ENGLAND and France being at war at this time, the Channel was constantly
swept by English men-of-war. The 'Doutelle' and her convoy were hardly
four days out before the 'Elizabeth' was attacked by an English frigate,
the 'Lion.' Knowing _who_ it was he had on board, Walsh, the prudent
master of the 'Doutelle,' would by no means consent to join in the fray,
and sheered off to the north in spite of the commands and remonstrances
of the Prince. The unfortunate 'Elizabeth' was so much disabled that she
had to return to Brest, taking with her most of the arms and ammunition
for the expedition. At night the 'Doutelle' sailed without a light and
kept well out to sea, and so escaped further molestation. The first
land they sighted was the south end of the Long Island. Gazing with
eager eyes on the Promised Land, old Lord Tullibardine was the first to
notice a large Hebridean eagle which flew above the ship as they
approached. 'Sir,' he said, 'it is a good omen; the king of birds has
come to welcome your royal highness to Scotland.'
Charles had need of all happy auguries, for on his arrival in Scotland
things did not seem very hopeful. With his usual rash confidence he had
very much exaggerated the eagerness of his friends and supporters to
welcome him in whatever guise he might come. Never had fallen kings more
faithful and unselfish friends than had the exiled Stuarts in the
Highland chiefs and Jacobite lairds of Scotland, but even they were
hardly prepared to risk life and property with a certainty of failure
and defeat. Let the Prince appear with 5,000 French soldiers and French
money and arms, and they would gather round him with alacrity, but they
were prudent men and knew too well the strength of the existing
Government to think that they could overturn it unaided.
The first man to tell the Prince this unwelcome truth was Macdonald of
Boisdale, to whom he sent a message as soon as he landed in Uist. This
Boisdale was brother of the old Clanranald, chief of the loyal clan
Macdonald of Clanranald. If these, his stoutest friends, hesitated to
join his expedition Charles should have felt that his cause was
desperate indeed. But his mind was made up with all the daring of his
five-and-twenty years, and all the ill-fated obstinacy of his race. For
hours he argued with the old Highlander as the ship glided over the
waters of the Minch. He enumerated the friends he could count on, among
them the two most powerful chiefs of the North, Macdonald of Sleat, and
the Macleod. 'They have both declared for the existing Government,' was
the sad reply. Before taking leave of the Prince, Boisdale again urged
his returning 'home.' 'I am come _home_,' replied Charles passionately,
'and can entertain no notion of returning. I am persuaded that my
faithful Highlanders will stand by me.'
[Illustration: 'I WILL, THOUGH NOT ANOTHER MAN IN THE HIGHLANDS SHOULD
DRAW A SWORD']
On July 19 the 'Doutelle' cast anchor in Loch na-Nuagh, in the country
of the loyal Macdonalds. The first thing Charles did was to send a
letter to the young Clanranald to beg his immediate presence. The next
day four of the chief men of the clan waited on Charles, Clanranald,
Kinloch Moidart, Glenaladale, and another who has left us a lively
picture of the meeting. For three hours, in a private interview,
Clanranald tried in vain to dissuade the Prince. Then Charles--still
preserving his incognito--appeared among the assembled gentlemen on
deck. 'At his first appearance I found my heart swell to my very throat
'writes the honest gentleman who narrates the story. His emotion was
fully shared by a younger brother of Kinloch Moidart's who stood on deck
silent from youth and modesty, but with his whole heart looking out of
his eyes. His brother and the other chiefs walked up and down the deck
arguing and remonstrating with Charles, proving the hopelessness of the
undertaking. As he listened to their talk the boy's colour came and
went, his hand involuntarily tightened on his sword. Charles caught
sight of the eager young face, and, turning suddenly towards him cried,
'Will _you_ not assist me?' 'I will, I will; though not another man in
the Highlands should draw a sword, I will die for you.' Indeed, years
after all had failed, young Clanranald prepared a new rising, and had
9,000 stand of arms concealed in the caves of Moidart.
The boy's words were like flint to tinder. Before they left the ship the
hesitating chieftains had pledged themselves to risk property,
influence, freedom, and life itself in the Prince's cause. These gallant
Macdonalds were now willing to run all risks in receiving the Prince
even before a single other clan had declared for him. Old Macdonald of
Boisdale entertained Charles as an honoured guest in his bare but
hospitable Highland house. All the people of the district crowded to see
him as he sat at dinner. The young Prince delighted all present by his
geniality and the interest he showed in everything Highland, and when he
insisted on learning enough Gaelic to propose the king's health in their
native language, the hearts of the simple and affectionate people were
completely gained.
