The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-12-27

with. The big ship sailed maiestically
through the narroWs, cast anchor and
fred a salute well manned boat was
| lowered and roWed to the shore. There
stepped from the boat an officer in a
splendid uniform, followed by a lieuten
ant and half dozen men, one of whom
carried the flag OF Scotland. This COM
pany marched to the cross, which stood
| in the centre OF the village, and the
crowd sullenly followed, with Malcolm
Macleod at their head, not knowing what
the action of the naval officer might por-
terd, and in absence of definite orders
from their chief, hesitating to oppose this
inland march. Many of these on the fleet
were Highlanders, and the second in COM
Gand was one OF them. This man mount
| ed the three steps at the foot of the
cross and stood with his back against
the upright stone His chief handed hiIn
! q roll of parchment, and the subordi
rate officer in loud voice, and in ex-
cellent Gaelic, cried
"A Proclamation from His Most Elk
collent Majesty, James the Fifth of Scot
land! God save the King"
| At this the chief officer raised his
sword in salute and his men sent up
cheer, but the aggregation was not sec
onded by any OF the large cOncourse
there gathered together. Undaunted ~
this frigid reception the officer unrolled
| the manuscript and read its contents III
voice that reached to the furthest out
skirts OF the crowd:
| 81 James of Scotland, lawful King
this realm, do proclaim to all loyal sub
jects that the safety and liberty OF my
land depends on an unconquerable fleet,
and that the merit of the fleet consists
in stout, well-built ships; therefore the
man whom /, the King delight TO honor
is he whose skill produces the best sea-
going craft, so l hereon inscribe the name
of Malcolm Macleod master shipbuilder,
man who has designed and constructed
boat of which all Scotland has reason
to be proud. The Kings barge Of twenty
six oars, planned by Malcolm Macleod
and built for him by the people Of Skye,
will be used as a model for ell shipbuild-
ecs in the Scottish navy.
The reader now looked up from MS
parchment and gazed over the asscmbloge.
rs Malcolm Macleod here?'' he asked.
Let him step forward"
The giant, somewhat dazed walking
,
foot of the cross. The officer rolled the
proclamation and presented it to the ship
builder, saying
From the hand of the King to the
hand of Malcolm Macleod"
Malcolm accepted it, mutterng half
with a smile, half with a frown:
'E-god the King knows a good boat
when he gets it,"
Then the officer uplifted his sword
and cried:
God save the King" and now the hills
around re-echoed with the cheering.
The little company without another
word retraced their steps to the small
boat, and made for the ship which now
facing outward, anchor hoisted and sails
spread once more, so the watching High
landers had a view of a large vessel SUI
perbly managed, as the west wind which
brought her into the harpoT took her
safely out again.
The royal young man had striking
lesson on the fickleness of the populace.
no one had a good word to say Tor
the King now it was evident that James
" of Scotland was the greatest and wisest
monarch that ever sat on a throne.
Malcolm Macleod had been always so
proud of his skill that this proclamation
could hardly augment his self esteem. but
it suddenly changed his views regarding
his august overload. In conversation ever
after it became, Il and the King" and
he was almost willing to admit that
James was very nearly as great man
as Alexander Macleod Of Dunvegan.