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history of the mackenzies-第63章

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The author of the Ardintoul MS。 informs us that MacLean had  actually invaded Ardnamurchan; and carried fire and sword into that and  the adjoining territory of the Macdonalds; whereupon the Earl of Argyll; who claimed the Macdonalds of those districts as his vassals and dependants; obtained criminal letters against MacLean; who; finding this; sent for his brother…in…law; Mackenzie of Kintail; at whose request he had  invaded the country of the Macdonalds。  Both started for Inveraray。  The  Earl seemed most determined to punish MacLean; but Mackenzie  informed him that 〃he should rather be blamed for it than MacLean; and  the King and Council than either of them; for he having obtained; upon  good grounds; a commission of fire and sword against Glengarry and such  as would assist him; and against these men's rebellious and wicked  courses; which frequently his lordship seemed to own; that he did charge; as he did several others of the king's loyal subjects; MacLean to assist  him。〃  So that; if Maclean was to be punished for acting as his friend and as a loyal subject; he hoped to obtain a hearing before the King and  Council under whose orders he acted。  After considerable discussion they  parted good friends; Argyll having agreed not to molest MacLean any  further。  Mackenzie and MacLean returned to Duart; where his lordship  was warmly received and sumptuously entertained by MacLean's  immediate friends and kinsmen for the service which he had just rendered  to their chief。  While thus engaged; a messenger arrived at the castle from  Mackenzie's lady and the Kintail men。

After the funeral of young Angus of Glengarry; she became  concerned about her husband's safe return; and was at the same time most anxious that he should be advised of the state of matters at home。 She  therefore despatched Robert Mac Dhomh'uill Uidhir to arrange the safest  plan for bringing her lord safely home; as the Macdonalds were still  prowling among the creeks and bays further south。 Robert; after the  interchange of unimportant preliminaries; on his arrival in Mull; informed  his master of all that had taken place during his absence。  MacLean;  surprised to hear of such gallant conduct by the Kintail men in the absence  of their chief; asked Mackenzie if any of his own kinsmen were amongst  them; and being informed they were not; Maclean replied; 〃It was a great  and audacious deed to be done by fellows。〃  〃Truly; MacLean;〃 returned Mackenzie; 〃they were not fellows that were there; but prime gentlemen;  and such fellows as would act the enterprise better than myself and  kinsmen。〃  〃You have very great reason to make the more of them;〃 said  Maclean; 〃he is a happy superior who has such a following。〃  Both chiefs  then went outside to consult as to the best and safest means for  Mackenzie's homeward journey。 MacLean offered him all his chief and  best men to accompany him by land; but this he declined; saying that he  would not put his friend to such inconvenience; and would return home in  his own boat just as he came; but he was ultimately persuaded to take  MacLean's great galley; his own being only a small one。  He sailed in his friend's great birlinn; under the command of the Captain of Cairnburgh;  accompanied by several other gentlemen of the MacLeans。

In the meantime; the Macdonalds; aware that Mackenzie had not  yet returned from Mull; 〃convened all the boats and galleys they could; to  a certain island which lay in his course; and which he could not avoid  passing。  So; coming within sight of the island; having a good prospect of  a number of boats; after they bad ebbed in a certain harbour; and men also  making ready to set out to sea。 This occasioned the captain to use a  stratagem; and steer directly to the harbour; and still as they came forward  be caused lower the sail; which the other party perceiving made them  forbear putting out their boats; persuading themselves that it was a galley  they expected from Ardnamurchan; but they had no sooner come forgainst the harbour but the captain caused hoist sail; set oars and steers aside; immediately bangs up a bagpiper and gives them shots。  The rest; finding  the cheat and their own mistake; made such a hurly…burly setting out their  boats; with their haste they broke some of them; and some of themselves  were bruised and bad broken shins also for their prey; and such as went  out whole; perceiving the galley so far off; thought it was folly to pursue  her any further; they all returned wiser than they came from home。  This  is; notwithstanding other men's reports; the true and real narration of Glengarrie Younger his progress; of the Kintail men their meeting him in  Kyle Rhea; of my lord's coming from Mull; and of the whole success;  which I have heard verbatim not only from one but from several that were  present at their actings。〃 'Ancient MS。 The authors of the Letterfearn and  Ardintoul MSS。 give substantially the same account; and say that among  those who accompanied Mackenzie to Mull; was 〃Rory Beg Mackenzie;  son to Rory More of Achiglunichan。 Fairburn and Achilty's predecessor;  and who afterwards died parson of Contine; from whom my author had  the full account of Mackenzie's voyage to Mull。〃'

Mackenzie arrived at Ellandonnan late at night; where he found his lady still entertaining her brave Kintail men after their return from  Glengarry's funeral。  While not a little concerned about the death of his troublesome relative; he heartily congratulated his gallant retainers on the  manner in which they had protected his interests during his absence。

Certain that the Macdonalds would never rest satisfied until they wiped  out and revenged the death of their leader; Mackenzie determined to drive them out of the district altogether。  The castle of Strome still in possession  of Glengarry; was the greatest obstacle in carrying out this resolution; for  it was a good and convenient asylum for the Macdonalds when pursued by  Mackenzie and his followers; but he ultimately succeeded in wresting it  from them。

The following account is given in the Ancient MS。 of how it was taken from them:〃In the spring of the following year; Lord Kintail gathered together considerable forces and besieged the castle of Strone in  Lochcarron; which at first held out very manfully; and would not  surrender; though several terms were offered; which he (Mackenzie)  finding not willing to lose his men; resolved to raise the siege for a time;  but the defenders were so unfortunate as to have their powder damaged by  the women they had within。  Having sent them out by silence of night to  draw in water; out of a well that lay just at the entrance of the castle; the  silly women were in such fear; and the room they brought the water into  being so dark for want of light; when they came in they poured the water into a vat; missing the right one; wherein the few barrels of powder they had lay。  And in the morning; when the men came for more powder;  having exhausted the supply of the previous day; they found the barrels of  powder floating in the vat; so they began to rail and abuse the poor  women; which the fore…mentioned Duncan Mac Ian Mhic Gilliechallum;  still a prisoner in the castle; hearing; 
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