Portree, a small bay opposite the island of Raasay, from
which Charles was about to depart, had derived its name, which signifies the King's Port,
from the circumstance of King James the Fifth having landed there during his excursion
amongst the western islands. Charles left this creek after midnight, under the protection
of the enthusiastic young laird of Raasay, to whom Malcolm Macleod introduced him when he
entered the boat. as the two boatmen had served in the prince's army, the whole party,
with the exception of young Raasay himself, were under the ban of the government, and the
young laird, whose only motive in not joining the insurrection was probably a desire to
save the estate, now fearlessly put his life and fortune in jeopardy, when the risk was
even greater.
Charles slept a little upon the passage, and reached Raasay about day-break, a few hours
after his departure from Portree. The party landed at a place called Glam, about the
distance of ten miles from that haven. Charles, Malcolm, and Murdoch Macleod took up their
abode in a wretched hut which some shepherds had lately erected. They had no bedding of
any sort, and were obliged to repose upon some heath. On entering the hut they kindled a
fire and partook of some provisions. On this, as on other occasions, Charles, to please
the Highlanders, never tasted wheat-bread or brandy while oat-bread and whisky lasted,
for, he observed, that these last were his "own country bread and drink". Young
Raasay had nothing to dread from his own people; and, lest the military might revisit the
island, he placed the two boatmen upon different eminencies to watch their approach. He
visited Charles and his friends occasionally, and always carried provisions along with
him. Though comparatively secure, Charles was very uneasy in his new retreat; and frequent
starts and exclamations in his slumbers indicated the agitated workings of his mind.
Malcolm Macleod often overheard him in his sleep muttering imperfect sentences, in
Italian, French, and English. One of his expressions in English was, "O God! poor
Scotland!".
During Charles's stay in Raasay, no person visited the island, but he and his friends were
kept in a state of uneasiness by a person who prowled about without any apparent business,
and who had come into the island to sell a roll of tobacco. He had arrived about twelve or
fourteen days before Charles. Having disposed of his merchandise very speedily, it was
expected that he would have departed, but continuing to stroll up and down the island in
an idle way, he was suspected to be a spy. Malcolm Macleod happening to see him
approaching the hut one day, a council of war was held by Charles and his friends. The
three Macleods were for putting the poor tobacco vendor to death, and Macolm Macleod offer
to go out immediately and shoot him through the head; but Charles indignantly reprobated
the inhuman proposal. "God forbit (said he) that we should take away a man's life who
may be innocent, while we can preserve our own". John Mackenzie, who sat as sentinel
at the door, overhearing the debate, said to himself in Gaelic, "Well, well: he must
be shot: you are the king, but we are the parliament, and will do what we choose".
Observing his friends smile, Charles asked what John had said; and being told of the man's
observation in English, the prince observed that he was a clever fellow; and,
notwithstanding his perilous situation, laughed loud and heartily. Notwithstanding
Charles's remonstances, the stranger would have been despatched had he entered the hut,
but luckily he walked past without looking into it. It was afterwards ascertained that the
stranger himself was a fugitive from the Highland army. While Charles resided in this hut,
he and his companions indulged in a great deal of conversation. Alluding to passing events
and his present situation, the prince observed that his life was to be sure a very hard
one; but that he would rather live in the way he did for then years, than fall into the
hands of his enemies, not because he believed they would dare to take away his life
publicly, but because he dreaded being poisoned or assassinated. He was very particular in
his inquiries at Dr Macleod about the wound he had received at Culloden, from a ball which
entered at one shoulder and went across to the other. He threw out some reflections upon
the conduct of some of his officers at Culloden, but confessed that perhaps it was rash in
him to do so. Talking of the different Highland corps, the Macleods asked Charles which,
in his opinion, were the best soldiers; but he evaded a direct answer, said he did not
like comparisons among such corps; and that they were all the best.
Charles resided two days in Raasay, when becoming uneasy, and thinking the island too
narrow and confined for the purpose of concealment, he resolved to depart. Understanding
that he expected a French ship as Lochbroom, Malcolm Macleod offered to carry him thither,
but Charles declined the proposal on account of the danger of the voyage in a small boat.
