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as of a restless； daring disposition； went along with some of his followers under silence of night to Kintail； burnt the township of Cro； killed and burnt several men； women； and children； and carried away a large spoil of cattle。
Mackenzie； hearing of this sudden raid； became much concerned about the loss of his Kintail tenants； and decided to requite the quarrel by at once executing his commission against the Macdonalds of Glengarry； and immediately set out in pursuit； leaving a sufficient number of men at home to secure the safety of his property。 He took along with him a force of seventeen hundred men； at the same time taking three hundred cows from his farm of Strathbraan to maintain his followers。 Ross of Balnagowan sent a party of a hundred and eighty men； under command of Alexander Ross of Invercharron； to aid his neighbour of Kintail； while John Gordon of Embo commanded a hundred and twenty men sent to his aid by the Earl of Sutherland； in virtue of the long standing bond of manrent which existed between the two families； but Sir John 〃retired at Monar； growing faint…hearted before he saw the enemie〃。 Andrew Munro of Novar also accompanied Kintail on this； as on several previous expeditions。 The Macdonalds； hearing of Mackenzie's approach； drove all their cattle to Monar； where they gathered in strong force to guard them。 Kintail； learning this； marched straight where they were； harried and wasted all the country through which he had to pass； defeated and routed the Macdonalds； and drove into Kintail the largest booty ever heard of in the Highlands of Scotland； 〃both of cows； horses； small bestial； duinuasals； and plenishing； which he most generously distributed amongst his soldiers； and especially amongst such strangers as were with him； so that John Gordon of Embo was at his repentance for his return。〃 Mackenzie had only two men killed in this expedition； though a few of the Kintail men； whom he caused to be carried home on litters； were wounded。
Several instances are recorded of the prowess and intrepidity of Alexander of Coul on this occasion。 He was； excepting John MacMhurchaidh Mhic Gillechriost； the fastest runner in the Mackenzie country。 On his way to Kintail； leading his men and driving the creach before them； he met three or four hundred Camerons； who sent Mackenzie a message demanding 〃a bounty of the booty〃 for passing through their territory。 This Kenneth was about to grant； and ordered thirty cows and a few of the younger animals to be given； saying that it 〃was fit that hungry dogs should get a collop；〃 whereupon Alexander of Coul and his brave band of one hundred and twenty followers started aside and swore with a great oath that if the Camerons dared to take away a single head； they would； before night； pay dearly for them； and have to light for their collop； for he and his men； he said； had already nearly lost their lives driving them through a wild and narrow pass where eighteen of the enemy fell to their swords before they were able to get the cattle through； but he would now let them pass in obedience to his chief's commands。 The messengers； hearing the ominous threat； notwithstanding Kenneth's personal persuasion； declined on any account to take the cattle； and marched away 〃empty as they came。〃
Before starting from home on this expedition Kintail drove every one of Glengarry's followers out of their holdings in Lochalsh and Lochcarron； except a few of the 〃Mathewsons and the Clann Jan Uidhir；〃 and any others who promised to submit to him and engaged to prove their sincerity by 〃imbrowing their bands in the enemy's blood。〃 The Castle of Strome； however； still continued in possession of the Macdonalds。
Mackenzie； after his return home； had not well dissolved his camp when Alexander MacGorrie and Ranald MacRory made an incursion to the district of Kenlochewe； and there meeting some women and children who had fled from Lochcarron with their cattle； he attacked them unexpectedly； killed several of the defenceless women； all the male children； slaughtered and took away many of the cattle； and 〃houghed〃 all they were not able to carry along with them。
In the following autumn； Alexander MacGorrie made a voyage to Applecross in a great galley； contrary to the advice of all his friends； who looked upon that place as a sanctuary which all Highlanders had hitherto respected as the property of the Church。 Notwithstanding that many took refuge in it in the past； he was the first man who ever pursued a fugitive to the place； 〃but；〃 says our authority； 〃it fared no better with him or he rested； but be being informed that some Kintail men； whom he thought no sin to kill anywhere；〃 bad taken refuge there with their cattle； he determined to kill them； but on his arrival he found only two poor fellows； tending their cows。 These he murdered； slaughtered all the cows； and took away as many of them as his boat would carry。
A few days after this； Glengarry combined with the Clann Alain of Moydart （whose chief was at the time captain of Clan Ranald's men）； the Clann Ian Uidhir； and several others of the Macdonalds； who gathered together amongst them thirty…seven birlinns with the intention of sailing to Lochbroom； and on their return to burn and harry the whole of the Mackenzie territories on the west coast。 Coming to an arm of the sea on the east side of Kyleakin called Loch na Beist； opposite Lochalsh； they sent Alexander MacGorrie forward with eighty men in a large galley to examine the coast in advance of the main body。 They first landed in Applecross； in the same spot where MacGorrie had previously killed the two Kintail men。 Kenneth was at the time on a visit to Mackenzie of Gairloch； at his house on Island Rory in Loch…Maree； and hearing of Glengarry's approach and the object of his visit； he ordered all his coasts to be placed in readiness； and sent Alexander Mackenzie of Achilty with sixteen men and eight oarsmen； in an eight oared galley belonging to John Tolmach Macleod； son of Rory； son of Allan Macleod； who still possessed a small portion of Gairloch； to watch the enemy and examine the coast as far as Kylerhea。 John Tolmach himself accompanied them； in charge of the galley。 On their way south they landed by the merest chance at Applecross； on the north side of the point at which MacGorrie landed； where they noticed a woman gathering shellfish on the shore； and who no sooner saw them than she came forward and informed them that a great galley had landed in the morning on the other side of the promontory。
This they at once suspected to contain an advanced scout of the enemy； and； ordering their boat round the point； in charge of the oarsmen； they took the shortest cut across the neck of land； and； when half way along； they met one of Macdonald's sentries lying sound asleep on the ground。 He was soon sent to his long rest； and the Mackenzies blowing up a set of bagpipes found lying beside him； rushed towards the Macdonalds； who； suddenly surprised and alarmed by the sound of the Piob mhor； and thinking a strong force was falling down upon them； fled to their boat； except MacGorrie； who； when he left it；