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 HIGHLAND WIDOW. 413
was one who had defended himself by main force, and had slain in the
affray the officer sent to take him into custody. A fitter subject for punishment could not have occurred, and IIamish was sentenced to immediate
execution. All which the interference of his captain in his favour could
procure, was that he should die a soldier's death; for there had been a purpose of executing him upon the gibbet.
The worthy clergyman of Glenorquhy chanced to be at Dunbarton, in
attendance upon some church courts, at the time of this catastrophe. He
visited his unfortunate parishioner in his dungeon, found him ignorant indeed, but not obstinate, and the answers which he received from him, when
conversing on religious topics, were such as induced him doubly to regret
that a mind naturally pure and noble should have remained unhappily so
wild and uncultivated.
When he ascertained the real character and disposition of the young man,
the worthy pastor made deep and painful reflections on his own shyness and
timidity, which, arising out of the evil fame that attached to the lineage of
Hamish, had restrained him from charitably endeavouring to bring this
strayed sheep within the great fold. While the good minister blamed his
cowardice in times past, which had deterred him from risking his person,
to save, perhaps, an immortal soul, he resolved no longer to be governed by
such timid counsels, but to endeavour, by application to his officers, to obtain a reprieve, at least, if not a pardon, for the criminal, in whom he felt
so unusually interested, at once from his docility of temper and his generosity of disposition.
Accordingly, the divine sought out Captain Campbell at the barracks
within the garrison. There was a gloomy melancholy on the brow of Green
Colin, which was not lessened, but increased, when the clergyman stated
his name, quality, and errand. "You cannot tell me better of the young
man than I am disposed to believe," answered the Highland officer; "you
cannot ask me to do more in his behalf than I am of myself inclined, and
have already endeavoured to do. But it is all in vain. General - is
half a Lowlander, half an Englishman. He has no idea of the high and
enthusiastic character which, in these mountains, often brings exalted virtues in contact with great crimes, which, however, are less offences of the
heart than errors of the understanding. I have gone so far as to tell him,
that, in this young man, he was putting to death the best and the bravest
of my company, where all, or almost all, are good and brave. I explained
to him by what strange delusion the culprit's apparent desertion was occasioned, and how little his heart was accessory to the crime which his hand
unhappily committed. His answer was,'These are Highland visions, Captain Campbell, as unsatisfactory and vain as those of the second sight. An
act of gross desertion may, in any case, be palliated under the plea of
intoxication; the murder of an officer may be as easily coloured over with
that of temporary insanity. The example must be made; and if it has
fallen on a man otherwise a good recruit, it will have the greater effect.' —
Such being the general's unalterable purpose," continued Captain Campbell, with a sigh, " be it your care, reverend sir, that your penitent prepare,
by break of day to-morrow, for that great change which we shall all one day
be subjected to."
" And for which," said the clergyman, " may God prepare us all, as I in
my duty will not be wanting to this poor youth."
Next morning, as the very earliest beams of sunrise saluted the gray
towers, which crown the summit of that singular and tremendous rock, the
soldiers of the new Highland regiment appeared on the parade, within the
Castle of Dunbarton, and having fallen into order, began to move downward
by steep staircases and narrow passages towards the external barrier-gate,
which is at the very bottom of the rock. The wild wailings of the pibroch
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