Adam Hepburn's Vow: A Tale of Kirk and Covenant

  *CHAPTER XII.*

  *RULLION GREEN.*

  Late on the Sabbath evening the Covenanters reached Lanark, where theywere well received by the sympathising inhabitants, who made haste togive them food, and offer them shelter for the night. Early on thefollowing day the army assembled in the High Street, preparatory tosetting out on their march to Edinburgh. At request of the leaders, theminister of Broomhill ascended the stairs of the Tolbooth, and conducteda religious service, in which the army and the townsfolk took part.After sermon, the Covenant was read, and also a declaration to theeffect that it was simply in defence of their liberties that thePresbyterians had taken arms. Then, amid much enthusiasm, and manyfervent God-speeds, the little army turned their faces towards theLothians. It was now the dead of winter, and the weather was dreary andbitterly cold, being alternated by heavy rain storms and blasts of snow.The roads were in a wretched condition, and as the army endeavoured tomarch straight as the crow flies, they were led through many deepmorasses, and had to cross many a swollen and turbid stream, as well asover bleak and exposed hills, where they received the full force of theblast.

  To their disappointment and sorrow, they found the folk in the east notso enthusiastic and sympathising as their more impulsive neighbours inthe west. In some villages they were received very coldly, and candidlytold they were silly fanatics, and as they approached Edinburgh itseemed as if the influences of the Privy Council had extended far beyondthe city boundaries, for the people looked yet more askance at thedraggled and wayworn Covenanters, and even refused in some instances torelieve their wants. It was to be expected that such receptions wouldconsiderably damp the ardour of many, and as they marched, their numbervisibly decreased. Some stole away under cover of the night, to makewhat haste they could back to the comparative safety of their homes, andothers less cowardly openly avowed their discontent and disappointment,and deserted their brethren in the broad light of day. But thedauntless and resolute spirit of such as Wallace, their leader, Gray ofHartrigge, and the minister of Broomhill, seemed to be only furtherstrengthened and deepened by these reverses, and cheering the littlecompany on, they bravely continued their march until they came within afew miles of Edinburgh. A halt was then made, and two horsemendespatched to ascertain the disposition of the citizens towards them.

  It was yet early in the day when these horsemen returned, with gravecountenances and downcast air, telling that they had met with but littlecheer. Wallace and Hartrigge hastily rode forward to meet them, and wereinformed that the city was hostile towards them, the gates being closed,and guns mounted on the walls to resist their entrance.

  In some doubt as to the next step to be taken, they rode back to thecamp, and a grave consultation was held.

  "I am for going on, and forcing an entrance into the city," saidHartrigge, dauntlessly. "It is like playing at warfare to retreatbefore closed gates and a few guns."

  But others, whose discretion was not blinded by zeal, shook their heads,and said it were best to return quietly, and with as much speed aspossible, to their homes.

  Adam Hepburn took no part in the discussion, but it was easy to see thathis soul yearned to shed blood. A look of deep disappointment came uponhis haggard face when the majority decided in favour of retreat.

  Not being in the slightest degree apprehensive of pursuit by theGovernment troops, they proceeded leisurely round the eastern slopes ofthe Pentland hills to the southern side, to begin their march homewards.The day was now closing in; the feeble wintry sun had sunk behind a bankof ominous cloud on the western horizon, and the grey bleak shadows ofthe night were darkening down. The north wind swept mournfully roundthe desolate mountain sides, sometimes raising its voice to a wail, assome sharp peak or projecting rock impeded its course.

  But suddenly another sound much more ominous than the moaning wind brokeupon the startled ears of the faithful band, and to their astonishmentthey saw what appeared to be a great army pressing rapidly on theirrear. Hurriedly the Covenanters set themselves in the order of battle.It was what many among them longed for, and yet unless the God ofbattles held over them the banner of His defence, and aided them todiscomfit their foes, what chance had they, weary, wayworn, withstrength far spent by exposure and lack of food, against the dragoons,fresh from the drill and comfortable training of the barracks?

  The minister of Broomhill led in fervent prayer, craving victory for theCovenant from the King of Heaven. Then they stood erect, calm, andsteadfast, waiting the onslaught of the enemy. The face of Andrew Grayof Hartrigge glowed with the deep enthusiasm of religious zeal, but thatof his brother-in-law, Adam Hepburn, was dark with the furious passionof revenge. His eye glittered, his hand trembled as it grasped hisfather's sword, and in that breathless instant his vow was repeated thatthe blade should not return to its sheath until it had sucked thelife-blood of more than one dragoon.

