The Scottish Chiefs Page 4

  Chapter IV.

  Corie Lynn.

  After having traversed many a weary rood of, to him, before untroddenground, the venerable minstrel of the house of Wallace, exhausted byfatigue, sat down on the declivity of a steep craig. The burning beamsof the midday sun now beat upon the rocks, but the overshadowingfoliage afforded him shelter, and a few berries from the brambles,which knit themselves over the path he had yet to explore, with adraught of water from a friendly burn, offered themselves to revive hisenfeebled limbs. Insufficient as they appeared, he took them, blessingHeaven for sending even these, and strengthened by half an hour's rest,again he grasped his staff to pursue his way.

  After breaking a passage, through the entangled shrubs that grew acrossthe only possible footing in this solitary wilderness, he went alongthe side of the expanding stream, which at every turning of the rocksincreased in depth and violence. The rills from above, and othermountain brooks, pouring from abrupt falls down the craigs, covered himwith spray, and intercepted his passage. Finding it impracticable toproceed through the rushing torrent of a cataract, whose distantroarings might have intimidated even a younger adventurer, he turnedfrom its tumbling waters which burst upon his sight, and crept on hishands and knees up the opposite acclivity, catching by the fern andother weeds to stay him from falling back into the flood below.Prodigious craggy heights towered above his head as he ascended; whilethe rolling clouds which canopied their summits seemed descending towrap him in their "fleecy skirts;" or the projecting rocks bending overthe waters of the glen, left him only a narrow shelf in the cliff,along which he crept till it brought him to the mouth of a cavern.

  He must either enter it or return the way he came, or attempt thedescent of overhanging precipices, which nothing could surmount but thepinions of their native birds. Above him was the mountain. Retreadhis footsteps until he had seen his beloved master, he was resolved notto do--to perish in these glens would be more tolerable to him; forwhile he moved forward, hope, even in the arms of death, would cheerhim with the whisper that he was in the path of duty. He thereforeentered the cavity, and passing on, soon perceived an aperture, throughwhich emerging on the other side, he found himself again on the marginof the river. Having attained a wider bed, it left him a stillnarrower causeway to perform the remainder of his journey.

  Huge masses of rock, canopied with a thick umbrage of firs, beech, andweeping-birch, closed over the glen and almost excluded the light ofday. But more anxious, as he calculated by the increased rapidity ofthe stream he must now be approaching the great fall near his master'sconcealment, Halbert redoubled his speed. But an unlooked-for obstaclebaffled his progress. A growing gloom he had not observed in the skyexcluded valley, having entirely overspread the heavens, at this momentsuddenly discharged itself, amidst peals of thunder, in heavy floods ofrain upon his head.

  Fearful of being overwhelmed by the streams, which now on all sidescrossed his path, he kept upon the edge of the river, to be as far aspossible from the influence of their violence. And thus he proceeded,slowly and with trepidation, through numerous defiles, and under theplunge of many a mountain-torrent, till the augmented storm of a worldof waters, dashing from side to side, and boiling up with the noise andfury of the contending elements above, told him he was indeed not farfrom the fall of Corie Lynn.

  The spray was spread in so thick a mist over the glen, he knew not howto advance. A step further might be on the firm earth, but moreprobably illusive, and dash him into the roaring Lynn, where he wouldbe ingulfed at once in its furious whirlpool. He paused and lookedaround. The rain had ceased, but the thunder still rolled at adistance and echoed tremendously from the surrounding rocks. Halbertshook his gray locks, streaming with wet, and looked toward the sun,now gliding with its last rays the vast sheets of falling water.

  "This is thine hour, my master!" exclaimed the old man; "and surely Iam too near the Lynn to be far from thee!"

  With these words he raised the pipe that hung at his breast, and blewthree strains of the appointed air. In former days it used to callfrom her bower that "fair star of evening," the beauteous Marion, nowdeparted for ever into her native heaven. The notes trembled as hisagitated breath breathed them into the instrument; but feeble as theywere, and though the roar of the cataract might have prevented theirreaching a less attentive era than that of Wallace, yet he sprung fromthe innermost recess under the fall, and dashing through its rushingwaters, the next instant was at the side of Halbert.

  "Faithful creature!" cried he, catching him in his arms, which all thejoy of that moment which ends the anxious wish to learn tidings of whatis dearest in the world, "how fares my Marion?"

  "I am weary," cried the heart-stricken old man; "take me within yoursanctuary, and I will tell you all."

  Wallace perceived that his time-worn servant was indeed exhausted; andknowing the toils and hazards of the perilous track he must have passedover in his way to his fearful solitude, also remembering how, as hesat in his shelter, he had himself dreaded the effects of the stormupon so aged a traveler, he no longer wondered at the dispirited toneof his greeting, and readily accounted for the pale countenance andtremulous step which at first had excited his alarm.

  Giving the old man his hand, he led him with caution to the brink ofthe Lynn; and then, folding him in his arms, dashed with him throughthe tumbling water into the cavern he had chosen for his asylum.Halbert sunk against the rocky side, and putting forth his hand tocatch some of the water as it fell, drew a few drops to his parchedlips, and swallowed them. After this light refreshment, he breathed alittle and turned his eyes upon his anxious master.