He expressed a wish to go to Trotternish in Skye, but his friends attempted to dissuade
him, as they considered him safer in Raasay. Persisting however in going, the whole party,
including the two boatmen, left Raasay on the evening of the 2d of July, in the same boat
which they had used to carry them into the island. After they had gone a little off the
shore the wind began to blow hard, and soon increased to a gale. The sea became so very
rough, that the waves broke over the boat and almost filled it with water. All on board
begged the prince to return, but he declined, observing, that as Providence had carried
him through so many dangers, he did not doubt of the same care now as before. About eleven
o'clock at night they landed at a place in Skye, called Nicolson's rock, near Scorobreck
in Trotternish, after a very boisterous voyage of about fifteen miles. There was a large
surf on the shore, and there being no convenient landing place, they had to jump out among
the water. Charles was the third man who leapt into the sea. Standing in the surf, the
whole party, including Charles, laid hold of the boat and drew it up on dry ground.
On this desolate coast, the royal wanderer could find no other resting-place than a
cow-house, belonging to Mr Nicolson of Scorobreck, about two miles from that gentleman's
seat. The party entered this wretched hovel and took a little refreshment of oat cakes,
which had mouldered down into very small crumbs, and some cheese. Charles being wet to the
skin, Malcolm Macleod advised him to put on a dry shirt. This he declined, and continued
to sit in his wet clothes. Overcome with fatigue he fell asleep; but he enjoyed little
sound repose. He would frequently start in his sleep, look briskly up, and stare boldly
around him, as if about to fight the persons around him. "Oh poor England! poor
England!" were the exclamations he would sometimes utter, with a deep sigh, during
these disturbed moments.
In all his wanderings it was the constant practice of Charles to conceal his future
movements from every person with whose services he was about to dispense, so as to prevent
any clue to his discovery. Wishing to get quit of young Raasay and his brother, he
despatched the former to look out for Donald Roy, and he desired the latter to go to a
place called Cammistinawag, where he would meet him. Murdoch Macleod and the two boatmen
then took leave. At parting he presented Murdoch with a case, containing a silver spoon,
knife, and fork, which he requested him to keep till they met.
The prince and Malcolm Macleod remained in the hut till seven o'clock in the morning, when
Charles, taking the little baggage in his hand, walked out, and desired Malcolm to follow
him. Macleod took the bundle out of Charles's hand, and followed him in silence till out
of sight of the cow-house, when Charles taking a direction Malcolm did not like, this
faithful adherent went up to him and asked him where he was going, as he was afraid that
he might fall into the hands of one of the numerous military parties, who were dispersed
over the island. "Why, Macleod, (replied Charles), I now throw myself entirely into
your hands, and leave you to do with me what you please; only I want to go to Strath,
Mackinnon;s country. I hope you will accompany me, if you think you can lead me safe
enough into Strath". Malcolm declared that he would go with his royal highness
wherever he pleased, and offered to bring him safe into that part of Skye which belonged
to the chief of Mackinnon, provided he would consent to go by sea; but Macleod objected to
a journey over land which he considered would be attended with dangers from the soldiers.
Charles, however, insisted on going by land, and observed that they could now do nothing
without danger. The better to prevent a discovery, Charles proposed that he should act the
part of Macleod's servant, and that he should assume the name of Lewis Caw, there being at
the time a young surgeon of that name, who had been in the prince's service, skulking in
Skye, where he had some relations. Observing that his scarlet tartan waistcoat with gold
twist buttons, was finer than that worn by Macleod, which was of plain ordinary tartan,
Charles exchanged it for Macleod's. The taking the bag which contained his linen out of
Macleod;s hands, Charles threw it over his shoulder, and set out on his perilous journey,
preceded by the faithful Malcolm, who, to complete the deception, had proposed that
Charles should keep up his new character of a gilly, or footman, by walking in the rear. |
