ing, and exercising all the numerous duties of a good governor.

"In the name of God, what is the matter, uncle?" exclaimed Edith.

"The matter, my love?" answered the Major coolly, as, with spectacles on his nose, he examined the position of a gun-" The matter? Why-raise her breech a thought more, John Gudyill-the matter? Why, Claver'se is routed, my dear, and the whigs are coming down upon us in force, that's all the matter."

"Gracious powers!" said Edith, whose eye at that instant caught a glance of the road which ran up the river," and yonder they come !"

"Yonder? where?" said the veteran; and, his eyes taking the same direction, he beheld a large body of horsemen coming down the path. "Stand to your guns, my lads!" was the first exclamation; we'll make them pay toll as they pass the heugh. But stay, stay, these are certainly the LifeGuards."

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"O no, uncle, no," replied Edith; "see how disorderly they ride, and how ill they keep their ranks; these cannot be the fine soldiers who left us this morning."

Ah, my dear girl!" answered the Major, "you do not know the difference between men before a battle and after a defeat; but the Life-Guards it is, for I see the red and blue and the King's colours. I am glad they have brought them off, however."

His opinion was confirmed as the troopers approached nearer, and finally halted on the road beneath the Tower; while their commanding officer, leaving them to breathe and refresh their horses, hastily rode up the hill.

"It is Claverhouse, sure enough," said the Major; I am glad he has escaped, but he has lost his famous black horse. Let Lady Margaret know, John Gudyıll; order some refreshments; get oats for the soldiers' horses; and let us to the hall, Edith, to meet him. I surmise we shall hear but indifferent news."

CHAPTER XX.

With careless gesture, mind unmoved,
On rade hc north the plain,
His seem in thrang of fiercest strife,
When winner aye the same.

Hardyknute. COLONEL GRAHAME of Claverhouse met the family, assembled in the hall of the Tower, with the same serenity and the same courtesy which had graced his manners in the morning. He had even had the composure to rectify in part the derangement of his dress, to wash the signs of battle from his face and hands, and did not appear more disordered in his exterior than if returned from a morning ride.

"All, but men and provisions, with which we are ill supplied," answered the Major.

As for men," said Claverhouse, "I will leave you a dozen or twenty fellows who will make good a breach against the devil. It will be of the utmost service, if you can defend the place but a week, and by that time you must surely be relieved."

"I will make it good for that space, Colonel," re plied the Major, "with twenty-five good men and store of ammunition, if we should gnaw the soles of our shoes for hunger; but I trust we shall get in provisions from the country."

And, Colonel Grahame, if I might presume a request," said Lady Margaret, "I would entreat that Sergeant Francis Stewart might command the auxiliaries whom you are so good as to add to the garrison of our people; it may serve to legitimate his promotion, and I have a prejudice in favour of his noble birth."

"The sergeant's wars are ended, madam," said Grahame, in an unaltered tone," and he now needs no promotion that an earthly master can give."

"Pardon me," said Major Bellenden, taking Claverhouse by the arm, and turning him away from the ladies, "but I am anxious for my friends; I fear you have other and more important loss. I observe another officer carries your nephew's standard." You are right, Major Bellenden," answered Claverhouse firmly; "my nephew is no more. He has died in his duty, as became him."

"Great God!" exclaimed the Major, "how unhappy!-the handsome, gallant, high-spirited youth!" He was indeed all you say," answered Claverhouse; poor Richard was to me as an eldest son, the apple of my eye, and my destined heir; but he died in his duty, and I-I-Major Bellenden"-(he wrung the Major's hand hard as he spoke)—"I live to avenge him."

"Colonel Grahame," said the affectionate veteran, his eyes filling with tears, "I am glad to see you bear this misfortune with such fortitude."

"I am not a selfish man," replied Claverhouse, "though the world will tell you otherwise; I am not selfish either in my hopes or fears, my joys or sorrows. I have not been severe for myself, or grasping for my self, or ambitious for myself. The service of my master and the good of the country are what I have tried to aim at. 1 may, perhaps, have driven severity into cruelty, but I acted for the best; and now I wil not yield to my own feelings a deeper sympathy that I have given to those of others."

"I am astonished at your fortitude under all the unpleasant circumstances of this affair," pursued the Major.

