Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1893-12-15

conc al "A Spirits voice WAC ncarO dying
away high up among the magnificent
architecture Of the cliffs, and once more
might be noticed nv tho silence the re-
viving voice OF the waterfall.
just then q large stone fell from the
top Of the cliff into the pool, a loud
voice was heard, and a plaid hung over
On the point Of a shepherds staff. Their
watchful sentinel had deserted danger,
and this was d Warming. Forthwith the
congregation rose. There were paths
dangerous TO Impractical feet elong the
ledges Of the rocks leading up 10 several
caves and places Of concealmgut. The
moro active and young assisted the elder
more especially the old pastor and the
women with the infants-aud many u,i1l-
utes had not elapsed till not a fving
creature was visible in tho channel Of
the stream. but all of then biolen, or
nearly so in tho clefts and ctvirns
Tho shepherd who had given tho alarm
had lain down again in his plaid Instant
" on the greepsward upon the summit
Of these precipiccs. A party Of soldiers
were Immediately upon him and do
manded what signals he had been max
ing and to whom, wher one Of them,
looking over the edge OK tho clin, e.
claimed: ''See, seei Humphrey. wo have
caught the whole tabernacle Of tho Lord
in a net at last. There they are prlii-
ing God among the stones Of the river
Mouss. These are tho Garland craigs.
By my souls salvation, n noble cathe-
dralr'
Filing the lying sentinel over the
cliffs. Here Is a canting Covenanter for
you, deceiving honest soldiers on the
very Sabbath day. Over with him-out
Of the gallery into the pit" But the
shepherd had vanished like a shadow,
and mixing with the tall green broom
and bushes was making his unseen way
toward a wood. Satan has saved his
servant, but come, my lads-follow me.
l know the way down into the bed Of
the stream and the steps up to Wallace's
cave. They are called tho Kittle Nine
Stanes.' The hunts up. Wen be all
in at the death. Halloo-my boys
halloor'
The soldiers dashed down q less pre-
cipitous part Of tho wooded banks u lit
tie beloyg the ~"craigs" aud hurried up
the channcl. But when they reached
the altar where tho old gray haired min
lister had been seen standing, and the
rocks that had been covered with people,
all was silent and solitary-not a crea-
ture was to be seen.
Heres n Bible dropped by some Of
them" cried q soldier, and with his foot
he spun It away into tho pool. "a bon
meta bonnet" cried another. now for
tho pretty sanctiied face that rolled its
demure eyes below it." But after q few
jests and oaths tho soldiers stood still
eying with a kind of mysterious dread
the black and silent walls Of the rock
that hemmed them in, and hearing only
the small voice of the stream that sent a
p~rofoundcr stiffness through the heart OF
that majestic solitude.
Course these cowardly Covenanters
What if they tumble down upon our
heads pieces of rock. from their hiding
place? Advance? Or r~etreat?' There
was no reply, for q slight fear was upon
every man. Musket OF bayonet could bl
of little use to mon obliged to Chamber
| up rocks along slender paths, leading
: they knew not where, and they wer;
aware that armed men nowadays wor
? SHIPPED God-men of iron hearts, wht
feared not the glitter of the soldier
arms, neither barrel nor bayonet-mei
oflong stride, firm step and broad chest
who on tho open field would have over
thrown the lnarsheled line and gon
first and foremost II a city had to b
taken by storm.
AS the soldiers were standing togetho
I irresolute. a noise came upon their ear
e like distant thunder, but even more al
e palling, and u light current of air, as !
1 propelled by it, passed whispering alon.
the sweetbriers, and the broom, and tn
) tresses Of the birch trees. It came deer
ening and rolling and roaring on, an
the very Garland craigs shook to thei
D foundation as if in an earthquake.
: 1.-THE Lord have mercy upon us-wha
/ is thisy" And down fell many of tn
miserable wretches on their knees an
! some on their faces upon the sharp point
D ed rocks. Now, it was like the sound q
: many myriAds Of chariots rolling o
+ their iron ayles down the stony channC
u of the torrent. The old gray haire
g minister issued from the mouth of Wal
y lace's cave and said, with a loud voice
; THE Lord God terrible reigneth
A waterspout had burst up among til
7 moorlands, and the river in its powe
u was at hand. There it came-tumblin
e along into that long reach of cliffs, an
& in a moment filed it with one mass c
y waves. Huge, agitated clouds Of foaI
rode on the surface of a blood red tol
d rent. An army must have been sweI
of by that food. The soldiers perishe
q in a moment-but high up in the cliffs
D above the sweep Of destruction, wer
the Covenanters-men, women and chi
2 dren uttering prayers to God, unhear
by themselves. in that aging thunder. =
. From Lights and Shadows of Scottis
Life"
y m. urc1.-, Rr.,-os,o~ -