THE OM.AITA DAILT BEE : SUNDAY , JUNE 2 , 1895.
CHAPTER xvin.
TUB SANQUH'S DECLARATION.
I think It was during the week I lay thus
In the burn at the Uuohrac , often with
Richard Cameron or Ills young brother
Aflcl.aol at my back In the nulet of the corn
mew , that first I got within me the true
iplrlt of the covenant. I heard all the sins
nd the sins of Scotland redd * up and made
plain ; for In the night watches Cameron
Mid his brother had great communlngs to
gether. Richard was all for bolns done
with the authority of llio king , and making
but one cast of It. Michael thought that the
time was not ripe nor the men ready.
Now these two youths were they who
chiefly set Scotland In a lowe at thla time ,
when Laudcrdalo had nearly trampled out
the red clndera of the flre of the Presbytery.
It was strange to think that he who should
blow them aialn Into a flame had once been
but Prelatlst. and that from the wlckod
shire of Klfe , When ono cast it up to him ,
lllchard Cameron said :
"Ayo , It humbles us all to remember the
pit from which wo were dragged ! "
Then one night In the barn we gave In very
BOlemnly our adhesions to the disowning of
Charlca Stuart and his brother James all
save my cousin Wet , who said :
"I canna bide to cast off the blood of Druce.
I had rather kiss Argyll's maiden. "
And with that , early In the morning ho
left us , which was a grief to me , for ho and
I had been brothers In peril during many
months. Whither ho went I knew not then ,
but It thall bo related In Its proper place ,
and all that befell him In his lonely wander
ing * after he parted from me.
"We must not do thl ? thing lightly or
gladly , " Mild Richard1 Cameron to u that
nboilo with him In the turn.Ve have laid
our account * with the worst that the govern
mcnt may do to us. Wo count not our lives
dear to uo. We see plainly that naught Is
to be gained save by defiance any more. The
Indulgence Is but a dish of sowens with a
muirlo thereafter to make us forever dumb
dogs that will not bark. Who shall hinderer
or hlnino If we choci'e to Iny down our lives
In the high places of the field that the old
faith bo not forgotten , neither the old cove
nant engagements to our Lord Christ forever
abrogated ? "
Yet I think there was not ono of us that
was not heart-sorry to break with the House
of Stuart , for , after all , wo were In Scotland ,
nnd had vlood for the Scots house aiU the
Scots king against Cromwell and * thu sup-
plantcrs. At any rate , let It not be said of
us that wo did thU thing lightly , but rather
with heavy ho&rlo that the Ulng had been
BO far left to hlmielf as to forswear am
abandon the solemn engagements which ho
had tin lorlakcn.
So It came to pass In the middays of th
year that ono afternoon wo rods nwo ;
through the lonely hills by Mlnnyhlvo , an
turned north up the fair valley of the water
of Nlth. Here and there we gathered ono
to whom the word had been passed , finding
thorn waiting for us nt some loaning too
or at the mouth of some clen. Llttlo we
said when a friend Joined us ; for our work
via sad nnd solemn , and to bo done once
and for all. Wo rode as it wcro under the
shadow of the. scaffold. Vet I think we
thought not so much of ourselves as of the
women folk that abode nt homo. I know
tha't I reared for my mother , who was now
llko to loao her two sons as she bad afore
time lost her husband , and sometime *
thought of the l.tss Malslc Lennox , and wha
she would do wanting her father.
I3ut this I put from mo , for , after all
Covenanting was man's business , and a
lllchard Cameron said :
"They that are trystcd to the Master'
work must talglo themselves with no othiv
marriage engagements ! "
At the Mcnlck foot , where that long pas
begins , there met us ton men of the uppe
word , all deuce and stalwart men , armci
nnd horsed as well as any of our men out o
Galloway. I w.is the youngest of them al
there , and IndeoJ the only ono that was no
a mighty man of his arms. There wa
some talk of leaving mo at Duchrao to keo ;
the place which I knew to bo bnt an ex
cuso. nut one Jame * Gray of Chryston ,
laird's son nnd a strong man , cried out
"Let the lad come , for his brother ( Sandy'
sake ! "
A saying which nettled mo , nnd I re
piled Inttontly :
"Let any man stand out against > n
with the pistol and small sword and I wl'
show him cause why I should conio to
mlno own ! "
At this Cameron rebuked me :
"Ah , William , I BCO well that thou has
the old Adam In theo yet. Was there cvo
a Gordon that would not go ram-stam a
the boar , whatpvcr his religion ? "
And I who knew that I had spoken as
carnal man wus somewhat shamed , Ye
was I glad also that no man took my cha
k.f
A HEAD AT EVEHY WINDOW.
> .
lengo , tor Indeed I had small skill ot the
word , and with the shearing ( word , cspo-
clally , my blows were as rat-tall licks to
the dead btrlkea ot Hlchard Cameron , or
even my brother Sandy. Uut nevertheless
only to xay the thing did mo good like
medicine.
So Into the town of Sanquhar we rode two
* nd two , \ory Blow and quiet , for Cameroi
had forbade us to rlJo with a tight reli
* nd the horses clmrnplng , as Indfcd .
longed to do for prldo.
