The peat-fire flame : folk-tales and traditions of the Highlands & Islands

THE PEAT-FIRE FLAME
They were adamant. Archibald expressed the view that, in
any case, Eilean Olamsay, or even Colonsay for that matter,
was too small an island on which to store treasure with any
degree of certainty that it would not be found. And, vc^hen
this argument was rebuffed by the Jacobite ofifiicers, he
simply informed them frankly that the sympathies of his
family and of the Islanders generally were with the
Hanoverians, and that the MacNeills always supported the
policy adopted by the Clan Campbell.
As a gentle hint of a bribe. Prince Charlie and his officers
now proceeded to explain that the treasure aforementioned
consisted of gold coins packed in small kegs. However,
even this had no effect, since the MacNeills of Colonsay
appeared determined not to compromise themselves in any
degree.
When the Prince realised that further persuasion was
useless, he asked MacNeill whether he could put him in
touch with a couple of reliable pilots, since his seamen were
anything but well versed in the navigation problems of the
Western Highlands and Hebrides. To this MacNeill
responded that, while he knew of several skilled pilots on
Colonsay, he doubted whether any one of them would go
with him, if he jaloused the object of his visit to these
shores.
The news soon got abroad on Colonsay that the Prince
was wanting two pilots, with the result that several seamen
presented themselves for service. It was soon found,
however, that negotiations with these applicants were
impracticable—nay, utterly impossible. When the day was
wearing to a close, and the Prince's ofhcers were beginning
to get a little anxious about the ship's anchorage for the
night, they succeeded in persuading two brothers named
MacMillan to enter the Prince's service. After great
argument and bargaining, the MacMillans consented to act
in the capacity of pilots, in return for a keg of gold each.
But even now matters were not settled : a further hitch
arose when the MacMillans declined the Prince's promise
that they would be given the kegs whenever they had
rendered the service desired of them. Since they were
resolved not to serve on any other condition, and the Prince
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