pected this strange turn to his matrimonial converse and happiness. He was, however, armed in a moment, and ready for an obstinate defence.

"Send out your wife, then, Cam-Ruadh," cried the chief, "and we will give up our arms to her."

The Cam and his wife retreated into the pantry, carrying with them the arms of the enemy, and the Cleansers were admitted to thaw their frozen limbs at the kitchen-fire. They were allowed a sheep from his fold to satisfy the cravings of their stomachs, eke a 66 cogie" of good ale to wash it down withal. Things went on well. A peace was agreed upon, and before the Cleansers left next morning, an alliance offensive and defensive was entered into. They shook hands cordially, and bade each other good-bye the best friends possible.

Some time after, the sept to which the seven brothers belonged came to open war with another tribe. The Cam was sent for, and, according to the terms of the alliance, set off to their assistance. He was rather late they were all gone. Cam, however, asked their mother the way they went. She looked at the strange creature before her in astonishment, and exclaimed

"Are you going to help them?"

Yes," said the Cam-Ruadh.

Certainly the Cam did not look much of a hero.

"If they do with you, they'll do without you."

The

"That may very well be," quoth the Cam-Ruadh, drily, “but I'll go and see."

She carelessly pointed out the way, and he arrived in the very nick of time his friends the Campbells were in flight. Sheltering himself in a hollow, his unerring shafts began to fly in every direction, and certain death accompanied each, into the ranks of Clan Diarmid's foes. Their courage fell, and that of our hero's allies rose. The fight was renewed, and the CamRuadh's friends, owing to his prowess, came off victorious.

Their mother, when told how the fight went, was all honey and sweetness to the Cam-Ruadh; but yet maintained, with the obstinacy peculiar to the sex, that his appearance did not indicate the warrior.

Little more is told of our hero, saving his adventure in Stratheardle. The Baron Reid, of Balvarran, had his cattle continually stolen from the folds, and hearing of the deeds of the CamRuadh, requested the favour of a visit, to try what could be done. Of course, the robbers chose the darkest nights for their operations: the Cam defeated them, however, by having enclosed in the fold among the other cattle a white ox or cow. The manner in which the denouement of this adventure was brought

about is not well known; suffice it to say that the robbers were quite scared from ever after annoying the Baron Reid.

After serving, as well as the other brave bowmen of Mar, with Donald Og and William of Inverey, the Cam-Ruadh died in peace at a good old age, the pride of his country.

It is supposed the Cam's sword and several of his weapons were those found by the poacher Gruar in Ben Gulbing, in a small cave, built up in a cairn, the sword lying on a shelf or ledge of a rock. The other articles were so decayed as not to be recognisable. The trouvaille was sold to an English gentleman, much to Invercauld's chagrin, who threatened to raise a law process; but the affair quieted down and was forgot, the Englishman retaining his purchase.

Very soon after the battle of the Cairnwall, another bright and sharp, though two-eyed gentleman, came to the rescue. Montrose, after the two victories of St Johnston and the "Twamile-cross," reached Aberdeen; and on Monday, 16th September 1644, when about to leave it, there came "into him Gordon of Abergeldie and Donald Farquharson of Tilliegarmont, with divers other friends and followers, all gentlemen distressed for favouring the house of Huntly." The Marquis, followed by Argyle, who laid all waste as he went, marched through Mar, Garioch, Strathdon, Strathavon, and Badenoch, into Athole. There M'Donald left him for a time, and he fell down into Perth and Angus, burning the possessions of the most rigid Covenanters, and charging all and sundry to rise for king and country under pain of fire and sword. Going thus onwards through the Mearns also, he arrived again at Aberdeen, destroyed the lands of the Forbeses round about, and passed to Huntly, to raise the Gordons. He was no sooner there than he heard of Argyle's arrival at Aberdeen, and therefore he retraced his steps, and encamped at Fyvie. Here Donald Og, who had joined him with two hundred men out of Strathdee and Aboyne, and a hundred out of Strathavon, distinguished himself. Patrick Gordon, in his Britane's Distemper, recounts the affair thus:

