"When this awful pause had lasted for a short time, Fergus, with another chieftain, received orders to detach their clans towards the village of Preston, in order to threaten the right flank of Cope's army, and compel him to a change of position. In order to execute these orders, the Chief of Glennaquoich occupied the churchyard of Tranent, a commanding situation, and a convenient place, as Evan Dhu remarked, 'for any gentleman who might have the misfortune to be killed, and chanced to be curious about Christain burial.' To check or dislodge this party, the English general detached two guns, escorted by a strong party of cavalry. They approached so near that Waverley could plainly recognise the standard of the troop he had formerly commanded, and hear the trumpets and kettledrums sound the advance, which he had so often obeyed. He could hear, too, the well-known word given in the English dialect, by the equally well-distinguished voice of the commanding officer, for whom he had once felt so much respect. It was at that instant, that, looking around him, he saw the wild dress and appearance of his Highland associates, heard their whispers in an uncouth and unknown language, looked upon his own dress, so unlike that which he had worn from his infancy, and wished to awake from what seemed at the moment a dream, strange, horrible, and unnatural. 'Good God!' he thought, ' am I then a traitor to my country, a renegade to my standard, and a foe, as that poor dying wretch expressed himself, to my native England !'

"Ere he could digest or smother the recollection, the tall military form of his late commander came full in view, for the purpose of reconnoitring. I can hit him now,' said Callum, cautiously raising his fusee over the wall under which he lay couched, scarce sixty yards distance.

"Edward felt as if he was about to see a parricide committed in his presence; for the venerable grey hair and striking countenance of the veteran, recalled the almost paternal respect with which his officers uni

versally regarded him.

But ere he could say 'Hold!' an aged Highlander, who lay beside Callum Beg, stopped his arm. Spare your shot,' said the seer, 'his hour is not yet come. But let him beware of to-morrow-I see his winding sheet high upon his breast.'

"Callum, flint to other considerations, was penetrable to superstition. He turned pale at the words of the Taishatr, and recovered his piece. Colonel G—, unconcious of the danger he had escaped, turned his horse round, and rode slowly back to the front of his regiment.

66

By this time the regular army had assumed a new line, with one flank inclined towards the sea, and the other resting upon the village of Preston; and, as similar difficulties occurred in attacking their new position, Fergus and the rest of the detachment were recalled to their former post. This alteration created the necessity of a corresponding change in General Cope's army, which was again brought into a line parallel with that of the Highlanders. In these manœuvres on both sides the daylight was nearly consumed, and both armies prepared to rest upon their arms for the night in the lines which they respectively occupied.

เ

"There will be nothing done to-night,' said Fergus to his friend Waverley; ere we wrap ourselves in our plaids, let us go and see what the Baron is about in the rear of the line.'

"When they approached his post, they found the good old careful officer, after having sent out his night patrols, and posted his sentinels, engaged in reading the Evening Service of the Episcopal Church to the remainder of his troop. His voice was loud and sonorous, and though his spectacles upon his nose, and the appearance of Saunders Sanderson, in military array, performing the functions of clerk, had something ludicrous, yet the circumstances of danger in which they stood, the military costume of the audience, and the appearance of their horses, saddled and picqueted

behind them, gave an impressive and solemn effect to the office of devotion.

"I have confessed to-day, ere you were awake,' whispered Fergus to Waverley, 'yet I am not so strict a Catholic as to refuse to join in this good man's prayers.' Edward assented, and they remained till the Baron had concluded the service.

"As he shut the book, 'Now, lads,' said he, 'have at them in the morning, with heavy hands and light consciences.' He then kindly greeted Mac-Ivor and Waverley, who requested to know his opinion of their situation. Why, you know Tacitus saith, “In rebus bellicis maxime dominatur Fortuna," which is equiponderate with our vernacular adage, “Luck can maist in the mellee." But credit me, gentlemen, yon man is not a deacon o' his craft. He damps the spirits of the poor lads he commands, by keeping them on the defensive, whilk of itself implies inferiority or fear. Now will they lie on their arms yonder, as anxious and as ill at ease as a toad under a harrow, while our men will be quite fresh and blithe for action in the morning. Well, good night. One thing troubles me, but if to-morrow goes well off, I will consult you about it, Glennaquoich."

