"AFTER the proscription of 1746, and the burning and sacking of their dwellings, such of the outlawed superiors and dependents as could not escape out of the country lived upon the hills in caves or huts, and often the unsheltered heath.... Many such concealments are remembered in the remote glens; but the most remarkable, both for time, fidelity, and the resources employed in its preservation, was that of the gallant Chief of Clan Chattan, Macpherson of Cluny. For nine years he remained concealed upon his own property, in caves, vaults, and huts, supplied with all necessaries, and even comforts, by his clansmen, who not only endangered their liberty in his service, but for his support paid their rents twice over -- once to the Government factor, and once to their chief. His first principal retreat was a cave dug by his people opposite to Craig Dhu, in the woody bank on the south side of the little loch of Ubhaidh (Loch Ovie): the excavation was carried on during the night, and its entrance concealed by the trees and bushes; being close to the margin of the lake, the earth was conveyed into the water, and all appearance of its passage carefully removed from the brae.

      After this retreat had remained long unsuspected, wearying of its confinement, and thinking it safer to have a change of haunts, Cluny caused other cells to be prepared for his reception, so that he might never spend many nights in the same place, nor his people attract attention by going often in the same direction. One of the most secure of his recesses, and which exists at the present day, was a square vault under the house of Dalchully, three miles from Cluny Castle. It is about eight feet square and seven feet deep, wainscoted with deal planks, and entered by a trap-door in the floor, which being covered
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by a carpet, there was no suspicion of its existence. From the dryness of the gravelly soil, it is perfectly free from damp, for which reason it is now used as a store-closet for cheeses. No doubt its trap, and perhaps the scantling, has been renewed oftener than once, but in other respects it is exactly in the same state as when last inhabited by its noble refugee. But the most remarkable and ingenious of all the retreats used by Cluny, or any of his unfortunate contemporaries, was the romantic and singular construction called 'The Cage'.

      "In this romantic retreat Cluny entertained the Prince in his last distresses, previous to his escape from the Highlands; and here the royal fugitive received intelligence of the arrival of the ships destined for his departure. The site of his last remarkable retreat with his faithful adherent is in the heart of the ancient deer-forest of Ben Alder, one of the most secluded and magnificent ranges of mountain scenery, as well as one of the finest -- perhaps to be hereafter the finest -- deer-country in the Highlands. It was a part of the great territory of the Clan Chattan, from the time that the early ancestors of the male line, represented by the present chief Cluny Macpherson, held it in a hereditary descent which probably owned no dependence on even the Crown, and was derived from an era disappearing into the twilight of history which veils the antiquity of the Celtic tribes. [Here 'Old Biallid' forgets what he wrote in Chapter II of this section of Glimpses wherein he describes the immigration of the Macmhuirichs (the name the Macphersons went by at the time) from Lochaber after the triumph of Robert the Bruce. At that time Badenoch was among the territories of the Comyns. However, his comments regarding the deer-forest of Ben Alder. It is still an area where thousands of deer roam in huge herds. --- Ed.]

     "In the deep wilderness of 'The Cage' Cluny found refuge after an almost miraculous escape, in which he owed his safety to the vigilance, fidelity, and vigour of his clansmen. Towards the latter time of his seclusion the success with which he had so long baffled all danger produced some relaxation of extreme caution, and even a degree of confidence, through which, in very bad weather, or the absence of the enemy's patrols, he sometimes ventured to visit his lady, and pass a night in the house which she inhabited, and which, formerly the residence of the grieve, stood near the ruins of the destroyed mansion of Cluny. These dangerous ventures were not without suspicion from the officer who commanded the troops of the district, Ensign (afterwards General Sir) Hector Munro. The activity of this subaltern for the apprehension of Cluny was distinguished by a vindictive pursuit beyond the vigilance of mere military duty, and inspired by a spirit of revenge against the whole Clan Pherson, by the fire of whose battalion his father and uncle had been killed at the battle of Falkirk. It is probable that, for his known desire of revenge, he was appointed to the command of the troops directed against the clan, and he performed the cruel service with unremitting severity and persecution.
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      "Upon a stormy, dark, and freezing evening in the depth of winter, suffering from continual exposure to cold, wet, and privation of every kind, and trusting perhaps to the inclemency of the night for keeping the detachments in their quarters, Cluny ventured to return to his temporary home. By a singular coincidence, Munro had determined to make a deliberate and particular attack upon the house in the course of the same night. During his pursuit of the chief, however, he had discovered, that whenever he made a movement for his surprise, the troops were everywhere preceded by secret information.

