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186 than the former, being calculated to aid them in asserting their right to their own property by force of arms. The time they were waiting for at length arrived. The invaders were scattered in small bands, unconcernedly, all over the eastern portion of the island and the tide had risen to near the full, when suddenly rushed out of their concealment John Mòr with his myrmidons, well equipped with bows and swords, and stoutly determined to punish the spoliators in a manner they were now not very well prepared for. John Mòr was soon joined by those who had hitherto been to all appearance but mere weak spectators of all that was going on. The carnage commenced. Those attacked gave the alarm, and began to form themselves into such order as their circumstances enabled them. A number of them were slain before the fray could properly be said to have assumed the character of a battle. They were taken quite by surprise, and during the whole time the engagement lasted they could not be said to have regained their confidence. They fought, however, with great bravery, though circumstances plainly showed that they fought not so much with a view to victory, as to the preservation of their lives, and flight; for they were gradually falling back in the direction of their boats, while at the same time they fiercely contended with their opponents. John Mòr was too wide awake for them. All along he had been alive to the importance of securing the port. Their best stand the Lewismen made a little to the west of this place; but alas! in spite of all they could do, they found after a severe and bloody struggle that retreat to their boats was hopelessly cut off, and even if not, the tide being now high, the attempt must end in their almost utter extermination. Opposite the spot where, as has been observed, they had for some time held their ground so firmly, there is a rock with a few yards of green grass on the top of it, which is joined to the land at half tide, but is cut off from it at high water; and finding themselves hemmed in on all sides, and so unmercifully dealt with, they fell back, step by step, into the waves towards this rock, hoping there to defend themselves the more successfully, still fighting,