Collected Writings (Volume 6) (Paperback)

Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: CHAPTER XXV RAISING THE STANDARD AT GLENFINNIN ANXIOUS was the watch kept on board the " Doutelle " when she parted from her consort, the " Elizabeth." Deprived of that protection, her own guns were too few and light of metal to dare an encounter, and all she had to rely on for the safety of the precious freight she bore was her speed. This she was obliged to exercise more than once: and when closing with the Scottish coast she was chased for many hours by a British cruiser, whose swiftness put the sailing qualities of the French brig to a severe trial. Indeed, at one time it seemed impossible to avoid an action, but a sudden change in the wind gave the " Doutelle " an advantage in a point of sailing, and soon distancing her pursuer, she doubled a headland of one of the islands abounding on the western coast of North Britain, and dropped her anchor under its shelter. An eagle at the moment swept down from the rocky heights of the island, and wheeled in majestic flight over the " Doutelle." " Behold, my prince ! " exclaimed old Tullibardine, " the king of birds has come to welcome you to Scotland." It was reckoned a good omen, and Charles landed, but his rank was not revealed to the islanders. He whom he hoped to find, Clanronald, was absent, therefore the " Doutelle" weighed anchor and stood over to the main land, whither the chieftain had gone. The following day, in obedience to a summons from the prince,Clanronald repaired on board the brig, attended by several of his clan, and Kinlock Moidart bore him company. The chieftains were sadly disappointed to find but one small and lightly armed vessel, where they hoped to have seen men-of-war and a supply of regular troops, and told the prince that without such aid a rising would be madness? a hopeless adventure in whic...