CHAPTER XXVI.

Clutha Leader, Volume IV, Issue 203, 31 May 1878, Page 3

CHAPTER XXVI.

Turning hastily to see who had caught; them in the darkness, they beheld, by the light of the little taper that Alice carried, the sensual-looking face of the Abbot leering on them with a satisfied, triumphant - looking smile. Snatching the taper from Alice, he said, in a sneering tone — ' Ifc is too late for ladies to venture out to-night ; the air is unwholesome so late. Return to your rooms until you get a proper escort*.' Lady Jeannie deigned no reply ; but, taking Alice gently by the arm, she slowly walked along the passage, crossed the great room, entered the little white chamber, and gently closed and barred the door ; then, throwing herself into Alice's arms, she burst into a passion of tears. ' Poor Alice, though greatly disappointed, strove to calm her excitement, but without effect ; iudeed, the excitement proved so infectious that, dressed as they were, they both threw themselves on the bed, and sobbed themselves to sleep. Meanwhile, the Abbot continued to pace the secret passage, alternately smiling a satisfied smile at having been able to intercept the ladies' flight, • and frowning a savage frown that would overspread his countenance, and a curse that would escape his lips, as he waited for his man-of-all-work — Lindsay. At last the low, sharp snap of the secret door announced his arrival, and in another minute he stood bowing before his master. Motioning him to silence, the Abbot passed through the ladies' sitting-room down a long paseage, and in a short time returned, accompanied by a grim, iron -faced woman of middle age, to whom he said — ' You are greatly to blame. Had I not been accidentally in the passage, they would have escaped. You and the others must keep watch night and day. See that it is done ;' and, turning haughtily, he proceeded along the secret passage towards his own room, followed by Lindsay. When he entered and seated himself, he said — ' You did well to absent yourself today — Hun tly would have hung you without hearing your defence.' ' I thocht' as much after I gied that Highland meddler his kail through the reek last nicht. That settles his account, and as I caught that upstart Ogilvie in the Seaton Den the day, seekin' Leddie Jeannie Gordon, I'll tak the liberty o' giein' him lodgings tae, for a while.' ' Did you get yonr own lady safe home ?' said tho Abbot. ' Oh, she's safe enouch/ said Lindsay, ' I would like you to come ower and marry us some nicht soon. It will bring rae safety, and the presence ot your reverence will shut her mouth.' ' I come over and marry you !' said the Abbot, with a sneer. * Surely you forge, yourself. Anything thafc can be hid is well enough, but you could not keep your wife a prisoner, and she would tell everything the first time she get a chance. And, recollect, she is. a kinswoman of my own, too.' ' I think your reverence micht do that much for me. I hae dune mony a queer job for you.' 1 And why else would the like o' me take up with the like o' you. Hand me a goblet o' wine, and then sit down, and I will tell you a story. Some years ago, there was a man brought before the Lord Abbot of Aberbrothock on a charge of robbery and murder. The, Abbot believed him guilty, but, judging from his bold, insolent manner, that he would not stick at trifles, and being in want ofa man of that sort, he declared him innocent, and took him under his protection. This man had been a soldier — a hired stabber — a pirate— anything or eve^.thing that; would enable him to lead a Hie of (debauchery,. j and the Abbot found him to be a pliant and useful tool. He made, him Laird jof Auchmithie and the leader of the Abbey vassals, and, when he gathered 1 a band of his old piratical companions m the cave under Auchmithie Castle, the Abbot shut his eyes and ears, and neither saw nor heard, although- they made the coast a bye- word in the country with their robberies and murders. But the Laird 7 pf Auchmithie. should recollect that this can" only ( continue ■■ so long -as 7he yieljds a ; blind obediencO, and that the hand ,tliaf made the tool jean break it, so jhat in, : future- he' must nbt- ; urge:^-ha^''^tieVh'a"s' been oncei^refused/ -."; AndY-ke^^bboi,

