The Celtic magazine. A monthly periodical devoted to the literature ...

The CELTIC :magazine..277regards Hi^lilandcrs and tlie Highlands, and a snre recommendation to thenotice of Government.Soon after Culloden, Fergnson appeared off the coast and droppedanchor in Loeli Cunnard. A party landed there and proceeded np theStrath as far as the residence of jMackenzie of Langwell, who was marriedto a near relation of Earl George of Cromarty. INfackenzie got out of theway, hut the lady was ohliged to attend some of her children Avho wereconfined by small-pox. The house was ransacked, a trunk containingvaluable papers, and among these a wadset of Langwell and Inchvenniofrom the Earl of Cromarty, was burnt before her eyes, and about fiftyhead of black cattle were mangled by their swords and dri\'eu away totheir ships.Similar depredations were committed in the neighbourhood, withoutdiscrimination of friends or enemies. So f\xmiliarized were the westHighlanders and Islanders with Captain Ferguson, his cutter and crew,that they were in the habit of jeering him and them by calling aftertliem— " Iha siiin eolacli air a h-uile car a tlia na t'eaman"—(We are acquaintedwith every turn in your tail), a source of great irritation to theannoyed commander, who knew well the fugitives Avere hiding on thewest coast of Inverness-shire, and consequently resolved to adopt everyspecies of decoy to entrap the Prince and his companions. In order to deceivethe inhabitants of this wild and extensive coast, Fergu-son pretended togive over the search and leave for Ireland. The Highlanders, wonderingwhat would be the next move, were not deceived, nor did they relax theirwatchful precautions. The dweUers at Samalaman, the most westernpoint of Moidart, had been especially harassed, as it was suspected theywere in the confidence of Prince Charles. The suspicion was correct, andtherefore, although, they went about their usual employments they keptmany an anxious look towards the ocean—many a lonely watch and walkAvas taken for the protection of the hunted wanderers.To those who are not oppressed by anxiety the look-out from thisheadland is of surpassing beauty. Few scenes are ecj^ual to that presentedin a midnight walk by moonlight along the sea beach, tlie glassy seasending from its surface a long stream of dancing and dazzling light, nosound to be heard save the small ripple of the idle wavelets or the screamof a sea bird watching the fry that swarms along the shores ! In theshort nights of summer the melancholy song of the throstle has scarcelyceased on the hillside when the meiTy carol of the lark commences, and thesnipe and the ])lover sound their shrill pipe. Again, how glorious is the scene,which presents itself from the summits of the hills when the great oceanis seen gloAving with the last splendour of the setting sun, and the loftyhills of the farther isles rear their giant heads amid the purple blaze onthe extreme verge of the horizon.Kotliing of all tliis, for they were sights and scenes of continual recurrence,did jMary Macalister feel. Mary was a bold, spirited, liandsomegirl, Avho, in company with her father and two brothers forming the boat'screw, knew weU all ocean's moods, and often braved the storms so commonon that coast, and so fatal to many toilers of the deep.On the morning of the fifth day after the departure of Captain Fergu-