Gladly at this moment would Mac-Ivor have put their quarrel to a personal arbitrament;---his eye flashed fire, and he measured Edward, as if to choose where he might best plant a mortal wound.But although we do not now quarrel according to the modes and figures of Caranza or Vincent Saviola, no one knew better than Fergus that there must be some decent pretext for a mortal duel.For instance, you may challenge a man for treading on your corn in a crowd, or for pushing you up to the wall, or for taking your seat in the theatre; but the modern code of honour will not permit you to found a quarrel upon your right of compelling a man to continue addresses to a female relative, which the fair lady has already refused.So that Fergus was compelled to stomach this supposed affront, until the whirligig of time, whose motion he promised himself he would watch most sedulously, should bring about an opportunity of revenge.
Waverley's servant always led a saddle-horse for him in the rear of the battalion to which he was attached, though his master seldom rode.But now, incensed at the domineering and unreasonable conduct of his late friend, he fell behind the column, and mounted his horse, resolving to seek the Baron of Bradwardine, and request permission to volunteer in his troop, instead of the Mac-Ivor regiment.
``A happy time of it I should have had,'' thought he, after he was mounted, ``to have been so closely allied to this superb specimen of pride and self-opinion and passion.A colonel!
why, he should have been a generalissimo.A petty chief of three or four hundred men!---his pride might suffice for the Cham of Tartary---the Grand Seignior---the Great Mogul! Iam well free of him.Were Flora an angel, she would bring with her a second Lucifer of ambition and wrath for a brother-in-law.''
The Baron, whose learning (like Sancho's jests while in the Sierra Morena) seemed to grow mouldy for want of exercise, joyfully embraced the opportunity of Waverley's offering his service in his regiment, to bring it into some exertion.The good-natured old gentleman, however, laboured to effect a reconciliation between the two quondam friends.Fergus turned a cold ear to his remonstrances, though he gave them a respectful hearing; and as for Waverley, he saw no reason why he should be the first in courting a renewal of the intimacy which the Chieftain had so unreasonably disturbed.The Baron then mentioned the matter to the Prince, who, anxious to prevent quarrels in his little army, declared he would himself remonstrate with Colonel Mac-Ivor on the unreasonableness of his conduct.But, in the hurry of their march, it was a day or two before he had an opportunity to exert his influence in the manner proposed.
In the meanwhile, Waverley turned the instructions he had received while in Gardiner's dragoons to some account, and assisted the Baron in his command as a sort of adjutant.
``_Parmi les aveugles un borgne est roi,_'' says the French proverb;and the cavalry, which consisted chiefly of Lowland gentlemen, their tenants and servants, formed a high opinion of Waverley's skill, and a great attachment to his person.This was indeed partly owing to the satisfaction which they felt at the distinguished English volunteer's leaving the Highlanders to rank among them; for there was a latent grudge between the horse and foot, not only owing to the difference of the services, but because most of the gentlemen, living near the Highlands, had at one time or other had quarrels with the tribes in their vicinity, and all of them looked with a jealous eye on the Highlanders' avowed pretensions to superior valour, and utility in the Prince's service.
