The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-06-27

could get more by betraying his friends than by serving them longer.
 The fight in the def1le was bloody but short. Foremost in it appeared the stern and towering form of the High land chieftainess. Helen McGregor, whose hands, when the battle was done, were f1ecked with blood, as was the claymore she yielded.
 Taking advantage of the confusion of the conflict, Frank and the Bailie had sought places of safety, but they were soon discovered by the clansmen and dragged before the wife of Rob Roy, who raging like a lioness, comma anded at first that they be tied neck and heels and thrown into the little lake which was uncomfortably handy for the operation.
 The Bailis's claim of llinship would have stood them in little stead but Dugald pro- tested that they had come to the High lands upon Rob Roys safe conduct and he proposed to throw such of the redcoats as had escaped slaughter into the loch in their place.
 While the matter was being debated there was heard the sound of bagpipes approaching, playing not a strain of tri- umph but a wild Highland wall. It was Rob Roys two sons returning with the rest of the clan from the fatal snare which had been set for the chieftain by Rashleigh Osbaldistone Their father was not with them.
 At the place appointed by Rahleigh they had met a messenger, who announced that a body of government troops was near by whose commander was ready to join the Stuart cause and who summoned McGregor to visit him for a conference. Rob Roy went to the camp of the enemy, while the messenger, who was none other than Morris, was detained by Rob Roys people as a hostage for the safety of their chief, Rob Roy had not returned
 Helen poured reproaches on her sons for not having attempted the rescue of their father though the whole kings army had stood in the way. Turning a fierce look on the grovelng and pleading Morris she commanded that he be bound and cast at once into the loch. The wretched creat- ure's cries were unheedel. With a fright ful shriek of fear and horrer he disap- peared beneath the waters of the lake. Both Frank and the Bailie had protest ed but Helen told them they were fortu- nate if they did not meet like fate. Her fury being somewhat satiated, she com manded Frank to SO as an envoy to the camp of the Duke of Athol, near Stirling, whither, it was supposed, Rob Roy had been taken, and demand his release on the penalty of the killing of every one of her prisoners and of fire and sword on the surrounding region.
 Guided by Dugald, Frank proceeded to within sight of the Dukes camp, and then alone, save for Andrew Fairservice, sought an audience of the commander
 It was true that Rob Roy was a pris- oner in the camp, and the Duke declared that though the McGregors do their worst ''the cateran should hang"
 The command changed it's camp that evening, and Frank found from the man. her in which he was invited to accompany the party that he himself was considered a prisoner. On the march to the new eacampment a river had to be forded. Frank caught sight of the chieftain strapped behind a mounted soldier and surrounded by guards. But this soldier was a Highlander and when his horse was in mid-stream the leather band was loosened swiftly and McGregor slipped into the water and made good his es- cape
 There was great confusion, much riding and running along the banks and in the water itself, where the soldiers urged their steeds, but no recapturing of Rob Roy.
 In the excitement Frank escaped into a thicket, and under cover of the clos ing night took the direction of Aber- foil as well as he could conceive it. He i could not abandon the Bailie in the hands of Helen, and if Rob had not been drowned he knew he would soon be back in his own country and the business on which he had first adven- tured into those wild regions might yet be consummated.
 Late in the night he struck sort of rude bridlepath. Soon he heard be- hind him the sound of two horsemen. 1 To keep his courage up, or to show his ] bravado, he began to whistle an old tune he had heard sung at Osbaldistone i hall. Vast was his surprise as the l horsemen neared him to hear the tune taken up by the younger of them. Then l horse stopped beside him and dear voice he knew well said: MT. Frank Osbaldistone should not whistle his favorite airs when he wishes to re- main undiscovered" ! It was Diana Vernon, dressed in mas culine attire. The elder hopseman, who had refined in his steed at little dis | tance. bade her to be quick, that no l time was to be wasted. She leaned from her saddle and placed in Franks hand the packet of money which had been carried off by Rashleigh and which she had managed to force from him.
 Her hair brushed his face, her cheek almost touched his, as saying: Fare well, Frank-forever." she rode on to join her companion.
 Soon after another traveler-a foot raveler-appeared mysteriously In Franks pathway. MT. Campbell! ex- claimed Frank.
 Do not mister me-" replied the chief My foot is on my native heath-my names McGregor"
 ] At Aberfoil they found the whole l Clan McGregor gathered. All night ] the village resounded with jubilation at the return of the chieftain. At the l inn tbeu found the Bailie, safe and