Ossian Collection > Romance of the Highlands

2IO THE ROMANCE OF THE HIGHLANDS.
CHAPTER XIV.
The '45.
There is no more absorbing story in Highland history
than the attempt in 1745 of Charles Edward, known as
the Young Pretender, to recover the throne of his
ancestors. In conjunction with his own charming
personality there lay the desperation of the endeavour.
His noble bearing in success was carried with him
manfully in disaster, and was only equalled by the loyalty
and devotion of his followers. The final overthrow of
his cause was followed bv a long period of privation and
suffering. He was hunted in the Highlands worse than a
wild animal. A price had been set on his head, and he
was well aware that, if taken, his sentence was already
passed. For there could be only one verdict returned
against the man who had tried to upset the British
constitution.
Many times under crushing calamities he had to
strengthen his friends by his own cheerful spirit. Finally
there came the dramatic escape, rendered possible
through the resourcefulness and heroism of a tender
Highland maid. Considering all the circumstances it is
not to be wondered that the incidents sank deeply into the
hearts of the faithful, and that these found an outlet in
plaintive guise in Highland song and story.
The House of Stuart had run its course. It had a
very varied career. There had been good sovereigns as
well as bad ones in its succession, but after the Union of
the Crowns thev became more and more disappointing.
These Heaven appointed rulers had, through their