The Washington times., 1912-06-27
CHAPTER x.
= W. -


X of the cobbled street. between
! - the dominie's place and the school
house stood the Macgregor. CAM
eron of Lochiel, the Macdonald, and the
other chieftains, surrounded by the ex-
cited crowd The redcoats were COM
Ing. What now?
Let them come" said the Cameron,
WITH neroe laugh. WE may as we'll
begin here as there
"Canny. man-canny!" cautioned the
Macgregor, with all the cunning Of his
race. IF It's true that Argyll has cut
Sn Sstob the deHr gIsns. We might as well try to
fight. Let the redcoat talk FIRST
He'll do that-never fear!" said the
Cameron, fling Of his plaid expressive
OF MS contempt for diplomatic meas
There came a 'clattert of horses hoofs
and the steady tramp of military feet
on cobblestones. Into the glare Of the
bonfire came two horsemen, CAPITA N
Kilby and Lieutenant Yorke followed
by a company of redcoats, marching
TOUR abreast.
The command 10 halt rang out,
There twas a little skirmishing Of horse
hoofsT and a rattling of arms, which
somehow conveyed a serious, mechari-
cal determination Of the English SOL
horse, and himself faced the mob. In In
the light of the bonfire his countenance
was re yealed, to the startled wonder Of
all, especially of DR.. Wallace. who
could not for the life of him imagine
what had befallen the smiling, boyish
; captain. 1t was the face of a fierce
/ warrior. already grimed with battle,
that looked over the horses head.
People of InverlachieI" cried Cap
, tain kilby II order you to disperse to
your homes!"
. There was murmur, then silence,
but not a man moved to obey.
Once more, order you to disperse to
your homes;" came the warning.
The crowd moved nervously, but still
Nnobeying the letter of the command.
hind Cameron Of iochieI and the Mac
gregor and the little knot of chiefs.
This left the Cameron and the Mac
gresor in front. the former standing
hand drawing the plaid tightly across
his breast. while the Macdonald stood
In an easy attitude Of mingled amuse-
ment and interest.
Kilby., with infinite regret in his voice,
/ II order you, people Of Inverlachie, in
the name of His Majesty King George,
TO- to disperse to your homes. II you do
not obey l shall order my men to fire a
Volley. Will you dispersec"
There was no answer. The crowd
i looked expectantly towards the knot of
chieftains. Cameron of Lochiel had
! never moved. He was like rigid statue
! " was the Macgregor who broke the
silence. just as kilbys hand moved on
MS horse's bride rein.
And why must we disperse, If It's a
1alr question?-whi I will be thinking
1t ts," he demanded
I Il do not think 1t necessary to an
s%er se the the question" replied Kilby, him
, cedure. The people are gathered in a
manner that tends to a disturbance of
the peace. They must disperse.''
. nave heard nothing Of a riot" said
the Macgregor simply.
hla, 4
tonight" demanded the captain mount
cdly. Why these bonnres? Whv the
pipes? what " the meaning Of the man
dressed in the national costume. what,
pray, is the occasion?'
What Is the oc ;asIon?" echoed the
MaSgregor, with a laugh.
began Cameron of Lochiel. suddenly
finging his plaid from his clutch. like
mystery casting OFF the veil
The OCCASION came from the Mac
gregor in an interrupting. dron ning
roar. Is such as you might have under.
stood, Sir Rsdcolt, II We had exercise i
your brains for a moment. Ye would
have forgotten that tris is the day of
the annual gathering Of the clans in
Argyll. Is it not the wish OF his grace,
the duke. that this day be one OF bon-
fires and rejoiclnS?"
For this unexpected explanation Kilby
had no answer ready. He knew per-
fectly well it was a subterfuge. But
what could he say? This might Well be
TIE reason for everything-the pipe
music, the bon1lres,, the strange High
larlcrs. the national dress but
THE gathering was not here" sail
he. 1T was held at Inverary."
ana ID enthusiasm so weak that 1t
cannot can travel rave twenty miles," demanded
friendship SO forgotten that the clans
men could not ferry across 10 greet
their acquaintances in inverlachie? Sir
Ecdcoat, I think ye hunt a mare 8
nest"
Sir Highlandnran,' retorted Kllby
I'VE are wasting words. You know as
Well as I do that there is more than
onight. Also. remember that I am am
neither deaf nor blind
Now we are making rtddles!" sneer-
ed the Macgregor.
began to sing in the bonfire. 1t was a
verse of that taunt of the victorious
Prince Charlie at Prestonpans under
the window OF the vanquished Sir John
Hey. Johnny Cope. are ye wakin'
Sandy McClung was in the crowd.
Kilby's face flushed scarlet even be-
meath the blood and disColoration of his
late battle with FitZwilliam.
Il warn You again. At the first overt
act or seditious speech, l shall not only
dtsperse this crowd by force, but
Sidh liiS WHO 10
responsible for this demonstrate
"The Pretender-hey?" queried the
Macgregor Where have 1 heard that
name before? And what, prithee, has
Charles Edward done in 1nverlachie ?
Is man to suffer for a mothers fancy
at the christening? What warrants ye
to arTes the man."
At the word warrants" Kilby started
and became silent. He saw instantly
the weak point in his attitude. He could
not arrest Charles Edward without
strong grounds. The man had kept
very much to himself. and he was not
among the crowd. He had no direct
grounds for accusing him of being the
inciter of this gathering.
He suddenly remembered, too, that
FttSWtlliam's mission to Inverary had