sure, wha's fitter to look after the breaking
and the keeping of the poor beasts than mysell, that bought and sold
every ane o' them?'

'And pray, sir, if it be not too great a freedom, may I beg to know where
we are going just now?'

'A fule's errand, I fear,' answered this communicative personage.

'In that case,' said Waverley, determined not to spare civility, 'I
should have thought a person of your appearance would not have been found
on the road.'

'Vera true, vera true, sir,' replied the officer, 'but every why has its
wherefore. Ye maun ken, the laird there bought a' thir beasts frae me to
munt his troop, and agreed to pay for them according to the necessities
and prices of the time. But then he hadna the ready penny, and I hae been
advised his bond will not be worth a boddle against the estate, and then
I had a' my dealers to settle wi' at Martinmas; and so, as he very kindly
offered me this commission, and as the auld Fifteen [Footnote: The Judges
of the Supreme Court of Session in Scotland are proverbially termed among
the country people, The Fifteen.] wad never help me to my siller for
sending out naigs against the government, why, conscience! sir, I thought
my best chance for payment was e'en to GAE OUT [Footnote: See Note 28.]
mysell; and ye may judge, sir, as I hae dealt a' my life in halters, I
think na mickle o' putting my craig in peril of a Saint John-stone's
tippet.'

'You are not, then, by profession a soldier?' said Waverley.

'Na, na; thank God,' answered this doughty partizan, 'I wasna bred at sae
short a tether, I was brought up to hack and manger. I was bred a
horse-couper, sir; and if I might live to see you at Whitson-tryst, or at
Stagshawbank, or the winter fair at Hawick, and ye wanted a spanker that
would lead the field, I'se be caution I would serve ye easy; for Jamie
Jinker was ne'er the lad to impose upon a gentleman. Ye're a gentleman,
sir, and should ken a horse's points; ye see that through--ganging thing
that Balmawhapple's on; I selled her till him. She was bred out of
Lick-the-ladle, that wan the king's plate at Caverton-Edge, by Duke
Hamilton's White-Foot,' etc., etc., etc.

But as Jinker was entered full sail upon the pedigree of Balmawhapple's
mare, having already got as far as great-grandsire and great-grand-dam,
and while Waverley was watching for an opportunity to obtain from him
intelligence of more interest, the noble captain checked his horse until
they came up, a