"For tloa do the king's troopers when
they enter a town to taka tb eye * of tbe
unthinking. Hut contrariwise wo are to
come to do a deed In Scotland that shal
not bo forgotten whlla Kith water runs
nnd to tU a band which shall not be broken
though. We oursahea nbtll fall and th *
Bpfledily that know w well but th *
which wn do thla day Khali ono tay ! brlnK
th * tyrant'i downfall ! "
And 10 , Indeed , It proved to be.
Banquhar In ever a itlll place , at though
tber * were no other < 3 y thare bat Ui * Sab
Cleared up.
bath only. Also the Inhabitants are deuce
and grave and so remain to thla day buyw
Ing and selling , eating nnd drinking , ns
though they were alone on Godls universe ,
But that ( 'ay an wo came riding on up the
street there was a head at every window
and I heard the wives cry :
"Tho hill folk have risen and come riding
Into Sanquharl"
And this pleased mo In the heart , though
I know well I should have haJ my mini set
on other matters.
At the crow wo formed up , setting our
hort-os ten on olther sldo and Richard Cam
eron In the midst , dismounted and standing
on the steps of the cress. Wo sat still and
ulot , all being bareheaded. Tor show I had
ilucked my brand out of Its scabbard. But
Cameron sternly bade me put It back again ,
nil gave ijits his ho o to hold Instead.
Which grieved nnd Phamcd mo at the time
adly enough , though now I am both proud
and glad of It.
The tlmo for drawn steel Is yet to como ,
Vllllam. Be sure that thou art then ns
ready as now , " he said.
Then wo sang our psalm of Covenant koop-
nfj , and the hills gave It back to us. though
.he angels were echoing the singing of It
softly In hcavtn along with us. After that
Jamcron flood up very strlght , and on his
ftco , which was as the face of a lion , there
tai a great tenderness , albeit of the sterner
iort.
iort.The
The townsfolk stood about , but not too
lear. being careful anJ cautious lest they
should be called In question for compliance
with the deed , and the strange work done
by us that day ; for the king's ibcoopnct gath
ered wide. Alw the Innocent were often
called to Judgment , especially If they had
something to ioso in goods or gear , as was
the case with many of the well-doing burgh
ers of Sanquhar.
"This dny , " crlod Cameron , solemnly , after
ho had prayed , "do wo como to this town
of Sanquhar to cost off our allegiance to
Charles Stuart and his brother James. Not
hastily , neither to make ourselves to be
spoken about , but with solemnity ns men
that enter well knowing Into the antecham
ber of death. And wo desired our own
lives , wo should receive tests and Indul
gences thankfully , nnd go alt In our kennels
llko donco tykes that are ready to run at
the whlstlo.
But for all that , we arc loyal men and
no rebels , though today we cast oft Charles
Stuart aye , and will do our best to make
nn end of his rule , BO that he shall no more
reign over tills' realm. This wo shall do ,
not by private assassination , which we abhor
her and abominate , but by levying open war.
Yet wo are loyal to any covenanted king
aye , nnd had Charles Stuart kept his en-
gagementB , plighted and sworn , thuro Is no
man here that would not right gladly have
laid down his llfo for him.
"All 3e 4hat stand by , hear the word of
Richard Cameron ! There are these behind
me , who heard with tholr ears the oath that
tha klng.sws.roiat Perth , when before the
solemn convocation ho spako these words :
'I , Charles. King of Great Brltalnand Ire
land , do assure and declare by my solemn
oath In ( the Yiresenco of Almighty God , the
Searcher''oT ' th"e hearts , my allowance and
approbation of the national covenant nnd
of the solemn league and covenant above
written , and faithfully oblige myself to pros
ecute the ends thereof In my station and
calling. '
"Tho king , " cried Cameron , "who swaro
those oaths hath cast us off. We have not
cast oft the Iring ! There Is ono waiting In
the low countries whence I came and lookIng -
Ing toward the hills of Scotland , to see II
there be any faithful. Shall the fortress be
utterly broken down , with none to build
her up ? Are there no watchmen to tell the
towers thereof none to cry from rampart
to rampart. 'What of the night ? ' Ay. there
be at the least twenty men here that have
not bowed the knco to Baal , This day wo
como to lay down our lives , as happily as
children that have spent tlclr ) play day In
the fields , and , being tired , lay them down to
sleep. But ere we go , because the time
cannot be long , wo come to give the banner
of the Lord once more to the winds the
banner of that other kingdom In Scotland
that Is Christ's. Behold ! "
And with that ho lifted up the banner
staff which ho held In his hand , and there
floated oot upon the pqual blowing wind
the blue banner of Christ's covenant. And
as the golden scroll of It took the air there
came that Into the hearts of most of ns , that
which filled them to the overflow. The tears
ran down and fell upon our horses' necks.
"For Christ's crown and covenant , " ran the
legend , Then we gathered ourselves closer
about the battle flag , for which wo had
como out to die. An ono man wo drew our
awards , nor did Cameron now gainsay us ,
and lifting them high up , till the sun glinted
bonnlty upon them , wo sang our solemn
banding song. I never felt my heart so
high or heaven so near , not oven at the
great field preaching by the water of Dee ,
when 1 aat by the aide of Malale Lennox.
Even thus we sang1
God la our rcfugo and our strength ,
In strnlts n present aid ;
Therefflreuplthousli the earth remove ,
We will not bo afraid.
