The Waverley novels, by Sir Walter Scott, complete in 12 vol., printed from the latest English ed., embracing the author's last corrections, prefaces & notes.

470 WAVERLEY NOVELS.
from a continued contest in which undisciplined rustics had to repel the
assaults of regular troops, so completely officered and armed.
At length horses whose caparisons showed that they belonged to the LifeGuards, began to fly masterless out of the confusion. Dismounted soldiers
next appeared, forsaking the conflict, and struggling over the hill, in ordei
to escape from the scene of action. As the numbers of these fugitives
increased, the fate of the day seemed no longer doubtful. A large body
was then seen emerging from the smoke, forming irregularly on the hill
side, and with difficulty kept stationary by their officers, until Evandale's
corps also appeared in full retreat. The result of the conflict was then
apparent, and the joy of the prisoners was corresponding to their approaching deliverance.
" They hae dune the job for anes," said Cuddie, " an they ne'er do't
again."
" They flee!-they flee!" exclaimed Mause, in ecstasy. "' 0 the truculent
tyrants! they are riding now as they never rode before. 0 the false Egyptians-the proud Assyrians-the Philistines-the Moabites-the Edomites
-the Ishmaelites! The Lord has brought sharp swords upon them, to make
them food for-the fowls of heaven and the beasts of the field. See how the
clouds roll, and the fire flashes ahint them, and goes forth before the chosen
of the Covenant, e'en like the pillar o' cloud and the pillar o' flame that led
the people of Israel out o' the land of Egypt! This is indeed a day of deliverance to the righteous, a day of pouring out of wrath to the persecutors and
the ungodly!"
"Lord save us, neither," said Cuddclie, " haud the clavering tongue o' ye,
and lie down ahint the cairn, like Kettledrummle, honest man! The whigamore bullets ken unco little discretion, and will just as sune knock out the
harns o' a psalm-singing auld wife as a swearing dragoon."
"Fear naething for me, Cuddie," said the old dame, transported to
ecstasy by the success of her party-" fear naething for me! I will stand like
Deborah, on the tap o' the cairn, and tak up my sang o' reproach against
these men of Harosheth of the Gentiles, whose horse-hoofs are broken by
their prancing."
The enthusiastic old woman would, in fact, have accomplished her
purpose of mounting on the cairn, and becoming, as she said, a sign and
a banner to the people, had not Cuddie, with more filial tenderness than
respect, detained her by such force as his shackled arms would permit him
to exert.
"Eh, sirs!" he said, having accomplished this task, "look out yonder,
Milnwood! - saw ye ever mortal fight like the deevil Claver'se? Yonder
he's been thrice doun amang them, and thrice cam free aff. But I think
we'll soon be free oursells, Milnwood. Inglis and his troopers look ower
their shouthers very aften, as if they liked the road ahint them better than
the road afore."
Cuddie was not mistaken; for, when the main tide of fugitives passed at
a little distance from the spot where they were stationed, the corporal and
his party fired their carabines at random upon the advancing insurgents,
and, abandoning all charge of their prisoners, joined the retreat of their
comrades. Morton and the old woman, whose hands were at liberty, lost
no time in undoing the bonds of Cuddie and of the clergyman, both of whom
had been secured by a cord tied round their arms above the elbows. By
the time this was accomplished, the rear-guard of the dragoons, which still
preserved some order, passed beneath the hillock or rising ground which
was surmounted by the cairn already repeatedly mentioned. They exhibited
all the hurry and confusion incident to a forced retreat, but still continued
in a body.' Claverhouse led the van, his naked sword deeply dyed with
blood, as were his face and clothes. His horse was all covered with gore,
and now reeled with weakness. Lord Evandale, in not much better plight,