Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1865-11-25
MISCELLANY.
The HIghHayman.

of Deace, pour forth 1nnumeFaDie nOIues
of cattle. to perish between the insatia-
HE laws of the proud SouthrOn. At
tbe nroDer season, on a set day, the
stock is driven in from all the eurronnd-
INC region to some appointed place, and
bcYds,0en are selected 10 accompany the
,j;IfareDt pOrtions into which the drove
i divided. So far all is plain sailing,
calling for the display of mo consldera-
bic amount of skill; hut when the cattle
from the thousand hills are gathered
TOGETHER. n competent chief Is required
10 coaduet the fOur-foOted army on its
march across the border. "All are not
mon who wear the human form, etc.
NJ ,,rst he one whom the owners have
tLo Utmost confidence in-hOnest, brave
ard skillfuL. The ''tOpman," as he is
called. is responsible for everything;
he directs all the movements, gives the
SIGNAL when to move or when to halt, Is
ALWAYS busv-now in front and then in
the rear, and is consulted by his subOr-
dinates In all difficulties. He knows
the safest roads over the widest tracts;
the mountain and the moor are IS IA
miIiar TO him as the beaten path; he
prefers the green-sward way, which is
pleasant To the hoofs of his charge and
affords them mouthful,. to the hard
and dusty road which distresses the feet
of his cattle, and has little in the way
of food.
English parties ON their way north,
to look M the wild deer, and to- trace
the scenes of Scott and OsSian, are often
startled by drove emerging from a
glen, or rounding base of a mountain,
coming lowing along, urged or directed
by their drivers, who with wallet on
back, and staff In hand, are conducting
them to the sOuth.
Besides all the cares and duties while
on the march, the tOpman has to make
all the bargains, dispose of ali the cat
tie, ard be responsible for their value to
the owners. Such person must evil
IDENTIFY be whole man-andIuSt exactly
such a man was Kenneth Murdoch, the
hero of our sketch.
II was a bright, cloudless Autumn
day that Kenneth, astride a powerful
horse. with a big broad sword clanking
against his saddle, and strong, fierce
wOIf-hOund by his side. was pushing his
way northward to the border. He had
Just disposed in one of the English mar
kets, Of one of the largest drOves that
ever left the Highlands, and with the
proceeds az the sale he was Fastening
homeward In advance of his compan-
ions; for, beside his desire To account
Il ms employers, there was n certain
Maggie that he had promised, In case
his cattle sold readily and well, to trans
fer into Mrs. Murdoch, and he was
therefore very naturally anxious to get
on as fast as possible, for he knew that
Maggie was equally impatient to be-
hold him-as well she might he; for
handsOmer, broader-shOuldered. curlier-
whiskered young fellow Is not often to
be seen.
His way lay across a solitary part Of
the country, aud for several hours he
had seen no other living creature than
his dog and his horse /; bat as he emerg-
ed from little wood that bordered the
highway, he perceived, short distance
before him, a well-dreSsed, aristocratic
looking gentleman, upon a noble black
charger, advancing in the same direction
with himself.
"a fine DAY, master drOver," said the
gentleman as he drew up abreast of
him.
'.Fine as a fiddle, . returned Kenneth.
"a lonesome road this, continued the
stranger, ''and am by no means sorry
to have met with n companion"
lit is a solitary bit of a travel for
sociable lad" assented Kenneth, and
they fell into pleasant conversation
which continued for some time. At
length The stranger, who had been talk
ing of the martial spirit of the High
landers, remarked:
cas- brave as your Highlanders are, i
wonder how you dare to traverse the
country alone with so much English
gold as you drovers generally have in
your pockets. .
Pooh - calculated Kenneth, con-
temptuOusly; eff we have English gold
In Our spOnan, We have Scottish steel IN
the sheath"
"a good broadsword is friend" said
the stranger, "but pistol is far quick
err"
cave, but a pistol may miss fire, the
flint may slip, or the bali go wide, and
then what is the good of it ? No, no ;
give me the good steel, that's always
ready. and I am afraid of no highway
man in the land.
Not even the renowned Captain Cor
don, who Is said to be somewhere In
this vicinity ?" said the stranger in
bantering tone.
''7hat for Captain Gordon, returned
Kenneth, swapping his fingers, and Just
touching the hilto of his sword; with
Andrew Farrara here, and Bran there,
nodding to the huge wolf hound beside
him, I'D not fear to meet him this
minute. or to spit N his face any
where"
.gTVbatr, exclaimed the other. in a
tone so expressive of doubt as to be of
fensive, as your sword a real Earrara?
Such blades are scarce"
''Do you doubt my word?" asked
Kenneth, sharply.
''No, only as before remarked, such
blades are not common" =
''By Jupiter, I'll convince you then, !"
said Kenneth, unsheathing his sword,
and pointing to the makers name and
the date.
cit is as you say" replied the other,
posing it in his hand, as though to
weigh the weapon, rather than admire
Its quality and style.
''Take it by the hilt, man" SAID Ken
meth ''that's no way 10 try sword, J"
The stranger seized it by the hilt, and
making his horse leap suddenly forward,
struck such a ferociOus blow at poor
Bran that his head flew at least ten pa
ces from his body then turning upon
the petrified drover, said, "Your money
or your life; you see that even High
lQn6ar ox- ha .nnafohaI ~