Then wo' rode out , for once gallantly
enough , having solemnly sst ourselves to face
the king In open field that were but twenty
men against three kingdoms. Well we knew
that wo should be put down , but we knew
also that so lone as there were men In Scot
land to do aa we had dona that day , the
cause and the flag would never be wholly put
down.
So the deuce Uurghers of Sanquhar watched
u ride away , our swords gleaming naked be
cause we had apptaled to the aword , and
were prepared to perish by the sword , as the
word Is , Also , our blue banner of the Cove
nant waved bravely over our heads In token
of our dependence on Jehovah , the God ot
battles.
And as we rode It was I , William Gordon
of EarUtoun , who carried the banner ataff ,
for Richard Cameron had given It Into my
hands. So I had not lived In rain , and Sandy
would never again bid me sow bairn clouts
and bide at homo among the women. I
wished my father had been alive to see me.
CHAPTER XIX.
THE LAST CHARGE AT AYRSMOSS.
The morning of the 2d ot July dawned
solemnly clear. U promlaed to be a day
ot hent , for the haze lay long In the hol
low * , hesitating to disappear , and there was
the brooding of thunder In the air. i We
that wcro of Cameron's 1'ltlo company found
ourselves In , , wild place on the moors.
Most of our Galloway men bad betaken
themselves home , and they that had como
out ot LanarVahlro.'ttniJ ' Ayr were the greater
part of the scanty company. The name
of the place where we sojourned was Ajrrs-
moss. We had Iain sleepless and anxious
all night , with watchers posted among tbe
mosshaBS. Richard Cameron spoke ofteq
to ns , nod told us that the matter bad come
to the narrow and bitter pass.
"It la the day ot the Lord's anger , " ho
said , "and It la expedient that some men
dta tor tha people ! "
Wo told him that wo were ready and that
from the beginning via had counted on noth
ing else. Hut I felt within me desperately
Ill-prepared ; ret , tor the sake of the. banner
I carried. I raid nothing.
It was about 10 of the day , anil because
vre heard not from our folk who had been
posted to give warning , vre cent oat other
two to find thoui. Then , having uke-n a
mesl ol meat' 'for Ui * trailer lUitaJOlar of
our bodies , we lay down to sleep for an
hour on a pleasant green place which Is all
surrounded by morasses , for we had gotten
no rest the night before.
Now , I think wo wcro all fey at this time ,
for wo laid us down on the edge of the moss
In a place that la open to all. And this
when we might have withdrawn ourselves
deep Into the bog , and so darned ourselves
among the "quahklng quaii , " tbe dangerous
and Impassable floxvcs , so that no dragoons
In the world could have como at us. Dut
this wo did not , for the word and doom
were written. U was our enemies' day.
Aa Cameron nald that mornlnff as we passed
the house of William Mitchell Jn Meadow-
head , and when they brought htm out a basin
and water to wash hla hands , also a towel
wherewith to dry them *
"This Is their last washing. My head and
hands are now cleaned for the offering ! "
So we laid us down among a great swirlIng -
Ing of whaups and crying of peesweeps.'for
the season of their nesting was hardly over ,
and all the moorland was astir with their
plaintive notes.
After a long tlmo I awoke , dreaming that
Malslo Lennox steed by my 'bedside ' and
took my hand , raying , ' /The kyo nro
In the corn ! " I sat up , and , lo' ' there within
half a mile , and beating the moor In search
of us , were two great companies of dragoons
of the number of about 120 , aa near as at
a glance I could reckon. My heart gave a
stoiind , and I said to myself. "This Is surely
thy death-day. William Gordon ! " And the
word Bounded strangely In my heart , for I
J had begun to think my llfo worth living In
these latter doya , and was none BO keen
upon the dying as were some other of our
company.
But I awakened Cameron and his brother
Michael , and also David Hackstoun of Rath I-
Ict , that was a soldier most stern , but a Just
man according to hla lights. And they
sat np and saw the soldiers sweeping the
moor. Uut , ns I cay , -no were all toy.
for even then It was within our power to
have escaped the violence of the men of
war. Very easily could we have left our
horses and betaken us Into the deepest
parts of the bottomless , shaking bogs , where
no man could have followed us. But the
thought came not to us : at the time , forGed
God had so ordered It that Scotland was best
to be served that day by the death of many
of His servants.
There were In our company twenty-thrco
that had horses and forty that had none.
But wo were all armed In some sort of
fa&hlon.
Now , this lllchard Cameron had In him
both the heart of a fighter and the fear-
Ussr.eas of a man assured of his Interest.
Ho cried out to Inquire of us If we were
flrmly set In our minds to fight , and with
one volco we answered "Aye ! " We were of
one heart and one mind. Our company
and converse had been sweet In the darkness ,
and now we were set to dlo together In the
noorday as men that have made them ready.
So In that sullen morning , with the birds
crying and the mist drawing down Into
thunder clouds , wo rose to make our last
stand. I had given up all thought of escape ,
and was putting in hard sleeks nt the pray
ing , for the Bins that were on my soul were
many , and I had , too , recently taken to
that way of thinking to have the absuranco
of my elders.
Now , the soldiers that came against us
wore the finest companies of Alrly's and
Strachan's dragoons gallant lads all newly
brought to that countryside and not Inured
to the cruel riding and ( shotting as other
companies wore. I have not a word to say
against the way they fought , though as
their duty was they came against us with
haste and fury. Our quarrel was not with
them , but with their master.
