by G. A. Henty
Chapter 3: A Rescue.
The two lads walked slowly down the hill together. Harry had heardno more than Charlie had done, of what was going on. The messengerfrom his father was a young fellow, of seventeen or eighteen, witha gipsy face and appearance. How he had managed to elude thevigilance of the men on watch, Harry did not know. He, himself, hadonly learnt his presence when, as he passed some bushes in thegarden, a sharp whisper made him stop, and a moment later a handwas thrust through the foliage. He took the little note held out,and caught sight of the lad's face, through the leaves, as he leantforward and said:
"Go on, sir, without stopping. They may be watching you."
Harry had thrust the note into his pocket, and sauntered on forsome time. He then returned to the house, and there read theletter, with whose contents Charlie was already acquainted.Eagerly, they talked over what each had been thinking of since theyhad parted, early on the previous day; and discussed Charlie's ideaof an attack on Lancaster jail.
"I don't know whether I could get as many men as you say, Charlie.I don't think I could. If my father were in prison, as well asyours, I am sure that most of the young fellows on the estate wouldgladly help to rescue him, but it would be a different thing whenit came to risking their lives for anyone else. Of course I don'tknow, but it does not seem to me that fifty men would be of anyuse, at all, towards taking Lancaster Castle. It always seemed tome a tremendously strong place."
"Yes, it does look so, Harry; but perhaps, on examining it closely,one would find that it is not so strong as it looks, by a long way.It seems to me there must be some way or other of getting fatherout, and, if there seems even the least bit of a chance, I shalltry it."
"And you may be sure I will stand by you, Charlie, whatever it is,"Harry said heartily. "We have been just like brothers, and, ofcourse, brothers ought to stick to each other like anything. Ifthey don't, what is the use of being brothers? I daresay we shallknow more, when we hear what my father has to say; and then we maysee our way better."
"Thank you, Harry. I knew you would stick by me. Of course, I don'twant to do any mad sort of thing. There is no hurry, anyhow, and,as you say, when we know more about it, we may be able to hit uponsome sort of plan."
It was not until eight o'clock that Mr. Jervoise arrived. He lookedgrievously tired and worn out, but he spoke cheerfully as he camein.
"I have had a busy two days of it, boys, as you may guess. I haveno particularly good news to tell you, but, on the other hand, Ihave no bad news. I was in time to warn all our friends, and whenthe soldiers came for them in the morning, it was only to find thattheir nests were empty.
"They have been searching the houses of all Sir Marmaduke'stenants, Charlie, and questioning man, woman, and child as towhether they have seen you.
"Ah! Here is supper, and I am nearly famished. However, I can go ontalking while I eat. I should have been here sooner, but I havebeen waiting for the return of the messenger I sent to Lancaster.
"Yesterday morning there was an examination of your father,Charlie, or rather, an examination of the testimony against him.First the two letters that were discovered were put in. Withouthaving got them word for word, my informer was able to give me thesubstance of them. Both were unsigned, and professed to have beenwritten in France. The first is dated three months back. It alludesto a conversation that somebody is supposed to have had with SirMarmaduke, and states that the agent who had visited him, and whois spoken of as Mr. H, had assured them that your father wasperfectly ready to join, in any well-conceived design for putting astop to the sufferings that afflicted the country, through the warsinto which the foreign intruder had plunged it, even though theplan entailed the removal of the usurper. The writer assured SirMarmaduke of the satisfaction that such an agreement on his parthad caused at Saint Germains, and had heightened the high esteem inwhich Sir Marmaduke was held, for his long fidelity to the cause ofhis majesty. It then went on to state that a plan had been alreadyformed, and that several gentlemen in the south were deeply pledgedto carry it out, but that it was thought specially advisable thatsome from the north should also take part in it, as, from theirpersons being unknown near the court, they could act with moresurety and safety. They would, therefore, be glad if he would takecounsel, with the friends he had mentioned, as to what might seemto them the best course of proceeding. There was no occasion forany great haste and, indeed, some weeks must elapse before the blowwas struck, in order that preparations should be made, in France,for taking instant advantage of it.
