Niel had carried blankets and other coverings to afford him some comfort.*

Meanwhile Captain Macleod and his companions had returned from Uig to Monkstadt, and had retired for the night. This circumstance afforded the Prince's friends a better opportunity for maturing their schemes. Lady Margaret, Miss Flora, and old Kingsburgh, together with Captain Donald Roy Macdonald, assembled atter midnight in a private room, where they held an earnest consultation as to the means immediately to be adopted. It was arranged that Kingsburgh should take the Prince next morning along with him to his own house, twelve miles distant, and then pass him onward through Skye to the Island of Raasay. It was further arranged that Captain Donald Roy should that very night make all haste to Portree, the capital of Skye, a distance of twenty miles from Monkstadt, for the purpose of sending for, and of seeing the young laird of Raasay, and of securing a suitable boat to ferry the Prince to that Island. Macleod, alias "MacGhille Challuim," the old laird of Raasay, had embraced, with his clan, the Prince's cause; but his son and heir had resolved to remain loyal. Father and son adopted this policy with the view of securing their property against forfeiture, in the case of future adverse circumstances coming to pass. The party retired to enjoy a few hours' rest. Soon after sunrise Kingsburgh, who failed to sleep, arose and entered the diuing-room, where he found Lady Margaret, Miss Flora, and Mrs Macdonald, Kirkibost, sitting together at that early hour. Captain Macleod and his party were as yet enjoying their slumbers in another wing of the mansion, and their absence at that critical hour was neither missed nor regretted. The early departure of Kingsburgh that morning would create no suspicion, as he had intimated at dinner, the previous day, that he desired to get home, either late that evening or very early on the Sabbath morning. The old gentleman, accordingly, after an early breakfast, and when furnished with suitable refreshments for the journey, joined Betty Burke on the shore, and set off with that sturdy Irish girl on their rugged way to the house of Kingsburgh. The morning was calm but misty, and exceedingly wet. The rain fell in torrents from the murky clouds. It was deemed prudent to avoid, as much as possible, the ordinary road, which at best was in these days merely a rough riding-path, and to take the more unfrequented tracks across the moors. This resolution added miles to the length of their journey, yet it was their wish that night would fall before arriving at Kingsburgh, not knowing what guests might be in the house before them. After the departure of Kingsburgh, Flora sat in the breakfast parlour with Lady Margaret, Mrs Macdonald, Kirkibost, Captain Macleod and others--and when a befitting opportu nity offered, she made a motion to take her leave, and to make ready for the journey. Lady Margaret affected great concern as to her short stay, -deemed it ridiculous to think of such a journey under such heavy rain

* It has been stated by some that the Prince had removed to some concealed place near the garden at Monkstadt, but this was not the case. He never left the shore and the adjoining fields that evening. It is true that Lady Margaret was very wishful to see his Royal Highness, but could not venture to approach the shore at an untimely hour in the evening. Besides, Flora advised her Ladyship to keep entirely aloof from the Prince, as she (Flora) had all along done to the last moment, as many others indeed may be implicated by combining even privately for effecting his rescue,

-pressed upon her the propriety of remaining at any rate until next day -and stated that she would be the means of taking Mrs Macdonald along with her, having agreed to go together. Flora, on the other hand, expressed her great anxiety to get home as speedily as possible to Armadale, as her dear mother was so seriously ill, and as her Ladyship knew, was quite alone in these turbulent times. After repeated pressings and refusals, Lady Margaret very reluctantly consented, and addressed her thus"As you are determined not to remain, Flora dear, I beg that you will wait until the hostler provide suitable ponies, with comfortable saddles, for Mrs Macdonald and you to carry you on.' When all was ready, and after shaking hands with Lady Margaret, Captain Macleod, and others, the two ladies mounted their tiny steeds, and trotted away. The faithful Niel MacEachainn, and other two young men who were well acquainted with the riding path, accompanied them on foot. Moving slowly along, the party after a few hours, overtook Kingsburgh and his Irish maid making the best of their way forward. Ere then, however, the unceasing rain fell to such a degree as to swell the mountain streams to overflowing, and to render most of the usual fords all but impassable. Here and there under the shelter of rocks, the party rested, in order to pass the time. Having arrived at one pretty spot, they were directed to a pure spring of water, at which they sat down, and mingled part of it with Lady Margaret's genuine mountain-dew. The well was first pointed out to the drenched party by a boy who was herding cattle at the place, and who, for his activity, received from the big Irish woman the first shilling of which he was ever master before. The boy's name was John Macdonald, a smart, rawboned lad, bonnetless, and barefooted, who could not talk a vocable of the English language. He lived to the patriarchal age of one hundred and seven years, and died in the Lawn Market of Edinburgh in 1835, at the house of his son, Donald Macdonald, bagpipe maker to the Highland Society of Scotland.*

Many years afterwards that well was secured by the Kingsburgh family, with polished flags, and a chained drinking-cup, and is called to this day-"Tobair a' Phrionnsa," the Prince's Well.

