history of the mackenzies-第43部分

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trong　force　was　falling　down　upon　them；　fled　to　their　boat；　　except　MacGorrie；　who；　when　he　left　it；　swore　a　great　oath　that　he　would　　never　return　with　his　back　to　the　enemy；　but　finding　it　impossible　single…handed　to　resist；　he　retired　a　little；　closely　followed　by　the　Mackenzies　who　furiously　attacked　him。　　He　was　now　forced　to　draw　aside　to　a　rock；　　against　which　he　placed　his　back；　and　fought　right　manfully；　defending　　himself　with　extraordinary　intrepidity；　receiving　the　enemy's　arrows　in　his　　targe。　　He　was　ultimately　wounded　by　an　arrow　which　struck　him　under　　the　belt；　yet　no　one　dared　to　approach　him；　but　John　Dubh　Mac　Choinnich　　Mhic　Mhurchaidh　noticing　his　amazing　agility；　observing　that　his　party　　had　arrived　with　the　boat；　and　fearing　they　would　lose　Glengarry's　galley　unless　they　at　once　pursued　it；　went　round　to　the　back　of　the　rock　against　　which　the　brave　Macdonald　stood；　carrying　a　great　boulder；　which　he　　dropped　straight　on　to　MacGorrie's　head；　instantly　killing　him。　　Thus　died　the　most　skilful　and　best　chieftainhad　he　possessed　equal　wisdom　and　　discretionthen　alive　among　the　Macdonalds　of　Glengarry。

The　Mackenzies　immediately　took　to　their　boat；　pursuing　　Macdonald's　galley　to　Loch　na　Beist；　where；　noticing　the　enemy's　whole　　fleet　coming　out　against　them；　John　Tolmach　Macleod　recommended　his　　men　to　put　out　to　sea；　but　finding　the　fleet　gaining　upon　them；　they　decided　to　land　in　Applecross；　where　they　were　nearly　overtaken　by　the　　enemy。　　They　were　obliged　to　leave　their　boat　and　run　for　their　lives；　hotly　　pursued　by　the　Macdonalds；　and　were　it　not　that　one　of　Mackenzie's　men　　John　Mac　Rory　Mhic　Mhurchaidh　Mathewsonwas　so　well　acquainted　　with　the　ground；　and　led　them　to　a　ford　on　the　river　between　two　rocks；　　which　the　Macdonalds　missed；　and　the　night　coming　on；　they　would　have　　been　unable　to　escape　with　their　lives。　　The　Macdonalds　retraced　their　　steps　to　their　boats；　and　on　the　way　discovered　the　body　of　Alexander　　MacGorrie；　whose　death　〃put　their　boasting　to　mourning；〃　and　conceiving　　his　fate　ominous　of　additional　misfortunes；　they；　carrying　him　along　with　them；　prudently　returned　home；　and　disbanded　all　their　followers。　　In　the　flight　of　the　Mackenzies　Alexander　of　Achilty；　being　so　stout　that　he　　fainted　on　the　way；　was　nearly　captured。　　John　MacChoinnich；　who　　noticed　him　falling；　threw　some　water　on　him；　and；　drawing　his　sword；　　swore　that　he　would　kill　him　on　the　spot　if　he　did　not　get　up　at　once　rather　　than　that　the　enemy　should　have　the　honour　of　killing　or　capturing　him。　　　They　soon　arrived　at　Gairloch's　house　in　the　island　on　Loch…Maree；　and　　gave　a　full　account　of　their　expedition；　whereupon　Kintail　at　once　decided　　upon　taking　active　measures　against　the　Macdonalds。　　In　the　meantime　he　　was　assured　that　they　had　returned　to　their　own　country。　　He　soon　returned　home；　and　found　that　the　people　of　Kintail　and　Glengarry；　tiring　of　those　incessant　slaughters　and　mutual　injuries；　agreed；　during　his　absence；　in　the　　month　of　May；　to　cease　hostilities　until　the　following　Lammas。　　Of　this　　agreement　Kintail　knew　nothing；　and　young　Glengarry；　who　was　of　an　　exceedingly　bold　and　restless　disposition；　against　the　earnest　solicitations　　of　his　father；　who　became　a　party　to　this　agreement　between　his　people　　and　those　of　Kintail；　started　with　a　strong　force　to　Glenshiel　and　　Letterfearn；　while　Allan　Macdonald　of　Lundy　with　another　party　went　to　　Glenelchaig；　harried　those　places；　took　away　a　large　number　of　cattle；　and　　killed　some　of　the　aged　men；　several　women；　and　all　the　male　children。

