Chapter 25

           Atthedoorofthefirsthousewecameto,Alanknocked,whichwasofnoverysafeenterpriseinsuchapartoftheHighlandsastheBraesofBalquhidder.Nogreatclanheldrulethere;itwasfilledanddisputedbysmallsepts,andbrokenremnants,andwhattheycall“chieflessfolk,”drivenintothewildcountryaboutthespringsofForthandTeithbytheadvanceoftheCampbells.HerewereStewartsandMaclarens,whichcametothesamething,fortheMaclarensfollowedAlan’schiefinwar,andmadebutoneclanwithAppin.Here,too,weremanyofthatold,proscribed,nameless,red-handedclanoftheMacgregors.Theyhadalwaysbeenill-considered,andnowworsethanever,havingcreditwithnosideorpartyinthewholecountryofScotland.Theirchief,MacgregorofMacgregor,wasinexile;themoreimmediateleaderofthatpartofthemaboutBalquhidder,JamesMore,RobRoy’seldestson,laywaitinghistrialinEdinburghCastle;theywereinill-bloodwithHighlanderandLowlander,withtheGrahames,theMaclarens,andtheStewarts;andAlan,whotookupthequarrelofanyfriend,howeverdistant,wasextremelywishfultoavoidthem.

           Chanceservedusverywell;foritwasahouseholdofMaclarensthatwefound,whereAlanwasnotonlywelcomeforhisname’ssakebutknownbyreputation.HerethenIwasgottobedwithoutdelay,andadoctorfetched,whofoundmeinasorryplight.