In the meantime, Kintail sent for twenty-four of his ablest men in
Kintail and Lochalsh, and took them, along with the best of his
own kinsmen, to Baile Chaisteil (now Grantown), where his uncle
Grant of Grant resided, with the view to purchase from him a
heavy and long-standing claim which he held against Glengarry for
depredations committed on Grant's neighbouring territories in
Glenmoriston and Glen-Urquhart. Grant was unwilling to sell, but
ultimately, on the persuasion of mutual friends, he offered to
take thirty thousand merks for his claim. Mackenzie's kinsmen and
friends from the West were meanwhile lodged in a great kiln in the
neighbourhood, amusing themselves with some of Grant's men who went
to the kiln to keep them company. Kintail sent a messenger to the
kiln to consult his people as to whether he would give such a large
amount for Grants "comprising" against Glengarry. The messenger was
patiently listened to until he had finished, when he was told to go
back and tell Grant and Mackenzie, that had they not entertained
great hopes that their chief would "give that paper as a gift to his
nephew after all his trouble," he would not have been allowed to
cross the Ferry of Ardersier; for they would like to know where he
could find such a large sum, unless he intended to harry them and
his other friends, who had already suffered quite enough in the wars
with Glengarry; and, so saying, they took to their arms, and desired
the messenger to tell Mackenzie that they wished him to leave the
paper where it was.
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