Grant.--Why, sir, you are quite as great as a story-teller as you
are as a critic.
Clifford.--Homer or Maro could never have held a candle to you! Why
your floating island would beat a steamer. But, joking apart, we are
really much obliged to you for the very interesting story you have
told us.
Dominie (bowing).--I am yespecially proud and happy that you are
pleased with it, sir.
Author.--We are all very much indebted to you indeed, for you have
helped us very agreeably over the most dreary part of our road.
The good man rose an inch or two higher than he had hitherto appeared,
and his cheek glowed with satisfaction.
We had now come to the Pass of Craig-Bey, where the Grantown country
opened to us. A rocky hill arose on our right, wildly wooded with
tall Scottish pines, whilst, on our left, the ground declined
into a hollow, through which the dark streamlet that drains the
extensive peat-bog, whence the villagers of Grantown are supplied
with fuel, throws itself into a deep rocky ravine, along which our
road skirted. At some distance to our left, and on the farther side
of the glen, a beautiful smiling portion of Highland country arose in
swelling grounds, simply cultivated, amidst natural birchen groves;
whilst every now and then we had a transient view directly downwards,
where the stream threw itself into a fairy little holm, surrounded by
tall castellated rocks, richly tinted with warm coloured mosses, and
rising picturesquely from among woods of golden-leaved aspen and birch.
Clifford.--Is there no story connected with that beautiful spot below?
Author.--The place is called Huntly's Cove. It has its name from some
cavity in the crag, which is said to have been the place of concealment
of George, second Marquis of Huntly, in the time of Charles I.
Clifford.--I forget his history at this moment.
Author.--He was married, if I remember rightly, in 1609, to the Lady
Anne Campbell, eldest daughter of Archibald, seventh Earl of Argyll;
and he was, therefore, brother-in-law to Archibald, the eighth Earl of
Argyll, who so strenuously exerted himself in the cause of the people
against King Charles I., and who, as you may recollect, was appointed
by the Convention of Estates, 16th April, 1644, commander-in-chief of
the forces raised to suppress the insurrection of his brother-in-law,
this very Marquis of Huntly of whom we are now talking. The Marquis,
you know, rose in arms for the King in the north; but Argyll marching
against him, dispersed the Royalists, and obliged Huntly to fly to
Strathnaver, in Sutherland. Huntly again appeared in arms in 1645,
and refused to lay them down even when commanded by the King, who
was then under the control of the Parliament of 1646. He was exempted
from the pardon granted on the 4th March, 1647, and he was that same
year taken prisoner. I remember the peerage account of him states
that his capture took place in Strathnaver--a blunder occasioned by
the circumstance of his having fled to that district of country upon
the first-mentioned occasion. It was in Strathaven that he was taken,
and the similarity of names assisted in producing the confusion. Before
his capture he lay concealed in Strathaven, or as it is very commonly
called Stradaun, and when more than ordinarily alarmed by an increased
activity in the search for him, he used to come over to hide himself
here for greater security. I think it was an ancestor of the present
Sir Neil Menzies of Castle Menzies who took him, but the legendary
circumstances have escaped me, if I ever knew them.
Grant.--Thus it is that some of our most curious and valuable
traditions are lost.
Clifford.--It is truly provoking that it should be so. As we have
Roxburghe, and Bannatyne, and Maitland Clubs for the preservation
and printing of old writings, would it not be a meritorious thing to
establish a Legend Club, the object of which should be to proceed
systematically throughout every part of the British dominions to
collect and write down all the legendary and traditionary matter
which may yet remain?
Grant.--There is no doubt that an immense mass of materials might
thus be gathered together for the use of the novelist and playwright.
Clifford.--Nay, nay, Grant; but joking apart, I do think that although
the great mass might be rubbishy enough, and, perhaps, much fitter
for the compounder of melodramas than for anything else, croyez moi
on doit cependant trouver des perles, ou plutot des diamants, dans ce
grand fumier. And then when you think that the numerous fitful beams
of light which might proceed from these recovered diamonds should be
concentrated into one focus, it is not very impossible that history
itself might receive some fresh illumination from the flame that
might be kindled.
Author.--Your scheme is amusing enough, and by no means undeserving
of attention; but I conceive that the utility of such a society as you
speak of would very much depend upon the efficiency of its secretary.
Clifford (with an arch look).--Why, no doubt, it would so. And
therefore I should propose to confer that important and distinguished
post upon our new acquaintance, Mr. Macpherson here, seeing that he
is so much given to searching out the truth of such things, and that
he has, moreover, proved himself to be so able a narrator of them
after he has found them out.
Dominie (his eyes glistening with pride and delight as he again
advanced to fill that place in the line of march which he had occupied
during the time we were listening to his tale).--What could be more to
my mind than such an occupation! And yet, sir, seeing that I am already
planted as a teacher of youth in a comfortable house in Caithness,
with a small garden and a cow's grass appended thereto; to all which
there falls to be added a salary, which, though small, yet sufficeth
for my mainteenance, who have no wife or "charge of children," as Lord
Chancellor Bacon hath it, save that of the children of other people,
whence there arises to me not expense but yemolument, it would be
well to know what sum of money by the year might be incoming to the
holder of that secretaryship of which you have spoken; seeing that
prudence bids us be sure that we move not our right foot until our
left be firmly set down.
Clifford.--As to the matter of revenue, I fear there would be more of
honorary dignity than of edible income attached to the situation. I
would, therefore, earnestly advise you, since I now learn that your
lot has already been so pleasantly cast, to hold your right foot
fast in Caithness, where, were the society to go on, you might be
appointed one of its honorary corresponding members.
Dominie.--Thank you, sir, your advice is good. I could by no means
afford to throw away my cow's grass and potato-yard to the dogs, to
say nothing of my salary, without something better. I shall therefore
e'en hold as I am.
