history of the mackenzies-第20部分

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cha　bhithinn　ag　cunntadh　ris〃（He　that　would　not　reckon　with　me；　I　would　not　reckon　　with　him）and　rushed　into　the　thickest　of　the　battle；　where　he　mowed　　down　the　enemy　with　his　rusty　battle…axe　like　grass；　so　much　so　that　　Lachlan　Maclean　of　Lochbuy　（Lachlainn　MacThearlaich）；　a　most　　redoubtable　warrior；　placed　himself　in　Duncan's　way　to　check　him　in　his　　murderous　career。　　The　two　met　in　mortal　strife；　but；　Maclean　being　a　very　　powerful　man；　clad　in　mail；　and　well　versed　in　arms；　Duncan　could　make　　no　impression　upon　him　　but；　being　lighter　and　more　active　than　his　　heavily　mailed　opponent；　he　managed　to　defend　himself；　watching　his　　opportunity；　and　retreating　backwards　until　he　arrived　at　a　ditch；　where　his　　opponent；　thinking　he　had　him　fixed；　made　a　desperate　stroke　at　him；　　which　Duncan　parried；　at　the　same　time　jumping　backwards　across　the　　ditch。　　Maclean；　to　catch　his　enemy；　made　a　furious　lunge　with　his　　weapon；　but；　instead　of　entering　Duncan's　body；　it　got　fixed　in　the　　opposite　bank　of　the　ditch。　　In　withdrawing　it；　he　bent　his　head　forward；　when　the　helmet；　rising；　exposed　the　back　of　his　neck；　upon　which　　Duncan's　　battle…axe　descended　with　the　velocity　of　lightning；　and　with　　such　terrific　force　as　to　sever　Maclean's　head　from　his　body。　This；　it　is　said；　was　the　turning…point　of　the　struggle；　for　the　Macdonalds；　seeing　the　　brave　leader　of　their　van　falling；　at　once　retreated；　and　gave　up　all　for　lost。　The　hero　was　ever　afterwards　known　as　〃Donnchadh　Mor　na　Tuaighe；〃　or　　Big　Duncan　of　the　Axe；　arid　many　a　story　is　told　in　Kintail　and　Gairloch　　of　the　many　other　prodigies　of　valour　which　he　performed　in　the　after　　contests　of　the　Mackenzies　and　　the　　Macraes　against　their　common　　enemies。　　〃Such　of　Macdonald's　men　as　escaped　the　battle　fled　together；　　and　as　they　were　going　homeward　　began　to　spulzie　Strathconan；　which　　　Mackenzie　hearing；　followed　them　with　a　party；　overtakes　them　at　　Invercorran；　kills　shoals　of　them　and　the　rest　fled　divers　ways。〃

That　night；　as　Mackenzie　sat　at　supper；　he　missed　Duncan　Mor；　　and　said　to　the　company〃I　am　more　vexed　for　the　want　of　my　scallag　mar　（big　servant）　this　night　than　any　satisfaction　I　had　of　this　day。〃　　One　　of　those　present　said；　〃I　thought；　（as　the　people　fled）　I　perceived　him　　following　four　or　five　men　that　ran　up　the　burn。〃　He　had　not　well　spoken　the　word　when　Duncan　Mor　came　in　with　four　heads　〃bound　on　a　woody〃　　and　threw　them　before　his　master；　saying〃Tell　me　now　if　I　have　not　　deserved　my　supper；〃　to　which；　it　is　said　of　him；　he　fell　with　great　gusto。

This　reminds　me；　continues　the　chronicler；　〃of　a　cheat　he　once　played　on　an　Irishman；　being　a　traveller；　withal　a　strong；　lusty　fellow；　　well…proportioned；　but　of　an　extraordinary　stomach。　　He　resorted　into　　gentlemen's　houses；　and　（was）　very　oft　in　Mackenzie's。　Having　come　on　　a　time　to　the　same　Mackenzie's　house　in　Islandonain　two　or　three　years　　after　this　battle　（of　Park）；　he　was　cared　for　as　usual；　and　when　the　laird　　went　to　dinner；　he　was　set　aside；　at　a　side…table　to　himself；　and　a　double　　proportion　allowed　him；　which　this　Duncan　Mor　envying；　went　on　a　day　　and　sat　side　for　side　with　him；　drew　his　skyn　or　short　dagger　and　eats　with　　him。　　‘How　now；'　says　the　Irishman；　‘how　comes　it　that　you　fall　in　eating　in　any　manner　of　way。'　　‘　I　cannot　tell；'　says　Duncan；　‘but　I　do　think　I　have　　as　good　will　to　eat　as　you　can　have。'　　‘Well；'　says　the　other；　‘we　shall　try　　that　when　we　have　done。'　　So　when　the　laird　had　done　of　his　dinner；　the　　　Irishman　　went　where　he　was　and　said；　‘Noble　sir；　I　have　travelled　now　　almost　among　all　the　clans　in　Scotland；　and　was　resorting　their　houses；　as　　I　have　been　several　times　here；　where　I　cannot　say　but　I　was　sufficiently　cared　for；　but　I　never　met　with　such　an　affront　as　I　have　this　day。'　　The　laird　asked　what　he　meant。　　So　he　tells　him　what　injury　Duncan　had　done　　him　in　eating　a　share　of　his　proportion。　　‘Well；'　says　the　laird；　‘I　hope　M'ille　Chruimb；'　for　so　the　Irishman　was　called；　‘you　will　take　no　notice　of　him　that　did　that；　for　he　is　but　a　fool　that　plays　the　fool　now　and　then。'

