Without much ceremony he invited
Edward to accompany him on a short walk of ten or fifteen miles into the
mountains, and see the place where the cattle were conveyed to; adding,
'If it be as I suppose, you never saw such a place in your life, nor
ever will, unless you go with me, or the like of me.'
Our hero, feeling his curiosity considerably excited by the idea of
visiting the den of a Highland Cacus, took, however, the precaution
to inquire if his guide might be trusted. He was assured, that the
invitation would on no account have been given had there been the least
danger, and that all he had to apprehend was a little fatigue; and
as Evan proposed he should pass a day at his Chieftain's house in
returning, where he would be sure of good accommodation and an excellent
welcome, there seemed nothing very formidable in the task he undertook.
Rose, indeed, turned pale when she heard of it; but her father, who
loved the spirited curiosity of his young friend, did not attempt
to damp it by an alarm of danger which really did not exist; and a
knapsack, with a few necessaries, being bound on the shoulders of a sort
of deputy gamekeeper, our hero set forth with a fowling-piece in his
hand, accompanied by his new friend Evan Dhu, and, followed by the
gamekeeper aforesaid, and by two wild Highlanders, the attendants of
Evan, one of whom had upon his shoulder a hatchet at the end of a pole,
called a Lochaber-axe, [The Town-guard of Edinburgh were, till a late
period, armed with this weapon when on their police duty.
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