The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1822-08-23

tincl had deserted danger, and this was his
warning. Forthwith the congregation ROSE.
There we're paths, dangerous 10 tho unpr G
tised feet, along the hedges of the rocks,
leading up to several caves and places OF
couccamcnt. The more active and young
assisted the elder--morc especially the old
pastor, and TIE wnmen with the infanls :
aud many minutes had not elapsed. ill not
a living creature was visible in the channel
of the stream, but NIL of them hidden, or
nearly go, IN the elelis and caverns.
The shepherd who had given the alarm
had lain down again in his plaid Instantly
on the green sward upon the summit of
these preclpices. A party OF soldiers were
immediately uponhm, and demanded what
signals he had been making, and TO whom ;
when ono ofthcn,, looking over ihe edge of
the cliff, exclaimed, See, sec Humphrey
we have caught tho whole Tabernacle of
the Lord in net nj last There they are,
prlislns God among the stones of The river
Mouss. These are The Garland Craigs.--
ny my souls salvation, noble Cathedral"
"Fllng the lying sentinel over the ciiTa.--
Here ~ canting Covenanter for you, de-
ceiyinS honcst soldiers on the very Sabbath
day. Over with him, over with him--ont
OF the gallery into the pit" But the shep-
herd had vanished like shadow and mix
iis with the tall green broom and bushes,
was making his nnseenway towards wood.
Satan has saved his servant but come,
my lads--follow mel know the way
down into the bed Of the strram---and the
steps up TO Wallace's cave. They are cal
led the kitile Nine Stanes.n The hunts up
we'll be- all innt the death. lHalloo--my
boys--haloo |"
The soldiers dashed down less precipi-
tous part of the wooded banks, little
below the "eraigs," and hurried up the
channel. But when they reached the altar
where the old gray-hiirea minister had
been seen standing, and the rocks that had
been covered with people, all was silent
and solitary~-not n creature To be seen.---
" Here IL a bible dropt by some Of them"
cried a soldier, and with his foot, spun IL
away into the pool. :" \ bonnet bonnet
cried another -" now for The pretty snne-
TIFF d face that rolled lis demuge eyes below
l." But, after few lests and oaths, the
soldiers stood still, cycling with kind of
my'terlaus dread thu black and silent walls
oil the rock that hemmed tbem in, and hear
ing only the small voice of the stream that
sent aproiounder Stiffness through the heart
of that m iestic solitude. Course these
cowardly COyenanters-w what, il they tum-
bic down upon our heads pieces OF rack
from their hiding plaees2 Advance or re-
treat r There was no reply. For slight
fear was upon every man musket or bay-
onet could be- oflitile use To men obliged
10 chamber up rocks, along slender paths,
leading, they knew not where and they
were aware that armed men, now "A dnys,
worshlpped God--men of iron hearts, who
feared not the glitter of soldiers arms--nei-
tler barrel nor bayoncts--men of long
stride, firm step, and broad breast, who, on
the open field, would haze oyerthromn the
,narslialrd line, and gone FIRST aud foremost
II city had 20 be taken hy storm.
AS the soldiers were standing together
irrcsolutc, n noise came upon their ears like
distant Thunder, but even more appalling /;
and slight current ofair, as if propelled by
it, past Whispering along the sweetbrilrs,
and the broom, aud the tresses Of the birch
trees. IL came deepening, and rolling, and
roaring ON, and the very Garland Craigs
shook TO theis foundation, as if IN an earth
quake. "The Lord have mercy upon us
whit is this - and down fell many of
the miserable wretches on their kneos,
and some on their faces, upon the sharp
pointed rocks. Now It was like the sound
of many myriad chariots rolling on their i
ron axlrs down the stony channel of the
torrent.-The old grey-hared minister is
sued from the mouth of Wallace's Cave,
and said, with n loud voice, "rhe Lord
God terlib!e reigneth" A water spout had
burst up among the moorlands, and the III
yer III is power was " hand. There it
csone--tunbIing along into that long reach
OF cliffs, and in moment filled it with one
mass Of waves. Huge agitated clouds of
foam rode GA the surface of blood red
torrent. An army must have been swept
off by that flood. The soldiers persisted in
y moment--but high up in the cliffs, above
the sweep of destruction, We're the Cove
nanterss-men, women, and children, NJ
terlng prayers to God, unheard by them
selves, in that raging thunder.