Page:Memoirs of the late John Kippen, cooper, in Methven, near Perth.pdf/6

 here was a very strong Press-Gang posted at the South Queensferry, only a few miles distant, and that it was impossible, as they were all young fellows, that a single creature should escape. Had he told any of the rest, the danger they were in, his eloquence he well knew, could not have prevailed upon a single man of them to proceed. He however thought on another stratagem. He went privately and told his plan to his landlord, who was an old acquaintance, and prevailed upon him to land a broad sword he had in the house. In John's party there were several young highlanders who could play the bagpipe, and as he could himself play well on this instrument, he had fortunately taken a pair with him to divert himself and his company on the road. He therefore collected the whole band at an early hour next morning, and got them embarked on board one of the large boats. When they were about the middle of the passage, which here