The Chief seemed much pleased, yet hesitated to accept the offer.
'We are, you know, in the rear,--the post of danger in a retreat.' 'And therefore the post of honour.' 'Well,' replied the Chieftain, 'let Alick have your horse in readiness, in case we should be over-matched, and I shall be delighted to have your company once more.' The rearguard were late in making their appearance, having been delayed by various accidents and by the badness of the roads.

At length they entered the hamlet.

When Waverley joined the clan Mac-Ivor, arm in arm with their Chieftain, all the resentment they had entertained against him seemed blown off at once.

Evan Dhu received him with a grin of congratulation; and even Callum, who was running about as active as ever, pale indeed, and with a great patch on his head, appeared delighted to see him.
'That gallows-bird's skull,' said Fergus, 'must be harder than marble: the lock of the pistol was actually broken.' 'How could you strike so young a lad so hard ?' said Waverley, with some interest.
'Why, if I did not strike hard sometimes, the rascals would forget themselves.' They were now in full march, every caution being taken to prevent surprise.

Fergus's people, and a fine clan regiment from Badenoch, commanded by Cluny Mac-Pherson, had the rear.