Bonnie Prince Charlie

ome appeared to have the slightest effect in reducing him to that state of sober tranquillity which was in Mrs. Anderson's eyes the thing to be most desired in boys. Andrew was less deeply s

d of him as was her husband. She considered, and not altogether wrongly, that his wilderness,

rked in a fisherman's boat and gone down the river and had not been able to get back until next day; how he had played tricks upon his dominie, and had conquered in single combat the son of Councillor Duff, the butcher, who had spoken scoffing words at the Stuarts. Malcolm was, in fact, delighted to find, that in spite of repression and

s the seas, and together we will try and get to the bottom of the mystery of your father's fate, and if we find that the worst has come to the worst, we will seek our your mother. She will most likely have married again. They will be sure to have forced her into it; but even if she dare not acknowledge you as he

l of delight to Ronald. When the latter reached the age of fourteen Malcolm was not satisfied with the amount of proficiency which the lad was able to gain during his occasional visits, and therefore took him fo

our, Ronald went to his instructor and worked hard and steadily with the rapier. Had Mrs. Anderson had an idea of the manner in which he spent his time she would hav

, and would sit for hours thinking over all sorts of wild plans by which he might penetrate to him and aid him to escape. He was never tired of questioning Malcolm Anderson as to the prisons in which, if still alive, his father would be likely to be confined. He would ask as to their appearance, the height of their walls, whether they were moated or not, and whether ot

eat lady as she is must be able to get at people if she sets about it, and as certainly she must have loved my father very very much, or she never would have married him secretly, and got into such trouble for it. I am sure she will do her best when she finds that you and I

to exercises which would strengthen his arm, increase his skill with weapons, and render him a brave and gallant officer, and in this he was right. As the time went on Ronald became more and more serious. He took no part whatever in the school boy games

n--so ready to work heart and soul to improve. The boy's wrist is as strong as mine and his eye as quick. I have long since taught him all I know, and it is practice now, and not teaching, that we have every day. I tell you I have work to hold my own with him; he knows every trick and turn as well as I do, and is quicker with his lunge and riposte. Were it not that I have my extra length of arm in my favour I could not hold my own. As you know, I have many of the officers

As you know, I hold to the Stuarts, but I must own they are but poor hands at fighting. Charles the First ruined his cause; James the Second threw away the crown of Ireland by galloping away

join him? I am afraid I shall be fool enough to do

ans who govern us from London. If the English like them let them keep them, and let us have a king of our own. However, nought may come of it; it may be but a rumour. It is a ca

elling about among the Highland clans, and t

was made of it thirty years ago it does not seem to me more likely that we shall get rid of the Hanoverians now. Besides, the hanging

s are always ready to fight. If Prince Charles comes you will see there will not be much hanging

t way than any other. Still, to tell you the truth, I would

but if it does I shall strike a

ugh Prince Charles Edward was reported to be more Protestant in feelings than the rest of his race, this was not sufficient to counterbalance the effect of the hereditary Catholic tendency. Otherwise there was no feeling of active loyalty towards the reigning king in Scotland. The first and second Georges had none of the attributes which attract loyal affection. The first could with difficulty speak the language of the people over whom he ruled. Their feelings and sympathies were Hanoveria

of the Lowland cities of Scotland the loyalty which existed was religious rather than civil, and rested upon the fact that their forefathers had fought against the Stuarts, while the Highlanders had always supported their cause. Thus, although in the household and in kirk Ronald had heard King George prayed for regularly, he had he

did Mistress Janet guess that your heart was with the Stuarts, she would say that I was ruining you, and should bring you to a gallows. She is not fond of me now, though she does her best to b

you," Ronald said indignantly. "My father

re a man you can no doubt go which way it pleases you; but till then you owe your duty and respec

ery good and kind, and I love them both; but for all that it is only natural that my

since given up any thought of hearing from your father; but in that you and I will have a say when the time comes. Until then you must treat Andrew as your natural guardian, and there is no need to anger him by letting him know that your heart is with the king over the water, any more than that you can wield a sword l

r he was now entered at the university) passed through the shop, the bailie wa

ant out against him, and the constables are on the lookout. I hope to have him in jail before tonight. These pestilent rogues ar

serious consequences, perhaps bring ruin on all with whom he had been in communication. Who he was or what he was like Ronald knew not; but he determined at any rate to ende

tside, Ronald saw two or three of the magistrates enter. An hour later the magistrate he was watching came out; but he had gone but a few paces when a man hurrying up approached him. They talked earne

, and arrest him. It is better not to do it in daylight. I shall lead the party, which will come round to my hou

ht he determined to keep an eye upon the constable, who would most likely join his comrade on the watch. This, however, he did not do immediately. He had probably b

l running from the Castle Port to a small tower. When he got near the bottom of the street a man came out from an archway, and the two spoke together. From their gestures Ronald felt sure that it was the last house on the left hand side of the street that was being watched. He had not ventured to follow far down the street, for as the

