Iowa capitol reporter. [volume] (Iowa City, Iowa) 1841-1855, 1848-11-29
Savage Pride.

There is a narrow pass between the
mountains in the neighborhood of Bendearg,
in the Highlands Of Scotland, which at a
distance has the appearance Of an immense
artificial bridge thrown over tremendous
chasm but on nearer approach is seen 70
be wall of natures own masonry, form
ed of vast and rugged bodies of solid rock
piled on each other, as if in the giants
sport of the architecture. It's sides are in
some places covered with trees of consid-
cradle size; and the passenger, who has a
head steady enough to look down, may see
the eyrie OF birds Of prey beneath his feet.
The path across is SO narrow, that it can
not admit Of two persons passing and in
deed, none but native would attempt the
dangerous route, though it saves circuit
Of three miles; it yet sometimes happens
that two travellers meet, owing to the
curve formed by the pass preventing a
view across from either side, and when
this is the case, one lies down while the
other crawls over his body. One day, a
Highlander, walking along the pass when
he had gained the highest part of the arch,
observed another coming leisurely up,and
being himself Of the patrician order, called
him 10 lie down! The person, however,
disregarded the command, and the High
landcrs met on the summit. They were
Cairn and Bendearg, of two families in en-
nifty towards each other. Il was first at
the top said Bendearg, and called out
first, lie down, that may pass over III
peace When the Grant prostrates him
self before the NJ 'Pherson,' answered the
other, 1T must be with sword through
his body 'Turn back, then,' said Ben
dearg, and repass as you came go
back yourself,if you like, it, replied Grant;
/ will not be the first of my name to turn
before the M'Phersons.' They then threw
their bonnets over the precipice, and adj
vanced with slow and cautious pace close
to each other-they were both unarmed.
Stretching their limbs like men preparing
for desperate struggle hey planted their
feet firmly on the ground compressed their
lips, knit their brows, and fixing fierce
and watchful eye on each other, stood pre-
pared for an onset. They both grappled
at the same moment but, being Of equal
strength, were unable to shift each other
position fixed ON the rock, with
suppressed breath and muscles strained to
the top of their bent like statues carved
out of solid stone. At length M'Pherson,
suddenly removing his right foot so as to
give him greater purchase, stopped his
body, and bent his enemy down with him
by main strength, till they both leaned
over the precipice, looking downward into
the terrible abyss. The contest was vet
doubtful for Grant had placed his foot
firmly on an elevation at the brink, and
had equal command of his enemy, but at
this moment M'Pherson sunk slowly and
firmly on his knee, and while Grant sud-
denly started back, stopping to take the
supposed advantage whrled him over his
head into the gulf-M Pherson himself
fell backwards, his body partly hanging
over the rock-a fragment gave way be-
meath him, and he sunk further-till,
catching with a desperate effort at the So
lid stone, he regained his footing. There
was pause of death like stiffness, and the
bold heart of MCPHERSON felt sick and faint.
AT length, as if compelled unwilling by
some mysterious feeling, he looked down
over the precipice. Grant had caught
with a death-like grippe, by the rugged
point Of rock-his enemy was almost
within his reach. His face was turned
upward, and there was irf it horror and
despair-but he uttered no word or cry.
The next moment he loosed his hold, and
his brains were dashed out before the eyes
Of his hereditary foe; the mangled body
disappeared among the trees, and his last
heavy and hollow sound arose from the
bottom. M'Pherson returned home an al
tered man. He purchased commission
in the army, and fell in the wars Of the
Peninsula. The Gaelic name of the place
where this tragedy was acted signifies
Hell's Bridge.