HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Seaforth News, 1939-06-15, Page 6PAGE SIX
THE SEAFORTH NEWS
'1IHURSDAY, JUNE i5, 1939
'And if the tale be true," said ;Mur-
doch, "she had a preferment 'beyond
what the King of Scots would have
conferred Dither, But this is far from
the 'purpose. The daughter of Sir
Duncan of Ardenvohr is of our own
blood, not a stranger; and who has so
good a right to know her fate as Mc-
Callum More, the chief of her clam?"
"It .is on his part, then, that you
demand it?" said the outlaw. The
domestic of .the Marquis assented.
"And you will _practise no evil
against the niaiden?—I have done her
wrong enough already.."
"No evil, upon the word of a Chris-
tian man," replied Murdoch.
"And •my iguerdon is to be life and
liberty?" said the Child of the Mist.
"Such is our pactidn," replied the
Campbell,
"Then know, that the child whom I
have saved out of compassion at the
spoiling of her father's tower of
strength, was 'bred as an adopted
daughter of our tribe, until .ate were
worsted at the pass of Ballenduthil,
'by the fiend incarnate and mortal
enemy of our tribe,_ Allan M'Aulay of
the Bloody hand, and by the horsemen
of Lennox, under the heir of Men-
teith."
'Fell she into the 'power of Allan
of the Bloody hand," said Murdoch,
"and she a reputed daughter of thy
tribe? Then her blood has gilded the
dirk, and thou ,hast said nothing to
•rescue thine own forfeited life."
"If my life rests on hers," answered
the outlaw, "it is secure, for she still
survives; but it has a more insecure
reliance—the 'frail promise of a son of
'Diarmid"
"That promise shall not fail you,"
said the Campbell, "if you can assure
me than she survives. and where she
is to be found."
'In the castle of Darnllnvarch."
said Ranald MacEagh, "under the
name of Annot Lyle. I have often
'heard of her from my 'kinsmen, who
have again approached their native
woods, and it is not long since mine
old eyes beheld her"
'You!" said Murdoch, in astonish-
ment, "you, a chief among the Child-
ren of the Mist, and ventured so near
your morta'I foe?"
'Son of Diarmid, I did more," re-
plied the outlaw; "I was in the hall of
the old castle, disguised as a harper
from the wild shores of 'Skianach. My
purpose was to have .plunged my dirk
in the body of the M'Aulay with the
Bloody hand, before whom our race
trembles, and to have taken thereafter
what fate God should send me. But I
saw Annot Lyle, even when my hand
was on the hilt of my dagger. She
touched her clairshach, to a song of
the Children of the Mist, which she
had learned when 'her dwelling was
amongst us. The woods in which we
had dwelt pleasantly, rustled their
green leaves in the song, and our
streams were there with the sound of
all their waters. My hand forsook the
dagger; the fountains of mine eyes
were 'opened, and the hour of revenge
passed away.: And now, Son of Diar-
mid, 'have I not 'paid the ransom of
my head?"
"Ay," replied Murdoch, "if your
tale be true; but what proof can you
assign for it?"
"Bear witness, heaven and earth,"
exclaimed the outlaw, "he already
looks how he may step over his
word!"
"Not so," replied Murdoch; "every
promise shall be kept to you when I
am assured you 'have 'told me the
'truth.—Batt I must speak a few words
with your companion in captivity"
'Fair and 'false --ever fair and
+false," muttered the prisoner, as he
threw himself once snore on the floor
of his dungeon.
Meanwhile, Captain Dalgetty, wino
had attended to every word of this
dialogue, was making his own •re-
marks on it in private. "Wh'at the
hen!ker can This sly fellow' have to say
to me? I have no child, eitherof my
own, so' far as I know, or of any other
person, to tell him a tale about But
let him 'come on—he will have some
manoeuvring ere he turn the flank of
the old soldier,"
Accordingly, as if he had stood
pike in hand to defend a breach, he
waited with caution, but without
fear, the commencement of the at-
tack,
"You are a citiaen of the world,
Captain Dalgetty," said Murdoch
Campbell, "and cannot be ignorant of
our old Scottish proverb, gif.'gaf (mu-
tually serving each other), which
goes through all nations and all
services."