     "On the present occasion, therefore, he retired to rest as usual, and when all others were asleep, he leaped out at a back window, awakened his men, who lay in a barn, and, without any disturbance or observation, put them under arms, and took the road for Cluny. Other parties had previously been detached to Dalwhinnie, Garvamor, and Dalnashalg, and had orders to march in such concert that all the parties should unite at the same time round the house inhabited by Lady Cluny. The main body, under the ensign, was within seven miles of its destination, when, passing a cottage belonging to a man named Iain dÛnn [brown-haired] Macpherson, he heard in his bed the heavy tramp of the soldiers and the clink of their equipments, and immediately observing that they were passing towards Cluny, he sprang up, and, without any clothes but his shirt and kilt, ran off at full speed to give notice of the advance. The path being occupied by the detachment, he had to make a considerable circuit, and proceeded with such speed, that, by the time he was half-way to Cluny, he was seized with a stitch in his side, which obliged him to stop at a cottage, and call another man out of his bed to carry forward the alarm.      "Meanwhile Munro had gained some distance in advance, and it was only by very great exertion that the messenger reached Cluny ten minutes before the soldiers. When he arrived, the chief was surrounded by a circle of his friends, in whose reunion he indulged a brief forgetfulness of their misfortunes, which was suddenly interrupted by the appearance of the carnach, who rushed breathless into the room with an exclamation that the Saighdearan dearga [red-coated soldiers] were at hand. All present started from their seats, and immediately scattered in various directions. Cluny, accompanied by two stout men, proceeded towards the northern hills;
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but they had not gone far when they heard the approach of the detachment from Dalnashalg, and, to avoid them, turned hastily to the west, when at a little distance they discovered the advance of the party from Garva. In this jeopardy they determined to cross the Spey, and descended towards an uncertain and little-frequented ford called Beul-ath tart,'and nearly opposite to Cluny Castle. They gained the river without interruption, but just as they reached the bank, heard the division from Dalwhinnie entering the water on the other side. It need not be told that both the chief and his two clansmen were excellent deer stalkers: immediately crouching on the grass, they glided away on their breasts, as they would have drawn themselves up to a deer, and in a few moments were several yards down the bank, where they lay flat under the brink by the water side. In this ambush they heard the cautious plash of the soldiers passing through the stream; but as soon as their quick tramp receded across the field, they started up, cleared the ford, and finding some horses grazing on the opposite meadow, Cluny mounted on one of them, and the little party taking the western hills, never halted until they reached Ben Alder."¹

¹ This narrative by "Old Biallid" of the retreats of Cluny of the '45 is given in the Lays of the Deer-Forest, published by Messrs Blackwood in 1848. ² Although now forming part of the parish of Abernethy, Kincardine was for a long period embraced in the Lordship of Badenoch. [This area is not to be confused with the Kincardine in Fife or Kincardine in Ross-shire or Kincardine O'neil in Kincardine-shire -- Ed.]

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      It is told of Colonel Stewart that he strongly urged for a day's truce before attacking the Government forces at Culloden. This, however, Lord George Murray overruled, and the prognostications of the colonel were but too fully verified in the result of a precipitate and unequal combat. Having escaped from the field of Culloden, he concealed himself for some years in the forests of Glenmore and Rothiemurchus. It was when thus under hiding, and while resting himself with a sprained ankle beside a cataract, keeping his foot in the water, he composed in Gaelic Urnaigh Iain Ruaidh, -- John Roy's prayer; and in English the following stanzas are entitled

                                            The Lord's the same as heretofore,
                                            He's always good to me;
                                            Though red-coats come a thousand more,
                                            Afraid I will not be.

                                            Though they the woods do cut and burn,
                                            And drain the waters dry,
                                            Nay, though the rocks they overturn,
                                            And change the course of Spey:

                                            Though they mow down both corn and grass,
                                            And seek me under ground;
                                            Though hundreds guard each road and pass,
                                            John Roy will not be found.

                                            The Lord is just, lo ! here's a mark,
                                            He's gracious and kind;
                                            While they like fools grop'd in the dark,
                                            As moles He struck them blind.

                                            Though lately straight before their face,
                                            They saw not where I stood;
                                            The Lord's my shade and hiding-place --
                                            He's to me always good.
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                                            Let me proclaim, both far and near,
                                            O'er all the earth and sea,
                                            That all with admiration hear
                                            How kind the Lord's to me.

