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diff --git a/40955-0.txt b/40955-0.txt index 5b27e6b..c5de0f3 100644 --- a/40955-0.txt +++ b/40955-0.txt @@ -1,26 +1,4 @@ -The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Brownie of Bodsbeck, and Other Tales -(Vol. 1 of 2), by James Hogg - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with -almost no restrictions whatsoever. 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Hart was the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm -concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared -with anyone. For forty years, he produced and distributed Project -Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. - -Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed -editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. -unless a copyright notice is included. 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You may copy it, give it away or -re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included -with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org - - -Title: The Brownie of Bodsbeck, and Other Tales (Vol. 1 of 2) - -Author: James Hogg - -Release Date: October 6, 2012 [EBook #40955] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK BROWNIE OF BODSBECK *** - - - - -Produced by Henry Flower, junet and the Online Distributed -Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was -produced from images generously made available by The -Internet Archive/American Libraries.) - - - - - - - - - - THE - BROWNIE OF BODSBECK; - AND - OTHER TALES. - - BY - JAMES HOGG, - AUTHOR OF "THE QUEEN'S WAKE," &c. &c. - - "What, has this thing appeared again to-night?" - - IN TWO VOLUMES. - - VOL. I. - - EDINBURGH; - PRINTED FOR WILLIAM BLACKWOOD, PRINCE'S-STREET: - AND - JOHN MURRAY, ALBEMARLE-STREET, LONDON. - - 1818. - - - - - TO - THE RIGHT HONOURABLE - LADY ANNE SCOTT, - OF BUCCLEUCH. - - To HER, whose bounty oft hath shed - Joy round the peasant's lowly bed, - When trouble press'd and friends were few, - And God and Angels only knew-- - To HER, who loves the board to cheer, - And hearth of simple Cottager; - Who loves the tale of rural kind, - And wayward visions of his mind, - I dedicate, with high delight, - The themes of many a winter night. - - What other name on Yarrow's vale - Can Shepherd choose to grace his tale? - There other living name is none - Heard with one feeling,--one alone. - Some heavenly charm must name endear - That all men love, and all revere! - Even the rude boy of rustic form, - And robes all fluttering to the storm, - Whose roguish lip and graceless eye - Inclines to mock the passer by, - Walks by the Maid with softer tread, - And lowly bends his burly head, - Following with eye of milder ray - The gentle form that glides away. - The little school-nymph, drawing near, - Says, with a sly and courteous leer, - As plain as eye and manner can, - "Thou lov'st me--bless thee, Lady Anne!" - Even babes catch the beloved theme, - And learn to lisp their Lady's name. - - The orphan's blessing rests on thee; - Happy thou art, and long shalt be! - 'Tis not in sorrow, nor distress, - Nor Fortune's power, to make thee less. - The heart, unaltered in its mood, - That joys alone in doing good, - And follows in the heavenly road, - And steps where once an Angel trode,-- - The joys within such heart that burn, - No loss can quench, nor time o'erturn! - The stars may from their orbits bend, - The mountains rock, the heavens rend,-- - The sun's last ember cool and quiver, - But these shall glow, and glow for ever! - - Then thou, who lov'st the shepherd's home, - And cherishest his lowly dome, - O list the mystic lore sublime, - Of fairy tales of ancient time. - I learned them in the lonely glen, - The last abodes of living men; - Where never stranger came our way - By summer night, or winter day; - Where neighbouring hind or cot was none, - Our converse was with Heaven alone, - With voices through the cloud that sung, - And brooding storms that round us hung. - - O Lady, judge, if judge you may, - How stern and ample was the sway - Of themes like these, when darkness fell, - And gray-hair'd sires the tales would tell! - When doors were barr'd, and eldron dame - Plied at her task beside the flame, - That through the smoke and gloom alone - On dim and umber'd faces shone-- - The bleat of mountain goat on high, - That from the cliff came quavering by; - The echoing rock, the rushing flood, - The cataract's swell, the moaning wood, - That undefined and mingled hum-- - Voice of the desart, never dumb!-- - All these have left within this heart - A feeling tongue can ne'er impart; - A wilder'd and unearthly flame, - A something that's without a name. - - And, Lady, thou wilt never deem - Religious tale offensive theme; - Our creeds may differ in degree, - But small that difference sure can be! - As flowers which vary in their dyes, - We all shall bloom in Paradise. - As sire who loves his children well, - The loveliest face he cannot tell,-- - So 'tis with us. We are the same, - One faith, one Father, and one aim. - - And had'st thou lived where I was bred, - Amid the scenes where martyrs bled, - Their sufferings all to thee endear'd - By those most honour'd and revered; - And where the wild dark streamlet raves, - Had'st wept above their lonely graves, - Thou would'st have felt, I know it true, - As I have done, and aye must do. - And for the same exalted cause, - For mankind's right, and nature's laws, - The cause of liberty divine, - Thy fathers bled as well as mine. - - Then be it thine, O noble Maid, - On some still eve these tales to read; - And thou wilt read, I know full well, - For still thou lovest the haunted dell; - To linger by the sainted spring, - And trace the ancient fairy ring - Where moonlight revels long were held - In many a lone sequester'd field, - By Yarrow dens and Ettrick shaw, - And the green mounds of Carterhaugh. - - O for one kindred heart that thought - As minstrel must, and lady ought, - That loves like thee the whispering wood, - And range of mountain solitude! - Think how more wild the greenwood scene, - If times were still as they have been; - If fairies, at the fall of even, - Down from the eye-brow of the heaven, - Or some arial land afar, - Came on the beam of rising star; - Their lightsome gambols to renew, - From the green leaf to quaff the dew, - Or dance with such a graceful tread, - As scarce to bend the gowan's head! - - Think if thou wert, some evening still, - Within thy wood of green Bowhill-- - Thy native wood!--the forest's pride! - Lover or sister by thy side; - In converse sweet the hour to improve - Of things below and things above, - Of an existence scarce begun, - And note the stars rise one by one. - Just then, the moon and daylight blending, - To see the fairy bands descending, - Wheeling and shivering as they came, - Like glimmering shreds of human frame; - Or sailing, 'mid the golden air, - In skiffs of yielding gossamer. - - O, I would wander forth alone - Where human eye hath never shone, - Away o'er continents and isles - A thousand and a thousand miles, - For one such eve to sit with thee, - Their strains to hear and forms to see! - Absent the while all fears of harm, - Secure in Heaven's protecting arm; - To list the songs such beings sung, - And hear them speak in human tongue; - To see in beauty, perfect, pure, - Of human face the miniature, - And smile of being free from sin, - That had not death impress'd within. - Oh, can it ever be forgot - What Scotland had, and now has not! - - Such scenes, dear Lady, now no more - Are given, or fitted as before, - To eye or ear of guilty dust; - But when it comes, as come it must, - The time when I, from earth set free, - Shall turn the spark I fain would be; - If there's a land, as grandsires tell, - Where Brownies, Elves, and Fairies dwell, - There my first visit shall be sped-- - Journeyer of earth, go hide thy head! - Of all thy travelling splendour shorn, - Though in thy golden chariot borne! - Yon little cloud of many a hue - That wanders o'er the solar blue, - That curls, and rolls, and fleets away - Beyond the very springs of day,-- - That do I challenge and engage - To be my travelling equipage, - Then onward, onward, far to steer, - The breeze of Heaven my charioteer; - The soul's own energy my guide, - Eternal hope my all beside. - At such a shrine who would not bow! - Traveller of earth, where art thou now? - - Then let me for these legends claim, - My young, my honour'd Lady's name; - That honour is reward complete, - Yet I must crave, if not unmeet, - One little boon--delightful task - For maid to grant, or minstrel ask! - - One day, thou may'st remember well, - For short the time since it befel, - When o'er thy forest-bowers of oak, - The eddying storm in darkness broke; - Loud sung the blast adown the dell, - And Yarrow lent her treble swell; - The mountain's form grew more sublime, - Wrapt in its wreaths of rolling rime; - And Newark Cairn, in hoary shroud, - Appear'd like giant o'er the cloud: - The eve fell dark, and grimly scowl'd, - Loud and more loud the tempest howl'd; - Without was turmoil, waste, and din, - The kelpie's cry was in the linn, - But all was love and peace within! - And aye, between, the melting strain - Pour'd from thy woodland harp amain, - Which, mixing with the storm around, - Gave a wild cadence to the sound. - - That mingled scene, in every part, - Hath so impressed thy shepherd's heart, - With glowing feelings, kindling bright - Some filial visions of delight, - That almost border upon pain, - And he would hear those strains again. - They brought delusions not to last, - Blending the future with the past; - Dreams of fair stems, in foliage new, - Of flowers that spring where others grew - Of beauty ne'er to be outdone, - And stars that rise when sets the sun; - The patriarchal days of yore, - The mountain music heard no more, - With all the scene before his eyes, - A family's and a nation's ties-- - Bonds which the Heavens alone can rend, - With Chief, with Father, and with Friend. - No wonder that such scene refin'd - Should dwell on rude enthusiast's mind! - Strange his reverse!--He little wist-- - Poor inmate of the cloud and mist! - That ever he, as friend, should claim - The proudest Caledonian name. - - J. H. - - ELTRIVE LAKE, _April 1st, 1818_. - - - - -THE BROWNIE OF BODSBECK. - - - - -CHAPTER I. - - -"It will be a bloody night in Gemsop this," said Walter of Chapelhope, -as he sat one evening by the side of his little parlour fire, and wrung -the rim of his wet bonnet into the grate. His wife sat by his side, -airing a pair of clean hosen for her husband, to replace his wet ones. -She looked stedfastly in his face, but uttered not a word;--it was one -of those looks that cannot be described, but it bespoke the height of -curiosity, mingled with a kind of indefinite terror. She loved and -respected her husband, and sometimes was wont to teaze or cajole him -from his purpose; but one glance of his eye, or scowl of his eyebrow, -was a sufficient admonition to her when she ventured to use such -freedom. - -The anxious stare that she bent on his face at this time was enquiry -enough, what he meant by the short and mysterious sentence he had just -uttered; but from the fulness of his heart he had said that which he -could not recal, and had no mind to commit himself farther. His eldest -son, John, was in the room too, which he had not remarked before he -spoke, and therefore he took the first opportunity to change the -subject. "Gudewife," said he, tartly, "what are ye sittin glowrin like a -bendit wulcat there for? Gae away and get me something to eat; I'm like -to fa' atwae wi' sheer hunger." - -"Hunger, father!" said the lad; "I'm sure I saw ye take as much meat to -the hill with you as might have served six." - -Walter looked first over the one shoulder at him, and then over the -other, but, repressing his wrath, he sat silent about the space of two -minutes, as if he had not heard what the youth said. "Callant," then -said he, with the greatest seeming composure, "rin away to the hill, an' -see after the eild nowt; ca' them up by the Quare Burn, an' bide wi' -them till they lie down, gin that sudna be till twal o'clock at -night--Gae away when I bid ye--What are ye mumgin at?" And saying so, he -gave him such a thwack on the neck and shoulders with the wet bonnet as -made him make the best of his way to the door. Whether he drove the -young cattle as far as the Quare Burn, or whether he looked after them -that night or not, Walter made no farther enquiry. - -He sat still by his fire wrapt in deep thought, which seemed to increase -his uneasy and fretful mood. Maron Linton, (for that was the goodwife of -Chapelhope's name) observing the bad humour of her husband, and knowing -for certain that something disagreeable had befallen him, wisely forbore -all intermeddling or teazing questions respecting the cause. Long -experience had taught her the danger of these. She bustled about, and -set him down the best fare that the house afforded; then, taking up her -tobacco pipe, she meditated an escape into the kitchen. She judged that -a good hearty meal by himself might somewhat abate his chagrin; and, -besides, the ominous words were still ringing in her ears--"It will be a -bloody night in Gemsop this"--and she longed to sound the shepherds that -were assembled around the kitchen fire, in order to find out their -import. Walter, however, perceiving her drift, stopped her short -with--"Gudewife, whar are ye gaun sae fast--Come back an' sit down here, -I want to speak t'ye." - -Maron trembled at the tone in which these words were spoken, but -nevertheless did as she was desired, and sat down again by the fire. -"Weel, Watie, what is't?" said she, in a low and humble tone. - -Walter plied his spoon for some time without deigning any reply; then -turning full upon her, "Has Kate been in her bed every night this -week?" asked he seriously. - -"Dear gudeman, whaten a question's that to speer at me--What can hae put -sic a norie i' your head as that?" - -"That's no answerin my question, Maron, but speerin ither twa instead -o't--I axt ye gin Kate hadna been out o' her bed for some nights -bygane." - -"How sude I ken ony thing about that, gudeman?--ye may gang an' speer at -her--Out o' her bed, quotha!--Na--there'll nae young skempy amang them -wile her out o' her bed i'the night-time.--Dear gudeman, what has put it -i'your head that our bairn stravaigs i'the night-time?" - -"Na, na, Maron, there's nae mortal soul will ever gar ye answer to the -point." - -"Dear gudeman, wha heard ever tell o' a _mortal_ soul?--the soul's no -mortal at a'--Didna ye hear our ain worthy curate-clerk say"---- - -"O, Maron! Maron! ye'll aye be the auld woman, if the warld sude turn -upside-down!--Canna ye answer my question simply, ay or no, as far as ye -ken, whether our daughter has been out o' her bed at midnight for some -nights bygane or no?--If ye ken that she has, canna ye tell me sae at -aince, without ganging about the bush? it's a thing that deeply concerns -us baith." - -"Troth, gudeman, gin she hae been out o' her bed, mony a honest man's -bairn has been out o' her bed at midnight afore her, an' nae ill in her -mind nouther--the thing's as common as the rising o' the se'en sterns." - -Walter turned round towards his meal, after casting a look of pity and -despair upon his yokefellow, who went on at great length defending the -equivocal practice of young women who might deem it meet and convenient -to leave their beds occasionally by night; for that, without some mode -of private wooing, it was well known that no man in the country could -possibly procure a wife, for that darkness rendered a promise serious, -which passed in open day for a mere joke, or words of course; and at -length Maron Linton, with more sagacity than usual, concluded her -arguments with the following home remark:--"Ye ken fu' weel, gudeman, ye -courtit me i'the howe o' the night yoursel; an' Him that kens the heart -kens weel that I hae never had cause to rue our bits o' trysts i'the -dark--Na, na! mony's the time an' aft that I hae blest them, an' thought -o' them wi' pleasure! We had ae kind o' happiness then, Watie, we hae -another now, an' we'll hae another yet." - -There was something in this appeal that it would have been unnatural to -have resisted. There is a tenderness in the recollection of early scenes -of mutual joy and love, that invariably softens the asperity of our -nature, and draws the heart by an invisible bond toward the sharer of -these; but when they are at one view connected with the present and the -future, the delight receives a tinge of sublimity. In short, the appeal -was one of the most happy that ever fell from the lips of a simple and -ignorant, though a well-meaning woman. It was not lost upon Walter; who, -though of a rough exterior and impatient humour, was a good man. He took -his wife's hand and squeezed it, while the pupil of his eye expanded -like that of a huge mountain ram, when he turns it away from the last -ray of the setting sun. - -"My gude auld wife," said he, "God bless ye!--Ye hae bits o' queer gates -whiles, but I wadna part wi' ye, or see ane o' yer grey hairs wranged, -for a' the ewes on the Hermon Law."--Maron gave two or three sobs, and -put the corner of her check-apron upon the eye that was next -Walter.--"Fair fa' your heart, Maron," said he, "we'll say nae mair -about it; but, my woman, we maun crack about our bits o' hame affairs, -an' I had the strongest reasons for coming to the truth o' yon; however, -I'll try ither means.--But, Maron Linton, there's anither thing, that in -spite o' my heart is like to breed me muckle grief, an' trouble, an' -shame.--Maron, has the Brownie o' Bodsbeck been ony mair seen about the -town?" - -"Troth, gudeman, ye're aye sae hard i' the belief--wi' a' your kindness -to me and mine, ye hae a dour, stiff, unbowsome kind o' nature in -ye--it'll hardly souple whan steepit i' yer ain e'esight--but I can tell -ye for news, ye'll no hae a servant about yer house, man, woman, nor -boy, in less than a fortnight, if this wicked and malevolent spirit -canna be put away--an' I may say i' the language o' Scripture, 'My name -is Legion, for we are many.' It's no ae Brownie, nor twa, nor -half-a-score, that's about the house, but a great hantle--they say -they're ha'f deils ha'f fock--a thing that I dinna weel understand. But -how many bannocks think ye I hae baken in our house these eight days, -an' no a crust o' them to the fore but that wee bit on your trencher?" - -"I little wot, gudewife; maybe half-a-dizen o' dizens." - -"Half-a-dizen o' dizens, gudeman!--aye sax dizen o' dizens!--a' the meal -girnels i' the country wadna stand it, let abee the wee bit meal ark o' -Chapelhope." - -"Gudewife, I'm perfectly stoundit. I dinna ken what to say, or what to -think, or what to do; an' the mair sae o' what I have heard sin' I gaed -to the hill--Auld John o' the Muir, our herd, wha I ken wadna tell a lee -for the Laird o' Drumelzier's estate, saw an unco sight the night afore -last." - -"Mercy on us, gudeman! what mair has been seen about the town?" - -"I'll tell ye, gudewife--on Monanday night he cam yont to stop the ewes -aff the hogg-fence, the wind being eissel--it was a wee after midnight, -an' the moon wasna just gane down--he was sittin i' the scug o' a bit -cleuch-brae, when, or ever he wist, his dog Keilder fell a gurrin' an' -gurrin', as he had seen something that he was terrified for--John took -him aneath his plaid, an' held him, thinkin it was some sheep-stealers; -but or it was lang he saw a white thing an' a black thing comin' up the -Houm close thegither; they cam by within three catloups o' him--he -grippit his cudgel firm, an' was aince gaun to gie them strength o' arm, -but his power failed him, an' a' his sinnens grew like dockans; there -was a kind o' glamour cam o'er his een too, for a' the hope an' the -heaven grew as derk as tar an' pitch--but the settin moon shone even in -their faces, and he saw them as weel as it had been fore-day. The tane -was a wee bit hurklin crile of an unearthly thing, as shrinkit an' wan -as he had lien seven years i' the grave; the tither was like a young -woman--an' what d'ye think? he says he'll gang to death wi't that it was -outher our dochter or her wraith." - -Maron lifted up her eyes and her clasped hands toward the ceiling, and -broke out with the utmost vehemence into the following raving -ejaculation:--"O mercy, mercy! Watie Laidlaw!--O, may Him that dwalls -atween the Sherubeams be wi' us, and preserve us and guide us, for we -are undone creatures!--O, Watie Laidlaw, Watie Laidlaw! there's the -wheel within the wheel, the mystery o' Babylon, the mother of harlots, -and abominations of the earth----" - -"Maron Linton!--What are ye sayin?--Haud yer tongue, Maron Linton." - -"O gudeman, I thought it was the young fallows ye jaloosed her wi'--I -wish it had. I wad rather hae seen her i'the black stool, in the place -where repentance is to be hoped for; but now she's i'the deil's ain -hands. I jaloosed it, Watie--I kend it--I was sure o't lang syne--our -bairn's changed--she's transplanted--she's no Keaty Laidlaw now, but an -unearthly creature--we might weel hae kend that flesh an' blude cude -never be sae bonny--Goodman, I hae an awsome tale to tell ye--Wha think -ye was it that killed Clavers' Highlanders?" - -"That, I suppose, will remain a mystery till the day when a' secrets -will be cleared up, an' a' the deeds o' darkness brought to light." - -"Sae may it be, Watie! Sae may it be! But it was neither ane nor other -but our ain only dochter Kate." - -"Ye're ravin, Maron--troth, ye're gaun daft--a bit sklendry lassie o' -aughteen kill sae mony armed Highlanders?--Hout fye! keep within bounds, -Maron." - -"I heard her wi' thir lugs it's i'my head--Stannin on that very room -floor, I heard her gie the orders to her Brownie. She was greetin whan I -cam in--I listened and heard her saying, while her heart was like to -loup, 'Wae's me! O wae's me! or mid-day their blood will be rinning like -water!--The auld an' the young, the bonny an' the gude, the sick an' the -woundit--That blude may cry to Heaven, but the cauld earth will drink it -up; days may be better, but waur they canna be! Down wi' the clans, -Brownie, and spare nae ane.' In less than ten minutes after that, the -men were found dead. Now, Watie, this is a plain an' positive truth." - -Walter's blood curdled within him at this relation. He was -superstitious, but he always affected to disbelieve the existence of the -Brownie, though the evidences were so strong as not to admit of any -doubt; but this double assurance, that his only daughter, whom he loved -above all the world besides, was leagued with evil spirits, utterly -confounded him. He charged his wife, in the most solemn manner, never -more, during her life, to mention the mysterious circumstance relating -to the death of the Highland soldiers. It is not easy to conceive a pair -in more consummate astonishment than Walter and his spouse were by the -time the conversation had reached this point. The one knew not what to -think, to reject, or believe--the other believed all, without -comprehending a single iota of that she did believe; her mind -endeavoured to grasp a dreadful imaginary form, but the dimensions were -too ample for its reasoning powers; they were soon dilated, burst, and -were blown about, as it were, in a world of vision and terror. - - - - -CHAPTER II. - - -Before proceeding with the incidents as they occurred, which is the -common way of telling a story in the country, it will be necessary to -explain some circumstances alluded to in the foregoing chapter. - -Walter Laidlaw rented the extensive bounds of Chapelhope from the Laird -of Drummelzier. He was a substantial, and even a wealthy man, as times -went then, for he had a stock of 3000 sheep, cattle, and horses; and -had, besides, saved considerable sums of money, which he had lent out to -neighbouring farmers who were not in circumstances so independent as -himself. - -He had one only daughter, his darling, who was adorned with every -accomplishment which the country could then afford, and with every -grace and beauty that a country maiden may possess. He had likewise two -sons, who were younger than she, and a number of shepherds and female -servants. - -The time on which the incidents here recorded took place, was, I -believe, in the autumn of the year 1685, the most dismal and troublous -time that these districts of the south and west of Scotland ever saw, or -have since seen. The persecution for religion then raged in its wildest -and most unbridled fury: the Covenanters, or the whigs, as they were -then called, were proscribed, imprisoned, and at last hunted down like -wild beasts. Graham, Viscount of Dundee, better known by the detested -name of Clavers, set loose his savage troopers upon those peaceful -districts, with peremptory orders to plunder, waste, disperse, and -destroy the conventiclers, wherever they might be found. - -All the outer parts of the lands of Chapelhope are broken into thousands -of deep black ruts, called by the country people _moss haggs_. Each of -the largest of these has a green stripe along its bottom; and in this -place in particular they are so numerous, so intersected and complex in -their lines, that, as a hiding-place, they are unequalled--men, foxes, -and sheep, may all there find cover with equal safety from being -discovered, and may hide for days and nights without being aware of one -another. The neighbouring farms to the westward abound with inaccessible -rocks, caverns, and ravines. To these mountains, therefore, the -shattered remains of the fugitives from the field of Bothwell Bridge, as -well as the broken and persecuted whigs from all the western and -southern counties, fled as to their last refuge. Being unacquainted, -however, with the inhabitants of the country in which they had taken -shelter--with their religious principles, or the opinions which they -held respecting the measures of government--they durst not trust them -with the secret of their retreat. They had watches set, sounds for -signals, and skulked away from one hiding-place to another at the -approach of the armed troop, the careless fowler, or the solitary -shepherd; yea, such precautions were they obliged to use, that they -often fled from the face of one another. - -From the midst of that inhospitable wilderness--from those dark mosses -and unfrequented caverns--the prayers of the persecuted race nightly -arose to the throne of the Almighty--prayers, as all testified who heard -them, fraught with the most simple pathos, as well as the most bold and -vehement sublimity. In the solemn gloom of the evening, after the last -rays of day had disappeared, and again in the morning before they began -to streamer the east, the song of praise was sung to that Being, under -whose fatherly chastisement they were patiently suffering. These psalms, -always chaunted with ardour and wild melody, and borne on the light -breezes of the twilight, were often heard at a great distance. The heart -of the peasant grew chill, and his hairs stood all on end, as he hasted -home to alarm the cottage circle with a tale of horror. Lights were seen -moving by night in wilds and caverns where human thing never resided, -and where the foot of man seldom had trode. - -The shepherds knew, or thought they knew, that no human being frequented -these places; and they believed, as well they might, that whole hordes -of spirits had taken possession of their remote and solitary dells. They -lived in terror and consternation. Those who had no tie in the country -left it, and retreated into the vales, where the habitations of men are -numerous, and where the fairy, the brownie, or the walking ghost, is -rarely seen. Such as had friends whom they could not leave, or sheep and -cattle upon the lands, as the farmers and shepherds had, were obliged to -remain, but their astonishment and awe continued to increase. They knew -there was but one Being to whom they could apply for protection against -these unearthly visitants; family worship was begun both at evening and -morning in the farmers' hall and the most remote hamlet; and that age -introduced a spirit of devotion into those regions, which one hundred -and thirty years continuance of the utmost laxity and indecision in -religious principles has not yet been able wholly to eradicate. - -It is likewise necessary to mention here, though perfectly well known, -that every corner of that distracted country was furnished with a -gownsman, to instruct the inhabitants in the _mild_ and _benignant_ -principles of prelacy, but chiefly to act as spies upon the detested -whigs. In the fulfilment of this last task they were not remiss; they -proved the most inveterate and incorrigible enemies that the poor -covenanters had, even though heaven, earth, and hell seemed to have -combined against them. - -The officiating priest at the kirk of Saint Mary of the Lowes had been -particularly active in this part of his commission. The smallest number -could not be convened for the purposes of public devotion--two or three -stragglers could not be seen crossing the country, but information was -instantly sent to Clavers, or some one of his officers; and, at the same -time, these devotional meetings were always described to be of the most -atrocious and rebellious nature. The whigs became grievously incensed -against this ecclesiastic, for, in the bleakest mountain of their native -land, they could not enjoy a lair in common with the foxes and the -wild-goats in peace, nor worship their God without annoyance in the dens -and caves of the earth. Their conventicles, though held in places ever -so remote, were broke in upon and dispersed by armed troops, and their -ministers and brethren carried away to prisons, to banishment, and to -death. They waxed desperate; and what will not desperate men do? They -way-laid, and seized upon one of the priest's emissaries by night, a -young female, who was running on a message to Grierson of Lag. Overcome -with fear at being in custody of such frightful-looking fellows, with -their sallow cheeks and long beards, she confessed the whole, and gave -up her dispatches. They were of the most aggravated nature. Forthwith -two or three of the most hardy of the whigs, without the concurrence or -knowledge of their brethren, posted straight to the Virgin's chapel that -very night, shot the chaplain, and buried him at a small distance from -his own little solitary mansion; at the same time giving out to the -country, that he was a sorcerer, an adulterer, and a character every way -evil. His name has accordingly been handed down to posterity as a most -horrid necromancer. - -This was a rash and unpremeditated act; and, as might well have been -foreseen, the cure proved worse than the disease. It brought the armed -troops upon them both from the east and the west. Dundee came to -Traquair, and stationed companies of troops in a line across the -country. The Laird of Lag placed a body of men in the narrowest pass of -Moffatdale, in the only path by which these mountains are accessible. -Thus all communication was cut off between the mountain-men and the -western counties; for every one who went or came by that way, these -soldiers took prisoner, searched, and examined; and one lad, who was -coming from Moffat, carrying more bread than they thought he could well -account for, they shot dead on the spot just as he had dropt on his -knees to pray. - -A curate, named Clerk, still remained, to keep an eye upon the whigs and -pester them. He had the charge of two chapels in that vicinity; the one -at a place now called Kirkhope, which was dedicated to Saint Irene, a -saint of whom the narrator of this story could give no account. The -other was dedicated to Saint Lawrence; the remains of it are still to be -seen at Chapelhope, in a small circular inclosure on the west side of -the burn. Clerk was as malevolent to the full against the proscribed -party as his late brother, but he wanted the abilities of the deceased; -he was ignorant, superstitious, and had assumed a part of the fanaticism -in religion of the adverse party, for it was the age and the country of -fanaticism, and nothing else would take. By that principally he had -gained some influence among his hearers, on whom he tried every -stimulant to influence them against the whigs. The goodwife of -Chapelhope was particularly attached to him and his tenets; he held her -completely in leading-strings; her concience approved of every thing, or -disapproved, merely as he directed; he flattered her for her deep -knowledge in true and sound divinity and the Holy Scriptures, although -of both she was grossly ignorant. But she had learned from her preceptor -a kind of cant--a jargon of religious terms and sentences of Scripture -mixed, of which she had great pride but little understanding. She was -just such a character as would have been a whig, had she ever had an -opportunity of hearing or conversing with any of that sect. Nothing -earthly could be so truly ludicrous as some of her exhibitions in a -religious style. The family and servants were in general swayed by their -mistress, who took a decided part with Clerk in all his schemes against -the whigs, and constantly dispatched one of her own servants to carry -his messages of information to the king's officers. This circumstance -soon became known to the mountain-men, and though they were always -obliged to take refuge on the lands of Chapelhope by day, they avoided -carefully all communication with the family or shepherds (for several of -the shepherds on that farm lived in cottages at a great distance from -one another and from the farm-house.) - -Walter despised Clerk and his tenets most heartily; he saw that he was -a shallow, hypocritical, and selfish being, and that he knew nothing of -the principles in which he pretended to instruct them; therefore he -sorely regretted the influence that he had gained over his family. -Neither did he approve of the rigid and rebellious principles which he -believed the Covenanters professed. When he met with any man, or -community of men, who believed firmly in any thing and held it sacred, -Walter revered that, and held it sacred likewise; but it was rather from -a deference to the belief and feelings of his fellow creatures than his -own conviction. In short, Walter was an honest, conscientious, good, -old-fashioned man, but he made no great fuss about religion, and many -supposed that he did not care a pin who was right or who was wrong. - -On the 23d of August, Clavers (I think it best to denominate him so, as -he is always called by that name in the country,) dispatched nineteen -men from Traquair, under the command of one Copland, a gentleman -volunteer in his troop, and a very brave young man, to gain intelligence -concerning the murder of the curate, and use every means to bring the -perpetrators to justice. Copland and his men came to the mansion of the -late chaplain, where they remained all the night, and made every enquiry -that they could concerning the murderers. Several witnesses were brought -in and examined, and among others the very identical girl whom the whigs -took prisoner, and robbed of the dispatches. She had heard the letter -read by one of the gang who seized her, while the rest stood and -listened. It bore, "that great numbers of the broken and rebellious -traitors kenneled in the wilds around Loch-Skene, from whence they -committed depredations on all the countries about; that they likewise -made religious incursions into those districts, where great multitudes -attended their inflammatory harangues." It also stated, "that a noted -incendiary was to preach on such a day in Kirkinhope Linn, where the -whole group might easily be surrounded and annihilated; that many of -them were armed with guns, bludgeons, and broadswords, but that they -were the most cowardly, heartless dogs alive; and that he himself, who -had private and certain information of all their hiding places, would -engage to rid the country of them in a few days, if Lag would allow him -but one company of soldiers." - -Copland now began to suspect that his force was too small to accomplish -any thing of moment; he determined, however, to make a dash into the -wild next morning, and, if possible, to seize some prisoners, and -thereby gain more accurate information. On the morning of the 24th, -having procured two trusty guides, he proceeded on his expedition. He -and nine of his followers went up by a place called Sheilhope, the other -nine by Chapelhope--they were to scour the broken ground, take all those -prisoners whom they found skulking, fire upon such as refused to stand, -and meet on a certain height at noon. Copland and his party reached the -appointed place without making any reprisal; they perceived some -stragglers on the heights and rocks at a great distance, who always -vanished away, like beings not of this world. Three of the other party -took one poor lad prisoner, who was so spent and emaciated that he had -been unable to fly at the signal-sound; but so intent were they on blood -that he was not ever brought before their leader, who never so much as -knew of the capture. - -The guide was wont to relate the circumstances of this poor man's trial -and execution, for, but for him, no such thing would ever have been -known; the death of a whig, or a straggler of any kind, was then a -matter of no concern--They were three Brae-mar Highlanders who took him; -like the most part of his associates, he answered their questions in a -surly manner, and by the most cutting retorts, which particularly -enraged a Donald Farquharson, one of the party, against him. "Weel, -I'll pe pitting you to 'e test, and tat fery shun, my coot freen," said -Donald; "and I'll just pe teeling you, eince for a', tat ye haif ne meer -but tway meenets and a half to leef." - -The poor forlorn wight answered, "that he expected no better at their -hands,--that he desired no longer time, and he hoped they would bear -patiently with him for that short space." He then kneeled down and -prayed most fervently, while Donald, who wanted only a hair to make a -tether of, as the saying is, seemed watching diligently for a word at -which to quarrel. At length he spoke words to the following purport. -"Father, forgive these poor misled creatures, as I forgive them; they -are running blindly upon a wrong path, and without the power of thy -grace they shall never gain the right one more." Donald, who did not -well understand the dialect in which the prisoner prayed, looked -shrewdly at his companions. "Dugald More," said he--"Dugald More, fat's -'e man saying?" - -"He is praying," replied the other, "that we may lose our way, and never -find it more." - -"Cot t--n 'e soul o' 'e tief, is he?" said Donald, and ran him through -with his bayonet. - -The wounded man groaned, and cried most piteously, and even called out -"murder," but there was none to rescue or regard him. The soldiers, -however, cut the matter short, by tossing him into a deep hole in the -morass, where he sunk in the mire and was seen no more. - -When Copland arrived at the place of rendezvous, five out of his ten -associates were no where to be seen, nor did they make their appearance, -although he tarried there till two in the afternoon. The guide then -conducted him by the path on which those missing should have come, and -on arriving at a narrow pass in Chapelhope, he found the bodies of the -four soldiers and their guide mangled and defaced in no ordinary -way; and judging from this that he had been long enough in that -neighbourhood, he hasted back to Traquair with the news of the loss. -Clavers is said to have broke out into the most violent rage, and to -have sworn that night by the Blessed Virgin and all the Holy Trinity, -utterly to extirpate the seed of the d--d whining psalm-singing race -from the face of the earth, and that ere Beltein there should not be as -much whig blood in Scotland as would make a dish of soup to a dog. He -however concealed from the privy council the loss of these five men, nor -did they ever know of it to this day. - - - - -CHAPTER III. - - -Things were precisely in this state, when the goodman of Chapelhope, -taking his plaid and staff, went out to the heights one misty day in -autumn to drive off a neighbour's flock from his pasture; but, as Walter -was wont to relate the story himself, when any stranger came there on a -winter evening, as long as he lived, it may haply be acceptable to the -curious, and the lovers of rustic simplicity, to read it in his own -words, although he drew it out to an inordinate length, and perhaps kept -his own personal feelings and prowess too much in view for the -fastidious or critical reader to approve. - -"It was on a mirk misty day in September," said Walter, "I mind it -weel, that I took my plaid about me, and a bit gay steeve aik stick in -my hand, and away I sets to turn aff the Winterhopeburn sheep. The wind -had been east-about a' that harst, I hae some sma' reason ne'er to -forget it, and they had amaist gane wi' a' the gairs i' our North Grain. -I weel expected I wad find them a' in the scaithe that dark day, and I -was just amind to tak them hame in a drove to Aidie Andison's door, and -say, 'Here's yer sheep for ye, lad; ye maun outher keep them better, or -else, gude faith, I'll keep them for ye.'--I had been crost and put -about wi' them a' that year, and I was just gaun to bring the screw to -the neb o' the mire-snipe.--Weel, off I sets--I had a special dog -at my feet, and a bit gay fine stick in my hand, and I was rather -cross-natured that day--'Auld Wat's no gaun to be o'er-trampit wi' nane -o' them, for a' that's come and gane yet,' quo' I to mysel as I gaed up -the burn.--Weel, I slings aye on wi' a gay lang step; but, by the time -that I had won the Forkings, I gat collied amang the mist, sae derk, -that fient a spark I could see--Stogs aye on through cleuch and gill, -and a' the gairs that they used to spounge, but, to my great mervel, I -can nouther see a hair of a ewe's tail, nor can I hear the bleat of a -lamb, or the bell of a wether--No ane, outher of my ain or ither -folks!--'Ay,' says I to mysel, 'what can be the meaning o' this? od, -there has been somebody here afore me the day!' I was just standin -looking about me amang the lang hags that lead out frae the head o' the -North Grain, and considering what could be wort of a' the sheep, when I -noticed my dog, Reaver, gaun coursing away forrit as he had been setting -a fox. What's this, thinks I--On he gangs very angry like, cocking his -tail, and setting up his birses, till he wan to the very brink of a deep -hag; but when he gat there, my certy, he wasna lang in turning! Back he -comes, by me, an' away as the deil had been chasing him; as terrified a -beast I saw never--Od, sir, I fand the very hairs o' my head begin to -creep, and a prinkling through a' my veins and skin like needles and -preens.--'God guide us!' thinks I, 'what can this _be_?' The day was -derk, derk; for I was in the very stamoch o' the cludd, as it were; -still it was the day time, an' the e'e o' Heaven was open. I was as near -turned an' run after my tike as ever I'll miss, but I just fand a stound -o' manheid gang through my heart, an' forrit I sets wi' a' the vents o' -my head open. 'If it's flesh an' blude,' thinks I, 'or it get the -owrance o' auld Wat Laidlaw, od it sal get strength o' arm for aince.' -It was a deep hag, as deep as the wa's o' this house, and a strip o' -green sward alang the bottom o't; and when I came to the brow, what does -I see but twa lang liesh chaps lying sleeping at ither's sides, baith -happit wi' the same maud. 'Hallo!' cries I, wi' a stern voice, 'wha hae -we here?' If ye had but seen how they lookit when they stertit up; od, -ye wad hae thought they were twa scoundrels wakened frae the dead! I -never saw twa mair hemp-looking dogs in my life. - -'What are ye feared for, lads? Whaten twa blades are ye? Or what are ye -seeking in sic a place as this?' - -'This is a derk day, gudeman.' - -'This is a derk day, gudeman! That's sic an answer as I heard never. I -wish ye wad tell me something I dinna ken--and that's wha ye are, and -what ye're seeking here?' - -'We're seeking nought o' yours, friend.' - -'I dinna believe a word o't--ye're nae folk o' this country--I doubt ye -ken o'er weel what stealing o' sheep is--But if ye winna tell me plainly -and honestly your business here, the deil be my inmate gin I winna knock -your twa heads thegither.' - -'There is a gude auld say, honest man, _It is best to let sleeping dogs -lie, they may rise and bite you_.' - -'Bite _me_, lad!--Rise an' bite _me_!--I wad like to see a dog on a' the -heights o' Chapelhope that wad snarl at me, let be to bite!' - -"I had a gay steeve dour aik stick in my hand, an' wi' that I begoud to -heave't up, no to strike them, but just to gi'e them a glisk o' the -coming-on that was in't. By this time they were baith on their feet; and -the ane that was neist me he gi'es the tabie of his jockey-coat a fling -back, and out he pu's a braid sword frae aneath it--an' wi' the same -blink the ither whups a sma' spear out o' the heart o' his aik stick, -'Here's for ye then, auld camstary,' says they; 'an unlucky fish gets an -unlucky bait.' Od sir, I was rather stoundit; I began to look o'er my -shouther, but there was naething there but the swathes o' mist. What wad -I hae gien for twa minutes of auld John o' the Muchrah! However, there -was nae time to lose--it was come fairly to the neb o' the mire-snipe -wi' me. I never was gude when taken by surprise a' my life--gie me a wee -time, an' I turn quite foundemental then--sae, to tell the truth, in my -hurry I took the flier's part, flang the plaid frae me, and ran off up -the hag as fast as my feet could carry me, an' a' the gate the -ragamuffian wi' the sword was amaist close at my heels. The bottom o' -the hag was very narrow, twa could hardly rin abreast. My very bluid -began to rise at being chased by twa skebels, and I thought I heard a -voice within me, crying, 'Dinna flee, Wat Laidlaw! dinna flee, auld Wat! -ye hae a gude cause by the end!' I wheeled just round in a moment, sir, -and drew a desperate straik at the foremost, an' sae little kend the -haniel about fencing, that instead o' sweeing aff my downcome wi' his -sword, he held up his sword-arm to save his head--I gart his arm just -snap like a pipe-stapple, and down fell his bit whittle to the ground, -and he on aboon it. The tither, wi' his sma' spear, durstna come on, -but ran for it; I followed, and was mettler o' foot than he, but I -durstna grip him, for fear he had run his bit spit through my sma-fairns -i' the struggle, for it was as sharp as a lance, but I keepit a little -back till I gat the end o' my stick just i' the how o' his neck, and -then I gae him a push that soon gart him plew the flow with his nose. On -aboon him I gets, and the first thing I did was to fling away his bit -twig of a sword--I gart it shine through the air like a fiery -dragon--then I took him by the cuff o' the neck, and lugged him back to -his neighbour, wha was lying graning in the hag. 'Now, billies,' says I, -'ye shall answer face to face, it wad hae been as good soon as syne; -tell me directly wha ye are, and what's your business here, or, d'ye -hear me, I'll tye ye thegither like twa tikes, and tak ye to them that -will gar ye speak.' - -'Ah! lack-a-day, lack-a-day!' said the wounded man, 'ye're a rash, -foolish, passionate man, whaever ye be.' - -'Ye're maybe no very far wrang there,' quo' I; 'but for aince, I trow, I -had gude reason. Ye thought to kill _me_ wi' your bits o' shabbles o' -swords!' - -'In the first place then,' said he, 'ken that we wadna hae shed ae drap -o' your blood, nor wranged a hair o' your head--all that we wanted was -to get quit of ye, to keep ye out o' danger an' scaith. Ye hae made a -bonny day's wark on't truly, we had naething in view but your ain -safety--but sin' ye will ken ye maun ken; we belang to a poor proscribed -remnant, that hae fled from the face of a bloody persecution. We have -left all, and lost all, for the cause of our religion, and are driven -into this dismal wilderness, the only miserable retreat left us in our -native land.' - -'Od, sir! he hadna weel begun to speak till the light o' the truth began -to dawn within me like the brek o' the day-sky, an' I grew as red too, -for the devil needna hae envied me my feelings at that time. I couldna -help saying to mysel, 'Whow, whow, Wat Laidlaw! but ye hae made a bonny -job o't this morning!--Here's twa puir creatures, worn out wi' famine -and watching, come to seek a last refuge amang your hags and mosses, and -ye maun fa' to and be pelting and threshing on them like an incarnate -devil as ye are.--Oh, wae's me! wae's me!'--Lord, sir, I thought my -heart wad burst--There was a kind o' yuke came into my een that I could -hardly bruke; but at length the muckle tears wan out wi' a sair faught, -and down they came down ower my beard, dribble for dribble. The men saw -the pliskie that I was in, and there was a kind o' ruefu' benevolence i' -their looks, I never saw ony thing like it.' - -'Dinna be wae for us, honest man,' said they; 'we hae learned to -suffer--we hae kend nought else for this mony a lang and bloody year, -an' we look for nought else for the wee while we hae to sojourn in this -weary world--we hae learned to suffer patiently, and to welcome our -sufferings as mercies.' - -'Ye've won a gude length, man,' quo' I; 'but they're mercies that I'm -never very fond o'--I wish ye had suffered under ony hand but mine, sin' -it be your lot.' - -'Dinna be sorry for us, honest man; there never was an act o' mair -justice than this that ye hae inflicted. Last night there were fifteen -o' us met at evening worship--we hadna tasted meat for days and nights; -to preserve our miserable lives, we stole a sheep, dressed, and ate it; -and wi' this very arm that you hae disabled, did I grip and kill that -sheep. It was a great sin, nae doubt, but the necessity was also -great--I am sae far punished, and I hope the Lord will forgie the rest.' - -'If he dinna,' quo' I, 'he's no what I think him.' Then he began a lang -serious harangue about the riches o' free grace, and about the -wickedness o' our nature; and said, that we could do naething o' -oursells _but_ sin. I said it was a hard construction, but I couldna -argy the point ava wi' him--I never was a dab at these lang-winded -stories. Then they cam on about prelacy and heresies, and something they -ca'd the act of abjuration. I couldna follow him out at nae rate; but I -says, I pit nae doubt, callants, but ye're right, for ye hae proven to -a' the warld that ye think sae; and when a man feels conscious that he's -right, I never believe he can be far wrang in sic matters. But that's no -the point in question; let us consider what can be done for ye e'en -now--Poor souls! God kens, my heart's sair for ye; but this land's mine, -an' a' the sheep around ye, an' ye're welcome to half-a-dozen o' the -best o' them in sic a case.' - -'Ah! lack-a-day, lack-a-day! If ye be the gudeman o' the Chapelhope, -ye'll rue the day that ever ye saw us. If it's kend that ye countenanced -us in word or deed, ye're a ruined man; for the blood-hounds are near at -hand, and they'll herry ye out and in, but and ben--Lack-a-day! -lack-a-day! in a wee while we may gang and come by the Chapelhope, and -nouther see a lum reek nor hear a cock craw; for Clavers is on the one -hand and Lag on the other, and they're coming nearer and nearer us every -day, and hemming us in sairer and sairer--renounce us and deny us, as ye -wish to thrive.' - -'Na, na, lads, let them come--let them come their ways! Gin they should -take a' the ewes and kye on the Chapelhope, I can stock it o'er again. I -dinna gie a bawbee about your leagues, and covenants, and associations, -for I think aye there's a good deal o' faction and dourness in them; but -or I'll desert a fellow-creature that's oppressed, if he's an honest -man, and lippens to me, od, I'll gie them the last drap o' my heart's -bluid.' - -"When they heard that, they took me out to the tap of a knowe, and -began to whistle like plovers--nae herd alive could hae kend but they -were plovers--and or ever I wist, ilka hag, and den, and tod-hole round -about, seemed to be fu' o' plovers, for they fell a' to the whistling -an' answering ane another at the same time. I had often been wondering -how they staid sae lang on the heights that year, for I heard them aye -whewing e'en an' morn; but little trowed I they were a' twa-handed -plovers that I heard. In half an hour they had sic a squad gathered -thegither as e'e never glimed on. There ye might hae seen auld -gray-bearded ministers, lairds, weavers, and poor hinds, a' sharing the -same hard fate. They were pale, ragged, and hungry, and several o' them -lame and wounded; and they had athegither sic a haggard severity i' -their demeaner. Lord forgie me, gin I wasna feared to look at them! -There was ane o' them a doctor blade, wha soon set the poor chield's -arm; and he said, that after a' it wasna broken, but only dislockit and -sair brizzed. That doctor was the gabbiest body ever I met wi'; he spake -for them a', and I whiles feared that he sclented a wee. He tried a' -that he could to make me a Cameronian, but I wadna grip; and when I was -coming away to leave him, 'Laidlaw,' quo' he, 'we ken ye to be an -honest, honourable man; here you see a remnant of poor, forlorn, -misrepresented creatures, who have thrown themselves on your mercy; if -ye betray us, it will be the worse for ye both here and hereafter; if -you save and protect us, the prayers of the just win their way to -Heaven, though fiends should be standing by to oppose them--Ay, there's -naething can stop _their_ journey, Laidlaw!--The winds canna blaw them -aside, the clouds canna drown them, and the lights o' Heaven canna burn -them; and your name will stand at that bar where there's nae cruel and -partial judge--What you gie to us, ye gie to your Maker, and he will -repay you seven fold.' Od, the body was like to gar me play the bairn -and greet even out. Weel, I canna mind the half that he said, but he -endit wi' this:--'We have seen our friends all bound, banished, and -destroyed; they have died on the field, on the scaffold, and at the -stake; but the reek o' their blood shall drive the cruel Stuarts frae -the land they have disgraced, and out of it a church of truth and -liberty shall spring. There is still a handfu' remaining in Israel that -have not yet bowed the knee to Baal, nor yet kissed him--That remnant -has fled here to escape the cruelty of man; but a worse fate threatens -us now--we are all of us perishing with famine--For these three days we -have tasted nothing but the green moss, save a few wretched trouts, -eels, and adders.' 'Ethers, man!' quo' I,--'For the love o' God take -care how ye eat the ethers--ye may as weel cut your throats at aince as -eat them. Na, na, lad, that's meat that will never do.' I said nae mair, -but gae just a wave to my dog. 'Reaver,' quo' I, 'yon's away.'--In three -minutes he had ten score o' ewes and wedders at my hand. I grippit twa -o' the best I could wale, and cut aff their heads wi' my ain knife. -'Now, doctor,' quo' I, 'take these and roast them, and part them amang -ye the best way ye can--ye'll find them better than the ethers--Lord, -man, it will never do to eat ethers.'" - -After a hearty laugh, in which his guests generally joined, Walter -concluded thus: "That meeting cost me twa or three hunder round -bannocks, and mae gude ewes and wedders than I'll say; but I never -missed them, and I never rued what I did. Folk may say as they like, but -I think aye the prayers out amang the hags and rash-bushes that year did -me nae ill--It is as good to hae a man's blessing as his curse, let him -be what he may." - -Walter never went farther with his story straight onward than this; for -it began to involve family concerns, which he did not much like to -recount. He had a number of abstract stories about the Covenanters and -their persecutors; but as I must now proceed with the narrative as I -gathered it from others, these will be interwoven in their due course. - - - - -CHAPTER IV. - - -Walter visited them next day at the time and place appointed, taking -with him a dozen of bannocks and a small cheese. These he was obliged to -steal out of his own pantry, for he durst not by any means trust his -wife and family with the discovery he had made, knowing that he might as -well have confided it with the curate himself, the sworn enemy of his -motley protegees. They gathered around him with protestations of -gratitude and esteem; for the deserted and oppressed generally cling to -the first symptoms of friendship and protection with an ardency that too -often overshoots its aim. Walter naturally felt an honest pride, not so -much in that he had done, as that he intended to do; but before he -produced his repast, he began in a most serious way to question them -relating to some late incidents already mentioned. - -They all with one assent declared, and took God to witness, that they -knew nothing at all about the death of the five soldiers; that it was -not perpetrated by them, nor any connected with them; nor could they -comprehend, in the least degree, how it was effected, if not by some -supernatural agency--a judgment sent down from Heaven for their bloody -intent. With regard to the murder of the priest, they were sorry that -they knew so much. It was perpetrated by a few rash men of their number, -but entirely without their concurrent assent, as well as knowledge; that -though his death might have been necessary to the saving of a great -number of valuable lives, they had, nevertheless, unanimously protested -against it; that the perpetrators had retired from their body, they knew -not whither; and that at that very time the Rev. Messrs Alexander -Shiels and James Renwick were engaged in arranging for publication a -general protest against many things alleged against them by their -enemies, and that among others.[A] - -There was a candour in this to which Walter's heart assented. He feasted -them with his plentiful and homely cheer--promised to visit them every -day, and so to employ his shepherds that none of them should come into -that quarter to distress them. Walter was as good as his word--He -visited them every day--told them all the news that he could gather of -the troops that beleagured them--of the executions that were weekly and -daily taking place--and of every thing else relating to the state of the -country. He came loaden with food to them daily; and when he found it -impossible to steal his own bread, butter, and cheese, he supplied their -wants from his flock. The numbers of the persecuted increased on his -hands incalculably--The gudewife of Chapelhope's bannocks vanished by -scores, and the unconscionable, insatiable Brownie of Bodsbeck was -blamed for the whole. - -Some time previous to this, a young vagrant, of the name of Kennedy, -chanced to be out on these moors shooting grouse, which were extremely -plentiful. He tarried until the twilight, for he had the art of calling -the heath-fowl around him in great numbers, by imitating the cry of the -hen. He took his station for this purpose in one of those moss-hags -formerly described; but he had not well begun to call ere his ears were -saluted by the whistling of so many plovers that he could not hear his -own voice. He was obliged to desist, and lay for some time listening, in -expectation that they would soon cease crying. When lying thus, he heard -distinctly the sound of something like human voices, that spoke in -whispers hard by him; he likewise imagined that he heard the pattering -of feet, which he took for those of horses, and, convinced that it was a -raid of the fairies, he became mortally afraid; he crept closer to the -earth, and in a short time heard a swell of the most mellifluous music -that ever rose on the night. He then got up, and fled with precipitation -away, as he thought, from the place whence the music seemed to arise; -but ere he had proceeded above an hundred paces, he met with one of the -strangest accidents that ever happened to man. - -That same night, about, or a little before, the hour of midnight, two of -Laidlaw's men, who happened to be awake, imagined that they heard a -slight noise without; they arose, and looked cautiously out at a small -hole that was in the end of the stable where they slept, and beheld to -their dismay the appearance of four men, who came toward them carrying a -coffin; on their coming close to the corner of the stable, where the two -men stood, the latter heard one of them say distinctly, in a whisper, -"Where shall we lay him?" - -"We must leave him in the barn," said another. - -"I fear," said a third, "the door of that will be locked;" and they past -on. - -The men were petrified; they put on their clothes, but they durst not -move, until, in a short time thereafter, a dreadful bellowing and noise -burst forth about the door of the farm-house. The family was alarmed, -and gathered out to see what was the matter; and behold! there lay poor -Kennedy in a most piteous plight, and, in fact, stark staring mad. He -continued in a high fever all the night, and the next morning; but a -little after noon he became somewhat more calm, and related to them a -most marvellous tale indeed. - -He said, that by the time he arose to fly from the sound of the music, -the moor was become extremely dark, and he could not see with any degree -of accuracy where he was running, but that he still continued to hear -the sounds, which, as he thought, came still nigher and nigher behind -him. He was, however, mistaken in this conjecture; for in a short space -he stumbled on a hole in the heath, into which he sunk at once, and fell -into a pit which he described as being at least fifty fathom deep; that -he there found himself immediately beside a multitude of hideous beings, -with green clothes, and blue faces, who sat in a circle round a small -golden lamp, gaping and singing with the most eldrich yells. In one -instant all became dark, and he felt a weight upon his breast that -seemed heavier than a mountain. They then lifted him up, and bore him -away through the air for hundreds of miles, amid regions of utter -darkness; but on his repeating the name of Jesus three times, they -brought him back, and laid him down in an insensible state at the door -of Chapelhope. - -The feelings depicted in the features of the auditors were widely -different on the close of this wonderful relation. The beauteous -Katharine appeared full of anxious and woful concern, but no marks of -fear appeared in her lovely face. The servants trembled every limb, and -declared with one voice, that no man about Chapelhope was now sure of -his life for a moment, and that nothing less than double wages should -induce them to remain there another day. The goodwife lifted up her eyes -to Heaven, and cried, "O the vails! the vails!--the vails are poured, -and to pour!" - -Walter pretended to laugh at the whole narration; but when he did, it -was with an altered countenance, for he observed, what none of them did, -that Kennedy had indeed been borne through the air by some means or -other; for his shoes were all covered with moss, which, if he had -walked, could not have been there, for the grass would have washed it -off from whatever quarter he had come. - -Kennedy remained several days about Chapelhope in a thoughtful, half -delirious frame; but no entreaties could prevail with him at that time -to accompany the men of the place to where he supposed the accident had -happened, nor yet to give them any account where it was situated, for he -averred that he heard a voice say to him in a solemn tone, "If you wish -to live long, never tell what you have seen to-night, nor ever come this -way again." Happy had it been for him had he attended all along to this -injunction. He slipped away from Chapelhope in a few days, and was no -more seen until the time that Copland and his men appeared there. It was -he who came as guide to that soldiers that were slain, and he fell with -them in the strait linn of the South Grain of Chapelhope. - -These mysterious and unaccountable incidents by degrees impressed the -minds of the inhabitants with terror that cannot be described; no woman -or boy would go out of doors after sunset, on any account whatever, and -there was scarcely a man who durst venture forth alone after the fall of -evening. If they could have been sure that brownies and fairies had only -power to assume the human shape, they would not have been nearly in such -peril and perplexity; but there was no form of any thing animate or -inanimate, save that of a lamb, that they were sure of; they were of -course waylaid at every turn, and kept in continual agitation. An owl -was a most dangerous and suspicious-looking fellow--a white glede made -them quake, and keep a sharp look-out upon his course in the air--a -hare, with her large intelligent eyes and equivocal way of walking, was -an object of general distrust--and a cat, squalling after dark, was the -devil. Many were the ludicrous scenes that occurred, among which I -cannot help mentioning those which follow, as being particularly -whimsical. - -Jasper, son to old John of the Muchrah, was the swiftest runner of his -time; but of all those whose minds were kept in continual agitation on -account of the late inundation of spirits into the country, Jasper was -the chief. He was beset by them morning and evening; and even at high -noon, if the day was dark, he never considered himself as quite safe. He -depended entirely upon his speed in running to avoid their hellish -intercourse; he essayed no other means--and many wonderful escapes he -effected by this species of exertion alone. He was wont to knit -stockings while tending his flock on the mountains; and happening to -drop some yarn one evening, it trailed after him in a long ravelled coil -along the sward. It was a little after the sun had gone down that Jasper -was coming whistling and singing over the shoulder of the Hermon Law, -when, chancing to cast a casual glance behind him, he espied something -in shape of a horrible serpent, with an unequal body, and an enormous -length of tail, coming stealing along the bent after him. His heart -leapt to his mouth, (as he expressed it,) and his hair bristled so that -it thrust the bonnet from his head. He knew that no such monster -inhabited these mountains, and it momently occurred to him that it was -the Brownie of Bodsbeck come to seize him in that most questionable -shape. He betook him to his old means of safety in great haste, never -doubting that he was well qualified to run from any object that crawled -on the ground with its belly; but, after running a considerable way, he -perceived his adversary coming at full stretch along the hill after him. -His speed was redoubled; and, as he noted now and then that his -inveterate pursuer gained no ground on him, his exertion was beyond that -of man. There were two shepherds on an opposite hill who saw Jasper -running without the plaid and the bonnet, and with a swiftness which -they described as quite inconceivable. The cause set conjecture at -defiance; but they remarked, that though he grew more and more spent, -whenever he glanced behind he exerted himself anew, and strained a -little harder. He continued his perseverance to the last, as any man -would do who was running for bare life, until he came to a brook called -the Ker Cleuch, in the crossing of which he fell down exhausted; he -turned on his back to essay a last defence, and, to his joyful -astonishment, perceived that the serpent likewise lay still and did not -move. The truth was then discovered; but many suspected that Jasper -never overcame that heat and that fright as long as he lived. - -Jasper, among many encounters with the fairies and brownies, had another -that terminated in a manner not quite so pleasant. The Brownie of -Bodsbeck, or the Queen of the Fairies, (he was not sure which of them -it was,) came to him one night as he was lying alone, and wide awake, as -he conceived, and proffered him many fine things, and wealth and honours -in abundance, if he would go along to a very fine country, which Jasper -conjectured must have been Fairyland. He resisted all these tempting -offers in the most decided manner, until at length the countenance of -his visitant changed from the most placid and bewitching beauty to that -of a fiend. The horrible form grappled with him, laid hold of both his -wrists, and began to drag him off by force; but he struggled with all -the energy of a man in despair, and at length, by a violent exertion, he -disengaged his right hand. The enemy still continuing, however, to haul -him off with the other, he was obliged to have recourse to a desperate -expedient. Although quite naked, he reached his clothes with the one -hand and drew his knife; but, in endeavouring to cut off those fingers -which held his wrist so immovably fast, he fairly severed a piece of -the thumb from his own left hand. - -This was the very way that Jasper told the story to his dying day, -denying stoutly that he was in a dream; and, singular as it may appear, -I can vouch for the truth of it. Jasper Hay died at Gattonside at a -right old age, in the year 1739; and they are yet alive who have heard -him tell those stories, and seen him without the thumb of the left hand. - -Things went on in this distracted and doubtful manner until the time -when Walter is first introduced. On that day, at the meeting place, he -found no fewer than 130 of the poor wanderers, many of them assembled to -see him for the last time, and take an affectionate leave of him; for -they had previously resolved to part, and scatter themselves again over -the west country, even though certain death awaited them, as they could -not in conscience longer remain to be the utter ruin of one who was so -generous and friendly to them. They saw, that not only would his whole -stock be wasted, but he would himself be subjected to confiscation of -goods, and imprisonment, if to nothing worse. Walter said, the case -seemed hard either way; but he had been thinking, that perhaps, if they -remained quiet and inoffensive in that seclusion, the violence of the -government might in a little relax, and they might then retire to their -respective homes in peace. Walter soon heard with vexation that they -made conscience of _not living in peace_, but of proclaiming aloud to -the world the grievous wrongs and oppression that the church of Christ -in Scotland laboured under. The _doctor chap_, as Walter always called -him, illustrated at great length the sin that would lie to their charge, -should they remain quiet and passive in a time like that, when the -church's all was at stake in these realms. "We are but a remnant," added -he, "a poor despised remnant; but if none stand up for the truth of the -reformed religion, how are ever our liberties, civil or ecclesiastical, -to be obtained? There are many who think with us, and who feel with us, -who yet have not the courage to stand up for the truth; but the time -must ere long come, that the kingdoms of the land will join in -supporting a reformation, for the iniquity of the Amorite is wearing to -the full." - -Walter did not much like disputing about these matters; but in this he -felt that his reason acquiesced, and he answered thus: "Ye speak like a -true man, and a clever man, Doctor; and if I had a desperate cause by -the end, and wanted ane to back me in't, the deil a step wad I gang -ayont this moss hag to find him; but, Doctor, there's a time for every -thing. I wadna hae ye to fling away a gude cause, as I wad do a rotten -ewe, that winna haud ony langer. But dinna ye think that a fitter time -may come to mak a push? ye'll maybe sell mae precious lives for nae end, -wi' your declarations; take care that you, and the like o' you, haena -these lives to answer for.