"Yes," replied Claverhouse," my enemies in the council will lay this misfortune to my charge--I des pise their accusations. They will calumniate me to my Sovereign-I can repel their charge. The public enemy "I am grieved, Colonel Grahame," said the reve-will exult in my flight--I shall find a time to show the rend old lady, the tears trickling down her face, " deep-that they exult too early. This youth that has fa ly grieved.' stood betwixt a grasping kinsman and my inheritanc for you know that my marriage-bed is barren; peace be with him! the country can better spare h than your friend Lord Evandale, who, after behaved very gallantly, has, I fear, also fallen."

And I am grieved, my dear Lady Margaret," replied Claverhouse, that this misfortune may render your remaining at Tillietudlem dangerous for you, especially considering your recent hospitality to the King's troops, and your well-known loyalty. And I came here chiefly to request Miss Bellenden and you to accept my escort (if you will not scorn that of a poor runaway) to Glasgow, from whence I will see you safely sent either to Edinburgh or to Dunbarton Castle, as you shall think best."

"I am much obliged to you, Colonel Grahame," replied Lady Margaret; "but my brother, Major Belenden, has taken on him the responsibility of holding out this house against the rebels; and, please God, ey shall never drive Margaret Bellenden from her ain hearth-stane while there's a brave man that says he can defend it."

"And will Major Bellenden undertake this?" said Claverhouse hastily, a joyful light glancing from his dark eye as he turned it on the veteran, "Yet why should I question it? it is of a piece with the rest of his life.-But have you the means, Major ?"

What a fatal day!" ejaculated the Major heard a report of this, but it was again contradicted it was added, that the poor young nobleman's im petuosity had occasioned the loss of this unhappy field."

"Not so, Major," said Grahame; "let the live: officers bear the blame, if there be any; and let t laurels flourish untarnished on the grave of the fal I do not, however, speak of Lord Evandale's des as certain; but killed, or prisoner, I fear he must b Yet he was extricated from the tumult the last t we spoke together. We were then on the poin leaving the field with a rear-guard of scarce twa men; the rest of the regiment were almost dispersed

"They have rallied again soon," said the Ma looking from the window on the dragoons, who w feeding their horses and refreshing themselves bes the brook.

"Yes," answered Claverhouse, "my blackguar

had little temptation either to desert, or to straggle | provisions, and especially of meal, and to get knowfarther than they were driven by their first panic. ledge of the motions of the enemy. All the news he There is small friendship and scant courtesy between could collect on the second subject tended to prove them and the boors of this country; every village that the insurgents meant to remain on the field of they pass is likely to rise on them, and so the scoun- battle for that night. But they, also, had abroad their drels are driven back to their colours by a wholesome detachments and advanced guards to collect supplies, terror of spits, pike-staves, hay-forks, and broom- and great was the doubt and distress of those who sticks. But now let us talk about your plans and received contrary orders, in the name of the King wants, and the means of corresponding with you. and in that of the Kirk; the one commanding them To tell you the truth, I doubt being able to make a to send provisions to victual the Castle of Tillietudlong stand at Glasgow, even when I have joined my lem, and the other enjoining them to forward supLord Ross; for this transient and accidental success plies to the camp of the godly professors of true of the fanatics will raise the devil through all the religion, now in arms for the cause of covenanted western counties." reformation, presently pitched at Drumelog, nigh to Loudon-hill. Each summons closed with a denunciation of fire and sword if it was neglected; for neither party could confide so far in the loyalty or zeal of those whom they addressed, as to hope they would part with their property upon other terms. So that the poor people knew not what hand to turn themselves to; and, to say truth, there were some who turned themselves to more than one..

They then discussed Major Bellenden's means of defence, and settled a plan of correspondence, in case a general insurrection took place, as was to be expected. Claverhouse renewed his offer to escort the ladies to a place of safety; but, all things considered, Major Bellenden thought they would be in equal safety at Tillietudlem.

The Colonel then took a polite leave of Lady Margaret and Miss Bellenden, assuring them, that, though he was reluctantly obliged to leave them for the present in dangerous circumstances, yet his earliest means should be turned to the redemption of his character as a good knight and true, and that they might speedily rely on hearing from or seeing him.

"Thir kittle times will drive the wisest o' us daft," said Niel Blane, the prudent host of the Howff; but I'se aye keep a calm sough.-Jenny, what meal is in the girnel ?""

"Four bows o' aitmeal, twa bows o' bear, and twa bows o' pease," was Jenny's reply.

