teicheam roimhe." (A heavy stroke from the back of my hand [arm]
and a step to [enforce] it. He who does not get out of my way,
let me get out of his.) Duncan soon killed a man, and, drawing
the body aside, he coolly sat upon it. Hector Roy, noticing this
peculiar proceeding as be was passing by in the heat of the contest,
accosted Duncan, and asked him why he was not still engaged with
his comrades. Duncan answered - "Mar a faigh mi ach miabh aon duine
cha dean mi ach gniomh aon duine." (If I only get one man's due
I shall only do one man's work). Hector told him to perform two
men's work, and be would get two men's reward. Duncan returned
again to the field of carnage, killed another, pulled his body
away, placed it on the top of the first, and sat upon the two. The
same question was again asked, and the answer given: "I have
killed two men, and earned two men's wages." Hector answered
- "Do your best, and we shall not be reckoning with you." Duncan
instantly replied - "Am fear nach biodh ag cunntadh rium cha
bhithinn ag cunntadh ris" - (He that would not reckon with me, I
would not reckon with him) - and rushed into the thickest of the
battle, where he mowed down the enemy with his rusty battle-axe
like grass; so much so that Lachlan Maclean of Lochbuy (Lachlainn
MacThearlaich), a most redoubtable warrior, placed himself in
Duncan's way to check him in his murderous career. The two met
in mortal strife, but, Maclean being a very powerful man, clad
in mail, and well versed in arms, Duncan could make no impression
upon him but, being lighter and more active than his heavily mailed
opponent, he managed to defend himself, watching his opportunity,
and retreating backwards until he arrived at a ditch, where
his opponent, thinking he had him fixed, made a desperate stroke
at him, which Duncan parried, at the same time jumping backwards
across the ditch. Maclean, to catch his enemy, made a furious