第6章
加入书架 A- A+

  ThemutualprotectionaffordedbyWaverleyandTalbottoeachother,uponwhichthewholeplotdepends,isfoundedupononeofthoseanecdoteswhichsoftenthefeaturesevenofcivilwar;andasitisequallyhonourabletothememoryofbothparties,wehavenohesitationtogivetheirnamesatlength。WhentheHighlanders,onthemorningofthebattleofPreston,1745,madetheirmemorableattackonSirJohnCope’sarmy,abatteryoffourfield-pieceswasstormedandcarriedbytheCameronsandtheStewartsofAppine。ThelateAlexanderStewartofInvernahylewasoneoftheforemostinthecharge,andobservinganofficeroftheKing’sforces,who,scorningtojointheflightofallaround,remainedwithhisswordinhishand,asifdeterminedtotheverylasttodefendthepostassignedtohim,theHighlandgentlemancommandedhimtosurrender,andreceivedforreplyathrust,whichhecaughtinhistarget。Theofficerwasnowdefenceless,andthebattle-axeofagiganticHighlanderthemillerofInvernahyle’smillwasupliftedtodashhisbrainsout,whenMr。Stewartwithdifficultyprevailedonhimtoyield。Hetookchargeofhisenemy’sproperty,protectedhisperson,andfinallyobtainedhimlibertyonhisparole。TheofficerprovedtobeColonelWhitefoord,anAyrshiregentlemanofhighcharacterandinfluence,andwarmlyattachedtotheHouseofHanover;

  yetsuchwastheconfidenceexistingbetweenthesetwohonourablemen,thoughofdifferentpoliticalprinciples,thatwhilethecivilwarwasraging,andstragglingofficersfromtheHighlandarmywereexecutedwithoutmercy,InvernahylehesitatednottopayhislatecaptiveavisitashereturnedtotheHighlandstoraisefreshrecruits,onwhichoccasionhespentadayortwoinAyrshireamongColonelWhitefoord’sWhigfriends,aspleasantlyandasgood-humouredlyasifallhadbeenatpeacearoundhim。

  AfterthebattleofCullodenhadruinedthehopesofCharlesEdward,anddispersedhisproscribedadherents,itwasColonelWhitefoord’sturntostraineverynervetoobtainMr。Stewart’spardon。HewenttotheLordJustice-Clerk,totheLordAdvocate,andtoalltheofficersofstate,andeachapplicationwasansweredbytheproductionofalist,inwhichInvernahyleasthegoodoldgentlemanwaswonttoexpressitappearedmarkedwiththesignofthebeast!’’asasubjectunfitforfavourorpardon。

  AtlengthColonelWhitefoordappliedtotheDukeofCumberlandinperson。Fromhimalsohereceivedapositiverefusal。Hethenlimitedhisrequest,forthepresent,toaprotectionforStewart’shouse,wife,children,andproperty。ThiswasalsorefusedbytheDuke;onwhichColonelWhitefoord,takinghiscommissionfromhisbosom,laiditonthetablebeforehisRoyalHighnesswithmuchemotion,andaskedpermissiontoretirefromtheserviceofasovereignwhodidnotknowhowtospareavanquishedenemy。TheDukewasstruck,andevenaffected。HebadetheColoneltakeuphiscommission,andgrantedtheprotectionherequired。

  Itwasissuedjustintimetosavethehouse,corn,andcattleatInvernahylefromthetroopswhowereengagedinlayingwastewhatitwasthefashiontocallthecountryoftheenemy。’’AsmallencampmentofsoldierswasformedonInvernahyle’sproperty,whichtheysparedwhileplunderingthecountryaround,andsearchingineverydirectionfortheleadersoftheinsurrection,andforStewartinparticular。Hewasmuchnearerthemthantheysuspected;for,hiddeninacaveliketheBaronofBradwardine,helayformanydayssoneartheEnglishsentinels,thathecouldheartheirmuster-rollcalled。Hisfoodwasbroughttohimbyoneofhisdaughters,achildofeightyearsold,whomMrs。Stewartwasunderthenecessityofentrustingwiththiscommission;forherownmotions,andthoseofallherelderinmates,werecloselywatched。Withingenuitybeyondheryears,thechildusedtostrayaboutamongthesoldiers,whowereratherkindtoher,andthusseizethemomentwhenshewasunobserved,andstealintothethicket,whenshedepositedwhateversmallstoreofprovisionsshehadinchargeatsomemarkedspot,whereherfathermightfindit。

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