‘I　cannot　tell；'　says　he；　‘but　he　is　no　idiot　at　eating；　nor　will　I　let　my　　affront　pass　so；　for　I　must　have　a　turn　or　two　of　wrestling　with　him　for　it　in　　your　presence。'　　Whereupon　a　stander…by　asks　Duncan　if　he　would　wrestle　　with　him。　　‘I　will；'　says　he；　‘for　I　think　I　was　fit　sides　with　him　in　eating　　and　might　be　so　with　this。'　　They　yocks；　and　Duncan　threw　him　thrice　on　　his　back。　　The　Irishman　was　so　angry　he　wist　not　what　to　　say。　　He　invites　　him　to　put　the　stone；　and　at　the　second　cast　he　worried　him　four　feet；　but　　could　never　reach　him。　　Then　he　was　like　to　burst　himself。　Finding　this；　he　invites　him　to　lop　so　that　he　outlopped　him　as　far　a　length。　　The　　Irishman　then　said；　‘I　have　travelled　as　far　as　any　of　my　equals；　both　in　Scotland；　England；　and　Ireland；　and　tried　many　hands；　but　I　never　met　　with　my　equal　till　this　day；　but　comrade；'　say's　he　‘let　us　now　go　and　　swim　a　little　in　the　laird's　presence。'　　‘With　all　my　heart；'　say's　Duncan；　　‘for　I　never　sought　better'　（with　this　Duncan　could　swim　not　at　all）；　but　down　to　the　shore　they　go　to　the　next　rock；　and　being　full　sea；　was　at　least　　three　fathoms　deep；　but　before　the　Irishman　had　off　half　of　his　clothes　　Duncan　was　stark　naked；　lops　over　the　rocks　and　ducks　to　the　bottom　and　　up　again。　　Looking　about　him　he　calls　to　a　boy　that　stood　by；　and　said；　　‘Lad；　go　where　the　Lady　is；　and　bid　her　send　me　a　butter　and　four　cheese。'

The　　Irishman；　hearing　　this；　　asks　‘what　purpose。'　　‘To　what　purpose；'　　says　he；　‘yons　the　least　we　will　need　this　night　and　to…morrow　wherever　　we　be；'　‘Do　you　intend　a　journey；'　say's　the　Irishman。　　‘Aye；　that　I　do；'　answered　the　other；　‘and　am　in　hopes　to　cross　the　Kyle　ere　night。'　　Now；　　this　Kyle　was　20　leagues　off　with　a　very　ill　stream；　as　the　Irishman　very　well　knew；　so　that　he　said；　with　a　very　great　oath；　lie　would　not　go　with　him　that　length；　but　if　he　liked　to　sport　the　laird　with　several　sorts　of　swimming；　he　would　give　a　trial。　　‘Sport　here；　sport　there；　wherever　I　go　you　must　go。'　　With　this　the　cheese　and　butter　come；　and　Duncan　desires　　the　Irishman　to　make　ready；　but　all　his　persuasions　（not　against　his　will）　　would　not　prevail　with　Mac　a　Chruimb；　whereupon　all　the　company　gave　　over　with　laughter；　knowing　the　other　could　swim　none　at　all；　but　the　　fellow　thought　they　jeered　　him。　　The　laird　made　Duncan　forbear　him；　but　　Duncan　swore　a　great　oath　he　would　make　him　swim　or　he　left　the　town；　　otherwise　he　would　want　of　his　will。　　So　it　came　to　pass　for　the　Irishman　got　away　that　same　night；　was　seen　on　the　morrow　in　Lochalsh；　but　none　　（was）　found　that　ferried　him　over。　　But　never　after　resorted　Mackenzie's　house。〃　＇Ancient　MS。　of　the　Mackenzies。＇