"He had but on troupe of light horsemen, and thir ware gone to bring in provision for the campe whan Ardgyle was come in sight, who draws up his armie upon ane hill without distance of schote, and sends first a regiment of foote to force them, or draw them from their strenth. This regiment wins a fald hard by them, and from thence beginnes to play upon them. But the marquies sends Donald Farquharson, a brave and weil-resolved gentleman, with those of Straithaven and Strathdie, whom he commanded, as being Huntlyes bailzie in those pairts. This gentleman acted his pairt so bravely, as he dryues them from

their hold, and beats them backe with great losse and discredit, and to the no small incouragement of the Royalistes."

After the fight at Fyvie, Montrose returned again to Huntly, where several skirmishes came off to the advantage of the Royalists; but as the Gordons could not be prevailed on to join, the marquis, deserted by Colonels Nathaniel Gordon and Sibbet, marched up through Mortlach, and joined Colquitto in Athole.

Meanwhile the Estates, November 1644, assigned to Lord Fraser, Monaltrie, Abergeldie, and Brachlie's rents, to compensate him for the "spulzie" of his lands by Montrose; but his death shortly after made the grant of no avail.

After due deliberation, the Royalists determined on the invasion of Argyle and Lorne. Enumerating the chiefs then with Montrose, Patrick Gordon mentions "Donald Farquharson also, Huntly's baillie of Strathawan, having three hundredth of Strathawan and Diesyd, whom he commanded there, stood constantly to him whille [he] lived." They entered Argyle then, and plundered, wasted, and destroyed all before them. Lorne next shared the same fate, and here an adventure befell, which the delicious Patrick recordeth thus:

"When they hade waisted Ardgyll, and leaft it lyke ane deserte, they mairche to Lorne; but the Stewarts, who had beine the ancient possessores of that countray, although now wnder forced obedience to Ardgyll, comes in to the generalle, promisseing from hencefurth to be good and faithful subjectes, as many others of good quality, wupon whose submission they were spared; one of the which was M'Condachie Anrain, who, altho he was Ardgylles wassall, for he had forced all the heritoures who formerly held of the king to renunce there regall holding, and take there lands haldin of him. This M'Condachie being secreetly a male-content, as the rest ware, dealt with Donald Farquharsone, betwixt whom and him there had beene long familiaritie and friendsheepe, that he would deall for his peace with the generall, which he did, and fand the generall gratious, free, and merciefull to all that would submitte and become loyall subjectes; but this man was but a craftie and subtill dissembler, who, with a forseeing and politicke prouidence, esteemes this but a wiolent tempest which should haue ane end, and that Ardgyll would againe be maister of all; whose favour to obtaine, he watches a fitte tyme whan a partie was sent out to bring in prouision for the campe, and being double their number, sets upon them whan they were separet, and dryueing in some heardes of cattelle. This partie was leade by Donald Farquharsone, who could not be persuaded at the first that his friend would intend any such treacherie till he sawe them commeing furiously to charge him, who had but

a small number about him; yet seeing there was no remedie, he with great courage stands to his defence, till the reportes of the muscates brought backe some of those who throw the hills ware gathering of there pray, defending himselfe walliantly till they returned; at whose comeing he charged forward so rudlye, as his enemies are forced to giue ground. M'Condachie himselfe is soire wounded, and, not able to stand, is caryed of with a shamefull retreat, altho he was twyse there number."

