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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Seaforth News, 1939-04-06, Page 6PAGE SIX THE SEAFORTH NEWS THURSDAY, APRIL 6, 1939 Irm..........M•1111111111111111•11111 The Legend CHAPTER 11I For pleas of right let statesmen vex: their head, Battle's any business, .and my guerdottl bread; And, with the worded Switzer, I can say, The best of causes is the best of pay, Donne. point of war; and their damnable skirlin' pipes, whilk they themselves pretend to understand are •unintellig- ible to the ears of any cavaliero ac- customed to civilized warfare. So that were I 'undertaking to discipline such a breechless snob, it were impossible fur me to be understood; and if I were understood, judge ye, my lord, what chance I had of being obeyed among a hand of half savages, who are accustomed to pay to their own lairiis and chiefs, allenarly, that res- pect and obedience whilk ought to be paid to commissionate officers. If I •,core teaching them to form battalia by extracting the square root, that is by forming your square battalion of equal number of sten of rank and tile, corresponding to the square root ofill til t' number present, what return cea1 1 es:'eet for communicating this 'den secret of military tactic, ec- e..pt it may be a dirk in -nty tvame, for. i:acinr some \1':\sister More, -\P demes. for tapperfae, in the flank or roar, when he claimed to be in the van?—Truly, ;cell faith Holy Writ.y e cast ]marls before swine, they it: tarn again and rend y'e ." ' 1 ht, etc Anderson," said Lord Menteith. 1.'oktn back to one of his servants, for both Wert close behind "you can assure Ius gentleman we shall have more occasion for ex- perienced officer:. and be more dis- pa.ed to profit ,y their instrutinu-, than he seems to be aware .,f." 'With your •h,ador's pertni..i.vn." said Anderson, respectfully raising his cap, "when we are joined by the L-ish infantry, who are expected, and who should be landed in the West Highlands before now, we shall have need of wood soldiers to discipline our n toes." "And I should like well—very well, to be employed :n omit service," said Dol,.etty; "the Irish are pretty fel- lsow--very pretty fellows -•-I desire to see none better in the field, I once saw a brigade of Irish, at the taking 61 Frankfort upon the Oder, stand to it with sword and pike until they heat off the blue and yellow Swedish bri- gades, esteemed as stout as any that fought under the immortal Gustavus. And although stout Hepburn, valiant Leinsdale, courageous Monroe. with myself and other cavaliers, made en- try elsewhere at point of pike, yet, had .ce all met with such opposition, we had returned with great Loss and little ,profit.' \\-herefore these valiant Irishes, being; all put to the sword, as is usual in such cases, did never- theless gain immortal praise and honor; so that, for their sakes, I llav always Loved and honored those of that nation, next to my seee-n country of Scotland." "A command of Irish," said .Men- teith, "1 think I could almost promise you, should you be disposed to em- brace the royal cause." "'And yet," said Captain Dalgetty "my second and greatest difficulty re- mains behind; for, although I hold i a mean. and sordid thing for a soldado to have nothing in his mouth but pay and gelt, like base cul'lions, the lanz knechts, whom I mentioned before and although I will maintain it with my sword, that honor is to be prefer red before pay, free quarters, and ar rears, yet a soldier's pay being the counterpart of his engagement of ser vice, it becomes a wise and consider ate cavalier to consider what rerun eration he is to receive for his service and front what funds it is to be paid And truly, my lord, from what I can see and hear the Convention are th purse -masters, The Highlanders, in deed, may be kept in humor, by allow ing then] to steal cattle; and for th Iris;hes, your lordship and your nob' associates may, according to the prac tires of the wars in such cases, pa then as seldom or as little es ma suit your pleasure or convenience; bu the same mode of treatment doth no apply to a cavalier like ne, who non keep up his horses, servants, arms an 'e'q'uipage, and who neither