Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-04-28

questions If you will take my advice you
had better answer truthfully. 1 Will not
waste time about things know. What
i to us! Why were We 80 short time with
i them? And why did We leave the English
) army? Tell no lies / pray you. l can see
! that We soldiers and have been officers
! Why are you with US in the guise Of troop
ers?"
You know so much my lord" said the
taller man. with that outspoken candor
which Is so taking that may as well tell
you all. We have held commissions in the
army, and are. I suppose. officers today
though they will be wondering where we
are. and we should be shot II we were
caught. You will excuse me giving our
names for they could not be easily kept
We belong to families which have ever peen
true to their king. and we came , norm u tho 10
take share in the good work mat Is .ne
| only way thar we could manage II. ana we
| do not fancy it overmuch. but we nave
| taken our lives in our hands Tor the ''u-
you are men OF spirit. can see, SAID
| Dundee ironically. but We are wise men men
ALSO and have reduced your risks; Wou
| you do me the favor OF showing .ne p L'asors
with which YOU provided yourselves oelore
leaving England? Save yourselves ..le
trouble of-argument. One OF YOU mas 20
his pass in his coat and the otn ,s,, 70 he
boot I'm sure you would not wish 70 DC
stripped 80 .;on
The shorter man colored with vexatlon
| and then paled but the other only iaus said
like q boy caught in trick. ana sau
There are quick eyes. or, more iKels'
! quick ears in this army. my lord. Then.
without more. ado, they handed Lore Du aia
dee tho passes "As l expected sdiu
Dundee ''to the officers of King Nllliam
army, and to allow the bearers to go Where
/ they please and signed by his majesty $
secretary Of state mooki nnd sm n%noes ~
On those passes said the spokes-
man with much geniality. Il always
thought We should have destroxeo mem
lines but my friend declared they might
help us afterward in time OF need
and now gentlemen. they are gong To
hang YOU for shooting is too honorable TOT
snies and worse than spies assassins. for
concluded Dundee softly, 1T was 10 stioo'
me you two loyal cavaliers nave con'e.
The shorter man was about TO protest, III
hope of saving his life, but his comrade
waved him to be silent, and TOR the last
time took IN the talk. -,
I'VE are caught in a pretty coil. my lord
circumstances ire against us. and we nave
nothing to put the other side, except
our word of honor as gentlemen. Neitner
my comrade nor / are going TO nieau iol
our lives. though We don't fahcy pel'S
hung But, perhaps. Of your courtesy III
we write our names. you Will allow let
ter to go to Gen. Mackay. and that can't
ing Puritan will be vastly amused when
he learns that he had hired us to assasSl-
nate my Lord Dundee. He will be more
ant to consider our execution an act OF
judgment for Joining the Mallgnants: we
by trlckefS from Ioiu NV.
tingham and they have tricked U.S. anu
by the gods, the whole affair Is hne jest;
except the hanging. l would rather 1t had
been shooting. but I grant that II Mac
KAY had sent us on such an GRAND. poth
he and we deserve to be hung: And the
Englishman shrugged his shoulders as ono
who had said his last word and ACCEPTED
his fate.
He carried himself so bravely. with such
an ingenious countenance and honest
speech. that Claverhouse was interested IN
the man. and the reference to Machay
arrested him in his purpose. Ihey were
not likely to have come on such an err
rand from MacKay's camp without the
English general knowing what they were
about Was Mackay the man to sane
ton proceeding cowardly and so con-
trary 10 the rules of war? OF all things
in the world. was not this action the one
his principles would most strongly con
denim? Certainly their conversation by the
riverside had been suspicious, but then
Grimond had made one hideous mistake be
fore 1t was POSSIBLE that he had made
another. raham had insulted his loyal
wife through Grimond's laundering: 1t
would be almost bad if he put to an ig-
nominious death two adventurous. blum
7ering English cavaliers. He ordered that
the E,nglishmen should be kept under close
arrest till next morning. and he sent the
following letter by swift messenger and
under flag of truce to the general OF the
English forces.
BLAIR CASTLE July 80 1850.
To Mai Gen. Hugh MacKay. Commanding
the Forces in the Interests OF the Prince
of Orange.
Sir: IT is years since we have met and
many things have happened since but 1
freely acknowledge that You have ever
been good soldier and one who would not
condescend to dishonor. And this being
my mind I crave your assistance in the
following matter:
Two English officers have been arrested
in disguise and CARRYING compromising
passes; there is reason to believe that their
errand was to assassinate me- and if this
be the case they shall be hung early tomor
row morning.
Albeit were rivals in the Low Coun-
try and will soon fight our duel to the
death, am loath to believe that this thing
is true Of you. and I win ask of you this
last courtesy for you sake and mine and
that of the two Englishmen. that we tell
me the truth
I salute you before we fight and have
the honor to be. your most obedent ser
want. DUNDEE