They rode gallantly this way and that
through the morasses , and came on bravely.
Bruce of Earshall wan over them , but John
Crichton was their best fighter. A stark
and cmel man ho was , that would have
hunted us all down If he could. Ho fought
that day with his blade swinging , damning
and cursing between every blow. Hut ,
Mr all , ho was sick nnd sorry ere he left
this field. Tor If over man did , ho met
his match-when he crossed swords with the
Lion of the Covenant. It was Rathlllet who
chose the place of strength for us to make
our stand , and as It seemed and mostly
proved , take our deaths upon. There was
llttlo ttrao for the word nnd prayer. But ,
as was our custom , wo Hans ; a cheerful
psalm , and lifted up our bonnets whllo Cam
eron prayed.
"Lord , spare the greeVi , and take the
ripe ! " That was the whole matter of this
supplication. "Wo may never bo In better
cafe to die. I sec the gates of heaven cast
wide open to receive us. "
And I noted that all the time ot our sing
ing David Hackstoun of Hathlllet waa look
ing to the priming of his pistols , and drawIng -
Ing the edge of his sword blade along the
back of his hand , as one who tries a razor
ere he sets It to his chin. Then the com
panies of the enemy halted on the edge ot
the mots where the ground was yet firm.
They seemed not disinclined for a parley.
"no you own the king's authority ? " cried
one among them. It was Bruce of Earl-
shall , a bulrdly" chiel and not one greatly
cruel ; but rather like Monmouth , anxious to
let the poor remnant have its due.
"Aye ! " cried Cameron. "We own the
king's authority. "
"Wherefore , then , stand ye there In arms
against hU forces ? ' cams the answer back.
"Yield , and ye shall have quarter and fair
ccr.duct In Edlnburg1"
Tbe man spako none so evlly for a per
secutor , and In my heart I liked him.
"I thank you. Captain Bruce , for your fair
speech , " cried Cameron , "but I wet well yon
mean fair passage to the Grassmarket. The
king we own Is not King Charles Stuart , and
It Ilketh us to go to our king's court through
the crash ot battle rather than through the
hank of the hangman's rope. "
"This preacher's no man of straw fight he
will , " I heard them say ono to the other , for
they were near to us , even at the foot of the
opposite hill.
Then our horsemen , of whom I was one.
closed In order without further word , and
our foot drew out , over the moss in readiness
to fire.
David Hackstoun was with us on our1 left ,
and Captain Fouler on the right. But
Richard Cameron was always a llttlo alieacl
ot us all. with his brother Michael with him
on one side , and I , riding my Gallpway nag ,
close upon hla right flank which waa an
honorable pcot for ono so young aa I , and
served withal to keep my spirits up.
Just before he gave the word to charge he
cried out to us , pointing with his sword
"Yonder Is the way to the good soldier's
crown ! "
The day had been clouding over , tbe heat
growing almost Intolerable. It was now
about 2 In tbo afternoon. It was easy to
see , had we had the eyes to observe It , that
a thunder storm was brewing , and even as
Richard Cameron stretched out his sword
over hla horse's head and cried on to us to
charge In the name of the Lord , the first
levin-bolt shot down glittering Into the
moor like a forked silver arrow , and over
our head the whole firmament ralretl and
crashed ,
"Tho captain of our salvation calls for
us ! " cried Cameron. "Who follovrs after
when the Son of God rides forth to war ? "
So with that we lowered our sword points
and drave at them. I think I must have
ridden with my eyes shut down that little
green knowe with the short grass under
foot. I know that even as we rode the
thunder began to roar about us , girding us
In a continuous ring of llghtnjng flashes.
Yet at the time I seemed to lido through
a world of empty allencet'.even when I
atruck tha red broil of battle. I could see
Cameron crying out anil waving his sword
before ua as our horses .feathered way , but
I remember no more till the shock came
and wo found ourselves threshing headlong
among them. I fired my pistols right and
left , and .set them In my belt again , though
the habit was to throw them away. I had
my sword dangling by a llngel or tag at
my right wrist , for I had learned from Wat
Gordon how to fight upon horseback when It
came to the charge. The first man that I
came against was a great dragoon on a gray
horse. He shouted an oath of contempt ,
seeing me so slender and pnny. Yet tor all
bli bulk I bad him on tbe wrong side , ao
that he could not use bla aword arm with
advantage. And aa I passed on my atout
little nag I got my sword well home under
hla armpit and tumbled him off In tbe mire.
The stcntrifs * of oar charge took the enemy
entirely by surprise. Indeed.atterward they
Cave ns all the testimony of being brave , resolute
elute men ; and , Uk soldtera and gentlemen aa
they were , they used them that wera taken
very civilly. I could aea Cameron before me ,
smiling and allying , allying and smiting , ris
ing In hla stirrup at every blow and calling
on hU men. It was a wild , flero * time , all
Sturdy ,
toe short , a happy tunrtoll of blows wherein
I drank < for the first time the heady delight
ofgr battle. AH over the wild moss ot Ayr that
great day the swords flickered llko lightning
( lashes. Oh. how many quiet times would I
not give for such another wager of bitlle.
