history of the mackenzies-第25章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
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
