They were at once signalled to return to
Stornoway, Seaforth waving them back with the jawbone of a sheep,
which he was in the act of picking for his dinner, and in this
way, it is said, was fulfilled one of the prophecies of the Brahan
Seer, by which it was predicted "That next time the men of Lewis
should go forth to battle, they would be turned back by a weapon
smaller than the jawbone of an ass." Meanwhile Seaforth's lady (we
shall for greater convenience continue to call him by his former
title, although it was at this time under attainder), not knowing
what had become of her lord or what his real intentions were, is
said to have entertained the Prince at Brahan Castle, and to have
urged upon the Earl of Cromarty and his eldest son, Lord Macleod,
to call out the clan in her husband's absence. Subsequently, when
that Earl and his son were confined in the Tower of London for
the part which they took on her advice, and when the Countess with
ten children, and bearing another, were suffering the severest
hardships and penury, the Rev. Colin, at great risk to himself and
the interests of his family, collected the rents from the Cromarty
tenants, giving his own receipt against their being required to
pay again to the Forfeited Estates Commissioners, and personally
carried the money to her ladyship in London.
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