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The Huron Signal, 1883-04-13, Page 66 THE HURON SIGNAL, FRIA1', APRIL 13, 1 83. FIRE AND SWORD: GLENCOE. CHAPTER XIII. possessed only one strong passion—the desire of mossy and display. Tu secure this enol he was content to serve his am- SPVRY OF THE MASSACRE OF below' and exacting lord and master beadsmenexactly as a bundaau senna FRS. JOL1YEY--?Oar WILLIAM AND ISAAC- ♦L(tINi. his supe- rior -at ready command. It was to aesk the hospitable shelter of this LUAU'S house that M'Ian now turned aside from his long journey for the night. it was hate o' night when the Glencoe party knucked,Iand knocked heavily, on the outer gate Of thegroundsurroundiug the stately residence. Iu answer to the su ons a chained watch -dog deeply bayed the night, but to their repeated knocking there was fur' a time no other response. "Lcoks as if the household were abed," remarked John, son of the Chief. "Re -apply the head of your stick, Malcolm, the loons ate asleel.." said M'Ian. Thus encouraged, Malcolm dealt the wooden panelling of the outer gate seve- ral vigorous blows, whereat the watch- dog bayed the more fiercely, and promis- ed to rouse up the entire domestic es- tablishment, if they couldn't. Such $ result was not long deferred; First one door opened, and thensnother. and thereafter heads in various states of uudreaa and excitement appeared at the doorway, and at windows overlooking the sane. Presently an aged domestic with a lighted lantern swinging in his hand came walking dowu the grounds towards them. Approaching the gate he quickened his pace, and on nearing them assumed s deferential air, as he was uncertain of the possible rank of his visitors. "Who are ye ? and what want ye 7" he inquired, holding up the lamp that the light might reveal their faces. "I am M'Ian of Glencoe," answered the old Chief. "ls your master, the Chamberlain; at :,ease 7" "Tuts : Luta ! we wan ell thinking it was the great Earl himself, we whet,' evasively replied the old domestic, ''and we wase almost all abed. "You 11 be wantin' to see the Chamberlain r "Is he at home 7" again questioned M'Ian. "If so, I should like to see him." "Yee, for surely ; come this way, ' and having turned the key in. the lock he t'arust Lack the gate on its strung kingt s en1 r' -closing It lend the way towards the house. "Sin, sirs : what a nicht e 11411(1 and ssaw : And ys've c use all the way from the 1;101, have ye ?" questioned the do- urestie "t- Fort -William, all:the way, re ap• •wiled M'Ian. "Feight. gentlemen, but ye've had a plaguy long walk. And what's the folk saying te't at Ben Nevitf? And haw's year ain people in the GlenMuth, yon's a forbidding place to live M. Bar- caldine•s wild and desolate -looking artee, but you place is just fearsome. and what ahaut the Glenlyoti folks --are they living and thriving ? And the great Earl—is he moving among his 'ain folk, or is he minding the King's business in L'nulon ?" In this way the earrulene domestic popped a running fire of ah, tt, sharp questions at the Glencoe strangers e,ener- ally, until they had reached the door- -steps 11 the house, where they pulsed furl moment t 1, ash the su.,w trout their plaids and bonnets, prep.uat.cry t.. entering the hall. The several fellow -domestics eh.. had ventured the length of the fried d.,ur to learn the nature and cause Of the i ntiule- ous Visit, now hurriedly withdrew, and their conductor going into a s'ilt' tenni, 1 id aside his hand -lantern and went in quest .