Waverley; Or 'Tis Sixty Years Since — Complete

by Walter Scott

  CHAPTER XLVI

  THE EVE OF BATTLE

  Although the Highlanders marched on very fast, the sun was decliningwhen they arrived upon the brow of those high grounds which command anopen and extensive plain stretching northward to the sea, on which aresituated, but at a considerable distance from each other, the smallvillages of Seaton and Cockenzie, and the larger one of Preston. One ofthe low coastroads to Edinburgh passed through this plain, issuing uponit from the enclosures of Seaton House, and at the town or village ofPreston again entering the denies of an enclosed country. By this waythe English general had chosen to approach the metropolis, both as mostcommodious for his cavalry, and being probably of opinion that by doingso he would meet in front with the Highlanders advancing from Edinburghin the opposite direction. In this he was mistaken; for the soundjudgment of the Chevalier, or of those to whose advice he listened,left the direct passage free, but occupied the strong ground by whichit was overlooked and commanded.

  When the Highlanders reached the heights above the plain described,they were immediately formed in array of battle along the brow of thehill. Almost at the same instant the van of the English appearedissuing from among the trees and enclosures of Seaton, with the purposeof occupying the level plain between the high ground and the sea; thespace which divided the armies being only about half a mile in breadth.Waverley could plainly see the squadrons of dragoons issue, one afteranother, from the defiles, with their videttes in front, and form uponthe plain, with their front opposed to that of the Prince's army. Theywere followed by a train of field-pieces, which, when they reached theflank of the dragoons, were also brought into line and pointed againstthe heights. The march was continued by three or four regiments ofinfantry marching in open column, their fixed bayonets showing likesuccessive hedges of steel, and their arms glancing like lightning, as,at a signal given, they also at once wheeled up, and were placed indirect opposition to the Highlanders. A second train of artillery, withanother regiment of horse, closed the long march, and formed on theleft flank of the infantry, the whole line facing southward.

  While the English army went through these evolutions, the Highlandersshowed equal promptitude and zeal for battle. As fast as the clans cameupon the ridge which fronted their enemy, they were formed into line,so that both armies got into complete order of battle at the samemoment. When this was accomplished, the Highlanders set up a tremendousyell, which was re-echoed by the heights behind them. The regulars, whowere in high spirits, returned a loud shout of defiance, and fired oneor two of their cannon upon an advanced post of the Highlanders. Thelatter displayed great earnestness to proceed instantly to the attack,Evan Dhu urging to Fergus, by way of argument, that 'the SIDIER ROY wastottering like an egg upon a staff, and that they had a' the vantage ofthe onset, for even a haggis (God bless her!) could charge down hill.'

  But the ground through which the mountaineers must have descended,although not of great extent, was impracticable in its character, beingnot only marshy but intersected with walls of dry stone, and traversedin its whole length by a very broad and deep ditch, circumstances whichmust have given the musketry of the regulars dreadful advantages beforethe mountaineers could have used their swords, on which they weretaught to rely. The authority of the commanders was thereforeinterposed to curb the impetuosity of the Highlanders, and only a fewmarksmen were sent down the descent to skirmish with the enemy'sadvanced posts and to reconnoitre the ground.

  Here, then, was a military spectacle of no ordinary interest or usualoccurrence. The two armies, so different in aspect and discipline, yeteach admirably trained in its own peculiar mode of war, upon whoseconflict the temporary fate at least of Scotland appeared to depend,now faced each other like two gladiators in the arena, each meditatingupon the mode of attacking their enemy. The leading officers and thegeneral's staff of each army could be distinguished in front of theirlines, busied with spy-glasses to watch each other's motions, andoccupied in despatching the orders and receiving the intelligenceconveyed by the aides-de-camp and orderly men, who gave life to thescene by galloping along in different directions, as if the fate of theday depended upon the speed of their horses. The space between thearmies was at times occupied by the partial and irregular contest ofindividual sharp-shooters, and a hat or bonnet was occasionally seen tofall, as a wounded man was borne off by his comrades. These, however,were but trifling skirmishes, for it suited the views of neither partyto advance in that direction. From the neighbouring hamlets thepeasantry cautiously showed themselves, as if watching the issue of theexpected engagement; and at no great distance in the bay were twosquare-rigged vessels, bearing the English flag, whose tops and yardswere crowded with less timid spectators.

  When this awful pause had lasted for a short time, Fergus, with anotherchieftain, received orders to detach their clans towards the village ofPreston, in order to threaten the right flank of Cope's army and compelhim to a change of position. To enable him to execute these orders, theChief of Glennaquoich occupied the church-yard of Tranent, a commandingsituation, and a convenient place, as Evan Dhu remarked, 'for anygentleman who might have the misfortune to be killed, and chanced to becurious about Christian burial.' To check or dislodge this party, theEnglish general detached two guns, escorted by a strong party ofcavalry. They approached so near that Waverley could plainly recognisethe standard of the troop he had formerly commanded, and hear thetrumpets and kettle-drums sound the signal of advance which he had sooften obeyed. He could hear, too, the well-known word given in theEnglish dialect by the equally well-distinguished voice of thecommanding officer, for whom he had once felt so much respect. It wasat that instant, that, looking around him, he saw the wild dress andappearance of his Highland associates, heard their whispers in anuncouth and unknown language, looked upon his own dress, so unlike thatwhich he had worn from his infancy, and wished to awake from whatseemed at the moment a dream, strange, horrible, and unnatural. 'GoodGod!' he muttered, 'am I then a traitor to my country, a renegade to mystandard, and a foe, as that poor dying wretch expressed himself, to mynative England!'

