 delight upon a golden guinea, with which
these last words were accompanied. He hastened, not without a curse on the
intricacies of a Saxon breeches pocket, or spleuchan, as he called it, to
deposit the treasure in his fob; and then, as if he conceived the benevolence
called for some requital on his part, he gathered close up to Edward, with an
expression of countenance peculiarly knowing, and spoke in an under tone, »If
his honour thought ta auld deevil Whig carle was a bit dangerous, she could
easily provide for him, and teil ane ta wiser.«
    »How, and in what manner?«
    »Her ain sell,« replied Callum, »could wait for him a wee bit frae the toun,
and kittle his quarters wi' her skene-occle.«
    »Skene-occle! what's that?«
    Callum unbuttoned his coat, raised his left arm, and with an emphatic nod,
pointed to the hilt of a small dirk, snugly deposited under it, in the lining of
his jacket. Waverley thought he had understood his meaning; he gazed in his
face, and discovered in Callum's very handsome, though embrowned features, just
the degree of roguish malice with which a lad of the same age in England would
have brought forward a plan for robbing an orchard.
    »Good God, Callum, would you take the man's life?«
    »Indeed,« answered the young desperado, »and I think he has had just a lang
enough lease o't, when he's for betraying honest folk, that come to spend siller
at his public.«
    Edward saw nothing was to be gained by argument, and therefore contented
himself with enjoining Callum to lay aside all practices against the person of
Mr. Ebenezer Cruickshanks; in which injunction the page seemed to acquiesce with
an air of great indifference.
    »Ta Duinhé-wassel might please himsell; ta auld rudas loon had never done
Callum nae ill. But here's a bit line frae ta Tighearna, tat he bade me gie your
honour ere I came back.«
    The letter from the Chief contained Flora's lines on the fate of Captain
Wogan, whose enterprising character is so well drawn by Clarendon. He had
originally engaged in the service of the Parliament, but had abjured that party
upon the execution of Charles I.; and upon hearing that the royal standard was
set up by the Earl of Glencairn and General Middleton in the Highlands of
Scotland, took leave of Charles II., who was then at Paris, passed into England,
