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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Huron Signal, 1883-06-01, Page 66 Oft pp.'-' . rte. ' oMw�M+r•�.+—.—u. '."114 til'itrt a' .;, 1,1k0 ;...;-.rr41;' .r:.r' r•'F 9"T THE HURON 3IONALa FRIDAY JUNE I, 18 S. FIRE AND SW(il: : A STORY OF THE MABSACRI OF GLENCOE. CHAPTER XX. ALLAH THE NYEf'ti DRiaal OF BLOOD. Things had sttled into their ordinary peaceful attitude in Glencoe. The Chief had duly convoked his Clan, and ucgainting them %kith the terms of his " submission," enjoined them therefore to live peaceably and give no cause of offence uuder pain of hie displeasure. So the men uf the Glen had returned to their usual peaceful .v ,cations, unsus- pecting the bloody vengeance which n perfidious malice was about to wreck en their heads. The nionth of Febuary had come accompanied by a heavy and continuous fall of snow. The air waa soft but chil- ly, and when the wind blew it had a sharp and cutting edge. Fur five hours the snow had drifted headily down, and already in the hollows and great gorges of the Glen it lay piled and banked up in •' drifts " several feet in depth. The surrcuuding mountains, toy, were once more clothed with ,smite and white rates. The peaked brew uf the lordly "Chancellor" was re-tuvested with snows, and the softer bosoms of the Three Stater were draped with a yet softer uu" - khan their wild and romantic beauty owned. From the hundred shelving cliffs uf the hills the erewhile white• cataracts hung 1 ,t •k and gloomy by contrast with the w.mter anues. It was a Saturd.ty afternoon, end the rade lubuia of day beim;, ever, a cum- pany • f clansmen were ;;othee l f•.r social t:uk in the paidfic rd'o:n uf the !rot at Aucl:en:ti..u. The talk. it hich was at tirat eencral, reteite•l naturally to the iuipendi ' eri- su test, oleic:t M Ian's recent :;s - !Ion " had just delivered them. •' And I am not sure vet, lads," rroke is old Allister Macdonald, the viilsee tacksman, " whether or no we can cry earaeelves safe. T have just heard from old'Joht:, the ferryman at Balachuliah, that there has of fete been a great stir- , ring amoagat :he •ve!diera compriains; the guard at the north tido of the ferry, and the yesterday the guard was doubled— explain it who can 1" A commotion of feeling succeeding on the tackarnan'a words stirred the . •nn- pany from end to end, and whetted ..eir appetite for alarm into a iteen and t pa - (jou, r :ate. " Let us look well to our claymores, lads," said Roland, younger brother of the tackraan, " we must not 'allow the redcoats to come upon w with the ploug- herns in our hands.'' " I fear Breadalbane'a treachery more than aught else," acknowledged Mal- colm, "but given fair play the pease, of the Glen can be held agairist any •dds• " " Argyll's regiment will nett: over- awe the men uf Glencoe," said. a •. ice • " if Campbells are powerful the Mac• t:,nalds are brave." •' Has Duncan Don, the Br,:eu:a ;et- tcr'carrier, been in the Glen durir a my absence i" questioned Malcolm, 1 -.:king i.-..juiringly round the circle. • "He has," affirmed several v.•icet. " And what's his neer, met! What taith he of Minn s submission '. And ?.ow wage the public tongue in th, pest t•4wn Lraemar •• We have had his honest crack, �Lel- tut,' replica the '1ickaivan. •u:.i the itraentar folks, -he e'en says. are "ere their alit sma' c•.ncerns t . inter• ,t.eldle much. er actively, with other fvike' attain ; but he bringet:: a '.•rd's whisper that the Glenlyai folks arc,al• • ready reoiuii:; i❑ the lu•ospe..t • .5'r rl eedy •1estruction, and their ;kc tati- tien of the Glei•. ' "Let there then le ok city. "f I ,•..:.1. if they have the lust of conquest s itng, for they will rev..r plough the ha:l Melds of Gleucoc Sterile trough it be . reg - gel and ur.ecalable its precipatouts mountain heights ; stren; and f.e.fuent its destructive ft.