The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1903-12-29

1891 49, 'C-S A-N- &-A - "-
writing Of his august sovereign. lie
knows he holds his lands a he holds his
sword. his grip on the one relaxing When
he loses his grip On the other. We viii
suppose, however, the charter withdrawn
and the 1tacLcods Laughing defiance at
Us. What next. EacDOnaId?'
Net. | would raise an army and
march against him aud make him laugh
on the other side OF his crooked mouth"
Hum sad the king, Il am thinking,
Jamie, there are Lions in that path
The lions are imaginary, your MAJ
esty. The Ccahams, the Stewards, the
HcNabs would rise not sca.nat YOU, but
for you, delighted to be led - their king.
The CaErbclls themselves must join you,
If your force were large enough TO do
without them. Among the MacDonalGs
alone / could guarantee you an army
You forget that the H.ghIandEnan IS al
ways anxious for warfare. Leave Sir
ling with a thousand men and you viii
have ten thousand before YOU arc at tue
shores Of SIeat."
1t may be al as you say, Jamie. Per
haps the Highlands would rise with me
instead OF against me, but q prudent COM
manGer must not ignore the possibility
c. the reverse. However, apart from all
this, I am desirous OF Q%uelling the military
~-N"~L VI 49, Ak-D-N-tt-95 ~ - -
ing it. It's easy enough setting the
heath on ire in dry weather. but he is
4 wise prophet who tells where the con
Gaeration ends. l would rather carry Z
bucket OF water than 4 sword. even
though it may be heavier"
If Your Majesty Will tell me what you
have resolved upon, then l shall very
bijtheiy Give you my opinion on it. It IS
always easier to criucisa the plans Of
another than to put forward sensible
plans Of ones own"
You ere right in that, Jamie, and the
remark shows I have chosen q wise cOun
c.lor. Very well, then. ! have never
seen the renowned island Of Skye. They
tell me it is even more picturesque than
Stirling itself. I propose, then, to don
q Disguise, visit Skye and find out il I
can what the turbulent islanders want
IF | am not able to grant their desire
1 can at least deal the better with them
for being acquainted"
Your Majesty does not propose going
~alone?" cried Macdonald in amazement.
"Certainly not. 1 shall be we'll guard
ed"
"Ah, that IS a different matter, and ex-
actly what l advised"
You advised an army, which / shasi
not take with me. I shall be we'll guarded
ny Lily SOCC taSLL di IL I'll ny ~ 5liIi
more potent right arm, If I may believe
his own statement, CT my frieni jamie
Macdonald of Sleat.
You VIII get yourself out of Stirling"
continued the king, las quietly as pos
sible tonight ard HE you to my Castle
Of Dounc, and wait until l come, which
may De n = day OF IN a week"
My advice has been sighted SO far"
said Macdonald, yet I must give you
another piece CT it. We are going in a
kittleish country. I advise you to order
your fleet into some safe cove Oh the west
coast. 1t will do the west Hignlanders
GOOD to see what ships YOU have, for they
think that re ore but themselves and
Noah could build a boat. When we come
IN into my own country well get a gillje
o. two that can be depended on to wait
on Us, then, if we are nippcd. one or other
OF these gillies can easily steal a boat
and make for tie fleet with your orders
10 The admiral,
'"That is not q bad rJan. Ia11iq" said
the king, and we VIII arrange il as YOU
suggest"
The court wondered greatly at the sud
den disappearance CT James Macdonald,
hit none dared ia make ino,1;rv sorna
thinking he had escaped 10 the norte.
others chat 2 dungeon in Stirling Castle
might reveal his Whereabouts. The king,
: spent three DAYS in settling those affair."
of the realm which demanded Immediate
attention, LETT Sir Donald Sinclair in ten.
porary command, and rode OIL to Doune
Castle.
From this stronghold there ies,.ed next
morning before daylight two well-mounted
young men. VINO struck IN a n~orthwestcr-
r. direction for the wild Highland coun-
try. As it was unadvisable for them to
.
Two travellers contented themselves wit
! an ordinary fishing boat, which spread
sail when the winds were fair. and de
pended on the oars OF the crew when
the sea was calm. They were
! led by two ciIIies. who were intended
is to be useful on any ordinary occasion
and necessary in case Of emergency, fol
the boat and its crew were to wait il
5 any Earbor Of Skye that was determined
Upon and carry news to Loeb Torr;don +
: the presence Of the fleet was deemed ne