Ossian Collection > History of the Highlands and of the Highland clans > Volume 3

322 HISTORY OF THE HIGHLANDS.
Isad a mind to it." Tlie party now continued tlieir journey. In passing
over thp field of Glcnshiel, tlie Glengary man entertained Charles with
an account of tlie actidii which happened there in seventeen hundred and
nineteen. Charles, it is said, could not help admiring the sagacity of
his guide, who, though he had not been in the battle, gave as circum-
stantial 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. twenty-eighth of July. They then continued their journey
along the hill-side; but they had not travelled above a mile, when
the3' heard 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 moun-
tain 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.
Resolving again to go to Pollew, Glenaladale's brother and the Glen-
gary man were despatched, about three o'clock in the morning of the
t\vent)'-ninth, in quest of some trusty persons to conduct the prince
(hither, and were appointed to meet Charles and the rest of the
party on the top of a neighbouring hill. Charles and his friends set
off about five o'clock, and, after a walk of two hours, reached the top
of the appointed hill, where they met the guide, who stated that he
was directed by some proper persons he had found out, to desire
Glenaladale to repair to a hill in the Braes of Glenmoriston called
Corambian, where they promised to come at an appointed hour with
.'ome victuals. The persons alluded to were a party of seven men,
who, having been engaged in the insurrection, had formed themselves
into a sort of predatory fraternity ; intending, perha)is, to resume their
former habits of industry when the persecutions of the government ceased
These had taken up their abode in a romantic cave on the side of Co-
rambian, and seldom removed to any considerable distance from their
rocky den, unless compelled by the necessity of providing for their im-
mediate wants.
As directed, Charles and his friends proceeded to Corambian, and
when they came near the cave, Glenaladale and the guide went forward,
leaving Charles and the other two Macdonalds at a little distance. All
the inmates of the den were present except one, and having killed a
*
• Kirkraniicl MS.