Iowa capitol reporter. [volume] (Iowa City, Iowa) 1841-1855, 1853-04-13
The Death svrestIe.

4 deadly feud subsisted, almost from time
immemorial between the families OF MPherson.
OF Bendeary, aud Grant, OF Cairn. and was
handed do~yn "unimpaired" even to the close
of the last century. In earlier time the war
like chiefs Of these names found frequent op
portunties of testifying their mutual AM.
mostly and few inheritors Of that fatal quarrel
left the world without having nostelcd it with
the blood of their hereditary enemies. But in
our own day the progress of civilization. which
had reached even these wild countries-the
heart of the North ighlands-athough 1t
could not extingush entirely the transmitted
spirit of revenge. at least kept it within
bounds and the feuds of M'Pherson and Grant
threatened in the course Of another generation,
TO die entirely away, or, at least TO exist only
in some vexatlous law suit, fostered by the
petty jeaonsles of two men Of hostile ,empers
and contiguous property
1t was not however, without some ebulltions
Of ancient fierceness that the fame which had
burned for so many centuries seemed about to
expire. Once at meeting of the country gen.
slemeE,a question of privilege arising, Ben
dearg took occasion to throw out some taun;s
aimed at his hereditary foe, which the fiery
Grant immediately received as the signal of
defiance. and a challenge was the consequence
| The sheriff Of the county. however, having re.
ce!ved intimation of the affair. placed both
parties under arrest; till st length, by the per
suasion Of their frends-not friends by blood
and the representations of the magistrates
! Il hn, n.
to fnrget--at least never again to remember in
speech or action, the ancient fcud of their
family This occurrence al the time was the
object Of much interest in the Country !"
the rather that it seemed to give the lie to the
prophecies, of which many highland family
has an ample stock in his tradtionary chroni
cles, and which expressly predicted that the
enmty Of Cairn and Beudearg should only be
quenched in blood; and on this seemingly
cross grained circumstance some of the young
men who had begun to be tainted with the
heresies Of the iowlands, were seen to shake
their heads as they reflected on the tales and
the faith of their ancestors; but the grey haired
seers shock theirs still more wisely, and ans
wered, with the motto Of noble house, | bidt
my time"
There is narrow pass between two noun
tains IN the neighborhoo Of Bendearg: vel
known to the traveller who adventures into
these wilds in quest Of the savage sublimitics
Of nature. 1t n little distance it has the ap
pearance OF an immense artificial bridge thrown
over vide chasm but on a nearer approach
is seen to be wall Of natures own masonry
formed of vast and rugged bodies Of solid rocl
piled on each other. as il the giant sport Of ,ht
architect Its side, are in some places covered
! with trees Of considerable size; and a passen
ger who has head steady enough 10 lool
' down the precipice. may see the cyries Of bird
of prey beneath his feet The path across il
SO narrow. that it will not admit Of two per
sons passing alongside aud indeed. none bu
natives accustomed to the scene from infancy
would attempt the dangerous route at all
though it saves a circuit Of three miles Ye
it sometimes happens to meet in the middl
!, owing to curve formed by the pass preventing
view across from either side; and when thi
is The case. one is obliged to lie down Will
- the other crawls over his body.
One day. shortly after the incident abov
rnentioned.a highlander was waking tearlessl,
: down the pass. sometimes bending over TO " s,cl
, the light Of the wild birds that bull. below
. !. and sometimes detsching fragment from tn
: top. 10 see it dashed against the uneven sides
and bounding from rock 10 rock, its soun'