--I like nae desperate broostles--od, man, -it's like ane that's just gaun to turn divour, taking on a' the debt he -can." - -"Dinna fear, gudeman! dinna fear! There's nae blood shed in sic a cause -that can ever be shed in vain. Na, na! that blood will argue better at -the bar o' Heaven for poor distressed Scotland than all the prayers of -all the living. We hae done muckle, but we'll do mair yet--muckle blood -has been wantonly and diabolically shed, and our's may rin wi' the -rest--we'll no thraw't wantonly and exultingly away; but, when our day -comes, we'll gie it cheerfully--as cheerfully, gudeman, as ever ye paid -your mail to a kind landlord, even though the season had been hard and -stormy. We had aince enough of this warld's wealth, and to spare; but we -hae naething now but our blood, and we'll part wi' that as cheerfully as -the rest. And it will tell some day! and ye may live to see it yet. But -enough, gudeman; we have all resolved, that, whatever the consequence -may be, to live no more on your bounty--therefore, do not urge it--but -give us all your hand--Farewell!--and may God bless you in all your -actings and undertakings!--There is little chance that we shall ever -meet again--We have no reward to give but our blessing and good wishes; -but, whenever a knee here present is bowed at the footstool of grace, -you will be remembered." - -Walter could not bear thus to part with them, and to give them up as it -were to certain destruction. He argued as well as he could on the -imprudence of the step they were going to take--of the impossibility of -their finding a retreat so inaccessible in all the bounds of the south -of Scotland, and the prospect that there was of the persecution soon -relaxing. But when he had said all that he could say, a thin spare old -man, with grey dishevelled locks, and looks, Walter said, as stern as -the adders that he had lately been eating, rose up to address him. -There was that in his manner which commanded the most intense attention. - -"Dost thou talk of our rulers relaxing?" said he. "Blind and mistaken -man! thou dost not know them. No; they will never relax till their blood -shall be mixed with their sacrifices. That insatiate, gloomy, papistical -tyrant and usurper, the Duke of York, and his commissioner, have issued -laws and regulations more exterminating than ever. But yesterday we -received the woeful intelligence, that, within these eight days, one -hundred and fifty of our brethren have suffered by death or banishment, -and nearly one-half of these have been murdered, even without the sham -formality of trial or impeachment, nor had they intimation of the fate -that awaited them. York hath said in full assembly, 'that neither the -realm nor the mother-church can ever be safe, until the south of -Scotland is again made a hunting forest;' and his commissioner hath -sworn by the living God, 'that never a whig shall again have time or -warning to prepare for Heaven, for that hell is too good for them.' Can -we hope for these men relaxing? No! The detestable and bloody Clavers, -that wizard! that eater of toads! that locust of the infernal pit, hems -us in closer and closer on one side, and that Muscovite beast on the -other! They thirst for our blood; and our death and tortures are to them -matter of great sport and amusement. My name is Mackail! I had two brave -and beautiful sons, and I had but two; one of these had his brains shot -out on the moss of Monyhive without a question, charge, or reply. I -gathered up his brains and shattered skull with these hands, tied them -in my own napkin, and buried him alone, for no one durst assist me. His -murderers stood by and mocked me, cursed me for a dog, and swore if I -howled any more that they would send me after him. My eldest son, my -beloved Hew, was hung like a dog at the Market-cross of Edinburgh. I -conversed with him, I prayed with him in prison, kissed him, and bade -him farewell on the scaffold! My brave, my generous, my beautiful son! I -tell thee, man, thou who preachest up peace and forbearance with -tyrants, should ever the profligate Charles, or his diabolical -brother--should ever the murderer Clavers, or any of his hell-hounds of -the north, dare set foot in Heaven, one look from the calm benignant -face of my martyred son would drive them out howling!" - -All this time the old man shed not a tear; his voice was wildly solemn, -but his looks were mixed with madness. He had up his hand to swear, to -pray, or to prophecy, Walter knew not which, but he was restrained by -his associates, and led aside, so that Walter saw no more of him; but he -said he could not get him out of his mind for many a day, for sic -another desperate auld body he had never seen. - -These harangues took up much of the time that they had to spare, but ere -they parted Walter persuaded them, probably by his strong homely -reasoning, to remain where they were. He said, since they persisted in -refusing to take more of his flock, there was an extensive common beyond -the height, called Gemsope, which had been a royal forest, where many -gentlemen and wealthy farmers had sheep that fed promiscuously; and -considering their necessitous circumstances, he thought it no evil, and -he advised them to go and take from that glen as many as would serve to -support nature for a time;--that for his part he had many a good wedder -and dinmont there, and was willing to run his risk, which would then -fall equal on a number, and only on such as were rich and could well -bear it. In this plan, after some scruples which were overborne by the -majority, they at length fully and thankfully acquiesced. - -That same day, on his way homeward, Walter heard the wonderful relation -of the apparition of his beloved daughter in the Hope at midnight; he -learned that Clavers would be there in a few days, and he had sent away -above 100 men to steal sheep--all these things made him thoughtful and -uneasy after he had reached his home, wet and fatigued.--"It will be a -bloody night in Gemsope this," he said, sighing, not recollecting what -he said or to whom he said it. He could trust his wife with any of his -family concerns, but as long as she continued to be so much influenced -by the curate Clerk, the sworn enemy of his poor persecuted flock, he -durst not give her a hint of their retreat. - -Walter became still more and more perplexed from all that he heard from -his wife, as well as from every one else--he found that, in truth, there -was some mysterious thing about his house--the whole family seemed -convinced of it--there were many things seen, heard, and done there that -he could in nowise account for in a rational way, and though he resisted -the general belief for a good while, that the house was haunted, -circumstances at length obliged him to yield to the torrent, and he -believed as faithfully in the Brownie of Bodsbeck as any of them all. - -FOOTNOTE: - -[A] This curious protest is still extant, and shows the true spirit of -the old Covenanters or Cameronians, as they have since been called, -better than any work remaining. It is called in the title page, "_An -informatory Vindication of a poor, wasted, misrepresented Remnant of the -suffering Anti-popish, Anti-prelatic, Anti-erastian, Anti-sectarian, -true Presbyterian Church of Christ in Scotland_." It is dated at -Leadhills in 1687, and is the conjoint work of Mr James Renwick, and Mr -Alexander Shiels, author of _The Hind let loose_. The following is an -extract from it, p. 107:-- - -"And in like manner we do hereby disclaim all unwarrantable practices -committed by any few persons reputed to be of us, whereby the Lord hath -been offended, his cause wronged, and we all made to endure the scourge -of tongues; for which things we have desired to make conscience of -mourning before the Lord, both in public and private. As the -unwarrantable manner of killing that curate at the Corsephairn, though -he was a man of death both by the laws of God and man, and the fact not -materially murder; it being gone about contrary to our declaration, -common or competent consent, (the conclusion and deed being known only -to three or four persons) in a rash and not a Christian manner, and also -other offences being committed at the time; which miscarriages have -proven a mean to stop and retard lawful, laudable, and warrantable -proceeding, both as to matter and manner." - -These _other offences committed at the time_, unquestionably refer to -the slaughter of the Highland soldiers; about which, there was great -stir and numerous conjectures in the country; although, owing to the -revolution that immediately followed, the perpetrators were never taken, -nor the cause tried in a court of justice, nor indeed was the incident -ever generally known. - - - - -CHAPTER V. - - -The house which Walter occupied was on the very spot where the -farm-house of Chapelhope now stands, but it was twice as long; indeed, a -part of the house that is still standing, or was lately so, is the very -one that was built for Laidlaw when he first entered to that large farm. -There was likewise an outshot from the back of the house, called the Old -Room, which had a door that entered from without, as well as one from -the parlour within. The end of this apartment stood close to the bottom -of the steep bank behind the house, which was then thickly wooded, as -was the whole of the long bank behind, so that, consequently, any one, -with a little caution, might easily have gone out or come in there, -without being seen by any of the family. It contained a bed, in which -any casual vagrant, or itinerant pedlar slept, besides a great deal of -lumber; and as few entered there, it had altogether a damp, mouldy, -dismal appearance. There was likewise a dark closet in one corner of it, -with an old rusty lock, which none of the family had ever seen opened. - -The most part of the family soon grew suspicious of this place. Sounds, -either real or imaginary, were heard issuing from it, and it was -carefully shunned by them all. Walter had always, as I said, mocked at -the idea of the Old Room being haunted, until that very night when we -began with him, and where, after many round-abouts, we have now found -him again. - -It will be recollected that the conversation between Walter and his -wife, which is narrated in the first chapter of this book, terminated -with a charge from him never more to mention the mysterious story -relating to their daughter and these five men that were destroyed. -After this she retired about some housewife business, and left Walter by -himself to muse on that he had seen and heard. He was sitting musing, -and that deeply, on the strange apparition of his daughter that old John -had seen, when he thought he heard something behind him making a sound -as if it growled inwardly. He looked around and saw that it was his dog -Reaver, who was always an inmate of every place that his master -entered--he was standing in an attitude of rage, but at the same time -there was a mixture of wild terror in his appearance--His eyes, that -gleamed like red burning coals, were pointed directly to the door that -opened from the corner of the parlour into the Old Room--Walter was -astonished, for he well knew his acuteness, but he kept his eyes on him -and said not a word--The dog went forward with a movement scarce -perceptible, until he came close to the door, but on putting his nose -and ear to the bottom of it, he burst out with such a bay and howl as -were truly frightful, and ran about the apartment as if mad, trying to -break through the walls and window boards.--Walter was fairly overcome; -there is nothing frightens a shepherd so much as the seeing of his dog -frightened. The shepherd's dog of the true breed will boldly attack any -animal on earth in defence of his master, or at his command; and it is -no good sign indeed when he appears terrified, for the shepherd well -knows that his dog can discover spirits by the savour of the wind, when -he is all unconscious that any such beings are near. - -Walter fled into the kitchen with precipitation--he found all the family -standing in alarm, for they had heard the hideous uproar in the room. - -"What's the matter?" said half-a-dozen at once. - -"What's the matter!" said Walter, churlishly--"nothing at all is the -matter--tell me who of you were in the Old Room, and what you were -seeking there?" - -"No--none of them had been in the Old Room--the whole of the family were -present, nor had one of them been away." - -Walter's countenance changed--he fixed his eyes on the ground for the -space of a minute. - -"Then I am sure," said he, emphatically, "something worse is there." - -A breathless silence ensued; save that some groans and muttered prayers -issued from the lips of the goodwife, who sat in a posture of deep -humility, with her brow leaned on both hands. - -"Some of you go and see," added Walter, "what it _is_ that is in the Old -Room." - -Every eye in the house turned on another, but no one spoke or offered to -move. At length Katharine, who seemed in great anxiety lest any of them -should have had the courage to go, went lightly up to her father, and -said, "I will go, sir, if you please." - -"Do, my dear, and let some of the men go with you." - -"No, sir; none of the men shall go with me." - -"Well then, Keatie, make haste; light a candle, and I will go with you -myself." - -"No--with your leave, father, if I go, I go alone; no one shall go with -me." - -"And why, my love, may not I, your father, accompany you?" - -"Because, should you go with me into the Old Room just now, perhaps you -might never be yourself again." - -Here the goodwife uttered a smothered scream, and muttered some -inarticulate ejaculations, appearing so much affected, that her -daughter, dreading she would fall into a fit, flew to support her; but -on this she grew ten times worse, screaming aloud, "Avoid thee, Satan! -avoid thee, Satan! avoid thee, imp of darkness and despair! avoid thee! -avoid thee!" And she laid about her violently with both hands. The -servants, taking it for granted that she was bewitched, or possessed, -fled aloof; but Walter, who knew better how matters stood with her mind -than they, ran across the floor to her in such haste and agitation, that -they supposed he was going to give her _strength of arm_, (his great -expedient when hardly controuled,) but in place of that, he lifted her -gently in his arms, and carried her to her bed, in the further end of -the house. - -He then tried to sooth her by every means in his power; but she -continued in violent agitation, sighing, weeping, and praying -alternately, until she wrought herself into a high nervous fever. -Walter, growing alarmed for her reason, which seemed verging to a -dangerous precipice, kept close by her bed-side. A little before -midnight she grew calm; and he, thinking she had fallen asleep, left her -for a short time. Unfortunately, her daughter, drawn toward her by -filial regard and affection, softly then entered the room. Maron Linton -was not so sound asleep as was supposed; she instantly beheld the -approach of that now dreaded sorceress, and sitting up in her bed, she -screamed as loud as she was able. Katharine, moved by a natural impulse, -hasted forward to the couch to calm her parent; but the frenzied matron -sprung from her bed, threw up the window, and endeavoured to escape; -Katharine flew after her, and seized her by the waist. When Maron found -that she was fairly in her grasp at such an hour, and no help at hand, -she deemed all over with her, both body and soul; which certainly was a -case extreme enough. She hung by the sash of the window, struggled, and -yelled out, "Murder! murder! murder!--O Lord! O Lord!--save! save! save! -save!--Murder! murder!" &c. At length Walter rushed in and seized her, -ordering his weeping daughter instantly to bed. - -Maron thanked Heaven for this wonderful and timely deliverance, and -persuaded now that Providence had a special and peculiar charge over -her, she became more calm than she had been since the first alarm; but -it was a dreadful certainty that she now possessed, that unearthly -beings inhabited the mansion along with her, and that her daughter was -one of the number, or in conjunction with them. She spent the night in -prayer, and so fervent was she in her devotions, that she seemed at -length to rest in the hope of their final accomplishment. She did not -fail, however, to hint to Walter that something decisive ought to be -done to their daughter. She did not actually say that she should be -burnt alive at a stake, but she spake of the trial by fire--or that it -might be better to throw her into the lake, to make the experiment -whether she would drown or not; for she well expected, in her own mind, -that when the creature found itself in such circumstances, it would fly -off with an eldrich laugh and some unintelligible saying to its own -clime; but she was at length persuaded by her husband to intrust the -whole matter to her reverend monitor, both as to the driving away the -herd of Brownies, and the exorcism of her daughter. - -Never was man in such a predicament as Walter now found himself with -regard to his family. Katharine had never been a favourite with her -mother, who doated on her boys to the detriment of the girl, but to him -she was all in all. Her demeanour of late completely puzzled him--The -words that she had said to him the preceding evening had no appearance -of jocularity; besides, seriousness and truth formed her natural -character, and she had of late become more reserved and thoughtful than -she had ever been before. - -The bed that she slept in faced into the parlour before mentioned; -that which Walter and his spouse occupied entered from another -apartment--their backs, however, were only separated by a thin wooden -partition. Walter kept awake all that night, thoughtful, and listening -to every sound. Every thing remained quiet till about the second crowing -of the cock; he then heard something that scratched like a rat, but -more regularly, and in more distinct time. After the noise had been -repeated three times at considerable intervals, he thought he heard his -daughter rising from her bed with extraordinary softness and caution--He -laid his ear to a seam, and distinctly heard the sound of words uttered -in a whisper, but of their import he could make nothing. He then heard -his daughter return to her bed with the same caution that she left it, -utter some sighs, and fall sound asleep. - -After serious deliberation, Walter thought his best expedient was to -remove his daughter from home for some time; and next morning he -proposed to her to go and spend a week or two with her maternal uncle, -Thomas Linton, farmer at Gilmanscleuch. To this she objected on several -pretences; but at length, when urged to it, positively refused to leave -her father's house at that time. He never in his life could say a harsh -word to her, but that day he appeared chagrined, and bade her, with -some asperity, keep away from her mother's presence, as her malady, -which was a nervous complaint, required the utmost quietness. This she -promised with her accustomed cheerfulness, and they parted. During the -day she was absent for several hours, none knowing whither she went, or -by what way she returned. - -On the same day, the servants, who had spent a sleepless night, packed -up bag and baggage, and went off in a body, all save one elderly woman, -who had lately come to the house, and was a stranger to them all. Her -name, she said, was Agnes Alexander, but she was better known by the -familiar one of Nanny Elshinder; her former history and connections were -doubtful, but she was of a cheerful complaisant temper, and always -performed what she was ordered to do without any remarks. Walter had -hired her at Moffat, in the fair called _The Third Friday_; and told -Maron when he came home, that "he had hired a wastlin auldish quean, -wha, he believed, was a wee crackit i'the head, but, poor thing, she -wasna like to get a place, and was sic a good soul he coudna think to -leave her destitute; and whanever he begoud to parley wi' her, od, she -brought him to the neb o' the mire-snipe directly." Saving this good -woman, all the house servants, man, woman, and boy, deserted their -service, and neither promises nor threats could induce them to stay -another night about the town. They said, "they might as weel bide i' -hell; they wad gang afore Gibby Moray, the king's shirra, whanever he -likit about it; or, gin he buid rather hae brawer burlymen, they wad -meet him face to face in the Parliment Close." - -Walter was now obliged to bring Jasper, his young shepherd, down from -the Muchrah, to assist him in the labour of the farm--the most unfit man -in the world for a haunted house. He knew that the Old Room was -frequented by his old adversary, the Brownie of Bodsbeck. He likewise -knew that his young mistress was a witch, or something worse, for the -late servants had told him, so that he had now a dangerous part to act. -Nevertheless, he came determined to take the bull by the horns; for as -he and his father had stocks of sheep upon the farm, they could not -leave their master, and he was never wont to disobey him. He had one -sole dependance--his swiftness of foot--that had never yet failed him in -eschewing them, save in the solitary instance of the serpent. - -On the first day of his noviceship as a labourer, he and his master were -putting some ropes on the dwelling-house to keep on the thatch. Jasper -wanting something whereon to stand, for that purpose, and being within a -few yards of the door of the Old Room, and knowing that the tubs stood -there, thoughtlessly dashed into it to bring out one to stand on; but he -had not taken two steps within the door till he beheld a human face, -and nothing but a face and a head, looking deliberately at him. One -would have thought that such a man, seeing such a sight, would have -cried out, fled to his master on the other side of the house, or into -the kitchen to old Nanny. Jasper did none of them all. He turned round -with such velocity that he fell--hasted out at the door on all fours, -and took to the Piper-hill like a wild deer, praying fervently all the -way. His master saw him from the ladder where he stood, and called aloud -after him, but he deigned not to heed or look behind him--the head -without the body, and that at an ordinary distance from the ground, was -alone impressed on his mind, and refused a share to any other -consideration. He came not back to the Chapelhope that night. - -Katharine, the young and comely friend of the Brownie, having discovered -that Jasper had been introduced to her familiar, and knowing his truth -and simplicity of heart, earnestly desired to sound him on the subject. -She knew he would return to assist her father and brothers with the farm -labour, in their present strait, by a certain hour next morning, and she -waited on him by the way. He came accordingly; but he knew her and her -connections better than she imagined. He tried to avoid her, first by -going down into the meadow, then by climbing the hill; but seeing that -she waylaid him both ways, and suspecting her intentions to be of the -very worst nature, he betook him to his old expedient--fled with -precipitation, and returned to the Muchrah. - -Katharine could by no means comprehend this, and was particularly -concerned about it at this time, as she had something she wished to -reveal to him. Walter appeared gloomy and discontented all that day. The -corn was ripe, but not a sheaf of it cut down;--the hay was still -standing on the meadow, the lint was to pull, the potatoes to raise, -the tar to bring home, and the sheep to smear; and there was no one left -to do all this but he and his two boys. The gudewife, who used to bustle -about and do much household work, was confined to her room. His -daughter's character, her demeanour, and even her humanity, were become -somewhat doubtful. Walter was truly in what he termed _a pickled -priminary_. - -Katharine, being still debarred all access to her mother, began to dread -that she would be obliged to leave her father's house; and, in case of a -last extremity, she bethought her of sounding the dispositions of old -Nanny. She was a character not easily to be comprehended. She spoke much -to herself, but little to any other person--worked so hard that she -seldom looked up, and all the while sung scraps of old songs and -ballads, the import of which it was impossible to understand; but she -often chaunted these with a pathos that seemed to flow from the heart, -and that never failed to affect the hearer. She wore a russet worsted -gown, clouted shoes, and a quoif, or mutch, upon her head, that was -crimped and plaited so close around her face that very little of the -latter was visible. In this guise was Nanny, toiling hard and singing -her mournful ditty, when Katharine came in and placed herself on a seat -by her side. - -"Nanny, this seems to be more than ordinary a busy day with you; pray, -what is all this baking and boiling for?" - -"Dear bairn, dear bairn, what do I ken--the like o' me maun do as we're -bidden--guests are coming, my bairn--O, ay--there's mony a braw an' -bonny lad coming this way--mony a ane that will gaur a young thing's -e'en stand i' back water-- - - "They are coming! they are coming! - Alak! an' wae's me! - Though the sword be in the hand, - Yet the tear's in the e'e. - - Is there blood in the moorlands - Where the wild burnies rin? - Or what gars the water - Wind reid down the lin? - - O billy, dear billy, - Your boding let be, - For it's nought but the reid lift - That dazzles your e'e." - -"Prithee go on, Nanny; let me hear what it was that reddened the water?" - -"Dear bairn, wha kens; some auld thing an' out o' date; but yet it is -sae like the days that we hae seen, ane wad think the poeter that made -it had the second sight. Mony a water as weel as the Clyde has run reid -wi' blude, an' that no sae lang sin' syne!--ay, an' the wild burnies -too! I hae seen them mysel leave a reid strip on the sand an' the grey -stanes--but the hoody craw durstna pick there!--Dear bairn, has the -Chapelhope burn itsel never had the hue?" - -Here Katharine's glance and Nanny's met each other, but were as quickly -withdrawn, for they dreaded one another's converse; but they were soon -relieved from that dilemma by Nanny's melancholy chime-- - - "In yon green houm there sat a knight,-- - An' the book lay open on his knee, - An' he laid his hand on his rusty sword. - An' turned to Heaven his watery e'e. - - But in yon houm there is a kirk, - An' in that kirk there is a pew, - An' in that pew there sat a king, - Wha signed the deed we maun ever rue. - - He wasna king o' fair Scotland, - Though king o' Scotland he should hae been,-- - And he lookit north to the land he loved, - But aye the green leaves fell atween. - - The green leaves fell, an' the river swell'd. - An' the brigg was guardit to the key; - O, ever alak! said Hamilton - That sic a day I should ever see! - - As ever ye saw the rain down fa', - Or yet the arrow gae from the bow-- - -"No, that's not it--my memory is gane wi' my last warldly hope--Hech! -dear bairn, but it is a sad warld to live in, without hope or love for -ony that's in't--I had aye some hope till now! but sic a dream as I had -last night!--I saw him aince again--Yes, I saw him bodily, or may I -never steer aff this bit."--Here Nanny sobbed hard, and drew her arms -across her eyes.--"Come, come," continued she, "gie me a bit sang, dear -bairn, an' let it be an auld thing--they do ane's heart gude thae bits -o' auld sangs." - -"Rather tell me, Nanny--for we live in ignorance in this wild -place--what you think of all that blude that has been shed in our -country since the killing-time began? Do you think it has been lawfully -and rightfully shed?" - -"Wha doubts it, dear bairn?--Wha doubts that?--But it will soon be ower -now--the traitors will soon be a' strappit and strung--ay, ay--the last -o' them will soon be hackit and hewed, an' his bloody head stannin ower -the Wast Port--an' there will be braw days than--we'll be a' right -than." - -Katharine sat silent and thoughtful, eyeing old Nanny with fixed -attention; but the muscles of her contracted face and wild unstable eye -were unintelligible. She therefore, with a desponding mien, went out, -and left the crazy dame to discourse and sing to herself. Nanny ceased -her baking, stood upright, and listened to the maid's departing steps, -till judging her out of hearing; she then sung out, in what is now -termed the true _bravura_ style, - - "Then shall the black gown flap - O'er desk and true man; - Then shall the horny cap - Shine like the new moon; - An' the kist fu' o' whistles - That maks sic a cleary, - Lool away, bool away, - Till we grow weary. - Till we grow weary, &c. - - Charlie, the cypher-man, - Drink till ye stew dame; - Jamie, the wafer-man, - Eat till ye spue them; - Lauderdale lick-my-fud, - Binny and Geordie, - Leish away, link away. - Hell is afore ye. - Hell is afore ye, &c. - - Grme will gang ower the brink, - Down wi' a flaughter; - Lagg an' Drumlandrick - Will soon follow after; - Johnston and Lithgow, - Bruce and Macleary, - Scowder their harigalds, - Deils, wi' a bleery. - Till ye grow weary," &c. - -In the mean time, Katharine, on hearing the loud notes of the song, had -returned within the door to listen, and heard the most part of the lines -and names distinctly. She had heard it once before, and the singer -reported it to be a new song, and the composition of a young man who had -afterwards been executed in the Grass-Market. How Nanny came to sing -such a song, with so much seeming zest, after the violent prelatic -principles which she had so lately avowed, the maid could not well -comprehend, and she began to suspect that there was more in Nanny's mind -than had yet been made manifest. Struck with this thought, and -ruminating upon it, she continued standing in the same position, and -heard Nanny sometimes crooning, and at other times talking rapidly and -fervently to herself. After much incoherent matter, lines of psalms, &c. -Katharine heard with astonishment the following questions and answers, -in which two distinct voices were imitated:-- - -"Were you at the meeting of the traitors at Lanark on the 12th of -January?" - -"I never was amang traitors that I was certain of till this day--Let -them take that! bloody fruesome beasts." - -"Were you at Lanark on that day?" - -"If you had been there you would have seen." - -"D--n the old b--! Burn her with matches--squeeze her with pincers as -long as there's a whole piece of her together--then throw her into -prison, and let her lie till she rot--the old wrinkled hag of h--! Good -woman, I pity you; you shall yet go free if you will tell us where you -last saw Hamilton and your own goodman." - -"Ye sall hing me up by the tongue first, and cut me a' in collops while -I'm hingin." - -"Burn her in the cheek, cut baith her lugs out, and let her gae to h-- -her own way." - -After this strange soliloquy, the speaker sobbed aloud, spoke in a -suppressed voice for some time, and then began a strain so sweet and -melancholy, that it thrilled the hearer, and made her tremble where she -stood. The tune was something like the Broom of Cowdenknows, the -sweetest and most plaintive of the ancient Scottish airs; but it was -sung so slow, as to bear with it a kind of solemnity. - - "The kye are rowting in the lone, - The ewes bleat on the brae, - O, what can ail my auld gudeman, - He bides sae lang away! - - An' aye the Robin sang by the wud, - An' his note had a waesome fa'; - An' the corbie croupit in the clud, - But he durstna light ava; - - Till out cam the wee grey moudiwort - Frae neath the hollow stane, - An' it howkit a grave for the auld grey head, - For the head lay a' its lane! - - But I will seek out the Robin's nest, - An' the nest of the ouzel shy, - For the siller hair that is beddit there - Maun wave aboon the sky." - -The sentiments of old Nanny appeared now to her young mistress to be -more doubtful than ever. Fain would she have interpreted them to be such -as she wished, but the path which that young female was now obliged to -tread required a circumspection beyond her experience and discernment -to preserve, while danger and death awaited the slightest deviation. - - - - -CHAPTER VI. - - -Next morning Clavers, with fifty dragoons, arrived at Chapelhope, where -they alighted on the green; and putting their horses to forage, he and -Sir Thomas Livingston, Captain Bruce, and Mr Adam Copland, before -mentioned, a gentleman of Clavers' own troop, went straight into the -kitchen. Walter was absent at the hill. The goodwife was sitting lonely -in the east room, brooding over her trials and woes in this life, and -devising means to get rid of her daughter, and with her of all the -devouring spirits that haunted Chapelhope; consequently the first and -only person whom the gentlemen found in the kitchen was old Nanny. -Clavers, who entered first, kept a shy and sullen distance, for he never -was familiar with any one; but Bruce, who was a jocular Irish -gentleman, and well versed in harassing and inveigling the ignorant -country people to their destruction, made two low bows (almost to the -ground) to the astonished dame, and accosted her as follows: "How are -you to-day, mistress?--I hope you are very well?" - -"Thank ye kindly, sir," said Nanny, curtseying in return; "deed I'm no -sae weel as I hae been; I hae e'en seen better days; but I keep aye the -heart aboon, although the achings and the stitches hae been sair on me -the year." - -"Lack-a-day! I am so very sorry for that!--Where do they seize you? -about the heart, I suppose?--Oh, dear soul! to be sure you do not know -how sorry I am for your case--it must be so terribly bad! You should -have the goodness to consult your physician, and get blood let." - -"Dear bairn, I hae nae blude to spare--an' as for doctors, I haena -muckle to lippen to them. To be sure, they are whiles the means, under -Providence"---- - -"Oho!" said he, putting his finger to his nose, and turning to his -associates with a wry face,--"Oho! the means under Providence!--a d--d -whig, by ----. Tell me, my dear and beautiful Mistress Stitchaback, do -you really believe in that blessed thing, Providence?" - -"Do I believe in Providence!--Did ever ony body hear sic a question as -that? Gae away, ye muckle gouk--d'ye think to make a fool of a puir -body?" - -So saying, she gave him a hearty slap on the cheek; at which his -companions laughing, Bruce became somewhat nettled, and, drawing out his -sword, he pointed at the recent stains of blood upon it. "Be so good as -to look here, my good lady," said he, "and take very good note of all -that I say, and more; for harkee, you must either renounce Providence, -and all that I bid you renounce,--and you must, beside that, answer all -the questions that I shall ever be after asking,--or, do you see, I am a -great doctor--this is my very elegant lance--and I'll draw the blood -that shall soon ease you of all your stitches and pains." - -"I dinna like your fleem ava, man--'tis rather ower grit for an auld -body's veins. But ye're surely some silly skemp of a fallow, to draw out -your sword on a puir auld woman. Dinna think, howanabee, that I care for -outher you or it. I'll let ye see how little I mind ye; for weel I ken -your comrades wadna let ye fash me, e'en though ye were sae silly as to -offer. Na, na; d'ye ever think that little bonny demure-looking lad -there wad suffer ye to hurt a woman?--I wat wad he no! He has mair -discreation in his little finger than you hae i' your hale bouk.--Now -try me, master doctor--I'll nouther renounce ae thing that ye bid me, -nor answer ae question that ye speer at me." - -"In the first place, then, my good hearty dame, do you acknowledge or -renounce the Covenant?" - -"Aha! he's wise wha wats that, an' as daft that speers." - -"Ay, or no, in a moment--No juggling with me, old Mrs Skinflint." - -"I'll tell ye what ye do, master--if ony body speer at ye, gin auld -Nanny i' the Chapelhope renounces the Covenant, shake your head an' say -ye dinna ken." - -"And pray, my very beautiful girl, what do you keep this old tattered -book for?" - -"For a fancy to gar fools speer, an' ye're the first--Come on now, sir, -wi' your catechis--Wally-dye man! gin ye be nae better a fighter than -ye're an examiner, ye may gie up the craft." - -Bruce here bit his lip, and looked so stern that Nanny, with a -hysterical laugh, ran away from him, and took shelter behind Clavers. - -"You are a d--d fool, Bruce," said he, "and constantly blundering.--Our -business here, mistress, is to discover, if possible, who were the -murderers of an honest curate, and some of our own soldiers that were -slain in this neighbourhood while discharging their duty; if you can -give us any information on that subject, you shall be well rewarded." - -"Ye'll hear about the curate, sir--ye'll hear about him--he was found -out to be a warlock, and shot dead.--But ah, dear bairn! nane alive can -gie you information about the soldiers!--It was nae human hand did that -deed, and there was nae e'e out o' heaven saw it done--There wasna a man -that day in a' the Hope up an' down--that deed will never be fund out, -unless a spirit rise frae the dead an' tell o't--Muckle fear, an' muckle -grief it has been the cause o' here!--But the men war a' decently -buried; what mair could be done?" - -"Do you say that my men were all decently buried?" - -"Ay, troth, I wat weel, worthy sir, and wi' the burial-service too.--My -master and mistress are strong king's folk." - -"So you are not the mistress of this house?" - -"A bonny like mistress I wad be, forsooth--Na, na, my mistress is sittin -be hersel ben the house there." With that, Nanny fell a working and -singing full loud-- - - "Little wats she wha's coming, - Little wats she wha's coming, - Strath and Correy's ta'en the bent, - An' Ferriden an' a's coming; - Knock and Craigen Sha's coming, - Keppoch an' Macraw's coming, - Clan-Mackinnon's ower the Kyle, - An' Donald Gun an' a's coming." - -Anxious now to explore the rest of the house, they left Nanny singing -her song, and entered the little parlour hastily, where, finding no one, -and dreading that some escape might be effected, Clavers and Livingston -burst into the Old Room, and Bruce and Copland into the other. In the -Old Room they found the beautiful witch Katharine, with the train of her -snow-white joup drawn over her head, who looked as if taken in some evil -act by surprise, and greatly confounded when she saw two gentlemen -enter her sanctuary in splendid uniforms. As they approached, she made a -slight curtsey, to which they deigned no return; but going straight up -to her, Clavers seized her by both wrists. "And is it, indeed, true," -said he, "my beautiful shepherdess, that we have caught you at your -prayers so early this morning?" - -"And what if you have, sir?" returned she. - -"Why, nothing at all, save that I earnestly desire, and long exceedingly -to join with you in your devotional exercises," laying hold of her in -the rudest manner. - -Katharine screamed so loud that in an instant old Nanny was at their -side, with revenge gleaming from her half-shaded eyes, and heaving over -her shoulder a large green-kale gully, with which she would doubtless -have silenced the renowned Dundee for ever, had not Livingston sprung -forward with the utmost celerity, and caught her arm just as the stroke -was descending. But Nanny did not spare her voice; she lifted it up -with shouts on high, and never suffered one yell to lose hearing of -another. - -Walter, having just then returned from the hill, and hearing the hideous -uproar in the Old Room, rushed into it forthwith to see what was the -matter. Katharine was just sinking, when her father entered, within the -grasp of the gentle and virtuous Clavers. The backs of both the knights -were towards Walter as he came in, and they were so engaged amid bustle -and din that neither of them perceived him, until he was close at their -backs. He was at least a foot taller than any of them, and nearly as -wide round the chest as them both. In one moment his immense fingers -grasped both their slender necks, almost meeting behind each of their -windpipes. They were rendered powerless at once--they attempted no more -struggling with the women, for so completely had Walter's gripes -unnerved them, that they could scarcely lift their arms from their -sides; neither could they articulate a word, or utter any other sound -than a kind of choaked gasping for breath. Walter wheeled them about to -the light, and looked alternately at each of them, without quitting or -even slackening his hold. - -"Callants, wha ir ye ava?--or what's the meanin' o' a' this unmencefu' -rampaging?" - -Sir Thomas gave his name in a hoarse and broken voice; but Clavers, -whose nape Walter's right hand embraced, and whose rudeness to his -daughter had set his mountain-blood a-boiling, could not answer a word. -Walter, slackening his hold somewhat, waited for an answer, but none -coming-- - -"Wha ir ye, I say, ye bit useless weazel-blawn like urf that ye're?" - -The haughty and insolent Clavers was stung with rage; but seeing no -immediate redress was to be had, he endeavoured to pronounce his dreaded -name, but it was in a whisper scarcely audible, and stuck in his -throat--"Jo--o--o Graham," said he. - -"Jock Graham do they ca' ye?--Ye're but an unmannerly whalp, man. And -ye're baith king's officers too!--Weel, I'll tell ye what it is, my -denty clever callants; if it warna for the blood that's i' your master's -veins, I wad nite your twa bits o' pows thegither." - -He then threw them from him; the one the one way, and the other the -other, and lifting his huge oak staff, he strode out at the door, -saying, as he left them,--"Hech! are free men to be guidit this -gate--I'll step down to the green to your commander, an' tell him what -kind o' chaps he keeps about him to send into fock's houses.--Dirty -unmensefu' things!" - -Clavers soon recovering his breath, and being ready to burst with rage -and indignation, fell a cursing and fuming most violently; but Sir T. -Livingston could scarcely refrain from breaking out into a convulsion -of laughter. Clavers had already determined upon ample revenge, for the -violation of all the tender ties of nature was his delight, and wherever -there was wealth to be obtained, or a private pique to be revenged, -there never was wanting sufficient pretext in those days for cutting off -individuals, or whole families, as it suited. On the very day previous -to that, the Earl of Traquair had complained, in company with Clavers -and his officers, of a tenant of his, in a place called Bald, who would -neither cultivate his farm nor give it up. Captain Bruce asked if he -prayed in his family? The Earl answered jocularly, that he believed he -did nothing else. Bruce said that was enough; and the matter passed over -without any farther notice. But next morning, Bruce went out with four -dragoons, and shot the farmer as he was going out to his work. Instances -of this kind are numerous, if either history or tradition can be in -aught believed; but in all the annals of that age, there is scarcely a -single instance recorded of any redress having been granted to the -harassed country people for injuries received. At this time, the word of -Argyle's rising had already spread, and Clavers actually traversed the -country more like an exterminating angel, than a commander of a -civilized army. - -Such were the men with whom Walter had to do; and the worst thing of -all, he was not aware of it. He had heard of such things, but he did not -believe them; for he loved his king and country, and there was nothing -that vexed him more than hearing of aught to their disparagement; but -unluckily his notions of freedom and justice were far above what the -subjects of that reign could count upon. - -When Clavers and Livingstone entered the Old Room, it will be remembered -that Bruce and Copland penetrated into the other. There they found the -goodwife of Chapelhope, neatly dressed in her old-fashioned style, and -reading on her Bible, an exercise in which she gloried, and of which she -was very proud. - -Bruce instantly desired her "to lay that very comely and precious book -on the hottest place of all the beautiful fire, that was burning so -pleasantly with long crackling peat; and that then he would converse -with her about things that were, to be sure, of far greater and mightier -importance." - -"Hout, dear sir, ye ken that's no consistent wi' natural reason--Can any -thing be o' greater importance than the tidings o' grace an' salvation, -an' the joys o' heaven?" - -"Oho!" cried Bruce, and straddled around the room with his face turned -to the joists.--"My dear Copland, did you ever hear such a thing in all -the days that ever you have to live? Upon my soul, the old woman is -talking of grace, and salvation, and the joys of heaven too, by Saint -G--! My dearest honey and darling, will you be so kind as stand up upon -the soles of your feet, and let me see what kind of a figure you will be -in heaven. Now, by the cross of Saint Patrick, I would take a journey -there to see you go swimming through Heaven in that same form, with -your long waist, and plaitted quoif, and that same charming face of -yours. Och! och! me! what a vile she whig we have got in this here -corner!--Copland, my dear soul, I foresee that all the ewes and kine of -Chapelhope will soon be rouped at the cross of Selkirk, and then what -blessed lawings we shall have! Now my dear mistress Grace, you must be -after renouncing the joys of heaven immediately; for upon my honour, the -very sight of your face would spoil the joys of any place whatever, and -the first thing you must do is to lay that delightful old book with the -beautiful margin along the side of it, on the coals; but before you do -that we shall sing to his praise and glory from the 7th verse of the -149th psalm." - -He then laid aside his helmet and sung the psalm, giving out each line -with a whine that was truly ludicrous, after which he put the Bible into -the goodwife's hand, and desired her, in a serious tone, instantly to -lay it on the fire. The captain's speech to his companions about the -ewes and kine of Chapelhope was not altogether lost on the conscience of -Maron Linton. It was not, as she afterwards said, like water spilt upon -the ground, which cannot be gathered up again. "Why, dear sir," said -she, "ye ken, after a', that the beuk's naething but paper an' ink, an' -three shillings an' aughtpence will buy as gude a ane frae Geordy -Dabson, the morn, an' if there be ony sin in't, it will lye at your -door, an' no at mine. I'll ne'er haigel wi' my king's officer about -three and aughtpence." - -So saying, Maron laid the Bible on the fire, which soon consumed it to -ashes. - -"Now, may the devil take me," said Bruce, "if I do not believe that you -are a true woman after all, and if so, my purse is lighter by one half -than it was; but, my dear honey, you have the very individual and -genuine seeds of whiggism in your constitution--You have, I will swear, -been at many a harmless and innocent conventicle." - -"Ye ken little about me, sir.--Gude forbid that ever I countenanced sic -traitors to the kirk and state!" - -"Amen! say I; but I prophecy and say unto thee, that the first -field-meeting into which thou goest in the beauty of holiness, thou -shalt be established for ever with thy one foot in Dan and the other in -Beersheba, and shalt return to thy respective place of abode as rank a -whig as ever swung in the Grass-Market." - -A long dialogue next ensued, in which the murder of the priest, Mass -John Binram, was discussed at full length, and by which Bruce and -Copland discerned, that superstitious as Maron was, she told them what -she deemed to be the truth, though in a strange round-about way. Just as -they were beginning to talk over the mysterious murder of the soldiers, -Claverhouse and Sir Thomas joined them, and Bruce, turning round to -them, said, "My lord, this very honest woman assures me, that she -believes the two principal murderers of the curate are lying concealed -in a linn not far hence, and there seems to be little doubt but that -they must likewise have been concerned in the murder of our soldiers." - -Clavers, the horrors of whose execrations are yet fresh in the memory of -our peasants, burst out as follows, to the astonishment of Bruce, who -was not aware of his chagrin, or of aught having befallen him. - -"May the devil confound and d--n them to hell!--May he make a brander of -their ribs to roast their souls on!" - -Maron Linton, hearing herself called a good woman, and finding that she -was approven of, could not refrain from interfering here. - -"Dear sir, my lord, ye sudna swear that gate, for it's unco ill-faur'd -ye ken--an' at ony rate, the deil canna damn naebody--if ye will swear, -swear sense." - -The rage of the general, and the simplicity of the goodwife, was such an -amusing contrast, that the three attendants laughed aloud. Clavers -turned his deep grey eye upon them, which more than the eye of any human -being resembled that of a serpent--offence gleamed in it. - -"Gentlemen," said he, "do you consider where you are, and what you are -about? Sacre! am I always to be trysted with boys and fools?" - -He then began and examined the goodwife with much feigned deference and -civility, which so pleased her that she told him every thing with great -readiness. She was just beginning to relate the terrible, but -unfortunate story of the Brownie of Bodsbeck, and his train of officious -spirits; of the meat which they devoured, and in all probability would -have ended the relation with the woeful connection between the Brownie -and her daughter, and the part that she had taken in the murder of the -soldiers, when Walter entered the room with a discomposed mien, and gave -a new turn to the conversation. But that eventful scene must be left to -the next chapter. - - - - -CHAPTER VIII. - - -Walter, on coming to the troopers and asking for their leader, soon -discovered how roughly he had treated Clavers; and it being so much the -reverse of the reception he meant to have given him, he was particularly -vexed about it. Still he was conscious that he had done nothing that was -wrong, nor any thing that it did not behove a parent and a master of a -family to have done in the same circumstances; therefore there was -nothing farther from his intention than offering any apology. He entered -his own room, as he supposed he had a good right to do, bluntly enough. -He indeed touched the rim of his bonnet as he came in; but, seeing all -the officers covered, he stalked into the midst of them with that -immense circle of blue woollen on his head, which moved over their -helmets like a black cloud as he advanced. Bruce, who was well used to -insult the peasantry with impunity, seeing Walter striding majestically -by his general in this guise, with his wonted forwardness and jocularity -lifted up his sword, sheathed as it was, and with the point of it kicked -off Walter's bonnet. The latter caught it again as it fell, and with his -fist, he made Bruce's helmet ring against the wall; then again fitting -on his bonnet, he gave him such an indignant and reproving look, that -Bruce, having no encouragement from the eye of Clavers, resented it no -farther than by saying good-humouredly, "'Pon my body and shoul, but the -carle keeps his good-looking head high enough." - -"Copland," said Clavers, "desire Serjeant Daniel Roy Macpherson, with -eleven troopers, to attend." They were instantly at the door. "Seize -and pinion that haughty rebel, together with all his family," said he, -"and then go and search every corner, chest, and closet in the house; -for it is apparent that this is the nest and rendezvous of the murdering -fanatics who infest this country. Let the rest of the soldiers guard the -premises, that none escape to the mountains with tidings of our arrival. -This good dame we will first examine privately, and then dispose of her -as shall seem most meet." - -The command was promptly obeyed. Walter and all his family were taken -into custody, pinioned, and a guard set on them; the house was -ransacked; and in the meantime the general and his three associates -continued the examination of the goodwife. Clavers observed that, on the -entrance of Walter before, she seemed to be laid under some restraint, -stopped short in her narration, and said, "But there's the gudeman; -he'll tell ye it wi' mair preceesion nor me;" and he had no doubt, if -she were left to herself, of worming as much out of her as would -condemn her husband, or at least furnish a pretext sufficient for the -forfeiture of his wealth. Clavers had caused to be sold, by public roup, -the whole stock on the farm of Phillhope, which belonged to Walter's -brother-in-law, merely because it was proven that the farmer's wife had -once been at a conventicle. - -In the present instance, however, Clavers was mistaken, and fairly -overshot his mark; for poor Maron Linton was so overwhelmed with -astonishment when she saw her husband and family taken prisoners and -bound, that her speech lost all manner of coherence. She sobbed -aloud--complained one while, entreated another; and then muttered over -some ill-sorted phrases from the Scripture. When Clavers pressed his -questions, she answered him, weeping, "O dear sir, my lord, ye ken I -canna do naething, nor think naething, nor answer naething, unless ye -let Watie loose again; I find as I war naebody, nor nae soul, nor -naething ava wantin' him, but just like a vacation or a shadow. O my -lord, set my twa bits o' callants an' my puir auld man loose again, and -I'll say ony thing that ever ye like." - -Threats and proffers proved alike in vain. Maron's mind, which -never was strong, had been of late so much unhinged by the terrors of -superstition, that it wavered in its frail tenement like "the baseless -fabric of a vision," threatening to depart, and leave not a wreck -behind. Clavers told her that her husband's life depended on the -promptness and sincerity of her answers, he having rendered himself -amenable to justice by rescuing his daughter by force, whom they had -taken prisoner on their arrival, having found her engaged in a very -suspicious employment. This only increased Maron's agony; and at length -Clavers was obliged to give up the point, and ordered her into custody. - -The soldiers had by this time taken old John of the Muchrah and another -of Laidlaw's shepherds prisoners, who had come to assist their master -with the farm-work that day. All these Clavers examined separately; and -their answers, as taken down in short-hand by Mr Adam Copland, are still -extant, and at present in my possession. The following are some of them, -as decyphered by Mr J. W. Robertson, whose acquaintance with ancient -manuscripts is well known. - -John Hay, shepherd in Muchrah, aged fifty-six, sworn and examined. - -"Do you know such a man as the Rev. James Renwick?" - -"Yes. I once heard him pray and preach for about the space of two -hours." - -"Was it on your master's farm that he preached?" - -"No, it was in a linn on the Earl Hill, in the march between two lairds' -lands, that he preached that day." - -"How durst you go to an unlawful conventicle?" - -"I didna ken there was a law against it till after--it's a wild place -this--we never hear ony o' the news, unless it be twice a-year frae the -Moffat fairs. But as soon as I heard him praying and preaching against -the king I cam aff an' left him, an' brought a' my lads an' lasses wi' -me; but my wife wadna steer her fit--there she sat, shaking her head and -glooming at me; but I trow I cowed her for't after." - -"What did he say of the king?" - -"O, I canna mind--he said nae muckle gude o' him." - -"Did he say that he was a bloody perjured tyrant?" - -"Ay, he said muckle waur nor that. He said some gayan ill-farr'd things -about him. But I cam away and left him; I thought he was saying mair -than gude manners warrantit." - -"Were you in the Hope, as you call it; on that day that the king's -soldiers were slain?" - -"Ay, that I was; I was the first wha came on them whan they war just -new dead, an' a' reeking i' their warm blude--Gude keep us a' frae sic -sights again!--for my part, I never gat sic a confoundit gliff sin' I -was born o' my mother." - -"Describe the place where the corpses were lying." - -"It is a deep cleuch, wi' a sma' sheep rodding through the linn not a -foot wide; and if ye war to stite aff that, ye wad gang to the boddom o' -the linn wi' a flaip." - -"Were the bodies then lying in the bottom of that linn?" - -"Odd help ye, whar could they be lying else?--D'ye think they could lie -on the Cleuch-brae? Ye might as weel think to lie on the side o' that -wa' gin ye war dead." - -"How did it appear to you that they had been slain--were they cut with -swords, or pierced with bullets?" - -"I canna say, but they war sair hashed." - -"How do you mean when you say they were hashed?" - -"Champit like--a' broozled and jurmummled, as it war." - -"Do you mean that they were cut, or cloven, or minced?" - -"Na, na--no that ava--But they had gotten some sair doofs--They had been -terribly paikit and daddit wi' something." - -"I do not in the least conceive what you mean." - -"That's extrordnar, man--can ye no understand folk's -mother-tongue?--I'll mak it plain to you. Ye see, whan a thing comes on -ye that gate, that's a dadd--sit still now. Then a paik, that's a swapp -or a skelp like--when a thing comes on ye that way, that's a paik. But a -doof's warst ava--it's"---- - -"Prithee hold; I now understand it all perfectly well.--What, then, is -your opinion with regard to these men's death? How, or what way do you -think they were killed?" - -"O, sir, there's naebody can say. It was some extrordnar judgment, -that's out of a' doubt. There had been an unyerdly raid i' the Hope that -day." - -"What reason have you for supposing such a thing?" - -"Because there wasna a leevin soul i' the hale Hope that day but -theirsels--they wadna surely hae felled ane another--It's, by an' -attour, an awsome bit where they war killed; there hae been things baith -seen and heard about it; and I saw an apparition there mysel on the very -night before." - -"You saw an apparition at the place the night before, did you? And, -pray, what was that apparition like?" - -"It was like a man and a woman." - -"Had the figure of the woman no resemblance to any one you had ever seen -before? Was it in any degree, for instance, like your master's -daughter?" - -"No unlike ava." - -"Then I think I can guess what the other form was like--Had it a bonnet -on its head?" - -"Not a bonnet certainly, but it had the shape o' ane." - -"I weened as much--And was it a tall gigantic figure?" - -"Na, na, sir; the very contrair o' that." - -"Are you certain of that you say? Was it not taller than the apparition -of the woman?" - -"No half sae tall, sir." - -"Had it not some slight resemblance to your master, little as it was? -Did that not strike you?" - -"Na, na, it was naething like my master, nor nae yerdly creature that -ever was seen; indeed it was nae creature ava." - -"What then do you suppose it was?" - -"Lord kens!--A wraith, I hae little doubt. My een rins a' wi' water whan -I think about it yet." - -"Wraiths are quite common here, are they?" - -"O yes, sir!--oure common. They appear aye afore death, especially if -the death be to be sudden." - -"And what are they generally like?" - -"Sometimes like a light--sometimes like a windin-sheet--sometimes like -the body that's to dee, gaen mad--and sometimes like a coffin made o' -moon-light." - -"Was it in the evening you saw this apparition?" - -"It was a little after midnight." - -"And pray, what might be your business in such a place at that untimely -hour?--Explain that fully to me if you please." - -"I sall do that, sir, as weel as I can:--Our ewes, ye see, lie up in -the twa Grains an' the Middle a' the harst--Now, the Quave Brae again, -it's our hogg-fence, that's the hained grund like; and whenever the wind -gangs easterly about, then whan the auld luckies rise i' the howe o' the -night to get their rug, aff they come, snouckin a' the way to the Lang -Bank, an' the tither end o' them round the Piper Snout, and into the -Quave Brae to the hained grund; an' very often they think naething o' -landing i' the mids o' the corn. Now I never mindit the corn sae muckle; -but for them to gang wi' the hogg-fence, I coudna bide that ava; for ye -ken, sir, how coud we turn our hand wi' our pickle hoggs i' winter if -their bit foggage war a' riven up by the auld raikin hypalts ere ever a -smeary's clute clattered on't?" - -Though Clavers was generally of an impatient temper, and loathed the -simplicity of nature, yet he could not help smiling at this elucidation, -which was much the same to him as if it had been delivered in the -language of the Moguls; but seeing the shepherd perfectly sincere, he -suffered him to go on to the end. - -"Now, sir, ye ken the wind very often taks a swee away round to the -east i' the night-time whan the wather's gude i' the harst months, an' -whanever this was the case, and the moon i' the lift, I had e'en aye -obliged to rise at midnight, and gang round the hill an' stop the auld -kimmers--very little did the turn--just a bit thraw yont the brae, an' -they kend my whistle, or my tike's bark, as weel as I did mysel, still -they wadna do wantin't. Weel, ye see, sir, I gets up an' gangs to the -door--it was a bonny night--the moon was hingin o'er the derk brows o' -Hopertoody, an' the lang black scaddaws had an eiry look--I turned my -neb the tither gate, an' I fand the air was gane to the eissel; the -se'en starns had gaen oure the lum, an' the tail o' the king's elwand -was just pointin to the Muchrah Crags. It's the very time, quo' I to -mysel, I needna think about lying down again--I maun leave Janet to lie -doverin by hersel for an hour or twa--Keilder, my fine dog, where are -ye?--He was as ready as me--he likes a play i' the night-time brawly, -for he's aye gettin a broostle at a hare, or a tod, or a foumart, or -some o' thae beasts that gang snaikin about i' the derk. Sae to mak a -lang tale short, sir, off we sets, Keilder an' me, an' soon comes to the -place. The ewes had been very mensefu' that night, they had just comed -to the march and nae farther; sae, I says, puir things, sin' ye hae been -sae leifu', we'll sit down an' rest a while, the dog an' me, an' let ye -tak a pluck an' fill yersels or we turn ye back up to your cauld -lairs again. Sae down we sits i' the scaddaw of a bit derksome -cleuch-brae--naebody could hae seen us; and ere ever I wats, I hears by -the grumblin o' my friend, that he outher saw or smelled something mair -than ordinar. I took him in aneath my plaid for fear o' some grit -brainyell of an outbrik; and whan I lookit, there was a white thing and -a black thing new risen out o' the solid yird! They cam close by me; and -whan I saw the moon shinin on their cauld white faces, I lost my sight -an' swarfed clean away. Wae be to them for droichs, or ghaists, or -whatever they war, for aye sin' syne the hogg-fence o' the Quave Brae -has been harried an' traisselled till its little better nor a drift -road--I darna gang an' stop the ewes now for the saul that's i' my bouk, -an' little do I wat what's to come o' the hoggs the year." - -"Well now, you have explained this much I believe to your own -satisfaction--Remember then, you are upon oath--Who do you think it was -that killed these men?" - -"I think it was outher God or the deil, but whilk o' them, I coudna -say." - -"And this is really your opinion?" - -"Yes, it is." - -"Have you seen any strangers about your master's house of late?" - -"I saw one not long ago." - -"What sort of a man was he?" - -"A douse-looking man wi' a brown yaud; I took him for some wool-buyer." - -"Was he not rather like a preacher?" - -"The man might hae preached for aught contrair till't in his -appearance--I coudna say." - -"Are you certain it was not Mr Renwick?" - -"I am certain." - -"Is your master a very religious man?" - -"He's weel eneugh that way--No that very reithe on't; but the gudewife -hauds his neb right sair to the grindstane about it." - -"Does he perform family worship?" - -"Sometimes." - -"Is he reckoned a great and exemplary performer of that duty?" - -"Na, he's nae great gun, I trow; but he warstles away at it as weel as -he can." - -"Can you repeat any part, or any particular passage of his usual -prayer?" - -"I'm sure I might, for he gangs often aneuch oure some o' them. Let me -see--there's the still waters, and the green pastures, and the blood of -bulls and of goats; and then there's the gos-hawk, and the slogy riddle, -and the tyrant an' his lang neb; I hae the maist o't i' my head, but -then I canna mouband it." - -"What does he mean by the tyrant and his long neb?" - -"Aha! But that's mair nor ever I could find out yet. We whiles think he -means the Kelpy--him that raises the storms an' the floods on us, ye -ken, and gars the waters an' the burns come roarin down wi' bracks o' -ice an' snaw, an' tak away our sheep. But whether it's Kelpy, or -Clavers, or the Deil, we can never be sure, for we think it applies gay -an' weel to them a'." - -"Repeat the passage as well as you can." - -"Bring down the tyrant an' his lang neb, for he has done muckle ill this -year, and gie him a cup o' thy wrath; an' gin he winna tak that, gie him -kelty." - -"What is meant by kelty?" - -"That's double--it means twa cups--ony body kens that." - -"Does he ever mention the king in his prayer?" - -"O yes: always." - -"What does he say about him?" - -"Something about the sceptre of righteousness, and the standard of -truth. I ken he has some rhyme about him." - -"Indeed! And does he likewise make mention of the Covenant?" - -"Ay, that's after--that's near the end, just afore the resurrection. O -yes, he harls aye in the Covenant there. 'The bond o' the everlasting -Covenant,' as he ca's it, weel ordered in all things, and sure." - -"Ay, that's very well; that's quite sufficient. Now, you have yourself -confessed, that you were at an unlawful and abominable conventicle, -holding fellowship with intercommuned rebels, along with your wife and -family. You _must_ be made an example of to the snarling and rebellious -hounds that are lurking in these bounds; but as you have answered me -with candour, though I might order you instantly to be shot, I will be -so indulgent as to give you your choice, whether you will go to prison -in Edinburgh, and be there tried by the Council, or submit to the -judgment which I may pronounce on you here?" - -"O, sir, I canna win to Edinbrough at no rate--that's impossible. What -think ye wad come o' the sheep? The hogg-fence o' the Quave Brae is -maistly ruined already; and war I to gae to the prison at Edinbrough, it -wad be mair loss than a' that I'm worth. I maun just lippen to yoursel; -but ye maunna be very sair on me. I never did ony ill designedly; and as -for ony rebellion against the Bruce's blood, I wad be hangit or I wad -think o' sic a thing." - -"Take the old ignorant animal away--Burn him on the cheek, cut off his -ears, and do not part with him till he pay you down a fine of two -hundred merks, or value to that amount. And, do you hear, make him take -all the oaths twice; and a third oath, that he is never to repent of -these. By G--; if either Monmouth or Argyle get him, they shall have a -perjured dog of him." - -As John was dragged off to this punishment, which was executed without -any mitigation, he shook his head and said, "Ah, lak-a day! I fear -things are muckle waur wi' us than I had ony notion o'! I trowed aye -that even down truth an' honesty bure some respect till now--I fear our -country's a' wrang thegither."