66 SCOTLAND ILLUSTRATED. 



for the charge, or made the least attempt to contest the fortune of the day." . . 

 A few minutes saw the whole of the Argyll army accumulated in a confused and 

 terrified mass upon the brink of the lake, or flying to irretrievable ruin along 

 its shore. After the turn of the day, Montrose's men found easy work in chasing 

 and cutting down their unhappy countrymen. The flight was more destructive 

 than the hardest fought battle. Those who crowded back upon the beach in 

 the hope of reaching the vessels, were almost, without exception, slain or 

 drowned. Those who fled along the shore towards the south-west, were closely 

 followed, and great numbers of them overtaken and slain. A party of about 

 two hundred, who made for the Castle, were intercepted by a troop of Montrose's 

 horse, and either cut down or driven back upon the beach. A great number 

 endeavoured to reach their chief's vessel by means of the rope which attached 

 it to the shore ; but this support suddenly giving way, all that were upon it sank 

 at once into the water and were drowned. Argyll himself, too much concerned 

 for his own safety to attempt the rescue of his unhappy followers, was no 

 sooner certain of the fate of the day, than he ordered his sails to be hoisted, 

 and extricating his vessel from the midst of his dead and drowning clansmen, 

 glided down the Loch in quest of a safer anchorage. Such is a brief sketch of 

 the battle of Inverlochy, which the reader will find detailed with great effect in 

 the popular work here abridged. 



A short excursion into Lochaber carries the tourist to Glen-roy, celebrated 

 for a series of parallel roads, which have furnished abundant materials for 

 discussion between geologists and those patriots who, with excusable partiality, 

 still cling to the immemorial traditions of the country. The theory established 

 by the latter, is, that these extraordinary roads, or terraces, were constructed 

 by human labour, and devised for the use of the ancient kings who held their 

 court at Inverlochy, and here indulged in the royal pastime of hunting. But, 

 admitting that such was their intended purpose that they could really have been 

 useful in facilitating the business of the chase still there is no trace of artificial 

 formation. Had such been their origin, the exchequer of the Celtic kings 

 must have been amply provided, and most idly expended. But this theory 

 is not only untenable by any argument that could give it even an air of proba- 

 bility, but is refuted by the existence of similar lines in various parts of the 



* Montrose is said to have " knighted on the field," John Hay, of Lochloy the latest instance of that 

 honour being conferred by a subject. This circumstance is commemorated by Sir Walter Scott, in his 

 " Legend of Montrose," where the doughty " Major Dalgetty " is made to win his spurs in this battle, 

 which the great novelist has depicted with admirable effect as well as historical accuracy. For this scene 

 see " Legend of Montrose," pp. 284, 285. 