"The rest of the letter was to the same purpose, but was really arepetition of it. The second letter was dated some time later, andwas, as before, an answer to one the knight was supposed to havewritten. It highly approved of the suggestions therein made; thatSir Marmaduke and his friends should travel, separately and at afew days' interval, to London, and should take lodgings there indifferent parts of the town, and await the signal to assemble, nearRichmond, when it was known that the king would go hunting there.It said that special note had been made of the offer of SirMarmaduke's son, to mingle among the king's attendants and to firethe first shot, as, in the confusion, he would be able to escapeand, being but a boy, as he said, none would be able to recognizehim afterwards.
"In the event, of course, of the first shot failing, the rest ofthe party, gathered in a body, would rush forward, despatch theusurper, cut their way, sword in hand, through any who barred theirpath to the point where their horses were concealed, and then atonce scatter in various directions. For this great service, hismajesty would not fail to evince the deepest gratitude, upon hisrestoration to his rightful throne, and pledged his royal word thateach of the party should receive rank and dignity, together withample estates, from the lands of which the chief supporters of theusurper would be deprived.
"So you see, Charlie, you were to have the honour of playing thechief part in this tragedy."
"Honour indeed!" Charlie exclaimed passionately. "Dishonour, sir.Was there ever so infamous a plot!"
"It is a well-laid plot, Charlie, and does credit to the scoundrelwho planned it. You see, he made certain that Sir Marmaduke wouldbe attainted, and his estates forfeited, but there existed just apossibility that, as you are but a boy, though a good big one, itmight be thought that, as you were innocent of the business, aportion at least of the estate might be handed to you. To preventthis, it was necessary that you also should be mixed up in theaffair."
"Has John Dormay appeared in the matter so far, Mr. Jervoise?"
"Not openly, Charlie. My informant knows that there have been twoor three meetings of Whig magistrates, with closed doors, and thatat these he has been present, and he has no doubt, whatever, thatit is he who has set the ball rolling. Still, there is no proof ofthis, and he did not appear yesterday. The man who did appear wasthe rascal who tried to overhear us the other night. He stated thathe had been instigated by a gentleman of great loyalty--here one ofthe magistrates broke in, and said no name must be mentioned--toenter the household of Sir Marmaduke, a gentleman who, as hebelieved, was trafficking with the king's enemies. He had agreed todo this, in spite of the danger of such employment, moved theretonot so much by the hope of a reward as from his great loyalty tohis majesty, and a desire to avert from him his great danger frompopish plots. Having succeeded in entering Sir Marmaduke's service,he soon discovered that six gentlemen, to wit, myself and fivefriends, were in the habit of meeting at Lynnwood, where they hadlong and secret talks. Knowing the deep enmity and hostility thesemen bore towards his gracious majesty, he determined to run anyhazard, even to the loss of his life, to learn the purport of suchgatherings, and did, therefore, conceal himself, on one occasionbehind the hangings of a window, and on another listened at an opencasement, and did hear much conversation regarding the best mannerin which the taking of the king's life could be accomplished. This,it was agreed, should be done in the forest at Richmond, where allshould lie in wait, the said Sir Marmaduke Carstairs undertakingthat he and his son would, in the first place
, fire with pistol ormusquetoon, and that, only if they should fail, the rest shouldcharge forward on horse, overthrow the king's companions, anddespatch him, Mr. William Jervoise undertaking the management ofthis part of the enterprise. No date was settled for this wickedbusiness, it being, however, agreed that all should journeyseparately to London, and take up their lodging there under feignednames; lying hid until they heard from a friend at court, whosename was not mentioned, a day on which the king would hunt atRichmond. He further testified that, making another attempt tooverhear the conspirators in order that he might gather fullerdetails as to the manner of the plot, he was seen by Master CharlesCarstairs, who, taking him by surprise, grievously assaulted him,and that he and the others would have slain him, had he notoverthrown Master Carstairs and effected his escape before theothers, rushing out sword in hand, had time to assail him.
