malt spread before them. "You can judge for yourselves," said Smith, "whether these are praying Covenanters, or drunken maltsters; rouse them, and see what they have to say for themselves." The soldiers no sooner saw the state of matters than they turned away, not thinking it worth their while to disturb the repose of the sleeping men after their supposed debauch, and left them to recover themselves at their own convenience. This contrivance was the means of deceiving the troopers, who were withheld from making a particular investigation, which would have doubtless led to a discovery. Thus did Providence throw over these men the shield of protection in the very moment of their imminent danger, and saved them from their enemies, in circumstances in which deliverance appeared almost impossible.

Margaret Smith, a great-granddaughter of Michael Smith, whose memory has supplied these anecdotes of her worthy ancestor, lives at Penpont, and is now an old woman, and full of days.

CHAPTER IX.

Thomas Harkness, Andrew Clark, and Samuel M'Ewan-Babe of Tweedhope-foot-John Hunter.

AFTER the rescue at Enterkin, which took place in the summer of 1684, and of which mention has already been made, the inhabitants of the south and west were subjected to very severe treatment. Orders were issued for assembling all the male population in Nithsdale, above the age of fifteen years, in the different localities appointed, for the purpose of searching the whole county, with a view to apprehend the persons engaged in that enterprise. A meeting was accordingly held in every parish, and a strict search was made in houses, and moors, and woods, but without effect. On the failure of this attempt, it was next agreed on that a public intimation should be made by the curates the next Sabbath, in the ten or twelve parishes nearest the scene of the rescue; --that all above fifteen years should meet at New Dalgerno, to answer, upon oath, what questions might be put to them. A great company met at the appointed place, and the following questions were asked:-" Do you know who rescued the prisoners at Enterkin? Do you know which way they fled? Do you know where they are at present?" The multitude which met at Dalgerno was too numerous to be interrogated in one day, and therefore meetings were appointed to be held in the different parishes, when the above questions were to be put to each individual. Those who failed to appear at those meetings were either imprisoned or obliged to keep the soldiers at free quarters for a specified time. This annoying and vexatious work continued for about six weeks; and it is easy to imagine the trouble and distress to which the district in general was exposed. James Harkness of Locherben, and others with him, who were engaged in the affair of the rescue, were apprehended and carried to Edin

burgh. Harkness was tried, and condemned to die, but he happily avoided the execution of the sentence by escaping, along with twenty-five fellow-prisoners, from the Canongate Jail. Thomas Harkness, the brother of James, was not so fortunate. He, along with Andrew Clark of Leadhills, and Samuel M'Ewan of Glencairn, was seized by Claverhouse, when, like a fury, he was roaming through all the places in Nithsdale, where he hoped to apprehend the rebels who had attacked the king's troops. He came upon the three helpless men, as they were sleeping in the fields, in the parish of Closeburn. They were so fast asleep that the soldiers had to rouse them; and when they opened their eyes, and saw their enemies standing over them, like ravenous beasts ready to pounce on their prey, they attempted to flee, but in vain; for the soldiers, who, on account of the defeat at Enterkin, were exceedingly enraged, wounded them, and took them prisoners. Whether any of them were at Enterkin or not does not appear; but the soldiers deponed that they were, and therefore they were conveyed to Edinburgh, and were condemned to die on the same day on which they were tried. They were," says Wodrow, "brought into Edinburgh about one of the clock, and that same day they were sentenced and executed about five of the clock." This evidently shows how eagerly their enemies thirsted for their blood. But though the summons was hasty, they were not unprepared; they lived with death constantly before them, and were in hourly expectation of meeting with the last enemy. Their brethren were daily falling on the moors and hills around them, and therefore they held themselves in constant readiness to meet with a similar fate. The interval between the sentence and execution was short; but brief as the period was, they drew up a conjunct testimony to that truth in behalf of which they suffered. This testimony, though expressed in a few words, is worthy of notice, and is as follows:

"The joint testimony of Thomas Harkness, Andrew Clark, and Samuel M'Ewan, from the Tolbooth of Edinburgh, August 5 [1684].

