Omaha Daily Bee Newspaper, June 2, 1895, Page 20

CHAPTER XVIIT THE SANQUH'S DECLARATION. 1 think it was during the week I lay thus In the barn at the Duchrae, often with Richard Cameron or his young brother MicLael at my back In the quict of the corn mcw, that first I got within me the true wpirit of the covenant. 1 heard all the sins and the sins of Scotland redd* up and made plain; for In the night watches Cameron and his brother had great communings to géther. o Richard was all for being done with the authority of the king, and making but one cast of It. Michacl thought that the time was not ripe nor the men ready. Now these two youths they who chiefly set Scotland in a lowe at this time, when Lauderdale had nearly trampled out the red cinders of the fire of the Presbytery. ‘It was strange to think that he who should blow them again into a flame had once be but a Prelatist, and that from the wick: shire of Fife. When one cast it up to him, Richard Cameron sald ““Aye, it humbles us all to remes pit from which we were dragged Then one wight in the barn we gave in very mnly our adhesions to the disowning of rles Stuart and his brother James—all e my cousin Wat, who said: 1 canna bide to cast off the blood of Bruce, I had rather kiss Argyll's malden.” And with that In the morning he left us, which was a grief to me, for he and 1 had been brothers in peril during inany months. Whither ho went I knew not then but it shall be related in its proper pla and all that befell him in his lonely wanler- ings atier he parted from me. “We must not do this thing lightly or gladly,” sald Richard Cameron to us that abodo with him in the barn. “We have laid our accounts with the worst that the govern- ment may do to us. We count not our lives dear to us. We see plalnly that vaught is to be gained save by de any more. The indulgence s but a dish of sowens with a muzzle thercafter to make us forever dumb dogs that will not bark. Who shall hinder or blame If we chocee to lay down our lives in the high places of the field that the old faith be not forgotten, neith e old cove: nant engagements to our Lord Christ forever abrogated? Yet I think there was not one of us that was not heart-sorry to break with the House of Stuart, for, after all, we were in Scotland, and had ‘stood for the Scots house and the Scots king agalnst Cromwell and the sup- planters. At any rate, let it not be sald of us that we did this thing lightly, but rather with heavy hearts that the king had been 80 far left to himself as to forswear and abandon the solemn engagements which he had uniertaken. So it came to pass In the middays of the year that one afternoon we rode away through the lonely hills by Minnybive, and turned north up the fair valley of the water of Nith. Here and there we gathered one to whom the word had been passed, finding them waiting for us at some loaning foot or at the mouth of some glen. Littla we said when a friend joined us; for our work was sad and solemn, and to bo done once and for all. We rode as it were under the shadow of the scaffold. Yet I think we thought not so much of ourselves as of the women folk that abode at home. 1 know that I feared for my mother, who was now like to lose her two sons as she bad afore- time lost her husband, and sometimes I thought of the lass Malsie Lennox, and what she would do wanting her father, But this 1 put from me, for Covenanting was man's busin meron said: y that are trysted work must talgle themse marriage engagements!” At the Menick foot, where that long pass begins, there met us ten men of the upper ward, all douce and stalwart men, armed and horsed as well as any of our men out of Galloway. 1 was the youngest of them all there, and indeal the only one that was not a mighty man of his arms. There was some talk of leaving me at Duchrae to keep the place—which I knew to be but an ex- cnse, But one James Gray of Chryston, a laird’s son and a strong man, cried out: “Let the lad come, for his brother Sandy's sake!"” A saying which plied nstantly: “Let any man stand out against yme with the pistol and small sword and I will show him cause why I should come for mine own!" At this Cameron rebuked me: “Ah, Willlam, 1 see well that thou hast the old Adam in thee yet. Was there ever a Gordon that would not go ram-stam at the boar, whatover his religion?” And I who knew that I had spoken as a carnal man wus somewbat shamed. Yet was I glad also that no man took my chal we ber the after all, and as to the Master" ves with no other nettled me, and I re- A HEAD AT EVERY WINDOW. nge, for indeed 1 bad small skill of the aword, and with the shearing sword, espe- clally, my blows were as rat-tail licks to the dead strikes of Richard Cameron, or even my brother Sandy. But nevertheless only to say the thing did me good like medictne. 8o into the town of Sanqubar we rode two and two, very slow and quiet, for Cameron had forbade us to ride with a tight rein and the horses champlug, as indeed | longed to do for pride. “For thus do the king's troopers when they enter a town to take the eyes of the unthioking. But contrariwise we are to come 10 do a deed tn Scotland that shall not be forgotien while Nith water ru And to tie & band which shall not be brokon th h. We ourselves shall fall and that lw’—fit know we well—but that which we do this day sball one day bring - tyrant's dowatall!” %0, Indoed, It proved to be. X r s ever a still place, as though hote were no other day there but the Sab- | | i | | | | HA DAILY B UNDAY, JU bath only. Also the inhabitants are douce and grave and %o remain to this day—buy- Ing and selling, eating and drinking, as though they were alone on Gods universe. But that Cay as we came riding on up the street there was a head at every window and I heard the