Page:Rob Roy, the celebrated Highland freebooter, or, Memoirs of the Osbaldistone family (2).pdf/17

 was made to prevent him, behe [sic] was determined to force his way. The strange female, who was no other than Rob's wife, told him, that, not content with depriving her and her family of every comfort, they were now come to seek their lives; but notwithstanding her remonstrances, the Captain ordered his men to march forward, and the soldiers were attempting to gain the ascent, when a volley of musketry from the heigbtsheights [sic] killed three of the soldiers. The king's troops returned the fire of their concealed enemies, but with little effect; yet, being overpowered by numbers, they at last laid down their arms, and submitted at discretion. During the conflict, Dougal and Frank had escaped from danger, by creeping into a thicket which overhung the road, and then ascended the rocks; but the Bailie, in clambering up after them, had fallen down, and would have perisbedperished [sic], had not the branch of a tree caught hold of his coat, and supported him in a hanging posture. Here the worthy magistrate dangled like the pendulum of a clock, till he was observed by Dougal, who, by cutting the tails from his coat, extricated him from this perilous situation.

When the battle was over, Frank sallied out to see what was become of his companions, and, having descried the Bailie sitting under the covert of a rock on the bank, ascended up the height till he reached his friend. On looking around, they saw Andrew Fairservice surrounded by some Highlanders, who stripped him of all his wearing apparel, and gave him some old clothes in return. Frank and the Bailie were dragged from their retreat, and would likely have shared the fate of Andrew, had not Dougal prevented it. They were carried before Helen Campbell, whom the Bailie accosted as bishis [sic] cousin, and endeavoured to prove himself her kinsman, by mentioning a long list of ancestors; at the same time expressing his regret, that any of his relations should have disgraced themselves by becoming freebooters. Helen disdained to acknowledge him as her kinsman, and, being piqued at the reproaches he had uttered, gave orders to throw Frank and the Bailie into the adjoining loch ; but at this crisis Dougal interposed to save their lives. He had scarcely finished his supplications in their favour, when the sound of a pibroch was heard at a distance, and instantly a troop of thirty Highlanders came towards them. They brought the melancholy news, that her husband was taken prisoner by Galbraith's militia; but that his men had carried off a captive, whom they intended to keep as an hostage for Macgregor's safety. This hostage was Frank's accuser, Morris, whom Helen commanded to be dragged before her; and he, anticipating the fate which awaited him, pleaded hard for his life, and protested that he was only the agent of Rashleigh. However, the vindictive Helen would not listen to his entreaties; but commanded him to be rolled in a plaid, with a stone round his neck, and thrown into the adjoining lake. Her