Great Britain -- History -- 18th century -- Sources; Pitt, William, Earl of Chatham, 1708-1778; Walpole, Robert, Earl of Orford, 1676-1745
Here it was [upon the coast of Glenelg] that the _Chevalier_ went
through one of the oddest Adventures, that perhaps ever happened to any
Man; for at this place a Company of Militia (the _Monroe's_, if I
mistake not) were waiting, in hopes the unhappy Fugitive might fall into
their Hands: To make the more sure of their Prize, they had with them a
Blood-hound, to trace him out. The Dog was within a Stone's throw of
them, and the Man not much farther off, when _McKinnon_ observed them,
and particularly suspected the Animal. Whereupon he advised his
Passenger instantly to pull off all his Cloaths, and enter the Water up
to the Neck: "For," said he, "if you go in with your Cloaths on, you may
catch your Death. In the mean time I will divert the smell of the Dog,
with these Fishes," he having some on a string in his hand. The
affrighted _Chevalier_ instantly did as he was directed, and _McKinnon_
having hid the _Chevalier's_ Cloaths in a Clift of a Rock, began to
amuse the Dog with his Fish. The Artifice succeeded so well, as
effectually to secure the _Chevalier_; but the Animal would not quit the
Fisherman till he was secured by the Militia-Men, who kept him all
Night, and Part of the next Day. They examined him, but to no Purpose;
and upon his telling his true Name, _viz._ McLeod, they became
indifferent about him; and he representing that his Family was starving,
having nothing to subsist on but the Product of his Industry as a
Fisherman, they dismissed him. When he left them, he set out, as if he
intended a very different Course to that he really intended, and
afterwards struck into; for when he judged himself out of their Reach,
he turned into the Road leading to the Place where he supposed the
_Chevalier_ yet was. He found him there indeed, and employ'd in such a
Manner, as could not but strike even the rough Heart of the hardy
Fisherman, innur'd to all the Extremities of Wind and Weather, Hunger
and Cold. He found him seeking out Muscles and other small Shell-Fish,
upon the Craigs, and breaking them between two Stones, eating the Fish
as he opened them, to satisfy the Cravings of an Appetite, never in all
Probability so Keen before. He told _McKinnon_ "that he had continued in
the Water for several Hours, after he left him; but at last ventured
out, and put on his Cloaths; but durst not offer to remove from that
desert spot, judging it too hazardous to go up into the Country, to
which he was an utter Stranger."... As soon as he set Eyes on
_M'Kinnon_, he fell down on his Knees, and with up-lifted Hands, thank'd
Heaven for returning him his Friend; which he did in these Words, as
near as could possibly be remember'd by the Fisherman, who heard him,
and who repeated them to the Person from whom I had my Information. "O
God," said he, "I thank thee that I have not fallen into the Hands of my
Enemies; and _surely thou hast still something for me to do_, since in
this strange Place thou hast sent me back my Guide."
[18] Superstition.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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