Page:Jeanie Deans and the lily of St. Leonard's.pdf/14

 14 forward, and commanded to prepare the prison- er for immediate death. His answer was a sup- plication that they would show mercy to the un- happy man, and not rush into the very crime they were desirous of avenging. But he was told to cut his sermon short, to take his place by the side of Porteous, and help him to make his peace with God. With a faltering voice Butler endeavoured to comply with their com- mands, while the procession moved on with a slow and determined pare, lighted up by the blaze of innumerable torches. At length they reached the Grassmarket, and having erected a dyer's pole on which to execute the object of their vengeance, he was hurried to his fate with re- morseless rapidity. Butler, separated from him by the press, escaped the last horrors of his strug- gles, and unnoticed by those who had hitherto detained him, fed from the fatal spot. When Butler found himself beyond the city- wall, his first purpose was to return homeward; but the news he bad heard on that eventfull day induced him to linger in the neighbourhead of Edinburgh till morning. He then ascended the wild path which winds around the base of the rocks call. d Salisbury Crags, that he might com- pose his own spirits and while away the time until a proper honr for visiting the family at St. Leonard's. He had proceeded but a short way through this sequestered dell, when he per- ceived a man skulking among the scattered rocks at some distance from the footpath. Duels were then very common in Scotland ; and as this place was the favourite resort of the young gallants of the time for settling their affairs of honour, it occured to Butler that this person had come hither for some such purpose, and that