To enable him to execute these orders, the Chief of Glennaquoich occupied the churchyard of Tranent, a commanding situation, and a convenient place, as Evan Dhu remarked, ``for any gentleman who might have the misfortune to be killed, and chanced to be curious about Christian burial.'' To check or dislodge this party, the English general detached two guns, escorted by a strong party of cavalry.They approached so near, that Waverley could plainly recognise the standard of the troop he had formerly commanded, and hear the trumpets and kettle-drums sound the signal of advance, which he had so often obeyed.He could hear, too, the well-known word given in the English dialect, by the equally well-distinguished voice of the commanding officer, for whom he had once felt so much respect.It was at that instant, that, looking around him, he saw the wild dress and appearance of his Highland associates, heard their whispers in an uncouth and unknown language, looked upon his own dress, so unlike that which he had worn from his infancy, and wished to awake from what seemed at the moment a dream, strange, horrible, and unnatural.``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.This alteration created the necessity of a corresponding change in General Cope's army, which was again brought into a line parallel with that of the Highlanders.In these man<oe>uvres on both sides the day-light was nearly consumed, and both armies prepared to rest upon their arms for the night in the lines which they respectively occupied.
``There will be nothing done to night,'' said Fergus to his friend Waverley.``Ere we wrap ourselves in our plaids, let us go see what the Baron is doing in the rear of the line.''