Waverley: or, 'Tis sixty years since eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 657 pages of information about Waverley.

Waverley: or, 'Tis sixty years since eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 657 pages of information about Waverley.

‘Do not exhaust your strength in speaking,’ said Edward; ’I will get you a surgeon presently.’

He saw Mac-Ivor approaching, who was now returning from head-quarters, where he had attended a council of war, and hastened to meet him.  ’Brave news!’ shouted the Chief; ’we shall be at it in less than two hours.  The Prince has put himself at the head of the advance, and as he drew his sword, called out, “My friends, I have thrown away the scabbard.”  Come, Waverley, we move instantly.’

’A moment,—­a moment; this poor prisoner is dying where shall I find a surgeon?’

’Why, where should you?  We have none, you know, but two or three French fellows, who, I believe, are little better than GARCONS APOTHICAIRES.’

‘But the man will bleed to death.’

‘Poor fellow!’ said Fergus, in a momentary fit of compassion; then instantly added, ’But it will be a thousand men’s fate before night; so come along.’

‘I cannot; I tell you he is a son of a tenant of my uncle’s.’

’Oh, if he’s a follower of yours, he must be looked to;

‘I’ll send Callum to you.  But Diaoul!-CAEDE MILLIA MOLLIGHEART!’ continued the impatient Chieftain,—­’what made an old soldier, like Bradwardine, send dying men here to cumber us?’

Callum came with his usual alertness; and, indeed, Waverley rather gained than lost in the opinion of the Highlanders, by his anxiety about the wounded man.  They would not have understood the general philanthropy which rendered it almost impossible for Waverley to have passed any person in such distress; but, as apprehending that the sufferer was one of his following, [SCOTTICE for followers.] they unanimously allowed that Waverley’s conduct was that of a kind and considerate chieftain, who merited the attachment of his people.  In about a quarter of an hour poor Humphry breathed his last, praying his young master, when he returned to Waverley-Honour, to be kind to old Job Houghton and his dame, and conjuring him not to fight with these wild petticoat-men against old England.

When his last breath was drawn, Waverley, who had beheld with sincere sorrow, and no slight tinge of remorse, the final agonies of mortality, now witnessed for the first time, commanded Callum to remove the body into the hut.  This the young Highlander performed, not without examining the pockets of the defunct, which, however, he remarked, had been pretty well spung’d.  He took the cloak, however, and proceeding with the provident caution of a spaniel hiding a bone, concealed it among some furze, and carefully marked the spot, observing that, if he chanced to return that way, it would be an excellent rokelay for his auld mother Elspat.

It was by a considerable exertion that they regained their place in the marching column, which was now moving rapidly forward to occupy the high grounds above the village of Tranent, between which and the sea, lay the purposed march of the opposite army.

Copyrights
Project Gutenberg
Waverley: or, 'Tis sixty years since from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.