can, nor will go to warfare upon his 'ow charges," The difficulty and narrowness of the road had be this time bec1nte such as to interrupt the conversation of the travelers, and Lord Menteith, reining back his horse, held a mom- ent's private conversation with his domesties, The Captain, who now led the van of the party, after about = quarter of a toile's slow and toilsome, advance un s broketf and rugged as- sent, emerged '.oto an upland valley, to wItieh a mountain stream acted as a drain. and afforded sufficient room upon its green-s.,ard ;batik= for tie? travelers i :trsue tlfc'.r journey in a more socisl manner, Lord Mento aC orlt y re tai- c'i the cost er :igen, wh e.i had been, it interrupted - the difficulties 0i lei way, 1 should her i' fight" said; he to Capt.tin De ev t; . ••:hat lien of 3',t.r acnoraide :naris, rho hath ;0 10111 10l1"e 1 tae ya anti King of Sweden. and entertains 50.1.1 a suitable contempt for the haee mechanical States of Holland, could: not have hesitated to embrace rte cause of Kin; Charles, in preference to that of the low -born, rodndheadetel salting knaves who are in rebe'tan; against his authority?" "Ye speak reasonahly. .erd, said Dalgetty, "and, 1 might be in- duced to see the matter in the same light. But, my lord, there ie. a south- ern prof orb,' -fine wards butter no parsnips, 1 have heard enough, since I cane here, to eatisfy tie, that a cav- alier 01 honor is free to take any part in this civil embroilment whilk he may find mo,t convenient for his own peculiar. Loyalty is your pass -word, my lord - Liberty, roars another chield from the other side of the strath—the King shouts one war -cry — the Parliament, roars another — Montrose forever, cries Donald, wav- ing his bonnet—Argyle and Leven, cries a south -country Saunders, vap- oring with his hat and feather. Goan watchwords all -- excellent watch- worde. Whisk cause is the best I can not say. But sure ani 1, that I have fought knee-deep in blood many a day for one that was ten degrees worse than the worst of them all." "And pray. Captain Dalgetty." said his lordship, "since the pretensions of both parties seem to you so equal, will you please to inform us by what circumstances your preference will be determined?" "Simply upon two considerations, my lord." answered the soldier, "Tie- ing, first, on which side my services would be in most honorable reetue t; —And secondly, whilk is a corollary of the first, by whilk .party they are likely to be most gratefully requited. And, to deal plainly with you, my lord. my opinion at ,present doth on both points rather incline to the side of the Parliament" "Your reasons, if you please;" said Lord Menteith, "and perhaps I may be able to meet them with some oth err which are more powerful." "Sir, I shall 'be amenable to rea- son," said Captain Dalgetty, "suppos- ing it addresses itself to my honor and my interest. Well, then, my lord, here is a sort of Highland host assembled, or expected to assemble, in these wild 1tiMs, in the King's be- half. Now, sir, you know the nature of oiuT Highlanders: I will not deny them to be a people stout in body and valiant in heart, and courageous en- ough in their own wild way of fight- ing, which is as remote from the us- ages and discipline of war as ever was that of the ancient Scythians, lir of the savage Indians of America that now is. They 'havena sae mick.le as a German whistle, or a dram, to beat a march, an alarm, 'a charge, a retreat, a reveille, or the tattoo, or any other Andersen; the domestic who had custom, my friends,, to see 'Gustavus have hitherto done, upon your hint. r(for so I have called him, after my' But I wish the fellow, at the devil invincible 1nester)• accommodated my -1 with all my heart," sell; we ogre old friends and fellow - '"Ay, but still you must remember, travelers, and as I often need. the ,use my Lord," resumed Anderson, 'that. of his legs, I always lead him in my to cure the 'bite of a scorpion, you •turn the service of my tongue, to call must crush ,another soorpion on the for whatever he has occasion for;" wound ---Taut stop, We shall 'be over - rid accordingly, he strode into the heard," sta'ble after his steed without further From a