Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1860-02-17
ADVENTURE WETEA & kaHGhA~
VVAYHHAN.

in this piping time Of peace pour forth in
Vulnerable herds of cattle to perish between
the Unsuitable jaws of the Southron. At the
proper season, on set day, the stock is
driven in from all the surrounding regions
to some appointed place-the foot o! noun
tain, the side Of lake, or near castle, or
in a neighboripg village, or more likely still,
a Battlefield the herdsmen are elected to
accompany the different portions into which
the drove is divided. So far, all is plain
sailing, calling for the display of no con
siderable amount Of skill but when cattle
from thousand hills are gathered together;
"a competent chief is required to conduct the
four-footed army on its weary march across
the border. The person must be man
Gail are not men who wear the human
form" &c. He mist be one in whom the
Owners have the utmost coridence-honest
brave and skilful. The 'topman,' as lie is
called is responsible for every thing he d.
reefs all the movements, gives the signal
when to move or when to halt; is always
busy-now in front and then in the rear !;
and is consulted by his subordinates in all
difficulties. Such person must evidently
be whole man, and just exactly such a
:nan as was Kenneth Murdoch, the hero of
our sketch
It was a bright, cloudless autumn day,
that Kenneth, astride powerful horse. with
a big broadsword clanking against his sad
die. and strong, fierce wolf hound by his
side, was pushing his way northward to. the
border. He had just disposed of in the Eng
lish markets, one of the largest droves that
ever left the highlands, and with the pro-
ceeds of the sale in his pockets, was hasten
ling homeward in advance of his COMPANIONS;
for, besides the desire to account to his en-
Iployers, that he had promised, IN case his
cattle sold readily and well, to transfer into
Mrs. Murdoch, and lie was therefore, very
naturally anxious to get on as fast as posi-
Bile, for he knew that Maggie was equally
| impatient to behold him-as well she might
be, for handsomer. broader shouldered
curlier whiskered young fellow, is not often
Ito be seen.
Ills road lay across solitary part Of tie
country, ana for several hours he had seeh
no other living creature than his dog and
his horse; but as he emerged from little
wood that bordered the highway, he perceiv-
ed short distance before him, well dress
ed. aristrocratic looking gentleman, upon ?
coal black charger, leisurely advancing in
the same direction as himself.
Z fine day, master drover,' said the gen
tleman, as he drew up abreast of him.
Fine as a fiddle, returned Kenneth.
! a lonesome road this, said the stranger
'and [ am not sorry to have met with com
panion.'
It Is a solitary bit of travel fer a sooiabla
lad remarked Kenneth, and theg fell into
pleasant conversation Atlength the stran-
ger, who lad been talking of the martial
spirit of the Highlanders, remarked:
'As brave as you Highlanders are, won
der how you dare traverse the country alone
with SO much gold as you drcvers generally
have in your pockets.
'Poohp calculated Kenneth ,oontemptous-
ly, if we have gold in our pockets, we have
also good steel in the sheath
"A good broadsword is friend said the
stranger, but pistol is far quicker
Aye, but pistol may miss fre-the aint
may slip, or the ball may go wide, and then
what is good Of it? No, 20 give me the
good steel that's always ready and I'm not
afraid of no highwayman in the land
Not even the renown Capt. Gordon, who
is said to be somewhere il this vicinity, said
the stranger in bantoring.
THAT for Capt. Gordon, returned Ken
meth, swapping his fingers and touching the
hi of 4 ~ IT..
and Bran there nodding to the huge wolf
hound beside him, I would not fear to meet
him this minute, or to spit in his face any
where
What exclaimed the other in tone so
expressive of doubt as to be offensive, is
your sword the real Ferara? Such blades
are very scarce
DO you doubt my word 2 asked Kenneth
sharply.
No; only as I remarked before such
blades are not common.
by Jupiter, I'll convince you them
said Kenneth, unsheathing his sword, and
pointing to the makers name and the date.
1t is just as you say replied the other
posing it in bis hand, as though to weigh
the weapon, rather than admire it.
Take it by the hilt, man., said Kenneth,
take it by the hit, that's no way to try
sword
The stranger seized it BY the hitt, and
making his horse leap suddenly forward,
struck such furious blow atpoor Bran that
his head flew at least ten PAGES from his
body, then turning to the petrlfed droyer
said:
Now, your money Or your life ! You see
that even Highlander may be matched,
'Who in Satin's name are you? gasped
the astoniShed Kenneth, bewildered by the
unexpected turn affairs had taken,
4 an that Captain Gordon, whose face
you proposed to spit into, and have sworn
to take you with your own weapons. So
now dsmount and she'll the drove of cattle
out of your pockets before I split your head
open
Refusal was death, resistance hopeless,
and he was forced to give up the gold.
w no will believe it in Breadalband , said
be as he cast mournful glance at Bran,
that with such an arm at a sword an Eng
lsh footpad robbed me-
%, rest easy on that head, said the rob-
Der, scarcastically, for have foiled better
men than you; besides, | intend to bestow a
token on you to show that you were robbed
by main force. Lay down your right hand