s with refusing to swear the abjuration oath!

The innocent victims were carried to the mouth of the river Bladenoch,
being guarded by troops under Major Winram, and followed by an immense
crowd both of friends and spectators. Quentin Dick and his little
friend Peter were among them. The former had possessed himself of a
stick resembling a quarter-staff. His wild appearance and bloodshot
eyes, with his great size and strength, induced people to keep out of
his way. He had only just reached the spot in time. No word did he
speak till he came up to Major Winram. Then he sprang forward, and said
in a loud voice, "I forbid this execution in the name of God!" at the
same time raising his staff.

Instantly a trooper spurred forward and cut him down from behind.

"Take him away," said Winram, and Quentin, while endeavouring to stagger
to his feet, was ridden down, secured, and dragged away. Poor Peter
shared his fate. So quickly and quietly was it all done that few except
those quite close to them were fully aware of what had occurred. The
blow on his head seemed to have stunned the shepherd, for he made no
resistance while they led him a considerable distance back into the
country to a retired spot, and placed him with his back against a cliff.
Then the leader of the party told off six men to shoot him.

Not until they were about to present their muskets did the shepherd seem
to realise his position. Then an eager look came over his face, and he
said with a smile, "Ay, be quick! Maybe I'll git there first to welcome
her!"

A volley followed, and the soul of Quentin Dick was released from its
tenement of clay.

Peter, on seeing the catastrophe, fell backwards in a swoon, and the
leader of the troop, feeling, perhaps, a touch of pity, cast him loose
and left him there. Returning to the sands, the soldiers found that the
martyrdom was well-nigh completed.

The mouth of the Bladenoch has been considerably modified. At this time
the river's course was close along the base of the hill on which Wigtown
stands. The tide had turned, and the flowing sea had already reversed
the current of the river. The banks of sand were steep, and several
feet high at the spot to which the martyrs were led, so that people
standing on the edge were close above the inrushing stream. Two stakes
had been driven into the top of the banks--one being some distance lower
down the river than the other. Ropes of a few yards in length we