side -door in the hall glided n e apartment, t apology. a Htghl�ander into to A artment> Neither Lord _Menteith nor his at- whose lofty stature and 'complete tendants paid the same attention to equipment, as well as the eag1e'•s fea- their horses, but leaving them to the hher in 'bis boantet, and the confidence proffered care of the servants of the of his demeanor, announced to be a' lac ked forward into the house, person of superior rank. He 'wa'lked ,place, walked S, wP ,where a sort of darkvaulted vestibule slowly up to the table, and made no dispiayed, among other miscellane- answer to Lord Menteith, who, ad- ous articles, a huge barrel of two- dressing hini by the name of Allan, penny ale, 'beside which were ranged asked himhow he did. two or three wooden ,quaichs, or "Ye maunna speak to 'her e'en (bickers, ready, it would appear, for •now," whispered the old attendant. •bh.e service of whoever thought pro- The tall Highlander, sinking down per to employ them. Lord Menteith upon the empty settle next the •fire, applied himself to the spigot, drank fixed his eyes upon the red embers without ceremony, and then (handed and the huge heap of turf, and seem- the stoup to Anderson, who •followed ed buried in profbautd abstraction. His dark eyes and wild and enthus- iastic 'feature's, bore the air of one who, deeply impressed with his own subjects of meditation, pays little at- tention to exterior objects. An air of gloomy severity, the fruit perhaps of ascetic and solitary habits, might, in a Lowlander, have been ascribed to religious fanaticism; 'but by that dis- ease •of the mind, then so .common both in England and the Lowlands of Scotland, the Highlanders of this ,pei iod were rarely infected, They had, however, their own peculiar supersti- tions, which overclouded the mind with thick -coating fancies, as com- pletely as the puritanism of their neighbors. "Isis lords'hip's honor," said the Highland servant , sideling up to Lord 'Menteith, and speaking in a very low tone, "his lordship maunna speak to :Man even 110w•, for the cloud is upon his mind." Lord Menteith nodded, and took no further notice of the reserved moun- taineer, , "Said I not," asked the latter, sud- denly raising Itis stately person up- right. and looking at the domeetie— said. I not that four were to Come, and here stand but three on the hall floor"r'" ' in troth did ye say sae. Allan," said the old Highlander. "and here's the fourth matt coming clinking in at the vett e'en now from the stable, for ]re's shelled like a partan, wi' airn on hack and breast, haunch and shanks. And 11111 I to set her chair up near the Menteith's, or clown wi' the hon- est gentlemen at the Pout of the table" Lord .Menteith himself answered the inquiry, by pointing tb a seat be- side his own, 'And here she conies," said Don- ald, as Captain Dalgetty entered the hall; "slid I ]tope gentlentens will all take bread and cheese, as we say iu the glens, until better meat iae ready, until the Tiernach conies back frac the hill wi' the southern geutiefolk, and then Dugald Cook will show himself wi' his kid and hill venison." In the meantime, Captain Dalgetty had entered the apartment, and, walk- ing up to the seat placed next Lord Menteith, was leaning on the back of it with his arms folded. Anderson and his companion waited at the bottom of the table, in a respectful attitude. until they should receive permission to seat themselves; while three or four Highlanders, under the direction of old Donald, ran hither and thither to bring additional articles of food, or stood still to give attendance upon the guests. In the midst of these 'preparations, Allan suddenly started up, and snatching ae lamp from the hand of an attendant, held it close to Dalgetty's 'face, while he. perused his features with the most heedful and grave at- tention. "By my honor," said Dalgetty, 'half displeased, as, mysteriously shaking his head, .Allan gave up the scrutiny trow that lad and I will ken each other when we meet again." Meanwhile Allan strode to the bot- tom of the table, and having, by the aid of his lamp, subjected ,Anderson and his companion to the same in= vestigation, stood a moment as if in. deep reflection; then, touching