WHITEFORD. — CUMBERLAND. — INVERNAYHLE. 65 



service in which I have long gloried — in which I have gained some credit, but 

 which now fills me with grief and disgust to find that it has ceased to temper 

 severity with mercy, and denies me the Kfe of a fallen enemy, to whose generosity 

 I owe my own ! " 



" Nay, nay," said the duke, struck at the soldier's manner, and observing 

 him for some seconds, as if he doubted his sincerity,—" take it up ; take back 

 vour commission ; no time for discharging veterans." The colonel remained 

 silent, and for some seconds made no attempt to resume either the 

 subject or the commission, but, retiring a step or two, made a profound obei- 

 sance, and then said, — " If not for the husband and father, sufier me to im- 

 plore your royal highness's compassion on behalf of his -wife and children, — 

 they, at least, are guiltless ! " 



" Stuart, you say — Alexander Stuart?" inquired the duke ; " few loyal sub- 

 jects of that name! Nevertheless"- — he hesitated — " nevertheless, I engage to 

 intercede vsdth the king in their behalf; take back your commission." " But 

 the house and property," said Whiteford, cautiously advancing one step. — " The 

 house and property, the -(vife and children," said the duke, touched with the 

 firm, but respectful, manner of his petitioner, " are safe." The thanks that 

 followed were few and brief — the words of the soldier smothered by the 

 feeUngs of the man — and Whiteford rushed from the presence of the duke to 

 pour out his heart in instant communication to his friend, for vehom, if he had 

 not obtained the promise of life, he had at least obtained protection for that 

 which was stiU dearer — the sanctity of his hearth — where his wife and children 

 might stiU find refuge from the hand of violence, and the pangs of hunger — 

 calamities which were now, in fearful excess, visiting the sins of the husband 

 upon the wife, and the guilt of the fathers upon their children. 



While Stuart's family and substance was respected, however, he was himself 

 the object of keen pursuit ; and only eluded the lynx-eyed troopers stationed 

 on his property, by concealing himself, like Hume of Polworth, and many 

 others, in a cave, where his food was brought to him by one of his children, a 

 girl of eight years old. In this state of suspense, wounded in the late disastrous 

 battle, and dejected in mind, he spent upwards of three weeks — and so near 

 the sentinels, that the watchword was distinctly audible. On one occasion, 

 his escape was effected as if by miracle ; for the soldiers having removed their 

 quarters, he had ventured to the house during the night, and was returning 

 at day-break to his hiding-place, when he was seen and shot at by the patrol, 

 but happily without effect. On this evidence, the family was charged with 

 harbouring traitors, and threatened with the penalty attached to such ofience ; 



