he alleged) lest John should fail on his part but the factions - the
commons - within that country could not be satisfied herewith,
being, as it was said, moved hereto by an accident that fell out a
year or two before.'" [Ancient MS.] This "accident" is described
further on, and refers to Hector's alleged attempt to get Allan
assassinated at Invershiel.

Donald Dubh was Kenneth Og's foster-brother, and Imagining that
Hector was accessory in an underhand way to Kenneth's captivity in
Edinburgh Castle, and consequently to his death in the Torwood, he
conceived an inveterate hatred for him, and determined to kill him
in revenge the first opportunity that presented itself. Hector,
knowing that his resolution proceeded from fidelity and affection
to his foster-brother and master, not only forgave him, but
ultimately took an opportunity of rewarding him and, as we have
seen, afterwards gave him his choice of all the lands in Kenlochewe.

John immediately sent word of what had taken place to his uncle
of Lovat, and next day marched for Kintail, where all the people
there, as well as in the other parts of his property, recognised
him as their chief. The Castle of Ellandonnan was delivered up to him,
with the charter chest and other evidences of his extensive possessions.

It has been maintained by the family of Gairloch that there is no
truth in the charge against their ancestor, Hector Roy, which we
have just given mainly on the authority of the Earl of Cromartie.
The writer of the Ardintoul MS. of the Mackenzies, [Dr George Mackenzie
gives substantially the same account,] however corroborates his
lordship, and says that John was but young when his father died;
and Hector, his younger uncle (Duncan, Hector's eldest brother,