[Old Mortality<br> Complete, Illustrated by Sir Walter Scott]@TWC D-Link book
Old Mortality
Complete, Illustrated

CHAPTER IX
1/13

CHAPTER IX.
I am a son of Mars who have been in many wars, And show my cuts and scars wherever I come; This here was for a wench, and that other in a trench, When welcoming the French at the sound of the drum.
Burns.
"Don't be too much cast down," said Sergeant Bothwell to his prisoner as they journeyed on towards the head-quarters; "you are a smart pretty lad, and well connected; the worst that will happen will be strapping up for it, and that is many an honest fellow's lot.

I tell you fairly your life's within the compass of the law, unless you make submission, and get off by a round fine upon your uncle's estate; he can well afford it." "That vexes me more than the rest," said Henry.

"He parts with his money with regret; and, as he had no concern whatever with my having given this person shelter for a night, I wish to Heaven, if I escape a capital punishment, that the penalty may be of a kind I could bear in my own person." "Why, perhaps," said Bothwell, "they will propose to you to go into one of the Scotch regiments that are serving abroad.

It's no bad line of service; if your friends are active, and there are any knocks going, you may soon get a commission." "I am by no means sure," answered Morton, "that such a sentence is not the best thing that can happen to me." "Why, then, you are no real whig after all ?" said the sergeant.
"I have hitherto meddled with no party in the state," said Henry, "but have remained quietly at home; and sometimes I have had serious thoughts of joining one of our foreign regiments." "Have you ?" replied Bothwell; "why, I honour you for it; I have served in the Scotch French guards myself many a long day; it's the place for learning discipline, d--n me.

They never mind what you do when you are off duty; but miss you the roll-call, and see how they'll arrange you--D--n me, if old Captain Montgomery didn't make me mount guard upon the arsenal in my steel-back and breast, plate-sleeves and head-piece, for six hours at once, under so burning a sun, that gad I was baked like a turtle at Port Royale.


<<Back  Index  Next>>

D-Link book Top

TWC mobile books