Year: 1870

which prevented its execution and PLACED


the outlaw in the hands Of his enemies


A person from the crowd entered thc


house, against the wall Of which Macpherson


was nding, by back door, and proceed
ed to on apartment, one of whose windows


was Immediately above aud within a few
feet of him. Opening the window cautious
", this person having previously provided
himself with large heavy Scotch blanket,
threw it, as broadly extended as possible,
over the outlaw, thus binding him and dis
abling him from using his weapon. The
crowd bencata-marking the proceeding,
which Macpherson, from his position, could
watching the moment when the blanket
descended, rushed in upon him, disarmed
and secured him-his friend, Eaeas, who
been early separated from him in the melee,
and who had not attracted during any period
OF the conflict, so much OF the attention of
their common enemies, having contrived,
previous to this, to escape.


On being captured, be was bound, con
veyed to prison, and a strong guard placed
over him. On the following day, an elder
ly woman, dressed in the antique garb of
her country-the Highlands-was seen
walking up and down in front Of the jail in
which Mac herson was confined, and ever
and anon lStirg a look of anxious enquiry
towards the building. A nearer view Of
this person discovered that her eyes were
red with weeping but all her tears had
been alre2 he'd, and the first excess Of
grief bad passed away for both her look
and manner, though still expressive Of deep
sorrow, were grave, staid, and composed
nay, even stern. Occasionally, however,
she might be seen, as she stood gazing on
the prison-house Of the unfortunate outlaw,
rocking to and fro with that slow and silent
motion so expressive Of the intensity of
mental suffering. Occasionally, too, low
murmuring Of heartrcnding anguish might
be heard issuing from her parched lips. But
she held communion with no one, and
seemed needless Of the passers by. At
length she crossed the street, and having
knocked at the massive and well-studded
outer door Of the prisen, inquired if she
might see the principal jailor. He was
brought to her. On bis appearing


+" The deer Of the mountain" said his
strange visitor, is II the tolls of the hunt
er Oh black and dismal day that that
proud and gallant spirit that was wont to
roam SO wild and so free should be cooped
up within the four stone walls Of n loath-
some dungeon-that those swift and man.
- .i,,,1l L. f,tt,-.1 81
and that the sword should be denied to
that strong arm which was once so ready
to defend the defenceless y


What mean ye, honest woman p said
the jailor, who was a good deal puzzled to
discover a meaning in this address


" What mean ~ exclaimed bis vis-
tor, sternly. I" Do not | mean that the
brave is the captive Of the coward-that
the strong has fallen before the weak
that the daring and fearless has been cir
cumvented by the timid and the cunning
Do not | mean this ?-and is it not true
Is not James Macpherson a prisoner with
in these walls, and are not you his keep
er y


It is So" replied the astonished func-
tionary.


" | know it, said bis visitor Then
will you convey this to him y she said,
bringing out violin from beneath her
plaid.


The jaiIor looked in amascment, first at
the woman, and then at the instrument.


What y he at length said, take a
fiddle to a man who is going to be hanged :
That is ridiculous"


"Oh. if it be bis wish, he shall surely
have it, said the jailor; " but it is the
oldest wish ever heard"


" You ,ciU convey it to him, then q re-
piled the stranger, with the same senten-
tious brcvity as before


g | will, " was the rejoinder.


The woman curtsied and withdrew in the
same cold, stern, and formal manner she
had maintained throughout the interview.
On her departure, the jailor proceeded to
Macpherson's dungeon with the extraordi-
nary commission with which be had
been charged. The latter, on seeing the
we'll known instrument. snatched it eagerly
and delightedly from its bearer exclaiming,
\" Welcome, welcome thou dear companion
Of better days! thou solacer Of many hea-
Wy care thou delight of many a happy
hour Faithful Eneas y And with the
wild, strange, and romantic recklessness Of
his nature, be Immediately began to play in
the sweetest tones imaginable-tenes which
seemed to have acquired additional pathos
from the circumstances Of the performer
some Of the melancholy airs Of his native
land and from that hour till the hour Of the
mlnstreps doom, these strains were almost
constantly heard pouring through the small
grated window of bis dungeon. But they
we're soon to cease for ever Macpherson
was, in a few days afterwards, brought to
trial, and condemned to be banged at the
cross of Banff


On the day on which be suffered the
last penalty of the law, he requested the
jailo- to send some one with his violin to
him to the place of execution. The request
was complied with The instrument was
put into bis hands as be stood at the foot Of
the gallows, when be played over the me-
lancholy air known by the name Of "Mac-
pherson's Lament" It had been composed
BY himself while in prison. On concluding
the pathetic strain, be grasped bis violin by
the neck, dashed it TO pieces against the
gallOWs, and flung the fragments into the
grave prepared for himself at the foot Of the
gibbet. In few minutes after, that grave
was occupied by all that remained of Mac
pherson the Freebooter.


We have now, we conceive, to crafty the
readers curiosity on one point only-aud
this Is accomplished by adverting to El-
len Martin. The unhappy girl ultimately
ascertained, though not until long after bis
execution, who her my sterious lover was
but neither the history Of her attachment to
him, nor her intimacy with him, was ever
known to any one besides his friend Eueas
for to none other had be ever named her
This, indeed, from motives of delicacy