wives cry “The Lill folk bave rise into Sanquhar!” And this pleased me in the heart, though I know well I should have had my mind set on other matters. At the cross we formed up, setting our horses ten on cither side and Richard Cam- eron in the midst, dismounted and standing on the steps of the crcss. We sat still and quiet, all being bareheaded. show I had plucked my brand out of its scabba But Cameron sternly bade me put it back again, anl gave me his horse to hold instead. Which grieved and shamed me at the time sadly enough, though now I am both proud and glad of it. The time for drawn steel is William. Be sure that thou ready as now,” he said Then we sang our psalm of Covenant keep- ing, and the hills gave it back to us, though the angels were echoing the singing of it softly in heaven along with us. After that Cameron stcod up very sgtright, and on his feco, which was as the face of a lion, there was a great tenderness, albeit of the sterner sort. The townsfolk stood about, but near, being careful anl cautious | should be called in question for complian with the deed, and the range work done by us that day; for the King's scoopnet gath- ered wide. Also the innocent were often called to judgment, especially if they bad something to lose in goods or gear, as was with many of the well-doing burgh- har. “This day,” cried Cameron, solemnly, after he had prayed, “do we come to this town of anquhar to cast off our allegiance to Charlos Stuart and his brother James. Not hastily, neither to make ourseives to be spoken about, but with solemnity as men that enter well knowing into the antecham ber of death. And we desired our own lives, we should receive tests and iniul- gences thankfully, and go sit in our kennels like douce tykes that are ready to run at tho whistle, “But for and come riding ot to come, rt then ar not too estthey all that, we are loyal men and no rebels, though today we cast off Charles Stuart—aye, and will do our best to make an end of his rule, so that he shall no more reign over this realm. This we shall do, not by private assassination, which we ab- hor and abominate, but by levying open war. Yet we are loyal to any covenanted King— aye, and had Charles Stuart kept his en- gagements, plighted and sworn, there is no man here that would not right gladly have laid down his life for him. “All ye that stand by, hear the word of Richard Cameron! There are those behind me, who heard with their ears the oath that the king sware, at Perth, when before the solemn convocation he spake these words: ‘I, Charles, King of Great Britain™and Ire- land, do assure and declare by my solemn oath’ fn ‘the presence of Almighty God, the Searcher 'of the hearts, my allowance and approbatfon of the national covenant and of the solemn league and covenant above written, and faithfully oblige myself to pros- ecute the ends thereof in my station and calling.’ “The king,” cried Cameron, “who sware these oaths hath cast us off. We bave not cast off the Wing! There Is one waiting in the low coufitfies whence I came and look- ing toward the hills of Scotland, to ses if there be any faithful. Shall the fortress be utterly broken down, with none to build her up? Are there no watchmen to tell the towers thercof—none to ery from rampart to rampart, ‘What of the night? Ay, there be at the least twenty men here that have not bowed the knee to Baal. This day we como to lay down our lives, as happily as children that have spent their play day in the fields, and, being tired, lay them down to sleep. But ere we go, because the time cannot be long, we come to give the banmer of the Lord once more to the winds—the our bo hour on a pleasant green place which is al surrounded by morasses, for we had gotten 10 rest the night before. Now, I think we were all fey at this time, for we laid us down on the edge of the moss in a place that s open to all. And this when we might have withdrawn ourselves deep into the bog, and so darned ourselves among the “quakking quas, the dangerous and impassable flowes, #0 that no dragoons in the world could have come at us. But this we did not, for the word and doom were writton, It was our enemies day. | As Cameron said that morning as we passed | the house of William Mitchell in Meadow- head, and when they brought him out a basin and water to wash his bands, also a towel wherewith to dry them This fs their last washing. My head and Lands are now cleaned for the offering!" 8o we laid us down among a g swirl ing of whaups and crying of peesweeps, for | the scason of their nesting. was hardly o and all the moorland was astir with thelr plaintive notes. After a long time I awoke, dreaming that Maisie Lennox stoed by my bedside and tock my hand, saying, “The kye are in the corn!" I sat up, and, lo! there within half a mile, and beating the moor in search of us, were two great companies of dra s of the number of about 120, as near as at a glance I could reckor hoart gave a stound, and T said to m This fs surely thy death-day, William Gordon!” And the word sounded strangely in my heart, for I had begun to think my life worth Hving in these latter days, and was none so keen apon the dying as were some other of our company. But I awakened Cameron and his brother Michael, and also David Hackstoun of Rath'l let, that was a soldler most stern, but a just man according to his lights. And they sat up and saw the soldiers sweeping the moor. But, as I say, we were all foy. For eve then it was within our power to have cscaped the violence of the men of war. Very easily could we have left our horges and betaken us into the deepest parts of the bottomless, shaking bogs, whare no man could have followed us. But the thought came not to us at the time, for God had so ordered it that Scotland was best