•f his master, the Chamberlain, who, he said, was engaged over a "jug. with ti;aptain Drummond of Argyll's. resiment a "very particular esteew,e i Livid- of the Chamb!rlein's, ' They had "come in late,' he further Bud. and yore Neely to "sit awee." take of such entertainment els stood on the (lienee, wall had the advantage of the table. v..uth un his side the Captain's wiper- "Aud to what fortunate accident am I indebted fur the:pleasure of th' welcome visit 'r' questioned the Chain dein, as. Bunting &cordiality which was Pery pleas- ing to his unsuspecting guest Briefly, and without reservutiou,M'la11 detailedns visit that day to Colonel Hill of Fort- ahem, of the Colonel's refusal to accept his oath un the ground of in- formality, of the safe-conduct permit note he had given him, along with his urgent advice to see Sir Colin, the Sheriff of Argyleshire at once. "There is the Colonel's note,' he ad- ded, as he unpecketed a "apeuchaw" made out of • portion of goat -skin, and laid the military goveruor'e permit on the table. "I ale anxious to see the sheriff without delay. The term of mer- cy is all but expired, and I am still fifty miles from lnversry. Perhaps I can shelter here for the night— under the roof of Breadalb•ne's chamberlain 7" "My hospitality is at your command," replied the crafty Barcaldine, assuming greet friendship for the old Chief," and the purpose:uf your journey to the Sheriff makes us still more endearingly friendly. I compliment you, M'Ian, on your con- templated adhesion to the Whig Goverc- ment. " "Long live the King 1" shouted Cap- tain Drummond, emptying his glans as he spoke. Moan winced under the toast. Had he given vent to the feelings and senti- ments of his heart and mind, he would have shouted out his devotion to the white cockade of the exiled King James party. So also felt Malcolm, whoee high spirit was restrained from verbal re- prisals by a sense of duty and submission to his beloved Chief. "Pray, friends, sit ye down fora space, and pass the glass round," said Barcal- dine, as he noticed Mien and his friends showing a restlesa desire to remove to quarters for the night. "It still wants an hour of midnight, and after that the morning WWI between it and the day. Sit ye down, then, Mad let's have a friendly social hour," and he mechanical- ly pushed the steaming punch bowl to- wards M'Ian desiring him to drink and replenish his glass. "But our walk has been rough and loud," pleaded M'Ian ; "our limbs are tired, and need rest ; nor business is ur- gent and of the last importance ; and by early daylight to-tuurr,w we must be Been on the road," "Nay, my good friends, the hurry need not be teo great," replied Barcaldine. "The Earl is expected here to -morrow. He can accept your offer of submission, and stay all possible proceadines agaiort you equally as well as Sir Colin. It will be your policy to stay over to morrow' and personally present your offer of oath. ' "In that case, ' unsuspectingly replied Mien, "if you are sure he will be with us to morrow I may as lief wait and see him. R'hat say you, lads 1•' Jelin and Malcolm Macdonald eaoh promptly expressed their readiness to abide by their Chief's decision, while Captain Drummond, who was observably touched with liquor, asked them to sit still and assist him and their good host "to damn Jacobitisnt," and driii!< their new King's health. "The Captain's brightly jocular," promptly pot in the diplomatic Barcal- dine, as he noticed a cloud of auger sud- denly darken the brows of the Glencoe men. "But you will Bit with us fur an hour, while your beds are being aired ; for tl.il is the last night of the year, and the gallant Captain, and I have nettle a compact t,. see it out, and the New Year et. The d..mcstics will cllebt'ate the oc- asien tonn,orrow night amongthen sclvex. Tonight we pave the opportunity mid ex- cuse for being merry." Tt © snow had begun to drift steadily down Froin the grayish -white heavens when M'lan, with his escort of sou and tome, -sen- John and Malcolm Macdon- ald—set out from Fort -William on their southward journey to Inv-erary. The distance between the two points by hill -road measurement was seine six - by alike or b. tter, and the path was one of the wildest and loneliest in Scotland. None but native -torn and bred then of the hills could have ventured to face the journey in such trying weather, and even to such strung men of the mountain and tL- mist as M'Ian and his party wars, eh.. journey was not unattended with the dangers of protracted exposure and the accumulated risks of the