history of the mackenzies-第28节

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o　　guard　against　surprise　or　design　on　John's　part。　　Accompanied　by　these；　he　　soon　arrived　at　Torridon；　where　he　found　his　thirty　fellow　adventurers　and　　the　galley　awaiting　him。　They　at　once　set　sail；　and　with　a　fair　wind　made　　for　the　Isles；　in　the　direction　of；　and　as　if　intending　to　make　for；　Ireland。

The　retinue　sent　by　Hector　Roy　returned　home；　and　informed　their　master　　that　they　saw　John　and　his　companions　started　before　a　far　wind；　with　　sails　set；　in　the　direction　of　Ireland　when　Hector　exclaimed；　referring　to　　Anne　of　Lovat；　〃We　may　now　sleep　without　fear　of　Anne's　children。〃

John；　sailing　down　Loch　Torridon；　and　judging　that　Hector's　men　　had　returned　home；　made　for　a　sheltered　and　isolated　creek；　landed　in　a　　wood；　and　dispersed　his　men　with　instructions　to　go　by　the　most　private　　and　unfrequented　paths　in　the　direction　of　Alit　Corrienarnich；　in　the　braes　　of　Torridon；　where　he　would　meet　them。　　This　done；　they　followed　　Hector's　men；　being　quite　close　up　to　them　by　the　time　they　reached　　Fairburn。　　John　halted　at　some　little　distance　from　Hector's　house　until　　about　midnight；　when；　calling　his　men　together；　he　feelingly　addressed　　them　thus：〃Now；　my　good　friends；　I　perceive　that　you　are　indeed　　affectionate　to　me；　and　resolute　men；　who　have　freely　forsaken　your　　country　and　relations　to　share　in　my　not　very　promising　fortune　　but　my　　design　in　seeking　only　such　as　would　voluntarily　go　along　with　me　was　　that　I　might　be　certain　of　your　affection　and　resolution；　and　since　you　are　　they　whom　I　ought　only　to　rely　upon　in　my　present　circumstances　and　danger；　I　shall　now　tell　you　that　I　was　never　so　faint…hearted　as　to　quit　my　　inheritance　without　attempting　what　is　possible　for　any　man　in　my　　capacity。　　In　order　to　this　I　feigned　this　design　for　Ireland　for　three　　reasons；　first；　to　put　my　uncle　in　security；　whom　I　have　found　ever　hitherto　　very　circumspect　and　well　guarded；　next；　to　find　out　a　select；　faithful　　number　to　whom　I　might　trust　and　thirdly；　that　in　case　I　fail；　and　that　my　　uncle　shall　prevail　over　my　endeavours；　that　I　might　have　this　boat　and　　these　provisions　as　a　safe　retreat；　both　for　myself　and　you；　whom　I　should　　be　loath　to　expose　to　so　great　a　danger　without　some　probability　in　the　attempt；　and　some　security　in　the　disappointment。　　I　am　resolved　this　night　　to　fall　on　my　uncle　for　he　being　gone；　there　is　none　of　his　children　who　　dare　hope　to　repose　themselves　to　his　place。　The　countrymen　who　now；　　for　fear；　depend　on　him　and　disown　me；　will；　no　doubt；　on　the　same　　motives；　promoved　with　my　just　title；　own　me　against　all　other　injurious　　pretenders。　　One　thing　I　must　require　of　you；　and　it　is　that　albeit　those　on　　whom　we　are　to　fall　are　all　related　both　to　you　and　to　me；　yet　since　on　　their　destruction　depends　the　preservation　of　our　lives；　and　the　restitution　of　my　estate；　you　must　all　promise　not　to　give　quarter　to　my　uncle　or　to　　any　of　his　company。〃

