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.

OLD MORBTALITY. 485
tumult the last time we spoke together. We were then on the point of
leaving the field with a rear-guard of scarce twenty men; the rest of the
regiment were almost dispersed."
" They have rallied again soon," said the Major, looking from the window
on the dragoons, who were feeding their horses and refreshing themselves
beside the brook.
"Yes," answered Claverhouse, "my blackguards had little temptation
either to desert, or to straggle farther than they were driven by their first
panic. There is small friendship and scant courtesy between them and the
boors of this country; every village they pass is likely to rise on them, and
so the scoundrels are driven back to their colours by a wholesome terror of
spits, pike-staves, hay-forks, and broomsticks. -But now let us talk about
your plans and wants, and the means of corresponding with you. To tell
you the truth, I doubt being able to make a long stand at Glasgow, even
when I have joined my Lord Ross; for this transient and accidental success
of the fanatics will raise the devil through all the western counties."
They then discussed Major Bellenden's means of defence, and settled a
plan of correspondence, in case a general insurrection took place, as was to
be expected. Claverhouse renewed his offer to escort the ladies to a place
of safety; but, all things considered, Major Bellenden thought they would
be in equal safety at Tillietudlem.
The Colonel then took a polite leave of Lady Margaret and Miss Bellenden, assuring them, that, though he was reluctantly obliged to leave them
for the present in dangerous circumstances, yet his earliest means should be
turned to the redemption of his character as a good knight and true, and
that they might speedily rely on hearing from or seeing him.
Full of doubt and apprehension, Lady Margaret was little able to reply
to a speech so much in unison with her usual expressions and feelings, but
contented herself with bidding Claverhouse farewell, and thanking him for
the succours which he had promised to leave them. Edith longed to inquire
the fate of Henry Morton, but could find no pretext-for doing so, and could
only hope that it had made a subject of some part of the long private communication which her uncle had held with Claverhouse. On this subject,
however, she was disappointed; for the old cavalier was so deeply immersed
in the duties of his own office, that he had scarce said a single word to Claverhouse, excepting upon military matters, and most probably would have
been equally forgetful, had the fate of his own son, instead of his friend's,
lain in the balance.
Claverhouse now descended the bank on which the Castle is founded, in
order to put his troops again in motion, and Major Bellenden accompanied
him to receive the detachment who wererto be left in the tower.
" I shall leave Inglis with you," said Claverhouse, " for, as I am situated,
I cannot spare an officer of rank; it is all we can do, by our joint efforts, to
keep the men together. But should any of our missing officers make their
appearance, I authorize you to detain them; for my fellows can with difficulty be subjected to any other authority."
His troops being now drawn up, he picked out sixteen men by name, and
committed them to the command of Corporal Inglis, whom he promoted to
the rank of sergeant on the spot.
"And hark ye, gentlemen," was his concluding harangue, —" I leave you
to defend the house of a lady, and under the command of her brother,
Major Bellenden, a faithful servant to the king. You are to behave bravely,
soberly, regularly, and obediently, and each of you shall be handsomely
rewarded on my return to relieve the garrison. In case of mutiny, cowardice,
neglect of duty, or the slightest excess in the family, the provost-marshal
and cord- you know I keep my word for good and evil."
iHe touched his hat as he bade them farewell, and shook hands cordially
with Major. Bellenden.
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