The heir of Keppoch was sent abroad to be educated; and in his absence his affairs were entrusted to his cousins, who planned a scheme to get rid of him so that they themselves would get possession. The bard perceived their wicked scheme beforehand; and comes prominently before us in his endeavours to expose them; and again in the active part he took in punishing the murderers. The massacre took place in 1663; and soon after the poet persuaded Sir Alexander Macdonald to concert measures for punishing the perpetrators of the deed. They were seized and beheaded, and the awful retribution is commemorated by the ugly monument, “Tobar nan Ceann,” or “Well of the Heads,” in Invergarry. Macdonald was politician as well as poet in his day. He was a keen Jacobite, and acted as the laureate of the party in the Highlands. He was the means of bringing the armies of Montrose and Argyll together at Inverlochy, where, on Sunday, February 2, 1645, a bloody battle was fought, in which the flower of the Campbell clan were slain. He is a poet of great fire, vigour, and satiric power. He was buried in Dunaingeal, in the braes of Lochaber. BATTLE OF INVERLOCHY. Did you hear from Cille-Cummin How the tide of war came pouring? Far and wide the summons travelled, How they drove the Whigs before them! From the castle-tower I viewed it, High on Sunday morning early, Looked and saw the ordered battle, Where Clan Donald triumphed rarely. Up the green slope of Cail-Eachaidh Came Clan Donald marching stoutly; Churls who laid my home in ashes. Now shall pay the fine devoutly! Many a bravely-mounted rider, With his back turned to the slaughter, Where his boots won’t keep him dry now, Learns to swim in Nevis water. On the wings of eager rumour Far and wide the tale is flying, How the slippery knaves, the Campbells, With their cloven skulls are lying. I have availed myself here of the rendering of Blackie, whose literary deftness in translation and poetic genius have successfully transferred not only the sense of, but frequently improved on, the more artless of the productions of the Gaelic muse. If the versatile Professor is not always boldly and simply literal in his versions of Gaelic poetry, he never fails to seize and attractively exhibit the spirit of the bard. ARCHIBALD MACDONALD.—This minor bard, called “An Ciaran Mabach,” was a natural son of Sir Alexander Macdonald, 16th baron of Sleat. He was contemporary with _Iain Lom_. He was a clever and highly practical man, and was entrusted in matters of importance by his father, who allotted him a portion of land in North Uist.