Andrew Lang is known for being a poet, novelist, literary critic, and student of anthropology. He is most famous for his folk stories and fairy tales. Alestair (i.e. Alexander) Ruadh MacDonnell [or MacDonell] (c. 1725 - 23 December 1761), chief of Clan MacDonell of Glengarry, is a Scottish Jacobite has been identified by Andrew Lang as the secret agent "Pickle," who acted as a spy on Prince Charles Edward after 1750. Alestair ran away to France while a mere boy in 1738, and there entered the Royal Scots, a regiment in the French service. In January 1745 he was sent back with messages, and was in France when Prince Charles Edward landed in Scotland. Late in 1745 he was captured at sea while bringing a picquet of the Royal Scots to help the prince.
