Blair Collection > Celtic monthly > Volume 5, 1897

134
THE CELTIC MONTHLY.
Chattan men were mostly Macphersons, and that
tliey were received with tlie greatest hospitality
by MacSoirlie, who feasted them to their hearts'
content, and all was mirth and jollity. As the
hour for their departui-e drew near, MacSoirlie
ordered his piper to play a tune to speed the
parting guests ; but, to his dismay, instead of a
peaceful farewell, the piper, probal>]y in revenge
for some private wrong he had sutiered at the
hands of the Macphersons, seized his pipes and
with full power of lungs skirled out the war tune
of his clan. For a few minutes all was confusion,
amidst which the voice of MacSoirlie could be
heard trying to silence the revengeful piper, but
it was of no avail, the mischief was done, and
with looks of bitter hatred on their faces, the
Macphersons grasped their weapons and departed.
Thev halted a few yards beyond the chief's
THE MIUNIGIIT RAID ON GLEN NEVI.S.
dwelling, on a small hillock since known as
Cnocan na mi-choiahairlc ( the knoll of evil
counsel), where they swore a terrible oath on
their dirks to avenge the insult without delay.
The same night, when MacSoirlie and his house-
hold were wrapped in peaceful slumber, the
Macphersons descended upon the glen, set fire
to the house, and put to the sword all who
attempted to escape, save two. These were a
faithful retainer of the chief (some say his foster-
brother), also known as Soirlie (Samuel), and the
infant lieir, who at the time of the attack was
peacefully sleeping in his cradle. Seizing the
child and hastily wrapping him in a plaid, Soirlie
escaped from a back window, made his way along
the hills to the cave on the banks of the Nevis,
beyond \<:\\n!\.h\\Ac\i,Bi\\\ca.\\ei\UalmhSlioinhairle
(Samuel or Somerled's Cave). Here they lay