■WILLIAM AND MARY.

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did not induce them to join the standard of his general. Theylurked among the rocks and thickets which overhang the Garry,in the hope that there would soon be a battle, and that, what-ever might be the event, there would be fugitives and corpsesto plunder.

Murray was in a strait. His force had dwindled to three orfour hundred men: even in those men he could put little trust;and the Macdonalds and Camerons were advancing fast. Hetherefore raised the siege of Blair Castle, and retired with afew followers into the defile of Iiillieerankie. There he wassoon joined by a detachment of two hundred fusileers whomMackay had sent forward to secure the pass. The main body ofthe Lowland army speedily followed. *

Early in the morning of Saturday the twenty seventh ofJuly, Dundee arrived at Blair Castle. There he learned thatMackay’s troops were already in the ravine of Killiecrankie. Itwas necessary to come to a prompt decision. A council of warwas held. The Saxon officers were generally against hazardinga battle. The Celtic chiefs were of a different opinion. Glen-garry and Lochiel were now both of a mind. “Fight, myLord,” said Lochiel with his usual energy; “fight immediately:fight, if you have only one to three. Our men are in heart.Their only fear is that the enemy should escape. Give themtheh- way; and be assured that they will either perish or gain acomplete victory. But if you restrain them, if you force themto remain on the defensive, I answer for nothing. If we do notfight, we had better break up and retire to our mountains.”**

Dundee’s countenance brightened. “You hear, gentlemen,”be said to his Lowland officers; “you hear the opinion of onewho understands Highland war better than any of us.” Novoice was raised on the other side. It was determined to fight;

* Mackay’s Short Relation, dated Aug. 17. 1689.

** Memoirs of Sir Ewan Cameron.

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