"Then I should know something of
it," said Dalgetty; "for, except the
Turks, 'there are few powers in Eur-
ope whom I have not served; and I
have sometimes thought of tasking a
turn either with B'ethlem Gabor (the
Prince of Transylvania), or with the
Janizaries."
'A man of your experience and un-
prejudiced ideas, then, will under-
stand me at once," said Murdoch,
''When I say, I mean that your free-
dom shall depend on your true and
upright answer to a few trifling goes -
tions respecting the gentlemen you
have left; their state of preparation;
the number of their men, and nature
of their appointments; and as much
as you chance to know about their
plan of operations,"
"Just to satisfy your curiosity,"
said Dalgetty, "and without any
further purpose?"
"None in the world," replied Mur-
doch; "what interest should a poor
devil like me take intheir opera-
tions?"
"°Make your interrogations. then,"
said the Captain, "and I will answer
them peremptorie."
"How many Irish may be on their
march to join James Graham .the de-
linquent?"
"Probaibly ten thousand," said Cap-
tain Dalgetty.
"Ten thousand!" replied Murdoch
angrily; "we know that scarce two
thousand landed at Ardnamurchan."
"Then you know more about them
than I do," answered Captain Dal-
getty, with great composure. "I
never saw them mustered yet, or even
under arms."
"And how many men of the clans
may be expected?" d'emanded Mur-
docb; "speak plainly, will there be
five thousand men;"
"There and thereabouts," answered
Dalgetty.
"You are playing with your life, sir,
if you trifle with me," replied the
catechist; "one whistle of mine, and
in less than ten minutes your head
hangs on the drawbridge."
"But to •speak candidly, M.r. Mur-
doch," replied the Captain, "do you
think it is a reasonable thing to ask
me after the secrets of our army, and
I engaged to serve the whole cam-
paign? If I taught you how to defeat
Montrose, what becomes of my pay,.
arrears, and chance of booty?"
"I tell you," said Campbell, "that
if you 'be stubborn, your campaign
shall begin and end in a march to the
'Moak at the castle -gate, which stands
ready for stuck land-laufers; .but if
you answer my questions faithfully,
I will receive you into my—into the
service of M''Callum More."
"Does the service afford good pay?"
said Captain Dalgetty.
"He will double yours, if you will
return to Montrose and act under his
direction"
"I wish I had seen you, sir, before
,talking 'on with him," said, Dalgetty,
appearing to meditate.
"On the contrary, I 'can afford you
more advantageous teems now," said,
the Camp'beil; "always supposing you
are faithful." t nntq
"Faithful, that is, to you, and a
traitor to ,Montrose," answered the
Captain.
"Faithful tb the cause of religion
and good order," answered 'Murdoch,'
"which sanlctifres any deception you
may employ to serve it!'
"And the Marquis. of Argyle --
atonal I incline to enter ,his service,
is .lee a kind master?" eleman•ded Dal -
getty.
"Never Many'kinder," guoth Canip-
Ibeld,
"And Ibouuitiaul to his officetsP"
pursued the Captain,
'The most open hand in Scotland,"
replied 'Murdach,
"True and faithful to has engage-
ments?" continued Dblgetty,
"A's 'honoralble a : no!blentan- as
breathes," said the clansman.
T never ;heard so march good of
him 'before," said Dalgetty; "you
Must know the ` ;Marquis -weIll,—or
rather you 'artist be the Marquis ;hint-
selfl--;Lord of Argyle," ,be added;,
thrawing ,ghimself su'dden'ly on the
disguised nobleman, "I arrest you in
the name of King Charles, as a trait-
or. If you venture to mil for assist-
ance, I will wrench round your neck.
The attack which Dalgetty made
nponi 'Argyle's person was so sudden
and unexpected, that ,heeasily pros-
trated him on the floor of the dun-
geon, and held 'him down with one
'hand, while bit right, grasping the
Marquis's; throat, was ready - to
strangle ,him on the slightest attettnpt
to call for assistange.
