[Old Mortality Complete, Illustrated by Sir Walter Scott]@TWC D-Link bookOld Mortality Complete, Illustrated CHAPTER XVI 11/17
Never did man, however, better maintain the character of a soldier than he did that day.
Conspicuous by his black horse and white feather, he was first in the repeated charges which he made at every favourable opportunity, to arrest the progress of the pursuers, and to cover the retreat of his regiment.
The object of aim to every one, he seemed as if he were impassive to their shot.
The superstitious fanatics, who looked upon him as a man gifted by the Evil Spirit with supernatural means of defence, averred that they saw the bullets recoil from his jack-boots and buff-coat like hailstones from a rock of granite, as he galloped to and fro amid the storm of the battle. Many a whig that day loaded his musket with a dollar cut into slugs, in order that a silver bullet (such was their belief) might bring down the persecutor of the holy kirk, on whom lead had no power. "Try him with the cold steel," was the cry at every renewed charge--"powder is wasted on him.
Ye might as weel shoot at the Auld Enemy himsell." [Note: Proof against Shot given by Satan.
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