•ds ; grey and mist - woven its a:uusiy skies ; yet, with all that, lads, we leve e. well, and would willingly die any clay in its defence !'' ata Matcolm's eyes Jawed wide theeel.t of a high and resolute spirit, hie senti- ments beime roe:prorated by henry monstrel .ns of (spire val. •• Ay. 5'v MA:,•"lou..• sari t!, 4 - roan. •• but craft willies cuts 'eeent•, .r..l deeper than tl:e ax r•.1, :rad f;..•r bane's tic tt:.`.e-y, , :u To admit. is t. be watched suet feared. • "He and Ar,;vl: set a trap ter us. as- sisted by the malicious Dalrymple." said Malcolm, •• but they are now Idled of their purpe se. The Sheriff "f Are) 1'.• slice has acceptor) and wittsessod :Shish s 'submtssi•.n.' as ye all knew, and the wolves wit eaci- anal, their savage teeth "r• an empty u.•,ithful. Praise Leaven for that " Which: as •...r utrfuttuee," iurl•t•tu- t wwly added nenald, the tacksman•, brother. " God, I would have shouted triumph at the sight of two hundred claymores defensively bared is the (filen. I'te proud hill. would Wave Netted. their brave glitter, the craitvad 1,a:la wee to them as a new sun, and the wird hawks and vultures et the valley follow- ed in their destroying wake. Heaven 'vend us soon a brush with Argyll's red- Qoated minions ' The extraordinary aninati and dar- ing which marked the delivery of the speaker's vaunting words iufeeted with manifest power the group of excitable claaamgn who surrounded the board, and the walls of the Inn rang for a space with demonstrations of feeling I*stile to the Breidalbauu Ca:npbtella, to Argyll's cunacripted soldiery at Fort -William, and to the plotting enemy of the Jacubitos— Dalrytuple, Master of f'' kir. , tis " Nay,. nay, men,'; interposed Mal- colm, caatiug • repruvint, ,;lanae towards young Ronald. " We must nut allow our feelings to over -tide our judgment, and what's of more concern, our pledged oaths. What are our Chief's com- mands ?—Live peaceably, conforming to the ' oath,' and if a Government -musket is levelled against us tate undying infamy will be theirs." " But what if Allister's wards be true 1" argued Ruuaid. " Are we to be butchered in cold blood f With the guard doubled at North Balachuliah, and a whisper of coming veegeaoee on Glen- coe in the mouths of the Olenlyon Campbells, I for one will sleep with the sword -hilt within reach of my hand." "'Ready, aye ready !' is a safe mot- to," shouted an euthustastic clansman. and a commotion of altercating voices followed, in the midst of which honest Delman Don, the Braemar letter carrier, pushed up the door and stepped into their midst. Malcolm, with the enthusiaasw of :a true Highland friendship, hurried to- wards the iaculner and slrsspe•1 him warmly by the hand. '• And what are the folks u•e by in (llenlyou saying about us. Duman . • he asked of him, " Deed, toe Eael'a fold: are jest red - w.:1 at y•.0 .men," frankly repi ed the letter -carrier. They never hail touch n .brei u' yc but ever siuce they gut lietid o' the eutra.e •in their old 1 artisan, the Red Hughiu—who ha, s• rte the Gude knows where—they Lave rained their sintntering.ltate into (ea.:: imq.ach- mert and, let we say it in a ducroot whisper, they're now saying that the nest will iet. soon harried. and never a fugitive fit will be allowed to fly the Glen. " The c including sentence, which was breathed rather than spoken into the ear ut Malcolm, was overheard by several of the clansmen, and produced an obvious feeling of alarm. "And. what say they in suppert of their malicious hopes ?" questioned Mal- colm. "That Breadalbane, Argyll. ..and the perfidious 'Dalrymple are togethermatur- ing a plan cf revenge on Glencoe. and that M'Ian still refuses to subscribe to the oath. But we should know, things better than that, Malcolm," he added, "for I hear ye and John, the Chief's son escorted hits to Invetary and back • •The 'oath' was duly administered and accepted in my presence," replied