Historical memoirs of Rob Roy and the Clan Macgregor

( ii MEMOIR OF ROB ROY.
Macgregors, who were within a few miles of them, to the
number, as they heard, of five hundred ; but they were
not molested, being allowed to depart in peace. Several
parties of horse, however, were afterwards dispersed over
the country to apprehend Rob Roy, and a reward of
.£1000 being offered for his head, he was obliged for some
months to take shelter in the woods, and in his cave at
the base of Ben-Lomond, on the banks of the lake.
This celebrated recess had formerly sheltered the gallant
Bruce from enemies who sought his destruction ; and our
hero, with the highest veneration for the memory of a
patriot king, believed that he could not consecrate to
himself a more appropriate retreat. The entrance is near
the water's edge, among huge fragments of rock, broken
from the lofty mountain crags that seem to overhang the
lake, which are fantastically diversified by the intersper-
sion of brushwood, heath, and wild plants, nurtured to
extreme growth in the desert luxuriance of solitude. The
access to this subterraneous abode is extremely difficult
and hazardous, from the precipitous ruggedness of the
surrounding heights, which almost exclude a passage to
human feet.
In this seclusion Rob Roy was perfectly secure, and had
he been attacked in it, could have defended himself from
almost any number of men ; but he frequently left it, and
took excursions to distant parts of the country to see his
friends and enjoy their fellowship.
While under this concealment he was only attended by
two men. One day, when travelling in a sequestered place
along the side of Lochearn, they were unexpectedly met
by seven horsemen, who demanded their names and what
they were, to which an evasive answer was given ; but from
our hero's great stature and warlike appearance, they had