History and traditions of the land of the Lindsays in Angus and Mearns

FERNE — THE RAID OF SAUGHS. 213
thrice called at the top of his voice — " Gude-nicht Ledenhen-
drie !" — when parting with him at the door of Trusto. Macintosh,
suspecting no harm, proceeded leisurely on his way home, but on
reaching a solitary part of the road he discovered the diabolical
meaning of Trusto's vociferations, and, ere he had time to bethink
himself, was surprised by a party who lay in wait for him. He
was, unfortunately, unarmed, and accompanied by a favourite
dog; but, luckily, the night was dark, and being well ac-
quainted with the route, he contrived by his agile step to gain
the crevice of a rock in the den of Trusto, into which he and his
dog got safely ensconced. As if instinctively aware of his
master's jeopardy (although the pursuers were so near that Led-
enhendrie could distinctly hear their conversation), his trusty
companion remained, as he did himself, in breathless silence
until daybreak, when both reached home. — This niche has ever
since been known as " Ledenhendrie's chair."
Trusto's perfidy was not lost on the subsequent conduct of
Ledenhendrie's life, though it tended greatly to increase his
uneasiness of mind ; for from that night to the day of his death
he went neither to kirk nor fair without weapons of defence.
Even in church, he no sooner entered his pew (which was
placed so as to command the door, and evade any assault from
the windows), than he laid his unsheathed sword and loaded
pistols on the desk before him ; but it is not known that he
ever had a fair opportunity of calling them into use, although
several clandestine attempts were made on his life — more, it is
believed, through Trusto's emissaries, than those of the reavers.
As might have been anticipated, Macintosh and Winter were
bosom friends ever after, and, in the true spirit of attached clans-
men, they agreed that whoever died first, the survivor should con-
duct the funeral, and have it attended with a bag-piper, and other
warlike accompaniments, consonant to the times. Winter was
the first to drop, and Ledenhendrie religiously performed the last
sad duties, and had the coronach, or dirge, played over his grave.
A handsome monument, of the old table fashion, was imme-
diately raised to his memory, bearing the sculpture of a sword
and buckler on a shield, with this inscription : —
"I. W. 1732. — This stone was erected by Alexander Winter, tennent
in the Doaf [PDoal] in memory of James Winter, his father's brother,