"During his stay at Lynnwood he had, several times, watched at thewindow of the room where Sir Marmaduke Carstairs sits when alone,and where he writes his letters and transacts business, and that heobserved him, more than once, peruse attentively papers that seemedto be of importance, for, after reading them, he would lay themdown and walk, as if disturbed or doubtful in mind, up and down theroom; and these papers he placed, when he had done with them, inthe bottom drawer of a desk in his cabinet, the said desk beingalways carefully locked by him.
"That is all that I learnt from Lancaster, save that instructionshave been given that no pains should be spared to secure thepersons of those engaged in the plot, and that a special watch wasto be set at the northern ports, lest they should, finding theirguilt discovered, try to escape from the kingdom. So you see thatyour good father, Sir Marmaduke, is in a state of sore peril, andthat the rest of us, including yourself, will be in a like straitif they can lay hands on us."
"But it is all false!" Charlie exclaimed. "It is a lie frombeginning to end."
"That is so, but we cannot prove it. The matter is so cunninglylaid, I see no way to pick a hole in it. We are Jacobites, and assuch long regarded as objects of suspicion by the Whig magistratesand others. There have been other plots against William's life, inwhich men of seeming reputation have been concerned. This man'sstory will be confirmed by the man who set him on, and by otherhidden papers, if necessary. As to the discovery of the documents,we may know well enough that the fellow himself put them there, butwe have no manner of proof of it. It is evident that there isnothing for us but to leave the country, and to await the time whenthe king shall have his own again. My other friends, who were withme this afternoon when the news came from Lancaster, all agreedthat it would be throwing away our lives to stay here. We all havemoney by us, for each has, for years, laid by something for thetime when money will be required to aid the king on his arrival.
"Having agreed to take this course, we drew up a document, which weall signed, and which will be sent in when we have got clear away.In it we declare that being informed that accusations of beingconcerned in a plot against the life of William of Orange have beenbrought against us, we declare solemnly before God that we, andalso Sir Marmaduke Carstairs and his son, are wholly innocent ofthe charge, and that, although we do not hesitate to declare thatwe consider the title of the said William to be king of this realmto be wholly unfounded and without reason, and should thereforetake up arms openly against it on behalf of our sovereign didoccasion offer, yet that we hold assassination in abhorrence, andthat the crime with which we are charged is as hateful in our sightas in that of any Whig gentleman. As, however, we are charged, aswe learn, by evilly disposed and wicked persons, of this design,and have no means of proving our innocence, we are forced to leavethe realm until such time shall arrive when we can rely on a fairtrial, when our reputation and honour will weigh against the wordof suborned perjurers and knaves.
"We were not forgetful of your father's case, and we debated longas to whether our remaining here could do him service. We evendiscussed the possibility of raising a force, and attackingLancaster Castle. We agreed, however, that this would be nothingshort of madness. The country is wholly unprepared at present. TheWhigs are on the alert, and such an attempt would cost the lives ofmost of those concerned in it. Besides, we are all sure that SirMarmaduke would be the first to object to numbers of personsrisking their lives in an attempt which, even if, for the moment,successful, must bring ruin upon all concerned in it. Nor do we seethat, were we to remain and to stand in the dock beside him, itwould aid him. Our word would count for no more than would thisprotest and denial that we have signed together. A prisoner's pleaof not guilty has but a feather's weight against sworn evidence.
"At the same time, Charlie, I do not intend to leave the countryuntil I am sure that nothing can be done. As force is out of thequestion, I have advised the others to lose not an hour in tryingto escape and, by this time, they are all on the road. Two aremaking for Bristol, one for Southampton, and two for London. Itwould be too dangerous to attempt to escape by one of the northernports. But, though force cannot succeed, we may be able to effectyour father's escape by other means, and it is for this purposethat I am determined to stay, and I shall do so until all hope isgone. Alone you could effect nothing; but I, knowing who are oursecret friends, may be able to use them to advantage.
