The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-02-28

asks Tor a SUBSTITUTE surely there VIII
be a stout volunteer for such an hon
or"
Hardly had the heralds shouted the
offer before Harry of the Wynd leaped
the barriers and presented himself The
chief of the Clan Chattan looked on
him with keen approval. while the
burghers cried that he was a mailman.
But messenger FASTENED gleefully to
his house and brought his armor and
mighty sword and for all their criti-
cism the citizens shouted loud applause
as their own champion entered the
ranks of the picked men of the hills.
AS soon as the signal was given by
| the King the men of both clans uttered
a mighty yell. The bagpipes blew a
maddening note. The fighters started
| forward, increasing their pace to a
smart run and came together with a
, wild shock. In an instant there was
nothing to see except immense swords
hewing at each other.
| Forced on both by eagerness of
hatred and the thirst for honor, no man
would yield a foot. The spectators
| could see only a tumult Of men over
| whom huge blades tossed and swept,
some still glittering, others red with
blood. Even while they smote at each
other the fierce champions tried to
close and use their daggers.
The pipes could still be heard at in
tervals. wailing above the furious
| noise. Suddenly they sounded q re-
treat, and the oombatants cautiously
but promptly disengaged themselves
from each other.
The specttors could now see for tn Q
first time what work had been done in
that frightfu1 interlocking of men.
Twenty champions lay dead or dying
on the field. Dismembered limbs, he'll
NETS cleft clean through, slashes
through the shoulder far into the chest.
| showed the fury of the battle and the
strength of the fighters.
Harry of the Wynd had contented
himself with parrying the blows of
those who assailed him and now stood
leaning on his sword, showing little
inclination to renew the combat. The
chief of the Clan Chattan asked him
what allied him.
81 fight as a volunteer and only in
the post which best suits me-" replied
the smith. 81 want to meet the chief of
the Clan Quhele."
Take what post you please" was the
reply; and when the word to renew the
fight was given the armorer pressed for
ward to where Eachin MacIan stood. He
shook his long sword at the young chief.
but Eachins foster brother, Norman,
sprang forward and stabbed at the ar
morer with his dagger. 'Fooll' said the
smith, striking him backward with the
pommel of his heavy sword and then
fetching stroke that broke through
both steel-cap and skull.
Again the armorer advanced toward
the chief, and again a supporter threw
himself between them. While he engaged
the smith two others attacked him from
both sides, but the chief OF the Clan
Chattan cried: Forward, my wildcats,
and help the Saxon' His own sword
cut down one of Harry's assailants, an
other of the clan killed the second, and
the armorer succeeded in shifting his
man down.
Eachin had been carried away by the
turmoil of the fight, which now rolled
back and forth in the same hideous con-
fusion as in the beginning. At last, how
Clan Chattan had Is lett, while only ten
remained of the Clan Quhele.
Harry of the Wynd was here and there,
ever trying to break through the guard
that surrounded the young chieI. Wound
ed in many places he still seemed tire
less and retired unwillingly when the
retreat was sounded again.
Only five were left of the Clan Quhele
to oppose u of the Clan Chattan Eachin
alone had escaped without a wound, so
well had he been guarded by his faith
full men.
Again the war cry arose, and again the
weary and bleeding men advanced to-
ward each other, but slowly now with
heavy feet. The two old warriors, I'M
able to remain aloof any longer, Joined
In the fray and attacked each other saw
agely with the lances to which the stand
ards were attached The fury of battle
and the frenzy of rage and despair then
infected the bagpipers, who threw away
their Instruments and ran on each other
with their daggers.
So blind and wild with rage were all
these volunteers that they did each other
to death at the first onset.
At last only two of the Clan Quhele re-
manned alive-Eachin MacIan and a giant
supporter. He ran on the smith with a
GLOW and struck with all his might. For
long minutes the champion of Perth
seemed to have met his match. Then the
smith succeeded in striking aside the
giants guard and down came his terrible
sword flying through the shoulder and
cutting down to his very heart.
When Eachin MacIian saw this fearful
stroke and beheld the armorer with the
dripping sword held out before him, adj
yancng toward him, sudden terror
clutched the young chief Before he could
resist 1t he had turned his back and was
fleeing across the field with the smith
behind him.
He did not stop until he had plunged
into the Tay, having cast off his armor
and he swan down the swift stream
rapidly, soon distancing those who would
have pursued him. never to be seen
again.
Only seven men survived the grim test,
and these were little better than dead.
The smith was in the arms OF Sir Patrick
Charters and the Black Douglas, who
had entered the town with his men in