The peat-fire flame : folk-tales and traditions of the Highlands & Islands

THE PEAT-FIRE FLAME
knowing where he was, and to whom to turn for protection
from young MacGregor's followers, who came at his heels,
he arrived at the door of a house in the glen, whither he
had been attracted by a light that glowed in the window.
Here, in despair, he entered and begged for protection.
Little was Lamont aware that he had sought refuge at the
house of the Chief of Glen Strae, whose son he had just
slain ; and it was not until young MacGregor's men came
to the same door shortly afterwards, and demanded the
refugee to be handed over to them, that the Chief learned
that the man, to whom he had given hospitality, and whom
he had vowed to defend from the wrath of his pursuers,
had killed his own son.
" Here this night you will be safe,
"
whoever you be !
were the words with which MacGregor of Glen Strae had
received Lamont, before he knew the reason for his flight.
And, although MacGregor's wife and family filled the house
with their lamentations, and remonstrated with him, and
would have had him deliver the fugitive into the hands of
those whom he had bereft, the Chief replied that already he
had given his word. (A MacGregor's word meant something
in those far-off days!)
" But he has slain your son " ! was the retort of his
clansmen, who besieged the door of his house, and clamoured
disappointedly without.
" Let no one hurt a hair of the lad's head," replied Glen
has vowed that he will sliield him
Strae. . . . MacGregor
and, as I live, he shall be safe while he remains under my
"
roof !
How long Lamont remained under MacGregor's roof, I
am unable to say. But we know that at daybreak one
morning the broken-hearted Chief ordered Lamont to
prepare himself for a journey, and in person escorted
him from Glen Strae, across many a hill and through many
a glen, until at length they arrived at a place on Loch Fyne
called Dundarave, the Castle of the Two Oars—an ancient,
turreted keep of the MacNaughtons, not far distant from
Inveraray. Here, at the ferry, MacGregor procured a boat
and two oars for Lamont, that he might row himself over
to Cowal, on the opposite shore of Loch Fyne, and have a
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