ellow, of seventeen or eighteen, with a gipsy face and appearance. How he had managed to elude the vigilance of the men on watch, Harry did not know. He, himself,

aught sight of the lad's face, through

t stopping. They ma

ead the letter, with whose contents Charlie was already acquainted. Eagerly, they talked over what each had been thin

young fellows on the estate would gladly help to rescue him, but it would be a different thing when it came to risking their lives for anyone else. Of course I don'

is not so strong as it looks, by a long way. It seems to me there must be some way or other

thers, and, of course, brothers ought to stick to each other like anything. If they don't, what is the use of being

to do any mad sort of thing. There is no hurry, anyhow, and, as you say,

ise arrived. He looked grievously tired and w

ell you, but, on the other hand, I have no bad news. I was in time to warn all our friends, and

armaduke's tenants, Charlie, and questioning man,

on talking while I eat. I should have been here sooner, but I hav

perfectly ready to join, in any well-conceived design for putting a stop to the sufferings that afflicted the country, through the wars into which the foreign intruder had plunged it, even though the plan entailed the removal of the usurper. The writer assured Sir Marmaduke of the satisfaction that such an agreement on his part had caused at Saint Germains, and had heightened the high esteem in which Sir Marmaduke was held, for his long fidelity to the cause of his majesty. It then went on to state that a plan had been already formed, and that several gentlemen in the south

Marmaduke and his friends should travel, separately and at a few days' interval, to London, and should take lodgings there in different parts of the town, and await the signal to assemble, near Richmond, when it was known that the king would go hunting there. It sai

the point where their horses were concealed, and then at once scatter in various directions. For this great service, his majesty would not fail to evince the deepest gratitude, upon his restoration to his

to have the honour of playing t

d passionately. "Dishonour, sir.

estates forfeited, but there existed just a possibility that, as you are but a boy, though a good big one, it might be thought that, as you were innocent o

eared in the matter

in entering Sir Marmaduke's service, he soon discovered that six gentlemen, to wit, myself and five friends, were in the habit of meeting at Lynnwood, where they had long and secret talks. Knowing the deep enmity and hostility these men bore towards his gracious majesty, he determined to run any hazard, even to the loss of his life, to learn the purport of such gatherings, and did, therefore, conceal himself, on one occasion behind the hangings of a window, and on another listened at an open casement, and did hear much conversation regarding the best manner in which the taking of the king's life could be accomplished. This, it was agreed, should be done in the forest at Richmond, where all should lie in wait, the said Sir Marmaduke Carstairs undertaking that he and his son would, in the first place, fire with pistol or musquetoon, and that, only if they should fail, the rest sh

, and that he observed him, more than once, peruse attentively papers that seemed to be of importance, for, after reading them, he would lay them down and walk, as if disturbed or doubtfu

t, and that a special watch was to be set at the northern ports, lest they should, finding their guilt discovered, try to escape from the kingdom. So you see that

rlie exclaimed. "It is a l

story will be confirmed by the man who set him on, and by other hidden papers, if necessary. As to the discovery of the documents, we may know well enough that the fellow himself put them there, but we have no manner of proof of it. It is evident that there is nothing for us but to leave the country, and to await the time wh

innocent of the charge, and that, although we do not hesitate to declare that we consider the title of the said William to be king of this realm to be wholly unfounded and without reason, and should therefore take up arms openly against it on behalf of our sovereign did occasion offer, yet that we hold assassination in abhorrence, and that the crime with which we are charged is as

ed at present. The Whigs are on the alert, and such an attempt would cost the lives of most of those concerned in it. Besides, we are all sure that Sir Marmaduke would be the first to object to numbers of persons risking their lives in an attempt which, even if, for the moment, successful, must bring

all on the road. Two are making for Bristol, one for Southampton, and two for London. It would be too dangerous to attempt to escape by one of the northern ports. But, though force cannot succeed, we may be able to effect your father'

. During the day we will go far up over the hills, but tomorrow night we will make for Lancaster. I have

Charlie expressed his gratitude to Mr. Jervoise, for thus determining to

cence, our flight is a confession of guilt, and you may be sure that we shall be condemned in our absence, and ou

re thinking of taking goodly slices of his domains. I could not sit down quietly in exile, and, being but forty, I am not too old for service, and shall take a commission if I can obtain it. There are many Scottish Jacobites who, having fled rather than acknowledge Dutch Will

nestly hope will not be the case, I shall regard you

rce slept the last two nights, and we mu

farmer, rode to a shepherd's hut far up among the hills. Late in the afternoon, a boy came up from the farm, with the news that the place had been searched by a party of troopers. They had ridden away without discovering that the fugiti

e, at which Mr. Jervoise and his friends had held their meeting on the previous day. Here they changed their clothes for others that had been sent for their use from Lancaster. Mr.

