Blair Collection > Celtic magazine > Volume 3

THE CELTIC MAGAZINE. 393
Ho would gaze on the mantle and sword by the hour together, trying to
ima,c;ine what his father had been. The time thus spent was not alto-
i; it her wasted, for these reveries made him feel that, if he was well born,
it was necessary for him to conduct himself like a nobleman, which he
aciordingly strove to do, and soon excelled all his companions, as much
by his skill and dexterity in the warlike games and manly accomplish-
ments of the times, as hi his fine athletic figiu'e, handsome features, and
dii^iiilied bearing.
When MacGabhar was about eighteen, his adopted father told him
tliat he would now give him an opportunity of showing his prowess on the
battlefield, as he had resolved to gather all his clan and retaiue.rs and
:iiake a grand raid into a neighbouring territory, of Avhich the people
wiie at the time in a state of anarchy and confusion, Avhich circumstance
1 1 1 ■ I lad no doubt would greatly aid him in his intended project of subjugation.
This was welcome news to the fiery youth, longing " to fiesh his maiden
s\v(ird," and he exerted himself with right good wdl in making the neces-
saiy preparations for the forthcoming foray.
When Flora married Kenneth, she, like a true wife, concealed no
t from him, but told him all her history — a strange and
antic one. She was of high birth, but, being an orphan, lived with
only sister, who had married and become the queen of the chief or
of a powerful neighbouring kingdom. They had an only chUd, a
named Ewen, to Avhom Flora was devotedly attached, being his
)anion and nurse by day and by night. When the child was about a year
oLl, a revolt broke out in his domains, led by a natural brother of the
kiiiu', who, being the elder, thought he had a better right. The rebels
Seized and murdered Ewen's father, their lawful sovereign, and took the
queen prisoner.
Kenneth's blood ran cold as his wife continued, in graphic terms, to
relate the horrors of that period ; how the rebels, not satisfied with the
death of their king, plotted to murder herself and the young heir durino-
the night. Even in this trying emergency she did not lose her presence
of mind, but courageously determined to defeat their -wicked purpose by
a counter-plot. She accordingly concealed her agitation during the day,
and on some pretext persuaded the wife and chUd of one of the conspira-
tors to change bedrooms with her ; the latter were slain, while she
made good her escape with her darling Ewen, but in such haste that she
could make no preparations for her flight beyond carrying away the sword
and mantle of the murdered king, as evidence, if ever opportunity
occurred, to prove Ewen's high lineage and birth. After days of painful
travel, she at last reached Loch Maree, where she was happQy found in
the cave, and succoiu:ed by the goat, by Kenneth and his devoted mother.
After Kenneth had been made a knight, and stood high in favour at
court, his wife accidentally heard from a wandermg minstrel that great
changes had taken place in her native country. The usurper was dead,
leaving no successor, and the jjeople were divided and in a state of discord
some wishing to have the queen of the late rightful king restored, while
others wished for a male ruler. Flora, on hearing this, at once expressed her
deshe to visit her sister, of whom she had heard nothing for so many
years, once more, and suggested to her husband that he might possibly help
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