It being now evident that Charles could not remain with any
chance of safety in the West Highlands, Glenaladale proposed, that instead of going
eastward, as Charles intended, he should proceed north into Ross-shire, and seek an asylum
among that part of the Mackenzies who had not joined in the insurrection, and whose
territory had not, on that account, been visited by the military. Charles resolved to
adopt the advice of his kind friend; and as Cameron was unacquainted with the route, he
and Glenaladale left the covert to look out for a guide. Before they had gone far,
however, they were astonished to find that they had passed all the day within cannon-shot
of two little corps, and they perceived, at the same time, a company of soldiers driving
some sheep into a hut, for the purpose, as they supposed, of being slaughtered. Returning
to their place of concealment, they apprised Charles of their discovery; and as no time
was to be lost in providing for their safety, the whole party immediately set off, and
about three o'clock next morning, July the 27th, reached Glenshiel, in the Earl of
Seaforth's country. as their small stock of provisions was exhausted, Glenaladale and
Borodale's son went forward in quest of supply, and to find out a guide to conduct them to
Pollew, where it was reported some French vessels had been. Whilst Glenaladale was
conversing with some country people about a guide, a Glengarry man, who had been chased
that morning by a party of soldiers from Glengarry, after they had killed his father, came
running up. This man, who had served in the prince's army, was recognised at once by
Glenaladale, and as he knew him to be trustworthy, he resolved to keep him in reserve as a
guide, in case they should be obliged to change their plan, and to remain about Glengarry.
Having procured some provisions, Glenaladale and his companions returned to Charles, and
after the whole party had partaken of the food, they retired to the face of an adjacent
hill, and lay down to rest in a cave. They slept till between four and five o'clock in the
afternoon, when Cameron, who had acted so faithfully, took his leave, as he was
unacquainted with that part of the country. After Cameron's departure, Glenaladale,
observing the Glengarry man returning to his own country, stepped out of the cave and
prevailed upon him to remain in a by-place for a short time, as he said he had something
to communicate to him. Glenaladale, on his return, stated his plan to Charles, which was
to keep the Glengarry man without explaining to him any thing, till such time as he could
ascertain whether he could depend upon getting a guide to Pollew, failing which he would
retain the Glengarry man. Charles approved of what Glenaladale had done. About seven
o'clock, Glenaladale repaired to a place where he had appointed a man, who had promised to
procure a guide, to meet him, and having found this person, was informed by him that he
could not get one, and that the only French vessel that had touched at Pollew had gone
away. Glenaladale, therefore, dismissed this person, and returning to Charles, informed
him of what had passed. They then have up the ideas of proceeding further into Ross-shire,
and the Glengarry man, having been introduced to the prince, cheerfully undertook to
conduct him to Strathglass or Glenmoriston, to either of which districts he intended,
according to circumstances to shape his course.
Accordingly the whole party, accompanied by their new guide, set out through Glenshiel at
a late hour; but they had not proceeded more than half-a-mile, when Glenaladale stopped
short, and, clapping his hand upon his side, declared that his purse, containing 40
guineas, which the prince had given him for defraying expenses, was gone. Thinking that he
had left it at their last resting place, Glenaladale proposed to go back in quest of it,
and desired the prince to remain behind an adjacent hill till he returned; but Charles was
averse to the proposal, though the purse contained his whole stock of money. Glenaladale,
however, went back along with Borodale's son, and, on arriving at their last resting
place, found the purse, but its contents were gone. Recollecting that a little boy had
been at the place with a present of milk from a person whom Glenaladale had visited, he
supposed that the boy might have taken away the purse, and he and his companion proceeded
to the house of Gilchrist M'Rath, the person alluded to, and found the boy, who, as he had
conjectured, had stolen the purse of gold. By means of Gilchrist, the money was restored
to Glenaladale, with the exception of a trifle.
The temporary loss of the purse was a very fortunate occurrence for Charles and his
friends as, during Glenaladale's absence, an officer and two privates passed close by the
place where Charles stood, having come by the very road he and his party had intended to
proceed. As they went in the direction taken by Glenaladale and his companion, Charles
grew very uneasy about his friends, lest they should, on their return, meet with this
party; but returning by a different way, they rejoined the prince without interruption.
Charles was overjoyed at the return of his friend; and, with reference to his late
providential escape, observed, "Glenaladale, my hour, I see, is not come; for I
believe I should not be taken though I had a mind to it". The party now continued
their journey. In passing over the field of Glenshiel, the Glengarry man entertained
Charles with an account of the action which happened there in 1719. Charles, it is said,
could not help admiring the segacity of his guide, who, though he had not been in the
battle, gave as circumstantial and accurate an account of it as if he had been present.
Travelling all night, Charles and his friends arrived on the side of a hill above
Strathchluaine, where, fixing upon a secure place of retreat, they reposed till near three
o'clock in the afternoon of the following day, viz. 28th of July. They then continued
their journey along the hill-side; but they had not travelled above a mile when they hard
the firing of small arms on the hill above them, which they judged to proceed from some of
the troops who were engaged in their usual occupation of shooting the people who had fled
to the mountains with their cattle and effects. To avoid these bloodhounds the party took
a northern route, and ascended a high hill between the Braes of Glenmoriston and
Strathglass. They reached the summit of this mountain at a late hour, and sought repose
for the night in an open cave, in which they could neither lie nor sleep. They had no
fuel, and as they were wet to the skin with a heavy rain which fell during the whole of
the day, they passed a most uncomfortable night. Charles felt himself very cold, and he
endeavoured to warm himself by smoking a pipe. |
