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

FOLK-TALES OF THE '15 AND THE '45
now felt himself entirely at their mercy, they were given a
keg of gold each, prior to their embarking.
As it was the intention to quit Colonsay waters that
evening, the newly found pilots returned home to make the
necessary arrangements before sailing. The kegs they
committed to the custody of their relatives on the Island.
But so much valuable time had been wasted in arguing and
in dilly-dallying that, when eventually the MacMillan
brothers did join the ship, it was deemed too late to sail
that night. Before dawn, however, the younger brother.
Hector to name, became increasingly suspicious about the
whole undertaking. So, under cover of darkness he secretly
made for the shore—whether by small boat or by swimming,
no one ever quite knew. But what everyone did know was
that Hector had broken his agreement with the Prince, had
managed to get ashore somehow, and had retained his keg
of gold coin. He is said to have prospered thereafter ; and
his descendants are respectable inhabitants of Colonsay at
this day.
The other brother, whose name is said to have been Iain
MacMillan, acted more faithfully. He remained a pilot in
the Prince's service until the latter finally escaped to France.
Iain liked the French ; and the French liked Iain. He is
believed to have remained in their employ, and to have
married a Frenchwoman. It is said that he died at Dunkirk,
where he had settled down some years previously. Throughout
his sojourn in France he maintained a regular correspondence
re-visited
gold coin.
with his kinsfolk on
his native island—not
Colonsay; but he never
even to claim his keg of
The old folks of Colonsay believe the foregoing story to
be perfectly true in every detail. They admit that in 1745
the Prince received little encouragement at the
their Chief—though, curiously, when the same
hands of
MacNeill
received a summons toward the end of the Rebellion to
despatch as many recruits as possible for the Hanoverian
army, great difficulty was experienced in inducing any of
the islanders of military age to take up arms against Prince
Charlie.
Be that as it may, the Colonsay folks still believe that it
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