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.

626 WAVERLEY NOVELS.
consider as such. Donacha Dhu's fears had been for some time excited by
the strength of the means which began now to be -employed against persons
of his description. He was sensible he existed only by the precarious indulgence of his namesake, Duncan of Knockdunder, who was used to boast
that he could put him down or string him up when he had a mind. He
resolved to leave the kingdom by means of one of those sloops which were
engaged in the traffic of his old kidnapping friends, and which was about
to sail for America; but he was desirous first to strike a bold stroke.
The ruffian's cupidity was excited by the intelligence, that a wealthy
Englishman was coming to the Manse-he had neither forgotten the
Whistler's report of the gold he had seen in Lady Staunton's purse, nor his
old vow of revenge against the minister; and, to bring the whole to a point,
he conceived the hope of appropriating the money, which, according to the
general report of the country, the minister was to bring from Edinburgh to
pay for his new purchase. While he was considering how he might best
accomplish his purpose, he received the intelligence from one quarter, that the
vessel in which he proposed to sail was to sail immediately from Greenock;
from another, that the minister and a rich English lord, with a great many
thousand pounds, were expected the next evening at the Manse; and from
a third, that he must consult his safety by leaving his ordinary haunts as
soon as possible, for that the Captain had ordered out a party to scour the
glens for him at break of day. Donacha laid his plans with promptitude
and decision. He embarked with the Whistler and two others of his band,
(whom, by the by, he meant to sell to the kidnappers,) and set sail for the
Caird's Cove. He intended to lurk till night-fall in the wood adjoining to
this place, which he thought was too near the habitation of men to excite
the suspicion of Duncan Knock, then break into Butler's peaceful habitation, and flesh at once his appetite for plunder and revenge. When his
villany was accomplished, his boat was to convey him to the vessel, which,
according to previous agreement with the master, was instantly to set sail.
This desperate design would probably have succeeded, but for the ruffians
being discovered in their lurking-place by Sir George Staunton and Butler,
in their accidental walk from the Caird's Cove towards the Manse. Finding
himself detected, and at the same time observing that the servant carried
a casket, or strong-box, Donacha conceived that both his prize and his
victims were within his power, and attacked:&e travellers without hesitation.
Shots were fired and swords drawn on both sides; Sir George Staunton
offered the bravest resistance till he fell, as there was too much reason to
believe, by the hand of a son, so long sought, and now at length so unhappily met.
W5hile Butler was half stunned with this intelligence, the hoarse voice
of Knockdunder added to his consternation.
"I will take the liperty to take down the pell-ropes, Mr. Putler, as I must
pe taking order to hang these idle people up to-morrow morning, to teach
them more consideration in their doings in future."
Butler entreated him to remelmber the act abolishing the heritable jurisdictions, and that he ought to send them to Glasgow or Inverary, to be tried
by the Circuit. Duncan scorned the proposal.
"The Jurisdiction Act," he said, "had nothing to do put with the rebels,
and specially not with Argyle's country; and he would hang the men up
ll three in one row pefore coot Ledldy Staunton's windows, which would pe
s great comfort to her in the morning to see that the coot gentleman, her
husband, had peen suitably afenged.'
And the utmost length that Butler's most earnest entreaties could prevail
was, that he would reserve " the twa pig carles for the Circuit, but as for him
hey ca'd the Fustler, he should try how he could fustle in a swinging tow,:or it suldna pe said that a shentleman, friend to the Duke, was- killed in his'
3ountry, and his people didna take at least twa lives for ane."