Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1860-01-31
M ISCEL LILA N Y .
Adventure with a Highwayman.

MISCELLANY.
Adventure with Highwayman.
The Scottish Highlands, which in the fierce
and turbulant days Of old. sent armed clans OF
brave warriors to every battlefield, in this pi.
ping time of peace pour forth innumerable herds
of cattle to perish between the Unsuitable jaws
of the Southron. At the proper season, on a
set day, the stock is driven in from all the sur
rounding regions to some appointed place-the
foot of mountain, the side of lake, or near a
castle, or in neighboring village, or more like
ly still, a Observation-Disclosures are elected to
accompany the different portions into which the
drove is divided. When cattle from thousand
hills are gathered together, competent chief is
required to conduc. the four-footed army on its
weary march across the border. The person
must be man in whom the owners have the
utmost confdence-honest, brave and skillful.-
The 'top-man" as he is called, is responsible for
every thing; he directs 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 diff
culties. Such person must evidently be a
whole man. and just exactly such man was
Kenneth Murdoch, the hero of our sketch.
1t was bright cloudless autumn day, that
Kenneth, astride powerful horse, with a big
broad sword clankng against his saddle, and q
strong, fierce wolfhound by his side, was push
ing his way northward to the border. He had
lust disposed of in the English markets, one O
the largest droves that ever left the Highlands
and with the proceeds of the sale in his pockets
was fastening homeward ia advance of his com
panions.
His road lay across solitary part of the coun
trv. and for several hours he had seen no Other
living creature than his dog and horse; but a.
he emerged from little wood that borderet
the highway, he perceived a short distance be
fore him, well-dressed, aristocratic looking
gentleman, upon coal black charger, lelsurely
advancing in the same direction as himself.
"a fine day, master drover," said the gentle
man, 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 a com
panion."
ut is a solitary bit of travel for sociabls
lad" remarked Kenneth, and they fell into pleas
ant conversation.
At length the stranger, who had been talking
of the martial spirit of Highlanders, remarked
''As brave as you Highlanders are, | wonder
how you dare traverse the country alone will
so much gold as you drovers generally have il
your pockets"
Pooh! !" CALCULATED Kenneth, contemptuously
'sif we have also good steel in the sheath"
"a good broad sword is friend,' said th.
stranger, ssbnt pistol is far quicker"
s'Aye, but pistol may miss 6re-the fin
may Slip, or the ball may 60 wide, and thel
what is good of it? No, no, give me the good
steel that's always ready, and Pm afraid of NJ
highwayman in the land"
Not even the renowned Capt. Gordon, who i
said 10 be somewhere in this vicinity" said ths
stranger in bantering voice.
"That for Capt. Gordon" returned Kenneth
swapping his fingers and touching the hilt of hi
sword. "wiih Andrew Ferara here, and Brs1
there,'' nodding to the huge wolf hound beside
him. 81 would not fear to meet him this minut,
or to spit in his face anywhere"
What" exclaimed the other in tone so ex
pressive of doubt as to be offensive" is your
sword real Ferara Such blades are yer,
csarce."
"Do YOU doubt my word?" asked Kenneth
sharply.
No; only as 1 remarked before, such blade
are not common"
ssBy Jupiter, I'll convince you then," sai'
Kenneth, unsheathing his sword, and pointing t.
the makers name and the date.
''It is just as you say" replied the other
p.ising it in his hand, as though to weigh th
weapon, rather than to admire it.
"Take it BY the hilt, man." said Kenneth
"take it by the hilt, that's no way to try
sword"
The stranger seized it by the hilt, and maxim
his horse leap suddenly forward, struck such
furious blow at poor Bran that his head flew q
least ten PAGES from his body, then turning
the petritied drOver, said
"Now. your money or your life! You sc
that even Highlander may be matched"
sWho in Satan's name are youa" gasped th
astonished Kenneth, bewildered by the unez
pected turn affairs had taken.
81 am that Capt Gordon, whose face you pre-
posed to spit into, and have sworn to take 20
with your own weapons. So now dismour
and shell the drove of cattle out of your pocket
before | split your head open."
| Refusal was death, resistance was hopeless an
he was forced TO give up the gold.
"Who viii believe it in Areadalband.' - sal
he as he cast mourntul glance at Bran, "thi
with such an arm and sword an English foo
pad robbed me-"
20, rest easy on that head" said the robbie
sarcastically, "for have foiled better men tina
you; besides, intend to bestow token on yo
to show that you were robbed by main force
To lose his hand was terrible, and he hesitate
and recoiled.
"Down with it'll" roafed the robber, maxim
the bright blade flash in the sun. "Down wit
| it, sir, or you are dead man."
| Lite is sweet even to the bravest, and Ker
meth reluctantly placed his arm across the STUMP
Drawing all his strength into the elbow, th
robber swung the heavy sword around his hea
until it whistled in the air. At this last INC
ment brilliant thought occurred to the Ill
lucky Highlander. AS the sharp steel cam
rushing down, he suddenly jeIked his arm {
way, and the blade buried itself in the toug
green wood. Before he could release himse
from the blow, Kenneth was upon HIM like
whirlwind. A terrific struggle ensued, whic
resulted so much to the disadvantage of the rot
Der, that with a sudden effort of desperation, b
broke away, leaped upon Kenneth's horse, whic
was the nearest, and fled away with the spec
of the wind.
Our hero knew his horse too well to think
following; SO recovering his sword, and gather
ing up the gold he had SO nearly lost, he be
strobe the robbers saddle, which he subsequen
ly discovered TO be stuffed with large amour
ot treas ure-aDd again pushed forward toward
the residence OF the future Mrs. Murdoch.
Not long after he had the satisfaction of heal
ing that the renowned Capt. Gordon had bee
comfortably run through the body by pluck
traveller.