history of the mackenzies-第21节

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abitants　and　more　immediate　retainers　of　the　family　　to　the　sword；　resolutely　determined　to　punish　Mackenzie　for　his　ill…treatment　of　Lady　Margaret　and　recover　possession　of　that　part　of　the　　Earldom　of　Ross　forfeited　by　the　earls　of　that　name；　and　now　the　property　of　Mackenzie　by　Royal　charter。　　Having　wasted　Strathconan；　Macdonald　arrived　on　Sunday　morning　at　Contin；　where　he　found　the　people　in　great　　terror　and　confusion；　and　the　able…bodied　men　having　already　joined　　Mackenzie；　the　aged；　the　women；　and　the　children　took　refuge　in　the　　church；　thinking　themselves　secure　within　its　precincts　from　any　enemy　　professing　Christianity。　　They　soon；　to　their　horror；　found　out　their　　mistake。　　Macdonald；　having　little　or　no　scruples　on　the　score　of　religion；　　ordered　the　doors　to　be　closed　and　guarded；　and　then　set　fire　to　the　　building。　　The　priest；　together　with　the　hapless　crowd　of　helpless　and　aged　　men；　women　and　children；　were　all　burnt　to　ashes。

Some　of　those　who　were　fortunate　enough　not　to　have　been　in　　Contin　church　immediately　started　for　Kinellan；　and　informed　Mackenzie　of　the　hideous　massacre。　　Alexander；　though　deeply　grieved　at　the　cruel　　destruction　of　his　people；　expressed　his　gratitude　that　the　enemy；　whom　he　　had　hitherto　considered　too　numerous　to　contend　with　successfully；　had　　now　engaged　God　against　them　by　their　impious　conduct。　　Contin　was　not　　far　from　Kinellan；　and　Macdonald；　thinking　that　Mackenzie　would　not　　remain　at　the　latter　place　with　such　a　comparatively　small　force；　ordered　Gillespic　to　draw　up　his　followers　on　the　large　moor；　now　known　as　〃Blar…na…Pairc；〃　that　he　might　review　them；　and　send　out　a　detachment　to　pursue　the　enemy。　Kenneth　Mackenzie；　who　had　received　the　command　of　the　　clan　from　the　old　chief；　had　meantime　posted　his　men　in　a　strong　position　on　ground　where　he　considered　he　could　defend　himself　against　a　superior　force；　and　conveniently　situated　to　attack　the　enemy　if　a　　favourable　opportunity　occurred。　　His　followers　only　amounted　to　six　　hundred；　while　his　opponent　had　at　least　three　times　that　number；　but　he　　had　the　advantage　in　another　respect　inasmuch　as　he　had　sufficient　　provisions　for　a　much　longer　period　than　Macdonald　could　possibly　　procure　for　his　larger　force；　the　country　people　having　driven　their　cattle　　and　all　the　provender　that　might　be　of　service　to　the　enemy　out　of　his　　reach。　　About　mid…day　the　Islesmen　were　drawn　up　on　the　moor；　about　a　　quarter　of　a　mile　distant　from　the　position　occupied　by　the　Mackenzies；　　the　opposing　forces　being　only　separated　from　each　other　by　a　peat　moss；　　full　of　deep　pits　and　deceitful　bogs。　　Kenneth；　fearing　a　siege；　had　shortly　　before　this　prevailed　upon　his　aged　father　to　retire　to　the　Raven's　Rock；　above　Strathpeffer；　to　which　place；　strong　and　easily　defended；　he　resolved　to　follow　him　in　case　he　were　compelled　to　retreat　before　the　　numerically　superior　force　of　his　enemy。　　This　the　venerable　Alexander　　did；　recommending　his　son　to　the　assistance　and　protection　of　a　Higher　　Power；　at　the　same　time　assuring　him　of　success；　notwithstanding　the　far　　more　numerous　numbers　of　his　adversary。