"Lord of Argyle, 'he said, "it is
now my turn to lay down the terms
of capitulation, I.1 you list to show
me the private way by which you en-
tered the dungeon, you shall escape,
on condition of ;being my locum
tenens, as we said at the Mares teal
College, aui'til your warder 'visits his
prisoners, But if not, I will first
straggle you --,I learned the art from
a :Polonian 'heyduck, who had been a
slave in the Ottoman eraglio--and
then seek out a mode of retreat."
"Viliian! youwould not murder
me for my kindness," murmured
Argyle.
"Not for your 'kindness, my lord,"
replied Dalgetty; "but first, to teach
your lordship the jus ;gentium toward
cavaliers who come to you under
safe-conduct; and secondly, to warn
you of the danger of proposing d'is
honoralble terms to any worthy sold-
ado, in order to tempt him to ;become
false to a standard during the term of
his service."
"Spare m y life," said Argyle, "and
I will do as you'regvire. "
Dalgetty maintained his gripe upon
the Marquis's throat, compressing it
a little while he asked questions, and
relaxing it so far as to ,give him the
power of answering them.
"Where is the secret door into the
dungeon?" he demanded.
"Hold up the lantern to ,the corner
on your right hand, you will discern
the iron which covers the seeing,"
replied the Marquis.
"So far so good—Where does the
passage lead to?"
"To my private apartment behind
the tapestry," answered the prostrate
nobleman.
"From thence, how shall I reach
the gateway?"
"Through the grand gallery, the
anteroom, the lackeys' waiting hall,
the grand guardroom"—
"All crowded with soldiers, faction-
aries, and attendants? --that will never
'de for me, my load; have you no
secret passage to the gate as you
have to your dungeons? I have seen
such in Germany."
"There is a passage through the
chapel," said the Marquis, "opening
from my apartment."
"And what is the password at the
(gate?"
"The sword of Levi," replied the
Marquis; "but if you will receive my
pledge of honor, I will go with you,
escort you through every guard, and
set you at full liberty with a pass-
port."
"1 might trust you, my lord, were
your throat not already ,black with
the grasp o% my fingers;—as it is,
'beso los manos a ,usted as the Span-
iard says. Yet you may grant me a
passport—are there writing materials
in your apartment?"
"Surely; and blank :passports ready
to be 'signed. I will attend you there,"
said the Marquis, 'instantly."
aIt were too much honor for the
like of me," said Dalgetty; "your
lordship shall remain under charge
of mine honest friend Ranald iMac
Eagh; therefore, :prdthee, let me drag
you within reach of his chain.—Hon-
est Ranald, you see how matters
stand with ,us. I s'hail •find the means,
I 'doubt not, of setting you at free-
dom. 'Meantime, do as you see me
do; clap your hand thus on the weas-
and of this .high and mighty prince,
under his ruff, and if he offer to
stnu'ggle or cry out, fail not, my
worthy Ranald, to squeeze doughtily;
and if it be ad deliquiunt, Ranald,
that is, till he swoon, there is no
great matter, seeing he _designed your
gullet and mine to still 'hander usage,"
"If he offer at speech or struggle,"
said Ranald, "the dies ;by my hand."
'That is right, Ranald—very spir-
itedt—A thorough -going friend that
understands a hint is worth a ntil-
lion l"
Thus resigning the charge of the
Marquis to his new confederate, Dal-
getty pressed the spring, .by which
the secret door flew open, though; so
well .were its hinges polished and,oil-
ed that it made not the slightest noise:
in revolving.'The opposite side of the
door';was secured ;by very strong
'bolts and bars, !beside which hang one
or two keys, designed apparently to
undo fetter -locks. A narrow staircase,
astendintg up through the thickness
of the castle wild, landed, as bhe Mar-
quis had truly informed him, ;behind
the tapestry of Isis private apartment.
'Such communications were , frequeait.
in old feudal castles, as they gave ,the
lord of the fortress, like a second Di-
onysius, the means of hearing 'the
conversation ' of his prisoners, or, if
he pleased, of visiting then in alis
,guise, an experiment which had ter-
minated so unpleasantly on the pres-
ent :occasion for Gillespie Gnutnach.
