Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1899-01-25


the prince his own self. God bless him
"He put the chanter 60 his lips and
began To play the most wonderful and
terrible piece of music that ever has
been heard in Scotland. or perhaps i'm
the whole earth besides. All the time
he was playing those who We're listen
ing could see what the music was tell
ing about. and that was a great clan
battle that must have happened hun
dreds Of years ago-in Fionn MacCum-
halls time--up there ON top of Ben
Mhor
First it was Just the moor. lying
very hot in the sun, with the bees hum
ming along the heath bells. and the
young things Of the moor fowl talking
20 themselves among the heather stalks.
Very sleepy and quiet it was. and the
moor was making the little noises it
does make ON the very hot days. and
yet east wind was creeping over the
heath from the SEA. very gentle and
lonely and tired, making white shin
ing all over the moon. with a gray blue
clear sky above.
"Then, from very far off down the
wind there came the notes of n clan
march II came NEARER and nearer. II
was an old. old march, forgotten, along
with the clan that had owned il. for
generations past and the clan came
marching over the brow and took the
battle order upon the moor, and stood
waiting. while from the oppoSi te side
another clan came up and took tle bat
tie array over against them. The duinhe-
ha
the word Of onset, stamping in the
heather and shutting the wind with the
battle madness coming upon them.
Then there came a dead pause for
one long moment. while the hearts of
all stood still II is az a time like that,
You Will have zen observing. that very
small things seem as great as the whole
world, and a man Will be watching
bee upon a flower, or perhaps counting
the squares Of his breaCan. while his
soul is gathering herself together for the
call that i coming upon her even then
and instantly.
Then there was one awesome scream
from the pipes. the yell of the fighting
men cleft the clouds. and with the rush
Of driven stays the two lines swung To.
Gothcr. Their meeting was the meeting
Of wind maddened tide and flooded
river The targets reared together. The
short. sharp shriels of combat went up
amid the deadly crashing of the clay
mCrcs and axes upon the helmets and
shields The heavy, dull groans Of death
were heard. and the thick dark blood
ran into the black, hot ground among
the stalks Of the heather. and over the
heads of the fighters the wild people Of
THE glen were Shrieking in black cloud.
their red eyes glarod from among its
blacknoss. and the pip,s We're scv am-
ing like eagles down storm wind.
Changing AMI ringing. crying and call
ing.
"Aud then the pibroch suddenly cen~-
ed-just ceased and no more. leaving
the world seeming strange without IL
For a moment there Wa a dead 81
lcnce in the barn Then a BARN burst
out crying IN terror. and the spell was
broken. All made the holy sign upon
them. and the women draw together in
fear, while the men were crowding
round Doueal. questioning him. To
snail purpose was their questioning, for
AiINAt ~ HNoNN uASM tAluS LONhAuks VIII
the strange look still in his eyes, like q
man hewitched.
But Helen Cameron rose up very
white and came TO him and took the
Daoine SHE pipes from his shoulder,
and, crossing the room, flung them into
the great FIRE. 1t was dead. still night,
as l have said. Yet, az she did so. q
great blast of wind came that shook the
stone walls Of the house. The fire fash
ed high, blazing and roaring for an in
slant. Then il died down. and the pipes
of magic were gone. The blast passed
on over the moor, full of shrieks anC
laughter, and Dougal came back to him
self, with Helen Cameron weeping upoI
his neck.
But it was long ere he would tel
how be came by the pibroch that wol
him his bride, for Duncan Cameron
stood 10 his word, and they were mar
ried as soon as Dougal had made hi
shrift for his dealings with the Daoin
SHE. He had the desire of his heart
and ever throve thereafter. but neve
could be play the pipes again any NOR
than before; but as for the pibroch o
the cat, no one could ever remember
note of it, which was perhaps a yer.
good thing whatever, for il is i'll dealing
with the like. Philip l.. Fitzreimun
in Chapman's Magazine.