Full of doubt and apprehension, Lady Margaret "Aweel, hinny," continued Niel Blane, sighing was little able to reply to a speech so much in unison deeply, "let Bauldy drive the peas and bear meal to with her usual expressions and feelings, but contented the camp at Drumclog-he's a whig, and was the auld herself with bidding Claverhouse farewell, and thank-gudewife's pleughman-the mashlum bannocks will ing him for the succours which he had promised to suit their muirland stamachs weel. He maun say it's leave them. Edith longed to inquire the fate of the last unce o' meal in the house, or, if he scruples Henry Morton, but could find no pretext for doing so, to tell a lie, (as it's no likely he will when it's for the and could only hope that it had made a subject of gude o' the house,) he may wait till Duncan Glen, - some part of the long private communication which the auld drucken trooper, drives up the aitmeal to her uncle had held with Claverhouse. On this sub- Tillietudlem, wi' my dutifu' service to my Leddy and ject, however, she was disappointed; for the old the Major, and I haena as muckle left as will mak cavalier was so deeply immersed in the duties of his my parritch; and if Duncan manage right, I'll ge own office, that he had scarce said a single word to him a tass o' whisky shall mak the blue low come Claverhouse, excepting upon military matters, and out at his mouth." most probably would have been equally forgetful, had the fate of his own son, instead of his friend's, lain in the balance.

Claverhouse now descended the bank on which the castle is founded, in order to put his troops again in motion, and Major Bellenden accompanied him to receive the detachment who were to be left in the

tower.

"I shall leave Inglis with you," said Claverhouse, "for, as I am situated, I cannot spare an officer of rank; it is all we can do, by our joint efforts, to keep the men together. But should any of our missing officers make their appearance, I authorize you to detain them; for my fellows can with difficulty be subjected to any other authority."

His troops being now drawn up, he picked out sixteen men by name, and committed them to the command of Corporal Inglis, whom he promoted to the rank of sergeant on the spot.

"And hark ye gentlemen," was his concluding harangue, "I leave you to defend the house of a lady, and under the command of her brother, Major Bellenden, a faithful servant to the king. You are to behave bravely, soberly, regularly, and obediently, and each of you shall be handsomely rewarded on my return to relieve the garrison. In case of mutiny, cowardice, neglect of duty, or the slightest excess in the family, the provost-marshal and cord-you know I keep my word for good and evil."

He touched his hat as he bade them farewell, and shook hands cordially with Major Bellenden.

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"And what are we to eat oursells then, father;" asked Jenny, "when we hae sent awa the haill meal in the ark and the girnel?"

"We maun gar wheat-flour serve us for a blink,” said Niel, in a tone of resignation; "it's no that ill food, though far frae being sae hearty or kindly to a Scotchman's stamach as the curney aitmeal s; the Englishers live amaist upon't; but, to be sure, the pock-puddings ken nae better."

While the prudent and peaceful endeavoured, like Niel Blane, to make fair weather with both parties, those who had more public (or party) spirit began to take arms on all sides. The royalists in the country were not numerous, but were respectable from their fortune and influence, being chiefly landed proprietors of ancient descent, who, with their brothers, cousins, and dependants to the ninth generation, as well as their domestic servants, formed a sort of militia, capable of defending their own peel-houses against detached bodies of the insurgents, of resisting their demand of supplies, and intercepting those which were sent to the presbyterian camp by others. The news that the Tower of Tillietudlem was to be defended against the insurgents, afforded great courage and support to these feudal volunteers, who considered it as a stronghold to which they might retreat, in case it should become impossible for them to maintain the desultory war they were now about to wage.

On the other hand, the towns, the villages, the farm-houses, the properties of small heritors, sent forth numerous recruits to the presbyterian interest. These men had been the principal sufferers during the oppression of the time. Their minds were fretted, soured, and driven to desperation, by the various exactions and cruelties to which they had been subjected; and, although by no means united among themselves, either concerning the purpose of his formidable insurrection, or the means by which that purpose was to be obtained, most of them considered it as a door opened by Providence to obtain the Major Bellenden, now left to his own resources liberty of conscience of which they had been long sent out several videttes, both to obtain supplies of deprived, and to shake themselves free of a tyrann

Adieu," he said, my stout-hearted old friend! Good luck be with you, and better times to us both." The horsemen whom he commanded had been once more reduced to tolerable order by the exertions of Major Allan; and, though shorn of their splendour, and with their gilding all besmirched, made a much more regular and military appearance on leaving, for the second time, the tower of Tillietudlem, than when they returned to it after their rout.

