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.

378 WAVERLEY NOVELSe
bhQqtrr l10t flfri.
Florseman and horse confess'd the bitter pang,
And arms and warrior fell with hollow clang.
PLEASURES OF HOPrE
WTHEN the military evolutions had been gone through tolerably well,
allowing for the awkwardness of men and of horses, a loud shout announced
that the competitors were about to step forth for the game of the popinjay
already described. The mast, or pole, having a yard extended across it,
from which the mark was displayed, was raised amid the acclamations of
the assembly; and even those who had eyed the evolutions of the feudal
militia with a sort of malignant and sarcastic sneer, firom disinclination to
the royal cause in which they were professedly embodied, could not refrain
from taking considerable interest in the strife which was now approaching.
They crowded towards the goal, and criticised the appearance of each comlpetitor, as they advanced in succession, discharged their pieces at the mark,
and had their good or bad address rewarded by the laughter or applause of
the spectators. But when a slender young man, dressed with great simplicity, yet not without a certain air of pretension to elegance and gentility,
approached the station with his fusee in his hand, his dark green cloak
thrown back over his shoulder, his lace ruff and feathered cap indicating a
superior rank to the vulgar, there was a murmur of interest among the
spectators,-whether altogether favourable to the young adventurer, it was
difficult to discover.
" Ewhow, sirs! to see his fathel's son at the like o' thae fearless follies 1"
was the ejaculation of the elder and more rigid puritans, whose curiosity
had so far overcome their bigotry as to bring them to the play-ground. But
the generality viewed the strife less morosely, and were contented to wish
success to the son of a deceased presbyterian leader, without strictly examining the propriety of his being a competitor for the prize.
Their wishes were gratified. At the first discharge of his piece the green
adventurer struck the popinjay,'being the first palpable hit of the day,
though several balls had passed very near the mark. A loud shout of applause ensued. But the success was not decisive, it being necessary that
each who followed should have his chance, and that those who succeeded in
hitting the mark, should renew the strife among themselves, till one displayed a decided superiority over the others. Two only of those who
followed in order succeeded in hitting the popinjay. The first was a young
man of low rank, heavily built, and who kept his face muffled in his grey
cloak; the second a gallant young cavalier, remarkable for a handsome
exterior, sedulously decorated for the day. He had been since the muster
in close attendance on Lady Margaret and Miss Bellenden, and had left
them with an air of indifference, when Lady Margaret had asked whether
there was no young man of family and loyal principles who would dispute
the prize with the two lads who had been successful. In half a minute,
young Lord Evandale threw himself from his horse, borrowed a gun from a
servant, and, as we have already noticed, hit the mark. Great was the interest excited by the renewal of the contest between the three candidates
who had been hitherto successful. The state equipage of the Duke was,
with some difficulty, put in motion, and approached more near to the scene
cf action. The riders, both male and female, turned their horses' heads
in the same direction, and all eyes were bent upon the issue of the trial
of skill.
It was the etiquette in the second contest, that the competitors should