Donald Roy staid in Sky, to be in readiness to get intelligence, and give an alarm in case the troops should discover the retreat to Rasay; and Prince Charles was then conveyed in a boat to that island in the night.  He slept a little upon the passage, and they landed about day-break.  There was some difficulty in accommodating him with a lodging, as almost all the houses in the island had been burnt by the soldiery.  They repaired to a little hut, which some shepherds had lately built, and having prepared it as well as they could, and made a bed of heath for the stranger, they kindled a fire, and partook of some provisions which had been sent with him from Kingsburgh.  It was observed, that he would not taste wheat-bread, or brandy, while oat-bread and whisky lasted; ’for these, said he, are my own country bread and drink.’—­This was very engaging to the Highlanders.

Young Rasay being the only person of the company that durst appear with safety, he went in quest of something fresh for them to eat:  but though he was amidst his own cows, sheep, and goats, he could not venture to take any of them for fear of a discovery, but was obliged to supply himself by stealth.  He therefore caught a kid, and brought it to the hut in his plaid, and it was killed and drest, and furnished them a meal which they relished much.  The distressed Wanderer, whose health was now a good deal impaired by hunger, fatigue, and watching, slept a long time, but seemed to be frequently disturbed.  Malcolm told me he would start from broken slumbers, and speak to himself in different languages, French, Italian, and English.  I must however acknowledge, that it is highly probable that my worthy friend Malcolm did not know precisely the difference between French and Italian.  One of his expressions in English was, ‘O GOD! poor Scotland!’

While they were in the hut, M’Kenzie and M’Friar, the two boatmen, were placed as sentinels upon different eminences; and one day an incident happened, which must not be omitted.  There was a man wandering about the island, selling tobacco.  Nobody knew him, and he was suspected to be a spy.  M’Kenzie came running to the hut, and told that this suspected person was approaching.  Upon which the three gentlemen, young Rasay, Dr. Macleod, and Malcolm, held a council of war upon him, and were unanimously of opinion that he should instantly be put to death.  Prince Charles, at once assuming a grave and even severe countenance, said, ’God forbid that we should take away a man’s life, who may be innocent, while we can preserve our own.’  The gentlemen however persisted in their resolution, while he as strenuously continued to take the merciful side.  John M’Kenzie, who sat watching at the door of the hut, and overheard the debate, said in Erse, ’Well, well; he must be shot.  You are the king, but we are the parliament, and will do what we choose.’  Prince Charles, seeing the gentlemen smile, asked what the man had said, and being told it in English, he observed that