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abhorrence with which he must have been regarded in a more civilized
country。 He was considered； among his more peaceable neighbours；
pretty much as a gambler； cock…fighter； or horse…jockey would be regarded
at the present day； a person； of course； whose habits were to be
condemned； and his society； in general； avoided； yet who could not be
considered as marked with the indelible infamy attached to his profession；
where laws have been habitually observed。 And their indignation was
awakened against him upon this occasion； not so much on account of the
general nature of the transaction； which was just such as was to be
expected from this marauder； as that the violence had been perpetrated
upon a neighbour against whom he had no cause of quarrel；against a
friend of their own； above all； against one of the name of Elliot； to which
clan most of them belonged。 It was not； therefore； wonderful； that there
should be several in the band pretty well acquainted with the locality of
his habitation； and capable of giving such directions and guidance as soon
placed the whole party on the open space of firm ground in front of the
Tower of Westburnflat。
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CHAPTER IX。
So spak the knicht； the geaunt sed； Lend forth with the； the sely
maid； And mak me quile of the and sche； For glaunsing ee； or brow so
brent； Or cheek with rose and lilye blent； Me lists not ficht with the。
ROMANCE OF THE FALCON。
The tower； before which the party now stood； was a small square
building； of the most gloomy aspect。 The walls were of great thickness；
and the windows； or slits which served the purpose of windows； seemed
rather calculated to afford the defenders the means of employing missile
weapons； than for admitting air or light to the apartments within。 A small
battlement projected over the walls on every side； and afforded farther
advantage of defence by its niched parapet； within which arose a steep
roof； flagged with grey stones。 A single turret at one angle； defended by
a door studded with huge iron nails； rose above the battlement； and gave
access to the roof from within； by the spiral staircase which it enclosed。
It seemed to the party that their motions were watched by some one
concealed within this turret； and they were confirmed in their belief when；
through a narrow loophole； a female hand was seen to wave a
handkerchief； as if by way of signal to them。 Hobbie was almost out of
his senses with joy and eagerness。
〃It was Grace's hand and arm；〃 he said； 〃I can swear to it amang a
thousand。 There is not the like of it on this side of the LowdensWe'll
have her out； lads； if we should carry off the Tower of Westburnflat stane
by stane。〃
Earnscliff； though he doubted the possibility of recognising a fair
maiden's hand at such a distance from the eye of the lover； would say
nothing to damp his friend's animated hopes； and it was resolved to
summon the garrison。
The shouts of the party； and the winding of one or two horns； at length
brought to a loophole； which flanked the entrance； the haggard face of an
old woman。
〃That's the Reiver's mother；〃 said one of the Elliots； 〃she's ten times
waur than himsell； and is wyted for muckle of the ill he does about the
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THE BLACK DWARF
country。〃
〃Wha are ye？ what d'ye want here？〃 were the queries of the
respectable progenitor。
〃We are seeking William Graeme of Westburnflat；〃 said Earnscliff。
〃He's no at hame；〃 returned the old dame。
〃When did he leave home？〃 pursued Earnscliff。
〃I canna tell；〃 said the portress。
〃When will he return？〃 said Hobbie Elliot。
〃I dinna ken naething about it；〃 replied the inexorable guardian of the
keep。
〃Is there anybody within the tower with you？〃 again demanded
Earnscliff。
〃Naebody but mysell and baudrons；〃 said the old woman。
〃Then open the gate and admit us；〃 said Earnscliff； 〃I am a justice of
peace； and in search of the evidence of a felony。〃
〃Deil be in their fingers that draws a bolt for ye；〃 retorted the portress；
〃for mine shall never do it。 Thinkna ye shame o' yoursells； to come here
siccan a band o' ye； wi' your swords； and spears； and steel…caps； to frighten
a lone widow woman？〃
〃Our information；〃 said Earnscliff； 〃is positive； we are seeking goods
which have been forcibly carried off； to a great amount。〃
〃And a young woman； that's been cruelly made prisoner； that's worth
mair than a' the gear； twice told；〃 said Hobbie。 〃And I warn you。〃
continued Earnscliff； 〃that your only way to prove your son's innocence is
to give us quiet admittance to search the house。〃
〃And what will ye do； if I carena to thraw the keys； or draw the bolts；
or open the grate to sic a clamjamfrie？〃 said the old dame； scoffingly。
〃Force our way with the king's keys； and break the neck of every
living soul we find in the house； if ye dinna gie it ower forthwith！〃
menaced the incensed Hobbie。
〃Threatened folks live lang；〃 said the hag； in the same tone of irony；
〃there's the iron gratetry your skeel on't； ladsit has kept out as gude
men as you or now。〃
So saying； she laughed； and withdrew from the aperture through which
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she had held the parley。
The besiegers now opened a serious consultation。 The immense
thickness of the walls； and the small size of the windows； might； for a time；
have even resisted cannon…shot。 The entrance was secured； first； by a
strong grated door； composed entirely of hammered iron； of such
ponderous strength as seemed calculated to resist any force that could be
brought against it。 〃Pinches or forehammers will never pick upon't；〃 said
Hugh； the blacksmith of Ringleburn； 〃ye might as weel batter at it wi