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.

ROB ROY. 231
enjoy yourself, like a butcher's dog in the shambles, battening on garbage,
while the slaughter of the oldest and best went on around you! This enjoyment you shall not live to partake of! - you shall die, base dog! and that
before yon cloud has passed over the sun."
She gave a brief command in Gaelic to her attendants, two of whom
seized upon the prostrate suppliant, and hurried him to the brink of a cliff
which overhung the flood.: He set up the most piercing and dreadful cries
that fear ever uttered — I may well term them dreadful, for they haunted
my sleep for years afterwards. As the murderers, or executioners, call
them as you will, dragged him along, he recognised me even in that moment
of horror, and exclaimed, in the last articulate words I ever heard him utter,
"'0 Mr. Osbaldistone, save me! - save me!"
I was so much moved by this horrid spectacle, that, although in-momentary expectation of sharing his fate, I did attempt to speak in his
behalf, but, as might have been expected, my interference was sternly disregarded. The victim was held fast by some, while others, binding a large
heavy stone in a plaid; tied it round his neck, and others again eagerly
stripped him of some part of his dress. Half-naked, and thus manacled,
they hurled him into the lake, there about twelve feet deep, with a loud
halloo of vindictive triumph, -above which, however, his last death-shriek,
the yell of mortal agony, was distinctly heard. The heavy burden splashed
in the dark-blue waters, and the Highlanders, with their pole-axes and
swords, watched an instant, to guard, lest; extricating himself from the
load to which he was attached, the victim might have struggled to regain
the shore. But the knot had been securely bound-the wretched man sunk
without effort; the waters, which his fall had disturbed, settled calmly over
him, and the unit of that life for which he had pleaded so strongly, was for
ever withdrawn from the sum of human existence.
*Itffte r thrr rii rta- rtnh.
And be he safe restored ere evening set,
Or, if there's vengeance in an injured heart,
And power to wreak it in an armed hand,
Your land shall ache for't.
OLD PLAY.
I KNOW not why it is, that a single deed of violence and cruelty affects
our nerves more than when these are exercised on a more extended scale.
I had seen that day several of my brave countrymen fall in battle: it'seemed
to me that they met a lot appropriate to humanity, and. my bosom, though
thrilling with interest, was affected with nothing of that sickening horror
with which I belheld the unfortunate Morris put to death without resistance,
and in cold blood. I looked at my companion, Mr. Jarvie, whose face reflected the feelings which were painted in mine. Indeed, he could not so
suppress his horror, but that the words escaped' him in a low and broken
whisper,"I take up my protest against this deed,'as a bloody and cruel murderit is a cursed deed, and God will avenge it in his due way and time."
"Then you do not fear to follow?" said the virago, bending on him a
look of death, such as that with which a hawk looks at his prey ere he
pounces.
"Kinswoman," said the Bailie, "nae man willingly wad cut short his
thread of life before the end o' his pirn was fairly measured off on the yarn