Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1896-08-28
CHAPTER L,
SIZE -YRECKEN.

All day long the blast had scOurged the
northern seas into maestrom of boi.-
ing surf: the Ii avenS were ec!ipsed by
lcsdcn clouds which trailed their ragged
skirts along the surface OF the waters;
hghtnings streamed from the rent SKIES
like fire through an open door; thunders
rollcd-.t was wi d day, that!
Set in the midst OF this elemental
frenzy, rockbOund is'et stood, 0IarK
and steadfast; its basatic Gifts were
crowned by an ancient square emoat-
tied tower. A fag streamed from It's
turrets, the broad rose widow OF its
chapel glimmercd amid the wild wrack OF
the storm.
The breakers roarcd around the foot
Of the isc-lcaTol upon its rocky walls
finging their snowy foam up even to
the castle parapet, and fel back IN
thousand silvery riilS, to crouch and leap
again in endless, intellectual fury.
When the hour of sunset came,
wild glare shot from the angry west
across the seethiny waste, and along
tLat fiery pathway a little ship came
fleeing before the storm under bare
She was q slight and dainty craft,
moro fit for the silver reaches o. the
Than than for these fierce Hebridean
seas Yet like some high-cOuraged,
b autiful animal running for its life, she
still kept her ravening pursuers, the
waves, Behind her. and staggcr~d on un'
daunt d.
1t was Edgar Ardcn's yacht, the. Mer-
gauser. which had been blown out OF her
course, and was now running heal on
fer the iron bound i,le as fast as the
wind and current could drive her.
Edgar Arden and his stout-hearted
men we utter rangers in these as;
they had made a long and gallant fight
for dear life, and hoped even ye. to slip
by the looming rock and find safe sea-
room beyond
But as that fierce ray lit the scc2c,
showing distinc ly for the first time the
form of the foam-swa he'd rock, voice
rose from among the little company on
the laboring bark, voice like the knoll
of doom:
"Tho Sleat na-Vreckcn! Beware the
Slea ma VreckeG!"
The men, clinging each to his pa ce
that he might not b, swept away by he
crowding waves, turned with one ac-
cord to gaze at the u terer Of the warn
ing
1t was the on,y man among them VINO
knew these waters, an old Highlander
whom they had picked up about Tona
for pilot.
Rain r shine, no eye had ever before
seen old Kenmore moved; his spirit was
hard as his country's granite, and not
easily daunted, but he was daunted now
Elevated above them all and hanging on
TO the bare mast. with his long white
locks drift ng on the gale, he gazed upon
the approaching isle in pale smay'
"Tho S eat-na-V Vrecken." echoed Ed
gar Arden gu ckly, "where have heard
that wild Morse name? Or is it on y a
reminis eace of some old sea legend?
Strange! 1t rings familiar in my ear.
But what particular peril are we in from
that b ack rock? Eth, Kenmore.
He was fine fe low, Arden; the beau
ideal of a gallant, brave patrician; nc
81 epy languor or lily fingers with him
he was al! life and fire, yet with thai
look in his flashing eyes which womer
love men for
Tender and true" as douglas" o.
the sweet ballad, was Arden OF Inch
cape: and if he had not yet discovered
the lady who was destined to win hi
loyal heart, it was through no coldnes
of temperament or predOminance o.
self cOnceiU.
Edgar Arden had not been very lont
promoted to the acknowledged heirshiI
of noble English house; he was the or
phan son of the nearest of kin to the Ear
of Inchcapc; and when that noblemar
lost his beautiful young wife abroad fiv'
hot ba
daughter by his first wife, he brough
his heir-at law home to Inchcape Fosse
and formally ratified his rights
Edgar was already gentleman il
character and breeding. and he ente,e
that desOate house like a blessing to th
embittered Inchcapa, upon whom
crushing calamity had recently fallen
He had always heard 50 much of Inch
cape's fine career, his philanthropi
pro o'ects, his political power, that whel
he first came to the FoSse and found hi
kinsman a broken, broO1ing man, wit
noble aspirations all for gotten, an
powers unheeded, his ardent youn
heart was touched, and ho ioVed iii
with no common love.
Lord Inchcape gradually awoke
the cl m 'orting sweetness OF this uneN
Oocte0 anCcblOn. nc Inul hcu oIC yOUV
and began to thank God that, since h
was den ed son of his own body, thi
true man was to stand in that reaJio
TO him. Thus it was that Edgar becam
the beloved of Inchcape, master an
people He was denis nothing that h
set his heart Lp)n-his will was law.
He craved yacht; the carl presente
him with a nonpareil in yachts-th
Melgauser He wanted crew; tn
due complement o. men was cul ed frol
the flower o. Lori In hcape's tcnantrI
And we'll they loved their gallant youn
captain: they would have followed hil
round the world at h bid; nobody VIZ
so great or so gtol in their eyes
"Arden OF Inchcare."
Edgar had been a'one in the wor
since his infancy, when he lost both h
rarents A guardian had then take
G. Id care of him according to the lett
of his instructions, sending him to
first class academy, and then to ato
hut small was the home happin sS uni
Lord Inchcape took him home to u
FoSse.
Edgar had enjoyed his usua luck
his trip in the Mergauser until he toC
Kenmore aboard like second Jonah.
he had never shown tie least COY otl(
IN his vOuug captain; he had been co