The mountain Democrat., 1865-09-16
The Hi8hwayman

the fierce and tuIbulous days Of old sent
armed clans Of warriors to every battle
field, now, in this weak and piping time
Of peace, pour firth innumerable herds of
cattle, to perish between the Unsuitable
jaws Of the proud Snuthron. At the
proper season. on a set dav; the stock is
driven in from all the surrounding region
to some appointed place, and herd>men
are selected to accompany the different
pOEti0ns into which the drove is divided
! So far all is plain sailing, calling for the
display Of no considerable amount of skill;
but the cattle from q thousand hills are
gathered together, a competent chief is
required tn conduct the four footed army
on its march ac.9sftthe ho'der This
person musi YEA man. "All are not mtn
who wear .the human fuIn," etc. lie
must be one in whom the owners have
the utmost confidence - honest, brave and
SkIlliul. The top man" as he is called,
is responsible for everything; he directs
all the movements, gives the signal when
to move or when t0 halt, Is always busy
how in front and then in the rear. and
is CONSULTED by hin snburdinatcS IN all diff
hcultirS. He knows the safest road over
the widest tracts; the mountain and the
moor are aS familiar to him a> the beaten
path; he prefers the green Sward way,
which is pleasant To the hoofS Of his
charge and affords th III In0uthful, to
the hard aud dusty road which diStresSrS
the feet Of his cattle aud has little in the
wav Ol feed.
English parties on their wav North, to
look AT the deer, aud trace the scenes of
Scott or of OsSian, are often start d by a
drove emerging from u glen. or rounding
the base Ot mountain, coming lowing
along, urged or directed bv their drivers.
who, with wallet on back and staff III
hand, are conducting them to the South.
Besides all the rares and duties while
on the mach. the tnpman has to make
all the bargains, dispose Of all the cattle,
and he responsible for their value TO tie
owners. Such n person must evidently
he whole man = AMI just exactly such
man WAS Kenneth MuIdock the helo o!
our sketch.
Ii ~a> bright, ClOudlcSS Autumn 1Ay
that Kenneth, aStr de- powerful horse,
with big broad sword clanking against
his saddle, and a StI ollg, ,tc' ce wolf hound
ri his side, was pushing his way north.
ward to the b"rder. He had just disposed,
in one Of the English markets, ni one ui
the largest dIoveH that ever lett the High
lands, and with the proceeds Of the sale
was ha>tening homeward III advance OF
his companions; inr. besides his desire tn
account To his emplo, erS, there wa> a
certain Maggie that he had promised, H.
case the cattle sold readily and well, tn
transfer into Mrs. Murd"rk, aud he was
therefore very anxious to get ON as fast as
possible, for he knew that Maggie was
: equally impatient to behold him = as well
she might be; for handso,her, broad
should, red. curlIer. whiskercd young frl-
luw is not often seen.
His way lay across a solitary part Of
the country, and for several hours he had
seen no living creature than his dog aud
lis horse; but as he enrrgri from u little
W. Ud that burdrred the highway, he per
ceivrd, short distance h,t"re hIm,a well
die>>'d, ariNtoc'atic looking gentleman
up"n noble black charger, advancing in
the same direction with hlm>rli.
a tine day, master Grnvrr,' said the
gentleman aS b" drew W abreast oi him.
Fine as n fiddle returned Kenneth.
A lonesome road this, continued the
stranger, and | am bv no means sorry to
have met with cu,npanun.'
1t is solitary bit of travel for so
ciahle lad, ass,ntrd Kenneth, and they |
tell into pleasant conversation, which |
cnniinu' d for some time. At length the !
| stranger, who had been talking ul the |
martial spirit OI the llIghlandcrS, remark
ed
As brave aS YOU HiGhandcrS are. | |
wonder how YOU dave to traverse the
country alone with SO much English gold |
rs you drOvers generally have in your
pockets
Pooh " CALCULATED Kenneth, contempt.
uouSIy; il We have Engllsh god in our
>porian, VIC have Scottish steel in the
sheath
A good broad sword is friend said
the stranger, hut pistol is far quicker.
Aye, but pistol may miss fire, the
flint may slip, or the ball may go wide,
and then what is the good OF il? Nn,no;
give the the good steel, that's always
ready, and am afraid Of no hishwayman
in the land
Not even the renowned Captain Cor
don. who is said to he somewhere in This
virinity' y said the stranger IN a bantering
tone.
That for Captain Gordon, returned
Kenneth, swapping ais fingers and just
touching the hIt Of his sword with An
drew Farrara here, and Bran there nod
ding To the huge wLIihnund b. side him,
Id not fear TO meet him this minute, ur
to Spit in hi face anvW hele'
What |! exclaimed the other, in a tone
so expressive nf doubt as to he offensive,
is your sword real Farara! Such
blades are scarce.
Do you doubt my word 2 asked Ken.
meth sharply.
p No. only as before remarked, such
blades ave not common
B, Jupiter I'll convince you then,
said Kenneth. un>heathing his sword, ,anh
pointing to the makers name and the
date.
1T is as Won saw replied the other,
pniSlng it in his hand, as though to weigh
the weapon rather than to admire it's
quality and style.
Take it by the hill, man, said Kenneth;
that's no way to try sword
The stranger 81 izrd it by the hilt. and
making his horse leap suddenly forward,
struck such a frocinuS blow at poor B'nn
thar his head few AT least ten PAGES from
his h"dA; then turning upon the pctriti"d
drover, said, your money or your lite |;
you SEE that even a Highlander may be
matched ..-'
who in Satan'S name, are yon ? gasp.
I'd KenreIh, bewildered at the unexpect.
I'D inrn aHnirs had inkrn