They had not
proceeded far, rowing very gently, after placing seaweed in the
rowlocks so as not to make a noise, when they noticed a boat, rowing
at the hardest, coming in their direction; but from its small size
they thought it must have been sent by the Macdonalds in advance to
test the passage of Kylerhea. They therefore allowed it to pass
unmolested, and proceeded northward, looking for Macdonald's own
galley. As they neared the Cailleach, a low rock midway between
both Kyles, it was observed in the distance covered with snow. The
night also favoured them, the sea, calm, appearing black and
mournful to the enemy. Here they met Macdonald's first galley,
and drawing up near it, they soon discovered it to be no other than
his own great birlinn, some distance ahead of the rest of the fleet.
Macdonald, as soon as he noticed them, called out "Who is there?"
twice in succession, but receiving no answer, and finding the
Kintail men drawing nearer, he called out the third time, when, in
reply, he received a full broadside from Mackenzie's cannon,
which disabled his galley and threw her on the Cailleach Rock.
The men on board Macdonald's galley thought they had been driven
on shore, and flocked to the fore part of the boat, striving to
escape, thus capsizing and filling the birlinn.
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