ThemutualprotectionaffordedbyWaverleyandTalbottoeachother，uponwhichthewholeplotdepends，isfoundedupononeofthoseanecdoteswhichsoftenthefeaturesevenofcivilwar；andasitisequallyhonourabletothememoryofbothparties，wehavenohesitationtogivetheirnamesatlength。WhentheHighlanders，onthemorningofthebattleofPreston，1745，madetheirmemorableattackonSirJohnCope’sarmy，abatteryoffourfield-pieceswasstormedandcarriedbytheCameronsandtheStewartsofAppine。ThelateAlexanderStewartofInvernahylewasoneoftheforemostinthecharge，andobservinganofficeroftheKing’sforces，who，scorningtojointheflightofallaround，remainedwithhisswordinhishand，asifdeterminedtotheverylasttodefendthepostassignedtohim，theHighlandgentlemancommandedhimtosurrender，andreceivedforreplyathrust，whichhecaughtinhistarget。Theofficerwasnowdefenceless，andthebattle-axeofagiganticHighlanderthemillerofInvernahyle’smillwasupliftedtodashhisbrainsout，whenMr。Stewartwithdifficultyprevailedonhimtoyield。Hetookchargeofhisenemy’sproperty，protectedhisperson，andfinallyobtainedhimlibertyonhisparole。TheofficerprovedtobeColonelWhitefoord，anAyrshiregentlemanofhighcharacterandinfluence，andwarmlyattachedtotheHouseofHanover；
yetsuchwastheconfidenceexistingbetweenthesetwohonourablemen，thoughofdifferentpoliticalprinciples，thatwhilethecivilwarwasraging，andstragglingofficersfromtheHighlandarmywereexecutedwithoutmercy，InvernahylehesitatednottopayhislatecaptiveavisitashereturnedtotheHighlandstoraisefreshrecruits，onwhichoccasionhespentadayortwoinAyrshireamongColonelWhitefoord’sWhigfriends，aspleasantlyandasgood-humouredlyasifallhadbeenatpeacearoundhim。
AfterthebattleofCullodenhadruinedthehopesofCharlesEdward，anddispersedhisproscribedadherents，itwasColonelWhitefoord’sturntostraineverynervetoobtainMr。Stewart’spardon。HewenttotheLordJustice-Clerk，totheLordAdvocate，andtoalltheofficersofstate，andeachapplicationwasansweredbytheproductionofalist，inwhichInvernahyleasthegoodoldgentlemanwaswonttoexpressitappearedmarkedwiththesignofthebeast！’’asasubjectunfitforfavourorpardon。
AtlengthColonelWhitefoordappliedtotheDukeofCumberlandinperson。Fromhimalsohereceivedapositiverefusal。Hethenlimitedhisrequest，forthepresent，toaprotectionforStewart’shouse，wife，children，andproperty。ThiswasalsorefusedbytheDuke；onwhichColonelWhitefoord，takinghiscommissionfromhisbosom，laiditonthetablebeforehisRoyalHighnesswithmuchemotion，andaskedpermissiontoretirefromtheserviceofasovereignwhodidnotknowhowtospareavanquishedenemy。TheDukewasstruck，andevenaffected。HebadetheColoneltakeuphiscommission，andgrantedtheprotectionherequired。
Itwasissuedjustintimetosavethehouse，corn，andcattleatInvernahylefromthetroopswhowereengagedinlayingwastewhatitwasthefashiontocallthecountryoftheenemy。’’AsmallencampmentofsoldierswasformedonInvernahyle’sproperty，whichtheysparedwhileplunderingthecountryaround，andsearchingineverydirectionfortheleadersoftheinsurrection，andforStewartinparticular。Hewasmuchnearerthemthantheysuspected；for，hiddeninacaveliketheBaronofBradwardine，helayformanydayssoneartheEnglishsentinels，thathecouldheartheirmuster-rollcalled。Hisfoodwasbroughttohimbyoneofhisdaughters，achildofeightyearsold，whomMrs。Stewartwasunderthenecessityofentrustingwiththiscommission；forherownmotions，andthoseofallherelderinmates，werecloselywatched。Withingenuitybeyondheryears，thechildusedtostrayaboutamongthesoldiers，whowereratherkindtoher，andthusseizethemomentwhenshewasunobserved，andstealintothethicket，whenshedepositedwhateversmallstoreofprovisionsshehadinchargeatsomemarkedspot，whereherfathermightfindit。