Ossian Collection > Reliquiae Celticae > Volume 2

THK BOOK OF CLANHAXALO. 191
liiig ott" the pikes, some of wiiich stuck in the boss of the shield,
he set his back to the garden to defend himself, and he was
iorcibly eudeavouring to go to the door. The pikemen became
deterred on account of the great number of them that were being
cut oft', except one man, who was striking at him desperately and
severely, for it seemed to tliat man tliat if he conld preserve his
pike from being cut oft", his combatant man should fall by him.
Ranald was then listening to Alaster complaining of the CJordons
for the bad exertion they were making to rescue himself out of
the place in which he was ; bui he (Ranald) was advancing
towards the garden door, step by step, and when he considered to
lie near the door he gave a high quick spring away from the pike-
man, he turned his back to liim, with his face to the door, and
stooped his head ; the pikcman folh^wed him, and stooped his
own head under the door. Alaster was at that time watching
them ; he gave the pikeman a stroke, and although he might have
l)een inclined to return back again quickly, what happened was
that the young man's head was knocked against llanald's shins
from ihe stroke which Alaster gave him; his body fell in the
door and his head in the garden. When Ranald straightened his
back and looked behind him at the door, it was then he saw his
companion. The arrow which was stuck in Ranald was cut and
jjulled out of him, and he got the nse of his tongue and power of
speech, which he did not expect.
It may be easily conjectured that the rest of the king's army
was not idle all this time, viz., the active, intellectual, and
courageous Marquis of Montrose ; the brave, heroic, active, gallant,
warlike Lord Gordon, along with his gentlemen ; and others of the
bold and warlike Clan of the Mac Donalds, and of the truly
fierce, very brave, powerfully spirited band of the Clanranald, and
they faced the enemy manfully and bravely without the fear or
terror of strokes or shots. Montrose th(!Ìr general, being with his
army, stood on a higli hill, and saw the great danger and jeopardy
in which Alaster was, and what he did was to call out loudly to
encourage the gentlemen and the army who were within hearing
of him, and said, "It is a great shame for us that one nian should
always carry oft* our fame from us by conquering every enemy
before us : there is Alaster gaining the victory over the party that
were opposed to him in the battle ; therefore lead on this army in
good order, zealously and quickly." This order of the chief
general was carefully responded to, so that every horseman pressed
his heels to the flanks of his horse, and every footman's stej)
moved on vigorously, light-footedly, anxiously, and nimbly ; and
in that charge they went among the enemy, when the enemy's
forces were routed and were driven amono- the foot.