Page:Rob Roy, the celebrated Highland freebooter, or, Memoirs of the Osbaldistone family (2).pdf/15

 Bailie's housekeeper, Mattie, tying a silk handkerchief round her master's neck, they set out for the Highlands, and the party in due time arrived at the clachan of Aberfoyle.

Having drawn up their horses at the inn, the sound of several voices made them hesitate to alight; at last they rapped, but the landlady refused to admit them, saying, "her house was ta'en up wi' them that wadna like to be intruded on wi' strangers." The Bailie was unwilling to enter; hutbut [sic] Frank insisted, that he must have some refreshment, and therefore ordered the horses to be put into the stable. On entering the principal room of this paltry inn, they saw a blazing fire of turf, near which sat three men, drinking and engaged in conversation; two of them dressed in the Highland costume, and the other in the Lowland, all bold-looking, stout men, equipped with swords and pistols, and their naked dirks were stuck upright on the table, while another Highlander lay slumbering on the floor. Frank and his two comrades having seated themselves near the fire, desired the landlady to give them something for supper. The three men turned round, and after staring at them for a few minutes, one of them asked how they could have the assurance to break in upon "gentlemens that had taken up the public-house on their ain business." Frank and the Bailie apologized, by saying that they meant no offence, and had come to the inn to get some refreshment but this explanation not satisfying then, the Highlander, nnsheathingunsheathing [sic] his broad-sword, desired them to draw, and as they were three to three, he advanced to Frank, who put himself in a posture of defence. The other Highlander, with his sword drawn, confronted the Bailie, who in vain tried to pull out his sword, which was so rusted in the sheath from long disuse, that he was forced to look about for some other weapon of defence. However, as a substitue, he drew a red-hot poker from the fire, and brought it against his antagonist with such effect, that he set his plaid in a blaze. Andrew immediately took to his heels, and his antagonist, the Lowlander, crying out, "fair play," would take no part in the fray, but remained neuter. Frank and the Bailie were still maintaining the contest, when the sleeping Highlander, who was no other than Dougal, the turnkey, started up to their assistance, and said he would "fight for Bailie Jarvie," at the same time he attacked his countryman. This auxiliary, with the assistance of the Lowlander, soon succeeded in separating the combatants, and in effecting a reconciliation between the parties, the Bailie promising to send the Highlander a new plaid to replace the one he had burnt. When supper was nearly ready, Frank missed Andrew Fairservice, who had not been seen since the beginning of the fray, and he was going out to seek him in the stable, when the landlady took him aside, and put into his hand a written communication from