An eye-witness describes Charles’s costume at this time as “a tartan short coat and vest of the same, got from Lady Clanranald; his nightcap all patched with soot-drops, his shirt, hands, and face patched with the same; a short kilt, tartan hose, and Highland brogs.”

From South Uist the fugitive removed to the Island of Wia, where he was received by Ranald Macdonald; thence he visited places called Rossinish and Aikersideallich, and at the latter had to sleep in a fissure in the rocks.  Returning once more to South Uist, Charles (accompanied by O’Neal and Mackechan) found a hiding-place up in the hills, as the militia appeared to be dangerously near, and at night tramped towards Benbecula, near to which another place of safety was found in the rocks.

The memorable name of Flora Macdonald now appears upon the scene.  After much scheming and many difficulties the meeting of the Prince and this noble lady was arranged in a squalid hut near Rosshiness.  The hardships encountered upon the journey from Benbecula to this village were some of the worst experiences of the unfortunate wanderer; and when his destination was reached at last, he had to be hurried off again to a hiding-place by the sea-shore, which provided little or no protection from the driving torrents of rain.  Early each morning this precaution had to be taken, as the Royalist soldiers, who were quartered only a quarter of a mile distant, repaired to the hut every morning to get milk from the woman who acted as Charles’s hostess.  Upon the third day after the Prince had arrived, Flora Macdonald joined him, bringing with her the disguise for the character he was to impersonate upon a proposed journey to the Isle of Skye—­viz. “a flowered linen gown, a light-coloured quilted petticoat, a white apron, and a mantle of dun camlet, made after the Irish fashion, with a hood.”

A boat lay in readiness in a secluded nook on the coast, and “Betty Burke”—­the pseudo servant-maid—­Flora Macdonald, and Mackechan, as guide, embarked and got safely to Kilbride, in Skye.  Not, however, without imminent dangers.  A storm nearly swamped the boat; and upon reaching the western coast of the island they were about to land, when a number of militiamen were noticed on shore, close at hand, and as they recognised their peril, and pulled away with might and main, a volley of musketry would probably have had deadly effect, had not the fugitives thrown themselves at the bottom of the boat.

At the house of the Macdonalds of Mugstat, whose representative dreaded the consequences of receiving Charles, another Macdonald was introduced as an accomplice by the merest accident.  This staunch Jacobite at once took possession of “Betty,” and hurried off towards his house of Kingsburgh.  Upon the way the ungainly appearance of Flora’s maid attracted the attention of a servant, who remarked that she had never seen such an impudent-looking woman.  “See what long strides the jade takes!”