Page:Life of the honourable Col. James Gardiner (1).pdf/23

 and some officers did what they could to rally them, once or twice, they at last took a precipitate flight. Just in the moment when Colonel Gardiner seemed to be making a pause, to deliberate what duty required him to do in such circumstances, he saw a party of the foot who were then bravely fighting near him, but had no officer to head them; upon which he rode up to them immediately and cried out aloud, “ Fire on, my lads and fear nothing." But just as the words were out of his mouth, a Highlander advanced to him with a scythe fastened to a long pole, with which he gave him such a wound on his right arm, that his sword dropped out of his hand; and, at the same time, several others coming about him while he was thus dreadfully entangled with that cruel weapon, he was dragged of his horse. The moment he fell, another Highlander gave him a stroke, either with a broad-sword, or a Lochaber-axe, on the head, which was the mortal blow. All that his faithful attendant saw further at this time was, that, as his hat was falling off, he took it in his left hand, and waved it as a signal for him to retreat, adding, (which were the last words he ever heard him speak,) “Take care of yourself;” upon which the servant immediately fled to a mill, at the distance of about two miles from the spot on which the Colonel fell; where he changed his dress, and disguised like a miller’s servant, returned with a cart about two hours after the engagement.

The hurry of the action was then pretty well over, and he found his much-honoured master not only plundered of his watch and other things of value, but also stripped of his upper garments and boots, yet still breathing; and adds, that tho’ he was not capable of speech, yet, on taking him up, he opened his eyes, which makes it something questionable whether he were altogether insensible. In this condition, and in this manner, he conveyed him to the church at Tranent, whence he immediately was taken into the minister’s house, and laid in a bed, where he continued breathing till about eleven in the forenoon, when he took his final leave of pain and