history of the mackenzies-第84部分

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　Macrae）　were　still　there；　and　they　　knew　the　prowess　of　these　men　only　too　well。　The　Macleods　therefore　　turned　to　the　south　side　of　the　loch；　and　fastened　their　birlinn　to　the　　Fraoch　Eilean；　in　the　well…sheltered　bay　opposite　Leac…nan…Saighead；　　between　Shieldaig　and　Badachro。　Here　they　decided　to　wait　until　　morning；　then　disembark；　and　walk　round　the　head　of　the　loch。

But　all　their　movements　had　　been　well　and　carefully　watched。　Domhnull　Odhar　Mac　lain　Leith　　and　his　brother　Ian；　the　celebrated　Macrae　archers；　recognised　the　　birlinn　of　the　Macleods；　and　determined　to　oppose　their　landing。　　　They　walked　round　the　head　of　the　　loch　by　Shieldaig　and　posted　　themselves　before　daylight　behind　　the　Leac；　a　projecting　rock　　overlooking　the　Fraoch　Eilean。　The　steps　on　which　they　stood　at　　the　back　of　the　rock　are　still　pointed　out。　　Donald　Odhar；　being　　of　small　stature；　took　the　higher　of　　the　two　ledges；　and　Ian　took　the　　lower。　　Standing　on　these　they　　crouched　down　behind　the　rock；　　completely　sheltered　from　the　　enemy；　but　commanding　a　full　　view　of　the　island；　while　they　were　　quite　invisible　to　the　Macleods；　　who　lay　down　on　the　island。　　As　　soon　as　the　day　dawned　the　two　　Macraes　directed　their　arrows　on　　the　strangers；　of　whom　a　number　　were　killed　before　their　comrades　　were　even　aware　of　the　direction　　from　which　the　messengers　of　　death　came。　　The　Macleods　　endeavoured　to　answer　their　　arrows；　but　not　being　able　to　see　　the　foe；　their　efforts　were　of　no　　effect。　　In　the　heat　of　the　fight　one　　of　the　Macleods　climbed　up　the　　mast　of　the　birlinn　to　discover　the　　position　of　the　enemy。　　Ian　Odhar　　observing　this；　took　deadly　aim　at　　him　when　near　the　top　of　the　mast。

〃Oh；〃　says　Donald；　addressing　　John；　〃you　have　sent　a　pin　through　his　broth。〃　　The　slaughter　　continued；　and　the　remnant　of　the　Macleods　hurried　aboard　their　　birlinn。　　Cutting　the　rope；　they　turned　her　head　seawards。　　By　this　　time　only　two　of　their　number　were　　left　alive。　　In　their　hurry　to　escape　　they　left　all　the　bodies　of　their　slain　　companions　unburied　on　the　island。

A　rumour　of　the　arrival　of　the　　Macleods　had　during　the　night　spread　through　the　district；　and　　other　warriors；　such　as　Fionnla　Dubh　na　Saighead；　and　Fear　　Shieldaig；　were　soon　at　the　scene　of　action；　but　all　they　had　to　do　on　　their　arrival　was　to　assist　in　the　　burial　of　the　dead　Macleods。　　Pits　　were　dug；　into　each　of　which　a　　number　of　the　bodies　were　thrown；　　and　mounds　were　raised　over　them　　which　remain　to　this　day；　as　any　　one　landing　on　the　island　may　　observe。

In　1611；　Murdoch　　Mackenzie；　second　surviving　son　of　　John　Roy　Mackenze；　IV。　of　　Gairloch；　accompanied　by　　Alexander　Bayne；　heir　apparent　of　　Tulloch；　and　several　brave　men　　from　Gairloch；　sailed　to　the　Isle　of　　Skye　in　a　vessel　loaded　with　wine　　and　provisions。　It　is　said　by　some　　that　Murdoch's　intention　was　to　　apprehend　John　Tolmach；　while　　others　maintain　that　his　object　was　　to　secure　in　marriage　the　daughter　　and　heir　of　line　of　Donald　Dubh　　MacRory。　The　latter　theory　is　far　　the　more　probable；　and　it　is　the　　unbroken　tradition　in　Gairloch。

John　Macleod　was　a　prisoner　in　　Gairloch；　was　unmarried；　and　　easily　secured　where　he　was；　in　the　　event　of　this　marriage　taking　place。　By　such　a　union；　failing　issue　by　　John；　then　in　the　power　of　John　Roy；　the　ancient　rights　of　the　　Macleods　would　revert　to　the　　Gairloch　family；　and　a　troublesome　　dispute　would　be　for　ever　settled；　if　John　Tolmach　were　at　the　same　　time　captured　or　put　to　death。

