The Men of the Moss-Hags Read online

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  THE MEN OF THE MOSS-HAGS

  _BEING A HISTORY OF ADVENTURE TAKEN FROM THE PAPERS OF WILLIAM GORDON OFEARLSTOUN IN GALLOWAY AND TOLD OVER AGAIN BY_

  S. R. CROCKETT

  New YorkMACMILLAN AND CO.AND LONDON1895_All rights reserved_

  COPYRIGHT, 1895,BY MACMILLAN AND CO.

  Norwood PressJ. S. Cushing & Co--Berwick & SmithNorwood Mass. U.S.A.

  _To ANDREW LANG Poet, Romancer, Scholar, and Friend of the goodly fellowship of the White Rose I, born of the Hill-Folk dedicate this attempt at a true history of some who fought bravely beneath the Banner of Blue_

  _PREFATORY NOTE._

  _I desire to express grateful thanks to my researchers, Mr. JamesNicholson of Kirkcudbright, who examined on my behalf all the localrecords bearing upon the period and upon the persons treated of in thisbook; and to the Reverend John Anderson of the Edinburgh UniversityLibrary, who brought to light from among the Earlstoun Papers and fromthe long-lost records of the United Societies, many of the materialswhich I have used in the writing of this story._

  _I owe also much gratitude to the Library Committee of the University ofEdinburgh, for permission to use the letters which are printed in thetext, and for their larger permission to publish at some future time,for purposes more strictly historical, a selection from both the sets ofmanuscripts named above._

  _Most of all, I am indebted to my friend, Mr. John McMillan of Glenheadin Galloway, who has not only given me in this, as in former works, thebenefit of his unrivalled local knowledge, but has travelled with memany a weary foot over those moors and moss-hags, where the wanderers ofanother time had their abiding places. Let him accept this word ofthanks. He is not likely to forget our stay together in the wilds ofCove Macaterick. Nor I our journey home._

  _S. R. CROCKETT._

  _Penicuik, Aug. 5, 1895._

  CONTENTS.

  I. MY GOSSIP, MAISIE MAY

  II. GAY GARLAND CARRIES DOUBLE

  III. GAY GARLAND COMES HOME SADDLE EMPTY

  IV. SANDY GORDON COMES OVER THE HILL ALL ALONE

  V. THE CLASH OF WORDS

  VI. THE CLASH OF SWORDS

  VII. THE FIELD OF BOTHWELL BRIG

  VIII. THE CURATE OF DALRY

  IX. THROUGH DEATH'S DARK VALE

  X. THE GRAVE IN THE WILDERNESS

  XI. THE BLOOD OF THE MARTYRS

  XII. WE RIDE TO EDINBURGH

  XIII. WULLCAT WAT DARES HEAVEN AND HELL

  XIV. THE THING THAT FELL FROM TRAITOR'S GATE

  XV. THE BICKER IN THE SNOW

  XVI. THE GREY MOWDIEWORT

  XVII. OVER THE MUIR AMANG THE HEATHER

  XVIII. AULD ANTON OF THE DUCHRAE

  XIX. THE SWEET SINGERS OF THE DEER-SLUNK

  XX. THE HOME OF MY LOVE

  XXI. THE GREAT CONVENTICLE BY THE DEE WATER

  XXII. PEDEN THE PROPHET

  XXIII. BIRSAY THE COBBLER

  XXIV. THE SANQUHAR DECLARATION

  XXV. THE LAST CHARGE AT AYRSMOSS

  XXVI. HIDING WITH THE HEATHER-CAT

  XXVII. THE WATER OF THE WELL OF BETHLEHEM

  XXVIII. THE WELL-HOUSE OF EARLSTOUN

  XXIX. CUPBOARD LOVE

  XXX. THE BULL OF EARLSTOUN'S HOMECOMING

  XXXI. JEAN'S WA'S

  XXXII. PLAIN WORDS UPON MEN

  XXXIII. THE GARDENER OF BALMAGHIE

  XXXIV. THE TESTING OF THE TYKE

  XXXV. KATE OF THE DARK BROWS

  XXXVI. THE BLACK HORSE COMES TO BALMAGHIE

  XXXVII. A CAVALIER'S WOOING

  XXXVIII. IN COVE MACATERICK

  XXXIX. THE BOWER OF THE STAR

  XL. MARDROCHAT THE SPY

  XLI. THE HOUSE OF THE BLACK CATS

  XLII. THE NICK O' THE DEID WIFE

  XLIII. THE VENGEANCE OF "YON"

  XLIV. A DESIRABLE GENERAL MEETING

  XLV. THE OUTFACING OF CLAVERS

  XLVI. THE FIGHT AT THE CALDONS

  XLVII. THE GALLOWAY FLAIL

  XLVIII. THE FIGHT IN THE GUT OF THE ENTERKIN

  XLIX. THE DEATH OF MARDROCHAT

  L. THE BREAKING OF THE THIEVES' HOLE

  LI. THE SANDS OF WIGTOWN

  LII. THE MADNESS OF THE BULL OF EARLSTOUN

  LIII. UNDER SENTENCE OF DEATH

  LIV. ROBBERY ON THE KING'S HIGHWAY

  LV. THE RED MAIDEN

  LVI. THE MAID ON THE WHITE HORSE

  FOLLOWETH THE AUTHOR'S CONCLUSION

  THE MEN OF THE MOSS-HAGS.