  Ere he could digest or smother the recollection, the tall military formof his late commander came full in view, for the purpose ofreconnoitring. 'I can hit him now,' said Callum, cautiously raising hisfusee over the wall under which he lay couched, at scarce sixty yards'distance.

  Edward felt as if he was about to see a parricide committed in hispresence; for the venerable grey hair and striking countenance of theveteran recalled the almost paternal respect with which his officersuniversally regarded him. But ere he could say 'Hold!' an agedHighlander who lay beside Callum Beg stopped his arm. 'Spare yourshot,' said the seer, 'his hour is not yet come. But let him beware ofto-morrow; I see his winding-sheet high upon his breast.'

  Callum, flint to other considerations, was penetrable to superstition.He turned pale at the words of the _taishatr_, and recovered his piece.Colonel Gardiner, unconscious of the danger he had escaped, turned hishorse round and rode slowly back to the front of his regiment.

  By this time the regular army had assumed a new line, with one flankinclined towards the sea and the other resting upon the village ofPreston; and, as similar difficulties occurred in attacking their newposition, Fergus and the rest of the detachment were recalled to theirformer post. This alteration created the necessity of a correspondingchange in General Cope's army, which was again brought into a lineparallel with that of the Highlanders. In these manoeuvres on bothsides the daylight was nearly consumed, and both armies prepared torest upon their arms for the night in the lines which they respectivelyoccupied.

  'There will be nothing done to-night,' said Fergus to his friendWaverley; 'ere we wrap ourselves in our plaids, let us go see what theBaron is doing in the rear of the line.'

  When they approached his post, they found the good old careful officer,after having sent out his night patrols and posted his sentinels,engaged in reading the Evening Service of the Episcopal Church to theremainder of his troop. His voice was lou
d and sonorous, and though hisspectacles upon his nose, and the appearance of Saunders Saunderson, inmilitary array, performing the functions of clerk, had somethingludicrous, yet the circumstances of danger in which they stood, themilitary costume of the audience, and the appearance of their horsessaddled and picqueted behind them, gave an impressive and solemn effectto the office of devotion.

  'I have confessed to-day, ere you were awake,' whispered Fergus toWaverley; 'yet I am not so strict a Catholic as to refuse to join inthis good man's prayers.'

  Edward assented, and they remained till the Baron had concluded theservice.

  As he shut the book, 'Now, lads,' said he, 'have at them in the morningwith heavy hands and light consciences.' He then kindly greetedMac-Ivor and Waverley, who requested to know his opinion of theirsituation. Why, you know Tacitus saith, "In rebus bellicis maximedominalur Fortuna," which is equiponderate with our vernacular adage,"Luck can maist in the mellee." But credit me, gentlemen, yon man isnot a deacon o' his craft. He damps the spirits of the poor lads hecommands by keeping them on the defensive, whilk of itself impliesinferiority or fear. Now will they lie on their arms yonder as anxiousand as ill at ease as a toad under a harrow, while our men will bequite fresh and blithe for action in the morning. Well, good-night. Onething troubles me, but if to-morrow goes well off, I will consult youabout it, Glennaquoich.'

  'I could almost apply to Mr. Bradwardine the character which Henrygives of Fluellen,' said Waverley, as his friend and he walked towardstheir bivouac:

  'Though it appears a little out of fashion, There is much care and valour in this "Scotchman."'

  'He has seen much service,' answered Fergus, 'and one is sometimesastonished to find how much nonsense and reason are mingled in hiscomposition. I wonder what can be troubling his mind; probablysomething about Rose. Hark! the English are setting their watch.'

  The roll of the drum and shrill accompaniment of the fifes swelled upthe hill--died away--resumed its thunder--and was at length hushed. Thetrumpets and kettle-drums of the cavalry were next heard to perform thebeautiful and wild point of war appropriated as a signal for that pieceof nocturnal duty, and then finally sunk upon the wind with a shrilland mournful cadence.

  The friends, who had now reached their post, stood and looked roundthem ere they lay down to rest. The western sky twinkled with stars,but a frost-mist, rising from the ocean, covered the eastern horizon,and rolled in white wreaths along the plain where the adverse army laycouched upon their arms. Their advanced posts were pushed as far as theside of the great ditch at the bottom of the descent, and had kindledlarge fires at different intervals, gleaming with obscure and hazylustre through the heavy fog which encircled them with a doubtful halo.

  The Highlanders,'thick as leaves in Vallombrosa,' lay stretched uponthe ridge of the hill, buried (excepting their sentinels) in the mostprofound repose. 'How many of these brave fellows will sleep moresoundly before to-morrow night, Fergus!' said Waverley, with aninvoluntary sigh.

  'You must notthink of that,' answered Fergus, whose ideas were entirelymilitary. 'You must only think of your sword, and by whom it was given.All other reflections are now TOO LATE.'

  With the opiate contained in this undeniable remark Edward endeavouredto lull the tumult of his conflicting feelings. The Chieftain and he,combining their plaids, made a comfortable and warm couch. Callum,sitting down at their head (for it was his duty to watch upon theimmediate person of the Chief), began a long mournful song in Gaelic,to a low and uniform tune, which, like the sound of the wind at adistance, soon lulled them to sleep.