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.

600 WAVERLEY NOVELS.
of being driven off, when Butler, laying his profession aside in a case of
such necessity, put himself at the head of some of his n1eighbours, and
rescued the creagh, an exploit at which Deans attended in person, notwithstanding his extreme old age, mounted on a Highland pony, and girded
with an old broadsword, likening himself (for he failed not to arrogate the
whole merit of the expedition) to David, the son of Jesse, when he recovered
the spoil of Ziklag from the Amalekites. This spirited behaviour had so
far a good effect, that Donacha dhu na Dunaigh kept his distance for some
time to come; and, though his distant exploits were frequently spoken of,
he did not exercise any depredations in that part of the country. He continued to flourish, and to be heard of occasionally, until the year 1751,
when, if the fear of the second David had kept him in check, fate released
him. from that restraint, for the venerable patriarch of St. Leonard's was
that year gathered to his fathers.
David Deans died fiull of years and of honour. He is believed, for the
exact time of his birth is not known, to have lived upwards of ninety years;
for he used to speak of events as falling under his own knowledge, which
happened about the time of the battle of Bothwell-Bridge. It was said
that he even.bore arms there; for once, when a drunken Jacobite laird
wished for a Bothwell-Brigg whig, that " he might stow the lugs out of his
head," David informed him with a peculiar austerity of countenance, that,
if he liked to try such a prank, there was one at his elbow; and it required
the interference of Butler to preserve the peace.
He expired in the arms of his beloved daughter, thankful for all the
blessings which Providence had vouchsafed to him while in this valley of
strife and toil-and thankful also for the trials he had been visited with;
having found them, he said, needful to mortify that spiritual pride and confidence in his own gifts, which was the side on which the wily Enemy did
most sorely beset him. He prayed in the most affecting manner for Jeanie,
her husband, and her family, and that her affectionate duty to the puir auld
man might purchase her length of days here, and happiness hereafter;
then, in a pathetic petition, too well understood by those who knew his
family circumstances, he besought the Shepherd of souls, while gathering
his flock, not to forget the little one that had strayed from the fold, and
even then might be in the hands of the ravening wolf. - He prayed for the
national Jerusalem, that peace might be in her land, and prosperity in her
palaces — for the welfare of the honourable House of Argyle, and for the
conversion of Duncan of Knockdunder. After this he was silent, being
exhausted, nor did he again utter anything distinctly. He was heard, indeed, to mutter something about national defections, right-hand extremes,
and left-hand failings off; but, as May Hettly observed, his head was carried
at the time; and it is probable that these expressions occurred to him merely
out of general habit, and that he died in the full spirit of charity with all
men. About an hour afterwards he slept in the Lord.
Notwithstanding her father's advanced age, his death was a severe shock
to Mrs. Butler. Much of her time- had been dedicated to attending to his
health and his wishes, and she felt as if part of her business in the world
was ended, when the good old man was no more. His wealth, which came
nearly to fifteen hundred pounds, in disposable capital, served to raise the
fortunes of the family at the Manse. How to dispose of this sum for the
best advantage of his family, was matter of anxious consideration to Butler.
" If we put it on heritable bond, we shall maybe lose the interest; for there's
that bond over Lounsbeck's land, your father could neither get principal
nor interest for it - If we bring it into the funds, we shall maybe lose the
principal and all, as many did in the South Sea scheme. The little estate
of Craigsture is in the market -it lies within two miles of the Manse, and
Knock says his Grace has no thought to buy it. But they ask 25001., and
they may, for it is worth the money; and were I to borrow the balance, the