THE BRAVERY OF BAILIE NICOL | aided by a plaid or tartan screen, barely JARVIE. served the purposes of decency, and certainly not those of comfort. Her black About half a mile's riding, after we hair, which escaped in uncombed elf-locks crossed the bridge, placed us at the door from under her coif, as well as the strange of a public-house where we were to pass and embarrassed look with which she rethe evening. It was a hovel rather worse garded us, gave me the idea of a witch than better than that in which we had disturbed in the midst of her unlawful dined; but its little windows were lighted rites. She plainly refused to admit us up, voices were heard from within, and into the house. We remonstrated anxall intimated a prospect of food and shel- iously, and pleaded the length of our jourter, to which we were by no means indif- ney, the state of our horses, and the cerferent. Andrew was the first to observe tainty that there was not another place that there was a peeled willow-wand placed where we could be received nearer than across the half-open door of the little inn. Callander, which the Bailie stated to be He hung back, and advised us not to enter. seven Scots miles distant. How many "For," said Andrew, some of their these may exactly amount to in Engchiefs and grit men are birling at the us-lish measurement, I have never been able quebaugh in by there, and dinna want to be disturbed; and the least we'll get, if we gang ram-stam in on them, will be a broken head, to learn us better havings, if we dinna come by the length of a cauld dirk in our wame, whilk is just as likely." I looked at the Bailie, who acknowledged, in a whisper, "that the gowk had some reason for singing, ance in the year. แ 66 Meantime a staring half-clad wench or two came out of the inn and the neighboring cottages, on hearing the sound of our horses' feet. No one bade us welcome, nor did anyone offer to take our horses, from which we had alighted; and to our various inquiries, the hopeless response of Ha niel Sassenach "was the only answer we could extract. The Bailie, however, found (in his experience) a way to make them speak English. "If I gie ye a bawbee," said he to an urchin of about ten years old, with a fragment of a tattered plaid about him, 'will you understand Sassenach ?" 66 "Ay, ay, that will I," replied the brat, in very decent English. "Then gang and tell your mammy, my man, there's twa Sa senach gentlemen come to speak wi' her.” The landlady presently appeared, with a lighted piece of split fir blazing in her hand. The turpentine in this species of torch (which is generally dug from out the turf-bogs) makes it blaze and sparkle readily, so that it is often used in the Highlands in lieu of candles. On this occasion such a torch illuminated the wild and anxious features of a female, pale, thin, and rather above the usual size, whose soiled and ragged dress, though to ascertain, but I think the double ratio may be pretty safely taken as a medium computation. The obdurate hostess treated our expostulation with contempt. "Better gang farther than fare waur, she said, speaking the Scottish Lowland dialect, and being, indeed, a native of the Lennox district. 'Her house was taen up wi' them wadna like to be intruded on wi' strangers. She didna ken wha mair might be there-redcoats, it might be, frae the garrison." (These last words she spoke under her breath, and with very strong emphasis.). "The night," she said, was fair abune head-a night amang the heather wad caller our bloods --we might sleep in our claes as mony a gude blade does in the scabbard-there wasna muckle flowmoss in the shaw, if we took up our quarters right, and we might pit up our horses to the hill, naebody wad say naething against it." 66 66 But, my good woman," said I, while the Bailie groaned and remained undecided, "it is six hours since we dined, and we have not taken a morsel since. I am positively dying with hunger, and I have no taste for taking up my abode supperless among these mountains of yours. I positively must enter; and make the best apology you can to your guests for adding a stranger or two to their number. Andrew, you will see the horses put up." The Hecate looked at me with surprise, and then ejaculated, "A wilfu' man will hae his way-them that will to Cupar maun to Cupar! To see thae English belly-gods-he has had ae fu' meal the day already, and he'll venture life and liberty rather than he'll want a het sup per! Set roasted beef and pudding on the opposite side o' the pit o' Tophet, and an Englishman will mak a spang at it. But I wash my hands o't. Follow me, sir," (to Andrew) "and I'se show ye where to pit the beasts. I own I was somewhat dismayed at my landlady's expressions, which seemed to be ominous of some approaching danger. I did not, however, choose to shrink back after having declared my resolution, and accordingly I boldly entered the house; and after narrowly escaping breaking my shins over a turf back and a salting-tub, which stood on either side of the narrow exterior passage, I opened a crazy halfdecayed door, constructed not of plank, but of wicker, and, followed by the Bailie, entered into the principal apartment of this Scottish caravansary. The interior presented a view which seemed singular enough to southern eyes. The fire, fed with blazing turf and branches of dried wood, blazed merrily in the centre; but the smoke, having no means to escape but through a hole in