stretched out his hand and took the rich goblet from the table, and drained a deep draught of the generous wine. •* It was of little use telling me that story/ said Lindsay, 'seeing that I knew it before. Could I not induce your reverence, to come over to Auchmithie Castle and save the reputation of your kinswoman V ' ' Take your master's advice, Lindsav, and hold her at i*ansom. Her father, or the Queen Regent, will pay anything reasonable, and, if you must have **» wife, there are plenty fisher jauds in the village beside you.' ' You are no master of mine, Abbot of Aberbrothock. You have done me many a good turn, but I have done you many a good turn as well, and so we are quits/ said Lindsay. 'As to your sneer about marrying- a fisher jaud, it did not come well off your hand. My blood is at least as good as your own.' *• You must drop your absurd notion of marrying the Lady Elizabeth Hamilton/ urged the Abbot. ' I will marry her now, if it was only to annoy you/ said Lindsay, savagely. ' When I am son-in-law to the Duke of Chateauheranlt, he will shield me for his own sake, and then I may be more powerful than the Lord Abbot of Aberbrothock.' * You will never marry her/ said the Abbot, starting to his feet. 'If you do not satisfy me that you will hold her at ransom, I will open the door and call on tho Gordons to arrest you.' ' Open that door and call on the Gordons, and I will tell them where the Lady Jeannie Gordon is, and who caused her to be carried off/ said Lindsay, with a scowl. ' But they would not give you time to speak, and, besides, they all think that you deceived me/ said the Abbot, laughing; 'as if the like of you could deceive me.' ' You are indeed an unprincipled villain/ said Lindsay, lifting a goblet as if to drink, ' and will have to answer for the crimes of many a lesser villain. But mind this/, said be, slowly rising, ' that no man ever yet insulted or injured me with impunity, and that you are not able to do it unpunished. So take that as a proof/ and he struck the Abbot a terrific bow on tbe forehead with the goblet, that felled him like an ox. Then he softly went to the door and looked out into the corridor, but.be heard no sound. Then taking a heavy cloak that lay on a chair, he spread it on the floor and gathered into it all the gold utensils that lay so profusely scattered about. After a heavy draught of wine, he cooly went over to where tha Abbot lay and laid his hand upon his heart — it beat quickly and hurriedly, and there were signs of a speedy revival of sense and reason, and Lindsay took his long, keen dagger from its sheath, and drove it through his- side into the floor beneath. 'That will keep you quiet till I get clear off, and it will be a lesson to you. May the devil take me if I have aught to do with a priest again ; there is no getting over them. I think I will try the heretics next ; there are rare pickings to be got among them/ muttered he with a laugh, as he drained another goblet j then he lifted the cloak with its heavy burden, and threw it over his shoulder, and left the room by the secret door. Issuing from the little postern by whioh Lady Jeannie was introduced into the Abbey, he made his way to the Steeple Rock, where a boar, lay manned by some of his followers. Wearily tossing the heavy load into the boat, he entered himself and took a seat at the stern, and ordered them to give way with speed to the cave, as there was a goodly prize that would, soon be waiting them. When they arrived, he again shouldered the cloak with its burden, and wended his way up to. the castle to his own room. After resting for some time, and drinking copiously from a flask that stood on the table beside him, he passed over to the bedstead, lifted it in his arms, and by sheer strength carried it to the other side of the room. Then kneeling beside the wall, he introduced the point of his sword into a seeming crack,- and instantly a large portion of the floor slid to one side, revealing a cavity "*of considerable dimensions. Here could, be seen numerous bags evidently containing coin, while lying loose, were, gold sword-hilts, crosses, goblets, and many rings glittering with jewels. Unloosing -he cloak, . he I carelessly tumbled the precious heap amongst the other, slid 'back the floor, replaced the bed, and with a mocking laugh of triumph left the room. Proceeding down to the cavern, he found the usual riotous scene going on that usually terminated each day's proceedings, unless "when work was to be done. Louis the Frenchman, Musgr.oye the. Northumbrian,, aod others who had iufluence and authority, were seated as usual by themselves when Lindsay appeared. With a smile on his face, he seated himself beside them, and said, ' You will be glad to hear that I have learned something in the town to-night that will. bring. grist to our mill. The Abbot has taken the notion into his head that he can do without us, ahd threatened to destroy us root^andbranch, but you know threat.,ened f -f01k.,, live lopg,. and,, by "Saint Andrew we have got a- chance, to. begin ; the. war.- -A' large lugger^ laden twith . wine, > brandy, 1 silks, and ipther yalu- ; ables for the; use of. thei. Abbey; is daily ;ipec'ted V ffoai ; ; ;Fi^nce^3nd, 7 L v -^ould^