"Dear friends and relations whatsomever, we think fit to acquaint you, that we bless the Lord that ever we were ordained to give a publick testimony, who are so great sinBlessed be he that we were born to bear witness for him, and blessed be the Lord Jesus Christ that ordained the Gospel and the truths of it, which he sealed with his own

ners.

blood; and many a worthy Christian gone before, us hath sealed them. We were questioned for not owning the king's authority. We answered, that we owned all authority that is allowed by the written Word of God, sealed by Christ's blood. Now, our dear friends, we entreat you to stand to the truth, and especially all ye that are our own relations, and all that love and wait for the coming of Christ. He will come and not tarry, and reward every one according to their deeds in the body. We bless the Lord that we are not a whit discouraged, but content to lay down our life with cheerfulness, and boldness, and courage; and if we had a hundred lives, we would willingly quit with them all for the truth of Christ. Good news! Christ is no worse than he promised. Now we take our leave of all our friends and acquaintances, and declare we are heartily content with our lot, and that he hath brought us hither to witness for him and his truth. We leave our testimony against Popery, and all other false doctrine that is not according to the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments, which is the only Word of God. Dear friends, be valiant for God; for he is as good as his promise. Him that overcometh he will make a pillar in his temple. Our time is short, and we have little to spare, having got our sentence at one of the clock this afternoon, and are to die at five this day; and so we will say no more, but farewell all friends and relations, and welcome heaven, and Christ, and the cross for Christ's sake.

"THOMAS HARKNESS.
"ANDREW CLARK.
"SAMUEL M'EWAN."

In this short statement, emitted by these three plain country men, on the very eve of their death, of which they were not apprised sooner than four brief hours before it happened, we perceive no confusion nor perturbation, but an admirable calmness of spirit, and Christian fortitude, and confidence in God. The peace and evenness of mind which they displayed, proves that the experience of the truth on the heart is a reality, and that the faith of the Gospel is capable of sustaining the soul in the most trying and appalling circumstances. Had any of their enemies received the sentence of death themselves as they did, we can easily conceive the trepidation into which they would have been thrown, and their blank consternation in the immediate prospect of death; for the soul without hope in God, and a wellgrounded confidence in his favour, is, at that solemn moment,

like a ship torn from its anchorage, and tossed by the raging winds on the tempestuous bosom of a troubled sea. O how precious is that Gospel which supports the soul a nid all the cares, and anxieties, and tribulations of life, and at last, in death, soothes the heart into a sweet and holy serenitywhich enables the believer to triumph even in the moment of dissolution!

Andrew Clark, we may add, was a smith in Leadhills, and was brother to Adam Clark of Glenim.

There lived, in this remote and moorland district, a man of the name of Welsh, commonly called "The Babe of Tweedhope-foot." How he acquired this soubriquet it is not easy to say, but he was a man of very great bodily strength; and stories are told of his wonderful feats, that seem to partake more of legend than of sober truth. He was, however, identified with the Covenanters. His house was a home to the ministers, and he had suffered many privations on account of the sympathy which he showed them. Having heard that Colonel James Douglas was in the neighbourhood, and, justly suspecting that he would not leave the district without paying him a visit, he determined to withdraw to the wilds for concealment. He was accompanied by John Hunter, a native of the same place, a good man, and a zealous Covenanter. The place to which they resorted was the solitudes of Corehead, near the source of the Water of Annan. Douglas, however, having got notice of their flight, pursued them with his troop, and soon gained ground on the fugitives. When they saw that there was a likelihood of their being overtaken, they directed their course to a place called the "Straught Steep," which, being difficult of access to the dragoons, they expected would afford them a safe retreat. By this time the horsemen were very near, and began to fire upon them. Hunter, who it seems was fully within the reach of the shot, was struck by a ball which proved fatal. He fell among the stones over which he was scrambling, and his life's blood oozed forth upon the rocks, where he expired. His body was removed, and interred in the churchyard of Tweedsmuir. His death took place in 1685-the "black year." This good man, who was suddenly taken away by a violent death, had no time afforded him to pray, or to compose his mind, before his immediate entrance into eternity; but then he was habitually prepared, and living, it may be, in the constant expectation of a hasty summons into the other world, he was always ready for his departure. "Be ye also ready; for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of Man cometh."

H