WE return to Henry Morton, whom we left on the field of battle. He was eating, by one of the watch-"that thou art faithful, honest, and zealous, even fires, his portion of the provisions which had been distributed to the army, and musing deeply on the path which he was next to pursue, when Burley suddenly came up to him, accompanied by the young minister, whose exhortation after the victory had produced such a powerful effect.

CRAP. XXI.]

OLD MORTALITY.

Morton wanted not these arguments to induce him to join in any insurrection, which might appear to have a feasible prospect of freedom to the country. He doubted, indeed, greatly, whether the present attempt was likely to be supported by the strength sufficient to ensure success, or by the wisdom and liberality of spirit necessary to make a good use of the advantages that might be gained. Upon the whole, however, considering the wrongs he had personally endured, and those which he had seen daily inflicted on his fellow-subjects; meditating also upon the precarious and dangerous situation in which he already stood with relation to the government, he conceived himself, in every point of view, called upon to join the body of presbyterians already in arms.

But while he expressed to Burley his acquiescence in the vote which had named him a leader among the insurgents, and a member of their council of war, it was not without a qualification.

ed, together with long previous sufferings, without | should be successful, seeing that the presbytery, being any prospect of deliverance, except by force of arms, in that case triumphant, would need to make no such occasioned the insurrection, which, as we have alrea- compromise with the government, and, consequently, dy seen commenced by the defeat of Claverhouse in with the abolition of the Indulgence all discussion of its legality would be at once ended. He insisted the bloody skirmish of Loudon-hill. But Burley, notwithstanding the share he had in much and strongly upon the necessity of taking adthe victory, was far from finding himself at the sum-vantage of this favourable crisis, upon the certainty This was partly of their being joined by the force of the whole western mit which his ambition aimed at. owing to the various opinions entertained among the shires, and upon the gross guilt which those would insurgents concerning the murder of Archbishop incur, who, seeing the distress of the country, and the Sharpe. The more violent among them did, indeed, increasing tyranny with which it was governed, approve of this act as a deed of justice, executed upon should, from fear or indifference, withhold their active a persecutor of God's church through the immediate aid from the good cause. inspiration of the Deity; but the greater part of the presbyterians disowned the deed as a crime highly culpable, although they admitted, that the Archbishop's punishment had by no means exceeded his deserts. The insurgents differed in another main point, which has been already touched upon. The more warm and extravagant fanatics condemned, as guilty of a pusillanimous abandonment of the rights of the church, those preachers and congregations who were contented, in any manner, to exercise their religion through the permission of the ruling government. This, they said, was absolute Erastianism, or subjection of the church of God to the regulations of an earthly government, and therefore but one degree better than prelacy or popery.-Again, the more moderate party were content to allow the king's title to the throne, and in secular affairs to acknowledge his authority, so long as it was exercised with due regard to the liberties of the subject, and in conformity to the laws of the realm. But the tenets of the wilder sect, called, from their leader Richard Cameron, by the name of Cameronians, went the length of disowning the reigning monarch, and every one of his successors, who should not acknowledge the Solemn League and Covenant. The seeds of disunion were, therefore, thickly sown in this ill-fated party; and Balfour, however enthusiastic, and however much attached to the most violent of those tenets which we have noticed, saw nothing but ruin to the general cause, if they were insisted on during this crisis, when unity was of so much consequence. Hence he disapproved, as we have seen, of the honest, downright, and ardent zeal of Macbriar, and was extremely desirous to receive the assistance of the moderate party of presbyterians in the immediate overthrow of the government, with the hope of being hereafter able to dictate to them what should be substituted in its place. He was, on this account, particularly anxious to secure the accession of Henry Morton to the cause of the insurgents. The memory of his father was generally esteemed among the presbyterians; and as few persons of any decent quality had joined the insurgents, this young man's family and prospects were guch as almost ensured his being chosen a leader. Through Morton's means, as being the son of his ancient comrade, Burley conceived he might exercise some influence over the more liberal part of the army, and ultimately, perhaps, ingratiate himself so far with them, as to be chosen commander-in-chief, which was the mark at which his ambition aimed. He had, therefore, without waiting till any other person took up the subject, exalted to the council the talents and disposition of Morton, and easily obtained his elevation to the painful rank of a leader in this disunited and undisciplined army.

.