exposed winter rued. But the old Chief of Glencoe was in terrible earnestness about the matter. was deter mined to repair the error he had drifted into with all possible speed, and at all personal risks. The e:•. w storm might last for the af- ;ernoun aaa it did last through the afternoon and the cold wind might continue to whirl and drift it into their faces, but, come what night, Mien had made up his mind to finish the journey without once halting to leek back. They had r:. •t 1 r'ce:.r _el Many miles ,on their way when the darkness of right—which the covering of snow on the road only slightly retarded --set heavily down on their path, and obscur- ed from view everything but their most immediate aurroundingn. Shortly after six o'clock they had eached the ferry at North Balaohulish, and crossing directly over the mouth of Loch Leven, they pushed straight on in a south-easterly direction, without onoe stopping to apprise the domestics of the Chief's house of their proposed journey, although they would necessarily etre to be absent from home for several Clays end were • ithin a Mile of Invercoe -' No,' firmly- answered, Minn when: solicited by his son John to turn .:aide to Invorcoe for one brier half hour, " I have pat the welfare, ray, event the lives, of n.y people into jeopa ly by a fatal delay, and it is my duty ,1 repair the mistake by every means in t v low- er Let us hurry oil The sr, .v still 'ails, l,ut I will accept it as a inding- .sheet ratio. than turn away from tq pureero. T-u:o is urgently f,reciuus in - this cas., and not, even ,tie. h:df !Hour can be seedy spared. It's putting our neck. into the lion's mouth. We must give the (lover.iuient rnnti,tns lie excuse for a cot,ted rev e11;e.' Su rea2utied the sturdy old chief. mod- els to reeeir the error of his overdue ,ubmisston to the King's authority by •he exercise ,•f a self-de::y.':: heroism wortby of a Greek Spartan. Leaving the south abort• of I:::Iachnl- .sh, they Wert !-:e:at.tl� atir:,�ling through the deep defiles and ue•untain- uw stems of the euhlim.ly !.i'!„1 :and wxxtett disrriets..i Appin. Along precipitoti3 ridges ..f hills, by the edges of deep raviiier, into the hal. . lows.of wht:h the hoarse- torrents fell and buil'.: , through pathless glens, silent an•1 blew: .'t •:eetle 1 ut eeggy moorland tracts they reeeltitely toiled. tindinq a t rm fo.lting where lees practis- ed and experienced uoutitani.' r. would levo wetly aiel dul,inuJly stepped. . ft was nn lt•cd s cued, bleak, exi..eed, tnd .::uioereas journey. The anew was still whirling down, and .eel already ly ,ng sex cral it„ht's thick en their path. Ever_ wl:itr• the 111o11ttai0., front base to -animit with the straits Ix4ween were rshitentel e'er : the tarts of dark 16117 eater end tl.c openings of the deep !evince I ;r king all the bleaker for the .ntrnat. In room•• pla •es the Hind had -whirled and piled up the drift to treach- tr,us det:th.. The awful silence of the hills was round at•out thein. Not • sound met the car, not a solitary bird 1' as alt the ging, reicher lass to single blackface ” seen nay where unii'Iig the esps of the hills. Suddenly, as they turned the aper of giant Lill, anal wt re di see:eine! on the point of their journey aimed at for .he might, the water of L.,:h Crest.' lay spread bef.•reelicm like a black sheet iri Itlllee at thegame fully counterbalanced that advantage, as the pastime was • favu ite indulgence "f his, and alums. daily entered into a barrack quarters, or wherever opportunity &fretted. For the space of five minutes the two men eyed each other and wrestled 1. r superiority in grim silence11 ; 'then, as if by mutual consent, they relaxed each teen - grasp, and eh withdrew ,(jrs haud,lt ay. Ing the phut of superiority undecid- ed. tea 1 C ut in A drawn tt e, • •�tatn, p Barcapdiwe, "and if no credit is gained to e ther man, neither is there any cred- it lost. Replenish ,;lassos, gentleuao." "Nay, there is a show of credit gained for me," rejunied the argumentive Cap- tain. "I have at least wlth_t..od