Overhead i all the universe roared as wo
fought ! , but I had no thought save of the n ed
to keep the point np , thrusting , parrying ,
and striking as God gave me ? ability.
. Right In the midst oft th press there came
two at mo from opposite sides , and I saw
very well that , If I got no help , there was no
more of life fpr me. "Richard ! " 1 cried , and
the shout must have gone to our leader's
car _ , though I iny.'i-lf could not hear It , so
great waa clangor nnd the din ,
Cameron was smiting with the strength of
ten Immediately In my front. In a moment
moro he cleareilalitt point , pierced his man ,
and turned. Tiio man on my left swerved
hla her o out of-Ms-war , for he came with a
surge ; but the' ' lotlwr , whom I took to be
Crichton , met.dilm fair , blade to Wade.
The III at clash of ( he swords were mighty.
These two lowering black men met nnd knew
each other as theyt looked ono another In
t'no . .
eyea. -n ,
But I could SPO that Cameron was ever the
stronger and swltttr , though Crichton had
somewhat the rh'brA'kklll , Crichton tried to
pass him a little , that he might get arm play
for his famous1 badU strokes , wlierewlCii he
was renouned tfVMmre' cut off a man's head
at a blow ; but Cameron measured his gturd
and the blow whetted harmless past his
ear. Then camp the return. The preacher's
sword streaked put straight and level , and
for a moment seemed to stand full mid-blade
In the dragoon's side.
The next moment iwe found ourselves out
side the first line. We had broken our way
through , nnd the enemy were In confusion
behind us. I saw many single combats go
Ing forward , and In especial a most noble
light between David Hackstoun of Rathlltet
and ono of his own acquaintances , by name
David Ramsay , a gentleman of his country
As they fought I could hear Hackstoun
whom nothing could daunt or disturb , ask-
liead high In the air casting U from him
Into the aky , till It seemed to enter Into
tha dark , cloud trhero the thunder brooded
and the smoke ot powder hung.
"God of battles , receive my sinful soult" ho
cried.
And with that ho Joined his hands like a
man that dlvea for swimming ; and , unwounded -
wounded , unhurt , dgfencelesR , Richard Cam
eron sprang upon a hundred sword points.
Thus dle < l tha bravest man In broad Scot
land , whom men callrd , and called well , the
Lion of the Covenant ,
And , even as lip passed , the heavens
cptned , and the whole flrmancnt seemed but
one g roil lightning Hash , to that all stcod
aghast at the marvellous brlghtncsj , which
occasioned the saying Ihnt OoJ sent a chariot
of flre with hones ot whiteness to bring
' .uino to Him the soul of Richard Cameron.
Whereof some men bear testimony that they
saw ; but Indeed I saw nothing buta won-
dtous lightning flash over the whole heaven.
Then , a moment after , the thunder crashed ,
like thoi breaking up of the world , and there
was an end.
CHAPTER XX.
WITH THE HEATHER-CAT
As for me , when I had seen tills , thinking It
to be enough , I put spurs to my little Gal
loway , and wo were soon at speed over the
moss-hags , My boast was well acquainted
with moss running , for It had not carried me
so often over the moor to Lochlnvar for
nothing. J heard tempestuous crying , as
of men that pursued , and behind me the roar
of battle sank Into silence. Once I glanced
behind and saw many footmen running and
horsemen rising and falling In tholr sad
dles. But. all being last , I left the Held of
Ayrsmoss bihlnd me as fast as I might , and
set my horse's head over the roughest and
boggiest country , keeping toward Dalmelltng-
ton , for the wilderness was now to be my
home. For the time I had had enough of
ubelllon under arms , I wait not unfaith
ful to the cause , nor did I regret what I
had done. But I judged that , for some tlmo
THE UNIVERSE ROARED AS WE FOUGHT.
Ing Ramsay all the news of the country
side , and how such a one did , what wlfo
had gotten Another child , and whether It
were a lad or a lass. 'Which Is a thing I
should never have believed If any man had
told mo ; and when I set It down hero I ex
pect not to be believed of any , save by
these who have been lii the thick of a civil
war themselves. Dut all that know David
Hackstoun of Rathlllet will bellovo that
tbls thing Is true of him.
So ho fought , clashing swords and talking
at Ills cato , without change of countenance ,
till he waa stricken down with throe coming
on him at once from btlilnd.
Then , seeing car horsemen scattered. Cameron -
oren cried them to him , and we galloped
toward their second line that came riding un
broken toward us. Now , It was our mltfor-
tuiio that the dragoons wcro stark fellows
and had seen service , so that they gave not
back as othera might have done , aeolng us
coma on o determinedly. Rather lliey re
served their flre till we were almost at the
sword's length. Then they fired , nnd I saw
our men falling over In twos and threes.
Dut Richard Cameron still rode steadily , with
Michael and myself behind him. His horse
had been once white , but now was mostly
dripping red a fearful sight to see. I heard
afterward from old soldiers that had been In
the flgtits of the ancient days , that no such
terrifying Hsure had they ever seen In the
wars since Nell led on the Ironsides at Mar-
ston Moor.
But Cameron's case was far more des
perate than had ever been that of Oliver.
