been faulty in his calculations, and not so in his intentions.

All men are apt to judge from events, and Lord William was, in this respect, a man in the full sense of the expression. Burning with almost maddening disappointment and chagrin, that the issue of the present contest was likely to prove contrary to the opinion he had formed of it at its commencement, he began to believe that he had been guilty of an imprudence, in following an enemy into. their own, haunts, uncertain of their strength and number; and to think that he would have done better in awaiting their arrival before his own castle; although the evils of such a delay had been fully represented to him, and upon that representation he had acted: Lord William, in short, felt as all disappointed men do who have not sufficient fortitude to restrain the effervescences of their passion within the bounds of sense and reason; and seeing the situation of himself.

B 5

self and his men to be a desperate one, he rendered it still more so, by passing over the cool measures of management, and issuing a command for the exertion of a last and desperate effort for disentangling themselves from the lines of the enemy.

In order to atone for what he now thought his own oversight, in the first instance of marching from his castle, he resolved to sell his life or liberty, whichever he was destined to lose, as dearly as possible fighting himself like a wounded lion, which turns in desperation on his hunters, he spurred on his men, both by the example of his own courage, and promises of immense rewards, to an emulation of his conduct.

Suspicious of Donald (for thus men are always, in circumstances which run adverse to their wishes, of those by whose advice they have acted), he again looked round for him: he saw him not; but he hoped, at least he trusted, that if

he

he was not amidst the ranks, obscured from his sight by the clouds of smoke which were rolling through the air, that he was in search of the Moss-troopers' leader, Allanrod, against whom his vengeance had been so warmly denounced; and his hatred to whom he had declared to be his only reason for joining the English cause.

This Allanrod, Lord William had not yet seen his eye had met the forms of several, whom he conjectured, from their dress, and the posts of command they held, to be leaders in the savage band; but he had seen no one who appeared of eminence enough to bespeak him their chief, or who at all corresponded with the account which Donald had given of Allanrod; he had described him of gigantic height, and of a fierce and commanding aspect. At the present moment, it was impossible to make enquiry whether he was present or not; and thus the Baron was obliged, if he was not satis-B. 6.

fied

fied with doubt, at least to put up with: it.

At length the archers of De Mowbray had expended all their arrows, and his horsemen had fired their last charge; although not without considerable execution, for great numbers of the slain and wounded of the foe strewed the ground. The fight must now, the Baron saw, be given up, or the event of close combat be hazarded; the latter he determined on, not abating a single spark of his. lion's fire; and he accordingly urged on his men to attack the enemy shield to shield.

The command being given on the side of the Baron, the enemy accommodated themselves to the fresh charge which was preparing for them; and throwing aside their bows and matchlocks, drew their swords, and rushed like their foes to closer combat.

The surrounding hills, still reverberating with the thunder of the musketry,

now caught the direful sound of clashing swords; shield was opposed to shield, and pike to pike; every stroke was aimed with a ferocity on both sides, which seemed almost decidedly to render its direction fatal; and the earth was bathed with reeking blood. But short was the duration of this mad carnage; for suddenly a fresh band of the Moss troopers appeared on the tops of those mountains which the party of De Mowbray had. supposed impassable, and thence rushing down into the vale, decided the fate of the battle. Lord William and the few remaining men of his troops who were still alive; were completely overpowered, and enclosed by the enemy. Even then did the Baron scorn to sue for quarter; his pride was about to receive a stab in becoming a prisoner, for which he would.. willingly have bartered his life; but Fate had decreed it otherwise, and Lord Wil-liam and his followers were surrounded, and made prisoners of war.

At