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In consequence of the resolution to proceed to Raasay,
Donald Roy had been despatched from Mugstot by Kingsburgh the preceding day, in quest of
John Macleod, the young laird of Raasay, to ascertain from him the place of his father's
concealment, in order to communicate to the latter Charles's design of placing himself
under his protection. When it was considered, that Macleod, the laird of Raasay, was
himself a fugitive for the part he had taken in the insurrection, such a design may appear
singular; but the prince had only a choice of difficulties before him, and the little
island of Raasay, which was then clear of troops, appeared to offer the securest retreat.
Donald Roy met young Raasay or Portree, who informed him that his father was skulking in
Knoydart; but offered to send an express for him, being certain his father would run any
risk to serve the prince in his distress. Donald Roy then proposed that he should conduct
Charles to the mainland, to the place where old Raasay was; but young Raasay said that
such a step would be too dangerous at that time, and that it would be better to conceal
the prince in the isle of Raasay till his father should be informed of Charles's intention
to put himself under his protection. As they could not trust a Portree crew, the
difficulty of transporting the prince to Raasay, without observation, occurred. Dr Murdoch
Macleod, a brother of young Raasay, who had been wounded at the battle of Culloden, being
informed of this dilemma, said he would risk his life once more for the prince, and it
having occurred to him that there was a little boat upon a fresh water lake in the
neighbourhood, the two brothers, with the aid of some women, by extraordinary exertions,
brought the boat to sea, over a Highland mile of land, one half of which was bog, and the
other a steep precipice. The two brothers, with the assistance of a little boy, rowed the
boat, which was very old and leaky, to Rassay.
Malcolm Macleod, young Raasay's cousin, who will be frequently mentioned in the sequel,
was then in the island. He had been a captain in the prince's service, and was considered
by his cousin a proper person to accompany them on their expedition. They accordingly
waited on Malcolm, who offered to provide a boat; but he proposed, that as his cousin,
young Raasay, had not been engaged in the insurrection, he should not run any risk by
holding communication with the prince, more particularly as Charles could be brought over
without his assistance. Young Raasay declared his resolution to see the prince, if the
result should be the loss both of his estate and his head; and Malcolm, seeing that any
further attempt to dissuade him would be fruitless, exclaimed, "In God's name then
let us proceed". Malcolm Macleod pitched upon two strong men, named John Mackenzie
and Donald Macfriar, to row the boat; but, when they came to the beach, they declined to
leave the shore till informed of their destination. They were then sworn to secrecy, and
being told the object of their voyage, professed the utmost aclarity to go to sea. The
whole party accordingly set off from Raasay on Monday evening, the 30th of June, and
landed about half a mile from Portree. By this time Miss Macdonald had arrived at the inn,
where Donald Roy was in waiting to receive her and the prince. Leaving young Raasay and
his brother in the boat, Malcolm Macleod, accompanied by Macfriar, went toward the inn,
and in walking from the shore he observed three persons proceeding in the direction of the
inn, who happened to be the prince, Neil Mac Eachan, and a little boy who had served as
Charles's guide from Kingsburgh.
Donald Roy Macdonald had left the inn shortly after Miss Macdonald's arrival, for the
purpose of meeting Charles; but, after remaining out about twenty minutes without seeing
him, returned to the house, afraid lest the rain, which fell in torrents, might fester a
wound in his foot which he had received at the battle of Culloden, and which was still
open. He had scarcely entered the inn, when Macnab, the landlord, informed him that a boy
wanted to see him. The boy, whose name was Macqueen, having informed Donald Roy that a
gentleman who as waiting a little above the house wished to speak with him, he went out
and met the prince, who caught him in his arms. Donald then conducted him into the inn.
Charles was wet to the skin, and the water poured down from his clothes. The first thing
he asked for was a dram, on taking which he proceeded to shift for himself. He put on a
dry shirt; but before he had replaced the other habiliments which he had thrown off, a
supply of roasted fish, bread, cheese, and butter was brought into the room, which the
prince attacked with such avidity that Donald Roy could not help smiling; and being
observed by the prince, he remarked that he believed the prince was following the English
fashion. "What fashion do you mean?" said the prince. "Why", replied
Donald Roy, "they say the English, when they are to eat heartily, throw off their
clothes". The prince smiling, said, "They are in the right, lest anything should
incommode their hands when they are at work". Asking for some drink, Charles was told
that there were no liquids of any sort in the house but whisky and water, not even milk,
of which he had desired a little. The only substitute in the room for a tumbler or jug was
a dirty looking bucket, which the landlord used for throwing the water out of his boat,
and the mouth of which was broken and rough from the frequent use to which it had been
thus applied. Donald Roy, who had previously quaffed out of the bucket, handed it to
Charles, who took it out of his hand, and after looking at it, stared Donald in the face.
