Blair Collection > Celtic magazine > Volume 3

392 THE CELTIC MAGAZINE.
part of the country, out of the reach of the Lord of Castle Donain.
Flora, fmdmg herself alone and desolate, afraid of returning to her own
country, and being deeply touched by Kenneth's unfailing devotion, at
length consented to become his wife, a decision she never had cause to
rue, but realized more every day the fact that
The rank is but the guinea stamp,
The man's the gold for a' that.
After this they wandered about in many places, where it is unneces-
sary to follow them, searching for the widow and the boy ; but at length
gave up their efforts as useless. They then went south, and Kenneth
joined the army of the king, in which he speedily found favour,
rose step by step, until the summit of liis youthful ambition was attained,
being knighted by the king for his distinguished gallantry on the battle-
field.
When the poor widow saw her son and Flora so suddenly torn from
her side, and herself and the child left desolate on the shore, she knew
not what to do, nor where to turn for shelter. It was no use returning
to the cave, for how could they subsist there % her cottage was not better
now that Kenneth was gone, She, alone, woidd be totally unable to
provide a liveliliood. She had now only the one supreme idea of discov-
ering and, if possible, rejoining her beloved and only son.
The kind and hospitable peoj)le of Poolewe supported her and her
charge for several days, till at last they secured a passage for her on
board a ship, the crew of which promised to take her to Castle Donain.
The Avidow, like most old Avomen, Avas rather garrulous ; she told the
captain all her troubles, and the strange story of the boy she found among
the rocks of Loch Maree sucking her favourite goat, showing him at the
same time the A^elvet mantle and SAvord of state A\diich belonged to little
MacGabhar's father, to corroborate her statements. The captain, interested
in the touching narrative, listened patiently, and condoled Avith the poor
Avoman in her misfortunes \ but, at the same time, feeling sure that the
boy belonged to some family of note, he determined, instead of carrying
them to the desired destination, taking his passengers to his own chief,
Colin Gillespick, or Colin ]\Iore, as he was generally called, a noted,
brave, though rather unscrupulous chieftain.
GUlespick, on their arrival, was very glad to obtain possession of the
boy, and upon hearing the AA'hole story, he decided on taking MacGabhar
into his OAvn family and brmging him up as one of his own sons. He
also provided the Avidow Avith a small cottage near his castle, and aUoAved
her enough to live upon very comfortably. She had liberty to see ]\Iac-
Gabhar as ofteTi as she Avished, and as she was very much attached to
him, she would have been quite happy but for her grief at the loss of
her son, which almost obliterated every other feeling. The boy Avas
never tired of listening to her Avhile she told and retold him aU the inci-
dents of his discovery in the cave Avith Flora, of their subsequent
happy days at the cottage, and of their sad and sudden termination. As
^MacGabhar grew up, he became intensely anxious respecting his
parentage, and many a pleasant converse he had Avith the old Avidow, who
always maintained and taught Mm to believe that he came of noble blood.