--Then looking back to Clavers, he added, -"Gude-sooth, lad, but ye'll mak mae whigs wherever ye show your face, -than a' the hill preachers o' Scotland put thegither." - - - - -CHAPTER IX. - - -It has been remarked by all the historians of that period, that the -proceedings of Clavers about this time were severe in the extreme. The -rising, both in the north and south at the same time, rendered the -situation of affairs somewhat ticklish. Still the Lowlands were then -perfectly peaceable; but he seemed determined, lest he should be called -away, to destroy the Covenanters, and all that hankered after civil and -religious liberty, root and branch. Certainly his behaviour at -Chapelhope that morning, was sufficient to stamp his character for ever -in that district, where it is still held in at least as great -detestation as that of the arch-fiend himself. - -When the soldiers, by his order, seized and manacled Walter, he -protested vehemently against such outrage, and urged the general to -prove his fidelity to his sovereign by administering to him the test -oath, and the oath of abjuration; but this Clavers declined, and said to -him, with a sneer, that "they had other ways of trying dogs beside -that." - -When those who had been appointed to search the house came before him, -and gave in their report, among other things, they said they had found -as much bread new baked, and mutton newly cooked, as would be a -reasonable allowance for an hundred men for at least one whole day. -Clavers remarked, that in a family so few in number, this was proof -positive that others were supported from that house. "But we shall -disappoint the whigs of one hearty meal," added he; and with that he -ordered the meat to be brought all out and set down upon the green--bid -his troopers eat as much as they could--feed their horses with the -bread which they left, and either destroy the remainder of the victuals -or carry them away. - -It was in vain that Walter told him the honest truth, that the food was -provided solely for himself and his soldiers, as he knew they were to -come by that road, either on that day or the one following; nay, though -all the family avouched it, as they well might, he only remarked, with a -look of the utmost malignity, that "he never in his life knew a whig who -had not a d--d lie ready on his tongue, or some kind of equivocation to -save his stinking life, but that they must necessarily all be taught who -they were dealing with." He then made them all swear that they were to -tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, and to utter -the most horrid imprecations on themselves and their souls for ever, if -they deviated in one single item; and beginning with old John, as -before related, he examined them all separately and out of hearing of -one another. - -The interrogations and answers are much too long to be inserted here at -full length; but the only new circumstances that came to light were -these two. One of the young men deponed, that, when the bodies of the -soldiers were found in the Hope, their muskets were all loaded, which -showed that they had not fallen in a regular skirmish; and the other boy -swore, that he had lately seen eighty large thick bannocks baked in one -day in his father's house, for that he had counted them three times over -as they stood cooling. This was another suspicious circumstance, and -Clavers determined to search it to the bottom. He sifted the two youths -backward and forward, trying to get the secret out of them by every wile -in his power; and because they were unable to give him any satisfactory -account who consumed all that store of bread, he caused his dragoons to -take hold of the youngest and gird his head with a cord, twisting it -with a horse pistol, until in some places it cut him to the skull. The -eldest he hung up to the beam by the thumbs until he fainted through -insufferable pain; but he could get nothing more out of them, for they -had at first told him all that they knew, being quite unconscious of any -evil. - -Still bent, as it seemed, on the full conviction and ruin of the family, -he told the boys that they were two of the most consummate knaves and -rebels that he had in all his life seen; and that if they had any hopes -at all of going to Heaven, they should say their prayers, for in a few -minutes he would order them both to be shot. - -John, the eldest, who possessed a good deal of his mother's feebleness -of character, and was besides but newly recovered from a fainting fit, -was seized with a stupor, appeared quite passive, and acted precisely as -they bade him, without seeming to know what he did; but the youngest, -whose name was William, preserved an interesting firmness, in such a -trial, for a considerable time. On being advised by Clavers to tell all -he knew rather than die, and asked if he was not afraid of death? He -answered, with the tear in his eye, "I'm nouther feared for you nor -death, man. I think if fock may be guidit this way at their ain hames, -the sooner they're dead the better." Then turning his looks to his -brother, who kneeled according to the general's order on the green -beside him, he added, with convulsive sobs, "But poor Jock's gaun to be -shot too--I wonder what ye need kill him for?--What ill hae we ever done -t'ye?--Jock's a very good callant--I canna pray weel, but if ye'll let -my billy Jock gang, I'll pray for ye as I can, and kiss ye too." - -Happy was it for the wits of poor Maron that she saw nothing of this -touching scene; she, as well as Walter, being then with the rest under a -strong guard in the Old Room. Clavers paid no regard to the kneeling -boy's request. He caused his troopers to draw up around them, present -their firelocks, and then an executioner, who was always one of his -train, tied up both their eyes. He gave the word himself, and instantly -ten or twelve carabines were discharged on them at once. John fell flat -on the earth; but William, with a violent start, sprung to his feet, -and, being blindfolded, ran straight on the files of soldiers. - -Clavers laid hold of him. "My brave little fellow," said he, "the -soldiers have all missed you, bungling beasts that they are! and since -so wonderful a thing hath befallen, you shall yet have your life, though -a most notorious rebel, if you will tell me what people frequent your -father's house." - -"What's comed o' Jock?" said the boy, "O tell me what's comed o' Jock, -for I canna see." - -"Jock is lying dead on the green there, all bathed in his blood," said -Clavers; "poor wretch! it is over with him, and unless you instantly -tell me who it was that consumed all that store of bread that has been -baked in your father's house for the last month, you must be sent after -him." - -William withdrew backward a few paces, and kneeling a second time down -on the sward with great decency and deliberation, "Shoot again," said -he; "try me aince mair; an' O see to airch a wee better this time. I wad -rather dee a hunder times, or I saw poor Jock lying a bloody corp." - -Clavers made a sign to one of his dragoons, who unbound William, and -took the bandage from his eyes. Regardless of all else, he looked wildly -around in search of his brother, and seeing his only companion lying -flat on his face, he at first turned away, as if wishing to escape from -a scene so dismal; but his helpless and forlorn situation staring him in -the face, and the idea doubtless recurring that he was never to part -with his brother, but forthwith to be slaughtered and carried to the -grave with him, he returned, went slowly up to the body, kneeled down -beside it, and pulling the napkin farther down over the face to keep the -dead features from view, he clasped his arms about his brother's neck, -laid his cheek to his, and wept bitterly. - -The narrator of this part of the tale was wont to say, that the scene -which followed had something more touching in it than any tongue could -describe, although Clavers and his troops only laughed at it. William -had now quite relinquished all sensations of fear or danger, and gave -full vent to a flood of passionate tenderness and despair. He clasped -his brother's neck closer and closer, steeped his cheek with his tears, -and seemed to cling and grow to the body with a miserable fondness. -While he was giving full scope in this manner to the affections of his -young heart, his brother made a heave up with his head and shoulder, -saying at the same time, like one wakening from a dream, "Little Will, -is that you?--Haud aff--What ails ye?" - -William raised up his head,--fixed his eyes on vacancy,--the tears -dried on his cheek, and his ruby lips were wide open,--the thing was -beyond his comprehension, and never was seen a more beautiful statue of -amazement. He durst not turn his eyes towards his brother, but he -uttered in words scarcely articulate, "Lord! I believe they hae missed -Jock too!" - -Clavers had given private orders to his dragoons to fire over the heads -of the two boys, his intent being to intimidate them so much as to -eradicate every principle of firmness and power of concealment from -their tender minds; a scheme of his own fertile invention, and one which -he often practised upon young people with too sure effect. When William -found that his brother was really alive, and that both of them were to -be spared on condition that he gave up the names and marks of all the -people that had of late been at Chapelhope; he set himself with great -earnestness to recount them, along with every mark by which he -remembered them, determined that every hidden thing should be brought to -light, rather than that poor Jock should be shot at again. - -"Weel, ye see, first there was Geordie Skin-him-alive the flesher, him -that took away the crocks and the paulies, and my brockit-lamb, and gae -me a penny for setting him through atween the lochs. Then there was -Hector Kennedy the tinkler, him that the bogles brought and laid down at -the door i' the night-time--he suppit twa bickerfu's o' paritch, an' -cleekit out a hantle o' geds an' perches wi' his toum. Then there was -Ned Huddersfield the woo-man, wi' the leather bags and the skeenzie -thread--him that kissed our bire-woman i' the barn in spite o' her -teeth,--he had red cheeks and grit thees, and wasna unlike a glutton; he -misca'd my father's woo, an' said aye, 'Nay, it's nane clean, -howsomever,--it's useless, that's its warst fault.' Then there was wee -Willie the nout herd, him that had the gude knife an' the duddy breeks; -but the Brownie's put him daft, an' his mither had to come an' tak him -away upon a cuddy." - -In this manner went he on particularizing every one he remembered, till -fairly cut short with a curse. John continued perfectly stupid, and when -examined, answered only _Yes_, or _No_, as their way of asking the -question dictated. - -"Are there not great numbers of people who frequent your father's house -during the night?" - -"Yes." - -"Do you see and hear them, after you go to bed?" - -"Yes." - -"What are they generally employed in when you hear them? Do they read, -and pray, and sing psalms?" - -"Yes." - -"Do your father and mother always join them?" - -"Yes." - -Here William could restrain himself no longer. "Gude faith, Jock, man," -said he, "ye're just telling a hirsel o' eindown lees. It canna be lees -that the man wants, for that maks him nae the wiser; an' for you to say -that my father rises to pray i' the night-time, beats a', when ye ken my -mither has baith to fleitch an' fight or she can get him eggit on till't -i' the Sabbath e'enings. He's ower glad to get it foughten decently by, -to rise an' fa' till't again. O fye, Jock! I wad stand by the truth; -an', at ony rate, no just gaung to hell open mouth." - -When the volley of musketry went off, all the prisoners started and -stared on one another; even the hundred veterans that guarded them -appeared by their looks to be wholly at a loss. Macpherson alone -ventured any remark on it. "Pe Cot's life, fat she pe pluff pluffing at -now? May the teal more pe her soul's salvation, if she do not believe te -man's pe gone out of all reason." - -The women screamed; and Maron, whose tongue was a mere pendulum to the -workings of the heart within, went on sighing and praying; asking -questions, and answering them alternately; and at every pause, looked -earnestly to her husband, who leaned against the corner of the room, -ashamed that his bound hands should be seen. - -"Och! Aigh me!" cried Maron,--"Dear sirs, what's the fock shootin -at?--Eh?--I'm sure they hae nae battlers to fight wi' there?--No ane--I -wat, no ane. Aigh now, sirs! the lives o' God's creatures!--They never -shoot nae callants, do they? Oh, na, na, they'll never shoot innocent -bairns, puir things! They'll maybe hae been trying how weel they could -vizy at the wild ducks; there's a hantle o' cleckins about the saughs o' -the lake. Hout ay, that's a'.--He hasna forgotten to be gracious, nor is -his mercy clean gane." - -Thus poor Maron went on, and though she had but little discernment left, -she perceived that there was a tint of indignant madness in her -husband's looks. His lips quivered--his eyes dilated--and the wrinkles -on his brow rolled up to the roots of his dark grizzled hair, "Watie," -cried she, in a shrill and tremulous voice--"Watie, what ails ye--Oh! -tell me what ails ye, Watie?--What's the fock shooting at? Eh? Ye'll no -tell me what they're shooting at, Watie?--Oh, oh, oh, oh!" - -Walter uttered no word, nor did his daughter, who sat in dumb -astonishment, with her head almost bent to her feet; but old Nanny -joined in full chorus with her mistress, and a wild unearthly strain the -couple raised, till checked by Serjeant Roy Macpherson. - -"Cot's curse be t--ning you to te everlasting teal! fat too-whooing pe -tat? Do you think that should the lenoch beg pe shot trou te poty, tat -is te son to yourself? Do you tink, you will too-whoo him up -akain?--Hay--Cot tamn, pe holding your paice." - - - - -CHAPTER X. - - -Upon the whole, there was no proof against Walter. Presumption was -against him, but the evidence was rather in his favour. Military law, -however, prevailed; and he found that there was no redress to be had of -any grievance or insult, that this petty tyrant, in his caprice, thought -fit to inflict. His drivers were ordered to take the whole stock from -the farms of Kirkinhope, belonging to David Bryden, who lived at a -distance, because it was proven, that Mr Renwick had preached and -baptized some children on the bounds of that farm. That stock he caused -to be taken to Selkirk, and sent orders to the sheriff to sell it by -public roup, at the cross, to the highest bidder; but with Walter's -stock he did not meddle at that time; so far did justice mark his -proceedings. He strongly suspected him, and wished to have him -convicted; and certainly would have taken all the family with him -prisoners, had not the curate-clerk arrived at that critical time. Him -Clavers consulted apart, and was soon given to understand the steadfast -loyalty of the gudewife, daughter, and all the family, save Walter, -whom, he said, he suspected of a secret connivance with the Cameronians. -This was merely to serve a selfish purpose, for the clerk suspected no -such thing at that time. It had the desired effect. Clavers set all the -rest of the family free, but took the good man with him prisoner; put -two of his best horses in requisition; mounted himself on a diminutive -poney, with the thumbikins on his hands, and his feet chained below its -belly. In this degrading situation, he was put under the care of -Serjeant Roy Macpherson and five troopers; and Clavers, with the rest -of his company, hasted, with great privacy and celerity, into that -inhospitable wild, which forms the boundary between Drummelzier and the -Johnstons of Annandale. The greater part of the fugitives had taken -shelter there at that time, it being the most inaccessible part in the -south of Scotland, and that where, of all others, they had been the -least troubled. No troops could subsist near them; and all that the -military could do was to set watches near every pass to and from these -mountains, where a few stragglers were killed, but not many in -proportion to the numbers that had there sought a retreat. - -The Covenanters knew that Clavers would make a sweeping and -exterminating circuit about that time--incidents which were not to be -overlooked, had been paving the way for it--incidents with which the -main body of that people were totally unconnected. But it was usual at -that time, and a very unfair practice it was, that whatever was said, -or perpetrated, by any intemperate fanatical individual, or any crazy -wight, driven half mad by ill usage--whatever was said or done by such, -was always attributed to the whole sect as a body. It is too true that -the Privy Council chose, invariably, men void of all feeling or remorse -to lead these troops. A man had nothing to study but to be cruel enough -to rise in the army in those days; yet, because there was a Dalziel, a -Graham, a Creighton, and a Bruce among the king's troops, it would be -unfair to suppose all the rest as void of every principle of feeling and -forbearance as they. In like manner, because some of the Covenanters -said violent and culpable things, and did worse, it is hard to blame the -whole body for these; for, in the scattered prowling way in which they -were driven to subsist, they had no controul over individuals. - -They had been looking for the soldiers' appearing there for several -days, and that same morning had been on the watch; but the day was now -so far advanced that they were waxen remiss, and had retired to their -dens and hiding-places. Besides, he came so suddenly upon them, that -some parties, as well as several stragglers, were instantly discovered. -A most determined pursuit ensued, Clavers exerted himself that day in -such a manner, gallopping over precipices, and cheering on his dragoons, -that all the country people who beheld him believed him to be a devil, -or at least mounted on one. The marks of that infernal courser's feet -are shewn to this day on a steep, nearly perpendicular, below the Bubbly -Craig, along which he is said to have ridden at full speed, in order to -keep sight of a party of the flying Covenanters. At another place, -called the Blue Sklidder, on the Merk side, he had far outrode all his -officers and dragoons in the pursuit of five men, who fled straggling -athwart the steep. He had discharged both his pistols without effect; -and just as he was making ready to cleave down the hindmost with his -sabre, he was attacked by another party, who rolled huge stones at him -from the precipice above, and obliged him to make a hasty retreat. - -Tradition has preserved the whole of his route that day with the utmost -minuteness. It is not easy to account for this. These minute traditions -are generally founded on truth; yet though two generations have scarcely -passed away since the date of this tale,[A] tradition, in this instance, -relates things impossible, else Clavers must indeed have been one of the -infernals. Often has the present relater of this tale stood over the -deep green marks of that courser's hoof, many of which remain on that -hill, in awe and astonishment, to think that he was actually looking at -the traces made by the devil's foot, or at least by a horse that once -belonged to him. - -Five men were slain that day; but as they were all westland men, very -little is known concerning them. One of them was shot at a distance by -some dragoons who were in pursuit of him, just as he was entering a -morass, where he would certainly have escaped them. He is buried on a -place called the Watch Knowe, a little to the south-east of Loch Skene, -beside a cairn where he had often sat keeping watch for the approach of -enemies, from which circumstance the height derived its name. When he -fell, it being rough broken ground, they turned and rode off without -ever going up to the body. Four were surprised and taken prisoners on a -height called Ker-Cleuch-Ridge, who were brought to Clavers and shortly -examined on a little crook in the Erne Cleuch, a little above the old -steading at Hopertoudy. - -Macpherson kept the high road, such as it was, with his prisoner; but -travelled no faster than just to keep up with the parties that were -scouring the hills on each side; and seeing these unfortunate men hunted -in from the hill, he rode up with his companions and charge to see the -issue, remarking to Walter, that "he woolt not pe much creat deal te -worse of scheeing fwat te Cot t--n'd fwigs would pe getting." - -How did Walter's heart smite him when he saw that one of them was the -sensible, judicious, and honourable fellow with whom he fought, and -whose arm he had dislocated by a blow with his stick! It was still -hanging in a sling made of a double rash rope. - -They would renounce nothing, confess nothing, nor yield, in the -slightest degree, to the threats and insulting questions put by the -general. They expected no mercy, and they cringed for none; but seemed -all the while to regard him with pity and contempt. Walter often said -that he was an ill judge of the cause for which these men suffered; but -whatever might be said of it, they were heroes in that cause. Their -complexions were sallow, and bore marks of famine and other privations; -their beards untrimmed; their apparel all in rags, and their hats -slouched down about their ears with sleeping on the hills. All this they -had borne with resignation and without a murmur; and, when brought to -the last, before the most remorseless of the human race, they shewed no -symptoms of flinching or yielding up an item of the cause they had -espoused. - -When asked "if they would pray for the king?" - -They answered, "that they would with all their hearts;--they would pray -for his forgiveness, in time and place convenient, but not when every -profligate bade them, which were a loathful scurrility, and a mockery of -God." - -"Would they acknowledge him as their right and lawful sovereign?" - -"No, that they would never do! He was a bloody and designing papist, -and had usurped a prerogative that belonged not to him. To acknowledge -the Duke of York for king, would be to acknowledge the divine -approbation of tyranny, oppression, usurpation, and all that militates -against religion or liberty, as well as justifying the abrogation of our -ancient law relating to the succession; and that, besides, he had -trampled on every civil and religious right, and was no king for -Scotland, or any land where the inhabitants did not chuse the most -abject and degrading slavery. For their parts, they would never -acknowledge him; and though it was but little that their protestations -and their blood could avail, they gave them freely. They had but few -left to mourn for them, and these few might never know of their fate; -but there was _One_ who knew their hearts, who saw their sufferings, and -in Him they trusted that the days of tyranny and oppression were wearing -to a close, and that a race yet to come might acknowledge that they had -not shed their blood in vain." - -Clavers ordered them all to be shot. They craved time to pray, but he -objected, sullenly alleging, that he had not time to spare. Mr Copland -said,--"My lord, you had better grant the poor wretches that small -indulgence." On which Clavers took out his watch, and said he would -grant them two minutes, provided they did not howl. When the man with -the hurt arm turned round to kneel, Walter could not help crying out to -him in a voice half stifled with agony-- - -"Ah! lak-a-day, man! is it come to this with you, and that so soon? This -is a sad sight!" - -The man pretended to put on a strange and astonished look towards his -benefactor. - -"Whoever you are," said he, "that pities the sufferings of a hapless -stranger, I thank you. May God requite you! but think of yourself, and -apply for mercy where it is to be found, for you are in the hands of -those whose boast it is to despise it." - -Walter at first thought this was strange, but he soon perceived the -policy of it, and wondered at his friend's readiness at such an awful -hour, when any acknowledgment of connection would have been so fatal to -himself. They kneeled all down, clasped their hands together, turned -their faces to Heaven, and prayed in a scarce audible whisper. Captain -Bruce, in the mean time, kneeled behind the files, and prayed in -mockery, making a long face, wiping his eyes, and speaking in such a -ludicrous whine, that it was impossible for the gravest face to retain -its muscles unaltered. He had more to attend to him than the miserable -sufferers. When the two minutes were expired, Clavers, who held his -watch all the time, made a sign to the dragoons who were drawn up, -without giving any intimation to the sufferers, which, perhaps, was -merciful, and in a moment all the four were launched into eternity. - -The soldiers, for what reason Walter never understood, stretched the -bodies all in a straight line on the brae, with their faces upwards, and -about a yard distant from one another, and then rode off as fast as they -could to get another hunt, as they called it. These four men were -afterwards carried by the fugitives, and some country people, and -decently interred in Ettrick church-yard. Their graves are all in a row -a few paces from the south-west corner of the present church. The -goodman of Chapelhope, some years thereafter, erected a head-stone over -the grave of the unfortunate sufferer whose arm he had broken, which, -with its rude sculpture, is to be seen to this day. His name was Walter -Biggar. A small heap of stones is raised on the place where they were -shot. - -The last look which Walter took of the four corpses, as they lay -stretched on the brae, with the blood streaming from them, had nearly -turned his brain. His heart sunk within him. For years and days they -never left his mind's eye, sleeping nor waking. He always thought he saw -them lying on the green sloping brae, with their pale visages, blue open -lips, clasped hands, and dim stedfast eyes still fixed on the Heavens. -He had heard Clavers and his officers called heroes: He wished those who -believed so had been there that day to have judged who were the greatest -heroes. - -"There! let them take that!" said Captain Bruce, as he mounted his -horse. - -"Poor misled unfortunate beings!" said Copland, and mounted his. - -"Huh! Cot t--n!" said Roy Macpherson, in a voice that seemed to struggle -for an outlet; and Walter, to his astonishment, saw a tear glistening on -his rough weather-beaten cheek, as he turned to ride away! - -The pursuit continued unabated for the whole of that day. There was a -great deal of firing, but the hills of Polmoody were inaccessible to -cavalry. There was no more blood shed. They lodged that night at a place -called Kippelgill, where they put every thing in requisition about the -house, and killed some of the cattle. Clavers was in extremely bad -humour, and Walter had no doubt that he once intended to have sacrificed -him that night, but seemed to change his mind, after having again -examined him. He was very stern, and threatened him with the torture, -swearing that he knew him to be the supporter of that nest of miscreants -that harboured around him, and that though he should keep him prisoner -for a dozen years, he would have it proven on him. Walter made oath that -there had never one of them been within his door, consistent with his -knowledge; that he had never been at a conventicle; and proffered to -take the test, and oath of abjuration, if allowed to do so. All this -would not satisfy Clavers. Walter said he wondered at his discernment, -for, without the least evil or disloyal intent, he found he had rendered -himself liable to punishment, but how he could be aware of that he knew -not. - -That night Walter was confined in a cow-house, under the same guard that -had conducted him from Chapelhope. The soldiers put his arms round one -of the stakes for the cattle, and then screwed on the thumbikins, so -that he was fastened to the stake without being much incommoded. When -Macpherson came in at a late hour, (for he was obliged likewise to take -up his abode in the cow-house over night), the first word he said was,-- - -"Cot t--n, she no pe liking to schee an honest shentleman tied up to a -stake, as she were peing a poollock." - -He then began to lecture Walter on the magnitude of folly it would be in -him to run away, "when he took it into consideration that he had a ponny -fhamily, and sheeps, and horses, and bheasts, that would all pe maide -acchountable." - -Walter acknowledged the force of his reasoning; said it was sterling -common sense, and that nothing would induce him to attempt such a -dangerous experiment as attempting to make his escape. Macpherson then -loosed him altogether, and conversed with him until he fell asleep. -Walter asked him, what he thought of his case with the general? -Macpherson shook his head. Walter said there was not the shadow of a -proof against him! - -"No!" said Macpherson; "py cot's curse but there is! There is very much -deal of proof. Was not there my countrymen and scholdiers murdered on -your grhounds? Was not there mhore scoans, and prochin, and muttons in -your house, than would have peen eaten in a mhonth by the fhamily that -pelongs to yourself. By the pode more of the auld deal, but there is -more proof than would hang twenty poor peheoples." - -"That's but sma' comfort, man! But what think ye I should do?" - -"Cot t--n, if I know!--Who is it that is your Chief?" - -"Chief!--What's that?" - -"Tat is te head of te clan--Te pig man of your name and fhamily." - -"In troth, man, an' there isna ane o' my name aboon mysel." - -"Fwat? Cot's everlasting plissing! are you te chief of te clan, -M'Leadle? Then, sir, you are a shentleman indeed. Though your clan -should pe never so poor, you are a shentleman; and you must pe giving me -your hand; and you need not think any shame to pe giving me your hand; -for hersel pe a shentleman pred and porn, and furst coosin to Cluny -Macpherson's sister-in-law. Who te deal dha more she pe this clan, -M'Leadle? She must be of Macleane. She ance pe prhother to ourselves, -but fell into great dishunity by the preaking off of Finlay Gorm More -Machalabin Macleane of Ilanterach and Ardnamurchan." - -Walter having thus set Daniel Roy Macpherson on the top of his -hobby-horse by chance, there was no end of the matter! He went on with -genealogies of uncouth names, and spoke of some old free-booters as the -greatest of all kings. Walter had no means of stopping him, but by -pretending to fall asleep, and when Macpherson weened that no one was -listening farther to him, he gave up the theme, turned himself over, and -uttered some fervent sentences in Gaelic, with heavy moans between. - -"What's that you are saying now," said Walter, pretending to rouse -himself up. - -"Pe sad works this," said he. "Huh! Cot in heaven aye! Hersel would be -fighting te Campbells, sword in hand, for every inch of the Moor of -Rhanoch; but Cot t--n, if she like to pe pluffing and shooting through -te podies of te poor helpless insignificant crheatures. T--n'd foolish -ignorant peheople! Cot t--n, if she pe having the good sense and -prhudence of a bheast." - -Walter commended his feeling, and again asked his advice with regard to -his own conduct. - -"Who is te great man tat is te laird to yourself?" asked he. - -"Mr Hay of Drumelzier," was answered. - -"Then lose not a mhoment in getting his very good report or security. -All goes by that. It will do more ghood than any stock of innocence; and -you had need to look very sharp, else he may soon cut you short. It's a -very good and a very kind man, but she pe caring no more for the lives -of peoples, tan I would do for as many ptarmigans." - -Walter pondered on this hint throughout the night; and the more he did -so the more he was convinced, that, as the affairs of the country were -then conducted, Macpherson's advice was of the first utility. He sent -for one of the shepherds of Kippelgill next morning, charged him with an -express to his family, and unable to do any thing further for himself, -submitted patiently to his fate. - -Clavers having been informed that night that some great conventicles had -been held to the southward, he arose early, crossed the mountains by the -Pennera Corse, and entered that district of the south called Eskdale. -He had run short of ammunition by the way, and knowing of no other -supply, dispatched Bruce with 20 men by the way of Ettrick, to plunder -the aisle where the ancient and noble family of the Scotts of Thirlstane -were enshrined in massy leaden chests. From these he cut the lids, and -otherwise damaged them, scattering the bones about in the aisle; but the -Scotts of Daventon shortly after gathered up the relics of their -ancestors, which they again deposited in the chests,--closed them up -with wooden lids, and buried them deep under the aisle floor, that they -might no more be discomposed by the hand of wanton depravity. - -At a place called the Steps of Glenderg, Clavers met with Sir James -Johnston of Westeraw, with fifty armed men, who gave him an exaggerated -account of the district of Eskdale, telling him of such and such -field-meetings, and what inflammatory discourses had there been -delivered, insinuating all the while that the whole dale ought to be -made an example of. Clavers rejoiced in his heart at this, for the works -of devastation and destruction were beginning to wear short. The -Covenanters were now so sorely reduced, that scarcely durst one show his -face, unless it were to the moon and stars of Heaven. A striking -instance of this I may here relate by the way, as it happened on the -very day to which my tale has conducted me. - -A poor wanderer, named, I think, Matthew Douglas, had skulked about -these mountains, chiefly in a wild glen, called the Caldron, ever since -the battle of Bothwell-bridge. He had made several narrow, and, as he -thought, most providential escapes, but was at length quite overcome by -famine, cold, and watching; and finding his end approaching, he crept by -night into a poor widow's house at Kennelburn, whose name, if my -informer is not mistaken, was Ann Hyslop. Ann was not a Cameronian, but -being of a gentle and humane disposition, she received the dying man -kindly--watched, and even wept over him, administering to all his wants. -But the vital springs of life were exhausted and dried up: He died on -the second day after his arrival, and was buried with great privacy, by -night, in the church-yard at Westerkirk. - -Sir James Johnston had been a zealous Covenanter, and at first refused -the test with great indignation; but seeing the dangerous ground on -which he stood and that his hand was on the lion's mane, he renounced -these principles; and, to render his apostacy effective, became for a -time a most violent distresser of his former friends. He knew at this -time that Clavers was coming round; and in order to ingratiate himself -with him, he had for several days been raging up and down the country -like a roaring lion, as they termed it. It came to his ears what Ann -Hyslop had done; whereon, pretending great rage, he went with his party -to the burial ground, digged the body out of the grave, and threw it -over the church-yard wall for beasts of prey to devour. Forthwith he -proceeded to Kennelburn--plundered the house of Ann Hyslop, and then -burnt it to ashes; but herself he could not find, for she had previously -absconded. Proceeding to the boundary of the county, he met and welcomed -Clavers to his assistance, breathing nothing but revenge against all -non-conformists, and those of his own district in particular. - -Clavers knew mankind well. He perceived the moving cause of all this, -and did not appear so forward and hearty in the business as Sir James -expected. He resolved to ravage Eskdale, but to manage matters so that -the whole blame might fall on Johnston. This he effected so completely, -that he made that knight to be detested there as long as he lived, and -his memory to be abhorred after his decease. He found him forward in the -cause; and still the more so that he appeared to be, the more shy and -backward was Clavers, appearing to consent to every thing with -reluctance. They condemned the stocks of sheep on Fingland and the -Casways on very shallow grounds. Clavers proposed to spare them; but Sir -James swore that they should not be spared, that their owners might -learn the value of conventicles. - -"Well, well," said Clavers, "since you will have it so, let them be -driven off." - -In this manner they proceeded down that unhappy dale, and at Craikhaugh, -by sheer accident, lighted on Andrew Hyslop, son to the widow of -Kennelburn above-mentioned. Johnston apprehended him, cursed, -threatened, and gnashed his teeth on him with perfect rage. He was a -beautiful youth, only nineteen years of age. On his examination, it -appeared that he had not been at home, nor had any hand in sheltering -the deceased; but he knew, he said, that his mother had done so, and in -doing it, had done well; and he was satisfied that act of her's would be -approven of in the eye of the Almighty. - -Clavers asked, "Have you ever attended the field conventicles?" - -"No." - -"Have you ever preached yourself?" - -"No." - -"Do you think that you could preach?" - -"I am sure I could not." - -"I'll be d--d but you can pray then," said he. - -He then proffered him his liberty if he would confess that his mother -had done wrong, but this he would in no wise do; for, he said, it would -be a sinful and shameful lie, he being convinced that his mother had -done what was her duty, and the duty of every Christian to do towards -his fellow-creatures. - -Johnston swore he should be shot. Clavers hesitated, and made some -objections; but the other persisting, as Clavers knew he would, the -latter consented, as formerly, saying, "Well, well, since you will have -it so, let it be done--his blood be on your head, I am free of -it.--Daniel Roy Macpherson, draw up your file, and put the sentence in -execution." - -Hyslop kneeled down. They bade him put on his bonnet, and draw it over -his eyes; but this he calmly refused, saying, "He had done nothing of -which he was ashamed, and could look on his murderers and to Heaven -without dismay." - -When Macpherson heard this, and looked at him as he kneeled on the -ground with his hands pinioned, his beautiful young face turned toward -the sky, and his long fair ringlets hanging waving backward, his heart -melted within him, and the great tears had for sometime been hopping -down his cheeks. When Clavers gave the word of command to shoot the -youth, Macpherson drew up his men in a moment--wheeled them off at the -side--presented arms--and then answered the order of the general as -follows, in a voice that was quite choaked one while, and came forth in -great vollies at another--"Now, Cot t--n--sh--sh--she'll rather pe -fighting Clavers and all her draghoons, pe--pe--pefore she'll pe killing -tat dear good lhad." - -Captain Bruce burst out into a horse-laugh, leaping and clapping his -hands on hearing such a singular reply; even Clavers had much ado to -suppress a smile, which, however, he effected by uttering a horrible -curse. - -"I had forgot, Sir James," said he; "Macpherson is as brave a man as -ever strode on a field of battle; but in domestic concerns, he has the -heart of a chicken." - -He then ordered four of his own guards to shoot him, which they executed -in a moment. Some of his acquaintances being present, they requested -permission of Clavers to bury him, which he readily granted, and he was -interred on the very spot where he fell. A grave stone was afterwards -erected over him, which is still to be seen at Craikhaugh, near the side -of the road, a little to the north of the Church of Eskdale-muir. - -Clavers and his prisoner lodged at Westeraw that night. Johnston wanted -to have him shot; but to this Clavers objected, though rather in a -jocular manner. - -Walter said, he was sure if Sir James had repeated his request another -time, that Clavers' answer would have been, "Well, well, since you will -have it so," &c.; but, fortunately for Walter, he desisted just in time. - -These two redoubted champions continued their progress all next day; and -on the third, at evening, Clavers crossed Dryfe, with nine thousand -sheep, three hundred goats, and about as many cattle and horses, in his -train, taken from the people of Eskdale alone. He took care to herry Sir -James's tenants, in particular, of every thing they possessed, and -apparently all by their laird's desire, so that very little of the blame -attached to the general. He was heard to say to Sir Thomas Livingston -that night, "I trow, we hae left the silly turn-coat a pirn to -wind."--But we must now leave them to continue their route of rapine -and devastation, and return to the distressed family of Chapelhope, in -order that we may watch the doings of the Brownie of Bodsbeck. - -FOOTNOTE: - -[A] One of the women baptized in the Linn of Riskinhope by Renwick that -year, has several children yet alive, not very aged people. - - - - -CHAPTER XI. - - -For all Maron Linton's grievous distresses, the arrival of Clerk, the -curate, proved an antidote of no small avail. It was a great comfort to -her, in the midst of her afflictions; and after she had been assured by -him of Walter's perfect safety, she became apparently more happy, and -certainly more loquacious, than she had been for a great while byegone. -She disclosed to him the dreadful secret, that her child was possessed -of an evil spirit, and implored his influence with Heaven, and his power -with hell, for its removal. This he readily undertook, on condition of -being locked up with the maiden for a night, or two at most. She was to -be left solely to his management; without the interference of any other -human being; and with the help only of the Bible, the lamp, and the -hour-glass, he declared that he would drive the unclean spirit from his -tabernacle of clay. - -To these conditions Maron Linton gladly assented; and, with grateful and -fond acknowledgments, called him their benefactor and spiritual guide, -their deliverer and shield; but he checked her, and said, there was -still one condition more on which she behoved to condescend. It was -likely that he might be under the hard necessity of using some violent -measures in exorcising her, for it would be hard to drive the malignant -spirit from so sweet a habitation; but whatever noises might be heard, -no one was to interfere, or even listen, upon pain of being delivered up -to the foul spirit, soul and body; and it was ten to one that any who -was so imprudent as to intrude on these awful and mysterious rites, -might be torn in pieces. - -Maron blest herself from all interference, and gave Nanny directions to -the same purport; as for the two boys, they slept out of hearing. She -likewise gave him the key, that he might lock both the doors of the Old -Room in the inside, and thus prevent all intrusions, should any be -offered. He said prayers in the family, to which Katharine was admitted; -and then taking the lamp and the hour-glass in his hand, and the Bible -below his arm, he departed into the Old Room, where, in about half an -hour afterwards, the maiden was summoned to attend him. He took her -respectfully by the hand, and seated her on a chair at the side of the -bed, saying, that he was commissioned by her worthy mother to hold a -little private conversation with her. Then locking the door, and putting -the key in his pocket, he added, "You are my prisoner for this night, -but be not alarmed; I have undertaken to drive an evil spirit away from -you, but both my exorcisms and orisons shall be adapted to the feelings -of a young maiden, and as agreeable to one whom I so much admire, as it -is in my power to make them." - -Katharine grew as pale as death as he uttered these words, and placed -himself cordially by her side. - -It is unmeet to relate the conversation that ensued; but the worthy -curate soon showed off in his true colours, and with unblushing front -ventured a proposal that shocked the innocent and modest Katharine so -much, that she could only reply to it by holding up her hands, and -uttering a loud exclamation of astonishment. His further precedure soon -convinced her, that she was in the hands of a man who was determined to -take every advantage of the opportunity thus unwarrantably afforded him, -and to stick at no atrocity for the accomplishment of his purposes. - -She neither descended to tears nor entreaties, but resisted all his -approaches with a firmness and dignity that he never conceived to have -formed any part of her character; and, when continuing to press her -hand, she said to him, "You had better keep your distance, Mass John -Clerk, and consider what befits your character, and the confidence -reposed in you by my unsuspecting parent; but I tell you, if you again -presume to touch me, though it were but with one of your fingers, I -will, in a moment, bring those out of the chink of the wall, or from -under that hearth, that shall lay you motionless at my feet in the -twinkling of an eye, or bear you off to any part of the creation that I -shall name." - -He smiled as she said this, and was about to turn it into a jest; but on -looking at her face, he perceived that there was not one trait of -jocularity in it. It beamed with a mystical serenity which sent a -chillness through his whole frame; and, for the first time, he deemed -her deranged, or possessed in some manner, he wist not how. Staunch, -however, to his honourable purpose, he became so unequivocal, that she -was obliged to devise some means of attaining a temporary cessation; and -feigning to hesitate on his proposal, she requested a minute or two to -speak. - -"I am but young, Mass John," said she, "and have no experience in the -ways of the world; and it seems, from what you have advanced, that I -attach more importance to some matters than they deserve. But I beg of -you to give me a little time to reflect on the proposal you have made. -See that hour-glass is half run out already: I only ask of you not to -disturb or importune me until it run out a second time." - -"And do you then promise to do as I request?" said he. - -"I do," returned she, "provided you still continue of the same mind as -you are now." - -"My mind is made up," said he, "and my resolution taken in all that -relates to you; nevertheless, it would be hard to refuse a maid so -gentle and modest a request--I grant it--and should you attempt to break -off your engagement at the expiry of the time, it shall be the worse for -you." - -"Be it so," replied she; "in the meantime let me be undisturbed till -then." And so saying, she arose and went aside to the little table where -the Bible and the lamp were placed, and began with great seriousness to -search out, and peruse parts of the sacred volume. - -Clerk liked not this contemplative mood, and tried every wile in his -power to draw her attention from the Scriptures. He sought out parts -which he desired her to read, if she would read; but from these she -turned away without deigning to regard them, and gently reminded him -that he had broken one of his conditions. "Maids only impose such -conditions on men," said he, "as they desire should be broken." At this -she regarded him with a look of ineffable contempt, and continued to -read on in her Bible. - -The hour of midnight was now passed,--the sand had nearly run out for -the second time since the delay had been acceded to, and Clerk had been -for a while tapping the glass on the side, and shaking it, to make it -empty its contents the sooner. Katharine likewise began to eye it with -looks that manifested some degree of perturbation; she clasped the -Bible, and sate still in one position, as if listening attentively for -some sound or signal. The worthy curate at length held the hour-glass up -between her eye and the burning lamp,--the last lingering pile of sand -fell reluctantly out as he shook it in that position,--anxiety and -suspense settled more deeply on the lovely and serene face of Katharine; -but instead of a flexible timidity, it assumed an air of sternness. At -that instant the cock crew,--she started,--heaved a deep sigh, like one -that feels a sudden relief from pain, and a beam of joy shed its -radiance over her countenance. Clerk was astonished,--he could not -divine the source or cause of her emotions, but judging from his own -corrupt heart, he judged amiss. True however to his point, he reminded -her of her promise, and claimed its fulfilment. She deigned no reply to -his threats or promises, but kept her eye steadfastly fixed on another -part of the room. He bade her remember that he was not to be mocked, and -in spite of her exertions, he lifted her up in his arms, and carried her -across the room towards the bed. She uttered a loud scream, and in a -moment the outer-door that entered from the bank was opened, and a being -of such unearthly dimensions entered, as you may never wholly define. It -was the Brownie of Bodsbeck, sometimes mentioned before, small of -stature, and its whole form utterly mis-shaped. Its beard was long and -grey, while its look, and every lineament of its face, were indicative -of agony--its locks were thin, dishevelled, and white, and its back -hunched up behind its head. There seemed to be more of the same species -of hagard beings lingering behind at the door, but this alone advanced -with a slow majestic pace. Mass John uttered two involuntary cries, -somewhat resembling the shrill bellowings of an angry bull, mixed with -inarticulate rumblings,--sunk powerless on the floor, and, with a deep -shivering groan, fainted away. Katharine, stretching forth her hands, -flew to meet her unearthly guardian;--"Welcome, my watchful and -redoubted Brownie," said she; "thou art well worthy to be familiar with -an empress, rather than an insignificant country maiden." - - "Brownie's here, Brownie's there - Brownie's with thee every where," - -said the dwarfish spirit, and led her off in triumph. - -Having bethought herself after she went out, she returned lightly, took -the keys from the pocket of the forlorn priest, extinguished the lamp, -and again disappeared, locking the door on the outside. - -Mass John's trance threw him into a heavy and perturbed slumber, which -overpowered him for a long space; and even after he awaked, it was long -before he could fathom the circumstances of his case, for he imagined he -had only been in a frightful and oppressive dream; till, beginning to -grope about, he discovered that he was lying on the damp floor with his -clothes on; and at length, without opening his eyes, he recovered by -degrees his reasoning faculties, and was able to retrace the -circumstances that led to his present situation. He arose in great -dismay--the day-light had begun to shine into the room, and finding that -both doors were locked, he deemed it unadvisable to make any noise, and -threw himself upon the bed. The retrospect of his adventure was fraught -with shame and astonishment. He had acted a considerable part in it, but -he had dreamed of a great deal more, and with all his ingenuity he could -not separate in his mind the real incidents from those that were -imaginary. He arose with the sun, and rapped gently at the inner-door, -which, to his still farther astonishment, was opened by Katharine, in -her usual neat and cleanly morning dress. He stared in her face, to mark -if he could read any meaning in it--he could distinguish none that spoke -a language to him either good or bad--it was a face of calm decent -serenity, and wore no shade of either shame or anger--somewhat paler -than it was the evening before, but still as lovely as ever. The curate -seemed gasping for breath, but not having courage to address her, he -walked forth to the open air. - -It was a beautiful morning in September; the ground was covered with a -slight hoar frost, and a cloud of light haze (or as the country people -call it, _the blue ouder_,) slept upon the long valley of water, and -reached nearly midway up the hills. The morning sun shone full upon it, -making it appear like an ocean of silvery down. It vanished by -imperceptible degrees into the clear blue firmament, and was succeeded -by a warm sun and a southerly breeze. It was such a morning as could -not fail to cheer and re-animate every heart and frame, not wholly -overcome by guilt and disease--Clark's were neither--he was depraved of -heart, but insensible to the evil of such a disposition; he had, -moreover, been a hanger-on from his youth upward, and had an effrontery -not to be outfaced. Of course, by the time he had finished a -three-hour's walk, he felt himself so much refreshed and invigorated in -mind, that he resolved not to expose himself to the goodwife, who was -his principal stay and support among his straggled and dissatisfied -flock, by a confession of the dreadful fright he had gotten, but to -weather out the storm with as lofty and saintly a deportment as he -could. - -He had not well gone out when the lad of Kepplegill arrived, and -delivered to Katharine her father's letter. She saw the propriety of the -injunction which it bore, and that an immediate application to their -laird, Drumelzier, who was then high in trust and favour with the party -in power, was the likeliest of all ways to procure her father's relief, -neither durst she trust the mission to any but herself. But ah! there -was a concealed weight that pressed upon her spirit--a secret -circumstance that compelled her to stay at home, and which could not be -revealed to mortal ear. Her father's fate was at present uncertain and -ticklish, but that secret once revealed, tortures, death, and ruin were -inevitable--the doom of the whole family was sealed. She knew not what -to do, for she had none to advise with. There was but one on earth to -whom this secret could be imparted; indeed there was but one in whose -power it was to execute the trust which the circumstances of the case -required, and that was old Nanny, who was crazed, fearless, and -altogether inscrutable. Another trial, however, of her religious -principles, and adherence to the established rules of church government -in the country, was absolutely necessary; and to that trial our young -and mysterious heroine went with all possible haste, as well as -precaution. - -Whosoever readeth this must paint to themselves old Nanny, and they must -paint her aright, with her thin fantastic form and antiquated dress, -bustling up and down the house. Her fine stock of bannocks had been all -exhausted--the troopers and their horses had left nothing in her -master's house that could either be eaten or conveniently carried away. -She had been early astir, as well as her sedate and thoughtful young -dame, had been busy all the morning, and the whole time her tongue never -at rest. She had been singing one while, speaking to herself another, -and every now and then intermixing bitter reflections on Clavers and his -troops. - -"Wae be to them for a pack o' greedy gallayniels--they haena the mence -of a miller's yaud; for though she'll stap her nose into every body's -pock, yet when she's fou she'll carry naething wi' her. Heichow! wae's -me, that I sude hae lived to see the day! That ever I sude hae lived to -see the colehood take the laverock's place; and the stanchel and the -merlin chatterin' frae the cushat's nest! Ah! wae's me! will the sweet -voice o' the turtle-doo be nae mair heard in our land! There was a time -when I sat on the bonny green brae an' listened to it till the tears -dreepit frae my een, an' a' the hairs o' my head stood on end!--The -hairs o' my head?--Ay, that's nae lie! They're grey now, an' will soon -be snaw-white if heart's care can alter them; but they will never be sae -white as they anes war. I saw the siller-grey lock o' age, an' the manly -curls o' youth wavin' at my side that day!--But where are they now? A' -mouled! a' mouled!--But the druckit blood winna let them rot! I'll see -them rise fresh an' bonny! I'll look round to my right hand and ane will -sae, 'Mother! my dear mother, are you here with us?' I'll turn to my -left hand, another will say, 'Nanny! my dear and faithful wife, are you -too here with us?'--I'll say, 'Ay, John, I'm here; I was yours in life; -I have been yours in death; an' I'll be yours in life again.'--Dear -bairn, dear bairn, are you there," continued she, observing Katharine -standing close behind her; "what was I saying, or where was I at? I -little wat outher what I was saying or doing.--Hout ay; I was gaun ower -some auld things, but they're a' like a dream, an' when I get amang them -I'm hardly mysel. Dear bairn, ye maunna mind an auld crazy body's -reveries." - -There was some need for this apology, if Nanny's frame, air, and -attitude, are taken into account. She was standing with her back to the -light, mixing meal with water, whereof to make bread--her mutch, or -_night-hussing_, as she called it, was tied close down over her cheeks -and brow as usual; her grey locks hanging dishevelled from under it; and -as she uttered the last sentence, immediately before noticing her young -mistress, her thin mealy hands were stretched upwards, her head and -body bent back, and her voice like one in a paroxysm. Katharine quaked, -although well accustomed to scenes of no ordinary nature. - -"Nanny," said she, "there is something that preys upon your mind--some -great calamity that recurs to your memory, and goes near to unhinge your -tranquillity of mind, if not your reason. Will you inform me of it, good -Nanny, that I may talk and sympathize with you over it?" - -"Dear bairn, nae loss ava--A' profit! a' profit i'the main! I haena -biggit a bield o' the windlestrae, nor lippened my weight to a broken -reed! Na, na, dear bairn; nae loss ava." - -"But, Nanny, I have overheard you in your most secret hours, in your -prayers and self-examinations." - -At the mention of this Nanny turned about, and after a wild searching -stare in her young mistress's face, while every nerve of her frame -seemed to shrink from the recollection of the disclosures she feared -she had made, she answered as follows, in a deep and tremulous tone:-- - -"That was atween God and me--There was neither language nor sound there -for the ear o' flesh!--It was unfair!--It was unfair!--Ye are mistress -here, and ye keep the keys o' the aumbry, the kitchen, the ha', an' the -hale house; but wi' the secret keys o' the heart and conscience ye hae -naething to do!--the keys o' the sma'est portal that leads to heaven or -hell are nane o' yours; therefore, what ye hae done was unfair. If I -chose, sinful and miserable as I am, to converse with my God about the -dead as if they war living, an' of the living as if they war dead, -what's that to you? Or if I likit to take counsel of that which -exists only in my own mind, is the rackle hand o' steelrife power -to make a handle o' that to grind the very hearts of the just and the -good, or turn the poor wasted frame o' eild and resignation on the -wheel?--Lack-a-day, my dear bairn, I'm lost again! Ye canna an' ye -maunna forgie me now. Walth's dear, an' life's dearer--but sin' it maun -be sae, twal o'clock sanna find me aneath your roof--there shall naebody -suffer for harbouring poor auld Nanny--she has seen better days, an' she -hopes to see better anes again; but it's lang sin' the warld's weel an' -the warld's wae came baith to her alike. I maun e'en bid ye fareweel, my -bonny bairn, but I maun tell ye ere I gae that ye're i'the _braid way_. -Ye hae some good things about ye, and O, it is a pity that a dear sweet -soul should be lost for want o' light to direct! How can a dear bairn -find the right way wi' its een tied up? But I maun haud my tongue an' -leave ye--I wad fain greet, but I hae lost the gate o't, for the -fountain-head has been lang run dry--Weel, weel--it's a' ower!--nae mair -about it--How's this the auld sang gaes? - - When the well runs dry then the rain is nigh, - The heavens o' earth maun borrow, - An' the streams that stray thro' the wastes the day, - May sail aboon the morrow. - - Then dinna mourn, my bonny bird, - I downa bide to hear ye; - The storm may blaw, and the rain may fa', - But nouther sal come near ye. - - O dinna weep for the day that's gane, - Nor on the present ponder, - For thou shalt sing on the laverock's wing, - An' far away beyond her." - -This Nanny sung to an air so soothing, and at the same time so -melancholy, it was impossible to listen to her unaffected, especially as -she herself was peculiarly so--a beam of wild delight glanced in her -eye, but it was like the joy of grief, (if one may be allowed the -expression,) if not actually the joy of madness. Nothing could be more -interesting than her character was now to the bewildered Katharine--it -arose to her eyes, and grew on her mind like a vision. She had been led -previously to regard her as having been crazed from her birth, and her -songs and chaunts to be mere ravings of fancy, strung in rhymes to suit -favourite airs, or old scraps of ballads void of meaning, that she had -learned in her youth. But there was a wild elegance at times in her -manner of thinking and expression--a dash of sublimity that was -inconsistent with such an idea. "Is it possible," (thus reasoned the -maiden with herself,) "that this demeanour can be the effect of great -worldly trouble and loss?--Perhaps she is bereft of all those who were -near and dear to her in life--is left alone as it were in this world, -and has lost a relish for all its concerns, while her whole hope, heart, -and mind, is fixed on a home above, to which all her thoughts, dreams, -and even her ravings insensibly turn, and to which the very songs and -chaunts of her youthful days are modelled anew. If such is really her -case, how I could sympathize with her in all her feelings!" - -"Nanny," said she, "how wofully you misapprehend me; I came to exchange -burdens of heart and conscience with you--to confide in you, and love -you: Why will not you do the same with me, and tell me what loss it is -that you seem to bewail night and day, and what affecting theme it is -that thus puts you beside yourself?--If I judge not far amiss, the -knowledge of this is of greater import to my peace than aught in the -world beside, and will lead to a secret from me that deeply concerns us -both." - -Nanny's suspicions were aroused, not laid, by this speech; she eyed her -young mistress steadfastly for a while, smiled, and shook her head. - -"Sae young, sae bonny, and yet sae cunning!" said she. "Judas coudna -hae sic a face, but he had nouther a fairer tongue nor a fauser -heart!--A secret frae you, dear bairn! what secret can come frae you, -but some bit waefu' love story, enough to mak the pinks an' the ewe -gowans blush to the very lip? My heart's wae for ye, ae way an' a' ways; -but its a part of your curse--woman sinned an' woman maun suffer--her -hale life is but a succession o' shame, degradation, and suffering, frae -her cradle till her grave." - -Katharine was dumb for a space, for reasoning with Nanny was out of the -question. - -"You may one day rue this misprision of my motives, Nanny," rejoined -she; "in the mean time, I am obliged to leave home, on an express that -concerns my father's life and fortune; be careful of my mother until my -return, and of every thing about the house, for the charge of all must -devolve for a space on you." - -"That I will, dear bairn--the thing that Nanny has ta'en in hand sanna -be neglected, if her twa hands can do it, and her auld crazed head -comprehend it." - -"But, first, tell me, and tell me seriously, Nanny, are you subject to -any apprehension or terror on account of spirits?" - -"Nae mair feared for them than I am for you, an' no half sae muckle, wi' -your leave.--Spirits, quoth I! - - Little misters it to me - Whar they gang, or whar they ride; - Round the hillock, on the lea, - Round the auld borral tree, - Or bourock by the burn side; - Deep within the bogle-howe, - Wi' his haffats in a lowe, - Wons the waefu' wirricowe. - -"Ah! noble Cleland! it is like his wayward freaks an' whimsies! Did ye -never hear it, you that speaks about spirits as they war your door -neighbours? It's a clever thing; his sister sung it; I think, it rins -this gate--hum! but then the dilogue comes in, and it is sae kamshachle -I canna word it, though I canna say it's misleared either." - -"Dear Nanny, that is far from my question. You say you are nothing -afraid of spirits?" - -"An' why should I? If they be good spirits, they will do me nae ill; -and if they be evil spirits, they hae nae power here. Thinkna ye that He -that takes care o' me throughout the day, is as able to do it by night? -Na, na, dear bairn, I hae contendit wi' the warst o' a' spirits face to -face, hand to hand, and breast to breast; ay, an' for a' his power, an' -a' his might, I dang him; and packed him off baffled and shamed!--Little -reason hae I to be feared for ony o' his black emissaries." - -"Should one appear to you bodily, would you be nothing distracted or -frightened?" - -"In my own strength I could not stand it, but yet I would stand it." - -"That gives me joy--Then, Nanny, list to me: You will assuredly see one -in my absence; and you must take good heed to my directions, and act -precisely as I bid you." - -Nanny gave up her work, and listened in suspense. "Then it is a' true -that the fock says!" said she, with a long-drawn sigh. "His presence be -about us!" - -"How sensibly you spoke just now! Where is your faith fled already? I -tell you there will one appear to you every night in my absence, -precisely on the first crowing of the cock, about an hour after -midnight, and you must give him every thing that he asks, else it may -fare the worse with you, and all about the house." - -Nanny's limbs were unable to support her weight--they trembled under -her. She sat down on a form, leaned her brow upon both hands, and -recited the 63d Psalm from beginning to end in a fervent tone. - -"I wasna prepared for this," said she. "I fear, though my faith may -stand it, my wits will not. Dear, dear bairn, is there nae way to get -aff frae sic a trial?" - -"There is only one, which is fraught with danger of another sort; but -were I sure that I could trust you with it, all might be well, and you -would rest free from any intercourse with that unearthly visitant, of -whom it seems you are so much in terror." - -"For my own sake ye may trust me there: Ony thing but a bogle face to -face at midnight, an' me a' my lane. It is right wonderfu', though I ken -I'll soon be in a warld o' spirits, an' that I maun mingle an' mool wi' -them for ages, how the nature within me revolts at a' communion wi' them -here. Dear bairn, gie me your other plan, an' trust me for my own sake." - -"It is this--but if you adopt it, for your life an' soul let no one in -this place know of it but yourself:--It is to admit one or two of the -fugitive whigs,--these people that skulk and pray about the mountains, -privily into the house every night, until my return. If you will give me -any test of your secrecy and truth, I will find ways and means of -bringing them to you, which will effectually bar all intrusion of bogle -or Brownie on your quiet; or should any such dare to appear, they will -deal with it themselves." - -"An' _can_ the presence o' ane o' _them_ do this?" said Nanny, starting -up and speaking in a loud eldrich voice. "Then Heaven and hell -acknowledges it, an' the earth maun soon do the same! I knew it!--I knew -it!--I knew it!--ha, ha, ha, I knew it!--Ah! John, thou art safe!--Ay! -an' mae than thee; an' there will be mae yet! It is but a day! an' dark -an' dismal though it be, the change will be the sweeter! Blessed, -blessed be the day! None can say of thee that thou died like a fool, for -thy hands were not bound, nor thy feet put into fetters." Then turning -close round to Katharine, with an expression of countenance quite -indescribable, she added in a quick maddened manner,--"Eh? Thou seekest -a test of me, dost thou? Can blood do it?--Can martyrdom do it?--Can -bonds, wounds, tortures, and mockery do it?