Mal- colm. "It's the private malice of the Breadalbano hien that would seek to in- jure us. What you have said aro things as they really are. Let us hope 1 r bet- ter regard, even at the hanks r fe er open enemies.' "Au2 what," interrupted yout:g Ro- nald. "what but mischief and injury are we to expect at the hands of a sept whose 1•regenitors first stole aur lands, and, because we have reale just reerieals on their cattle, fattened en these lands, are branded by their titled head, Bread - ethane, a.i a set of harrying thieves. last ua take to our daily field seer:: with belted claytntre till, at least. the eao:rds lift.' Farther argument was for t'e t.. •went interrupted by the entrance of Malcolm's father, the old Inv.'s nkat:, ccornl•anied by Allan Macdoeald. the hard aid 1,eal Ossain of the Glen, who was also some- thing of a seer and m'•stic. He was a man of many years. of veneralde aspect, and lofty stature yd' unbowed by tithe. He Bead at Invercoe• the Chief's village, at the north-eastern extremity of the Glen, and had, 1•y virtue of hie year. and position, free aces' to all houses and 'octal beards in the Olen: He had i,een "west the Glen a bit. ar.•.i had '•u5' the by . ac.r.' 1 •• ke.i in oil the h %nest inkee f.- er .A•:cl.etiai.:. And right welCC,me was he st Maleate:, s bar !. ••Ar.1 what's this I Lear the Iuiercoe f:l'•d saying about an enc.' t;si• n • fin mei 1•1 ea ye La' the ,alter .:at .+•res-' tie,•: sit•• the t,.. ••.u. vlora t' eat r .:•wt : i . ' *rated in' t: _• t n., .. ''4 as: ..u. ,.• Mento. hied behind obecuriug cloud& lib, lads, but that was a sad night fur the poor, harried folks o' the Olen !" and touched with? emotion at the recital or his own harrowing dream, the aged bard shaded his dimmed eyes with his hand. A touch of sedum muateutarily fell un the hearts of the Clansmen, and each looked to the other fur a Mr rd of cheer. "And you awoke and !t' d it to be only a dream," remarked Malcolm, anxi- ous to counteract the fee:i ig of despair which the bard's vision seemed to sud- denly engender. The reaasurigg ex- planation, however was only half suc- cessful. The loneliness and dreariness of the Glen as • place of human habita- tion were peculiarly favorable to impres- sions of mysticism and to the dominance of strong superstitious feeling. "True, true, Maloolui, lad ; it was, thank Heaveu, no more than a dream ; but Heaven sometimes forewarns folks, we aU know. of Doming ills, and only yestereve the grey February sky took the color of blood over above the Glen." An awed feeling,; which had more of superstitious horror than actual fear, took poessueaon of the company for the moment, and a painful silence superven- ed. "Nay, nay, good sir bard,' lightly re- torted Malcolm, "we are not to be frightened by dream' and celestial spec- tres ominous of blood. Came, Allan, cultivate a brighter fancy; drink, for the ale is good," and he handed the aged bard a flagon of the stoutest home-brew, The bard drained the foaming jug, and relapsed thereafter into a rapt and medi- tative mood, which for several minutes was scarce broken by more than the briefest whisper, or words, the company understanding the mystic's limed*. ••And has Allan never a sung to chaut us ''• •;uustioned Allister, the tacksinan. The bard's meditative attitude had prompted the request, and, thus impor- tuned. he began to till the apartment wherein they sat with a low, rhythmic, and rich, though munotonqus movement of voice, which was rendered in the matter •.f a song, and which embellish- ed with the tlutrets of a high-flown rhetoric the glory of their Chief, and the dev..tion, promises, and bravery of the Maed. nalds of the Glen. Under the hand's inspiring words, the feeling of awe with which the recital of hisl..rewarning dream had tilled them teased frum their minds, and was exhal- ed in the enthusiasm c f their reawakened spirit. like the clouds