Great chiefs, who had brought six or seven hundred fighting men into the field, did not think it fair that they should be outvoted by gentlemen from Ireland and from the low country, who bore indeed King James's commission, and were called Colonels and Captains, but who were Colonels without regiments and Captains without companies.

Lochiel spoke strongly in behalf of the class to which he belonged: but Cannon decided that the votes of the Saxon officers should be reckoned, [375] It was next considered what was to be the plan of the campaign.

Lochiel was for advancing, for marching towards Mackay wherever Mackay might be, and for giving battle again.

It can hardly be supposed that success had so turned the head of the wise chief of the Camerons as to make him insensible of the danger of the course which he recommended.

But he probably conceived that nothing but a choice between dangers was left to him.