By such a union, failing issue by John, then
in the power of John Roy, the ancient rights of the Macleods would
revert to the Gairloch family, and a troublesome dispute would be
for ever settled, if John Tolmach were at the same time captured or
put to death.
It may easily be conceived how both objects would become combined
but whatever the real object of the trip to Skye, it proved disastrous.
The ship found its way - intentionally on the part of the crew, or
forced by a great storm - to the sheltered bay of Kirkton of Raasay,
opposite the present mansion house, where young MacGillechallum
at the time resided. Anchor was cast, and young Raasay, hearing
that Murdoch Mackenzie was on board, discussed the situation
with his friend MacGillechallum Mor MacDhomhnuill Mhic Neill, who
persuaded him to visit the ship as a friend, and secure Mackenzie's
person by stratagem, with the view of getting him afterwards
exchanged for his own relative, John MacAllan Mhic Rory, then a
prisoner in Gairloch. Acting on this advice, young Raasay, with
Gillecallum Mor and twelve of their men, started for the ship,
leaving word with his bastard brother, Murdoch, to get ready all
the men he could, to go to their assistance in small boats as soon
as the a]arm was given.
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