in the absorbing light of morning sun. The scene, humble and rude though it was, would have formed a striking sub- ject fur the genius of a painter's graphic brush, and those alone who know and understand the Celtic eharacter—impnl- sive, credulous, generous? and win-rlori- ously brave and ardent as it still in a great measure is, and as history eminent- ly proves it to have always been—can appreciably imagine the ardour, intensity and bold and striking personal outline of the characteristically Highland scene. Although the meeting in the inn was an essentially social ane, the native war- like ardour of the Clansmen showed 'itself in the gleam of their eyes and int the ag- greseite physical demonstrations with which they sought t.. accompany and illustrate the singer's words Li the fire of their wild spirit several dirks wren drawn front undiaceverable• depths of waist belt and shoulder plaid, the Clans- men digging them into the rude table, or striking them frenziedly against each other until the murky, peat'reckit at- mosphere ••f the place was filled with a crawd of steel -struck sparks. The lard's inspiring word; emulative of the .feeds of their ancestors 'seed of - plausive of their own personal courage ani prowess, had_ more or less reflected every individual Clatuuan in the room. Veen:: Ronald, the tacksnian's broth- er, impetuous and rash-sl.uken at all times, was aflame with high and pt•ond excitement. The old tacksman himself felt ten years younger under the inaf.ir: - toni of the bard's heroic strain ; even Malcelcu forgot for the uwweut the pro• dent ccunsel dictated t., him by the Chief, being full 4.1 martial ardour at d tire : and honest Duncan Don was con- fessedly. ready to ding aside fur a time the prosaic and tngleriuus post -bag that he aright buckle on a thirtieth in detente of the Glen. itut this hitch -sounding exultation and Iwatlikg display were destined to be of shorter duration than even its own natural subsidence --which was bound to have •tuickly foilewed—w.-uld necessarily has a Levu. In the midst of this delirous rxulta- uun e.1 feeling and seatiment the their of 1 the r.••,iw was quickly thrust up, and a stllarger with a disturbed look red an excited manner thrust bra matted head inside and signalled the compare, to separate. "What would Aegis way 1-' listened Mdoolm, npproec►ing the -visitor, who remained speech/sus for the sorsa "peak, maw + what ails your teekit toil oe' "The rodents an call.g up the (filen,' he at le gth cried ; "eo rise, lode, and get rash owe to yottr bootee, fur 'La but God kens whether at no we wines het to make the Meeker and the brack- ens serve es for beds tonight. i'p tui' ye. and awe' " • • ' Dee•i: ye;. lad. answered the venerable bard. it was of the Olen is truth. 'u.•' s sa sight it' was • Nere the re.i •c'$ts ant' tag to ' ask- edae•i,e "Ai.a. yes, rel'iieki the bard. with a ser. .is Lead shake ; "and the Gine was roc.: eel. tire ani smoke—with the wail of rr tilers and children and the cries of tent._ men — an•i t' rehes gleamed tl:r tali the black ni;ht—and blood shine.: the white see•wa—and the stream e 1 t ►ssi]n wept and scabbed with 'Arrow— and the aroused eagle screamed frau its wilt! eyrie •••r the hills --and, struck with t a',wd meet- withdrew to two wounds the inn, from end to .aced, was cleared of its noisy occupants, and all hurried froom the tillage towards thh main pathway et the (filen, anxious th4t they might perchance get $ glimpse, of the redcoats before their arrival at the precincts of the clue, if they (the soldiery) ahould of to come that length. t "Where is the evidence of your) wards, Angus " cried many, looking inquiring- ly about in all directions. "Whore ars the redootsl We see them not." "Yonder they conic, lads," answered Augus, pointing straight down, the wine- ing slope of the Glen to its eastern end , and,,tree to his wont, a long thin line