Blair Collection > Celtic magazine > Volume 5

DEEMOOT). 181
'amongst the bevy of beauties who crowded every coign of vantage, and he
ordered his pennon to be lowered in token of his fealty to her behest.
Olave had that morning safely delivered the packet for Sir David Mac-
neiU into Dermond's keeping, and the youth had sworn a knightly oath
upon bis sword to carry out the wish of his mistress or die in the endeavour.
The course was northwards for a time and then eastwards, the head
of Loch Etive being reached before midday. Here a disembarkation
took place, and scouts were sent out to ascertain the numbers, position,
and whereabouts of the enemy. The afternoon was not far gone when
;the whole line was set in motion. The dark wdds of Glenorchy were
penetrated, and the host of Lorn made for the rugged Grampians. On
the vanguard reaching the tops of the lower ridges the little army of
Bruce was descried, compactly arrayed in the plain beneath. The num-
bers appeared to be about five hundred, consisting, for the most part, of
light-armed cavalry, but commanded by several of the sternest and most
desperate characters of the time. The large number of ladies who had
taken refuge in the Bruce's camp occupied a position with the baggage in
the rear, protected by a very inadequate guard of squires and jackmen.
■Bruce himself, notwithstanding his resolution to fight in the front, had
;been prevailed upon to take up a position in the centre for the purpose
of securing his person from the vengeance of the Highlanders.
I As both parties came in sight ot each other savage and clamorous
■shouts resounded against the rocks and cliffs. The Islesmen, heaving
aloft their ponderous battle-axes, and raising their fearful " slogan," rushed
down the mountain slopes, some of them in their martial determination
tumbling over the stones and brushwood which blocked their passage, and
sending large pieces of rock bounding into the plain beneath. As they
gained the valley the gallant knights of Bruce charged " the undisciplined
rabble," as a historian calls them, driving the Highlanders back into the
glens and recesses of the Grampians. Dermond following on the van-
guard with his small body of followers in fine order, advanced cautiously
on the enemy as they were engaged in pursuing the first portion of the
;host of Lorn, and, by a series of skilful manoeuvres, succeeded in breaking
'the line of cavalry and unseating a number of the horsemen. At this
'time an incident occurred which gave rise to a considerable amount of
■remark on both sides. The horse of the King, either by accident or at
:the instigation of the rider, rushed frantically into the midst of the melee,
:and Bruce, who had singled out Dermond as the object of his attack, was
on the point of engaging in single combat, when he was surrounded by a
number of his followers and driven back into a place of safety. The
Scottish knights continued to fight with great valour, and reinforcements
of Islesmen kept charging down the hillsides, but were as often repulsed
and compelled to take refuge in their mountain retreats. Hopes of a
complete victory now filled the minds of the Sassenach forces, but the
appearance of the main body of Lorn's army on the heights discouraged
ithe followers of Bruce, who had already been sorely pressed, and gave
renewed confidence to the defeated masses who, dislodging themselves
from their mountain retreats, raised a triumphant shout, and closed again
in terrible and bloody conflict. Again they were driven back, and Der-
' mond, who was in the front of the battle, had already sustained a slight
flesh wound, which, however, did not interfere with his fighting powers.