the roof, eddied round the rafters of the cottage, and hung in sable folds at the height of about five feet from the floor. The space beneath was kept pretty clear, by innumerable currents of air which rushed towards the fire from the broken panel of basket-work which served as a door, from two square holes, designed as ostensible windows, through one of which was thrust a plaid, and through the other a tattered great-coat; and moreover, through various less distinguishable apertures in the walls of the tenement, which, being built of round stones and turf, cemented by mud, let in the atmosphere at innumerable crevices. At the old oaken table, adjoining to the fire, sat three men, guests apparently, whom it was impossible to regard with indifference. Two were in the Highland dress; the one, a little dark-complexioned man, with a lively, quick, and irritable expression of features, wore the trews, or close pantaloons, wove out of a sort of chequered stocking stuff. The Bailie whispered me, that "he behoved to be a man of some consequence, for that naebody but their Duinhéwassels wore the trews; they were ill to weave exactly to their Highland pleasure. The other mountaineer was a very tall, strong man, with a quantity of reddish hair, freckled face, high cheek-bones, and long chin-a sort of caricature of the national features of Scotland. The tartan which he wore differed from that of his companion, as it had much more scarlet in it, whereas the shades of black and dark green predominated in the chequers of the other. The third, who sat at the small table, was in the Lowland dress-a bold, stout-looking man, with a cast of military daring in his eye and manner, his ridingdress showily and profusely laced, and his cocked hat of formidable dimensions. His hanger and a pair of pistols lay on the table before him. Each of the Highlanders had their naked dirks stuck upright in the board beside him-an emblem, I was afterwards informed, but surely a strange one, that their compotation was not to be interrupted by any brawl. A mighty pewter measure, containing about an English quart of usquebaugh, a liquor nearly as strong as brandy, which the Highlanders distil from malt, and drink undiluted in excessive quantities, was placed before these worthies. A broken glass, with a wooden foot, served as a drinking-cup to the whole party, and circulated with a rapidity which, considering the potency of the liquor, seemed absolutely marvellous. These men spoke loud and eagerly together, sometimes in Gælic, at other times in English. Another Highlander, wrapt in his plaid, reclined on the floor, his head resting on a stone, from which it was only separated by a wisp of straw, and slept or seemed to sleep, without attending to what was going on around him. He also was probably a stranger, for he lay in full dress, and accoutred with the sword and target, the usual arms of his countrymen when on a journey. Cribs there were of different dimensions, beside the walls, formed, some of fractured boards, some of shattered wicker-work or plaited boughs, in which slumbered the family of the house, men, women, and children, their places of repose only concealed by the dusky wreaths of vapor which arose above, below, and around them. Our entrance was made so quietly, and the carousers I have described were so eagerly engaged in their discussions, that we escaped their notice for a minute or two. But I observed the Highlander who lay beside the fire raise himself on his elbow as we entered, and, drawing his plaid over the lower part of his face, fix his look on us for a few seconds, after which he resumed his recumbent posture, and seemed again to betake himself to the repose which our entrance had interrupted. We advanced to the fire, which was an agreeable spectacle after our late ride, during the chillness of an autumn evening among the mountains, and first attracted the attention of the guests who had preceded us, by calling for the landlady, She approached, looking doubtfully and timidly, now at us, now at the other party, and returned a hesitating and doubtful answer to our request to have something to eat. "She didna ken," she said, "she was na sure there was onything in the house,' and then modified her refusal with the qualification-" that is, onything fit for the like of us.' I assured her we were indifferent to the quality of our supper; and looking round for the means of accommodation, which were not easily to be found, I arranged an old hen-coop as a seat for Mr. Jarvie, and turned down a broken tub to serve for my own. Andrew Fairservice entered presently afterwards, and took a place in silence behind our backs. The natives, as I may call them, continued staring at us with an air as if confounded by our assurance, and we, at least, I myself-disguised as well as we could under an appearance of indifference any secret anxiety we might feel concerning the mode in which we were to be received by those whose privacy we had disturbed. At length the lesser Highlander, addressing himself to me, said, in very good English, and in a tone of great haughtiness, "Ye make yourself at home, sir, I see." I usually do so," I replied, "when I come into a house of public entertainment." "And did she na see," said the taller man, "by the white wand at the door, that gentlemans had taken up the public house on their ain business? "I do not pretend to understand the customs of this country; but I am