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CHAPTER XXI.

A darker departure is near,
The death-drum is muffled, and sable the bier.

CAMPBELL.

- AFTER a sleepless night, the first dawn of morning found Waverley on the esplanade in front of the old Gothic gate of Carlisle Castle. But he paced it long in every direction, before the hour when, according to the rules of the garrison, the gates were opened, and the drawbridge lowered. He produced his order to the serjeant of the guard, and was admitted. The place of Fergus's confinement was a gloomy and vaulted apartment in the central part of the castle; a huge old tower, supposed to be of great antiquity, and surrounded by outworks, seemingly of Henry VIII.'s time, or somewhat later. The grating of

the huge old-fashioned bars and bolts, withdrawn for the purpose of admitting Edward, was answered by the clash of chains, as the unfortunate Chieftain, strongly and heavily fettered, shuffled along the stone floor of his prison, to fling himself into his friend's arms.

My dear Edward," he said, in a firm and even chearful voice," this is truly kind. I heard of your approaching happiness with the highest pleasure; and how does Rose? and how is our old whimsical friend the Baron? Well, I am sure, from your looks-and how will you settle precedence between the three ermines passant and the bear and boot-jack?".

"How, O how, my dear Fergus, can you talk of such things at such a moment?"

"Why, we have entered Carlisle with happier auspices, to be sure-on the 16th of November last, for example, when we marched in, side by side, and hoisted the white flag on these ancient towers. But I am no boy, to sit down and weep, be

I

cause the luck has gone against me. knew the stake which I risqued; we played the game boldly, and the forfeit shall be paid manfully. And now, since my time is short, let me come to the questions that interest me most-the Prince? has he escaped the bloodhounds ?"

"He has, and is in safety!"

Praised be God for that! Tell me the particulars of his escape."

Waverley communicated that remarkable history, so far as it had then transpired, to which Fergus listened with deep interest. He then asked after several other friends; and made many minute enquiries concerning the fate of his own clansmen. They had suffered less than other tribes who had been engaged in the affair; for having, in a great measure, dispersed, and returned home after the captivity of their Chieftain, as was an universal custom among the Highlanders, they were not in arms when the insurrection was finally suppressed, and consequently

were treated with less rigour. This Fergus heard with great satisfaction.

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"You are rich," he said, "Waverley, and you are generous; when you hear of these poor Mac-Ivors being distressed about their miserable possessions by some harsh overseer or agent of government, remember you have worn their tartan, and are an adopted son of their race. The Baron, who knows our manners, and lives near our country, will apprize you of the time and means to be their protector. Will you promise this to the last Vich. Ian Vohr?"

Edward, as may well be believed, pledged his word; which he afterwards so amply redeemed, that his memory still lives in these glens by the name of the Friend of the Sons of Ivor,

"Would to God," continued the Chieftain, "I could bequeath to you my rights to the love and obedience of this primitive and brave race:-or at least, as I have striven to do, persuade poor Evan to ac

cept of his life upon their terms; and be to you, what he has been to me, the kindest, the bravest,---the most devoted__”

The tears which his own fate could not draw forth, fell fast for that of his fosterbrother.

"But," said he, drying them,

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"that

cannot be. You cannot be to them Vich Jan Vohr; and these three magic words," said he, half smiling, "are the only Open Sesame to their feelings and sympathies, and poor Evan must attend his fosterbrother in death, as he has done through his whole life."

"And I am sure," said Maccombich, raising himself from the floor, on which, for fear of interrupting their conversation, he liad lain so still, that, in the obscurity of the apartment, Edward was not aware of his presence," I am sure Evan never desired nor deserved a better end than just to die with his chieftain."

"And now," said Fergus, "while we are upon the subject of clanship-what think

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