But instead of doing so, the gentleman, finding the coast clear, thought it better to make war on his own account, and has scoured the country, plundering, I believe, both friend and foe, under pretence of levying blackmail, sometimes as if by my authority, and sometimes (and be cursed to his consummate impudence) in his own great name! Upon my honour, if I live to see the cairn of Benmore again, I shall be tempted to hang that fellow! I recognize his hand particularly in the mode of your rescue from that canting rascal Gilfillan, and I have little doubt that Donald himself played the part of the pedlar on that occasion; but how he should not have plundered you, or put you to ransom, or availed himself in some way or other of your captivity for his own advantage, passes my judgement.' 'When and how did you hear the intelligence of my confinement ?' asked Waverley.
'The Prince himself told me,' said Fergus,' and inquired very minutely into your history.

He then mentioned your being at that moment in the power of one of our northern parties--you know I could not ask him to explain particulars--and requested my opinion about disposing of you.

I recommended that you should be brought here as a prisoner, because I did not wish to prejudice you further with the English Government, in case you pursued your purpose of going southward.

I knew nothing, you must recollect, of the charge brought against you of aiding and abetting high treason, which, I presume, had some share in changing your original plan.

That sullen, good-for-nothing brute, Balmawhapple, was sent to escort you from Doune, with what he calls his troop of horse.