Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1896-08-10

CdAH All.
HEAR OF THE RED FOX.
Before we had done cleaning out the
roundhouse, a breeze sprang up from
q little to the east of north. This blew
off the rain and brought out the sun.
And here / must explain; and the
reader would do well to look at map.
On the day when the fog fell and we ran
down Alan's boat, we had been running
through the Little Minch. At dawn at
ter the battle, we lay becalmed to the
east of the Isle of Gamma or between
that and Isle Erska in the chain of the
Long island Now to get from there
to the Linnhe loch, the straight course
was through the narrows of the Sound OF
Null But the captain had no chart;
he was afraid to trust his brig so deep
among the islands; and the wind serving
well, he preferred to go by west of Three
and come up under the southern coast OF
the great Isle of Null
All day the breeze held in the same
point, and rather freshened than died
down; and toward afternoon a swell
began to set in from round the outer
Hebrides. Our course, to go round about
the inner isles, was to the west OF south,
so that at first we had this swell upon
our beam, and were much rolled about.
But after nightfall, when we had turned
the end of Three and began to head more
to the east the sea came right astern.
Meanwhile, the early part of the day,
before the swell came up, was very
pleasant, sailing, as we were, in bright
sunshine and with many mountainous
islands upon different sides. Alan and |
sat in the roundhouse with the doors
open on each side (the wind being
straight astern) and smoked pipe or
two of the captains fine tobacco. 1t
Of thic nd oh oth Sc
stories, which were the more important
to me, as l gained some knowledge of
that wild Highland country ON which
| was so soon to land. In those days,
so close on the back of the great rebel
lion, it was needful a man should know
what he was doing when he went upon
the heather.
1t was | that showed the example, tell
ing him all my misfortune; which he
heard with great good nature. Only,
when / came to mention that good friend
of mine, Mr.. Campbell the minister, Alan
fired up and cried out that he hated all
that were of that name.
why" said /, she is a man you should
be proud to give your hand to-"
Il know nothing l would help Camp
bell to-" says he, unless it was leaden
bullet. l would hunt all of that name
like woodcocks. If l lay dying, would
crawl upon my knees to my chamber
window for shot at one"
"Why, Alan" l cried, what ails We at
the Campbells?'
well" says he, Eye ken very well
that [ am an Appin Stewart, and the
Campbells have long harried and wasted
those of my name; ay, and got lands of
us by treachery-but never with the
sword" he cried out loudly, and with
the word brought down his fist upon
the table. But | paid the less attention
to this, for | knew it was usually said
by those who have the under hand.
There's more than that" he continued,
land all in the same story; lying words,
lying papers, tricks fit for peddler. and
the show of what's legal over all, to
make a man the more angry"
''You that are so wasteful of your but
TONS" said /, II can hardly think you
would be good judge of business"
"Ah!' says he, falling again
to smiling, II got my
wastefulness from the same man l got
the buttons from; and that was my
poor father, Duncan Stewart, grace be
to him! He was the prettiest man of
his kindred; and the best swordsman
in the Hollands, David, and that is the
same as to say, in all the world, should
ken. for it was him that taught me. He
was in the Black Watch, when first it
was mustered; and like other gentleman
priyates, had a gillie at his back to carry
his firelock for him on the march. Well,
the King, it appears, was Wishful to see
Hieland workmanship; and my father
and three more were chosen out and sent
to London town, to let him see it at the
best. SO they were had into the pal
ace and showed the whole art of the
sword for two hours at a stretch before
King George and Queen Carline, and the
Butcher Cumberland, and many more of
whom | havenae mind. And when they
were through, the King Cfor all he was a
rank usurperN spoke them fair and gave
Zach man three guineas in his hand.
Now, as they were going out of the
palace, they had a porter's lodge to go
by; and it came in on my father, as he
was perhaps the first private HieIand gen
tleman that had ever gone by that door,
it was right he should give the poor por-
ter a proper notion of their quality. SO
he gives the Kings three guineas into the
mans hand, rs if it was his common
custom; the three others that came be-
hind him did the same: and there they
were on the street. never penny the
better for their pains. Some say it was
one that was the first to fee the Kings
but the truth of it is, that it was Duncan
Stewart, as | am willing to prove with
either sword or pistol. And that was
the father that I had, God rest him.
Il think he was not the man to leave
you rich" said I.
''And that's true" said Alan. ''He
left me my breeks to cover me, and lit
tie besides. And that was how | came
to enlist which was a black spot upon
my character at the best of times. and
would still be Il sore job for me if I fell
among the rpd-coats. "
''Whaty' cried I, 'were you in the
English army?'
''That was l." said Alan. @But I de-
serted to the right side at Preston Pans
--and that's some comfort
l could scarcely share this view, hold
ing desertion under arms for an unpar-
donable fault in honor. But for all I
was so young. l was wiser than say my
thought. Dear, dear" says I, ''the
punishment is DEATH
'.Ay.' said he, IF they got hands on
me. il would be short shrift and a
lang tow for Alan! But l have the
King of Frances commission in my
pocket. which would aye be some pro-
lection
Il misdoubt it much" said I.
h.,x- ln,,1N Nlf A 1ssn