  "Are you sufficiently recovered, Halbert, to tell me how you left mydearest Marion."

  Halbert dreaded to see the animated light which now cheered him fromthe eyes of his master, overclouded with the Cimmerian horrors hisstory must unfold; he evaded a direct reply; "I saw your guest insafety; I saw him and the iron box on their way to Bothwell?"

  "What!" inquired Wallace, "were we mistaken? was not the earl dead whenwe looked into the well?" Halbert replied in the negative, and wasproceeding with a circumstantial account of his recovery and hisdeparture when Wallace interrupted him.

  "But what of my wife, Halbert? why tell me of others before of her?She whose safety and remembrance are now my sole comfort!"

  "Oh, my dear lord!" cried Halbert, throwing himself on his knees in aparoxysm of mental agony, "she remembers you where best her prayers canbe heard. She kneels for her beloved Wallace, before the throne ofGod!"

  "Halbert!" cried Sir William, in a low and fearful voice, "what wouldyou say? My Marion--speak! tell me in one word, she lives!"

  "In heaven!"

  At this confirmation of a sudden terror, imbibed from the ambiguouswords of Halbert, and which his fond heart would not allow him toacknowledge to himself. Wallace covered his face with his hands andfell with a deep groan against the side of the cavern. The horrid ideaof premature maternal pains, occasioned by anguish for him; of herconsequent death, involving perhaps that of her infant, struck him tothe soul; a mist seemed passing over his eyes; life was receding; andgladly did he believe he felt his spirit on the eve of joining hers.

  In having declared that the idol of his master's heart no longerexisted for him in this world, Halbert thought he had revealed theworst, and he went on. "Her latest breath was sent in prayer for you.'My Wallace' were the last words her angel spirit uttered as it issuedfrom her bleeding wounds."

  The cry that burst from the heart of Wallace, as he started on his feetat this horrible disclosure, seemed to pierce through all the recessedof the glen; and with an instantaneous and dismal return was re-echoedfrom rock to rock. Halbert threw his arms round his master's knees.The frantic blaze of his eyes struck him with affright. "Hear me, mylord; for the sake of your wife, now an angel hovering near you, hearwhat I have to say."

  Wallace looked around with a wild countenance. "My Marion near me!Blessed spirit! Oh, my murdered wife! my u
nborn babe! Who made thosewounds?" cried he, catching Halbert's arm with a tremendous thoughunconscious grasp; "tell me who had the heart to aim a blow at thatangel's life?"

  "The Governor of Lanark," replied Halbert.

  "How? for what?" demanded Wallace, with the terrific glare of madnessshooting from his eyes. "My wife! my wife! what had she done?"

  "He came at the head of a band of ruffians, and seizing my lady,commanded her on the peril of her life, to declare where you and theEarl of Mar and the box of treasure were concealed. My lady persistedin refusing him information, and in a deadly rage he plunged his swordinto her breast." Wallace clinched his hands over his face, andHalbert went on. "Before he aimed a second blow, I had broken from themen who held me, and thrown myself on her bosom; but all could not saveher; the villain's sword had penetrated her heart!"

  "Great God!" exclaimed Wallace, "dost thou hear this murder?" His handswere stretched toward heaven; then falling on his knees, with his eyesfixed. "Give me power, Almighty Judge!" cried he, "to assert thyjustice! Let me avenge this angel's blood, and then take me to thymercy!"

  "My gracious master," cried Halbert, seeing him rise with a sterncomposure, "here is the fatal sword; the blood on it is sacred, and Ibrought it to you."

  Wallace took it in his hand. He gazed at it, touched it, and kissed itfrantically. The blade was scarcely yet dry, and the ensanguined huecame off upon the pressure. "Marion! Marion!" cried he, "is it thine?Does not thy blood stain my lip?" He paused for a moment, leaning hisburning forehead against the fatal blade; then looking up with aterrific smile. "Beloved of my soul! never shall this sword leave myhand till it has drunk the life-blood of thy murderer."

  "What is it you intend, my lord?" cried Halbert, viewing with increasedalarm the resolute ferocity which now, blazing from every part of hiscountenance, seemed to dilate his figure with more than mortal daring."What can you do? Your single arm-"

  "I am not single-God is with me. I am his avenger. Now tremble,tyranny! I come to hurl thee down!" At the word he sprung from thecavern's mouth, and had already reached the topmost cliff when thepiteous cries of Halbert penetrated his ear; they recalled him torecollection, and returning to his servant, he tried to soothe hisfear, and spoke in a composed though determined tone. "I will lead youfrom this solitude to the mountains, where the shepherds of Ellerslieare tending their flocks. With them you will find a refuge, till youhave strength to reach Bothwell Castle. Lord Mar will protect you formy sake."

  Halbert now remembered the bugle, and putting it into the master'shand, with its accompanying message, asked for some testimony inreturn, that the earl might know that he had delivered it safely."Even a lock of your precious hair, my beloved master, will besufficient."

