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“THE HILL OF THE HEADS.” A Grim Historical Story of the at,ku Highlands. Before the guide-book compiler throws the lamour of his genius over the topography 9f the wild mountainous district which the new branch of the Highland Railway bc- 3ween Avimore and Inverness will penetrate “Jere is one spotâ€"Tom-na.»Cean, “ the hill of the heads.” the scene of as grim a. tragedy IS was ever presented on enacted in real life. runuuuu In A vuu ..... The picturesque and thriving village of Cambridge, which will form the principal flepot on the new railway, is located in the month of a Wide glen stretching westwards ior miles till it fringes the march line of ihe braes oi Lochaber. The Dulnsin inter- iects the extensive glen through which in lhe good old days, when cattle-stealing was regarded as a. legitimate vocation among the Celts, the Lochaber thieves drove their )reaghs to their wild mountain fastnesses. Fo-day the “ Thieves’ Road ” which skirts ihe Dulnain remains as indisputable evi- ience against the Lochaber men. Some years anterior to that “ red year when Charles’ brought Scotland muckle wae,” there lived in Lochabcr a noted free‘ hooter named Padrig Mac-an-SagaerLâ€"the English equivalent of which is “ Peter the Priest’s son. ” The verbal portrait preserved by tradition of this ex-priest’s offspring is that ofashaggy, red-haired man of ferocious ispect. He had not a, single redeeming trait in his character, and his priestly sire would not give him even shelter. Driven from pillar to post, Peter began a. career of robbery and theft which for no parallel can be found even in the rude, semi-savage period in which he lived, He became the leader of a gang known in the Central Highlands, and particularly Strath- spey, as “ the Lochaber Murderers. ” Peter and his gang invaded the rich domains of Aird, in the occupancy at the time of one of the scions of the powerful house of Lovat, and under cover of night took possession and drove away a. large herd of cattle. To thwart their pursuers the thieves, instead of proceeding across the hills to Loehaber took a. circuitous route through the wilds of Strathdeam, reaching in slow stages the western confines of Strathsprey. Simon LordLovat (who was subSequentlv executed) discovered the road the thieves had taken, and at once. got aid from the laird of Grant to waist him in recovering the cattle of his llr’insman, and if possible, arresting the rob- ers. It so happened that at this time there lived in the neighbourhood of Carrbridge a. man named Fraser, noted for great muscu- lar strength and dexterity in the use of the rude weapons of Warfareâ€"the dirk and the claymoreâ€"common to the age. He was known by the Gaelic cognomen of Mugach More, and his six sons and stepson were as bran-e and valorons as himself. To this fame fly the Laird of Grant entrusted the commis- sion of recovering the stolen cattle and pun- ishing, if possible, the reivers. Peter and his gang were overtaken some distance from the village of Kingussie, and knowing some- thing of the CHARACTER OF THEIR PCRSUIIRS, they reluctantly abandoned the creagh with- out showing fight, but Peter vowed that be- fore the year closed the Mugach More and his brood would have cause to regret their interference. The cattle were duly restored to their owner, and Fraser and his sons re- sumed work on their farm, which they till- ed between them. For months the farmers of Strathspey were not troubled with the Lochaber men, and the Mngach More had almost iorgotten the threat of Peter-the- Priest’s-son. One dark December “ the murderers” id a visit to Carrbridge, bent on dire and loody vengeance. First of all they sur~ rounded the dwelling houses omeser’s two married sons. The doors were burstin and the two brothers speedily dispatched. Mugach More’s dwelling was next besieged, and when admittance was demanded, the old man heard the voice of Peter amongst those who stood round the door. He did not expect mercy at their hands, and he and his four sons and stepson at once set about to ofler the best resistance they could. The door was of tough pine. and could with‘ hold a. prolonged siege. The reivers, after The reivers completed their fiendish work by decapitating the murdei ed, and whéh the natives rose next morning a shepherd brought them the intelligence that on an oh- long hill within a stone’s throw of the village 1mm HUMAN HEADS, with the faces turned westwards, monu- a fruitless attack onvthe door, assailed the undressed stone wall, and were making headway. The house was in darkness, and unobserved thefitepson, in order the more effectively to attack the besiegers, endea- voured to make his way through the rafters and divot roof. He was halfway out when the Mugach More saw