“For the present, yes. A lugger put in this morning belonging to some smugglers. In it he sailed for the mainland with Ronald and Murdoch. You will have heard the bad news,” she cried.
“That Malcolm, Creagh, and Donald are taken?”
“And Flora, too. She iss to be sent to London for assisting in the escape of the Prince. And so are the others.”
I fell silent, deep in thought, and shortly came to a resolution.
“Aileen, the Highlands are no place for me. I am a stranger here. Every clachan in which I am seen is full of danger for me. To-morrow I am for London.”
“To save Malcolm,” she cried.
“If I can. Raasay cannot go. He must stay to protect his clansmen. Murdoch is a fugitive and his speech would betray him in an hour. Remains only I.”
“And I.”
“You?”
“Why not? After ‘the ’15’ women’s tears saved many a life. And I too have friends. Sir Robert Volney, evil man as he iss, would move heaven and earth to save my brother.”