“’Why should I not slay ye both?’ said he. ’When did ever a Macdonald spare a Maclean, tell me that?’ He paused, as if in thought. ’But listen,’ he began again. ’Choose you,’ said he, speaking to my mother, ’for such is my humour, choose you, your life or the boy’s.’
“’Thank ye,’ said my mother. ’Never did I think I should live to thank a Maclean. Swear you will not shed his innocent blood, and I shall die gladly.’
“’Have ye chosen?’ said he.
“’Will ye swear not to put him to the sword?’
“’Yes,’ said he, and glared at her.
“’Ye have chosen,’ said he at length.
“’Yes,’ said my mother; and with her eyes fixed on me, she fell beneath the stabs of his dirk; but even as she fell I sprang from the arms of the men who held me, and leapt like a wild cat of Mull straight for his throat, but he caught and crushed me in his grip.
“’Remember your oath!’ cried my mother to him, and died.
“Seeing that she was dead he laughed a terrible laugh, so empty of mirth and so full of menace was it.