The arguments by which Balfour pressed Morton to accept of this dangerous promotion, as soon as he had gotten rid of his less wary and uncompromising companion, Macbriar, were sufficiently artful and urgent. He did not affect either to deny or to disguise that the sentiments which he himself entertained concerning church government, went as far as those of the preacher who had just left them; but he argued, that when the affairs of the nation were at such a desperate crisis, minute difference of opinion should not prevent those who, in general, wished well to their oppressed country, from drawing their swords in its behalf. Many of the subjects of division, as, for example, that concerning the Indulgence itself, arose, he observed, out of circumstances which would cease to exist, provided their attempt to free the country

"I am willing," he said, "to contribute every thing within my limited power to effect the emancipation of my country. But do not mistake me. I disapprove, in the utmost degree, of the action in which this rising seems to have originated; and no arguments should induce me to join it, if it is to be carried on by such measures as that with which it has commenced."

Burley's blood rushed to his face, giving a ruddy and dark glow to his swarthy brow.'"

"You mean," he said, in a voice which he designed should not betray any emotion-" You mean the death of James Sharpe ?" "Frankly," answered Morton, "such is my mean

ing.'

You imagine, then," said Burley, "that the Almighty, in times of difficulty, does not raise up instruments to deliver his church from her oppressors? You are of opinion that the justice of an execution consists, not in the extent of the sufferer's crime, or in his having merited punishment, or in the wholesome and salutary effect which that example is likely to produce upon other evil-doers, but hold that it rests solely in the robe of the judge, the height of the bench, and the voice of the doomster? Is not just punishment justly inflicted, whether on the scaffold or the moor? And where constituted judges, from cowardice, or from having cast in their lot with transgressors, suffer them not only to pass at liberty through the land, but to sit in the high places, and dye their garments in the blood of the saints, is it not well done in any brave spirits who shall draw their private swords in the public cause?"

"I have no wish to judge this individual action," replied Morton, "further than is necessary to make you fully aware of my principles. I therefore repeat, that the case you have supposed does not satisfy my judgment. That the Almighty, in his mysterious providence, may bring a bloody man to an end deservedly bloody, does not vindicate those who, without autho rity of any kind, take upon themselves to be the instruments of execution, and presume to call them the executors of divine vengeance."

"And were we not so?" said Burley, in a tone of fierce enthusiasm. "Were not we-was not every one who owned the interest of the Covenanted Church of Scotland, bound by that covenant to cut off the Judas who had sold the cause of God for fifty thousand merks a-year? Had we met him by the way as he came down from London, and there smitten nim with the edge of the sword, we had done but the duty of men faithful to our cause, and to our oaths recorded in heaven. Was not the execution itself a proof of

our warrant? Did not the Lord deliver him into our hands, when we looked out but for one of his inferior tools of persecution? Did we not pray to be resolved how we should act, and was it not borne in on our hearts as if it had been written on them with the point of a diamond, 'Ye shall surely take him and slay him?--Was not the tragedy full half an hour in acting ere the sacrifice was completed, and that in an open heath, and within the patrols of their garrisonsand yet who interrupted the great work?-What dog so much as bayed us during the pursuit, the taking, the slaying, and the dispersing? Then, who will say -who dare say, that a mightier arm than our's was not herein revealed?"

"You deceive yourself, Mr. Balfour," said Morton; "such circumstances of facility of execution and escape have often attended the commission of the most enormous crimes.-But it is not mine to judge you. I have not forgotten that the way was opened to the former liberation of Scotland by an act of violence which no man can justify, the slaughter of Cumming by the hand of Robert Bruce; and, therefore, condemning this action, as I do and must, I am not unwilling to suppose that you may have motives vindicating it in your own eyes, though not in mine, or in those of sober reason. I only now mention it, because I desire you to understand, that I join a cause supported by men engaged in open war, which it is proposed to carry on according to the rules of civilized nations, without, in any respect, approving of the act of violence which gave immediate rise to it."

secured the door behind them against impertinent curiosity. At a less agitating moment, the young man might have been entertained with the singular scene of which he now found himself an auditor and a spectator,

The precincts of the gloomy and ruinous hut were enlightened partly by some furze which blazed on the hearth, the smoke whereof, having no legal vent, eddied around, and formed over the heads of the assembled council a clouded canopy, as opaque as their metaphysical theology, through which, like stars through mist, were dimly seen to twinkle a few blinking candles, or rather rushes dipped in tallow, the property of the poor owner of the cottage, which were stuck to the walls by patches of wet clay. This broken and dusky light showed many a countenance elated with spiritual pride, or rendered dark by fierce enthusiasm; and some whose anxious, wandering and uncertain looks, showed they felt themselves rashly embarked in a cause which they had neither courage nor conduct to bring to a good issue, yet knew not how to abandon, for very shame. They were, indeed, a doubtful and disunited body. The most active of their number were those concerned with Burley in the death of the Primate, four or five of whom had found their way to Loudon-hill together with other men of the same relentless and uncompromising zeal, who had, in various ways, given desperate and unpardonable offence to the government.