--Can death itself do it? All -these have I suffered for that cause _in this same body_; mark that; for -there is but one half of my bone and my flesh here. But words are -nothing to the misbelieving--mere air mouthed into a sound. Look at this -for a test of _my_ sincerity and truth." So saying, she gave her hand a -wild brandish in the air, darted it at her throat, and snapping the tie -of her cap that she had always worn over her face, she snatched it off, -and turning her cheek round to her young mistress, added, "Look there -for your test, and if that is not enough, I will give you more!" - -Katharine was struck dumb with astonishment and horror. She saw that -her ears were cut out close to the skull, and a C. R. indented on -her cheek with a hot iron, as deep as the jaw-bone. She burst out a -crying--clasped the old enthusiast in her arms--kissed the wound and -steeped it with her tears, and without one further remark, led her away -to the Old Room, that they might converse without interruption. - -The sequel of this disclosure turned not out as desired; but this we -must leave by the way, until we overtake it in the regular course of the -narrative. - - - - -CHAPTER XII. - - -As soon as her father's letter was put into her hands, Katharine sent -off one of her brothers to Muchrah, to warn old John and his son to come -instantly to Chapelhope. They both arrived while she and Nanny were -consulting in the Old Room. She told them of her father's letter, of the -jeopardy he was in, and of her intended application to Drummelzier -without loss of time. "One of you," said she, "must accompany me; and I -sent for you both, to learn which could, with least inconvenience, be -wanted from your flocks." - -"As for me," said John, "it's out o' the question to _think_ about me -winning away. The ewes wad gang wi' the bit hog-fence o' the Quave Brae, -stoup and roup. What wi' ghaists, brownies, dead men, an' ae mischief -an' other, it is maistly gane already; an' what's to come o' the poor -bits o' plottin baggits a' winter, is mair nor I can tell. They may pike -the woo aff ane another for aught that I see." - -Katharine was grieved to hear this remonstrance, for she was desirous of -having old John as a guide and protector, who well knew the way, and was -besides singular for strength and courage, if kept among beings of this -world. She represented to him that the hog-fence of the Quave-Brae, -could not possibly be of equal importance with his master's life, nor -yet with the loss of his whole stock, both of sheep and cattle, which -might be confiscated, if prompt measures were not adopted. Nothing, -however, could persuade John, that ought could be of equal importance to -him with that which he had the charge of, and on which his heart and -attention were so much set both by day and night. He said he had lost -his lugs, and been brunt wi' the king's birn, for the hog-fence of the -Quave-Brae; and when he coudna get away to the prison at Edinburgh for -fear o't, but suffered sae muckle in place o' that, how could he win -away a' the gate to Dunse Castle? - -Jasper liked not the journey more than he; for being convinced of -Katharine's power over spirits, he was very jealous of her taking undue -advantages of him, but he was obliged to submit. He refused a horse, -saying "it would only taigle him, but if she suffered him to gang on his -feet, if he was hindmost at Dunse, he should gie her leave to cut the -lugs out o' his head too, and then he wad hae the thief's mark on him -like his father." - -Away they went; she riding on a stout shaggy poney, and Jasper running -before her barefoot, but with his _hose and shoon_ bound over his -shoulder. He took the straight line for Dunse, over hill and dale, as a -shepherd always does, who hates the _wimples_, as he calls them, of a -turnpike. He took such a line as an eagle would take, or a flock of -wild geese journeying from the one side of the country to the other, -never once reflecting on the inconvenience of riding on such a road. Of -course, it was impossible his young mistress could keep up with -him--indeed she had often enough to do in keeping sight of him. They met -with some curious adventures by the way, particularly one near -Thirlestane castle on Leader, with some stragglers of a troop of -soldiers. But these things we must hurry over as extraneous matter, -having nothing more to do with them than as connected with the thread of -our tale. They slept that night at a farm-house in Lammermoor, which -belonged to Drummelzier, and next day by noon arrived at Dunse Castle. - -Drummelzier, being one of the Committee of Public Safety, was absent -from home, to which he did not return for several days, to the great -perplexity of Katharine, who was in the utmost distress about her -father, as well as her affairs at home. She was obliged, however, to -wait with patience, as no one knew in what part of the country he was. -The housekeeper, who was an Englishwoman, was kind to her, and bade her -not be afraid, for that their master had much more power with the -government than Claverhouse, the one being a moving spring, and the -other only a tool. - -Drummelzier was a bold and determined royalist--was, indeed, in high -trust with the Privy-council, and had it in his power to have harassed -the country as much, and more, than the greater part of those who did -so; but, fortunately for that south-east division of Scotland, he was a -gentleman of high honour, benevolence, and suavity of manners, and -detested any act of injustice or oppression. He by these means -contributed materially to the keeping of a large division of Scotland -(though as whiggishly inclined as any part of it, Ayrshire perhaps -excepted,) in perfect peace. The very first dash that Clavers made among -the Covenanters, while he was as yet only a captain of a company, was -into this division of the country over which Drummelzier was appointed -to keep an eye, and it was in consequence of his intrepid and decided -behaviour there, that the Duke of York interested himself in his behalf, -and procured him the command of a troop of horse. At a place called -Bewly, on the confines of Roxburghshire, he surprised a large -conventicle about eleven o'clock on a Sabbath morning. Having but a -small band, as soon as he appeared a crowd of the hearers gathered round -the preacher to defend him, or to further his escape. Clavers burst in -upon them like a torrent; killed and wounded upwards of an hundred; took -the preacher prisoner, and all such of the hearers as were the most -respectable in appearance. He would have detained many more had his -force been sufficient for his designs, for that very day, about five -o'clock in the afternoon, he surprised another numerous conventicle, at -a place called Helmburn-Linn, in Selkirkshire, where he acted over the -same scene that he had done in the morning. The people, it is true, did -not get time to rally round their pastor as at the former place, for the -first intelligence they had of his approach was from a volley of -musketry among them from the top of the linn, which took too sure -effect. - -The congregation scattered in a moment; and as there were strong -fastnesses near at hand, none were taken prisoners, save some old men, -and a number of ladies; unfortunately all these were ladies of -distinction: the preacher likewise was taken, who suffered afterwards. -The soldiers related of this man, that when they came upon the crowd, -and fired among them, he was in the middle of his afternoon prayer, and -all the people standing uncovered around him; and that for all the -shots, and the people flying and falling dead about him, he never so -much as paused, nor took down his hands, nor even opened his eyes, but -concluded a sentence in the same fervent tone, after they had dragged -him from the tent. - -At one or other of these unfortunate conventicles, a part of all the -chief families of the Pringles, such as Torwoodlee, Whitebank, -Fairnilie, and others, were taken prisoners; as well as some of the -Scotts of Harden, and the Douglasses of Cavers and Boonjeddart; rich -prizes for Clavers, who bore them all in triumph prisoners to Edinburgh. - -Drummelzier put his whole interest to the stretch to get these leading -and respectable families freed from such a disagreeable dilemma, and -succeeded in getting the greater part of them set at liberty, on giving -securities. From that time forth, there existed a secret jealousy -between him and Clavers; but as their jurisdiction lay on different -sides of the country, they had no further interference with one another. - -When Katharine informed him, that his farmer, whom he so much esteemed, -was taken away a prisoner, and by whom, he bit his lip, shook his head, -and seemed highly incensed. He then questioned her about all the -charges against him, and the evidence; requesting her, at the same time, -to tell him the truth, in all its bearings, to the most minute scruple; -and when he had heard all, he said, that his lordship had other motives -for this capture besides these. He lost no time in setting about the -most coercive measures he could think of, to procure his liberty. He -sent an express to the Privy-council, and wrote to sundry other -gentlemen, whom Katharine knew nothing of; but the destination of Walter -being utterly unknown to either of them, the laird was at a loss how to -proceed. - -He gave her, moreover, a bond of security, signed with his name, and -without a direction, to a great amount, for her father's appearance at -any court, to answer such charges as were brought against him; and with -this she was to haste to the place where her father was a prisoner, and -present it to the sheriff of the county, or chief magistrate of the -burgh of such place, unless it was at Edinburgh, and in that case she -was to take no farther care or concern about him. - -She hasted home with her wild guide, where she arrived the fourth or -fifth day after her departure; and found, to her astonishment, the -Chapelhope deserted by man, woman, and boy! Not a living creature -remained about the steading, but her father's dog and some poultry! The -doors were locked, and the key away; and, hungry and fatigued as she -was, she could find no means of admittance. At length, on looking about, -she perceived that the cows were not about the house, nor any where in -the corn, and concluding that some one must be herding them, she went up -the side of the lake to their wonted walk, and found her two brothers -attending the cattle. - -They told her that the _town_ (so they always denominate a farm-steading -in that district,) had been so grievously haunted in her absence, both -by Brownie and a ghost, that they were all obliged to leave it; that -their mother was gone all the way to Gilmanscleuch to her brother, to -remain there until she saw what became of her husband; Mass John was -taken away by the fairies; and old Nanny was at Riskinhope, where they -were also residing and sleeping at night; that the keys of the house -were to be had there, but nothing would induce Nanny to come back again -to Chapelhope, or at least to remain another night under its roof. - -One mischief came thus upon poor Katharine after another; and she was -utterly unable to account for this piece of intelligence, having been -satisfied when she went away, that she had put every thing in train to -secure peace and order about the house, until her return. She rode to -Riskinhope for the key, but not one would accompany her home, poor Nanny -being lying moaning upon a bed. Jasper sat on the side of the hill, at a -convenient distance from the house, until her return; but then took her -horse from her, and put it away to the rest, refusing to enter the -door. Thus was she left in her father's house all alone. Nanny came -over, and assisted her in milking the kine evening and morning; and she -remained the rest of the day, and every night, by herself, neither did -she press any one much to bear her company. She had no one to send in -search of her father, and deliver Drummelzier's bond, at least none that -any one knew of, yet it was sent, and that speedily, although to little -purpose; for though Walter was sent to Dumfries Jail, he remained there -but two nights; a party of prisoners, of ten men and two women, being -ordered for Edinburgh, under a guard of soldiers, he was mixed -indiscriminately with the rest, and sent there along with them. - -He always said, that though he was disposed to think well of Clavers -before he saw him, yet he never was so blithe in his life as when he got -from under his jurisdiction; for there was an appearance of ferocity and -wantonness of cruelty in all his proceedings, during the time that he -rode in his train a prisoner, that made the heart of any man, not -brutified by inurement to such scenes, revolt at the principles that -induced, as well as the government that warranted them. He saw him and -his troopers gather the whole vale of Annandale, as a shepherd gathers -his sheep in droves, pricking the inhabitants with their swords to urge -their speed. When he got thus all the people of a parish, or division of -a parish, driven together, he surrounded them with his soldiers, made -them kneel by dozens, and take the oath of abjuration, as well as one -acknowledging James Duke of York their rightful lord and sovereign; and -lastly, made them renounce their right and part in Heaven, if ever they -repented them of that oath. The first man of such a group, who refused -or objected to compliance with this dreadful measure, he took him -forthwith behind the ranks and shot him, which summary way of proceeding -generally induced all the people to comply. Moreover, the way in which -he threatened and maltreated children, and mocked and insulted women, -not to mention more brutal usage of them, proved him at once to be -destitute of the behaviour and feelings becoming a man, far less those -of a gentleman. He seemed to regard all the commonalty in the south and -west of Scotland as things to be mocked and insulted at pleasure, as -beings created only for the sport of him and his soldiers, while their -mental and bodily agonies were his delight. The narrator of this tale -confesses that he has taken this account of his raid through the vales -of Esk and Annan solely from tradition, as well as the attack made on -the two conventicles, where the Pringles, &c. were taken prisoners; but -these traditions are descended from such a source, and by such a line, -as amounts with him to veracity. - -Far different were Walter's feelings on parting with the commander of -his guard, Serjeant Daniel Roy Macpherson, a noble block from the -genuine quarry of nature--rude as it was taken thence, without the mark -of hammer or chisel. When he heard that his prisoner was to be taken -from under his charge, he made up to him when out of the eye of his -commander, and treated him with a parting speech; which, on account of -its singularity, is here preserved, though, doubtless, woefully garbled -by being handed from one southland generation to another. - -"Now he'll pe tahaking you away from mhe pefore as it were yesterdhay; -and he'll pe putting you into some vhile dark hole with all te low tamn -pwigs that come from te hills of Gallochee and Drummochloonrich, which -is a shame and a disgrhace to shut up a shentleman who is chief of a -clan among such poor crhazy maniachs, who will pe filling your ears full -of their rejoicings in spirit; and of Haiven! and Haiven! just as if -they were all going to Haiven! Cot t--n, do they suppose that Haiven is -to pe filled full of such poor insignaificant crheatures as they? or -that Cot is not a shentleman, that he would pe falling into such -cohmpany? But I'll pe giving you advice as a friend and prhother; when -you come pefore the couhnsel, or any of their commissioners, do not you -pe talking of Haiven, and Haiven, and of conscience and covenants. And -do not you pe pragging and poasting of one to pe your chief, or to pe of -a clan that has not a friend at court; but tell them your own clan, and -your claims to be its chief; and if you do not know her true descent, -you had better claim Macpherson; she pe as ould and as honourable a clan -as any of them all, and more." - -Walter said, he trusted still to the proofs of his own loyalty, and the -want of evidence to the contrary. - -"Pooh! pooh! Cot tamn!" said Macpherson; "I tell you the evidence you -want is this, if any great man say you ought to live, you will live; if -not, you will die. Did not I was telling you that the soholdiers that -were found dead in the correi, on the lands that belong to yourself, was -evidence enough and more; I would not pe giving _a curse_ for _your_ -evidence after that, for the one is much petter than te other. And py -Cot, it is very well thought!" continued he, smiling grimly, "if you -will pe preaking out into a rage, and pe cursing and tamning them all, -you will get free in one moment." - -Walter said, that would be an easy ransom, and though it was an error he -was too apt to fall into when angry, he could see no effect it could -have in this case, but to irritate his prosecutors more and more against -him. - -"You see no effect! Cot t--n, if you ever can see any effect peyond the -top that is on your nose! and you will not pe advised by a man of -experience, who would do more for you than he would pe commending of; -and if you trust to what you can see, you will pe dancing a beautiful -Highland shig in the air to a saulm tune, and that will have a very good -effect. I tell you, when you come again to be questioned, I know my Lord -Dundee is to be there to pe adducing his proof; take you great and proud -offence at some of their questions and their proofs; and you may pe -making offer to fight them all one by one, or two by two, in the king's -name, and send them all to hell in one pody; you cannot pe tamning them -too much sore. By the soul of Rory More Macpherson! I would almost give -up this claymore to be by and see that effect. Now you are not to pe -minding because I am laughing like a fool, for I'm perfectly serious; if -matters should pe standing hard with you, think of the advice of an ould -friend, who respects you as the chief of the clan MacLeadle, supposing -it to pe as low, and as much fallen down as it may.--Farewell! she pe -giving you her hearty Cot's blessing." - -Thus parted he with Daniel Roy Macpherson, and, as he judged, an -unfortunate change it was for him. The wretch who now took the command -of their guard had all the ignorance and rudeness of the former, without -any counterbalance of high feeling and honour like him. His name was -Patie Ingles, a temporary officer, the same who cut off the head of the -amiable Mr White with an axe, at Kilmarnock, carried it to New-mills, -and gave it to his party to play a game with at foot-ball, which they -did. Ingles was drunk during the greater part of the journey, and his -whole delight was in hurting, mortifying, and mimicking his prisoners. -They were all bound together in pairs, and driven on in that manner like -coupled dogs. This was effected by a very simple process. Their hands -were fastened behind, the right and left arm of each pair being linked -within one another. Walter was tied to a little spare Galloway weaver, a -man wholly prone to controversy--he wanted to argue every point--on -which account he was committed. Yet, when among the Cameronians, he took -their principles as severely to task as he did those of the other party -when examined by them. He lived but to contradict. Often did he try -Walter with different points of opinion regarding the Christian Church. -Walter knew so little about them that the weaver was astonished. He -tried him with the apologetical declaration. Walter had never heard of -it. He could make nothing of his gigantic associate, and at length began -a sly enquiry on what account he was committed; but even on that he -received no satisfactory information. - -Ingles came staggering up with them. "Weel, Master Skinflint, what say -you to it the day? This is a pleasant journey, is it not? Eh?--I say, -Master, what do they call you! Peal-an'-eat, answer me in this--you -see--I say--Is it not delightful? Eh?" - -"Certainly, sir," said the weaver, who wished to be quit of him; "very -delightful to those who feel it so." - -"_Feel_ it so!--D--n you, sirrah, what do you mean by that? Do you know -who you are speaking to? Eh?--Answer me in this--What do you mean by -_Feel it so_? Eh?" - -"I meant nothing," returned the weaver, somewhat snappishly, "but that -kind of respect which I always pay to gentry like you." - -"Gentry like me!--D--n you, sir, if you speak such a--Eh?--Gentry like -me!--I'll spit you like a cock pheasant--Eh? Have you any of them in -Galloway? Answer me in this, will you? Eh?" - -"I'll answer any reasonable thing, sir," said the poor weaver. - -"Hout! never head the creature, man," said Walter; "it's a poor drunken -senseless beast of a thing." - -Ingles fixed his reeling unsteady eyes upon him, filled with drunken -rage--walked on, spitting and looking across the way for a considerable -space--"What the devil of a whig camel is this?" said he, crossing over -to Walter's side. "Drunken senseless beast of a thing! Holm, did you -hear that?--Macwhinny, did you?--Eh? I'll scorn to shoot the cusser, -though I could do it--Eh? But I'll kick him like a dog--Eh?--Take that, -and that, will you? Eh?" And so saying, he kicked our proud-hearted and -independant Goodman of Chapelhope with his plebeian foot, staggering -backward each time he struck. - -Walter's spirit could not brook this; and disregardful of all -consequences, he wheeled about with his face toward him, dragging the -weaver round with a jerk, as a mastiff sometimes does a spaniel that is -coupled to him; and, as Ingles threw up his foot to kick him on the -belly, he followed up his heel with his foot, giving him such a fling -upwards as made him whirl round in the air like a reel. He fell on his -back, and lay motionless; on which, several of the party of soldiers -levelled their muskets at Walter. "Ay, shoot," said he, setting up his -boardly breast to them--"Shoot at me if you dare, the best o' ye." - -The soldiers cocked their pieces. - -"Your Colonel himsel durstna wrang a hair o' my head, though fain he -wad hae done sae, without first gieing me ower to his betters--Let me -see if a scullion amang ye a' dare do mair than he." - -The soldiers turned their eyes, waiting for the word of command; and the -weaver kept as far away from Walter as the nature of his bonds would let -him. The command of the party now devolved on a Serjeant Douglas; who, -perhaps nothing sorry for what had happened, stepped in between the -soldiers and prisoner, and swore a great oath, that "what the prisoner -said was the truth; and that all that it was their duty to do was, to -take the prisoners safe to Edinburgh, as at first ordered; and there -give their evidence of this transaction, which would send the lousy whig -to hell at once, provided there was any chance of his otherwise -escaping." - -They lifted Ingles, and held him up into the air to get breath, loosing -meantime his cravat and clothes; on which he fell to vomit severely, -owing to the fall he had got, and the great quantity of spirits he had -drunk. They waited on him for about two hours; but as he still continued -unable either to speak or walk, they took him into a house called -Granton, and proceeded on their destination. - -This Douglas, though apparently a superior person to the former -commander of the party, was still more intolerant and cruel than he. -There was no indignity or inconvenience that he could fasten on his -prisoners which he did not exercise to the utmost. They lodged that -night at a place called Tweedshaws; and Walter used always to relate an -occurrence that took place the next morning, that strongly marked the -character of this petty officer, as well as the licensed cruelty of the -times. - -Some time previous to this, there had been a fellowship meeting, at a -place called Tallo-Lins, of the wanderers that lurked about Chapelhope -and the adjacent mountains. About eighty had assembled, merely to spend -the night in prayer, reading the Scriptures, &c. The curate of -Tweedsmuir, a poor dissolute wretch, sent a flaming account of this in -writing to the privy council, magnifying that simple affair to a great -and dangerous meeting of armed men. The council took the alarm, raised -the hue and cry, and offered a reward for the apprehending of any one -who had been at the meeting of Tallo-Lins. The curate, learning that a -party of the king's troops was lodged that night in his parish and -neighbourhood, came to Tweedshaws at a late hour, and requested to speak -with the captain of the party. He then informed Douglas of the meeting, -shewed him the council's letter and proclamation, and finally told him -that there was a man in a cottage hard by whom he strongly suspected to -have formed one at the meeting alluded to in the proclamation. There -being no conveniency for lodging so many people at Tweedshaws, Douglas -and the curate drank together all the night, as did the soldiers in -another party. A number of friends to the prisoners had given them money -when they left Dumfries for Edinburgh, to supply as well as they might -the privations to which they would be subjected; but here the military -took the greater part of it from them to supply their intemperance. -About the break of day, they went and surrounded a shepherd's cottage -belonging to the farm of Corehead, having been led thither by the -curate, where they found the shepherd an old man, his daughter, and one -Edward M'Cane, son to a merchant in Lanarkshire, who was courting this -shepherdess, a beautiful young maiden. The curate having got -intelligence that a stranger was at that house, immediately suspected -him to be one of the wanderers, and on this surmise the information was -given. The curate acknowledged the shepherd and his daughter as -parishioners, but of M'Cane, he said, he knew nothing, and had no doubt -that he was one of the rebellious whigs. They fell to examine the youth, -but they were all affected with the liquor they had drunk over night, -and made a mere farce of it, paying no regard to his answers, or, if -they did, it was merely to misconstrue or mock them. He denied having -been at the meeting at Tallo-Linns, and all acquaintance with the -individuals whom they named as having been there present. Finding that -they could make nothing of him whereon to ground a charge, Douglas made -them search him for arms; for being somewhat drunk, he took it highly -amiss that he should have been brought out of his way for nothing. -M'Cane judged himself safe on that score, for he knew that he had -neither knife, razor, bodkin, nor edged instrument of any kind about -him; but as ill luck would have it, he chanced to have an old gun-flint -in his waistcoat pocket. Douglas instantly pronounced this to be -sufficient, and ordered him to be shot. M'Cane was speechless for some -time with astonishment, and at length told his errand, and the footing -on which he stood with the young girl before them, offering at the same -time to bring proofs from his own parish of his loyalty and conformity. -He even condescended to kneel to the ruffian, to clasp his knees, and -beg and beseech of him to be allowed time for a regular proof; but -nothing would move him. He said, the courtship was a very clever excuse, -but would not do with him, and forthwith ordered him to be shot. He -would not even allow him to sing a psalm with his two friends, but -cursed and swore that the devil a psalm he should sing there. He said, -"It would not be singing a few verses of a psalm in a wretched and -miserable style that would keep him out of hell; and if he went to -heaven, he might then lilt as much at psalm-singing as he had a mind." -When the girl, his betrothed sweet-heart, saw the muskets levelled at -her lover, she broke through the file, shrieking most piteously, threw -herself on him, clasped his neck and kissed him, crying, like one -distracted, "O Edward, take me wi' ye--take me wi' ye; a' the warld -sanna part us." - -"Ah! Mary," said he, "last night we looked forward to long and happy -years--how joyful were our hopes! but they are all blasted at once. Be -comforted, my dearest, dearest heart!--God bless you!--Farewell -forever." - -The soldiers then dragged her backward, mocking her with indelicate -remarks, and while she was yet scarcely two paces removed, and still -stretching out her hands towards him, six balls were lodged in his heart -in a moment, and he fell dead at her feet. Deformed and bloody as he -was, she pressed the corpse to her bosom, moaning and sobbing in such a -way as if every throb would have been her last, and in that condition -the soldiers marched merrily off and left them. For this doughty and -noble deed, for which Serjeant Douglas deserved to have been hanged and -quartered, he shortly after got a cornetcy in Sir Thomas Livingston's -troop of horse. - -Two of the prisoners made their escape that morning, owing to the -drunkenness of their guards, on which account the remainder being -blamed, were more haughtily and cruelly treated than ever. It is -necessary to mention all these, as they were afterwards canvassed at -Walter's trial, the account of which formed one of his winter evening -tales as long as he lived. Indeed, all such diffuse and miscellaneous -matter as is contained in this chapter, is a great incumbrance in the -right onward progress of a tale; but we have done with it, and shall now -haste to the end of our narrative in a direct uninterrupted line. - - - - -CHAPTER XII. - - -The sudden departure of Katharine from home, after the extraordinary -adventure of the curate Clerk in the Old Room, at the crowing of the -cock, was a great relief to him, as it freed him from the embarrassment -of her company, and gave him an opportunity of telling his own story to -the goodwife without interruption, of the success he had in freeing her -daughter from the power and fellowship of evil spirits. That story was -fitted admirably to suit her weak and superstitious mind; it accorded -with any thing nearer than the truth, and perhaps this finished -hypocrite never appeared so great a character in the eyes of Maron -Linton as he did that day. He spoke of going away to Henderland in the -evening, but she entreated him so earnestly to stay and protect her from -the power of the spirits that haunted the place, that he deemed it -proper to acquiesce, for without the countenance of the family of -Chapelhope he was nothing--he could not have lived in his puny cure. She -depended on him, she said, to rid the town of these audacious (or, as -she called them, _misleared_) beings altogether, for without his -interference the family would be ruined. Their servants had all left -them--the work remained unwrought, and every thing was going to -confusion--she had given Brownie his accustomed wages again and again, -and still he refused to leave the house; and without the holy man's -assistance in expelling him and his train, their prospects in life were -hopeless. - -The curate promised to use his highest interest with Heaven, and assured -her that no further evil should come nigh unto her, at least while he -remained under her roof; "for were it not," said he, "for the -conjunction which they are in with one of the family, they should have -been expelled long ere now. That unnatural bond, I hope, by a course of -secret conferences, to be able to break asunder, but be not thou afraid, -for no evil shall come nigh thy dwelling." He talked with the goodwife -in the style that pleased her; flattered her high and pure notions of -religion, as well as her piety and benevolence; said evening prayers in -the family with zeal and devotion; but how was he startled when informed -that he was to sleep again in the Old Room! He indeed knew not that it -was haunted more than any other part of the house, or that it was the -favourite nightly resort of the Brownie of Bodsbeck, but the apparition -that he had seen, and the unaccountable rescue that he had witnessed the -night before, preyed on his mind, and he hinted to the goodwife, that he -had expected to be preferred to her daughter's room and bed that night, -as she was absent; but Maron, too, was selfish; for who is without that -great ruling motive? She expected that Brownie would appear; that Mass -John would speak to it; and thenceforward to be freed from its unwelcome -intrusions. To the Old Room he was shown at a late hour, where the lamp, -the Bible, and the _sand-glass_ were placed on the little table, at the -bed's head, as usual. - -It was past eleven when the curate went to sleep. Old Nanny, who was -dressed more neatly than usual, sat still at the kitchen fire, expecting -every minute the two covenant-men, whom her young mistress had promised -to send to her privily, as her companions and protectors through the -dark and silent watches of the night until her return. Still nothing of -them appeared; but, confident that they would appear, she stirred the -embers of the fire, and continued to keep watch with patient anxiety. -When it drew towards midnight, as she judged, she heard a noise without, -as of some people entering, or trying to enter, by the outer door of -the Old Room. Concluding that it was her expected companions, and -alarmed at the wrong direction they had taken, she ran out, and round -the west end of the house, to warn them of their mistake, and bring them -in by the kitchen door. As she proceeded, she heard two or three loud -and half-stifled howls from the interior of the Old Room. The door was -shut, but, perceiving by the seam in the window-shutters that the light -within was still burning, she ran to the window, which directly faced -the curate's bed; and there being a small aperture broken in one of the -panes, she edged back the shutter, so as to see and hear the most part -of what was going on within. She saw four or five figures standing at -the bed, resembling human figures in some small degree--their backs -towards her; but she saw a half-face of one that held the lamp in its -hand, and it was of the hue of a smoked wall. In the midst of them stood -the deformed little Brownie, that has often been mentioned and -described in the foregoing part of this tale. In his right hand he -brandished a weapon, resembling a dirk or carving-knife. The other hand -he stretched out, half-raised over the curate's face, as if to command -attention. "Peace!" said he, "thou child of the bottomless pit, and -minister of unrighteousness; another such sound from these polluted lips -of thine, and I plunge this weapon into thy heart. We would shed thy -blood without any reluctance--nay, know thou that we would rejoice to do -it, as thereby we would render our master acceptable service. Not for -that intent or purpose are we now come; yet thy abominations shall not -altogether pass unpunished. Thou knowest thy own heart--its hypocrisy, -and licentiousness--Thou knowest, that last night, at this same hour, -thou didst attempt, by brutal force, to pollute the purest and most -angelic of the human race--we rescued her from thy hellish clutch, for -we are her servants, and attend upon her steps. Thou knowest, that still -thou art cherishing the hope of succeeding in thy cursed scheme. Thou -art a stain to thy profession, and a blot upon the cheek of nature, -enough to make thy race and thy nation stink in the nose of their -Creator!--To what thou deservest, thy doom is a lenient one--but it is -fixed and irrevocable!" - -There was something in that mis-shapen creature's voice that chilled -Nanny's very soul while it spoke these words, especially its -pronunciation of some of them; it sounded like something she had heard -before, perhaps in a dream, but it was horrible, and not to be brooked. -The rest now laid violent hold of Mass John, and she heard him mumbling -in a supplicating voice, but knew not what he said. As they stooped -forward, the lamp shone on the floor, and she saw the appearance of a -coffin standing behind them. Nanny was astonished, but not yet overcome; -for, cruel were the scenes that she had beheld, and many the trials she -had undergone!--but at that instant the deformed and grizly being -turned round, as if looking for something that it wanted--the lamp shone -full on its face, the lineaments of which when Nanny beheld, her eyes at -once were darkened, and she saw no more that night. How she spent the -remainder of it, or by what means she got to her bed in the kitchen, she -never knew; but next morning when the goodwife and her sons arose, poor -old Nanny was lying in the kitchen bed delirious, and talking of -dreadful and incomprehensible things. All that could be gathered from -her frenzy was, that some terrible catastrophe had happened in the Old -Room, and that Clerk, the curate, was implicated in it. The goodwife, -judging that her favourite had been at war with the spirits, and that -Heaven had been of course triumphant, hasted to the Old Room to bless -and pay the honour due to such a divine character; she called his name -as she entered, but no one made answer; she hasted to the bed, but -behold there was no one there! The goodwife's sole spiritual guide had -vanished away. - -The curate Clerk was never more seen nor heard of in these bounds; but -it may not be improper here to relate a circumstance that happened some -time thereafter, as it comes no more within the range of this story. - -In the month of October, and the memorable year 1688, it is well known -that Clavers hasted southward, with all the troops under his command, to -assist King James against the Prince of Orange and the protestant party -of England, or to sell himself to the latter, any of the ways that he -found most convenient. In the course of this march, as he was resting -his troops at a place called Ninemile-brae, near the Border, a poor -emaciated and forlorn-looking wretch came to him, and desired to speak a -word with him. Mr Adam Copland and he were sitting together when this -happened; Clavers asked his name and his business, for none of the two -recognised him--It was Clerk, the curate (that had been) of Chapelhope -and Kirkhope! Clavers said, as there were none present save a friend, he -might say out his business. This he declined, and took Clavers a short -way aside. Copland watched their motions, but could not hear what Clerk -said. When he began to tell his story Clavers burst into a violent fit -of laughter, but soon restrained himself, and Copland beheld him -knitting his brows, and biting his lip, as he seldom failed to do when -angry. When they parted, he heard him saying distinctly, "It is -impossible that I can avenge your wrongs at this time, for I have -matters of great import before me; but the day may come ere long when it -will be in my power, and d--n me if I do not do it!" - -The spirits of the wild having been victorious, and the reverend curate, -the goodwife's only stay, overcome and carried off bodily, she was -impatient, and on the rack every minute that she staid longer about the -house. She caused one of her sons take a horse, and conduct her to -Gilmanscleuch that night, to her brother Thomas's farm, determined no -more to see Chapelhope till her husband's return; and if that should -never take place, to bid it adieu for ever. - -Nanny went to the led farm of Riskinhope, that being the nearest house -to Chapelhope, and just over against it, in order to take what care she -was able of the things about the house during the day. There also the -two boys remained, and herded throughout the day in a very indifferent -manner; and, in short, every thing about the farm was going fast to -confusion when Katharine returned from her mission to the Laird of -Drummelzier. Thus it was that she found her father's house deserted, its -doors locked up, and its hearth cold. - -Her anxiety to converse privately with Nanny was great; but at her first -visit, when she went for the key, this was impossible without being -overheard. She soon, however, found an opportunity; for that night she -enticed her into the byre at Chapelhope, in the gloaming, after the kine -had left the lone, where a conversation took place between them in -effect as follows: - -"Alas, Nanny! how has all this happened? Did not the two Covenanters, -for whom I sent, come to bear you company?" - -"Dear bairn, if they did come I saw nae them. If they came, they were -ower late, for the spirits were there afore them; an' I hae seen sic a -sight! Dear, dear bairn, dinna gar me gang owre it again--I hae seen a -sight that's enough to turn the heart o' flesh to an iceshogle, an' to -freeze up the very springs o' life!--Dinna gar me gang ower it again, -an' rake up the ashes o' the honoured dead--But what need I say sae? The -dead are up already! Lord in Heaven be my shield and safeguard!" - -"Nanny, you affright me; but, be assured, your terrors have originated -in some mistake--your sight has deceived you, and all shall yet be -explained to your satisfaction." - -"Say nae sae, dear bairn; my sight hasna deceived me, yet I have been -deceived. The world has deceived me--hell has deceived me--and heaven -has winked at the deed. Alak, an' wae's me, that it should sae hae been -predestined afore the world began! The day was, an' no sae lang sin' -syne, when I could hae prayed wi' confidence, an' sung wi' joy; but now -my mind is overturned, and I hae nouther stay on earth, nor hope in -heaven! The veil of the Temple may be rent below, and the ark of the -testimony thrown open above, but _their_ forms will not be seen within -the one, nor their names found written in the other! We have been -counted as sheep for the slaughter; we have been killed all the day -long; yet hath the Lord forgotten to be gracious, and is his mercy clean -gone for ever!" - -"Peace, peace, for Heaven's sake!--You are verging on blasphemy, and -know not what you say." - -"Do the reprobate know what they say, or can they forbear? How -then can I? I, who am in the bond of iniquity, and the jaws of death -eternal?--Where can I fly? When the righteous are not saved, where shall -the ungodly and the sinner appear?--Ay, dear bairn, weel may ye stare -and raise up your hands that gate; but when ye hear my tale, ye winna -wonder that my poor wits are uprooted. Suppose sic a case your -ain--suppose you had been the bosom companion o' ane for twenty -years--had joined wi' him in devotion, e'ening and morning, for a' that -time, and had never heard a sigh but for sin, nor a complaint but of the -iniquities of the land--If ye had witnessed him follow two comely sons, -your own flesh and blood, to the scaffold, and bless his God who put it -in their hearts to stand and suffer for his cause, and for the crown of -martyrdom he had bestowed on them, and bury the mangled bodies of other -two with tears, but not with repining--If, after a' this, he had been -hunted as a partridge on the mountains, and for the same dear cause, the -simplicity of the truth as it is in Jesus, had laid down his life--If -you knew that his grey head was hung upon the city wall for a spectacle -to gaze at, and his trunk buried in the wild by strangers--Say you knew -all this, and had all these dear ties in your remembrance, and yet, -after long years of hope soon to join their blest society above, to see -again that loved and revered form stand before your eyes on earth at -midnight, shrivelled, pale, and deformed, and mixed with malevolent -spirits on dire and revengeful intent, where wad your hope--where wad -your confidence--or where wad your wits hae been flown?" Here she cried -bitterly; and seizing the astonished Katharine's hand with both hers, -and pressing it to her brow, she continued her impassioned and frantic -strain.--"Pity me, O dear bairn, pity me! For man hasna pitied me, an' -God hasna pitied me! I'm gaun down a floody water, down, down; an' I wad -fain grip at something, if it were but a swoomin strae, as a last hope, -or I sink a' thegither." - -"These are the words of delirium," said Katharine, "and I will not set -them down as spoke by you. Pray the Almighty that they may never be -written in his book of remembrance against you; for the veriest -downfallen fiend can do no more than distrust the mercy of God in a -Redeemer. I tell you, woman, that whatever you may fancy you have seen -or heard in the darkness of night, when imagination forms fantasies of -its own, of all those who have stood for our civil and religious -liberties, who, for the sake of a good conscience, have yielded up all, -and sealed their testimony with their blood, not one hair of _their_ -heads shall fall to the ground, for their names are written in the book -of life, and they shall shine as stars in the kingdom of their -Father. You have yourself suffered much, and have rejoiced in your -sufferings--So far you did well--Do not then mar so fair an eternal -harvest--so blest a prospect of a happy and everlasting community, by -the sin of despair, that can never be forgiven. Can you, for a moment, -while in possession of your right senses, doubt of the tender mercies of -your Maker and Preserver? Can you for a moment believe that he has hid -his face from the tears and the blood that have been shed for his cause -in Scotland? As well may you doubt that the earth bears or the sun warms -you, or that he never made a revelation of his will to man." - -All the while that Katharine spoke thus, Nanny's eyes were fixed on her, -as if drinking every word she uttered into a soul that thirsted for it. -A wild and unstable light beamed on her countenance, but it was still -only like a sun-beam breaking through the storm, which is ready to be -swallowed up by the rolling darkness within. Her head shook as with a -slight paralytic affection, and she again clasped the hand which she had -never quitted. - -"Are ye an angel o' light," said she, in a soft tremulous voice, "that -ye gar my heart prinkle sae wi' a joy that it never thought again to -taste? It isna then a strae nor a stibble that I hae grippit at for my -last hope, but the tap of a good tow-widdy saugh; an' a young sapling -though it be, it is steevely rootit in a good soil, an' will maybe help -the poor drowning wretch to the shore!--An' _hae_ I thought sae muckle -ill o' you? Could I deem that mild heavenly face, that's but the -reflection o' the soul within, the image o' sin and o' Satan, an' a veil -o' deceit thrawn ower a mind prone to wickedness? Forgie me, dear, dear -saint, forgie me! It surely canna be condemned spirits that ye are -connectit wi? Ah, ye're dumb there!--ye darna answer me to that! Na, na! -the spirits o' the just made perfect wad never leave their abodes o' -felicity to gabble amang derksome fiends at the dead hour o' the night, -in sic a world o' sin and sorrow as this. But I saw _him_, an' heard him -speak, as sure as I see your face an' hear the tones o' my ain voice; -an', if I lookit nae wrang, there were mae risen frae the dead than ane. -It is an awfu' dispensation to think o'! But there was a spirit o' -retaliation in him that often made me quake, though never sae as now. O -wad ye but tell me what kind o' spirits ye are in conjunction wi'?" - -"None but the blest and the happy--None but they who have come out of -great tribulation, and washed their robes white in the blood of the -Lamb--None that would harbour such a thought, or utter such a doubt, as -you have done to-night, for the empire of the universe--More I may not -tell you at present; but stay you here with me, and I will cherish you, -and introduce you to these spirits, and you shall be happier with them -than ever you have been." - -"Will I sae?--Say nae mair!--I wad pit hand to my ain life the night, -an' risk the warst or I again met wi' them face to face in the same -guise as I saw them at midnight last week. Ye're a wonderfu' creature! -But ye're ayont my depth; therefore I'll love ye, an' fear ye, an' keep -my distance." - -Thus they parted: Katharine into her long vacant house, and Nanny over -to Riskinhope. The farmer of Riskinhope (David Bryden of Eldin-hope), -was ruined by the sequestration of his stock by Clavers, but the -shepherds and other servants still lingered about the house for better -or for worse. There was not a sheep on that large farm, save about five -scores of good ewes, that Davie Tait, the herd of Whithope, had turned -slyly over into the hags of the Yokeburn-head, that day the drivers took -away the stock. When Clavers made his last raid up by Chapelhope, all -the family of Riskinhope fled to the hills, and betook them to cover, -every one by himself; and there, with beating hearts, peeped through the -heath and the rash-bush, to watch the motions of that bloody persecutor. -Perilous was their case that day, for had any of them been found in that -situation, it would have been enough; but Davie well knew it was good -for him to keep out of the way, for Mr Renwick, and Mr Shields, as well -as other wanderers, had been sheltered in his house many a night, and -the latter wrote his _Hind let Loose_ in a small house at the side of -Winterhopeburn. Yet Davie was not a Cameronian, properly speaking, nor a -very religious man neither; but the religious enthusiasm of his guests -had broke him a little into their manner, and way of thinking. He had -learned to make family exercise, not however to very great purpose, for -the only thing very remarkable in it was the strong nasal Cameronian -whine of his prayer, and its pastoral allusions; but he was grown fond -of exhibiting in that line, having learned the Martyr's tune, and the -second part of the Dundee, which formed the whole range of his psalmody! -Yet Davie liked a joke as well as ever he did, and perhaps as well as -any part of divine worship. When one remarked to him that his family -music was loud enough, but very discordant,--"Ay," quoth Davie, "but -it's a lang gate atween here an' Heaven; a' music's good i' the -distance; I hae strong faith in that. I hae some hope i' Dan's bass too; -it has _great effect_. I was wantin him to tak some salts an' sinny leaf -to help it a wee." - -That night after Nanny came over, Davie had prayed as usual, and among -other things, had not forgot the Brownie of Bodsbeck, that "he might be -skelpit wi' the taws o' divine wrath, an' sent back to hell wi' the -sperks on his hips; and that the angel of presence might keep watch over -their couches that night, to scare the howlaty face o' him away, an' -learn him to keep his ain side o' the water." - -After prayers the family were crowded round the fading ingle, and -cracking of the Brownie and of Davie's prayer. Davie had opened his -waistcoat, and thrown off his hose to warm his feet, and, flattered -with their remarks on his abilities, began to be somewhat scurrilous on -Brownie. "I think I hae cowed him the night," said he; "he'll fash nane -o' us--he may stay wi' his Keatie Laidlaw yonder, an' rin at her biddin. -He has a sonsy weel-faur'd lass to bide wi'--he's better aff than some -o' his neighbours, Maysey;" and, saying so, he cast a look to his wife -that spoke unutterable things; but finding that his joke did not take, -after so serious a prayer, he turned again on Brownie, and, as his own -wife said, "didna leave him the likeness of a dog." He said he had eaten -sax bowes o' good meal to the goodman, an' a' that he had done for't, -that ony body kend o', was mending up an auld fail-dike round the corn -ae night. In short, he said he was an unprofitable guest--a dirty -droich, an' a menseless glutton--an' it was weak an' silly in ony true -Christian to be eiry for him. He had not said out the last words, when -they heard a whispering at the door, and shortly after these words -distinctly uttered: - - "There's neither blood nor rown-tree pin, - At open doors the dogs go in." - -The size of every eye's orbit was doubled in a moment, as it turned -towards the door. The light of the fire was shining bright along the -short entry between the beds, and they saw the appearance of a man, -clothed in black, come slowly and deliberately in, walk across the -entry, and go into the apartment in the other end of the house. The -family were all above one another in beyond the fire in an instant, and -struggling who to be undermost, and next the wall. Nanny, who was -sitting on the form beyond the fire, pondering on other matters, leaning -her brow on both hands, and all unconscious of what had entered, was -overborne in the crush, and laid flat undermost of all. - -"Dear, dear bairns, what's asteer? Hout fy! Why, troth, ye'll crush the -poor auld body as braid as a blood-kercake." - -"Ah! the Brownie!--the Brownie!--the Brownie o' Bodsbeck!" was whispered -in horror from every tongue. - -Davie Tait luckily recollecting that there was a door at hand, that led -to a little milk-house in the other end of the house, and still another -division farther from Brownie, led the way to it on all four, at full -gallop, and took shelter in the farthest corner of that. All the rest -were soon above him, but Davie bore the oppressive weight with great -fortitude for some time, and without a murmur. Nanny was left last; she -kept hold of the Bible that she had in her lap when she fell, and had -likewise the precaution to light the lamp before she followed her -affrighted associates. Nothing could be more appalling than her own -entry after them--never was a figure more calculated to inspire terror, -than Nanny coming carrying a feeble glimmering lamp, that only served to -make darkness visible, while her pale raised-like features were bent -over it, eager to discover her rueful compeers. The lamp was -half-covered with her hand to keep it from being blown out; and her -face, where only a line of light here and there was visible, was -altogether horrible. Having discovered the situation, and the plight of -the family, she bolted the door behind her, and advanced slowly up to -them. "Dear bairns, what did ye see that has putten ye a' this gate?" - -"Lord sauf us!" cried Davie, from below, "we hae forespoke the -Brownie--tak that elbow out o' my guts a wee bit. They say, if ye speak -o' the deil, he'll appear. 'Tis an unsonsy and dangerous thing to--Wha's -aught that knee? slack it a little. God guide us, sirs, there's the -weight of a mill-stane on aboon the links o' my neck. If the Lord hae -forsaken us, an' winna heed our prayers, we may gie up a' for tint -thegither!--Nanny, hae ye boltit the door." - -"Ay hae I, firm an' fast." - -"Than muve up a wee, sirs, or faith I'm gane--Hech-howe! the weight o' -sin an' mortality that's amang ye." - -Davie's courage, that had begun to mount on hearing that the door was -bolted, soon gave way again, when he raised his head, and saw the utter -dismay that was painted on each countenance. "Hout, Maysey woman, dinna -just mak sic faces--ye are eneuch to fright fock, foreby aught else," -said he to his wife. - -"O Davie, think what a wheen poor helpless creatures we are!--Does -Brownie ever kill ony body?" - -"I wish it be nae a waur thing than Brownie," said Dan. - -"Waur than Brownie? Mercy on us!--Waur than Brownie!--What was it like?" -was whispered round. - -"Ye mind poor Kirko, the bit Dinscore laird, that skulkit hereabouts sae -lang, an' sleepit several nights ben in that end?--Didna ye a' think it -was unco like him?" - -"The very man!--the very man!--his make, his gang, his claes, an' every -thing," was echoed by all. - -"An' ye ken," continued Dan, "that he was shot on Dumfries sands this -simmer. It is his ghaist come to haunt the place whar he baid, an' -prayed sae aften." - -"Ower true! Ower true! it's awsome to think o'," was the general remark. - -"Let us go to prayers," said Nanny: "it isna a time to creep into nooks -on aboon other, an' gie way to despair. There is but Ane that _can_ -guard or protect us, let us apply there." - -"Something has been done that way already," said Davie Tait; "we canna -come to handygrips wi' him, an' force him to stand senter at our door a' -night." - -Davie's matter was exhausted on the subject, and he did not much relish -going over the same words again, which, he acknowledged, were _rather -kenspeckle_; nor yet to venture on composing new ones out of his own -head: this made him disposed to waive Nanny's proposal. - -"Ay," answered she, "but we mauna haud just wi' saying gie us this, an' -gie us that; and than, because we dinna just get it aff loof, drap the -plea an' despair. Na, na, dear bairns, that's nae part o' the christian -warfare! we maun plead wi' humility, and plead again, an' never was -there mair cause for rousing to exertion than now. The times are -momentous, and some great change is drawing near, for the dead are -astir--I have seen them mysel'. Yes, the severed members that were -scattered, and buried apart, are come thegither again--joined, an' gaun -aboon the grund, mouthing the air o' Heaven. I saw it mysel--Can it be -that the resurrection is begun? It is a far away thought for the thing -itsel to be as near; but it's a glorious ane, an' there's proof o't. But -then the place an' the time are doubtfu'--had it been sun proof I wad -hae likit it better. We little wot what to say or think under sic -visitations. Let us apply to the only source of light and direction. -David, be you a mouth to us." - -"A mouth?" said Davie; but recollecting himself, added--"Hum, I -understand you; but I hae mouthed mair already than has come to ony -good. I like fock to pray that hae some chance to be heard; some fock -may scraugh themsels hersh, and be nae the better." - -"Oh fie, David! speak wi' some reverence," said his wife Maysey. - -"I mintit at naething else," said he, "but I hae an unreverent kind o' -tongue that nought ever serous-like fa's frae, let my frame o' mind be -as it will; an' troth I haena command o' language for a job like this. I -trow the prelates hae the best way after a', for they get prayers ready -made to their hands, an' disna need to affront their Maker wi' -blunders." - -"How can ye speak sae the night, David? or how can sic a thought hover -round your heart as to flee out at random that gate? If ye will _read_ -prayers, there's a book, read them out o' that; if the words o' God -winna suit the cases o' his ain creatures, how can ye trow the words o' -another man can do it? But pray wi' the heart, an' pray in humility, and -fearna being accepted." - -"That's true; but yet ane maks but a poor figure wi' the heart by -itsel." - -"Wow, Davie, man," quoth Maysey, his wife, "an' ye mak but a poor figure -indeed, when we're a' in sic a plight! Ye hear the woman speaks gude -truth; an' ye ken yoursel ye fenced us against the Brownie afore, but no -against Kirky's ghaist; tak the beuk like a man, an' pit the fence o' -scripture faith round us for that too." - -Stupid as Maysey was, she knew the way to her husband's heart. Davie -could not resist such an appeal--he took the Bible; sung the 143d psalm, -from beginning to end, at Nanny's request; and likewise, by her -direction, read the 20th of Revelations; then kneeling down on his bare -knees, legs, and feet, as he fled from the kitchen, on the damp miry -floor of the milk-house, he essayed a strong energetic prayer as a fence -against the invading ghost. But as Davie acknowledged, he had an -irreverend expression naturally, that no effort could overcome, (and by -the bye, there is more in this than mankind are in general aware of,) -and the more he aimed at sublimity, the more ludicrous he grew, even to -common ears. There is scarcely a boy in the country who cannot recite -scraps of Davie Tait's prayer; but were I to set all that is preserved -of it down here, it might be construed as a mockery of that holy -ordinance, than which nothing is so far from my heart or intention; but, -convinced as I am that a rude exhibition in such a divine solemnity is -of all things the most indecent and unbecoming, I think such should be -held up to ridicule, as a warning to all Christians never to ask -ignorance or absurdity to perform this sacred duty in public. The -sublime part of it therefore is given, which was meant as a fence -against the spirit that had set up his rest so near. To such as are not -acquainted with the pastoral terms, the meaning in some parts may be -equivocal; to those who are, the train of thinking will be obvious.--It -is part of a genuine prayer. - - "But the last time we gathered oursels before thee, we left out a - wing o' the hirsel by mistake, an' thou hast paid us hame i' our - ain coin. Thou wart sae gude than as come to the sheddin thysel, - an' clap our heads, an' whisper i' our lugs, 'dinna be - disheartened, my puir bits o' waefu' things, for though ye be the - shotts o' my hale fauld, I'll take care o' ye, an' herd ye, an' - gie ye a' that ye hae askit o' me the night.' It was kind, an' - thou hast done it; but we forgot a principal part, an' maun tell - thee now, that we have had another visitor sin' ye war here, an' - ane wha's back we wad rather see than his face. Thou kens better - thysel than we can tell thee what place he has made his escape - frae; but we sair dread it is frae the boddomless pit, or he wadna - hae ta'en possession but leave. Ye ken, that gang tried to keep - vilent leasehaud o' your ain fields, an' your ain ha', till ye gae - them a killicoup. If he be ane o' them, O come thysel to our help, - an' bring in thy hand a bolt o' divine vengeance, het i' the - furnace o' thy wrath as reed as a nailstring, an' bizz him an' - scouder him till ye dinna leave him the likeness of a paper izel, - until he be glad to creep into the worm-holes o' the earth, never - to see sun or sterns mair. But, if it be some puir dumfoundered - soul that has been bumbased and stoundit at the view o' the lang - Hopes an' the Downfa's o' Eternity, comed daundering away frae - about the laiggen girds o' Heaven to the waefu' gang that he left - behind, like a lost sheep that strays frae the rich pastures o' - the south, an' comes bleating back a' the gate to its cauld native - hills, to the very gair where it was lambed and first followed - its minny, ane canna help haeing a fellow-feeling wi' the puir - soul after a', but yet he'll find himsel here like a cow in an - unco loan. Therefore, O furnish him this night wi' the wings o' - the wild gainner or the eagle, that he may swoof away back to a - better hame than this, for we want nane o' his company. An' do - thou give to the puir stray thing a weel-hained heff and a beildy - lair, that he may nae mair come straggling amang a stock that's - sae unlike himsel, that they're frightit at the very look o' him. - - "Thou hast promised in thy Word to be our shepherd, our guider - an' director; an' thy word's as gude as some men's aith, an' we'll - haud thee at it. Therefore take thy plaid about thee, thy staff in - thy hand, an' thy dog at thy fit, an' gather us a' in frae the - cauld windy knowes o' self-conceit--the plashy bogs an' mires o' - sensuality, an' the damp flows o' worldly-mindedness, an' wyse us - a' into the true bught o' life, made o' the flakes o' forgiveness - and the door o' loving-kindness; an' never do thou suffer us to be - heftit e'ening or morning, but gie lashin' meals o' the milk o' - praise, the ream o' thankfu'ness, an' the butter o' good-works. - An' do thou, in thy good time an' way, smear us ower the hale bouk - wi' the tar o' adversity, weel mixed up wi' the meinging of - repentance, that we may be kiver'd ower wi' gude bouzy shake-rough - fleeces o' faith, a' run out on the hips, an' as brown as a tod. - An' do thou, moreover, fauld us ower-night, an' every night, in - within the true sheep-fauld o' thy covenant, weel buggen wi' the - stanes o' salvation, an' caped wi' the divots o' grace. An' then - wi' sic a shepherd, an' sic a sheep-fauld, what hae wi' to be - feared for? Na, na! we'll fear naething but sin!--We'll never mair - scare at the poolly-woolly o' the whaup, nor swirl at the gelloch - o' the ern; for if the arm of our Shepherd be about us for good, - a' the imps, an' a' the powers o' darkness, canna wrang a hair o' - our tails." - -All the family arose from their knees with altered looks. Thus fenced, a -new energy glowed in every breast. Poor Maysey, proud of her husband's -bold and sublime intercession, and trusting in the divine fence now -raised around them, rose with the tear in her eye, seized the lamp, and -led the way, followed by all the rest, to retake the apartment of -Kirky's ghost by open assault. Nanny, whose faith wont to be superior to -all these things, lagged behind, dreading to see the sight that she had -seen on the Saturday night before; and the bold intercessor himself kept -her company, on pretence of a sleeping leg; but, in truth, his faith in -his own intercession and fence did not mount very high. All the -apartment was searched--every chest, corner, and hole that could be -thought of--every thing was quiet, and not so much as a mouse -stirring!--not a bed-cover folded down, nor the smallest remembered -article missing! All the family saw Kirky's ghost enter in his own -likeness, and heard him speak in his wonted tongue, except old Nanny. It -was a great and wonderful victory gained. They were again in full -possession of their own house, a right which they never seemed before to -have duly appreciated. They felt grateful and happy; and it was hinted -by Maysey, Dan, and uncle Nicholas, that Davie Tait would turn out a -burning and a shining light in these dark and dismal times, and would -supersede Messrs Renwick, Shields, and all the curates in the country. -He had laid a visible ghost, that might be the devil for aught they knew -to the contrary; and it was argued on all hands, that "Davie was nae -sma' drink." - -The whole of the simple group felt happy and grateful; and they agreed -to sit another hour or two before they went to sleep, and each one read -a chapter from the Bible, and recite a psalm or hymn. They did so, until -it came to Nanny's turn. - -[Music: A Cameronian's Midnight Hymn. - - O thou who dwell'st in the heavens high, - Above yon Stars and within yon Sky, - Where the dazzling fields never needed light, - Of the Sun by day nor the Moon by night, - Where the dazzling fields never needed light, - Of the Sun by day nor the Moon by night. -] - -She laid her hands across each other on her breast, turned in the balls -of her half-closed eyes so that nothing was seen but the white, and, -with her face raised upwards, and a slow rocking motion, she sung the -following hymn, to a strain the most solemn that ever was heard. A scrap -of this ancient melody is still preserved, and here subjoined, for -without its effect the words are nothing. - - O thou, who dwell'st in the heavens high, - Above yon stars, and within yon sky, - Where the dazzling fields never needed light - Of the sun by day, nor the moon by night! - - Though shining millions around thee stand, - For the sake of one that's at thy right hand, - O think of them that have cost him dear, - Still chained in doubt and in darkness here! - - Our night is dreary, and dim our day; - And if thou turn'st thy face away, - We are sinful, feeble, and helpless dust, - And have none to look to, and none to trust. - - The powers of darkness are all abroad, - They own no Saviour, and fear no God; - And we are trembling in dumb dismay, - O turn not thus thy face away! - - Our morning dawn is with clouds o'erspread, - And our evening fall is a bloody red; - And the groans are heard on the mountain swarth; - There is blood in heaven, and blood on earth. - - A life of scorn for us thou did'st lead, - And in the grave laid thy blessed head; - Then think of those who undauntedly - Have laid down life and all for thee. - - Thou wilt not turn them forth in wrath, - To walk this world of sin and death, - In shadowy dim deformity? - O God it may not--cannot be! - - Thy aid, O mighty One, we crave! - Not shortened is thy arm to save. - Afar from thee we now sojourn - Return to us, O God, return! - -This air, having a great resemblance to the tone and manner in which the -old Cameronians said, or rather sung their prayers, and just no more -music in it, as the singer will perceive, than what renders the -recitation more slow and solemn, Nanny's hymn affected the family group -in no ordinary degree; it made the hairs of their head creep, and -thrilled their simple hearts, easily impressed by divine things, while -their looks strongly expressed their feelings. None of them would read -or recite any thing farther, but entreated Nanny to say it over again, -affirming, with one voice that "it was an _extrodnar_ thing." - -"Ah! dear, dear bairns! I dinna ken about it," said she; "he was a good -cannie lad that made it, but he mixed wi' the scoffers, and turned to -hae his doubts and his failings like mony ane, (Lord forgie us a' for -our share in them;) he seems even to have doubted o' the Omnipresence -when he penned that, which was far far wrang. I'll rather say ye ane on -that subject that he had made when in a better way o' thinking. It is -said that the Englishes sing it in their chapels." - -She then attempted one in a bolder and more regular strain, but wanting -the simplicity of the former, it failed in having the same effect. As -it, however, closed the transactions of that momentous night at -Riskinhope, we shall with it close this long chapter. - - Dweller in heaven and ruler below! - Fain would I know thee, yet tremble to know! - How can a mortal deem, how may it be, - That being can not be, but present with thee? - Is it true that thou saw'st me ere I saw the morn? - Is it true that thou knew'st me before I was born? - That nature must live in the light of thine eye? - This knowledge for me is too great and too high! - - That fly I to noon-day, or fly I to night, - To shroud me in darkness, or bathe me in light, - The light and the darkness to thee are the same, - And still in thy presence of wonder I am? - Should I with the dove to the desert repair; - Or dwell with the eagle in clough of the air; - In the desart afar, on the mountain's wild brink, - From the eye of Omnipotence still must I shrink? - - Or mount I on wings of the morning away - To caves of the ocean unseen by the day, - And hide in these uttermost parts of the sea, - Even there to be living and moving in thee? - Nay, scale I the cloud in the heavens to dwell; - Or make I my bed in the shadows of hell; - Can science expound, or humanity frame, - That still thou art present, and all are the same? - - Yes, present for ever! Almighty--alone - Great Spirit of nature, unbounded, unknown! - What mind can embody thy presence divine? - I know not my own being! how can I thine? - Then humbly and low in the dust let me bend, - And adore what on earth I can ne'er comprehend; - The mountains may melt, and the elements flee, - Yet an universe still be rejoicing in thee! - - -END OF VOLUME FIRST. - - EDINBURGH: - Printed by James Ballantyne & Co. - - - * * * * * - - -Transcriber's Notes - -There is one page of music in the book; the html version of this -file has links to a midi file ([Listen]); the musical notation ([PDF]); -and and a MusicXML file ([XML]), which can be viewed in most browsers, -text editors, and music notation applications. - -The book has no chapter VII and two chapters XII. - -A duplicate heading before chapter one ("THE BROWNIE OF BODSBECK") has -been removed. - - -The following are inconsistently used in the text: - -Quave Brae and Quave-Brae - -meantime and mean time - -day-light and daylight - -eye-brow and eyebrow - -moon-light and moonlight - -way-laid and waylaid - -M'Leadle and MacLeadle - -Tallo-Lins and Tallo-Linns - -cleuch-brae and Cleuch-brae - -Clark and Clerk - -Clavers and Claverhouse - - -Obvious punctuation and spelling errors have been corrected as follows: - -p. 30 "Several witnessess" changed to "Several witnesses" - -p. 43 "'Now, billies, says I, ye" changed to "'Now, billies,' says -I, 'ye" - -p. 43 "gar ye speak." changed to "gar ye speak.'" - -p. 44 "shabbles o' swords!"" changed to "shabbles o' swords!'" - -p. 44 "light o'the truth" changed to "light o' the truth" - -p. 56 (note) "Christ in Scotland_. It is dated" changed to "Christ in -Scotland_." It is dated" - -p. 131 "proffers proved alike in vain" changed to "proffers proved -alike in vain." - -p. 145 "the everlasting Covenant," changed to "the everlasting -Covenant,'" - -p. 160 "night-time, beats a,'" changed to "night-time, beats a'," - -p. 161 "cried Maron,"--"Dear" changed to "cried Maron,--"Dear" - -p. 211 "power to make a handle o" changed to "power to make a -handle o'" - -p. 217 "appresion" changed to "apprehension" - -p. 243 "head the creature, man,'" changed to "head the creature, man,"" - -p. 275 "to be eiry for him."" changed to "to be eiry for him." - - -Some possible errors have been left unchanged: - -p. 189 "had for sometime been hopping down" - -p. 196 "further precedure soon" - - - - - - -End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Brownie of Bodsbeck, and Other -Tales (Vol. 1 of 2), by James Hogg - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK BROWNIE OF BODSBECK *** - -***** This file should be named 40955-8.txt or 40955-8.