Rob Roy — Volume 01

by Walter Scott

  No. VI--GHLUNE DHU.

  The following notices concerning this Chief fell under the Author's eyewhile the sheets were in the act of going through the press. They occurin manuscript memoirs, written by a person intimately acquainted with theincidents of 1745.

  This Chief had the important task intrusted to him of defending theCastle of Doune, in which the Chevalier placed a garrison to protect hiscommunication with the Highlands, and to repel any sallies which might bemade from Stirling Castle--Ghlune Dhu distinguished himself by his goodconduct in this charge.

  Ghlune Dhu is thus described:--"Glengyle is, in person, a tall handsomeman, and has more of the mien of the ancient heroes than our modern finegentlemen are possessed of. He is honest and disinterested to aproverb--extremely modest--brave and intrepid--and born one of the bestpartisans in Europe. In short, the whole people of that country declaredthat never did men live under so mild a government as Glengyle's, not aman having so much as lost a chicken while he continued there."

  It would appear from this curious passage, that Glengyle--not Stewart ofBalloch, as averred in a note on Waverley--commanded the garrison ofDoune. Balloch might, no doubt, succeed MacGregor in the situation.