To　this　inhuman　resolution　they　all　agreed；　disregarding　the　natural　ties　of　blood　and　other　obligations；　and；　marching　as　quietly　as　possible；　　they　arrived　at　Hector's　house；　surrounded　it；　and　set　fire　to　itguarding　it　　all　round　so　that　not　a　soul　could　escape。　The　house　was　soon　in　flames；　and　the　inmates；　Hector　and　his　household；　were　crying　out　for　mercy。　　　Their　pitiful　cries　made　an　impression　on　those　outside；　for　many　of　them　had　relatives　within；　and　in　spite　of　their　previous　resolution　to　give　no　quarter；　some　of　them　called　out　to　their　nearest　friends　to　come　out　and　surrender；　on　assurance　of　their　lives　being　spared。　　John　seeing　so　many　of　his　followers　moved　to　this　merciful　conduct；　and　being　unable　to　resist　　them；　exclaimed；　〃My　uncle　is　as　near　in　blood　to　me　as　any　in　the　house　　are　to　you；　and　therefore　I　will　be　as　kind　to　him　as　you　are　to　them。〃

He　　then　called　upon　Hector　to　surrender　and　come　forth　from　the　burning　　pile；　assuring　him　of　his　life。　　This　he　did；　but　Donald　Dubh　　MacGillechriost　Mhic　Gillereach；　a　Kenlochewe　man；　made　for　the　door　　with　his　two…edged　sword　drawn；　whereupon　Hector　seeing　him　called　out　　to　John　that　he　would　rather　be　burned　where　he　was　than　face　Donald　　Dubh。　　John　called　the　latter　away；　and　Hector　rushed　out　into　his　　nephew's　arms　and　　embraced　him。　　That　same　night　John　and　Hector；　　without　〃Dysman；〃　saving　God　and　such　commons　as　were　then　present；　　agreed　and　condescended　that　Hector　should　have　the　estate　till　John　was　　twenty…one　years　of　age；　and　that　John　should　live　on　his　own　purchases　　till　then；　　　Hector　was　to　set　the　whole　estate　immediately；　as　tutor　to　John；　　which　next　day　he　went　about。　　〃I　cannot　forget　what　passed　betwixt　him　　and　the　foresaid　Donald　at　the　set　of　Kenlochewe；　who　was　one　of　the　first　　that　sought　land　from　him；　which　when　he　sought；　Hector　says　to　him：　　‘I　　wonder；　Donald；　how　you　can　ask　land　this　day；　that　was　so　forward　　to　　kill　me　the　last　day。'　　Donald　answered　that　‘if　he　had　such　a　leader　this　　day　as　he　had　that　night　he　should　show　him　no　better　quarters；　for　　Kenneth's　death　（meaning　Kenneth　Aack）　struck　nearer　my　heart　than　any　　prejudice　you　can　do　me　in　denying　me　land　this　day。'　　Hector　said；　‘Well　Donald；　I　doubt　ye　not　if　you　had　such　coildghys　（coldhaltasfosterage）　to　　me　as　you　had　to　that　man　but　you　would　act　the　like　for　me。　　Therefore　you　shall　have　your　choice　of　all　the　land　in　the　country。'　　Hector　having　　set　the　whole　estate　as　tutor；　all　things　seemed　fair；　only　that　Allan　and　his　　faction　in　Kintail；　who　previously　urged　John　to　possess　himself　of　　Ellandonnan　Castle；　were　not　satisfied　with　the　arrangement；　as　John　was　　still　kept　out　of　the　stronghold；　‘which　Hector　would　not　grant；　not　being　　condescended　on　（and　as　he　alleged）　lest　John　should　fail　on　his　part　　but　　the　factionsthe　commonswithin　that　country　could　not　be　satisfied　　herewith；　being；　as　it　was　said；　moved　hereto　by　an　accident　that　fell　out　a　year　or　two　before。'〃　＇Ancient　MS。＇　　　This　〃accident〃　is　described　further　　on；　and　refers　to　Hector's　alleged　attempt　to　get　Allan　assassinated　at　　Invershiel。

