Life of Flora Macdonald and her adventures with Prince Charles

5i
than a thousand men each, would have at once joined his
Royal Highness, but both peremptorily declined. It can
scarcely be said that the conduct of these chiefs was strictly
honourable, as they promised their allegiance to the cause
of the Prince, on condition that he brought along with him
a sufficient number of men and money, and munitions of
war ; but seeing that he failed in this, they considered them-
selves released from their engagement, and at once refused
their aid. While matters were thus going on, the intelligence
spread rapidly far and near that the Doutelle, with the
Prince and retinue on board, had arrived at the Island of
Eriska, in the Sound of Barra, on the 23rd day of July,
1745. Soon after casting anchor, the Prince and most of
his party landed on the Island, and were conducted to the
house of " Aonghas Mac Dhomhnuill Mhic Sheumais,"
Angus Macdonald, tacksman of Eriska, where they passed
the night. They were desirous of setting foot on " terra
firma " after the fatigues of eighteen days at sea. As the
Prince did not at the time reveal himself to his hospitable
landlord, whose knowledge of English was but scanty, he
took him to be a chief attendant on the gentleman who had
just landed from the frigate. Unfortunately the dwelling
was so infested with smoke from the large peat fire in the
middle of the chamber, that the Prince frisked about, and
went frequently outside the door for fresh air. The landlord
was surprised, and perhaps a little offended at the stranger's
restlessness, so that he called out, rather with an indignant
smile, " Plague take that fellow ! What is wrong with him,
that he can neither sit nor stand still — neither can he keep
within doors nor without doors."*
The Prince, eager to lose as little time as possible, made
strict enquiry about old Clanranald, and other influential
* Jacobite Memoirs. Culloden Papers.