his eyes back on the moor, a large body of cavalry was indistinctly seen to hover upon its brown and dark surface.To line the enclosures facing the open ground, and the road by which the enemy must move from it upon the village, was the work of a short time.While these man<oe>uvres were accomplishing, night sunk down, dark and gloomy, though the moon was at full.Sometimes, however, she gleamed forth a dubious light upon the scene of action.
The Highlanders did not remain long undisturbed in the defensive position they had adopted.Favoured by the night, one large body of dismounted dragoons attempted to force the enclosures, while another, equally strong, strove to penetrate by the high road.Both were received by such a heavy fire as disconcerted their ranks, and effectually checked their progress.
Unsatisfied with the advantage thus gained, Fergus, to whose ardent spirit the approach of danger seemed to restore all its elasticity, drawing his sword, and called out ``Claymore!''
encouraged his men, by voice and example, to break through the hedge which divided them, and rush down upon the enemy.
Mingling with the dismounted dragoons, they forced them, at the sword point, to fly to the open moor, where a considerable number were cut to pieces.But the moon which suddenly shone out, showed to the English the small number of assailants, disordered by their own success.Two squadrons of horse moving to the support of their companions, the Highlanders endeavoured to recover the enclosures.But several of them, amongst others their brave Chieftain, were cut off and surrounded before they could effect their purpose.Waverley, looking eagerly for Fergus, from whom, as well as from the retreating body of his followers, he had been separated in the darkness and tumult, saw him, with Evan Dhu and Callum, defending themselves desperately against a dozen of horsemen, who were hewing at them with their long broadswords.The moon was again at that moment totally overclouded, and Edward, in the obscurity, could neither bring aid to his friends, nor discover which way lay his own road to rejoin the rearguard.After once or twice narrowly escaping being slain or made prisoner by parties of the cavalry whom he encountered in the darkness, he at length reached an enclosure, and clambering over it, concluded himself in safety, and on the way to the Highland forces, whose pipes he heard at some distance.For Fergus hardly a hope remained, unless that he might be made prisoner.Revolving his fate with sorrow and anxiety, the superstition of the Bodach Glas recurred to Edward's recollection, and he said to himself, with internal surprise, ``What, can the devil speak truth?''<*>
* Note AA.The Skirmish at Clifton.<! p370>