Several ludicrous incidents took place on this rough and uncomfortable journey. Again and again Betty Burke, forgetting her assumed sex, when leaping over streams, and climbing rugged cliffs, managed her ragged skirts with amusing awkwardness, In the afternoon the party were met by numbers of country people returning home from church, who after saluting their respected factor, Kingsburgh, fixed their eyes upon, and stared at the uncommon size and slovenly appearance of that Irish lass that strode so reckless-like along! Kingsburgh upbraided them in Gaelic for their unmannerly curiosity, yet after all, they exclaimed in astonishment "O! faicibh am boirionnach neonach sin! Faicibh na ceuman mora, fada aig an nighinn ghairbh, ghobhlaich sin! Ochan! nach dana, slaodach, neo-sgiobalta, drabasta an sgliurach i! Is cinnteach gur ann de shliochd 'nam famhar i." These exclamations may be translated thus :

* A minute account of old John Macdonald's life is given in No. 36, page 462-66 of the Celtic Magazine, which cannot fail to interest such readers as take pleasure in all the incidents connected with the Rebellion of 1745. The writer of these pages is much indebted to good old John for furnishing him with many particulars connected with the movements of the Prince in his pilgrimage through the Isle of Skye,

"O! see that strange woman! Behold the big, wide steps of that rude, long-legged dame! Eh me! what a bold, untidy, slovenly, uncouth slattern she is! Surely she must be one of the giant race!" The poor peasants were utterly bewildered, as well they might!

After an uncomfortable day's travelling, the whole party arrived in safety at the mansion of Kingsburgh, a little before midnight. They had no desire to reach it earlier. By this time the family had all gone to rest. Kingsburgh sent Miss Flora and a servant maid to his wife's bedroom to set her up, in order to prepare a supper for her husband and his guests. The good lady at first declined to leave her bed, thinking that her husband had fallen in with some fugitive rebels in their distress, and whom he wished to entertain. Flora did not then undeceive her, but kept silent. The good lady sent her keys to her husband, with orders to help themselves to the best cheer they could get at that untimely hour. At that moment her daughter, a little girl, went running to the mother's bedside, and exclaimed-"Oh! mamma, papa has brought home the most muckle, ill shaken-up wife she had ever cast eyes upon, and brought her into the hall too." The lady at length seeing the necessity for her rising, did so at once, and when about entering the hall with its door half ajar, she observed the frightful female figure, and she at once started backwards. Kingsburgh, who stood in the passage, desired her to walk along with him into the room, which she did with trembling steps, and, on her appearance, the romantic figure quickly advanced, and warmly saluted her. The astonished lady felt the roughness of the male check, and the reality that it was the Prince himself instantly flashed upon her mind, and she all but fainted away. The bewildered lady speedily retired, and in broken accents, addressed her husband and said-"Oh, dear! O dear, have matters come to this? We are all ruined—we shall all be hanged!" Kingsburgh smiled, and said "My dear wife, we shall die but once, and if we die to verify your prediction, we will sacrifice our lives in a good and noble Go now make haste, and prepare supper, as we much require it. Get bread, butter, cheese, eggs, or whatever else you can lay your hands upon, for the poor, starving Prince will eat any thing in the shape of food." She apologised, and said that she had nothing ready at that untimely hour, but these common things. "All right," said her husband, "let us have them at once, and come to supper yourself." "Me come to supper! I know not how to conduct myself before royalty." "Royalty here, or royalty there, the Prince will not sit down without you, and he is as easy and plain as Captain Donald Roy Macdonald, and you know what he is."

cause.

While supper was being prepared by the lady herself, as the cook was left in bed, Flora stood beside her, and related all her adventures for the last two days. The lady remarked that Flora had acted imprudently in allowing the boat that brought them to Skye to return immediately to the Long Island, as on its arrival, the crew could not escape being seized, and minutely examined; and the consequence would no doubt be, that the Royal troops would set out in fresh pursuit. In this conjecture the good lady proved quite correct-for the boat on its return was instantly captured-the boatmen were separately examined, and the sad reality was at once expiscated. Captain Ferguson immediately set sail in his Government cutter for Skye, and pursued the track of the Prince from his land

ing at Monkstadt, until he escaped from the Island. This merciless officer was, however, a week too late. The oversight in allowing the boat to return so soon to Uist, was the only point in which the prudence and judgment of the gallant Flora had ever failed. It is true that she did not suggest or sanction the boat's return, but, unfortunately, she did not give instructions to the contrary. The whole was an oversight, and the crew were no doubt desirous to get back to their homes.

