. Scottish pictures, drawn with pen and pencil . throwing herself beforethe king, pleaded witli him to spare her husbamls life, though it should beat the expense of all they possessed. Her impassioned entreaties were met with silence. Malcolm was notto be moved fn^m his pur|)ose of death. Seeing that her efforts to move theking were useless, she made her way to her husband, and throwing her armsround him, declared that .she would not leave him—she would die with him. Malcolm was somewhat moved by the touching .scene. Allen Uurward, A SCOTCH WILLIAM TELL. 1S7 noticing the favourable moment, ven
. Scottish pictures, drawn with pen and pencil . throwing herself beforethe king, pleaded witli him to spare her husbamls life, though it should beat the expense of all they possessed. Her impassioned entreaties were met with silence. Malcolm was notto be moved fn^m his pur|)ose of death. Seeing that her efforts to move theking were useless, she made her way to her husband, and throwing her armsround him, declared that .she would not leave him—she would die with him. Malcolm was somewhat moved by the touching .scene. Allen Uurward, A SCOTCH WILLIAM TELL. 1S7 noticing the favourable moment, ventured to put in the suggestion that itwas a pity to hang such a splendid archer. A splendid archer, is he? replied the king; then we shall havehis skill tried. So he ordered that MLeods wife and child should be placed nn theopposite side of the river ; something to serve as a mark was to be placetlon the childs head. If INILeod succeeded in hitting the mark withoLitinjuring his wife or child, his life was to be spared, otherwise the sentence. Bridge over Sluggan Water, near Braemar. was to be carried into immediate execution. Accordingly (so the legendgoes) the young wife and her child were put across the river, and placed onTomghainmheine; according to some, a little farther down the river, near wherea boat-house once stood. The width of the Dee was to be the distanceseparating MLeod from his mark. He asked for a bow and two arrows ; and having examined each withthe greatest care he took his position. The eventful moment came ; thepeople gathered round him and stood in profound silence. On the oppositeside of the river his wife stood, the central figure of a crowd of eager i8S SCOTTISH PICTURES. bystanders, tears glistening on her cheeks as she gazed alternately at herhusband and child in dumb emotion. MLeod took aim; but his body shook like an aspen leaf in theevening breeze. This was a trial for him far harder than death. Again heplaced himself in position ; but he tremble
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Keywords: ., bo, bookcentury1800, bookdecade1890, bookidscottishpictures00gree
