which sounded like a penitentiary stave sung upon a scaffold.

XXXI. ERE Morton and Burley had reached the post to be defended, the enemy had commenced a spirited attack upon it. Two regiments of infantry in close column rushed forward to the stream; one corps, deploying along the right bank, poured a galling fire into the defenders of the pass, while others pressed on to occupy the pass.

The insurgents manfully resisted, and while part of their number returned the fire across the water, the rest maintained a discharge of musketry upon the further end of the bridge itself and every avenue of approach to it. The royalist soldiery were gaining ground, when the arrival of Morton changed the scene, and the assailants retired with heavy loss. A second time they were repulsed with Burley's opportune aid, and the issue seemed dubious.

Monmouth, mounted on a superb white charger, rode along the right bank of the stream, animating the exertions of his soldiers. By his orders the cannon were now turned upon the defenders of the bridge. But these tremendous engines did but little harm on this occasion, for the insurgents fought under cover, while the royalists were entirely exposed. The defence was so protracted and obstinate that the royal generals began to fear lest it should prove ultimately successful.

Monmouth alighted from his horse, and rallying the infantry, brought them up to another close and desperate attack, in which he was warmly seconded by Dalzell, who headed a body of Highlanders. The ammunition of the defenders of the bridge began to fail at this important crisis, though they had sent urgent messages to the main body of the Presbyterian army for additional supply. Fear spread through the ranks, and re-enforcements, which had been promised, were not forthcoming.

As the fire of the defenders of the bridge began to slacken, that of the assailants increased, and with more

deadly effect. Finally they obtained a footing on the bridge itself, and hurled the material of the barricade into the river. This was not accomplished without much opposition. Morton and Burley fought in the very front of their followers, but were finally forced from the bridge. The passage being now open, the enemy began to crowd over; but the bridge being long and narrow, the passage was slow and dangerous, the Covenanters continuing to fire from the windows of the neighboring houses.

Burley and Morton were near each other at this critical moment. Burley said: "There is yet time to bring down horse to attack them ere they get into order, and we may regain the bridge. Hasten thou to bring them down, while I continue to defend here."

Leaping upon a horse which Cuddie held in readiness behind the thicket, Morton galloped toward a body of Cameronian cavalry. Ere he could announce his errand he was saluted by the execrations of the entire body. "He flies!" they exclaimed. "The cowardly traitor has left the valiant Burley in the midst of the slaughter!" "I do not fly,' said Morton; "I come to lead you to the attack. Advance boldly, and we shall yet do well." "Follow him not!" they cried; "he has sold you to the enemy."

And while Morton argued, entreated and commanded in vain, the critical moment was lost; and the outlet of the bridge being in complete possession of the enemy, Burley and his remaining followers were driven back upon the main body who were appalled at witnessing their retreat.

Meanwhile the royalists crossed the bridge at their leis ure, and, securing the pass, formed in line of battle; while Claverhouse, who had watched the movement from the opposite bank, now passed the bridge at the head of his cavalry, and formed them in line on the flanks of the infantry on the moor. He then led them to the charge, advancing in front with one large body, while the other two divisions. threatened the flanks of the Covenanters.

Consternation and terror at once invaded the ranks of

the insurgents as the horsemen rode among them, hewing them without mercy. The voice of Claverhouse was heard above the din of the conflict: "Kill! kill! No quarter! Think on Richard Grahame!” The dragoons required no exhortations to vengeance, and their swords drank deep of slaughter among the unresisting fugitives, and cries for quarter were unheeded. The entire field presented a scene of confused slaughter, flight and pursuit.

Twelve hundred of the insurgents, who remained apart from the rest, and out of the line of charge of cavalry, threw down their arms and surrendered to the Duke of Monmouth at the head of the infantry. That generous nobleman instantly granted them quarter, and exerted himself to stop the slaughter. While busied in the humane task, he met with General Dalzell, who was encouraging the fierce Highlanders to slay the rebels.

