Blair Collection > Celtic magazine > Volume 3

104 THE CELTIC MAGAZINE.
THE DOOM OF DUNOLLiT.
By William Allan.
The full-l)io\vf d moon leapt from her shrouds,
And left behind the darkening clouds,
And flung o'er mountains, hills, and braes,
The softened splendour of her rays ;
O'er Cruachan I5en they nimbly crept,
On dark Luch Awe they gently slept.
And westward far she sent her smiles,
Till silver-bathed appeared the Isles.
The moon was up ! then wide and far
Arose Macdougall's cry of war ;
From Etive's shore, from sweet Bonaw,
To Killinver and grey Kintraw,
It wildly pealed on Avich's side.
Dalmally and Kilchurn replied ;
And gloomy Brander's echoes rung.
As speedy clansmen rushed along.
Thro' tangled brake, o'er stretching heath,
And poured their startling cry of death.
Which summoned from each distant cot
The clansmen to the mustering spot.
Ere reached the moon her half-way mark.
From mountain-side, from gorges dark.
From heath, from hill, from every glen,
Eushed forth full-armed, stout, plaided men,
Whose distant forms were oft revealed
As flashed the moonbeams on each shield ;
Obedient to the call they flew,
Nor aught of toil or fear they knew.
As singly some careered along,
They lowly hummed a battle-song.
The distance lessening 'neath the lay,
Which cheered them on their lonely way ;
Till on Dunolly's tow'r they gazed.
Upon whose northern waU still blazed
The beacon's fitful, lurid light,
Betok'ning danger, foes, or fight.
Around the walls were gathered then.
Two hundred of Macdougall's men.
Wild, unkempt, shaggy warriors grim,
Broad-chested, strong in arm and limb ;
From youth to ceaseless warfare trained,
A terror far their names remained ;
Before their Chief, in armed array,
The horde stood ready for the fray.