LOCHIEL'S WARNING.

Otago Witness, Issue 2811, 26 August 1908, Page 80

LOCHIEL'S WARNING.

Everyone must have read Campbell's poem, "Lochiel'e Warning," but the prose i version of a like incidentals not so well '■ known, and will bear repetition. It* is told in "Lochaber in WaT and Peace." jtist . published by Mr William T. "Kilgour. 'I* The story goes thai one day as. Lochiel was on \his" way to keep an appointment with the Earl of Atholl, h© was accosted by the enchantress thus : "Hail and good fortune, Ewen of Lochiel, from, thy kinswoman, Gormshuil of Moy. Whither art thou bound to-day, with only two attendants?" "I go," replied Lochiel, _aiter. thanking the witch' for her kindly greeting, "to meet the Earl of Atboll by the Black Water of Beinn a' Bhreac, with a view to the friendly settlement of a disputed boundary—a, matter, as thou knowest, Gormshuil» which has .caused no little trouble and bloodshed in my time." "Go back, Lochiel, go back!" exclaimed the wiich, "and take with thee three score and five of the best men of thy name and ; clan. If their' aid be required in the settlement of the dispute, it is well to have I them to appeal to ; if they be not needed, so much the better, the* walk will only stir their blood healthily and supple their joints. It is Gormshuil of Moy that j advises; it Is Gormshuil of Moy, if needs be, that commands it." After due deliberation Lochiel^ decided to act on the sage woman's advice, and, returning, soon collected the stipulated number of Caanerons. On their journey they rested for the night at. Lianachan, and, astir betimes next morning, Lochiel explained to his clansmen the purport of their mission. "When I meet the Earl," said Lochiel, "I shall wear my cloak with the grey side outwards, but if, during our negotiations, 1 should take it off and put' it on again with the inner red lining to the outside it will be a sign to you to come to my aid." Some distance from the plaoe of meeting the Camerons conceealed themselves amid the copse and bracken, the while Loehiel and Atholl discussed their bone of" contention. The conference failed of its purpose, but the imperious Duke had still his trump card to play. Confident that he had the Cameron chief in his power, he raised aloft his right arm, w.h-eii — Instant, through cops* an<J heath arose Bonnets and spears and bended bows. "Who are these, my Lord Earl?" sternly demanded Lochiel. "These," replied the Earl, "are only a few of ray Atnoll wethers come' across the hills with me to eat and grow fat on the grazings of Black Water and Beinn a' Bhreac, which by right belong to us." Whilst the Perthshire laird was signalling to his retainers, Lochiel unconcernedly turned out the red lining of his cloak, and instantly ad own the grassy slope rushed his eager clansmen, who at a signal from their chief halted some distance off. ! I "And who may these be?" queried the ] Earl of Atholl. "These, my Lord Earl," replied Lochiel, "are a few of my Lochaber doge, sharptooth«d and hungTV, eager to taste of the flesh of your Atholl wethers. Give up, mv Lord, your claim ,to th^se lands, for I cannCt much longer hold my dogs in leash." Outmanoeuvred on every point, the Earl, deeming discretion the better part of valour, did what was requested of him in these words : "Men of Atholl and Lochaber, bear witness that I renounce, now and forever, for me and mine, through summer's beat and winter's cold, through all the various seasons of the year, all right and claim to the grazings of Beinn %' Bhreac and the Black Water Meadows. In witness whereof 1 have kissed my sword, which" >

now, in proof of my full faith and trust in. the magnanimity and generosity of Lochiel, I-Tetunwiot to; its" sheath but leave here, that it may be forever "a witness, of my oath." After this brieL address " a mighty sweep,- flung- hjs^wqrJES^r" out •into tEe deep, waters of*T!fs? e! ioch, which '■ to the present day is known as Lochan " a' Chlaidheimh, or Loch of tgeJSword. ;