Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1893-11-09

piled, IF it was ifrinn itself, and the
devil was Gilesbeg Grauamach, 1
would not save my soul at the cost
of the secret
Look yOnder, the Shian Sluidh 5
getting black, and anyone of you can
save the three. | say so on the cross
Of my knife"
n-Without-Asl1ing. Gn eloquent
cash on his pallid face, stood behind
the prisoners, to give them to the
depths, but the sunlight seemed to
Iinger on the fairy knoll in pity. Arts
mouth quivered; he glanced recklessly
at his sire, and would have spoken,
when Calum, catching the wavering
meaning of it, hastily stepped back
from the edge of the cliff, and address
ed his enemy.
1T is poor secret at any rate he
said; and if it is to save my life, you
can have it."
/. NeilIa looked increduously at his
fathers face; it was white and drawn.
John Without-Asking let u sigh of re-
greet escape him.
Il thought you would tell it, sheer
ed GiIesbeg; there was never 4 Mack
ellar yet but had a tight grip of his
little life"
MackelIar WINGED under the taunt,
and bit at his beard. Yes, but it's
only on one condition III tell you the
secret. 1t IS my secret alone, ana l
can ever look a clansman i'll the face
after telling it. Art and Ncilla there,
you must send over the rock first, that
they cannot tell of their fathers dis
grace"
Art groaned i'll anguish, but Neilla,
who had in the days gone by been on
the hills and mOOrs alone with his faith
er for weeks, knew that heart, and
turned his face to hide the exultation
of his wild surmise.
Gilesbeg laughed. Faith, that's
easy enough" and he signalled to
John Without-Asking.
A sudden thrust at the sons, who
were bound together, hurled them
through the dizzy air to the hOrrid
death below. The Diarmids, poised on
the edge, tried to follow the flight of
the doomed brothers, but it was over
in Il moment, and on the wind there
was not the slightest sound from the
gloom beneath except that a jackdaW
screamed.
Now, We'll take you to Carnis, and
you'll make us the ale, the fine ale,
the cream Of rich ale," said GileSbeg,
and he cut the thongs that bound the
Mackellars arms to his side.
With q triumphant laugh Calum
stood back from his foes.
''Ha ha. crooked-mouthed Diarmids,
blind Diarmids, sons of Striopachan,
did you think it," he cried, with
mockery in his mien and tone. Come
with me and my Draw sons and you'll
get ale, aye, and the black wine of
Death at the foot of Shaurnoch.' He
clutched quickly, firmly, unexpectedly,
at the eXecutioner Of his children, and
with the sudden jerk he had John
Without-Asking with him in midair,
over the rock-face, clutching, writing,
screaming in despair!
The horror of it the Celtic splendor
of it, struck the Diarmids dumb. Giles
beg lrted his eyes from the airy
depths, and breaking the silence, said,
with the sheer from his face, "Yon
thing had the heart Of man.
Night fell fast, bittern walled be-
yond the larches, the swelling wind
sent a tremulous coronach in monotone
through the cleaning. Across the sob
bling tide the Cowal hills We're levelled
and lost Night birds screamed deri-
sively behind the Diarmids, as with
uncertain feet in the gloom they sought
the mountain foot, and without pipe
march or sound of any kind save a
weary Gaelic mdertone, slouched to
their distant home