450 HISTORY OF THE OUTER HEBRIDES. 



him to enter the town ; nor would they give him a ship ; 

 nor would they provide him with a pilot to take him to 

 Poolewe, where there was some chance of his finding a 

 vessel. They did not wish to be mixed up with his affairs 

 in any shape or form. All they wanted was that he should 

 depart out of their coasts. That was their last word. 



Macleod returned to Arnish and told Charles what had 

 happened. It was obviously unsafe for them to remain at 

 Arnish, and preparations were made to depart. It was 

 proposed to attempt to reach the Orkneys. The boat and 

 crew lent to Macleod by Donald Campbell were at their 

 disposal, but two of the sailors, terrified at the commotion 

 in Stornoway, had fled. The six who were left, refused to 

 venture to the Orkneys or to Poolewe in their small boat, 

 in such bad weather. It was decided to spend the night at 

 Arnish and start early next morning, with the tacit under- 

 standing that they should return to Scalpa. While they 

 were at Mrs. Mackenzie's house, a cow was killed for their 

 consumption, for which their hostess was reluctantly 

 obliged to accept payment. They put the head and other 

 parts of the animal in their boat, with a supply of meal, 

 brandy, and sugar, which Mrs. Mackenzie provided. They 

 had a wooden plate for making their dough, and could use 

 stones for making their bannocks. They slept on the moor 

 that night ; according to tradition, close to a loch which is 

 known as " Prince Charlie's Lake."* They made a start at 

 eight o'clock next morning (6th May). 



They had not gone far before they saw two frigates off 

 Kebbuck Head, which they took to be English ; although 

 Maxwell of Kirkconnel thinks they were the French war- 

 ships which had landed money, arms, and ammunition, at 

 Loch nan Uamh, a few days after the Prince had left. The 

 boatmen were asked to go out to reconnoitre, but they 

 declined to take the risk. To escape the frigates, they 

 made for the Islet of lubhard at the entrance to Loch 



* Neil MacFachain, who was not present, says that they spent the night at 

 Mrs. Mackenzie's house. O'Neil, who was present, says they slept on the 

 moor. MacEachain asserts that a " mob " from Stornoway " made a dreadful 

 noise about the house " during a great part of the night. 



