Passing still a little further on, he was struck with a groan which issued from a hovel.

He approached the spot, and heard a voice, in the provincial English of his native county, which endeavoured, though frequently interrupted by pain, to repeat the Lord's Prayer.

The voice of distress always found a ready answer in our hero's bosom.

He entered the hovel, which seemed to be intended for what is called, in the pastoral counties of Scotland, a smearing-house; and in its obscurity Edward could only at first discern a sort of red bundle; for those who had stripped the wounded man of his arms, and part of his clothes, had left him the dragoon-cloak in which he was enveloped.
'For the love of God,' said the wounded man, as he heard Waverley's step, 'give me a single drop of water!' 'You shall have it,' answered Waverley, at the same time raising him in his arms, bearing him to the door of the hut, and giving him some drink from his flask.
'I should know that voice,' said the man; but, looking on Waverley's dress with a bewildered look,--'no, this is not the young squire!' This was the common phrase by which Edward was distinguished on the estate of Waverley-Honour, and the sound now thrilled to his heart with the thousand recollections which the well-known accents of his native country had already contributed to awaken.

'Houghton!' he said, gazing on the ghastly features which death was fast disfiguring, 'can this be you ?' 'I never thought to hear an English voice again,' said the wounded man; 'they left me to live or die here as I could, when they found I would say nothing about the strength of the regiment.