Ossian Collection > History of the Highlands and of the Highland clans > Volume 1

sua HISTORY OP THE HIGHLANDS.
gregor and his party a piece of acceptable service, as tlioy expected, in
the event of Grant's apprehension, to obtain pardon for their ofFenci^s
from tlie lords of tlie council. Macgregor, therefore, at the head of a
party of men, lay in wait for James Grant near Carron, and, on
observing liim enter his wife's house, along with his bastard son and
another man, at night, they immediately surrounded the house and at-
tempted to force an entry. Grant perceiving the danger he was in,
acted with great coolness and determination. Having fiistened the door
as firmly as he could, he and his two companions went to two windows,
from wliich they discharged a volley of arrows upon their assailants,
who all shrunk back, and none would venture near the door, except
Macgregor himself, who came boldly forward and endeavoured to force
it; but he paid dearly for his rashness, for Grant, inmiediately laying
hold of a musket, shot him through botli his thighs, when he instantly
fell to the ground and soon thereafter expirecL In the confusion which
this occurrence occasioned among Macgregor's party. Grant and his
two associates escaped.
Shortly after this event, James Grant apprehended his cousin, John
Grant of Balindalloch, by the following stratagem : — On the night of
Sunday, the seventeenth of December, sixteen hundred and thirty,
vviiile Balindalloch was at supper in his own house, Elspet Innes, wife
of James Grant, entered the house, and whispered a few words in
Balindalloch's ear. After supper was over he rose from table, and, put-
ting his wife's plaid about him, he left the house with his sword and
target in his hand, and forbade any person to follow him. His wife, how-
ever, went out after him, along with James Grant's wife, to the mill of
Petchass, the place of assignation. On arriving there, James Grant, on
a watchword being given by his wife, came out of the mill, shook
hands with Balindalloch, and saluted his wife in a friendly manner ;
but this greeting was scarcely over, when a party of twelve men,
whom James Grant had concealed, rushed out of the mill, and, seizing
Balindalloch and his wife, carried them to Culquholy, three miles fiom
Petchass. After remaining a short time there, they released Balindal-
loch's wife, who returned home with a sorrowful heart ; and after
mufHing Ballindalloeli's face and chaining him to one of the party, they
crossed and recrossed different rivulets, that he might not have any
idea of the place of their retreat, or whither they were conduct-
ing him. At last they arrived at Thomas Grant's house at Dandeis,
about three miles from Elgin, on the high road between that town and
tlie Spey, where they took up their lodging and unloosed the shackles
from Balindalloch's arm. James Grant ordered him to be watched
strictly, wdiether sleeping or waking, by two strong men on each side ol
him. Balindalloch complained of foul play, but James Grant excused
himself for acting as he had done tor two reasons ; 1st, Because Balin-
dallocli had failed to perform a promise he had made to obtain a remis-