"Smite ! Smite ! " he cried ; "tha sword of
the Lord and of. Gideon. "
Over all the field there was only tbo
whinnying of swords'as they whistled through
the aJr and at the edges the dropping rattle
of the musketry. As we touched their
iiecond line wp seemed to ride upon a breast-
high wavs of flame , which might have been
Earlshall'a flashing muskets or God's own
level lightnings. I rode as I could behind
Cameron , striking when I had opportunity
and warding as I had need. Dut , though
I was hero In the forefront of the battle , I
was In the safest plapo ; for Richard Cameron
ploughed a lane through their company , send
ing them < o right and left before him as the
foam U ploughed by a awlft vesiel.
But our desperate rldera were now wearing
few. I locked behind us , and only two oemed
to bo In the saddle , James Gray of Chryston
and Michael Cameron , who had promised to
ding the Btoor that day out of his majesty's
red clouts. I could see Chryston striking ,
and grunting as he struck , exactly like a man
bagging hard wood with a blunt axe.
So I found1 myself out at the side of the
fltftit ; but , just as I thought myself clear ,
there came a blow on my steel cap that
nearly dang me out of the saddle , and I
drew out further again. Cameron had also
won clear ; but seeing hu brother Michael
hard beset he turned rein and drave In among
the smother again/raging like the lion he
was. How his horse kept bis feet on the
moil I know not. fir Cameron aeernetl to be
standing up In bis atirrups constantly , leanIng -
Ing forward to give'his blade more play. So
he rode Into tha ) midst of them till he was
brought to a stand In what icemed a ring of
foes. Even thera I could see his arm rise
and fall as steadily as a man that flalli corn
In a , barn. And wherever he struck there was
a gap , { or there n/man went down. But more
and more gathered about , threshing at him
with their swords , "pome on borsa and some
on foot llko boys'klntnff waips at tti * taking
of a byke.
Than when Tllctiatd Cameron saw that he
tould do no more ; rfrtd that all tbe men were
down that had followed him , hla brother
Ulcha l also dying at hi * feet , ha swept bis
iword about bio to clear a space for a
moment , Thin be iwung the brand 'over hl
to come , It were better for me not to see
company , for I had no pleature In It.
Now , In further tetlng my tale I must put
together all the Incidents of my fleeting to
the heathen , for that being a thing at the
time rery frequently resorted to , It became
at last a word In Ccotland that "to take to
he hcaher was o be In ho way of getting
grace. "
Now , when I sped away to the southeast
from Ayrsmoss , the folk I loved were all
killed and I had no hope or hold ot any
present resistance to the king. But my
Galloway sheltle , being nimble on it feet ,
took me braTely over the moss-hags , carrying
mo lightly and willingly as If I had been hare
coursing on the green helms of the Ken.
As I fled I kept glancing behind me and
seeing the soldiers In red clothes and Mashing
arms still pursuing after. I raw also our
foot ( fhat had stood off when wo charged ,
and only fired as they saw need , scatter
ing through the moss ) and the enemy riding
about the borders wherever their hordes could
go , firing at them. Yet I think that not
many ot them were hurt In the pursuit ,
for the moss at that place waa very boss and
full of bottomless bogs Illco that from which
Patrlc Lalng drew t'jnt redoubtable persecu
tor , Captain Crichton. Tlil Incident , In
deed , bred In the breasts of the dragoons a
wholesome fear of the soft hoggish placM ,
which made greatly In many Instances for
the preservation of the wanderers , and In
especial favored mo In my present enter
prise.
In a llttlo after two of the four dragoons
that followed mo , seeing a man running llko
to burst through the mesa , turned aside and
spured their horse * after him , leaving but
two to follow me.
Yet after fhla I waa harder put to It than
ever , for the sun was excedtngly hot above
and the moss as difficult beneath. But I
kept to Itthinking that , after all , by compari
son , I waa In none such an evil case. For
though my head ached with the steel cap
upon It and my horeo sweated , yet It must
have been much more doleful for the heavy
beasti and completely accoutred dragoons toll
ing In the rear. So over the broken places of
the moor I went faster than they , though on
the level turf they would doubtless scon have
ridden me down. But , after all , they were
but riding to kill ono whig the more , while I
to save rny neck which made n mighty dif
ference In , the earnestness of our Intents
on that day 'of swltherlng lieat.
Many a time It came to me to cast myself
from my beast and run to the side , trusting
to finding a , moss-hag whsre I might lie
hidden up to my neck among tbe water with
my head among the rushes. I saw many
good and safe places Indeed , but I remem
bered ( hat my iheUfo would be an adver
tisement to the pursuers , so 1 held on my
way. Besides , Donald had been a good friend
to me , and was the only one of our company
that tiad ever been on the bonny helms of
EarUtoun. So that I waa kindly affectloncd
to the beast , and kept htm to hli work
though tbe country wag very moorish and
tlio sun hot on my head ,
Once I was nearly taken. For aa I.rent ,
not knowing the way , I came to a morats
wbero In the midst there waa a secure
place , aa U seemed to me. I put Donald at
It , and when , I reached the knoll to , It was
only some nine or ten yards iquara Hie
bottomless swelter of ahaklng bogs girding
It ou all sides. Donald went to the girths at
the first stride on the othar fide , xo that
thera was nothing for It but to dismount and
pull him out.