By　the　nature　of　the　ground；　Kenneth　perceived　that　Macdonald　　could　not　bring　all　his　forces　to　the　attack　at　once；　and　he　accordingly　resolved　to　maintain　his　ground　and　try　the　effects　of　a　stratagem　which　he　　correctly　　calculated　　would　　mislead　　his　opponent　and　place　him　at　a　　serious　disadvantage。　　He　acquainted　his　younger　brother；　Duncan；　with　　his　resolution　and　plans；　and　sent　him　off；　before　the　struggle　commenced；　　with　a　body　of　archers　to　be　placed　in　ambush；　while　he　determined　to　　cross　the　peat…bog　himself　and　attack　Macdonald　in　front　with　the　main　　body；　intending　to　retreat　as　soon　as　his　adversary　returned　the　attack；　and　　thus　entice　the　Islesmen　to　pursue　him。　　He　informed　Duncan　of　his　own　　intention　to　retreat　and　commanded　him　to　be　in　readiness　with　his　archers　to　charge　the　enemy　whenever　they　got　fairly　into　the　moss　and　entangled　　among　the　pits　and　bogs。

Having　made　these　preliminary　arrangements；　he　boldly　advanced　　to　meet　the　foe；　leading　his　resolute　band　in　the　direction　of　the　intervening　moss。　　Macdonald；　seeing　him；　cried　in　derision　to　Gillespic　to　　see　〃Mackenzie's　impudent　madness；　daring　thus　to　face　him　at　such　　disadvantage。〃　Gillespic；　being　a　more　experienced　leader　than　the　　youthful　and　impetuous　Alexander；　said　that　〃such　extraordinary　boldness　　should　be　met　by　more　extraordinary　wariness　in　us；　lest　we　fall　into　　unexpected　inconvenience。〃　　Macdonald；　in　a　towering　passion；　replied　to　　this　wise　counsel〃Go　you　also　and　join　with　them；　and　it　will　not　need　our　care　nor　move　the　least　fear　in　my　followers；　both　of　you　will　not　be　a　　breakfast　to　me　and　　mine。〃　　Meanwhile　Mackenzie　advanced　a　little　　beyond　the　moss；　avoiding；　from　his　intimate　knowledge　of　it；　all　the　dangerous　pits　and　bogs；　when　Maclean　of　Lochbuy；　who　led　the　van　of　　the　enemy's　army；　advanced　and　charged　him　with　great　fury。　Mackenzie；　　according　to　his　pre…arranged　plan；　at　once　retreated；　but　in　so　masterly　a　　manner　that；　in　doing　so；　he　inflicted　as　much　damage　on　the　enemy　as　he　　received。　　The　Islesmen　speedily　got　entangled　in　the　moss；　and　Duncan　　Mackenzie　observing　this；　rushed　forth　from　his　ambush　and　furiously　　attacked　them　in　flank　and　rear；　killing　most　of　those　who　had　entered　the　　bog。　　He　then　turned　his　attention　to　the　main　body　of　the　Islesmen；　who　　were　quite　unprepared　　for　so　sudden　　an　　onslaught。　Kenneth；　setting　this；　　charged　with　his　main　body；　who　were　all　well　instructed　in　their　leader's　　design；　and；　before　the　enemy　were　able　to　form　in　order　of　battle；　he　fell　　on　their　right　flank　with　such　impetuosity　and　did　such　execution　among　　them　that　they　were　compelled　to　fall　back　in　confusion　before　the　　splendid　onset　of　the　small　force　which　they　had　so　recently　sneered　at　　and　despised。　　Gillespic；　stung　by　Alexander　Macdonald's　taunt　before　the　engagement　began；　to　prove　to　him　that　〃though　he　was　wary　in　council　　he　was　not　fearful　in　action；〃　sought　out　Kenneth　Mackenzie；　that　he　　might　engage　him　in　single　combat；　and　followed　by　some　of　his　bravest　followers　he；　with　signal　valour；　did　great　execution　among　the　Mackenzies　in　course　of　his　approach　to　Kenneth；　who　was　in　the　hottest　　of　the　fight；　and　who；　seeing　Gillespic　coming　in　his　direction；　advanced　to　meet　him；　killing；　wounding；　or　scattering　any　of　the　Macdonalds　that　　came　in　his　way。　　He　made　a　signal　to　Gillespic　to　advance　and　meet　him　　hand…to…hand；　but；　finding　him　hesitating；　Kenneth；　who　far　exceeded　him　　in　strength　while　he　equalled　him　in　courage；　would　brook　no　tedious　　debate　but　pressed　on　with　fearful　eagerness；　at　one　blow　cut　off　　Gillespic's　arm　arid　passed　very　far　into　his　body　so　that　he　fell　down　dead　　on　the　spot。