"We will stay here tonight, but tomorrow we must change ourquarters, for the search will be a close one. During the day wewill go far up over the hills, but tomorrow night we will make forLancaster. I have warned friends there to expect us, and it is thelast place where they would think of searching for us."
"You will take me with you, too, father?" Harry exclaimed eagerly;while Charlie expressed his gratitude to Mr. Jervoise, for thusdetermining to risk his own life in the endeavour to effect theescape of Sir Marmaduke.
"Yes, I intend to take you with me, Harry. They will pretend, ofcourse, that, in spite of our assertions of innocence, our flightis a confession of guilt, and you may be sure that we shall becondemned in our absence, and our estates declared confiscated, andbestowed upon some of William's minions. There will be no place foryou here.
"My own plans are laid. As you know, your mother came from theother side of the border, and a cousin of hers, with whom I am wellacquainted, has gone over to Sweden, and holds a commission in thearmy that the young king is raising to withstand Russia and Saxony;for both are thinking of taking goodly slices of his domains. Icould not sit down quietly in exile, and, being but forty, I am nottoo old for service, and shall take a commission if I can obtainit. There are many Scottish Jacobites who, having fled rather thanacknowledge Dutch William as their king, have taken service inSweden, where their fathers fought under the great GustavusAdolphus; and, even if I cannot myself take service, it may be thatI shall be able to obtain a commission for you. You are nearlysixteen, and there are many officers no older.
"Should evil befall your father, Charlie, which I earnestly hopewill not be the case, I shall regard you as my son, and shall dothe same for you as for Harry.
"And now, I will to rest, for I have scarce slept the last twonights, and we must be in the saddle long before daybreak."
The little bedroom, that Charlie had used the two previous nights,was given up to Mr. Jervoise; while Harry and Charlie slept on somesheep skins, in front of the kitchen fire. Two hours beforedaybreak they mounted and, guided by the farmer, rode to ashepherd's hut far up among the hills. Late in the afternoon, a boycame up from the farm, with the news that the place had beensearched by a party of troopers. They had ridden away withoutdiscovering that the fugitives had been at the farm, but four ofthe party had been left, in case Mr. Jervoise should come there.The farmer, therefore, warned them against coming back that way, ashad been intended, naming another place where he would meet them.
As soon as the sun was setting they mounted and, accompanied by theshepherd on a rough pony, started for Lancaster. After riding forthree hours, they stopped at a lonely farm house, at which Mr.Jervoise and his friends had held their meeting on the previousday. Here they changed their c
lothes for others that had been sentfor their use from Lancaster. Mr. Jervoise was attired as a smalltrader, and the lads in garb suitable to boys in the same rank oflife. They still, however, retained their swords, and the pistolsin their holsters.
Three miles farther they met their host, as arranged, at somecrossroads, and rode on until within three miles of Lancaster. Theythen dismounted, placed their pistols in their belts, and handedtheir horses to the two men, who would take them back to the hut inthe hills, where they would remain until required.
It was two o'clock in the morning when they entered Lancaster and,going up to a small house, standing in a garden in the outskirts ofthe town, Mr. Jervoise gave three low knocks in quick succession.The door was opened almost immediately. No light was shown, andthey entered in the dark, but as soon as the door was closed behindthem, a woman came out with a candle from an inner room.
"I am glad to see you safe, Mr. Jervoise," a man said. "My wife andI were beginning to be anxious, fearing that you might have falleninto the hands of your enemies."
"No, all has gone well, Herries; but it is a long ride from thehills here, and we walked the last three miles, as we wanted to getthe horses back again before daylight. We are deeply grateful toyou for giving us shelter."
"I would be ready to do more than that," the man said, "for thesake of the good cause. My wife's father and mine both fell atNaseby, and we are as loyal to the Stuarts as they were. You areheartily welcome, sir, and, as we keep no servant, there will benone to gossip. You can either remain in the house, in which casenone will know of your presence here; or, if you wish to go abroadin the town, I will accompany you, and will introduce you to anyacquaintance I may meet as a cousin of my wife who, with his twosons, has come over from Preston to pay us a visit. I don't thinkthat anyone would know you, in that attire."