  Like the rush of a mighty wind Dalziel's cavalry came sweeping down uponthe right wing of the insurgents' army, which was protected by a partyof horse. They were manfully received, and after a vigorous struggle,completely repulsed. The general was amazed at the fighting power ofthe rebels, whom he had contemptuously imagined to be a gathering of rawcountry folk, who would turn tail at the first attack of practisedsoldiery. He hastily organised and led a second attack, which was metand repulsed as before, with considerable loss. Had the insurgentspossessed a reserve of cavalry, victory had assuredly been theirs, inspite of the odds against them, but these repeated attacks had slainmany of their horse, and those on foot were unequal to a lengthenedstruggle.

  Wildly the din of battle roared in the mountain solitudes, and swiftly,as if in pity, the shadows of the night crept over the bleak hill tops,and up the sombre valleys, until it wrapped conquerors and conquered inits kindly folds. The Covenanters were completely routed, and had thenight not speedily fallen, they must have been totally cut to pieces.As it was, fifty of their number lay dead upon the field, besides manywounded, whom they had to leave to their fate. There were also morethan a hundred taken prisoners, who envied the untroubled sleep of thosewho had fallen in the fray. Adam Hepburn, although fighting in the veryhottest forefront of the battle, marvellously escaped unhurt.

  Dalziel had kept an eye upon him, for he was the most desperate fighter,as well as the surest marksman among the insurgents. He never missedhis aim. Twice Dalziel ordered a subordinate to engage him in singlecombat, or shoot him down from a distance; but the man seemed to bear acharmed life. When the fray was over, Dalziel examined the faces of theprisoners minutely, hoping to find Hepburn among them, but wasdisappointed. Fleeing among the very last of his brethren from thefield, Adam Hepburn came up with his brother-in-law, the minister ofBroomhill, whom he recognised in the darkness by his ministerial garb.

  "Is that you, David, safe and sound?" he asked, breathlessly.

  "Yes! how is it with you, Adam Hepburn?" asked the minister, anxiously.

  "All well; I have found my first taste of warfare very sweet this day,David Gray."

  "You fought valiantly, Adam, so much so that I was amazed. How did youescape, being ever, as you were, in the thickest of the fray?"

  "I know not; I had no thought of anything but cutting down the enemy andof avenging the blood of my murdered Agnes," said Adam Hepburn, his eyesgleaming in the darkness.

  The minister sighed. The blessing of God could not rest upon warfareconducted under such a revengeful spirit, and yet he could scarcelyblame the man for the bitterness of his wrath.

  "I would much rather that you fought for the Covenant than for revenge,Adam," he said, sadly. "Will it restore to you your beloved? Nay; thinkfor a moment, is the spirit you are cherishing one which her gentleheart would have blessed and approved?"

  "You speak as a minister, not as a man, David," said Adam Hepburn,fiercely. "Had your wife been murdered in cold blood, as mine was,think you your soul would not thirst for revenge?"

  "Your wi
fe died loving you; you have the comforting assurance that herheart was knit to yours in the bonds of no ordinary affection, and thatyou will meet in glory," said the minister. "My case is sadder thanyours, for my wife, while yet alive, has proved herself dead to me."

  Adam Hepburn, though silenced, was not convinced.

  "Have you seen Andrew?" he asked, abruptly changing the subject.

  "No; I have been anxiously looking out for him, for I saw him wounded inthe shoulder. I trust he has not fallen into the hands of the enemy."

  "I think not. His horse was spared, and I fancied I saw him ride offthe field. Well, our first battle is not such as to encourage ourhearts, David," said Adam, with a grim smile.

  "No; there will be weeping and desolation in many a home over RullionGreen," the minister answered, sadly. "I saw brave John Neilson ofCorsac laid hands upon by the enemy and taken prisoner."

  "Ay, and many others, whom God defend and deliver, since no human beingcan," said Adam. "But hark! what is that?"

  The rapid sound of hoofs warned them of the approach either of someflying fugitive or a pursuing enemy, and they hastily crept in amongsome whin bushes, and held their breath until they should be past. Totheir great joy, however, it proved to be a couple of their brethren,who had been the last to leave the field of battle. Mutualcongratulations were exchanged, and then one of the horsemen, a stoutyeoman from the upper part of Nithsdale, urged the minister of Broomhillto take his steed, since his slender frame and not too robustconstitution rendered him less fit for a long and toilsome march byfoot. David Gray yielded to these entreaties and thankfully mounted theanimal, for his strength was already far spent. They then separated,the two horsemen riding forward, as before, and Adam Hepburn and theNithsdale yeoman, by name Matthew Riddell, following more slowly onfoot. It was not safe for more than two to be together, on account ofthe pursuing and watching dragoons, whom they would be certain toencounter on the way. Thus the broken up and scattered army, who but afew days before had set out from Lanark with high hope beating in theirbreasts, returned to their homes.