It　may　easily　be　conceived　how　both　objects　would　become　　combined　but　whatever　the　real　object　of　the　trip　to　Skye；　it　proved　　disastrous。　The　ship　found　its　wayintentionally　on　the　part　of　the　crew；　　or　forced　by　a　great　stormto　the　sheltered　bay　of　Kirkton　of　Raasay；　opposite　the　present　mansion　house；　where　young　MacGillechallum　at　the　　time　resided。　　Anchor　was　cast；　and　young　Raasay；　hearing　that　Murdoch　　Mackenzie　was　on　board；　discussed　the　situation　with　his　friend　　MacGillechallum　Mor　MacDhomhnuill　Mhic　Neill；　who　persuaded　him　to　　visit　the　ship　as　a　friend；　and　secure　Mackenzie's　person　by　stratagem；　　with　the　view　of　getting　him　afterwards　exchanged　for　his　own　relative；　　John　MacAllan　Mhic　Rory；　then　a　prisoner　in　Gairloch。　　Acting　on　this　　advice；　young　Raasay；　with　Gillecallum　Mor　and　twelve　of　their　men；　　started　for　the　ship；　leaving　word　with　his　bastard　brother；　Murdoch；　to　get　　ready　all　the　men　he　could；　to　go　to　their　assistance　in　small　boats　as　soon　as　the　a＇arm　was　given。

Mackenzie　received　his　　visitors　in　the　most　hospitable　and　unsuspecting　manner；　and　supplied　　them　with　as　much　wine　and　other　viands　as　they　could　consume。

Four　of　his　men；　however；　feeling　　somewhat　suspicious；　and　fearing　the　worst；　abstained　from　drinking。　　　Alexander　Bayne　of　Tulloch；　and　　the　remainder　of　Murdoch's　men　　partook　of　the　good　cheer　to　excess；　and　ultimately　became　so　　drunk　that　they　had　to　retire　below　　deck。　　Mackenzie；　who　sat　between　　Raasay　and　MacGillechallum　Mor；　　had　not　the　slightest　suspicion；　　when　Macleod；　seeing　Murdoch　alone；　jumped　up；　turned　suddenly　　round　and　told　him　that　he　must　become　his　prisoner。　　Mackenzie　　instantly　started　to　his　feet；　in　a　　violent　passion；　laid　hold　of　Raasay　　by　the　waist；　and　threw　him　down；　　exclaiming；　〃I　would　scorn　to　be　　your　prisoner。〃　　One　of　Raasay's　　followers；　seeing　his　young　chief　　treated　thus；　stabbed　Murdoch　　through　the　body　with　his　dirk。

Mackenzie　finding　himself　　wounded；　stepped　back　to　draw　his　　sword；　and；　his　foot　coming　against　　some　obstruction；　he　stumbled　over　it　and　fell　into　the　sea。

Those　on　shore　observing　the　row；　came　out　in　their　small　boats　and　seeing　Mackenzie；　who　was　a　dexterous　swimmer；　manfully　making　for　Sconsar；　on　the　opposite　shore；　in　Skye；　they　pelted　him　with　stones；　smashed　in　his　brains　and　drowned　him。　　The　few　of　his　men　who　kept　　sober；　seeing　their　leader　thus　perish；　resolved　to　sell　their　lives　dearly；　　and　fighting　like　heroes；　they　killed　the　young　laird　of　Raasay；　along　with　　MacGillechallum　Mor；　author　of　all　the　mischief；　and　his　two　sons。

Young　Bayne　of　Tulloch　and　his　six　inebriated　companions　who　had　followed　him　below；　hearing　the　uproar　overhead；　attempted　to　come　on　　deck；　but　they　were　all　killed　by　the　Macleods　as　they　presented　themselves　through　the　hold。　　Not　a　soul　of　the　Raasay　men　escaped　alive　　from　the　swords　of　the　four　who　had　kept　sober；　ably　supported　by　the　　ship's　crew。

The　small　boats　now　began　　to　gather　round　the　vessel　and　the　　Raasay　men　attempted　to　get　on　　board　but　they　were　thrown　back；　　slain；　and　pitched　into　the　sea　　without　mercy。　　The　shot　and　　ammunition　having　become　　exhausted；　all　the　pots　and　pans；　　and　other　articles　of　furniture　on　　board　were　hurled　at　the　Macleods；　　while　the　four　abstainers　plied　their　　weapons　of　war　with　deadly　effect。

