he had a Macdonald with him, he should feel himself safe. Donald Roy, however, resisted his importunities; insisting that he would be of more service to him by remaining in Skye, and added, that the wound in his foot rendered him incapable of travelling, except on horseback, which would attract more attention than would be convenient or safe.

The moment had now arrived when Charles was forced to separate from his fair and generous preserver, Flora Macdonald. Before parting from her, he reminded her that he owed her a crown which he had borrowed of her, but she told him it was only half-a-crown, which he returned her with thanks. He then bade her an affectionate farewell, and saluted her, saying-" For all that has happened, I hope, Madam, we shall meet in St. James's yet." Within ten days from this time the noble-minded girl was taken into custody, and sent to London in order to be dealt with as the Government might deem proper: her adventures are of sufficient interest to claim a separate Memoir. At Portree, also, Charles took leave of his . faithful companion, Niel Mackechan, who it was decided should accompany Flora Macdonald to her mother's house at Armadale. Mackechan subsequently effected his escape to France, where he rejoined the Prince.

Shortly after quitting the public house, Donald Roy, happening to look back, perceived the landlord standing at his door watching them; and in order therefore to deceive him, they were compelled to proceed to the shore by a circuitous route. It appears that this person had conceived some suspicion of the Prince's real rank, for when Donald Roy re-entered the house, he began to question him on the subject: the other, however, replied with apparent unconcern, that it was only an Irish Jacobite, a

Sir John Macdonald, who had been hiding among his friends in Skye, and who was now on his way to the Continent. This intelligence satisfied the inquisitive landlord, who, however, remarked that he had at first entertained a strong suspicion that it was the Prince, for "he had something about him that looked very noble."*

On the 1st of July, after a passage of ten miles, Charles landed at a spot called Glam, in the island of Raasay. He slept a little during the voyage, and at other times spoke of his misfortunes and of the kindness of those in whom he had confided during his wanderings. He looked upon those, he said, as his true friends, who had shown their friendship for him in adversity, and he trusted that none of them would have cause to repent the good service they had done him. He still hoped, he added, to end happily what he had begun, and he was resolved either to succeed or perish in the attempt.

Fortunately, at this particular period, there were neither militia nor regular troops in Raasay; but even this secluded island in the Atlantic had not escaped the fury of the Duke of Cumberland's soldiers, and when Charles landed, he learned that almost every cottage had been burned to the ground. After some discussion, it was determined that the whole party-consisting of young Raasay and his brother and cousin, Murdoch and Malcolm Macleod-should take up their abode together in a small hut, which had recently been built by some shepherds. While the rest of the party employed themselves in lighting a fire, and spreading a bed of heath for the Prince, young Raasay set out in search of food, and in

* Jacobite Memoirs, p. 456.

about two hours returned with a young kid, which was immediately roasted, and, with the aid of some butter, cream, and an oaten loaf, afforded an excellent supper. Charles gratified the prejudices of his Highland companions by affecting to prefer oaten bread to wheaten : whiskey and oat-bread," he said, "are my own country bread and drink."*

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"After the little repast was over," says Murdoch Macleod's Narrative, "the Prince began to inquire narrowly about the damages done in the island. Upon his being told of all the houses burnt, and of the other great depredations in the island, to which the houses were but a trifle, he seemed much affected, but at the same time said that, instead of the huts burnt, he would yet build houses of stone. Afterwards, walking on a narrow green near the cottage, he said that this was a bitter hard life, but he would rather live ten years in that way than be taken by his enemies, and seemed a little surprised himself how he did bear such fatigues; for,' says he, 'since the battle of Culloden, I have endured more than would kill a hundred men: sure Providence does not design this for nothing: I am certainly yet reserved for some good!' Thus they passed the day, and after supper he went to rest with as great pleasure, and in outward appearance as little concerned, as if in the greatest prosperity." One of the party asking him in the course of the evening, what he thought his enemies would do with him, should he have the misfortune to fall into their hands, "I do not think," he said, "that they would dare to take away my life publicly; but I dread being privately destroyed, either by poison or assassination."

* Boswell's Narrative, Tour to the Hebrides.

Notwithstanding his habitual cheerfulness, the persons who were with Charles at this period describe his health as a good deal impaired by hunger, fatigue, and watching. Boswell was told by Malcolm Macleod, that on the night on which the Prince landed in Raasay, though he slept a long time in consequence of the fatiguing day he had passed, his slumbers were broken ones, and he frequently started in his sleep, "speaking to himself in different languages, French, Italian, and English." One of his expressions in English was,-" O God! poor Scotland."

Probably there was no period during the wanderings of the unfortunate Prince, in which he was safer from the pursuit of his enemies, than during his short stay in Raasay. There were no soldiers on the island; the few inhabitants were devoted to his cause; Donald Roy was conveniently stationed in Skye for the purpose of giving him the earliest notice of the approach of an enemy; and the two faithful boatmen, M'Kenzie and M'Friar, were placed as sentinels on different eminences, which rendered it impossible for any person to approach the Prince's hiding-place without being seen. One incident, however, occurred, which caused serious alarm to Charles and his companions, the circumstances connected with which were thus related to Boswell by Malcolm Macleod. “There was a man wandering about the island selling tobacco. Nobody knew him, and he was suspected of being a spy. M'Kenzie came running to the hut, and told us that this suspected person was approaching; upon which the four gentlemen, Raasay, Murdoch, Macleod, and Malcolm, held a council of war upon him, and were unanimously of opinion, that he should instantly be put to death. The Prince, at once assuming a grave and even serious countenance, said,-God forbid that we should

take away a man's life, who may be innocent, while we can preserve our own.' The gentlemen, however, persisted in their resolution, while he as strenuously continued to take the merciful side. John M'Kenzie, who sat watching at the door of the hut, and overheard the debate, said in Erse,- Well, well, he must be shot; you are the King, but we are the Parliament, and will do what we choose.' The Prince, seeing the gentlemen smile, asked what the man had said, and being told it in English he observed, that he was a clever fellow, and, notwithstanding the perilous situation in which he was, laughed loud and heartily. Luckily, the unknown person did not perceive that there were people in the hut-at least, did not come to it, but walked on past it, unknowing of his risk." Had the intruder approached nearer to the hut, there can be little doubt that he would have been shot. Raasay is said to have had his pistol in his hand ready cocked for the purpose; and Malcolm Macleod told Boswell, that under the circumstances he would have shot his own brother. The individual who had this narrow escape, afterwards proved to be one of their own party who had made his escape from Culloden, and who was a proscribed wanderer like themselves.

CHAPTER VI.

Charles proceeds to the isle of Skye-His consideration for those accompanying him-Malcolm Macleod-Arrival of Charles in the Mackinnons' country-His narrow escapeProceeds to Borradaile-The residence of Angus Macdonald. On the 3d of July, after a residence of two days and a half in Raasay, Charles set sail for Skye, in the same