9.Within their ranks was the sledge or hurdle，on which the prisoners were to be drawn to the place of execution，about a mile distant from Carlisle.It was painted black，and drawn by a white horse.At one end of the vehicle sat the executioner，a horrid-looking fellow，as beseemed his trade，with the broad-ax in his hand；at the other end，next the horse，was an empty seat for two persons.Through the deep and dark Gothic archway，that opened on the drawbridge，were seen on horseback the high-sheriff and his attendants，whom the etiquette betwixt the civil and military power did not permit to come further.
10.“This is well GOT UP for a closing scene，”said Fergus，smiling disdainfully，as he gazed around upon the apparatus of terror.Evan Dhu exclaimed，with some eagerness，after looking at the dragoons，“These are the very chields that galloped off at Gladsmuir，ere we could kill a dozen of them.They look bold enough now，however.”The priest entreated him to be silent.
11.The sledge now approached，and Fergus，turning round，embraced Waverley，kissed him on each side of the face，and stepped nimbly into his place.Evan sat down by his side.The priest was to follow in a carriage belonging to his patron，the Catholic gentleman at whose house Flora resided.As Fergus waved his hand to Edward，the ranks closed around the sledge，and the whole procession began to move forward.
12.There was a momentary stop at the gateway，while the governor of the castle and the high-sheriff went through a short ceremony，the military officer there delivering over the persons of the criminals to the civil power.“God save King George！”said the high-sheriff.When the formality concluded，Fergus stood erect in the sledge，and，with a firm and steady voice，replied，“God save King James！”These were the last words which Waverley heard him speak.
13.The procession resumed its march，and the sledge vanished from beneath the portal，under which it had stopped for an instant.The dead march，as it is called，was instantly heard；and its melancholy sounds were mingled with those of a muffled peal，tolled from the neighboring cathedral.The sound of the military music died away as the procession moved on；the sullen clang of the bells was soon heard to sound alone.
14.The last of the soldiers had now disappeared from under the vaulted archway，through which they had been filing for several minutes；the courtyard was now totally empty，but Waverley still stood there as if stupefied，his eyes fixed upon the dark pass where he had so lately seen the last glimpse of his friend.At length，a female servant of the governor，struck with surprise and compassion at the stupefied misery which his countenance expressed，asked him if he would not walk into her master’s house and sit down？She was obliged to repeat her question twice ere he comprehended her；but，at length，it recalled him to himself.Declining the courtesy by a hasty gesture，he pulled his hat over his eyes，and，leaving the castle，walked as swiftly as he could through the empty streets，till he regained his inn；then threw himself into an apartment and bolted the door.
15.In about an hour and a half，which seemed an age of unutterable suspense，the sound of the drums and fifes，performing a lively air，and the confused murmur of the crowd which now filled the streets，so lately deserted，apprized him that all was over，and that the military and populace were returning from the dreadful scene.I will not attempt to describe his sensations.
（FROM SCOTT ）