Having examined .previously whether
;there was any one in the apartment,
and findinlg the coast clear, the Cap
'gain entered, and hastily p'ossessing
thienself Of a 'blank passport, several.
of which lay on the table, and of
.writing materials, securing, at 'the
same time, the Marquis's chigger and
a silk mord from the h'angin.gs, •_he
again descended into the cavern,
where, listening a moment at the
'door, he could hear the half -stifled
voice of the marquis malting great
proffers to M'aoEagh on •condition •lie
would suffer hint to give an alarm.
"1Not for a forest of deer—not for a
thousand head of cattle," answered
the freebooter; "not for all the lands
that ever tailed a son of Diarmid
master will I•break the troth I have
plighted to him of the iron •garment."
"He of ;the iron ;garment," said Dal-
getty, entering, "is 'bounden unto you,
.MacEagh, and this noble lord shall'
he bounden also; but first he must
fill up this 'passport withthe names of
'Major Dogald Dalgetty and Itis
guide, or be fs like M have a Passport
to another world."
The Marquis ;subscribed and wrote,
by the light of the dank lantern, as
the soldier prescribed to him.
"And now Ranald" said Dalgetty,
"strip thy upper garment—thy plaid
I' mean, Ranald, and in it will. I
snuffle the M'Calium More, and make
of him for the time a Child of the
:hist -Nay, I mast bring it over your
head, my lord, so as 'to secure us
against your mistimed 'clamor --So,
now he is sufficiently muffled—hold
down your hands, or, by Heaven, I
will 'stab you to the heart with your
own dagger! — nay, you shall be
'bound with nothing less than silk, as
your quality deserves. --So, now he is
secure till some one comes to relieve
him. If he ordered us a late dinner,
Ranald, he is like to be the sufferer;
at what hour, my good Ranald, did
the jailor usually appear?"
"Never till the sun was beneath the
western wave," said MacEagh.
"Then, my friend, we shall bave
three hours good," said the Captain.
"In the meantime, let ua labor for
your liberation."
To examine Ranald's chain was the
next occupation. It was undone by
means of one of the keys which hung
behind the private door, probably de-
posited there that the Marquis might,
if he pleased, dismiss a prisoner, or
remove him elsewhere, without the
necessity of summoning the warden.
The outlaw stretched his benunilbed
arms, and 'bounded from the floor of
the dungeon !n all the ecstasy of re-
covered freedom.
"Take the livery coat of that noble
prisoner," said Captain Dalgetty;
"put it on, and follow close at my
heels."
The outlaw obeyed. They ascended
the private stair, having first secured
the door behind them, and thus safely
reached the apartment of the Marquis.
[The precarious state of the feudal
'nob'les introduced a great deal of
espionage into their 'castles. Sir Rob-
ert Carey mentions his having put on
the cloak of one of 'his awn wardens
to obtain a confession from the mouth
of Geordie Bourne, his prisoner, 'whom
be caused presently to be hanged in
return for the frankness of his com-
munication. The fine old Border castle
of Naworth contains a private stair
from the 'apartment of Lord 'William
Howard, by which •he could visit the
'dungeon, as is alleged in the ;preced-
ing 'chapter to have :been praotised tby
the 'Marquis of Argyle.]
CHtAPTER XIV
This was the entry, then, these stairs,
—!but whither ,after ?
Yet he that's sure to perish on the
May quit the nicety of card and
'compass,
And trust the open sea without a pilot
Tragedy of Bennovalt.
and the other on his own, This word
is an Andrew Ferrara, and the pistols
better than rn'ine own. But a fair= ex -
;change is no robbery. Soldados are
not to be endangered, and endanger-
ed gratuitiously, nay Lord of Argyle.
—But soft, soft, Ranalld; wise Man of
the Mist, whither art ':thou ';bound?"
It was indeed dull time . it•o. • stop
alacEagh'is ,proceedings; for not find-
ing the primate passage readily, and
impatient, it would seem, of %ether
delay, he had 'caught' down a sword
,and target and was about to cuter the
(great ga'l'lery, with the purpose, doubt-
less, of fighting his way through all
Opposition.
