"But it is impossible! Were I to read the record in the eternal book of fate, I would declare it impossible--we are bound by the ties of blood, and by a hundred ties more intimate--we have stood side by side in battle, and our swords have reeked with the blood of the same enemies--it is IMPOSSIBLE I should harm him!" "That you WILL do so," answered Ranald, "is certain, though the cause be hid in the darkness of futurity.

You say," he continued, suppressing his own emotions with difficulty, "that side by side you have pursued your prey like bloodhounds--have you never seen bloodhounds turn their fangs against each other, and fight over the body of a throttled deer ?" "It is false!" said M'Aulay, starting up, "these are not the forebodings of fate, but the temptation of some evil spirit from the bottomless pit!" So saying, he strode out of the cabin.
"Thou hast it!" said the Son of the Mist, looking after him with an air of exultation; "the barbed arrow is in thy side! Spirits of the slaughtered, rejoice! soon shall your murderers' swords be dyed in each other's blood." On the succeeding morning all was prepared, and Montrose advanced by rapid marches up the river Tay, and poured his desultory forces into the romantic vale around the lake of the same name, which lies at the head of that river.

The inhabitants were Campbells, not indeed the vassals of Argyle, but of the allied and kindred house of Glenorchy, which now bears the name of Breadalbane.

Being taken by surprise, they were totally unprepared for resistance, and were compelled to be passive witnesses of the ravages which took place among their flocks and herds.
Advancing in this manner to the vale of Loch Dochart, and laying waste the country around him, Montrose reached the most difficult point of his enterprise.
To a modern army, even with the assistance of the good military road which now leads up by Teinedrum to the head of Loch Awe, the passage of these extensive wilds would seem a task of some difficulty.

But at this period, and for long afterwards, there was no road or path whatsoever; and to add to the difficulty, the mountains were already covered with snow.