At　this　moment　Kenneth　noticed　his　standard…bearer　close　by；　　without　his　colours；　and　fighting　desperately　to　his　own　hand。　　He　turned　round　to　him；　and　angrily　asked　what　had　become　of　his　colours；　when　he　　was　coolly　answered〃　I　left　Macdonald's　standard…bearer；　quite　　unashamed　of　himself；　and　without　the　slightest　concern　for　those　of　his　　own　chief；　carefully　guarding　mine。〃　Kenneth　naturally　demanded　an　　explanation　of　such　an　extraordinary　state　of　matters；　when　the　man　　informed　him　that　he　had　met　Macdonald's　standard…bearer　in　the　conflict；　and　had　been　fortunate　enough　to　slay　him；　that　he　had　thrust　the　staff　of　　his　own　standard　through　his　opponent's　body　　and　as　there　appeared　to　be　some　good　work　to　do　among　the　enemy；　he　had　left　some　of　his　　companions　to　guard　the　standard；　and　devoted　himself　to　do　what　little　he　　could　to　aid　his　master；　and　protect　him　from　his　adversaries。　　Maclean　of　　Lochbuy　（Lachlainn　MacThearlaich）　was　killed　　by　〃Duncan　mor　na　　Tuaighe；〃　Mackenzie's　〃great　scallag；〃　of　whom　we　have　the　following　　curious　account：

Shortly　before　the　battle；　a　raw；　ungainly；　but　powerful　looking　youth　from　Kintail　was　seen　staring　about；　as　the　Mackenzies　were　starting　to　meet　the　enemy；　in　an　apparently　idiotic　manner；　as　if　looking　　for　something。　　He　ultimately　came　across　an　old　rusty　battle…axe；　of　great　　size；　and；　setting　off　after　the　others；　he　arrived　at　the　scene　of　strife　just　　as　the　combatants　were　closing　with　each　other。　　Duncan　Macrae　（for　such　　was　his　name）；　from　his　stupid　and　ungainly　appearance；　was　taken　little　　notice　of；　and　was　wandering　about　in　an　aimless；　vacant；　half…idiotic　　manner。　Hector　　Roy；　Alexander's　third　son；　and　progenitor　of　the　　Gairloch　Mackenzies；　observing　him；　asked　why　he　was　not　taking　part　in　　the　fight；　and　supporting　his　chief　and　clan。　　Duncan　replied〃Mar　a　faigh　　mi　miabh　duine；　cha　dean　mi　gniomh　duine。〃　　（Unless　I　get　a　man's　　esteem；　I　shall　not　perform　a　man's　work。）　　This　was　in　reference　to　his　　not　having　been　provided　with　a　proper　weapon。　Hector　answered　him〃Deansa　gniomh　duine　‘s　gheibh　thu　miabh　duine。〃　　（Perform　a　man's　　work　and　you　will　get　a　man's　esteem。）　Duncan　at　once　rushed　into　the　　strife；　exclaiming〃Buille　mhor　bho　chul　mo　laimhe；　　‘s　ceum　leatha；　am　fear　nach　teich　rombam；　teicheam　roimhe。〃　　（A　heavy　stroke　from　the　　back　of　my　hand　＇arm＇　and　a　step　to　＇enforce＇　it　　He　who　does　not　get