The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1905-04-14

gang DOT wi me to save the crew, or
let EN- dee? Speak,"
1--WE will no gang WI yea man O.
bluid," they answered. Dye ma ken
the curse O. God-the red mark-rests
on We? the mark O. Cain.
Then the curse O. God shall rest on
We a hundredfold," he muttered, as he
turned away.
w.
Swiftly the good resolution of the
outcast had met an icy blast. Unaided,
no living soul, however heroic, could
cross that black, boiling stretch Of
sea, which rolled out madly betwixt
"Skeighan's Held" and Dead Mans
Reef" The man groaned aloud for
the sailors going down in the dark.
Criminal though men said he was, he
held yet within his soul somewhere,
and deep down, love for his suffering
fellows. The possibility (yea, the very
reasonable probability that King Rob-
ert Bruce was among the distressed on
ly added sharper sting to the con-
vict's regret. - "They shallna dee," he
exclaimed desperately, turning with
frantic haste toward dory which lay
bottom upward in the distance. IF it
wasna for mother" he added hoarsely,
Il wad be glad to-"
"Mon!" came a cry from a tall fig
ure, striding behind, III gang cot wi
ye."
Down the steep, rugged slope the
two powerful men bore the dory. Fin
ally, by dint of desperate determina-
ton, they launched it off the narrow
shelving beach; and climbing in, paid
out the rope, which had previously been
fastened to ring in the stern and at
tached to a boulder on the beach. BY
happy fortune the sea began to calm,
and the rope served both as an an
Choir and return cable.
After many perils the dauntless lit
tie craft reached the ship, which was
plainly visible in the bright light, now
streaming from the shore, and the crew
with few exceptions, were eventually
brought, chilled but thankful, into the
garrulous circle, which surrounded the
fire on "Skeigan's Held"
Suddenly the captain Of the rescued
crew, great tall fellow, who mask
like sea-garments the curious villagers
and-strange to say-some of the kings
own soldiers believed to hide none
other than Robert Bruce, rose and
cried, "wha ha' saved us?"
At this, George Brodie's face went
white (for the captain had not spoken
before), but he quickly arose from his
place by the fire, and rushing forward,
exclaimed, Sandy MacLean, by the
eternal"
"Ay, ay, Geordie," said the captain,
"an' we've saved my life the NIGHT? God
bless we FORT lad, as we Gamma"
The crowd was fairly agape with ex-
element now.
"An' l thocht to save the king, San
dy-I-"
Twas the king helpit we to save,
man." cried the mysterious stranger,
who had gone with the outcast And,
throwing off his heavy water-soaked |
cloak, there stood revealed King Rob-
ert Bruce.
'"And listen, Geordie Brodie," he con-
tinued with nod toward a graceful |
figure, standing some distance away. |
Eye maun thank the lairds lass for
bringin' me hither. Twas to please her
that l cam to try your case wi mair O.
mercy than the court an the kirk ha |
glen we. The day that We returned |
frae the preeson she didna wish to in
troduce me, fora weel, for the cause |
which God Almighty ha' shown ye the
NIGHT, in allooin ye to justify your
sell l. the dark, cen as men conveected
We O. crime i the dark"
ooh, God" groaned Sandy MacLean,
what misery the deed O Red Beard
the Pirate ha' brought to the innocent
but the dell is dead-dead-dead."
Il Decree" interrupted the King,
with friendly motion to Sandy to
keep silent, that the records O. court
an kirk be stricken DOT, an that gol-
den MARK o. honor be written where
the red MARK O. crime ha been; also
that Geordie Brodie be glen the hand,
cen as he ha' moo the heart, O. the
airds dochter-provided she be will
in. What say we moo to that, Geordie?"
81 Gamma say mair than that I'm un-
worthy O. her." faltered Brodie, sus-
picion of tears in his voice.
Then I'll make we Earl o. Cassan-
muir"
Nae, nae, King Robert" interposed
4 sweet feminine voice whose beauti-
ful mistress was soon on the scene.
I'll haze him as he is-the same auld,
guide auld Geordie he ha' been for aye"
The king smiled, took the lass
hand and solemnly placed It in
Brodie's.
Geordie " he said "I can dae nae