'Good God!' he muttered, 'am I then a traitor to my country, a renegade to my standard, and a foe, as that poor dying wretch expressed himself, to my native England ?' Ere he could digest or smother the recollection, the tall military form of his late commander came full in view, for the purpose of reconnoitring.

'I can hit him now,' said Callum, cautiously raising his fusee over the wall under which he lay couched, at scarce sixty yards' distance.
Edward felt as if he was about to see a parricide committed in his presence; for the venerable grey hair and striking countenance of the veteran recalled the almost paternal respect with which his officers universally regarded him.

But ere he could say 'Hold!' an aged Highlander, who lay beside Callum Beg, stopped his arm.

'Spare your shot,' said the seer, 'his hour is not yet come.

But let him beware of to-morrow .-- I see his winding-sheet high upon his breast.' Callum, flint to other considerations, was penetrable to superstition.
He turned pale at the words of the TAISHATR, and recovered his piece.
Colonel Gardiner, unconscious of the danger he had escaped, turned his horse round, and rode slowly back to the front of his regiment.
By this time the regular army had assumed a new line, with one flank inclined towards the sea, and the other resting upon the village of Preston; and as similar difficulties occurred in attacking their new position, Fergus and the rest of the detachment were recalled to their former post.