him scrambling and writhing in. the aperture he had made. He believed in the darkness that it was one of the thieves, and, leaping on a table PLUNGED HIS DIRK in the body of the youth. The latter fell dead on the earthen floor, and when the Mugach More discovered the terrible mis- take he had made his grief was uncontrolla- ble, and his fierce impulsive nature blazed out in a. torrent of mad fury. Peter heard sufficient through the keyhole to enable him to realise the grim tragedy that had taken lace within. He appealed to the Mugach ore’s wife to open the door, and that, he would speedily avenge the foul murder of herson. The mother, swayed with excite- ment, actually believed that her husband had intentionally killed her illegitimate son, rushed to the door and undid the bolt. The “murderers” crowded in, andin the dark- ness :1 terrible struggle ensued. Peter and the Mugach More assailed each other with the ferocity of wild beasts. For a moment the latter succeeded in holding at arm’s length his formidable foe, and a second more and his dirk would have been plunged deep in the reiver’s breast. The upraised hand before it could deal the fatal blow was checked. The faithless and excited Wile threw over the dirk a canvas sheet, and be- fore her husband could extricate his weapon from the folds Peter’s skein dhu was stained with Fraser’s life blood. The curtain did not fall on the weird tragedy until every member of the household was murdered, the woman, despite her appeals, being trampled to death. The Scene of a. Tragedy in Real Life BAKING AND CRUELTY thezfirical stage 01' “n Scotch mented the summit. Since then the bill has been known as Tom-na-Ceanâ€"the hill of the heads. with a strong horizontal how, was within a few yards nf them, and it, was decided there and then to hang the arch rciver and mur- derer. A halter of birch withes was made and before the sun went, down Peber’s life- less body swayed backward and forWards beneath the branches of the great pine. For a. twelvemonth it swung like the pendulum of a clock. No matter how calm mhe day and breaehless the wind the raven peeked body swung in never ending mono- tony until men became frightened of the weird spectacle. No one could muster courage to cut. it down, and mothers awed their children to silence by whispering in their ears merely the ominous name of Padrig Mac-an-Sagaerb. When the spring came round it was said the {owls of the air used the reiver’s red aha.an hair to line Then, as norw the public school of the dis-l trict was situated at Duthie, a couple of miles east from Carrbridge. The scholars ‘ with their Satchels over thelr shoulders and I a peat under their arm for the school fire, to which 9.11 had to contribute then, were in the habit of pitching stones at the withered corpse. One bolder than the others Went so near the suspended body and struck the birchen withes with so much force that he broke it, and the fleshless skeleton wavering for a moment fell, sinking into itself like a. put? of smoke. The boy rushed away and became so alarmed that he bunt a. blood I vessel and died. The scanty remains of the lreiver were interred near where they fell, but when the Highland Road was being con- ] structed some eighty years ago they were resurrected and reinterted where they are I now within a. couple of hundred yards north | of the present Cambridge Hotel. came round it was said the {owls of the air used the reiver’s red shaggy hair to line their nests, and that; [he “viewless wren" made a fruitless attempt to build its house within the capacious jaws of the robller. Her Majesty, as is well known, is fond of dogs, and Mr. G. B. Krehl, in a supplement to “ The Stockkeeper," gives some interest- ing particulars, ascertained on a. visit to the kennels at Windsor, respecting the Royal canine pets. It goes without saying that the animals receive every attention and. are ad- mirably housed. Their sleeping apartments are carefully ventilated, and hot-water pipes run through the length of the building. In the kennels are dogs of nearly every breed. For collies the Queen has always shown a. preference, and this accounts for the number kept at Windsor. The Princess Beatrice’s “ fancy” lies in the direction of fox-territors, which are also well represent- ed. W'e are glad to note, by the way, that the fox-terriors in the Royal kennels are not docked. It would be a. good thing if the Royal example in this respectwere general- ly followed. How any one can imagine that mutilating a dog adds to its beauty, we fail to understand. Some of the Royal fox-terriers are cer- tainly game enough. One of themâ€"Jock by nameâ€"who when a store was recently cleared out; had a. chance of distinguishing himself, killed twenty-two race in a quar- ter of an hour. Her