a Mac- donald of the Glen. I ant yet unleatea even there. "There are more men than John Mac- donald in the Olen," remarked Malcolm to a slightly defiant tone. "Oho ! my smart young cook -bird. ' sang out Drummond. "Is that how the pendulum wags ever there—ehT' and the riled Captain bestowed a scornful gla..ee on the speaker, and laid down the Nett- er which he was in the act of lifting to Within five minutes the cillo re'urn- ed, and as':ed the Glencoe party to fol- low hill., he led ;hem through the long hall of the house. and up a spacious flight of stairs to s large reception nem, occupying the greatest prrtien of the first flat, wherein the Chamberlain and his military guest Captain Drnnmond sat. Into this room the loud -mannered Chamberlain effusively welc„med the thence, party ; for although he jurlg.•,l ]Klan an enemy to the Breadalbane in terrets.lie was to crafty too openly elver it, and was plausible in his rec.'pti •n of the wl iQt .lin. Id "f snow whirl, ov. tial - his c,sitota to a notable degree, booth in ped a!1 el-', whit s litt e way 1..'owl a:oaw:h •eu1 ""4 'r. the semi-emstelletoti edifice of IV aaldhp ''M lien is late, lout weleome'," he n - Renese toss 1 siert them. "Our joorn.y is over for the mttht, tads," said Allan , 'es rly an 1 sound• ly aocuui;l'tiled le. ' .1 the wl leh thank marked. dir•ctin t thein to the far end • f the erten, where his Raul. the Captain, was seated before a peat -fire, alongside of a table on whisk articles of refresh - meet in the shale cif victuals ..rad atr.ng his bearded lips. "Oblige me, then," and he again planted his right elbow de- terminedly on the table and invited a fresh contest with the new opponent. Quick as thought Malcolm threw him- self into position at the table, and grasp- ing the Captain's hand, all at once pees ed it by sheer strength of muscle (la down on the beard. "Well dos !" cried itarcaldine, with well feigned enthusiasm. "A foul stroke, by heavens!" shouted the defeated Captain. "I was taken at an advantage." In which case %re pla) again," calm- ly replied Malcolm, and he extended his hand against the Captain's once more. "The contest was again sharp and short. In three seoends the Captain's arm was lying eat un the table. A smile of satisfaction peeped moment- arily across the countenance of the aged Chief, who mentally rejoiced in the suc- cess of his beloved and trusted foster - son ; while, on the other hand, the fees Of the boastful Captain darkened tato pent-up glo.nn. "Lefts ! ' he roared. "My right aro is handicapped. The previous strugtl - with John had weakened it. There Y'si and presenting his left band to M he found it grasped and doubled on the table alnnrot instantly. ti "Glencoe has the aldv$ntage of you fit muscle, gallant Captaitl," remarked Bar- caldine. "Then, shoot ate ! if I don't madousy• self upsides with him at the point of the sword,' and springing to his foot t1ie Captain quickly unsheathed his sword, and deliberately held it pointed at the breast of the young Jacobite Highland- er. Surprised, but siert of eye and muscle Malcolm grasped the hilt of his clay- more, but was prevented frorn drawing it by' a forbidding wave nI the old Chief's hand. "1 nsiteath 1 ' roared the excit •1 Cspta:n, "for I nic:u: 1. auert myself, here ley hetes ns ' and making a sudden step round the t tole in the direc- tive of Male -,lin, he tweet himself c af- fronted end•r:ot half -way- le the sword - point itf the roe:ule young •'ac•,bite,wh0 on eotieing the aggressive u.