Page:The Story of the Cheeryble Grants.djvu/47

Rh broad back to His Majesty with a quiet and laconic request to “loup on!” Charles, both amused and a little frightened, thought he was “too great a weight for so little a man.” Thomas laughed, and, looking up in the King’s face, said, “Od! I may be ‘leetle’ o’ stature, but I’se be bound I’m baith strong an’ steedy, an’ mony a weightier burden I’ve carried i’ my day.” Assured by those around him that there was no danger. His Majesty “loupit on,” and was deposited by Thomas, safe and sound, on the boat green! Scotland, we apprehend, found Charles a much “weightier burden,” during the next forty years, than good Thomas Milne did on this occasion. He received no reward for his gallantry; but he and his posterity have, ever since, borne the distinguishing name of King Milne.

King Charles was received by the Knight of Innes and entertained by him, in the house of his son, at Garmouth, where the clergy of Moray presented the Solemn League and Covenant, which the King signed. This finds corroboration in the fact that the title of that historic document, as printed by the Churches, bears the words, “and taken and subscribed by King Charles II. at Spey,