The Washington times., 1907-03-16

/
the door opened and a Highlander, fully
armed and equipped, entered the apart
nent- lie was stout, dark young man
Of low stature, the ample folds OF whose
plaid added 10 the appearance OF
| strength which his person exhibited
The short kilt skirt showed his sinewy
and clean-made limbs, the goaJskln
| purse. fianked by a dirk and steel
wrought pistol, hung before him. His
cap, or bonnet had a short feather,
which indicated his claim TO be consld-
cred DuinhewaSSel or sort Of gentle-
man. y broadSword dangled by his side,
target. or shield. hung upon his back,
and a long Spanish fowling piece occu-
pied one Of his hands.
Welcome, Evan Dhu Maccombich!
What news OF Fergus MaclVOr Wen Ian
NOhr?' said the baron.
Fergus MacIvOr Nich Ian Vohr, re-
turned the Highlander in good English.
''greets You well. Baron OF BradwSr-
| dine and Tully-Neolan.'
The Highlander was, indeed, an am
bassadCr from chieftain IN the neiBh-
] boring highlands between whom and the
/ baron there had been some GOODNESS OF
] late owing 10 question OF precedence
which had arisen from their meeting IN
state with their followers at county
gathering. He now sought 70 re-estaoc
/ liSh his friendship with the house Ot
] BradW ardine.
When the treaty Of amity had been
fully ratified. and Evan Dhu, who was
the chiefs iOster-brOtheT and devoted
] attendant heard OF the lifting OF the
| cattle, ne undertook TO restore them
| again TO the baron. surmising TlEhJiy
J that they had been driven on by Donald
/ Bean Lean a professional cateran, VINO
! sheltered on the territory OF Nlch Ian
/ NOhr.
! Weyerley, whose imagination had been
/ excited by the stories he had heard OF
| the dwellers IN the highlands, reques'cd
/ PERMISSION to go along with Evan when
| he departed to visit the hold OF the cat
| tie thief. and. perchancer TO 80 as IdE
! .ffr at q nN
1 Nohr. and see a Highland chief sur
! rounded by his clan being assured thaI
| there was no hazard in the enterprise
so long as he was under the escort OF
( Rose Bradwardine took leave Of him
| with a repressed sorrow, Which, now
/ ever. was scarcely noticed by w aver
/ ley, TOR, though he had mucn ehJOS "a
! the companiOnshlp of the gentle maiden
during his stay at Tully-NeOlan, he was
Young and fond OF adventure, and dld
! not II the time realize the place WhlCA
! Rose had come 10 fill in his heart
| Evan sent an attendant gillle on In ad-
| vance 10 warn Donald Bean Lean OF lheli
| coming and after a tolsoIne uay o.
I travel through the mountains ~
| reached at niShtfaN the hold OF lhe
| cateran Il was a cave opening or q
! small lake. accessible from the land only
/ by one narrow fOotpath. WeEcrley ano
his guide reached u by boat from tHt
/ further side Of the lOCh. The cave was
very high and was Illuminated by IRE
TCu1d ySh.ch were seated tivc or SIX
armed Highland6rs, while others weF'
indistinCtly to be seen couched IN then
plaids in the more remote recesses oI
In one large aperture. which th'
roboer facetiously called his pantry
there hung by the heels the carcass o.
a sheep and two cows recenul
slaughtered The only woman IN thl
cave was a strapping Highland damsel
Alice, the daughter Of Donald Bear
Lean upon whom the rObbcT iaVisAeC
an affection which was all the create
that he had regard for no other hvln'
| Ct reature.
After an evening meal cut probably
' from the barOnS stolen cattle, ah'
! served 70 Waverley WIKI some skill anC
b a little coquetry by the cdteTnn
/ daughter the young man lay down q
. sleep upon a bed OF heather Awakening
the next morning he found the cave el
! most deserted. and so, with his guide
/ took his way further into the Highlands
| Evan assuring him that the stoleT
cattle. except two which had beer
| slaughtered were already on their way
back Of the baron's mains.
Donald Bean Lean had not venture'
/ 10 disobev the commands. or Nlch l2I
Vohr. delivered through Evan Dhu, 10
well the robber knew that but for th'
refuge afforded him by the chieftain OF
the lands OF MaCIvor. he would have
graCed a gallOws lOrE ago.
AnOtner journey. pdIllS pN byit No"I
the lake and partly a good ten miles
tuilsOme journey over hiU and brae an
bog. brought the travellers within a shOr
. distance Of tn castle Of Fergus Mac
IIvor. and Evan cautioned Waverley tha
at any time they might encounter tn
chief whom he had advised by = fleet
! footed messenger OF their approach
"Ah." said Evan proudly. IF you
Saxon Duinhewassol. saw but the chic
with his tail Ont''
with his tail on?" echoed Waverle,
/ IN some surprise
/, "YeS-that is with his usual followers
: when he visits those Of the same rank.
CChapter II viii be published in tn
/, magazine section of The WashinSto
Sunday Times. March IL
Copyright. 1907 by Irving Klng)