Clifford.--What mountain is that which I see rising blue and grand
yonder in the eastern distance?
Grant.--I have now a right to step forward as your cicerone, Clifford,
for this is the country of the great clan to which I belong. Yet I must
confess that I have no great knowledge of its history. I can at least
tell you, however, that the mountain you are inquiring about is Ben
Rinnes, the hill which rises over the ancient house of Ballindalloch,
at the junction of the rivers Avon and Spey. Ballindalloch belongs
to an old family of the Grants.
Dominie.--I could tell you a curious legend about the building of the
Castle of Ballindalloch, were it not deemed presumption in me to tell
of the Grants in presence of so accomplished a member of the clan.
Grant.--Sir, I shall cheerfully trust to you to do justice to the
Grants, and especially to the Grants of Ballindalloch; for since the
Macphersons are now engrafted on the family of that house, I think
you will be disposed to say nothing that may be in anywise to their
disparagement.
Dominie.--God forbid that I should. They have always been kind friends
of mine.
Clifford.--I protest against any more stories till after dinner. I
presume we shall find an inn at Grantown, and I therefore beg leave
to move that all lengthened communications be adjourned until we are
fairly set in to be comfortable for the evening.
Grant.--Agreed. Now, then, follow me in at this gate that opens to our
left here, and through this plantation, and I, as your cicerone here,
shall show you something worth looking at.
We had no sooner burst from the confinement of the trees, than a wide
and extensive and grand prospect opened to us. From the immediate
foreground the eye ran gently down some sloping cultivated inclosures,
till, passing over the widespread woods by which these were surrounded,
it swept with eagle flight across the wide valley of the Spey and the
endless forests of Abernethy, and rested with joy and with a feeling
of freedom on the blue chain of the Cairngorum mountains, rising
huge and vast above these minor dependent hills that were congregated
about their bases. To the left our view was bounded by tall groves of
timber-trees, chiefly beeches, and after penetrating these, the lofty
bulk of Castle Grant presented itself within an hundred yards of us.
Clifford.--I think it will not be considered as any breach of the rule
we have just laid down, if you should give us an outline, in three
words, of the history of this the feudal residence of your chiefs.
Grant.--All I can tell you regarding it is, that it has been the
seat of the chief of our clan ever since the fourteenth century, when
the surrounding lands were taken from the Cumins and bestowed on the
Grants by the Crown. Another large cantle of the ancient possessions
of the Cumins came into the family by the marriage of Sir John Grant
with Matilda or Bigla, the heiress of Gilbert Cumin of Glenchearnich.
Dominie.--True, true, sir, I have a curious story about that. You see,
gentlemen, Gilbert Cumin, whose cognomen was Gibbon More----
Clifford.--You will forgive me for interrupting you, sir, but you
will recollect, that although we allowed Grant to tell us what he knew
about the castle, we have just laid it down as a rule, that we are to
have no more long stories upon empty stomachs. Let us hasten to see
the interior of this chateau, and then to Grantown and to dinner with
what appetite we may. You shall dine with us, and I shall book you
for there giving us Gibbon More, or any More you may be possessed of.
Dominie.--Your pun is most excellent, sir, ha! ha! ha!--your reproof
is most just, and your invitation most kind, and readily accepted. And
as I can be of little use to you here, gentlemen, perhaps I shall
be most benefeecially employed, both for your interest and my own,
by stepping my ways on to Grantown, and looking to the preparation
for your accommodation and entertainment at the inn.
Author.--No, no, sir, we have already secured all that by the gilly
who has preceded us with the pony. We cannot part with you so, your
information may be useful to us.
Clifford.--This huge pile seems to have been built at various periods,
and with no great taste. That tower is the only picturesque part
about it.
Grant.--That is called the Cumin's Tower, and it is perhaps the only
very old fragment of the building. The most modern part is the northern
front, the style of which is quite inappropriate.
Clifford.--Come, let us hasten to discuss the interior; my appetite at
present is sufficiently sharp, yet it is for something more digestible
than granite and mortar.
We hurried through the castle, admired the great hall, some fifty
feet by thirty in size, and were particularly delighted with some of
the old family portraits, which are extremely curious as to costume.
Clifford.--What a fierce old white-bearded fellow that is in the bonnet
and tartan plaid, drawing a pistol as if he was about to shoot us. I
should not like to meet in a wood with such an one as he appears to
have been, unless I met him as a friend.
Dominie.--That is old Robert Grant of Lurg. I can tell you many a story
about him. He was surnamed old Stachcan, or the Stubborn; and--a----
Clifford.--Unless you are determined to deserve that surname, as
well as ever the said Robert Grant did, you had better attempt no
more stories till after dinner, my good friend. And now, methinks,
we have seen enough of these bearded, belted, and bonneted heroes;
and if you have no objections, I think we may as well proceed to
march into quarters for the night.
A walk of little more than a mile brought us to the village of
Grantown, and a period of time something less than a couple of hours
found us all seated, after a very good dinner, round a cheerful fire,
each preparing to light his cigar, and moderately to sip the fluid
that was most agreeable to him.
Clifford (opening his tablets).--Let me see what my book
says. Ha!--Legend of the Raid of Killychrist--Building of
Ballindalloch--Gibbon More--Old Stachcan! The raid comes first--the
raid stops the way,--so drive on with the raid if you please.
Author.--Since you desire it, I shall do so, in order, as you say,
to get it out of the way. But I must tell you that the Raid of
Killychrist does in fact form so small a part of that which I have
to narrate to you, that I might rather call it the Legend of Allan
with the Red Jacket.
Clifford.--Pray call it what you please, but quocunque nomine gaudet,
let us have your legend, if you please, without further loss of time.