Meantime, lady Kingsburgh, assisted by Flora, and Mrs Macdonald, Kirkibost, prepared supper, at which the Prince sat at the right hand of the hostess, and Flora at her left. After supper, to which the Prince did ample justice, the ladies retired, and left Kingsburgh and his august guest alone. His Royal Highness, after apologising for the liberty, produced a small, black, tobacco pipe, which he called "the cutty," and was enjoying a smoke from it, while his host was preparing the hot water, sugar, and mountain dew to make a bowl of toddy.* The poor Prince was extremely cheerful, and while enjoying the exhilarating contents of the magic bowl, he assured Kingsburgh that he had never tasted such good toddy in his life. He thought that it excelled by far what he had received at Borrodale and in the Long Island. In short, he greatly enjoyed himself after his many fatigues and hardships, and had no desire to retire to bed. Kingsburgh, however, seeing both the wisdom and necessity of going to rest, had to perform the disagreeable duty of suggesting the propriety of breaking up the company. "After they had emptied the bowl several times," as Dr Robert Chambers so correctly and graphically describes, "Kingsburgh thought it necessary to hint to the Prince that, as he would require to be up and away as soon as possible on the morrow, he had better now go to bed, in order that he might enjoy a proper term of sleep. To his surprise, Charles was by no means anxious for rest. On the contrary, he insisted upon another bowl, that he might, as he said, finish their conversation. Kingsburgh violated his feelings as a host so far as to refuse this request, urging that it was absolutely necessary that his Royal Highness should retire, for the reason he had stated. Charles as eagerly pressed the necessity of more drink; and after some good-humoured altercation, when Kingsburgh took away the bowl to put it by, his Royal Highness rose to detain it, and a struggle ensued, in which the little vessel broke in two pieces, Charles retaining one in his hands, and Kingsburgh holding the other. The strife was thus brought to an end, and the Prince no longer objected to go to bed."

The Prince slept soundly until two o'clock in the afternoon, when Kingsburgh entered his bedroom, and told his Royal Highness that it was

* In those times, and until a late period, toddy was never made in glass tumblers, but in large punch-bowls, often of Chinese manufacture, and when it was duly mixed the glasses of the guests were filled out of the punch-bowls by silver or wooden ladles. Punch-bowls are still kept in many households, as ornaments or heirlooms from ancestral times.

+ Tradition says that this punch-bowl was of old China, beautifully figured, and would contain about an English quart. It was for centuries an heirloom in the mansions of the Lords of the Isles. Having been broken, as stated, in almost equal halves, it was carefully and neatly clasped with silver, and it likely still exists. Dr Chambers states that in 1827, it was in the possession of Colin Macalister of Barr and Cour, who was married to a daughter of Old Kingsburgh, the little girl of whom mention has been made above.

high time for him to get up, to get breakfast, and to prepare for the journey to Portree, a distance of about eight miles. After the morning repast, the ladies, amid peals of laughter, assisted in dressing Betty Burke in her antique Irish garments, which she was to wear until she had fairly left the premises. The ladies asked some of the Prince's hair, to be preserved as relics, which he smilingly granted by reclining his head upon the end of a sofa, and requesting them to cut off substantial bunches for themselves. While things were thus getting in readiness for the journey, the old lady and Miss Flora went to the Prince's bedroom, folded up the sheets on which he had slept, and each lady took possession of a sheet, and there pledged themselves to preserve them folded up and unwashed until the day of their death, when these relics would become their winding-sheets. Such was really the case. Flora never parted with this precious memorial. She carried it with her in after years to America, and back to Skye, and when she departed this life, her mortal remains were wrapped in its folds, and therewith were consigned to the grave.

About three in the afternoon of that day, the thirtieth of June 1746, the Prince warmly embraced the hospitable old lady and her respected husband, and set off for the journey. He was accompanied by Miss Flora, and the dutiful Niel MacEachainn only. Niel carried with him the substantial Highland dress of a farmer, and a pair of new shoes, all which Kingsburgh had provided for his Royal Highness. These, however, were to be exchanged for the Irish dress at some convenient distance from the house. When about half-a-mile on their way, Miss Flora walked on, while the Prince and Niel entered a hollow between two rocks, where his Royal Highness robed himself in his new dress and shoes. Niel, at the same time, carefully preserved and concealed the tattered raiment, and torn "bachules" of Betty Burke, as keepsakes to Kingsburgh of the Prince's perilous adventures. Captain Donald Roy had reached Portree on the previous evening, and having met young Raasay at the farmhouse of Toutrome, they prepared every thing for meeting the party from Kingsburgh, and for conveying the Prince to the Island of Raasay, which is separated by a channel of a mile or two from Portree. When the Prince and his attendants had arrived, they went to the only inn in the village, along with young Raasay and Captain Donald Roy, to procure some refreshments. Donald Roy suggested the propriety of the Prince's retiring to a place of safety, as there was great danger in remaining longer in a public hostelry, when so many spies and suspicious characters were moving about. He told his Royal Highness that he knew of a cave wherein he could find shelter until removed under night to Raasay, and the sooner he resorted to it the better. The whole party except Flora left the inn immediately under a drenching rain. The time had now come when the Prince had to part with his true and faithful protectress, the gallant Flora. With tears in his eyes he laid hold of the amiable lady's hands, and bade her a tender, and an affecting farewell. He ardently thanked her for having enabled him to escape from the wall of fire by which he had found himself environed, and which he never would have passed without her intrepidity and generous aid. He handed her his portrait in a golden locket, while he tenderly saluted her, and said, in affecting terms, that he yet hoped to meet her at the Court of St James, where he would be able properly to reward her self-denying heroism-and her ardent devotion and loyalty to