to be served that day by the death of many of His servants There were in our company twenty-three that had horses and forty that had mone But we were all armed in some sort of fashion. Now, this Richard Cameron both the heart of a fighter and the fear- lessress of a man assured of his interest. He cried out fo inquire of us if we were firmly set in our minds to fight, and with one volce we answered “Ayel” We were of one heart and one minl. Our company and converse had been sweet in the darkness, and now we were set to dle together in the noorday as men that have made them ready So in that sullen morning, with the birds crying and the mist drawing down into thunder clouds, we rose to make our last stand. I had given up all thought of escape, and was putting in hard steeks at the pray- ing, for the sins that were on my soul were many, and I had, too, recently taken to that way of thinking to have the assurance of my elders. Now, the soldiers that came against us wore the finest companies of Airly's and chan’s dragoons—gallant lads all—newly rought to that countryside and not inured to the cruel riding and shotting as other companies were. [ have not a word to say against the way they fought, though as th duty was they came against us with haste and fury. Our quarrel was not with themn, but with their master. They rode gallantly this way and that through the morasses, and came on bravely. Bruce of Earshall was over them, but John Crichton was thelr best fighter. A stark and cruel man he was, that would have hunted us all down if he could. He fought that day with his blade swinging, damning and cursing between every blow. But, for all, he was sick and sorry ere he lefi this field. or it ever man did, he met his matc n he crossed swords with the Lion of the Covenant. It was Rathillet who chose the place of strength for us to make our stand, and as it seemed and mostly proved, take our deaths upon. There was littlo time for the word and prayer. But, as was our custom, we sang a heerful psalm, and lifted up our bonnets while Cam- eron prayed. “Lord, spare the green, and take the ripe” That was the whole matter of this supplication. “We may never be in better case to die. 1 see the gates of heaven cast wide open {o receive us.” And 1 noted that all the time of our sing- ing David Hackstoun of Rathillet was look- ing to the priming of his pistols, and draw- ing the edge of his sword blude along the back of his hand, as one Who trles a razor had in him T, | 1 too short, a happy turiftoil of blows whereln I drank for the first time the heady delight of battle. Al over the wild moss of Ayr that great day the swords fiickered like Hghtning flashes. Oh, how many quiet times would I not give for such another wager of battle, | Overhead all the univer roared as we fought, but T had no thought save of the need | to keep the point up, thrusting, parrying, and striking as God gave me ability. Right in the midst of the press there came two at me from opposite sides, and 1 saw very well that, if I got no help, thers was no more of life for me. “Richard!" 1 cried, and the shout must have gone to our leader's ear, though I myself could not hear it, great was elangor and the din. Cameron was smiting with the strength of ten immediately fn my front. In a moment more he elearedshis point, pierced his man and turned. Thae man on my left swerved i but the other, whom 1 took to hton, met . him fair, blade to blade. fitst clash of he swords were mighty These two lowerlug black men met and knew each other as theyylooked one another in Une eyes. But I could sce that Cameron was ever the stronger and swiiter, though Crichton had somewhat the thbralskill. Crichton tried to pass him a little, that he might get arm play for his famous’back strokes, wherewita he was renouned (o have cut off a man's head at a blow; but Cameron measured his guard and the blow whistled harmless past his ear. Then came the return. The preacher's sword streaked put’ straight and level, and for & moment seémed to stand full mid-blade in_the dragoon's side. The next moment we found ourselves out side the first line. We had broken our way through, and the enemy were in confusion behind us. 1 suw many single combats go ing forward, and in especial a most néble fight between David Hackstoun of Rathillet and one of his own acquaintances, by name David Ramsay, a gentleman of his country. As they fought I could hear Hackstoun, whom nothing could daunt or disturb, ask- | land, whom men es | of fire his horso out of ‘his.way, for he came with a | Whercof some men bear testimony tha be | | drous lightning flash over the w head high in the air casting it from him into the sky, till it seemed to enter into the dark cloud whero the thunder brooded and the smoke of powder hung. “God of battles, receive my sinful soul!” he cried, And with that he joined his hands like a man that dives for swimming; and, un- wounded, unhurt, defenceless, Richard Cam- eron sprang upon a hundred sword points. Thus died the bra t man in broad Scot- led, and called well, the Lion of the Covenant. And, evon as fe passed, the heavens opened, and the whole firmanent seeried but one great lightniag flash, so that aghast at the marvellous brightness, which occasioned the saying that God sent a chariot with horses of whiteness to bring 'acme to Him the soul of Richard Cameron ey ; but aw ndeed 1 nothing but a w ole heaven Then, a moment after, the thunder crashed, Iike the breaking up of the world, and there was an end. CHAPTER XX. HIDING WITH THE HEATHER-CAT As for me, when I had seen this, thinking it to be enough, I put spurs to my lttle Gal- | loway, and 'we were soon at speed over the moss-hags. My beast was well acquainted with moss running, for it had not carried me 80 often