The Albany register. [volume] (Albany, Or.) 1868-18??, 1872-02-23

person to he welcomed to the house Of
an Intelligent family. So apparently
inoiftnsivc Il man was not likely 10 DC
mixed up with murders and robbery.
About midway Of this desolate
stretch Of road, natural bridge spans
a rugged chasm, its narrow passage
barely admitting a single carriage. a
more dismal spot it We're hari to con,
ceive. An abrupt turn closes the ROAD
both ways; and on either side the tau
soubre pines closed out everything be-
yond, save a narrow strip of blue
above. Beneath yawlls the fearful
tllroat of the gorge, the vexei waters
crushing their impetuous way past jag
ged cliffs till they mingle in the roar
Of the waterfall that leaps into the
river below.
On approaching the spot, Fling gave
mouth to q succession of fierce yelps.
his rage increasing as he ncared it. On
the bride his sayagery was little less
than madness. Howl after howl OF
tiger-like icroeity reused the echoes,
interminglcd with convulsiye snapping
of his jaws, as iftearing at an adverse,
ry. All at once his fury ceased. and.
squatting on his body, he commenced
dragging himself along towards the
woods to the left.
Dismounting, Duncan followed him
until he came to a clump of heather,
into which he crawled. as if in great
pain, and lay down; then crawling
ont, he commenced walking slowly in
the direction of Craigbum. No trace
of blood was visible. If blood had
been she'd there, nature had wiped
everything clei,ragain with dienching
rains.
'.That'll ,lo, Fling" said Duncan to
his companion, who was still crawling
painfully along. The dog resumed his
natural position, led the way back to
the road.
The conclusions of Duncan Camp
bell from the premises afforded by the
dog. were that the bridge had been the
scene of his brothers murder, and the
attempted destruction of Fling. TM.
the drover had been suddenly attacked
shot. pcrllaps-and tnmbled over
into the chasm, that Fingal, too, had
been shot and felled by the pistol III
the rutllan's hands but that, after the
murder. he had succeeded in saving
his life by stealing to the hiding place
which had served him as a hospital,
leaving nature to do the surgery.
On regaining the bridge, Fling stood
on the centre, looking wistfully down
amoug the crlgs; he whining and
trembling the while AS if desperately
weighing the chances ofsnceess in leap
ing down from cliff to cliff in search
of the beloved friend he had seen tossed
over in the hclplessness of death.
INA, ma, Fling, come back. We've
got better use for you than that.
Listen. Cuthbert! Find him out ~
The sagacious dog leaped wildly
about for an instant.
Down, Fing; not now. my man;
ye're a good doug, said Duncan, pat
ting the colly OH the head; sand so
sure as there is God in heaven,
Thomas shall be reyenged. Now, lets
gang back
Duncan impaired his convictions
only to his wife.
''Cmhbert might get wind of it, ye
see, he said, '.and SO make him rim
the country. Fingal and will leave
the morn's mornin', on the part of ret
ribution; and guided by the reason-
for there's nae instinct aboot ito
Fling, justice shall be vindiclted and
society in future be protected trae the
bluidy hands and the black heart O. a
villain and murderer
Fling, who was participant in this
interview, sat listening to the revela-
ton made to his mistress 4; and at the
end of the conference he fawned upon
her, licking her hand, as ii be>eeching
her to offer no objection to the con
tcmplatcd journey.
After the preparations for a short alb
sence from his home, Duncan and his
wife entered the large kitchen, where
his son Donald was. along with two
farm laborers and the servant lassie.
His presence at once arrested their at
tention.
donald, my man," said the father,
''business makes it necessary that
gang doom to the Lowlands for a week
or sac, may be longer, may be shorter;
but, however lang or short, let things
go OIL at Craighburn just the same.
The journey I'm aboot takin' you'll be
ialoosin tsuspectingl the nature O. but,
for the present, naething mair can be
said"
''Dinna be feared, father" replied
the son; gang your ways, and the
Lord be wi you on yir ernlnl. Rob
and Tam here and myself will gle a
good account O. onrsels when We come
back. It's comm on winter, and there
will be but little to dae ; but what
should be dune will be dune Wilma it,
lads. 2"
''There is nae fear o. us master, !"
the men replied.
mae, sal, not a bit, " added the las
sic.
moo let us pray that n successful
termination may be given to the
journey" said Duncan Campbell {;
''for without the help O. the Lord
there's nae wisdom in human effort
or doing effort aither."
A portion of the sacred writings hay
ing been read, the family Of the noun
taincer knelt by their seats, and the
father offered up a prayer to tie God
of the merciful for their protection dur
ing his absence, closing with the en-
treaty that justice might not sleep nor
duty slumber till the mystery Of his
brother should be unfolilel. snake
bare thine arm, o Lord, against the
cyil-doer. Let him not go free. Thou
hast promised that out Of weak things
Of the earth, the wisdom Of the wicked
shall be confounded and Thy name
glorlfied. Make it sac in this instance.