What　remained　of　the　Macdonalds　after　the　battle　of　Park　were　completely　routed　and　put　to　flight；　but　most　of　them　were　killed；　〃quarter　　being　no　ordinar　complement　in　thos　dayes。〃

The　night　before　the　battle　young　Brodie　of　Brodie；　accompanied　　by　his　accustomed　retinue；　was　on　a　visit　at　Kinellan；　and　as　be　was　preparing　to　leave　the　next　morning　be　noticed　Mackenzie's　men　in　arms；　　whereupon　he　asked　if　the　enemy　were　known　to　be　so　near　that　for　a　　certainty　they　would　fight　before　night。　　Being　informed　that　they　were　　close　at　hand；　he　determined　to　wait　and　take　part　in　the　battle；　replying　to　　Kenneth's　persuasions　to　the　contrary；　〃that　be　was　an　ill　fellow　and　　worse　neighbour　that　would　leave　his　friend　at　such　a　time；〃　　He　took　a　　distinguished　part　in　the　fight　and　behaved　〃to　the　advantage　of　his　friend　　and　notable　loss　of　his　enemy；〃　and　the　Earl　of　Cromarty　informs　us　that　　immediately　after　the　battle　be　went　on　his　journey。　　But　his　conduct　　produced　a　friendship　between　the　Mackenzies　and　the　family　of　Brodie；　　which　continued　among　their　posterity；　〃and　even　yet　remains　betwixt　them；　being　more　sacredly　observed　than　the　ties　of　affinity　and　consanguinity　amongst　most　others；〃　and　a　bond　of　manrent　was　entered　　into　between　the　families。　　Some　authorities　assert　that　young　Brodie　was　slain；　but　of　this　no　early　writer　makes　any　mention　and　neither　in　Sir　　Robert　Gordon's　Earldom　of　Sutherland；　in　the　Earl　of　Cromartie　or　other　　MS。　Histories　of　the　Mackenzies；　nor　in　Brown's　History　of　the　Highland　　Clans；　is　there　any　mention　made　of　his　having　been　killed；　though　they　　all　refer　to　the　distinguished　part　be　took　in　the　battle。　　He　was；　however；　　seriously　wounded。

The　morning　after　the　battle　Kenneth；　fearing　that　the　few　of　the　Macdonalds　who　escaped　might　rally　among　the　hills　and　commit　cruelties　and　robberies　on　those　of　his　people　whom　they　might　come　across；　marched　to　Strathconan；　where　he　found；　as　he　had　expected；　that　　about　three　hundred　of　the　enemy　had　rallied；　and　were　destroying　　everything　they　had　passed　over　in　their　eastward　march　before　the　battle。

As　soon；　however；　as　they　noticed　him　in　pursuit　they　took　to　their　heels；　　but　they　were　overtaken　and　all　killed　or　made　prisoners。

Kenneth　then　　returned　to　Kinellan；　carrying　with　him　Alexander　Macdonald　of　Lochalsh；　whom　he　had　taken　prisoner；　in　triumph。　　His　aged　father；　Alastair　Ionraic；　had　now　returned　from　the　Raven's　Rock；　　and　warmly　congratulated　his　valiant　son　upon　his　splendid　victory；　　adding；　however；　with　significant　emphasis；　that　he　feared　they　made　two　　days　work　of　one；〃　since；　by　sparing　Macdonald；　who　was　also　a　prisoner；　　and　his　apparent　heir；　they　preserved　the　lives　of　those　who　might　yet　give　　them　trouble。　　But　Kenneth；　though　a　lion　in　the　field；　could　not；　from　any　　such　prudential　consideration；　be　induced　to　commit　such　a　cowardly　and　　inhuman　act　as　was　here　inferred。　　He；　however；　had　no　great　faith　in　the　forbearance　of　his　followers　if　an　opportunity　occurred　to　them；　and　he　　accordingly　sent　Macdonald；　under　a　strong　guard；　to　Lord　Lovat；　to　be　　kept　by　him　in　safety　until　he　should　advise　him　how　to　dispose　of　him。

He　kept　Alexander　of　Lochalsh　with　himself；　but；　contrary　to　the　expectations　of　their　friends；　he；　on　the　intercession　of　old　Macdonald；　　released　them　both　within　six　months；　having　first　bound　them　by　oath　　and　honour　never　to　molest　him　or　his；　and　never　again　to　claim　any　right　to　th