history of the mackenzies-第23章
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hat he called his rights； he would bring sudden and certain ruin upon himself。
Thirty brave and resolute young men joined the supposed adventurer； after having informed them that he would have none except those who would do so of their own free will； from their affection for him； and determination to support him in any emergency； for he well judged that only such were suitable companions in the desperate aims which he had laid out for himself to accomplish。 These he dispatched to the galley then at Torridon； one of the most secluded glens on the West Coast； and distant from any populated place； while he himself remained with his uncle； professedly to arrange the necessary details of his journey； and the transmission of his portion； but really to notice 〃his method and manner of converse。〃 John soon took farewell of Hector； and departed with every appearance of simplicity。 His uncle sent a retinue to convoy him with becoming respect； but principally to assure himself of his departure； and to 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 to ashes on the morrow。 The perpetrators could not be found； yet it was generally thought to be Hector his uncle's contrivance。〃
The writer then describes the legitimation of Agnes Fraser's children by the Pope； and continues〃Hector； notwithstanding of the legitimation； refused to quit the possession of the estate；〃 and he then gives the same account of John's feigned expedition to Ireland； and the burning of Hector's house at Wester Fairburn； substantially as already given from another source； but adding〃That very night they both entered upon terms of agreement without acquainting or sending for any； or to advise a reconciliation betwixt them。 The sum of their agreement was； that Hector； as a man able to rule and govern； should have （allowing John an aliment） the estate for five or six years； till John should be major； and that thereafter Hector should render it to John as the right and lawful undoubted heir； and that Hector should ever afterwards acknowledge and honour him as his chief； an