over the moor to Lochinvar for nothing. I heard tempestuous crylng, as of men that pursued, and behind me the roar of battle sank into stlence. Onee I glanced behind and saw many footmen running and horsemen rising and falling in their sad- dles. But, all belng lost, 1 left the field of Ayrsmoss befaind me as fast as I might, and sct my horse's head over the roughest and boggiest country, keeping toward Dalmelling- ton, for the wilderncss was now to be my | hom For the time I had had enough of | rebellion under arms. I was not unfaith- | tul to the cause, mor did I regret what I had done. But I judged that, for some time ere he sets it to his chin. Thefi the com- panies of the enemy halted on the edge of the mo:s where the ground was yet firm. They seemed not disinclined for a parley. “Do you own the King's anthority?” cried one among them. It was Bruce of Earl- shall, a buirdiy® chiel and not one greatly cruel; but rather like Monmouth, anxious to let the poor remnant have its due. cried Cameron. “‘We uthority." Wherefore, then, stand ye there in arms against his forces?’ came the answer back “Yield, and ye shall have quarter and fair cerduct in Edinburg!” own Lhe banner of that other kingdom In Scotland that is Christ's. Behold!" And with that he lifted up the banner staft which he held in his hand, and there floated out upon the equal blowing wind the blue banner of Christ's covenant. And as the golden scroll of it took the air there came that into the hearts of most of us, that which filled them to the overflow. The tears ran down and fell upon our horses' necks. “For Christ’s crown and covenant,” ran the legond. Then we gathered ourselves closer about the battle flag, for which wo had come out to die. As one man we drew our swords, nor did Cameron mow gainsay us— and 1itiing them high up, till the sun glinted bonnily upon them, we sang our solemn banding song. 1 never feit my heart so high or heaven so near, not even at the great field preaching by the water of Dee, when 1 sat by the side of Maisie Lennox. Even thus we sang: God is our refuge In stralts a p Therefope, althou We will not be afraid, Then we rodé out, for once gallantly enough, having solemnly st ourselves to face the kiug In open fleld—that were but twenty men against three kingdoms. Well we knew that we should be put down, but we knew alsn that so long as there were men in Scot- land to do as we had done that day, the cause and the flag would never be wholly put down. So the douce burghers of Sanquhar watched us ride away, our swords gleaming naked be- cause we had appealed to the sword, and were prepared to perish by the sword, as the word ts. Also, our blue banner of the Cove- nant waved bravely over our heads in_token of our dependence on Jehovah, the God of battles. And as we rode it was I, Willlam Gordon of Earlstoun, who carrled the banuer staff, for Richard Cameron had given it into my hands. So T had not lived in vain, and Sandy would never again bid me sew bairn clouts and bide at home among the women. I wished my father had been alive to see me. and our strength, rth remove, CHAPTER XIX. THE LAST CHARGE AT AYRSMOSS. The morning of the 224 of July dawned solemuly clear. It promised to be a day of heat, for tho haze lay long in the hoi- lows, hesitating to disappear, and there was the brooding of thunder in the air. | We that were of Cameron’s I'ttle company found ourselves in & wild place on the moors Most of our Galloway men bad betaken themselves home, and they that had come out of Lanarkshire and Ayr were the greater part of the seanty ecompany. T name of the place where we sofourned was Ayrs- moss. We had lain sleepless and anxious all night, with watchers posted among the mosshags. Richard Cameron spoke ofteq to ws, and told us that the matter had come to the narrow and bitter pass. “It \s the day of the Lord's anger,” ho sald, “and it is expedlent that some wen dto for the people™ Wo told him that we were ready and that from the beginning we had counted om noth- ing els Hut I felt within me desperately fil-prepared; yet, for the sake of the banoer I carried, I said uothing. It was about 10 of the day, and because we heard not from our folk who had been ed to glve warning, we sent out ether en, baving taken a we to find meat o -r“fi_q- beiter sustuiniag of The man spake none so evily for a per- secutor, and in.my heart I liked him. thank you, Captain Bruce, for your fair speech,” cried Cameron, “but I wot well you mean fair passage to the Grassmarket. The king we own Is not King Charles Stuart, and it lketh us to go to our king's court through the crash of battle rather than through the hank of the hangman’s rope.” ““This preacher’s no man of straw—fght he will," T heard them say one to the other, for they were near to us, even at the foot of the opposite hill. Then our horsemen, of whom I was one, closed in order without further word, and our foot drew out. over the moss in readiness to_fire. David Hackstoun was with us on our left, and Captain Fowler on the right. But Richard Cameron was always a little ahead of us all, with his brother Michael with him on one side, and I, riding my Galloway nag, close upon his right flank—which was an honorable post for one so young as I, and served withal to keep my spirits up. Just before he gave the word to charge he cried out to us, pointing with his sword “Yonder is the way to the good soldier's crown!” The day had been clouding over, the heat growing almost intolerable. It was now about 2 in the afternoon. It was easy to see, had we had the eyes to observe it, that a thunder storm was brewing, and even as Richard Cameron stretched out hls sword over his horse’s head and cried on to us to charge In the mame of the Lord, the first levin-bolt shot down