Majesty, it, should be sai\1,frequeuvly inspects the kennels, “in- quiring into everything afiecling the health and comfort of the inmates and giving each animal a caressing pat and kindly word of recognition. Remember, my boy, the good thingsiu the world are always cheapest. Spring water costs less than whiskey ; a box‘ of cigars will buy film or three Bibles ; a. State election costs more than a. revival of reli- gion ;you can sleep in church every Sabbath morning for nothing. but a. nap in a. Pullman car costs you $2 every time; the circus takes fifty cents, the theater $1, but the missionary box is grateful for a. penny ; the race horse scoops in $2,000 the first, day, while the church bazar lasts a. week, works m'enty-flve or thirty of the best: women in America. nearly to death, and comes out; $40 in debtâ€"[ft J. Burdctte. A desperate duel took place at Corboda on Saturday in the presence of a. great crowd. The encounter was between Anto- nio Gomez, son of the proprietor of the Plaza, in which the bull fights take place, and a rival whose name is unknown. A Dalziel’stelegram says that the men met in front of the cathedral, and drawing their knives fought for some time. Gomez was stabbed to the heart. His opponent was fem-fully cut, and after lingering several (lays, died from the effects of his wounds. \Vrllen the Royal dogs die they are laid to rest “beneath the turf Where they gamr baled as puppies and were exercised when they grew up. Each little grave is marked by a. stone tablet about a. foot long and eight inches across, whereon a. few words are engraved, giving the name and (late of death.” Among the inscriptions on the tombstones of the dogs are the following- “ Maurice, favorite Mount St. Belmu‘d of H. R. H. the Prince Consort, died Nov- ember, 1864.” A little further away lies “Princie, Scotch Ter-"ier. Bron ht from Balmoral June 14, 1865. Died Fe ruary 6, 1874” ; and in the shade of a. small fir rests “Nellie (collie). mother to Bess. Flora. and Sailor. Died October 1‘2, 1886.” THE FACE OF THE HILL, Queen V iflorla‘s Bogs. A Mexican Duel. The Best Thlng~ A disastrous collision occurred on Satur- day night, off the Wielingen Lightship, thir- teen miles from Flushing, when the barque ChildweH, of Liverpool, 1286 tons register, was sunk and fifteen hands were drowned. The Childwell was on a. passe e from Iqui- que to Antwerp, and when 0 the lightship , .1 .____.l ‘1..- vv .-....V‘..L., _..- V. was run into a steamer unknown, outward bound. The barque was struck amidships and cut into pieces, the mainmast and fore- mast knocked overboard, the mizzenmast alone being: left standing. The vessel im- mediately sank, and a portion of the crew at that part of the vessel took to the mast- head. Their comrades in the other part of the ship gave a cry for help, but went un- der and were drowned. Fortunately another steamer came towards the sinking vessel, and she proved to be the Great Eastern Company‘s Continental steamer Ipswich, ,_..l_.“_.v "7, Captain Robinson, with passengers from Antwerp to Parkeston. Captain Robinson at once launched a lifeboat, which was manned by the chief mate, the second mate and two seamen and a, fireman. They suc- ceeded in rescuing Captain Richardson. first mate Follows, second mateGrimley LWO qpprentices, and able scaman Richardson 1-“ Laming, the pilot. gave the following gran, hic narrative of his terrible experience. He said 2â€"“ I was shipped on Tuesday last on board the Childwell by some Dover boat- men. When we left the Downs the wind was blowing northwest by west, but we made A FINE PASSAGE across the North Sea, and all went well until about seven l’. M. of the same day. We were then about half a mile from the \Vielengen Lightship, which is thirteen miles from Flushing. It was beautifully clear, although it was a dark night and blowing rather heavily. It was so clear that we could see lights a long way off. Quite a quarter of an hour before the colli- sion took pl ce the red light of the steamer which collided with us was reported on our port bow. We watched it, and saw the vessel approaching, but thought she was going all clear of us. “'e kept on our course, but all atoms the steamer starboard , ed her helm, thinking, apparently, to cross our bows. At that time she was right on top of us. We were sailing six or seven knots, and the steamer was going full speed. She was a very large vessel, apparently a. passenger steamer,as she had a double row of cabin lights. We supposed she was one of the Red Star liners or German boats which sail from Flushing. She was coming out from there. Directly I saw her green light 1 said. “There will be a. collision.” I could see it was inevitable, and within a. second or so she was right into us. We shouted to those of our crew who were in the