or indeed of any other of
them. But I was not averse to speak with him, at least as far as the
natural agitation of my spirits would permit.

As for prayers, I leant on none of them, except my mother's, which I had
repeated that morning. But I kept saying over and over to myself the
Scots version of the twenty-third Psalm, "The Lord's my Shepherd," and
from it gat wondrous comfort.

The Dean asked me if I had my "testimony" ready written. I told him that
testimonies were not for me.

"What," he said, "do you not hold the covenants?"

"I held a sword for them so long as I could. Now, when I cannot, I can
at least hold my tongue!"

Even with the scaffold looming out down the vennel, it pleased me to say
this to him, for such is the vanity of Galloway, and especially of a
Galloway Gordon. Besides, I had once played with the Dean at golf upon
Leith Links, and he had beaten me foully. Not twice would he outface me,
even though it were my death day.

Mr. Annand was a very pleasant-spoken man, and I think a little grateful
that I should speak complacently to him. For he was abashed that Cantyre
would have nothing to say to him--no, nor for that matter, Anton Lennox
either.

He asked me what affair had brought me there, which vexed me, for I had
supposed the whole city ringing with my braving of the Council, and the
Chancellor's shaking hands with me.

"I have done God's will," I made him answer, "at least as I saw it, in
fighting against Charles Stuart, for his usage of my country and my
house. Were I to escape, I should but do the same thing again. It is his
day, and Charles Stuart has me on the edge of the iron. But not so long
ago it was his father's turn, and so, in due time, it may be his."

"God forbid!" said the Dean piously, thinking no doubt, poor man, that
if the King went that way, certain others might also.

"God send him as honourable a death. 'Twere better than lolling with
madams on Whitehall couches, that he should honourably step forth from
the window of the banqueting hall as his father did!" I made him answer.

"You are a strange Whig, Mr. William Gordon," he said; "do you even give
that testimony to them from the scaffold. It will be a change from their
general tenor."

I said, "You mistake me. I believe as much and as well as any of them,
and I am about to die for it, but testimonies are not in my way.
Besides, somewhere my mother is praying for me."

"I would the King could have spared yo