The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1870-11-26
TALES OF THIS BORDERS
THE KATHERAN.
nv ALENAEDER CANPB1LL

Then, az least allow three or four Of u
to accompany you, Macpherson, in case o
accident, SAID Eneas
" 80, no-not one, Eneas," replied Mac
pherson "No life shall be perilled in thi
cause but my own. If | am unfortunate,
shall lie SO alone alone must pay tn,
\ penalty Of my own rashness and imprudence
would not put a dogs life IN jeopardy. le
alone yours, in such a matter as this. Blu
IlI tell You what" he added "Tl exacr
a promise from You, Encas."
What is that ~ said the latter.
'It is, replied Macpherson, that. if !
am taken, and taken alive, you will do what
you can to have my olin conveyed to me
to whatever place Of confinement | may be
carried
1T is an odd fancy, sa.T Chisholm,
smiling; "but | promise you it shall be
done, since you desire it"
II do" replied Macpherson. And here
tue conversation between him and bis friend
term mated, and shortly after the former,
having carefully armed himself set out
alone on bis perilous journey. The sun,
when he left the glen, bad already sank far
down into the west while bis slantine rays
were yet beating with full fervor and inten-
sity On those sides of the rocks ana hills that
looked towards the setting lumna-y their
opposite fronts were involved in rapidly
deepening shade, and the valleys were be-
ginning to be darkened with a premature
twilight. But Macpherson had calculated
bis time and distance accurately Three
hours Of such walking as bis would bring
him to the goal be aimed at, and then the
-loam ng woUld be on the verge Of dark
ness. And It was 50 in each and all Of these
particulars.
lie arrived at the trysting-pIaco precisely
at the time and in the circumstances be de-
sired. On reaching the appointed spot, Ellen
was not Yet there. Neither did be expect
she should; hut hc felt assured that she
wouli very soon appear Under this con
yctio1 be seated himself on a small green
bank, closely surrounded with thick shrub
berry or copsewood, and thus situated, await
cd he arrival.
Leaving Macpherson thus disposed Of for
a time, We shall advert to a circumstance Of
which be was but little aware, although il
was one which deeply, fatally concerned him.
lie bad been seen aud recognized. The
persons-for there were two-Who made the
discovery dogged the iilstarred freebooter
to the place Of bis appointment with Ellen,
where, seeing him stop, one Of them buried
away to communicate the important intelli
gence to the sheriff, while The other remain
ed to keep watch on the motions Of the un
suspecting outlaw On the formers being
introduced to the presence Of the dreaded
officer Just named
What would you give, SIR. Sheriff, y b,
said, ITO know where Macpherson the free
booter is at this moment ~
Why, not much, man." replied th,
sheriff, unless be were so situated as I,
render it probable that | could take bin
have known where be was myself hundred
I times, but dared not touch him."
I = But | mean as you say mean in
situation where be may be easily taken, re
! Joined the man. q know where be i
II this instant, and all alone, too-not on,
with him"
You dO!n exclaimed the sheriff, will
great animation; for the capture Of Mac
pherson had been long one Of the mos
anxious wishes of his heart g Where
where is be, man r he added, impatieutly
" Let me have halfa-dozen well-arme,
men with me, replied his informant, ''anr
for fifty merks / will make him your pris
oner." ("
Done" said the sheriff, e1uItingly
"ffty merks shall be yours, of well and trul
told money, the instant you put Macpherson
into my power; and instead Of halfa dozs
men, you shall have a whole dozen, and
myself will accompany you. Is be far di,
tant?"
d" Not exceeding a mile. "
$50 much the better-so much the bel
ter, said the sheriff, rubbing his hands wit
glee 8 If we take him, a worthier dee
has not been done in Scotland this many
day. 1t were worth a thousand merks
day TO the shire Of Banff alone"
In less than fifteen minutes after this cor
yersation had passed, sudden hustle Nigh
have been seen about the old town house {
Bantf This was occasioned by a numbe
of men, amongst whom was the sheriff, hul
riedly ransacking the town armory for sue
warlike weapons as it contained, eac
choosing and arming himself with the bes
be could find. This choice, however, wa
neither very extensive nor varied, the stoc
chiefly consisting Of some rusty Lochabe
axes and few equally rusty halberds an
broadswords, kept for the array Of the ciVi
guard on great occasions sometimes of Low
and sometimes of war.
The party having now all armed then
selves, we're drawn up in front Of the towr
house, when the sheriff, placing himself a
their head, gave the wcrd to march an
the whole moved OFF und,r the guidance {
the person whose intelligence bad been th
cause of their turning out. After they ha
proceeded about a mile, the latter called
halt Of the party, and, taking the sheriff tw
or knr1a naeaa in advarno v,osrko1 o,,k 4