The Scottish Chiefs

ane C

here their families lay. The cheerful sounds of their bugles aroused the sleepers from their caves

llerslie remained alone with the old man, and recounted to him the success of his enterprise, and the double injuries he had avenged. "The assassin," continued he, "has paid with his life for his inexpiable crime. He is slain, and with him several of Edward's garrison. My vengeance may be appeased; but what, O Halbert, can bring redress to my widowed heart? All is lost to me; I have now nothing

would do? Why rush upon certain destruction? For the sake of her memory whom you deplore; in pity to the worthy Earl of Mar, w

at are my resolves. I have nothing now that binds me to life but my country; and henceforth she shall be to me as mistress, wife and child. Would you deprive me of this tie, Halbert? Would you, b

find you, should the earl choose

e rashly. My purpose is to save my countrymen

in which his beloved master had pledged himself to become the leader, bowed his head with s

ocky apartment forced on him the recollection of all his miseries, he uttered a deep groan. That sad sound, so different from the jocund voice with which Wallace used to issue fro

r, worthy Halbert; it will comfort me to know you are in safety; an

was denied to him, and, with a voice of assumed cheerfulness, he renewed his efforts to encourage his desponding servant. Half persuaded that a Superior Being did indeed call his

western declivity of the hills, and then, bidding him

a weary mile, betwee

ched the valley in whic

er at his gates, that h

ely admitted, and con

medicinal cordials in her hand. The Lady Marion's loveliness had been that of a soft moonlight evening; but the face which now turned upon Halbert as he entered, was "full of light, and splendor, and joy;" and the old man's eyes, even tho

r William Wallace, and asked if he

laid upon his valiant head; but he is avenged! He has slain the Governo

emanded

the honest harper described, in his own ardent language, the devoted zeal with which the shepherds on the heights took up arms to avenge the wrong

-place; and finding the English soldier's helmet and cloak, poor Dugald, still fearful of falling in with any straggling party of Heselrigge's, disguised himself in those Southron clothes. Exhausted with hunger, he was venturing toward the house in search of food, when the sight of armed men in the hall made him hastily retreat into his former place of refuge. His alarm was soon increased by a redoubled noise from the house; oaths

led from the bushes, and, ascending the cliffs, he was speeding to the mountains, when, encountering our armed shepherds, they mistook him for an English soldier, and

"how dearly was my life purchased! But proceed, H

hat town; and that when the governor fell, Wallace made a vow n

at? Surely he will not bury those noble qualities, th

etired to the fastness

castle is strong; and while one stone of it remains upon an

e nothing now to do but to assert the liberties of Scotland, and to rid her of her enemies. Go to Lord Mar; take this lock of my hair, stained with the blood of my wife. It is all, most l

eyes, she was obliged to walk to a window,

om of Scotland is possible. I feel in my soul, th

hair in his hands; he rega

en raising the sacred present to his lips, "Yes," cried he, "thy vow shall be performed; and while Donal

wounds are yet unhealed; your fever is still raging! Woul

to promote the cause, must be summoned. This lock shall be my pennon; and what Scotsman will look on that, and shrink from his colors! Here, Helen, my child," cried he, addressin

conceived a gratitude and a pity deeper than language could express, for the man who had lost so much by succoring one so dear to hear. She took the

ve love for me, or value for my future fame, allow me t

the threshold t

could grant with so much joy. To-morrow I will collect the peasantry of Bothwel

esent cause, Helen sympathized in the ardor of her cousin, and with a

ch agitation might have on his enfeebled constitution, and fearful of the perilous cause he ventured thus openly to espouse, she desired his nephew to take

ad become a party in so treasonable a matter. "Consider, my lord," continued she, "that Scotland is now entirely in th

wer after the battle of our liberties, kept our own unsheathed within the bulwarks of our mountains, Scotland might now be free; I should not have been insulted by

t your friend in this rash essay to recover it, you will only lose yourself also, without preserving him. The project is wild and needless. What wo

his open hostilities; plunder and assassination are its concomitants. I have now seen and felt enough of Edwa

u consign your estates to sequestration, you rob your children of their name; nay, by your infectious e

life, reduced himself to these cruel extremities, a madman! Was he made because he prevented the Cou

is madness to me that would plunge you into danger. Think of your own safety; of my innocent twins now in their cradle,

nts with suspicion. Bothwell's present visit to Loch-awe, you see, is sufficient to sanction the plunder of this castle by the peaceful government you approve. You saw the opening of those proceedings!

t not hard to put my all to the hazard; to see the bloody field on o

ms. Let, oh Power above!" exclaimed he, in the fervor of enthusiasm, "let the victorious fiel

must invoke the Virgin to give me courage to be a pat

nd left the earl to muse on the past-to