Four persons, with
Home himself, reached the ground in safety. But the rope broke with the
fifth, who was a tall lusty man. The sixth was Thomas Barrow, a brave
young Englishman, a particular friend of Home's. Determined to take the
risk, even in such unfavourable circumstances, Barrow committed himself
to the broken rope, slid down on it as far as if could assist him, and
then let himself drop. His friends beneath succeeded in breaking his
fall. Nevertheless, he dislocated his ankle, and had several of his ribs
broken. His companions, however, were able to bear him off in safety.
The Highlanders next morning sought for their prisoners with great
activity. An old gentleman told the author he remembered seeing the
commander Stewart,
Bloody with spurring, fiery red with haste,
riding furiously through the country in quest of the fugitives.
NOTE 23.--JACOBITE SENTIMENTS
The Jacobite sentiments were general among the western counties, and in
Wales. But although the great families of the Wynnes, the Wyndhams, and
others, had come under an actual obligation to join Prince Charles if
he should land, they had done so under the express stipulation, that he
should be assisted by an auxiliary army of French, without which they
foresaw the enterprise would be desperate.
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