yet to learn," I replied, "how three persons should be entitled to exclude all other travellers from the only place of shelter and refreshment for miles round." "There's nae reason for't, gentlemen," 'Hang your brandy, sir!" said the Lowlander, adjusting his cocked-hat fiercely upon his head; "we desire neither your brandy nor your company," and up he rose from his seat. His companions also arose, muttering to each other, drawing up their plaids, and snorting and sniffing the air after the manner of their countrymen when working themselves into a passion. men, "I tauld ye what wad come, gentle"said the landlady, "an ye wad hae been tauld. Get awa' wi' ye out o' my house, and make nae disturbance here there's nae gentleman be disturbed at Jeanie MacAlpine's an' she can hinder. A wheen idle English loons, gaun about the country under cloud o' night, and disturbing honest peaceable gentlemen that are drinking their drap drink at the fireside!" At another time I should have thought of the old Latin adagc "Dat veniam corvis, vexat censura columbas". but I had not any time for classical quotation, for there was obviously a fray about to ensue, at which, feeling myself indignant at the inhospitable insolence with which I was treated, I was totally indifferent, unless on the Bailie's account, whose person and qualities were ill qualified for such an adventure. I started up, however, on seeing the others rise, and dropped my cloak from my shoulders, that I might be ready to stand on the defensive. We are three to three," said the lesser Highlander, glancing his eyes at our party; "if ye be pretty men, draw!" and, unsheathing his broadsword, he advanced on me. I put myself in a posture of defence, and, aware of the superiority of my weapon, a rapier or small-sword, was little afraid of the issue of the contest. The Bailie behaved with unexpected mettle. As he saw the gigantic Highlander confront him with his weapon drawn, he tugged for a second or two at the hilt of his shabble, as he called it; but finding it loth to quit the sheath, to which it had long been secured by rust and disuse, he seized as a substitute on the red-hot coulter of a plough which had been employed in arranging the fire by way of a poker, and brandished it with such effect, that at the first pass he set the Highlander's plaid on fire, and compelled him to keep a respectful distance till he could get it extinguished. Andrew, on the contrary, who ought to have faced the Lowland champion, had, I grieve to say it, vanished at the very commencement of the fray. But his antagonist, crying "Fair play! fair play!" seemed courteously disposed to take no share in the scuffle. Thus we commenced our rencontre on fair terms as to numbers. My own aim was to possess myself, if possible, of my antagonist's weapon; but I was deterred from closing for fear of the dirk which he held in his left hand and used in parrying the thrusts of my rapier. Meantime the Bailie, notwithstanding the success of his first onset, was sorely bested. The weight of his weapon, the corpulence of his person, the very effervescence of his own passions, were rapidly exhausting both his strength and his breath, and he was almost at the mercy of his antagonist, when up started the sleeping Highlander from the floor on which he reclined, with his naked sword and target in his hand, and threw himself between the discomfited magistrate and his assailant, exclaiming, "Her nainsell has eaten the town pread at the Cross o' Glasgow, and py her troth she'll fight for Bailie Sharvie at the Clachan of Aberfoil-tat will she e'en!" And seconding his words with deeds, this unexpected auxiliary made his sword whistle about the ears of his tall countryman, who, nothing abashed, returned his blows with interest. But being both accoutred with round targets made of wood, studded with brass and covered with leather, with which they readily parried each other's strokes, their combat was attended with much more noise and clatter than serious risk of damage. It appeared, indeed, that there was more of bravado than of serious attempt to do us any injury; for the Lowland gentleman, who, as I mentioned, had stood aside for want of an antagonist when the brawl commenced, was now pleased to act the part of moderator and peace-maker. rel's no mortal. The strange gentlemen have shown themselves men of honor and gien reasonable satisfaction. I'll stand on mine honor as kittle as ony man, but I hate unnecessary bloodshed." It was not, of course, my wish to protract the fray-my adversary seemed equally disposed to sheathe his sword-the Bailie, gasping for breath, might be considered as hors de combat, and our two sword-and-buckler men gave up their con test with as much indifference as they had entered into it. "And now," said the worthy gentleman who acted as umpire, "let us drink and gree like honest fellows-the house will haud us a'. I propose that this good little gentleman that seems sair forfoughen, as I may say, in this tuilzie, shall send for a tass o' brandy, and I'll pay for another, by way of archilowe,* and then we'll birl our bawbees a' round about, like brethren." 66 'And fa's to pay my new ponnie plaid," said the larger Highlander, “wi' a hole burnt in't ane might put a kail-pat through? Saw ever onybody a decent gentleman fight wi' a firebrand before?"