propose that we go out and take- her, and, instead of destroying her as we have been in the habit of doing, that we keep her as a refuge in case the priestly knave tries to carry out. his threat. And I say,' cried he, bringing down his clenched fist with a crash on the bench before him, that attracted the attention of nearly, all the gang, . ' we must do him all the injury we can, so when we are out watching this lugger we will knock away the stupid old bell that keeps up such a clatter on the rock oot byo, and that the hypocrite takes such a pride in, because another of his vile clan put it up. Hurrah, my lads, for pleasure, wine, and destruction.' A loud burst of cheers and laughter saluted this harangue, and the orders were given for all hands to embark in the boats, with provision and water for three days. This was obeyed, and four boats were put off, and were soon well out at sea, and with the bright; rays of the rising sun. well. above the .horizon, they keenly surveyed the surface of the water, but not a sail was in sight. The boats were piloted for the Bell Rock, and soon the monotonous clang of the bell was heard, as it clashed too and fro with the splash of the waves. The crest of the rock was bare, and as the boats ranged up its side,' Lindsay sprang ashore, and taking off- his hat he waved it round his head, while he eried — ' Hurrah for the free rover, whose hand is against every man. It is not for any ill-will that I have to this old bell that. I destroy it, but because it belongs to a knave with whom I have declared war to the knife — yes, war to j all priests, eternal war, without quarter and without remorse, JNow, lads, get your axes and hack away.' Several pirates sprang- ashore, with axes in their hands, and after a few heavy blows the bell which, by its. steady, solemn clang, had saved many ships and much property and many live 3, sank to the bottom of the sea. The dirge that' it sang so monotonously is heard no more; the wild requiem that floated so steadily o'er the wild waves of the German Sea is stilled for ever ; and the tried mariner, resting in fancied security, thinking perchance of home and family, without a moment's warning is dashed on the rock, and hurled to destruction. Their work done, tho pirates again embarked on their career of destruction. Amidst laughter- and obscenity, they bent their oars, while the leaders in each boat carefully scanned the the horizon. After a long and steady look, with his hands shading his eyes, Lindsay shouted — ** Herß she come, by all the devils !' Then seizing the helm, he again shouted, * Pull, men, pull ! Hurrah, lads ! we are in luck. Follow me.' The boats swept over the water with great speed, and soon the brown sails, and. then the hull ofa large lugger was observed steadily making for the land. For sometime it was evident that the crow of the lugger did not observe the boats; but as she approached, the cluster of men at hei: bows showed that they were both anxious and surprised. Suddenly she bore away as if making for the Tay, and Lindsay, bursting* into a loud laugh shouted — ' Scatter, lads, scatter, and keep her the way that she is going. If we should miss her, the Dundee or Perth heretics will be sure to grab, her. Either way she'll be lost to the Abbot.' The pirates, inspired by the hope of plunder, pulled with tremendous vigour, and before long they were within hail of her. The crew were, keeping her well into the land, and it soon became evident that she was in danger of running ashore on some of the numerous sandbanks that ornament the river. Then a boat was swung over the side, and the whole crew tumbled into her,' and were seen pulling hard ashore. When the pirates saw this, -they burst into shouts of laughter, and one boat* followed them, while the others pulled steadily for the vessel. On the helm being, abandoned by the crew, she yawed hither and thither, and if . the pirates had not quickly reached her, the chance is that the masts would have gone by the board, or she would havo capsized. But they soon reached her, and climbing on board, one ran to the helm and bore her up to. wind, while the others quickly stripped the sails from her, and lowered an anchor. Then they turned to watch the chase between the crew and their comrades, both boats being now well in shore. They ran ashore simultaneously, and then, .the pirates made a fierce attack upon ihe crew with their weapons, and as the latter were almost unarmed the greater part of them were inhumanly butchered. Some of them, however, ; escaped, and when the pirates gave chase they were immediately recalled by their leader, the ruthless Lindsay, with the remark, that * they would do for messengers, to. let the Abbot know where his ship had gone to.' When they had robbed; the dead of all that they deemed worth taking, they pulled on board to find their comrades busily ; engaged in breakingloose the whole cargo in search of "what was most valuable, while a cask of brandy with, the head knock eld in supplied them, with one v of); their coveted pleasures. / A A „= .'., . A fter they had apportioned';' the most' valuable part jof the ;cargp,,i the.; pirates commenced Ygambling ;to,. while -awaythe time, as^hey^did. not intend '*to lift" anchor tilllthe^Mrlness.; of ithe night ' " i j i _:.-.-v &!r.,-XJ'=."?<,--v---would .V;^

eyes that might, be watching them* Lindsay descended to the cabin, to, see what he could discover, and had beet*, fortunate enough to light on a heavy bag of gold, when the clash of weapons on the deck alarmed him, and he hastily ascended to find a desperate battle S'oing on among the gambler., which lie < ' had some difficulty in putting a stop to. This so alarmed him that he ordered up the anchor, and, taking the helm himself, he boldly steered the lugger , into > - Dickraan's Den, where he safely moored her; and, after leaving a portion of. .his gang as a guard, and seeing the boats heavily laden with a part, of their, ill*, gotten stores, he returned with them to their secret haunt under Auchmithie Castle. (To be Goniirmed.)