XXI: The Flight in the Heather: The Heugh of Corrynakiegh explained

What happens

Themes in this chapter

• Survival and Resilience

  David and Alan endure five days in a remote mountain cleft, sustaining themselves by fishing for trout, sleeping in a cave, and making a hidden fire. Their resourcefulness in the face of danger highlights their resilience.

• Friendship and Comradeship

  Despite their differences, David and Alan share a bond strengthened by mutual reliance. Alan teaches David swordplay, and they engage in playful rivalry over fishing, deepening their companionship.

• Political Conflict and Rebellion

  The chapter is steeped in the aftermath of the Appin Murder, with redcoats scouring the country, James Stewart imprisoned, and a reward offered for Alan and David. The political turmoil drives their need for secrecy and flight.

Characters to notice

• David Balfour

  David spends five days in the heugh, fishing, learning swordplay from Alan, and growing anxious about their escape. He considers leaving Alan to travel alone, as the wanted description no longer matches his ragged appearance.

• Alan Breck Stewart

  Alan devises a clever plan to signal John Breck Maccoll using a cross and symbols. He teaches David swordplay with impatient vigor and is pleased that his fine clothes are remembered in the wanted bill, though mortified by the word 'tarnish'.

• John Breck Maccoll

  A bouman of Appin, John Breck is guided to the hiding place by Alan's whistling. He is ragged, disfigured by smallpox, and speaks broken English. He reluctantly carries a letter to James Stewart and returns three days later with news and money from Mrs. Stewart.

• James Stewart

  James is mentioned as having been clapped in prison at Fort William under strong suspicion of complicity in the Appin Murder. Mrs. Stewart's note warns that if Alan is captured, both he and James are as good as dead.

• Mrs. Stewart

  Mrs. Stewart sends a sorrowful letter and all the money she could beg or borrow, along with a copy of the wanted bills. She implores Alan not to be captured.

Key passages

• “This cross is something in the nature of the crosstarrie, or fiery cross, which is the signal of gathering in our clans; yet he will know well enough the clan is not to rise, for there it is standing in his window, and no word with it.”

  Alan explains that the cross he made resembles the fiery cross used to rally the clan, but John Breck will understand that no uprising is intended since it appears without any verbal message.

  Alan uses a traditional clan symbol in a novel way to signal for help without raising alarm.

• “Alan was advertised as 'a small, pockmarked, active man of thirty-five or thereby, dressed in a feathered hat, a French side-coat of blue with silver buttons, and lace a great deal tarnished, a red waistcoat and breeches of black shag;' and I as 'a tall strong lad of about eighteen, wearing an old blue coat, very ragged, an old Highland bonnet, a long homespun waistcoat, blue breeches; his legs bare, low-country shoes, wanting the toes; speaks like a Lowlander, and has no beard.'”

  The wanted bill describes Alan as a small, pockmarked man in a feathered hat and tarnished French coat, and David as a tall, ragged youth in an old blue coat and Highland bonnet, with bare legs and missing shoe toes.

  The detailed descriptions in the wanted bill highlight the danger they face, but also give David a potential advantage since his ragged appearance no longer matches the description.