  "Thou shalt have it, severed from my head by this accurse steel,"answered Wallace, taking off his bonnet, and letting his amber locksfall in tresses on his shoulders. Halbert burst into a fresh flood oftears, for he remembered how often it had been the delight of Marion tocomb these bright tresses and to twist them round he ivory fingers.Wallace looked up as the old man's sobs became audible, and read histhoughts: "It will never be again, Halbert," cried he, and with a firmgrasp of the sword he cut off a large handful of his hair.

  "Marion, thy blood hath marked it!" exclaimed he; "and every hair on myhead shall be dyed of the same hue, before this sword is sheathed uponthy murderers. Here, Halbert," continued he, knotting it together,"take this to the Earl of Mar; it is all, most likely, he will ever seeagain of William Wallace. Should I fall, tell him to look on that, andin my wrongs read the future miseries of Scotland, and remember thatGod armoreth the patriot's hand. Let him set on that conviction andScotland may yet be free."

  Halbert placed the lock in his bosom, but again repeated hisentreaties, that his master would accompany him to Bothwell Castle. Heurged the consolation he would meet from the good earl's friendship.

  "If he indeed regard me," returned Wallace, "for my sake let himcherish you. My consolations must come from a higher hand; I go whereit directs. If I live, you shall see me again; but twilightapproaches--we must away. The sun must not rise again upon Heselrigge."Halbert now followed the rapid steps of Wallace, who, assisting thefeeble limbs of his faithful servant, drew him up the precipitous sideof the Lynn,** and then leaping from rock to rock, awaited withimpatience the slower advances of the poor old harper, as he creptround a circuit of overhanging cliffs, to join him on the summit of thecraigs.

  **The cavern which sheltered Sir William Wallace, near Corie Lynn, isyet revered by the people.

  Together they struck into the most inaccessible defiles of themountains, and proceeded, till on discerning smoke whitening with itsascending curls the black sides of the impending rocks, Wallace sawhimself near the objects of his search. He sprung on a high cliffprojecting over this mountain-valley, and blowing his bugle with a fewnotes of the well-known pibroch of Lanarkshire, was answered by thereverberations of a thousand echoes.

  At the loved sounds which had not dared to visit their ears since theScottish standard was lowered to Edward, the hills seemed teeming withlife. Men rushed from their fastnesses, and women with their babeseagerly followed to see whence sprung a summons so dear to everyScottish heart. Wallace stood on the cliff, like the newly-arousedgenius of his country; his long plaid floated afar, and his glitteringhair streaming on the blast, seemed to mingle with the golden fireswhich shot from the heavens. Wallace raised his eyes--a clash as of thetumult of contending armies filled the sky, and flames, and flashingsteel, and the horrid red of battle, streamed from the clouds upon thehills.**

  **The late Duke of Gordon exhibited a similar scene to Prince Leopold,when his royal highness visited Gordon Castle, his "hills reeming withlife."-(1830.)

  "Scotsmen!" cried Wallace, waving the fatal sword, which blazed in theglare of these northern lights like a flaming brand, "behold how theheavens cry aloud to you! I come, in the midst of their fires, to callyou to vengeance. I come in the name of all ye hold dear, of the wivesof you bosoms, and the children in their arms, to tell you the poniardof England is unsheathed-innocence and age and infancy fall before it.With this sword, last night, did Heselrigge, the English tyrant ofLanark, break into my house, and murder my wife!"

  The shriek of horror that burst from every mouth, interrupted Wallace."Vengeance! vengeance!" was the cry of the men, while tumultuouslamentations for the "sweet Lady of Ellerslie," filled the air from thewomen.

  Wallace sprung from the cliff into the midst of his brave countrymen."Follow me, then, to strike the mortal blow!"

  "Lead on!" cried a vigorous old man. "I drew this stout claymore last inthe battle of Largs.** Life and Alexander was then the word of victory:now, ye accursed Southrons, ye shall meet the slogan* [* Slogan, (so thewar-word was termed.-(1809.)] of Death and Lady Marion."

  **In the battle of Largs, Sir Malcolm Wallace, the father of Wallace,fell gloriously fighting against the Danes.-(1830.)

  "Death and Lady Marion!" was echoed with shouts from mouth to mouth.Every sword was drawn; and those hardy peasants who owned none, seizingthe instruments of pasturage, armed themselves with wolf-spears,pickaxes, forks, and scythes.

  Sixty resolute men now ranged themselves around their chief. Wallace,whose widowed heart turned icy cold at the dreadful slogan of hisMarion's name, more fiercely grasped his sword, and murmured tohimself. "From this day may Scotland date her liberty, or Wallacereturn no more! My faithful friends," cried he, turning to his men,and placing his plumed bonnet on his head, "let the spirits of yourfathers inspire you souls; ye go to assert that freedom for which theydied. Before the moon sets, the tyrant of Lanark must fall in blood."

  "Death and Lady Marion!" was the pealing answer that echoed from thehills.

  Wallace again sprung on the cliffs. His brave peasants followed him;and taking their rapid march by a near cut through a hithertounexplored defile of the Cartlane Craigs, leaping chasms, and climbingperpendicular rocks, they suffered no
obstacles to impede their steps,while thus rushing onward like lions to their prey.