PRINCE CHARLES AND THE LONG ISLAND. 455 



the desperate state of his fortunes. They stood out in 

 strong contrast to the sunny France and the gay life which, 

 less than a year ago, he had quitted with a heart full of 

 high hopes and daring resolve. Small wonder is it that he 

 had occasional fits of melancholy. And quite intelligible 

 is it that he took a peculiar pleasure in watching the 

 English warships pass along the Uist coast, hugging to his 

 breast the wild hope that they might be French vessels in 

 search of him. Clanranald and his friends were kindness 

 itself; but never for one moment did Charles forget that 

 he was a hunted fugitive, nor did he relax his efforts to 

 find the precious ship which was to bear him away from 

 the clutches of his enemies. 



He had not yet given up all hope of Stornoway. Pro- 

 vided with fifty guineas each, to defray expenses, O'Neil 

 and Captain Donald Macdonald, Clanranald's second son, 

 set out together for Lewis to try to charter a ship. If it 

 was found impossible to bring the Prince off, O'Neil was to 

 go to France without him. He had a letter to the King of 

 France, to whom he was to give an account of all that had 

 happened since the arrival of Charles in Scotland. When 

 they reached Harris, O'Neil, who had a decidedly foreign 

 appearance, was recognised, and had to flee to Benbecula. 

 Captain Macdonald went on to Stornoway, where he met 

 his uncle, Alexander Macleod. But his mission was 

 equally fruitless, and, with his uncle, he was compelled to 

 return home without doing anything. It is evident that 

 his object in going to Stornoway was discovered, for he 

 had to remain in hiding for a long time afterwards. 



The position of the Prince was now becoming critical. 

 Nine warships were scouring the coast in search of him. 

 Macleod of Harris had received certain information from 

 the Rev. Aulay Macaulay, that Charles was in the Long 

 Island, and he had strictly charged his tenantry not to 

 harbour him or any of his followers. He sent Alexander 

 Macleod of Ulinish, with a body of militia, to search the 

 Outer Hebrides. Sir Alexander Macdonald sent Hugh 

 Macdonald of Armadale a man famous for his physical 