his forehead, suddenly seized Anderson by the arm, and before he could offer any effectual resistance, half -led and half -dragged hits to the vacant seat at the upper end, and having made a mute intimation that he should there place himself, he hurried the soldado. with the same unceremonious precip- itation to' the bottom of the table. The Captain, exceedingly ineensed at this 'freedom, endeavored to shake Allan from 'him with violence; but, power- ful as he..was, he proved in the strug- gle inferior to the gigantic mountain- eer, who threw hint off with such vio- before spoken, now respectfully ad- dressed his toaster, "1 think, my lord," he said, that under your lordship's fa- vor, I cotftd say something to remove Captain D atgetty's second objection also. He asks us where we are to (col- lett ,our pay; now, in any poor mind, the. resources are es open to us as to the Covenanters, They tax the coun- try according to their ,pleasure, and dilapidate the estates of the ;King's 'friends; now, were weonee in the Lowlands, with our Highlanders and our Trish at our (backs, and our Our hwe can swords in ou hands, find fat altor, many a tr whose ill-gotten w wealth shall fill our military chest and satisfy our soldiery. Besides, confisca- tions will fall in thick; and, in giving donations or forfeited lands to every adventurous cavalier who joins his standard, the Ding will at once re- ward his friends and punigh his enem- ies. In short, he that joins those Roundhead dogs may ,get some mis- erable pittance of pay—he 'that joins our standard has a chance to be his master's example, but not wail he knight, lord, or earl, if luck serve had flung out the drop of ale which him " "Have you ever served, my good friend?" said the Captain to the spokesman. "A little, sir, in these our domestic quarrels," answered the man, mod- and spilling the ale, and be tamped early. . to her?" "But never in Germany or the Low "I was bred in France," answered Countries?" said Dalgetty. Anderson, "where nobody drinks af- "I never had the honor," answered ter another out of the same cup, un - Anderson, less it be after a young lady," "1 profess," said Dalgetty, address- ''T'he tiers in their nicety!" said ing Lord Menteith, "your lordship's Donald; "and if the ale be gude, fat servant has a sensible, natural, pretty the waur is't that another man's idea of military matters; somewhat beard's been in the queich [before ye?" irregular, though, and smells a little Anderson's companion drank with - too touch of selling the bear's skin out observing the ceremony which before he has 'hunted 'hint.—I will 'tad given Donald so much offence, take the matter, however, into my and both of them followed their mas- coneideration," ter into the low -arched stone hall, "Do so, Captain," said Lord Men- which was the common rendezvous teith; "you will have the night to of a Highland family, A large fire of think of it, for we are now near the peats in the huge chimney at the nip- home. where I hope to ensure yell a per end shed a dim light through the hospital reception." apartment, and was rendered neves- 'And that is what will be very wel- nary by the' damp, by which, even come," said the captain, ."for I have during the .sunnier, the apartment tasted no food since day -break but a was rendered uncomfortable. Twenty fart of oatcake, which I divided with or thirty targets, as many claymores, my- horse. So I have been fain to with dirks, and plaids, and grss, 'both draw my sword -belt three bores matchlock and firelock, and long - tighter for very extenuation, lest hits- bows, and Lochaber axes, and coats ger and heavy iron should make the of plate -armor, and steel -bonnets, and gird slip," l headpieces, and the more ancient hab- CHAPTER IV ( ergeone. or shirts of reticulated mail, Veen a time, no matter where, with hood and sleeves corresponding Solite Glunie-sten met at a fair; 1 to it, all hong in confusion about the As deft and tight as ever wore I walls. and would have formed a A Burk, a tare, and a claymore, month's amusement to a member of a Short hose, and belted plait] or trews, modern antiquarian society. But such In List. Lochaber, Skye, or Lewes, I things were too familiar to