第 47 节
作者:西门在线      更新:2021-09-29 13:02      字数:9322
  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; 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