ndoubted courage. Yet he had none of that high
sense of personal honour that we associate with a good soldier. In
Edinburgh he found many of the English officers who had been taken
prisoner at Prestonpans. They had been left at large on giving their
word not to bear arms against the Prince. Cumberland declared that this
'parole' or promise was not binding, and ordered them to return to their
regiments. A small number--it is right that we should know and honour
their names--Sir Peter Halket, Mr. Ross, Captain Lucy Scott, and
Lieutenants Farquharson and Cumming, thereupon sent in their
resignations, saying that the Duke was master of their commissions but
not of their honour.

On the 30th the Duke and his soldiers were at Linlithgow, and hoped to
engage the Highland army next day near Falkirk. But on the next day's
march they learned from straggling Highlanders that the enemy had
already retired beyond the Forth. They had been engaged in a futile
siege of Stirling Castle. The distant sound of an explosion which was
heard about midday on the 1st, proved to be the blowing up of the powder
magazine, the last act of the Highlanders before withdrawing from
Stirling. This second, sudden retreat was as bitter to the Prince as the
return from Derby. After the battle at Falkirk he looked forward eagerly
and confidently to fighting Cumberland on the same ground. But there was
discontent and dissension in the camp. Since Derby the Prince had held
no councils, and consulted with no one but Secretary Murray and his
Irish officers. The chiefs were dispirited and deeply hurt, and, as
usual, the numbers dwindled daily from desertion. In the midst of his
plans for the coming battle, Charles was overwhelmed by a resolution on
the part of the chiefs to break up the camp and to retire without delay
to the Highlands. Again he saw his hopes suddenly destroyed, again he
had to yield with silent rage and bitter disappointment.

The plan of the chiefs was to withdraw on Inverness, there to attack
Lord Loudon (who held the fort for King George); to rest and recruit,
each clan in its own country, till in the spring they could take the
field again with a fresher and larger army. Lord George Murray led one
division by the east coast and Aberdeen, to the rendezvous near
Inverness, Charles led the other by General Wade's road through Badenoch
and Athol. Cumberland with his heavy troops and baggage could not
overtake the light-footed Highlanders; by th