history of the mackenzies-第31章

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d　to　be　acted　upon　on　this　occasion。

John；　who　had　proved　himself　most　prudent；　even　in　his　youth；　was　satisfied　that　his　uncle　Hector；　a　man　of　undoubted　valour　and　wisdom；　in　possession　of　the　estates；　and　highly　popular　with　the　clan；　could　not　be　expelled　without　great　difficulty　and　extreme　danger　to　himself。　　Any　such　　attempt　would　produce　feuds　and　slaughter　among　his　　people；　with　the　　certain　result　of　making　himself　personally　unpopular　with　the　clan；　and　　his　uncle　more　popular　than　ever。　　He　therefore　decided　upon　a　more　　prudent　course　resolving　to　strike　only　at　Hector's　person；　judging　that；　if　　his　uncle　failed；　his　claims　and　the　personal　respect　of　his　followers　would　　fall　with　him。　　To　carry　out　his　resolution；　he　contrived　a　scheme　which　　proved　completely　successful。　　Having　secured　an　interview　with　Hector；　　who　then　resided　at　Wester　Fairburn；　he　pleaded　that　since　he　had　taken　　his　estates　from　him；　and　left　him　in　such　reduced　circumstances；　it　was　　not　in　accordance　with　his　feelings　and　his　ambition　for　fame　to　remain　　any　longer　in　his　native　country；　where　he　had　neither　position　nor　　opportunities　of　distinguishing　himself。　　He　therefore　begged　that　his　　uncle　should　give　him　a　galley　or　birlinn；　and　as　many　of　the　ablest　and　most　determined　youths　in　the　country　as　should　voluntarily　follow　him　in　his　adventures　for　fame　and　　fortune　in　a　foreign　　land。　With　these　he　　should　pass　to　Ireland；　then　engaged　in　war；　and　〃there　purchase　a　　glorious　death　or　a　more　plentiful　fortune　than　he　was　likely　to　get　at　　home。〃　　The　idea　pleased　Hector　exceedingly；　and　he　not　only　gave　him　　his　own　galley；　then　lying　at　Torridon；　but　furnished　him　with　all　the　　necessary　provisions　for　the　voyage；　at　the　same　time　assuring　him　that；　if　　he　prosecuted　his　intentions；　he　should　annually　transmit　him　a　sufficient　　portion　to　keep　up　his　position；　until　his　own　personal　prowess　and　fortune　should　　place　him　above　any　such　necessity　whereas；　if　he　otherwise　resolved　or　attempted　to　molest　him　in　what　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　doub