attract Or cover'd hard head with his bonnet, Hutch observation on the part of the Had you but known them, you present spectators. would own it; 'I There was a large clumsy ,oaken Will Meston, table, which the hasty hospitality of the domestic who had 'before spoked, A hill was now before the travel- immediately spread with milk. butter, ers, covered with an ancient forest of goat -milk cheese, a flagon of beer, Scottish firs, the topmost of which, and a flask of usquebae, designed for flinging their scathed branches across the refreshment of Lord Menteith; the western horizon. gleamed ruddy' while an inferior servant made similar in the setting sun. 1n the centre of preparations at the bottom of the this wood rose the towers, or rather table for the benefit of the attendants. the chimneys, of the house, or castle,' The space which intervened between as it was called, destined for the end them was, according to the manners of their journey. hof the tines, sufficient distinction be - As usual at that period, one ori twee: master and servant, even two high -ridged narrow buildings, 'though the former was, as in the pre - intersecting and crossing each other,' sent instance, of high rank. Mean - formed the corps de logis. A project- while the guests stood by the fire-- ing bartizan or two, with the addition the young nobleman under the ehim- of small turrets at the angles, much ney, and his servants at some little resembling pepper -boxes, had .procur- distance. ed for Darnlinvarach (supposed to' "What do you think, Anderson," represent Ardvoirlich Castle, on Loch' said the former, "of our •fellow - Earn. Perthshire), the dignified ap-• traveler?" pellation of a castle. It was sur-: "A stout fellow," replied Anderson, 1 rotiuded by a low courtyard wall, "if all be •good that is upcome. I wish �l within which were the usual offices. I we had twenty such, to put our Tea - As the travelers approached more gues into some sort of discipline." nearly, they discovered marks of roc -1"I differ with you, Anderson," said ent additions to the defences of the Lord Menteith; '1 think this fellow place. which had been suggested, is one of those horse -leeches, whose doubtless, by the insecurity of those appetite for blood being only sharp - troublesome times. Additional loop- ened by what he has snicked in for - holes for musketry were struck out eign countries, he is now returned to i in different :parts of the building, and 'batten upon that of his own. Shame of its surrounding wall. The windows on the pack of these mercenary t' had just been carefully secured 'by swordsmenl they 'have made the staitcheons of iron, crossing each name through all Europe _eg.uivalent 1 other athwart and end -long, like the to that of a pitiful mercenary, who -1 grates of a prison. The door of the knows neither honor nor principle but ,{ courtyard was shut; and it was only his -month's- pay, who transfers 'his al- ! after cautious challenge that one of legiance from standard to standard, at -I its leaves was opened by two douses- the pleasure of fortune or the highest tics, both strong Highlanders, and ;bidder; and to whose insatiable thirst I both under arms, like 'Bitias and. Pan- for plunder and warm quarters we ' •darns in 'the Aeneid, ready to defend owe much of that -civil dissension the entrance if aught hostile had ven- which is now turning our swords tared an intrusion. : against our own bowels. 'I had scarce When the travelers were admitted patience with the 'hired gladiator, and into the court, they found additional yet could hardly help laughing at the preparations for defence. The walls extremity of his impudence." e were scaffolded for the use of fire "`Your lordship will forgive me," arms, and one of two of the small said Anderson, "if I recommend to -1 guns called: sackers, or falcons,: were you, in the ;present circumstances, to el mounted at the angles and flanking conceal et least is part of this gener- e turrets. our indignation; we cannot, unforten- More domestics, (both in the High- ately, do our work without the assist - land and Lowland dress, instantly ance of those who act on 'baser neat - rushed from the interior of the :tan- ives than our own. We .cannot