Northern star, and Warren and Bristol gazette. [volume] (Warren [R.I.]) 1826-1830, 1826-06-10
Warren, Saturday Morning, June 10, 1896.


of the wild birds that built below, and
sometimes detaching a fragment from
the top, to see It dashed against the
uneven sides, and bounding from rock
to rock. its sound echoing the while like
a human voice, and dying in faint and
hollow fnurmurs at the bottom. When
the Highlander had gained the loitiest
part OF the arch, he observed saother
person coming leisurely up from the
opposite side, and being himself Of the
Patrician order, called out TO him 10 lie
down the individual, however, disre-
garded the command, and the Highlan-
ders met face to face on the summit.
They were Cairn and Bendearg the
two hereditary enemies. who would
have gloried to have met in mortal
strife on hill side, turned deadly pale
at this reconnoitre. +" was FIRST at the
top. said Bendearg. and called out FIRST |;
lie down that may pass over in peace" !"
/" When the Grant prostrates himself
before M'Pherson, answered the other,
it must be with sword driven through
bis body" (" Turn back then, said
Bendearg, and repaas as you came
+" Go back yourself,if you like it. will
not be the first to turn before M'Pher-
son." This wss their short conference
and the result exactly as each had an.
ticipated. They then threw their bon
nets over the precipice, and advanced
with a slow and cautious step towards
each other they were both unarmed
Stretching their limbs like men pre-
pairing for a desperate struggle, they
planted their feet firmly on the ground,
compressed their lips, knit their 3lack
brows, and fixing fierce and watchfui
eyes on each other, stood prepared for
the onset. They both grappled at the
same moment, but being Of equal strength
were upable, for some time, to SHIFT
each others position, standing, as If
ixeato the rock, with suppressed breath
aad muscles strained to the top OF
their bent" like statues carved out Of
the solid stone. AT length M'Pherson
suddenly removing bis right foot, so as
to give him greater purchase, stopped
bis body and bent his enemy with him
by main strength, till they both leaned
over the precipice. looking downward
into the terrible abyss, The contest
was as vet doubtful, for Grant had plac-
ed his feet firmly on an elevation at the
brink, and equal command Of his ene-
my but at that moment M'Pherson
sank slowly and firmly on his knee, ,and
while Grant suddenly started back.
STOPPING to take the supposed advan.
tage, whirled him over his head into
the gulf. M'Pherson himself fell back
wards, his body hanging partly over
the rock, fragment gave way beneath
him, and he sunk further, till catching
at the solid stone above. he regained
his footing. There was pause Of
deathlke stiffness, and the bold heart
of M pherson felt sick and faint. AT
length, as if compelled unwillingly by
some mysterious feeling, he looked
down over the precipice. Grant had
caught with deathlike gripe by rug
ged point Of a rock-his enemy was
vet almost within his reach His face
was turned upward, and there was in
It horror AID despair, but he uttered
no word or cry. The next moment he
loosed his hold and the next, his brains
were dashed out before the eyes of bis
hereditary foe the mansled body dis
appeared among the trees, and its last
heavy and hollow sound arsse from the
bottom.
MPherson returned home an alter
ed man. He purchased a commission
in the army. and fell bravely in the
wars Of the Peninsula. The Gaelic
name of the place where this tragedy
was acted, signifies Hell's Bridge.