"Hold, while you live," whispered
Dalgetty, laying hold on him, "We
Must :lie ;perdue, if possible. So bar
we this door, that it may be thau!ght
M'Calitim More would be private
and now let me make a reconnois-
sance for the ,private passage"
By looking behind the tapestry in
various places, the Captain at length
discovered a private door, and behind
that a winding passage, terminated by
another door, which doubtless entered;
the chapel. But what was his -dis-
agreeable suvprise to hear, on the
other side of this second door, the
sonorous voi'ce of a divine in the act
of preaching.
"This made the villain," he said,
"recommend this to ,us as .a private
passage. I am strongly tempted to re-
turn and cut his throat."
He then opened very gently mho
door, which led into a latticed gallery
used by the Marquis himself, the cur-
tains of which were drawn, perhaps
with the purpose of 'having it sup-
posed that he was engaged in attend-
ance upon divine worship,• when, in
fact he was absent upon ,his secular
affairs. There was no other person in
the seat; for the family of the M'ar-
quis—su;ch was the high state main-
tained itt those days—sate during ser-
vice in another gallery, placed some-
what, lower than that of the great
man 'himself. This 'being the case,
'Captain Dalgetty ventured to en-
sconce himself in the gallery, of which
he carefully secured the door.
Never (although the expression be
a 'bold one) was a sermon listened to
with more impatience, and less edific-
ation, on the .part of one at least, of
the audience. The Captain heard six-
teenthly—seventeenthly — eighteenly
—and' to conclude, with a sort of feel-
ing like distracted despair. But no
man can lecture (for the service was
called a lecture) forever; and the dis-
course was at length closed, the
'clergyman not failing to make a pro -
'found bow toward the latticed gallery,
little suspecting ;Whom he honored by
that reverence. To judge from the
haste with which they •dispersed, the
domestics of the Marquis were scarce
more pleased with their late occupa-
tion than the anxious Captain Dal-
getty; indeed, many of them being.
Hi'gh!andmen, had the excuse of not
understanding a single word which
the clergyman spoke, although they
gave their attendance on his doctrine
try the special order of M'Callum
More, and would have done so had
the •preacher 'been a Turkish Imaum.
But although the congregation dis-
persed thus rapidly, the divine re-
mained :behind in elle chapel, and,
walking up and down its Gothic pre-
cincts, seemed either to be meditating
on What he had just been delivering,
or ,preparing a fresh discourse for the
next •opportunity. Bold as he was,
Dalgetty hesitated what he ought to
do. Time, however, .pressed, and every
moment increased the chance of their
escape 'being discovered by the jailor
visiting the dungeon perhaps :before
his wonted time, and ,discovering the
exchange which had 'been made there,
At length, whispering Ranald, who
.watched all his motions, to follow
him and preserve his countenance,
Captain Dalgetty, with a very com-
posed air, descended a flight of steps
which led from the gallery into the
body of the chapel. A less experienc-
ed adventurer would have endeavored
to pass the worthy clergyman rapidly,
in hopes to escape unnoticed. But the
Captain, who foresaw the manifest
danger of failing in such an attempt,
walked ,gravely to meet the divine
upon his walk in the midst of the
,chancel, and, pulling off his cap, was
about to pass him after a formal rev-
erence. But what was his surprise to
'view in the 'preacher the very same
person with whom he had dined in
the castle of Ardenv'ahrl Yet he
speedily recovered his composure;
and, ere the clergyman could speak,
was the firstto address him. "1
could not," he said, ":leave this man-
sion without 'bequeathing to you, my
very reverend sir, my humble thanks
for the homily with which you have
this evening favored. us"
"I did not observe, sir," said the
clergyman, "that you were in the
;chapel!'
(Continued)
"Look out for the ,private way
through the 'chapel, Ranalid," said the
'Captain, "while I give a hasty regard
to these matters."
Thus speaking, he seized with one
hand a 'bundle of Aelgyle''s most priv-
ate 'papers, and with the other a
purse of gold, both of which lay in a
drawer of a rich cabinet, which :stood
invitingly open. Neither did he neg-
lect to possess 'himself ofa sword
and pistols, with powder -flask and
balls, which hong in the apartment,
"Intelligence and booty," said the
veteran, as he pouched the „ spoils,
"each honorable :cavalier should look
to, the one on his general's- behalf,
PROFESSIONAL. CARDS
Medical'.