spare t cion, and some hastened to take the the assistance such fellows as our t horses of the strangers, while others friend the soldado. To use the canting nuts waited to marshal them'away into phrase of the saints in the English the dwelling -•house. But Captain Dal- Parliament, the sons sof IZeruialr are Betty refilled the proffered assistance still too many for. us" e of those who wished to relieve him of "`1 must dissemble, then, as well as the charge of his'horse. "It is my 'I can," .said the Lord Menteith, "as I retrained, and s•1nghtly rinsed 'the' cup, "What the dell, man," said an old Highland servant belonging to the family, "can she no drink after her air :taster without washing the cup PROFESSIONAL CARDS Medical SEAFORTH CLINIC Dr, E. A. McMaster, M.B„ Gradu- ate of University of Toronto. J. D. Coiquhoun, M.D., C.M„ 'Grad- uate of 'Dalhousie University, Halifax. The Clinic is fully equipped with complete and modern x-ray and other up -oto -date diagnostic and thereuptic equipment. Dr. Margaret K.Campbell, 11, M.D g., L.A.B.P., Specialist in Diseases in Infants and Children, will he at the Clinic 'last Thursday in every month from 3' to 'fi p.m. Dr. F. J. R. Forster, Specialist in Diseases of the Ear, Eye, Nose and Throat, will be at the Clinic the first' Tuesday in every month from 4 to ' 6 p.m. Free well -baby clinic will be held on the second and last Thursday in every month from 1 to 2 p.m. fence, that .after reeling a few paces, 1 he fell at Nell length, and the vaulted I hall rang with the -clash of .his armor. When he arose, his 'first action was to � draw his sword and Ay at Allan, who, with. folded arms, seemed to await his onset with the most scornful indiffer- 1 Ince. Lord Menteith and his attend W. C. SPROA , M.D., F.A.C.S. Surgery Phone 90-W. Office John St., Seaforth DR, H. HU'G'H ROSS, Physician and Surgeon Late of London Hos- pital, London, England. Special at. tention to diseases of the eye, ear, nose and throat. Office and >;esidence behind Dominion Bank, Office Phone No. 5; Residence Phone 104, DR. F. J. BURROWS, Office Main St., Seaforth, over Dominion Bank. Hours 2-5 and 7 to 8 pm. and by ap- pointment. Residence, Goderich St., two doors' west of United Church. Phone 46. DR. F, J. R. FORSTER— Eye Ear, Nose and Throat. Graduate in Medicine, University of Toronto 1897, Late Assistant New York Ophthal- mic and Aural Institute, Moorefield's Eye, and 'Golden Square throat hospi- tals, London. At Commercial Hotel, Seaforth, third Wednesday in each month from 1,30 p.m, to 5 p.m. Auctioneer, GEORGE ELLIOTT, • Licensed \uctioneer for the County of Huron. Arrangements can be made for Sale Date at The Seaforth News. Charges moderate and satisfaction guaranteed F, W. AHRENS, Licensed Aucrtiot eer for Perth and Huron Counties, Sales Solicited, Terms on Application. Farm Stock, chattels and real estate property. R, R. No. 4, Mitchel}, Phone 034 r 6, Apply at this office. WATSON & REID REAL ESTATE AND INSURANCE AGENCY (Successors to James Watson) MAIN ST., SEAPORTH, ONT. All kinds of Insurance risks effect- ed at lowest rates in First -Class Companies. THE mar LLOE) Mutual Fire insurance C� HEAD OFFICE—SEAFORTH, Ont„ OFFICERS President, Thomas Moylan, Sea - forth; Vice President, William Knox, Londesboro; Secretary Treasurer, M. A. Reid, Seaforth. AGENTS F. McKercher, R,R„1, Dublin; John E. Pepper, R.R.1, Brucefield; E. R. G. Yarmouth, Brodhageen; James Watt, Blyth;. C. F. Hewitt, Kincardine, Wm. 'Yeo, Holmesville. DIRECTORS Alex. Broadfoot, Seaforth No. 3; James S'holdice, Walton; Wm. Knox, Londesboro; George Leonharrdt, Bornholm No. 1; Frank McGregor,, •Clinton No. 5; James Connolly, God- erich; Alex McEwing, Blyth No. 1; Thomas Moylan, Seaforth No, 5; Wm. R. Archibald, Seaforth No. 4. Parties desirous to effect insurance or transact other business, will be promptly attended to by applications to any of the above named officers addressed to their respective post - offices. ants interposed to preserve peace while the Highlanders, snatching weapons from the wall, seemed prompt to increase the 'broil; "He is mad,” whispered Lord Men- teith, "he is perfectly mad; there is no purpose in quarreling with him." (To b.e.con'tinued)