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/4/0/9/5/40955/ - -Produced by Henry Flower, junet and the Online Distributed -Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was -produced from images generously made available by The -Internet Archive/American Libraries.) - - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions -will be renamed. - -Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no -one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation -(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without -permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or -re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included -with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org - - -Title: The Brownie of Bodsbeck, and Other Tales (Vol. 1 of 2) - -Author: James Hogg - -Release Date: October 6, 2012 [EBook #40955] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ASCII - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK BROWNIE OF BODSBECK *** - - - - -Produced by Henry Flower, junet and the Online Distributed -Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was -produced from images generously made available by The -Internet Archive/American Libraries.) - - - - - - - - - - THE - BROWNIE OF BODSBECK; - AND - OTHER TALES. - - BY - JAMES HOGG, - AUTHOR OF "THE QUEEN'S WAKE," &c. &c. - - "What, has this thing appeared again to-night?" - - IN TWO VOLUMES. - - VOL. I. - - EDINBURGH; - PRINTED FOR WILLIAM BLACKWOOD, PRINCE'S-STREET: - AND - JOHN MURRAY, ALBEMARLE-STREET, LONDON. - - 1818. - - - - - TO - THE RIGHT HONOURABLE - LADY ANNE SCOTT, - OF BUCCLEUCH. - - To HER, whose bounty oft hath shed - Joy round the peasant's lowly bed, - When trouble press'd and friends were few, - And God and Angels only knew-- - To HER, who loves the board to cheer, - And hearth of simple Cottager; - Who loves the tale of rural kind, - And wayward visions of his mind, - I dedicate, with high delight, - The themes of many a winter night. - - What other name on Yarrow's vale - Can Shepherd choose to grace his tale? - There other living name is none - Heard with one feeling,--one alone. - Some heavenly charm must name endear - That all men love, and all revere! - Even the rude boy of rustic form, - And robes all fluttering to the storm, - Whose roguish lip and graceless eye - Inclines to mock the passer by, - Walks by the Maid with softer tread, - And lowly bends his burly head, - Following with eye of milder ray - The gentle form that glides away. - The little school-nymph, drawing near, - Says, with a sly and courteous leer, - As plain as eye and manner can, - "Thou lov'st me--bless thee, Lady Anne!" - Even babes catch the beloved theme, - And learn to lisp their Lady's name. - - The orphan's blessing rests on thee; - Happy thou art, and long shalt be! - 'Tis not in sorrow, nor distress, - Nor Fortune's power, to make thee less. - The heart, unaltered in its mood, - That joys alone in doing good, - And follows in the heavenly road, - And steps where once an Angel trode,-- - The joys within such heart that burn, - No loss can quench, nor time o'erturn! - The stars may from their orbits bend, - The mountains rock, the heavens rend,-- - The sun's last ember cool and quiver, - But these shall glow, and glow for ever! - - Then thou, who lov'st the shepherd's home, - And cherishest his lowly dome, - O list the mystic lore sublime, - Of fairy tales of ancient time. - I learned them in the lonely glen, - The last abodes of living men; - Where never stranger came our way - By summer night, or winter day; - Where neighbouring hind or cot was none, - Our converse was with Heaven alone, - With voices through the cloud that sung, - And brooding storms that round us hung. - - O Lady, judge, if judge you may, - How stern and ample was the sway - Of themes like these, when darkness fell, - And gray-hair'd sires the tales would tell! - When doors were barr'd, and eldron dame - Plied at her task beside the flame, - That through the smoke and gloom alone - On dim and umber'd faces shone-- - The bleat of mountain goat on high, - That from the cliff came quavering by; - The echoing rock, the rushing flood, - The cataract's swell, the moaning wood, - That undefined and mingled hum-- - Voice of the desart, never dumb!-- - All these have left within this heart - A feeling tongue can ne'er impart; - A wilder'd and unearthly flame, - A something that's without a name. - - And, Lady, thou wilt never deem - Religious tale offensive theme; - Our creeds may differ in degree, - But small that difference sure can be! - As flowers which vary in their dyes, - We all shall bloom in Paradise. - As sire who loves his children well, - The loveliest face he cannot tell,-- - So 'tis with us. We are the same, - One faith, one Father, and one aim. - - And had'st thou lived where I was bred, - Amid the scenes where martyrs bled, - Their sufferings all to thee endear'd - By those most honour'd and revered; - And where the wild dark streamlet raves, - Had'st wept above their lonely graves, - Thou would'st have felt, I know it true, - As I have done, and aye must do. - And for the same exalted cause, - For mankind's right, and nature's laws, - The cause of liberty divine, - Thy fathers bled as well as mine. - - Then be it thine, O noble Maid, - On some still eve these tales to read; - And thou wilt read, I know full well, - For still thou lovest the haunted dell; - To linger by the sainted spring, - And trace the ancient fairy ring - Where moonlight revels long were held - In many a lone sequester'd field, - By Yarrow dens and Ettrick shaw, - And the green mounds of Carterhaugh. - - O for one kindred heart that thought - As minstrel must, and lady ought, - That loves like thee the whispering wood, - And range of mountain solitude! - Think how more wild the greenwood scene, - If times were still as they have been; - If fairies, at the fall of even, - Down from the eye-brow of the heaven, - Or some aerial land afar, - Came on the beam of rising star; - Their lightsome gambols to renew, - From the green leaf to quaff the dew, - Or dance with such a graceful tread, - As scarce to bend the gowan's head! - - Think if thou wert, some evening still, - Within thy wood of green Bowhill-- - Thy native wood!--the forest's pride! - Lover or sister by thy side; - In converse sweet the hour to improve - Of things below and things above, - Of an existence scarce begun, - And note the stars rise one by one. - Just then, the moon and daylight blending, - To see the fairy bands descending, - Wheeling and shivering as they came, - Like glimmering shreds of human frame; - Or sailing, 'mid the golden air, - In skiffs of yielding gossamer. - - O, I would wander forth alone - Where human eye hath never shone, - Away o'er continents and isles - A thousand and a thousand miles, - For one such eve to sit with thee, - Their strains to hear and forms to see! - Absent the while all fears of harm, - Secure in Heaven's protecting arm; - To list the songs such beings sung, - And hear them speak in human tongue; - To see in beauty, perfect, pure, - Of human face the miniature, - And smile of being free from sin, - That had not death impress'd within. - Oh, can it ever be forgot - What Scotland had, and now has not! - - Such scenes, dear Lady, now no more - Are given, or fitted as before, - To eye or ear of guilty dust; - But when it comes, as come it must, - The time when I, from earth set free, - Shall turn the spark I fain would be; - If there's a land, as grandsires tell, - Where Brownies, Elves, and Fairies dwell, - There my first visit shall be sped-- - Journeyer of earth, go hide thy head! - Of all thy travelling splendour shorn, - Though in thy golden chariot borne! - Yon little cloud of many a hue - That wanders o'er the solar blue, - That curls, and rolls, and fleets away - Beyond the very springs of day,-- - That do I challenge and engage - To be my travelling equipage, - Then onward, onward, far to steer, - The breeze of Heaven my charioteer; - The soul's own energy my guide, - Eternal hope my all beside. - At such a shrine who would not bow! - Traveller of earth, where art thou now? - - Then let me for these legends claim, - My young, my honour'd Lady's name; - That honour is reward complete, - Yet I must crave, if not unmeet, - One little boon--delightful task - For maid to grant, or minstrel ask! - - One day, thou may'st remember well, - For short the time since it befel, - When o'er thy forest-bowers of oak, - The eddying storm in darkness broke; - Loud sung the blast adown the dell, - And Yarrow lent her treble swell; - The mountain's form grew more sublime, - Wrapt in its wreaths of rolling rime; - And Newark Cairn, in hoary shroud, - Appear'd like giant o'er the cloud: - The eve fell dark, and grimly scowl'd, - Loud and more loud the tempest howl'd; - Without was turmoil, waste, and din, - The kelpie's cry was in the linn, - But all was love and peace within! - And aye, between, the melting strain - Pour'd from thy woodland harp amain, - Which, mixing with the storm around, - Gave a wild cadence to the sound. - - That mingled scene, in every part, - Hath so impressed thy shepherd's heart, - With glowing feelings, kindling bright - Some filial visions of delight, - That almost border upon pain, - And he would hear those strains again. - They brought delusions not to last, - Blending the future with the past; - Dreams of fair stems, in foliage new, - Of flowers that spring where others grew - Of beauty ne'er to be outdone, - And stars that rise when sets the sun; - The patriarchal days of yore, - The mountain music heard no more, - With all the scene before his eyes, - A family's and a nation's ties-- - Bonds which the Heavens alone can rend, - With Chief, with Father, and with Friend. - No wonder that such scene refin'd - Should dwell on rude enthusiast's mind! - Strange his reverse!--He little wist-- - Poor inmate of the cloud and mist! - That ever he, as friend, should claim - The proudest Caledonian name. - - J. H. - - ELTRIVE LAKE, _April 1st, 1818_. - - - - -THE BROWNIE OF BODSBECK. - - - - -CHAPTER I. - - -"It will be a bloody night in Gemsop this," said Walter of Chapelhope, -as he sat one evening by the side of his little parlour fire, and wrung -the rim of his wet bonnet into the grate. His wife sat by his side, -airing a pair of clean hosen for her husband, to replace his wet ones. -She looked stedfastly in his face, but uttered not a word;--it was one -of those looks that cannot be described, but it bespoke the height of -curiosity, mingled with a kind of indefinite terror. She loved and -respected her husband, and sometimes was wont to teaze or cajole him -from his purpose; but one glance of his eye, or scowl of his eyebrow, -was a sufficient admonition to her when she ventured to use such -freedom. - -The anxious stare that she bent on his face at this time was enquiry -enough, what he meant by the short and mysterious sentence he had just -uttered; but from the fulness of his heart he had said that which he -could not recal, and had no mind to commit himself farther. His eldest -son, John, was in the room too, which he had not remarked before he -spoke, and therefore he took the first opportunity to change the -subject. "Gudewife," said he, tartly, "what are ye sittin glowrin like a -bendit wulcat there for? Gae away and get me something to eat; I'm like -to fa' atwae wi' sheer hunger." - -"Hunger, father!" said the lad; "I'm sure I saw ye take as much meat to -the hill with you as might have served six." - -Walter looked first over the one shoulder at him, and then over the -other, but, repressing his wrath, he sat silent about the space of two -minutes, as if he had not heard what the youth said. "Callant," then -said he, with the greatest seeming composure, "rin away to the hill, an' -see after the eild nowt; ca' them up by the Quare Burn, an' bide wi' -them till they lie down, gin that sudna be till twal o'clock at -night--Gae away when I bid ye--What are ye mumgin at?" And saying so, he -gave him such a thwack on the neck and shoulders with the wet bonnet as -made him make the best of his way to the door. Whether he drove the -young cattle as far as the Quare Burn, or whether he looked after them -that night or not, Walter made no farther enquiry. - -He sat still by his fire wrapt in deep thought, which seemed to increase -his uneasy and fretful mood. Maron Linton, (for that was the goodwife of -Chapelhope's name) observing the bad humour of her husband, and knowing -for certain that something disagreeable had befallen him, wisely forbore -all intermeddling or teazing questions respecting the cause. Long -experience had taught her the danger of these. She bustled about, and -set him down the best fare that the house afforded; then, taking up her -tobacco pipe, she meditated an escape into the kitchen. She judged that -a good hearty meal by himself might somewhat abate his chagrin; and, -besides, the ominous words were still ringing in her ears--"It will be a -bloody night in Gemsop this"--and she longed to sound the shepherds that -were assembled around the kitchen fire, in order to find out their -import. Walter, however, perceiving her drift, stopped her short -with--"Gudewife, whar are ye gaun sae fast--Come back an' sit down here, -I want to speak t'ye." - -Maron trembled at the tone in which these words were spoken, but -nevertheless did as she was desired, and sat down again by the fire. -"Weel, Watie, what is't?" said she, in a low and humble tone. - -Walter plied his spoon for some time without deigning any reply; then -turning full upon her, "Has Kate been in her bed every night this -week?" asked he seriously. - -"Dear gudeman, whaten a question's that to speer at me--What can hae put -sic a norie i' your head as that?" - -"That's no answerin my question, Maron, but speerin ither twa instead -o't--I axt ye gin Kate hadna been out o' her bed for some nights -bygane." - -"How sude I ken ony thing about that, gudeman?--ye may gang an' speer at -her--Out o' her bed, quotha!--Na--there'll nae young skempy amang them -wile her out o' her bed i'the night-time.--Dear gudeman, what has put it -i'your head that our bairn stravaigs i'the night-time?" - -"Na, na, Maron, there's nae mortal soul will ever gar ye answer to the -point." - -"Dear gudeman, wha heard ever tell o' a _mortal_ soul?--the soul's no -mortal at a'--Didna ye hear our ain worthy curate-clerk say"---- - -"O, Maron! Maron! ye'll aye be the auld woman, if the warld sude turn -upside-down!--Canna ye answer my question simply, ay or no, as far as ye -ken, whether our daughter has been out o' her bed at midnight for some -nights bygane or no?--If ye ken that she has, canna ye tell me sae at -aince, without ganging about the bush? it's a thing that deeply concerns -us baith." - -"Troth, gudeman, gin she hae been out o' her bed, mony a honest man's -bairn has been out o' her bed at midnight afore her, an' nae ill in her -mind nouther--the thing's as common as the rising o' the se'en sterns." - -Walter turned round towards his meal, after casting a look of pity and -despair upon his yokefellow, who went on at great length defending the -equivocal practice of young women who might deem it meet and convenient -to leave their beds occasionally by night; for that, without some mode -of private wooing, it was well known that no man in the country could -possibly procure a wife, for that darkness rendered a promise serious, -which passed in open day for a mere joke, or words of course; and at -length Maron Linton, with more sagacity than usual, concluded her -arguments with the following home remark:--"Ye ken fu' weel, gudeman, ye -courtit me i'the howe o' the night yoursel; an' Him that kens the heart -kens weel that I hae never had cause to rue our bits o' trysts i'the -dark--Na, na! mony's the time an' aft that I hae blest them, an' thought -o' them wi' pleasure! We had ae kind o' happiness then, Watie, we hae -another now, an' we'll hae another yet." - -There was something in this appeal that it would have been unnatural to -have resisted. There is a tenderness in the recollection of early scenes -of mutual joy and love, that invariably softens the asperity of our -nature, and draws the heart by an invisible bond toward the sharer of -these; but when they are at one view connected with the present and the -future, the delight receives a tinge of sublimity. In short, the appeal -was one of the most happy that ever fell from the lips of a simple and -ignorant, though a well-meaning woman. It was not lost upon Walter; who, -though of a rough exterior and impatient humour, was a good man. He took -his wife's hand and squeezed it, while the pupil of his eye expanded -like that of a huge mountain ram, when he turns it away from the last -ray of the setting sun. - -"My gude auld wife," said he, "God bless ye!--Ye hae bits o' queer gates -whiles, but I wadna part wi' ye, or see ane o' yer grey hairs wranged, -for a' the ewes on the Hermon Law."--Maron gave two or three sobs, and -put the corner of her check-apron upon the eye that was next -Walter.--"Fair fa' your heart, Maron," said he, "we'll say nae mair -about it; but, my woman, we maun crack about our bits o' hame affairs, -an' I had the strongest reasons for coming to the truth o' yon; however, -I'll try ither means.--But, Maron Linton, there's anither thing, that in -spite o' my heart is like to breed me muckle grief, an' trouble, an' -shame.--Maron, has the Brownie o' Bodsbeck been ony mair seen about the -town?" - -"Troth, gudeman, ye're aye sae hard i' the belief--wi' a' your kindness -to me and mine, ye hae a dour, stiff, unbowsome kind o' nature in -ye--it'll hardly souple whan steepit i' yer ain e'esight--but I can tell -ye for news, ye'll no hae a servant about yer house, man, woman, nor -boy, in less than a fortnight, if this wicked and malevolent spirit -canna be put away--an' I may say i' the language o' Scripture, 'My name -is Legion, for we are many.' It's no ae Brownie, nor twa, nor -half-a-score, that's about the house, but a great hantle--they say -they're ha'f deils ha'f fock--a thing that I dinna weel understand. But -how many bannocks think ye I hae baken in our house these eight days, -an' no a crust o' them to the fore but that wee bit on your trencher?" - -"I little wot, gudewife; maybe half-a-dizen o' dizens." - -"Half-a-dizen o' dizens, gudeman!--aye sax dizen o' dizens!--a' the meal -girnels i' the country wadna stand it, let abee the wee bit meal ark o' -Chapelhope." - -"Gudewife, I'm perfectly stoundit. I dinna ken what to say, or what to -think, or what to do; an' the mair sae o' what I have heard sin' I gaed -to the hill--Auld John o' the Muir, our herd, wha I ken wadna tell a lee -for the Laird o' Drumelzier's estate, saw an unco sight the night afore -last." - -"Mercy on us, gudeman! what mair has been seen about the town?" - -"I'll tell ye, gudewife--on Monanday night he cam yont to stop the ewes -aff the hogg-fence, the wind being eissel--it was a wee after midnight, -an' the moon wasna just gane down--he was sittin i' the scug o' a bit -cleuch-brae, when, or ever he wist, his dog Keilder fell a gurrin' an' -gurrin', as he had seen something that he was terrified for--John took -him aneath his plaid, an' held him, thinkin it was some sheep-stealers; -but or it was lang he saw a white thing an' a black thing comin' up the -Houm close thegither; they cam by within three catloups o' him--he -grippit his cudgel firm, an' was aince gaun to gie them strength o' arm, -but his power failed him, an' a' his sinnens grew like dockans; there -was a kind o' glamour cam o'er his een too, for a' the hope an' the -heaven grew as derk as tar an' pitch--but the settin moon shone even in -their faces, and he saw them as weel as it had been fore-day. The tane -was a wee bit hurklin crile of an unearthly thing, as shrinkit an' wan -as he had lien seven years i' the grave; the tither was like a young -woman--an' what d'ye think? he says he'll gang to death wi't that it was -outher our dochter or her wraith." - -Maron lifted up her eyes and her clasped hands toward the ceiling, and -broke out with the utmost vehemence into the following raving -ejaculation:--"O mercy, mercy! Watie Laidlaw!--O, may Him that dwalls -atween the Sherubeams be wi' us, and preserve us and guide us, for we -are undone creatures!--O, Watie Laidlaw, Watie Laidlaw! there's the -wheel within the wheel, the mystery o' Babylon, the mother of harlots, -and abominations of the earth----" - -"Maron Linton!--What are ye sayin?--Haud yer tongue, Maron Linton." - -"O gudeman, I thought it was the young fallows ye jaloosed her wi'--I -wish it had. I wad rather hae seen her i'the black stool, in the place -where repentance is to be hoped for; but now she's i'the deil's ain -hands. I jaloosed it, Watie--I kend it--I was sure o't lang syne--our -bairn's changed--she's transplanted--she's no Keaty Laidlaw now, but an -unearthly creature--we might weel hae kend that flesh an' blude cude -never be sae bonny--Goodman, I hae an awsome tale to tell ye--Wha think -ye was it that killed Clavers' Highlanders?" - -"That, I suppose, will remain a mystery till the day when a' secrets -will be cleared up, an' a' the deeds o' darkness brought to light." - -"Sae may it be, Watie! Sae may it be! But it was neither ane nor other -but our ain only dochter Kate." - -"Ye're ravin, Maron--troth, ye're gaun daft--a bit sklendry lassie o' -aughteen kill sae mony armed Highlanders?--Hout fye! keep within bounds, -Maron." - -"I heard her wi' thir lugs it's i'my head--Stannin on that very room -floor, I heard her gie the orders to her Brownie. She was greetin whan I -cam in--I listened and heard her saying, while her heart was like to -loup, 'Wae's me! O wae's me! or mid-day their blood will be rinning like -water!--The auld an' the young, the bonny an' the gude, the sick an' the -woundit--That blude may cry to Heaven, but the cauld earth will drink it -up; days may be better, but waur they canna be! Down wi' the clans, -Brownie, and spare nae ane.' In less than ten minutes after that, the -men were found dead. Now, Watie, this is a plain an' positive truth." - -Walter's blood curdled within him at this relation. He was -superstitious, but he always affected to disbelieve the existence of the -Brownie, though the evidences were so strong as not to admit of any -doubt; but this double assurance, that his only daughter, whom he loved -above all the world besides, was leagued with evil spirits, utterly -confounded him. He charged his wife, in the most solemn manner, never -more, during her life, to mention the mysterious circumstance relating -to the death of the Highland soldiers. It is not easy to conceive a pair -in more consummate astonishment than Walter and his spouse were by the -time the conversation had reached this point. The one knew not what to -think, to reject, or believe--the other believed all, without -comprehending a single iota of that she did believe; her mind -endeavoured to grasp a dreadful imaginary form, but the dimensions were -too ample for its reasoning powers; they were soon dilated, burst, and -were blown about, as it were, in a world of vision and terror. - - - - -CHAPTER II. - - -Before proceeding with the incidents as they occurred, which is the -common way of telling a story in the country, it will be necessary to -explain some circumstances alluded to in the foregoing chapter. - -Walter Laidlaw rented the extensive bounds of Chapelhope from the Laird -of Drummelzier. He was a substantial, and even a wealthy man, as times -went then, for he had a stock of 3000 sheep, cattle, and horses; and -had, besides, saved considerable sums of money, which he had lent out to -neighbouring farmers who were not in circumstances so independent as -himself. - -He had one only daughter, his darling, who was adorned with every -accomplishment which the country could then afford, and with every -grace and beauty that a country maiden may possess. He had likewise two -sons, who were younger than she, and a number of shepherds and female -servants. - -The time on which the incidents here recorded took place, was, I -believe, in the autumn of the year 1685, the most dismal and troublous -time that these districts of the south and west of Scotland ever saw, or -have since seen. The persecution for religion then raged in its wildest -and most unbridled fury: the Covenanters, or the whigs, as they were -then called, were proscribed, imprisoned, and at last hunted down like -wild beasts. Graham, Viscount of Dundee, better known by the detested -name of Clavers, set loose his savage troopers upon those peaceful -districts, with peremptory orders to plunder, waste, disperse, and -destroy the conventiclers, wherever they might be found. - -All the outer parts of the lands of Chapelhope are broken into thousands -of deep black ruts, called by the country people _moss haggs_. Each of -the largest of these has a green stripe along its bottom; and in this -place in particular they are so numerous, so intersected and complex in -their lines, that, as a hiding-place, they are unequalled--men, foxes, -and sheep, may all there find cover with equal safety from being -discovered, and may hide for days and nights without being aware of one -another. The neighbouring farms to the westward abound with inaccessible -rocks, caverns, and ravines. To these mountains, therefore, the -shattered remains of the fugitives from the field of Bothwell Bridge, as -well as the broken and persecuted whigs from all the western and -southern counties, fled as to their last refuge. Being unacquainted, -however, with the inhabitants of the country in which they had taken -shelter--with their religious principles, or the opinions which they -held respecting the measures of government--they durst not trust them -with the secret of their retreat. They had watches set, sounds for -signals, and skulked away from one hiding-place to another at the -approach of the armed troop, the careless fowler, or the solitary -shepherd; yea, such precautions were they obliged to use, that they -often fled from the face of one another. - -From the midst of that inhospitable wilderness--from those dark mosses -and unfrequented caverns--the prayers of the persecuted race nightly -arose to the throne of the Almighty--prayers, as all testified who heard -them, fraught with the most simple pathos, as well as the most bold and -vehement sublimity. In the solemn gloom of the evening, after the last -rays of day had disappeared, and again in the morning before they began -to streamer the east, the song of praise was sung to that Being, under -whose fatherly chastisement they were patiently suffering. These psalms, -always chaunted with ardour and wild melody, and borne on the light -breezes of the twilight, were often heard at a great distance. The heart -of the peasant grew chill, and his hairs stood all on end, as he hasted -home to alarm the cottage circle with a tale of horror. Lights were seen -moving by night in wilds and caverns where human thing never resided, -and where the foot of man seldom had trode. - -The shepherds knew, or thought they knew, that no human being frequented -these places; and they believed, as well they might, that whole hordes -of spirits had taken possession of their remote and solitary dells. They -lived in terror and consternation. Those who had no tie in the country -left it, and retreated into the vales, where the habitations of men are -numerous, and where the fairy, the brownie, or the walking ghost, is -rarely seen. Such as had friends whom they could not leave, or sheep and -cattle upon the lands, as the farmers and shepherds had, were obliged to -remain, but their astonishment and awe continued to increase. They knew -there was but one Being to whom they could apply for protection against -these unearthly visitants; family worship was begun both at evening and -morning in the farmers' hall and the most remote hamlet; and that age -introduced a spirit of devotion into those regions, which one hundred -and thirty years continuance of the utmost laxity and indecision in -religious principles has not yet been able wholly to eradicate. - -It is likewise necessary to mention here, though perfectly well known, -that every corner of that distracted country was furnished with a -gownsman, to instruct the inhabitants in the _mild_ and _benignant_ -principles of prelacy, but chiefly to act as spies upon the detested -whigs. In the fulfilment of this last task they were not remiss; they -proved the most inveterate and incorrigible enemies that the poor -covenanters had, even though heaven, earth, and hell seemed to have -combined against them. - -The officiating priest at the kirk of Saint Mary of the Lowes had been -particularly active in this part of his commission. The smallest number -could not be convened for the purposes of public devotion--two or three -stragglers could not be seen crossing the country, but information was -instantly sent to Clavers, or some one of his officers; and, at the same -time, these devotional meetings were always described to be of the most -atrocious and rebellious nature. The whigs became grievously incensed -against this ecclesiastic, for, in the bleakest mountain of their native -land, they could not enjoy a lair in common with the foxes and the -wild-goats in peace, nor worship their God without annoyance in the dens -and caves of the earth. Their conventicles, though held in places ever -so remote, were broke in upon and dispersed by armed troops, and their -ministers and brethren carried away to prisons, to banishment, and to -death. They waxed desperate; and what will not desperate men do? They -way-laid, and seized upon one of the priest's emissaries by night, a -young female, who was running on a message to Grierson of Lag. Overcome -with fear at being in custody of such frightful-looking fellows, with -their sallow cheeks and long beards, she confessed the whole, and gave -up her dispatches. They were of the most aggravated nature. Forthwith -two or three of the most hardy of the whigs, without the concurrence or -knowledge of their brethren, posted straight to the Virgin's chapel that -very night, shot the chaplain, and buried him at a small distance from -his own little solitary mansion; at the same time giving out to the -country, that he was a sorcerer, an adulterer, and a character every way -evil. His name has accordingly been handed down to posterity as a most -horrid necromancer. - -This was a rash and unpremeditated act; and, as might well have been -foreseen, the cure proved worse than the disease. It brought the armed -troops upon them both from the east and the west. Dundee came to -Traquair, and stationed companies of troops in a line across the -country. The Laird of Lag placed a body of men in the narrowest pass of -Moffatdale, in the only path by which these mountains are accessible. -Thus all communication was cut off between the mountain-men and the -western counties; for every one who went or came by that way, these -soldiers took prisoner, searched, and examined; and one lad, who was -coming from Moffat, carrying more bread than they thought he could well -account for, they shot dead on the spot just as he had dropt on his -knees to pray. - -A curate, named Clerk, still remained, to keep an eye upon the whigs and -pester them. He had the charge of two chapels in that vicinity; the one -at a place now called Kirkhope, which was dedicated to Saint Irene, a -saint of whom the narrator of this story could give no account. The -other was dedicated to Saint Lawrence; the remains of it are still to be -seen at Chapelhope, in a small circular inclosure on the west side of -the burn. Clerk was as malevolent to the full against the proscribed -party as his late brother, but he wanted the abilities of the deceased; -he was ignorant, superstitious, and had assumed a part of the fanaticism -in religion of the adverse party, for it was the age and the country of -fanaticism, and nothing else would take. By that principally he had -gained some influence among his hearers, on whom he tried every -stimulant to influence them against the whigs. The goodwife of -Chapelhope was particularly attached to him and his tenets; he held her -completely in leading-strings; her concience approved of every thing, or -disapproved, merely as he directed; he flattered her for her deep -knowledge in true and sound divinity and the Holy Scriptures, although -of both she was grossly ignorant. But she had learned from her preceptor -a kind of cant--a jargon of religious terms and sentences of Scripture -mixed, of which she had great pride but little understanding. She was -just such a character as would have been a whig, had she ever had an -opportunity of hearing or conversing with any of that sect. Nothing -earthly could be so truly ludicrous as some of her exhibitions in a -religious style. The family and servants were in general swayed by their -mistress, who took a decided part with Clerk in all his schemes against -the whigs, and constantly dispatched one of her own servants to carry -his messages of information to the king's officers. This circumstance -soon became known to the mountain-men, and though they were always -obliged to take refuge on the lands of Chapelhope by day, they avoided -carefully all communication with the family or shepherds (for several of -the shepherds on that farm lived in cottages at a great distance from -one another and from the farm-house.) - -Walter despised Clerk and his tenets most heartily; he saw that he was -a shallow, hypocritical, and selfish being, and that he knew nothing of -the principles in which he pretended to instruct them; therefore he -sorely regretted the influence that he had gained over his family. -Neither did he approve of the rigid and rebellious principles which he -believed the Covenanters professed. When he met with any man, or -community of men, who believed firmly in any thing and held it sacred, -Walter revered that, and held it sacred likewise; but it was rather from -a deference to the belief and feelings of his fellow creatures than his -own conviction. In short, Walter was an honest, conscientious, good, -old-fashioned man, but he made no great fuss about religion, and many -supposed that he did not care a pin who was right or who was wrong. - -On the 23d of August, Clavers (I think it best to denominate him so, as -he is always called by that name in the country,) dispatched nineteen -men from Traquair, under the command of one Copland, a gentleman -volunteer in his troop, and a very brave young man, to gain intelligence -concerning the murder of the curate, and use every means to bring the -perpetrators to justice. Copland and his men came to the mansion of the -late chaplain, where they remained all the night, and made every enquiry -that they could concerning the murderers. Several witnesses were brought -in and examined, and among others the very identical girl whom the whigs -took prisoner, and robbed of the dispatches. She had heard the letter -read by one of the gang who seized her, while the rest stood and -listened. It bore, "that great numbers of the broken and rebellious -traitors kenneled in the wilds around Loch-Skene, from whence they -committed depredations on all the countries about; that they likewise -made religious incursions into those districts, where great multitudes -attended their inflammatory harangues." It also stated, "that a noted -incendiary was to preach on such a day in Kirkinhope Linn, where the -whole group might easily be surrounded and annihilated; that many of -them were armed with guns, bludgeons, and broadswords, but that they -were the most cowardly, heartless dogs alive; and that he himself, who -had private and certain information of all their hiding places, would -engage to rid the country of them in a few days, if Lag would allow him -but one company of soldiers." - -Copland now began to suspect that his force was too small to accomplish -any thing of moment; he determined, however, to make a dash into the -wild next morning, and, if possible, to seize some prisoners, and -thereby gain more accurate information. On the morning of the 24th, -having procured two trusty guides, he proceeded on his expedition. He -and nine of his followers went up by a place called Sheilhope, the other -nine by Chapelhope--they were to scour the broken ground, take all those -prisoners whom they found skulking, fire upon such as refused to stand, -and meet on a certain height at noon. Copland and his party reached the -appointed place without making any reprisal; they perceived some -stragglers on the heights and rocks at a great distance, who always -vanished away, like beings not of this world. Three of the other party -took one poor lad prisoner, who was so spent and emaciated that he had -been unable to fly at the signal-sound; but so intent were they on blood -that he was not ever brought before their leader, who never so much as -knew of the capture. - -The guide was wont to relate the circumstances of this poor man's trial -and execution, for, but for him, no such thing would ever have been -known; the death of a whig, or a straggler of any kind, was then a -matter of no concern--They were three Brae-mar Highlanders who took him; -like the most part of his associates, he answered their questions in a -surly manner, and by the most cutting retorts, which particularly -enraged a Donald Farquharson, one of the party, against him. "Weel, -I'll pe pitting you to 'e test, and tat fery shun, my coot freen," said -Donald; "and I'll just pe teeling you, eince for a', tat ye haif ne meer -but tway meenets and a half to leef." - -The poor forlorn wight answered, "that he expected no better at their -hands,--that he desired no longer time, and he hoped they would bear -patiently with him for that short space." He then kneeled down and -prayed most fervently, while Donald, who wanted only a hair to make a -tether of, as the saying is, seemed watching diligently for a word at -which to quarrel. At length he spoke words to the following purport. -"Father, forgive these poor misled creatures, as I forgive them; they -are running blindly upon a wrong path, and without the power of thy -grace they shall never gain the right one more." Donald, who did not -well understand the dialect in which the prisoner prayed, looked -shrewdly at his companions. "Dugald More," said he--"Dugald More, fat's -'e man saying?" - -"He is praying," replied the other, "that we may lose our way, and never -find it more." - -"Cot t--n 'e soul o' 'e tief, is he?" said Donald, and ran him through -with his bayonet. - -The wounded man groaned, and cried most piteously, and even called out -"murder," but there was none to rescue or regard him. The soldiers, -however, cut the matter short, by tossing him into a deep hole in the -morass, where he sunk in the mire and was seen no more. - -When Copland arrived at the place of rendezvous, five out of his ten -associates were no where to be seen, nor did they make their appearance, -although he tarried there till two in the afternoon. The guide then -conducted him by the path on which those missing should have come, and -on arriving at a narrow pass in Chapelhope, he found the bodies of the -four soldiers and their guide mangled and defaced in no ordinary -way; and judging from this that he had been long enough in that -neighbourhood, he hasted back to Traquair with the news of the loss. -Clavers is said to have broke out into the most violent rage, and to -have sworn that night by the Blessed Virgin and all the Holy Trinity, -utterly to extirpate the seed of the d--d whining psalm-singing race -from the face of the earth, and that ere Beltein there should not be as -much whig blood in Scotland as would make a dish of soup to a dog. He -however concealed from the privy council the loss of these five men, nor -did they ever know of it to this day. - - - - -CHAPTER III. - - -Things were precisely in this state, when the goodman of Chapelhope, -taking his plaid and staff, went out to the heights one misty day in -autumn to drive off a neighbour's flock from his pasture; but, as Walter -was wont to relate the story himself, when any stranger came there on a -winter evening, as long as he lived, it may haply be acceptable to the -curious, and the lovers of rustic simplicity, to read it in his own -words, although he drew it out to an inordinate length, and perhaps kept -his own personal feelings and prowess too much in view for the -fastidious or critical reader to approve. - -"It was on a mirk misty day in September," said Walter, "I mind it -weel, that I took my plaid about me, and a bit gay steeve aik stick in -my hand, and away I sets to turn aff the Winterhopeburn sheep. The wind -had been east-about a' that harst, I hae some sma' reason ne'er to -forget it, and they had amaist gane wi' a' the gairs i' our North Grain. -I weel expected I wad find them a' in the scaithe that dark day, and I -was just amind to tak them hame in a drove to Aidie Andison's door, and -say, 'Here's yer sheep for ye, lad; ye maun outher keep them better, or -else, gude faith, I'll keep them for ye.'--I had been crost and put -about wi' them a' that year, and I was just gaun to bring the screw to -the neb o' the mire-snipe.--Weel, off I sets--I had a special dog -at my feet, and a bit gay fine stick in my hand, and I was rather -cross-natured that day--'Auld Wat's no gaun to be o'er-trampit wi' nane -o' them, for a' that's come and gane yet,' quo' I to mysel as I gaed up -the burn.--Weel, I slings aye on wi' a gay lang step; but, by the time -that I had won the Forkings, I gat collied amang the mist, sae derk, -that fient a spark I could see--Stogs aye on through cleuch and gill, -and a' the gairs that they used to spounge, but, to my great mervel, I -can nouther see a hair of a ewe's tail, nor can I hear the bleat of a -lamb, or the bell of a wether--No ane, outher of my ain or ither -folks!--'Ay,' says I to mysel, 'what can be the meaning o' this? od, -there has been somebody here afore me the day!' I was just standin -looking about me amang the lang hags that lead out frae the head o' the -North Grain, and considering what could be wort of a' the sheep, when I -noticed my dog, Reaver, gaun coursing away forrit as he had been setting -a fox. What's this, thinks I--On he gangs very angry like, cocking his -tail, and setting up his birses, till he wan to the very brink of a deep -hag; but when he gat there, my certy, he wasna lang in turning! Back he -comes, by me, an' away as the deil had been chasing him; as terrified a -beast I saw never--Od, sir, I fand the very hairs o' my head begin to -creep, and a prinkling through a' my veins and skin like needles and -preens.--'God guide us!' thinks I, 'what can this _be_?' The day was -derk, derk; for I was in the very stamoch o' the cludd, as it were; -still it was the day time, an' the e'e o' Heaven was open. I was as near -turned an' run after my tike as ever I'll miss, but I just fand a stound -o' manheid gang through my heart, an' forrit I sets wi' a' the vents o' -my head open. 'If it's flesh an' blude,' thinks I, 'or it get the -owrance o' auld Wat Laidlaw, od it sal get strength o' arm for aince.' -It was a deep hag, as deep as the wa's o' this house, and a strip o' -green sward alang the bottom o't; and when I came to the brow, what does -I see but twa lang liesh chaps lying sleeping at ither's sides, baith -happit wi' the same maud. 'Hallo!' cries I, wi' a stern voice, 'wha hae -we here?' If ye had but seen how they lookit when they stertit up; od, -ye wad hae thought they were twa scoundrels wakened frae the dead! I -never saw twa mair hemp-looking dogs in my life. - -'What are ye feared for, lads? Whaten twa blades are ye? Or what are ye -seeking in sic a place as this?' - -'This is a derk day, gudeman.' - -'This is a derk day, gudeman! That's sic an answer as I heard never. I -wish ye wad tell me something I dinna ken--and that's wha ye are, and -what ye're seeking here?' - -'We're seeking nought o' yours, friend.' - -'I dinna believe a word o't--ye're nae folk o' this country--I doubt ye -ken o'er weel what stealing o' sheep is--But if ye winna tell me plainly -and honestly your business here, the deil be my inmate gin I winna knock -your twa heads thegither.' - -'There is a gude auld say, honest man, _It is best to let sleeping dogs -lie, they may rise and bite you_.' - -'Bite _me_, lad!--Rise an' bite _me_!--I wad like to see a dog on a' the -heights o' Chapelhope that wad snarl at me, let be to bite!' - -"I had a gay steeve dour aik stick in my hand, an' wi' that I begoud to -heave't up, no to strike them, but just to gi'e them a glisk o' the -coming-on that was in't. By this time they were baith on their feet; and -the ane that was neist me he gi'es the tabie of his jockey-coat a fling -back, and out he pu's a braid sword frae aneath it--an' wi' the same -blink the ither whups a sma' spear out o' the heart o' his aik stick, -'Here's for ye then, auld camstary,' says they; 'an unlucky fish gets an -unlucky bait.' Od sir, I was rather stoundit; I began to look o'er my -shouther, but there was naething there but the swathes o' mist. What wad -I hae gien for twa minutes of auld John o' the Muchrah! However, there -was nae time to lose--it was come fairly to the neb o' the mire-snipe -wi' me. I never was gude when taken by surprise a' my life--gie me a wee -time, an' I turn quite foundemental then--sae, to tell the truth, in my -hurry I took the flier's part, flang the plaid frae me, and ran off up -the hag as fast as my feet could carry me, an' a' the gate the -ragamuffian wi' the sword was amaist close at my heels. The bottom o' -the hag was very narrow, twa could hardly rin abreast. My very bluid -began to rise at being chased by twa skebels, and I thought I heard a -voice within me, crying, 'Dinna flee, Wat Laidlaw! dinna flee, auld Wat! -ye hae a gude cause by the end!' I wheeled just round in a moment, sir, -and drew a desperate straik at the foremost, an' sae little kend the -haniel about fencing, that instead o' sweeing aff my downcome wi' his -sword, he held up his sword-arm to save his head--I gart his arm just -snap like a pipe-stapple, and down fell his bit whittle to the ground, -and he on aboon it. The tither, wi' his sma' spear, durstna come on, -but ran for it; I followed, and was mettler o' foot than he, but I -durstna grip him, for fear he had run his bit spit through my sma-fairns -i' the struggle, for it was as sharp as a lance, but I keepit a little -back till I gat the end o' my stick just i' the how o' his neck, and -then I gae him a push that soon gart him plew the flow with his nose. On -aboon him I gets, and the first thing I did was to fling away his bit -twig of a sword--I gart it shine through the air like a fiery -dragon--then I took him by the cuff o' the neck, and lugged him back to -his neighbour, wha was lying graning in the hag. 'Now, billies,' says I, -'ye shall answer face to face, it wad hae been as good soon as syne; -tell me directly wha ye are, and what's your business here, or, d'ye -hear me, I'll tye ye thegither like twa tikes, and tak ye to them that -will gar ye speak.' - -'Ah! lack-a-day, lack-a-day!' said the wounded man, 'ye're a rash, -foolish, passionate man, whaever ye be.' - -'Ye're maybe no very far wrang there,' quo' I; 'but for aince, I trow, I -had gude reason. Ye thought to kill _me_ wi' your bits o' shabbles o' -swords!' - -'In the first place then,' said he, 'ken that we wadna hae shed ae drap -o' your blood, nor wranged a hair o' your head--all that we wanted was -to get quit of ye, to keep ye out o' danger an' scaith. Ye hae made a -bonny day's wark on't truly, we had naething in view but your ain -safety--but sin' ye will ken ye maun ken; we belang to a poor proscribed -remnant, that hae fled from the face of a bloody persecution. We have -left all, and lost all, for the cause of our religion, and are driven -into this dismal wilderness, the only miserable retreat left us in our -native land.' - -'Od, sir! he hadna weel begun to speak till the light o' the truth began -to dawn within me like the brek o' the day-sky, an' I grew as red too, -for the devil needna hae envied me my feelings at that time. I couldna -help saying to mysel, 'Whow, whow, Wat Laidlaw! but ye hae made a bonny -job o't this morning!--Here's twa puir creatures, worn out wi' famine -and watching, come to seek a last refuge amang your hags and mosses, and -ye maun fa' to and be pelting and threshing on them like an incarnate -devil as ye are.--Oh, wae's me! wae's me!'--Lord, sir, I thought my -heart wad burst--There was a kind o' yuke came into my een that I could -hardly bruke; but at length the muckle tears wan out wi' a sair faught, -and down they came down ower my beard, dribble for dribble. The men saw -the pliskie that I was in, and there was a kind o' ruefu' benevolence i' -their looks, I never saw ony thing like it.' - -'Dinna be wae for us, honest man,' said they; 'we hae learned to -suffer--we hae kend nought else for this mony a lang and bloody year, -an' we look for nought else for the wee while we hae to sojourn in this -weary world--we hae learned to suffer patiently, and to welcome our -sufferings as mercies.' - -'Ye've won a gude length, man,' quo' I; 'but they're mercies that I'm -never very fond o'--I wish ye had suffered under ony hand but mine, sin' -it be your lot.' - -'Dinna be sorry for us, honest man; there never was an act o' mair -justice than this that ye hae inflicted. Last night there were fifteen -o' us met at evening worship--we hadna tasted meat for days and nights; -to preserve our miserable lives, we stole a sheep, dressed, and ate it; -and wi' this very arm that you hae disabled, did I grip and kill that -sheep. It was a great sin, nae doubt, but the necessity was also -great--I am sae far punished, and I hope the Lord will forgie the rest.' - -'If he dinna,' quo' I, 'he's no what I think him.' Then he began a lang -serious harangue about the riches o' free grace, and about the -wickedness o' our nature; and said, that we could do naething o' -oursells _but_ sin. I said it was a hard construction, but I couldna -argy the point ava wi' him--I never was a dab at these lang-winded -stories. Then they cam on about prelacy and heresies, and something they -ca'd the act of abjuration. I couldna follow him out at nae rate; but I -says, I pit nae doubt, callants, but ye're right, for ye hae proven to -a' the warld that ye think sae; and when a man feels conscious that he's -right, I never believe he can be far wrang in sic matters. But that's no -the point in question; let us consider what can be done for ye e'en -now--Poor souls! God kens, my heart's sair for ye; but this land's mine, -an' a' the sheep around ye, an' ye're welcome to half-a-dozen o' the -best o' them in sic a case.' - -'Ah! lack-a-day, lack-a-day! If ye be the gudeman o' the Chapelhope, -ye'll rue the day that ever ye saw us. If it's kend that ye countenanced -us in word or deed, ye're a ruined man; for the blood-hounds are near at -hand, and they'll herry ye out and in, but and ben--Lack-a-day! -lack-a-day! in a wee while we may gang and come by the Chapelhope, and -nouther see a lum reek nor hear a cock craw; for Clavers is on the one -hand and Lag on the other, and they're coming nearer and nearer us every -day, and hemming us in sairer and sairer--renounce us and deny us, as ye -wish to thrive.' - -'Na, na, lads, let them come--let them come their ways! Gin they should -take a' the ewes and kye on the Chapelhope, I can stock it o'er again. I -dinna gie a bawbee about your leagues, and covenants, and associations, -for I think aye there's a good deal o' faction and dourness in them; but -or I'll desert a fellow-creature that's oppressed, if he's an honest -man, and lippens to me, od, I'll gie them the last drap o' my heart's -bluid.' - -"When they heard that, they took me out to the tap of a knowe, and -began to whistle like plovers--nae herd alive could hae kend but they -were plovers--and or ever I wist, ilka hag, and den, and tod-hole round -about, seemed to be fu' o' plovers, for they fell a' to the whistling -an' answering ane another at the same time. I had often been wondering -how they staid sae lang on the heights that year, for I heard them aye -whewing e'en an' morn; but little trowed I they were a' twa-handed -plovers that I heard. In half an hour they had sic a squad gathered -thegither as e'e never glimed on. There ye might hae seen auld -gray-bearded ministers, lairds, weavers, and poor hinds, a' sharing the -same hard fate. They were pale, ragged, and hungry, and several o' them -lame and wounded; and they had athegither sic a haggard severity i' -their demeaner. Lord forgie me, gin I wasna feared to look at them! -There was ane o' them a doctor blade, wha soon set the poor chield's -arm; and he said, that after a' it wasna broken, but only dislockit and -sair brizzed. That doctor was the gabbiest body ever I met wi'; he spake -for them a', and I whiles feared that he sclented a wee. He tried a' -that he could to make me a Cameronian, but I wadna grip; and when I was -coming away to leave him, 'Laidlaw,' quo' he, 'we ken ye to be an -honest, honourable man; here you see a remnant of poor, forlorn, -misrepresented creatures, who have thrown themselves on your mercy; if -ye betray us, it will be the worse for ye both here and hereafter; if -you save and protect us, the prayers of the just win their way to -Heaven, though fiends should be standing by to oppose them--Ay, there's -naething can stop _their_ journey, Laidlaw!--The winds canna blaw them -aside, the clouds canna drown them, and the lights o' Heaven canna burn -them; and your name will stand at that bar where there's nae cruel and -partial judge--What you gie to us, ye gie to your Maker, and he will -repay you seven fold.' Od, the body was like to gar me play the bairn -and greet even out. Weel, I canna mind the half that he said, but he -endit wi' this:--'We have seen our friends all bound, banished, and -destroyed; they have died on the field, on the scaffold, and at the -stake; but the reek o' their blood shall drive the cruel Stuarts frae -the land they have disgraced, and out of it a church of truth and -liberty shall spring. There is still a handfu' remaining in Israel that -have not yet bowed the knee to Baal, nor yet kissed him--That remnant -has fled here to escape the cruelty of man; but a worse fate threatens -us now--we are all of us perishing with famine--For these three days we -have tasted nothing but the green moss, save a few wretched trouts, -eels, and adders.' 'Ethers, man!' quo' I,--'For the love o' God take -care how ye eat the ethers--ye may as weel cut your throats at aince as -eat them. Na, na, lad, that's meat that will never do.' I said nae mair, -but gae just a wave to my dog. 'Reaver,' quo' I, 'yon's away.'--In three -minutes he had ten score o' ewes and wedders at my hand. I grippit twa -o' the best I could wale, and cut aff their heads wi' my ain knife. -'Now, doctor,' quo' I, 'take these and roast them, and part them amang -ye the best way ye can--ye'll find them better than the ethers--Lord, -man, it will never do to eat ethers.'" - -After a hearty laugh, in which his guests generally joined, Walter -concluded thus: "That meeting cost me twa or three hunder round -bannocks, and mae gude ewes and wedders than I'll say; but I never -missed them, and I never rued what I did. Folk may say as they like, but -I think aye the prayers out amang the hags and rash-bushes that year did -me nae ill--It is as good to hae a man's blessing as his curse, let him -be what he may." - -Walter never went farther with his story straight onward than this; for -it began to involve family concerns, which he did not much like to -recount. He had a number of abstract stories about the Covenanters and -their persecutors; but as I must now proceed with the narrative as I -gathered it from others, these will be interwoven in their due course. - - - - -CHAPTER IV. - - -Walter visited them next day at the time and place appointed, taking -with him a dozen of bannocks and a small cheese. These he was obliged to -steal out of his own pantry, for he durst not by any means trust his -wife and family with the discovery he had made, knowing that he might as -well have confided it with the curate himself, the sworn enemy of his -motley protegees. They gathered around him with protestations of -gratitude and esteem; for the deserted and oppressed generally cling to -the first symptoms of friendship and protection with an ardency that too -often overshoots its aim. Walter naturally felt an honest pride, not so -much in that he had done, as that he intended to do; but before he -produced his repast, he began in a most serious way to question them -relating to some late incidents already mentioned. - -They all with one assent declared, and took God to witness, that they -knew nothing at all about the death of the five soldiers; that it was -not perpetrated by them, nor any connected with them; nor could they -comprehend, in the least degree, how it was effected, if not by some -supernatural agency--a judgment sent down from Heaven for their bloody -intent. With regard to the murder of the priest, they were sorry that -they knew so much. It was perpetrated by a few rash men of their number, -but entirely without their concurrent assent, as well as knowledge; that -though his death might have been necessary to the saving of a great -number of valuable lives, they had, nevertheless, unanimously protested -against it; that the perpetrators had retired from their body, they knew -not whither; and that at that very time the Rev. Messrs Alexander -Shiels and James Renwick were engaged in arranging for publication a -general protest against many things alleged against them by their -enemies, and that among others.[A] - -There was a candour in this to which Walter's heart assented. He feasted -them with his plentiful and homely cheer--promised to visit them every -day, and so to employ his shepherds that none of them should come into -that quarter to distress them. Walter was as good as his word--He -visited them every day--told them all the news that he could gather of -the troops that beleagured them--of the executions that were weekly and -daily taking place--and of every thing else relating to the state of the -country. He came loaden with food to them daily; and when he found it -impossible to steal his own bread, butter, and cheese, he supplied their -wants from his flock. The numbers of the persecuted increased on his -hands incalculably--The gudewife of Chapelhope's bannocks vanished by -scores, and the unconscionable, insatiable Brownie of Bodsbeck was -blamed for the whole. - -Some time previous to this, a young vagrant, of the name of Kennedy, -chanced to be out on these moors shooting grouse, which were extremely -plentiful. He tarried until the twilight, for he had the art of calling -the heath-fowl around him in great numbers, by imitating the cry of the -hen. He took his station for this purpose in one of those moss-hags -formerly described; but he had not well begun to call ere his ears were -saluted by the whistling of so many plovers that he could not hear his -own voice. He was obliged to desist, and lay for some time listening, in -expectation that they would soon cease crying. When lying thus, he heard -distinctly the sound of something like human voices, that spoke in -whispers hard by him; he likewise imagined that he heard the pattering -of feet, which he took for those of horses, and, convinced that it was a -raid of the fairies, he became mortally afraid; he crept closer to the -earth, and in a short time heard a swell of the most mellifluous music -that ever rose on the night. He then got up, and fled with precipitation -away, as he thought, from the place whence the music seemed to arise; -but ere he had proceeded above an hundred paces, he met with one of the -strangest accidents that ever happened to man. - -That same night, about, or a little before, the hour of midnight, two of -Laidlaw's men, who happened to be awake, imagined that they heard a -slight noise without; they arose, and looked cautiously out at a small -hole that was in the end of the stable where they slept, and beheld to -their dismay the appearance of four men, who came toward them carrying a -coffin; on their coming close to the corner of the stable, where the two -men stood, the latter heard one of them say distinctly, in a whisper, -"Where shall we lay him?" - -"We must leave him in the barn," said another. - -"I fear," said a third, "the door of that will be locked;" and they past -on. - -The men were petrified; they put on their clothes, but they durst not -move, until, in a short time thereafter, a dreadful bellowing and noise -burst forth about the door of the farm-house. The family was alarmed, -and gathered out to see what was the matter; and behold! there lay poor -Kennedy in a most piteous plight, and, in fact, stark staring mad. He -continued in a high fever all the night, and the next morning; but a -little after noon he became somewhat more calm, and related to them a -most marvellous tale indeed. - -He said, that by the time he arose to fly from the sound of the music, -the moor was become extremely dark, and he could not see with any degree -of accuracy where he was running, but that he still continued to hear -the sounds, which, as he thought, came still nigher and nigher behind -him. He was, however, mistaken in this conjecture; for in a short space -he stumbled on a hole in the heath, into which he sunk at once, and fell -into a pit which he described as being at least fifty fathom deep; that -he there found himself immediately beside a multitude of hideous beings, -with green clothes, and blue faces, who sat in a circle round a small -golden lamp, gaping and singing with the most eldrich yells. In one -instant all became dark, and he felt a weight upon his breast that -seemed heavier than a mountain. They then lifted him up, and bore him -away through the air for hundreds of miles, amid regions of utter -darkness; but on his repeating the name of Jesus three times, they -brought him back, and laid him down in an insensible state at the door -of Chapelhope. - -The feelings depicted in the features of the auditors were widely -different on the close of this wonderful relation. The beauteous -Katharine appeared full of anxious and woful concern, but no marks of -fear appeared in her lovely face. The servants trembled every limb, and -declared with one voice, that no man about Chapelhope was now sure of -his life for a moment, and that nothing less than double wages should -induce them to remain there another day. The goodwife lifted up her eyes -to Heaven, and cried, "O the vails! the vails!--the vails are poured, -and to pour!" - -Walter pretended to laugh at the whole narration; but when he did, it -was with an altered countenance, for he observed, what none of them did, -that Kennedy had indeed been borne through the air by some means or -other; for his shoes were all covered with moss, which, if he had -walked, could not have been there, for the grass would have washed it -off from whatever quarter he had come. - -Kennedy remained several days about Chapelhope in a thoughtful, half -delirious frame; but no entreaties could prevail with him at that time -to accompany the men of the place to where he supposed the accident had -happened, nor yet to give them any account where it was situated, for he -averred that he heard a voice say to him in a solemn tone, "If you wish -to live long, never tell what you have seen to-night, nor ever come this -way again." Happy had it been for him had he attended all along to this -injunction. He slipped away from Chapelhope in a few days, and was no -more seen until the time that Copland and his men appeared there. It was -he who came as guide to that soldiers that were slain, and he fell with -them in the strait linn of the South Grain of Chapelhope. - -These mysterious and unaccountable incidents by degrees impressed the -minds of the inhabitants with terror that cannot be described; no woman -or boy would go out of doors after sunset, on any account whatever, and -there was scarcely a man who durst venture forth alone after the fall of -evening. If they could have been sure that brownies and fairies had only -power to assume the human shape, they would not have been nearly in such -peril and perplexity; but there was no form of any thing animate or -inanimate, save that of a lamb, that they were sure of; they were of -course waylaid at every turn, and kept in continual agitation. An owl -was a most dangerous and suspicious-looking fellow--a white glede made -them quake, and keep a sharp look-out upon his course in the air--a -hare, with her large intelligent eyes and equivocal way of walking, was -an object of general distrust--and a cat, squalling after dark, was the -devil. Many were the ludicrous scenes that occurred, among which I -cannot help mentioning those which follow, as being particularly -whimsical. - -Jasper, son to old John of the Muchrah, was the swiftest runner of his -time; but of all those whose minds were kept in continual agitation on -account of the late inundation of spirits into the country, Jasper was -the chief. He was beset by them morning and evening; and even at high -noon, if the day was dark, he never considered himself as quite safe. He -depended entirely upon his speed in running to avoid their hellish -intercourse; he essayed no other means--and many wonderful escapes he -effected by this species of exertion alone. He was wont to knit -stockings while tending his flock on the mountains; and happening to -drop some yarn one evening, it trailed after him in a long ravelled coil -along the sward. It was a little after the sun had gone down that Jasper -was coming whistling and singing over the shoulder of the Hermon Law, -when, chancing to cast a casual glance behind him, he espied something -in shape of a horrible serpent, with an unequal body, and an enormous -length of tail, coming stealing along the bent after him. His heart -leapt to his mouth, (as he expressed it,) and his hair bristled so that -it thrust the bonnet from his head. He knew that no such monster -inhabited these mountains, and it momently occurred to him that it was -the Brownie of Bodsbeck come to seize him in that most questionable -shape. He betook him to his old means of safety in great haste, never -doubting that he was well qualified to run from any object that crawled -on the ground with its belly; but, after running a considerable way, he -perceived his adversary coming at full stretch along the hill after him. -His speed was redoubled; and, as he noted now and then that his -inveterate pursuer gained no ground on him, his exertion was beyond that -of man. There were two shepherds on an opposite hill who saw Jasper -running without the plaid and the bonnet, and with a swiftness which -they described as quite inconceivable. The cause set conjecture at -defiance; but they remarked, that though he grew more and more spent, -whenever he glanced behind he exerted himself anew, and strained a -little harder. He continued his perseverance to the last, as any man -would do who was running for bare life, until he came to a brook called -the Ker Cleuch, in the crossing of which he fell down exhausted; he -turned on his back to essay a last defence, and, to his joyful -astonishment, perceived that the serpent likewise lay still and did not -move. The truth was then discovered; but many suspected that Jasper -never overcame that heat and that fright as long as he lived. - -Jasper, among many encounters with the fairies and brownies, had another -that terminated in a manner not quite so pleasant. The Brownie of -Bodsbeck, or the Queen of the Fairies, (he was not sure which of them -it was,) came to him one night as he was lying alone, and wide awake, as -he conceived, and proffered him many fine things, and wealth and honours -in abundance, if he would go along to a very fine country, which Jasper -conjectured must have been Fairyland. He resisted all these tempting -offers in the most decided manner, until at length the countenance of -his visitant changed from the most placid and bewitching beauty to that -of a fiend. The horrible form grappled with him, laid hold of both his -wrists, and began to drag him off by force; but he struggled with all -the energy of a man in despair, and at length, by a violent exertion, he -disengaged his right hand. The enemy still continuing, however, to haul -him off with the other, he was obliged to have recourse to a desperate -expedient. Although quite naked, he reached his clothes with the one -hand and drew his knife; but, in endeavouring to cut off those fingers -which held his wrist so immovably fast, he fairly severed a piece of -the thumb from his own left hand. - -This was the very way that Jasper told the story to his dying day, -denying stoutly that he was in a dream; and, singular as it may appear, -I can vouch for the truth of it. Jasper Hay died at Gattonside at a -right old age, in the year 1739; and they are yet alive who have heard -him tell those stories, and seen him without the thumb of the left hand. - -Things went on in this distracted and doubtful manner until the time -when Walter is first introduced. On that day, at the meeting place, he -found no fewer than 130 of the poor wanderers, many of them assembled to -see him for the last time, and take an affectionate leave of him; for -they had previously resolved to part, and scatter themselves again over -the west country, even though certain death awaited them, as they could -not in conscience longer remain to be the utter ruin of one who was so -generous and friendly to them. They saw, that not only would his whole -stock be wasted, but he would himself be subjected to confiscation of -goods, and imprisonment, if to nothing worse. Walter said, the case -seemed hard either way; but he had been thinking, that perhaps, if they -remained quiet and inoffensive in that seclusion, the violence of the -government might in a little relax, and they might then retire to their -respective homes in peace. Walter soon heard with vexation that they -made conscience of _not living in peace_, but of proclaiming aloud to -the world the grievous wrongs and oppression that the church of Christ -in Scotland laboured under. The _doctor chap_, as Walter always called -him, illustrated at great length the sin that would lie to their charge, -should they remain quiet and passive in a time like that, when the -church's all was at stake in these realms. "We are but a remnant," added -he, "a poor despised remnant; but if none stand up for the truth of the -reformed religion, how are ever our liberties, civil or ecclesiastical, -to be obtained? There are many who think with us, and who feel with us, -who yet have not the courage to stand up for the truth; but the time -must ere long come, that the kingdoms of the land will join in -supporting a reformation, for the iniquity of the Amorite is wearing to -the full." - -Walter did not much like disputing about these matters; but in this he -felt that his reason acquiesced, and he answered thus: "Ye speak like a -true man, and a clever man, Doctor; and if I had a desperate cause by -the end, and wanted ane to back me in't, the deil a step wad I gang -ayont this moss hag to find him; but, Doctor, there's a time for every -thing. I wadna hae ye to fling away a gude cause, as I wad do a rotten -ewe, that winna haud ony langer. But dinna ye think that a fitter time -may come to mak a push? ye'll maybe sell mae precious lives for nae end, -wi' your declarations; take care that you, and the like o' you, haena -these lives to answer for.