As the landlord was in the room, Donald was afraid that, from the shyness of Charles to
drink out of a dish to which no objection perhaps had ever before been stated, he might
think he had a visitor of distinction in his house, and he therefore went up to Charles,
and in a gentle whisper desired him to drink out of the obnoxious vessel without ceremony.
Charles taking the hint, put the pail to his head, and took a hearty draught of water.
Malcolm Macleod, on being informed of the prince's arrival at the inn, had returned to the
boat, and with his cousins waited anxiously for the prince. On the landlord of the inn
leaving the room, Donald Roy, who had grown impatient to get away, urged the prince to
depart; but Charles showed no inclination to leave the inn, and even proposed to remain
there all night, as the rain was still heavy. Donald told him that as the house he was in
was frequented by all kinds of people, he would incur danger by remaining; for the very
appearance of a stranger would excite speculation among the country people, who were
always desirous to know who the persons were that came among them. Charles assented to the
correctness of Donald's observations, but called for some tobacco that he might smoke a
pipe before his departure. There being no tobacco in the house but roll or pigtail,
Charles said it would answer very well; and the landlord, at the request of Donald Roy,
brought in a quarter of a pound in the scales in which it had been weighed. The price was
fourpence halfpenny, and Charles have the landlord a sixpence. Donald Roy desired him to
bring in the difference. The prince smiled, and on the change being brought he refused to
receive it. Donald, however, insisted that he should take the three halfpence, because he
considered that in his present situation he might find "bawbees" very useful.
When about to leave the inn, Charles solicited Donald Roy to accompany him to Raasay,
observing that he had always found himself safe in the hands of the Macdonalds, and that
as long as he had a Macdonald with him he would still think himself safe. This faithful
attendant, whilst he stated his inclination to serve the prince in his distress,
represented to him the impossibility of following him from place to place, in consequence
of the wound in his left foot, which rendered him incapable of enduring fatigue; and that
as he would be obliged from his lameness to travel occasionally on horseback, his presence
would only endanger the safety of the prince. He agreed, however, to meet Charles in
Raasay in a few days, and stated that, in the mean time, he would remain in Skye, and
collect for the future guidance of the prince such information as he could, in relation to
the movements and plans of his pursuers.
Before leaving Portree Charles had a most painful task to perform, that of parting with
the amiable and high-minded young woman, who, during three eventful days, had with
generous sympathy, and at the imminent hazard of her own life, watched over him with the
tenderest solicitude and affection, and rescued him from the may perils with which he had
been invironed. He repaid Miss Flora a small sum of money he had borrowed from her, and,
presenting her with his own portrait in miniature, saluted her. He then returned her his
sincere thanks for the great assistance she had afforded him, and taking leave, expressed
a hope that, notwithstanding the present unfavourable aspect of his affairs, he should yet
meet her in St James. He also took farewell of Neil Mac Eachan, who certainly at that time
had no expectation that he was to be one of those who were afterwards to accompany the
prince to France.
Charles had brought along with him from Kingsburgh, four shirts, a cold fowl, some sugar,
and a bottle of brandy. To this small stock he added at Portree a bottle of usquebaugh. He
tied this bottle to his belt at one side, and at the other the bottle of brandy, and the
shirts and cold fowl which were put up in a handkerchief. Thus provided, Charles left the
inn, accompanied by Donald Roy, on the morning of the 1st of July, while it was yet dark.
The landlord, surprised perhaps at the early departure of his guests, cast a look after
them as they went out at the door, which being observed by Charles's conductor, he led the
prince off in a direction opposite to that they had to go, till out of view of the
landlord, and then making a circle they went down towards the shore, and in their way met
Malcolm Macleod, who conducted the prince to the boat. He then took leave of Donald Roy,
who he enjoined not to mention the place of his destination to any person, not even to his
fair protectress. Donald returned to the inn, and was immediately accosted by his host,
who expressed a strong desire to know the name of the gentleman who had left his house.
Donald told him, with apparent unconcern, that the stranger who had gone away was Sir John
Macdonald, an Irish gentleman, and a brother rebel, who, having got free of his enemies,
had been skulking among his friends, the Macdonalds of Skye; and that, tired of remaining
in one place, and afraid of being discovered in the island, he had set out for the
mainland to seek an asylum among the other Macdonalds. The landlord, whom he enjoined to
secrecy, apparently satisfied with this explanation, said that he was strongly impressed
with an idea that the gentleman was the prince in disguise, as he observed some thing
about him that looked very noble. |