Then up came the dragoons , rldlne heavily
and cursing the sun and me. They rods
round skirting the moan , for seeing tha evil
case I was In , they dared not como nearer
for fear of the same or worse. They kept
wldo about me , crying , "Como out , dog , and
bo shot I"
Which , being but poor encouragement , I
was In no wise eager to obey their summons.
But by holding on to the heather ot the
iilos by the kind providence of God , It was
very long and tough I managed to get
Donald out ct his peril. Ho was a biddable
enough brast , and , being a llttlo deaf , ho
< now not fear. For reestlng and terror
among ' horse ) Is mostly but over-"iarpness
'n hearing , and an Imagination that they
were better without. But Donald had no
Rood hearing and no bad foreboding * . 80
when I pulled him among the long hcath-r
and put his head dawn , he lay llko a scent
log. cowered nlons by the side of the mrns-
hags. Then the pair by the ettRe of the
morass begin to shoot at IMP. for the dlstanc"
was within the reach of n pistol ball. The
first bullet that came clipped so clojo to my
left ear that It took nwny a lock of my hair ,
which , contrary to my custom , had now
grown longtsh.
All this time they C'ased not for a moment
to cry , "Como out , dog , and be shot ! " They
wcro ill.mannered , ramping ( owns with few
Ideas , and I desired no comings and goings
nlth them. So In no long time I tired of
LliU , and also of lying still to b ? shot at.
[ bethought ma that I might show them n
better of It and afford some sport. S3 very
carefully I charged both my pistols , and the
next time they came near , riding the bog
edge to fire at me , I took careful aim nnd
shot at the first of "them. The ball wont
through the calf of his leg , which caused him
to light off the far side of his horse with a
great roar.
You have killed me ! " h cried over tome
mo complalningly , as If ho had been a good
friend como to pay mo n visit , to whom 1
hod tlono a treachery. He then cursed me
very resentfully , because , forsooth , as he said ,
he was about to bo made a sergeant In the
company , and. what with lying up with his
wounded leg , some other ( whom he mentioned )
would get the post by favor ot the captain.
"Sea what you have done , " said ho , hold-
In ; ; up his leg.
But I took aim with the other pistol and
sent a ball singing over his head , very * close.
"Trip It. my bonny lad , " I cried , "or there
will be a hole of th ? same size In your thick
head , which will bo as good aa a cornet's
commission to yon li ) J he place to which
It will send you ! "
Then I charged my plstoli ngnln and or
dered them away. The trooper's companion
made bold to leave his horse and come
toward me , crawling upon the moss. But I
trained my pistols si > stralghtly upon him
that ho was convinced that I must bo a
marksman by trade , and so desisted from tlm
attempt.
All this made me proud past reasoning ,
and I mounted In their sight , nnd made n
work of fastening my accoutrements and
tlf/iiter.lng / Donald's girths.
"So good day to you ! " I cried to them ,
"and'glvo my coinpllmqnta to your captain ,
and tell him from mo that he hath a couple
of varlets In his company very careful of
their sklnx In this world which Is , maybe ,
as well seeing that In the nret tlicy are se
cure of getting them well paid. "
Now this was fald with the word of a silly
boy , and I was sorry for taunting the men
before ever I rede away. But I set It down
H.S It happened , that all may come In Its
due place , nothing In tliU history being
either altcreJ or oxtenuited.
So all that night I fled , and the next day
also , till I came Into my own country of
the nienklns , where , near Carsphalrn , I lef (
Donald with a decent man that would keep
him safe for my mother's sake. For the
little beast was tiled , having come bo far
and ridden so hard. Yet , when I left him
out In the grass park , there was not so
much as the mark of a spur upon Mm , so
willingly had he come over all the leagues
of heather lands.
While life lasts shall I not forget Donald.
My father used often to tell us what Max
well of Monrelth said when he lit off his gray
horse at the stable dogr > and turned him out
after riding him lionie from Rulllon Grcsn :
"Thou hast done thyday's work , Pcntland.
There is a park for thee to fill thy belly Infer
for the rest of thy days. No leg shall ever
cross thy back again ! "
So when I came to my own In the better
days I made It my care that Donnld was not
forgotten ; and all his \abort \ In the future ,
till death laid him low.'wai no more than a
gpntle exercise to keep him from overeating
himself on the menilay lands of txfton.
After the great day 6f'dule ' , when Cameron
was put down nt Ayrsnioss. and I escaped In
the manner I have told of ; I made my way
by the little ferry port pf Creo. which Is
a sweet and still little t6'wi ] , to Mayport , on
the other side of the Sohlay , and thence In
another ship for the Low Countries.
When we came within sight of the land
we found that It uaa dismally gray , weari
some looking , and flat , The shlpmen called
It the Hook cf Holland. But this was not
thought right for the rort of our destination ,
so we put to frca again , * where we were too
much tossed about tb\r \ the comfort of my
stomach. Indeed , every one on board the
ship felt the Inconvenience , and two exceed
ingly pious women Informed mo that It
Interfered with their religious duties. U was
upon a Thursday night , at 6 o'clock , that we
arrived at an outlandish place called , as I
think , Zurlchsec , where we met with rr.ueh
Inhumanity and unconrtcousncs * . Indeed , un
less a Scots merchant , accustomed to adven
turing to the Low Countries , had b'tn of
our company. It might have gone hardly
with us , for the barbarlous folk had some
custom ot 111 treating strangers who arrive
upon a day of carnival. They entered our
bark and began to 111 treat us even with
blows nnd taking from us what of money we
had. But mercifully they were restrained
before I had put my sword Into them , which.