berths. “Look out, all hands!” but before they could get up she had struck us. It was and a fearful sight to witness. The steamcr' struck us between the mainmast and fore- most on the port side. It was aloud, fear- ful crash like the report of a. gun, only much more terrible, and the pieces of iron pletingl were thrown about as the bows of the steam- er ploughed through us. She cut right ‘ through the vessel to within five or six feet of the starboard side, the force of the blow causing us to heel over to starboard. Our foremost and mainmast fell, with a. lot of the rigging, on to the steamer's decks. She backed astern at once, carrying the masts with her. As soon as the steamer backed out We filled, and in less than two minutes the ship had sunk. \Ve had no chance to get out the boats, and the sea was running very high when the steamer backed out. She showed three red lights, signifying that she was disabled. Our vessel settled on the ground, the water being somewhat shallow there. The Water closed over the ship, alâ€" thongh it was low tide. All that stood abovu water was part of the mizzenmast and the end of the howsprit. Nine of us who were on the after-part of the ship climbed into the mizzen rigging. Of the fifteen men who were drowned we believe that twelve of them went down in the ship. They could hardly have had time to get up from below. Three poor fellows were out on the end of the bowsprit. We heard their cries for nelp. bnt we Could not get at them or offer any assistance. It was an awful thing to he so near them and unable to help them. They appeared to hold on to the bowsprit until the water rose and reached them, about two hours after the veSSel sank, and then were washed off and drowned. and we felt the effects of the exposure very much. The mate cut away some of the halyards, and we lashed ourselves all to- gether round the mizzenmast. We remain- ed there four hours. It is not true that the colliding steamer did not attempt to assist us. She stood by us for about an hour. They lowered two boats, but they could not reach us. It was very rough, and there was a. very broken sen. caused by the tide running out. It must have been heart- rending to the poor fellows who were hang- ing on to the bowsprit to see the boats put back to the steamer and leave them to perish. It might have been very difficult to reach us. but I think the men on the bowsprit might have been picked off. When We saw the steamer steam away we had very little hope of being saved, for we knew that in a few hours time the water would rise and cover us. Our hearts beat with joy when We saw the lights of a steamer approaching between half-past ten and eleven o’clock. The Flushing pilot recog- nized her to be one of the Harwich boats, which proved to be true, as she turned out to be the Ipswich. \Ve all shouted togeth- er at the top of our voices, and to our great joy we were heard, for the steamer came within speaking distance, so that her lights shone on as, and the captain shouted ‘ Hold on; I will lower my boat.’ The steamer’s lifeboat was lowered, as we afterwards learned, in charge of the chief mate and rowed towards us. \Ve were all very grate- ful for the kindness we received on the Ipswich. I shall never forget the experi~ ence of that night. None of us expected to see our homes again.” The Household Prlzo. 135 Adelaide St, W. Toronto, Ont: “ Your reliable preparation, St. Jacobs Oil, has proved 9. benefit to me in more ways than one. I have used it {or quiusy (outward application) with very beneficial results, and for a. case of rheumatism, where its action was swift and suie, and a perfect cure was performed. I cousiderit aremedy to be prized in every household." Thos. PIER- Do.\', with Johnson & Brown. " A PHLOT'S STIIHHNG STORY. Run Down by A Steamer. GHT \VAS BITT LY COLD, AN AWFI L CRASH, witness. The steamer lie looks lipon War With Horrorâ€"Not a Great Monarch, but in Model Ruler. It is an interesting sketch of Alexander III. which is contributed by Mr. \V. T. Stead to the January number of the Review of Reviews. This tribute of respect is the more weighty because Mr. Stead is the only Englishman who has had the opportunity of Interviewing the Czar in the interest of a. newspaper. It is thus firsthand impressions, and not borrowed or speculative opinions, which he sets before us. What espezially concerns the world to know is the Czar’s personal feeling in regard to war. Does he wish to hasten or to postpone as long as possible the seemingly inevitable convulsion of Europe? It is Mr. Stead’s conviction that the Emperor looks upon war with hor- ror. In the last Russo-Turkish conflict he saw enough of the realities of campaigning to recoil from the thought of causing such calamities. Unlike Kaiser William 11., the Russian sovereign