Page:A Companion and Useful Guide to the Beauties of Scotland.djvu/356

338 terrible. In February, Campbell of Glen Lyon, marched into the valley of Glen Coe, with a company of soldiers, on pretence of levying the arrears of the land tax and hearth money. Macdonald asked if they were come as friends or enemies? as friends, was the answer; and the commander promised, upon his honor, that neither he nor his people should in the least be injured. In consequence of this declaration, Campbell and his men were received with the utmost kindness and hospitality; and lived fifteen days with the people in the valley, seemingly in perfect friendship. At length the fatal hour arrived: Campbell and Macdonald having passed the day together, parted about seven in the evening, with mutual professions of affection. The younger Macdonalds perceiving the guards doubled, suspected treachery; but the old man would not entertain a doubt of Campbell's sincerity. The young men went forth to make further observations: they overheard the common soldiers say, they liked not the work; that though they would willingly fight the Macdonalds of the Glen fairly in the field, they held it base to murder them in cool blood, but that their officers were answerable for the treachery. At the return of the young