Page:Walter Scott - The Monastery (Henry Frowde, 1912).djvu/458

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390
The Monastery
Chap. XXXV

onion or two, and a morsel of smoked ham completed the feast. But such as it was, no Scotsman of the time, had his rank been much higher than that of Glendinning, would have refused to share in it, especially as the pedlar produced, with a mysterious air, a tup's horn which he carried slung from his shoulders, and which, when its contents were examined, produced to each party a clam-shellful of excellent usquebaugh—a

Halbert Glendinning and the Pedlar

liquor strange to Halbert, for the strong waters known in the south of Scotland came from France, and in fact such were but rarely used. The pedlar recommended it as excellent, said he had procured it in his last visit to the braes of Doune, where he had securely traded under the safe-conduct of the Laird of Buchanan. He also set an example to Halbert, by devoutly emptying the cup 'to the speedy downfall of Anti-Christ'.

Their conviviality was scarce ended, ere a rising dust; was seen on the road of which they commanded the prospect,