--I like nae desperate broostles--od, man, -it's like ane that's just gaun to turn divour, taking on a' the debt he -can." - -"Dinna fear, gudeman! dinna fear! There's nae blood shed in sic a cause -that can ever be shed in vain. Na, na! that blood will argue better at -the bar o' Heaven for poor distressed Scotland than all the prayers of -all the living. We hae done muckle, but we'll do mair yet--muckle blood -has been wantonly and diabolically shed, and our's may rin wi' the -rest--we'll no thraw't wantonly and exultingly away; but, when our day -comes, we'll gie it cheerfully--as cheerfully, gudeman, as ever ye paid -your mail to a kind landlord, even though the season had been hard and -stormy. We had aince enough of this warld's wealth, and to spare; but we -hae naething now but our blood, and we'll part wi' that as cheerfully as -the rest. And it will tell some day! and ye may live to see it yet. But -enough, gudeman; we have all resolved, that, whatever the consequence -may be, to live no more on your bounty--therefore, do not urge it--but -give us all your hand--Farewell!--and may God bless you in all your -actings and undertakings!--There is little chance that we shall ever -meet again--We have no reward to give but our blessing and good wishes; -but, whenever a knee here present is bowed at the footstool of grace, -you will be remembered." - -Walter could not bear thus to part with them, and to give them up as it -were to certain destruction. He argued as well as he could on the -imprudence of the step they were going to take--of the impossibility of -their finding a retreat so inaccessible in all the bounds of the south -of Scotland, and the prospect that there was of the persecution soon -relaxing. But when he had said all that he could say, a thin spare old -man, with grey dishevelled locks, and looks, Walter said, as stern as -the adders that he had lately been eating, rose up to address him. -There was that in his manner which commanded the most intense attention. - -"Dost thou talk of our rulers relaxing?" said he. "Blind and mistaken -man! thou dost not know them. No; they will never relax till their blood -shall be mixed with their sacrifices. That insatiate, gloomy, papistical -tyrant and usurper, the Duke of York, and his commissioner, have issued -laws and regulations more exterminating than ever. But yesterday we -received the woeful intelligence, that, within these eight days, one -hundred and fifty of our brethren have suffered by death or banishment, -and nearly one-half of these have been murdered, even without the sham -formality of trial or impeachment, nor had they intimation of the fate -that awaited them. York hath said in full assembly, 'that neither the -realm nor the mother-church can ever be safe, until the south of -Scotland is again made a hunting forest;' and his commissioner hath -sworn by the living God, 'that never a whig shall again have time or -warning to prepare for Heaven, for that hell is too good for them.' Can -we hope for these men relaxing? No! The detestable and bloody Clavers, -that wizard! that eater of toads! that locust of the infernal pit, hems -us in closer and closer on one side, and that Muscovite beast on the -other! They thirst for our blood; and our death and tortures are to them -matter of great sport and amusement. My name is Mackail! I had two brave -and beautiful sons, and I had but two; one of these had his brains shot -out on the moss of Monyhive without a question, charge, or reply. I -gathered up his brains and shattered skull with these hands, tied them -in my own napkin, and buried him alone, for no one durst assist me. His -murderers stood by and mocked me, cursed me for a dog, and swore if I -howled any more that they would send me after him. My eldest son, my -beloved Hew, was hung like a dog at the Market-cross of Edinburgh. I -conversed with him, I prayed with him in prison, kissed him, and bade -him farewell on the scaffold! My brave, my generous, my beautiful son! I -tell thee, man, thou who preachest up peace and forbearance with -tyrants, should ever the profligate Charles, or his diabolical -brother--should ever the murderer Clavers, or any of his hell-hounds of -the north, dare set foot in Heaven, one look from the calm benignant -face of my martyred son would drive them out howling!" - -All this time the old man shed not a tear; his voice was wildly solemn, -but his looks were mixed with madness. He had up his hand to swear, to -pray, or to prophecy, Walter knew not which, but he was restrained by -his associates, and led aside, so that Walter saw no more of him; but he -said he could not get him out of his mind for many a day, for sic -another desperate auld body he had never seen. - -These harangues took up much of the time that they had to spare, but ere -they parted Walter persuaded them, probably by his strong homely -reasoning, to remain where they were. He said, since they persisted in -refusing to take more of his flock, there was an extensive common beyond -the height, called Gemsope, which had been a royal forest, where many -gentlemen and wealthy farmers had sheep that fed promiscuously; and -considering their necessitous circumstances, he thought it no evil, and -he advised them to go and take from that glen as many as would serve to -support nature for a time;--that for his part he had many a good wedder -and dinmont there, and was willing to run his risk, which would then -fall equal on a number, and only on such as were rich and could well -bear it. In this plan, after some scruples which were overborne by the -majority, they at length fully and thankfully acquiesced. - -That same day, on his way homeward, Walter heard the wonderful relation -of the apparition of his beloved daughter in the Hope at midnight; he -learned that Clavers would be there in a few days, and he had sent away -above 100 men to steal sheep--all these things made him thoughtful and -uneasy after he had reached his home, wet and fatigued.--"It will be a -bloody night in Gemsope this," he said, sighing, not recollecting what -he said or to whom he said it. He could trust his wife with any of his -family concerns, but as long as she continued to be so much influenced -by the curate Clerk, the sworn enemy of his poor persecuted flock, he -durst not give her a hint of their retreat. - -Walter became still more and more perplexed from all that he heard from -his wife, as well as from every one else--he found that, in truth, there -was some mysterious thing about his house--the whole family seemed -convinced of it--there were many things seen, heard, and done there that -he could in nowise account for in a rational way, and though he resisted -the general belief for a good while, that the house was haunted, -circumstances at length obliged him to yield to the torrent, and he -believed as faithfully in the Brownie of Bodsbeck as any of them all. - -FOOTNOTE: - -[A] This curious protest is still extant, and shows the true spirit of -the old Covenanters or Cameronians, as they have since been called, -better than any work remaining. It is called in the title page, "_An -informatory Vindication of a poor, wasted, misrepresented Remnant of the -suffering Anti-popish, Anti-prelatic, Anti-erastian, Anti-sectarian, -true Presbyterian Church of Christ in Scotland_." It is dated at -Leadhills in 1687, and is the conjoint work of Mr James Renwick, and Mr -Alexander Shiels, author of _The Hind let loose_. The following is an -extract from it, p. 107:-- - -"And in like manner we do hereby disclaim all unwarrantable practices -committed by any few persons reputed to be of us, whereby the Lord hath -been offended, his cause wronged, and we all made to endure the scourge -of tongues; for which things we have desired to make conscience of -mourning before the Lord, both in public and private. As the -unwarrantable manner of killing that curate at the Corsephairn, though -he was a man of death both by the laws of God and man, and the fact not -materially murder; it being gone about contrary to our declaration, -common or competent consent, (the conclusion and deed being known only -to three or four persons) in a rash and not a Christian manner, and also -other offences being committed at the time; which miscarriages have -proven a mean to stop and retard lawful, laudable, and warrantable -proceeding, both as to matter and manner." - -These _other offences committed at the time_, unquestionably refer to -the slaughter of the Highland soldiers; about which, there was great -stir and numerous conjectures in the country; although, owing to the -revolution that immediately followed, the perpetrators were never taken, -nor the cause tried in a court of justice, nor indeed was the incident -ever generally known. - - - - -CHAPTER V. - - -The house which Walter occupied was on the very spot where the -farm-house of Chapelhope now stands, but it was twice as long; indeed, a -part of the house that is still standing, or was lately so, is the very -one that was built for Laidlaw when he first entered to that large farm. -There was likewise an outshot from the back of the house, called the Old -Room, which had a door that entered from without, as well as one from -the parlour within. The end of this apartment stood close to the bottom -of the steep bank behind the house, which was then thickly wooded, as -was the whole of the long bank behind, so that, consequently, any one, -with a little caution, might easily have gone out or come in there, -without being seen by any of the family. It contained a bed, in which -any casual vagrant, or itinerant pedlar slept, besides a great deal of -lumber; and as few entered there, it had altogether a damp, mouldy, -dismal appearance. There was likewise a dark closet in one corner of it, -with an old rusty lock, which none of the family had ever seen opened. - -The most part of the family soon grew suspicious of this place. Sounds, -either real or imaginary, were heard issuing from it, and it was -carefully shunned by them all. Walter had always, as I said, mocked at -the idea of the Old Room being haunted, until that very night when we -began with him, and where, after many round-abouts, we have now found -him again. - -It will be recollected that the conversation between Walter and his -wife, which is narrated in the first chapter of this book, terminated -with a charge from him never more to mention the mysterious story -relating to their daughter and these five men that were destroyed. -After this she retired about some housewife business, and left Walter by -himself to muse on that he had seen and heard. He was sitting musing, -and that deeply, on the strange apparition of his daughter that old John -had seen, when he thought he heard something behind him making a sound -as if it growled inwardly. He looked around and saw that it was his dog -Reaver, who was always an inmate of every place that his master -entered--he was standing in an attitude of rage, but at the same time -there was a mixture of wild terror in his appearance--His eyes, that -gleamed like red burning coals, were pointed directly to the door that -opened from the corner of the parlour into the Old Room--Walter was -astonished, for he well knew his acuteness, but he kept his eyes on him -and said not a word--The dog went forward with a movement scarce -perceptible, until he came close to the door, but on putting his nose -and ear to the bottom of it, he burst out with such a bay and howl as -were truly frightful, and ran about the apartment as if mad, trying to -break through the walls and window boards.--Walter was fairly overcome; -there is nothing frightens a shepherd so much as the seeing of his dog -frightened. The shepherd's dog of the true breed will boldly attack any -animal on earth in defence of his master, or at his command; and it is -no good sign indeed when he appears terrified, for the shepherd well -knows that his dog can discover spirits by the savour of the wind, when -he is all unconscious that any such beings are near. - -Walter fled into the kitchen with precipitation--he found all the family -standing in alarm, for they had heard the hideous uproar in the room. - -"What's the matter?" said half-a-dozen at once. - -"What's the matter!" said Walter, churlishly--"nothing at all is the -matter--tell me who of you were in the Old Room, and what you were -seeking there?" - -"No--none of them had been in the Old Room--the whole of the family were -present, nor had one of them been away." - -Walter's countenance changed--he fixed his eyes on the ground for the -space of a minute. - -"Then I am sure," said he, emphatically, "something worse is there." - -A breathless silence ensued; save that some groans and muttered prayers -issued from the lips of the goodwife, who sat in a posture of deep -humility, with her brow leaned on both hands. - -"Some of you go and see," added Walter, "what it _is_ that is in the Old -Room." - -Every eye in the house turned on another, but no one spoke or offered to -move. At length Katharine, who seemed in great anxiety lest any of them -should have had the courage to go, went lightly up to her father, and -said, "I will go, sir, if you please." - -"Do, my dear, and let some of the men go with you." - -"No, sir; none of the men shall go with me." - -"Well then, Keatie, make haste; light a candle, and I will go with you -myself." - -"No--with your leave, father, if I go, I go alone; no one shall go with -me." - -"And why, my love, may not I, your father, accompany you?" - -"Because, should you go with me into the Old Room just now, perhaps you -might never be yourself again." - -Here the goodwife uttered a smothered scream, and muttered some -inarticulate ejaculations, appearing so much affected, that her -daughter, dreading she would fall into a fit, flew to support her; but -on this she grew ten times worse, screaming aloud, "Avoid thee, Satan! -avoid thee, Satan! avoid thee, imp of darkness and despair! avoid thee! -avoid thee!" And she laid about her violently with both hands. The -servants, taking it for granted that she was bewitched, or possessed, -fled aloof; but Walter, who knew better how matters stood with her mind -than they, ran across the floor to her in such haste and agitation, that -they supposed he was going to give her _strength of arm_, (his great -expedient when hardly controuled,) but in place of that, he lifted her -gently in his arms, and carried her to her bed, in the further end of -the house. - -He then tried to sooth her by every means in his power; but she -continued in violent agitation, sighing, weeping, and praying -alternately, until she wrought herself into a high nervous fever. -Walter, growing alarmed for her reason, which seemed verging to a -dangerous precipice, kept close by her bed-side. A little before -midnight she grew calm; and he, thinking she had fallen asleep, left her -for a short time. Unfortunately, her daughter, drawn toward her by -filial regard and affection, softly then entered the room. Maron Linton -was not so sound asleep as was supposed; she instantly beheld the -approach of that now dreaded sorceress, and sitting up in her bed, she -screamed as loud as she was able. Katharine, moved by a natural impulse, -hasted forward to the couch to calm her parent; but the frenzied matron -sprung from her bed, threw up the window, and endeavoured to escape; -Katharine flew after her, and seized her by the waist. When Maron found -that she was fairly in her grasp at such an hour, and no help at hand, -she deemed all over with her, both body and soul; which certainly was a -case extreme enough. She hung by the sash of the window, struggled, and -yelled out, "Murder! murder! murder!--O Lord! O Lord!--save! save! save! -save!--Murder! murder!" &c. At length Walter rushed in and seized her, -ordering his weeping daughter instantly to bed. - -Maron thanked Heaven for this wonderful and timely deliverance, and -persuaded now that Providence had a special and peculiar charge over -her, she became more calm than she had been since the first alarm; but -it was a dreadful certainty that she now possessed, that unearthly -beings inhabited the mansion along with her, and that her daughter was -one of the number, or in conjunction with them. She spent the night in -prayer, and so fervent was she in her devotions, that she seemed at -length to rest in the hope of their final accomplishment. She did not -fail, however, to hint to Walter that something decisive ought to be -done to their daughter. She did not actually say that she should be -burnt alive at a stake, but she spake of the trial by fire--or that it -might be better to throw her into the lake, to make the experiment -whether she would drown or not; for she well expected, in her own mind, -that when the creature found itself in such circumstances, it would fly -off with an eldrich laugh and some unintelligible saying to its own -clime; but she was at length persuaded by her husband to intrust the -whole matter to her reverend monitor, both as to the driving away the -herd of Brownies, and the exorcism of her daughter. - -Never was man in such a predicament as Walter now found himself with -regard to his family. Katharine had never been a favourite with her -mother, who doated on her boys to the detriment of the girl, but to him -she was all in all. Her demeanour of late completely puzzled him--The -words that she had said to him the preceding evening had no appearance -of jocularity; besides, seriousness and truth formed her natural -character, and she had of late become more reserved and thoughtful than -she had ever been before. - -The bed that she slept in faced into the parlour before mentioned; -that which Walter and his spouse occupied entered from another -apartment--their backs, however, were only separated by a thin wooden -partition. Walter kept awake all that night, thoughtful, and listening -to every sound. Every thing remained quiet till about the second crowing -of the cock; he then heard something that scratched like a rat, but -more regularly, and in more distinct time. After the noise had been -repeated three times at considerable intervals, he thought he heard his -daughter rising from her bed with extraordinary softness and caution--He -laid his ear to a seam, and distinctly heard the sound of words uttered -in a whisper, but of their import he could make nothing. He then heard -his daughter return to her bed with the same caution that she left it, -utter some sighs, and fall sound asleep. - -After serious deliberation, Walter thought his best expedient was to -remove his daughter from home for some time; and next morning he -proposed to her to go and spend a week or two with her maternal uncle, -Thomas Linton, farmer at Gilmanscleuch. To this she objected on several -pretences; but at length, when urged to it, positively refused to leave -her father's house at that time. He never in his life could say a harsh -word to her, but that day he appeared chagrined, and bade her, with -some asperity, keep away from her mother's presence, as her malady, -which was a nervous complaint, required the utmost quietness. This she -promised with her accustomed cheerfulness, and they parted. During the -day she was absent for several hours, none knowing whither she went, or -by what way she returned. - -On the same day, the servants, who had spent a sleepless night, packed -up bag and baggage, and went off in a body, all save one elderly woman, -who had lately come to the house, and was a stranger to them all. Her -name, she said, was Agnes Alexander, but she was better known by the -familiar one of Nanny Elshinder; her former history and connections were -doubtful, but she was of a cheerful complaisant temper, and always -performed what she was ordered to do without any remarks. Walter had -hired her at Moffat, in the fair called _The Third Friday_; and told -Maron when he came home, that "he had hired a wastlin auldish quean, -wha, he believed, was a wee crackit i'the head, but, poor thing, she -wasna like to get a place, and was sic a good soul he coudna think to -leave her destitute; and whanever he begoud to parley wi' her, od, she -brought him to the neb o' the mire-snipe directly." Saving this good -woman, all the house servants, man, woman, and boy, deserted their -service, and neither promises nor threats could induce them to stay -another night about the town. They said, "they might as weel bide i' -hell; they wad gang afore Gibby Moray, the king's shirra, whanever he -likit about it; or, gin he buid rather hae brawer burlymen, they wad -meet him face to face in the Parliment Close." - -Walter was now obliged to bring Jasper, his young shepherd, down from -the Muchrah, to assist him in the labour of the farm--the most unfit man -in the world for a haunted house. He knew that the Old Room was -frequented by his old adversary, the Brownie of Bodsbeck. He likewise -knew that his young mistress was a witch, or something worse, for the -late servants had told him, so that he had now a dangerous part to act. -Nevertheless, he came determined to take the bull by the horns; for as -he and his father had stocks of sheep upon the farm, they could not -leave their master, and he was never wont to disobey him. He had one -sole dependance--his swiftness of foot--that had never yet failed him in -eschewing them, save in the solitary instance of the serpent. - -On the first day of his noviceship as a labourer, he and his master were -putting some ropes on the dwelling-house to keep on the thatch. Jasper -wanting something whereon to stand, for that purpose, and being within a -few yards of the door of the Old Room, and knowing that the tubs stood -there, thoughtlessly dashed into it to bring out one to stand on; but he -had not taken two steps within the door till he beheld a human face, -and nothing but a face and a head, looking deliberately at him. One -would have thought that such a man, seeing such a sight, would have -cried out, fled to his master on the other side of the house, or into -the kitchen to old Nanny. Jasper did none of them all. He turned round -with such velocity that he fell--hasted out at the door on all fours, -and took to the Piper-hill like a wild deer, praying fervently all the -way. His master saw him from the ladder where he stood, and called aloud -after him, but he deigned not to heed or look behind him--the head -without the body, and that at an ordinary distance from the ground, was -alone impressed on his mind, and refused a share to any other -consideration. He came not back to the Chapelhope that night. - -Katharine, the young and comely friend of the Brownie, having discovered -that Jasper had been introduced to her familiar, and knowing his truth -and simplicity of heart, earnestly desired to sound him on the subject. -She knew he would return to assist her father and brothers with the farm -labour, in their present strait, by a certain hour next morning, and she -waited on him by the way. He came accordingly; but he knew her and her -connections better than she imagined. He tried to avoid her, first by -going down into the meadow, then by climbing the hill; but seeing that -she waylaid him both ways, and suspecting her intentions to be of the -very worst nature, he betook him to his old expedient--fled with -precipitation, and returned to the Muchrah. - -Katharine could by no means comprehend this, and was particularly -concerned about it at this time, as she had something she wished to -reveal to him. Walter appeared gloomy and discontented all that day. The -corn was ripe, but not a sheaf of it cut down;--the hay was still -standing on the meadow, the lint was to pull, the potatoes to raise, -the tar to bring home, and the sheep to smear; and there was no one left -to do all this but he and his two boys. The gudewife, who used to bustle -about and do much household work, was confined to her room. His -daughter's character, her demeanour, and even her humanity, were become -somewhat doubtful. Walter was truly in what he termed _a pickled -priminary_. - -Katharine, being still debarred all access to her mother, began to dread -that she would be obliged to leave her father's house; and, in case of a -last extremity, she bethought her of sounding the dispositions of old -Nanny. She was a character not easily to be comprehended. She spoke much -to herself, but little to any other person--worked so hard that she -seldom looked up, and all the while sung scraps of old songs and -ballads, the import of which it was impossible to understand; but she -often chaunted these with a pathos that seemed to flow from the heart, -and that never failed to affect the hearer. She wore a russet worsted -gown, clouted shoes, and a quoif, or mutch, upon her head, that was -crimped and plaited so close around her face that very little of the -latter was visible. In this guise was Nanny, toiling hard and singing -her mournful ditty, when Katharine came in and placed herself on a seat -by her side. - -"Nanny, this seems to be more than ordinary a busy day with you; pray, -what is all this baking and boiling for?" - -"Dear bairn, dear bairn, what do I ken--the like o' me maun do as we're -bidden--guests are coming, my bairn--O, ay--there's mony a braw an' -bonny lad coming this way--mony a ane that will gaur a young thing's -e'en stand i' back water-- - - "They are coming! they are coming! - Alak! an' wae's me! - Though the sword be in the hand, - Yet the tear's in the e'e. - - Is there blood in the moorlands - Where the wild burnies rin? - Or what gars the water - Wind reid down the lin? - - O billy, dear billy, - Your boding let be, - For it's nought but the reid lift - That dazzles your e'e." - -"Prithee go on, Nanny; let me hear what it was that reddened the water?" - -"Dear bairn, wha kens; some auld thing an' out o' date; but yet it is -sae like the days that we hae seen, ane wad think the poeter that made -it had the second sight. Mony a water as weel as the Clyde has run reid -wi' blude, an' that no sae lang sin' syne!--ay, an' the wild burnies -too! I hae seen them mysel leave a reid strip on the sand an' the grey -stanes--but the hoody craw durstna pick there!--Dear bairn, has the -Chapelhope burn itsel never had the hue?" - -Here Katharine's glance and Nanny's met each other, but were as quickly -withdrawn, for they dreaded one another's converse; but they were soon -relieved from that dilemma by Nanny's melancholy chime-- - - "In yon green houm there sat a knight,-- - An' the book lay open on his knee, - An' he laid his hand on his rusty sword. - An' turned to Heaven his watery e'e. - - But in yon houm there is a kirk, - An' in that kirk there is a pew, - An' in that pew there sat a king, - Wha signed the deed we maun ever rue. - - He wasna king o' fair Scotland, - Though king o' Scotland he should hae been,-- - And he lookit north to the land he loved, - But aye the green leaves fell atween. - - The green leaves fell, an' the river swell'd. - An' the brigg was guardit to the key; - O, ever alak! said Hamilton - That sic a day I should ever see! - - As ever ye saw the rain down fa', - Or yet the arrow gae from the bow-- - -"No, that's not it--my memory is gane wi' my last warldly hope--Hech! -dear bairn, but it is a sad warld to live in, without hope or love for -ony that's in't--I had aye some hope till now! but sic a dream as I had -last night!--I saw him aince again--Yes, I saw him bodily, or may I -never steer aff this bit."--Here Nanny sobbed hard, and drew her arms -across her eyes.--"Come, come," continued she, "gie me a bit sang, dear -bairn, an' let it be an auld thing--they do ane's heart gude thae bits -o' auld sangs." - -"Rather tell me, Nanny--for we live in ignorance in this wild -place--what you think of all that blude that has been shed in our -country since the killing-time began? Do you think it has been lawfully -and rightfully shed?" - -"Wha doubts it, dear bairn?--Wha doubts that?--But it will soon be ower -now--the traitors will soon be a' strappit and strung--ay, ay--the last -o' them will soon be hackit and hewed, an' his bloody head stannin ower -the Wast Port--an' there will be braw days than--we'll be a' right -than." - -Katharine sat silent and thoughtful, eyeing old Nanny with fixed -attention; but the muscles of her contracted face and wild unstable eye -were unintelligible. She therefore, with a desponding mien, went out, -and left the crazy dame to discourse and sing to herself. Nanny ceased -her baking, stood upright, and listened to the maid's departing steps, -till judging her out of hearing; she then sung out, in what is now -termed the true _bravura_ style, - - "Then shall the black gown flap - O'er desk and true man; - Then shall the horny cap - Shine like the new moon; - An' the kist fu' o' whistles - That maks sic a cleary, - Lool away, bool away, - Till we grow weary. - Till we grow weary, &c. - - Charlie, the cypher-man, - Drink till ye stew dame; - Jamie, the wafer-man, - Eat till ye spue them; - Lauderdale lick-my-fud, - Binny and Geordie, - Leish away, link away. - Hell is afore ye. - Hell is afore ye, &c. - - Graeme will gang ower the brink, - Down wi' a flaughter; - Lagg an' Drumlandrick - Will soon follow after; - Johnston and Lithgow, - Bruce and Macleary, - Scowder their harigalds, - Deils, wi' a bleery. - Till ye grow weary," &c. - -In the mean time, Katharine, on hearing the loud notes of the song, had -returned within the door to listen, and heard the most part of the lines -and names distinctly. She had heard it once before, and the singer -reported it to be a new song, and the composition of a young man who had -afterwards been executed in the Grass-Market. How Nanny came to sing -such a song, with so much seeming zest, after the violent prelatic -principles which she had so lately avowed, the maid could not well -comprehend, and she began to suspect that there was more in Nanny's mind -than had yet been made manifest. Struck with this thought, and -ruminating upon it, she continued standing in the same position, and -heard Nanny sometimes crooning, and at other times talking rapidly and -fervently to herself. After much incoherent matter, lines of psalms, &c. -Katharine heard with astonishment the following questions and answers, -in which two distinct voices were imitated:-- - -"Were you at the meeting of the traitors at Lanark on the 12th of -January?" - -"I never was amang traitors that I was certain of till this day--Let -them take that! bloody fruesome beasts." - -"Were you at Lanark on that day?" - -"If you had been there you would have seen." - -"D--n the old b--! Burn her with matches--squeeze her with pincers as -long as there's a whole piece of her together--then throw her into -prison, and let her lie till she rot--the old wrinkled hag of h--! Good -woman, I pity you; you shall yet go free if you will tell us where you -last saw Hamilton and your own goodman." - -"Ye sall hing me up by the tongue first, and cut me a' in collops while -I'm hingin." - -"Burn her in the cheek, cut baith her lugs out, and let her gae to h-- -her own way." - -After this strange soliloquy, the speaker sobbed aloud, spoke in a -suppressed voice for some time, and then began a strain so sweet and -melancholy, that it thrilled the hearer, and made her tremble where she -stood. The tune was something like the Broom of Cowdenknows, the -sweetest and most plaintive of the ancient Scottish airs; but it was -sung so slow, as to bear with it a kind of solemnity. - - "The kye are rowting in the lone, - The ewes bleat on the brae, - O, what can ail my auld gudeman, - He bides sae lang away! - - An' aye the Robin sang by the wud, - An' his note had a waesome fa'; - An' the corbie croupit in the clud, - But he durstna light ava; - - Till out cam the wee grey moudiwort - Frae neath the hollow stane, - An' it howkit a grave for the auld grey head, - For the head lay a' its lane! - - But I will seek out the Robin's nest, - An' the nest of the ouzel shy, - For the siller hair that is beddit there - Maun wave aboon the sky." - -The sentiments of old Nanny appeared now to her young mistress to be -more doubtful than ever. Fain would she have interpreted them to be such -as she wished, but the path which that young female was now obliged to -tread required a circumspection beyond her experience and discernment -to preserve, while danger and death awaited the slightest deviation. - - - - -CHAPTER VI. - - -Next morning Clavers, with fifty dragoons, arrived at Chapelhope, where -they alighted on the green; and putting their horses to forage, he and -Sir Thomas Livingston, Captain Bruce, and Mr Adam Copland, before -mentioned, a gentleman of Clavers' own troop, went straight into the -kitchen. Walter was absent at the hill. The goodwife was sitting lonely -in the east room, brooding over her trials and woes in this life, and -devising means to get rid of her daughter, and with her of all the -devouring spirits that haunted Chapelhope; consequently the first and -only person whom the gentlemen found in the kitchen was old Nanny. -Clavers, who entered first, kept a shy and sullen distance, for he never -was familiar with any one; but Bruce, who was a jocular Irish -gentleman, and well versed in harassing and inveigling the ignorant -country people to their destruction, made two low bows (almost to the -ground) to the astonished dame, and accosted her as follows: "How are -you to-day, mistress?--I hope you are very well?" - -"Thank ye kindly, sir," said Nanny, curtseying in return; "deed I'm no -sae weel as I hae been; I hae e'en seen better days; but I keep aye the -heart aboon, although the achings and the stitches hae been sair on me -the year." - -"Lack-a-day! I am so very sorry for that!--Where do they seize you? -about the heart, I suppose?--Oh, dear soul! to be sure you do not know -how sorry I am for your case--it must be so terribly bad! You should -have the goodness to consult your physician, and get blood let." - -"Dear bairn, I hae nae blude to spare--an' as for doctors, I haena -muckle to lippen to them. To be sure, they are whiles the means, under -Providence"---- - -"Oho!" said he, putting his finger to his nose, and turning to his -associates with a wry face,--"Oho! the means under Providence!--a d--d -whig, by ----. Tell me, my dear and beautiful Mistress Stitchaback, do -you really believe in that blessed thing, Providence?" - -"Do I believe in Providence!--Did ever ony body hear sic a question as -that? Gae away, ye muckle gouk--d'ye think to make a fool of a puir -body?" - -So saying, she gave him a hearty slap on the cheek; at which his -companions laughing, Bruce became somewhat nettled, and, drawing out his -sword, he pointed at the recent stains of blood upon it. "Be so good as -to look here, my good lady," said he, "and take very good note of all -that I say, and more; for harkee, you must either renounce Providence, -and all that I bid you renounce,--and you must, beside that, answer all -the questions that I shall ever be after asking,--or, do you see, I am a -great doctor--this is my very elegant lance--and I'll draw the blood -that shall soon ease you of all your stitches and pains." - -"I dinna like your fleem ava, man--'tis rather ower grit for an auld -body's veins. But ye're surely some silly skemp of a fallow, to draw out -your sword on a puir auld woman. Dinna think, howanabee, that I care for -outher you or it. I'll let ye see how little I mind ye; for weel I ken -your comrades wadna let ye fash me, e'en though ye were sae silly as to -offer. Na, na; d'ye ever think that little bonny demure-looking lad -there wad suffer ye to hurt a woman?--I wat wad he no! He has mair -discreation in his little finger than you hae i' your hale bouk.--Now -try me, master doctor--I'll nouther renounce ae thing that ye bid me, -nor answer ae question that ye speer at me." - -"In the first place, then, my good hearty dame, do you acknowledge or -renounce the Covenant?" - -"Aha! he's wise wha wats that, an' as daft that speers." - -"Ay, or no, in a moment--No juggling with me, old Mrs Skinflint." - -"I'll tell ye what ye do, master--if ony body speer at ye, gin auld -Nanny i' the Chapelhope renounces the Covenant, shake your head an' say -ye dinna ken." - -"And pray, my very beautiful girl, what do you keep this old tattered -book for?" - -"For a fancy to gar fools speer, an' ye're the first--Come on now, sir, -wi' your catechis--Wally-dye man! gin ye be nae better a fighter than -ye're an examiner, ye may gie up the craft." - -Bruce here bit his lip, and looked so stern that Nanny, with a -hysterical laugh, ran away from him, and took shelter behind Clavers. - -"You are a d--d fool, Bruce," said he, "and constantly blundering.--Our -business here, mistress, is to discover, if possible, who were the -murderers of an honest curate, and some of our own soldiers that were -slain in this neighbourhood while discharging their duty; if you can -give us any information on that subject, you shall be well rewarded." - -"Ye'll hear about the curate, sir--ye'll hear about him--he was found -out to be a warlock, and shot dead.--But ah, dear bairn! nane alive can -gie you information about the soldiers!--It was nae human hand did that -deed, and there was nae e'e out o' heaven saw it done--There wasna a man -that day in a' the Hope up an' down--that deed will never be fund out, -unless a spirit rise frae the dead an' tell o't--Muckle fear, an' muckle -grief it has been the cause o' here!--But the men war a' decently -buried; what mair could be done?" - -"Do you say that my men were all decently buried?" - -"Ay, troth, I wat weel, worthy sir, and wi' the burial-service too.--My -master and mistress are strong king's folk." - -"So you are not the mistress of this house?" - -"A bonny like mistress I wad be, forsooth--Na, na, my mistress is sittin -be hersel ben the house there." With that, Nanny fell a working and -singing full loud-- - - "Little wats she wha's coming, - Little wats she wha's coming, - Strath and Correy's ta'en the bent, - An' Ferriden an' a's coming; - Knock and Craigen Sha's coming, - Keppoch an' Macraw's coming, - Clan-Mackinnon's ower the Kyle, - An' Donald Gun an' a's coming." - -Anxious now to explore the rest of the house, they left Nanny singing -her song, and entered the little parlour hastily, where, finding no one, -and dreading that some escape might be effected, Clavers and Livingston -burst into the Old Room, and Bruce and Copland into the other. In the -Old Room they found the beautiful witch Katharine, with the train of her -snow-white joup drawn over her head, who looked as if taken in some evil -act by surprise, and greatly confounded when she saw two gentlemen -enter her sanctuary in splendid uniforms. As they approached, she made a -slight curtsey, to which they deigned no return; but going straight up -to her, Clavers seized her by both wrists. "And is it, indeed, true," -said he, "my beautiful shepherdess, that we have caught you at your -prayers so early this morning?" - -"And what if you have, sir?" returned she. - -"Why, nothing at all, save that I earnestly desire, and long exceedingly -to join with you in your devotional exercises," laying hold of her in -the rudest manner. - -Katharine screamed so loud that in an instant old Nanny was at their -side, with revenge gleaming from her half-shaded eyes, and heaving over -her shoulder a large green-kale gully, with which she would doubtless -have silenced the renowned Dundee for ever, had not Livingston sprung -forward with the utmost celerity, and caught her arm just as the stroke -was descending. But Nanny did not spare her voice; she lifted it up -with shouts on high, and never suffered one yell to lose hearing of -another. - -Walter, having just then returned from the hill, and hearing the hideous -uproar in the Old Room, rushed into it forthwith to see what was the -matter. Katharine was just sinking, when her father entered, within the -grasp of the gentle and virtuous Clavers. The backs of both the knights -were towards Walter as he came in, and they were so engaged amid bustle -and din that neither of them perceived him, until he was close at their -backs. He was at least a foot taller than any of them, and nearly as -wide round the chest as them both. In one moment his immense fingers -grasped both their slender necks, almost meeting behind each of their -windpipes. They were rendered powerless at once--they attempted no more -struggling with the women, for so completely had Walter's gripes -unnerved them, that they could scarcely lift their arms from their -sides; neither could they articulate a word, or utter any other sound -than a kind of choaked gasping for breath. Walter wheeled them about to -the light, and looked alternately at each of them, without quitting or -even slackening his hold. - -"Callants, wha ir ye ava?--or what's the meanin' o' a' this unmencefu' -rampaging?" - -Sir Thomas gave his name in a hoarse and broken voice; but Clavers, -whose nape Walter's right hand embraced, and whose rudeness to his -daughter had set his mountain-blood a-boiling, could not answer a word. -Walter, slackening his hold somewhat, waited for an answer, but none -coming-- - -"Wha ir ye, I say, ye bit useless weazel-blawn like urf that ye're?" - -The haughty and insolent Clavers was stung with rage; but seeing no -immediate redress was to be had, he endeavoured to pronounce his dreaded -name, but it was in a whisper scarcely audible, and stuck in his -throat--"Jo--o--o Graham," said he. - -"Jock Graham do they ca' ye?--Ye're but an unmannerly whalp, man. And -ye're baith king's officers too!--Weel, I'll tell ye what it is, my -denty clever callants; if it warna for the blood that's i' your master's -veins, I wad nite your twa bits o' pows thegither." - -He then threw them from him; the one the one way, and the other the -other, and lifting his huge oak staff, he strode out at the door, -saying, as he left them,--"Hech! are free men to be guidit this -gate--I'll step down to the green to your commander, an' tell him what -kind o' chaps he keeps about him to send into fock's houses.--Dirty -unmensefu' things!" - -Clavers soon recovering his breath, and being ready to burst with rage -and indignation, fell a cursing and fuming most violently; but Sir T. -Livingston could scarcely refrain from breaking out into a convulsion -of laughter. Clavers had already determined upon ample revenge, for the -violation of all the tender ties of nature was his delight, and wherever -there was wealth to be obtained, or a private pique to be revenged, -there never was wanting sufficient pretext in those days for cutting off -individuals, or whole families, as it suited. On the very day previous -to that, the Earl of Traquair had complained, in company with Clavers -and his officers, of a tenant of his, in a place called Bald, who would -neither cultivate his farm nor give it up. Captain Bruce asked if he -prayed in his family? The Earl answered jocularly, that he believed he -did nothing else. Bruce said that was enough; and the matter passed over -without any farther notice. But next morning, Bruce went out with four -dragoons, and shot the farmer as he was going out to his work. Instances -of this kind are numerous, if either history or tradition can be in -aught believed; but in all the annals of that age, there is scarcely a -single instance recorded of any redress having been granted to the -harassed country people for injuries received. At this time, the word of -Argyle's rising had already spread, and Clavers actually traversed the -country more like an exterminating angel, than a commander of a -civilized army. - -Such were the men with whom Walter had to do; and the worst thing of -all, he was not aware of it. He had heard of such things, but he did not -believe them; for he loved his king and country, and there was nothing -that vexed him more than hearing of aught to their disparagement; but -unluckily his notions of freedom and justice were far above what the -subjects of that reign could count upon. - -When Clavers and Livingstone entered the Old Room, it will be remembered -that Bruce and Copland penetrated into the other. There they found the -goodwife of Chapelhope, neatly dressed in her old-fashioned style, and -reading on her Bible, an exercise in which she gloried, and of which she -was very proud. - -Bruce instantly desired her "to lay that very comely and precious book -on the hottest place of all the beautiful fire, that was burning so -pleasantly with long crackling peat; and that then he would converse -with her about things that were, to be sure, of far greater and mightier -importance." - -"Hout, dear sir, ye ken that's no consistent wi' natural reason--Can any -thing be o' greater importance than the tidings o' grace an' salvation, -an' the joys o' heaven?" - -"Oho!" cried Bruce, and straddled around the room with his face turned -to the joists.--"My dear Copland, did you ever hear such a thing in all -the days that ever you have to live? Upon my soul, the old woman is -talking of grace, and salvation, and the joys of heaven too, by Saint -G--! My dearest honey and darling, will you be so kind as stand up upon -the soles of your feet, and let me see what kind of a figure you will be -in heaven. Now, by the cross of Saint Patrick, I would take a journey -there to see you go swimming through Heaven in that same form, with -your long waist, and plaitted quoif, and that same charming face of -yours. Och! och! me! what a vile she whig we have got in this here -corner!--Copland, my dear soul, I foresee that all the ewes and kine of -Chapelhope will soon be rouped at the cross of Selkirk, and then what -blessed lawings we shall have! Now my dear mistress Grace, you must be -after renouncing the joys of heaven immediately; for upon my honour, the -very sight of your face would spoil the joys of any place whatever, and -the first thing you must do is to lay that delightful old book with the -beautiful margin along the side of it, on the coals; but before you do -that we shall sing to his praise and glory from the 7th verse of the -149th psalm." - -He then laid aside his helmet and sung the psalm, giving out each line -with a whine that was truly ludicrous, after which he put the Bible into -the goodwife's hand, and desired her, in a serious tone, instantly to -lay it on the fire. The captain's speech to his companions about the -ewes and kine of Chapelhope was not altogether lost on the conscience of -Maron Linton. It was not, as she afterwards said, like water spilt upon -the ground, which cannot be gathered up again. "Why, dear sir," said -she, "ye ken, after a', that the beuk's naething but paper an' ink, an' -three shillings an' aughtpence will buy as gude a ane frae Geordy -Dabson, the morn, an' if there be ony sin in't, it will lye at your -door, an' no at mine. I'll ne'er haigel wi' my king's officer about -three and aughtpence." - -So saying, Maron laid the Bible on the fire, which soon consumed it to -ashes. - -"Now, may the devil take me," said Bruce, "if I do not believe that you -are a true woman after all, and if so, my purse is lighter by one half -than it was; but, my dear honey, you have the very individual and -genuine seeds of whiggism in your constitution--You have, I will swear, -been at many a harmless and innocent conventicle." - -"Ye ken little about me, sir.--Gude forbid that ever I countenanced sic -traitors to the kirk and state!" - -"Amen! say I; but I prophecy and say unto thee, that the first -field-meeting into which thou goest in the beauty of holiness, thou -shalt be established for ever with thy one foot in Dan and the other in -Beersheba, and shalt return to thy respective place of abode as rank a -whig as ever swung in the Grass-Market." - -A long dialogue next ensued, in which the murder of the priest, Mass -John Binram, was discussed at full length, and by which Bruce and -Copland discerned, that superstitious as Maron was, she told them what -she deemed to be the truth, though in a strange round-about way. Just as -they were beginning to talk over the mysterious murder of the soldiers, -Claverhouse and Sir Thomas joined them, and Bruce, turning round to -them, said, "My lord, this very honest woman assures me, that she -believes the two principal murderers of the curate are lying concealed -in a linn not far hence, and there seems to be little doubt but that -they must likewise have been concerned in the murder of our soldiers." - -Clavers, the horrors of whose execrations are yet fresh in the memory of -our peasants, burst out as follows, to the astonishment of Bruce, who -was not aware of his chagrin, or of aught having befallen him. - -"May the devil confound and d--n them to hell!--May he make a brander of -their ribs to roast their souls on!" - -Maron Linton, hearing herself called a good woman, and finding that she -was approven of, could not refrain from interfering here. - -"Dear sir, my lord, ye sudna swear that gate, for it's unco ill-faur'd -ye ken--an' at ony rate, the deil canna damn naebody--if ye will swear, -swear sense." - -The rage of the general, and the simplicity of the goodwife, was such an -amusing contrast, that the three attendants laughed aloud. Clavers -turned his deep grey eye upon them, which more than the eye of any human -being resembled that of a serpent--offence gleamed in it. - -"Gentlemen," said he, "do you consider where you are, and what you are -about? Sacre! am I always to be trysted with boys and fools?" - -He then began and examined the goodwife with much feigned deference and -civility, which so pleased her that she told him every thing with great -readiness. She was just beginning to relate the terrible, but -unfortunate story of the Brownie of Bodsbeck, and his train of officious -spirits; of the meat which they devoured, and in all probability would -have ended the relation with the woeful connection between the Brownie -and her daughter, and the part that she had taken in the murder of the -soldiers, when Walter entered the room with a discomposed mien, and gave -a new turn to the conversation. But that eventful scene must be left to -the next chapter. - - - - -CHAPTER VIII. - - -Walter, on coming to the troopers and asking for their leader, soon -discovered how roughly he had treated Clavers; and it being so much the -reverse of the reception he meant to have given him, he was particularly -vexed about it. Still he was conscious that he had done nothing that was -wrong, nor any thing that it did not behove a parent and a master of a -family to have done in the same circumstances; therefore there was -nothing farther from his intention than offering any apology. He entered -his own room, as he supposed he had a good right to do, bluntly enough. -He indeed touched the rim of his bonnet as he came in; but, seeing all -the officers covered, he stalked into the midst of them with that -immense circle of blue woollen on his head, which moved over their -helmets like a black cloud as he advanced. Bruce, who was well used to -insult the peasantry with impunity, seeing Walter striding majestically -by his general in this guise, with his wonted forwardness and jocularity -lifted up his sword, sheathed as it was, and with the point of it kicked -off Walter's bonnet. The latter caught it again as it fell, and with his -fist, he made Bruce's helmet ring against the wall; then again fitting -on his bonnet, he gave him such an indignant and reproving look, that -Bruce, having no encouragement from the eye of Clavers, resented it no -farther than by saying good-humouredly, "'Pon my body and shoul, but the -carle keeps his good-looking head high enough." - -"Copland," said Clavers, "desire Serjeant Daniel Roy Macpherson, with -eleven troopers, to attend." They were instantly at the door. "Seize -and pinion that haughty rebel, together with all his family," said he, -"and then go and search every corner, chest, and closet in the house; -for it is apparent that this is the nest and rendezvous of the murdering -fanatics who infest this country. Let the rest of the soldiers guard the -premises, that none escape to the mountains with tidings of our arrival. -This good dame we will first examine privately, and then dispose of her -as shall seem most meet." - -The command was promptly obeyed. Walter and all his family were taken -into custody, pinioned, and a guard set on them; the house was -ransacked; and in the meantime the general and his three associates -continued the examination of the goodwife. Clavers observed that, on the -entrance of Walter before, she seemed to be laid under some restraint, -stopped short in her narration, and said, "But there's the gudeman; -he'll tell ye it wi' mair preceesion nor me;" and he had no doubt, if -she were left to herself, of worming as much out of her as would -condemn her husband, or at least furnish a pretext sufficient for the -forfeiture of his wealth. Clavers had caused to be sold, by public roup, -the whole stock on the farm of Phillhope, which belonged to Walter's -brother-in-law, merely because it was proven that the farmer's wife had -once been at a conventicle. - -In the present instance, however, Clavers was mistaken, and fairly -overshot his mark; for poor Maron Linton was so overwhelmed with -astonishment when she saw her husband and family taken prisoners and -bound, that her speech lost all manner of coherence. She sobbed -aloud--complained one while, entreated another; and then muttered over -some ill-sorted phrases from the Scripture. When Clavers pressed his -questions, she answered him, weeping, "O dear sir, my lord, ye ken I -canna do naething, nor think naething, nor answer naething, unless ye -let Watie loose again; I find as I war naebody, nor nae soul, nor -naething ava wantin' him, but just like a vacation or a shadow. O my -lord, set my twa bits o' callants an' my puir auld man loose again, and -I'll say ony thing that ever ye like." - -Threats and proffers proved alike in vain. Maron's mind, which -never was strong, had been of late so much unhinged by the terrors of -superstition, that it wavered in its frail tenement like "the baseless -fabric of a vision," threatening to depart, and leave not a wreck -behind. Clavers told her that her husband's life depended on the -promptness and sincerity of her answers, he having rendered himself -amenable to justice by rescuing his daughter by force, whom they had -taken prisoner on their arrival, having found her engaged in a very -suspicious employment. This only increased Maron's agony; and at length -Clavers was obliged to give up the point, and ordered her into custody. - -The soldiers had by this time taken old John of the Muchrah and another -of Laidlaw's shepherds prisoners, who had come to assist their master -with the farm-work that day. All these Clavers examined separately; and -their answers, as taken down in short-hand by Mr Adam Copland, are still -extant, and at present in my possession. The following are some of them, -as decyphered by Mr J. W. Robertson, whose acquaintance with ancient -manuscripts is well known. - -John Hay, shepherd in Muchrah, aged fifty-six, sworn and examined. - -"Do you know such a man as the Rev. James Renwick?" - -"Yes. I once heard him pray and preach for about the space of two -hours." - -"Was it on your master's farm that he preached?" - -"No, it was in a linn on the Earl Hill, in the march between two lairds' -lands, that he preached that day." - -"How durst you go to an unlawful conventicle?" - -"I didna ken there was a law against it till after--it's a wild place -this--we never hear ony o' the news, unless it be twice a-year frae the -Moffat fairs. But as soon as I heard him praying and preaching against -the king I cam aff an' left him, an' brought a' my lads an' lasses wi' -me; but my wife wadna steer her fit--there she sat, shaking her head and -glooming at me; but I trow I cowed her for't after." - -"What did he say of the king?" - -"O, I canna mind--he said nae muckle gude o' him." - -"Did he say that he was a bloody perjured tyrant?" - -"Ay, he said muckle waur nor that. He said some gayan ill-farr'd things -about him. But I cam away and left him; I thought he was saying mair -than gude manners warrantit." - -"Were you in the Hope, as you call it; on that day that the king's -soldiers were slain?" - -"Ay, that I was; I was the first wha came on them whan they war just -new dead, an' a' reeking i' their warm blude--Gude keep us a' frae sic -sights again!--for my part, I never gat sic a confoundit gliff sin' I -was born o' my mother." - -"Describe the place where the corpses were lying." - -"It is a deep cleuch, wi' a sma' sheep rodding through the linn not a -foot wide; and if ye war to stite aff that, ye wad gang to the boddom o' -the linn wi' a flaip." - -"Were the bodies then lying in the bottom of that linn?" - -"Odd help ye, whar could they be lying else?--D'ye think they could lie -on the Cleuch-brae? Ye might as weel think to lie on the side o' that -wa' gin ye war dead." - -"How did it appear to you that they had been slain--were they cut with -swords, or pierced with bullets?" - -"I canna say, but they war sair hashed." - -"How do you mean when you say they were hashed?" - -"Champit like--a' broozled and jurmummled, as it war." - -"Do you mean that they were cut, or cloven, or minced?" - -"Na, na--no that ava--But they had gotten some sair doofs--They had been -terribly paikit and daddit wi' something." - -"I do not in the least conceive what you mean." - -"That's extrordnar, man--can ye no understand folk's -mother-tongue?--I'll mak it plain to you. Ye see, whan a thing comes on -ye that gate, that's a dadd--sit still now. Then a paik, that's a swapp -or a skelp like--when a thing comes on ye that way, that's a paik. But a -doof's warst ava--it's"---- - -"Prithee hold; I now understand it all perfectly well.--What, then, is -your opinion with regard to these men's death? How, or what way do you -think they were killed?" - -"O, sir, there's naebody can say. It was some extrordnar judgment, -that's out of a' doubt. There had been an unyerdly raid i' the Hope that -day." - -"What reason have you for supposing such a thing?" - -"Because there wasna a leevin soul i' the hale Hope that day but -theirsels--they wadna surely hae felled ane another--It's, by an' -attour, an awsome bit where they war killed; there hae been things baith -seen and heard about it; and I saw an apparition there mysel on the very -night before." - -"You saw an apparition at the place the night before, did you? And, -pray, what was that apparition like?" - -"It was like a man and a woman." - -"Had the figure of the woman no resemblance to any one you had ever seen -before? Was it in any degree, for instance, like your master's -daughter?" - -"No unlike ava." - -"Then I think I can guess what the other form was like--Had it a bonnet -on its head?" - -"Not a bonnet certainly, but it had the shape o' ane." - -"I weened as much--And was it a tall gigantic figure?" - -"Na, na, sir; the very contrair o' that." - -"Are you certain of that you say? Was it not taller than the apparition -of the woman?" - -"No half sae tall, sir." - -"Had it not some slight resemblance to your master, little as it was? -Did that not strike you?" - -"Na, na, it was naething like my master, nor nae yerdly creature that -ever was seen; indeed it was nae creature ava." - -"What then do you suppose it was?" - -"Lord kens!--A wraith, I hae little doubt. My een rins a' wi' water whan -I think about it yet." - -"Wraiths are quite common here, are they?" - -"O yes, sir!--oure common. They appear aye afore death, especially if -the death be to be sudden." - -"And what are they generally like?" - -"Sometimes like a light--sometimes like a windin-sheet--sometimes like -the body that's to dee, gaen mad--and sometimes like a coffin made o' -moon-light." - -"Was it in the evening you saw this apparition?" - -"It was a little after midnight." - -"And pray, what might be your business in such a place at that untimely -hour?--Explain that fully to me if you please." - -"I sall do that, sir, as weel as I can:--Our ewes, ye see, lie up in -the twa Grains an' the Middle a' the harst--Now, the Quave Brae again, -it's our hogg-fence, that's the hained grund like; and whenever the wind -gangs easterly about, then whan the auld luckies rise i' the howe o' the -night to get their rug, aff they come, snouckin a' the way to the Lang -Bank, an' the tither end o' them round the Piper Snout, and into the -Quave Brae to the hained grund; an' very often they think naething o' -landing i' the mids o' the corn. Now I never mindit the corn sae muckle; -but for them to gang wi' the hogg-fence, I coudna bide that ava; for ye -ken, sir, how coud we turn our hand wi' our pickle hoggs i' winter if -their bit foggage war a' riven up by the auld raikin hypalts ere ever a -smeary's clute clattered on't?" - -Though Clavers was generally of an impatient temper, and loathed the -simplicity of nature, yet he could not help smiling at this elucidation, -which was much the same to him as if it had been delivered in the -language of the Moguls; but seeing the shepherd perfectly sincere, he -suffered him to go on to the end. - -"Now, sir, ye ken the wind very often taks a swee away round to the -east i' the night-time whan the wather's gude i' the harst months, an' -whanever this was the case, and the moon i' the lift, I had e'en aye -obliged to rise at midnight, and gang round the hill an' stop the auld -kimmers--very little did the turn--just a bit thraw yont the brae, an' -they kend my whistle, or my tike's bark, as weel as I did mysel, still -they wadna do wantin't. Weel, ye see, sir, I gets up an' gangs to the -door--it was a bonny night--the moon was hingin o'er the derk brows o' -Hopertoody, an' the lang black scaddaws had an eiry look--I turned my -neb the tither gate, an' I fand the air was gane to the eissel; the -se'en starns had gaen oure the lum, an' the tail o' the king's elwand -was just pointin to the Muchrah Crags. It's the very time, quo' I to -mysel, I needna think about lying down again--I maun leave Janet to lie -doverin by hersel for an hour or twa--Keilder, my fine dog, where are -ye?--He was as ready as me--he likes a play i' the night-time brawly, -for he's aye gettin a broostle at a hare, or a tod, or a foumart, or -some o' thae beasts that gang snaikin about i' the derk. Sae to mak a -lang tale short, sir, off we sets, Keilder an' me, an' soon comes to the -place. The ewes had been very mensefu' that night, they had just comed -to the march and nae farther; sae, I says, puir things, sin' ye hae been -sae leifu', we'll sit down an' rest a while, the dog an' me, an' let ye -tak a pluck an' fill yersels or we turn ye back up to your cauld -lairs again. Sae down we sits i' the scaddaw of a bit derksome -cleuch-brae--naebody could hae seen us; and ere ever I wats, I hears by -the grumblin o' my friend, that he outher saw or smelled something mair -than ordinar. I took him in aneath my plaid for fear o' some grit -brainyell of an outbrik; and whan I lookit, there was a white thing and -a black thing new risen out o' the solid yird! They cam close by me; and -whan I saw the moon shinin on their cauld white faces, I lost my sight -an' swarfed clean away. Wae be to them for droichs, or ghaists, or -whatever they war, for aye sin' syne the hogg-fence o' the Quave Brae -has been harried an' traisselled till its little better nor a drift -road--I darna gang an' stop the ewes now for the saul that's i' my bouk, -an' little do I wat what's to come o' the hoggs the year." - -"Well now, you have explained this much I believe to your own -satisfaction--Remember then, you are upon oath--Who do you think it was -that killed these men?" - -"I think it was outher God or the deil, but whilk o' them, I coudna -say." - -"And this is really your opinion?" - -"Yes, it is." - -"Have you seen any strangers about your master's house of late?" - -"I saw one not long ago." - -"What sort of a man was he?" - -"A douse-looking man wi' a brown yaud; I took him for some wool-buyer." - -"Was he not rather like a preacher?" - -"The man might hae preached for aught contrair till't in his -appearance--I coudna say." - -"Are you certain it was not Mr Renwick?" - -"I am certain." - -"Is your master a very religious man?" - -"He's weel eneugh that way--No that very reithe on't; but the gudewife -hauds his neb right sair to the grindstane about it." - -"Does he perform family worship?" - -"Sometimes." - -"Is he reckoned a great and exemplary performer of that duty?" - -"Na, he's nae great gun, I trow; but he warstles away at it as weel as -he can." - -"Can you repeat any part, or any particular passage of his usual -prayer?" - -"I'm sure I might, for he gangs often aneuch oure some o' them. Let me -see--there's the still waters, and the green pastures, and the blood of -bulls and of goats; and then there's the gos-hawk, and the slogy riddle, -and the tyrant an' his lang neb; I hae the maist o't i' my head, but -then I canna mouband it." - -"What does he mean by the tyrant and his long neb?" - -"Aha! But that's mair nor ever I could find out yet. We whiles think he -means the Kelpy--him that raises the storms an' the floods on us, ye -ken, and gars the waters an' the burns come roarin down wi' bracks o' -ice an' snaw, an' tak away our sheep. But whether it's Kelpy, or -Clavers, or the Deil, we can never be sure, for we think it applies gay -an' weel to them a'." - -"Repeat the passage as well as you can." - -"Bring down the tyrant an' his lang neb, for he has done muckle ill this -year, and gie him a cup o' thy wrath; an' gin he winna tak that, gie him -kelty." - -"What is meant by kelty?" - -"That's double--it means twa cups--ony body kens that." - -"Does he ever mention the king in his prayer?" - -"O yes: always." - -"What does he say about him?" - -"Something about the sceptre of righteousness, and the standard of -truth. I ken he has some rhyme about him." - -"Indeed! And does he likewise make mention of the Covenant?" - -"Ay, that's after--that's near the end, just afore the resurrection. O -yes, he harls aye in the Covenant there. 'The bond o' the everlasting -Covenant,' as he ca's it, weel ordered in all things, and sure." - -"Ay, that's very well; that's quite sufficient. Now, you have yourself -confessed, that you were at an unlawful and abominable conventicle, -holding fellowship with intercommuned rebels, along with your wife and -family. You _must_ be made an example of to the snarling and rebellious -hounds that are lurking in these bounds; but as you have answered me -with candour, though I might order you instantly to be shot, I will be -so indulgent as to give you your choice, whether you will go to prison -in Edinburgh, and be there tried by the Council, or submit to the -judgment which I may pronounce on you here?" - -"O, sir, I canna win to Edinbrough at no rate--that's impossible. What -think ye wad come o' the sheep? The hogg-fence o' the Quave Brae is -maistly ruined already; and war I to gae to the prison at Edinbrough, it -wad be mair loss than a' that I'm worth. I maun just lippen to yoursel; -but ye maunna be very sair on me. I never did ony ill designedly; and as -for ony rebellion against the Bruce's blood, I wad be hangit or I wad -think o' sic a thing." - -"Take the old ignorant animal away--Burn him on the cheek, cut off his -ears, and do not part with him till he pay you down a fine of two -hundred merks, or value to that amount. And, do you hear, make him take -all the oaths twice; and a third oath, that he is never to repent of -these. By G--; if either Monmouth or Argyle get him, they shall have a -perjured dog of him." - -As John was dragged off to this punishment, which was executed without -any mitigation, he shook his head and said, "Ah, lak-a day! I fear -things are muckle waur wi' us than I had ony notion o'! I trowed aye -that even down truth an' honesty bure some respect till now--I fear our -country's a' wrang thegither."