Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1878-11-02
DUNCAN, THE HIGHLANDER.
Or, TrHe TO the King.
By T. c., in the Sunny South.
CHAPTER 7.

waters have witnessed many deet
of heroism told in song and story t
this day at the gathering of tn
clans. 1t is not a large sheet O
water, but turbulent at times with
out apparent cause, for the rugged
banks that shut it in, as it were
from the fair Scottish sky, serve t.
keep the storm winds away. Their,
is a legend that tries to explain tn,
phenomenon, but even that ha,
ceased to secure listeners, and though
the lake has a geographical name
it is there known as Loeb Wild, or
the wild lake.
A few Scottish peasants lived or
the rocky shore but as they were
at one time accused of giving shelter
to persons suspected by the crown
James III. sent his soldiers, who
destroyed the huts, and drove the
inmates into exile under the royal
Dan. But Loeb Wild continued tC
be the theatre for daring exploits.
Henry VIII. once proclaimed
war against Scotland and its king.
the young JamesFV., a youth Oi
fifteen, but resOlute and determined.
The English. landed in great num-
bers on the western border, and
Loeb Wild was destined to become
the scene of thrilling events. James
was too independent when the best
interests of his country were at
! stake; he cut loose from the mobiles
who had long led the Scottish
armies, at the head of which he
! placed one of his faVorites and a
man of less note.
The troops, heretofore enthusiastic
and eager to be led against the
English, halted aghast at the insult
implied by the change of command
ers. They stubbornly refused to
fight, and at the raid of Solway
Moss, ten thousand laid down their
arms and surrendered to five hun
dred English, without striking a
blow. But there were a few who
remained true to the headstrOng
young king, and they beat the
English back at several of the
places, and inflicted great loss upon
them. But their victories, gained
with true Caledonian heroism, could
not wipe out the disgrace just re-
ferred to.
Among the gallant few who re-
manned true to james was a young
Highlander, named Duncan, who at
the head of his clan chastised the
English quite severely in the Vicin-
ity of Loeb Wild, and so incensed
their king that he Immediately Of
fered a large price for his head.
But none of Duncan'S friends ven
tured to turn traitor and disclose
his hiding place, and the rude Eng
lish sOldiery oYer-ran the whole
western border, committing all
kinds of Outrages on the patriot
people; tOrturing young and old in
their zeal to get the Duncan head.
1t was rumOred that the fugitive
had fed to the royal palace, and
James, dying with grief at the con-
duct of his troops, was commanded
to give him up; but the broken
hearted bOy-king told Henry to
search the palace; only let him
James-depart in peace. For once
Hal was merciful, and the palace
was spared a pillage.
Near the close of a gloomy April
day, staunch boat, containing five
English soldiers, was signalled by a
man on the western shore of Loeb
Wild, and the craft was immedi-
ately headed toward him.
at looks like Dunkirk's son, the
lad Who promised to give us inteili-
gence of Duncan" said one of the
soldiers as the personnel of the
stranger gradually became visible.
sit is not he" answered the
leader of the party. "But whoever
he is, he must have something inn
pOrtant to communicated
In a few minutes the boat touched
the shore at the strangers very feet,
and the soldiers saw a handsome !
young Highlander of five and
twenty. He came to the edge of |
the water and addressed the captain |
as he calamity raised his feathered |
cap;
"Whom do / address ?' he asked. |
Captain Grange Of the Sussex
Horse" was the reply.
"Ah the very man | seek. Cap !
tain Grange, would you put your
hands on the Duncan if fortune !
threw him into your power ?''
"Aye, that l would - cried |
Grange. "For a fortnight we have
tracked the rascal, but not sight of
his kilt have we obtained. Sir, if
you can lead us to him, on the
honor of an English soldier, one
half of his majesty's reward shall be
"In faith, I can show the redoubt-
able Duncan to your English eyes,"
the young Scot answered. 81 do
not like the thought of turning
traitor, but his capture will cleanse
Loeb Wild of foreign soldiers"
"You are right, sir" said Grange.
''But give us the Duncan and we
will leave this part of your country.
Is he near? ?''
"Nearer than you think, captain"
was the reply. "Will you submit
yourselves to my guidance ?"
eff you swear to show us the
hunted Duncan"
81 swear"
"Then come"
The young Scot, with a smile,
into the boat and pointed
to the distant and rugged eastern
bank of the lake.
AZ ItlolS va DlOiIA OlhIISC odiOy !
turning to his men. "Think of the
reward and pull like giants"
The boat cut swiftly through the
water, which was in one of its turb-
1lent moods. The Scot stood in the
Prov with his eyes fixed upon the
shore ahead. He did not speak
often, but directed the English with
his finger.
At last, at his direction, the boat
ran into little cove, from the foot
Of which a rough stairway of rocks
ascended to the top of the cliffs
above.
"Now you shall see him." the
Scot said as with flashing eyes he
eaped upon the rocks. Then he
turned upon the boats crew.
"Behold the hunted man ~ he
cried. 81 am he ~
Then an echoing laugh of tri-
1mph pealed from his throat, and
the astonished soldiers drew their
swords. But the agile Scot was far
40 the rocky stair before the first,
ancumbered by his heavy armor,
could leave the boat, and from
point above their heads they heard
him give the war-cry of his clan
and shout aloud for James and
scotland.
Chagrined and mad, the soldiers
ooked into each others faces, and
cursed the man who had outwitted
hem. And as they vented their
.4tol ,1DaD him fbox- foupd (