Halbert, who
had all this time been held back by the soldiers, could not believe
that the fierce governor would perpetrate the horrid deed he
threatened; but seeing it done, with a giant's strength and a terrible
cry he burst from the hands that held him, and had thrown himself on
the bleeding Marion, before her murderer could strike his second blow.
However, it fell, and pierced through the neck of the faithful servant
before it reached her heart. She opened her dying eyes, and seeing who
it was that would have shielded her life, just articulated, "Halbert!
my Wallace-to God-" and with that last unfinished sentence her pure
soul took its flight to regions of eternal piece.
The good old man's heart almost burst when he felt that before-heaving
bosom now motionless; and groaning with grief, and fainting with loss
of blood, he lay senseless on her body.
A terrible stillness was now in the hall. Not a man spoke; all stood
looking on each other, with a stern horror marking each pale
countenance. Heselrigge, dropping his blood-stained sword on the
ground, perceived by the behavior of his men that he had gone too far,
and fearful of arousing the indignation of awakened humanity, to some
act against himself, he addressed the soldiers in an unusual accent of
condescension: "My friends," said he, "we will now return to Lanark;
to-morrow you may come back, for I reward your services of this night
with the plunder of Ellerslie.
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