The Waverley novels, by Sir Walter Scott, complete in 12 vol., printed from the latest English ed., embracing the author's last corrections, prefaces & notes.

22 WAVERLEY NOVELS.
of Montrose out of the damages which he had sustained by his Grace's
means, in which he included the losses he had suffered, as well by the burning of his house by General Cardogan, as by the later expedition against
Craig-Royston. lie then requested Mr. Graham to attend him: nor does it
appear that he treated him with any personal violence, or even rudeness,
although he informed him he regarded him as a hostage, and menaced rough
usage in case he should be pursued, or in danger of being overtaken. Few
more audacious feats have been performed. After some rapid changes of
place (the fatigue attending which was the only annoyance that Mr. Graham
seems to have complained of), he carried his prisoner to an island on Loch
Katrine, and caused him to write to the Duke, to state that his ransom
was fixed at 3400 merks, being the balance which MacGregor pretended
remained due to him, after deducting all that he owed to the Duke of Montrose.
However, after detaining Mr. Graham five or six days in custody on the
island, which is still called Rob Roy's Prison, and could be no comfortable
dwelling for November nights, the Outlaw seems to have despaired of
attaining further advantage from his bold attempt, and suffered his prisoner
to depart uninjured with the account-books, and bills granted by the tenants,
taking especial care to retain the cash.*
About 1717, our chieftain had the dangerous adventure of falling into the
hands of the Duke of Athole, almost as much his enemy as the Duke of
Montrose himself: but. his cunning and dexterity again freed him from
certain death. See a contemporary account of this curious- affair in the
Appendix, No. V.'Other pranks are told of Rob, which argue the same boldness and sagacity
as the seizure of Killearn. The Duke of Montrose, weary of his insolence,
procured a quantity of arms, and distributed them among his tenantry, in
order that they might defend themselves against future violences. But they
fell into different hands from those they were intended for. The MacGregors
made separate attacks on the houses of the tenants, and disarmed them all
one after another, not, as was supposed, without the consent of many of the
persons so disarmed.
As a great part of the Duke's rents were.payable in kind, there were girnels (granaries) established for storing up the corn at Moulin, and elsewhere
on the Buchanan estate. To these storehouses Rob Roy used to repair with
a sufficient force, and of course when he was least expected, and insist upon
the delivery of quantities of grain-sometimes for his own use, and sometimes for the assistance of the country people; always giving regular receipts
in his own name, and pretending to reckon with the Duke for what sums he
received.
In the meanwhile a garrison was established by Government, the ruins of
which may be still seen about half-way betwixt Loch Lomond and Loch
Katrine, upon Rob Roy's original property of Inversnaid. Even this military establishment could not bridle the restless MacGregor. He contrived
to surprise the little fort, disarm the soldiers, and destroy the fortification.
It was afterwards re-established, and again taken by the MacGregors under
Rob Roy's nephew, Ghlune Dhu, previous to the insurrection of 1745-6.
Finally, the fort of Inversnaid was a third time repaired after the extinction
of civil discord; and when we find the celebrated General Wolfe commanding;in it, the imagination is strongly affected by the variety of time and events
which the circumstance brings simultaneously to recollection. It is now
totally dismantled.t
a The reader will find two original letters of the Duke of Montrose, with that which Mr. Graham, of Killearn, despatched from his prison-house by the Outlaw's command, in the Appendix, No. II. p. 38.
t About 1792, when the author chanced to pass that way, while on a tour through the Highlands, a garrison,
consisting of a single veteran, was still maintained at Inversnaid. The venerable warder was reaping his
barley croft in all peace and tranquillity; and when we asked admittance to repose ourselves, he told us we
would find the key of the Fort under the door.