• ee:rent w • ' :•• veered to firmly resent it 114 m Z co 00 co D -0 m r n — Z D z -< 0 m 0 ed CD O Thus reasoned with and importuned, Mien expressed his willingness to sit and share in the convivahty of the hour.. "Nee., nay, my gallant ,tain," in - ',reposed the astute Barcaldine, when he noticed the elevated 'tubber of the (i•,vernmehht of King William driving headlong en the rock of politics and Jacnhitism, • socialty and not vexed pol- ,tics must be the order of the hour." "Then if we cant have politics, let's late a bout at physicial preteens," re- plied the boastful Captain, for I've heard of the (llencne men as being sir.. ng men, lied da11n'me if 1 don't have it properly tested to -night. Here, friends, (address - John and Malcolm), will either of you oblige me wish a hand, just ft'r ,;port,.' end planting the elbow ..f his richt arm Minty down on the table, he extended his open palm towards John, son of the Chief, and invited him to a trial of strewth, superiority being decided by he who was first able to press the other's arm sideways rat down on the table. The Chiet's son not wishing to le un• '.0(1 The 'west. •f Pee a:d,re, it is needful friendly, and touched torh•pe by a feel - liquor were 1luoed. to ttentiot', waw rn p«eel of •w ••f one "Captain Drummond Mian of filen Mg ••f clannish pride, frankly accepted Campbell, who ache 1 as lard .toward woe,- said Barcaldine, and the two men the challenge, and a short, sharp strug- r u.rA.t shook hands acres, the table, with care• gle u,r sureemacy ensued. few but sincere c•.rliality on M'lan'e side, but only w ith assumed fervour um the part of the Cap'ain. and churl a lain (u t :e Earl n yste. He had Leant ,•f M'lan's eou- wt for the Earl's uaasure, of pscifi- caMse, acd of his p•rotiacte refusal of •e1nlamiou, pad boral a lireadall.ane add Irian sad his 1 &midi* as eveteiea se •u did he He was a time errng, The contest was entirely underfloor *treaties and si'ent, and was only rtiai. fee d t . the ease of the onlookets bp Prelimit arise over, the Chamberlain, the intense facial expression of t(e corns• who wee rciob aaly anxious t • know the ...as, and the muscular workings of purpee of Olenene's unl„etked fur visit, the exposed parts of their wrists and if Naming man shallow at heart and invite.' 'Lo party to sit dow11 and par 1 hey were hot h strong men do uodertch for CC a- "`2 ledical Hall ---F JOB7Dki�, Chemist and Druggist' R'n., h..� .. . 1 ......'...: :. thin Hit .'. pn,dy qt':' , a, bye St.elfk. Horn awl t ":r ile.ticineb i'erfwner), Toiltt Articles au 1''a,wr Outwit.. To ur: co\ Tr N UFO. Eiysipe1a , Serofula. Galt l:he:tm, Eruptions, and all dIse•ases .•f the Skin and BI'.od are cured by Burdock Blood Bitters. It .urges all feul humors from the system, imparting wtren'}jl eel vigor at the Fame time. Bright** Dlwa•e.,Dlabete,. Beware of the stuff that ere, :c1:- to cure these diseases or other serious Kid- ney, l'rinary.or Liver Diseases. as they only relieve for a time and make you ten times worse afterwards, but rely solely nor Hr.p Bitters, the „i:ly remedy that will surely ami permanently euro you. It dostreys and removes the cause of disero*e ito effectually that it rover re- t tints.. ALLAN LINE! ROYAL MAIL_ RDWARE. - -_---(it MCK1411\ ,l• ., C ross C ut SaWS & Axes h•, r; cCEw c 1XtNr - Table and Pocket Cutlery --Beat Value, \r.•I t.wr,I" Aacuctr• rot ir. 11. . ,..f'u . f 11! L:,:• of Shelf Hardware. Paints and Oils at Bo atom Prices. -.•.`•. Ilt- Barb Wire--PestMade. W_ N1CIENZT _ DANIEL GORDON CABINE"r MAKER, THE LEADING UNDEBT ANN EIC. FURNITURE AT BOTTOM PRICES FOR CASH. �• I have now on hand a very large 'tock, such a. Chairs of all kinds, Tables, Bedsteads) Parlor Setts, Side Boards, Rat- tan Chairs.8ic., &.o., Bic_ Doors West of the Post Ofce. ,fVERI'QOI.-I.I»IK>NDERRV-t:I.A�.:tovv I2 I'ortton pert Ian, Pert Ian NI wasssTisT SSA r'strt.'e:4-. 1.114M:t 7.1A V. IIs11fa.. 4t.r. !.::4th. 4'Ik('ASf'IAN .1. )lar. h AIA. Nalifae. 'LIANA list. l'.1 ill SIA �-. Hallf..t. 4prt% nth• .S4 RDI NIA X L %aril Ish. Ilalib, e..\ yr.1 1411. rol.r.vFFWAN. Ii•Itfax..t t'riI 21►t. 1'#'kL4lAN. Halifax. Apra fish. y A RAI A rI Ax. icato t: MA. Mb. PARISIAN. 111111i1/1 T. May 15th. which She steamer. will Lr de • nee hew Quebec - lost 'swim uebec.l{oA'swim Maws Tercet9w it h t tae namad Ss�serewa with at Ill tTer>r 11 007 sill=IIwR wthe creamer •tAa trt<• For tickets and every lefeetsation apply to it. ARIMTROWO. Ticket Assaf cderitb CHAS. A. NAIRN --It 44 1 1711 --- NEW FRUITS - C 11 RISTMAS. NEW ARRIVING EVERY DAY.v An Inspection Invited.