Blair Collection > Celtic magazine > Volume 12

49^ The Celtic Magazine.
bloodless, and Marsali shared in a great part of the glory.
Macgregor was made to swear over his dirk that he would never
again set foot with his men on the Sliosgarbh nor lift a sword
against the Camerons ; and, although there was little bloodshed,
eight at least of the Macgregors had reason to remember until
the end of their days the mauling they had 'received that night
from the clubs of the Camerons.
When they had got rid of their unwelcome visitors, Ewen and
Marsali and the two brothers united in rendering their simple and
heartfelt thanks to heaven for the signal and bloodless victory they
had won, and for their wonderful deliverance from the wicked and
dangerous conspiracy that had been formed against them. They
felt devoutly grateful for the warning given them, they believed,
in a superhuman way ; for the success of Ewen's plan of defence,
and specially for the courage and resolution given to a frail and
tender woman, who, in the hour of danger, displayed all the
prudence and gallantry of an experienced warrior.
It was now felt by the Camerons that, on account of the
hostility of the Clan Gregor, Croiscrag was no longer a sufficiently
strong and safe place of residence for them. Accordingly, they
at once set-to to fortify Tigh-na-dige (already referred to), and
make it a suitable place of habitation. Here in their wattled
dwelling, defended by a moat and earthwork which commanded
a good view of Loch Rannoch and the Sliosvnn, they continued
to live on for years in security and peace. They subsisted mainly
on the produce of the chase. The Black Wood of Rannoch is
still famous, not only for being one of the grandest and most
characteristic remnants of the great forest of ancient Caledonia,
but also for the large variety and quantity of game it affords to
the sportsman. It is said to combine in small space all the
advantages of a deer forest, a grouse moor, and a woodland game
preserve; and the noble capercailzie thrives here better than in
any other wood in Scotland. In the sixteenth century this wood
extended over a much wider area than it does now, and the
numbers and variety of game and beasts of prey were also greater
in proportion. The trout fishing on stream and loch was also
excellent. Tigh-na-dige was thus a hunting and fishing station,
to the supply of which all the available fauna of the Sliosgarbh