desires, we are told, not to be reputed a great monarch, but to be the ruler of a great people, whose welfare and progress are safeguarded by peace. Mr. Stead, indeed, would not affirm that the Czar is for peace at any price ; but he be- lieves him to be for peace at almost any price compatible with national honor and the de- fence of Russian interests. This view of the Czar’s wishes seems at first sight irreconcil- able with his present friendliness to France and his former attitude toward fPrince Alexander of Battenberg, when the latter was reigning at Sofia. Mr. Stead insists, however, that the incon- sistency is apparent rather than real. At the very beginning of his reign, Alexander Ill. met the German Emperor at Skieme- wieze to renew the ties which had long hound Germany and Russia. To that tra- ditional understanding be adhered until he was alienated by what seemed to be proofs of Bismarck’s duplicity in the forged de- spatehes to Bulgaria. When the forgery was exposed, the Czar showed a willingness and even an eagerness to renew friendly re- lations with the Berlin Government; and there is but little doubt that, had Bismarck remained Chancellor, the format state of things would have been restored. Even as things are, Mr. Stead thinks that the Rus- sian sovereign’s motive in entering into a. species of agreement with France is general- ly misunderstood. The Czar still distrusts the French republic, not only because in the past it has given an asylum and sympathy to Poles and Nihilists, but on account of the incessant change of Ministers. If he has publicly testified good will to aGovernment in which he has no great confidence, it was in order to acquire an inside veto upon French designs of war. The Czar hasde- sired, in other words, to put France under bonds to keep the peace. By the way of confirming this construction of the Czar’s purposes, Mr. Stead asserts that when the French Ambassador to St. Petersburg sug- 'ested that the Empress Frederick’s visit to ' Paris might be made the occasion of war, he i went away with a flea in his ear. Then, again, the course pursued by the Russian Emperor toward Prince Alexander ' of Battenberg was due. according to Mr. Stead, to the finest points in his character, v namely, his detestation of mendacity and , his determination to keep faith even to his ‘ own hurt. It appears that when he detects ' any of his Ministers in deceit, no proofs of 5 ability can keep the man in ofiice. Having : become convinced that Prince Alexander i had deliberately lied to him, the Czar i thenceforth refused to have anything to do i with him. Moreover, the Czar considered we are told, that his own honor had been clouded by the Prince’s availing himself of, if he did not also instigate, the revolution at Philippopolis which brought about the union of Eastern Roumelia to Bulgaria. Having reluctantly assented to the restora- - tion of Eastern Roumelia to Turkey by the l Berlin Congress, the Russian sovereign held 1 ‘ himself bound in honor to sustain that de- )"cision. The charges of bad faith, which l‘ rained upon him from Pesth and Vienna, l ‘ cut him to the quick. Prince Alexander’s a j behavior in accepting the fusion of the two i Bulgarias gave color to the doubt cast on . the Czar's word, and to the distrust of his fidelity to treaties. It was to clear himself from this reproach that the Czar in- flexiny oppOsed the political consum~ mation which had been contemplat- ‘ed at San Stefano, and broke ir- | D ii "I i. r \uw- m l , revocably with the Prince who had expos- 3 ed the honesty of his patron’s intentions e i to suspicion. Mr. Stead believes that as the Russian Emperor acted in that question so he will act in others ; that he will go on sacrificing his interests to his honor, and V > abandoning a cherished aim to Russian pol- e icy rather than attain it at the price of a. " stain on his fair fame. It is the judgment - 'of this English observer that there has never ‘ t been a. more disinterested, conscientious, 0 ' sober-minded ruler than is the present auto- 0 i crat of all the Russias. If he is not a politi! Y cal reformer, it is because, like the English 3 rulers of India, he does not believe his sub- 6 jects ripe for profound political changes. If i he is not a statesman of the first class, he is a. vigilant, painstaking, upright, anxious ad- 9 ministrator. If he is not a great man, he is at 0 least a sound and good one. Mr. Stead would 9'; describe him as a strong man who takes 8 short views. He aims to deal daily with the work which his hands find to do, be- lieving that sufficient to the day is the evil thereof. From day to day he strives with all the insight at his command to discern , his duty ; and then he loes it to the best of his ability. He takes his posi- ' tion