erd of deer had
fairly run over them. Waverley then attempted to rise, but found that
he had suffered several very severe contusions; and, upon a further
examination, discovered that he had sprained his ankle violently.

This checked the mirth of the meeting, although the Highlanders,
accustomed to such incidents, and prepared for them, had suffered no
harm themselves. A wigwam was erected almost in an instant, where Edward
was deposited on a couch of heather. The surgeon, or he who assumed the
office, appeared to unite the characters of a leech and a conjurer. He
was an old smoke-dried Highlander, wearing a venerable grey beard,
and having for his sole garment a tartan frock, the skirts of which
descended to the knee; and, being undivided in front, made the vestment
serve at once for doublet and breeches. [This garb, which resembled
the dress often put on children in Scotland, called a polonie (i.e.
polonaise), is a very ancient modification of the Highland garb. It was,
in fact, the hauberk or shirt of mail, only composed of cloth instead of
rings of armour.] He observed great ceremony in approaching Edward;
and though our hero was writhing with pain, would not proceed to any
operation which might assuage it until he had perambulated his couch
three times, moving from east to west, according to the course of the
sun. This, which was called making the DEASIL, [Old Highlanders will
still make the deasil around those whom they wish well to. To go round a
person in the opposite direction, or wither-shins (German WIDER-SHINS),
is unlucky, and a sort of incantation.] both the leech and the
assistants seemed to consider as a matter of the last importance to the
accomplishment of a cure; and Waverley, whom pain rendered incapable of
expostulation, and who indeed saw no chance of its being attended to,
submitted in silence.

After this ceremony was duly performed, the old Esculapius let his
patient blood with a cupping-glass with great dexterity, and proceeded,
muttering all the while to himself in Gaelic, to boil on the fire
certain herbs, with which he compounded an embrocation. He then fomented
the parts which had sustained injury, never failing to murmur prayers or
spells, which of the two Waverley could not distinguish, as his ear only
caught the words GASPER-MELCHIOR-BALTHAZAR-MAX-PRAX-FAX, and similar
gibberish. The fomentation had a speedy effect in alleviating the pain
and swelling, which our hero imputed to the virt