"I will run no more risks than are necessary, Herries. Those I wishto see will visit me here, and, if I go out at all, it will not beuntil after dark."
For a fortnight they remained at the house. After dark each day, aman paid Mr. Jervoise a visit. He was the magistrates' clerk, andhad an apartment in the castle. From him they learned that amessenger had been despatched to London, with an account of theevidence taken in Sir Marmaduke's case; and that, at the end oftwelve days, he had returned with orders that all prisoners andwitnesses were to be sent to town, where they would be examined, inthe first place, by his majesty's council; and where SirMarmaduke's trial for high treason would take place. They were tobe escorted by a party of twelve troopers, under the command of alieutenant.
The fugitives had, before, learned that the search for Mr. Jervoisehad been given up; it being supposed that he, with his son andyoung Carstairs had, with their accomplices, all ridden for thecoast at the first alarm, and had probably taken ship for Francebefore the orders had arrived that all outgoing vessels should besearched.
Harry and Charlie had both been away for two or three days, and hadbeen occupied in getting together ten young fellows, from the twoestates, who would be willing and ready to attempt to rescue SirMarmaduke from his captors' hands. They were able to judge, withtolerable accuracy, when the messenger would return from Londonand, two days previously, the men had been directed to ride, singlyand by different roads, and to put up at various small inns inManchester, each giving out that he was a farmer in from thecountry, either to purchase supplies, or to meet with a customerlikely to buy some cattle he wished to dispose of. Charlie had paida visit to Lynnwood, and had gone by the long passage into thePriest's Chamber, and had carried off the gold hidden there.
As soon as it was known that the messenger had returned, Herrieshad borrowed a horse, and had ridden with a note to the farmer,telling him to go up to the hills and bring the horses down, withone of his own, to the place where he had parted from them, whenthey entered Lancaster. There he was met by Mr. Jervoise and thelads and, mounting, they started with the spare horse forBlackburn, choosing that line in preference to the road throughPreston, as there were troops stationed at the latter town.
The next day they rode on to Manchester. They went round, thatevening, to the various inns where the men had put up, and directedthem to discover whether, as was probable, the escort was to arrivethat night. If so, they were to mount at daybreak, and assemblewhere the road crossed the moor, three miles north of Chapel leFrith, where they would find Mr. Jervoise awaiting them.
At nine o'clock that evening the troop rode in and, at daybreak,Mr. Jervoise and the boys started. Two of the men were already atthe spot indicated, and, half an hour later, the whole of them hadarrived.
Mr. Jervoise led them back to a spot that he had selected, wherethe road dipped into a deep valley, in which, sheltered from thewinds, was a small wood. Leaving one at the edge, to give warningdirectly the escort appeared on the road over the brow, he told therest to dismount. Most of them were armed with pistols. All hadswords.
"Do you," he said, "who are good shots with your pistols, fire atthe men when I give the word--let the rest aim at the horses. Themoment you have opened fire, dash forward and fall on them. We arealready as numerous as they are, and we ought to be able todismount or disable four or five of them, with our first fire. Ishall give the order as Sir Marmaduke arrives opposite me. Probablythe officer will be riding. I shall make the officer my specialmark, for it may be that he has orders to shoot the prisoner, ifany rescue is attempted.
"I don't suppose they will be at all prepared for an attack. Theywere vigilant, no doubt, for the first two days but, once out ofLancashire, they will think that there is no longer any fear of anattempt 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, strikedue north across the fells. Keep to the east of Glossop, and thenmake your way singly to your homes. It will be better for you totravel up through Yorkshire, till you are north of Ingleborough, soas to come down from the north to your farms.
"I know that you have all engaged in this affair for love of SirMarmaduke or myself, and because you hate to see a loyal gentlemanmade the victim of lying knaves; but when we come back with theking, you may be sure that Sir Marmaduke and I will well reward theservices you have rendered."
