Scotland/Scots > Black's picturesque tourist of Scotland

FORT-WILLIAM BEN NEVIS.
513
About half way, at a wood called Achadelew, occurred one
of the most ferocious and sanguinary conflicts that have been
recorded in Scottish history.*
Ben Nevis,f now settled by the trigonometrical survey to
be the highest mountain in Scotland, is one of the most
striking features of this neighbourhood. It rises 4406 feet
above the level of the sea, and its circumference at the base
is supposed to exceed 24 miles. “ Its northern front consists
of two distinct terraces, on the level top of the lowest of these,
at an elevation of about 1700 feet, is a wild mountain tarn.
* General Monk, who had just arrived and taken up his quarters at Inverlochy,
sent a party of some 140 men to the neighhouring woods to fell timber to be used
in the works he was erecting for the suppression of the Highlanders, and especially
of the Camerons of Lochiel, whose strength and bravery rendered them especially
obnoxious. The young chief of Lochiel opposed the landing with only 35 men, and
so dexterously did he skirmish, and with such ferocity did the little band of High¬
landers charge their enemies, that the whole party of English were put to the sword,
and only one escaped to carry the direful intelligence to the garrison. The young
chief of Lochiel during the conflict met with a most surprising adventure. Return¬
ing from a wood where he had slain three of the refugees with his own hand, he was
suddenly attacked by one of Monk’s officers, who vowed he would signally revenge
on his person the death of his countrymen. Sword in hand, the combat was long
and doubtful—the English officer had the advantage in strength and size, hut Lochiel,
excelling in agility, in the end tript the sword out of his opponent’s hand. This turn
of fortune, however, he was not allowed to make use of, for his antagonist seizing
him with incredible quickness, they closed and wrestled until both fell to the ground
locked in the most deadly embrace. In this position they struggled long and despe¬
rately, until it occurred to the Englishman, who was uppermost, that he might stab
Lochiel with his dagger. In his desperate effort to accomplish this, he made a violent
effort to extricate himself from the iron grip of Lochiel. This momentary hut fatal
action was sufficient for Lochiel, who, swift as a tiger, seized his prey by the throat,
tearing away the piece with his mouth; and this, as he used afterwards to relate at
the court of St. James, was the sweetest mouthful he had ever had in his lifetime.
In striking contrast with this bloody encounter was the heroic action of Lochiel’s
foster-brother during a subsequent part of the same fray. One of the soldiers having
succeeded in gaining the ship, rested his gun upon the ledge of the vessel to secure
a certain and deadly aim at Lochiel, who saw that his only chance of escape was by
diving under the water at the proper time. He accordingly kept his eye close upon
the finger that held the trigger. But his foster-brother, seeing the danger to which
the chief was exposed, and preferring his safety to his own, immediately threw him¬
self before him, and received the shot in his mouth.—i/emotrs of Lochiel, p. 120.
t Some tourists, on arriving at Bannavie and Fort-William, have at once pro¬
ceeded to ascend Ben Nevis, sleeping on the hill all night, and returning in the
morning in time to join the steamer; but it is very hard work, and cannot be advised.
There is also great risk of losing the steamer in the morning.