? "Let that be nae hindrance," said the Bailie, who had now recovered his breath and was at once disposed to enjoy the triumph of having behaved with spirit and avoid the necessity of again resorting to such hard and doubtful arbitrement. "Gin I hae broken the head," he said, "I sall find the plaister. A new plaid sall ye hae, and o' the best-your ain clancolors, man-an ye will tell me where it can be sent t'ye frae Glasco.' "I needna name my clan-I am o' a king's clan, as is weel kend,' said the Highlander; "but ye may tak a bit o' the plaid-figh! she smells like a singit sheep's head-and that'll learn ye the sett-and a gentleman, that's a cousin o' my ain, that carries eggs doun frae Glencroe, will ca' for't about Martimas, an ye will tell her where ye bide. But, honest gentlemen, neist time ye fight, an ye hae ony respect for your athversary, let it be wi' your sword, man, since ye wear ane, and no wi' thae het culters and fireprands, like a wild Indian." Conscience!" replied the Bailie, every man maun do as he dow-my sword hasna seen the light since Bothwell * Archilowe, of unknown derivation, signifies a "Haud your hands-haud your hands -eneugh done--eneugh done!—the quar-peace-offering. Brigg, when my father, that's dead and gane, ware it; and I kenna weel if it was forthcoming than either, for the battle was o' the briefest. At ony rate, it's glewed to the scabbard now beyond my power to part them; and, finding that, I e'en grippit at the first thing I could make a fend wi'. I trow my fighting days is done, though I like ill to take the scorn, for a' that. But where's the honest lad that tuik my quarrel on himsell sae frankly?-I'se bestow a gill o' aquavitæ on him, an I suld never ca' for anither. The champion for whom he looked around was, however, no longer to be seen. He had escaped, unobserved by the Bailic, immediately when the brawl was ended, yet not before I had recognized, in his wild features and shaggy red hair, our acquaintance Dougal, the fugitive turnkey of the Glasgow gaol. SIR WALTER SCOTT. THE CELEBRATED JUMPING FROG OF CALAVERAS COUNTY. There was a feller here once by the name of Jim Smiley, in the winter of '49 or may be it was the spring of '50-I don't recollect exactly, somehow, though what makes me think it was one or the other is because I remember the big flume wasn't finished when he first came to the camp; but, anyway, he was the curiosest man about, always betting on anything that turned up, you ever see, if he could get anybody to bet on the other side; and if he couldn't, he'd change sides. Anyway that suited the other man would suit him-anyway, just so's he got a bet, he was satisfied. But still he was lucky-uncommon lucky; he most always come out winner. He was always ready and laying for a chance; there couldn't be no solit'ry thing mentioned but that feller'd offer to bet on it, and take any side you please, as I was just telling you. If there was a horserace, you'd find him flush or you'd find him busted at the end of it; if there was a dog-fight, he'd bet on it; if there was a cat-fight, he'd bet on it; if there was a chicken-fight, he'd bet on it; why, if there was two birds setting on a fence, he would bet you which one would fly first; or if there was a camp-meeting, he would be there reg'lar to bet on Parson Walker, which he judged to be the best exhorter about here, and so he was, too, and a good man. If he even seen a straddle-bug start to go anywheres, he would bet you how long it would take him to get wherever he was going to, and if you took him up, he would foller that straddle-bug to Mexico but what he would find out where he was bound for and how long he was on the road. Lots of the boys here has seen that Smiley, and can tell you about him. Why, it never made no difference to him -he would bet on any thing-the dangdest feller. Parson Walker's wife laid very sick once for a good while, and it seemed as if they warn't going to save her; but one morning he come in, and Smiley asked how she was, and he said she was considerable better-thank the Lord for his inf'nit mercy-and coming on so smart that, with the blessing of Prov'dence, she'd get well yet; and Smiley, before he thought, says, "Well, I'll risk two and a-half that she don't, anyway. Thish-yer Smiley had a mare-the boys called her the fifteen-minute nag, but that was only in fun, you know, because, of course, she was faster than that-and he used to win money on that horse, for all she was so slow and always had the asthma, or the distemper, or the consumption or something of that kind. They used to give her two or three hundred yards start, and then pass her underway; but always at the fag-end of the race she'd get excited and desperate-like, and come cavorting and straddling up, and scattering her legs around limber, sometimes in the air and sometimes out to one side amongst the fences, and kicking up m-o-r-e dust and raising m-o-r-e racket with her coughing and sneezing and blowing her nose-and always fetch up at the stand just about a neck ahead, as near as you could cypher it down. And he had a little small bull pup, that to look at him you'd think he wan't worth a cent, but to set around and look ornery, and lay for a chance to steal something. But as soon as money was upon him he was a different dog; his under-jaw'd begin to stick out like the fo'castle of a steamboat, and his teeth would uncover and shine savage like the furnaces. a dog might tackle him and bully-rag him, and bite him, and throw him over his shoulder two or three times, and An And |