Peter's cheek grew pale; he stood silent and motionless, as if palsy had smitten his very soul. Ann uttered a short, sudden scream of despair, and fell senseless at the feet of the best-man. Her cry of agony recalled the bridegroom to instant consciousness; he started round--he raised her in his arms, he held her to his bosom. "Ann!--my ain Ann!" he cried; "look up--oh, look up, dear! It is me, Ann--they canna, they daurna harm me." Confusion and dismay took possession of the whole party. "What is the meaning o' this, sirs?" said Robin Paterson, his voice half-choked with agitation; "what has my son done, that ye choose sic an untimeous hour to bring a warrant against him?" "He has done, old boy, what will give him employment for seven years," said the gamekeeper, insolently. "Constables, do your duty." "Sirs," said Robin, as they again attempted to lay hands upon his son, "I am sure he has been guilty o' nae crime--leave us noo, an' whatever be his offence, I, his faither, will be answerable for his forthcoming to the last penny in my possession." "And I will be bail to the same amount, master constables," said the old skipper; "for, blow me, d'ye see, if there an't black work at the bottom o' this, and somebody shall hear about it, that's all." Consciousness had returned to the fair bride. She threw her arms around Peter's neck--"They shall not--no, they shall not take you from me!" exclaimed she. "No, no, dear," returned he; "dinna put yersel' about." The minister had come out of the manse, and offered to join the old men as security for Peter's appearance on the following day. "To the devil with your bail!--you are no justices, master constables," replied the inexorable gamekeeper--"seize him instantly." "Slave!" cried Peter, raising his hand and grasping the other by the throat. "Help! help, in the king's name!" shouted the provincial executors of the law, each seizing him by the arm. "Be quiet, Peter, my man," said his father, clapping his shoulder, and a tear stole down his cheek as he spoke, "dinna mak bad worse." "A rescue, by Harry!--a rescue!" cried the old skipper. "No, no," returned Peter--"no rescue; if it cam to that, I wad need nae assistance. Quit my arms, sirs, and I'll accompany ye in peace. Ann, love--fareweel the noo, an' Heaven bless you, dearest!--but dinna greet, hinny--dinna greet!" And he pressed his lips to hers. "Help her, faither--help her," added he; "see her hame, and try to comfort her." The old man placed his arm tenderly round her waist--she clung closer to her bridegroom's neck; and, as they gently lifted up her hands, she uttered a heart-piercing, and it seemed, a heart-broken scream, that rang down the valley like the wail o' desolation. Her head dropped upon her bosom. Peter hastily raised her hand to his lips; then turning to the myrmidons of the law, said sternly--"I am ready, sirs; lead me where you will."