--Then looking back to Clavers, he added, -"Gude-sooth, lad, but ye'll mak mae whigs wherever ye show your face, -than a' the hill preachers o' Scotland put thegither." - - - - -CHAPTER IX. - - -It has been remarked by all the historians of that period, that the -proceedings of Clavers about this time were severe in the extreme. The -rising, both in the north and south at the same time, rendered the -situation of affairs somewhat ticklish. Still the Lowlands were then -perfectly peaceable; but he seemed determined, lest he should be called -away, to destroy the Covenanters, and all that hankered after civil and -religious liberty, root and branch. Certainly his behaviour at -Chapelhope that morning, was sufficient to stamp his character for ever -in that district, where it is still held in at least as great -detestation as that of the arch-fiend himself. - -When the soldiers, by his order, seized and manacled Walter, he -protested vehemently against such outrage, and urged the general to -prove his fidelity to his sovereign by administering to him the test -oath, and the oath of abjuration; but this Clavers declined, and said to -him, with a sneer, that "they had other ways of trying dogs beside -that." - -When those who had been appointed to search the house came before him, -and gave in their report, among other things, they said they had found -as much bread new baked, and mutton newly cooked, as would be a -reasonable allowance for an hundred men for at least one whole day. -Clavers remarked, that in a family so few in number, this was proof -positive that others were supported from that house. "But we shall -disappoint the whigs of one hearty meal," added he; and with that he -ordered the meat to be brought all out and set down upon the green--bid -his troopers eat as much as they could--feed their horses with the -bread which they left, and either destroy the remainder of the victuals -or carry them away. - -It was in vain that Walter told him the honest truth, that the food was -provided solely for himself and his soldiers, as he knew they were to -come by that road, either on that day or the one following; nay, though -all the family avouched it, as they well might, he only remarked, with a -look of the utmost malignity, that "he never in his life knew a whig who -had not a d--d lie ready on his tongue, or some kind of equivocation to -save his stinking life, but that they must necessarily all be taught who -they were dealing with." He then made them all swear that they were to -tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, and to utter -the most horrid imprecations on themselves and their souls for ever, if -they deviated in one single item; and beginning with old John, as -before related, he examined them all separately and out of hearing of -one another. - -The interrogations and answers are much too long to be inserted here at -full length; but the only new circumstances that came to light were -these two. One of the young men deponed, that, when the bodies of the -soldiers were found in the Hope, their muskets were all loaded, which -showed that they had not fallen in a regular skirmish; and the other boy -swore, that he had lately seen eighty large thick bannocks baked in one -day in his father's house, for that he had counted them three times over -as they stood cooling. This was another suspicious circumstance, and -Clavers determined to search it to the bottom. He sifted the two youths -backward and forward, trying to get the secret out of them by every wile -in his power; and because they were unable to give him any satisfactory -account who consumed all that store of bread, he caused his dragoons to -take hold of the youngest and gird his head with a cord, twisting it -with a horse pistol, until in some places it cut him to the skull. The -eldest he hung up to the beam by the thumbs until he fainted through -insufferable pain; but he could get nothing more out of them, for they -had at first told him all that they knew, being quite unconscious of any -evil. - -Still bent, as it seemed, on the full conviction and ruin of the family, -he told the boys that they were two of the most consummate knaves and -rebels that he had in all his life seen; and that if they had any hopes -at all of going to Heaven, they should say their prayers, for in a few -minutes he would order them both to be shot. - -John, the eldest, who possessed a good deal of his mother's feebleness -of character, and was besides but newly recovered from a fainting fit, -was seized with a stupor, appeared quite passive, and acted precisely as -they bade him, without seeming to know what he did; but the youngest, -whose name was William, preserved an interesting firmness, in such a -trial, for a considerable time. On being advised by Clavers to tell all -he knew rather than die, and asked if he was not afraid of death? He -answered, with the tear in his eye, "I'm nouther feared for you nor -death, man. I think if fock may be guidit this way at their ain hames, -the sooner they're dead the better." Then turning his looks to his -brother, who kneeled according to the general's order on the green -beside him, he added, with convulsive sobs, "But poor Jock's gaun to be -shot too--I wonder what ye need kill him for?--What ill hae we ever done -t'ye?--Jock's a very good callant--I canna pray weel, but if ye'll let -my billy Jock gang, I'll pray for ye as I can, and kiss ye too." - -Happy was it for the wits of poor Maron that she saw nothing of this -touching scene; she, as well as Walter, being then with the rest under a -strong guard in the Old Room. Clavers paid no regard to the kneeling -boy's request. He caused his troopers to draw up around them, present -their firelocks, and then an executioner, who was always one of his -train, tied up both their eyes. He gave the word himself, and instantly -ten or twelve carabines were discharged on them at once. John fell flat -on the earth; but William, with a violent start, sprung to his feet, -and, being blindfolded, ran straight on the files of soldiers. - -Clavers laid hold of him. "My brave little fellow," said he, "the -soldiers have all missed you, bungling beasts that they are! and since -so wonderful a thing hath befallen, you shall yet have your life, though -a most notorious rebel, if you will tell me what people frequent your -father's house." - -"What's comed o' Jock?" said the boy, "O tell me what's comed o' Jock, -for I canna see." - -"Jock is lying dead on the green there, all bathed in his blood," said -Clavers; "poor wretch! it is over with him, and unless you instantly -tell me who it was that consumed all that store of bread that has been -baked in your father's house for the last month, you must be sent after -him." - -William withdrew backward a few paces, and kneeling a second time down -on the sward with great decency and deliberation, "Shoot again," said -he; "try me aince mair; an' O see to airch a wee better this time. I wad -rather dee a hunder times, or I saw poor Jock lying a bloody corp." - -Clavers made a sign to one of his dragoons, who unbound William, and -took the bandage from his eyes. Regardless of all else, he looked wildly -around in search of his brother, and seeing his only companion lying -flat on his face, he at first turned away, as if wishing to escape from -a scene so dismal; but his helpless and forlorn situation staring him in -the face, and the idea doubtless recurring that he was never to part -with his brother, but forthwith to be slaughtered and carried to the -grave with him, he returned, went slowly up to the body, kneeled down -beside it, and pulling the napkin farther down over the face to keep the -dead features from view, he clasped his arms about his brother's neck, -laid his cheek to his, and wept bitterly. - -The narrator of this part of the tale was wont to say, that the scene -which followed had something more touching in it than any tongue could -describe, although Clavers and his troops only laughed at it. William -had now quite relinquished all sensations of fear or danger, and gave -full vent to a flood of passionate tenderness and despair. He clasped -his brother's neck closer and closer, steeped his cheek with his tears, -and seemed to cling and grow to the body with a miserable fondness. -While he was giving full scope in this manner to the affections of his -young heart, his brother made a heave up with his head and shoulder, -saying at the same time, like one wakening from a dream, "Little Will, -is that you?--Haud aff--What ails ye?" - -William raised up his head,--fixed his eyes on vacancy,--the tears -dried on his cheek, and his ruby lips were wide open,--the thing was -beyond his comprehension, and never was seen a more beautiful statue of -amazement. He durst not turn his eyes towards his brother, but he -uttered in words scarcely articulate, "Lord! I believe they hae missed -Jock too!" - -Clavers had given private orders to his dragoons to fire over the heads -of the two boys, his intent being to intimidate them so much as to -eradicate every principle of firmness and power of concealment from -their tender minds; a scheme of his own fertile invention, and one which -he often practised upon young people with too sure effect. When William -found that his brother was really alive, and that both of them were to -be spared on condition that he gave up the names and marks of all the -people that had of late been at Chapelhope; he set himself with great -earnestness to recount them, along with every mark by which he -remembered them, determined that every hidden thing should be brought to -light, rather than that poor Jock should be shot at again. - -"Weel, ye see, first there was Geordie Skin-him-alive the flesher, him -that took away the crocks and the paulies, and my brockit-lamb, and gae -me a penny for setting him through atween the lochs. Then there was -Hector Kennedy the tinkler, him that the bogles brought and laid down at -the door i' the night-time--he suppit twa bickerfu's o' paritch, an' -cleekit out a hantle o' geds an' perches wi' his toum. Then there was -Ned Huddersfield the woo-man, wi' the leather bags and the skeenzie -thread--him that kissed our bire-woman i' the barn in spite o' her -teeth,--he had red cheeks and grit thees, and wasna unlike a glutton; he -misca'd my father's woo, an' said aye, 'Nay, it's nane clean, -howsomever,--it's useless, that's its warst fault.' Then there was wee -Willie the nout herd, him that had the gude knife an' the duddy breeks; -but the Brownie's put him daft, an' his mither had to come an' tak him -away upon a cuddy." - -In this manner went he on particularizing every one he remembered, till -fairly cut short with a curse. John continued perfectly stupid, and when -examined, answered only _Yes_, or _No_, as their way of asking the -question dictated. - -"Are there not great numbers of people who frequent your father's house -during the night?" - -"Yes." - -"Do you see and hear them, after you go to bed?" - -"Yes." - -"What are they generally employed in when you hear them? Do they read, -and pray, and sing psalms?" - -"Yes." - -"Do your father and mother always join them?" - -"Yes." - -Here William could restrain himself no longer. "Gude faith, Jock, man," -said he, "ye're just telling a hirsel o' eindown lees. It canna be lees -that the man wants, for that maks him nae the wiser; an' for you to say -that my father rises to pray i' the night-time, beats a', when ye ken my -mither has baith to fleitch an' fight or she can get him eggit on till't -i' the Sabbath e'enings. He's ower glad to get it foughten decently by, -to rise an' fa' till't again. O fye, Jock! I wad stand by the truth; -an', at ony rate, no just gaung to hell open mouth." - -When the volley of musketry went off, all the prisoners started and -stared on one another; even the hundred veterans that guarded them -appeared by their looks to be wholly at a loss. Macpherson alone -ventured any remark on it. "Pe Cot's life, fat she pe pluff pluffing at -now? May the teal more pe her soul's salvation, if she do not believe te -man's pe gone out of all reason." - -The women screamed; and Maron, whose tongue was a mere pendulum to the -workings of the heart within, went on sighing and praying; asking -questions, and answering them alternately; and at every pause, looked -earnestly to her husband, who leaned against the corner of the room, -ashamed that his bound hands should be seen. - -"Och! Aigh me!" cried Maron,--"Dear sirs, what's the fock shootin -at?--Eh?--I'm sure they hae nae battlers to fight wi' there?--No ane--I -wat, no ane. Aigh now, sirs! the lives o' God's creatures!--They never -shoot nae callants, do they? Oh, na, na, they'll never shoot innocent -bairns, puir things! They'll maybe hae been trying how weel they could -vizy at the wild ducks; there's a hantle o' cleckins about the saughs o' -the lake. Hout ay, that's a'.--He hasna forgotten to be gracious, nor is -his mercy clean gane." - -Thus poor Maron went on, and though she had but little discernment left, -she perceived that there was a tint of indignant madness in her -husband's looks. His lips quivered--his eyes dilated--and the wrinkles -on his brow rolled up to the roots of his dark grizzled hair, "Watie," -cried she, in a shrill and tremulous voice--"Watie, what ails ye--Oh! -tell me what ails ye, Watie?--What's the fock shooting at? Eh? Ye'll no -tell me what they're shooting at, Watie?--Oh, oh, oh, oh!" - -Walter uttered no word, nor did his daughter, who sat in dumb -astonishment, with her head almost bent to her feet; but old Nanny -joined in full chorus with her mistress, and a wild unearthly strain the -couple raised, till checked by Serjeant Roy Macpherson. - -"Cot's curse be t--ning you to te everlasting teal! fat too-whooing pe -tat? Do you think that should the lenoch beg pe shot trou te poty, tat -is te son to yourself? Do you tink, you will too-whoo him up -akain?--Hay--Cot tamn, pe holding your paice." - - - - -CHAPTER X. - - -Upon the whole, there was no proof against Walter. Presumption was -against him, but the evidence was rather in his favour. Military law, -however, prevailed; and he found that there was no redress to be had of -any grievance or insult, that this petty tyrant, in his caprice, thought -fit to inflict. His drivers were ordered to take the whole stock from -the farms of Kirkinhope, belonging to David Bryden, who lived at a -distance, because it was proven, that Mr Renwick had preached and -baptized some children on the bounds of that farm. That stock he caused -to be taken to Selkirk, and sent orders to the sheriff to sell it by -public roup, at the cross, to the highest bidder; but with Walter's -stock he did not meddle at that time; so far did justice mark his -proceedings. He strongly suspected him, and wished to have him -convicted; and certainly would have taken all the family with him -prisoners, had not the curate-clerk arrived at that critical time. Him -Clavers consulted apart, and was soon given to understand the steadfast -loyalty of the gudewife, daughter, and all the family, save Walter, -whom, he said, he suspected of a secret connivance with the Cameronians. -This was merely to serve a selfish purpose, for the clerk suspected no -such thing at that time. It had the desired effect. Clavers set all the -rest of the family free, but took the good man with him prisoner; put -two of his best horses in requisition; mounted himself on a diminutive -poney, with the thumbikins on his hands, and his feet chained below its -belly. In this degrading situation, he was put under the care of -Serjeant Roy Macpherson and five troopers; and Clavers, with the rest -of his company, hasted, with great privacy and celerity, into that -inhospitable wild, which forms the boundary between Drummelzier and the -Johnstons of Annandale. The greater part of the fugitives had taken -shelter there at that time, it being the most inaccessible part in the -south of Scotland, and that where, of all others, they had been the -least troubled. No troops could subsist near them; and all that the -military could do was to set watches near every pass to and from these -mountains, where a few stragglers were killed, but not many in -proportion to the numbers that had there sought a retreat. - -The Covenanters knew that Clavers would make a sweeping and -exterminating circuit about that time--incidents which were not to be -overlooked, had been paving the way for it--incidents with which the -main body of that people were totally unconnected. But it was usual at -that time, and a very unfair practice it was, that whatever was said, -or perpetrated, by any intemperate fanatical individual, or any crazy -wight, driven half mad by ill usage--whatever was said or done by such, -was always attributed to the whole sect as a body. It is too true that -the Privy Council chose, invariably, men void of all feeling or remorse -to lead these troops. A man had nothing to study but to be cruel enough -to rise in the army in those days; yet, because there was a Dalziel, a -Graham, a Creighton, and a Bruce among the king's troops, it would be -unfair to suppose all the rest as void of every principle of feeling and -forbearance as they. In like manner, because some of the Covenanters -said violent and culpable things, and did worse, it is hard to blame the -whole body for these; for, in the scattered prowling way in which they -were driven to subsist, they had no controul over individuals. - -They had been looking for the soldiers' appearing there for several -days, and that same morning had been on the watch; but the day was now -so far advanced that they were waxen remiss, and had retired to their -dens and hiding-places. Besides, he came so suddenly upon them, that -some parties, as well as several stragglers, were instantly discovered. -A most determined pursuit ensued, Clavers exerted himself that day in -such a manner, gallopping over precipices, and cheering on his dragoons, -that all the country people who beheld him believed him to be a devil, -or at least mounted on one. The marks of that infernal courser's feet -are shewn to this day on a steep, nearly perpendicular, below the Bubbly -Craig, along which he is said to have ridden at full speed, in order to -keep sight of a party of the flying Covenanters. At another place, -called the Blue Sklidder, on the Merk side, he had far outrode all his -officers and dragoons in the pursuit of five men, who fled straggling -athwart the steep. He had discharged both his pistols without effect; -and just as he was making ready to cleave down the hindmost with his -sabre, he was attacked by another party, who rolled huge stones at him -from the precipice above, and obliged him to make a hasty retreat. - -Tradition has preserved the whole of his route that day with the utmost -minuteness. It is not easy to account for this. These minute traditions -are generally founded on truth; yet though two generations have scarcely -passed away since the date of this tale,[A] tradition, in this instance, -relates things impossible, else Clavers must indeed have been one of the -infernals. Often has the present relater of this tale stood over the -deep green marks of that courser's hoof, many of which remain on that -hill, in awe and astonishment, to think that he was actually looking at -the traces made by the devil's foot, or at least by a horse that once -belonged to him. - -Five men were slain that day; but as they were all westland men, very -little is known concerning them. One of them was shot at a distance by -some dragoons who were in pursuit of him, just as he was entering a -morass, where he would certainly have escaped them. He is buried on a -place called the Watch Knowe, a little to the south-east of Loch Skene, -beside a cairn where he had often sat keeping watch for the approach of -enemies, from which circumstance the height derived its name. When he -fell, it being rough broken ground, they turned and rode off without -ever going up to the body. Four were surprised and taken prisoners on a -height called Ker-Cleuch-Ridge, who were brought to Clavers and shortly -examined on a little crook in the Erne Cleuch, a little above the old -steading at Hopertoudy. - -Macpherson kept the high road, such as it was, with his prisoner; but -travelled no faster than just to keep up with the parties that were -scouring the hills on each side; and seeing these unfortunate men hunted -in from the hill, he rode up with his companions and charge to see the -issue, remarking to Walter, that "he woolt not pe much creat deal te -worse of scheeing fwat te Cot t--n'd fwigs would pe getting." - -How did Walter's heart smite him when he saw that one of them was the -sensible, judicious, and honourable fellow with whom he fought, and -whose arm he had dislocated by a blow with his stick! It was still -hanging in a sling made of a double rash rope. - -They would renounce nothing, confess nothing, nor yield, in the -slightest degree, to the threats and insulting questions put by the -general. They expected no mercy, and they cringed for none; but seemed -all the while to regard him with pity and contempt. Walter often said -that he was an ill judge of the cause for which these men suffered; but -whatever might be said of it, they were heroes in that cause. Their -complexions were sallow, and bore marks of famine and other privations; -their beards untrimmed; their apparel all in rags, and their hats -slouched down about their ears with sleeping on the hills. All this they -had borne with resignation and without a murmur; and, when brought to -the last, before the most remorseless of the human race, they shewed no -symptoms of flinching or yielding up an item of the cause they had -espoused. - -When asked "if they would pray for the king?" - -They answered, "that they would with all their hearts;--they would pray -for his forgiveness, in time and place convenient, but not when every -profligate bade them, which were a loathful scurrility, and a mockery of -God." - -"Would they acknowledge him as their right and lawful sovereign?" - -"No, that they would never do! He was a bloody and designing papist, -and had usurped a prerogative that belonged not to him. To acknowledge -the Duke of York for king, would be to acknowledge the divine -approbation of tyranny, oppression, usurpation, and all that militates -against religion or liberty, as well as justifying the abrogation of our -ancient law relating to the succession; and that, besides, he had -trampled on every civil and religious right, and was no king for -Scotland, or any land where the inhabitants did not chuse the most -abject and degrading slavery. For their parts, they would never -acknowledge him; and though it was but little that their protestations -and their blood could avail, they gave them freely. They had but few -left to mourn for them, and these few might never know of their fate; -but there was _One_ who knew their hearts, who saw their sufferings, and -in Him they trusted that the days of tyranny and oppression were wearing -to a close, and that a race yet to come might acknowledge that they had -not shed their blood in vain." - -Clavers ordered them all to be shot. They craved time to pray, but he -objected, sullenly alleging, that he had not time to spare. Mr Copland -said,--"My lord, you had better grant the poor wretches that small -indulgence." On which Clavers took out his watch, and said he would -grant them two minutes, provided they did not howl. When the man with -the hurt arm turned round to kneel, Walter could not help crying out to -him in a voice half stifled with agony-- - -"Ah! lak-a-day, man! is it come to this with you, and that so soon? This -is a sad sight!" - -The man pretended to put on a strange and astonished look towards his -benefactor. - -"Whoever you are," said he, "that pities the sufferings of a hapless -stranger, I thank you. May God requite you! but think of yourself, and -apply for mercy where it is to be found, for you are in the hands of -those whose boast it is to despise it." - -Walter at first thought this was strange, but he soon perceived the -policy of it, and wondered at his friend's readiness at such an awful -hour, when any acknowledgment of connection would have been so fatal to -himself. They kneeled all down, clasped their hands together, turned -their faces to Heaven, and prayed in a scarce audible whisper. Captain -Bruce, in the mean time, kneeled behind the files, and prayed in -mockery, making a long face, wiping his eyes, and speaking in such a -ludicrous whine, that it was impossible for the gravest face to retain -its muscles unaltered. He had more to attend to him than the miserable -sufferers. When the two minutes were expired, Clavers, who held his -watch all the time, made a sign to the dragoons who were drawn up, -without giving any intimation to the sufferers, which, perhaps, was -merciful, and in a moment all the four were launched into eternity. - -The soldiers, for what reason Walter never understood, stretched the -bodies all in a straight line on the brae, with their faces upwards, and -about a yard distant from one another, and then rode off as fast as they -could to get another hunt, as they called it. These four men were -afterwards carried by the fugitives, and some country people, and -decently interred in Ettrick church-yard. Their graves are all in a row -a few paces from the south-west corner of the present church. The -goodman of Chapelhope, some years thereafter, erected a head-stone over -the grave of the unfortunate sufferer whose arm he had broken, which, -with its rude sculpture, is to be seen to this day. His name was Walter -Biggar. A small heap of stones is raised on the place where they were -shot. - -The last look which Walter took of the four corpses, as they lay -stretched on the brae, with the blood streaming from them, had nearly -turned his brain. His heart sunk within him. For years and days they -never left his mind's eye, sleeping nor waking. He always thought he saw -them lying on the green sloping brae, with their pale visages, blue open -lips, clasped hands, and dim stedfast eyes still fixed on the Heavens. -He had heard Clavers and his officers called heroes: He wished those who -believed so had been there that day to have judged who were the greatest -heroes. - -"There! let them take that!" said Captain Bruce, as he mounted his -horse. - -"Poor misled unfortunate beings!" said Copland, and mounted his. - -"Huh! Cot t--n!" said Roy Macpherson, in a voice that seemed to struggle -for an outlet; and Walter, to his astonishment, saw a tear glistening on -his rough weather-beaten cheek, as he turned to ride away! - -The pursuit continued unabated for the whole of that day. There was a -great deal of firing, but the hills of Polmoody were inaccessible to -cavalry. There was no more blood shed. They lodged that night at a place -called Kippelgill, where they put every thing in requisition about the -house, and killed some of the cattle. Clavers was in extremely bad -humour, and Walter had no doubt that he once intended to have sacrificed -him that night, but seemed to change his mind, after having again -examined him. He was very stern, and threatened him with the torture, -swearing that he knew him to be the supporter of that nest of miscreants -that harboured around him, and that though he should keep him prisoner -for a dozen years, he would have it proven on him. Walter made oath that -there had never one of them been within his door, consistent with his -knowledge; that he had never been at a conventicle; and proffered to -take the test, and oath of abjuration, if allowed to do so. All this -would not satisfy Clavers. Walter said he wondered at his discernment, -for, without the least evil or disloyal intent, he found he had rendered -himself liable to punishment, but how he could be aware of that he knew -not. - -That night Walter was confined in a cow-house, under the same guard that -had conducted him from Chapelhope. The soldiers put his arms round one -of the stakes for the cattle, and then screwed on the thumbikins, so -that he was fastened to the stake without being much incommoded. When -Macpherson came in at a late hour, (for he was obliged likewise to take -up his abode in the cow-house over night), the first word he said was,-- - -"Cot t--n, she no pe liking to schee an honest shentleman tied up to a -stake, as she were peing a poollock." - -He then began to lecture Walter on the magnitude of folly it would be in -him to run away, "when he took it into consideration that he had a ponny -fhamily, and sheeps, and horses, and bheasts, that would all pe maide -acchountable." - -Walter acknowledged the force of his reasoning; said it was sterling -common sense, and that nothing would induce him to attempt such a -dangerous experiment as attempting to make his escape. Macpherson then -loosed him altogether, and conversed with him until he fell asleep. -Walter asked him, what he thought of his case with the general? -Macpherson shook his head. Walter said there was not the shadow of a -proof against him! - -"No!" said Macpherson; "py cot's curse but there is! There is very much -deal of proof. Was not there my countrymen and scholdiers murdered on -your grhounds? Was not there mhore scoans, and prochin, and muttons in -your house, than would have peen eaten in a mhonth by the fhamily that -pelongs to yourself. By the pode more of the auld deal, but there is -more proof than would hang twenty poor peheoples." - -"That's but sma' comfort, man! But what think ye I should do?" - -"Cot t--n, if I know!--Who is it that is your Chief?" - -"Chief!--What's that?" - -"Tat is te head of te clan--Te pig man of your name and fhamily." - -"In troth, man, an' there isna ane o' my name aboon mysel." - -"Fwat? Cot's everlasting plissing! are you te chief of te clan, -M'Leadle? Then, sir, you are a shentleman indeed. Though your clan -should pe never so poor, you are a shentleman; and you must pe giving me -your hand; and you need not think any shame to pe giving me your hand; -for hersel pe a shentleman pred and porn, and furst coosin to Cluny -Macpherson's sister-in-law. Who te deal dha more she pe this clan, -M'Leadle? She must be of Macleane. She ance pe prhother to ourselves, -but fell into great dishunity by the preaking off of Finlay Gorm More -Machalabin Macleane of Ilanterach and Ardnamurchan." - -Walter having thus set Daniel Roy Macpherson on the top of his -hobby-horse by chance, there was no end of the matter! He went on with -genealogies of uncouth names, and spoke of some old free-booters as the -greatest of all kings. Walter had no means of stopping him, but by -pretending to fall asleep, and when Macpherson weened that no one was -listening farther to him, he gave up the theme, turned himself over, and -uttered some fervent sentences in Gaelic, with heavy moans between. - -"What's that you are saying now," said Walter, pretending to rouse -himself up. - -"Pe sad works this," said he. "Huh! Cot in heaven aye! Hersel would be -fighting te Campbells, sword in hand, for every inch of the Moor of -Rhanoch; but Cot t--n, if she like to pe pluffing and shooting through -te podies of te poor helpless insignificant crheatures. T--n'd foolish -ignorant peheople! Cot t--n, if she pe having the good sense and -prhudence of a bheast." - -Walter commended his feeling, and again asked his advice with regard to -his own conduct. - -"Who is te great man tat is te laird to yourself?" asked he. - -"Mr Hay of Drumelzier," was answered. - -"Then lose not a mhoment in getting his very good report or security. -All goes by that. It will do more ghood than any stock of innocence; and -you had need to look very sharp, else he may soon cut you short. It's a -very good and a very kind man, but she pe caring no more for the lives -of peoples, tan I would do for as many ptarmigans." - -Walter pondered on this hint throughout the night; and the more he did -so the more he was convinced, that, as the affairs of the country were -then conducted, Macpherson's advice was of the first utility. He sent -for one of the shepherds of Kippelgill next morning, charged him with an -express to his family, and unable to do any thing further for himself, -submitted patiently to his fate. - -Clavers having been informed that night that some great conventicles had -been held to the southward, he arose early, crossed the mountains by the -Pennera Corse, and entered that district of the south called Eskdale. -He had run short of ammunition by the way, and knowing of no other -supply, dispatched Bruce with 20 men by the way of Ettrick, to plunder -the aisle where the ancient and noble family of the Scotts of Thirlstane -were enshrined in massy leaden chests. From these he cut the lids, and -otherwise damaged them, scattering the bones about in the aisle; but the -Scotts of Daventon shortly after gathered up the relics of their -ancestors, which they again deposited in the chests,--closed them up -with wooden lids, and buried them deep under the aisle floor, that they -might no more be discomposed by the hand of wanton depravity. - -At a place called the Steps of Glenderg, Clavers met with Sir James -Johnston of Westeraw, with fifty armed men, who gave him an exaggerated -account of the district of Eskdale, telling him of such and such -field-meetings, and what inflammatory discourses had there been -delivered, insinuating all the while that the whole dale ought to be -made an example of. Clavers rejoiced in his heart at this, for the works -of devastation and destruction were beginning to wear short. The -Covenanters were now so sorely reduced, that scarcely durst one show his -face, unless it were to the moon and stars of Heaven. A striking -instance of this I may here relate by the way, as it happened on the -very day to which my tale has conducted me. - -A poor wanderer, named, I think, Matthew Douglas, had skulked about -these mountains, chiefly in a wild glen, called the Caldron, ever since -the battle of Bothwell-bridge. He had made several narrow, and, as he -thought, most providential escapes, but was at length quite overcome by -famine, cold, and watching; and finding his end approaching, he crept by -night into a poor widow's house at Kennelburn, whose name, if my -informer is not mistaken, was Ann Hyslop. Ann was not a Cameronian, but -being of a gentle and humane disposition, she received the dying man -kindly--watched, and even wept over him, administering to all his wants. -But the vital springs of life were exhausted and dried up: He died on -the second day after his arrival, and was buried with great privacy, by -night, in the church-yard at Westerkirk. - -Sir James Johnston had been a zealous Covenanter, and at first refused -the test with great indignation; but seeing the dangerous ground on -which he stood and that his hand was on the lion's mane, he renounced -these principles; and, to render his apostacy effective, became for a -time a most violent distresser of his former friends. He knew at this -time that Clavers was coming round; and in order to ingratiate himself -with him, he had for several days been raging up and down the country -like a roaring lion, as they termed it. It came to his ears what Ann -Hyslop had done; whereon, pretending great rage, he went with his party -to the burial ground, digged the body out of the grave, and threw it -over the church-yard wall for beasts of prey to devour. Forthwith he -proceeded to Kennelburn--plundered the house of Ann Hyslop, and then -burnt it to ashes; but herself he could not find, for she had previously -absconded. Proceeding to the boundary of the county, he met and welcomed -Clavers to his assistance, breathing nothing but revenge against all -non-conformists, and those of his own district in particular. - -Clavers knew mankind well. He perceived the moving cause of all this, -and did not appear so forward and hearty in the business as Sir James -expected. He resolved to ravage Eskdale, but to manage matters so that -the whole blame might fall on Johnston. This he effected so completely, -that he made that knight to be detested there as long as he lived, and -his memory to be abhorred after his decease. He found him forward in the -cause; and still the more so that he appeared to be, the more shy and -backward was Clavers, appearing to consent to every thing with -reluctance. They condemned the stocks of sheep on Fingland and the -Casways on very shallow grounds. Clavers proposed to spare them; but Sir -James swore that they should not be spared, that their owners might -learn the value of conventicles. - -"Well, well," said Clavers, "since you will have it so, let them be -driven off." - -In this manner they proceeded down that unhappy dale, and at Craikhaugh, -by sheer accident, lighted on Andrew Hyslop, son to the widow of -Kennelburn above-mentioned. Johnston apprehended him, cursed, -threatened, and gnashed his teeth on him with perfect rage. He was a -beautiful youth, only nineteen years of age. On his examination, it -appeared that he had not been at home, nor had any hand in sheltering -the deceased; but he knew, he said, that his mother had done so, and in -doing it, had done well; and he was satisfied that act of her's would be -approven of in the eye of the Almighty. - -Clavers asked, "Have you ever attended the field conventicles?" - -"No." - -"Have you ever preached yourself?" - -"No." - -"Do you think that you could preach?" - -"I am sure I could not." - -"I'll be d--d but you can pray then," said he. - -He then proffered him his liberty if he would confess that his mother -had done wrong, but this he would in no wise do; for, he said, it would -be a sinful and shameful lie, he being convinced that his mother had -done what was her duty, and the duty of every Christian to do towards -his fellow-creatures. - -Johnston swore he should be shot. Clavers hesitated, and made some -objections; but the other persisting, as Clavers knew he would, the -latter consented, as formerly, saying, "Well, well, since you will have -it so, let it be done--his blood be on your head, I am free of -it.--Daniel Roy Macpherson, draw up your file, and put the sentence in -execution." - -Hyslop kneeled down. They bade him put on his bonnet, and draw it over -his eyes; but this he calmly refused, saying, "He had done nothing of -which he was ashamed, and could look on his murderers and to Heaven -without dismay." - -When Macpherson heard this, and looked at him as he kneeled on the -ground with his hands pinioned, his beautiful young face turned toward -the sky, and his long fair ringlets hanging waving backward, his heart -melted within him, and the great tears had for sometime been hopping -down his cheeks. When Clavers gave the word of command to shoot the -youth, Macpherson drew up his men in a moment--wheeled them off at the -side--presented arms--and then answered the order of the general as -follows, in a voice that was quite choaked one while, and came forth in -great vollies at another--"Now, Cot t--n--sh--sh--she'll rather pe -fighting Clavers and all her draghoons, pe--pe--pefore she'll pe killing -tat dear good lhad." - -Captain Bruce burst out into a horse-laugh, leaping and clapping his -hands on hearing such a singular reply; even Clavers had much ado to -suppress a smile, which, however, he effected by uttering a horrible -curse. - -"I had forgot, Sir James," said he; "Macpherson is as brave a man as -ever strode on a field of battle; but in domestic concerns, he has the -heart of a chicken." - -He then ordered four of his own guards to shoot him, which they executed -in a moment. Some of his acquaintances being present, they requested -permission of Clavers to bury him, which he readily granted, and he was -interred on the very spot where he fell. A grave stone was afterwards -erected over him, which is still to be seen at Craikhaugh, near the side -of the road, a little to the north of the Church of Eskdale-muir. - -Clavers and his prisoner lodged at Westeraw that night. Johnston wanted -to have him shot; but to this Clavers objected, though rather in a -jocular manner. - -Walter said, he was sure if Sir James had repeated his request another -time, that Clavers' answer would have been, "Well, well, since you will -have it so," &c.; but, fortunately for Walter, he desisted just in time. - -These two redoubted champions continued their progress all next day; and -on the third, at evening, Clavers crossed Dryfe, with nine thousand -sheep, three hundred goats, and about as many cattle and horses, in his -train, taken from the people of Eskdale alone. He took care to herry Sir -James's tenants, in particular, of every thing they possessed, and -apparently all by their laird's desire, so that very little of the blame -attached to the general. He was heard to say to Sir Thomas Livingston -that night, "I trow, we hae left the silly turn-coat a pirn to -wind."--But we must now leave them to continue their route of rapine -and devastation, and return to the distressed family of Chapelhope, in -order that we may watch the doings of the Brownie of Bodsbeck. - -FOOTNOTE: - -[A] One of the women baptized in the Linn of Riskinhope by Renwick that -year, has several children yet alive, not very aged people. - - - - -CHAPTER XI. - - -For all Maron Linton's grievous distresses, the arrival of Clerk, the -curate, proved an antidote of no small avail. It was a great comfort to -her, in the midst of her afflictions; and after she had been assured by -him of Walter's perfect safety, she became apparently more happy, and -certainly more loquacious, than she had been for a great while byegone. -She disclosed to him the dreadful secret, that her child was possessed -of an evil spirit, and implored his influence with Heaven, and his power -with hell, for its removal. This he readily undertook, on condition of -being locked up with the maiden for a night, or two at most. She was to -be left solely to his management; without the interference of any other -human being; and with the help only of the Bible, the lamp, and the -hour-glass, he declared that he would drive the unclean spirit from his -tabernacle of clay. - -To these conditions Maron Linton gladly assented; and, with grateful and -fond acknowledgments, called him their benefactor and spiritual guide, -their deliverer and shield; but he checked her, and said, there was -still one condition more on which she behoved to condescend. It was -likely that he might be under the hard necessity of using some violent -measures in exorcising her, for it would be hard to drive the malignant -spirit from so sweet a habitation; but whatever noises might be heard, -no one was to interfere, or even listen, upon pain of being delivered up -to the foul spirit, soul and body; and it was ten to one that any who -was so imprudent as to intrude on these awful and mysterious rites, -might be torn in pieces. - -Maron blest herself from all interference, and gave Nanny directions to -the same purport; as for the two boys, they slept out of hearing. She -likewise gave him the key, that he might lock both the doors of the Old -Room in the inside, and thus prevent all intrusions, should any be -offered. He said prayers in the family, to which Katharine was admitted; -and then taking the lamp and the hour-glass in his hand, and the Bible -below his arm, he departed into the Old Room, where, in about half an -hour afterwards, the maiden was summoned to attend him. He took her -respectfully by the hand, and seated her on a chair at the side of the -bed, saying, that he was commissioned by her worthy mother to hold a -little private conversation with her. Then locking the door, and putting -the key in his pocket, he added, "You are my prisoner for this night, -but be not alarmed; I have undertaken to drive an evil spirit away from -you, but both my exorcisms and orisons shall be adapted to the feelings -of a young maiden, and as agreeable to one whom I so much admire, as it -is in my power to make them." - -Katharine grew as pale as death as he uttered these words, and placed -himself cordially by her side. - -It is unmeet to relate the conversation that ensued; but the worthy -curate soon showed off in his true colours, and with unblushing front -ventured a proposal that shocked the innocent and modest Katharine so -much, that she could only reply to it by holding up her hands, and -uttering a loud exclamation of astonishment. His further precedure soon -convinced her, that she was in the hands of a man who was determined to -take every advantage of the opportunity thus unwarrantably afforded him, -and to stick at no atrocity for the accomplishment of his purposes. - -She neither descended to tears nor entreaties, but resisted all his -approaches with a firmness and dignity that he never conceived to have -formed any part of her character; and, when continuing to press her -hand, she said to him, "You had better keep your distance, Mass John -Clerk, and consider what befits your character, and the confidence -reposed in you by my unsuspecting parent; but I tell you, if you again -presume to touch me, though it were but with one of your fingers, I -will, in a moment, bring those out of the chink of the wall, or from -under that hearth, that shall lay you motionless at my feet in the -twinkling of an eye, or bear you off to any part of the creation that I -shall name." - -He smiled as she said this, and was about to turn it into a jest; but on -looking at her face, he perceived that there was not one trait of -jocularity in it. It beamed with a mystical serenity which sent a -chillness through his whole frame; and, for the first time, he deemed -her deranged, or possessed in some manner, he wist not how. Staunch, -however, to his honourable purpose, he became so unequivocal, that she -was obliged to devise some means of attaining a temporary cessation; and -feigning to hesitate on his proposal, she requested a minute or two to -speak. - -"I am but young, Mass John," said she, "and have no experience in the -ways of the world; and it seems, from what you have advanced, that I -attach more importance to some matters than they deserve. But I beg of -you to give me a little time to reflect on the proposal you have made. -See that hour-glass is half run out already: I only ask of you not to -disturb or importune me until it run out a second time." - -"And do you then promise to do as I request?" said he. - -"I do," returned she, "provided you still continue of the same mind as -you are now." - -"My mind is made up," said he, "and my resolution taken in all that -relates to you; nevertheless, it would be hard to refuse a maid so -gentle and modest a request--I grant it--and should you attempt to break -off your engagement at the expiry of the time, it shall be the worse for -you." - -"Be it so," replied she; "in the meantime let me be undisturbed till -then." And so saying, she arose and went aside to the little table where -the Bible and the lamp were placed, and began with great seriousness to -search out, and peruse parts of the sacred volume. - -Clerk liked not this contemplative mood, and tried every wile in his -power to draw her attention from the Scriptures. He sought out parts -which he desired her to read, if she would read; but from these she -turned away without deigning to regard them, and gently reminded him -that he had broken one of his conditions. "Maids only impose such -conditions on men," said he, "as they desire should be broken." At this -she regarded him with a look of ineffable contempt, and continued to -read on in her Bible. - -The hour of midnight was now passed,--the sand had nearly run out for -the second time since the delay had been acceded to, and Clerk had been -for a while tapping the glass on the side, and shaking it, to make it -empty its contents the sooner. Katharine likewise began to eye it with -looks that manifested some degree of perturbation; she clasped the -Bible, and sate still in one position, as if listening attentively for -some sound or signal. The worthy curate at length held the hour-glass up -between her eye and the burning lamp,--the last lingering pile of sand -fell reluctantly out as he shook it in that position,--anxiety and -suspense settled more deeply on the lovely and serene face of Katharine; -but instead of a flexible timidity, it assumed an air of sternness. At -that instant the cock crew,--she started,--heaved a deep sigh, like one -that feels a sudden relief from pain, and a beam of joy shed its -radiance over her countenance. Clerk was astonished,--he could not -divine the source or cause of her emotions, but judging from his own -corrupt heart, he judged amiss. True however to his point, he reminded -her of her promise, and claimed its fulfilment. She deigned no reply to -his threats or promises, but kept her eye steadfastly fixed on another -part of the room. He bade her remember that he was not to be mocked, and -in spite of her exertions, he lifted her up in his arms, and carried her -across the room towards the bed. She uttered a loud scream, and in a -moment the outer-door that entered from the bank was opened, and a being -of such unearthly dimensions entered, as you may never wholly define. It -was the Brownie of Bodsbeck, sometimes mentioned before, small of -stature, and its whole form utterly mis-shaped. Its beard was long and -grey, while its look, and every lineament of its face, were indicative -of agony--its locks were thin, dishevelled, and white, and its back -hunched up behind its head. There seemed to be more of the same species -of hagard beings lingering behind at the door, but this alone advanced -with a slow majestic pace. Mass John uttered two involuntary cries, -somewhat resembling the shrill bellowings of an angry bull, mixed with -inarticulate rumblings,--sunk powerless on the floor, and, with a deep -shivering groan, fainted away. Katharine, stretching forth her hands, -flew to meet her unearthly guardian;--"Welcome, my watchful and -redoubted Brownie," said she; "thou art well worthy to be familiar with -an empress, rather than an insignificant country maiden." - - "Brownie's here, Brownie's there - Brownie's with thee every where," - -said the dwarfish spirit, and led her off in triumph. - -Having bethought herself after she went out, she returned lightly, took -the keys from the pocket of the forlorn priest, extinguished the lamp, -and again disappeared, locking the door on the outside. - -Mass John's trance threw him into a heavy and perturbed slumber, which -overpowered him for a long space; and even after he awaked, it was long -before he could fathom the circumstances of his case, for he imagined he -had only been in a frightful and oppressive dream; till, beginning to -grope about, he discovered that he was lying on the damp floor with his -clothes on; and at length, without opening his eyes, he recovered by -degrees his reasoning faculties, and was able to retrace the -circumstances that led to his present situation. He arose in great -dismay--the day-light had begun to shine into the room, and finding that -both doors were locked, he deemed it unadvisable to make any noise, and -threw himself upon the bed. The retrospect of his adventure was fraught -with shame and astonishment. He had acted a considerable part in it, but -he had dreamed of a great deal more, and with all his ingenuity he could -not separate in his mind the real incidents from those that were -imaginary. He arose with the sun, and rapped gently at the inner-door, -which, to his still farther astonishment, was opened by Katharine, in -her usual neat and cleanly morning dress. He stared in her face, to mark -if he could read any meaning in it--he could distinguish none that spoke -a language to him either good or bad--it was a face of calm decent -serenity, and wore no shade of either shame or anger--somewhat paler -than it was the evening before, but still as lovely as ever. The curate -seemed gasping for breath, but not having courage to address her, he -walked forth to the open air. - -It was a beautiful morning in September; the ground was covered with a -slight hoar frost, and a cloud of light haze (or as the country people -call it, _the blue ouder_,) slept upon the long valley of water, and -reached nearly midway up the hills. The morning sun shone full upon it, -making it appear like an ocean of silvery down. It vanished by -imperceptible degrees into the clear blue firmament, and was succeeded -by a warm sun and a southerly breeze. It was such a morning as could -not fail to cheer and re-animate every heart and frame, not wholly -overcome by guilt and disease--Clark's were neither--he was depraved of -heart, but insensible to the evil of such a disposition; he had, -moreover, been a hanger-on from his youth upward, and had an effrontery -not to be outfaced. Of course, by the time he had finished a -three-hour's walk, he felt himself so much refreshed and invigorated in -mind, that he resolved not to expose himself to the goodwife, who was -his principal stay and support among his straggled and dissatisfied -flock, by a confession of the dreadful fright he had gotten, but to -weather out the storm with as lofty and saintly a deportment as he -could. - -He had not well gone out when the lad of Kepplegill arrived, and -delivered to Katharine her father's letter. She saw the propriety of the -injunction which it bore, and that an immediate application to their -laird, Drumelzier, who was then high in trust and favour with the party -in power, was the likeliest of all ways to procure her father's relief, -neither durst she trust the mission to any but herself. But ah! there -was a concealed weight that pressed upon her spirit--a secret -circumstance that compelled her to stay at home, and which could not be -revealed to mortal ear. Her father's fate was at present uncertain and -ticklish, but that secret once revealed, tortures, death, and ruin were -inevitable--the doom of the whole family was sealed. She knew not what -to do, for she had none to advise with. There was but one on earth to -whom this secret could be imparted; indeed there was but one in whose -power it was to execute the trust which the circumstances of the case -required, and that was old Nanny, who was crazed, fearless, and -altogether inscrutable. Another trial, however, of her religious -principles, and adherence to the established rules of church government -in the country, was absolutely necessary; and to that trial our young -and mysterious heroine went with all possible haste, as well as -precaution. - -Whosoever readeth this must paint to themselves old Nanny, and they must -paint her aright, with her thin fantastic form and antiquated dress, -bustling up and down the house. Her fine stock of bannocks had been all -exhausted--the troopers and their horses had left nothing in her -master's house that could either be eaten or conveniently carried away. -She had been early astir, as well as her sedate and thoughtful young -dame, had been busy all the morning, and the whole time her tongue never -at rest. She had been singing one while, speaking to herself another, -and every now and then intermixing bitter reflections on Clavers and his -troops. - -"Wae be to them for a pack o' greedy gallayniels--they haena the mence -of a miller's yaud; for though she'll stap her nose into every body's -pock, yet when she's fou she'll carry naething wi' her. Heichow! wae's -me, that I sude hae lived to see the day! That ever I sude hae lived to -see the colehood take the laverock's place; and the stanchel and the -merlin chatterin' frae the cushat's nest! Ah! wae's me! will the sweet -voice o' the turtle-doo be nae mair heard in our land! There was a time -when I sat on the bonny green brae an' listened to it till the tears -dreepit frae my een, an' a' the hairs o' my head stood on end!--The -hairs o' my head?--Ay, that's nae lie! They're grey now, an' will soon -be snaw-white if heart's care can alter them; but they will never be sae -white as they anes war. I saw the siller-grey lock o' age, an' the manly -curls o' youth wavin' at my side that day!--But where are they now? A' -mouled! a' mouled!--But the druckit blood winna let them rot! I'll see -them rise fresh an' bonny! I'll look round to my right hand and ane will -sae, 'Mother! my dear mother, are you here with us?' I'll turn to my -left hand, another will say, 'Nanny! my dear and faithful wife, are you -too here with us?'--I'll say, 'Ay, John, I'm here; I was yours in life; -I have been yours in death; an' I'll be yours in life again.'--Dear -bairn, dear bairn, are you there," continued she, observing Katharine -standing close behind her; "what was I saying, or where was I at? I -little wat outher what I was saying or doing.--Hout ay; I was gaun ower -some auld things, but they're a' like a dream, an' when I get amang them -I'm hardly mysel. Dear bairn, ye maunna mind an auld crazy body's -reveries." - -There was some need for this apology, if Nanny's frame, air, and -attitude, are taken into account. She was standing with her back to the -light, mixing meal with water, whereof to make bread--her mutch, or -_night-hussing_, as she called it, was tied close down over her cheeks -and brow as usual; her grey locks hanging dishevelled from under it; and -as she uttered the last sentence, immediately before noticing her young -mistress, her thin mealy hands were stretched upwards, her head and -body bent back, and her voice like one in a paroxysm. Katharine quaked, -although well accustomed to scenes of no ordinary nature. - -"Nanny," said she, "there is something that preys upon your mind--some -great calamity that recurs to your memory, and goes near to unhinge your -tranquillity of mind, if not your reason. Will you inform me of it, good -Nanny, that I may talk and sympathize with you over it?" - -"Dear bairn, nae loss ava--A' profit! a' profit i'the main! I haena -biggit a bield o' the windlestrae, nor lippened my weight to a broken -reed! Na, na, dear bairn; nae loss ava." - -"But, Nanny, I have overheard you in your most secret hours, in your -prayers and self-examinations." - -At the mention of this Nanny turned about, and after a wild searching -stare in her young mistress's face, while every nerve of her frame -seemed to shrink from the recollection of the disclosures she feared -she had made, she answered as follows, in a deep and tremulous tone:-- - -"That was atween God and me--There was neither language nor sound there -for the ear o' flesh!--It was unfair!--It was unfair!--Ye are mistress -here, and ye keep the keys o' the aumbry, the kitchen, the ha', an' the -hale house; but wi' the secret keys o' the heart and conscience ye hae -naething to do!--the keys o' the sma'est portal that leads to heaven or -hell are nane o' yours; therefore, what ye hae done was unfair. If I -chose, sinful and miserable as I am, to converse with my God about the -dead as if they war living, an' of the living as if they war dead, -what's that to you? Or if I likit to take counsel of that which -exists only in my own mind, is the rackle hand o' steelrife power -to make a handle o' that to grind the very hearts of the just and the -good, or turn the poor wasted frame o' eild and resignation on the -wheel?--Lack-a-day, my dear bairn, I'm lost again! Ye canna an' ye -maunna forgie me now. Walth's dear, an' life's dearer--but sin' it maun -be sae, twal o'clock sanna find me aneath your roof--there shall naebody -suffer for harbouring poor auld Nanny--she has seen better days, an' she -hopes to see better anes again; but it's lang sin' the warld's weel an' -the warld's wae came baith to her alike. I maun e'en bid ye fareweel, my -bonny bairn, but I maun tell ye ere I gae that ye're i'the _braid way_. -Ye hae some good things about ye, and O, it is a pity that a dear sweet -soul should be lost for want o' light to direct! How can a dear bairn -find the right way wi' its een tied up? But I maun haud my tongue an' -leave ye--I wad fain greet, but I hae lost the gate o't, for the -fountain-head has been lang run dry--Weel, weel--it's a' ower!--nae mair -about it--How's this the auld sang gaes? - - When the well runs dry then the rain is nigh, - The heavens o' earth maun borrow, - An' the streams that stray thro' the wastes the day, - May sail aboon the morrow. - - Then dinna mourn, my bonny bird, - I downa bide to hear ye; - The storm may blaw, and the rain may fa', - But nouther sal come near ye. - - O dinna weep for the day that's gane, - Nor on the present ponder, - For thou shalt sing on the laverock's wing, - An' far away beyond her." - -This Nanny sung to an air so soothing, and at the same time so -melancholy, it was impossible to listen to her unaffected, especially as -she herself was peculiarly so--a beam of wild delight glanced in her -eye, but it was like the joy of grief, (if one may be allowed the -expression,) if not actually the joy of madness. Nothing could be more -interesting than her character was now to the bewildered Katharine--it -arose to her eyes, and grew on her mind like a vision. She had been led -previously to regard her as having been crazed from her birth, and her -songs and chaunts to be mere ravings of fancy, strung in rhymes to suit -favourite airs, or old scraps of ballads void of meaning, that she had -learned in her youth. But there was a wild elegance at times in her -manner of thinking and expression--a dash of sublimity that was -inconsistent with such an idea. "Is it possible," (thus reasoned the -maiden with herself,) "that this demeanour can be the effect of great -worldly trouble and loss?--Perhaps she is bereft of all those who were -near and dear to her in life--is left alone as it were in this world, -and has lost a relish for all its concerns, while her whole hope, heart, -and mind, is fixed on a home above, to which all her thoughts, dreams, -and even her ravings insensibly turn, and to which the very songs and -chaunts of her youthful days are modelled anew. If such is really her -case, how I could sympathize with her in all her feelings!" - -"Nanny," said she, "how wofully you misapprehend me; I came to exchange -burdens of heart and conscience with you--to confide in you, and love -you: Why will not you do the same with me, and tell me what loss it is -that you seem to bewail night and day, and what affecting theme it is -that thus puts you beside yourself?--If I judge not far amiss, the -knowledge of this is of greater import to my peace than aught in the -world beside, and will lead to a secret from me that deeply concerns us -both." - -Nanny's suspicions were aroused, not laid, by this speech; she eyed her -young mistress steadfastly for a while, smiled, and shook her head. - -"Sae young, sae bonny, and yet sae cunning!" said she. "Judas coudna -hae sic a face, but he had nouther a fairer tongue nor a fauser -heart!--A secret frae you, dear bairn! what secret can come frae you, -but some bit waefu' love story, enough to mak the pinks an' the ewe -gowans blush to the very lip? My heart's wae for ye, ae way an' a' ways; -but its a part of your curse--woman sinned an' woman maun suffer--her -hale life is but a succession o' shame, degradation, and suffering, frae -her cradle till her grave." - -Katharine was dumb for a space, for reasoning with Nanny was out of the -question. - -"You may one day rue this misprision of my motives, Nanny," rejoined -she; "in the mean time, I am obliged to leave home, on an express that -concerns my father's life and fortune; be careful of my mother until my -return, and of every thing about the house, for the charge of all must -devolve for a space on you." - -"That I will, dear bairn--the thing that Nanny has ta'en in hand sanna -be neglected, if her twa hands can do it, and her auld crazed head -comprehend it." - -"But, first, tell me, and tell me seriously, Nanny, are you subject to -any apprehension or terror on account of spirits?" - -"Nae mair feared for them than I am for you, an' no half sae muckle, wi' -your leave.--Spirits, quoth I! - - Little misters it to me - Whar they gang, or whar they ride; - Round the hillock, on the lea, - Round the auld borral tree, - Or bourock by the burn side; - Deep within the bogle-howe, - Wi' his haffats in a lowe, - Wons the waefu' wirricowe. - -"Ah! noble Cleland! it is like his wayward freaks an' whimsies! Did ye -never hear it, you that speaks about spirits as they war your door -neighbours? It's a clever thing; his sister sung it; I think, it rins -this gate--hum! but then the dilogue comes in, and it is sae kamshachle -I canna word it, though I canna say it's misleared either." - -"Dear Nanny, that is far from my question. You say you are nothing -afraid of spirits?" - -"An' why should I? If they be good spirits, they will do me nae ill; -and if they be evil spirits, they hae nae power here. Thinkna ye that He -that takes care o' me throughout the day, is as able to do it by night? -Na, na, dear bairn, I hae contendit wi' the warst o' a' spirits face to -face, hand to hand, and breast to breast; ay, an' for a' his power, an' -a' his might, I dang him; and packed him off baffled and shamed!--Little -reason hae I to be feared for ony o' his black emissaries." - -"Should one appear to you bodily, would you be nothing distracted or -frightened?" - -"In my own strength I could not stand it, but yet I would stand it." - -"That gives me joy--Then, Nanny, list to me: You will assuredly see one -in my absence; and you must take good heed to my directions, and act -precisely as I bid you." - -Nanny gave up her work, and listened in suspense. "Then it is a' true -that the fock says!" said she, with a long-drawn sigh. "His presence be -about us!" - -"How sensibly you spoke just now! Where is your faith fled already? I -tell you there will one appear to you every night in my absence, -precisely on the first crowing of the cock, about an hour after -midnight, and you must give him every thing that he asks, else it may -fare the worse with you, and all about the house." - -Nanny's limbs were unable to support her weight--they trembled under -her. She sat down on a form, leaned her brow upon both hands, and -recited the 63d Psalm from beginning to end in a fervent tone. - -"I wasna prepared for this," said she. "I fear, though my faith may -stand it, my wits will not. Dear, dear bairn, is there nae way to get -aff frae sic a trial?" - -"There is only one, which is fraught with danger of another sort; but -were I sure that I could trust you with it, all might be well, and you -would rest free from any intercourse with that unearthly visitant, of -whom it seems you are so much in terror." - -"For my own sake ye may trust me there: Ony thing but a bogle face to -face at midnight, an' me a' my lane. It is right wonderfu', though I ken -I'll soon be in a warld o' spirits, an' that I maun mingle an' mool wi' -them for ages, how the nature within me revolts at a' communion wi' them -here. Dear bairn, gie me your other plan, an' trust me for my own sake." - -"It is this--but if you adopt it, for your life an' soul let no one in -this place know of it but yourself:--It is to admit one or two of the -fugitive whigs,--these people that skulk and pray about the mountains, -privily into the house every night, until my return. If you will give me -any test of your secrecy and truth, I will find ways and means of -bringing them to you, which will effectually bar all intrusion of bogle -or Brownie on your quiet; or should any such dare to appear, they will -deal with it themselves." - -"An' _can_ the presence o' ane o' _them_ do this?" said Nanny, starting -up and speaking in a loud eldrich voice. "Then Heaven and hell -acknowledges it, an' the earth maun soon do the same! I knew it!--I knew -it!--I knew it!--ha, ha, ha, I knew it!--Ah! John, thou art safe!--Ay! -an' mae than thee; an' there will be mae yet! It is but a day! an' dark -an' dismal though it be, the change will be the sweeter! Blessed, -blessed be the day! None can say of thee that thou died like a fool, for -thy hands were not bound, nor thy feet put into fetters." Then turning -close round to Katharine, with an expression of countenance quite -indescribable, she added in a quick maddened manner,--"Eh? Thou seekest -a test of me, dost thou? Can blood do it?--Can martyrdom do it?--Can -bonds, wounds, tortures, and mockery do it?