Jamestown alert., 1878-11-07
believing such nonsence as this! What,
We repeat must have been their condi-.
: THE MOUNTAIN TARN.

IN alone glen, SurrOunQcu ny lofty
mountains, and miles from any habita-
tion, lies small loch or tarn, around
which tradition hath cast legend OF the
olden. time. Situated amid the Grampi-
ans, the scenery is wild'and rugged Il such
a scene amid which the wanderer may
pause, and feel that the hand of man has
never disturbed Nature in her solitude.
Years and years ago, when the turbu-
lent state Of Scotland rendered life and
property insecure, a large amount of
treasures was supposed to have been
trown into the loeb, there to escape de.
lection, and to await the return of peace
full times to enable it to be recovered. 1t
had been thrown into its hiding place IN
the night by those who possessed it, and
the secret had been solemnly sworn to on
the naked Blade Of a dirk IAN old form
of Highland oath held to be binding and
sacred. Time passed, and quiet times or
necessity induced those who held the Sc
cret to attempt to recover the trearsure.
In those primitive days, appliances were
limited, and the first attempt failed, from
inability to reach the bottom. Months
were spent in the manufacture of rope
from hides, in hopes that the dark water
would give up the coveted treasure it
held within It's inky depths. BY differ
ent routes, in the lone hours of night,
the holders of the secret assembled on the
shores Of this Highland tarn, and vainly
tried to reach the bottom. Fathom after
fathom went down, but of no avail.
Again and again, with increased lengths
of rope, did these midnight seekers after
gold prosecute their task, but to end in
disappointment. The loch yielded moth
ing save the now almost certain fact, that
it was unfathomable
Years rolled away, aud no further at
tempts were made, since dispirted they
agreed to abandon the elpless toll of
trying to fathom Lochan Kin Dhoan, or
the bottomless loch as they then styled,
it.; nor was it ever attempted by those
who first essaycd it. Subsequent, how
ever, to their last failure, an incident oc-
Cured that, in that age of superstition,
cast arouno the loch the weried belief
that it was haunted. ..ytI
In the baronial keep lived chief in
al the rude pomp Of federal pride. His
lady had died, and LEFT an only daughter,
who, now grown up to womanhood, pre-.
vidcd over the household. Her fathers
temper was naughty and imperious, and
he ruled every one around him with
stern sway, AS was the custom in those
days, he hads dslong been;at enmity with the
neighboring chief; but Love laughs at
Highland pride as we'll at locksmiths.
His neighbor had son, who became en-
amored Of the maiden. But how was the
fatal gulf Of funaal strife to be bridged?
Time went on. Stolen interviews, when
Dy accident they met, or when her father
was absent. were all that the young hearts
could CLEAN from The stern hate of both
the parents; till, unable to bear the long
weary weeks that occaslonly prevented
their meeting. the young chiettain de-
terlnined to beard the lion in his den, and
demand the hand of his daughter, ,Ac-
ccmpanied by an escort,he arrived before
the drawbridge, and demanded an inter-
view with the chief. The interview
over, the young chieftain with a
heavy heart recrossad that drawbrid &c,
and doifed his bonnet to fair, form on
the battlcmcnts. ~ rs I'll,
It was some time before they again
met. The chief had used harsh
words and harsh measures to his daugh-
ter; "but Love will find out the way )"
and at the next meeting Of the lovers
they had arranged to elope. The strong
power Of women's love nerved her to
the deed; the cold heartless home she was
about to leave seemed to ra'lia the act.
The temporary abs nee Of the old chief
afforded opportunity. On dark Novem-
Der evening, about two hours, after sun.
set, o horse bearing the young chieftain
and his, intended bride was vending its
way with difficulty along the rugged
mountain path, amid the darkness, when
the sound of horses honfs were heard.
To turn was to encounter foes behind Gas
we'll as in 'front.' if foes they were, as
doubtless the flight Of the lady had been
discovered at. the castle; besides the ma.
ture of the ground aud darkness rendered
flight hopeless. To move little to the
side, ana quietly await the chance of be-
ing passed in the, darkness, was all that
now remained to the youthful lovers.
The night had hitherto been dark but
still. The wind was now sweeping over
the bleak moor, aud hurrying the black
clouds across the sky with increasing
violence, The young, chief felt, the fair
hand that held his girdle tighten as the
sound Of the horses hooes were heard;
but no scream, no signs Of fear. All had
as yet gone we'll: when CLEAN of moon
light lit up the scene and revealed
party of horsemen scarce thirty yards dis
taut. There was no time for delibera-
ton: the young chieftain dashed his
spurs to his horse, and with bound the
noble animal was crossing the now
monnlit moor, at full speed, hotly pur-
sued by the chief and his patty. "Capture,
but don't fire." was the brief command.