He told his conductors, he did not think it advisable to remain long in any one place; and that he expected a French ship to come for him to Lochbroom, among the Mackenzies.  It then was proposed to carry him in one of Malcolm’s boats to Lochbroom, though the distance was fifteen leagues coastwise.  But he thought this would be too dangerous, and desired that, at any rate, they might first endeavour to obtain intelligence.  Upon which young Rasay wrote to his friend, Mr. M’Kenzie of Applecross, but received an answer, that there was no appearance of any French ship.  It was therefore resolved that they should return to Sky, which they did, and landed in Strath, where they reposed in a cow-house belonging to Mr. Niccolson of Scorbreck.  The sea was very rough, and the boat took in a good deal of water.  The Wanderer asked if there was danger, as he was not used to such a vessel.  Upon being told there was not, he sung an Erse song with much vivacity.  He had by this time acquired a good deal of the Erse language.

Young Rasay was now dispatched to where Donald Roy was, that they might get all the intelligence they could; and the Wanderer, with much earnestness, charged Dr. Macleod to have a boat ready, at a certain place about seven miles off, as he said he intended it should carry him upon a matter of great consequence; and gave the doctor a case, containing a silver spoon, knife, and fork, saying, ’keep you that till I see you,’ which the doctor understood to be two days from that time.  But all these orders were only blinds; for he had another plan in his head, but wisely thought it safest to trust his secrets to no more persons than was absolutely necessary.  Having then desired Malcolm to walk with him a little way from the house, he soon opened his mind, saying, ’I deliver myself to you.  Conduct me to the Laird of M’Kinnon’s country.’  Malcolm objected that it was very dangerous, as so many parties of soldiers were in motion.  He answered, ’There is nothing now to be done without danger.’  He then said, that Malcolm must be the master, and he the servant; so he took the bag, in which his linen was put up, and carried it on his shoulder; and observing that his waistcoat, which was of scarlet tartan, with a gold twist button, was finer than Malcolm’s, which was of a plain ordinary tartan, he put on Malcolm’s waistcoat, and gave him his; remarking at the same time, that it did not look well that the servant should be better dressed than the master.

Malcolm, though an excellent walker, found himself excelled by Prince Charles, who told him, he should not much mind the parties that were looking for him, were he once but a musket shot from them; but that he was somewhat afraid of the Highlanders who were against him.  He was well used to walking in Italy, in pursuit of game; and he was even now so keen a sportsman, that, having observed some partridges, he was going to take a shot:  but Malcolm cautioned him against it, observing that the firing might be heard by the tenders[553] who were hovering upon the coast.