Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1874-09-11
NO. 21O.
Talts and Sketehes.
A STAMPEDE IN 1924.
lcoNrINuEp FROM YESTERDAY. /,


the old man, giving his hand to the lady
whom Ambrose had by this time lifted
from her horse. 'You are most welcome,
lady, to my roof, which may be safer in
these times than many lordly hall. The
English will scarcely win this length, and
If they do, there are the caves in the hill
to which we may retreat till the storm be
overpast.'
All was now hustle in and around the
little tower. The best accommodation the
place afforded was hastily provided for
the old lady of Ferniehurst and her women
while the men found scarce rougher
shelter in the barns and outhouses.
sheep was quickly killed and dressed, the
hurts of the wounded were attended to,
and some degree of quiet began to be re-
stored, when Elsie, passing from the house
to the COW shed, came upon Duncan Scott
bringing in with his own manly hands the
full pals of milk. sS
81 have sorted the cows for you, Elsie,''
said he, humbly enough.
"Mony thanks; but you need ma have
flashed YOURSELF" was the lofty answer.
"Elsie, will nothing can do win your
forgiveness ?" said poor Duncan.
AYE - answered Elsie, turning swift
ly upon him. "Bring back my foster
brother to his mothers arms-my FOSTER
brother, who was taken bravely fighting
while you were hiding here, and I will
forgive you
As soon as the words were spoken, Ell
sic wished them unsaid. She knew that
they were cruelty unjust and unkind that
Duncan had stayed at home solely that he
might help her father secure their scanty
harvest of oats. She knew that no braver
man than Duncan ever came Of the name
of Scott. But she was too proud to take
back her words, and she passed on. She
returned in half an hour to see her reject
ed lover standing in the same place and
attitude in which she had left him. She
would have passed, but he laid detain-
ing hand on her arm. iaa
''Elsie ~ said he, in a voice which
trembled at first but grew stronger as he
proceeded, "Elsie we are now even, for
If | called you an i'll name, as did to my
shame, you have evened me to a coward.
You bid me bring back your foster-broth-
er. | will bring him back or never return
more. Fare you well, and ii you never
again hear of Duncan of Eldin, think that
he is dead and that he died blessing you"
Before she could answer, if indeed, she
had made up her mind what to say, he
had kissed her forehead and was gone.
The next morning Duncan was missing.
A shepard ON the hills had seen him early
in the morning strlding down the glen.
Day after day passed, and yet he did not
return. a't 4AH
Surry was still encamped near jed
burgh. Dacre had just returned from his
successful foray, after three or four days
absence, bringing great stores of booty in
sheep and cattle, and many prisoners,
among them the young lord OF Ferniehurst,
near kinsman of Buccleugh, a prize of
no mean value. John Dacre had not
chosen to join his forces to those of Surry,
but lay encamped on the hillside at some
little distance, the horses of his troops be-
ing together in field close at hand, and
under a proper guard. The prisoners,
carefully watched, occupied a tent by
themselves Lord Dacre himself. having
left everything in perfect security, was
supping with the Admiral. Thomas
Timms, keeping watch over the aforesaid
horses, was listening to the adventures of
his bosom friend and boon companion,
John Davis. who had been out with the
marauding party, when he suddenly made
the latter a signal for silence. 4saf
"What now ?" asked the latter, in low
tone.
"Didst ever hear that men Of these parts
had horns like hart ?' asked Thomas
Timms, in somewhat tremulous whisper.
mo what means that FOOLS question P"
Because here in the last five minutes
have | seen a pair of horns raised above
yon wall. and the last time there was
mans head under them-and there again
Jack. the devil is among usm
more likely some Scotch spy.'' an
swered the more valiant Davis. II will
try il his devilship's hide will turn cloth
yard shaft. Where did you see him ?'
Right over the thorn wonderland there
see, by the thorn wonderland again"
Davis raised his bow and fitted his ar
row, but before he could draw it to a head,
a wild yell rose from the quarter to which
his attention was directed, and three or
four Withholding figures with horns and
other strange disguises sprang into the in.
closure. The horses, terrified by the
strange sight and sound. burst away in
body, and rushing headlong through the
camp and down upon Surry's quarters,
swept all before them in indiscriminate
confusion. The Scots I" was the cry
Arrows and guns were discharged at
random, still more alarming the maddened
horses, which ran through the camp over
whelming beast and men. and finally dis
appearing IN the darkness. 1t was long
ere order was restored, and when things
were once more quiet, sad scene of
damage and loss was displayed to the dis
mayed and angry eyes of the Admiral.
Tents were borne down and lay call
along" arms were scattered and de-
stroyed, heads and limbs were broken,
while out of more than thousand cav
airy horses, eight hundred were wholly
missing. Worst of all, the tents where
the prisoners had been confined were
thrown down and the prisoners were
gone. Dacre's men--nay, Lord Dacre
himself was ready to swear that the devil
had appeared, in bodily shape, six times
at least among them. and to his power
doubtless invoked by the Scots--the whole
disaster was attributed. The Admiral
was by no means content with his expla-
nation, but there was nothing to be done.
Both men and horses were gone beyond
recovery. s..,g -
1t was now growing towards sunset, on
the third day after the alarm lately mar