The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1874-07-28

glen. Day alter day passed, and yet he
did not return.
Surry was still encamped near Jed.
burgh. Dacre had just returned from
his successful toray, after three or four
days absence, bringing great stores of
booty in sheep and cattle, and many pris.
ouers, amoug them the young lord of
F.rniehurst,a near kinsman to Buccleugh,
and prize OF no mean value Lord
Dacre had not chosen to join his force to
that of Surry, but lay encamped on the
hillside at some little distance, the hors-
es of his troupe being together in field
close at hand, and under a proper guard.
The prisoners. carefully watched, occupied
a tent by themselves. Lord Dacre, him.
self, having left everything in perfect Sc.
curity, was supping with the Admiral.
Thomas Timms, keeping watch over the
aforesaid horses. was listening to the ad.
ventures of his bosom friend and boon
companion, John Davis, who had beeo
out with the maurauding party, when he
suddenly made the latter a signal for Sic
leuce.
What now Z? asked the latter, in low
tone.
'Didst YOU ever hear that that the men
Of these parts had horns like like hart :?
asked Thomas Timms, in a somewhat
tremulous whisper.
No. What means that fool's.ques.
ton p
Because here in the last five minutes
| have seen pair of horns raised abov
yon wall and the last time there was q
man head under them--dnd there again I!
Jack, the devil is amcng US.
More likely some Scotch spy, an.
swered the more valiant Davis. i will
try if his deviship's hide will turn a
cloth. yard shaft. Where did you see
him p
Over right the thorn youder-and
there-see, by the thorn yondcr--and
again
Davis raised his bow and fitted his
arrow, but before he could draw it to n
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 tho Enclosure. 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 indis
criminate confusion, The Scots y was
the cry. Arrows and guns were discharg.
ed at random, still more alarming the
maddenoa horses, which ran through the
camp overwhelming beasts and men, and
finally disappearing in the dark
ness. 1t was long ere order was restor-
ed, and when things were once more
quiet a sccLo Of damage and loss was
di played to the dsmayed and angry eyes
Of the Admiral. Tents were borne down
and lay all along arms were scattered
and destroyed, heads and limbs were
broken. while out of more than a thousand
calvalry horses seight hundred were wholly
missing. Worst Of all, the tent where
the prisoners had been coutined was
thrown down and the prisoners were gone.
Dacro'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 Scotts-the
whole disaster was attributed The Ad-
miral was by no means content with this
explanation, but there was nothing to be
done. Both horses and meD were gone
beyond recovery.
1t was growing toward sunset, on the
third day after the alarm lately narrated,
when young lad who, in the scantness
of the garrison at Crag.eud had been set
to keep watch at the entrance Of the glen,
) came running to the tower with the news
that three or four Draw riders on great
horses were coming up the stream
Riders Are yc sure, Gallant p asked
old Halbert. anxionsly
Aye. and on Draw great stecds, such
as the Southrons ride answered the lad
'and | an sure that the foremos, man OF
all is Duncan of Eldin himself
A sickening thought crossed Elsie's
mind at these words. Was it possible
that driven desperate by jealousy aud
batfled love, Duncan had revcngcd him.
; self upon her by bringing the Epglish
upon them?
|, Friend or foe, We must be ready for
them said old Halbert Ambrose, my
son, 90 with three meu down the stream
to the point you wot Of The rest abide
here with me have the lady away to the
hill cannot think Duncan would be-
tray us, but these are trying times
Inconsistent Elsie She to had thought
of such tIeachery. but she was as angry
at her father for limiting at it, as il such
notion hal never crossed her mind
The women prepared all things Tor Il hast
fight, and then Elsie went forth 10 the
towerhe ad, and strained her eyes aud ears
to catch some Intelligence. Sne va, uot
! left long in suspense. Loud ,huuta-noi
of onset, but otjoy aud triumph - assured
her that it was no foe which approached
Presently she behed her father and
friends returning with several horsemeu
foremost of whom were the young lord oil
Ferniehurst and Duncan Scott.
But where got you your Draw steeds :?
asked the old man, when the tumult o
Joy and welcome had samewhat subsided
where there are plenty more, answer
ed Duncan, laughing, We drove the
whole of Dacre's horses out through theil
=, camp, and brought off some eight hundred
of the best-me and the Liddesdale lad,
; and Ilab Elliot has them in safe. keep
ing where Dacre will never find them
: The Southrons thought :he devil wal
among them. sure enough, when they saw
IIabby and me leap over the wall with
!, the bucks horns on their head II was
desperate venture, but We carried i
: through, and here We are
Elsie was ike one in dream. Dun
can had not spoken to her nor looked a
her Wishing for time to think, III,
b. took her pitcher and went once more t
tkn holy wau lur rntnr and launinr QUO