--Can death itself do it? All -these have I suffered for that cause _in this same body_; mark that; for -there is but one half of my bone and my flesh here. But words are -nothing to the misbelieving--mere air mouthed into a sound. Look at this -for a test of _my_ sincerity and truth." So saying, she gave her hand a -wild brandish in the air, darted it at her throat, and snapping the tie -of her cap that she had always worn over her face, she snatched it off, -and turning her cheek round to her young mistress, added, "Look there -for your test, and if that is not enough, I will give you more!" - -Katharine was struck dumb with astonishment and horror. She saw that -her ears were cut out close to the skull, and a C. R. indented on -her cheek with a hot iron, as deep as the jaw-bone. She burst out a -crying--clasped the old enthusiast in her arms--kissed the wound and -steeped it with her tears, and without one further remark, led her away -to the Old Room, that they might converse without interruption. - -The sequel of this disclosure turned not out as desired; but this we -must leave by the way, until we overtake it in the regular course of the -narrative. - - - - -CHAPTER XII. - - -As soon as her father's letter was put into her hands, Katharine sent -off one of her brothers to Muchrah, to warn old John and his son to come -instantly to Chapelhope. They both arrived while she and Nanny were -consulting in the Old Room. She told them of her father's letter, of the -jeopardy he was in, and of her intended application to Drummelzier -without loss of time. "One of you," said she, "must accompany me; and I -sent for you both, to learn which could, with least inconvenience, be -wanted from your flocks." - -"As for me," said John, "it's out o' the question to _think_ about me -winning away. The ewes wad gang wi' the bit hog-fence o' the Quave Brae, -stoup and roup. What wi' ghaists, brownies, dead men, an' ae mischief -an' other, it is maistly gane already; an' what's to come o' the poor -bits o' plottin baggits a' winter, is mair nor I can tell. They may pike -the woo aff ane another for aught that I see." - -Katharine was grieved to hear this remonstrance, for she was desirous of -having old John as a guide and protector, who well knew the way, and was -besides singular for strength and courage, if kept among beings of this -world. She represented to him that the hog-fence of the Quave-Brae, -could not possibly be of equal importance with his master's life, nor -yet with the loss of his whole stock, both of sheep and cattle, which -might be confiscated, if prompt measures were not adopted. Nothing, -however, could persuade John, that ought could be of equal importance to -him with that which he had the charge of, and on which his heart and -attention were so much set both by day and night. He said he had lost -his lugs, and been brunt wi' the king's birn, for the hog-fence of the -Quave-Brae; and when he coudna get away to the prison at Edinburgh for -fear o't, but suffered sae muckle in place o' that, how could he win -away a' the gate to Dunse Castle? - -Jasper liked not the journey more than he; for being convinced of -Katharine's power over spirits, he was very jealous of her taking undue -advantages of him, but he was obliged to submit. He refused a horse, -saying "it would only taigle him, but if she suffered him to gang on his -feet, if he was hindmost at Dunse, he should gie her leave to cut the -lugs out o' his head too, and then he wad hae the thief's mark on him -like his father." - -Away they went; she riding on a stout shaggy poney, and Jasper running -before her barefoot, but with his _hose and shoon_ bound over his -shoulder. He took the straight line for Dunse, over hill and dale, as a -shepherd always does, who hates the _wimples_, as he calls them, of a -turnpike. He took such a line as an eagle would take, or a flock of -wild geese journeying from the one side of the country to the other, -never once reflecting on the inconvenience of riding on such a road. Of -course, it was impossible his young mistress could keep up with -him--indeed she had often enough to do in keeping sight of him. They met -with some curious adventures by the way, particularly one near -Thirlestane castle on Leader, with some stragglers of a troop of -soldiers. But these things we must hurry over as extraneous matter, -having nothing more to do with them than as connected with the thread of -our tale. They slept that night at a farm-house in Lammermoor, which -belonged to Drummelzier, and next day by noon arrived at Dunse Castle. - -Drummelzier, being one of the Committee of Public Safety, was absent -from home, to which he did not return for several days, to the great -perplexity of Katharine, who was in the utmost distress about her -father, as well as her affairs at home. She was obliged, however, to -wait with patience, as no one knew in what part of the country he was. -The housekeeper, who was an Englishwoman, was kind to her, and bade her -not be afraid, for that their master had much more power with the -government than Claverhouse, the one being a moving spring, and the -other only a tool. - -Drummelzier was a bold and determined royalist--was, indeed, in high -trust with the Privy-council, and had it in his power to have harassed -the country as much, and more, than the greater part of those who did -so; but, fortunately for that south-east division of Scotland, he was a -gentleman of high honour, benevolence, and suavity of manners, and -detested any act of injustice or oppression. He by these means -contributed materially to the keeping of a large division of Scotland -(though as whiggishly inclined as any part of it, Ayrshire perhaps -excepted,) in perfect peace. The very first dash that Clavers made among -the Covenanters, while he was as yet only a captain of a company, was -into this division of the country over which Drummelzier was appointed -to keep an eye, and it was in consequence of his intrepid and decided -behaviour there, that the Duke of York interested himself in his behalf, -and procured him the command of a troop of horse. At a place called -Bewly, on the confines of Roxburghshire, he surprised a large -conventicle about eleven o'clock on a Sabbath morning. Having but a -small band, as soon as he appeared a crowd of the hearers gathered round -the preacher to defend him, or to further his escape. Clavers burst in -upon them like a torrent; killed and wounded upwards of an hundred; took -the preacher prisoner, and all such of the hearers as were the most -respectable in appearance. He would have detained many more had his -force been sufficient for his designs, for that very day, about five -o'clock in the afternoon, he surprised another numerous conventicle, at -a place called Helmburn-Linn, in Selkirkshire, where he acted over the -same scene that he had done in the morning. The people, it is true, did -not get time to rally round their pastor as at the former place, for the -first intelligence they had of his approach was from a volley of -musketry among them from the top of the linn, which took too sure -effect. - -The congregation scattered in a moment; and as there were strong -fastnesses near at hand, none were taken prisoners, save some old men, -and a number of ladies; unfortunately all these were ladies of -distinction: the preacher likewise was taken, who suffered afterwards. -The soldiers related of this man, that when they came upon the crowd, -and fired among them, he was in the middle of his afternoon prayer, and -all the people standing uncovered around him; and that for all the -shots, and the people flying and falling dead about him, he never so -much as paused, nor took down his hands, nor even opened his eyes, but -concluded a sentence in the same fervent tone, after they had dragged -him from the tent. - -At one or other of these unfortunate conventicles, a part of all the -chief families of the Pringles, such as Torwoodlee, Whitebank, -Fairnilie, and others, were taken prisoners; as well as some of the -Scotts of Harden, and the Douglasses of Cavers and Boonjeddart; rich -prizes for Clavers, who bore them all in triumph prisoners to Edinburgh. - -Drummelzier put his whole interest to the stretch to get these leading -and respectable families freed from such a disagreeable dilemma, and -succeeded in getting the greater part of them set at liberty, on giving -securities. From that time forth, there existed a secret jealousy -between him and Clavers; but as their jurisdiction lay on different -sides of the country, they had no further interference with one another. - -When Katharine informed him, that his farmer, whom he so much esteemed, -was taken away a prisoner, and by whom, he bit his lip, shook his head, -and seemed highly incensed. He then questioned her about all the -charges against him, and the evidence; requesting her, at the same time, -to tell him the truth, in all its bearings, to the most minute scruple; -and when he had heard all, he said, that his lordship had other motives -for this capture besides these. He lost no time in setting about the -most coercive measures he could think of, to procure his liberty. He -sent an express to the Privy-council, and wrote to sundry other -gentlemen, whom Katharine knew nothing of; but the destination of Walter -being utterly unknown to either of them, the laird was at a loss how to -proceed. - -He gave her, moreover, a bond of security, signed with his name, and -without a direction, to a great amount, for her father's appearance at -any court, to answer such charges as were brought against him; and with -this she was to haste to the place where her father was a prisoner, and -present it to the sheriff of the county, or chief magistrate of the -burgh of such place, unless it was at Edinburgh, and in that case she -was to take no farther care or concern about him. - -She hasted home with her wild guide, where she arrived the fourth or -fifth day after her departure; and found, to her astonishment, the -Chapelhope deserted by man, woman, and boy! Not a living creature -remained about the steading, but her father's dog and some poultry! The -doors were locked, and the key away; and, hungry and fatigued as she -was, she could find no means of admittance. At length, on looking about, -she perceived that the cows were not about the house, nor any where in -the corn, and concluding that some one must be herding them, she went up -the side of the lake to their wonted walk, and found her two brothers -attending the cattle. - -They told her that the _town_ (so they always denominate a farm-steading -in that district,) had been so grievously haunted in her absence, both -by Brownie and a ghost, that they were all obliged to leave it; that -their mother was gone all the way to Gilmanscleuch to her brother, to -remain there until she saw what became of her husband; Mass John was -taken away by the fairies; and old Nanny was at Riskinhope, where they -were also residing and sleeping at night; that the keys of the house -were to be had there, but nothing would induce Nanny to come back again -to Chapelhope, or at least to remain another night under its roof. - -One mischief came thus upon poor Katharine after another; and she was -utterly unable to account for this piece of intelligence, having been -satisfied when she went away, that she had put every thing in train to -secure peace and order about the house, until her return. She rode to -Riskinhope for the key, but not one would accompany her home, poor Nanny -being lying moaning upon a bed. Jasper sat on the side of the hill, at a -convenient distance from the house, until her return; but then took her -horse from her, and put it away to the rest, refusing to enter the -door. Thus was she left in her father's house all alone. Nanny came -over, and assisted her in milking the kine evening and morning; and she -remained the rest of the day, and every night, by herself, neither did -she press any one much to bear her company. She had no one to send in -search of her father, and deliver Drummelzier's bond, at least none that -any one knew of, yet it was sent, and that speedily, although to little -purpose; for though Walter was sent to Dumfries Jail, he remained there -but two nights; a party of prisoners, of ten men and two women, being -ordered for Edinburgh, under a guard of soldiers, he was mixed -indiscriminately with the rest, and sent there along with them. - -He always said, that though he was disposed to think well of Clavers -before he saw him, yet he never was so blithe in his life as when he got -from under his jurisdiction; for there was an appearance of ferocity and -wantonness of cruelty in all his proceedings, during the time that he -rode in his train a prisoner, that made the heart of any man, not -brutified by inurement to such scenes, revolt at the principles that -induced, as well as the government that warranted them. He saw him and -his troopers gather the whole vale of Annandale, as a shepherd gathers -his sheep in droves, pricking the inhabitants with their swords to urge -their speed. When he got thus all the people of a parish, or division of -a parish, driven together, he surrounded them with his soldiers, made -them kneel by dozens, and take the oath of abjuration, as well as one -acknowledging James Duke of York their rightful lord and sovereign; and -lastly, made them renounce their right and part in Heaven, if ever they -repented them of that oath. The first man of such a group, who refused -or objected to compliance with this dreadful measure, he took him -forthwith behind the ranks and shot him, which summary way of proceeding -generally induced all the people to comply. Moreover, the way in which -he threatened and maltreated children, and mocked and insulted women, -not to mention more brutal usage of them, proved him at once to be -destitute of the behaviour and feelings becoming a man, far less those -of a gentleman. He seemed to regard all the commonalty in the south and -west of Scotland as things to be mocked and insulted at pleasure, as -beings created only for the sport of him and his soldiers, while their -mental and bodily agonies were his delight. The narrator of this tale -confesses that he has taken this account of his raid through the vales -of Esk and Annan solely from tradition, as well as the attack made on -the two conventicles, where the Pringles, &c. were taken prisoners; but -these traditions are descended from such a source, and by such a line, -as amounts with him to veracity. - -Far different were Walter's feelings on parting with the commander of -his guard, Serjeant Daniel Roy Macpherson, a noble block from the -genuine quarry of nature--rude as it was taken thence, without the mark -of hammer or chisel. When he heard that his prisoner was to be taken -from under his charge, he made up to him when out of the eye of his -commander, and treated him with a parting speech; which, on account of -its singularity, is here preserved, though, doubtless, woefully garbled -by being handed from one southland generation to another. - -"Now he'll pe tahaking you away from mhe pefore as it were yesterdhay; -and he'll pe putting you into some vhile dark hole with all te low tamn -pwigs that come from te hills of Gallochee and Drummochloonrich, which -is a shame and a disgrhace to shut up a shentleman who is chief of a -clan among such poor crhazy maniachs, who will pe filling your ears full -of their rejoicings in spirit; and of Haiven! and Haiven! just as if -they were all going to Haiven! Cot t--n, do they suppose that Haiven is -to pe filled full of such poor insignaificant crheatures as they? or -that Cot is not a shentleman, that he would pe falling into such -cohmpany? But I'll pe giving you advice as a friend and prhother; when -you come pefore the couhnsel, or any of their commissioners, do not you -pe talking of Haiven, and Haiven, and of conscience and covenants. And -do not you pe pragging and poasting of one to pe your chief, or to pe of -a clan that has not a friend at court; but tell them your own clan, and -your claims to be its chief; and if you do not know her true descent, -you had better claim Macpherson; she pe as ould and as honourable a clan -as any of them all, and more." - -Walter said, he trusted still to the proofs of his own loyalty, and the -want of evidence to the contrary. - -"Pooh! pooh! Cot tamn!" said Macpherson; "I tell you the evidence you -want is this, if any great man say you ought to live, you will live; if -not, you will die. Did not I was telling you that the soholdiers that -were found dead in the correi, on the lands that belong to yourself, was -evidence enough and more; I would not pe giving _a curse_ for _your_ -evidence after that, for the one is much petter than te other. And py -Cot, it is very well thought!" continued he, smiling grimly, "if you -will pe preaking out into a rage, and pe cursing and tamning them all, -you will get free in one moment." - -Walter said, that would be an easy ransom, and though it was an error he -was too apt to fall into when angry, he could see no effect it could -have in this case, but to irritate his prosecutors more and more against -him. - -"You see no effect! Cot t--n, if you ever can see any effect peyond the -top that is on your nose! and you will not pe advised by a man of -experience, who would do more for you than he would pe commending of; -and if you trust to what you can see, you will pe dancing a beautiful -Highland shig in the air to a saulm tune, and that will have a very good -effect. I tell you, when you come again to be questioned, I know my Lord -Dundee is to be there to pe adducing his proof; take you great and proud -offence at some of their questions and their proofs; and you may pe -making offer to fight them all one by one, or two by two, in the king's -name, and send them all to hell in one pody; you cannot pe tamning them -too much sore. By the soul of Rory More Macpherson! I would almost give -up this claymore to be by and see that effect. Now you are not to pe -minding because I am laughing like a fool, for I'm perfectly serious; if -matters should pe standing hard with you, think of the advice of an ould -friend, who respects you as the chief of the clan MacLeadle, supposing -it to pe as low, and as much fallen down as it may.--Farewell! she pe -giving you her hearty Cot's blessing." - -Thus parted he with Daniel Roy Macpherson, and, as he judged, an -unfortunate change it was for him. The wretch who now took the command -of their guard had all the ignorance and rudeness of the former, without -any counterbalance of high feeling and honour like him. His name was -Patie Ingles, a temporary officer, the same who cut off the head of the -amiable Mr White with an axe, at Kilmarnock, carried it to New-mills, -and gave it to his party to play a game with at foot-ball, which they -did. Ingles was drunk during the greater part of the journey, and his -whole delight was in hurting, mortifying, and mimicking his prisoners. -They were all bound together in pairs, and driven on in that manner like -coupled dogs. This was effected by a very simple process. Their hands -were fastened behind, the right and left arm of each pair being linked -within one another. Walter was tied to a little spare Galloway weaver, a -man wholly prone to controversy--he wanted to argue every point--on -which account he was committed. Yet, when among the Cameronians, he took -their principles as severely to task as he did those of the other party -when examined by them. He lived but to contradict. Often did he try -Walter with different points of opinion regarding the Christian Church. -Walter knew so little about them that the weaver was astonished. He -tried him with the apologetical declaration. Walter had never heard of -it. He could make nothing of his gigantic associate, and at length began -a sly enquiry on what account he was committed; but even on that he -received no satisfactory information. - -Ingles came staggering up with them. "Weel, Master Skinflint, what say -you to it the day? This is a pleasant journey, is it not? Eh?--I say, -Master, what do they call you! Peal-an'-eat, answer me in this--you -see--I say--Is it not delightful? Eh?" - -"Certainly, sir," said the weaver, who wished to be quit of him; "very -delightful to those who feel it so." - -"_Feel_ it so!--D--n you, sirrah, what do you mean by that? Do you know -who you are speaking to? Eh?--Answer me in this--What do you mean by -_Feel it so_? Eh?" - -"I meant nothing," returned the weaver, somewhat snappishly, "but that -kind of respect which I always pay to gentry like you." - -"Gentry like me!--D--n you, sir, if you speak such a--Eh?--Gentry like -me!--I'll spit you like a cock pheasant--Eh? Have you any of them in -Galloway? Answer me in this, will you? Eh?" - -"I'll answer any reasonable thing, sir," said the poor weaver. - -"Hout! never head the creature, man," said Walter; "it's a poor drunken -senseless beast of a thing." - -Ingles fixed his reeling unsteady eyes upon him, filled with drunken -rage--walked on, spitting and looking across the way for a considerable -space--"What the devil of a whig camel is this?" said he, crossing over -to Walter's side. "Drunken senseless beast of a thing! Holm, did you -hear that?--Macwhinny, did you?--Eh? I'll scorn to shoot the cusser, -though I could do it--Eh? But I'll kick him like a dog--Eh?--Take that, -and that, will you? Eh?" And so saying, he kicked our proud-hearted and -independant Goodman of Chapelhope with his plebeian foot, staggering -backward each time he struck. - -Walter's spirit could not brook this; and disregardful of all -consequences, he wheeled about with his face toward him, dragging the -weaver round with a jerk, as a mastiff sometimes does a spaniel that is -coupled to him; and, as Ingles threw up his foot to kick him on the -belly, he followed up his heel with his foot, giving him such a fling -upwards as made him whirl round in the air like a reel. He fell on his -back, and lay motionless; on which, several of the party of soldiers -levelled their muskets at Walter. "Ay, shoot," said he, setting up his -boardly breast to them--"Shoot at me if you dare, the best o' ye." - -The soldiers cocked their pieces. - -"Your Colonel himsel durstna wrang a hair o' my head, though fain he -wad hae done sae, without first gieing me ower to his betters--Let me -see if a scullion amang ye a' dare do mair than he." - -The soldiers turned their eyes, waiting for the word of command; and the -weaver kept as far away from Walter as the nature of his bonds would let -him. The command of the party now devolved on a Serjeant Douglas; who, -perhaps nothing sorry for what had happened, stepped in between the -soldiers and prisoner, and swore a great oath, that "what the prisoner -said was the truth; and that all that it was their duty to do was, to -take the prisoners safe to Edinburgh, as at first ordered; and there -give their evidence of this transaction, which would send the lousy whig -to hell at once, provided there was any chance of his otherwise -escaping." - -They lifted Ingles, and held him up into the air to get breath, loosing -meantime his cravat and clothes; on which he fell to vomit severely, -owing to the fall he had got, and the great quantity of spirits he had -drunk. They waited on him for about two hours; but as he still continued -unable either to speak or walk, they took him into a house called -Granton, and proceeded on their destination. - -This Douglas, though apparently a superior person to the former -commander of the party, was still more intolerant and cruel than he. -There was no indignity or inconvenience that he could fasten on his -prisoners which he did not exercise to the utmost. They lodged that -night at a place called Tweedshaws; and Walter used always to relate an -occurrence that took place the next morning, that strongly marked the -character of this petty officer, as well as the licensed cruelty of the -times. - -Some time previous to this, there had been a fellowship meeting, at a -place called Tallo-Lins, of the wanderers that lurked about Chapelhope -and the adjacent mountains. About eighty had assembled, merely to spend -the night in prayer, reading the Scriptures, &c. The curate of -Tweedsmuir, a poor dissolute wretch, sent a flaming account of this in -writing to the privy council, magnifying that simple affair to a great -and dangerous meeting of armed men. The council took the alarm, raised -the hue and cry, and offered a reward for the apprehending of any one -who had been at the meeting of Tallo-Lins. The curate, learning that a -party of the king's troops was lodged that night in his parish and -neighbourhood, came to Tweedshaws at a late hour, and requested to speak -with the captain of the party. He then informed Douglas of the meeting, -shewed him the council's letter and proclamation, and finally told him -that there was a man in a cottage hard by whom he strongly suspected to -have formed one at the meeting alluded to in the proclamation. There -being no conveniency for lodging so many people at Tweedshaws, Douglas -and the curate drank together all the night, as did the soldiers in -another party. A number of friends to the prisoners had given them money -when they left Dumfries for Edinburgh, to supply as well as they might -the privations to which they would be subjected; but here the military -took the greater part of it from them to supply their intemperance. -About the break of day, they went and surrounded a shepherd's cottage -belonging to the farm of Corehead, having been led thither by the -curate, where they found the shepherd an old man, his daughter, and one -Edward M'Cane, son to a merchant in Lanarkshire, who was courting this -shepherdess, a beautiful young maiden. The curate having got -intelligence that a stranger was at that house, immediately suspected -him to be one of the wanderers, and on this surmise the information was -given. The curate acknowledged the shepherd and his daughter as -parishioners, but of M'Cane, he said, he knew nothing, and had no doubt -that he was one of the rebellious whigs. They fell to examine the youth, -but they were all affected with the liquor they had drunk over night, -and made a mere farce of it, paying no regard to his answers, or, if -they did, it was merely to misconstrue or mock them. He denied having -been at the meeting at Tallo-Linns, and all acquaintance with the -individuals whom they named as having been there present. Finding that -they could make nothing of him whereon to ground a charge, Douglas made -them search him for arms; for being somewhat drunk, he took it highly -amiss that he should have been brought out of his way for nothing. -M'Cane judged himself safe on that score, for he knew that he had -neither knife, razor, bodkin, nor edged instrument of any kind about -him; but as ill luck would have it, he chanced to have an old gun-flint -in his waistcoat pocket. Douglas instantly pronounced this to be -sufficient, and ordered him to be shot. M'Cane was speechless for some -time with astonishment, and at length told his errand, and the footing -on which he stood with the young girl before them, offering at the same -time to bring proofs from his own parish of his loyalty and conformity. -He even condescended to kneel to the ruffian, to clasp his knees, and -beg and beseech of him to be allowed time for a regular proof; but -nothing would move him. He said, the courtship was a very clever excuse, -but would not do with him, and forthwith ordered him to be shot. He -would not even allow him to sing a psalm with his two friends, but -cursed and swore that the devil a psalm he should sing there. He said, -"It would not be singing a few verses of a psalm in a wretched and -miserable style that would keep him out of hell; and if he went to -heaven, he might then lilt as much at psalm-singing as he had a mind." -When the girl, his betrothed sweet-heart, saw the muskets levelled at -her lover, she broke through the file, shrieking most piteously, threw -herself on him, clasped his neck and kissed him, crying, like one -distracted, "O Edward, take me wi' ye--take me wi' ye; a' the warld -sanna part us." - -"Ah! Mary," said he, "last night we looked forward to long and happy -years--how joyful were our hopes! but they are all blasted at once. Be -comforted, my dearest, dearest heart!--God bless you!--Farewell -forever." - -The soldiers then dragged her backward, mocking her with indelicate -remarks, and while she was yet scarcely two paces removed, and still -stretching out her hands towards him, six balls were lodged in his heart -in a moment, and he fell dead at her feet. Deformed and bloody as he -was, she pressed the corpse to her bosom, moaning and sobbing in such a -way as if every throb would have been her last, and in that condition -the soldiers marched merrily off and left them. For this doughty and -noble deed, for which Serjeant Douglas deserved to have been hanged and -quartered, he shortly after got a cornetcy in Sir Thomas Livingston's -troop of horse. - -Two of the prisoners made their escape that morning, owing to the -drunkenness of their guards, on which account the remainder being -blamed, were more haughtily and cruelly treated than ever. It is -necessary to mention all these, as they were afterwards canvassed at -Walter's trial, the account of which formed one of his winter evening -tales as long as he lived. Indeed, all such diffuse and miscellaneous -matter as is contained in this chapter, is a great incumbrance in the -right onward progress of a tale; but we have done with it, and shall now -haste to the end of our narrative in a direct uninterrupted line. - - - - -CHAPTER XII. - - -The sudden departure of Katharine from home, after the extraordinary -adventure of the curate Clerk in the Old Room, at the crowing of the -cock, was a great relief to him, as it freed him from the embarrassment -of her company, and gave him an opportunity of telling his own story to -the goodwife without interruption, of the success he had in freeing her -daughter from the power and fellowship of evil spirits. That story was -fitted admirably to suit her weak and superstitious mind; it accorded -with any thing nearer than the truth, and perhaps this finished -hypocrite never appeared so great a character in the eyes of Maron -Linton as he did that day. He spoke of going away to Henderland in the -evening, but she entreated him so earnestly to stay and protect her from -the power of the spirits that haunted the place, that he deemed it -proper to acquiesce, for without the countenance of the family of -Chapelhope he was nothing--he could not have lived in his puny cure. She -depended on him, she said, to rid the town of these audacious (or, as -she called them, _misleared_) beings altogether, for without his -interference the family would be ruined. Their servants had all left -them--the work remained unwrought, and every thing was going to -confusion--she had given Brownie his accustomed wages again and again, -and still he refused to leave the house; and without the holy man's -assistance in expelling him and his train, their prospects in life were -hopeless. - -The curate promised to use his highest interest with Heaven, and assured -her that no further evil should come nigh unto her, at least while he -remained under her roof; "for were it not," said he, "for the -conjunction which they are in with one of the family, they should have -been expelled long ere now. That unnatural bond, I hope, by a course of -secret conferences, to be able to break asunder, but be not thou afraid, -for no evil shall come nigh thy dwelling." He talked with the goodwife -in the style that pleased her; flattered her high and pure notions of -religion, as well as her piety and benevolence; said evening prayers in -the family with zeal and devotion; but how was he startled when informed -that he was to sleep again in the Old Room! He indeed knew not that it -was haunted more than any other part of the house, or that it was the -favourite nightly resort of the Brownie of Bodsbeck, but the apparition -that he had seen, and the unaccountable rescue that he had witnessed the -night before, preyed on his mind, and he hinted to the goodwife, that he -had expected to be preferred to her daughter's room and bed that night, -as she was absent; but Maron, too, was selfish; for who is without that -great ruling motive? She expected that Brownie would appear; that Mass -John would speak to it; and thenceforward to be freed from its unwelcome -intrusions. To the Old Room he was shown at a late hour, where the lamp, -the Bible, and the _sand-glass_ were placed on the little table, at the -bed's head, as usual. - -It was past eleven when the curate went to sleep. Old Nanny, who was -dressed more neatly than usual, sat still at the kitchen fire, expecting -every minute the two covenant-men, whom her young mistress had promised -to send to her privily, as her companions and protectors through the -dark and silent watches of the night until her return. Still nothing of -them appeared; but, confident that they would appear, she stirred the -embers of the fire, and continued to keep watch with patient anxiety. -When it drew towards midnight, as she judged, she heard a noise without, -as of some people entering, or trying to enter, by the outer door of -the Old Room. Concluding that it was her expected companions, and -alarmed at the wrong direction they had taken, she ran out, and round -the west end of the house, to warn them of their mistake, and bring them -in by the kitchen door. As she proceeded, she heard two or three loud -and half-stifled howls from the interior of the Old Room. The door was -shut, but, perceiving by the seam in the window-shutters that the light -within was still burning, she ran to the window, which directly faced -the curate's bed; and there being a small aperture broken in one of the -panes, she edged back the shutter, so as to see and hear the most part -of what was going on within. She saw four or five figures standing at -the bed, resembling human figures in some small degree--their backs -towards her; but she saw a half-face of one that held the lamp in its -hand, and it was of the hue of a smoked wall. In the midst of them stood -the deformed little Brownie, that has often been mentioned and -described in the foregoing part of this tale. In his right hand he -brandished a weapon, resembling a dirk or carving-knife. The other hand -he stretched out, half-raised over the curate's face, as if to command -attention. "Peace!" said he, "thou child of the bottomless pit, and -minister of unrighteousness; another such sound from these polluted lips -of thine, and I plunge this weapon into thy heart. We would shed thy -blood without any reluctance--nay, know thou that we would rejoice to do -it, as thereby we would render our master acceptable service. Not for -that intent or purpose are we now come; yet thy abominations shall not -altogether pass unpunished. Thou knowest thy own heart--its hypocrisy, -and licentiousness--Thou knowest, that last night, at this same hour, -thou didst attempt, by brutal force, to pollute the purest and most -angelic of the human race--we rescued her from thy hellish clutch, for -we are her servants, and attend upon her steps. Thou knowest, that still -thou art cherishing the hope of succeeding in thy cursed scheme. Thou -art a stain to thy profession, and a blot upon the cheek of nature, -enough to make thy race and thy nation stink in the nose of their -Creator!--To what thou deservest, thy doom is a lenient one--but it is -fixed and irrevocable!" - -There was something in that mis-shapen creature's voice that chilled -Nanny's very soul while it spoke these words, especially its -pronunciation of some of them; it sounded like something she had heard -before, perhaps in a dream, but it was horrible, and not to be brooked. -The rest now laid violent hold of Mass John, and she heard him mumbling -in a supplicating voice, but knew not what he said. As they stooped -forward, the lamp shone on the floor, and she saw the appearance of a -coffin standing behind them. Nanny was astonished, but not yet overcome; -for, cruel were the scenes that she had beheld, and many the trials she -had undergone!--but at that instant the deformed and grizly being -turned round, as if looking for something that it wanted--the lamp shone -full on its face, the lineaments of which when Nanny beheld, her eyes at -once were darkened, and she saw no more that night. How she spent the -remainder of it, or by what means she got to her bed in the kitchen, she -never knew; but next morning when the goodwife and her sons arose, poor -old Nanny was lying in the kitchen bed delirious, and talking of -dreadful and incomprehensible things. All that could be gathered from -her frenzy was, that some terrible catastrophe had happened in the Old -Room, and that Clerk, the curate, was implicated in it. The goodwife, -judging that her favourite had been at war with the spirits, and that -Heaven had been of course triumphant, hasted to the Old Room to bless -and pay the honour due to such a divine character; she called his name -as she entered, but no one made answer; she hasted to the bed, but -behold there was no one there! The goodwife's sole spiritual guide had -vanished away. - -The curate Clerk was never more seen nor heard of in these bounds; but -it may not be improper here to relate a circumstance that happened some -time thereafter, as it comes no more within the range of this story. - -In the month of October, and the memorable year 1688, it is well known -that Clavers hasted southward, with all the troops under his command, to -assist King James against the Prince of Orange and the protestant party -of England, or to sell himself to the latter, any of the ways that he -found most convenient. In the course of this march, as he was resting -his troops at a place called Ninemile-brae, near the Border, a poor -emaciated and forlorn-looking wretch came to him, and desired to speak a -word with him. Mr Adam Copland and he were sitting together when this -happened; Clavers asked his name and his business, for none of the two -recognised him--It was Clerk, the curate (that had been) of Chapelhope -and Kirkhope! Clavers said, as there were none present save a friend, he -might say out his business. This he declined, and took Clavers a short -way aside. Copland watched their motions, but could not hear what Clerk -said. When he began to tell his story Clavers burst into a violent fit -of laughter, but soon restrained himself, and Copland beheld him -knitting his brows, and biting his lip, as he seldom failed to do when -angry. When they parted, he heard him saying distinctly, "It is -impossible that I can avenge your wrongs at this time, for I have -matters of great import before me; but the day may come ere long when it -will be in my power, and d--n me if I do not do it!" - -The spirits of the wild having been victorious, and the reverend curate, -the goodwife's only stay, overcome and carried off bodily, she was -impatient, and on the rack every minute that she staid longer about the -house. She caused one of her sons take a horse, and conduct her to -Gilmanscleuch that night, to her brother Thomas's farm, determined no -more to see Chapelhope till her husband's return; and if that should -never take place, to bid it adieu for ever. - -Nanny went to the led farm of Riskinhope, that being the nearest house -to Chapelhope, and just over against it, in order to take what care she -was able of the things about the house during the day. There also the -two boys remained, and herded throughout the day in a very indifferent -manner; and, in short, every thing about the farm was going fast to -confusion when Katharine returned from her mission to the Laird of -Drummelzier. Thus it was that she found her father's house deserted, its -doors locked up, and its hearth cold. - -Her anxiety to converse privately with Nanny was great; but at her first -visit, when she went for the key, this was impossible without being -overheard. She soon, however, found an opportunity; for that night she -enticed her into the byre at Chapelhope, in the gloaming, after the kine -had left the lone, where a conversation took place between them in -effect as follows: - -"Alas, Nanny! how has all this happened? Did not the two Covenanters, -for whom I sent, come to bear you company?" - -"Dear bairn, if they did come I saw nae them. If they came, they were -ower late, for the spirits were there afore them; an' I hae seen sic a -sight! Dear, dear bairn, dinna gar me gang owre it again--I hae seen a -sight that's enough to turn the heart o' flesh to an iceshogle, an' to -freeze up the very springs o' life!--Dinna gar me gang ower it again, -an' rake up the ashes o' the honoured dead--But what need I say sae? The -dead are up already! Lord in Heaven be my shield and safeguard!" - -"Nanny, you affright me; but, be assured, your terrors have originated -in some mistake--your sight has deceived you, and all shall yet be -explained to your satisfaction." - -"Say nae sae, dear bairn; my sight hasna deceived me, yet I have been -deceived. The world has deceived me--hell has deceived me--and heaven -has winked at the deed. Alak, an' wae's me, that it should sae hae been -predestined afore the world began! The day was, an' no sae lang sin' -syne, when I could hae prayed wi' confidence, an' sung wi' joy; but now -my mind is overturned, and I hae nouther stay on earth, nor hope in -heaven! The veil of the Temple may be rent below, and the ark of the -testimony thrown open above, but _their_ forms will not be seen within -the one, nor their names found written in the other! We have been -counted as sheep for the slaughter; we have been killed all the day -long; yet hath the Lord forgotten to be gracious, and is his mercy clean -gone for ever!" - -"Peace, peace, for Heaven's sake!--You are verging on blasphemy, and -know not what you say." - -"Do the reprobate know what they say, or can they forbear? How -then can I? I, who am in the bond of iniquity, and the jaws of death -eternal?--Where can I fly? When the righteous are not saved, where shall -the ungodly and the sinner appear?--Ay, dear bairn, weel may ye stare -and raise up your hands that gate; but when ye hear my tale, ye winna -wonder that my poor wits are uprooted. Suppose sic a case your -ain--suppose you had been the bosom companion o' ane for twenty -years--had joined wi' him in devotion, e'ening and morning, for a' that -time, and had never heard a sigh but for sin, nor a complaint but of the -iniquities of the land--If ye had witnessed him follow two comely sons, -your own flesh and blood, to the scaffold, and bless his God who put it -in their hearts to stand and suffer for his cause, and for the crown of -martyrdom he had bestowed on them, and bury the mangled bodies of other -two with tears, but not with repining--If, after a' this, he had been -hunted as a partridge on the mountains, and for the same dear cause, the -simplicity of the truth as it is in Jesus, had laid down his life--If -you knew that his grey head was hung upon the city wall for a spectacle -to gaze at, and his trunk buried in the wild by strangers--Say you knew -all this, and had all these dear ties in your remembrance, and yet, -after long years of hope soon to join their blest society above, to see -again that loved and revered form stand before your eyes on earth at -midnight, shrivelled, pale, and deformed, and mixed with malevolent -spirits on dire and revengeful intent, where wad your hope--where wad -your confidence--or where wad your wits hae been flown?" Here she cried -bitterly; and seizing the astonished Katharine's hand with both hers, -and pressing it to her brow, she continued her impassioned and frantic -strain.--"Pity me, O dear bairn, pity me! For man hasna pitied me, an' -God hasna pitied me! I'm gaun down a floody water, down, down; an' I wad -fain grip at something, if it were but a swoomin strae, as a last hope, -or I sink a' thegither." - -"These are the words of delirium," said Katharine, "and I will not set -them down as spoke by you. Pray the Almighty that they may never be -written in his book of remembrance against you; for the veriest -downfallen fiend can do no more than distrust the mercy of God in a -Redeemer. I tell you, woman, that whatever you may fancy you have seen -or heard in the darkness of night, when imagination forms fantasies of -its own, of all those who have stood for our civil and religious -liberties, who, for the sake of a good conscience, have yielded up all, -and sealed their testimony with their blood, not one hair of _their_ -heads shall fall to the ground, for their names are written in the book -of life, and they shall shine as stars in the kingdom of their -Father. You have yourself suffered much, and have rejoiced in your -sufferings--So far you did well--Do not then mar so fair an eternal -harvest--so blest a prospect of a happy and everlasting community, by -the sin of despair, that can never be forgiven. Can you, for a moment, -while in possession of your right senses, doubt of the tender mercies of -your Maker and Preserver? Can you for a moment believe that he has hid -his face from the tears and the blood that have been shed for his cause -in Scotland? As well may you doubt that the earth bears or the sun warms -you, or that he never made a revelation of his will to man." - -All the while that Katharine spoke thus, Nanny's eyes were fixed on her, -as if drinking every word she uttered into a soul that thirsted for it. -A wild and unstable light beamed on her countenance, but it was still -only like a sun-beam breaking through the storm, which is ready to be -swallowed up by the rolling darkness within. Her head shook as with a -slight paralytic affection, and she again clasped the hand which she had -never quitted. - -"Are ye an angel o' light," said she, in a soft tremulous voice, "that -ye gar my heart prinkle sae wi' a joy that it never thought again to -taste? It isna then a strae nor a stibble that I hae grippit at for my -last hope, but the tap of a good tow-widdy saugh; an' a young sapling -though it be, it is steevely rootit in a good soil, an' will maybe help -the poor drowning wretch to the shore!--An' _hae_ I thought sae muckle -ill o' you? Could I deem that mild heavenly face, that's but the -reflection o' the soul within, the image o' sin and o' Satan, an' a veil -o' deceit thrawn ower a mind prone to wickedness? Forgie me, dear, dear -saint, forgie me! It surely canna be condemned spirits that ye are -connectit wi? Ah, ye're dumb there!--ye darna answer me to that! Na, na! -the spirits o' the just made perfect wad never leave their abodes o' -felicity to gabble amang derksome fiends at the dead hour o' the night, -in sic a world o' sin and sorrow as this. But I saw _him_, an' heard him -speak, as sure as I see your face an' hear the tones o' my ain voice; -an', if I lookit nae wrang, there were mae risen frae the dead than ane. -It is an awfu' dispensation to think o'! But there was a spirit o' -retaliation in him that often made me quake, though never sae as now. O -wad ye but tell me what kind o' spirits ye are in conjunction wi'?" - -"None but the blest and the happy--None but they who have come out of -great tribulation, and washed their robes white in the blood of the -Lamb--None that would harbour such a thought, or utter such a doubt, as -you have done to-night, for the empire of the universe--More I may not -tell you at present; but stay you here with me, and I will cherish you, -and introduce you to these spirits, and you shall be happier with them -than ever you have been." - -"Will I sae?--Say nae mair!--I wad pit hand to my ain life the night, -an' risk the warst or I again met wi' them face to face in the same -guise as I saw them at midnight last week. Ye're a wonderfu' creature! -But ye're ayont my depth; therefore I'll love ye, an' fear ye, an' keep -my distance." - -Thus they parted: Katharine into her long vacant house, and Nanny over -to Riskinhope. The farmer of Riskinhope (David Bryden of Eldin-hope), -was ruined by the sequestration of his stock by Clavers, but the -shepherds and other servants still lingered about the house for better -or for worse. There was not a sheep on that large farm, save about five -scores of good ewes, that Davie Tait, the herd of Whithope, had turned -slyly over into the hags of the Yokeburn-head, that day the drivers took -away the stock. When Clavers made his last raid up by Chapelhope, all -the family of Riskinhope fled to the hills, and betook them to cover, -every one by himself; and there, with beating hearts, peeped through the -heath and the rash-bush, to watch the motions of that bloody persecutor. -Perilous was their case that day, for had any of them been found in that -situation, it would have been enough; but Davie well knew it was good -for him to keep out of the way, for Mr Renwick, and Mr Shields, as well -as other wanderers, had been sheltered in his house many a night, and -the latter wrote his _Hind let Loose_ in a small house at the side of -Winterhopeburn. Yet Davie was not a Cameronian, properly speaking, nor a -very religious man neither; but the religious enthusiasm of his guests -had broke him a little into their manner, and way of thinking. He had -learned to make family exercise, not however to very great purpose, for -the only thing very remarkable in it was the strong nasal Cameronian -whine of his prayer, and its pastoral allusions; but he was grown fond -of exhibiting in that line, having learned the Martyr's tune, and the -second part of the Dundee, which formed the whole range of his psalmody! -Yet Davie liked a joke as well as ever he did, and perhaps as well as -any part of divine worship. When one remarked to him that his family -music was loud enough, but very discordant,--"Ay," quoth Davie, "but -it's a lang gate atween here an' Heaven; a' music's good i' the -distance; I hae strong faith in that. I hae some hope i' Dan's bass too; -it has _great effect_. I was wantin him to tak some salts an' sinny leaf -to help it a wee." - -That night after Nanny came over, Davie had prayed as usual, and among -other things, had not forgot the Brownie of Bodsbeck, that "he might be -skelpit wi' the taws o' divine wrath, an' sent back to hell wi' the -sperks on his hips; and that the angel of presence might keep watch over -their couches that night, to scare the howlaty face o' him away, an' -learn him to keep his ain side o' the water." - -After prayers the family were crowded round the fading ingle, and -cracking of the Brownie and of Davie's prayer. Davie had opened his -waistcoat, and thrown off his hose to warm his feet, and, flattered -with their remarks on his abilities, began to be somewhat scurrilous on -Brownie. "I think I hae cowed him the night," said he; "he'll fash nane -o' us--he may stay wi' his Keatie Laidlaw yonder, an' rin at her biddin. -He has a sonsy weel-faur'd lass to bide wi'--he's better aff than some -o' his neighbours, Maysey;" and, saying so, he cast a look to his wife -that spoke unutterable things; but finding that his joke did not take, -after so serious a prayer, he turned again on Brownie, and, as his own -wife said, "didna leave him the likeness of a dog." He said he had eaten -sax bowes o' good meal to the goodman, an' a' that he had done for't, -that ony body kend o', was mending up an auld fail-dike round the corn -ae night. In short, he said he was an unprofitable guest--a dirty -droich, an' a menseless glutton--an' it was weak an' silly in ony true -Christian to be eiry for him. He had not said out the last words, when -they heard a whispering at the door, and shortly after these words -distinctly uttered: - - "There's neither blood nor rown-tree pin, - At open doors the dogs go in." - -The size of every eye's orbit was doubled in a moment, as it turned -towards the door. The light of the fire was shining bright along the -short entry between the beds, and they saw the appearance of a man, -clothed in black, come slowly and deliberately in, walk across the -entry, and go into the apartment in the other end of the house. The -family were all above one another in beyond the fire in an instant, and -struggling who to be undermost, and next the wall. Nanny, who was -sitting on the form beyond the fire, pondering on other matters, leaning -her brow on both hands, and all unconscious of what had entered, was -overborne in the crush, and laid flat undermost of all. - -"Dear, dear bairns, what's asteer? Hout fy! Why, troth, ye'll crush the -poor auld body as braid as a blood-kercake." - -"Ah! the Brownie!--the Brownie!--the Brownie o' Bodsbeck!" was whispered -in horror from every tongue. - -Davie Tait luckily recollecting that there was a door at hand, that led -to a little milk-house in the other end of the house, and still another -division farther from Brownie, led the way to it on all four, at full -gallop, and took shelter in the farthest corner of that. All the rest -were soon above him, but Davie bore the oppressive weight with great -fortitude for some time, and without a murmur. Nanny was left last; she -kept hold of the Bible that she had in her lap when she fell, and had -likewise the precaution to light the lamp before she followed her -affrighted associates. Nothing could be more appalling than her own -entry after them--never was a figure more calculated to inspire terror, -than Nanny coming carrying a feeble glimmering lamp, that only served to -make darkness visible, while her pale raised-like features were bent -over it, eager to discover her rueful compeers. The lamp was -half-covered with her hand to keep it from being blown out; and her -face, where only a line of light here and there was visible, was -altogether horrible. Having discovered the situation, and the plight of -the family, she bolted the door behind her, and advanced slowly up to -them. "Dear bairns, what did ye see that has putten ye a' this gate?" - -"Lord sauf us!" cried Davie, from below, "we hae forespoke the -Brownie--tak that elbow out o' my guts a wee bit. They say, if ye speak -o' the deil, he'll appear. 'Tis an unsonsy and dangerous thing to--Wha's -aught that knee? slack it a little. God guide us, sirs, there's the -weight of a mill-stane on aboon the links o' my neck. If the Lord hae -forsaken us, an' winna heed our prayers, we may gie up a' for tint -thegither!--Nanny, hae ye boltit the door." - -"Ay hae I, firm an' fast." - -"Than muve up a wee, sirs, or faith I'm gane--Hech-howe! the weight o' -sin an' mortality that's amang ye." - -Davie's courage, that had begun to mount on hearing that the door was -bolted, soon gave way again, when he raised his head, and saw the utter -dismay that was painted on each countenance. "Hout, Maysey woman, dinna -just mak sic faces--ye are eneuch to fright fock, foreby aught else," -said he to his wife. - -"O Davie, think what a wheen poor helpless creatures we are!--Does -Brownie ever kill ony body?" - -"I wish it be nae a waur thing than Brownie," said Dan. - -"Waur than Brownie? Mercy on us!--Waur than Brownie!--What was it like?" -was whispered round. - -"Ye mind poor Kirko, the bit Dinscore laird, that skulkit hereabouts sae -lang, an' sleepit several nights ben in that end?--Didna ye a' think it -was unco like him?" - -"The very man!--the very man!--his make, his gang, his claes, an' every -thing," was echoed by all. - -"An' ye ken," continued Dan, "that he was shot on Dumfries sands this -simmer. It is his ghaist come to haunt the place whar he baid, an' -prayed sae aften." - -"Ower true! Ower true! it's awsome to think o'," was the general remark. - -"Let us go to prayers," said Nanny: "it isna a time to creep into nooks -on aboon other, an' gie way to despair. There is but Ane that _can_ -guard or protect us, let us apply there." - -"Something has been done that way already," said Davie Tait; "we canna -come to handygrips wi' him, an' force him to stand senter at our door a' -night." - -Davie's matter was exhausted on the subject, and he did not much relish -going over the same words again, which, he acknowledged, were _rather -kenspeckle_; nor yet to venture on composing new ones out of his own -head: this made him disposed to waive Nanny's proposal. - -"Ay," answered she, "but we mauna haud just wi' saying gie us this, an' -gie us that; and than, because we dinna just get it aff loof, drap the -plea an' despair. Na, na, dear bairns, that's nae part o' the christian -warfare! we maun plead wi' humility, and plead again, an' never was -there mair cause for rousing to exertion than now. The times are -momentous, and some great change is drawing near, for the dead are -astir--I have seen them mysel'. Yes, the severed members that were -scattered, and buried apart, are come thegither again--joined, an' gaun -aboon the grund, mouthing the air o' Heaven. I saw it mysel--Can it be -that the resurrection is begun? It is a far away thought for the thing -itsel to be as near; but it's a glorious ane, an' there's proof o't. But -then the place an' the time are doubtfu'--had it been sun proof I wad -hae likit it better. We little wot what to say or think under sic -visitations. Let us apply to the only source of light and direction. -David, be you a mouth to us." - -"A mouth?" said Davie; but recollecting himself, added--"Hum, I -understand you; but I hae mouthed mair already than has come to ony -good. I like fock to pray that hae some chance to be heard; some fock -may scraugh themsels hersh, and be nae the better." - -"Oh fie, David! speak wi' some reverence," said his wife Maysey. - -"I mintit at naething else," said he, "but I hae an unreverent kind o' -tongue that nought ever serous-like fa's frae, let my frame o' mind be -as it will; an' troth I haena command o' language for a job like this. I -trow the prelates hae the best way after a', for they get prayers ready -made to their hands, an' disna need to affront their Maker wi' -blunders." - -"How can ye speak sae the night, David? or how can sic a thought hover -round your heart as to flee out at random that gate? If ye will _read_ -prayers, there's a book, read them out o' that; if the words o' God -winna suit the cases o' his ain creatures, how can ye trow the words o' -another man can do it? But pray wi' the heart, an' pray in humility, and -fearna being accepted." - -"That's true; but yet ane maks but a poor figure wi' the heart by -itsel." - -"Wow, Davie, man," quoth Maysey, his wife, "an' ye mak but a poor figure -indeed, when we're a' in sic a plight! Ye hear the woman speaks gude -truth; an' ye ken yoursel ye fenced us against the Brownie afore, but no -against Kirky's ghaist; tak the beuk like a man, an' pit the fence o' -scripture faith round us for that too." - -Stupid as Maysey was, she knew the way to her husband's heart. Davie -could not resist such an appeal--he took the Bible; sung the 143d psalm, -from beginning to end, at Nanny's request; and likewise, by her -direction, read the 20th of Revelations; then kneeling down on his bare -knees, legs, and feet, as he fled from the kitchen, on the damp miry -floor of the milk-house, he essayed a strong energetic prayer as a fence -against the invading ghost. But as Davie acknowledged, he had an -irreverend expression naturally, that no effort could overcome, (and by -the bye, there is more in this than mankind are in general aware of,) -and the more he aimed at sublimity, the more ludicrous he grew, even to -common ears. There is scarcely a boy in the country who cannot recite -scraps of Davie Tait's prayer; but were I to set all that is preserved -of it down here, it might be construed as a mockery of that holy -ordinance, than which nothing is so far from my heart or intention; but, -convinced as I am that a rude exhibition in such a divine solemnity is -of all things the most indecent and unbecoming, I think such should be -held up to ridicule, as a warning to all Christians never to ask -ignorance or absurdity to perform this sacred duty in public. The -sublime part of it therefore is given, which was meant as a fence -against the spirit that had set up his rest so near. To such as are not -acquainted with the pastoral terms, the meaning in some parts may be -equivocal; to those who are, the train of thinking will be obvious.--It -is part of a genuine prayer. - - "But the last time we gathered oursels before thee, we left out a - wing o' the hirsel by mistake, an' thou hast paid us hame i' our - ain coin. Thou wart sae gude than as come to the sheddin thysel, - an' clap our heads, an' whisper i' our lugs, 'dinna be - disheartened, my puir bits o' waefu' things, for though ye be the - shotts o' my hale fauld, I'll take care o' ye, an' herd ye, an' - gie ye a' that ye hae askit o' me the night.' It was kind, an' - thou hast done it; but we forgot a principal part, an' maun tell - thee now, that we have had another visitor sin' ye war here, an' - ane wha's back we wad rather see than his face. Thou kens better - thysel than we can tell thee what place he has made his escape - frae; but we sair dread it is frae the boddomless pit, or he wadna - hae ta'en possession but leave. Ye ken, that gang tried to keep - vilent leasehaud o' your ain fields, an' your ain ha', till ye gae - them a killicoup. If he be ane o' them, O come thysel to our help, - an' bring in thy hand a bolt o' divine vengeance, het i' the - furnace o' thy wrath as reed as a nailstring, an' bizz him an' - scouder him till ye dinna leave him the likeness of a paper izel, - until he be glad to creep into the worm-holes o' the earth, never - to see sun or sterns mair. But, if it be some puir dumfoundered - soul that has been bumbased and stoundit at the view o' the lang - Hopes an' the Downfa's o' Eternity, comed daundering away frae - about the laiggen girds o' Heaven to the waefu' gang that he left - behind, like a lost sheep that strays frae the rich pastures o' - the south, an' comes bleating back a' the gate to its cauld native - hills, to the very gair where it was lambed and first followed - its minny, ane canna help haeing a fellow-feeling wi' the puir - soul after a', but yet he'll find himsel here like a cow in an - unco loan. Therefore, O furnish him this night wi' the wings o' - the wild gainner or the eagle, that he may swoof away back to a - better hame than this, for we want nane o' his company. An' do - thou give to the puir stray thing a weel-hained heff and a beildy - lair, that he may nae mair come straggling amang a stock that's - sae unlike himsel, that they're frightit at the very look o' him. - - "Thou hast promised in thy Word to be our shepherd, our guider - an' director; an' thy word's as gude as some men's aith, an' we'll - haud thee at it. Therefore take thy plaid about thee, thy staff in - thy hand, an' thy dog at thy fit, an' gather us a' in frae the - cauld windy knowes o' self-conceit--the plashy bogs an' mires o' - sensuality, an' the damp flows o' worldly-mindedness, an' wyse us - a' into the true bught o' life, made o' the flakes o' forgiveness - and the door o' loving-kindness; an' never do thou suffer us to be - heftit e'ening or morning, but gie lashin' meals o' the milk o' - praise, the ream o' thankfu'ness, an' the butter o' good-works. - An' do thou, in thy good time an' way, smear us ower the hale bouk - wi' the tar o' adversity, weel mixed up wi' the meinging of - repentance, that we may be kiver'd ower wi' gude bouzy shake-rough - fleeces o' faith, a' run out on the hips, an' as brown as a tod. - An' do thou, moreover, fauld us ower-night, an' every night, in - within the true sheep-fauld o' thy covenant, weel buggen wi' the - stanes o' salvation, an' caped wi' the divots o' grace. An' then - wi' sic a shepherd, an' sic a sheep-fauld, what hae wi' to be - feared for? Na, na! we'll fear naething but sin!--We'll never mair - scare at the poolly-woolly o' the whaup, nor swirl at the gelloch - o' the ern; for if the arm of our Shepherd be about us for good, - a' the imps, an' a' the powers o' darkness, canna wrang a hair o' - our tails." - -All the family arose from their knees with altered looks. Thus fenced, a -new energy glowed in every breast. Poor Maysey, proud of her husband's -bold and sublime intercession, and trusting in the divine fence now -raised around them, rose with the tear in her eye, seized the lamp, and -led the way, followed by all the rest, to retake the apartment of -Kirky's ghost by open assault. Nanny, whose faith wont to be superior to -all these things, lagged behind, dreading to see the sight that she had -seen on the Saturday night before; and the bold intercessor himself kept -her company, on pretence of a sleeping leg; but, in truth, his faith in -his own intercession and fence did not mount very high. All the -apartment was searched--every chest, corner, and hole that could be -thought of--every thing was quiet, and not so much as a mouse -stirring!--not a bed-cover folded down, nor the smallest remembered -article missing! All the family saw Kirky's ghost enter in his own -likeness, and heard him speak in his wonted tongue, except old Nanny. It -was a great and wonderful victory gained. They were again in full -possession of their own house, a right which they never seemed before to -have duly appreciated. They felt grateful and happy; and it was hinted -by Maysey, Dan, and uncle Nicholas, that Davie Tait would turn out a -burning and a shining light in these dark and dismal times, and would -supersede Messrs Renwick, Shields, and all the curates in the country. -He had laid a visible ghost, that might be the devil for aught they knew -to the contrary; and it was argued on all hands, that "Davie was nae -sma' drink." - -The whole of the simple group felt happy and grateful; and they agreed -to sit another hour or two before they went to sleep, and each one read -a chapter from the Bible, and recite a psalm or hymn. They did so, until -it came to Nanny's turn. - -[Music: A Cameronian's Midnight Hymn. - - O thou who dwell'st in the heavens high, - Above yon Stars and within yon Sky, - Where the dazzling fields never needed light, - Of the Sun by day nor the Moon by night, - Where the dazzling fields never needed light, - Of the Sun by day nor the Moon by night. -] - -She laid her hands across each other on her breast, turned in the balls -of her half-closed eyes so that nothing was seen but the white, and, -with her face raised upwards, and a slow rocking motion, she sung the -following hymn, to a strain the most solemn that ever was heard. A scrap -of this ancient melody is still preserved, and here subjoined, for -without its effect the words are nothing. - - O thou, who dwell'st in the heavens high, - Above yon stars, and within yon sky, - Where the dazzling fields never needed light - Of the sun by day, nor the moon by night! - - Though shining millions around thee stand, - For the sake of one that's at thy right hand, - O think of them that have cost him dear, - Still chained in doubt and in darkness here! - - Our night is dreary, and dim our day; - And if thou turn'st thy face away, - We are sinful, feeble, and helpless dust, - And have none to look to, and none to trust. - - The powers of darkness are all abroad, - They own no Saviour, and fear no God; - And we are trembling in dumb dismay, - O turn not thus thy face away! - - Our morning dawn is with clouds o'erspread, - And our evening fall is a bloody red; - And the groans are heard on the mountain swarth; - There is blood in heaven, and blood on earth. - - A life of scorn for us thou did'st lead, - And in the grave laid thy blessed head; - Then think of those who undauntedly - Have laid down life and all for thee. - - Thou wilt not turn them forth in wrath, - To walk this world of sin and death, - In shadowy dim deformity? - O God it may not--cannot be! - - Thy aid, O mighty One, we crave! - Not shortened is thy arm to save. - Afar from thee we now sojourn - Return to us, O God, return! - -This air, having a great resemblance to the tone and manner in which the -old Cameronians said, or rather sung their prayers, and just no more -music in it, as the singer will perceive, than what renders the -recitation more slow and solemn, Nanny's hymn affected the family group -in no ordinary degree; it made the hairs of their head creep, and -thrilled their simple hearts, easily impressed by divine things, while -their looks strongly expressed their feelings. None of them would read -or recite any thing farther, but entreated Nanny to say it over again, -affirming, with one voice that "it was an _extrodnar_ thing." - -"Ah! dear, dear bairns! I dinna ken about it," said she; "he was a good -cannie lad that made it, but he mixed wi' the scoffers, and turned to -hae his doubts and his failings like mony ane, (Lord forgie us a' for -our share in them;) he seems even to have doubted o' the Omnipresence -when he penned that, which was far far wrang. I'll rather say ye ane on -that subject that he had made when in a better way o' thinking. It is -said that the Englishes sing it in their chapels." - -She then attempted one in a bolder and more regular strain, but wanting -the simplicity of the former, it failed in having the same effect. As -it, however, closed the transactions of that momentous night at -Riskinhope, we shall with it close this long chapter. - - Dweller in heaven and ruler below! - Fain would I know thee, yet tremble to know! - How can a mortal deem, how may it be, - That being can not be, but present with thee? - Is it true that thou saw'st me ere I saw the morn? - Is it true that thou knew'st me before I was born? - That nature must live in the light of thine eye? - This knowledge for me is too great and too high! - - That fly I to noon-day, or fly I to night, - To shroud me in darkness, or bathe me in light, - The light and the darkness to thee are the same, - And still in thy presence of wonder I am? - Should I with the dove to the desert repair; - Or dwell with the eagle in clough of the air; - In the desart afar, on the mountain's wild brink, - From the eye of Omnipotence still must I shrink? - - Or mount I on wings of the morning away - To caves of the ocean unseen by the day, - And hide in these uttermost parts of the sea, - Even there to be living and moving in thee? - Nay, scale I the cloud in the heavens to dwell; - Or make I my bed in the shadows of hell; - Can science expound, or humanity frame, - That still thou art present, and all are the same? - - Yes, present for ever! Almighty--alone - Great Spirit of nature, unbounded, unknown! - What mind can embody thy presence divine? - I know not my own being! how can I thine? - Then humbly and low in the dust let me bend, - And adore what on earth I can ne'er comprehend; - The mountains may melt, and the elements flee, - Yet an universe still be rejoicing in thee! - - -END OF VOLUME FIRST. - - EDINBURGH: - Printed by James Ballantyne & Co. - - - * * * * * - - -Transcriber's Notes - -There is one page of music in the book; the html version of this -file has links to a midi file ([Listen]); the musical notation ([PDF]); -and and a MusicXML file ([XML]), which can be viewed in most browsers, -text editors, and music notation applications. - -The book has no chapter VII and two chapters XII. - -A duplicate heading before chapter one ("THE BROWNIE OF BODSBECK") has -been removed. - - -The following are inconsistently used in the text: - -Quave Brae and Quave-Brae - -meantime and mean time - -day-light and daylight - -eye-brow and eyebrow - -moon-light and moonlight - -way-laid and waylaid - -M'Leadle and MacLeadle - -Tallo-Lins and Tallo-Linns - -cleuch-brae and Cleuch-brae - -Clark and Clerk - -Clavers and Claverhouse - - -Obvious punctuation and spelling errors have been corrected as follows: - -p. 30 "Several witnessess" changed to "Several witnesses" - -p. 43 "'Now, billies, says I, ye" changed to "'Now, billies,' says -I, 'ye" - -p. 43 "gar ye speak." changed to "gar ye speak.'" - -p. 44 "shabbles o' swords!"" changed to "shabbles o' swords!'" - -p. 44 "light o'the truth" changed to "light o' the truth" - -p. 56 (note) "Christ in Scotland_. It is dated" changed to "Christ in -Scotland_." It is dated" - -p. 131 "proffers proved alike in vain" changed to "proffers proved -alike in vain." - -p. 145 "the everlasting Covenant," changed to "the everlasting -Covenant,'" - -p. 160 "night-time, beats a,'" changed to "night-time, beats a'," - -p. 161 "cried Maron,"--"Dear" changed to "cried Maron,--"Dear" - -p. 211 "power to make a handle o" changed to "power to make a -handle o'" - -p. 217 "appresion" changed to "apprehension" - -p. 243 "head the creature, man,'" changed to "head the creature, man,"" - -p. 275 "to be eiry for him."" changed to "to be eiry for him." - - -Some possible errors have been left unchanged: - -p. 189 "had for sometime been hopping down" - -p. 196 "further precedure soon" - - - - - - -End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Brownie of Bodsbeck, and Other -Tales (Vol. 1 of 2), by James Hogg - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK BROWNIE OF BODSBECK *** - -***** This file should be named 40955.txt or 40955.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/4/0/9/5/40955/ - -Produced by Henry Flower, junet and the Online Distributed -Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was -produced from images generously made available by The -Internet Archive/American Libraries.) - - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions -will be renamed. - -Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no -one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation -(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without -permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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