They　found　none　of　the　principal　and　able…bodied　men；　who　had　withdrawn　some　distance　that　they　might　with　greater　advantage　gather　together　in　a　body　and　defend　themselves；　except　Duncan　MacIan　Mhic　　Ghillechallum　in　Killichirtorn；　whom　the　enemy　apprehended；　and　would　　have　killed；　had　not　one　of　the　Macdonalds；　formerly　his　friend　and　　acquaintance；　prevailed　upon　young　Glengarry　to　save　his　life；　and　send　　him　to　the　Castle　of　Strome；　where　he　still　had　a　garrison；　rather　than　kill　　him。

The　successful　result　of　this　expedition　encouraged　Angus　so　much　that　he　began　to　think　fortune　had　at　last　turned　in　his　favour；　and　he　set　　out　and　called　personally　upon　all　the　chief　and　leaders　of　the　various　　branches　of　the　Macdonalds　in　the　west；　soliciting　their　assistance　against　　the　Mackenzies；　which　they　all　agreed　to　give　him　in　the　following　spring。

This　soon　came　to　Mackenzie's　knowledge；　who　was　at　the　time　residing　in　Ellandonnan　Castle；　and　fearing　the　consequences　of　such　a　　powerful　combination　against　him；　he　went　privately　to　Mull　by　sea　to　　consult　his　brother…in…law；　Hector　Og　Maclean　of　Duart；　to　whom　he　told　　that　he　had　a　commission　of　fire　and　sword　against　〃the　rebels　of　　Glengarry　and　such　as　would　rise　in　arms　to　assist　them；　and　being　　informed　that　the　Macdonalds　near　him　（Maclean）　had　combined　to　join　　them；　and　to　put　him　to　further　trouble；　that；　therefore；　he　would；　not　only　　as　a　good　subject　but　as　his　fast　friend；　divert　these　whenever　they　should　　rise　in　arms　against　him。〃　＇Ardintoul　MS。＇　　Maclean　undertook　to　prevent　　the　assistance　of　the　Clan　Ranald　of　Isla　and　the　Macdonalds　of　Glencoe　　and　Ardnamurchan；　by；　if　necessary；　invading　their　territories；　and　thus　　compelling　them　to　protect　their　own　interests　at　home。　　It　appears　that　old　　Glengarry　was　still　anxious　to　arrange　a　permanent　peace　with　Mackenzie；　　but　his　son　Angus；　restless　and　turbulent　as　ever；　would　not　hear　of　any　　peaceful　settlement；　and　determined　to　start　at　once　upon　an　expedition；　　from　which　his　father　told　him　at　the　time　he　had　little　hopes　of　his　ever　　returning　alivea　prediction　which　turned　out　only　too　true。

Angus；　taking　advantage　of　Mackenzie's　absence　in　Mull；　　gathered；　in　the　latter　end　of　November；　as　secretly　as　be　could；　all　the　boats　and　great　galleys　within　his　reach；　and；　with　this　large　fleet　loaded　　with　his　followers　passed　through　the　Kyles　under　silence　of　night；　and；　　coming　to　Lochcarron；　he　sent　his　marauders　ashore　in　the　twilight。　　The　　inhabitants　perceiving　them；　escaped　to　the　hills；　but　the　Macdonalds　　cruelly　slaughtered　all　the　aged　men　who　could　not　escape；　and　many　of　　the　women　and　children　seized　all　the　cattle；　and　drove　them　to　the　Island　　of　Slumbay；　where　their　boats　which　they　filled　with　the　carcases　lay。

Before；　however；　they　had　fully　loaded；　the　alarm　having　gone　through　the　districts　of　Lochalsh　and　Kintail；　some　of　the　natives　of　those　districts　were　seen　marching　in　the　direction　of　Lochcarron。　The　Macdonalds　　deemed　it　prudent　to　remain　no　longer；　and　set　out　to　sea　pursued　by　a　　shower　of　arrows　by　way　of　farewell；　which；　however；　had　little　effect　　upon　them；　as　they　were　already　out　of　range。

