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.

THE HEART OF MID-LOTHIAN. 335
we have mentioned remained inl the strong-room of the prison, now deserted
by all others. One of their late companions in misfortune called out to the
man to make his escape, in the tone of an acquaintance. " Rin for it, Ratcliffe -the road's clear."
"It may be sae, Willie," answered Ratcliffe, composedly, "but I have
taen a fancy to leave aff trade, and set up for an honest man."
" Stay there and be hanged, then, for a donnard auld deevil!" said the
other, and ran down the prison-stair.
The person in female attire whom we have distinguished as one of the
most active rioters, was about the same time at the ear of the young
woman. "Flee, Effie, flee!" was all he had time to whisper. She turned
towards him an eye of mingled fear, affection, and upbraiding, all contending with a sort of stupefied surprise. Ifi~again repeated, " Flee, Effie, flee!
for the sake of all that's good and dear to you!" Again she gazed on him,
but was unable to answer. A loud noise was now heard, and the name of
Madge Wildfire was repeatedly called from the bottom of the staircase.
" I am coming,-I am coming," said the person who answered to that appellative; and then reiterating hastily, " For God's sake-for your own sake
-for my sake, flee, or they'll take your life i" he left the strong-room.
The girl gazed after him for a moment, and then, faintly muttering,
"Better tyne life, since tint is gude fame," she sunk her head upon her
hand, and remained, seemingly, unconscious as a statue, of the noise and
tumult which passed around her.
The tumult was now transferred from the inside to the outside of the Tolbooth. The mob had brought their destined victim forth, and were about to
conduct him to the common place of execution, which they had fixed as the
scene of his death. The leader, whom they distinguished by the name of
Madge Wildfire, had been summoned to assist at the procession by the impatient shouts of his confederates.
" I will ensure you five hundred pounds," said the unhappy man, grasping Wildfire's hand, - "five hundred pounds for to save my life."
The other answered in the same under-tone, and returning his grasp with
one equally convulsive, "Five hundred-weight of coined gold should not
save you. - Remember Wilson!"
A deep pause of a minute ensued, when Wildfire added, in a more composed tone, " Make your peace with Heaven. - Where is the clergyman?"
Butler, who, in great terror and anxiety, had been detained within a few
yards of the Tolbooth door, to wait the event of the search after Porteous,
was now brought forward, and commanded to walk by the prisoner's side,
and to prepare him for immediate death. IIis answer was a supplication.
that the rioters would consider what they did. " You are neither judges
nor jury," said he. " You cannot have, by the laws of God or man, power
to take away the life of a human creature, however deserving he may be of
death. If it is murder even in a lawful magistrate to execute an offender
otherwise than in the place, time, and manner which the judges' sentence
prescribes, what must it be in you, who have no warrant for interference
but your own wills? In the name of Him who is all mercy, show mercy to
this unhappy man, and do not dip your. hands in his blood, nor rush into
the very crime which you are desirous of avenging!"
"Cut your sermon short -you are not in your pulpit," answered one of
the rioters.
"If we hear more of your clavers," said another, "we are like to hang
you up beside him."
" Peace - hush!" said Wildfire. " Do the good man no harm - he discharges his conscience, and I like him the better."
He then addressed Butler. " Now, sir, we Save patiently heard you, and
we just wish you to understand, in the way of answer, that you may as well
argue to the ashler-work and iron-stanchels of the Tolbooth, as think to