CHAPTER VI.

Clutha Leader, Volume IV, Issue 193, 22 March 1878, Page 3

CHAPTER VI.

When they were all ready to move, young Northesk said to Malcolm — ' I think we will divide the men into two companies. You can take com--mand of the one, and I - will take the other. Tarn Anderson can manage the fishers he expects to get at the Auld Shore-head, and he can surround the house that Tarn Glen saw the fellow enter, and not allow any one to leave. I would give the sole command to you, but I am best acquainted with the localities, and will be able to guide you right. I hope we will be able to catch the ruffians. Y-ou know what you have ! to do, landlord V . " ■' Ay, ay, yer honour; I'm tae get a' the fisher lads I can, an' surround the hoose, an' keep a' in that is in.' i c Exactly. Now, lads, I know you will not -be afraid : to fojldw where ■ I lead. March/ A loud murmur of assent was heard from the men ; then, with John Carnegie „ and Malcolm

■■^^^"'■^'"■■■■■^■■■■■■■■■■■BllMMMßaßiMMaM I 11 11 Mil ll l «**JM«— «t— M Ogilvie at the head of tieir respective companies, and with Tarn Anderson and Tarn Glen as henchmen, the little band marched down the Hill Street with a swift but silent step, and wore soon drawn up at the Auld Shore-head. Tarn Anderson set off, and in a short time returned with a number of fishermen, armed hastily with all sorts of weapons, with whom he surrounded the hut that Tarn Glen pointed out as the one that he had seen the tall figure enter. Then young Northesk led the way to the vessel, where he requested the men to stow themselves away under cover the best way they could, to make no noise, and to be ready with their arms when called on. Having seen them all out of sight, he walked forward to the bows, accompanied by Malcolm and Tarn Glen, who would not leave his master. Arranging* a sail so that they could see and not be seen, he said — ' It they are to come from Auchmithie, they cannot be hear for some time yet, and if the moon rises we will see as far as the Steeple Rock. Our best plan will be to keep quiet until they tow us out from the harbour, which they will likely do before they board in anything* like numbers, and then we can make a rush, and capture as many of them as we can.' ' Yes, that will do well,' said Mai-, colm, * but such ruffians deserve no quarter. What a strange motion a ship has to one who has not been accustomed to it. What do you think of it, Tarn V 1 Od, yer honour, it's a ver}'- funny feeling. I like tae find my legs sickar on the grund, sac I'm glad we hinna mony ships on the braes o' Angus.' 1 That would be an odd place for ships.' said young Northesk. ' I hope that fellow did not leave the house you saw him enter, Tarn, before we got down.'' ' I wadna think sne, by the way he spak, but I cauna say. Yonder' s the mune risin' noo, and we'll be able tae see the boats comin'.' Up rose the lady moon in glory and splendour, lavishly scattering her silver sheen over the troubled sea, while the reflection of the myriad stars flashed like the glitter of innumerable diamonds. Far to the east lay a brilliant pathWay of liquid light, right in the track of the expected boats, and patiently the watchers watched, until Tarn Glen began to lose patience. ' Guidsake, Maister Malcolm, bit this is slow wark, an' there's nae sign o' thae boats yet. I wonder what like a place the inside o' a ship is. Cud I gae doon the stair an' look aboot me ? Ye cud cry whan ye see the boats comin'.' ' Well,' said Malcolm, ' I suppose you can do no • hnrm down there. Take care and not break your neck going down.' ** Nae fear o' that,' said Tarn, hastily scrambling to his feet,, and walking in the direction ofthe hatchway. Going down upon his knees, and craneing his neck ns far forward as he could, he cried softly — ' Hie lads, are ony o' ye doon there V "Deed, aye Tarn/ said a voice. 'The Ogilvies are a', here, where Ogilvies never were afore. Are ye comin' doun V 1 I wadna carei Bit, lord, lads, hae ye nae licht f 1 De'il a licht, Tarn. Ye maun just graip.'* f Tam carefully put one foot inside the hatch, and feeling the step he as carefully inserted the other. After getting down several steps, Tarn's foot slipped, ancl down he went in a heap, like a bag jof coals. The men below heard the I crash, and knew that something bad gone wrong, so the one that spoke before said — ' Fat's wrang Tarn 1 hae ye fa'en ?' 1 O, holy virgin, O, lads, I've faun an' broken ma back, or ma legs, or ma neck, or something. 0, guidsake, can some o' ye no come an' help me oot o' this. 0, Lord, I'll be deid afore morninT ' Wait till we get a licht, Tarn, an' we'll help ye.' Soon the strokes of flint upon steel were heard, followed hy a spray of tiny sparks of light, then by the blue flame of a sulphur match, and then a pine knot was lit, and then the bearer moved over to where Tarn was lying. He had managed somehow to get his head fixed between two rungs of" the ladder, and there he lay 'as firmly held as a bull in a stall. With some difficulty they got him extracted, andafter a draught from a whisky bottle, he got up upon his feet and stared around him. Very ■dark 'and dismal-looking appeared that .filthy den ; everything was more or less smashed and broken. The floor was wet, and the men's feet splashed among it, as if a heavy sea . had tumbled down the hatchway, but the broken casks and the powerful smelling showed that it was spirits, and not water, that rolled from side to side with the motion of the ship. „.-■-: Several human bodies dressed in the garb of seamen, with knives in their hands, lay stark, and stiff,, while great splashes of blood here and there told' : how sanguinary had been the conflict, how desperate the fight. I THe men of Clan Ogilvie, with several A bf the' Abbot's followers, were clustered ■ round the foot of the ladder, evidently i not - at all satisfied with their surroundl ings, when; the. ■ irrepressible Tarn, ever