  Arrived in the parish of Inverburn, David Gray left his horse at thehouse of a friendly farmer outside of the village, and lest the dragoonsshould lay hands upon him, he crept up the valley to Hartrigge, and wasthe first to carry tidings of Rullion Green to Andrew Gray's wife. Hefound her about her usual tasks, for though her heart was heavy withforeboding fears, Susan Gray continued mindful of her husband's lastwords, to look well to her household, and put her trust in God. Atsight of the minister, who was wofully weather-beaten and wayworn, sheat once guessed that some evil had befallen the little army, of whichher husband had been one of the chief supporters.

  "Oh, David! I like not the way in which you have come back!" she said,in sad and anxious tones. "But have you not brought Andrew with you?"

  The minister shook his head.

  "Dalziel with his army fell upon us in the Pentland hills, Susan, andswept away our little band like chaff before the wind. Many lie deadupon the field of Rullion Green; Adam Hepburn and I escaped unhurt.Andrew was slightly wounded, but Adam assured me he saw him ride safelyoff the field. I doubt not the Lord will bring him in safety to hishome. But he will need to travel slowly, and with extreme caution, forthe entire route between Edinburgh and Lanark is infested withdragoons."

  Susan Gray sank into a chair and burst into tears.

  "I warned Andrew that peace was aye better than war, and said that anarmy like yours could have no chance before the king's soldiers," shesaid mournfully. "I wonder at you, David, a minister of the Gospel,encouraging them to shed blood."

  "I believed that the time had come when resistance was demanded of us bythe God of the Covenant, else I had not gone forth with them, Susan,"answered the minister. "But now I must away to my hiding, for it is asmuch as my life is worth to be seen here in the light of day. How is itwith my father, and poor Jane, left desolate in the house of Rowallan?"

  "Your father is keeping well, and is safe in his hiding yet. Gavin iswith his aunt, they were both here yester'een," answered Mistress Gray."The maids have all run away in terror from Rowallan, and Jane came totell me she had hired one who came seeking a place two days ago. Shehas been in the service of the laird, but was dismissed for someoffence. Gavin says he likes not her appearance, but Jane seems pleasedwith her, for she is a good worker, and a prudent person, who is neverheard about the place."

  "Ah, well, the master himself, I hope and trust, will be home to his ownhouse in a day or two, and yet, he will need to keep himself in hiding,for very sure am I, Susan, that after the valiant front he showed atRullion Green, and the many dragoons he caused to lick the dust, AdamHepburn will be a marked man henceforth."

  Susan Gray very mournfully shook her head.

  "Had ye all bidden peaceably at home, there had been none of this," shesaid, regretfully. "But men folk maun aye have their way."

  The minister smiled; then bidding her and the little ones farewell, hestole away down the glen, and along the bank of the stream, to the holein the Corbie's Cliff.

  Looking carefully round to see that none was in sight, he scrambled upthe rocky steep, brushed aside the overhanging branches, and plungedinto the darkness of the subterraneous passage. Being now very familiarwith the way, he had no difficulty in following the many peculiarwindings of the passage, and at length he caught sight of the dimreflection of a lighted lamp in the distance, which warned him that hewas nearing his father's shelter.

  Lest his sudden appearance in the cave should alarm the old man, hecalled out "Father!" several times, as he quickly approached, and at thesound of the familiar voice, the old man sprang hastily to his feet, andran to the mouth of the passage.

  "My son, David! praise the Lord!" he exclaimed, while tears of joycoursed down his withered cheeks.

  After the first glad greetings were over, David Gray sat down, andbriefly rehearsed all that had befallen him since he set out with theCovenanting army for Edinburgh. As was natural, the recital greatlysaddened the heart of his aged father, for he had solaced himself in hissolitary captivity with glowing visions of the success which wouldattend his brethren in arms, and of the happy results which might accruefrom their vigorous upstanding for the truth.

  "It is the Lord's will. Unless of His good pleasure, such things couldnot be," he said. "The Church requires yet further refining in the fireere she can be purged from all her iniquities, and can stand with cleanhands before her God. But now, my son, you are weary, and stand in muchneed of rest and refreshment. Both are here."

  The cave was indeed now a very comfortable place of abode. By degreesJane Gray had conveyed many little comforts to her father, among thegreatest of which was the lamp, and a store of books. Provisions inplenty were also at hand, and the minister of Broomhill partook of hisrepast with a keen relish, for he had not broken his fast for manyhours. Immediately thereafter he stretched himself on the bed, and soonall his troubles were forgotten in the heavy, dreamless sleep of utterexhaustion.