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.

TE FOITUNES OF NIGEL. 287
Moat before the robbers, and apprehend them in the fact. They had not
calculated that, accordino to the custom of robbers in other courJtries, but
contrary to that of the Engish highwaymen of those days, they meant to
ensure robbery by previous mnurder. An accident also happened to delay
them a little while on the road. In riding through one of the glades of the
forest, they found a man dismounted and sitting under a tree, groaning
with such bitterness of spirit, that Lowestoffe could not forbear asking if
he was hurt. In answer, he said he was an unhappy man in pursuit of his
wife, who had been carried off by a villain; and as he raised his countenance, the eyes of Richie, to his great astonishment, encountered the visage
of John Christie.
"For the Almighty's sake, help me, lMaster Moniplies!" he said; "I
have learned my wife is but a short mile before, with that black villain Lord
Dalgarno."
6"Have him forward by all means," said Lowestoffe; "a second Orpheus
seeking his Eurydice!-Have him forward-we will save Lord I)algarno's
purse, and ease him of his mistress-H-ave him with us, were it but for the
variety of the adventure. I owe his lordship a grudge for rooking me.
We have ten minutes good."
But it is dangerous to calculate closely in matters of life and death. In
all probability the minute or two which was lost in mounting John Christie
behind one of their party, might have saved Lord Dalgarno from his fate.
Thus his criminal amour became the indirect cause of his losing his life;
and thus " our pleasant vices are made the whips to scourge us."
The riders arrived on the field at full gallop the moment after the shot
was fired; and Richie, who had his own reasons for attaching himself to
Colepepper, who was bustling to untie the portmanteau from the page's
saddle, pushed against him with such violence as to overthrow him, his own
horse at the same time stumbling and dismounting his rider, who was none
of the first equestrians. The undaunted Richie immediately arose, however, and grappled with the ruffian with such good-will, that, though a strong
fellow, and though a coward now rendered desperate, Mloniplies got him
under, wrenched a long knife from his hand, dealt him a desperate stab with
his own weapon, and leaped on his feet; and, as the wounded man struggled
to follow his example, he struck him upon the head with the butt end of a
musketoon, which last blow proved fatal.
"Bravo, Richie!" cried Lowestoffe, who had himself engaged at swordpoint with one of the ruffians, and soon put him to flight,-" Bravo! why,
man, there lies Sin, struck down like an ox, and Iniquity's throat cut like
a calf."
" I know not why you should upbraid me with my up-bringing, Master
Lowestoffe," answered Richie, with great composure; " but I can tell you,
the shambles is not a bad place for training one to his work."
The other Templar now shouted loudly to them,-" If ye be men, come
hither-here lies Lord Dalgarno, murdered!"
Lowestoffe and Richie ran to the spot, and the page took the opportunity,
finding himself now neglected on all hands, to ride off in a different direction; and neither he, nor the considerable sum with which his horse was
burdened, was ever heard of fiom that moment.
The third ruffian had not waited the attack of the Templar and Jin Yin,
the latter of whom had put down old Christie from behind him that he
might ride the lighter; and the whole five nov stood gazing with horror on
the bloody corpse of the young nobleman, and the wild sorrow of the fern ale,
who tore her hair and shrieked in the most disconsolate manner, until her
agony was at once checked, or rather received a new direction, by the sudden
appearance of her husband, who, fixing on her a cold and severe look, said,
in a tone suited to his manner-" Ay, woman! thou takest on sadly for the
loss of thy paramour."-Then, looking on the bloody corpse of him from