The　Kintail　men；　by　the　shortest　route；　now　returned　to　　Ellandonnan；　sending　twelve　of　the　swiftest　of　their　number　across　　country　to　Inverinate；　where　lay；　newly　built；　a　twelve…oared　galley；　which　had　never　been　to　sea；　belonging　to　Gillecriost　MacDhonnchaidh；　one　of　　Inverinate's　tenants。　　These　heroes　made　such　rapid　progress　that　they　　were　back　at　the　castle　with　the　boat　before　many　of　their　companions　　arrived　from　Lochcarron。　　During　the　night　they　set　to　work；　superintended　　and　encouraged　by　Lady　Mackenzie　in　person；　to　make　arrangements　to　go　　out　and　meet　the　enemy。　　The　best　men　were　quickly　picked。　　The　Lady　　supplied　them　with　all　the　materials　and　necessaries　for　the　journey　within　　her　reach；　handed　them　the　lead　and　powder　with　her　own　hands；　and　gave　　them　two　small　pieces　of　brass　ordnance。　　She　ordered　Duncan　　MacGillechriost；　a　powerful　handsome　fellow；　to　take　command　of　the　　galley　in　his　father's　absence；　and　in　eloquent　terms　charged　them　all　with　　the　honour　of　her　house　and　her　own　protection　in　her　husband's　absence。

This　was　hardly　necessary；　for　the　Kintail　men　had　not　yet　forgotten　the　　breach　of　faith　which　had　been　committed　by　Macdonald　regarding　the　　recent　agreement　to　cease　hostilities　for　a　stated　time；　and　other　recent　sores。　　Her　ladyship　having　wished　them　God…speed；　they　started　on　their　　way　rejoicing　and　in　the　best　of　spirits。　She　mounted　the　castle　walls；　and　　stood　there　encouraging　them　until；　by　the　darkness　of　the　night；　she　could　　no　longer　see　them。

On　their　way　towards　Kylerhea　they　met　a　boat　from　Lochalsh　sent　out　to　inform　them　of　the　enemy's　arrival　at　Kyleakin。　　Learning　this；　they　　cautiously　kept　their　course　close　to　the　south　side　of　the　loch。　　It　was　a　　calm　moonlight　night；　with　occasional　slight　showers　of　snow。　　The　tide　　had　already　begun　to　flow；　and；　judging　that　the　Macdonalds　would　await　　the　next　turning　of　the　tide　to　enable　them　to　get　through　Kylerhea；　the　　Kintail　men；　longing　for　their　prey；　resolved　to　advance　and　meet　them。

They　had　not　proceeded　far；　rowing　very　gently；　after　placing　seaweed　in　　the　rowlocks　so　as　not　to　make　a　noise；　when　they　noticed　a　boat；　rowing　　at　the　hardest；　coming　in　their　direction；　but　from　its　small　size　they　　thought　it　must　have　been　sent　by　the　Macdonalds　in　advance　to　test　the　　passage　of　Kylerhea。　　They　therefore　allowed　it　to　pass　unmolested；　and　　proceeded　northward；　looking　for　Macdonald's　own　galley。　　As　they　　neared　the　Cailleach；　a　low　rock　midway　between　both　Kyles；　it　was　　observed　in　the　distance　covered　with　snow。　　The　night　also　favoured　　them；　the　sea；　calm；　appearing　black　and　mournful　to　the　enemy。　　Here　　they　met　Macdonald's　first　galley；　and　drawing　up　near　it；　they　soon　　discovered　it　to　be　no　other　than　his　own　great　birlinn；　some　distance　　ahead　of　the　rest　of　the　fleet。　Macdonald；　as　soon　as　he　noticed　them；　　called　out　〃Who　is　there？〃　twice　in　succession；　but　receiving　no　answer；　　and　finding　the　Kintail　men　drawing　nearer；　he　called　out　the　third　time；　when；　in　reply；　he　received　a　full　broadside　from　Mackenzie's　cannon；　　which　disabled　his　galley　and　threw　her　on　the　Cailleach　Rock。

The　men　on　board　Macdonald's　galley　thought　they　had　been　　driven　on　shore；　and　flocked　to　the　fore　part　of　the　boat；　striving　to　escape；　　thus　capsizing　and　filling　the　birlinn。　　Discovering　their　position；　and　　seeing　a　long　stretch　of　sea　lying　between　them　and　the　mainland；　they　　became　quite　confused；　and　were　completely　at