foremost either in fighting or talking, exclaimed — ' Miebfv, lads, bit this an awfu' place , gin this be what ye ca' a ship, gi'e me the hill-side an' rhe bloomin' heather. • Licht anither stick or twa, Archy, for it-< unco eerie-like, an' maybe yell get some place in the wa' tae | stick them inrae.' Here the voice of young Northesk on deck was heard calling down — 'Be ready, lads ; the boats are in sight.' ' Ay, ay, yer honour, 5 cried Tarn. ' We're a' ready, an' 'ill be gied tae be a' oot o' this. Ca canny, lads, an' I'll gae up an' see boo they're comin' on.' Tarn having learned wisdom from [ experience, made his way safely on deck and crept to the bows beside his master. A little past the Steeple Rock appeared two large boats, crowded With men, swiftly impelled by four oars each, steering; directly for the ship. In a short time the clank of the oars were heard, and they pushed boldly on, as if they expected to find the ship deserted, and nobody to oppose them. Malcolm Ogilvie and John Carnegie crept about under cover warning the men to be silent, and to have their arms ready when the signal was given. Tarn Glen grew fidgetty at the prospect of a fight, and, after staring long at the boats, he turned his eyes to the pier, and, with a start and muttered shout, he seized his master by the arm and whispered — ' Michty, Maister Malcolm, gin that binna the big fallow wi' the clock stannin' ower there like a crow in the mist. As sure as death it's him.' ' Y r ou are surely mistaken, Tarn,' said young Northesk ; * that's the Laird of Auchmithie ; I know him well.' ' I dinna ken nor care wha it is,' said Tarn, stoutly ; ' I tell you that's the chiel I saw amang the' trees, an' that I followed doon tae the wee boose yonder. He's got oot ere we cam', an' yell find he's worth watchinV 'If he should be in league with these ruffians, it is easy to see how they have never been caught. But, hush, ha'e they come ?' The boats were now close in by the ship's side, when the man on the pier eried — ' Everything is quiet, so I'll let go the rope, and you can lay hold ; don't board till you are outside, and when you sink her, make for the Cove with what speed you can. I'll see you in the morning*.' ' Ay, ay, yer honour,' cried a voice, and then the clank of the oars was again heard, and those on board felt by the motion that they were being towed out to sea. With slow motion, impelled by the powerful arms of the pirates, the vessel moved through the water, through between the heads, and across the bai*, right into the heavy swell of the German Ocean. As she began to rock uneasily, Tarn Glen, who had never before left terra fir 'ma, whispered to Malcolm — ' Faith, yer honour, gin this rowin' gaes on we'll be a' rowed intae tho sea. Hoo the deevil will we be able tae fecht, gin we're no able to stand ?' ' Hush, Tarn, it's time we had up the lads. John, you'll better get your men up under cover, and while we attack the fellows that board, try 3 7 ou and cnpture the boats. If they escape we will have done nothing.' ' A good plan Malcolm,' said John, ' the more especially as your Clansmen are not accustomed to a rolling ship. I wish to God that we had Tain Anderson and his fishers here. Could we not signal them ?' ** No, no,' said Malcolm, *it would only alarm the enemy. But we must get up the men, or we will be taken unawares.' The word was passed in a whisper for the men tp come on deck, and one by one, as they appeared, they were shown their allotted stations, where with set teeth, and bated breath, and bared weapons, they awaited the signal for the onset. ■ Undei* the cover of the sail John seized Malcolm by the hand, and said — ' May God bless, you, Malcolm and preserve you. I have only known you a few hours, and I already love you like a brother. Be careful of your life for lady Jeannie's sake. One does not need to know you long to love you, Malcolm.' ' May the holy saints preserve you, John,' said Malcolm, as he wrung him by the hand j ' for danger or not, we must do our duty as brave mem Lady Jeannie would despise me, and these men would scorn me, if I were not foremost in the fray. Here they come. Don't stir Tarn, till I give the word/ 'I'he clank of the oars ceased, and the boats, bumped, against, the side of the ship, and then a voice was heard crying— ' Speel up some o' you lads, and stuck a licht, an' tak' yer axes wi' ye.' Several voices cried c Ay, ay,' and soon men were seen climbing over the sides of the ship. One of them, in throwing over his leg, struck Tarn Glee on. the jaw, to which the irrepressible ■ Tarn replied with a heavy * blow, thai felled the pirate to the deck. |0d perceiving the attack on their comrade. the ; pirates : cried, ' Help, help,' and . thinking that there was only a .single ; m&h* ""opposed to them, rushed forwarc - to cut him to pieces. Malcolm and Tan • started to their feet, crying, f Clai • ; Ogilvie to .the.. ; .re-^

