The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1897-01-08


Al o. place OF deIeur5 th'a retreat I
could offer but lil.lo security, Tor Gao .
ground was Ego level that 30 presented .
al excellent hgll for invading horse.
men. But they bad no other a.lerua.
tiya, and hurryiag 90 tho rendezvous,
very man armed himself TO await
events.
As Doueal Mackenzie entered emo
hat where Lindsay and Margaret had
preceded him, he called ont:
'ReaCh me down my sword, good
daughter. With this weapon" he con-
tinuod, "did my father slay five men
as they sought 10 enter his home, aud
well and bravely did he fight until the
long bearded Dalyell cleft his skull In
twain. May my hand prove no dis
grace 10 the hilt that was once clasped
boy one so firm.
Coming out OF the hut he waved bis
hand 60 the people aud cried "Let as
pray 90 tho Almighty Disposcr of
events, that Ho may fight IN cur
cause"
Tho people roverently knelt while
their pastor invoked aid from on
| High.
It was strange sight to see those
men and women gathered there in the
cleaning, the former with stern faces
and uncouth weapons, the latter with
| pale ard anxious looks The pastor
ana elders encouraged tho people to
stand firm and trust in the might OF
the Lore.
In tho short period allotted them
before the appearance Of the foe, they
made such disposition for defense as
they we're best able. Several OF tho
larger huts were torn down, aud with
the debris they formed a barricade in
front of the hut where Dennis Mac
ken2ie had placed the women. Night
was almost at hand when the work was
hastily completed, and not a moment
too soon we're they, for in the distance
the troopers were seen coming, headed
by the wild and goddess Bonshaw.
"Stand to your arms, brethren, "
cried the pastor, who seemed, by COM
mon consent, 10 take the direction OF
affairs. "Stand to your arms, and
fear not what the unrighteous can do.
Yield not one foot OF ground to the
unhallowed invaders. The Lord oil
Hosts is with us. He fghteth on the
side Of His servants. While one warm
! drop Of blood remains in your hearts,
q resist. Think of your wives and chill
dren, think of your religion and your
@ fame. "
. Douga! Mackenzie was standing in
3. the midst of his people, grasping his
/. sword. while he gazed into the dis
!. lance with an eager and defiant look
He appeared positively heroic as h
!. awaited the attack A deep consci
). business that he was doing his duty il
q exhorting his flock to resistance
caused everything like trepidation t
Il leave his heart. He stood as firm a
i. the hills, and when his people brok,
y out with a psalm, smile of JOY illum
9 mated his rugged face.
r. On came the troopers, and the!
counted nearly double the number o
"a the Covenanters, while their dIsciplIn
# gave them a great advantage owe
their foes.
N Bonshaw rode at the head, wavin
his hat in his usual reckless style
"a while hisvoice rang high as he cheere
3. on his followers.
n "There is little mercy in such
, leader" exclaimed Elder McLane.
q. "Who talks of mercy when mer
N tioning the name of Bonshaw2" rC
ne sponded Robert Lindsay. 'Did yon
70 der wretch show mercy to my gallan
4. father, IS he lay wounded and helI
,e less on the earth?" And he groun
10 his teeth bitterly as he recalled tht
Il dreadful night, when his home wa
us laid in ashes, and his father cold an
no stiff in death.
ia Suddenly the troops dismounte
and prepared for the assault.
r.. "Charge the smoothfaced hyp,
nd critics; down with the villains
ma shouted Bonshaw.
Tis "Give the sons Of Belial to the edG
at of the sword" cried the Covenanter
,st ''Kill and spare not.
an The next instant volley from Il
lld the firearms rang out on the mig
AZ. air, and the troopers charged the bn
AZ. ricade.
ia. Unaccustomed to military drill al
discipline, the Covenanters were
sat match for Bonshaw's troopers, a.
10, yet they were not adversaries to
ad lightly despised. They we're earnt
IN. men, sternly intent in doing IL
Q a which was to them . righteous a
OF prsiseworthy act.
a A terrible volley was poured in
ace the faces of the troopers as tn
ter dashed on the barricade. For an
in slant they wavered, and then, wi
loud cheers, they leaped upon
ou, breastwork and were engaged in
4