5. There breathed no wind their crests to shake, Nor spy a trace of living thing, Save when they stirred the roe"; 6. The lake is passed, and now they gain Before the Trosachs' 12 rugged jaws; 7. At once there rose so wild a yell Within that dark and narrow dell, For life! for life! their flight they ply; Onward they drive, in dreadful race, Before that tide of flight and chase The spearmen's twilight wood? 8. "Down, down," cried Mar, "your lances down! Bear back both friend and foe!" Like reeds before the tempest's frown, And closely shouldering side to side We'll drive them back as tame." 9. Bearing before them, in their course, Like wave with crest of sparkling foam, Above their tide each broadsword bright Each targe 15 was dark below; 10. I heard the lance's shivering crash, "I see," he cried, "their column shake- 11. The horsemen dashed among the rout, Their steeds are stout, their swords are out; One blast upon his bugle-horn Were worth a thousand men. 12. And refluent" through the pass of fear As the dark caverns of the deep 1 EYR'Y (ȧr'e). A place where birds 2 ERNE. The sea eagle. 8 SWATHEȘ. Encloses; winds about. BEN-LED'Î. A mountain in Scotland. 9 PIPE. A bagpipe; a musical instru- 10 VA'WARD. Vanward; advanced. 12 TRŎS'ACHş. A narrow pass in Scot- 13 SER RIED. Close; compact. 14 TIN'CHELL. A circle of sportsmen, 15 TARGE. Target; a shield. 3 CLĂR'I-ON. A kind of trumpet of a 17 REF'LY-ENT. Flowing back. shrill, clear tone. 18 LINN. A waterfall. XLI. ANECDOTE OF RICHARD JACKSON. LONDON QUARTERLY REVIEW. 1. DURING the war of independence in North America, a plain farmer, Richard Jackson by name, was apprehended, under such circumstances as proved, beyond all doubt, his purpose of joining the king's forces, an intention which he was too honest to deny; accordingly, he was delivered over to the high sheriff, and committed to the county jail. The prison was in such a state that he might have found little difficulty in escaping; but he considered himself as in the hands of authority, such as it was, and the same principle of duty which led him to take arms, made him equally ready to endure the consequences. 2. After lying there a few days, he applied to the sheriff for leave to go out and work by day, promising that he would return regularly at night. His character for simple integrity was so well known, that permission was given without hesitation; and, for eight months, Jackson went out every day to labor, and as duly came back to prison at night. In the month of May, the sheriff prepared to conduct him to Springfield, where he was to be tried for high treason'. Jackson said this would be a needless trouble and expense; he could save the sheriff both, and go just as well by himself. 3. His word was once more taken, and he set off alone, to present himself for trial and certain condemnation. On the way he was overtaken in the woods by Mr. Edwards, a member of the council of Massachusetts, which, at that time, was the supreme executive of the state. This gentleman asked him whither he was going. "To Springfield, sir," was his answer, "to be tried for my life." To this casual interview Jackson owed his escape, when, having been found guilty, and condemned to death, application was made to the council for mercy. 4. The evidence and the sentence were stated, and the president put the question whether a pardon should be granted. It was opposed by the first speaker: the case, he said, was perfectly clear; the act was unquestionably high treason, and the proof complete; and if mercy was shown in this case, he saw no reason why it should not be granted in every other. 5. Few governments have understood how just and politic it is to be merciful: this hard-hearted opinion accorded with the temper of the times, and was acquiesced in by one member after another, till it came to Mr. Edwards's turn to speak. Instead of delivering his opinion, he simply related the whole story of Jackson's singular demeanor, and what had passed between them in the woods. 6. For the honor of Massachusetts, and of human nature, be it said, not a man was found to weaken its effect by one of those dry, legal remarks, which, like a blast of the desert, wither the heart they reach. The council began to hesitate, and, when a member ventured to say that such a man certainly ought not to be sent to the gallows, a natural feeling of humanity and justice prevailed, and a pardon was immediately made out. 7. Never was a stronger proof exhibited that honesty is wisdom. And yet it was not the man's honesty, but his childlike simplicity, which saved his life; without that simplicity his integrity would have availed him little in fact, it was his crime; for it was for doing what, according to the principles wherein he had been born and bred, he believed to be his duty, that he was brought to trial and condemned. This it is which renders civil and religious wars so peculiarly dreadful; and, in the history of such |