Page:The Story of the Cheeryble Grants.djvu/46

24  The Southern loons, sly, seized a chance, An’ made the Hielan’ birkies prance; But mony a head they made to dance Upon the Haughs o’ Cromdale!

The Grants, McKenzies, and Mackays, As soon’s their foemen they did spy. Stood fast and fought most manfully Upon the Haughs o’ Cromdale, etc.

An interesting antecedent to this chivalrous Highland stand for the Stuarts on Speyside in 1690 is found in the fact that Charles II., returning from exile, landed at the mouth of the Spey in 1650, just where the village of Kingston — which took its name from the event — now stands. That His Majesty might land dryshod, Thomas Milne, the ferryman, waded to the boatside, and, with the courteous deference of that time, with hands firmly planted on his knees, presented his