Meanwhile young Clanranald had gone to Skye to try and persuade Macleod
and Sir Alexander Macdonald to join the Prince. It was all in vain;
these two powerful chiefs were too deeply committed to the Government.
Next to these two, the most influential man in the Highlands was Cameron
of Locheil. Indeed, such was the respect felt by all his neighbours for
his gentle and chivalrous character, that there was no one whose example
would carry such weight. It was all-important to gain him to the cause.
No one saw more clearly than Locheil the hopelessness of the
undertaking, no one was more unwilling to lead his clansmen to what he
knew was certain destruction. He would see the Prince, he said, and warn
him of the danger and entreat him to return. 'Write to him,' urged
Locheil's brother, 'but do not see him. I know you better than you know
yourself. If this Prince once sets eyes on you he will make you do
whatever he pleases.' It was but too true a prophecy. When all argument
had failed to move Locheil's prudent resolution, Charles exclaimed
passionately, 'In a few days, with a few friends, I will raise the Royal
Standard and proclaim to the people of Britain that Charles Stuart is
come over to claim the crown of his ancestors, to win it or perish in
the attempt. Locheil, who, my father has often told me, was our firmest
friend, may stay at home and learn from the newspapers the fate of his
Prince.' It was more than the proud, warm heart of the chief could
stand. 'No,' he cried with emotion, 'I will share the fate of my Prince,
and so shall every man over whom nature and fortune has given me any
power.'
Even before the Royal Standard was raised an unexpected success crowned
the rebel arms. The Government had troops stationed both at Fort
Augustus and Fort William. The latter being in the heart of the
disaffected district, the commanding officer at Fort Augustus despatched
two companies of newly-raised men to its assistance. This body, under a
Captain Scott, was approaching the narrow bridge which crossed the Spean
some seven miles from Fort William; all at once a body of Highlanders
appeared, occupying the bridge and barring further passage. Had the
troops plucked up courage enough to advance they would have found only
some dozen Macdonalds; but the wild sound of the pipes, the yells of the
Highlanders, and their constant movement which gave the effect of a
large body, struck terror into the hearts of the recruits; they wavered
and fell back, and their officer, though himself a brave man, had to
order a retreat. But the sound of firing had attracted other bodies of
Macdonalds and Camerons in the neighbourhood. All at once the steep,
rough hillside seemed alive with armed Highlanders; from rock and bush
they sprung up, startling the echoes by their wild shouts. In vain the
disordered troops hurried along the road and rushed across the isthmus
to the further side of the lakes; there a new party of Macdonalds, led
by Keppoch, met them in front, and the whole body surrendered with
hardly a blow struck. They were carried prisoners to Locheil's house,
Achnacarry. In default of medical aid, the wounded captain was sent to
Fort William, in that spirit of generous courtesy which characterised
all Charles's behaviour to his defeated enemies.
[Illustration: 'Go, sir, to your general; tell him what you have
seen. . . .']
On August 19 the Royal Standard was raised at Glenfinnan, a deep rocky
valley between Loch Eil and Loch Sheil, where the Prince's monument now
stands. Charles, with a small body of Macdonalds, was the first to
arrive, early in the morning. He and his men rowed up the long narrow
Loch Sheil. The valley was solitary--not a far-off bagpipe broke the
silence, not a figure appeared against the skyline of the hills. With
sickening anxiety the small party waited, while the minutes dragged out
their weary length. At last, when suspense was strained to the utmost,
about two in the afternoon, a sound of pipes was heard, and a body of
Camerons under Lochiel appeared over the hill, bringing with them the
prisoners made at the Bridge of Spean. Others followed: Stewarts of
Appin, Macdonalds of Glencoe and Keppoch, till at least 1,500 were
present. Then the honoured veteran of the party, old Tullibardine,
advanced in solemn silence and unfurled the royal banner, with the motto
_Tandem Triumphans_. As its folds of white, blue, and red silk blew out
on the hill breeze, huzzas rent the air, and the sky was darkened by the
bonnets that were flung up. An English officer, a prisoner taken at
Spean, stood by, an unwilling spectator of the scene. 'Go, sir,' cried
the Prince in exultation, 'go to your general; tell him what you have
seen, and say that I am coming to give him battle.'