Having　procured　a　lull　from　the　　attempts　of　the　enemy；　they　commenced　to　pull　in　their　anchor；　　when　a　shot　from　one　of　the　boats　　killed　one　of　themHector　　MacKenneth；　〃a　pretty　young　gentleman。〃　　The　other　three　seeing　　him　slain；　and　being　themselves　more　or　less　seriously　wounded；　cut　　their　cable；　hoisted　sail；　and　proceeded　before　a　fresh　breeze；　　with　all　the　dead　bodies　still　lying　　about　the　deck。　　As　soon　as　they　got　　out　of　danger；　they　threw　the　　bodies　of　young　Raasay　and　his　　men　into　the　sea；　that　they　might　　have　the　same　interment　which　　their　own　leader　had　received；　and　　whose　body　they　were　not　able　to　　search　for。

It　is　said　that　none　of　the　bodies　were　ever　found；　except　that　of　　MacGillechallum　　Mor；　which　afterwards　came　ashore；　and　was　buried；　in　　Raasay。　　The　Gairloch　men　carried　the　bodies　of　Bayne　of　Tulloch　and　his　　companions　to　　Lochcarron；　where　they　were　decently　interred。

The　only　survivors　of　the　Rausay　affair　were　John　MacEachainn　Chaoil；　John　MacKenneth　Mhic　Eachainn；　and　Kenneth　MacSheumais。

The　first　named　lived　for　thirty　years　after；　dying　in　1641；　the　second　died　　in　1662；　and　the　third　in　1663all　very　old　men。　Amongst　the　slain　was　a　　son　of　Mackenzie　of　Badachro；　who　is　said　to　have　signally　distinguished　　himself。　　The　conduct　of　the　Mackenzies　of　Gairloch　was　such　on　this　and　　previous　occasions　that　they　deemed　it　wise　to　secure　a　remission　from　the　　Crown；　which　was　duly　granted　to　them　in　1614；　by　James　VI。　　＇Mackenzie's　History　of　the　Macleods；　pp。　361…366。＇　　The　document；　　modernised　in　spelling；　is　as　follows：

James　R。Our　Sovereign　Lord　understanding　the　manifold　cruel　　and　barbarous　tyrannies　and　oppressions　so　frequent　within　he　Highlands　and　Isles；　of　that　（part　of）　his　Highness's　Kingdom　of　Scotland；　before　his　　Majesty's　departure　furth　of　the　same；　that　one　part　of　the　inhabitants　　thereof　being　altogether　void　of　the　true　ear　of　God；　and　not　regarding　that　　true　and　loyal　obedience　they　ought　to　his　Majesty　in　massing　and　drawing　themselves　together　n　troops　and　companies；　and　after　a　most　savage　and　　insolent　form　committing　depredations；　rieves；　　〃slouthis；〃　and　cruel　　slaughters　against　the　most　honest；　godly；　and　industrious　sort　of　people　dwelling　within　and　bewest　the　said　bounds；　who　were　a　ready　prey　to　the　said　oppressors；　so　that　the　said　honest　and　peaceable　subjects　were　oft　　and　sundry　times；　for　defence　of　their　own　lives；　their　wives　and　children；　　forced　to　enter　into　actions　of　hostility　against　the　said　limmers　and　　broken　men　who　oft　and　diverse　times　invaded　and　pursued　them　with　tire　　and　sword；　reft　and　spuilzied　their　whole　goods；　among　whom　his　　Majesty；　understanding　that　his　Highness's　lovites　and　true　and　obedient　　subjects；　John　Mackenzie　of　Gairloch；　Alexander；　Kenneth；　Duncan；　and　　William　Mackenzie；　his　sons；　dwelling　within　the　Highlands　most　‘ewest'　　the　Isles　of　Skye　and　Lewis；　who　many　and　sundry　times　before　his　　Majesty's　going　to　England；　has　been　most　cruelly　invaded　and　pursued　　with　tire　and　sword　by　sundry　of　the　said　vagabonds　and　broken　men　dwelling　and　resorting　in　the　Skye　and　Lewis　and　other　bounds　of　the　　Highlands　where　they　dwell；　and　has　there…through　sustained　many　and　　great　slaughters；　depredations　and　heirschips；　so　that　in　the　very　action　of　　the　said　invasions　and　hostilities　pursued　against　them；　the　said　persons　in　　defence　of　their　ow