Blair Collection > Celtic magazine > Volume 2

THE CELTIC MAGAZINE. Ill
more like John Roy's two knees than his knees." When Iain Liath
heard her, he got up, in his shirt, and made for the door. " Is it you
that's there, John ? " said he. " Oh ! it is." " Have you anything but
yourself?" "Oh yes ; I have twelve men." " Be off and fetch them."
Before he returned, Iain Liath had the second bull killed waiting them.
When they took their food, Iain Liatli said to him, " Mackenzie is com-
ing to-day with his hunters to your father's hunting knoll, unless you
keep him off yourself."
John Eoy and his twelve men, and Iain Liath along with them, went
away, and they took the whisky with them. Mackenzie arrived with his
men, and he saw those men on the hunting-knoll, and he sent a fair-
haired youth to enquire " What men they Avere ? " '•' Sit ye down and
we will tell you that," said John Roy. He sat down as requested, and
no mistake, the face of the drink was upon him, and every time he would
make for going away, another was ottered him. Mackenzie was thinking
long that the youth was not coming back, and he sent another youth on.
It happened to him as it happened to the other. When Mackenzie saw
what was going on, he said, " I am discerning that John Roy returned,
if he did, I may be going home ; " and he took Brahan on hira.
John Roy and his band then returned to Iain Liatli! s hut. " What
will you do now, John % " said Iain Liath. " What do you propose
yourself I should do 1" "I will tell you that," answered Iain Liath.
" I have the title deeds of Gairloch in your grandfather's (Hector Roy)
chest, and you and your men will go and claim tlie estate, and I shall
accompany you." — and they went. Iain Liath lifted his cattle, his wife,
his maidservant, and his herdsman, and they proceeded until they came
in at Bealach a Chomhla, at the side of Baos-Bheinn.
After coming down some distance from the mountain, tliey met in
with a good well ; they laid down their chattels at the well, which is to
this day called Iain Liath's well. They left the cattle and the old woman
yonder ; they came on, and met with people from whom they received
the news of the country. These people informed them that it was a
habit with Iai?i Duhh MacRuairidh (i\racleod, laird of Gairloch) every
day, to walk west the Big Sand, and to lie on the top of the Crasg, to
view the country, and try what he could see.
They came there where he was, and Iain Liath said to him, " If you
do not depart and take thy feet along with you from the Castle of the
Dun before this very night you will lose the head." Iain Duhh Mac-
Ruairidh became alarmed for his life, and everything that was in the
castle that was Avorth the labour, was put in the Birlinn, except one
chest, which was left behind by mistake, and in which was (some of) the
title deeds of Macleod to the estate. Thus came John Roy and the Mac-
kenzies to Gairloch.
Often did the Macleods return, attempting to take the estate back, and
to take out revenge, but the oftener they came, the worse they went.
(lobe Continued.)