night, had probably detained these heroes within the walls of Edinburgh
somewhat later than was consistent with their morning duty. Of such loiterers,
the prudent took the longer and circuitous, but more open route, to attain their
place in the march, by keeping at some distance from the infantry, and making
their way through the enclosures to the right, at the expense of leaping over or
pulling down the dry-stone fences. The irregular appearance and vanishing of
these small parties of horsemen, as well as the confusion occasioned by those
who endeavoured, though generally without effect, to press to the front through
the crowd of Highlanders, maugre their curses, oaths, and opposition, added to
the picturesque wildness what it took from the military regularity of the scene.
    While Waverley gazed upon this remarkable spectacle, rendered yet more
impressive by the occasional discharge of cannon-shot from the Castle at the
Highland guards as they were withdrawn from its vicinity to join their main
body, Callum with his usual freedom of interference, reminded him that Vich Ian
Vohr's folk were nearly at the head of the column of march, which was still
distant, and that »they would gang very fast after the cannon fired.« Thus
admonished, Waverley walked briskly forward, yet often casting a glance upon the
darksome clouds of warriors who were collected before and beneath him. A nearer
view, indeed rather diminished the effect impressed on the mind by the more
distant appearance of the army. The leading men of each clan were well armed
with broadsword, target, and fusee, to which all added the dirk, and most the
steel pistol. But these consisted of gentlemen, that is, relations of the chief,
however distant, and who had an immediate title to his countenance and
protection. Finer and hardier men could not have been selected out of any army
in Christendom; while the free and independent habits which each possessed, and
which each was yet so well taught to subject to the command of his chief, and
the peculiar mode of discipline adopted in Highland warfare, rendered them
equally formidable by their individual courage and high spirit, and from their
rational conviction of the necessity of acting in unison, and of giving their
national mode of attack the fullest opportunity of success.
    But, in a lower rank to these, there were found individuals of an inferior
description, the common peasantry of the Highland country, who, although they
did not allow themselves to be so called, and claimed often, with apparent
truth, to be of more ancient descent than the masters whom they served, bore,
nevertheless, the livery