Marjorie Bowen

“ The whole landscape, encompassed by vast and steep mountains, lay in a cold, leaden gray light, there was no human being in sight and the only living thing visible was the solitary eagle that circled in and out of the fissures in the hills. The clouds rested like a girdle round the mountains, the sides and summits of which showed rifts of the pure melted snow. There were many entries to the valley, desolate winding pathways between the hills, steep avenues, twisting down the rocks ”

“ There was no sound from the Macdonalds save the faint wail of a frightened child; the chief stood in front of them, his sons beside him. Ronald was not there.
"Fire!" cried Glenlyon.
The volley of musketry echoed down the Glen; a savage cry of triumph broke from the Campbells, as, flinging their guns aside and drawing their swords, they dashed on the Macdonalds. ”

“ The soldiers had left their work to pursue those that had fled into the mountains; Hamilton was late; it had been bungled; some of the avenues from the Glen were left unguarded and so many of the Macdonalds had escaped.
She hurried on through smoking ruins and sinking fires; to right and left lay the dead, frozen in their blood; stained and torn plaids were scattered over the heather; here and there a musket was flung down or a dirk, or a household implement hastily snatched up and cast aside.
The flames of the burning huts were sinking under the snow ”

“ She cried out in a passionate pity.
"I would not have left a dog, Macdonald!"
"So cold," he whispered. "The world is freezing into death—I see the mountains changing into snow and falling—I feel the earth dissolve into an icy sky and all my life ebb from me—so cold—hark!—the horses!"
Delia could hear them now.
"Why, there is hope," she cried, "some help is here."
Even while she uttered the words the entrance was darkened by the approaching horsemen. Now some one had slipped from the saddle and was standing on the threshold.
The dying man shuddered in Delia's arms. "Margaret Campbell!" ”

“ Then it happened Delia dropped her hand from Ronald's arm and cried out:
"The soldiers!"
They had come at a full gallop round a turn in the Glen; at a full gallop they came over the heather and at a shout from their leader drew up a few paces off.
As suddenly as the falling snow or the rain will cover the ground, so suddenly had these soldiers appeared and spread themselves across the Glen before the Macdonalds could fly or scream or warn each other; before they could do anything save realize their peril. ”

“ Lady Breadalbane gave one look at his dead face, then rose also.
"Well, we do not care, Jock and I," she said in a quiet fury. "I think there are no Macdonalds left to harry us—and we can face the world."
She turned to the doorway and beckoned the man who stood there.
"The man is dead," she said, flinging back her red hair. "And he has not given testimony, Glenlyon."
"No, thank God, thank God!" sobbed Delia wildly. ”

“ She obeyed silently and sat down meekly in the heavy peat reek with a lassitude not to be explained; as if there were no momentous hour at hand, as if her life ran smoothly ahead, as if there were no white faces and eager voices about her, as if no army was marching nearer, with the slow fading of the light, nearer. ”

“ Captain Campbell lifted a gauntleted hand against the darkening sky, beckoning his men nearer.
"I come to root out your cursed den of thieves," he said. "By the command of Scotland and the King."
"Ye lying Campbell!" cried Makian. "We are under the protection of the King! I took the oath."
"Too late," smiled Glenlyon. "Ye are approved traitors and rebels, therefore surrender."
At this Delia Featherstonehaugh came from the side of Ronald and crossed the wet heather between the Campbells and Macdonald till she came to Glenlyon's saddle bow. ”

“ She made no resistance as the man led her away, and Glenlyon turned fiercely to the Macdonalds. "Lay down yours arms and surrender," he commanded. "I'll not wait much longer."
They had watched his parley with the girl in silence, knowing well that there was no escape for them; that on their first movement the soldiers would fire; so they stood, gathered together with somber faces, fronting the Campbells. The snow was falling faster; the great clouds had almost obscured the mountains. ”

“ They heard the thunder of her escort down the Glen as the Campbells swept away.
Delia came forward with clenched hands.
"Three," she said in a choked voice, staring down at Ronald. "God bear witness that it is three that he has taken from me—three men wantonly slain."
She put her hand over her distorted face and swung round toward Glenlyon.
"Why have ye stayed?" she asked.
He came slowly near to her, looking at her strangely. "What are you going to do?" he asked.
"Live. Live to—" she dropped her hand from her face and pressed it to her bosom. ”

“ In her recital she had not named the Master of Stair; she had blamed Breadalbane, the Campbells, the government, but she had not named the name of the man whom she knew to be behind it all she had not hinted that the hand of the Master of Stair was guiding Breadalbane, all of them, that his will and his power were behind the redcoats marching for Glencoe. ”