miles of Lancaster. They then dismounted, placed their pistols in their belts, and handed their horses

ts of the town, Mr. Jervoise gave three low knocks in quick succession. The door was opened almost immediately. No light was show

"My wife and I were beginning to be anxious, fearing th

, and we walked the last three miles, as we wanted to get the horses back

sir, and, as we keep no servant, there will be none to gossip. You can either remain in the house, in which case none will know of your presence here; or, if you wish to go abroad in the town, I will accompany

es. Those I wish to see will visit me here, and, if

tched to London, with an account of the evidence taken in Sir Marmaduke's case; and that, at the end of twelve days, he had returned with orders that all prisoners and witnesses were to be sent to town, where they woul

e, with his son and young Carstairs had, with their accomplices, all ridden for the coast at the first alarm, a

with tolerable accuracy, when the messenger would return from London and, two days previously, the men had been directed to ride, singly and by different roads, and to put up at various small inns in Manchester, each giving out that he was a farmer in from

ring the horses down, with one of his own, to the place where he had parted from them, when they entered Lancaster. There he was met by Mr. Jervoise and the lads and, m

ted them to discover whether, as was probable, the escort was to arrive that night. If so, they were to mount at daybreak, and

Jervoise and the boys started. Two of the men were already at the s

sheltered from the winds, was a small wood. Leaving one at the edge, to give warning directly the escort appear

l on them. We are already as numerous as they are, and we ought to be able to dismount or disable four or five of them, with our first fire. I shall give the order as Sir Marmaduke

of an attempt at rescue. Pursue those that escape for half a mile or so, and then draw rein, and, as soon as they are out of sight, strike due north across the fells. Keep to the east of Glo

you hate to see a loyal gentleman made the victim of lying knaves; but when we come back with th

stol in hand, awaited the arrival of the party. Two troopers came first, trotting carelessly along, laughing and smoking. A hundre

e waited till the officer, who was riding on his side of the road, came abreas

, shoot down a man with whom I have no cause for quarrel. I can depend up

upon the troopers. Four men had dropped, one horse had fallen, and two others were plunging wildly as, with a shout, their assailants dashed upon them. All who could turn their horse's head rode furiousl

d you are a free man. We have noth

ent, he found himself riding south across the moor, with his s

his hand to his friend. "They had got me so firmly in t

y had managed to include you in their pretended plot, and, for aught I kne

e good fellows

fly gave an accou

o overtake them, as there was no occasion for any further bloodshed, when you were once out of their hands. By to

armaduke reine

ding south

the first place, suspect us of having doubled back to the hills, and will search every farmhouse

y, before I do anything else. It is he who has wound this precious skein, in order to

little chance of ever regaining the estate. You have but to wait for a time, and everything will right itself. As soon as the king comes

not kill cousin Celia's husband and Ciceley's father. When the truth is all made known, his punishm

even if that rogue came off scot free from punishment; but, at any rate, father, I pray you to let it pass at present. This time we have h

l sat irresolute,

rescue you have risked theirs, both in the fray and afterwards, if their share in it should ever be known; and it would not be

hed his horse's fl

to risk my life, after my good friends have done so much to save me. John Dor

thers, Jervoise. Have

's assassination. I rode that night with the news, and next day all were on the road to the coast

that is, if you have any plans, beyond re

d, and then repeated the reasons that he

trong and active, and could strike a shrewd blow in case of need, I am too old for the fatigues and

t Saint Germains. You will find many Scottish gentlemen there, and not a few Jacobites who, like yourself, have been forced to fly. Besides, both the life and air would suit you better th

and methinks I am like to have some trouble in getting at the hoard I have been collecting,

ing that you have nothing to do but to lean over, and put your hand into my holste

ean you

and he then related how Banks had revealed to him the secret of the hiding place, and how he had, the n

paper, saying that it was I who had taken the money. Otherwise he woul

, and the interest of that money, laid out in good mortgages, will suffice amply for my wants in a country like Sweden, where life is simple and living ch

case, Jervoise, for if not, you know

f it is mountain land, worth but little. My fund, therefore, is not as large as yours, but it amounts to a good round sum; and as I hope, either in the army or in some other way, to earn an income for myself, it is ample. I shall be sorry

his country we

m travelling south, Sir Marmaduke. But, for the last few days I have been so closely

r think you

large towns than in small, and we could hardly hope to find a