. It was dark now. Even in the principal streets the town was only lit by oil lamps here and there, and there was no attempt at illumination in the quiet quarters, persons who went abroad after nightfall always carrying a lantern with them. There was still sufficient light to show Ronald t

ing such a leap. The wall was only a few feet wide, and he could therefore get but little run for a spring. His blood was, however, up, and having taken his resolution he did not

floor was piled with disused furniture, boxes, sacking, and rubbish. He was some time finding the door, but although he moved as carefully as he could he knocked over a heavy chest which was placed on a rickety chair, the two falling with a crash on the flo

urrender, or I will ru

sity. I have come here to warn someone, whom I know not, in this house that it is watched, a

rd, and taking the light from the wo

he asked. "How did

d a magistrate arranging with one of the constables for a capture, and gathered that he of whom they were in searc

ttered a cr

if I get free you will render a service indeed to our cause; but there is no time to

he lane below, one or more,

lls are high, and other houses abut upon them. I w

n; "and if you will provide me with a

," the man said, "an

d a room, took down a sword from over

hand there was a loud

"Quick, the light, Mary! At a

rew them on the hearth; then opening a cabinet he drew forth a num

fe!" he said; "the wo

to leap; but if you have got a plank, or can pull up a board from the floor, you could put it ac

, bring the light, and aid me while our br

airs, while Ronald made

the door of a quiet house at

he reply; "we have a warrant to

are, as you say, officers of the peace; but if so, pass your warrant thr

," the voice answered. "Once more, o

ves who seek to ransack the house, and that your warrant is a pretence?

nald knew they were applying a crowbar to force it open. He retreated to a landing halfway up the stairs, placed a lamp behind him so that it would show its light full on the faces of those ascending the stairs, and waited. A mi

ut the foremost halted at the sig

watch will be here in a few minutes, an

the stairs, aimed a blow at Ronald. He guarded it and ran the man t

rs from above and nodded to Ronald to

f ye be the watch, which I doubt, show me the warrant, or if

ere am I, James M'Whirtle,

be truly the worshipful Mr. M'Whirtle let him show himself, for surely I know

been keeping well in th

re at once, Mr. M'Whirtle, instead of setting your men to brea

said, "and you withstood us, and it will be hanging

an there be any enemies of the king here, seeing there are only

the charge of assisting the king's enemies, of impeding the course of justice, of withstanding

d lau

d your warrant and declared yourself I gave way to you. I only resisted so

one of the others searched the house from top to

the house has been closely watched ever since. See, there are a pile of ashes on

ce, but as the room below was unceiled this discovery led to nothing. At last the magistrate was convinced that the fugitive was not concealed in the house, and,

s in attendance, having been notified the night before of what had befallen Ronald. The bailie and his wife had at first been unable to credit the news, and were convinced that some mistake had

s majesty; aiding and abetting one of the king's enemies,

as crowded, for Andrew, in his wrath at being unable to obtain Ronald's release, had not been backward in publ

e and another first

marked, "seeing that I was present with the watch to see th

am charged with aiding and abetting his escape it

oment's consultation together Mr. M'Whirtle said that in the interest of justice

of our good friend Bailie Anderson, known to be a worthy citizen and loyal subject

ffians were at the gate, I stood on the defence. I demanded to see what warrant they had for forcing an entry, and as they would show m

in the court at

ow came ye to be in the house at all

me that any one may be in a house by the consent of i

if you defy the court. I ask

ching the house, looking behind I saw another ruffianly looking man there." Two gasps of indignation were heard from the porch at the back of the court. "Thinking that there was mischief on hand I

tion of incredulity

end a man to the wall. I felt my feet loos

ave an order, and two of

you find in

frightened she was when I told her wh

ere anyone

Ronald said quietly, "a

ecame o

having no stomach for meeting people outside, he just went out the way I came in, especi

t; the mode of escape had not occurred to any, and

ailie of the city and one who stands well with his fellow townsmen, should take a desperate leap from the wall through a window of a house where a traitor was in hidi

ke other boys of his age, doubtless, but always amenable. What can have possessed him to beha

gh Peter Muir's shoulder," Mr. M'Whirtle sai

" the bailie said, "seeing the boy scarce

many a time going into the school of James Macklewain, and I have heard a comr

onel Leslie of Glenlyon, was a gentleman, and it was right that I should wield a sword, and James Macklewain, who had fo

h as dreamt of it. If I had done so he and

said; "and had to fly the country; and his son seems to be treading in

loose as the prisoner had described, and there were scratches as if of the feet of

t you would risk your neck in this way without cause. Clearly you have aided and abetted a traitor to escape justice, and you will be remanded.

bailie being too much overwhelmed with surprise