Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1828-1831, 1829-05-13
cLuM DuU.-A HIGHLAND r,I.r.


like M'Gregors were at invctcratc fcud.-
Caium lived i'll scquestercd glen I'm the Vi
clnity OF Ben Lomond. His cottage stood
at tie base OF a steep ierny hill; retired from
the rest OF the clan, Inc, lived alone. This
solitary being was the deadliest foe of the
MGregors, when the clans were I'm the red
unyIelding battle Of their mountain chiefs
HIS weapon was a bow, in the use of which
he was SO sliilful that he could bring down
the smallest bird when on the wing. No man
but himself had ever bent his bow: and his
arrows were driven with such resistless force
that then ieathery wingswere always drench.
ed with his toeman's best blood. In the use
OF the sword, also, he had few EQUALS: bat
the DOW was the weapon OF his heart.
The son of the chief of the M'Greoors.
with two OF his clansmen, haying zone 10
hunt, and their game being wide they wan
dered far, and found themselves, a little after
midday, on the top Of the hill at the foot of
which stood Caiun Dhu's cottage. -.Come. :"
said the young chief, "lct US 90 down aud
try TO bond Calm Dhu's bow. Evan, YOU
and have got the name of being the best
bowmen OF our clan; ii is said no man but
Calum himself can bend his bow; but it will
90 hard with us If we cannot show him that
the M'Gregors are men of thcws and sinews
equal to the bending of his long bow, with
winch he has so often sent his arrows through
and through our best warriors, as If they
bad been men OF straw sci UP 10 practice Oh.
Come, he will not know us-and If he should
we arc three TO one; anu | owe him SOME
thing" added he, touching the hilt Of his
dirk, "since the last conflict, where he sent
an arrow through my uncle's gal!antbosom.
Come, follow Inc down." he continued, his
, eve cleaning with determined vengeance.
and his voice quirering with suppressed pas
sion. The will of highland chieftain was
law at>theNElne of which we speak. 1--WE
will 90 down. If Il score of his best clansmen
were with hihi," said Evan. save. but be
cautious" I'VE shall bend his bow, then
break II" replied the Young M'Gtegor, "and
thcn-then for my'uncle's blood" "He is
good al the sword said the third M'Gregor;
"but this Showing his dirlf,) will stretch him
on the sward." ''Strike him not behind
said the young chief, thew him down M front
he deserves honorable wounds, tor lie Is
brave thoug, an enemy
! They had been concealed bv rising kno
! from beng seen from the cottage, which
! they now reached. Knocking loudly at the
door, after some delay thew were answered
by the appearance of a little thick set, grey
eyed, odish looking man, with long arm,
and a black bushy beard hung with grey
threads and ihnapsS, as ii lie had been en-
/ pioyed in weaving the coarse linen Of the
1 country at the time. Bat as he had mono
OF the muscular symptoms of prodigious
strength which Calum Dhu was reported to
possess, and which had so often proved fatal
to their clan, they could not suppose tins TO
be their Tedoubted foeman; and to the que.
/ rulous question OF what they wanted, uttered
| IN the impatient tone of one who has beer
| interrupted in some necessary worldly en-
| ployment, they replied by inquiring if Calum
Dhu was ut home? ma, he's gane TO the
fishing; but an we haze onv message frae our
chief, (l1eaven guard himD about the com
ing Of the red M'Grogors, and will trust me
with it, Calum VIII get il frae me. Ye NAV
as well tell me as him; he STAYS lang when
he gaes out, for he is Il keen fisher" 1--WE
were only wanting to try the bending of his
bow" said the disappointed young chief
(which we have heard 10 man can do save
himself" "fioo! gin that is a, yc might haze
tcl'd II AT first, an no keepit me sa lang frae
my lOom," said the old man: "but Stop
and giving his shoulders all impatient shrug,
which to keen observer would have passed
for ono of satisfaction, triumph, and deter
mination, he went into the house and quick
" returned, bringing out a strong bow and
sheat of arrows, and flung them carelessly
on the ground, saying, "Ye'll be for irving
Your strength at fght!" pointing to the
| arrows. 81 hne seen Calum send an arrow
over the highest point o. that hill, like a
glance o. hghtning; and when the M'Grcgors
were coming raging up the glen, like red
deevels as they are, mony o. their best war
riors fell at the farthest entry o. the pass,
every man o. them wi hole in his breast
and his fellow at his back"
lie had taken a long arrow out Of the
sheaf and stood playing with j. in his hand
while speaking, seemingly ready to give it
20 the first man who should bend the bow.
The M'Grcgors were tall muscular men, in
the prime ofyouth and manhood The young
chief took mp the bow, and, after examining
ITS unbcnding strength, laying all his might
TO II, strained till the blood rushed TO his
face, and his temples throbbcd almost 10
burstIng--but in vain; the string remained