Series 2 > Origins of the 'Forty-five

IN THE HEBRIDES
259
The prince waited that day in the house of Roshiness.
Next morning Neil carried him to a hill half way betwixt
Roshiness and Nuntown ;1 there they lay till the evening,
when they returned to their former quarters.
The prince seemed very uneasie that night that neither
Mac O’Neil nor the ladys did not come according to
promise; but the truth is, thay could not really come
sooner, as they were busie night and day to get his dress
made for the prince, and whatever other things he might
have occasion for. The next day Rory McDonald, and
one John McDonald, who were to be two of our crew,
arrived in the morning, and told that both boat and crew
were ready whenever he pleased.
Whereupon Neil carried the prince to the same hill
where they had sculked the day before, and leaving him
in the hands of the two McDonalds before mentioned,
posted off himself to hurry the ladys from Nuntown, and
sent off O’Neil directly to the place where he left the
prince when himself went with the Lady Clan, Miss Flora
McDonald, Clanranald’s daughter, and Mr. McDonald
of Milltown, Miss Flora’s brother, about another rod,
where they were to have the conveniency of a boat to
Roshiness.
The prince, who arrived first, welcomed them ashore,
and handed the Lady Clan to the house, while O’Neil
took care of Miss Flora. There they passed some hours
very hearty and merry till supper was served, which was
scarce began, when one of Clanranald’s herds came with
the news that General Campbell2 was landing his men
1 A hill named Rueval, 400 feet above sea level, the only high ground on a
very flat island. A projecting rock, on the south side of the hill, which gives
considerable shelter and affords a wonderful view of the country, is probably
the spot where the Prince lay waiting for Flora.
2 John Campbell of Mamore ; b. about 1693; d. 1770; sue. as Duke
of Argyll on the death of his cousin, the 3rd duke, in 1761. He had command
of the troops in the west of Scotland in 1745. with headquarters at Dum¬
barton. He pursued Prince Charles through the islands, hunting for him as
far away as St. Kilda. He was on his way back from that island when he
nearly captured the Prince at Benbecula. Many of the Jacobite prisoners passed
through his hands, and, as a rule, he was kind to them, contrasting favourably
wnVh such men as Scott and Ferguson.