Page:Allan the freebooter, or, The witch of Glenross (2).pdf/10

10 extensive forest, and Wallace, secure of the road, hastened on as fast as his steed could carry him, whilst his vassals in vain endeavoured to make their tired beasts overtake him.

He had proceeded for some time, his thoughts wholly taken up with reflections on his mother's illness, when he was startled by a shrill whistle, almost close to him, he stopped instantly, & heard it answered by another at a little distance; he would have turned his horse to retrace his steps, but was prevented by several men, who springing from the hedge that skirted the road, seized his bridle, and by threats and imprecations commanded silence. One of them turned his horse from the road, and led him rapidly through the mazes of the forest: he was led or rather dragged along with the utmost speed, till his spirits totally failing him, he fell senseless from his saddle. One of the men then giving him a hearty curse for his pusillanimity, picked him up and observing by way of extinuation, "that it was but a boy," mounted the horse, placed him before himself, and continued their route.

As soon as Malvina expired, Roderick retire to his own apartment, sincerely grieved at her last request. When night came he dismissed his harassed attendants to their beds, determined to watch for a repetition of the awful threatenings denounced against his race. Impatiently he paced his chamber, anxiously listening to every sound, and resolved to follow the voice in whatever part of the castle it might be heard, but the silence continued undisturbed till the bright beams of morning gleamed through the casement.

As he passed through the hall, he heard the voice of old Andrew at the gate, uttering an exclamation of horror or surprise. Hastily he went forward, and beheld the vassals whom he had dispatched for Wallace; but Wallace was not with them, and their fear-struck countenances, added to the tears which rolled down the reverend face of the old warder, spoke volumes of misery to his heart.

The untimely death of his son was the only idea that