Guy Mannering.

46 WAVERLEY NOVELS.
waistcoat,* followed at a humble distance, and wept over
his father's grave. Young Annesley was speedily recognised by his uncle, who forcibly drove him from the place,
but not before the boy had made himself known to several
old servants of his father, who were attending the corpse
of their late lord to the tomb.
The usurper now commenced a series of attempts to
obtain possession of his nephew's person, for the purpose
of transporting him beyond seas, or otherwise ridding
himself of so formidable a rival. For some time,
however, these endeavours were frustrated, principally
through the gallantry of a brave and kind-hearted
butcher, named Purcel, who, having compassion upon
the boy's destitute state, took him into his house and
hospitably maintained him for a considerable time; and
on one occasion, when he was assailed by a numerous
party of his uncle's emissaries, Purcel placed the boy
between his legs, and stoutly defending him with his
cudgel, resisted their utmost efforts, and succeeded in
rescuing his young charge.
After having escaped from many attempts of the same
kind, Annesley was at length kidnapped in the streets of
Dublin, dragged by his uncle and a party of hired ruffians
to a boat, and carried on board a vessel in the river,
which immediately sailed with our hero for America,
where, on his arrival, he was apprenticed as a plantation
slave, and in this condition he remained for the succeed.
ing thirteen years.
During his absence his uncle, on the demise of the Earl
of Anglesey, quietly succeeded to that title and immense
wealth.
- Vicde " Green Breeks" in the General Introduction to the Waverley VNovels. Surely Yelloew Waistcoat was his prototype.