glittering into the moor like a forked silver arrow, and over our head the whole firmament rafred and crashed. ‘The captaln of our salyation ecalls for us!” cried Cameron. “Who follows after when the Son of God rides forth to war?” So with that we lowered our sword polnts and drave at them. I think T must have ridden with my eyes shut down that little green knowe with the short grass under foot. I know that even as we rode the thunder began to roar about us, girding us in_a continuous ring of lightning flashe: Yet at the time I seemed to tide through a world of empty silence;:-even when 1 struck the red broil of battle. I could see Cameron crying out and waying his sword before us as our horses gatheved way, but I remember no more tifl the shock came and we found ourselves threshing headlong among them. I fired my pistols right and left, and set them in my belt again, though the habit was to throw them away. I had my sword dangling by a lingel or tag at my right wrist, for I had learned from Wat Gordon how to fight upon horseback when it came to the charge. The first man that I came against great dragoon on & gray horse. He shouted an oath of eontempt, seeing me %0 slender and puny. Yet for ali his bulk I bad him on the wrong side, so that he could not use his sword arm with advantage. And as I passed om my stout | little nag I got my sword well home ander bis armpit and tumbled him off in the mire. The stoutness of our charge took the enemy entireiy surprise. Indeed afterward they gave us all the testimony of being brave, res- olute men; and, like soldiers and gentlemen as they were, they uwsed them that were taken very eivilly. I could see Cameron before me, smiting and slaying, slaying and smiting, r ing in his stirrup at every blow and cailing oo his men, It was & wild, fleros time, alfl " eturdy. THE UNIVERSE ROAR ED AS WE FOUGHT. ing Ramsay all the news of the country side, and how such a one did, what wife had gotten another child, and whether it were a lad or a lass. ' Which is a thing I should never have believed if any man had told me; and when I set it down here I ex- pect not to be belleved of any, save by those who have been in the thick of a civil war themselves. But all that know David Hackstoun of Rathillet will belleve that this thing s true of him. So he fought, clashing swords and talking at his ease, without change of counténance, till he was stricken down with three coming on him at once from beaind. Then, seeing cur horsemen scattered, Cam- eron cried them to him, and we galloped toward their second line that came riding un- broken toward us. Now, it was our misfor- tune that the dragoons were stark fellows and had seen service, so that they gave not back as others might have dome, seeing us come on so determinedly. Rather they re- served their fire tlll we were almost at the sword’s length. Then they fired, and I saw our men falllng over in twos and threes. But Richard Cameron still rode steadily, with Michael and myself behind him. His horse had been once white, but mow was mostly dripping red—a fearful sight to see. I heard afterward from old soldiers that had been in the fights of the ancient days, that no such terrifying figure had they ever seen in the wars since Noll led on the Ironsides at Mar- ston Moor. But Cameron's case was far more des- perate than had ever been that of Oliver. “Smite! Smite!” he cried; “the sword of the Lord and of Gideon." Over all the fleld there was only the whinnying of swords as they whistled throush the air and at the edges the dropping rattle of the musketry. As we touched their second line we seemed to ride upon a breast- high wave of flame, which might have been Earlshall's flashing muskets or God's own level lightnings. 1 rode as 1 could behind Cameron, striking when I had opportunity and warding as I bad need. But, though I was here in the forefront of the battle, 1 was In the safest place; for Richard Cameron ploughied a lane through their company, send- ing them to right aud left before him as the foam is ploughed by & swift vesse But our desperate riders were now wearing tew. I looked behind us, and only two se*med to be in the saddle, James Gray of Chryston and Michael Cameron, who had promised to ding the stoor that day out of his majesty’s red clouts. I could see Chryston striking, and grunting as he struck, exactly like a man hagging hard wood with a blunt axe. So 1 found myself out at the side of the fight; but, just as I thought myself clear, there came a blow on my steel cap (hat nearly dang me out of the saddle, and I drew out further again. Cameron had also won clear; but seeing his brother Michael bard beset he turned rein and drave in among the smother again, raging like the lon How his horse kept his feet on the moss | know mot. for Cameron seemed to be standing up in bis stirrups constantly, lean- Ing forward to give'his blade more play. So he rode into the’ midst of them till he was brought to a stand in what seemed a ring of foes, Even there I could see his arm rise and fall as steadily as a man that flails corn in & barn. And wherever he struck there was 4 gap, for there ayman went down. But more and more gathered about, threshing at him with their swordy, ' on horse and some on foot Wke boys § wasps at the taking of a byke. he | to come, It were better for me not company, for I had no pleasure In it. Now, In further teling my tale I must put together all the incidents of my fleeting to the heathen, for that being a thing at the time very frequently resorted to, it became at last a word in Ceotland that “to take to be heaher was o be in he way of getting grace.” Now, when I sped away to the southeast from Ayrsmoss, the folk I loved were all killed and I had no hope or hold of any present gesistance to