of radoosta were seen defiling into the opening of Glencoe from the Inverlooby side, and making. their way in the direr• tion of the Chief's residence at Inter- cue - "Allan's dream is road," cried the ita- petuous Ronald- "Every man to his claymore !" "Nay, lads,," interposed Malcolm, "whither so fast away on a supposition 1 The soldiers cannot harm ua We are accepted of the Government which owns them. Let us each peaceably adjourn." "What !does Malcolm fear to light?' retorted the former speaker. "When the Chief sounds the alugan," calmly answered the other, "then, Mal- colm Macdonald's claymore will flash first and farthest into the thickest of the fight. Meantime, to your homes every ane of you, Wad I shall berry down•the Glen and learn the purport of this un - looked for visit. Disperse !" and waving his brother Clansmen back in the direc- tion uf their village homes, he drew his shoulder plaid tightly about him and hurriedly set off in the direction of In- erCue. To eat (v)PRItrsu The elleLI Ia long distanced by a len cent battle of Poison's Mittman; the newest and best paiu remedy. It cures ookl,oramps,colic pain in the head, sciatica, pain iu the chest ; in fact it is equally etamesome se an external or internal remedy. Try a 10 cent sample bottle of the great pain remedy, Ferviline. 'Sold at J. W ilsos'a Large bottles Only YI) cents. Try a mani- ple bottle of Netviline, only 10 mote. Daughters, Wires, Mothers, look 5't► your health ! The many painful and weakening diseases from wbichyouwffer despairing of a cure, can be remedied by that unfailing regulat. r and unfailing tonic—Burdock Blood Bitters. Ask quer Dru(giat for proof. l • 'WOW. Ober •, basemen. &ovary, Yves ee Cruor, elaeewes, Hare no fear of any of these diseases if you use Hop Bitters, as they will pre- vent and cure the wont canes, eve n when you have been made worse by :Anne great paffed up pretended cure.. Every household is liable to be visited by sodden sickness. Often it occurs in the night, distant from the doctor, noth- ing in th , house to give reiief,the patient is sure to get worse. A box of Ayer's .'ills, in such an emergency,would arrest disorders which, if not taken in season, may beeuute deadly. nor craters are the rarest and nest Salters aver Slade. 'i'hey are compounded from Hops, Malt, Buchu, Mandrake and Dandelion—the oldest, best and most vwlwble medicines in the world aid c•.ntain all the beat and meet curative proven:es of all other n- ntetiirs, being the greatest Blued Purifier Liver Regulator, and Life and Health Restorio. Ageet on earth. No disease or ill health can p'.s..1 5'V lung exist when these Bitters ere used, se caned and per- fect are their up•.ratioms. 'they give new life and vigor to the aged and i ntirm. To'all w hose employ - ments cause irregularity of the trowels or unwary organs, or who require an Appe- tizer. '1'.•:tic -and tnild Stimulant, liop Bitters are iivaluarde, (wing highly curs - lite. tunic :old atituuiating, without in- toxicating No natter what your feelings or sumpe, t are, what the disease or ailment as, use Hop Bitters. Dn't gait until you are sick, but if yt.0 feel bad or miserable use Hop hitters at once. It may save your life. Beatitude have been saved by so:doittif. $500 will be paid for a ease they will not cure or help. Do not atttfer o: let your friends suf- fer. but use and urge them to use Hop Bitters. Remember, flop Bitters is no vile, drugged, drunken nostrum, but the Purest and Best Medicine ever made ; the "invalid's Friend and Hope," and no prison or fancily should• be without them. Try the Bitters to -day. lm 1 N THE MDKRN KEEN RACE Oof business .vtaapetion the dyspeptic Is hese it, beadii appev.and is likes man lighting with one band tied. The brain is disabled frusta 1uaui l.•ient pbospboriae.t fat to carry on the menial pro,esses.and the feeling.