" "Truly, MacLean," returned
Mackenzie, "they were not fellows that were there, but prime
gentlemen, and such fellows as would act the enterprise better
than myself and kinsmen." "You have very great reason to make
the more of them," said Maclean; "he is a happy superior who has
such a following." Both chiefs then went outside to consult as
to the best and safest means for Mackenzie's homeward journey.
MacLean offered him all his chief and best men to accompany him
by land, but this he declined, saying that he would not put his
friend to such inconvenience, and would return home in his own boat
just as he came; but he was ultimately persuaded to take MacLean's
great galley, his own being only a small one. He sailed in
his friend's great birlinn, under the command of the Captain of
Cairnburgh, accompanied by several other gentlemen of the MacLeans.
In the meantime, the Macdonalds, aware that Mackenzie had not yet
returned from Mull, "convened all the boats and galleys they could,
to a certain island which lay in his course, and which he could
not avoid passing. So, coming within sight of the island, having
a good prospect of a number of boats, after they bad ebbed in
a certain harbour, and men also making ready to set out to sea.
Pages:
331
332
333
334
335
336
337
338
339
340
341
342
343
344
345
346
347
348
349
350
351
352
353
354
355