The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1893-03-17
CHAPTER XXI.
CLUNY'S CAGE.

%.A'
"Sde nae mar, sac nae mdir," said Cluny.
We came at last to the foot of an ex-
ceeding steep wood, which scrambled up
craggy hillside and was crowned by
naked precipice.
"It's here" said one of the guides, and
we struck up hill.
The trees chung upon the slope like
sailors on the shrouds of q ship, and
their trunks were like the rounds of a
ladder, by which we mounted.
Quite at the top, and just before the
rocky face of the cliff sprung above the
foliage, we found that strange house
which was known in the country as
"Cluny's Cage" The trunks Of several
trees had been wattled across, the inter-
walls strengthened with stakes, and the
ground behind this barricade leveled up
with earth to make the floor. A tree
which grew out from she hillside was
the living center beam Of the roof. The
walls were of waffle and covered with
moss. The whole house had something
of an egg shape, and it half lung. half
stood in that steep hillside thicket, like a
wasp's nest in green hawthorn.
Within it was large enough to shelter
FIVE or six persons with some comfort.
A projection of the cliff had been cum
ningly employed to be the fireplace. and
the smoke rising against the face Of the
rock, and being not dissimilar in color,
readily escaped notice from below.
This was but one of Cluny's hiding
places; he had caves besides under
ground chambers in several parts of his
country; and following the reports of
his scouts he moved from one to another
as the soldiers drew near or moved
away. By this manner of living, and
thanks to the affection of his clan, he
! staid all this time in safety.
When we came to the door he was
seated by his rock chimney watching
gillie about some cookery. He was
mighty plainly habited, with knitted
nightcap drawn over his ears, and
smoked q foul Guilty pipe. For all that
he had the manners of a king, and it
was quite sight to see him rise out of
his place to welcome us.
"Well, Mr.. Stewart, come AVA, sir~
said he, land bring in your friend that
as yet dinnae ken the name Of"
"And how is yourself, Cluny?" said
Alan. II hope we do brawly, sir. And
I am proud to see ye,.and to present to
We my friend the Laird of Shaws, Mr..
David Balfour."
Alan never referred to my estate with
out touch Of sheer when we were
alone; but with strangers he rang the
words out like herald.
"Step in by, the both of We, gentle
men," says Cluny. II make We welcome
to my house, which is a queer, rude
place for certain, but one where l have
entertained a royal parsonage, Mr..
Stewart--ye doubtless ken the person
age I have in my eye. Well take a
dram for luck, and as soon rs this hand
less man of mine has the collops ready
we'll dine and take hand ut the cartes,
as gentlemen should. Ny life is bit
driegh," says he, pouring out the
brandy; 81 sec little company, and sit
and twirl my thumbs and mind upon q
great day that is gone by, and weary for
another great day that we all hope will
be upon the road. And so here's toast
| to ye-the restorationw
Thereupon we all touched glasses and
drank. 1 am sure wished no i'll to King
| George, and if he had been there himself
in proper person it's like he would have
done as did. No sooner had / taken
out the dram than felt hugely better,
and could look on and listen, still q lit
tie mistily perhaps, but no longer with
the same groundless horror and distress
Of mind.
1t was certainly strange place, and
we had strange host.
Though he was thus sequestered. and
like the other landed gentlemen Of Scot
land stripped by the late act of parlia-
ment of legal powers, he still exercised
patriarchal justice in his clan. Dis
putes were brought to him in his hiding
hole to be decided; and the men of his
country, who would have snapped their
fingers at the court of session, laid aside
revenge and paid down money at the
bare word of this forfeited and hunted
outlaw.
When he was angered, which was
often enough, he gave his commands
and breathed threats of punishment like
any king; and his gillies trembled and
crouched away from him like children
before hasty father. With each of
them, as he entered, he tremendously
shook hands, both parties touching their
bonnets at the same time in a military
manner. Altogether had fair chance
to see some of the inner workings Of a
highland clan; and this with q pro
scribed fugitive chief, his country con-
quered, the troops riding upon all sides