the king. But my Galloway sheltle, being nimble on its feet, took me bravely over the moss-hags, carrying me lightly and willingly as if I had been hare coursing on the green holms of the Ken. As 1 fled I kept glancing behind me and seeing the soldiers in red clothes and flashing arms still pursuing after. I maw also our foot (that had stood off when we charged, and only fired as they saw need, scatter- ing through the moss) and the enemy riding about the borders wherever their horses could go, firing at them. Yet I think that not many of them were hurt in the pursuit, for the moss at that place was very boss and tull of bottomless bogs like that from which Patric Laing drew that redoubtable persec tor, Captain Crichton. This incident, In- deed, bred in the breasts of the dragoons a wholesome fear of the soft boggish places, which made greatly in many instances for the preservation of the wanderers, and In especial favored me In my present enter- prise. In a little after two of the four dragoons that followed me, seeing a man running like to burst through the moss, turned aside and spured their horses after him, leaving but two to follow me. Yet after this I was harder put to it than ever, for the sun was excedingly hot above and the moss as difficult beneath, But I kept to It,thinking that, after all, by compari- son, I was in none such an evil case. For though my head ached with the steel cap upon it and my horse sweated, yet it must have been much more doleful for the heavy beasts and completely accoutred dragoons toli- ing In the rear. 8o over the broken places of the moor I went faster than they, though on the level turf they would doubtless scon have ridden me down. But, after all, they wers but riding to kill one whig the more, while I to save my neck—which made a mighty dif- ference in the earmestness of our lntents on that day of swithering heat. Many a time it came to me to cast myself from my beast and run to the side, trusting to finding a moss-hag where 4 might lie hidden up to my neck among the water with my head among the rushes. I saw inany good and safe pl indeed, but I remem- bered (hat my sheltfe would be an ad tisement to the pursuers, so 1 held on my Besldes, Donald had been a good friend and was the only one of our company d ever been on the bonny holms of Earlstoun. S0 that I was kindly affectioned to the beast, and kept him to his work though the country was very moorish and the sun hot on my head Once I was nearly taken. For as I went, not knowing the way, I came to & morass where in the midst there was a secure place, as it seemed to me. I put Donald it, and when I reached the knoll—lo, it w only some nine or tem yards squaro—-the bottomless swelter of shaking bogs girding it on all sides. Denald went (o the girths at to see all stood | t me, crylng, “Come out, dog, and Which, being but poot enmeouragement, I was In no wise eager to obey their summecns, But by holding on to the heather of the mos—hy the kind providence of God, it very long and tough—I ed to get Donald out of his peril, He was a biddable | enough beast, and, being a little deaf, he | knew not fear. For reesting and terror among horses is mostly but over-sharpness in bearing, and an imagination that they were better without, But Donald had no £ood hearing and no bad forebodings. So | when I pulled him among the long h and put his head down, he lay lik dog, cowered along by the side of the 'nags. Then the palr by the edwe of the morass began to shoot at me, for the distancs | was within the reach of a pistol ball. Ths | first bullet that came clipped so elose to my | left ear that it took away a lock of my halr which, contrary to my custcm, had now | grown’ longish All this time they cased not for a moment to cry, “Come out, dog, and be shot! were fll-mannered, ramping lowns with few ideas, and 1 desired no comings and goings with them. So in no long time 1 tired of this, and also of lying still to be shot at I bethought me that I might show them a better of jt and afford some sport. So very | carefully I charged both my pistols, and the mext time they came near, riding the bog edge to fire at me, I took careful atm and shot at the first of them. The ball went through the calf of his leg, which ca him to light off the far side of his horse with a great’ roar. “You have killed me complainingly friend come to pa me me!" he cried over to as it he had been a good me a visit, to whom 1 had done a treachery. He then cursed me very resentfully, because, forsooth, as he said, he was about to be made a sergeant In the company, and, what with lyng up with his wounded leg, some other (whom he mentioned) would get the post by favor of the captain ‘Sea what you have done,” said he, hold 1p his | But [ took alm with the other pistol and sent a ball singing over uis head, very close. “Trip it, my bonny lad,” I cried, “or th will be a hole of the same size in your thick head, which will be as good as a cornet's commission to you in ghe place to which it will send you!" Then I charged my pistols again and or dered them away. The trooper’s companion made bold to leave his horse and toward me, crawling upon the moss. trained my pistols o that he was convinc marksman by trade, attempt. All this made me in come But 1 stralghtly upon him d that 1 must bo a , and so desisted from th proud past reasoning, and 1 mounted In their sight, and made a work of fistening my accoutrements and t ing Donald’s girth So good day to you!” I cried to them, “and give my compliments to your cap and tell him from me that he hath of variets in his company very careful of thelr skins in this world—which is, maybe, as well—seaing that fn tho next they are se- cure of getting them well paid Now this w #aid with the word of and 1 was sorry