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-LOTIIIAN. 837
common execution, the scene of his crime, and destined spot of his sufferings. Several of the rioters (if they should not rather be described as
conspirators) endeavoured to remove the stone which filled up.the socket in
which the end of the fatal tree was sunk when it was erected for its fatal
purpose; others sought for the means of constructing a temporary gibbet,
the place in which the gallows itself was deposited being reported too secure
to be forced, without much loss of time. Butler endeavoured to avail himself of the delay afforded by these circumstances, to turn the people from
their desperate design. "For God's sake," he exclaimed, "remember it is
the image of your Creator which you are about to deface in the person of
this unfortunate man! Wretched as he is, and wicked as he may be, he
has a share in every promise of Scripture, and you cannot destroy him in
impenitence without blotting his name from the Book of Life- Do not destroy soul and body; give time for preparation."
"What time had they," returned a stern voice, "whom he murdered on
this very spot? The laws both of God and man call for his death."
" But what, my friends," insisted Butler, with a generous disregard to his
own safety - " what hath constituted you his judges?"
"We are not his judges," replied the same person; " he has been already
judged and condemned by lawful authority. We are those whom Heaven,
and our righteous anger, have stirred up to execute judgment, when a corrupt government would have protected a murderer."
" I am none," said the unfortunate Porteous; "that which you charge
upon me fell out in self-defence, in the lawful exercise of my duty."
" Away with him - away with him!" was the general cry. " Why do
you trifle away time in making a gallows? -that dyester's pole is good
enough for the homicide."
The unhappy man was forced to his fate with remorseless rapidity.
Butler, separated from him by the press, escaped' the last horrors of his
struggles. Unnoticed by those who had hitherto detained him as a prisoner,
he fled from the fatal spot without much caring in what direction his course
lay. A loud shout proclaimed the stern delight with which the agents of
this deed regarded its completion. Butler, then, at the opening into the
Iow street called the Cowgate, cast back a terrified glance, and, by the red
and dusky light of the torches, he could discern a figure wavering and
struggling as it hung suspended above the heads of the multitude, and
could even observe men striking at it with their Lochaber-axes and partizans. The sight was of a nature to double his horror, and to add wings to
his flight.
The street down which the fugitive ran, opens to one of the eastern ports
or gates of the city. Butler did not stop till he reached it, but found it
still shut. IIe waited nearly an hour, walking up and down in inexpressible perturbation of mind. At length he ventured to call out, and rouse the
attention.of the terrified keepers of the gate, who now found themselves at
liberty to resume their office without interruption. Butler requested them
to open the gate. They hesitated. He told them his name and occupation.
"He is a preacher," said one; "I have heard him preach in Haddo'shole."
"A fine preaching has he been at the night," said another; "but maybe
least said is sunest mended."
Opening then the wicket of the main-gate, the keepers suffered Butler to
depart, who hastened to carry his horror and fear beyond the walls of Edinburgh. His first purpose was, instantly to take the road homeward; but
other fears and cares, connected with the news he had learned in that
remarkable day, induced him to linger in the neighbourhood of Edi h
until daybreak. More than one group of persons passed him as
whileing away the hours of darkness that yet remained, whom, froie
stifled tones of their discourse, the unwonted hour when they travelle nnd
VAo; 11 f''?> n -