The Scottish Chiefs

ie

y sun now beat upon the rocks, but the overshadowing foliage afforded him shelter, and a few berries from the brambles, which knit themselves over the path he had yet to explore, with a draught of water from a friendly bur

tercepted his passage. Finding it impracticable to proceed through the rushing torrent of a cataract, whose distant roarings might have intimidated even a younger adventurer, he turned from its tumbling waters which burst upon his sight, and crept on his hands and knees up the opposite acclivity, catching by the fern and other weeds to stay him from falling back i

master, he was resolved not to do-to perish in these glens would be more tolerable to him; for while he moved forward, hope, even in the arms of death, would cheer him with the whisper that he was in the path of duty. He therefore entered the cavi

ed rapidity of the stream he must now be approaching the great fall near his master's concealment, Halbert redoubled his speed. But an unlooked-for obstacle baffled his progress. A growing gloom

ir violence. And thus he proceeded, slowly and with trepidation, through numerous defiles, and under the plunge of many a mountain-torrent, till the augmented storm of a wo

ring Lynn, where he would be ingulfed at once in its furious whirlpool. He paused and looked around. The rain had ceased, but the thunder still rolled at a distance and echoed tre

aimed the old man; "and surely I am t

now departed for ever into her native heaven. The notes trembled as his agitated breath breathed them into the instrument; but feeble as they were, and though the roar of the cataract might have preven

all the joy of that moment which ends the anxious wish to learn

ken old man; "take me within your s

ay to his fearful solitude, also remembering how, as he sat in his shelter, he had himself dreaded the effects of the storm upon so aged a traveler, he no l

ter into the cavern he had chosen for his asylum. Halbert sunk against the rocky side, and putting forth his hand to catch some of the water as it fell,

red, Halbert, to tell me how

ster, overclouded with the Cimmerian horrors his story must unfold; he evaded a direct

into the well?" Halbert replied in the negative, and was proceeding with a circu

Halbert? why tell me o

d remembrance are n

aroxysm of mental agony, "she remembers you where best her prayers can

fearful voice, "what would you say? My Ma

heav

with his hands and fell with a deep groan against the side of the cavern. The horrid idea of premature maternal pains, occasioned by anguish for him; of her consequent death, involv

bert thought he had revealed the worst, and he went on. "Her latest breath was sent in prayer for y

he glen; and with an instantaneous and dismal return was re-echoed from rock to rock. Halbert threw his arms round his master's knees. The frantic

red wife! my unborn babe! Who made those wounds?" cried he, catching Halbert's arm with a treme

of Lanark," re

terrific glare of madness shooting from his

ncealed. My lady persisted in refusing him information, and in a deadly rage he plunged his sword into her breast." Wallace clinched his hands over his face, and Halbert went on

heaven; then falling on his knees, with his eyes fixed. "Give me power, Almighty Judge!" cried

e with a stern composure, "here is the fatal sword;

e pressure. "Marion! Marion!" cried he, "is it thine? Does not thy blood stain my lip?" He paused for a moment, leaning his burning forehead against the fat

resolute ferocity which now, blazing from every part of his countenance, seemed to

cries of Halbert penetrated his ear; they recalled him to recollection, and returning to his servant, he tried to soothe his fear, and spoke in a composed though determined tone. "I will lead you from this

ing message, asked for some testimony in return, that the earl might know that he had deliv

t into a fresh flood of tears, for he remembered how often it had been the delight of Marion to comb these bright tresses and to twist them round he ivory fingers. Wallace looked up

" continued he, knotting it together, "take this to the Earl of Mar; it is all, most likely, he will ever see again of William Wallace. Should I fall, tell him to look on t

aties, that his master would accompany him to Bothwell Castle. He

-we must away. The sun must not rise again upon Heselrigge." Halbert now followed the rapid steps of Wallace, who, assisting the feeble limbs of his faithful servant, drew him up the precipitous side of th

William Wallace, near Corie Lyn

s the black sides of the impending rocks, Wallace saw himself near the objects of his search. He sprung on a high cliff projecting over this mounta

whence sprung a summons so dear to every Scottish heart. Wallace stood on the cliff, like the newly-aroused genius of his country; his long plaid floated afar, and his glittering hair streaming on the blast, seemed to mingle with th

to Prince Leopold, when his royal highness visited G

midst of their fires, to call you to vengeance. I come in the name of all ye hold dear, of the wives of you bosoms, and the children in their arms, to tell you the poniard of Engl

"Vengeance! vengeance!" was the cry of the men, while tumultuous lament

cliff into the midst o

n, to strike th

s.** Life and Alexander was then the word of victory: now, ye accursed Southrons, ye shall

llace, the father of Wallace, fell glori

rd was drawn; and those hardy peasants who owned none, seizing the instruments

rd, and murmured to himself. "From this day may Scotland date her liberty, or Wallace return no more! My faithful friends," cried he, turning to his men, and placing his plumed bon

was the pealing answer th

cut through a hitherto unexplored defile of the Cartlane Craigs, leaping chasms, and climbing perpendicular