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However
headstrong, the Keith was not precipitate now. The problems, from a
cavalry attacker's point of view, were all too apparent - debarred
from making any assault on three sides, and the fourth narrow, and
partially blocked by the village, which might well be held. He could
not know that Montrose's men were desperately short of powder and
shot.

After
quite prolonged deliberation, the enemy moved on towards the
village. Halting his front ranks just out of musket range, the
Marischal dismounted a troop of about one hundred, and sent them
creeping forward, skulking behind dykes and hedges and barns, to
test the village defences.

When
it was established that the houses were not held, the cavalry moved
on, but warily, clearly fearing a trap, Montrose's reputation
as a tactician inhibiting all.

Beyond
the village, the spine of higher ground was barely
200
yards
wide. There was open, cultivated space, with some orchard, before
the first barring drystone dyke with the gateway to the castle
in the centre. Every foot of that dyke was manned, with every musket
the royalists possessed. But such was the lack of ammunition that
there was not enough for two complete salvoes.

When
the Covenant leaders were almost within range, Montrose rose from
his hiding-place, ordering a single shot to be fired in the air.
'Will Keith,' he called into the sudden hush. 'You ride under the
banner of your King's enemies. It is my hope that you come to place
yourself under my command, as His Grace's Lieutenant-General,
as is your duty. If so, your past offences will be overlooked. Also
those of your company, so be that you serve the King loyally
hereafter. That on my word. If not, you will suffer my wrath,
and the King's forthwith.'

There
was a pause, and some laughter from the ranks opposite. Then the
Earl Marischal spoke. 'James Graham my lord Marquis - I do not
wish you harm. My orders are to convey you before the Committee of
the Estates. At Edinburgh. I have no lack of men to serve that
duty. Many times your numbers. And my lord of Argyll approaches,
with a great army. Yield you then, I pray you.'

'I
repeat, my lord Marischal - make your loyal duty to myself, as royal
representative. Or I open fire on rebels. Quickly, my friend.'

'I
tell you, it will not serve, Jamie...'

Montrose
cut him short, nodding to two marksmen with muskets aimed over die
dyke, glowing matches at the ready. They fired, and gravel and dirt
spurted into the air a yard or two
in
front
of the Earl's horse.

The
beast reared in fright - and not alone in that Being cavalry, this
mounted host had no muskets — which could not be fired from
the saddle, requiring supports - but only flintlock pistols,
with less than half a musket's range. In considerable confusion
the front ranks reined round on the crowded pack behind. Quite a few
pistols were fired, but to no effect A distinctly unseemly retiral
was made to the houses.

'They
must attack now,' James Graham called along his lines. 'Hold your
fire until you are certain of a hit. But before they gain
pistol-range. Every ball must tell. The horse cannot jump this
dyke.'

The
inevitable charge came quickly. Two troops came spurring forward,
yelling, with a third trotting more slowly behind. Knowing that
their mounts could not leap that wall, they came bunched, five or
six abreast, making for the gateway, some
200
very
brave men, hoping by sheer weight and momentum to break through. It
was like a clutch at the heart for the Graham to give the order to
fire - for this would be sheer massacre, and these were his fellow
countrymen. But what option had he?

It
was the pistols that fired first, and uselessly, morale-aiders only.
Then the slaughter, as the royalist muskets brought down their
targets in flailing, screaming ruin. The dragoons had no least
chance. The first ranks crashed like ninepins - and the others
tripped and stumbled into and over them. The rest sought to spread
right and left, inevitably, even though there was no possibility of
passing the wall in front. These merely died at closer range and
more dispersed.

In
only a few seconds, a troop and a half of dragoons were down,
without inflicting a single casualty on the defence. The survivors
swung away and round, desperately, and ploughed back into the
supporting third troop. With good sense, these turned also and
streamed back to the village.

'Mary
Mother - I'm hoping they will not try that again
1'
Colonel
O'Cahan cried. 'We have used up most of our shot in one stroke.'

‘
I
think not. They will attempt the waterside now,' Montrose said.
'They have no other choice. A score of your best marksmen, Colonel.
As near the river as they may venture. Take shot from others. The
Master of Madderty's bowmen behind them. Spread along the slope. In
cover. You will find good targets, I think.' He sent a trumpeter out
into the shambles in front, under a white flag, to announce that the
Earl Marischal could recover his wounded, unassailed.

There
was a quite lengthy interval thereafter. Then the anticipated
infiltration along the riverside haughland commenced. A troop
of horse began to pick their way through the reeds and willows there
- and quickly were in trouble. In a dry summer it might just have
been passable for cavalry horses, but after a wet autumn it was a
quagmire. Only by most careful testing and probing could the riders
make slow and individual progress. And as they came within range,
marksmen with bow and musket picked them off one by one, at leisure.
It was a quite hopeless endeavour - so long as arrows and shot held
out.

