It was hardly possible to keep him from affronting them, or to convince him that they were not affronting him.

All his followers sympathized with all his animosities, considered his honour as their own, and were ready at his whistle to array themselves round him in arms against the commander in chief.

There was therefore very little chance that by any contrivance any five clans could be induced to cooperate heartily with one another during a long campaign.

The best chance, however, was when they were led by a Saxon.

It is remarkable that none of the great actions performed by the Highlanders during our civil wars was performed under the command of a Highlander.