them. The battle was ended at the hour of

vespers.

When on this Saturday night the English heard no more hooting, or shouting, nor any more crying out to particular lords or their banners, they looked upon the field as their own, and their enemies as beaten.

They made great fires, and lighted torches because of the obscurity of the night. King Edward then came down from his post, who all that day had not put on his helmet, and with his whole battalion advanced to the Prince of Wales, whom he arms and kissed, and said,

embraced in his

'Sweet son, God give you good perseverance: you are my son, for most loyally have you acquitted yourself this day you are worthy to be a sovereign.' The prince bowed down very low, and humbled himself, giving all honours to the King his father.

109

DR. JOHNSON IN THE HEBRIDES.

(BOSWELL.)

Sunday: October 3 [1773].

JOSEPH reported that the wind was still against us. Dr. Johnson said, 'A wind or not a wind? that is the question,' for he can amuse himself at times with a little play of words, or rather sentences.

While we were chatting in the indolent style of men who were to stay here all this day at least, we were suddenly roused at being told that the wind was fair, that a little fleet of herring-busses* was passing by for Mull, and that Mr. Simpson's vessel was about to sail. Hugh M'Donald, the skipper,† came to us, and was impatient that we should get ready, which we soon did. Dr. Johnson, with composure and solemnity, repeated the observations of Epictetus, that as man has always the voyage of death before him, whatever may be his employment, he should always be ready at the master's call; and an old man should never be far from the shore, lest he should not * Herring-boats. † Captain.

6

be able to get himself ready.' He rode and I and the other gentleman walked, about an English mile, to the shore, where the vessel lay. Dr. Johnson said, he should never forget Skye, and returned thanks for all civilities. We were carried to the vessel in a small boat which she had, and we set sail very briskly about one o'clock. I was much pleased with the motion for many hours. hours. Dr. Johnson grew sick, and retired under, as it rained a good deal. I kept above, that I might have fresh air, and, finding myself not affected by the motion of the vessel, I exulted in being a stout seaman, while Dr. Johnson was quite in a state of annihilation.* But I was soon humbled; for after imagining that I could go with ease to America, or the East Indies, I became very sick, but kept above board, though it rained hard.

Mr. Simpson was sanguine in his hopes for awhile, the wind being fair for us. He said he would land us at Icolmkill that night. But when the wind failed, it was resolved we should make for the sound of Mull, and land in the harbour of Tobermorie. We kept near

* Annihilation, being reduced to nothing.

the five herring vessels for some time, but afterwards four of them got before us, and one little wherry fell behind us. When we got in full view of the point of Ardnamurchan, the wind changed, and was directly against our getting into the sound.

We were there and get forward in that

obliged to tack, tedious manner. As we advanced, the storm grew greater, and the sea very rough. Col then began to talk of making for Egg, or Canna, or his own island. Our skipper said he would get us into the sound. Having struggled for this a good while in vain, he said he would push forward till we were near the land of Mull, where we might cast anchor and lie till the morning, for although before this there had been a good moon, and I had pretty distinctly seen not only the land of Mull, but up the sound,* and the country of Morven as at one end of it, the night was now grown very dark. Our crew consisted of me, M'Donald, our skipper, and two sailors, one of whom had but one eye. Mr. Simpson himself, Col, and Hugh M'Donald, his servant, all helped. Simpson said he would willingly go for Col, if

* A shallow sea or strait.

young Col or his servant would undertake to pilot us to a harbour; but as the island is low land, it was dangerous to run upon it in the dark. Col and his servant appeared a little dubious. The scheme of running for Canna seemed then to be embraced, but Canna was ten leagues off, all out of our way, and they were afraid to attempt the harbour of Egg. All these different plans were successively in agitation. The old skipper still tried to make for the land of Mull; but then it was considered there was no place there where we could anchor in safety. Much time was lost in striving against the storm. At last it became so rough, and threatened to be so much worse, that Col and his servant took more courage, and said they would undertake to hit one of the harbours in Col. Then let us run for it, in God's name,' said the skipper; and instantly we turned towards it. The little wherry which had fallen behind us had hard work. The master begged that if we made for Col we should put out a light for him. Accordingly one of the sailors waved a glowing peat for some time. The various difficulties that were started gave me a good deal of apprehension, from which I was relieved.

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