Blair Collection > Celtic magazine > Volume 3

THE CELTIC MAGAZINE. 427
the main door of the house, and the partition which divided it from the
apartment in which the old woman sat, and which appeared to be the
kitchen, Avas of such a rickety description, that she could not only hear
the movements of the old lady, but get glimpses of her as well. She
was but a few minutes in bed when she heard the footsteps of people
entering the house, and going straight to the kitchen. They were men; and
through the holes in the partition she could see that there were three of
them. By his voice she identified one of them as the ruffian who had killed
her father. The young girl's feelings at that moment cannot be described.
She saw no means of escape, for the door of her closet opened into the
kitchen, where the cruel murderers were. She saw that she had only
escaped the murderer's :iet to fall into his snare. And if she could have
any doubts on this point, they were dissipated as soon as they began to
speak, for the first words they uttered were, " What a pity I did not
catch you confounded girl, for I am sure it \vas her that had the money
of the cattle which her father sold at Crieff to-day. Were I but near
enough to her my trusty blade would soon stop her.",
" Restrain thy wail, my son," answered the old crone, " the girl is
sleeping in the closet there behind thee ; and the money, as she told me,
is carefully put away in her breast. And now that both are in your
hands you need not interfere Avith either till you have taken your supper,
when you can dispose of her and it as seemeth to you best."
ISTot withstanding that they were hungry and the supper ready, and
the assurance given by the old woman, that the girl they sought was
quite safe in their clutches, the leader of the gang, who, as also another
of them, was the old woman's son, would not sit at the table until he
first looked in to see the girl, and tested whether she Avas asleep or not.
To satisfy himself on the latter point he placed a burning torch close to
her eyes, so close, that her eye-brows were singed by the flame. Finding
that she was sound asleep, as he supposed, he returned to the kitchen,
and immediately commenced his supper with the others of the gang.
While they were thus occupied, and for a considerable time subse-
quently, the most painful thoughts were passing through poor Jessie
]\Iacgregor's mind — there seemed to be but one step between her and
death — a death it might be, of the most cruel nature. She, almost dis-
tracted, looked around her in every direction, hoping to find some outlet
by which she could escape, but alas ! there was none. To attempt to fly
by the door would be, to say the least, sheer madness. It was simply
running bare-breasted upon the ruffians' daggers. Earnestly and solemnly
did she pray for strength, guidance, and protection from above at that
critical moment ; and scarcely had she asked for heaven's aid, when she
heard the robbers disputing among themselves about their respective
shares of the spoil obtained that night. The quarrel at length assumed
such proportions, that the two brothers fell upon their partner in crime,
a neighbour's son, and murdered him there and then, cutting his throat
from ear to ear, their mother holding a basin under the wretch's neck to
receive the blood. This was only the work of a few moments ; and as
soon as the wretch was dead, the old woman and her two sons carried the
dead bod}' to the rear of the house, where there was a sort of rude garden,
for the pui;i se of burying it, and as they were passing out at the door