for taunting th over I rode away, But I sct it ¢ happened, that may come in place, nothing iIn this hist b either aitered or extenutad ) all that night I fied, and the next day till T came into my own country of Glenkins, where, near Carsphairn, T left Donald with a decent man that would keej him safe for my mothe e. For little beast was tired, having come so and ridden so hard. Yet, when, I left him out in the grass park, there was not so mnch the mark of a spur upon “im, so willingly had he come over all the iea of heather land: While life 1 My father used often to tell us what Max- well of Monreith said when he lit off his gray horse at the stable door and turned him out after riding him home from Rullion Green “Thou hast done thy’ day's work, Pentland. There is a park for thee to fill thy belly in for the rest of thy days. No leg shall ever cross thy back again! So when I came to my own in the better days T made it my care that Donald was not forgotten; and ail his labor in the future, tili death laid him low, was no more than gentle exercise to keep him from overeating himself on the meaday lands of M fton. After the great day of'dule, when Cameron was put down at Ayrspioss, and I escaped in the manrer I have told of, 1 made my way by the little ferry port of Cree, which is a sweet and still little t6%, to Mayport, on the other side of the Sofway, and thence in another ship for the Low Countries. When we came within sight of the land we found that it was dismally gray, weari- some looking, and flat. The shipmen called it the Hook of Holland. But this was not thought right for the port of our destination, %0 we put to sea agady, where we were too much tossed about foF the comfort of my stomach. Indeed, every one o board the ship felt the Inconvenience, and two exceed- ingly pious women informed me that it interfered with their religious dutics. It was upon a Thursday night, at 6 o'clock, that we arrived at an outlandish place calied, as I think, Zurichsee, where we met with muech inhumanity and uncourteousness. Indeed, un- less a Scots merchant, accustomed to adven- turing to the Low Countries, had been of our company, It might have gome hardly with us, for ‘the barbarious folk had some custom of ill treating strangers who arrive upon a day of carnival. They entered our bark and began to ill treat us even with blows and taking from us what of money we had. But mercifully they were restrained before I had put my sword Into them, which, a sill m y n wn its ng far They | ¢ sts shall 1 not forget Donald. | line from Maisie Lennox, which sald that they were {n sore trouble at the Barlstoun, sometimes altogether dispossessed, and again | pormitted to abide in safety. Yet for my mother's sake she asked me to think of res turning, for she thought that for me the shower was surely slacked and the onding over past. So I took my way to shipboard with some desire to set my foot again on | the heather and see the hills of Kells rus | blue against tho lift of heaven, from the links of the Ken to the head end of Carsps { hairn, It was the high time of tho Killing when I came again to Scotland, and landed at Newcastle. I made on foot for Galloway - | by the tops of the Cheviots and the Border hills. Nor did I bide more than a night | anywhere, and that only in berd's huts, till I saw from the moors above Lochinkit, the round top of the Miliyea, which some fil-set people call an ugly mountain, but which 18 to me the fairest hill that the sun shines on. S0 at least it appeared now returning from abroad, where one can mako the highe st hill with a spade. Aye, for 1 knew that it looked on_Earistoun, where my mother | was—whom I greatly desired to see, as was most natural. Yet it was not right that I would reck- lessly go near Earlstoun to bring troublo {on my mother without knowing how the land lay. So I came down the west side of the water of Ken, by the doachs, or roaring | linn, where the salmon leap; and looking at the house from afar till my heart filled, thinking that I should never more dwell there, nor look any more from my mother's window in the quiet hour of even when the malds were out milking the kye. Even as I looked I could sce tho glint of scarlet cloth, and the sun sparkling on shin- ing arms, as the sentry paced from the wall gate to the corner of the wall and back again. Once I saw him go within the well house for a drink, and a great access of desire took me within. I remembered the coolness that was there. For the day was exceedingly hot, and I weary and weak | with travel (To be continued.) of Cook's Extra Dry Imperial e with your dinner makes it come 1t pleases everyon PATRONIZE HOME INDUSTRIES By purchasing goods made at the following Nebraska factorfes. If you vannot find what you want, eommunicate with the manuface ture:s as to what dealers handle their goods A bottle Champaj plete. BURLAP BERIS OMAHA BAG (0. \anufacturers of all kinds of eotton & burlap bags, cottom flo - sacks & twine a speclalty. 1 CiGAS 8. ik BREAKFAST FOOD, FLOUR, Wil. PRESTON & (9. Manufacturers of Preston's Californta Flakes, “ickle brand self ralsing flour & yeast. Do you se Preston’s vest flour? 