The Scottish Chiefs

ers

into which Marion had withdrawn, beheld her on her knees befo

home. But if I am to see him here no more, oh, may it plea

oked round, and rising from her knees, demanded of him, in a ki

s this night, my faithful creature," replied she; "my spirit will follow Wallace in his mountain flight. Go you to your chamber. After you have had repose, that will be ti

rest after the fatigue of so harassing a night; and she, little suspecting that h

rs to Lanark, while the good Hambledon was conversing with their lady. Halbert, therefore, resigned himself to await with patience the rising of the sun, when he hoped some of the scared domestics woul

waved before the western window, which opened toward the Lanark hills. The morning was yet gray, and the fresh air blowing in rather chilly, Halbert rose to close the wooden shutter; at that moment, his eyes were arrested by a party of armed men in quick march down the opposite declivity. In a fe

gray locks, but a fierce countenance, "where is the murderer? Wh

defenseless lady, not for himself. "My

he

now

n!" cried the same violent interrogator. "Where is th

and in a moment afterward three of them appeare

d apprehension she looked around her; but they held her fast, and he saw her

r life, I command you to answer me three questions. Where is Sir William Wallace, the murderer of my nephew? Who is that old Scot, for whom my nephew was slain? He and h

ace remai

know that I can reward as well as avenge. I will endow you rich

r half-closed eyes, as she leaned, fainting an

ight for a husband, when you might have all for the trifling service of giving up a traitor to his liege lord, and confessing where his robberies lie concealed? Speak, fair dame; give me this information, and the lands of the wounded chief

easier

e hacked to pieces by my soldiers' axes? Is it easier for that fair bosom to be trodden underfoot by my horse's hoofs, and for

red; she stretched

ord; "I am no waxen-hearted Hambledon, to be cajoled by your bea

es of the unhappy Marion; unable to su

fierce wretch; "I grant none, unless yo

to her voice, "I kneel to Heaven alone, and may it ever pre

reatened; but seeing it done, with a giant's strength and a terrible cry he burst from the hands that held him, and had thrown himself on the bleeding Marion, before her murderer could strike his second blow. However, it fell, and pierced through the neck of the faith

re-heaving bosom now motionless; and groaning with grief, an

he ground, perceived by the behavior of his men that he had gone too far, and fearful of arousing the indignation of awakened humanity, to some act against himself, he addressed the soldiers i

ll. "Amen!" murmured all the soldiers, with one consent; and falling back, they disappeared, one by one, out of the

ou there?" demanded H

eturned th

panic, "dare you speak thus to your commander? March on b

oment you perpetrated this bloody deed, you became unworthy the name of man; and I s

nraged Heselrigge, "yo

ould do otherwise than acquit his soldier for refusing obedience to the murderer of an innocent woman. It was not so h

arrested the weapon, and at the same instant closing upon the assassin, with a turn of his foot threw him to the ground. Hes

ebellion against my commander that actuates me, but hatred of the vilest of murderers. I go far from you, or your power; but if you forswear your voluntary oath, and attempt to seek me out for

turn to Lanark. The men, in obedience to the conscience-stricken orders of their commander, had mounted their horses and were now far out of sight. Heselrigge's charger was still in the courtyard; he was hurrying toward it, but the soldier, with

aking with impotent rage, he turned into the path which, aft

nger be safe within reach of the machinations of Heselrigge; and determined, alike by detestation of him and regard for his own preservation,

ut, alas! as he bent to examine, he touched her hand and found it quite cold. The blood which had streamed from the now exhausted heart, lay congealed upon her arms and bosom. Grimsby shuddered.

oured some strong liquor he had in a flask into a mouth. Halbert breathed freer; and his kind surgeon, with the venerable harper's own plaid, bound up the w

. I am a man like yourself; and though a Sou

hining. He started up, and staggering toward her, would have fallen, had not Grimsby supported him. "O what a sight is this!" cried he, wringing his hands. "My lady! my lovely lady! see how low she lies who was onc

" cried Halbert. "My master lives, and will avenge this murder. Yo

must both hasten hence. Heselrigge will surely send in pursuit of me. He is too vile to forgive the truth I have spoken to him; and should I fall into his power, d

"and now must I bear thee to thy grave? I had hoped that my eyes would have been closed by this dear hand." As he spoke, he pressed her cold hand to his lips with such convulsive sobs that the soldier, fearing he would expire in the agony

the mother with her child! O my master, my wido

ory in which Wallace had ordered the body of Lord Mar to be deposited, named it for that of his dear lady. Grimsby, immediately wrapping the beauteous co

all, which he drew from the holy table, and laid the crucifix upon her bosom. Halbert, when his beloved mistress was thus hidden fro

hlehem, so let the gray hairs of Heselrigge be brought down in blood to the grave for the murder of this innocent

agonized transports of his master, when he should tell him these grievous tidings, Halbert

in extremity!" c

d Halbert, bending down to the edge

f his loss), he at last effected the earl's release. For a few seconds the fainting nobleman supported himself on his countryman's shoulder, while the fresh morning breeze gradually revived his exhausted frame. The soldier looked at his gray locks and furrowed brow, and marveled how such proofs of age could belong to the man whose resistless valor had discomfited the fierce determination of Arthus Heselrigge and his myrmidons. However, his doubts

grace the name. I would assist you, noble Wallace, to fly this spot. After that, I shall s

eadily. "You mistake

lac

m the impulse surprise had given to his blood, he did not require its efficacy; a

ou, my lord, must hasten hence. A foul murde

the earl; "if there be such dange

clasping his hand; "she is in the bosom of the Virgi

earl, hardly articulat

Halbert answered

t his standard. But no time must now be lost in unavailing lamentation. Heselrigge will

the necessity for instant flight, and ordered horses to be brought from the stables. Though he had fainted in the well, th

soldier might attend the earl to Bothwell, he added, "He will guard you and this box, which Sir William Wallace holds as his life. What it contains I

with an abhorrent eye, "that was the leading

ething about gold and a box. To intercept the robber amongst his native glens, the soldiers deemed impracticable, and therefore their captain came immediately to lay the information before the Governor of Lanark. As the scabbard found in the affray with young Arthur had betrayed the victor to have been Sir William Wallace, this intimation of his having been also the instrument of wrestling from the grasp of Heselrigge perhaps the most valuable spoil in Douglas exasperated him to the most vindictive excess. Inflamed with the double furies of revenge and avarice, he ordered out a new troop, and placing

l coffer, were his main objects; but disappointed in his darling passion of avarice,

with his foot; "it cannot be for itself the noble

my lady to preserve it for the sake of his honor. Take

ttish bonnet and cloak from the house. While he put them on, the earl observed that the harper held a drawn and b

n the hall, and I will carry it to my master. Was not every drop of her blood dear to him?

that fatal box; I will buckle it to my saddle-bow. Inadequate will be my utmost care of it, t

ied bugle from his breast: "Give this to your master, and tell him that by whatever hands he sends it, the sight of it shall always command the services of Donald Mar. I go to

him and the honest soldier. A rocky promontory soon excluded them from his sight, and in a few m

so alarmed the poor cottagers, that with one accord they fled to their kindred on the hills, amid those fastnesses of nature, to await tidings from the valley, of when all should be still, and they might return in peace. Halbert looked to the right and to the left; no smoke, curling its gray mist from behind the intersecting rocks, reminded him of the gladsome morning hour, or invited him to take a moment's rest from his g