Ossian Collection > Romance of the Highlands

236 THE ROMANCE OF THE HIGHLANDS.
No doubt this order was quite acceptable to Scott,
Hawley and others, who, by reason of their defeats, had
become the laughing stock of the country. These men
exceeded their commission if it had limitations at all.
Notwithstanding all their endeavours to capture the
Prince — and they left not a stone unturned in its
prosecution — he succeeded in escaping after live
months of anxiety, suffering and privation. He had
many hairbreadth escapes before he finally succeeded in
reaching the continent, where he spent the remainder of
his days till his death in Rome on the 30th January, 1788.
On the other hand the Prince's friends strained every
nerve to save him from his enemies.
It is our intention to place before the reader a few
stories of his experiences during the long weary months,
as they bring out some fine traits of Highland character —
determination, fidelity, honour and courage — almost, if
not wholly, unparalleled in history.
When, in his flight, the Prince reached the west
coast, it was thought better that he should go over to the
Hebrides, as the islands might not be so thoroughly
searched as the mainland. The difficulty was to get
anyone to row him over, because it was as much as one's
life was worth to do so. The man soon appeared, how-
ever, in Donald MacLeod, a sturdy old Skye boatman,
and Charles eagerly asked him if he would carry over
letters to certain noblemen there. MacLeod promptly
answered that he would not. He would be quite willing,
he said, to lay down his own life, but he was not prepared
to do this, as he believed the men referred to were not to
be trusted. The Prince was anxious to get over, but
the sailors pointed out that it was a dangerous storm
that had broken, and that they might all perish in the
midst of it. The risk was, however, taken, and with the