ers. This greatly terrified them, but they
would reveal nothing. The officer commanded his men to take aim. Up went
the guns; the sight was dreadful for children; yet they would give no
information. "Lead us to the hiding-place, or you will be shot," cried
the officer. There were sobs, tears, and trembling, but no response.

[Illustration: ANDREW HISLOP'S MARTYRDOM.

Andrew Hislop was but a youth when he suffered death for Christ's Crown
and Covenant. He was taken while crossing a field, and sentenced to die
on the spot. He bravely faced the guns that were levelled at his brow.
Many, other boys of that period were equally heroic. Four of them, who
were captured in a group, replied thus to their captors, when told that
they must be shot: "We are to die, you say? Glorious news! Christ is no
worse than He promised."]

"Will it hurt much, Janet?" said a little boy, as he clasped the hand
of his sister.

"I dinna ken, Willie," replied the sister tenderly, "but I'm sure it
will na last lang."

"Fire!" shouted the officer. The terrible volley flashed from every gun.
Some of the children dropped, thinking they had been shot. The soldiers
had been told to shoot over their heads to frighten and not kill. The
officer, outmatched by the brave children, and we hope heartily ashamed
of himself, led his men away. As they rode off, the children sang:

"The Lord's my shepherd; I'll not want;
He makes me down to lie
In pastures green; He leadeth me
The quiet waters by."

Their sweet voices mingled with the dying clatter of the horses' hoofs.

The young bridegroom and his bride were also involved in hardships that
tried their souls. The soldiers that raided the country had equal
disregard for old age, youth, and infancy. The mother, whether
surrounded by a houseful of children, or clasping her first infant on
her bosom, found no pity. One morning the dragoons surrounded the house
of a happy couple, John and Sarah Gibson. They had come to seize both,
whether to kill or imprison was not yet determined. John was absent;
Sarah, seeing the troopers gallop toward the house, poured a prayer over
her babe, as it lay asleep in the crib, and fled in terror, hoping that
sweet infancy would appeal to their hearts. A ruffian rushed in, and
grasping the babe, shouted, "The nurse is not far away." He made it
scream, to bring the mother back. She heard its pitiful cry; her heart
was breaking, yet she was utterly powerless. S