Historical memoirs of Rob Roy and the Clan Macgregor

MEMOIR OF ROB ROY. 2 25
a pair of mended shoes. Her father imme-
diately put on the disguise, and having held
some angry conversation with the supposed
cobbler, for making an overcharge, so as to de-
ceive the sentinel, he hastily passed him undis-
covered, and got clear of the outer gate. A
cloudy evening favoured his retreat, and taking
the nearest way of leaving the city, by the West
Port, he was beyond the reach of detection be-
fore his escape was known ; but the moment it
was observed, the alarm was given, and all the
gates of the city were shut.
After the first sensations which impelled his
flight had subsided, he felt an almost irresistible
inclination to direct his steps to his own coun-
try; but as he supposed that he might there be
pursued, he relinquished the wish to see his
family, tender and pressing as it was, and took
his way towards England. On his route he
avoided passing through any town during the
day, and assumed different disguises as circum-
stances required.
After a fatiguing journey, at the close of the
fourth day, he was benighted on a lonely moor
in Cumberland. Ignorant of the country, he
did not know how to proceed, but kept a straight
course, though the darkness of the night and
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