The duke exclaimed: "Sheathe your sword, I command you, general, and sound the retreat. Enough of blood has been shed; grant quarter to the king's misguided subjects." "I obey your Grace," said the old man, returning his bloody sword to the scabbard; "but I warn you that not enough has yet been done to intimidate these desperate rebels. Have you not heard that Basil Oliphant has collected several gentlemen and men of substance in the west, and is marching to join the insurgents? He is the next male heir to the last Earl of Torwood. He is disaffected to the government from his claim to the estate being set aside in favor of Lady Margaret Bellenden; and I judge the hope of obtaining the property has set him in motion.

"Be his motives even so," replied the duke, "he must soon disperse his followers; for this army is too badly shattered to rally again. Therefore, once more, I command that the pursuit be stopped." Dalzell at once gave orders to check the pursuit. But the fiery and vindictive Claverhouse was already far out of hearing of the signal for retreat, and continued with his cavalry, dispersing and slaughtering such insurgents as he encountered.

Burley and Morton were both hurried off the field by the tide of confused fugitives. While making a brief stand in the town of Hamilton, Burley was wounded in his right arm, and was unable to fight longer. Turning his horse's head, he hastily retreated out of the confusion. Morton, after unavailing efforts to rally the soldiers, extricated himself with Cuddie from the press, and, being well mounted, leaped over an enclosure and reached the open country.

From the summit of a neighboring hill, they discerned the entire plain covered with their fugitive companions and with the pursuing dragoons, while groans and shouts were distinctly heard. Evidently the cause of the insurgents was hopeless on this occasion, and Morton and Cuddie, in their flight, directed their course toward the wild and mountainous country, where Morton expected to meet numbers of the fugitives with whom he might join in making defence or in soliciting terms.

XXXII. AT nightfall Morton and his faithful attendant gained the moorland, and approached a large isolated farmhouse situate at the entrance of a wild glen. Morton said to Cuddie: "Our horses require rest and food; let us seek it here."

The place looked inhabited; there was smoke issuing from the chimney, and the marks of recent hoofs were visible around the door. Human voices were heard from within the house, but all the lower windows were secured, and when they knocked at the door no answer was returned. After vainly entreating admittance, they withdrew to the stable, in order to accommodate their horses ere they used further means of gaining admission. In the stable they found a dozen horses, whose appearance and state of fatigue indicated that they belonged to fugitive insurgents.

Encouraged by their appearance, they returned again to the house and, announcing themselves as men in the same predicament, clamored loudly for admittance.

A stern voice from a window replied: "Whoever you

WAVERLEY-VOL. III.-14

be, disturb not those who mourn for the desolation and captivity of the land, and search out the causes of wrath and defection, that the stumbling-blocks may be removed. "They are wild western Whigs," whispered Cuddie to his master. "I don't like to venture near them."

Morton, however, insisted on admittance, and opening one of the lower windows, stepped into the large kitchen from which the voice had issued. Cuddie followed him, and they found themselves to be in the company of a dozen armed men, who were seated around the fire on which food was cooking. The party were busied, apparently, with their devotions.

In their gloomy countenances, illumined by the firelight, Morton recognized the fanatical Ephraim Macbriar and the maniac Habakkuk Mucklewrath. The group paid no attention to the entrance of the intruders, except to glance at them with sullen and indignant expression.

Morton began to think of retreating from this hostile company, but on turning toward the window he found, to his alarm, two strong men had stationed themselves there, evidently to bar his egress. One of these ominous sentinels whispered to Cuddie: "Son of that precious woman, Mause Headrigg, do not remain with this child of treachery and perdition. Tarry not, for the avenger of blood is behind thee."

With this he pointed to the window, out of which Cuddie jumped without hesitation, apprehensive as he was of personal injury. He next thought upon the probable fate of his master. He said to himself: "These murdering loons will kill him, unless I get more help from Hamilton as soon as possible."

So saying, Cuddie hastened to the stable, and appropriating the best horse in the place, he galloped off in the direction of the town of Hamilton. The noise of his horse's tread checked for a moment the devotions of the fanatics, and Macbriar concluded his exercise and rose from his stooping posture.