[Old Mortality Complete, Illustrated by Sir Walter Scott]@TWC D-Link bookOld Mortality Complete, Illustrated CHAPTER XV 4/10
On each flank of the infantry, but a little backward from the bog, as if to allow themselves dry and sound ground whereon to act in case their enemies should force the pass, there was drawn up a small body of cavalry, who were, in general, but indifferently armed, and worse mounted, but full of zeal for the cause, being chiefly either landholders of small property, or farmers of the better class, whose means enabled them to serve on horseback.
A few of those who had been engaed in driving back the advanced guard of the royalists, might now be seen returning slowly towards their own squadrons.
These were the only individuals of the insurgent army which seemed to be in motion.
All the others stood firm and motionless, as the grey stones that lay scattered on the heath around them. The total number of the insurgents might amount to about a thousand men; but of these there were scarce a hundred cavalry, nor were the half of them even tolerably armed.
The strength of their position, however, the sense of their having taken a desperate step, the superiority of their numbers, but, above all, the ardour of their enthusiasm, were the means on which their leaders reckoned, for supplying the want of arms, equipage, and military discipline. On the side of the hill that rose above the array of battle which they had adopted, were seen the women and even the children, whom zeal, opposed to persecution, had driven into the wilderness.
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