The
enemy did not fail to recognise the fact. The attempt was soon
called off.

'What
will they do now?' John Graham asked.

They
could dismount their men and send them in on foot,' the Earl of
Airlie said. 'Men could cross that soft ground where horses cannot.'

They
could. But I do not think they will,' Montrose reasoned. 'They
cannot know that we are short of powder and ball. They have only
pistols, until they get close enough for lance and sword. They could
be shot down while out of range as was the cavalry charge. They will
not take kindly to fighting on foot, see you, being regular cavalry.
And why should they - when they have us bottled up here, and have
only to wait for Argyll's infantry to come up ? I say they will
wait.'

'And
if they do? What will we do then? When my lord of Argyll comes?' his
son demanded, voice less than steady.

'We
will counter the Campbell as best we may - and pray for God's aid.
But meanwhile we shall not waste such time as we are granted. There
is much to do, trenches to dig ...'

James
Graham's assessment of the situation was accurate. No further
attacks developed. Stalemate had been achieved, meantime.

While
die trench-digging and barricade-building proceeded, Montrose
repaired to the castle of Fyvie. Its keeper was an elderly kinsman
of Dunfermline's, who wanted no worse trouble than he found himself
in already. When it was announced that the castle was being taken
over in the King's name, he offered no opposition. The Graham did
not set about further fortifying die place, however, contenting
himself with requisitioning all foodstuffs and forage, and
setting up a rough manufactory in the old kitchen for moulding
musket-balls, stripping the roofs of lead for the purpose.
Fortunately, there was no lack of it. A squad of men were soon
working hard.

It
was late afternoon before Argyll arrived - and for every minute of
that delay Montrose gave thanks. Again they watched the endless
files of men come over the shoulder of Cairn Hill, this time with
only the officers mounted, in the main. Keenly James Graham watched
that vast, slow-moving column, so much less gallant than the
Marischal's had been, but more menacing in these circumstances, and
assessed its numbers at some
2000.
Which
meant that this was only about half the Covenant infantry force.
Presumably Argyll had left his slower-moving units and baggage
behind, hastening on with these. Two or four thousand would not
greatly affect the issue, however, as far as the
650
royalists
were concerned. What was highly important was that there seemed to
be no artillery present. Again the Graham praised his Maker.

The
thought of his particular, personal enemy so close at hand had an
almost physical effect on the man, incompatible with his
God-inclined thanks. He knew a churning within him, almost a nausea.
It was sheer hate, he knew, deplore it as he might He had to control
himself sternly.

Archibald
Campbell was seldom the man to rush matters.

But
with only two hours of daylight left, any attack to be made that day
had to be launched quickly. Within thirty minutes of the infantry's
arrival, an assault was mounted. As Montrose expected, it was
ostensibly on two fronts, the main advance along the riverside, with
a diversion straight up from the village. This meant that the
royalist force had to be spread out grievously, most of it facing
west along the wooded spine, with no massed concentration at the
dyke, as before. O'Cahan's men were left to defend that front on
their own. They were all now reasonably well supplied with ball, and
these were the veterans of the force. But it would inevitably be
touch-and-go.

About
four companies of foot, something under
1000
men,
made the main riverside move, creeping along the reedy bank just out
of effective range, parallel to the royalist positions,
ploutering and floundering in the marsh and mire but managing to
make progress where the horsemen had failed. It took them some time,
and there was nothing Montrose might do to stop them. Presently, at
a trumpet signal, they halted, and turned to face eastwards forming
a quarter-mile front. Then, at another blare, a great hullabaloo
developed on the short village front, with musketry and shouting and
milling of cavalry. Under cover of this feint attack, the riverside
assault commenced.

This
was the real test, as all the defenders well knew. Once die enemy
infantry won out of the soft ground, it would be hard to halt them -
and no doubt Argyll would be throwing in more men than these. They
would be well equipped with muskets. To face them, sheltered by
the scrub woodland and dykes, plus the trenches, Montrose divided
his force left, right and centre. He left O'Cahan and his six-score
veterans to hold the short village front, facing south. Along the
west-facing river front he put Sibbald, with the remnant of the
Athollmen on the left, the Master of Madderty and his bowmen on the
right, while he himself took the centre. The cavalry still waited,
prominent on the ridge.

At
first, the advantage lay with the defence, who had cover, a firm
base, and for the time being sufficient ball. In the musketry
exchange they undoubtedly were a lot more effective than the enemy,
who suffered many casualties, out in the open. But numbers told, and
the attackers came on undeterred. And as they advanced, in short
rushes rather than concerted charge, more men picked their way along
the waterside behind them to take their .places. When these were in
a position to give covering fire, die first waves made better
progress. And once these won their way up onto the firm ground, with
broom bushes and the like to hide them, their advance was
inexorable.