( Intel testas! sic is very distressing. sad aserl• uta •Ire u5' ba<•k to mental workers. Them is po.twnir.ir front 5'M pante--te of Indlasaa� *ethos Into the hi.,,.! forming the teem, eat- ri•ing hndarhe••.. urttraletc pains sad a gene - rat -.-•u•,• .,r d5'.-ewthxt. wrrrckeau,'e and 1� f'k' phattr.rand I altars W4 LAt,e thought. Tetatisorey 1 for heroes• h tree:encs as nanny IS speed% 5'r queue.• iasaw. 0 • H 0 NEW Afl-VALS SPRING &SUMMER GODS Scotcli, Eulis Msh & CailadaiIl Tueds ITT/ U NLOP TO THE f dRMHRS OF"I'IiE fOC6T1' OF NIR0' GENTLRMBN,--By request ttf. e :::r e n ul..)re• of tete yeomen uf tbeCuntry, we have decided to manafactun' 'ft3r,LAPIzra .AT I) OV I 0— MACRI1' e, in connection with our Plow busiuesa L r t: e -tear 1883, which fur material and workmanship will be second to write 1`• r yt .five ye.ur orders fur reapers or mow- ers until you see those manufactured Sty to We will attend all the spring fairs in County, which will give thefanorts r. z" .l , ! ••ttutiay 14, inspect ricer machines. We will warrant our machines to ,Ie::....,•! w•rk els any other made. We will'al- so have a number of god LAINT ID rZ0LLER8 for the aerie! trate. COOKING STOVER always on hand, and will be sold crew,. 1• r cooh, or to exchanged for w..od. Cash paid for old iron. >EEGMILLER & CO. .Goderich Foundry DANIEL CORDON • NILCABINETd41KER, N 141 tDIAG IT\ S inert :t a♦ ER. -: • FURNITURE AT ,•• • :'1.lt1,4' i. Asti' . 'fit I have now to lei.. ' . .err ..:i. a'• t'., sukl, .0 Chairs ofall kinds, 'Tables, L edsteads' Parlor Setts, Side Z3oards, Rat— tan Ch a ii s & c., 8zc. 8zc. 2 Doors West of the Post Office. AS. A. \9IRN y —tdA. o\ l: •. • t n:• • !t r . K New Fruits, Groceries, Provisions, etc,, An Inspection Invited, t.r 1.4 1H;C�Srt1l%ARS. Sarnia Agricultural Implement IIanufactnring Company. (LI1tdI ED �dANUFACTURERS OF Reapers, Mowers, Binders & Threshers. See the D..miaion Separator before y.,u ;• ....hese The Eas.ra: Ile •.begs Simplest and most durable roach hie in tide market. LI -16"E (71- 1E 1 '1'!+i w �� '1' }.. 1)w Address at Once QEORCiT A ROSS, (:e•,-rs! .5',r^,.•. tioderech Ari Designs Ill W1111 Ppers. New is the time, it yes wash moor two $ice reeves at heave. to see Puficr'a rosin. pager Ne has over 20,000 Rolls of the Latest Designs De tat hal esters. sae at Mese kr thaw ver i n• %eh inferior eeeda. ('a:1 and se • 1.• m the, are tie 1es1 wales Is tows. sad must be mid. The Latest Siog llazara� i r alci�� ant Fh1oos seta.t Y5' A No -tall Busch(on on A little est ,'Aiut there dren 1 this ei "1 love th said a k'hilai is if 1 sty ye inertia for "Oh, deal away into n costocner to a bunt:et 011 replied the pin.” A young 1 csuuot satin either. Tea;•her— the ulfaetatr) sweats. "No Pupil goes e When we ceaful cand to say he wr vote,," no in may be, "Tea," lu certain hole 1 ever sat cold except cake fell on week•" "Are y5' ti cern l" ask the suleeklit engineer ; 1 ceeded to ' ifold into a r "Where asked, loot poor but de party. "A dignant rej my childret A REWAl KY" to any rhyme on ' little gem f your drugg ''Mary J weather `Dickey," went her th, Cotten optif HOVEL 115'441 Thou., evert 1..4r he doctor nut be curt by George rich, "1>9f it *t git drunk would had De machos trary arra nughten to things yer hard-" Says Dr; -•Sheknnv se and Can draw But itei such p••we ensured 1, Rasrwitt . • At an e, guest!' ; ru ter whet I. satinn, Th to him :U than, you In the 1 ration Lau mendat 5'e: and the is racy dross Cure. I; toinplaiut by J. Wi Cossc.. out last woman o street. de green lusted eh steal, t 'Sho•o 'bout it, to begin Now t kidney t to these For this Van llt praise fe consider It was n tails -•n. .4. Is For t•• rub Copp up•t 5'l min ase: Ceilir a ikerns with s • G5',,• 1 house doors a D ai sour lime -w, acid. Salt be. he dirt, at new. Pap bents, ly oat ing bit If tl smoke patch( Clot at mine. Th. tide c MAN 1 has l; debili Ma. alms. in e..1 tare will f box, Cars the 1 an.1 t Rhyi