Wilson's Tales of the Borders and of Scotland, Volume 20
General
Wilson's Tales of the Borders and of Scotland, Volume 20
Scottish Borders (Scotland) -- Fiction
now followed in hot pursuit, and, coming inadvertently on the same
concealed danger, horse and man went over at once. The legs of several
of the horses were broken; two stuck in the jaws of the ravine, which
was not wide enough to allow them to sink; and one rider went plump to
the bottom; whilst another had his neck broken, by being pitched on his
head to some distance. This person's name was John Campbell; and the
spot retains the name of "Jock's Step" to this hour.
XXII.--THOMAS HARKNESS OF LOCKERBEN.
I have already given some account of the famous rescue at Enterkin--I am
now about to follow out one of the consequences of that rescue:--
Amongst those who were engaged in this affair, was Thomas Harkness of
Lockerben, parish of Dalgarno. Immediately after the affray, the various
individuals who were principally concerned in it separated. Andrew
Clerk, in Leadhills, fled to Annandale; Samuel M'Ewan, in Glencairn,
made off towards Cumnock; and Thomas Harkness hovered for some time
amongst the Lowther heights, and then took refuge in a widow woman's
house in Leadhills. Marion Morrison was the widow of David Douglas, a
miner, who had lost his life in one of the shafts. She lived in a small
cottage on the heathy muir, and at a considerable distance from the
other houses, which, in these times, were not numerous. She had one only
daughter--now woman-grown and comely--who, by spinning sale-yarn for the
Lanark and Douglas market, supported herself and her mother, if not in
comfort, at least in competence and peace. They were both religious
persons, and took a deep interest in the persecuted remnant. Many a
prayer had Marion put up in behalf of God's own people, to which her
daughter May, as she was called, responded with deep sincerity. As the
old song says, "It was in and about the Martinmas time," when Marion and
her daughter were engaged, the one in carding and the other in spinning
wool, the tarry-woo of the mountain land. May was blythe and cheerful,
half-singing and half-chanting the now old, but then popular song--
"Oh, tarry woo is ill to spin!
Card it weel ere ye begin--
Card it weel, and draw it sma'--
Tarry woo is the best of a'!"
when the cat was observed to make a sudden movement across the hearth,
and in stepped a tall figure, wrapped up in a shepherd's plaid. Marion
started, and May all but screamed. But the figure soon unfolded itself,
exclaiming--
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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