Juliet signal. [volume] (Juliet [i.e. Joliet], Ill.) 1844-1???, 1864-04-26
THE FIIGHWAYMAN.


! armed clans Of bravo warriors to every bat.
tle-6rl1, now, in this weak and piping time
! of peace, pour forth innumerable hordes
Of cattle, TO perish between the Unsuitable
! jaws of the proud Suuthren. At the props
err season. on a set day. the stock is driven
! 10 from all the surrounding region to some
| appointed place-the foot of mountain,
| the eide Of lake. or near castle, or in
| the neighbGrhoOd Of a village, or, more
| likely, ttle.fcld-herdsmen are select
ed to accompany the different portions into
which the drove il divided. So far all il
plain sailing. calling for the display of no
considerable amount Of skill: bCt from the
cattle from thousand hills are gathered
together. competent chief is required to
conduct the four footed army On its weary
| march across the border. This person
must be man.
All are not men who wear the human
{ rm,' etc. He must be one in whom the
owners have the utmost confcence-bou-
ct. brave ard SIX .llful. The It psmsn.' a
he is called, in responsible for everything:
he directs all the movements, gives the
signal when to move or when to halt. ;s
always busy now in the front and then
in the rear; and is consulted by his su Dor
rates 10 81 dificul;e He knows the
safest roads, over the widest tracks. the
mountain and the moor are as familiar 60
him as the beaten path; be prefers the
greeusward way. which is pleasant to the
hoofs Of his charge, and affords them a
mou hfal, to the hard and dusty public road
Wh CHI distresses the feet of his cattle. and
has little in the way of food.
English parties, on their way to the
nth, to look at the wild deer and wild
b lis, and trace the scenes of Scott or Os-
sian, are often startled ny drove emerg-
ing from a glen, or rounding the base of
a mountain, canning lowing al,ng, under
or directed by Their divers, who, with
wallet On back and staff in hand, are COR
du"ting then to the south
Besides all the cares and duties xh;Ie
on the march, the topsman has to make all
the bargains, dispose of all the cattle. and
be responsible for their value to the own
ers. Such person must evidently be O
whole man, and Just exactly such a man
wac Kenneth AaFdoek. the hero of ou'
sketch.
1t was bright, clOudless autumn Gay
that Kenneth, astride a powerful horse,
with big broadsword clanking against
his saddle, and strong, fierce wolf hound
BY bis side, was pushing bis way north.
ward to the border. lie had Just disposed
in one Of the English markets, of one of
the largest drOves that ever lift the High
lands, and with the proceeds Of the sale in
his pockets. was Fastening homewurd in
advance of his companions; for, besides his
desire to sccUuut to his employers, there
was certain Maggie that he had promise
ed in cuse bis cattle sold readily and well,
to trans er into Mrs. Murdoch, and be was.
therefore, very naturally anxious to get on
as fast as possible, for he knew that Maggie
was equally impatient to behold himEas
well she might be: for handsou1er, broad.
er-shouldered, curlier-whiskertd Young fell
low is not Often to be seen.
His way lay across a solitary part of the
country and for several hours he had seer
no other living creatures than bis dog and
bis horse; but as he emerged from little
wood that bOrdered the highway, be per-
ceived, a short distance before him, a we'll
dressed, aristccrstic looking gentleman,
upon noble black charger, advancing 10
the same direction with himself
"A fine dog, master Drove said the
gentleman, as he drew up breast of
him.
Zine as a saddle returned Kenneth.
"A lonesome road this returned the
stranger, and am by nc means sorry to
have met with a companion
1t is q solitary bit Of travel for a socia.
BILE lad asseDted Kenneth, and they fell
into q pleasant conversation that Continued
for sometime. At length the stranger.
who bad Been talking Of tbemartial; sniEit
of the HlGhlanders, remarked
AS brave as your Highlanders are. I
wonder how you dare to traverse the coun-
try alone with so much English gold you
drovers generally have in your pockets
Pooh ! calculated Kenneth, contempt
tuously. If we have English gold 10 the
sporian, we have Scottish steel in the
sheath
"A good broadsword is a friend said the
stranger, but pistol is far quicker
Aye, but a pistol may miss fre-the
flint may clip, or the ball go wide, and
then what is the good Of it2 No, no; give
me the good steel that's always ready and
! am afraid of no highwaymap in the
land
Not even the renowned Captain Gordon,
1 who Is SAID to De somewhere in this vicin.
n.y. SAID Ihe stranger in O bantering
| tone.
That for Captain Gordon returned
Kenneth' swapping his fingers, and touch
ing the hilt of his sword; with Andrew
Ferrars here, and Bran there poddino IN
the huge wolf hound beside him, I'D not
tears to meet him this pinpte, or spit in
his face anywhere!
What = exclaimed the other, in tone
so expressive Of doubt as to be offensive. sis
your sword real Ferrara? such blades
are scarce