The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1827-08-16
TIE BORDERER'S LEAP.

tains winch seem To have been destined
" nature for the haunt of such wild and
desperate characters as held IN these dis
rlcts the reienofblood a. terror, beforethe
union of the Two Kingdoms, aud for seem
time after. 1t was there that the Il wen
of llornsclifi', rs he was called, one Of
the LIST of the border thieves, termin-
ated his career IN manner we'll worthy
of his life. The crime which led to his
catastrophe, although not unparalleled
IN the annals of the period Of which we
write, would seem, Is the refinement OF
modern taste, gross for historical detail
1t my suffice, therefore, to say, that
AT the marriage Of one of his enemies,
Which WIS celebrated thai morning the
Raven made his ppelrancr--a euesl as
unlocked for rs unwelcome with nu-
merous trm Of followers, IN 1ssacred
a great part Of he company, violated the
bride before tine bridegrnom's eyes, and
set fire 10 The house. Unexpected sue
oourS, however, arIived--although mol
before the work Of revenge had been
but too well accomplished the assaillnts
were assalled IN their turn, when least
prepared for defence-the bridegroom
liberated, whom they had intended to
carry off as a prsoner-and their
chief obliged to betake himself to flight,
alone and unarmed.
II was the afternoon when tho outlaw
arrived Al the borders Of the health, and
! his breath came ireer as he fell the cool
air from his own mountains, and saw tho
declining sun, which hung over the cliffs
TO which his fugitive steps were directed
pointing as II we've to the place of their
mutual repose, He slackened his pace
for an instant, TO look around on the
well-known scene: his heart dllsted
with kind of pride as he felt his foot
once more on his native health, which il
pressed with aneldSticity hlrdly dimin-
ished by the weight of fifty years and
his eyes sparkled with fierce JOY as he
saw the approaching termination of hi
! flight.-But he was alone and unarmed
for his sword had been broken off 10 the
| bill j; host of enemies were behind
and his place Of refuge yet distant. lie
looked back as he gained the summit oil
an eminence: and although, to less ex-
| perienced traveller, no sound would have
been heard 10 break the stiffness Of he
hour, and no living form appeared to
eve animation to the desoIate heath,
save that of the wild bird, now aud lhet
startled by bis sudden steps from is rest
ing place, yet, when he had bent for 3
moment his keen eyes on the distance,
and then turned his ear in the same di.
rection, rs If to catch some note of con.
hrmation, the outlaw snnfleG up the wine
like fox pursue q 10 his covert, and ben.
ding his body forward far to the noun.
tains, dalted ON with renewed velocity
He did not rest again till he had reach.
u he ri}ae mountains which forms tn,
ermina ion 9l the he 4th; bur his exc
tons, during the latter part-of the jour
new, although not less steady than before
were less violent. Perhaps his long ant
rapid fight-or, it may be the pressure o
approaching age---had contributed t.
stifen his wearied limbs, and to depress
his stout heart or, perhaps. it was on
" some consideration of policy that in
duced him to reserve his strength for the
greater hazard and fatigue of ascending
the rocks: but SD it was, that towards
the conclusion OF the race, although the
| L.. Al. 4
tinctly IN sight the pace of tho outlaw
became gradually slower and at length
he threw himself down by a small streau
of water that qushpd out OF the cliff, an1
turned his eyes deliberately upon the
heath. As his pursuer approached near.
or and nearer. it could be seen that he
was young man, OF strong athlell,
make in his right hand was a swor6
covered with blood, which the mdda,
sun had baked into a brown crust on the
blade; and in his left he held a cost,
handkerchief, such as was at that tim,
worn on holiday occasions by female,
of wealth or rank. He was dressed more
like chambering gallant than d rough
warrior, VINO seeks the brown heath witt
the naked brand but the disorder of his
apparel, which was torn and daubcd witt
marks Of mortal strite--hiS long hair
hanging in clotted heaps on his half-na-
ked Shoulders-and his wild and CHASTITY
aspect, where fury, horror, and despair
were written in mingled characters
seemed yet filter for the lonely heath
than the festive hall. When he saw his
enemy fall down by the side oftko
stream, a low but deep cry broke from
his lips, resembling half the shout of the
tired forester, when the stag who has
held him to bay sinks poweriess at his
feet. and half the greedy and savage
howl of the wolf dog over the quiverng
carcass of his quarry, The Raven of