seriously, even solemnly, and he means to use his unlimited powers for the is wellbcing of his people instead of for his 3 l personal aggrandizament and renown. The ‘»' target of Nihilist plots, he stands,according it ; to Mr. Stead, erect and steadfast cheerful e i without bravado, turning to danger the 3 l simple, open-face of a man who has pre- fl served amid the cares of State the heart of S i a. child. To confront the machinery of ter- 91'1 FTIL< 945 r. u THE RI'SSIAN (‘ZAIL ror by which he is environed, and to per form with composure what he conceives to be his duty, he regards as all in the day’s work. He cannot be shaken by the fear of dynamite. He will die at his post. It is an impressive and in many ways a winning portrait which Mr. Stead draws of the Czar. But is it impossible, it may be asked, for such a. man to reconcile with his conception of his people’s welfare the be- stowal on them of such political privileges as might educate them for the functions of self-government? Mr. Stead is an English Radical, but he does not take for granted that all European countries present the same conditions and require the same in» stitutions. He is convinced that, if all Russians were to go to the ballot box to- morrow, they Would vote for a change the precise reverse of that which is advocated by the Nihilists. They would by an im» mense majority isnsist upouLgiving the Czar more power instead of less. Such being the case, is not the Czar right in trying to do the duty which lies nearest to his hands, and in leaving to the future the problems thereon Describes a. feeling peculiar to persons of dys- peptic tendency, or caused by change of climate, season or life. The stomach is out of order, the head aches or does not fl )1 riggg, V AFarmer at Says: Colds and Lung Troubles. I have used German Syrup for six years successfully for Sore Throat, Cough, Out of govt-s eem strained to their utmost, the mind is. confused and. inn-able. This condition finds an excellent corrective in Hood's Sarsapa- mm, which, by its regulating and tuning powers. soon to the system, and gives that strengs‘n cf mind, nerves, and body, which makes one feel well. Edom. Texas, Cold, Hoarsenessp Pains in the Chest and Lungs, and spitting-up of Blood. I have tried many differ- ent kinds of cough Syrups in my time, but let me say to anyone want- ing such a medicineâ€"German Syrup is the best. That has been my ex- perience. If you use it once, you will go back to it Whenever you need it. It gives total relief and is a quick cure. My advice to every- one suffering with Lung T roubles is â€"-Try it. You will soon be con- vinced. In all the families where your German Syrup is used we have no John trouble with the - Lungs at all. It is wank“; the medicine for this country. a 8 Jones. 6. G. GREEN, Sole Man’fr,Woodbury,N.]. The Umberto 1., of the Italian General Navigation Company, has just reached Genoa, and brings the following story :â€"She was a. day out from St. Vincent, with a crew of 88, and 366 passengers. when one night, the sea. being perfectly calm, e. pry was heardâ€"“ We are going to the bottom ! We are sinking !” The boats were lowered, sigâ€" nals of distress were hoisted, and part of the crew kept the passengers quiet, for they were wild With fear. The water by this time had risen almost to six feet. Some of- ficers and sailors dived and found that the damage must have happened when the coal had been put in at St Vincent ; one of the “ hublots ” had been broken. The leak was stopped as well as possible, and then all hands set to work at the pumps. The steam- er’s course was changed, and she put back to St. Vincent, which she reached after thirty-eight hours of anxiety. â€" Son! by an druggists. 31; six (ors' . Prepared only by C. L HOOD & (10., Apmhecari' 3, Lowell, Mas: Dr. Keeley’s unwillingness to reveal the secret of his drink cure to the medical pro- fession of the “arid, on the plea. that in in- experienced hands it might misearry, can now be measured precisely. So far as it was limited to the State of Connecticut it was equal to just $80,000. For that sum Keeley has suppressed his fears of malprac- tice on .the art of physieiams and given his secret to a. octor in New Haven with the right to use it exclusively in his State. All that is now needed for Dr. Keeley to appear with the air of ordinary decency is to throw overboard his pretence of keeping his cure secret from motives of philanthropy and con- fess himself a. money maker in medication, pure and simple. He will then acquire the distinctive character of the quack, but he will still be a. quack of amazing success. I00 Doses One Dollar Sarsaparila Restores Harmony 38 llours‘ Terrible Anxlely The Nerves “ We are six in fam- ily. We live in a place where we are subjegt to violent