The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1913-01-10


/ " of the most awe-inspiring sights
of my life. The corpse. wrapped
III a plaid was carried shoulder high by
six Highland giants. Before the pody oI
the dead chief marched fifteen plpers III
solemn step to the slow dlrge tnat
walled and droned through the forest.
Behind came 200 men, VINO wept, not
out of love for the one they buried, but
out of sheer savage joy in their mlser!
OF rage. And when the last space o.
dirt was thrown upon the grave, the
laird's claymore was stuck, point up
ward, at the head-a significant me-
moral and reminder.
Then Aundra, in the absence OF Mas
ter Archibald spoke 20 the Cannphens.
was too far away to distinguish what
he said, but when he had done, the
Highlanders drew their claymores ana
raised them to the roof of trees, whicn
presently trembled to a slogan OF re-
venge With that the pipers broke into
a different tune, and / mind the brave
front they made as they marched back
to the castle, their sporrans waving
rhythmically from side TO side, and their
feet coming to earth in simultaneous
thunder.
All that morning the pipes blared, and
when noon came the tCampbelis OF kllei,
Ian embarked in great, fiat-bottomed
boats. At the bow OF each piper stood,
and there were pipers in the stern OF
every boat. Amldships the grim war
r.oTs crowded, while some manned the
oars, two men to each blade. Also. two
men, standing in each stern, padded a
great steering oar. And so they sailed
away in pursuit of Macdonald OF the
kyles, not like assassins in the dark or
the moon. but in the late autumn sun
shine, with their pibrochs shrieking de-
fence.
No sooner were they gone than 1 saw
Mistress Mary leave the gloomy castle
and take the path through the woods to
the farmhouse. 1 followed her, for 1
had Don Johns ring. Once she turned,
and having seen me, stopped and waited
as il II was myself that She sought.
"Rorie," she said, ITS an Ill wind
that blows no good Don John is safe
untiLthey return, and it may be days
and weeks"
Aye, Mistress Mary" 1 said, and I
held out the ring.
Such a look as came over her face
quite drove from my mind the pretty
message / was TO give with it. / tried
to remember, but all / could say was:
Don John sent it-for you?
She took the ring and, all ablush,
even too slender to fill the circle of Don
Johns little finger.
Thank you. Rorie," she said, .and-
Rorie, Is he well?''
Ma, Mistress Mary" said. He
has been hurt
white. She tried to ask me more. but
she seemed frightened, and she just
whispered in pitiful way: Take me
to him"
But" began, remembering Don
Johns order. Circumstances had
would have been little danger had Don
John paid Mistress Mary a visit at the
castle. i put it all to Mistress Mary and
she agreed with me. So We were pres
emily plodding out of the woods and
across the Long Pasture to the burn.
Now, Don Johns cave was on the
other side. and, whichever way we
went. il would be necessary to cross the
burn. Mistress Mary thought ii would
be best to cross at once, as i'm the
chance of meeting anyone. So down
she sat on rock and took off her
shoes and stockings. Then she told me
TO go first. and she herself tucked up
her plaid skirt and put her bonny white
feet into the stream
When We reached the other side She
would have put her shoes and stock
inSs on again. but l told her that she
would have to wade in the pool AT the
entrance TO the cave. She put on the
shoes without the stockings.
We walked through the quiet woods
to the hollow oak. Before we waded
into the pool Mistress Mary stopped
and looked confused. She glanced at
her bare ankles and then at me. but in
the end she laughed a wee and stepped
into the pool. / suppose she was won
dering what Don John would think:
but when we pushed aside the brambles
and entered the cave he did not see us.
Don John lay asleep, fiat on his back,
with one arm outstretched and the
other folded across his breast. By a
low fire that filled the cave with a
delicate haze Daft Leezie sat. rocking
herself and watching her patient. She
1aF to line
tered. but seemed not at all surprised
at Mistress Mary's sudden appearance.