Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1896-09-21
CHAPTER XXI.
THE FLIGHT IN THE HEATHER; THE
HETGH OF CORRYNAKIEGH


head of a great mountain, with a wa
ter running through the midst, and upon
the one hand shallow cave in a rock.
Birches grew there in a thin, pretty
wood which a little further on was
changed into a wood of pines. The
burn was full of trout; the wood of
cushat doves; on the opening side of the
mountain beyond, whaups would be al
ways WhiStling and cuckOOs were plenti-
full. From the mouth of the cleft we
looked down upon part of Mamore, and
on the Sea-lOch that divides that COun-
try from Appin; and this from so great
a height, as made it my continual won
der and pleasure to sit and behold them.
The name of the cleft was the Heugh
Of Corrynakiegh; and although from it's
height and being so near upon the sea it
was often beset with clouds, yet it was
on the whole a pleasant place, and the
five days we lived in it went happily
We slept in the cave, making our bed
of heather bushes which we cut for
that purpose, and covering ourselves
with Alan's greatcoat. There was a
low concealed place, in a turning of the
glen where we were so bold as to make
fire, so that we could warm ourselves
when the clouds set in, and cook hot
porridge, and grill the little trouts that
we caught with our hands under the
STONES anu ON0TUHISlLS UdukS Ol IuC
burn. This was indeed our chief pleas
ure and business; and not only to save
our meal against worse ines, but with
a rivalry that much amused us, we spent
a great part of our days at the water
side, stripped to the waist, and cropping
about or (as they say guddling for these
fish, The largest we got might have
been three-quarters Of a pound; but
they were of good flesh and flavor, and
when broiled upon the Goals, lacked only
a little salt to be delicious.
In any bytime Alan must teach me to
use my sword for my ignorance had
much distressed him; and [ think be-
hand of him in fishing, he was not sorry
to turn to an exercise where he had
SO much the upper hand of me. He
made it somewhat more of a pain than
need have been, for he stormed at me
all through the lessons in a very yio-
lent manner of scolding, and would push
me so close that [ made sure he must
run me through the body. l was often
tempted to turn tail, but held my ground
for all that, and got some profit of my
lessons; if it was but to stand on guard
with an assured countenance, which is
often all that is required. So, though
| could never in the least please my mas
ter, / was not altogether displeased with
myself.
In the meanwhile, you are not to sup
pose that we neglected our chief bust
ness, which was to get away.
1T will be many long day. Alan
said to me on our first morning, ''before
the redcoats think upon seeking Corryna-
kiegh; SO now we must get word sent to
James, and he must find the Siller for
u.s..
'And how shall we send that word?''
says I. eve are here in desert place,
which yet we dare not leave; and I'M
less We get the fowls of the air to be
your messengers, I see not what we
shall be able to do"
'Ay?' said Alan. 'Ye're a man of
small contrivance, David"
Thereupon he fell in a muse, looking
in the embers of the fire; and presently,
getting piece of wood, he fashioned it
in a cross, the four ends of which he
blackened on the Goals. Then he looked
at me little shyly.
Gould We lend me my buttonT' says
he. ''It seems a strange thing to ask
q gift again, but [ own | am laith to cut
another"
[ gave him the button; whereupon he
strung it on a strip of his great-coat
which he had used to bind the cross;
and tying in a little sprig of birch and
another of fir, he looked upon his work
with satisfaction.
''Now," said he ''there is a little ella
chan what is called hamlet in the
English mot very far from Corryna-
kiegh, and it has the name of hoalls-
nacoan There, there are living many
friends of mine whom | could trust with
my life and some that | am no just so
sure Of Ye see, David, there Wils be
money set upon our heads; James him
sell is to set money on them; and as tor
the Campbsils, they would never spare
slfer where there was Il Stewart to be
hurt. If it was otherwise, L would so
down to Kaalisnacoan whatever, and
trust my life into these peoples hands
as lightly as i would trust another with
my glove
''Being so, said he, II would as lief
they didnae see me. There's bad folk
everywhere, and what's far worse, weak
ones Sc when it comes dark again, l
will steal down into that cEaehan, and
set this t7fat | have been making in the
window OFF a good frie1di of aline, John
Breck Maceoll a 6oumaTn la Eh0uman is
a tenant who takes stock frolm the land
lord and shares with hi1a the increase
of Appin's.''
with all my heart" says u. land if
he finds it, what is lie to think:
'.Well,' Says Alasa,. II wish he was a
man of more penetration, foE by my
troth I am afraid he Will make Little
enough of it. But this iS what | have
the nature of the cross-tarrie; or fiery
cross, which is the signal Of gathering
in our clans; yet he wiz know well
enough the clam is nat to- mise; &@r there
it is standing in his window, and no
word with it. So he will say to- himself,
The clan is not 10 rise, but there is some
thing. Then he will see nv button, and
chat was Duncan Stewards, and then
ne will say to himself, The son of Duncan
us in the heather and has need of me-
We'll" said +. ''it naN be: Hut even
supposing so, there is a good deal of
heather between here and tie Forth
And that is a very true word. says
Alan ''But then JOHN Bfeck will see
the sprig of birch, and the sRr1g of pine;
and he Will say to- himself if ne is a man
eToubt), Alan will be lying" i'll a wood
which is both of pines and birches.
Then he will think to- hiTnssel. That is
not so very rife hereabout; and then he
will come and give US lossk up in Cor
rynakiegh And if Ire does not. David,
the devil may fly away with him, for
what I care; for he Will mo be worth the
salt To his nOrrfdge.''