save this good and brave man became the instant ob ject of Edward's anxious exertions. But he could only witness his fall. Ere Edward could make his way among the Highlanders, who, furious and eager for spoil, now thronged upon each other, he saw his former commander brought from his horse by the blow of a scythe, and beheld him receive, while on the ground, more wounds than would let out twenty lives. When Waverley came up, however, perception had not entirely fled. The dying warrior seemed to recognise Edward, for he fixed his eye upon him with an upbraiding yet sorrowful look, and appeared to struggle for utterance. But he felt that death was dealing closely with him, and resigning his purpose, and folding his hands as if in devotion, he gave up his soul to his Creator. The look with which he regarded Waverley in his dying moments did not strike him so deeply at that crisis of hurry and confusion, as when it recurred to his imagination at the distance of some time.

Loud shouts of triumph now echoed over the whole field. The battle was fought and won, and the whole baggage, artillery, and military stores of the regular army remained in possession of the victors. Never was a victory more complete. Scarce any escaped from the battle, excepting the cavalry, who had left it at the very onset, and even these were broken into different parties, and scattered all over the country. So far as our tale is concerned, we have only to relate the fate of Balmawhapple, who mounted on a horse as head-strong and stiff-necked as his rider, pursued the flight of the dragoons above four miles from the field of battle, when some dozen of the fugitives took heart of grace, turned round and, cleaving his skull with their broad swords, satisfied the world that the unfortunate gentleman had actually brains, the end of his life thus giving proof of a fact greatly doubted during its progress. His death was lamented by few. Most who knew him agreed in the

pithy observation of ensign Maccombich, that there 46 was mair tint (lost) at Sherriff- Muir." His friend, Lieutenant Jinker, bent his eloquence only to exculpate his favourite mare from any share in contributing to the catastrophe. "He had tauld the laird a thousand times," he said, "that it was a burning shame to pit a martingale upon the puir thing, since he would needs ride her wi' a curb of half a yard lang; and that he could na but bring himsel (no to say her) to some mischief, by flinging her down, or otherwise; whereas, if he had a wee bit rinning ring on the snafle, she wad a reined as cannily as a cadger's pownie.'

Such was the elegy of the laird of Balmawhapple.

CHAPTER X.

An unexpected embarrassment.

WHEN the battle was over, and all things coming into order, the Baron of Bradwardine, returning from the duty of the day, and having disposed of those under his command in their proper stations, sought the Chieftain of Glennaquoich, and his friend Edward Waverley. He found the former busied in determining disputes among his clansmen about points. of precedence and deeds of valour, beside sundry high and doubtful questions concerning plunder. The most important of the last respected the property of a gold watch, which had once belonged to some unfortunate English officer. The party against whom judgment was awarded consoled himself by observing, "She (i. e. the watch, which, he took for a living animal) died the very night, Vich Ian Vohr gave her to Murdoch;" the machine having, in fact, stopped for want of winding up.

It was just when this important question was decided, that the Baron of Bradwardine, with a careful and yet important expression of countenance, joined the two young men. He descended from his reeking charger, the care of which he recommended to one of his grooms. "I seldom ban sir," said he to the man; "but if you play any of your hound's-fot tricks, and leave puir, Berwick before he's sorted, to run after spulzie, deil be wi' me if I do not give your craig a thraw." He then stroked with great complacency the animal which had borne him through the fatigues of the day, and having taken a tender leave of him"Weel, my good young friends, a glorious and decisive victory," said he;" but these loons of troopers fled over soon. I should have liked to have shown you the true points of the prælium equestre, or equestrian combat, whilk their cowardice has postponed, and which I hold to be the pride and terror of warfare. Well, I have fought once more in this old quarrel, though I admit I could not be so far ben as you lads, being that it was my point of duty to keep together our handful of horse. And no cavalier ought in any wise to begrudge honour that befalls his companions, even though they are ordered upon thrice his danger, whilk another time, by the blessing of God, may be his own case. But, Glennaquoich, and you, Mr. Waverley, I pray ye to give me your best advice on a matter of mickle weight, and which deeply affects the honour of the house of Bradwardine. I crave your pardon, Ensign Maccombich, and yours Inveraughlin, and yours, Edderalshendrach, and yours, sir."

The last person he addressed was Ballenkeiroch, who remembering the death of his son, loured on him with a look of savage defiance. The baron quick as lightning at taking umbrage, had already bent his brow, when Glennaquoich dragged his major from the spot, and remonstrated with him, in the authoritative

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tone of a chieftain, on the madness of reviving a quarrel in such a moment.

"The ground is cumbered with carcasses," said the old mountaineer, turning sullenly away; "one more would hardly have been ken'd upon it, and if it was na for yoursell, Vich Ian Vohr, that one should be Bradwardine's or mine."

The chief soothed while he hurried him away, and then returned to the baron." It is Ballenkeiroch," said he in an under and confidential voice, "father of the young man who fell in the unlucky affair eight years since at the Mains."

"Ah! said the baron, instantly relaxing the doubtful sternness of his features, "I can take mickle frae a man to whom I have unhappily rendered sic a displeasure, as that. Ye were right to apprize me, Glennaquoich; he may look as black as midnight at Martimas ere Cosmo Comyne Bradwardine shall say he does him wrang-Ah! I have nae male lineage, and I should bear with one I have made childless, though you are aware the blood-wit was made up to your ain satisfaction by assythment, and that I have since expedited letters of slains. Weel, as I have said, I have no male issue, and yet it is needful that I maintain the honour of my house; and it is on that score I prayed ye for your peculiar and private attention.".

The two young men awaited in anxious curiosity. "I doubt na, lads, but your education has been sae seen to, that ye understand the true nature of the feudal tenures?”

Fergus afraid of an endless dissertation, answered, "Intimately, baron," and touched Waverley, as a signal to express no ignorance.

"And ye are aware, I doubt not, the holding of the barony of Bradwardine is of a nature alike honourable and peculiar, being blanch, (which Craig opines ought to be Latinated blancum, or rather francum, a free holding,) pro servitio detrahendi, seu

exuendi, caligas regis post battalliam." Here Fergus turned his falcon eye upon Edward with an almost imperceptible rise of his eyebrow, to which his shoulders corresponded in the same degree of elevation. "Now twa points of dubitation occur to me upon this topic. First, whether this service or feodal homage, be at any event due to the person of the prince, the words being, per expressum, caligas regis,. the boots of the king himself; and I pray your opinion anent the particular before we proceed farther." "Why, he is prince regent," answered Mac-Ivor, with laudible composure of countenance; " and in the court of France all the honours are rendered to the person of the regent which are due to that of the king. Besides, were I to pull off either of their boots, I would render that service to the young chevalier ten times more willingly than to his father."

Ay, but I talk not of personal predilections. However, your authority is of great weight as to the usages of the court of France: And doubtless, the prince, as alter ego, may have the right to claim the homagium of the great tenants of the crown, since all faithful subjects are commanded, in the commission of regency, to respect him as the king's own person. Far, therefore, be it from me to diminish the lustre of his authority, by withholding this act of homage, so peculiarly calculated to give it splendour; for I question if the Emperor of Germany, hath his boots taken off by a free baron of the empire. But here lieth the second difficulty-The prince wears no boots, but simply brogues and trews.'

This last dilemma had almost disturbed Fergus's gravity.

"Why," said he, "you know baron, the proverb tells us, It's ill taken the breeks off a Highlandman,' and the boots are here in the same predicament." "The word caliga, however," continued the baron, "though I admit that, by family tradition, and even in our ancient evidents, it is explained lie BOOTS,