Donald　Dubh　was　Kenneth　Og's　foster…brother；　and　Imagining　that　Hector　was　accessory　in　an　underhand　way　to　Kenneth's　captivity　in　Edinburgh　Castle；　and　consequently　to　his　death　in　the　Torwood；　he　conceived　an　inveterate　hatred　for　him；　and　determined　to　kill　him　in　　revenge　the　first　opportunity　that　presented　itself。　　Hector；　knowing　that　　his　resolution　　proceeded　from　fidelity　and　affection　to　his　foster…brother　　and　master；　not　only　forgave　him；　but　ultimately　took　an　opportunity　of　　rewarding　him　　and；　as　we　have　seen；　afterwards　gave　him　his　choice　of　　all　the　lands　in　Kenlochewe。

John　immediately　sent　word　of　what　had　taken　place　to　his　uncle　of　Lovat；　and　next　day　marched　for　Kintail；　where　all　the　people　there；　as　　well　as　in　the　other　parts　of　his　property；　recognised　him　as　their　chief。

The　Castle　of　Ellandonnan　was　delivered　up　to　him；　with　the　charter　chest　and　other　evidences　of　his　extensive　possessions。

It　has　been　maintained　by　the　family　of　Gairloch　that　there　is　no　truth　in　the　charge　against　their　ancestor；　Hector　Roy；　which　we　have　just　　given　mainly　on　the　authority　of　the　Earl　of　Cromartie。　The　writer　of　the　　Ardintoul　MS。　of　the　Mackenzies；　＇Dr　George　Mackenzie　gives　　substantially　　the　same　account；＇　however　corroborates　his　lordship；　and　　says　that　John　　was　but　young　when　his　father　died；　and　Hector；　his　　younger　uncle　（Duncan；　Hector's　eldest　brother；　who　should　be　tutor　being　dead；　and　Allan；　Duncan's　son；　not　being　able　to　oppose　or　grapple　with　　Hector）；　meddled　with　the　estate。　It　is　reported　that　Hector　wished　Allan　　out　of　the　way；　whom　he　thought　only　to　stand　in　his　way　from　being　laird；　　since　he　was　resolved　not　to　own　my　Lord　Lovat's　daughter's　children；　　being　all　bastards　and　gotten　in　adultery。　　The　reason　why　they　entertained　such　thoughts　of　him　was　partly　this：　　Hector　going　to　Ellandonnan　（where　he　placed　Malcolm　Mac　Eancharrich　constable）　called　such　of　the　country　　people　to　him　as　he　judged　fit；　under　pretence　of　setting　and　settling　the　　country；　but　asked　not　for；　nor　yet　called　his　nephew　Allan；　who　lived　at　Invershiel；　within　a　few　miles　of　Ellandonnan；　but　went　away。　　Allan；　　suspecting　this　to　have　proceeded　from　unkindness；　sends　to　one　of　his　　familiar　friends　to　know　the　result　of　the　meeting；　or　if　there　was　any　　spoken　concerning　him。　　The　man；　perhaps；　not　being　willing　to　be　an　ill　instrument　twixt　so　near　relations；　sends　Allan　the　following　Irish　（Gaelic）　　lines：

Inversheala　na　struth　bras；　Tar　as；　‘s　fear　foul　ga　d'　fheitheamh；　Nineag；　ga　caol　a　cas；　Tha　leannan　aice　gun　thios；　A　tighinn　ga'm　fhaire　a　shios；　Tha　i；　gun　fhios；　fo　mo　chrios　Tha　‘n　sar　lann　ghuilbneach　ghlas；　Bhehion　urchair　dha　le　fios。

Allan　put　his　own　construction　on　them；　and　thought　a　friend　　warned　him　to　have　a　care　of　himself；　there　being　some　designs　　on　him　from　a　near　relation；　and　so　that　very　night；　in　the　　beginning　thereof；　he　removed　himself　and　family　and　anything　　he　valued　within　the　house　to　an　bill　above　the　town；　where　he　　might　see　and　bear　anything　that　might　befall　the　house；　and　that　　same　night　about　cock　crow　he　saw　bis　house　and　biggings　in　　flames；　and　found　them　consumed