she cried; “and how awkwardly she manages her petticoats!” And this was true enough, for in fording a little brook “Betty Burke” had to be severely reprimanded by her chaperon for her impropriety in lifting her skirts!  Upon reaching the house, Macdonald’s little girl caught sight of the strange woman, and ran away to tell her mother that her father had brought home “the most old, muckle, ill-shapen-up wife” she had ever seen.  Startling news certainly for the lady of Kingsburgh!

The old worn-out boots of the Prince’s were discarded for new ones ere he departed, and fragments of the former were long afterwards worn in the bosoms of Jacobite ladies.

The next step in this wonderful escape was to Portree, where temporary accommodation was found in a small public-house.  Here Charles separated from his loyal companions Neil Mackechan and the immortal Flora.  The “Betty Burke” disguise was discarded and burnt and a Highland dress donned.  With new guides the young Chevalier now made his headquarters for a couple of days or so in a desolate shepherd’s hut in the Isle of Raasay; thence he journeyed to the north coast of the Isle of Skye, and near Scorobreck housed himself in a cow-shed.  At this stage of his journey Charles altered his disguise into that of a servant of his then companion Malcolm Macleod, and at the home of his next host (a Mackinnon of Ellagol) was introduced as “Lewie Caw,” the son of a surgeon in the Highland army.  By the advice of the Mackinnons, the fugitive decided to return, under their guidance, again to the mainland, and a parting supper having been held in a cave by the sea-shore, he bid adieu to the faithful Macleod.  The crossing having been effected, not without innumerable dangers, once more Charles found himself near the locality of his first landing.  For the next three days neither cave nor hut dwelling could be found that was considered safe; and upon the fourth day, in exploring the shores of Loch Nevis for a hiding-place, the fugitives ran their little craft right into a militia boat that was moored to and screened from view by a projecting rock.  The soldiers on land immediately sprang on board and gave chase; but with his usual good luck Charles got clear away by leaping on land at a turn of the lake, where his retreat was covered by dense foliage.

After this the Prince was under the care of the Macdonalds, one of which clan, Macdonald of Glenaladale, together with Donald Cameron of Glenpean, took the place of the Mackinnons.

A brief stay was made at Morar Lake and at Borrodaile (both houses of the Macdonalds); after which a hut in a wood near the latter place and an artfully constructed hiding-place between two rocks with a roof of green turf did service as the Prince’s palace.

In this cave Charles received the alarming news that the Argyllshire Militia were on the scent, and were forming an impenetrable cordon completely round the district.  Forced once more to seek refuge in flight, the unfortunate Stuart was hurried away through some of the wildest mountainous country he had yet been forced to traverse.  A temporary hiding-place was found, and from this a search-party exploring the adjacent rocks and crags was watched with breathless interest.