TRIAL OF THE BRAES CROFTERS. 89 



amount of the fines to Mr. Anderson, but the agent for the 

 prisoners (Mr. Macdonald) intimated that it was paid under 

 protest in order to enable him to lodge an appeal if this 

 should afterwards be resolved upon. * 



The prisoners, who had been confined between two 

 policemen throughout the day, were then liberated. As they 

 emerged from the Castle, they were met by a large crowd, 

 who greeted them with cheers and calls for a speech. They, 

 however, were allowed to proceed to their hotel without any- 

 further demonstration. 



The men and the witnesses were lodged, and provided 

 with a liberal supply of all the creature comforts, in the 

 Glenalbyn Hotel, where they were visited by many of those 

 in Inverness who sympathised with their position. Next 

 morning they left by train and steamer for Portree, their 

 fares having been paid, and provision made for anything 

 they might require on the journey. On their arrival the 

 same evening in the Capital of Skye they were met by 

 their friends and the people of Portree, who greeted them 

 with great enthusiasm, and many of whom convoyed them 

 the greater part of their way to the Braes. 



THE AUTUMN CAMPAIGN. 



NOTHING of importance occurred for months after the 

 trial, until the crofters appear to have allowed their sheep 

 to take possession of Benlee, and, it is alleged, refused 

 to take them back to their own ground. 



Early in October, Lord Macdonald's Edinburgh agents 



*A cheque for the whole amount of the fines was shortly afterwards 

 received from Mr. Norman Macleod, Bookseller, Bank Street, Edinburgh, 

 on behalf of a few Highlanders in that city, who were quite willing to subscribe 

 much more had it been found necessary. The whole of the other expenses 

 of the Trial was paid by the Federation of Celtic Societies. 



