Waverley; or, 'Tis sixty years since — Volume 2Scott, Walter
History
Waverley; or, 'Tis sixty years since — Volume 2
Scott, Walter
Historical fiction; Jacobite Rebellion, 1745-1746 -- Fiction; Scotland -- History -- 18th century -- Fiction
'And now,' said Fergus, 'while we are upon the subject of
clanship--what think you now of the prediction of the Bodach
Glas?' Then, before Edward could answer, 'I saw him again last
night: he stood in the slip of moonshine which fell from that high
and narrow window towards my bed. "Why should I fear him?" I
thought; "to-morrow, long ere this time, I shall be as immaterial
as he." "False spirit," I said, "art thou come to close thy walks
on earth and to enjoy thy triumph in the fall of the last
descendant of thine enemy?" The spectre seemed to beckon and to
smile as he faded from my sight. What do you think of it? I asked
the same question of the priest, who is a good and sensible man;
he admitted that the church allowed that such apparitions were
possible, but urged me not to permit my mind to dwell upon it, as
imagination plays us such strange tricks. What do you think of
it?'
'Much as your confessor,' said Waverley, willing to avoid dispute
upon such a point at such a moment. A tap at the door now
announced that good man, and Edward retired while he administered
to both prisoners the last rites of religion, in the mode which
the Church of Rome prescribes.
In about an hour he was re-admitted; soon after, a file of
soldiers entered with a blacksmith, who struck the fetters from
the legs of the prisoners.
'You see the compliment they pay to our Highland strength and
courage; we have lain chained here like wild beasts, till our legs
are cramped into palsy, and when they free us they send six
soldiers with loaded muskets to prevent our taking the castle by
storm!'
Edward afterwards learned that these severe precautions had been
taken in consequence of a desperate attempt of the prisoners to
escape, in which they had very nearly succeeded.
Shortly afterwards the drums of the garrison beat to arms. 'This
is the last turn-out,' said Fergus, 'that I shall hear and obey.
And now, my dear, dear Edward, ere we part let us speak of Flora--
a subject which awakes the tenderest feeling that yet thrills
within me'
'We part not here!' said Waverley.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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