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.

318 "WAVERLEY NOVELS.
Whitefoord at his own house, and spent two happy days with him and his
Whig friends without thinking, on either side, of the civil war which was
then raging.
When the battle of Culloden put an end to the hopes of Charles Edward,
Invernahyle, wounded and unable to move, was borne from the field by the
faithful zeal of his retainers. But, as he had been a distinguished Jacobite,
his family and property were exposed to the system of vindictive destruction, too generally carried into execution through the country of the insurgents. It was now Colonel Whitefoord's turn to exert himself, and he
wearied all the authorities, civil and military, with his solicitations for pardon to the saver of his life, or at least for a protection for his wife and
family. His applications were for a long time unsuccessful: " I was found
with the mark of the Beast upon me in every list," was Invernahyle's expression. At length Colonel Whitefoord applied to the Duke of Cumberland,
and urged his suit with every argument which he could think of. Being
still repulsed, he took his commission from his bosom, and, having said
something of his own and his family's exertions in the cause of the House
of Hanover, begged to resign his situation in their service, since he could
not be permitted to show his gratitude to the person to whom he owed his
life. The Duke, struck with his earnestness, desired him to take up his
commission, and granted the protection required for the family of Invernahyle.
The chieftain himself lay concealed in a cave near his own house, before
which a small body of regular soldiers were encamped. He could hear
their muster-roll called every morning, and their drums beat to quarter at
nights, and not a change of the sentinels escaped him. As it was suspected
that he was lurking somewhere on the property, his family were closely
watched, and compelled to use the utmost precaution in supplying him with
food. One of his daughters, a child of eight or ten years old, was employed
as the agent least likely to be suspected. She was an instance among others,
that a time of danger and difficulty creates a premature sharpness of
intellect. She made herself acquainted among the soldiers, till she became
so familiar to them, that her motions escaped their notice; and her practice
was, to stroll away in the neighbourhood of the cave, and leave what slender
supply of food she carried for that purpose under some remarkable stone,
or the root of some tree, where her father might find it as he crept by night
from his lurking-place. Times became milder, and my excellent friend was
relieved from proscription by the Act of Indemnity. Such is the interesting story which I have rather injured than improved, by the manner in
which it is told in Waverley.
This incident, with several other circumstances illustrating the Tales in
question, was communicated by me to my late lamented friend, William
Erskine, (a Scottish Judge, by the title of Lord Kinedder,) who afterwards
reviewed with far too much partiality the Tales of my Landlord, for the
Quarterly Review of January, 1817.* In the same article, are contained
other illustrations of the Novels with which I supplied my accomplished
friend, who took the trouble to write the review. The reader who is desirous
of such information, will find the original of Me g Merrilies, and I believe
of one or two other personages of the same cast of character, in the article
referred to.
I may also mention, that the tragic and savage circumstances which are
represented as'preceding the birth of Allan MacAulay, in the Legend of
Montrose, really happened in the family of Stewart of Ardvoirlich. The
wager about the candlesticks, whose place was supplied by Highland torchbearers, was laid and won by one of the MacDonalds of Keppoch.
* Lord Kinedder died in August, 1822. Eheu 1 (August, 1831.)