With them were mingled their preachers, men who Balfour bit his lip, and with difficulty suppressed a had spurned at the indulgence offered by government, violent answer. He perceived, with disappointment, and preferred assembling their flocks in the wilderthat, upon points of principle, his young brother-in-ness, to worshipping in temples built by human hands, arms possessed a clearness of judgment, and a firm if their doing the latter should be construed to admit ness of mind, which afforded but little hope of his any right on the part of their rulers to interfere with being able to exert that degree of influence over him the supremacy of the Kirk. The other class of counwhich he had expected to possess. After a moment's sellors were such gentlemen of small fortune, and pause, however, he said, with coolness, "My conduct substantial farmers, as a sense of intolerable oppresis open to men and angels. The deed was not done sion had induced to take arms and join the insurgents. in a corner; I am here in arms to avow it, and care These also had their clergymen with them, and such not where, or by whom, I am called on to do so; divines, having many of them taken advantage of the whether in the council, the field of battle, the place of indulgence, were prepared to resist the measures of execution, or the day of the last great trial. I will not their more violent brethren, who proposed a declaranow discuss it further with one who is yet on the tion in which they should give testimony against the other side of the veil. But if you will cast in your lot warrants and instructions for indulgence as sinful with us as a brother, come with me to the council, and unlawful acts. This delicate question had been who are still sitting, to arrange the future march of passed over in silence in the first draught of the manithe army, and the means of improving our victory." festoes which they intended to publish, of the reasons Morton arose and followed him in silence; not of their gathering in arms; but it had been stirred greatly delighted with his associate, and better satis- anew during Balfour's absence, and, to his great fied with the general justice of the cause which he had vexation, he now found that both parties had opened espoused, than either with the measures or the mo- upon it in full cry, Macbriar, Kettledrummle, and tives of many of those who were embarked in it. other teachers of the wanderers, being at the very spring-tide of polemical discussion with Peter Poundtext, the indulged pastor of Milnwood's parish, who, it seems, had e'en girded himself with a broadsword, but, ere he was called upon to fight for the good cause of presbytery in the field, was manfully defending his own dogmata in the council. It was the din of this conflict, maintained chiefly between Poundtext and Kettledrummle, together with the clamour of their adherents, which had saluted Morton's ears upon approaching the cottage. Indeed, as both the divines were men well gifted with words and lungs, and each fierce, ardent, and intolerant in defence of his own doctrine, prompt in the recollection of texts where with they battered each other without mercy, and deeply impressed with the importance of the subject of discussion, the noise of the debate betwixt them fell little short of that which might have attended an actual bodily conflict.

CHAPTER XXII.

And look how many Grecian tents do stand
Hollow upon this plain-so many hollow factions.
Troilus and Cressida.

IN the hollow of a hill, about a quarter of a mile from the field of battle, was a shepherd's hut; a miserable cottage, which, as the only enclosed spot within a moderate distance, the leaders of the presbyterian army had chosen for their council-house. Towards this spot Burley guided Morton, who was surprised, as he approached it, at the multifarious confusion of sounds which issued from its precincts. The calm and anxious gravity which it might be supposed would have presided in councils held on such important subjects, and at a period so critical, seemed to have given place to discord wild, and loud uproar, which fell on the ear of their new ally as an evil augury of their future measures. As they approached the door, they found it open indeed, but choked up with the bodies and heads of countrymen, who, though no members of the council, felt no scruple in intruding themselves upon deliberations in which they were so deeply interested. By expostulation, by threats, and even by some degree of violence, Burley, the sternness of whose character maintained a sort of superiority over these disorderly forces, compelled the intruders to retire, and introducing Morton into the cottage,

Burley, scandalized at the disunion implied in this virulent strife of tongues, interposed between the dis putants, and, by some general remarks on the unsea sonableness of discord, a soothing address to the vanity of each party, and the exertion of the authority which his services in that day's victory entitled him to assume, at length succeeded in prevailing upon them to adjourn farther discussion of the controversy. But although Kettledrummle and Poundtext were thus for the time silenced, they continued to eye each other like two dogs, who, having been separated by the authority of their masters while fighting, have