The weekly union record., 1865-08-05
The Highwayman.


The Scottish Highlands" which in ths
fierce and turbulent days of old sent armed
clans of warriors to every battle field, now, il
this weak and piping time of peace. pour fortt
innumerable hordes of cattle. to perish between
the insatia5le jaws of the proud Southron. Al
the proper season. on a set day, the stock j:
driven iu from all the surrounding region tc
some appointed place, and herdsmen are selec
/ ted to accompany the different portions into
which the drove is divided. So far all is plain
sailing. calling for the display of 20 coDsidera
4 bic amount OF skill but when the cattle from
a thousand hills are gathered together. q com
petent chief is required to conduct the four
! footed army on its march across the border
I This person must be a man. "All are not men
| who wear the human FORM" etc. He must be
one in whom the owners have the utmost con.
6dence-honest, brave and skillful The stop
man." as be 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-pow 10 front aud then in the rear. and is
consulted by his subordinates in all difficulties
He knows the safest roads over the widest
tracts; the mountain and the moor are ns
familiar TO him as the beaten path be prefers
the green sward way, which is pleasant to the
hoofs of bis charge and affords them mouth
fu, to the hard aud dusty road which distress
es the feet of bis cattle aud has little 10 the
way Of food.
English parties on their way North, to look
at the wild deer, and trace the scenes OF Scott
or of Osslan, are often startled by drove
emerging from glen, or rounding the base Of
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 topmau has TO make all the bar
gains, dispose of all the cattle, and be respon
sble for their value to the owners. Such
person must evidently be a whole man-and
Just exactly such a man was Kenneth Muir
dock the hero of our sketch.
1t was bright, cloudless Autumn day that
Kenneth, astride powerful horse, with big
broad sword clanking against bis saddle, and
strong, fierce wolf hound by bis side, was push
Ing his way norhward to the border. He
bad just disposed, in one of the English mar
kets, OF one of the largest droves that ever left
the Highlands, and with the proceeds of the
sale was Fastening homeward in advance Of bis
companions for, besides his desire to account
to his employers, there was q certain Maggie
that be had promised, in case the cattle sold
readily and well, TO transfer into Mrs. Mur
dock, and be was therefore very naturally anx.
ious to get on as fast as possible, for be knew
that Maggie was equally impatient to behold
him-as well she might be- for handsomer,
broader shoudered curlier- whskered young
fellow is not often to be seen.
His way lay across solitary part of the
country, and for several hours be had seen no
other living creature than his dog and his
horse but as be emerged from little wood
that bordered the highway, he perceived,
short distance before him. a well dressed, ars.
toc-atlc looking gentlemen, upon a noble black
charger, advancing in the same direction with
himself.
"A fine day, master drover," said the geutle-
man as he drew up abreast of him.
Fine as fiddle" returned Kenneth.
"a lonesome road this" continued the stran
ger land am by no means sorry to have met
with a companion"
at is a solitary bit of travel for sociable
lad" assented Kenneth. and they fell into a
pleasant conversation which continued for some
time. At length, the stranger, who had been
talking of the martial spirit of tie Highlanders,
remarked:
"As brave as you Highlanders are, wonder
how you dare to traverse the country alone
with so much English gold as you drovers gen.
orally have in your pockets"
Pooh !" calculated Kenneth, contemptuous
ly; "if we bave English gold in our sporan,
we have Scottish steel in the sheath"
"a good broadsword is friend" said the
stranger, ''but pistol is far quicker"
"Aye. bat pistol may miss fire, the flint
may slip, or the ball 60 wide, and then what
is the good of it No, 10; give me the good
steel, that's always ready, and am afraid of
DO higbwayman in the land"
Not even the renowned Captain Gordon,
who is said TO be somewhere in this vicinity ?"
said the stranger in bantering tone.
That for Captain Gordon" returned Ken
meth. swapping his fingers and just touching
the hilt 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 in bis face any
where"
What exclaimed the other, in a tone so
expressive of doubt as to be ofensive,"Is your
sword real Farrara? Such blades are
scarce"
do you doubt my word?' asked Kenneth,
sharply.
NO, Ouiy as otioTe rtulaiht sucu plduts
are not common"
by Jupiter, I'll convince you theu," said
Kenneth, unsheathiug his sword, and pointing
to the makers name and the date.
at is as you say" replied the other, poising
it in his baud as though to weigh the weapon
rather than to admire its quality and style"
Take it by the hilt, man. said Kenneth
"tbat's no way to try sword"
The stranger seized it BY the blt, and max
ing horse leap suddenly forward, struck such
ferocious blow at poor Bran that bis head flew
at least ten PAGES from his body then turning
upon the petriied drover, said, " our money
or your life you see that even Highlander
may be matched"
'Who, in Satan's name are your" gasped
Kenneth, bewildered at the unexpected turn
affairs had taken.
Il am that Captain Gordon whose face you
proposed to spi, into. and | had sworn to take
you with your o.s weapon. So now dismount,
and she'll that drove of cattle out of your pock-
ct, before split your head open
Refusal was death, resistance hopeless and