Ossian Collection > Romance of the Highlands

246 THE ROMANCE OF THE HIGHLAND^.
The boat that took them from South Uist met with
stormy seas, and had to slip about among the Govern-
ment ships as best it could. As they approached
Waternish, in Skye, shots were fired at them from the
shore. The Prince did his best in this emergency to
protect Flora by placing himself between her and the
bullets. Worn out with fatigue and anxiety Flora had
slept for a part of the voyage, but all must have been
heartily glad when a safe landing was effected.
Shortly after this Charles decided to leave the misty
isle for Raasay, and accompanied by Flora, he reached
Portree for the purpose of getting a boat. Here the
final parting between the Prince and his deliverer took
place. He was too overcome for words, but bending down
kissed Flora's cheek while the tears streamed down his
own. She made her way to some rocks on the north side
of the harbour and gazed wistfully at the fast receding
boat. Her feelings on this sad parting were, no doubt,
those expressed in the "Lament" that
"The solan can sleep on the shelve of the shore,
The cormorant roost on his rock of the sea,
But oh ! there is one whose hard fate I deplore,
Nor house, ha', nor hame in his country has he."
Both went to face fresh dangers. The following
day Flora left for Armadale, accompanied by the faithful
Neil, and ten days later was seized by militia, under
command of MacLeod of Talisker, and hurried on board
the "Furnace" (Captain Ferguson). The captain of the
vessel had the reputation of being a brutal man, but a
General Campbell had superior powers over the person
of Flora. She was allowed considerable freedom, while
a nice cabin was allotted to her and her maid, for a Skye
maiden had been kind enough to accompany Flora into
captivity.