His own reflections were, moreover,
agitated by various surmises, and by plans of self-interest, with which
these were intimately connected. The travellers journeyed, therefore,
in silence, until it was interrupted by the annunciation, on the part of
the guide, that his 'naig had lost a fore-foot shoe, which, doubtless,
his honour would consider it was his part to replace.'
This was what lawyers call a FISHING QUESTION, calculated to ascertain
how far Waverley was disposed to submit to petty imposition. 'My part
to replace your horse's shoe, you rascal!' said Waverley, mistaking the
purport of the intimation.
'Indubitably,' answered Mr. Cruickshanks; 'though there was no preceese
clause to that effect, it canna be expected that I am to pay for
the casualties whilk may befall the puir naig while in your honour's
service.--Nathless, if your honour--'
'Oh, you mean I am to pay the farrier; but where shall we find one?'
Rejoiced at discerning there would be no objection made on the part of
his temporary master, Mr. Cruickshanks assured him that Cairnvreckan,
a village which they were about to enter, was happy in an excellent
blacksmith; 'but as he was a professor, he would drive a nail for no
man on the Sabbath, or kirk-fast, unless it were in a case of absolute
necessity, for which he always charged sixpence each shoe.
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