It was an hour before the man on the lookout warned them that thetroop had just appeared over the hill. They mounted now, and,pistol in hand, awaited the arrival of the party. Two troopers camefirst, trotting carelessly along, laughing and smoking. A hundredyards behind came the main body, four troopers first, then thelieutenant and Sir Marmaduke, followed by the other six troopers.
With outstretched arm, and pistol pointed through the undergrowth,Mr. Jervoise waited till the officer, who was riding on his side ofthe road, came abreast of him. He had already told the boys that heintended to aim at his shoulder.
"They are the enemies of the king," he said, "but I cannot, in coldblood, shoot down a man with whom I have no cause for quarrel. Ican depend upon my aim, and he will not be twelve paces from themuzzle of my pistol."
He fired. The officer gave a sudden start, and reeled on his horse,and, before he could recover himself, the band, who had fired atthe flash of the first pistol, dashed out through the bushes andfell upon the troopers. Four men had dropped, one horse had fallen,and two others were plunging wildly as, with a shout, theirassailants dashed upon them. All who could turn their horse's headrode furiously off, some along the road forward, others backtowards Manchester. The lieutenant's horse had rolled over withhim, as that of Mr. Jervoise struck it on the shoulder, with thefull impetus of its spring.
"It is all over, Sir Marmaduke, and you are a free man. We havenothing to do now but to ride for it."
And, before the knight had fairly recovered from his astonishment,he found himself riding south across the moor, with his son on oneside of him, and Mr. Jervoise and Harry on the other.
"You have saved my life, Jervoise," he said, holding out his handto his friend. "They had got me so firmly in their clutches, that Ithought my chances were at an end.
"How are you, Charlie? I am right glad to see you, safe and sound,for they had managed to include you in their pretended plot, and,for aught I knew, you had been all this time lying in a cell nextmine in Lancaster Castle.
"But who are the good fellows who helped you?"
Mr. Jervoise briefly gave an account of the affair.
"They are only keeping up a sham pursuit of the soldiers, so as tosend them well on their way. I told them not to overtake them, asthere was no occasion for any further bloodshed, when you were onceout of their hands. By tomorrow morning they will all be at work ontheir farms again, and, if they keep their own counsel, need notfear."
Suddenly Sir Marmaduke reined in his horse.
"We are riding south," he said.
"Certainly we are," Mr. Jervoise said. "Why not? That is our onlychance of safety. They will, in the first place, suspect us ofhaving doubled back to the hills, and will search every farmhouseand cottage. Our only hope of escape is to ride either for Bristol,or one of the southern ports."
"I must go back," Sir Marmaduke said doggedly. "I must kill thatscoundrel John Dormay, before I do anything else. It is he who haswound this precious skein, in order to entrap us, expecting, thescoundrel, to have my estates bestowed on him as a reward."
"It were madness to ride back now, Sir Marmaduke. It would cost youyour life, and you would leave Charlie here fatherless, and withbut little chance of ever regaining the estate. You have but towait for a time, and everything will right itself. As soon as theking comes to his own, your estates will be restored, and then Iwould not seek to stay your hand, if you sought vengeance upon thiscunning knave."
"Besides, father," Charlie put in, "much as he deserves anypunishment you can give him, you would not kill cousin Celia'shusband and Ciceley's father. When the truth is all made known, hispunishment will be bitter enough, for no honest man would offer hima hand, or sit down to a meal with him.
"Ciceley has been as a young sister to me, and her mother has everbeen as kind as if she had been my aunt. I would not see themgrieved, 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 happily got you out of the clutches of the Whigs,but, if you fell into them again, you may be sure they would nevergive us another chance."
Sir Marmaduke still sat irresolute, and Charlie went on:
"Besides, father, Mr. Jervoise has risked his life in lingering inLancashire to save you, and the brave fellows who aided us torescue you have risked theirs, both in the fray and afterwards, iftheir share in it should ever be known; and it would not be fair torisk failure, after all they have done. I pray you, father, beguided by the opinion of your good friend, Mr. Jervoise."