In their own country , and engaged In un
godliness. It had been a. folly to io.
Then alto It grieved us very sere that we
had five noldlors who had como from Scot
land with us tbe very scum ot tbe land.
They called themselves Captain Somcrvlllc's
band ; but If , Indeed , they were any soldlen
of his majesty's , then God help him In his
command , for such a pack of unwashed rut
flans It never was my hap to * ee.
Specially did these men dUrjulct ua upon
the Sabbath day. So fearful were their
oaths and curses that we feared that the
boit would sink because of their Iniquities.
They carried themselves so exceedingly
wickedly but more , as I think , that we ,
who desired not their company , might take
note of them. For at least three of them
were sullen , loutish boys , but the other *
led tln'tn on , and praised them when they
Imitated their blasphemies and iculduddery
At last , about 8 o'clock In the evening ,
we come to Rotterdam , 'tthiro wo quartered
with a good merchant , Mr , Donaldson , and
In the morning wo went to a Mr. Hay's ,
wbore from that good man ( whom may God
preserve ) , wo met with inexpressible kind
ness.
Thence we went to Gronlngcn , where Sandy
already wai. To be brief that part ot my
life for the present not coming Into the his
tory I spent four years there , the most
part of It with a young man nameJ James
Ilenwlck , a good student , and one very full
ot great Ideas , which wcro to make Scotland
strong against the house of Stuart. Ho came
from Mlnnyhlvo , a vlllago on the borders
of Galloway and Dumfries , anJ was a very
decent lad though apt , before ho learned
modesty on the moors , to take too much upon
him. Wo wcro finally summoned homo by
a letter from the United Societies , for they
had made me a covenanted member of itanJ-
Ing because ot Ayrsmoss and the carrying
ot the banner at Samiuhar.
While at Gronlngcn I got a great deal of
civility because of Sandy , my brother , whoso
name took mo everywhere. But I think that
In time I also won some love and liking on
my own account. While I was awayI * got
many letters from Malslo Lennox , chlclly In
name ot my mother , who was not good at
writing , for her father , though a lord of
session , would not have his daughters taught
overly much , lest It mnde them vain and
neglectful of these things which are a wom
an's work , and ought to be her pleasure so
long as the world last.
But though I wenf to the university 1
could not bring myself to think that I had
any call to the ministry. I went , therefore ,
for the name of It , to study tha l.iw , but
read Instead many and diverse booki. For
the study of the law U In Itself BO dreary that
all other literature Is "but entertainment by
comparison. So that ono book being easy to
substltut * for another , I Hot through a vail
deal of excellent literature while I studied
law at the University ol Gronloctn. So did
also , even as I , all the students of law whom
I knew In Holland and elsewhere , ( or that U
their custom.
Dut when I was called hem , I received
a letter from tbe United Societies , written In
thtlr namt , from a pUce called Panbreck ,
where their meeting was held. First It told
mo of the udnaia that was on Scotland , for
the many headings , hangings , hidings , clias
Ings , outcaitlngs and weary wanderings.
Then the letter called me , as the branch cf
a worthy family , to como over and take my
part , which. Indeed , 1 was tomeTfhat loathe
| o to , But with tbe Utter there came
line from Malslo Lennox , which Raid that
thny wcro In sere trouble at the Karlstoun ,
sometimes altogether dispossessed , and again
liormltted to abide In safety. Yet for my
Mother's snko slio asked mo to think ot re
turning , for she thought that for mo the
shower was surely flacked and the ondlng
over past. So I took my way to shipboard
with some deslro to set my foot again on
Lho heather and see the hills of Kelts run
> luo against the lift of heaven , from the
links of the Ken to the head end ot Camp-
hatrn.
It uas the high tltno ot tbo killing when
I cnme again to Scotland , nnd landed nt
Newcastle. I made on foot for Galloway
the tops of lh Cheviots and the Border
tills. Nor did I bldo more than a night
anywhere , and that only In herd's huts , till
saw from the moors abe > o Lochlnklt , the
round top of the Mlllyta , uhlcli some Ill-set
icoplo call an ugly mountain , but which
s to me the fairest hill that the * sun shlnoi
on. So nt least It appeared now returning
from abroad , where ono ran make the high *
rst hill with a spado. Aye. for I know that
t looked on Earlstoun , wbero my mother
\vaa whom I greatly desired to see , as
was most natural.
Yet It was not right that I would reck-
essly go near Earlstoun to bring trouble
on my mother without knowing how the
land lay. So I came down the west sldo ol
the water of Ken , by the doachs , or roaring
Inn , where the salmon leap ; and looking at
: lie house from afar till my btart filled ,
thinking : that I should never more dwell
there , nor look any moro from my mother's
window In the quiet hour of even when
the maids wcro out milking the kye.
Even as I looked I could see the glint ot
scarlet cloth , and the sun sparkling on shin
ing arms , as the sentry paced from the wall
gate : to the corner of the wall ami back
igaln. Once I saw him go within the well
aihi
louse for a drink , and a great access of
deslro took mo within. I remembered the
coolness that was thero. For the day waa
exceedingly hot , and I weary and weak
with travel.
( To bo continued. )
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