milk, in his own. To this
arrangement, which was suggested by Saunderson, the Bailie readily
assented, both from habitual deference to the family, and an internal
consciousness that his courtesy would, in some mode or other, be repaid
tenfold.

The Baron having also retired to give some necessary directions,
Waverley seized the opportunity to ask, whether this Fergus, with the
unpronounceable name, was the chief thief-taker of the district.

'Thief-taker!' answered Rose, laughing; 'he is a gentleman of great
honour and consequence; the chieftain of an independent branch of a
powerful Highland clan, and is much respected, both for his own power,
and that of his kith, kin, and allies.'

'And what has he to do with the thieves, then? is he a magistrate, or in
the commission of the peace?' asked Waverley.

The commission of war rather, if there be such a thing,' said Rose; 'for
he is a very unquiet neighbour to his un-friends, and keeps a greater
FOLLOWING on foot than many that have thrice his estates. As to his
connexion with the thieves, that I cannot well explain; but the boldest
of them will never steal a hoof from any one that pays blackmail to Vich
Ian Vohr.'

'And what is blackmail?'

'A sort of protection-money that Low-country gentlemen and heritors,
lying near the Highlands, pay to some Highland chief, that he may
neither do them harm himself, nor suffer it to be done to them by
others; and then, if your cattle are stolen, you have only to send him
word, and he will recover them; or it may be, he will drive away cows
from some distant place, where he has a quarrel, and give them to you to
make up your loss.'

'And is this sort of Highland Jonathan Wild admitted into society, and
called a gentleman?'

'So much so,' said Rose, 'that the quarrel between my father and Fergus
Mac-Ivor began at a county meeting, where he wanted to take precedence
of all the Lowland gentlemen then present, only my father would not
suffer it. And then he upbraided my father that he was under his banner,
and paid him tribute; and my father was in a towering passion, for
Bailie Macwheeble, who manages such things his own way, had contrived to
keep this blackmail a secret from him, and passed it in his account for
cess-money. And they would have fought; but Fergus Mac-Ivor said, very
gallantly, he would never raise his hand against a grey head that was
so much respected as my father's. Oh, I wish, I wish they had continued
friend