The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1857-12-11

Il fensc. This required moments tim,
> during which the outlaw, before proceed
h ing further, gave shrill call on a whistl
ll suspended from his neck. He then turn
d ed with his drawn sword upon the hur
i ter, for to do Elliot justice, he was afral
S of no single man. The sword Of tn
= stranger was short one, but in the tw
q minutes contest which cnsucd, the Out
o law found that he had to do with mas
2 ter of fence. One Of Elliott's followers
n who heard the call, came up ut that mo
Q mcnt, and the stranger, who saw him ap
A preaching, almost gave up his life as los,
, In order to defend himself to the las,
, he changed his position so fS rs to 60
his back to one OF the strong copsc bushes
But help was at hand when least expect
ed. Scarcely had the outlaws followe
/ interposed single blow, when a strong
ii arm levcled him TO the earth from behint
with u cudgel. The outlaw turned. hal
round at the unforeseen stroke which do
prived him Of his assistant, and on seeing
whence the aid came, bounded into the
copse from which he had issued, and was
out Of sight in an instant. The hunter
whose blood was heated with the encoun,
ter, would have pursued him, but his
preseryer detained him almost by force,
"It wad be an act Of Madness sir, to pur-
sue him. ken him, as well as this man
lying scnseless ut our feet, in spite o their
disguiscs. They arc part o a gang, and
their companions will not be far OH. Let
us quit this place, sir, as fast as We can"
The stranger saw the propriety OF fol-
lowing this advice, and tho two rapidly
left the spot, where the outlaws follower
still lay without signs Of life.
The nearest and safest refuge to which
Edward Burnet, who was the strangers
dclivcrcr, could conduct the gentleman,
was the mill of Kirkton. On their way
thither, the stranger inquired into the
name and circumstances of his compan-
ion, and assured him that the service hc
had done would not be forgotten. Hc
also learned on whom Burnot's suspicious
fell rs the authors of the outrage---slls-
picions which he concurred with Edward
in thinking it would be improper to mcn-
ton without further confirmation. On
reaching the milcrs housc, and detailing
what had occurred, old Andrew congrat-
ulatcd the stranger on his escape, and
praised Edward for his manliness. ut
inaun hac been some o the same forest
gang that cleared the Dawick barn the
other night" saiG the miller, speaking OF
the perpetrators ofthc attack. "Within
this year or twa, they seem nivcr to be out
o Tweeddale single night; dell be in
their skins" ..'.''
Mary Tod also praised her lover; but
her praises were confined to kind and
admiring looks, which spoke her mean
ing, however, so openly, that the stranger
read them evidently with rs much case
its the object Of them did. The miller
pressed the stranger TO remain at the
mill all night; hut his visitor declined
|. the kind offer, and only requested the
protection of some of Andrews sturdy as.
sistants in the mill as far rs the town Of
Prccblcs. This was readily granted, tho
the miller would have been better pleas
ed had the visitor stayed. The truth is,
that Andrew was not little curious to
know who the stranger might be; but n
certain dignity in the lattcr's demcanor,
and the richness ofhis apparel struck the
miller with an indcfinablc feeling of re-
spcct, and placed aguard on his lips. The
stranger requested Edward also to accom-
pany him to tho burgh town-a request
which was at once assented toby the young
man, but which the hunter read in Mary's
countenancc to be not at all agreeableto
her. The millcr's fair daughter proba-
bly, thought that her lover had faced
enough Of danger and shown enough Of
lnanlincss for one day. But the stranger
had certain purpose to serve, and, in dis
regard of the damscrs uneasiness, not on
| " took Edward with him, but detained
him all night, rs the millcr's men reported,
who had been dismissed by the stranger,
with handsome remuneration, a short
way from the town Of Precblcs, and who
carried message from Edward to his
mother, to prevent any anxiety on his ao-
count.
But neither was Mary Tod nor any
other person long in wonder or uncasi-
ness on this subject. Atan early hour on the
following day, party OF horsemen, above
twenty in number, halted for short time
at the mill of Kirkton, on their way up
the Vale Of Manor. At their head rode
the stranger of the preceding day, and by
his side Mary Tod observed her lover on
foot acting, apparently, as guide to the
party. While the stranger convcrsed with
the miller, Edward took the opportunity
of stealing for moment into the house,
and of cxclaiming to the anxious Mary
what was going on, and why he had been
detained all night from his home. The
miller's daughter was surprised at the
hope and joy which sparkled in her low
er's countcnance, but his explanation Of
the cause speedily raised sympathetic
emotions in her own breast. 'lt is tho
young king, Mary-Darnley himself, that
was attacked yestrcen; and If ! am right
in thinking, as took an oath to the best
Of my belief last night at Smithfcld Cas-
tie, that it was Will Elliot that played
the villain trick, am made man, Mary,
The farm o'Castlehill, which you ken is
the kings land, will be mine. Nae fears
o Andrew refusing his consent then, my
ain Mary, and l will be the happicst man
alive, WI the best wife in Twccddale.-
But they arc moving on to r,immagc the
reviving villains keep, sac maum away
, to lead them" And in minute or two
before the miller's daughter could recover
from the surprise so far as to get a WON
ans look at the gallant and princely form
Of Darnley, the party had moved on tc
+ their destination. 90 ,'' '''
II 1t is unnecessary TO detail all that
!. passed nj their examination of the keeu