Blair Collection > Celtic magazine > Volume 5

182 THE CELTIC MAGAZINE.
The main host pouring through the gorges and mountain slopes ardently (
assailed the King's army in front and flank, and even threatened to carry j
the rear. The slaughter now became most fearful. The shouts of the t
victors, and the groans of the vanquished, re-echoed among the mountains.' j
Knights were seen with startled horses, mad with wounds, careering ij
wildly across the plain. The Islesmen were rushing boldly into the t'
thickest of the fight, hewing about with their long Lochaber axes, and J
bringing down horses and men. Dermond's axe had been cut from his'?
grasp as he attempted to engage Sir James Douglas, who was instantlj ' i
unsealed by Olave, who never left the side of his young chief. Douglas; j
sprang to his feet, and crossed swords with Dermond, but weak withi i
wounds and stunned with his fall, he immediately succumbed, and waS; i
borne senseless to the rear. The battle now raged fiercely and disorderly. -«
along the whole line, the Lord of Colonsay, and the Chieftains of Dun-;jl
vegan, Duart, and Skye, fighting bravely in spite of their numerous li
wounds. Lorn had already engaged the redoubtable Kirkpatrick in a id
hand to hand contest, from Avhich neither of the combatants seemed tc , '.
sufl'er much. Sir Guilbert de la Hay, who had been pulled from his';
horse by the crook of a Lochaber axe characteristically wielded by a stal-, |
wart Highlander, kept fighting bravely on foot with sword in hand unti^'a
ho was struck down by the hand of Macnab. Bruce, who had been kepi' >:
from mingling too much in the battle, now discarded every remonstrance, • i
and collecting the remnant of his bravest followers in a body, he resolved: %
upon a final and desperate charge. Heading the attack he rushed intci
the midst of the Islesmen, dealing destruction to all who came withiE.'i
the sweep of his weapon. His huge sword was seen flashing constantljl j
in the sunlight, and sending forth gleams of fire, while his stalwart figure, i
rose in stately strength above all surrounding him. Several of the chief I i
tains essayed to engage the King, but they were borne back by theiJ
knights who protected him in his deadly course. Dermond, eager to dis-J
tinguish himself by a deed of chivalrous daring, rushed forward, bul , i
failed to pierce the mass of devoted knights who defended the King, andi i
he was almost borne down by a shower of blows which only a keenlji (
tempered hauberk and helmet could have resisted. The whole host oY- .
Lore yielded and swayed in face of the charge, and had the King beei' i
possessed of another force to follow it up, the Islesmen might have been; )
put to total rout, but recovering from the shock they surrounded thejl
handful of warriors, and after considerable slaughter compelled the Bruce ii
and his followers to retreat. The scene now assumed an aspect of thej f
utmost disorder, and the sun sinking behind the distant mountains gavei \
a deeper tinge of red to the brooklets. The turf was torn, and gutted! \
with crimson pools where wounded and dying men lay weltering in theiii a
blood. There Avas something like panic in the rear, where a strong bodjj J
of Highlanders, led by the English envoy. Sir Guilbert de Valancymer; \
were advancing. For a moment it seemed as if the Bruce and his fol : r
lowers were about to be encompassed and slain, if not captured by the: *;
eager and numerous host of Lorn. Eealizing his peril the King cut hiij j
way through a body of men who intervened between him and the rear.t i.
and arrived in time to repulse Sir Guilbert de Valancymer, who cast hit;
glove in the teeth of the frantic Bang, and promised at a future time tcj i
retrieve hia honour. ; ,
(lo he Continued.) H