From Lorne Montrose returned through Glencoe to Lochaber. At Lochness, on his way to Moray, he was informed of Argyle's entry into Lochaber at the head of 3000 men. Immediately he returned, and in the desperate battle of Inverlochy gained a complete victory on the 2d February 1645. Although "Donald Farquharson," as Patrick tells us, was gone to raise more forces in Banzenoch and the reste of Huntlye's Highlandes," still tradition has it that the Braemar men fought there under William of Inverey. Donald did not join the army till Montrose reached Moray. Here also Lord Gordon, abandoning the Covenanters, took arms for the king. The deserter, Col. Nathaniel Gordon, returned to his allegiance; and Seaforth, Grant, and several other gentlemen of Moray, made professions of loyalty. In retaliating on the Covenanters, as they marched along, "Cullen," Spalding tells us, was given to the Farquharsons of Brae of Mar to plunder, which they did pitifully," on the 4th March 1645. At length headquarters were advanced to Kintore. I now bid farewell to Domhnull Og na h-Alba, and leave him to the pens of the worthy Spalding and the graphic Patrick. Thus they relate the disaster of the 25th March 1645 :—

"Ye heard," says Spalding, "how Major Nathaniel Gordon went from Aberdeen to the camp, upon the foresaid 12th of March; he comes frae the camp back again to Aberdeen, with Donald Farquharson, Captain Mortimer, and some others-about eighty well-horsed brave gentlemen. They, fearless and careless of the enemy, went to their merriment without closing of the ports or setting of watches, against the order of war. Their careless security is spied by some of their unfriends in the town, as was said, and posts speedily to Major Hurry, now lying at the north-water bridge with the Lord Balcarras's regiment, and other foot regiments, desiring him with diligence to come to Aberdeen where he should have a fair hazard of his enemies, lying without order. Hurry, informed of all, takes the occasion, and comes with about one hundred and sixty horse and foot out of Balcarras's regiment of horse, and others, besides brave troopers and musketeers, and in great haste, upon Friday the 25th of March, about eight hours at even, came down the gate of Aberdeen, and set watches to the ports, as they came in, that none

should escape. The other party, dispersed through the town, drinking carelessly in their lodgings, and hearing the horse feet and great noise, were astonished, never dreaming of their enemy. However, this Donald Farquharson happened to come to the causey, where he was cruelly slain anent the Court de Guarda brave gentleman, and one of the noblest captains amongst all the Highlanders of Scotland. Two or three others were killed, and some taken prisoners, had to Edinburgh, and cast into irons in the Tolbooth. Great lamentation was made for this gallant, being still the king's man for life and death.

66

“Hurry having done this exploit in Aberdeen, the gentlemen were sorry, but could not mend it. They returned back to Montrose, some on horse and some on foot, ashamed of this accident. Montrose was highly offended for the loss of Donald Farquharson more than the rest, through too great carelessness. Upon the morn, being Saturday, the said Donald Farquharson's corps was found in the street stripped naked, for they tirred from off his body a rich stand of apparel, but put on the samen day. His corps was taken up, and put in a close chest, and carried to the chapel, there to ly in the castle-hill. The other dead corps were taken up, and put into their chests, and carried to the samen chapel on the castle-hill, while they should all be buried.

"The town of Aberdeen, fearing this accident should be interpreted their fault, sent out two commissioners to Kintore to signify their innocency to Montrose. He heard them patiently with a woe heart, yet knew well enough who were innocent or guilty in this matter within the town; wisely kept up his mind, and gave the commissioners an indifferent answer, and so they returned to Aberdeen, not knowing what should be the event.

?

"Upon the morn, being Sunday, this gentleman, with the other three corps, was lifted out of the castle foresaid, and conveyed to their burial. Donald was buried in the laird of Drum's aisle, with many woe hearts and doleful shots."

Patrick Gordon has it thus:-" -"Some of the cawalyres, while they stayed there, went to Aberdeene with Collonell Gordonne and Collonell Farquharsone, who, out of Strathawin (where he was bailzie to Huntly), and Aboyn and Diesyd, had`always a standeing regiment. This mane's affable, naturall, and weelcomposed condition had so much oblidged all men that ever he was acquanted with, as generallie he was beloved of all sortes of people, and could not be otherwayes, for he was of such a harmlesse and innocent carriage, as there was non alyue whom he could hate: he was never seene to be angrie, nor knew he