Scotland/Scots > Life and exploits of Rob Roy MacGregor

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practices, he would both withdraw the
mortgage upon his property, and give
him a large sum of money. Rob Roy
received this infamous proposal with the
lofty contempt and proud scorn of a
M‘Gregor* j and, without deigning to
* A chieftain of the M‘Gregors residing o« hi*
freehold in Glenorchy, had a son, who had gone in
the shooting season, with a party1'of young asso¬
ciates, to the nsoors. They met with a young gen¬
tleman of the name of Lament from Cowel, who,
attended by a servant, was goissg to Fort William.
They all went to a public house that was in the
place, anil took a refreshment ti'ijether: in the
course of which a tri^^ing, dispute arose between
Lament and young M’Greg or. Dirks were drawn,
‘and, before friends could interfere, M‘Gregor fell
mortally wounded. In the confusion Lament escaped,
and got securely to the House of M'Gregor, which
happened to be the first habitation that met his ey«
at the dawn of morning. The chieftain Was up, and
; standing at the door. ‘ Save my lifs,’ said the stran-
' ger, * for men are in pursuit of me, to take it away,
f ‘ Whoever you are,’ says M'Gregor, ‘ here you are
safe’.
Lamont was but just brought in, and introduced
to the family, when a loud demand was made at the
door, if a stranger had entered the house. ‘ He
has,’ says M'Gregory ‘ and what is your business
with him ?’ ‘ In a scrflle,’ cried the pursuers, ‘ he
has killed your son j deliver him up, that we may
instantly revenge the deed.’ M'Gregor’s lady and
his two daughters filled the house with their cries
and lamentations. ‘ Be quiet,’ said the phiefj with
the tears streaming from his eyes, ‘and let no man
presume to touch the youth—for he has M‘Gre-