He recrossed the Tay, and halted at Scone to refresh
himself and his men at the charges of Lord Stormont, an involuntary act
of hospitality on the latter's part for which he had some trouble to
excuse himself in Edinburgh.[81]
While in the wilds of Badenoch Dundee had received another message which
had interested him much. In the dragoons now under Livingstone's command
were several of Dunmore's old officers still well affected to James.
Chief among these were William Livingstone,[82] a relation of the
colonel, and that Captain Creichton of whom mention has been already
made. While lying in garrison at Dundee Creichton found means to get
secretly into Dudhope, and to assure Lady Dundee that he and many of his
comrades were only waiting an opportunity to join her husband. She sent
off word of this to the wanderer, who managed to convey an assurance to
Creichton of his plans, and of the strength of the reinforcements he
expected from Ireland. On their landing, he added, he should expect the
dragoons to join him.
This note was received by Creichton from the hands of a ragged
Highlander two days after he had marched with a part of his regiment to
join Mackay at Inverness. Could he have waited a little longer he would
have seen his correspondent in person. On the afternoon of Monday, May
13th, the inhabitants of the town which had given this terrible
Claverhouse his title saw to their amazement the crest of the high
ground to the north glittering with steel-clad riders.
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