Skye, Island of (Scotland) -- Description and travel
After coasting along for a space, they landed at Mugstot, the seat of
Sir Alexander Macdonald. Lady Macdonald was a daughter of the Earl
of Eglinton's, and an avowed Jacobite; and as it was known that Sir
Alexander was at Fort Augustus with the Duke of Cumberland, they had
no scruple in seeking protection. Charles was left in the boat, and
Flora went forward to apprise Lady Macdonald of their arrival.
Unhappily, however, there was a Captain Macleod, an officer of
militia, in the house, and Flora had to parry as best she could his
interrogations concerning Charles, whose head was worth £30,000.
Lady Macdonald was in great alarm lest the presence of the prince
should be discovered. Kingsburgh, Sir Alexander's factor, was on the
spot, and the ladies took him into their confidence. After
consultation, it was agreed that Skye was unsafe, and that Charles
should proceed at once to Raasay, taking up his residence at
Kingsburgh by the way.
During all this while Charles remained on the shore, feeling probably
very much as a Charles of another century did, when, shrouded up in
oak foliage, he heard the Roundhead riding beneath. Kingsburgh was
anxious to acquaint him with the determination of his friends, but
then there was the pestilent captain on the premises, who might prick
his ear at a whisper; and whose suspicion, if once aroused, might
blaze out into ruinous action. Kingsburgh had concerted his plan,
but in carrying it into execution it behoved him to tread so lightly
that the blind mole should not hear a footfall. He sent a servant
down to the shore to inform the strange maid-servant with the mannish
stride that he meant to visit her, but that in the meantime she
should screen herself from observation behind a neighbouring hill.
Taking with him wine and provisions, Kingsburgh went out in search of
the prince. He searched for a considerable time without finding him,
and was about to return to the house, when at some little distance he
observed a scurry amongst a flock of sheep. Knowing that sheep did
not scurry about after that fashion for their own amusement, he
approached the spot, when all at once the prince started out upon him
like another Meg Merrilees, a large knotted stick in his fist. "I am
Macdonald of Kingsburgh," said the visitor, "come to serve your
highness." "It is well," said Charles, saluting him. Kingsburgh
then opened out his plan, with which the prince expressed himself
satisfied. After Charles had partaken of some refreshment, they both
started towards Kingsburgh House.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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