                                            Upon the pipe I'll sound His praise,
                                            And dance upon my stumps;
                                            A sweet new tune to it I'll raise,
                                            And play it on my trumps." ³

      After many hairbreadth escapes, Colonel Stewart, with other faithful adherents of Prince Charlie, ultimately escaped to France, where he paid the debt of nature, "leaving behind him an imperishable fame for the genuine characteristics of a warrior and a poet."

      Here is an amusing account narrated by 'Old Biallid' of an attempt to capture the popular outlaw:-- "Colonel John Roy Stewart was an outlaw like many others after the battle of Culloden. He was a native of Kincardine in Strathspey, where he was exceedingly popular and a great favourite with the Grants, although they were opposed to the Stewart interest. Notwithstanding the colonel's popularity, there was one Grant who undertook to apprehend him for the sake of the blood-money offered by Government. This Grant ought to have been a man of some consideration (in Strathspey) from his ancestors and connections; but nevertheless he was known to be far below par in point of intellect, and as to courage, he was considered (in the ring phrase) mere dunghill. He paraded through Strathspey with a party of twenty-four men, some of whom joined him because they were his subtenants, some because they had nothing else to do, but for the most part to make game of him; and perhaps one and all of them would give intimation to John Roy if they thought him in danger from such a leader and such a party. John Roy Stewart had no great cause to be alarmed, although friends felt some indignation at even a show of hostility to a man so universally beloved.

     "Things went on in this manner for some time, to the amusement of some and the annoyance of others, until a wag took a bet of a pint of whisky that he would so frighten Grant as to make him cease tormenting John Roy for ever. He therefore proceeded to Grant's house, and having asked and obtained a private audience, he told him with great gravity that he had information of great importance to communicate, that he knew where John Roy was to sleep that night, and that he would conduct Grant and the party to the spot provided they gave him a share of the reward. This, of course, was agreed to.
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³ Mackenzie's Beauties of Gaelic Poetry, 1882, p268
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"The party assembled, and when the night became dark they set out armed and accoutred, the wag having mentioned some sequestered dwelling at a considerable distance. When they were drawing near the place the leader began to ask a great many questions. Was he sure that John Roy would be there? Did he know if he had anybody along with him? -- 'for,' added he, 'should he have a stronger force than ours, it would be madness in us to attack him;' to which the wag replied that John Roy never had more than one or two along with him, and that it would be a terrible disgrace if six-and-twenty would be afraid to attack two or three men, however powerful and desperate they might be.

"Grant then turned upon another tack. He began to express apprehensions that the outlaw was not there; 'for,' said he, 'if we go to the house and not find him, it would put him on his guard, and there will be less chance of getting hold of him at a future period.'

"'That is very true,' replied the wag; 'and as it is not known that I have joined your party, and therefore will not be suspected, I shall go to the house and see, while you remain here until I return and bring certain intelligence.' This plan was agreed to, and the wag set out at a good pace until he got out of sight, and then set himself down until a reasonable period had elapsed in which he might perform the journey. He then returned, and when he got to the party he began to caper and dance, exclaiming in an undertone of voice, 'Great news, my lads! glorious news! what lucky dogs we are! our fortunes are made!'

"The leader now eagerly inquired as to the nature of the great and glorious news, and if he had seen John Roy; to which he replied, 'Yes, I have; and, what is still better, Cluny Macpherson is along with him.'

"'Cluny Macpherson!' exclaimed Grant. 'Yes, Cluny Macpherson!' replied the wag. 'We shall be the richest men in Strathspey -- that is, the survivors of us!' He was then questioned as to how many attendants there were, to which he answered that there were only four, but that they were the largest and roughest fellows he had ever seen, and armed to the very teeth. The whole party now began to suspect the drift of their new associate, and eagerly demanded to be led on, saying that such an opportunity of making their fortune would never again arise, to which the wag added, 'Tis very true that at least one-half of us will be killed, but still so much the better for those that live.'
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"Grant now began to show the most unequivocal symptoms of terror, and proposed that they should wait till daylight before they surrounded the house; but his tormentor declared that Cluny and Stewart were never known to remain in their quarters till daylight, and the whole party as with one voice opposed the delay. At last the unfortunate Grant fell down in a state of insensibility, and when he partly recovered it was found necessary to wash him in the nearest stream before he was carried home. The news of the expedition circulated like wildfire, and continued to be the subject of conversation and jocular remark throughout the district for many a long day."
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