Blair Collection > Celtic magazine > Volume 3

218 THE CELTIC MAGAZINE.
turned, as Hector conjectured, carrying his plunder in front of his party
accompanied by a strong guard, while he placed the rest of his pickec
men in the rear, fearing that Hector might pursue him, little imagining
that he was between him and his destination. On his way to Kinellan
IMonro marched through Strathpeffer, round the north side of Knock
farrel, but for some cause or other he returned by the soutli side wher(
the high:\vay touched the shoulder of the hill Avhere Hector's men wok
posted. Munro had no fear of attack from that quarter, and his men feel
ing themselves quite safe marched loosely and out of aU order. Hecto;
discovermg his opportunity, allowed them to pass until the rear was Avithii
musket shot of him. He then ordered his men to charge, which they die
with such force and imjietuosity, that most of the enemy were cut to piece:
before they were properly aware from Mdience they were attacked, o
could make any effectual attempt to resist the dashing onset of Hector';
followers. The grosfas of the dying in the gloaming, the uncertainty
as well as the unexpectedness of the attack, frightened them so mucl
tiiat they fled in otrnfusion, in spite of every attempt on the part o
FowKs, who was in front in charge of the spoil and its guard, to stoj'
them. TltosQ tlying in disorder irom the rear soon confused those ii|
front, and the result was a complete rout. Hector's men followed, with
great violence, and impetuosity, killing every one they met ; for it wa
<«rdered that ho quarter should be given to such a number, who migh
turn round again, attack and defeat the victors. In this retreaj
almost all the men of the Clan Dingwall and Maccullochs capable o i
bearing arms were killed, and so many of the Monroes that for a long-
time after " there could not be ane secure friendship made up twixt then;
and the Mackenzies, till by frequent allyance and mutuall beneftets at las
thes animosities are setled ; and in ordor to a reconciliation. Hector, sone t(,
this William of Foulls wes maried to John Mackenzie's sister." At thisi
eonilict, besides that it was notable for its handsome contrivance, inequalitj'
of forces, and the number of the slam, there were two little circumstance:
worth noting. One was that the pursuit was so hot, that they nut onlj;
fled in a crowd, but there were so many of them killed at a place on th(|
edge of the hdl where a descent fell from each shoulder of the hiU to i\
well, and most of Hector's men being armed with axes and two-edgeci
SAVords, they had cut off so many heads in that small space, tliat, tumbling!
down the slope to the well, nin(-'^"^n heads were counted in it; and t(i
this day the well is called Tohn ■ nan Ceann, or the Fountain of th((
Heads. The other incident was that one, nicknamed " Suarachan," otherwisi ]
better known as Donnchadh Mor na Tuaiyhe, or Big Duncan of the Axei
a servant of Hector, pursued one of the enemy into the Church of Dingwall j
to which he had fled for shelter. As he was entering in at the door
Suarachan caught him by the arm, when the man exclaimed, "My
sanctuary saves me!" "Aye," returned Suarachan, "but what a mar
puts in the sanctuary against his will he can take it out again;" and so j
pushing him back from the door, he killed him with one stroke of hifi
broadsword.* |
In 1499, George, Earl of Huntly, the King's Lieutenant, granted 81
* Mi3, EUstory by the Earl of Oromartie.