Sir Marmaduke touched his horse's flank with his heel.
"You have prevailed, Charlie. Your last argument decided me. I haveno right to risk my life, after my good friends have done so muchto save me. John Dormay may enjoy his triumph for a while, but aday of reckoning will surely come.
"Now, tell me of the others, Jervoise. Have all escaped in safety?"
"All. Your boy brought me the news of your arrest, and that we werecharged with plotting William's assassination. I rode that nightwith the news, and next day all were on the road to the coast, andwere happily on board and away before the news of their escapecould be sent to the ports."
"And now, what are your plans, Jervoise--that is, if you have anyplans, beyond reaching a port and taking ship for France?"
"I am going to Sweden," Mr. Jervoise said, and then repeated thereasons that he had given Charlie for taking this step.
"I am too old for the wars," Sir Marmaduke said. "I was sixty lastbirthday, and though I am still strong and active, and could strikea shrewd blow in case of need, I am too old for the fatigues andhardships of campaigning. I could not hope, at my age, to obtain acommission in the Swedish service."
"No, I did not think of your joining the army, Sir Marmaduke,though I warrant you would do as well as most; but I thought thatyou might take up your residence at Stockholm, as well as at SaintGermains. You will find many Scottish gentlemen there, and not afew Jacobites who, like yourself, have been forced to fly. Besides,both the life and air would suit you better than at Saint Germains,where, by all accounts the life is a gay one, and men come to thinkmore of pleasure than of duty. Moreover, your money will go muchfurther in Sweden than in France."
Sir Marmaduke, checking the horse's speed, said, "I have not somuch as a penny in my pocket, and methinks I am like to have sometrouble in getting at the hoard I have been collecting, ever sinceDutch William came to the throne, for the benefit of His Majestywhen he arrives."
"You will have no trouble in getting at that, father," Charlie saidlaughing, "seeing that you have nothing to do but to lean over, andput your hand into my holsters, which are so full, as you see, thatI am forced to carry my pistols in my belt."
"What mean you, lad?"
"I mean, father, that I have the whole of the hoard, that wasstowed away in the priest's hiding place;" and he then related howBanks had revealed to him the secret of the hiding place, and howhe had, the night before Sir Marmaduke was removed from LancasterCastle, visited the place and carried away the money.
"I could not see Banks," he said, "but I left a few words on ascrap of paper, saying that it was I who had taken the money.Otherwise he would have been in a terrible taking, when hediscovered that it was gone."
"That is right good news, indeed, lad. For twelve years I have setaside half my rents, so that in those bags in your holsters thereare six years' income, and the interest of that money, laid out ingood mortgages, will suffice amply for my wants in a country likeSweden, where life is simple and living cheap. The money itselfshall remain untouched, for your use, should our hopes fail and theestates be lost for all time. That is indeed a weight off my mind.
"And you are, I hope, in equally good case, Jervoise, for if not,you know that I would gladly share with you?"
"I am in very good case, Sir Marmaduke, though I none the lessthank you for your offer. I too have, as you know, put aside halfmy income. My estates are not so large as those of Lynnwood. Theiracreage may be as large, but a good deal of it is mountain land,worth but little. My fund, therefore, is not as large as yours, butit amounts to a good round sum; and as I hope, either in the armyor in some other way, to earn an income for myself, it is ample. Ishall be sorry to divert it from the use for which I intended it,but that cannot now be helped. I have had the pleasure, year byyear, of putting it by for the king's use, and, now thatcircumstances have changed, it will be equally useful to myself."
"Do you know this country well, Jervoise?"
"Personally I know nothing about it, save that the sun tells methat, at present, I am travelling south, Sir Marmaduke. But, forthe last few days I have been so closely studying a map, that Iknow the name of every town and village on the various routes."
"And whither think you of going?"
"To London or Southampton. Strangers are far less noticed in largetowns than in small, and we could hardly hope to find a ship, boundfor Sweden, in any of the Dorset or Devon ports."
