26 THE HIGHLAND CLEARANCES. 



people met the officer on the road, about a mile from the 

 scene of his intended labours. They were clamorous and 

 angry, of course. He told them his mission, and that he 

 would give them the summonses on the spot if they liked. 

 They said, " Thoir dhuinn iad," (Give them to us) and he did 

 so. The officer was then asked to light a fire. He did so ; 

 and a fish liver being placed upon it, that oily material was 

 soon in a blaze. The officer was then peremptorily ordered 

 to consign the summonses to the flames, which he did ! 

 The summonses were of course straightway consumed to 

 ashes. The interchange of compliments between the 

 officers of the law and the people were, as might be ex- 

 pected, of a fiery character. The chief officer was graciously 

 and considerately informed that his conduct as he had 

 only acted in the performance of a public official duty was 

 excusable; but with his assistant, or concurrent, it was 

 different. He was there for pay, and he would not go 

 home without it. Certain domestic utensils, fully charged, 

 were suddenly brought on the scene, and their contents 

 were showered on the unlucky assistant, who immediately 

 disappeared, followed by a howling crowd of boys. 



MARCH OF THE DISMAL BRIGADE. 



The summonses were never served, and the County Au- 

 thorities after full consideration determined to arrest and 

 punish the ringleaders for deforcing the officers of the law. 

 Sheriff Ivory obtained a body of police from Glasgow, and 

 with these, twelve from the mainland of the County of In- 

 verness, and the Skye portion of the force, he, with the 

 leading county officials invaded the Isle of Skye during the 

 night of the iyth of April. After consulting with the local 



