'
All controversy being thus laid aside, Waverley, escorted by the whole
inhabitants of the village who were not bed-ridden, was conducted to the
house of Cairnvreckan, which was about half a mile distant.
CHAPTER XXXI
AN EXAMINATION
Major Melville of Cairnvreckan, an elderly gentleman, who had spent his
youth in the military service, received Mr. Morton with great kindness,
and our hero with civility, which the equivocal circumstances wherein
Edward was placed rendered constrained and distant.
The nature of the smith's hurt was inquired into, and as the actual
injury was likely to prove trifling, and the circumstances in which it
was received rendered the infliction, on Edward's part, a natural act
of self-defence, the Major conceived he might dismiss that matter, on
Waverley's depositing in his hands a small sum for the benefit of the
wounded person.
'I could wish, sir,' continued the Major, 'that my duty terminated here;
but it is necessary that we should have some further inquiry into
the cause of your journey through the country at this unfortunate and
distracted time.'
Mr. Ebenezer Cruickshanks now stood forth, and communicated to the
magistrate all he knew or suspected, from the reserve of Waverley, and
the evasions of Callum Beg.
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