pirates,' and rushed forward* sword iti hand. On hearing the shout, young North- ' esk also sprang up, crying ' Hurra, lads o' the Brothfick, follow me ; ' aud followed by all the Bed L'ichties, he dashed into the mcUe, upsetting a tall pirate who had attacked Tarn Glen, and with a spring he caught hold of the rigging* and threw himslf into one of the boats*, followed by several of his men. But before the number necessary to cope with the pirates could assist them, he was overpowered, and instead of capturing the boats, he was himself a prisoner. It was evident that the number of pirates was greater than was anticipated, and their attack became so fierce that every man had to. fight desperately for his own life. Whenyoung Northesk so opportunely upset the pirate* Tarn Glen threw down his sword, drew his dirk, and with a shout threw himself upon his enemy. Kaising his arm to strike, he received a severe blow on the face, which, with the struggling that ensued, had the effect of making him lose bis hold of his weapon*, A regular rough-and-tumble took place, first one and then the other coming uppermost* till at last the pirate, seizing the redoubtable Tarn by the throat, planted his knees on his chest, and with a shout of 'Whoo, yer sowl, ye ruffin^ wad.yees talc' me precious life*?' he drew his daggar, and raised it aloft to give him the coup de grace. Tarn, half choked with the £/asp on his throat, and horrified at the appearance of the long glittering dagger, made a convulsive effort, and in his turn upset his opponent, attempted to rise to his feet, was again seized by the Irish pirate, and: in a further struggle that ensued they both disappeared down the hatchway. (To be continued-.) • i i ' 1 1 i i ——■■**