History Of The Mackenzies [48]
he performed in the after contests of the Mackenzies and the Macraes against their common enemies. "Such of Macdonald's men as escaped the battle fled together, and as they were going homeward began to spulzie Strathconan, which Mackenzie hearing, followed them with a party, overtakes them at Invercorran, kills shoals of them and the rest fled divers ways."
That night, as Mackenzie sat at supper, he missed Duncan Mor, and said to the company--"I am more vexed for the want of my scallag mar (big servant) this night than any satisfaction I had of this day." One of those present said, "I thought, (as the people fled) I perceived him following four or five men that ran up the burn." He had not well spoken the word when Duncan Mor came in with four heads "bound on a woody" and threw them before his master, saying--"Tell me now if I have not deserved my supper," to which, it is said of him, he fell with great gusto.
This reminds me, continues the chronicler, "of a cheat he once played on an Irishman, being a traveller, withal a strong, lusty fellow, well-proportioned, but of an extraordinary stomach. He resorted into gentlemen's houses, and (was) very oft in Mackenzie's. Having come on a time to the same Mackenzie's house in Islandonain two or three years after this battle (of Park), he was cared for as usual, and when the laird went to dinner, he was set aside, at a side-table to himself, and a double proportion allowed him, which this Duncan Mor envying, went on a day and sat side for side with him, drew his skyn or short dagger and eats with him. `How now,' says the Irishman, `how comes it that you fall in eating in any manner of way.' ` I cannot tell,' says Duncan, `but I do think I have as good will to eat as you can have.' `Well,' says the other, `we shall try that when we have done.' So when the laird had done of his dinner, the Irishman went where he was and said, `Noble sir, I have travelled now almost among all the clans in Scotland, and was resorting their houses, as I have been several times here, where I cannot say but I was sufficiently cared for, but I never met with such an affront as I have this day.' The laird asked what he meant. So he tells him what injury Duncan had done him in eating a share of his proportion. `Well,' says the laird, `I hope M'ille Chruimb,' for so the Irishman was called, `you will take no notice of him that did that; for he is but a fool that plays the fool now and then.'
`I cannot tell,' says he, `but he is no idiot at eating, nor will I let my affront pass so; for I must have a turn or two of wrestling with him for it in your presence.' Whereupon a stander-by asks Duncan if he would wrestle with him. `I will,' says he, `for I think I was fit sides with him in eating and might be so with this.' They yocks, and Duncan threw him thrice on his back. The Irishman was so angry he wist not what to say. He invites him to put the stone, and at the second cast he worried him four feet, but could never reach him. Then he was like to burst himself. Finding this, he invites him to lop so that he outlopped him as far a length. The Irishman then said, `I have travelled as far as any of my equals, both in Scotland, England, and Ireland, and tried many hands, but I never met with my equal till this day, but comrade,' say's he `let us now go and swim a little in the laird's presence.' `With all my heart,' say's Duncan, `for I never sought better' (with this Duncan could swim not at all), but down to the shore they go to the next rock, and being full sea, was at least three fathoms deep, but before the Irishman had off half of his clothes Duncan was stark naked, lops over the rocks and ducks to the bottom and up again. Looking about him he calls to a boy that stood by, and said, `Lad, go where the Lady is, and bid her send me a butter and four cheese.'
The Irishman, hearing this, asks `what purpose.' `To what purpose,' says he, `yons the least we will need this night and to-morrow wherever we be,' `Do you intend a journey,'
That night, as Mackenzie sat at supper, he missed Duncan Mor, and said to the company--"I am more vexed for the want of my scallag mar (big servant) this night than any satisfaction I had of this day." One of those present said, "I thought, (as the people fled) I perceived him following four or five men that ran up the burn." He had not well spoken the word when Duncan Mor came in with four heads "bound on a woody" and threw them before his master, saying--"Tell me now if I have not deserved my supper," to which, it is said of him, he fell with great gusto.
This reminds me, continues the chronicler, "of a cheat he once played on an Irishman, being a traveller, withal a strong, lusty fellow, well-proportioned, but of an extraordinary stomach. He resorted into gentlemen's houses, and (was) very oft in Mackenzie's. Having come on a time to the same Mackenzie's house in Islandonain two or three years after this battle (of Park), he was cared for as usual, and when the laird went to dinner, he was set aside, at a side-table to himself, and a double proportion allowed him, which this Duncan Mor envying, went on a day and sat side for side with him, drew his skyn or short dagger and eats with him. `How now,' says the Irishman, `how comes it that you fall in eating in any manner of way.' ` I cannot tell,' says Duncan, `but I do think I have as good will to eat as you can have.' `Well,' says the other, `we shall try that when we have done.' So when the laird had done of his dinner, the Irishman went where he was and said, `Noble sir, I have travelled now almost among all the clans in Scotland, and was resorting their houses, as I have been several times here, where I cannot say but I was sufficiently cared for, but I never met with such an affront as I have this day.' The laird asked what he meant. So he tells him what injury Duncan had done him in eating a share of his proportion. `Well,' says the laird, `I hope M'ille Chruimb,' for so the Irishman was called, `you will take no notice of him that did that; for he is but a fool that plays the fool now and then.'
`I cannot tell,' says he, `but he is no idiot at eating, nor will I let my affront pass so; for I must have a turn or two of wrestling with him for it in your presence.' Whereupon a stander-by asks Duncan if he would wrestle with him. `I will,' says he, `for I think I was fit sides with him in eating and might be so with this.' They yocks, and Duncan threw him thrice on his back. The Irishman was so angry he wist not what to say. He invites him to put the stone, and at the second cast he worried him four feet, but could never reach him. Then he was like to burst himself. Finding this, he invites him to lop so that he outlopped him as far a length. The Irishman then said, `I have travelled as far as any of my equals, both in Scotland, England, and Ireland, and tried many hands, but I never met with my equal till this day, but comrade,' say's he `let us now go and swim a little in the laird's presence.' `With all my heart,' say's Duncan, `for I never sought better' (with this Duncan could swim not at all), but down to the shore they go to the next rock, and being full sea, was at least three fathoms deep, but before the Irishman had off half of his clothes Duncan was stark naked, lops over the rocks and ducks to the bottom and up again. Looking about him he calls to a boy that stood by, and said, `Lad, go where the Lady is, and bid her send me a butter and four cheese.'
The Irishman, hearing this, asks `what purpose.' `To what purpose,' says he, `yons the least we will need this night and to-morrow wherever we be,' `Do you intend a journey,'