Life of Flora Macdonald and her adventures with Prince Charles

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the Crunnag, a harbour close to the Chamberlain's residence.
He went ashore for the purpose of procuring fresh provisions
and other requisites, when he met a dairymaid attending
some cattle in an adjacent field, and entered into conver-
sation with her, as he did indeed with all with whom he came
in contact, expecting to elicit something from them relative
to the subject of his search. The unsuspecting maid let fall
some expression that arrested the Captain's attention as
something important or which might lead to it. He asked
her if she had ever seen a man-of-war, and in the blandest
terms, invited her to go on board the ship, to inspect all that
could there be seen. Here the maid was treated with great
kindness, and was flattered by receiving several nice presents.
Captain Ferguson spoke Gaelic to her, and she thought him
the nicest and kindest gentleman she had ever seen. She
was asked all the country news, and everything relating to her
master, — his name, his occupation, his family, — the name of
the place; and such other familiar matters were freely discuss-
ed. The poor girl, ignorant as to who her entertainer was,
told him, with an air of unpardonable pride, that she had seen
Prince Charles, that he was a night at her master's house, and
that his appearance pleased her much, though he did not
appear to be half so kind as Captain Ferguson himself was.
She stated farther, that the Prince's shoes were all torn, that
he wore a cota-clo (that is a kelt coat) that belonged to Mr.
Allan, her master's son. This was all that Ferguson wanted,
and in consequence of the girl's imprudent disclosure, the
Government officials obtained the first direct proof of the
Prince's motions, and of the manner in which Kingsburgh
had acted in securing his escape.
On the same day on which the Prince left Kingsburgh
House for Portree, the old gentleman, apprehending danger,
crossed the hill to the east side of the Island, but his pur-