0MAHA BREWING ASSOCIATION. Car loud shipments made In our own refrigerator ara._ Blue Ribbon, Elite Export, Vienpa Export, ind Family Export, delivered to all parts of city. S, BAKING NSOLIDATED COFFEE CD., Coffee Roasters, Spice Grinders, Manufacturers ierman Baking Powder and Germam Dry Hop Yeast, 1414 and 1416 Harney-st., Omaha, Neb. UWDER. FLOUR. S, F. GILAY, Manufacturer of Gold Medal Flour. E. Black, Manager, FU OMAHA UPHOLSTERING (0. AManufacturers of parlor fumiture, lounges, din. ng fables & folding beds. 25th ave., Boyd to ‘abler streets. Omaha. RNITURE FACTORIES, SOUTH OMAHA ICE AND COAL C0. Domestie & steam coal. We have tne west. Of- e 1001 Farnam-st. Telephone: Office 373, yard 1766 J. A. Do: gen') mana IRON WORKS, INDUSTRIAL TRON WORKS. Manufacturing & repalring of all kinds of ma. chinery, engines, pwmps, elevatore, printing preswes, hangers Wfting & coupimgs 14064 Howard ahs. PHOENIX FOUNDRY C). Fire hydrants, water & gas pipe, speclals fronts & fittings, street R'y car wheel tectural fron works. Offlce 307 B. 16th- hotley Archl. Omaha. in their own country, and engaged in un- godliness, it had been a folly to do. Then also it grieved us very sore that we had five soldlers who had come from Scot- land with us—the very scum of the land. They called themselves Captain Somervill band; but if, indeed, they were any soldiers of his mafesty’s, then God help him in his command, for such a pack of unwashed ruf flans it never was my hap to see. Speclally did these men disquiet us upon the Sabbath day. So fearful were thelr ocaths and curses that we feared that the boat would sink because of their iniquities. They carried themselves 20 exceedingly wickedly—but more, as I think, that we, who desired not their company. might take note of them. For at lea®t three of them were sullen, loutish boys, but the others led them on, and praised them when they imitated their blasphemies and sculduddery At last, about 8 o'clock in the evening, we came to Rotterdam, #here we quartered with a good merchant, Mr. Donaldson, and In the morning we went to a Mr. Hay's, where from that good man (whom may Ged preserve), we met with inoxpressible kind- ness. Thence we went to Groningen, whers Sandy already was. To be brief—that part of my life for the present not coming into the b tory—1 spent four years there, the most part of it with a young man namel James Renwick, a good student, and one very full of great ideas, which were to make Scotland strong against the house of Stuart. Ho came from Minnyhive, & village on the borders of Galloway and Dumfries, an} was a very decent lad—though apt, before he learned modesty on the moors, to take too much upon him. We were finally summoned home by a letter from the United Socleties, for they had made me a covenanted member of etand- ing because of Ayrsmoss and the carrying of the banner at Sanquhar While at Groningen I got a great deal of civility because of Sandy, my brother, whose nama took mo everywhere. Dut I think that in time I also won some love and liking on my own account. While I was away'I got many letters from Maisie Lennox, chiefly in name of my mother, . who was not good at writlug, for her father, though a lord of session, would not have his daughters tanght overly ‘much, lest it made them vain and neglectful of those things which are a wom- an's work, and onght to be her pleasure so long as the world last But though I went to the ecould not bring myself to think that I had any call to the ministry. I went, therefore, for the name of It, to study the law, but read justead many and diverse hooks. For the study of the law I8 in Itself so dreary that all other literature fs“but entertainment by comparison. 80 that one hook being easy to substitute for another, I got through a vast deal of excellent literature while 1 studied law at the University of Groniagen. So did also, even as I, all the students of law whom 1 knew in Holland and elsowhere, for that is their eusiom. But when I was ecallel home, § received & letter {rom the United Societios, writton in their pame, from s place called Panbreck, university 1 the first stride on the other side, 5o that there was mothing for it but to dismouat and Then when Richatd Cameron saw that he eould do no more; wad that all the men wes down that had foMowed him, his brother Michael also dying s bis feet, be swept his ord about Birv clear a space for a oment, Thea be swung the brand over his pull bim out. Then up came the dragoons, riding heavily and cursiog the sun and me. They rod. round skirting the moss, for, seeing the cvil case I was in, they dared not come nearer for fear of the same or worse. They kept where their meoting was held. First it told mo of the sadness that was on Seotland, for the many headings, hangings, hidings, chas- ings, outcastings and weary wanderings. Then the letter called me, as the branch of & wortiy family, to come over and take my rfl ich, fndoed, I was somewhat loath do, But with the letter there came & PAXTON & VIERLING IRON WORKS. 3't'rs of Acchitectural Iron Work., General Foundry, Machine and Blacksmith Work. En. ineers & Contractors for Fireproof Bulldings, Ofce and Works, U. P. Ry. & 8o. 17th Street, maha. = MANUFACTURING CHEMINI'S, THE MERCER CAEMICAL COMPANY. Manufacturers o fluld extracts elixirs, syrups, & wines, eompressed triturates, hypodermic tabe 1ats, pills & sclentific medical novelties. Omaha, MATTRESSES, COT, CRIDS. L. G DOUP. Manofacturer Maliresses, Spring Beds: Jobber Feathers and Plllows. North 14th and Nicholas $ts.. Omaha. S —— TGHT WATCH, PIRE SERVICE, “"AMERICAN DISTRICT TELEGRAPH. The only perfect protection to property. Exame it. Best thing on earth. Reduces lnsurance =8 ERALL FACTORIES. Manufacturers of men's & 1oys' clothing, panta, shirts & overalls. 202-212 8. 1ith-st, = = PAPER BOXES. THE OMAHA PAPER BOX 00, Manufacturers of ail kinds paper boxes, sheit boxes. sample cases, maili wede ding cake & fancy cand; boxes. 130810 Jones-s SHIRT FACTORIES, J. 0. EVANS---NEBRASKA SHIRT CO, Exclusive custom shirt taflors. 1615 Farnam strest. Telephone 908 e VITRIFIED CING BRICK, OMAHA, NEB. Factory tn Loulsville, Cass Co Quality of bricw Juaranteed to be 88 good as any inavufactured outside of this s'ate Henry Bolla “HENRY BOLLN, VIGOR o MEN Easlly, Quickly, Permanently Restored, ! Weaknoss, Nervousneasy Deobility, and all the trals goilssf =gy |