SEAFORTH CLINIC
Dr., E, A. McMaster, M,B., Gradu-
ate of University of Toronto.
J. D. Colquhouh, M.D., C.M., 'Grad-
nate of Dalhousie University, Halifax.
The Clinic is fully equipiped with ,
complete and modern xeray and other
up-ito-date .diagnostic and thereuptic
equipment.
Dr, Margaret K. Campbell, M.D.,
L.A.B.P., Specialist in Diseases in
Infants and Children, will be at the
Clinic 'last Thursday in every month
float 3 to '6 p.m.
Dr. F1 J. R. Forster, Specialist in
Diseases of the Ear, Eye, Nose and
Throat, will be et the Clinic the first
Tuesday in every mionth from 4 to
6 p.m..
Free welhbaby . clinic will be held
on the second and last Thursday in
every month •from 1 to 2 pm.
JOHN A. GORWILL, B,A.,IVM.D.
Physician and Surgeon
In Dr. ,H. H. Ross' office. Phone 5 J
W. C. SPROAT, iVI.D., F.AC.S.
Surgery.
Phone 90-W. Office John St., Seaforth
DR. H. HUGH ROSS, Physician
and Surgeon Late of London Hos-
pital, London, England. Special at•
tention to diseases of the eye, ear,
nose aed throat. Office and residence
belsind Dominion Bank. Office Phone
No. 5; Residence Phone 1414.
DR. F. J. BURROWS, Office Main
St, Seaforth, over Dominion Bank
Hours 2.15 and 7 to 8 p.m. and by ap-
pointment. Residence, •Goderich St.,
two doors west of United Church.
Phone 46.
DR. F, 3, R. FO'RS'TER Eye
Ear, Nose and Throat. Graduate in
Medicine, University of Toronto 11897.
Late Assistant New York . Ophthal-
rnfc and Aural Institute, Moorefield's
Eye, and Golden Square throat hospi-
tals, London. At Commercial Hotel,
Seaforth, third Wednesday in eacls
month from 1.30 p.m. to 5 pan.
Bore—"'Yes and the bullet struck
my head and then went careening
into space.''
Listener---"P'hewl --hut 'did they:.
get it out all right?"
MARGARET K. CAMPBELL, M.D.
London, Ontario
Graduate Toronto University
Licentiate of American Board of Pedi-
atrics, Diseases of Children
At Seaforth Clinic, last Thursday af-
ternoon, each month
Auctioneer.
GEORGE ELLIOTT, Licensed
Auctioneer for the County of Huron,
Arrangements San be made for Sale
Date at The Seaforth News. Charges
moderate and satisfaction guaranteed
F, W. AHRENS, Licensed Auctfrt.
eer for Perth and Huron t'lovnties,
Sales Solicited. Terms on Application..
Farm Stock, chattels and real estate
property, R. R. No. 4, Mitchell.
Phone 634 r 6. Apply at this office.
WATSON & REID
REAL ESTATE
AND INSURANCE AGENCY
(Successors to James Watson) '
MAIN ST., SEAFORTH, ON'T.
All kinds of Insurance risks effect-
ed at lowest rates in First -Class
Companies.
THE NicKILLOP
Mullah Fre Insurance Cm
HEAD OFFICE—SEAFORTH, Out.
OFFICERS
President, Thomas Moylan, Sea -
forth; Vice President, William Knox,
Londesboro; Secretary Treasurer, M.
A. Reid, Seaforth.
AGENTS
F. MoKeroher, R.Rd, Dublin; John
E. Pepper, R;R.1, Brucefield; E. R. G.
J'armouth, Brod'hagen; James Watt,
Blyth; C. F. Hewitt, Kincardine,
Wm. Yeo, Hgimesville.
DIRECTORS
Mex. Btoadfoot, Seaforth No. 3;
James S'holdice, Walton; Wm. Itxcoac,
Londesboro; George Leonhardt,
Bornholm No. 1; Frank MoGeego'r,
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 officer's
addressed to their respective post -
offices,