ollowing adventure was perhaps his narrowest escape.

In March 1756, and of course long after all apprehension of a search had
ceased, information having been given to the then commanding officer at
Fraserburgh, that Lord Pitsligo was at that moment in the house of
Auchiries, it was acted upon with so much promptness and secrecy, that
the search must have proved successful but for a very singular
occurrence. Mrs. Sophia Donaldson, a lady who lived much with the
family, repeatedly dreamt on that particular night that the house was
surrounded by soldiers. Her mind became so haunted with the idea, that
she got out of bed, and was walking through the room in hopes of giving
a different current to her thoughts before she lay down again, when, day
beginning to dawn, she accidentally looked out at the window as she
passed it in traversing the room, and was astonished at actually
observing the figures of soldiers among some trees near the house. So
completely had all idea of a search been by that time laid asleep, that
she supposed they had come to steal poultry; Jacobite poultry-yards
affording a safe object of pillage for the English soldiers in those
days. Under this impression Mrs. Sophia was proceeding to rouse the
servants, when her sister having awaked, and inquiring what was the
matter, and being told of soldiers near the house, exclaimed, in great
alarm, that she feared they wanted something more than hens. She begged
Mrs. Sophia to look out at a window on the other side of the house, when
not only soldiers were seen in that direction, but also an officer
giving instructions by signals, and frequently putting his fingers on
his lips, as if enjoining silence. There was now no time to be lost in
rousing the family, and all the haste that could be made was scarcely
sufficient to hurry the venerable man from his bed, into a small recess
behind the wainscot of an adjoining room, which was concealed by a bed,
in which a lady, Miss Gordon of Towie, who was there on a visit, lay,
before the soldiers obtained admission. A most minute search took place.
The room in which Lord Pitsligo was concealed did not escape: Miss
Gordon's bed was carefully examined, and she was obliged to suffer the
rude scrutiny of one of the party, by feeling her chin, to ascertain
that it was not a man in a lady's night-dress. Before the soldiers had
finished their examination in this room, the confinement and anxiety
increased Lord Pitsligo's asthma so