30 THE HIGHLAND CLEARANCES. 



did matters assume that the police drew their batons and 

 charged. This was the signal for a general attack. Huge 

 boulders darkened the horizon as they sped from the hands 

 of infuriated men and women. Large sticks and flails were 

 brandished and brought down with crushing force upon the 

 police the poor prisoners coming in for their share of the 

 blows. One difficult point had to be captured, and as the 

 expedition approached this dangerous position, it was seen 

 to be strongly occupied with men and women, armed with 

 stones and boulders. A halt was called and the situation 

 discussed. Finally it was agreed to attempt to force a way 

 through a narrow gully. By this time a crowd had gathered 

 in the rear of the party. A rush was made for the pass, and 

 from the heights a fearful fusilade of stones descended. 

 The advance was checked. The party could neither ad- 

 vance nor recede. For two minutes the expedition stood 

 exposed to the merciless shower of missiles. Many were 

 struck, and a number more or less injured. The situation 

 was highly dangerous. Raising a yell that might have been 

 heard at a distance of two miles, the crofters, maddened by 

 the apprehension of some of the oldest men in the township, 

 rushed on the police, each person armed with huge stones, 

 which, on approaching near enough, they discharged with a 

 vigour that nothing could resist. The women were by far 

 the most troublesome assailants. Thinking apparently 

 that the constables would offer them no resistance, they 

 approached to within a few yards' distance, and poured a 

 fearful volley into the compact mass. The police charged, 

 but the crowd gave way scarcely a yard. Returning again, 

 Captain Donald gave orders to drive back the howling mob, 

 at the same time advising the Sheriffs and the constables in 

 charge of the prisoners to move rapidly forward. This 

 second charge was more effective, as the attacking force was 



