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now among my best friends; for it is remarkable that those of Sir Alexander Macdonald's following, have been most faithful to me in my distress, and contributed greatly to my preservation." He then added plaintively, “I hope, Mackinnon, you will not desert me too, and leave me in the lurch." The old chief, imagining that these words were addressed to him, was so affected as to shed tears. "I never," he said, " will leave your Royal Highness in the day of danger, but will, under God, do all I can for you, and go with you wherever you order me." "Oh no," said Charles, "this is too much for one of your advanced years. I heartily thank you for your readiness to take care of me, and I am well satisfied of your zeal for me and my cause; but one of your age cannot well hold out with the fatigues and dangers I must undergo. It was to your friend John here, a stout young man, that was addressing myself."-" Well, then," said John, " with the help of God I will go through the wide world with your Royal Highness."*

Accompanied by John Mackinnon, and with a son of Morar's for their guide, Charles proceeded towards Borrodaile, the residence of Angus Macdonald, where he had passed the night on his first landing in the Highlands. At Morar he took leave of the old chief of Mackinnon, who was captured the very next day in Morar's house. He now also bade farewell to the faithful John, who being satisfied that the Prince was in the best hands, remained only to drink some warm milk, and then proceeded to his own country in Skye. He had scarcely reached his home, when he was seized by the militia with

*John Mackinnon's Narrative, Jacobite Memoirs, pp. 492 to 494.

two of his rowers, and carried before a Captain Ferguson, whose detestable barbarities have rendered his name still infamous in the Highlands. Finding it impossible to extract any information from Mackinnon or the rowers, either by promises or threats, Ferguson caused one of the latter to be stripped and tied to a tree, where he was lashed till the blood gushed from both his sides. He even threatened Mackinnon with similar treatment, but nothing could extort a confession from these faithful men.* John Mackinnon and the old chief were sent on board ship and carried prisoners to London, where they remained in custody till July 1747.†

* Chambers, p. 112.

Both

+ John Mackinnon died on the 11th of May, 1762, at the age of forty-eight. The death of the old chieftain was thus noticed in the journals of the time. "May 7, 1756.— Died at his house of Kilmaine, in the Isle of Skye, John Mackinnon of that ilk, i. e. the old Laird of Mackinnon, in the seventy-fifth year of his age, leaving issue two sons and a daughter, Charles, Lachlan, and Margaret, all born after the seventy-first year of his age. He used to say, he hoped God would not take him off the earth but on the field of battle, when fighting for his king and country. He frequently retired to the cave in which the Prince, and he himself and his lady, dined just before the Prince's leaving Skye in his skulking, and there he would have entertained himself with laying down a plan for the Restoration, and with the execution thereof in theory, and then came home extremely well pleased."-Chambers, p. 112, note.

CHAPTER VII.

Charles's reception by Angus Macdonald-Joined by Macdonald of Glenaladale-by Cameron of Glenpean-Charles and his party pass between the watch-fires of their enemies -Halt at Corriscorridale-Loss of the Prince's purse the saving of his person-"The Seven Men of Glenmoriston"Their hospitality to the Prince-Incident that forwards Charles's escape.

By Angus Macdonald Charles was received with the greatest kindness. He is said to have shown some hesi tation on entering the small hut in which Macdonald was now residing, and, indeed, the feeling was a natural one; for not only had the home of the gallant Highlander been burnt to the ground on account of his adopting the Prince's cause, but he had also lost a beloved son at the battle of Culloden. When Charles entered the hut, the tears are said to have stood in his eyes as he encountered the bereaved mother. Advancing towards her, he asked her if she could endure the sight of one who had been the cause of so much misery to her and to her family? "Yes," was the noble reply,-" even though all my sons had fallen in your Royal Highness's service."

Charles remained for three days in a small hut in a neighbouring wood; but this place being considered insecure, he was conducted on the fourth day, by Angus Macdonald and his son Ranald, to another hiding-place on the coast, about four miles to the eastward.

* Jacobite Memoirs, p. 497.

This

place consisted of another small hut, which had been ingeniously constructed between two rocks, the roof being covered with green turf so as to give the appearance of a natural sward. Here it was hoped that the wanderer might remain in safety for some time; but, after a few days, Angus Macdonald received a letter from his son-inlaw, Angus Mackechan, informing him that it was more than whispered that the Prince was concealed at Borrodaile, and at the same time offering a more secure asylum which he had prepared in Morar.

In the mean time, Charles had been joined by a faithful adherent, Macdonald of Glenaladale. Accompanied by this person, by Angus Mackechan, and by John Macdonald, a younger son of his host, he set off in the direction of Glen Morar. Angus had gone before in search of intelligence, and when he rejoined them on their route the following day, he brought tidings with him which might well have struck them with dismay. Never, indeed, had the situation of the unfortunate Prince been more critical than at this moment. His enemies had traced him from Skye, and were now surrounding him on all sides. General Campbell had anchored near Loch Nevis, with several vessels of war, and a large body of troops; with the latter of which he had formed a complete cordon round the neighbouring district. Sentinels were placed within a short distance of each other, who allowed no person to pass without undergoing a previous exàmination; and at night large fires were lighted near the post of each sentry, so as to render it almost impossible for a person to pass unchallenged. In addition to these measures, large bodies of troops were despatched in all directions for the purpose of scouring the country, and with instructions to search every corner which might possibly afford a hiding-place to the unfortunate Prince.

Charles now took leave of Angus Macdonald and Angus Mackechan, and, accompanied only by Glenaladale and John Macdonald, proceeded stealthily through the rugged and mountainous district of Arisaig, till he reached the summit of a hill called Fruighvain. From this spot he despatched a messenger to Donald Cameron of Glenpean, who, it was hoped, would lend his aid to the royal wanderer in this his utmost need; and who, from his intimate acquaintance with the wild features of the surrounding district, was calculated to be an invaluable guide.

In the evening, however, while anxiously awaiting the arrival of Glenpean, the fugitives were suddenly startled by the alarming intelligence, that a large body of the Argyllshire militia were approaching the very hill on which they were then stationed. The little party immediately broke up their quarters, and descending the hill, proceeded cautiously in the direction of Loch Arkaig. About eleven o'clock at night, as they were passing through a deep ravine, they were surprised by seeing a man descending one of the hills above them, with the evident intention of addressing them. Desiring the Prince and John Macdonald to conceal themselves as much as possible, Glenaladale advanced to encounter the stranger, in order to ascertain whether he were friend or foe. To the great delight of Charles, it proved to be the person he most wished to see, Cameron of Glenpean. He had been desired to bring as much provisions with him as he could carry, (for the fugitives had found the greatest difficulty in procuring even the smallest supply of food, and the Prince was half dead with hunger,) but all that he had been able to obtain was a small quantity of oatmeal and butter. This wretched fare, doled out in small quantities, comprised the only food tasted by the Prince during the four next days of his miserable wanderings.