Blair Collection > Celtic magazine > Volume 3

394 THE CELTIC MAGAZINE.
the queen to resume her rightful position. Sir Kenneth, ever ready for
adventure, consented, provided he could get the king's consent for a
time to withdraw from his service.
The kingdom being now at peace, the king readily granted him leave
of absence, and also permission to take his immediate retainers along with
him. They all started in high spirits, and arrived at their journey's end
in safety, when Flora was overjoyed to find her sister alive and well.
The queen, on meeting her, was no less delighted to find her long-lost
sister, and to hear of the wonderful preservation of her beloved son,
though their joy was damped by the uncertainty of his fixte since
Flora was separated from him. With the valuable assistance of Sir
Kenneth and his brave men-at-arms, the queen was soon reinstated in her
proper position. But no sooner Avas this accomplished than she was
threatened with an immediate attack from the formidable and dreaded
Colin !More. Her sul)jects, however, rallied round her, and, forgetting
their mutual quan-els, stood well together, and led on by the brave Sir
Kenneth, they rushed to meet the advancing foe with irresistible
force, and gained a complete victory over him, taking several im-
portant prisoners, among whom were three of Gillespick's sons, and his
adopted son Ewen MacCiabhar.
Colin More's raid being so unjust, for there was no reason for it but
the desire for plunder, it was decided that his punishment should be
severe, consequently all the prisoners of any pretension to rank were
ordered the morning after the battle to be publicly executed, beginning
with the youngest. This happened to be Ewen MacGabhar, who deter-
mined to meet his fate without fiinching, and as befitted his birth, which
he always felt was of noble origin. He accordingly dressed himself with
care, and threw over all the scarlet velvet inantle he had preserved for
so many years, and girded on the sword, with a sigh to think that he
should never know the secret of his birth.
At the time appointed, the prisoners were brought out for execution
before the queen and her court, according to the barbarous custom of the
time. MacGabhar walked at their head Avith a stately step, his fine figure'
as erect, his fair head held as lofty, and his bright blue eye as fearless,
as if he were a conqueror and not a captive. As he approached nearer
where the queen sat, surrounded b\' her ladies, her sister Flora started
violently, and seizing her husband by the arm, exclaimed " Oh Kenneth,
see ! see ! that mantle, that sword, look at his fair hair, his blue eye, it
must, it must be he ; " then ruslniig towards Ewen she cried out, " Your
name, your name, young man; where did you get that sword and mantle;
sjieak, speak, I adjure you by all you hold sacred to tell the truth."
Young Ewen, considerably surprised by this impassioned appeal,
drew himself uji, and answered firmly and respectfully, " Madam, these
articles belonged to my father, Avliom I never knew, and the name I am
known by is Ewen ]\IacGabhar, but I know not whether it is my right
name or not." This answer, far from allaying the lady's agitation, only
served to increase it, and Avith an hysterical laugh she screamed out,
" MacGabhar ! yes, yes, I was sure of it. Sister ! husband ! see, see, our
lost darling, my own dear MacGabhar;" then, in the excess of her
emotion, she tlirew her arms around him, and swooned away.