"I could almost apply to Mr. Bradwardine the character which Henry gives of Fluellen,' said Waverley, as his friend and he walked towards their bivouac :

Though it appears a little out of fashion,

There is much care and valour in this 'Scotchman.'"

"He has seen much service,' answered Fergus, ‘and one is sometimes astonished to find how much nonsense and reason are mingled in his composition. Hark! the English are setting their watch.'

"The roll of the drum and shrill accompaniment of the fifes swelled up the hill-died away-resumed its thunder-and was at length hushed. The trumpets and kettle-drums of the cavalry were next heard to perform the beautiful and wild point of war appropriated as

a signal for that piece of nocturnal duty, and then finally sunk upon the wind with a shrill and mournful cadence.

"The friends, who had now reached their post, stood and looked round them ere they lay down to rest. The western sky twinkled with stars, but a frost mist rising from the ocean, covered the eastern horizon, and rolled in white wreaths along the plain where the adverse army lay couched upon their arms. Their advanced posts were pushed as far as the side of the great ditch at the bottom of the descent, and had kindled large fires at different intervals, gleaming with obscure and hazy lustre through the heavy fog which encircled them with a doubtful halo.

"The Highlanders, 'thick as leaves in Valambrosa,' lay stretched upon the ridge of the hill, buried (excepting their sentinels) in the most profound repose. 'How many of these brave fellows will sleep more soundly before to-morrow night, Fergus!'

"You must not think of that. You must only think of your sword, and by whom it was given. All other reflections are now TOO LATE.'

"With the opiate contained in this undeniable remark, Edward endeavoured to lull the tumult of his conflicting feelings. The chieftain and he combining their plaids, made a comfortable and warm couch. Callum, sitting down at their head (for it was his duty to watch upon the immediate person of the chief), began a long mournful song in Gaelic, to a low and uniform tune, which, like the sound of the wind at a distance, soon lulled them to sleep. When they had slept for a few hours, they were awakened and summoned to attend the prince. The distant village clock was heard to toll three as they hastened to the place where he lay. He was already surrounded by his principal officers and the chiefs of clans. A bundle of pease-straw, which had been lately his couch, now served for his seat. Just as Fergus reached the circle, the consultation had broken up. 'Courage, my brave friends!' said the

Chevalier, and each one put himself instantly at the head of his command; a faithful friend has offered to guide us by a practicable, though narrow and circuitous route, which, sweeping to our right, traverses the broken ground and morass, and enables us to gain the firm and open plain, upon which the enemy are lying. This difficulty surmounted, Heaven and your good swords must do the rest.'

"The proposal spread unanimous joy, and each leader hastened to get his men into order with as little noise as possible. The army, moving by its right from off the ground on which they had rested, soon entered the path through the morass, conducting their march with astonishing silence and great rapidity. The mist had not risen to the higher grounds, so that for some time they had the advantage of star-light. But this was lost as the stars faded before approaching day, and as the head of the marching column, continuing its descent, plunged as it were into the heavy ocean of fog, which rolled its white waves over the whole plain, and over the sea by which it was bounded. Some difficulties were now to be encountered, inseparable from darkness, a narrow, broken, and marshy path, and the necessity of preserving union in the march. These, however, were less inconvenient to Highlanders, from their habits of life, than they would have been to any other troops, and they continued a steady and swift movement. As the clan of Ivor approached the firm ground, following the track of those who preceded them, the challenge of a patrol was heard through the mist, though they could not see the dragoon by whom it was made—'Who goes there?'

"Hush,' cried Fergus, 'hush! Let none answer, as he values his life-press forward;' and they continued their march with silence and rapidity.

"The patrol fired his carbine upon the body, and the report was instantly followed by the clang of his horse's feet as he galloped off. 'Hylix in limine latrat,' said