Sharp County record., 1881-05-26

at the east end of Loeb Lochy, he de-
scended with his grim warriors from
the hills right Oppositei a movement,
Judging from the distance, which could
be performed in a very short time.
Lovat was now fully alive to the error
he had committed in not accepting
Huntlys profered escort, but it was
too late to mend matters. He had no
alternative but to accept the chances Of
battle. Accordingly he made the best
disposition of his forces he could
placing the gentlemen of his little army,
who were we'll armed, in front, and the
others in the rear. The day-the tif-
teenth of July-waS unusually hottie
heat no doubt intensified by the mar
rowneSs of the position, shut in as it is
by towering hills on either side. 10
ease themselves as much as possible OF
this solar heat, they prepared for the
conflict by stripping themselves of their
upper raiment all but their shirts and
kits. Hence the name Blarleine, or
Blar- nan -Ieine. by which this battle is
known among Highlanders. The fight
began with a discharge of arrows-the
usual mode of Highland warfare in those
times-and when their arrows were eX-
pended the struggle was carried on
hand to hand with the sword. From
the allusion to gunpowder in some lines
adapted to pibroch composed in COM
memorStion of this action, we infer that
firearms must have been used-at least
to some extent.
The battle was fought from midday
till late in the afternoon, and consisted
latterly of isolated single combats. Both
sides fought with determined courage,
neither side yielding until-if we can be-
lieve tradition-of the Frasers only four
remained unwounded, and of the Clan
ranald only eight. The others were
either dead or disabled. Ranald Gallda
was accounted the best swordsmen of
all that fought in this well-contested
field. Many of the foe fell beneath his
powerfully-handled weapon; and it was
by strategem, and not by strength or
skill, that he was disabled towards the
close of the struggle. Two noted Mu-
dart warriors, father and son, fought
under the banner of their chief. The
son, known by the soubriQuet of "an
gille maol dubh," while performing
deeds of valor himself, had his eye
upon his aged sire, marking how, as
foe after foe fell meath the weapon
of Ranald Gallda, that warrior came
nearer and nearer to the old man.
The two at length joined in deadly
strife. The older combatant gave
ground before his more vigorous rival
observing which the "gille maol dubh"
exclaimed, "'S beag orm ceum air ais
an t. t.sheann duinen-" like not the
backward step of an old man." The
father replied, "a bheil thusa n sin
a CHILE mhaoil duibh, ma tina bi n So"
Are you there, if so be here;" where
upon the son stepped forward and took
his fathers place at the moment he had
fallen mortally wounded. For time
the contest was doubtful, but finding
himself overmatched by the skill and
prowess of his opponent, the "gille
moal dubh' exclaimed. "Cha bhi mi
IN brath foille s tn, seall air do chult-
haobh," 81 won take advantage fyou,
look behind" Apprehending treachery,
Ranald instinctively turned round, and
in the act of so doing the Mudart man
felled him to the ground. This ended
the fray. Ranald Gallda dead, as it
was thought, John Mudartach had
nothing to fear from him; nor the Fras-
ers anything further to contend for, and
the few that survived unscathed on
either side suddenly withdrew from
what may be called drawn bat
tie. Lovat, his eldest son the Master,
and Ranald Gallda, with eighty gentle
men of the Frasers, besides others of
less note had fallen. Gregory says:
As both sides were about to give battle,
to Lovat's grief he was joined by the
Master, youth of great promise just
returned from abroad. He had been
strictly charged by his father not to
take part in the expedition, and accord
ingly remained at home after its de-
parture. But stung by the taunts of
step-mother, who insinuated cowardice,
she secretly hoping his fall might make
way for the advancement of her own
son, the gallantyouth chose twelve trusty
companions, followed his father and
clan, and arrived at Kinlochlochy in
time to take part in the fight which
brought him to an untimely end. Low
ats first wife, the Masters mother, was
a daughter of the Laird of Grant His
second wife, the lady who is suspected
of ensnaring the Master in favor of her
own son, was daughter of Ross of Bal
nagown. Fraser of Faraline was among
the slain, and Fraser of Foyers was so
badly wounded that but for the fidelity
of retainer he also would have per-
ished. Norman Cow, though himself
sorely wounded by an arrow, yet for
getful of his own peril, carried his mas
ter all night on his back as far as Fort
Augustus; to die there of his disinter-
ested exertions. He was an armorer,
as his names bears, and as last re-
quest desired that his sword should be
buried with his remains. His grave was
known for generations thereafter, and
it is said, when opened towards the end
OF last century, the remains OF sword
were dug up, supposed to be that of
Norman Cow. In appreciation of the
faithful services of this man, his de-
Scendants had lands free of rent con-