Semi-weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1852-1853, 1853-04-09
THE DEATH=WREsTLE.

A QeadIy feud SuDS1Sted,a almost from Time I'M
memorial, between the families of MPherson off
Bendearg. and Grant; of Cairn, and was handed
down g unimpaired" even to the close OF the last
century In earlier times the war-ke chiefs Of
these names found frequent opportunities of testi-
flying their mutual animosity; and few inheritors
Of the fatal quarrel left the world without having
moistened 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 Highlands
although it could not extnguish entirely the trans
mitted spirit of revenge, at least kept it Within
safe bounds and the feuds of M'PhersOn and Grant
threatened in the of another generation, to
die entirely away, or, at least to exist only in some
vexaous law suit, fostered by the petty ealousies
! of two men of hostile tempers and contiguous
property.
1t was not however, without some ebultions
of ancient ferceness that the flame which had
burned for so many centuries seemed about to ex-
pire. Once, at a meeting of the country gentle
men. question of privilege arising, Bendearg
took occasion to throw out some taunts aimed at
his hereditary foe, which the fiery Grant immedi-
ately received the signal Of defiance, and chal-
! lenge was the consequence. The sheriff Of the
county, however having received intimation of
the affair." put both parties under arrest; till at
length, by the persuasion of their friends-not
| friends by blood-and the representations of the
magistrates, they shook hands, and each pledged
his honor to forgetat least never again to remem-
Der in speech action, the ancient feud Of his
family. This occurrence at the time was the OBJ
iect of much interest in the country ;" the
rather that it seemed to give the lie to the proph
ecies, of which many highland family has an
ample stock in its tradtionary chronicles. and
which expressly predicted that the enmty of Cairn
and Bendearg should only be quenched in blood;
and on this seemingly cross-grained circumstance
some of the young men who had begun to be faint
ed with the heresies of the lowlands, seen to
shake their heads as they reflected on the tales and
the faith of their ancestors but the grey-haired
seers shook theirs still more wisely, and answered.
with the motto of noble house, " bide nv
time"
| There is narrow pass between two mountains
in the neighborhood of Bendearg, we'll known to
the traveller who adventures into these wds in quest
Of the savage sublnties of nature. At little dis
lance itappears to be immense artificial bridge
thrown over wide chasm; but a nearer approach.
is seen to be wall of natures masonry, formed
of vast and rugged bodies of solid rock piled on
each other, If Ill the giant sport of the architect
! Its sides in places covered with trees Of
considerable size; and the passenger who has
head steady enough to look down the precipicc,
may the eyries Of birds of prey beneath his
feet. The path across it is so narrow that it will
not admit of two persons passing along side; and
indeed, none but natives accustomed to the scene
from infancy, would attempt the dangerous route
at all, though it saves circuit of three miles Yet
! it sometimes happens that two travellers meet in
the middle, owing to the curve formed by the pass
preventing view across from either side; and
when this is the case, one is obliged to lie down
while the other crawls over his body.
| One day, shortly after the incident above men
toned, highlander walking fearlessy down
! the pass sometimes bending over to watch the
flight of the Wild birds that built below and some
/ times detaching fragrant 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
murmurs at the bottom. When the highlander
had gained the Hottest part of the arch, he OBJ
served another person coming leisurely from the
opposite SIDE, and being himself of the partrican
order, called out to him to lie down; the individ-
! ual, however, disregarded the command, and the
! highlanders met face to face on the summit They
were Carn and Bendearg; the two hereditary en-
emes, who would have gluried to have met in
mortal strife hillside, turned deadly pale at
! this fatal rencomtre.
| 81 was the first at the top" said Bendearg
and called out first; lie down, that may pass
over in peace"
"Whcn the Grant prostrates himself before
M'Pherson," answered the other, " it must be with
a sword driven through his body
turn back, them" said Bendearg, and re-
pass as you came"
! 600 back yourself, if you like it will not be
the first to turn before MPherson."
This was their short conference, and the result
exactly as each had anticipated. They then threw
their bonnets rthe precipice, and advanced with
a slow and cautious pace towards each other; they
were both unarmcd. Stretching their limbs like
men preparing for desperate struggle they plant
ed their feet firmly on the ground, compressed
their lips, knit their dark brows and fixing fierce
and watchful eyes upon each other stood there
prepared for the onset. They both grappled at
the moment; but being of equal strength
were unable for time to shift each others po-
|sition-standng, if fixed to the rock, with sup
pressed BREATH and muscles strained to the top
of their bent" like statues carved out of the solid
stone. At length MCPHERSON suddenly removing
his right foot as to give him greater purchase,
stopped his body and bent his enemy with him by
main strength, till they both leaned over the pre-
cipice, looking downwards into the terrible abyss
The contest was yet doubtful, for Grant had placed
his foot firmly elevation at the brink, and
had equal command of his enemy; but at this
moment MCPHERSON sunk slowly and firmly on his
knee, and while Grant suddenly started back,
STOPPING to take the supposed advantage whirled
him his head into the gulf. MCPHERSON
himself fell backwards, his body hanging partly
over the rock-a fragment gave way beneath him,
and he sunk further, till catching with desperate
effort at the solid stone above, he regained his
footing. There pause of death-like stiffness,
and the bold M'Pherson felt sick and faint. At